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Full text of "The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois"

LIBRARY OF THE 

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 

AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 



977.355 

B29 



I.H.S. 







: 



THE 







HISTOEY 



Meaard i Mason Counties, 



CONTAINING 



A History of the Counties their Cities, Towns, &c. ; Portraits of 
Early Settlers and Prominent Men; General Statistics; Map 
of Menard and Mason Counties; History of Illinois, 
Illustrated; History of the Northwest, Illus- 
trated; Constitution of the United States, 
Miscellaneous Matters, &e., &e., <&e. 



CHICAGO: 
0. L. BASKIN & CO., HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS, 186 DEARBORN STREET. 

1879. 



PREFACE. 



TN presenting our History of Menard and Mason Counties, we deem a few prefato: 
words necessary. We have spared neither pains nor expense to fulfill our engageme 
with our patrons and make the work as complete as possible. We have acted upon tl 
principle that justice to those who have subscribed, be they few or many, requires th 
the work should be as well done as if it was patronized by every citizen in the count 
We do not claim that our work is entirely free from errors ; such a result could not 1 
attained by the utmost care and foresight of ordinary mortals. The General History 
Menard County was compiled by Rev. R. I). Miller, of Petersburg, and the Genei 
History of Mason County by Gen. J. M. Ruggles, of Havana, and the Townships 
Mason City and Salt Creek by J. C. Warnock, and the balance of the Townships 
our historians, W. H. Perrin and D. M. Blair. Some of the Township Histories a 
indeed longer than others, as the townships are older, containing larger cities and towi 
and have been the scenes of more important and interesting events. While ful 
recognizing this important difference, the historians have sought to write up ea 
township with equal fidelity to the facts and information within their reach. V 
take this occasion to present our thanks to all our numerous subscribers for th< 
patronage and encouragement in the publication of the work. In this confident beli< 
we submit it to the enlightened judgment of those for whose benefit it has be' 
, believing that it will be received as a most valuable and complete work. 

THE PUBLISHERS. 



CHICAGO: 
CULVKB, PAGE, HOYNE A CO., PRINTERS, 

118 and 190 Monroe Street. 



62 



A 



CONTENTS. 



1* 



PAGE. 

.History Northwest Territory 19 

Geographical 19 

Early Exploration 20 

Discovery of the Ohio 32 

English Explorations and Settle- 
ments 34 

American Settlements 59 

Division of the Northwest Terri- 
tory 65 

Tecnmseh and the war of 1812 79 



HISTORICAL,. 

PAGE. 
Black Hawk and the Black Hawk 

War 73 

Present Condition of the North- 
west... . ... 79 



History of Illinois 88 

Coal 103 

Compact of 1787 95 

History uf Chicago 110 

Early Discoveries 88 

Early Settlements 94 



PAGE. 

Education 107 

First French Occupation 91 

Genius of La Salle 92 

Material Resources 102 

Massacre ot Fort Dearborn 117 

Physical Features 99 

Progress of Development 101 

Religion and Morals 106 

War Record ot Illinois 108 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



PAGE. 

Source of the Mississippi 22 

Mouth of the Mississippi 31 

La Salle Landing on the Shore of 

Green Bay 24 

Buffalo Hunt 26 

Trapping 28 

Pontiac, the Ottawa Chieftain 42 

Indians Attacking Frontiersmen... 55 
A Pioneer Dwelling 60 



PAGE. 

Lake Bluff 62 

Tecumseh, the Shawuee Chieftain... 68 

Indians Attacking a Stockade 71 

Black Hawk, the Sac Chieftain 74 

Kinzie House 87 

Lincoln Monument, Springfield, 111. 80 

A Pioneer School House 81 

High Bridge and Lake Bluff 33 



PAGE. 
Hunting Prairie Wolves at an 

Early Day 85 

Staiwed Rock, on the Illinois River, 

- La Salle County, III 89 

Chicago in 1833 82 

Old Fort Dearbron in 1830 79 

Present site of Lake Street Bridge, 

Chicago, in 1833 58 

Shabbona 121 



lll.> \KI> COUNTY HISTORY. 



PAGE. 
General History of Menard County. .189 

Athens Precinct 328 

Green view Precinct 344 






PAGE. 
Indian Creek Precinct 366 



Petersburg. 
Rock Creek 



PAGE. 
Sugar Grove Precinct 356 



Sandridge 
,.383 , Tallula 



.375 
,.316 



MASON COUNTY HISTORY. 



PAGE. ; 
General History of Mason County..391 < 

Allen's Grove Township 603 

Bath " 564 



Crane Creek 
Forest City 



PAGE. 

Havana Township 501 

Kilbourne " 614 

Lyftchburg " 652 



,.660 Mason City 
.645 Manito 



,.536 

..587 



PAGE- 

Pennsylvania Township 680 

Quiver " 634 

Salt Creek " (525 

Sherman " i>70 



LITHOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS. 



PAGE. 

Abbott, J. B 565 

Dieffenbacher, Daniel 493 

Greene, W. G 259 

Greene, Mrs. W. G 295 



PAGE. 

Houchin, Jackson 601 

Krebaum, A 457 

Lincoln, Abraham 187 

Lacey, Lyman 



Greene, Miss Kate Y 331 Powell, David 529 



PAGE 

390 

367 

637 

Tice, John 223 



Ruggles, J. M., 

Spears, J. Q 

Smith, M. A 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF 111 > VKI> COUNTY. 



PAGE. PAGE. 

Athens Precinct 719 Petersburg Precinct 687 

Greenview Precinct 727 Rock Creek Precinct 749 

Indian Creek Precinct 742 Sugar Grove Precinct 736 



PAGE. 

Sandridge Precinct 747 

Tallula Precinct 707 



IV 



CONTENTS 



BIOGRAPHICAL, SKETCHES OF MASOX COUNTY. 



PAGE. I PAGE. PAGE. 

Allen's Grove Township 836 Kilbourne Township 801 Pennsylvania Township 851 

Bath Township 812 Lynchburg Township 858 Quiver Township 819 

Crane Creek Township 855 I Mason City Township 784 Salt Creek Township 843 

Forest City Township 848 Manito Township 829 Sherman Township 860 

Havana Township 752 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 



PAGE. 

Adoption of Children 132 

Bills of Exchange and Promissory 

Notes 123 

County Courts 127 

Conveyances 136 

Church Organizations 157 

Descent 123 

Deeds and Mortgages 129 

Drainage 135 

Damages from Trespass 139 

Definition of Commercial Terms 143 

Exemptions from Forced Sale 128 

Estrays '. 129 

Fences 138 

Forms: 

Articles of Agreement 145 

Bills of Purchase 144 

Bills of Sale 146 

Bonds 146 



PAGE. 
Forms : 

Chattel Mortgages 147 

Codicil 157 

Lease of Farm and Build- 
ings 149 

Lease of House 150 

Landlord's Agreement 150 

Notes 144 

Notice Tenant to Quit 151 

Orders 144 

Quit Claim Deed 153 

Receipt 144 

Real Estate Mortgaged to Secure 

Payment of Money 151 

Release 154 

Tenant's Agreement 150 

Tenant's Notice of Leaving 151 

Warranty Deed 152 

Will 155 



PAGE. 

Game ....130 

Interest 123 

Jurisdiction of Courts 126 

Limitation of Action 127 

Landlord and Tenant 139 

Liens 142 



Married Women 127 

Millers 131 

Marku and Brands 131 

Paupers 136 

Roads and Bridges 133 

Surveyors and Surveys 132 

Suggestions to Persons Purchasing 

Books by Subscription 158 

Taxes.... 126 



Wills and Estates 124 

Weights and Measures 130 

Wolf Scalps 136 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



PAGE. 

Map of Menard and Mason Coun- 
ties Front 

Constitution of the U. S *160 

Electors of President and Vice Pres- 
ident 172 

Practical Rules for Every Day Use.173 
U. 8. Government Land Measure. ..176 
Agricultural Productions of Illi- 
nois by Counties, 1870 186 

Surveyors' Measure 177 



PAGE. 

How to Keep Accounts 177 

Interest Table 178 

Miscellaneous Tables ITS 

Names of the States of the Union 

and their Signification 179 

Population of the United States 180 

Population of Fifty Principal Cities 

of the United States 180 

Population and Area of the United 

States 181 



PAOE. 

Population of the Principal Coun- 
tries in the World 181 

Population ol Illinois 182-183 

State Laws Relating to Interest 184 

State Laws Relating to Limitations 

of Actions 185 

Population of Menard and Mason 

Counties 872 

Business Directory 863 

Errata 862 




THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION. 

When the Northwestern Territory was ceded to the United States 
by Virginia in 1784, it embraced only the territory lying between the 
Ohio and the Mississippi Rivers, and north to the northern limits of the 
United States. It coincided with the area now embraced in the States 
of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and that portion of 
Minnesota lying on the east side of the Mississippi River. The United 
States itself at that period extended no farther west than the Mississippi 
River ; but by the purchase of Louisiana in 1803, the western boundary 
of the United States was extended to the Rocky Mountains and the 
Northern Pacific Ocean. The new territory thus added to the National 
domain, and subsequently opened to settlement, has been called the 
" New Northwest," in contradistinction from the old " Northwestern 
Territory. " 

In comparison with the old Northwest this is a territory of vast 
magnitude. It includes an area of 1,887,850 square miles ; being greater 
in extent than the united areas of all the Middle and Southern States, 
including Texas. Out of this magnificent territory have been erected 
eleven sovereign States and eight Territories, with an aggregate popula- 
tion, at the present time, of 13,000,000 inhabitants, or nearly one third of 
the entire population of the United States. 

Its lakes are fresh-water seas, and the larger rivers of the continent 
flow for a thousand miles through its rich alluvial valleys and far- 
stretching prairies, more acres of which are arable and productive of the 
highest percentage of the cereals than of any other area of like extent 
on the globe. 

For the last twenty years the increase of population in the North- 
west has been about as three to one in any other portion of the United 
States. 

(19) 



20 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



EARLY EXPLORATIONS. 

In the year 1541, DeSoto first saw the Great West in the New 
World. He, however, penetrated no farther north than the 35th parallel 
of latitude. The expedition resulted in his death and that of more than 
half his army, the remainder of whom found their way to Cuba, thence 
to Spain, in a famished and demoralized condition. DeSoto founded no 
settlements, produced no results, and left no traces, unless it were that 
he awakened the hostility of the red man against the white man, and 
disheartened such as might desire to follow up the career of discovery 
for better purposes. The French nation were eager and ready to seize 
upon any news from this extensive domain, and were the first to profit by 
DeSoto's defeat. Yet it was more than a century before any adventurer 
took advantage of these discoveries. 

In 1616, four years before the pilgrims " moored their bark on the 
wild New England shore," Le Caron, a French Franciscan, had pene- 
trated through the Iroquois and Wyandots (Hurons) to the streams which 
run into Lake Huron ; and in 1634, two Jesuit missionaries founded the 
first mission among the lake tribes. It was just one hundred years from 
the discovery of the Mississippi by DeSoto (1541) until the Canadian 
envoys met the savage nations of the Northwest at the Falls of St. Mary, 
below the outlet of Lake Superior. This visit led to no permanent 
result; yet it was not until 1659 that any of the adventurous fur traders 
attempted to spend a Winter in the frozen wilds about the great lakes, 
nor was it until 1660 that a station was established upon their borders by 
Mesnard, who perished in the woods a few months after. In 1665, Claude 
Allouez built the earliest lasting habitation of the white man among the 
Indians of the Northwest. In 1668, Claude Dablon and James Marquette 
founded the mission of Sault Ste. Marie at the Falls of St. Mary, and two 
years afterward, Nicholas Perrot, as agent for M. Talon, Governor Gen- 
eral of Canada, explored Lake Illinois (Michigan) as far south as the 
present City of Chicago, and invited the Indian nations to meet him at a 
grand council at Sault Ste. Marie the following Spring, where they were 
taken under the protection of the king, and formal possession was taken 
of the Northwest. This same year Marquette established a mission at 
Point St. Ignatius, where was founded the old town of Michillimackinac. 

During M. Talon's explorations and Marquette's residence at St. 
Ignatius, they learned of a great river away to the west, and fancied 
as all others did then that upon its fertile banks whole tribes of God's 
children resided, to whom the sound of the Gospel had never come. 
Filled with a wish to go and preach to them, and in compliance with a 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 21 

request of M. Talon, who earnestly desired to extend the domain of his 
king, and to ascertain whether the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico 
or the Pacific Ocean, Marquette with Joliet, as commander of the expe- 
dition, prepared for the undertaking. 

On the 13th. of May, 1673, the explorers, accompanied by five assist- 
ant French Canadians, set out from Mackinaw on their daring voyage of 
discovery. The Indians, who gathered to witness their departure, were 
astonished at the boldness of the undertaking, and endeavored to dissuade 
them from their purpose by representing the tribes on the Mississippi as 
exceedingly savage and cruel, and the river itself as full of all sorts of 
frightful monsters ready to swallow them and their canoes together. But, 
nothing daunted by these terrific descriptions, Marquette told them he 
was willing not only to encounter all the perils of the unknown region 
they were about to explore, but to lay down his life in a cause in which 
the salvation of souls was involved ; and having prayed together they 
separated. Coasting along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, the 
adventurers entered Green Bay, and passed thence up the Fox River and 
Lake Winnebago to a village of the Miamis and Kickapoos. Here Mar- 
quette was delighted to find a beautiful cross planted in the middle of the 
town ornamented with white skins, red girdles and bows and arrows, 
which these good people had offered to the Great Manitou, or God, to 
thank him for the pity he had bestowed on them during the Winter in 
giving them an abundant " chase." This was the farthest outpost to 
which Dablon and Allouez had extended their missionary labors the 
year previous. Here Marquette drank mineral waters and was instructed 
in the secret of a root which cures the bite of the venomous rattlesnake. 
He assembled the chiefs and old men of the village, and, pointing to 
Joliet, said: " My friend is an envoy of France, to discover new coun- 
tries, and I am an ambassador from God to enlighten them with the truths 
of the Gospel." Two Miami guides were here furnished to conduct 
them to the Wisconsin River, and they set out from the Indian village on 
the 10th of June, amidst a great crowd of natives who had assembled to 
witness their departure into a region where no white man had ever yet 
ventured. The guides, having conducted them across the portage, 
returned. The explorers launched their canoes upon the Wisconsin, 
which they descended to the Mississippi and proceeded down its unknown 
waters. What emotions must have swelled their breasts as they struck 
out into the broadening current and became conscious that they were 
now upon the bosom of ths Father of Waters. The mystery was about 
to be lifted from the long-sought river. The scenery in that locality is 
beautiful, and on that delightful seventeenth of June must have been 
clad in all its primeval loveliness as it had been adorned by the hand of 



22 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



Nature. Drifting rapidly, it is said that the bold bluffs on either hand 
" reminded them of the castled shores of their own beautiful rivers of 
France." By-and-by, as they drifted along, great herds of buffalo appeared 
on the banks. On going to the heads of the valley they could see a 
country of the greatest beauty and fertility, apparently destitute of inhab- 
itants yet presenting the appearance of extensive manors, under the fas- 
tidious cultivation of lordly proprietors. 




SOURCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 



On June 25, they went ashore and found some fresh traces of men upon 
the sand, and a path which led to the prairie. The men remained in the 
boat, and Marquette and Joliet followed the path till they discovered a 
village on the banks of a river, and two other villages on a hill, within a 
half league of the first, inhabited by Indians. They were received most 
hospitably by these natives, who had never before seen a white person. 
After remaining a few days they re-embarked and descended the river to 
about latitude 33, where they found a village of the Arkansas, and being 
satisfied that the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, turned their course 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 23 

up the river, and ascending the stream to the mouth of the Illinois, 
rowed up that stream to its source, and procured guides from that point 
to the lakes. " Nowhere on this journey," says Marquette, ' did we see 
such grounds, meadows, woods, stags, buffaloes, deer, wildcats, bustards, 
swans, ducks, parroquets, and even beavers, as on the Illinois River." 
The party, without loss or injury, reached Green Bay in September, and 
reported their discovery one of the most important of the age, but of 
which no record was preserved save Marquette 's, Joliet losing his by 
the upsetting of his canoe on his way to Quebec. Afterward Marquette 
returned to the Illinois Indians by their request, and ministered to them 
until 1675. On the 18th of May, in that year, as he was passing the 
mouth of a stream going with his boatmen up Lake Michigan he asked 
to land at its mouth and celebrate Mass. Leaving his men with the canoe, 
he retired a short distance and began his devotions. As much time 
passed and he did not return, his men went in search of him, and found 
him upon his knees, dead. He had peacefully passed away while at 
prayer. He was buried at this spot. Charlevoix, who visited the place 
fifty years after, found the waters had retreated from the grave, leaving 
the beloved missionary to repose in peace. The river has since been 
called Marquette. 

While Marquette and his companions were pursuing their labors in 
the West, two men, differing widely from "him and each other, were pre- 
paring to follow in his footsteps and perfect the discoveries so well begun 
by him. These were Robert de LaSalle and Louis Hennepin. 

After La Salle's return from the discovery of the Ohio . River (see 
the narrative elsewhere), he established himself again among the French 
trading posts in Canada. Here he mused long upon the pet project of 
those ages a short way to China and the East, and was busily planning an 
expedition up the great lakes, and so across the continent to the Pacific, 
when Marquette returned from the Mississippi. At once the vigorous mind 
of LaSalle received from his and his companions' stories the idea that by fol- 
lowing the Great River northward, or by turning up some of the numerous 
western tributaries, the object could easily be gained. He applied to 
Frontenac, Governor, General cf Canada, and laid before him the plan, 
dim but gigantic. Frontenac entered warrniy into his plans, and saw that 
LaSalle's idea to connect the great iakas by a chain of forts with the Gulf 
of Mexico would bind the country so wonderfully together, give un- 
measured power to France, and glory to himself, under whose; adminis- 
tration he earnestly hoped all would be realized. 

LaSalle now repaired to France, laid his plans before the King, who 
warmly approved of them, and made him a Chevalier. He also receiv-scl 
from all the noblemen the warmest wishes for his success. The Chev 



24 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



alier returned to Canada, and busily entered upon his work. He at 
once rebuilt Fort Frontenac and constructed the first ship to sail on 
these fresh-water seas. On the 7th of August, 1679, having been joined 
by Hennepin, he began his voyage in the Griffin up Lake Erie. He 
passed over this lake, through the straits beyond, up Lake St. Clair and 
into Huron. In this lake they encountered heavy storms. They were 
some time at Michillimackinac, where LaSalle founded e fort, and passed 
on to Green Bay, the " Baie des Puans " of the French, where he found 
a large quantity of furs collected for him. He loaded the Griffin with 
these, and placing her under the care of a pilot and fourteen sailors, 




LA SALLE LANDING ON THE SHORE OF GREEN BAY. 

started her on her return voyage. The vessel was never afterward heard 
of. He remained about these parts until early in the Winter, when, hear- 
ing nothing from the Griffin, he collected all the men thirty working 
men and three monks and started again upon his great undertaking. 

By a short portage they passed to the Illinois or Kankakee, called by 
the Indians, "Theakeke," wolf, because of the tribes of Indians called 
by that name, commonly known as the Mahingans, dwelling there. The 
French pronounced it Kiakiki, which became corrupted to Kankakee. 
"Falling down the said river by easy journeys, the better to observe the 
country," about the last of December they reached a village of the Illi- 
nois Indians, containing some five hundred cabins, but at that moment 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 25 

no inhabitants. The Seur de LaSalle being in want of some breadstuffs, 
took advantage of the absence of the Indians to help himself to a suffi- 
ciency of maize, large quantities of which he found concealed in holes 
under the wigwams. This village was situated near the present village 
of Utica in LaSalle County, Illinois. The corn being securely stored, 
the voyagers again betook themselves to the stream, and toward evening, 
on the 4th day of January, 1680, they came into a lake which must have 
been the lake of Peoria. This was called by the Indians Pim-i-te-wi, that 
is, a place where there are many fat beasts. Here the natives were met 
with in large numbers, but they were gentle and kind, and having spent 
some time with them, LaSalle determined to erect another fort in that 
place, for he had heard rumors that some of the adjoining tribes were 
trying to disturb the good feeling which existed, and some of his men 
were disposed to complain, owing to the hardships and perils of the travel. 
He called this fort " Crevecceur" (broken-heart), a name expressive of the 
very natural sorrow and anxiety which the pretty certain loss of his ship, 
Griffin, and his consequent impoverishment, the danger of hostility on the 
part of the Indians, and of mutiny among his own men, might well cause 
him. His fears were not entirely groundless. At one time poison was 
placed in his food, but fortunately was discovered. 

While building this fort, the Winter wore away, the prairies began to 
look green, and LaSalle, despairing of any reinforcements, concluded to 
return to Canada, raise new means and new men, arid embark anew in 
the enterprise. For -this purpose he made Hennepin the leader of a party 
to explore the head waters of the Mississippi, and he set out on his jour- 
ney. This journey was accomplished with the aid of a few persons, and 
was successfully made, though over an almost u iknown route, and in a 
bad season of the year. He safely reached Cana ^a, and set out again for 
the object of his search. 

Hennepin and his party left Fort Crevecceur on the last of February, 
1680. When LaSalle reached this place on his return expedition, he 
found the fort entirely deserted, and he was obliged to return again to 
Canada. He embarked the third time, and succeeded. Seven days after 
leaving the fort, Hennepin reached the Mississippi, and paddling up the 
icy stream as best he could, reached no higher than the Wisconsin River 
by the llth of April. Here he and his followers were taken prisoners by a 
band of Northern Indians, who treated them with great kindness. Hen- 
nepin's comrades were Anthony Auguel and Michael Ako. On this voy- 
age they found several beautiful lakes, and "saw some charming prairies." 
Their captors were the Isaute or Sauteurs, Chippewas, a tribe of the Sioux 
nation, who took them up the river until about the first of May, when 
they reached some falls, which Hennepin christened Falls of'St. Anthony 



26 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



in honor of his patron saint. Here they took the land, and traveling 
nearly two hundred miles to the northwest, brought them to their villages. 
Here they were kept about three months, were treated kindly by their 
captors, and at the end of that time, were met by a band of Frenchmen, 




BUFFALO HUNT. 



headed by one Seur de Luth, who, in pursuit of trade and game, had pene- 
crated thus far by the route of Lake Superior ; and with -these fellow- 
countrymen Hennepin and his companions were allowed to return to the 
borders of civilized life in November, 1680, just after LaSalle had 
returned to the wilderness on his second trip. Hennepin soon after went 
to France, where he published an account of his adventures. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 27 

The Mississippi was first discovered by De Soto in April, 1541, in his 
vain endeavor to find gold and precious gems. In the following Spring, 
De Soto, weary with hope long deferred, and worn out with his wander- 
ings, he fell a victim to disease, and on the 21st of May died. His followers, 
reduced by fatigue and disease to less than three hundred men, wandered 
about the country nearly a year, in the vain endeavor to rescue them- 
selves by land, and finally constructed seven small vessels, called brigan- 
tines, in which they embarked, and descending the river, supposing it 
would lead them to the sea, in July they came to the sea (Gulf of 
Mexico), and by September reached the Island of Cuba.- 

They were the first to see the great outlet of the Mississippi ; but, 
being so weary and discouraged, made no attempt to claim the country, 
and hardly had an intelligent idea of what they had passed through. 

To La Salle, the intrepid explorer, belongs the honor of giving the 
first account of the mouths of the river. His great desire was to possess 
this entire country for his king, and in January, 1682, he and his band of 
explorers left the shores of Lake Michigan on their third attempt, crossed 
the portage, passed down the Illinois River, and on the 6th of February, 
reached the banks of the Mississippi. 

On the 13th they commenced their downward course, which they 
pursued with but one interruption, until upon the 6th of March they dis- 
covered the three great passages by which the river discharges its waters 
into the gulf. La Salle thus narrates the event : 

" We landed on the bank of the most western channel, about three 
leagues (nine miles) from its mouth. On the seventh, M. de LaSalle 
went to reconnoiter the shores of the neighboring sea, and M. de Tonti 
meanwhile examined the great middle channel. They founc^ the main 
outlets beautiful, large and deep. On the 8th we reascended the river, a 
little above its confluence with the sea, to find a dry place beyond the 
reach of inundations. The elevation of the North Pole was here about 
twenty-seven degrees. Here we prepared a column and a cross, and to 
the column were affixed the arms of France with this inscription : 

Louis Le Grand, Roi De France et de Navarre, regne ; Le neuvieme Avril, 1682. 

The whole party, under arms, chanted the Te Deum, and then, after 
a salute and cries of " Vive le Roi" the column was erected by M. de 
La Salle, who, standing near it, proclaimed in a loud voice the authority of 
the King of France. LaSalle returned and laid the foundations of the Mis- 
sissippi settlements in Illinois, thence he proceeded to France, where 
another expedition was fitted out, of which he was commander, and in two 
succeeding voyages failed to find the outlet of the river by sailing along 
the shore of the gulf. On his third voyage he was killed, through the 



28 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



treachery of his followers, and the object of his expeditions was not 
accomplished until 1699, when D'Iberville, under the authority of the 
crown, discovered, on the second of March, by way of the sea, the mouth 
of the "Hidden River." This majestic stream was called by the natives 
" Malbouchia" and by the Spaniards, " la Palissade" from the great 




-.- 



% 



TRAPPING. 

number of trees about its mouth. After traversing the several outlets, 
and satisfying himself as to its certainty, he erected a fort near its western 
outlet, and returned to France. 

An avenue of trade was now opened out which was fully improved. 
In 1718, New Orleans was laid out and settled by some European colo- 
nists. In 1762, the colony was made over to Spain, to be regained by 
France under the consulate of Napoleon. In 1803, it was purchased by 






THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 29 

the United States for the sum of fifteen million dollars, and the territory 
of Louisiana and commerce of the Mississippi River came under the 
charge of the United States. Although LaSalle's labors ended in defeat 
and death, he had not worked and suffered in vain. He had thrown 
open to France and the world an immense and most valuable country ; 
had established several ports, and laid the foundations of more than one 
settlement there. " Peoria, Kaskaskia and Cahokia, are to this day monu- 
ments of LaSalle's labors ; for, though he had founded neither of them 
(unless Peoria, which was built nearly upon the site of Fort Crevecoeur,) 
it was by those whom he led into the West that these places were 
peopled and civilized. He was, if not the discoverer, the first settler of 
the Mississippi Valley, and as such deserves to be known and honored." 

The French early improved the opening made for them. Before the 
year 1698, the Rev. Father Gravier began a mission among the Illinois, 
and founded Kaskaskia. For some time this was merely a missionary 
station, where none but natives resided, it being one of three such vil- 
lages, tiie other two being Cahokia and Peoria. What is known of 
these missions is learned from a letter written by Father Gabriel Marest, 
dated " Aux Cascaskias, autrement dit de I'lmmaculate Conception de 
la Sainte Vierge, le 9 Novembre, 1712." Soon after the founding of 
Kaskaskia, the missionary, Pinet, gathered a flock at Cahokia, while 
Peoria arose near the ruins of Fort Crevecoeur. This must have been 
about the year 1700. The post at Vincennes on the Oubache river, 
(pronounced Wa"-ba", meaning summer cloud moving swiftly') was estab- 
lished in 1702, according to the best authorities.* It is altogether prob- 
able that on LaSalle's last trip he established the stations at Kaskaskia 
and Cahokia. In July, 1701, the foundations of Fort Ponchartrain 
were laid by De la Motte Cadillac on the Detroit River. These sta- 
tions, with those established further north, were the earliest attempts to 
occupy the Northwest Territory. At the same time efforts were being 
made to occupy the Southwest, which finally culminated in the settle- 
ment and founding of the City of New Orleans by a colony from England 
in 1718. This was mainly accomplished through the efforts of the 
famous Mississippi Company, established by the notorious John Law, 
who so quickly arose into prominence in France, and who with his 
scheme so quickly and so ignominiously passed away. 

From the time of the founding of these stations for fifty years the 
French nation were engrossed with the settlement of the lower Missis- 
sippi, and the war with the Chicasaws, who had, in revenge for repeated 

* There Is considerable dispute about this date, some asserting it was founded as late as 1742. When 
the new court house at Vlncunnes was erected, all authorities on the subject were carefully examined, and 
i Y02 fixed upon as the correct date. It was accordingly engraved on the corner-stone of the court house. 



30 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

injuries, cut off the entire colony at Natchez. Although the company 
did little for Louisiana, as the entire West was then called, yet it opened 
the trade through the Mississippi River, and started the raising of grains 
indigenous to that climate. Until the year 1750, but little is known of 
the settlements in the Northwest, as it was not until this time that the 
attention of the English was called to the occupation of this portion of the 
New World, which they then supposed they owned. Vivier, a missionary 
among the Illinois, writing from " Aux Illinois," six leagues from Fort 
Chartres, June 8, 1750, says: "We have here whites, negroes and 
Indians, to say nothing of cross-breeds. There are five French villages, 
and three villages of the natives, within a space of twenty-one leagues 
situated between the Mississippi and another river called the Karkadaid 
(Kaskaskias). In the five French villages are, perhaps, eleven hundred 
whites, three hundred blacks and some sixty red slaves or savages. The 
three Illinois towns do not contain more than eight hundred souls all 
told. Most of the French till the soil; they raise wheat, cattle, pigs and 
horses, and live like princes. Three times as much is produced as can 
be consumed ; and great quantities of grain and flour are sent to New 
Orleans." This city was now the seaport town of the Northwest, and 
save in the extreme northern part, where only furs and copper ore were 
found, almost all the products of the country found their way to France 
by the mouth of the Father of Waters. In another letter, dated Novem- 
ber 7, 1750, this same priest says : " For fifteen leagues above the 
mouth of the Mississippi one sees no dwellings, the ground being too low 
to be habitable. Thence to New Orleans, the lands are only partially 
occupied. New Orleans contains black, white and red, not more, I 
think, than twelve hundred persons. To this point come all lumber, 
bricks, salt-beef, tallow, tar, skins and bear's grease ; and above all, pork 
and flour from the Illinois. These things create some commerce, as forty 
vessels and more have come hither this year. Above New Orleans, 
plantations are again met with ; the most considerable is a colony of 
Germans, some ten leagues up the river. At Point Coupee, thirty-five 
leagues above the German settlement, is a fort. Along here, within five 
or six leagues, are not less than sixty habitations. Fifty leagues farther 
up is the Natchez post, where we have a garrison, who are kept prisoners 
through fear of the Chickasaws. Here and at Point Coupee, they raise 
excellent tobacco. Another hundred leagues brings us to the Arkansas, 
where we have also a fort and a garrison for the benefit of the river 
traders. * * * From the Arkansas to the Illinois, nearly five hundred 
leagues, there is not a settlement. There should be, however, a fort at 
the Oubache (Ohio), the only path by which the Engjish can reach the 
Mississippi. In the Illinois country are numberless mines, but no one to 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



31 



work them as they deserve." Father Marest, writing from the post at 
Vincennes in 181 2, makes the same observation. Vivier also says : " Some 
individuals dig lead near the surface and supply the Indians and Canada. 
Two Spaniards now here, who claim to be adepts, say that our mines are 
like those of Mexico, and that if we would dig deeper, we should find 
silver under the lead ; and at any rate the lead is excellent. There is also 
in this country, beyond doubt, copper ore, as from time to time large 
pieces are found in the streams." 




MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 



At the close of the year 1750, the French occupied, in addition to the 
lower Mississippi posts arid those in Illinois, one at Du Quesne, one at 
the Maumee in the country of the Miamis, and one at Sandusky in what 
may be termed the Ohio Valley. In the northern part of the Northwest 
they had stations at. St. Joseph's on the St. Joseph's of Lake Michigan, 
at Fort Ponchartiain (Detroit), at Michillimackanac or Massillimacanac, 
Fox River of Green Bay, and at Sault Ste. Marie. The fondest dreams of 
LaSalle were now fully realized. The French alone were possessors of 
this vast realm, basing their claim on discovery and settlement. Another 
nation, however, was now turning its attention to this extensive country, 



32 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

and hearing of its wealth, began to lay plans for occupying it and for 
securing the great profits arising therefrom. 

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



DISCOVERY OF THE OHIO. 

This " Beautiful " river was discovered by Robert Cavalier de La- 
Salle in 1669, four years before the discovery of the Mississippi by Joliet 
and Marquette. 

While LaSalle was at his trading post on the St. Lawrence, he found 
leisure to study nine Indian dialects, the chief of which was the Iroquois. 
He not only desired to facilitate his intercourse in trade, but he longed 
to travel and explore the unknown regions of the West. An incident 
soon occurred which decided him to fit out an exploring expedition. 

While conversing with some Senecas, he. learned of a river called the 
Ohio, which rose in their country and flowed to the sea, but at such a 
distance that it required eight months to reach its mouth. In this state- 
ment the Mississippi and its tributaries were considered as one stream. 
LaSalle believing* as most of the French at that period did, that the great 
rivers flowing west emptied into the Sea of California, was anxious to 
embark in the enterprise of discovering a route across the continent to 
the commerce of China and Japan. 

He repaired at once to Quebec to obtain the approval of the Gov- 
ernor. His eloquent appeal prevailed. The Governor and the Intendant, 
Talon, issued letters patent authorizing the enterprise, but made no pro- 
vision to defray the expenses. At this juncture the seminary of St. Sul- 
pice decided to send out missionaries in connection with the expedition, 
and LaSalle offering to sell his improvements at LaChine to raise money, 
the offer was accepted by the Superior, and two thousand eight hundred 
dollars were raised, with which LaSalle purchased four canoes and the 
necessary supplies for the outfit. 

On the 6th of July, 1669, the party, numbering twenty-four persons, 
embarked in seven canoes on the St. Lawrence ; two additional canoes 
carried the Indian guides. In three days they were gliding over the 
bosom of Lake Ontario. Their guides conducted them directly to the 
Seneca village on the bank of the Genesee, in the vicinity of the present 
City of Rochester, New York. Here they expected to procure guides to 
conduct them to the Ohio, but in this they were disappointed. 

The Indians seemed unfriendly to the enterprise. LaSalle suspected 
that the Jesuits had prejudiced their minds against his plans. After 
waiting a month in the hope of gaining their object, they met an Indian 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



33 



from the Iroquois colony at the head of Lake Ontario, who assured them 
that they could there find guides, and offered to conduct them thence. 

On their way they passed the mouth of the Niagara River, when they 
heard for the first time the distant thunder of the cataract. Arriving 




IIIGH BKIDGE, LAKK BLUFF, LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



among the Iroquois, they met with a friendly reception, and learned 
from a Shawanee prisoner that they could reach the Ohio in six weeks. 
Delighted with the unexpected good fortune, they made ready to resume 
their journey ; but just as they were about to start they heard of the 
arrival of two Frenchmen in a neighboring village. One of them proved 
to be Louis Joliet, afterwards famous as an explorer in the West. He ' 



34 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

had been sent by the Canadian Government to explore the copper mines 
on Lake Superior, but had failed, and was on his way back to Quebec. 
He gave the missionaries a map of the country he had explored in the 
lake region, together with an account of the condition of the Indians in 
that quarter. This induced the priests to determine on leaving the 
expedition and going to Lake Superior. LaSalle warned them that the 
Jesuits were probably occupying that field, and that they would meet 
with a cold reception. Nevertheless they persisted in their purpose, and 
after worship on the lake shore, parted from LaSalle. On arriving at 
Lake Superior, they found, as LaSalle had predicted, the Jesuit Fathers, 
Marquette and Dablon, occupying the field. 

These zealous disciples of Loyola informed them that they wanted 
no assistance from St. Sulpice, nor from those who made him their patron 
saint ; and thus repulsed, they returned to Montreal the following June 
without having made a single discovery or converted a single Indian. 

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

The account of the latter part of his journey is found in an anony- 
mous paper, which purports to have been taken from the lips of LaSalle 
himself during a subsequent visit to Paris. In a letter written to Count 
Frontenac in 1667, shortly after the discovery, he himself says that he 
discovered the Ohio and descended it to the falls. This was regarded as 
an indisputable fact by the French authorities, who claimed the Ohio 
Valley upon another ground. When Washington was sent by the colony 
of Virginia in 1753, to demand of Gordeur de St. Pierre why the French 
had built a fort on the Monongahela, the haughty commandant at Quebec 
replied : " We claim the country on the Ohio by virtue of the discoveries 
of LaSalle, and will not give it up to the English. Our orders are to 
make prisoners of every Englishman found trading in the Ohio Valley." 



ENGLISH EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS. 

When the new year of 1750 broke in upon the Father of Waters 
and the Great Northwest, all was still wild save at the French posts 
already described. In 1749, when the English first began to think seri- 
ously about sending men into the West, the greater portion of the States 
of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota were yet 
under the dominion of the red men. The English knew, however, pretty 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 35 

conclusively of the nature of the wealth of these wilds. As early as 
1710, Governor Spotswood, of Virginia, -had commenced movements to 
secure the country west of the Alleghenies to the English crown. In 
Pennsylvania, Governor Keith and James Logan, secretary of the prov- 
ince, from 1719 to 1731, represented to the powers of England the neces- 
sity of securing the Western lands. Nothing was done, however, by that 
power save to take some diplomatic steps to secure the claims of Britain 
to this unexplored wilderness. 

England had from the outset claimed from the Atlantic to the Pacific, 
on the ground that the discovery of the seacoast and its possession was a 
discovery and possession of the country, and, as is well known, her grants 
to the colonies extended " from sea to sea." This was not all her claim. 
She had purchased from the Indian tribes large tracts of land. This lat- 
ter was also a strong argument. As early as 1684, Lord Howard, Gov- 
ernor of Virginia, held a treaty with the six nations. These were the 
great Northern Confederacy, and comprised at first the Mohawks, Onei- 
das, Onondagas, Cayugas, arid Senecas. Afterward the Tuscaroras were 
taken into the confederacy, and it became known as the Six NATIONS. 
They came under the protection of the mother country, and again in 
1701, they repeated the agreement, and in September, 1726, a formal deed 
was drawn up and signed by the chiefs. The validity pf this claim has 
often been disputed, but never successfully. In 1744, a purchase was 
made at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, of certain lands within the " Colony of 
Virginia," for which the Indians received X200 in gold and a like sum in 
goods, with a promise that, as settlements increased, more should be paid. 
The Commissioners from Virginia were Colonel Thomas Lee and Colonel 
William Beverly. As settlements extended, the promise of more pay was 
called to mind, and Mr. Conrad Weiser was sent across the mountains with 
presents to appease the savages. Col. Lee, and some Virginians accompa- 
nied him with the intention of sounding the Indians upon their feelings 
regarding the English. They were not satisfied with their treatment, 
and plainly told the Commissioners why. The English did not desire the 
cultivation of the country, but the monopoly of the Indian trade. In 
1748, the Ohio Company was formed, and petitioned the king for a grant 
of land beyond the Alleghenies. This was granted, and the government 
of Virginia was ordered to grant to them a half million acres, two hun- 
dred thousand of which were to be located at once. Upon the 12th of 
June, 1749, 800,000 acres from the line of Canada north and west was 
made to the Loyal Company, and on the 29th of October, 1751, 100,000 
acres were given to the Greenbriar Company. All this time the French 
were not idle. They saw that, should the British gain a foothold in tlie 
West, especially upon the Ohio, they might not only prevent the French 



36 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

settling upon it, but in time would come to the lower posts and so gain 
possession of the whole country. Upon the 10th of May, 1774, Vaud- 
reuil, Governor of Canada and the French possessions, well knowing the 
consequences that must arise from allowing the English to build trading 
posts in the Northwest, seized some of their frontier posts, and to further 
secure the claim of the French to the West, he, in 1749, sent Louis Cel- 
eron with a party of soldiers to plant along the Ohio River, in the mounds 
and at the mouths of its principal tributaries, plates of lead, on which 
were inscribed the claims of France. These were heard of in 1752, and 
within the memory of residents now living along the " Oyo," as the 
beautiful river was called by the French. One of these plates was found 
with the inscription partly defaced. It bears date August 16, 1749, and 
a copy of the inscription with particular account of the discovery of the 
plate, was sent by DeWitt Clinton to the American Antiquarian Society, 
among whose journals it may now be found.* These measures did not, 
however, deter the English from going on with their explorations, and 
though neither party resorted to arms, yet the conflict was gathering, and 
it was only ( a question of time when the storm would burst upon the 
frontier settlements. In 1750, Christopher Gist was sent by the Ohio 
Company to examine its lands. He went to a village of the Twigtwees, 
on the Miami, about one hundred and fifty miles above its mouth. He 
afterward spoke of it as very populous. From there he went down, 
the Ohio River nearly to the falls at the present City of Louisville, 
and in November he commenced a survey of the Company's lands. Dur- 
ing the Winter, General Andrew Lewis performed a similar work for the 
Greenbriar Company. Meanwhile the French were busy in preparing 
their forts for defense, and in opening roads, and also sent a small party 
of soldiers to keep the Ohio clear. This party, having heard of the Eng- 
lish post on the Miami River, early in 1652, assisted by the Ottawas and 
Chippewas, attacked it, and, after a severe battle, in which fourteen of 
the natives were killed and others wounded, captured the garrison. 
(They were probably garrisoned in a block house). The traders were 
carried away to Canada, and one account says several were burned. This 
fort or post was called by the English Pickawillany. A memorial of the 
king's ministers refers to it as " Pickawillanes, in the center of the terri- 
tory between the Ohio and the Wabash. The name is probably some 
variation of Pickaway or Picqua in 1773, written by Rev. David Jones 
Pickaweke." 

* The following Is a translation of the Inscription on the plate: "In the year 1749, reign of Louis XV., 
King of France, we, Celeron, commandant of a detachment by Monsieur the Marquis of Gallisoniere, com- 
mander-in-chief of New France, to establish tranquility in certain Indian villages of these cantons, have 
buried this plate at the confluence of the Toradakoin, this twenty- ninth of July, near the river Ohio, otherwise 
Beautiful River, as a monument of renewal of possession which we have taken of the said river, and all its 
tributaries; inasmuch as the preceding Kings of France have enjoyed it, and maintained it by their arms and 
treaties; especially by those of Ryswick, Utrecht, and Aix La Chapelle." 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 37 

This was the first blood shed between the French and English, and 
occurred near the present City of Piqua, Ohio, or at least at a point about 
forty-seven miles north of Dayton. Each nation became now more inter- 
ested in the progress of events in the Northwest. The English deter- 
mined to purchase from the Indians a title to the lands they wished to 
occupy, and Messrs. Fry (afterward Commander-in-chief over Washing- 
ton at the commencement of the French War of 17751763), Lomax and 
Patton were sent in the Spring of 1752 to hold, a conference with the 
natives at Logstown to learn what they objected to in the treaty of Lan- 
caster already noticed, and to settle all difficulties. On the 9th of June, 
these Commissioners met the red men at Logstown, a little village on the 
north bank of the Ohio, about seventeen miles below the site of Pitts- 
burgh. Here had been a trading point for many years, but it was aban- 
doned by the Indians in 1750. At first the Indians declined to recognize 
the treaty of Lancaster, but, the Commissioners taking aside Montour, 
the interpreter, who was a son of the famous Catharine Montour, and a 
chief among the six nations, induced him to use his influence in their 
favor. This he did, and upon the 13th of June they all united in signing 
a deed, confirming the Lancaster treaty in its full extent, consenting to a 
settlement of the southeast of the Ohio, and guaranteeing that it should 
not be disturbed by them. These were the means used to obtain the first 
treaty with the Indians in the Ohio Valley. 

Meanwhile the powers beyond the sea were trying to out-manoeuvre 
each other, and were professing to be at peace. The English generally 
outwitted the Indians, and failed in many instances to fulfill their con- 
tracts. They thereby gained the ill-will of the red men, and further 
increased the feeling by failing to provide them with arms and ammuni- 
tion. Said an old chief, at Easton, in 1758 : " The Indians on the Ohio 
left you because of your own fault. When we heard the French were 
coming, we asked you for help and arms, but we did not get them. The 
French came, they treated us kindly, and gained our affections. The 
Governor of Virginia settled on our lands for his own benefit, and, when 
we wanted help, forsook us." 

At the beginning of 1653, the English thought they had secured by 
title the lands in the West, but the French had quietly gathered cannon 
and military stores to be in readiness for the expected blow. The Eng- 
lish made other attempts to ratify these existing treaties, but not until 
the Summer could the Indians be gathered 'together to discuss the plans 
of the French. They had sent messages to the French, warning them 
away ; but they replied that they intended to complete the chain of forts 
already beguu. and would not abandon the field. 

Soon after this, no satisfaction being obtained from the Ohio regard- 



38 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

ing the positions and purposes of the French, Governor Dinwiddie of 
Virginia determined to send to them another messenger and learn from 
them, if possible, their intentions. For this purpose he sele.cted a young 
man, a surveyor, .who, at the early age of nineteen, had received the rank 
of major, and who was thoroughly posted regarding frontier life. This 
personage was no other than the illustrious George Washington, who then 
held considerable interest in Western lands. He was at this time just 
twenty-two years of age. Taking Gist as his guide, the two, accompanied 
by four servitors, set out on their perilous march. They left Will's 
Creek on the 10th of November, 1753, and on the 22d reached the Monon- 
gahela, about ten miles above the fork. From there they went to 
Logstown, where Washington had a long conference with the chiefs of 
the Si:: Nations. From them he learned the condition of the French, and 
also heard of their determination not to come down the river till the fol- 
lowing Spring. The Indians were non-committal, as they were afraid to 
turn either way, and, as far as they could, desired to remain neutral. 
Washington, finding nothing could be done with them, went on to 
Venango, an old Indian town at the mouth of French Creek. Here the 
French had a fort, called Fort Machault. Through the rum and flattery 
of the French, he nearly lost all his Indian followers. Finding nothing 
of importance here, he pursued his way amid great privations, and on the 
llth of December reached the fort at the head of French Creek. Here 
he delivered Governor Dinwiddie's letter, received his answer, took his 
observations, and on the 16th set out upon his return journey with no one 
but Gist, his guide, and a few Indians who still remained true to him, 
notwithstanding the endeavors of the French to retain them. Their 
homeward journey was one of great peril and suffering from the cold, yet 
they reached home in safety on the 6th of January, 1754. 

From the letter of St. Pierre, commander of the French fort, sent by 
Washington to Governor Dinwiddie, it was learned that the French would 
not give up without a struggle. Active preparations were at once made 
in all the English colonies for the coming conflict, while the French 
finished the fort at Venango and strengthened their lines of fortifications, 
and gathered their forces to be in readiness. 

The Old Dominion was all alive. Virginia was the center of great 
activities ; volunteers were called for, and from all the neighboring 
colonies men rallied to the conflict, and everywhere along the Potomac 
men were enlisting under the Governor's proclamation which promised 
two hundred thousand acres on the Ohio. Along this river they were 
gathering as far as Will's Creek, and far beyond this point, whither Trent 
had come for assistance for his little band of forty-one men, who were 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 39 

working away in hunger and want, to fortify that point at the fork of 
the Ohio, to which both parties were looking with deep interest. 

" The first birds of Spring filled the air with their song ; the swift 

'river rolled by the Allegheny hillsides, swollen by the melting snows of 
Spring and the April showers. The leaves were appearing ; a few Indian 
scouts were seen, but no enemy seemed near at hand ; and all was so quiet, 
that Frazier, an old Indian scout and trader, who had been left by Trent 
in command, ventured to his home at the mouth of Turtle Creek, ten 
miles up the Monongahela. But, though all was so quiet in that wilder- 
ness, keen eyes had seen the low intrenchment rising at the fork, and 
swift feet had borne the news of it up the river ; and upon the morning 
of the 17th of April, Ensign Ward, who then had charge of it, saw 
upon the Allegheny a sight that made his heart sink sixty batteaux and 
three hundred canoes filled with men, and laden deep with cannon and 
stores. * * * That evening he supped with his captor, Contrecosur, 
and the next day he was bowed off by the Frenchman, and with his men 
and tools, marched up the Monongahela." 

The French and Indian war had begun. The treaty of Aix la 
Chapelle, in 1748, had left the boundaries between the French and 
English possessions unsettled, and the events already narrated show the 
French were determined to hold the country watered by the Mississippi 
and its tributaries ; while the English laid claims to the country by virtue 
of the discoveries of the Cabots, and claimed all the country from New- 
foundland to Florida, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The 
first decisive blow had now been struck, and the first attempt of the 
English, through the Ohio Company, to occupy these lands, had resulted 

. disastrously to them. The French and Indians immediately completed 
the fortifications begun at the Fork, which they had so easily captured, 
and when completed gave to the fort the name of DuQuesne. Washing- 
ton was at Will's Creek when the news of the capture of the fort arrived. 
He at once departed to recapture it. On his way he entrenched him- 
self at a place called the " Meadows," where he erected a fort called 
by him Fort Necessity. From there he surprised and captured a force of 
French and Indians marching against him, but was soon after attacked 
in his fort by a much superior force, and was obliged to yield on the 
morning of July 4th. He was allowed to return to Virginia. 

The English Government immediately planned four campaigns ; one 
against Fort DuQuesne ; one against Nova Scotia ; one against Fort 
Niagara, and one against Crown Point. These occurred during 1755--6, 
and were not successful in driving the French from their possessions. 
The expedition against Fort DuQuesne was led by the famous General 
Braddock, who, refusing to listen to the advice of Washington and those 



40 'J-'HE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

acquainted with Indian warfare, suffered such an inglorious defeat. This 
occurred on the morning of July 9th, and is generally known as the battle 
of Monongahela, or " Braddock's Defeat." The war continued with 
various vicissitudes through the years 1756-7 ; when, at the commence- 
ment of 1758, in accordance with the plans of William Pitt, then Secre- 
tary of State, afterwards Lord Chatham, active preparations were made to 
carry on the war. Three expeditions were planned for this year : one, 
under General Amherst, against Louisburg ; another, under Abercrombie, 
against Fort Ticonderoga ; and a third, under General Forbes, against 
Fort DuQuesne. On the 26th of July, Louisburg surrendered after a 
desperate resistance of more than forty days, and the eastern part of the 
Canadian possessions fell into the hands of the British. Abercrombie 
captured Fort Frontenac, and when the expedition against Fort DuQuesne, 
of which Washington had the active command, arrived there, it was 
found in flames and deserted. The English at once took possession, 
rebuilt the fort, and in honor of their illustrious statesman, changed the 
name to Fort Pitt. 

The great object of the campaign of 1759, was the reduction of 
Canada. General Wolfe was to lay siege to Quebec ; Amherst was to 
reduce Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and General Prideaux was to 
capture Niagara. This latter place was taken in July, but the gallant 
Prideaux lost his life in the attempt. Amherst captured Ticonderoga 
and Crown Point without a blow ; and Wolfe, after making the memor- 
able ascent to the Plains of Abraham, on September 13th, defeated 
Montcalm, and on the 18th, the city capitulated. In this engagement 
Montcolm and Wolfe both lost their lives. De Levi, Montcalm's successor, 
marched to Sillery, three miles above the city, with the purpose of 
defeating the English, and there, on the 28th of the following April, was 
fought one of the bloodiest battles of the French and Indian War. It 
resulted in the defeat of the French, and the fall of the City of Montreal. 
The Governor signed a capitulation by which the whole of Canada was 
surrendered to the English. This practically concluded the war, but it 
was not until 1763 that the treaties of peace between France and England 
were signed. This was done on the 10th of February of that year, and 
under its provisions all the country east of the Mississippi and north of 
the Iberville River, in Louisiana, were ceded to England. At the same 
time Spain ceded Florida to Great Britain. 

On the 13th of September, 1760, Major Robert Rogers was sent 
from Montreal to take charge of Detroit, the only remaining French post 
in the territory. He arrived there on the 19th of November, and sum- 
moned the place to surrender. At first the commander of the post, 
Beletre : refused, but on the 29th, hearing of the continued defeat of the 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. ^L 

French arms, surrendered. Rogers remained there until December 23d 
under the personal protection of the celebrated chief, Pontiac, to whom, 
no doubt,, he owed his safety. Pontiac had come here to inquire the 
purposes of the English in taking possession of the country. He was 
assured that they came simply to trade with the natives, and did not 
desire their country. This answer conciliated the savages, and did much 
to insure the safety of Rogers and his, party during their stay, and while 
on their journey home. 

Rogers set out for Fort Pitt on December 23, and was just one 
month on the way. His route was from Detroit to Maumee, thence 
across the present State of Ohio directly to the fort. This was the com- 
mon trail of the Indians in their journeys from Sandusky to the fork of 
the Ohio. It went from Fort Sandusky, where Sandusky City now is, 
crossed the Huron river, then called Bald Eagle Creek, to " Mohickon 
John's Town" on Mohickon Creek, the northern branch of White 
Woman's River, and thence crossed to Beaver's Town, a Delaware town 
on what is now Sandy Creek. At Beaver's Town were probably one 
hundred and fifty warriors, arid not less than three thousand acres of 
cleared land. From there the track went up Sandy Creek to and across 
Big Beaver, and up the Ohio to Logstown, thence on to the fork. 

The Northwest Territory was now entirely under the English rule. 
New settlements began to be rapidly made, and the promise of a large 
trade was speedily manifested. Had the British carried out their promises 
with the natives none of those savage butcheries would have been perpe- 
trated, and the country would have been spared their recital. 

The renowned chief, Pontiac, was one- of the leading spirits in these 
atrocities. We will now pause in our narrative, and notice the leading 
events in his life. The earliest authentic information regarding this 
noted Indian chief is learned from an account of an Indian trader named 
Alexander Henry, who, in the Spring of 1761, penetrated his domains as 
far as Missillimacnac. Pontiac was then a great friend of the French, 
but a bitter foe of the English, whom he considered as encroaching on his 
hunting grounds. Henry was obliged to disguise himself as a Canadian 
to insure safety, but was discovered by Pontiac, who bitterly reproached 
him and the English for their attempted subjugation of the West. He 
declared that no treaty had been made with them; no presents sent 
them, and that he would resent any possession of the West by that nation. 
He was at the time about fifty years of age, tall and dignified, and was 
civil arid military ruler of the Ottawas, Ojibwas and Pottawatamies. 

The Indians, from Lake Michigan to the borders of North Carolina, 
were united in this feeling, and at the time of the treaty of Paris, ratified 
February 10, 1763, a general conspiracy was formed to fall suddenly 



42 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 




PONTIAC, THE OTTAWA CHIEFTAIN. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 4$ 

upon the frontier British posts, and with one blow strike every man dead. 
Pontiac was the marked leader in all this, and was the commander 
of the Chippewas, Ottawas, Wvandots, Miamis, Shawanese, Delawares 
and Mingoes, who had, for the time, laid aside their local quarrels to unite 
in this enterprise. 

The blow came, as near as can now be ascertained, on May 7, 1763. 
Nine British posts fell, and the Indians drank, " scooped up in the hollow 
of joined hands," the blood of many a Briton. 

Pontiac's immediate field of action was the garrison at Detroit. 
Here, however, the plans were frustrated by an Indian woman disclosing 
the plot the evening previous to his arrival. Everything was carried out, 
however, according to Pontiac's plans until the moment of action, when 
Major Gladwyn, the commander of the post, stepping to one of the Indian 
chiefs, suddenly drew aside his blanket and disclosed the concealed 
musket. Pontiac, though a brave man, turned pale and trembled. He 
saw his plan was known, and that the garrison were prepared. He 
endeavored to exculpate himself from any such intentions ; but the guilt 
was evident, and he and his followers were dismissed with a severe 
reprimand, and warned never to again enter the walls of the post. 

Pontiac at once laid siege to the fort, and until the treaty of peace 
between the British and the Western Indians, concluded in August, 1764, 
continued to harass and besiege the fortress. He organized a regular 
commissariat department, issued bills of credit written out on bark, 
which, to his credit, it may be stated, were punctually redeemed. At 
the conclusion of the treaty, in which it seems he took no part, he went 
further south, living many years among the Illinois. 

He had given up all hope of saving his country and race. After a 
time he endeavored to unite the Illinois tribe and those about St. Louis 
in a war with the whites. His efforts were fruitless, and only ended in a 
quarrel between himself and some Kaskaskia Indians, one of whom soon 
afterwards killed him. His death was, however, avenged by the northern 
Indians, who nearly exterminated the Illinois in the wars which followed. 

Had it not been for the treachery of a few of his followers, his plan 
for the extermination of the whites, a masterly one, would undoubtedly 
have been carried out. 

It was in the Spring of the year following Rogers' visit that Alex- 
ander Henry went to Missillimacnac, and everywhere found the strongest 
feelings against the English, who had not carried out their promises, and 
were doing nothing to conciliate the natives. Here he met the cRief, 
Pontiac, who, after conveying to him in a speech the idea that their 
French father would awake soon and ntterly destroy his enemies, said : 
" Englishman, although you have conquered the French, you have not 



44 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

yet conquered us ! We are not your slaves ! These lakes, these woods, 
these mountains, were left us by our ancestors. They are our inheritance, 
and we will part with them to none. Your nation supposes that we, like 
the white people, can not live without bread and pork and beef. But you 
ought to know that He, the Great Spirit and Master of Life, has provided 
food for us upon these broad lakes and in these mountains." 

He then spoke of the fact that no treaty had been made with them, 
no presents sent them, and that he and his people were yet for war. 
Such were the feelings of the Northwestern Indians immediately after 
the English took possession of their country. These feelings were no 
doubt encouraged by the Canadians and French, who hoped that yet the 
French arms might prevail. The treaty of Paris, however, gave to the 
English the right to this vast domain, and active preparations were going 
on to occupy it and enjoy its trade and emoluments. 

In 1762, France, by a secret treaty, ceded Louisiana to Spain, to pre- 
vent it falling into the hands of the English, who were becoming masters 
of the entire West. The next year the treaty of Paris, signed at Fon- 
tainbleau, gave to the English the domain of the country in question. 
Twenty years after, by the treaty of peace between the United States 
and England, that part of Canada lying south and west of the Great 
Lakes, comprehending a large territory which is the subject of these 
sketches, was acknowledged to be a portion of the United States ; and 
twenty years still later, in 1803, Louisiana was ceded by Spain back to 
France, and by France sold to the United States. 

In the half century, from the building of the Fort of Crevecoeur by 
LaSalle, in 1680, up to the erection of Fort Chartres, many French set- 
tlements had been made in that quarter. These have already been 
noticed, -being those at St. Vincent (Vincennes), Kohokia or Cahokia, 
Kaskaskia and Prairie du Rocher, on the American Bottom, a large tract 
of rich alluvial soil in Illinois, on the Mississippi, opposite the site of St. 
Louis. 

By the treaty of Paris, the regions east of the Mississippi, including 
all these and other towns of the Northwest, were given over to England ; 
but they do not appear to have btsn taken possession of until 1765, when 
Captain Stirling, in the name of the Majesty of England, established him- 
self at Fort Chartres bearing with him the proclamation of General Gage, 
dated December 30, 1764, which promised religious freedom to all Cath- 
olics who worshiped here, and a right to leave the country with their 
effects if they wished, or to remain with the privileges of Englishmen. 
It was shortly after the occupancy of the West by the British that the 
war with Pontiac opened. It is already noticed in the sketch of that 
chieftain- By it many a Briton lost his life, and many a frontier settle- 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 45 

ment in its infancy ceased to exist. This was not ended until the year 
1764, when, failing to capture Detroit, Niagara and Fort Pitt, his confed- 
eracy became disheartened, and, receiving no aid from the French, Pon- 
tiac abandoned the enterprise and departed to the Illinois, among whom 
he afterward lost his life. 

As soon as these difficulties were definitely settled, settlers began 
rapidly to survey the country and prepare for occupation. During the 
year 1770, a number of persons from Virginia and other British provinces 
explored and marked out nearly all the valuable lands on the Mononga- 
hela and along the banks of the Ohio as far as the Little Kanawha. This 
was followed by another exploring expedition, in which George Washing- 
ton was a party. The latter, accompanied by Dr. Craik, Capt. Crawford 
and others, on the 20th of October, 1770, descended the Ohio from Pitts- 
burgh to the mouth of the Kanawha ; ascended that stream about fourteen 
miles, marked out several large tracts of land, shot several buffalo, which 
were then abundant in the Ohio Valley, and returned to the fort. 

Pittsburgh was at this time a trading post, about which was clus- 
tered a village of some twenty houses, inhabited by Indian traders. This 
same year, Capt. Pittman visited Kaskaskia and its neighboring villages. 
He found there about sixty -five resident families, and at Cahokia only 
forty-five dwellings. At Fort Chartres was another small settlement, and 
at Detroit the garrison were quite prosperous and strong. For a year 
or two settlers continued to locate near some of these posts, generally 
Fort Pitt or Detroit, owing to the fears of the Indians, who still main- 
tained some feelings of hatred to the English. The trade from the posts 
was quite good, and from those in Illinois large quantities of pork and 
flour found their way to the New Orleans market. At this time the 
policy of the British Government was strongly opposed to the extension 
of the colonies west. In 1763, the King of England forbade, by royal 
proclamation, his colonial subjects from making a settlement beyond the 
sources of the rivers which fall into the Atlantic Ocean. At the instance 
of the Board of Trade, measures were taken to prevent the settlement 
without the limits prescribed, and to retain the commerce within easy 
reach of Great Britain. 

The commander-in-chief of the king's forces wrote in 1769 : " In the 
course of a few years necessity will compel the colonists, should they 
3xtend their settlements west, to provide manufactures of some kind for 
themselves, and when all connection upheld by commerce with the mother 
mntry ceases, an independency in their government will soon follow." 

In accordance with this policy, Gov. Gage issued a proclamation 
in 1772, commanding the inhabitants of Vincennes to abandon their set- 
lements and join some of the Eastern English colonies. To this they 



46 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

strenuously objected, giving good reasons therefor, and were allowed to 
remain. The strong opposition to this policy of Great Britain led to its 
change, and to such a course as to gain the attachment of the French 
population. In December, 1773, influential citizens of Quebec petitioned 
the king for an extension of the boundary lines of that province, which 
was granted, and Parliament passed an act on June 2, 1774, extend- 
ing the boundary so as to include the territory lying within the present 
States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. 

In consequence of the liberal policy pursued by the British Govern- 
ment toward the French settlers in the West, they were disposed to favor 
that nation in the war which soon followed with the colonies ; but the 
early alliance between France and America soon brought them to the side 
of the war for independence. 

In 1774, Gov. Dunmore, of Virginia, began to encourage emigration 
to the Western lands. He appointed magistrates at Fort Pitt under the 
pretense that the fort was under, the government of that commonwealth. 
One of these justices, John Connelly, who possessed a tract of land in the 
Ohio Valley, gathered a force of men and garrisoned the fort, calling it 
Fort Dunmore. This and other parties were formed to select sites for 
settlements, and often ca;ne in conflict with the Indians, who yet claimed 
portions of the valley, and several battles followed. These ended in the 
famous oattle of Kanawha in July, where the Indians were defeated and 
driven across the Ohio. 

During the years 1775 and 1776, by the operations of land companies 
and the perseverance of individuals, several settlements were firmly estab- 
lished between the Alleghanies and the Ohio River, and western land 
speculators were busy in Illinois and on the Wabash. At a council held 
in Kaskaskia on July 5, 1773. an association of English traders, calling 
themselves the "Illinois Land Company," obtained from ten chiefs of the 
Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Peoria tribes two large tracts of land lying on 
the east side of the Mississippi River south of the Illinois. In 1775, a mer- 
chant from the Illinois Country, named Viviat, came to Post Vincennes 
as the agent of the association called the " Wabash Land Company." On 
the 8th of October he obtained from eleven Piankeshaw chiefs, a deed for 
37,497,600 acres of land. This deed was signed by the grantors, attested 
by a number of the inhabitants of Vincennes, and afterward recorded in 
the office of a notary public at Kaskaskia. This and other land com- 
panies had extensive schemes for the colonization of the West ; but all 
were frustrated by the breaking out of the Revolution. On the 20th of 
April, 1780, the two companies named consolidated under the name of the 
44 United Illinois and Wabash Land Company." They afterward made 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 47 

strenuous efforts to have these grants sanctioned by Congress, but all 
signally failed. 

When the War of the Revolution commenced, Kentucky was an unor- 
ganized country, though there were several settlements within her borders. 

In Hutchins' Topography of Virginia, it is stated that at that time 
" Kaskaskia contained 80 houses, and nearly 1,000 white and black in- 
habitants the whites being a little the more numerous. Cahokia con- 
tains 50 houses and 300 white inhabitants, and 80 negroes. There were 
east of the Mississippi River, about the year 1771 " when these observa- 
tions were made " 300 white men capable of bearing arms, and 230 
negroes." 

From 1775 until the expedition of Clark, nothing is recorded and 
nothing known of these settlements, save what is contained in a report 
made by a committee to Congress in June, 1778. From it the following 
extract is made : 

" Near the mouth of the River Kaskaskia, there is a village which 
appears to have contained nearly eighty families from the beginning of 
the late revolution. There are twelve families in a small village at la 
Prairie du Rochers, and near fifty families at the Kahokia Village. There 
are also four or five families at Fort Ghartres and St. Philips, which is five 
miles further up the river." 

St. Louis had been settled in February, 1764, and at this time con- 
tained, including its neighboring towns, over six hundred whites and one 
hundred and fifty negroes. It must be remembered that all the country 
west of the Mississippi was now under French rule, and remained so until 
ceded again to Spain, its original owner, who afterwards sold it and the 
country including New Orleans to the United States. At Detroit there 
were, according to Capt. Carver, who was in the Northwest from 1766 to 
1768, more than one hundred houses, and the river was settled for more 
than twenty miles, although poorly cultivated the people being engaged 
in the Indian trade. This old town has a history, which we will here 
relate. 

It is the oldest town in the Northwest, having been founded by 
Antoine de Lamotte Cadillac, in 1701. It was laid out in the form of an 
oblong square, of two acres in length, and an acre and a half in width. 
As described by A. D. Frazer, who first visited it and became a permanent 
resident of the place, in 1778, it comprised within its limits that space 
between Mr. Palmer's store (Conant Block) and Capt. Perkins' house 
(near the Arsenal building), and extended back as far as the public barn, 
and was bordered in front by the Detroit River. It was surrounded by 
oak and cedar pickets, about fifteen feet long, set in the ground, and had 
four gates east, west, north and south. Over the first three of these 



48 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

gates were block houses provided with four guns apiece, each a six- 
pounder. Two six-gun batteries were planted fronting the river and in a 
parallel direction with the block houses. There were four streets running 
east and west, the main street being twenty feet wide and the rest fifteen 
feet, while the four streets crossing these at right angles were from ten 
to fifteen feet in width. 

At the date spoken of by Mr. Frazer, there was no fort within the 
enclosure, but a citadel on the ground corresponding to the present 
northwest corner of Jefferson Avenue and Wayne Street. The citadel was 
inclosed by pickets, and within it were erected barracks of wood, two 
stories high, sufficient to contain ten officers, and also barracks sufficient 
to contain four hundred men, and a provision store built of brick. The 
citadel also contained a hospital and guard-fyouse. The old town of 
Detroit, in 1778, contained about sixty houses, most of them one story, 
with a few a story and a half in height. They were all of logs, some 
hewn and some round. There was one building of splendid appearance, 
called the " King's Palace," two stories high, which stood near the east 
gate. It was built for Governor Hamilton, the first governor commissioned 
by the British. There were two guard-houses, one near the west gate and 
the other near the Government House. Each of the guards consisted of 
twenty-four men and a subaltern, who mounted regularly every morning 
between nine and ten o'clock, Each furnished four sentinels, who were 
relieved every two hours. There was also an officer of the day, who pjr- 
formed strict duty. Each of the gates was shut regularly at sunset ; 
even wicket gates were shut at nine o'clock, and all the keys were 
delivered into the hands of the commanding officer. They were opened 
in the morning at sunrise. No Indian or squaw was permitted to enter 
town with any weapon, such as a tomahawk or a knife. It was a stand- 
ing order that the Indians should deliver their arms and instruments of 
every kind before they were permitted to pass the sentinel, and they were 
restored to them on their return. No more than twenty-five Indians were 
allowed to enter the town at any one time, and they were admitted only 
at the east and west gates. At sundown the drums beat, and all the 
Indians were required to leave town instantly. There was a council house 
near the water side for the purpose of holding council with the Indians. 
The population of the town was about sixty families, in all about two 
hundred males and one hundred females. This town was destroyed by 
fire, all except one dwelling, in 1805. After which the present " new " 
town was laid out. 

On the breaking out of the Revolution, the British held every post of 
importance in the West. Kentucky was formed as a component part of 
Virginia, and the sturdy pioneers of the West, alive to their interests, 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 49 

and recognizing the great benefits of obtaining the control of the trade in 
this part of the New World, held steadily to their purposes, and those 
within the commonwealth of Kentucky proceeded to exercise their 
civil privileges, by electing John Todd and Richard Gallaway,. 
burgesses to represent them in the Assembly of the parent state. 
Early in September of that year (1777) the first court was held 
in Harrodsburg, and Col. Bowman, afterwards major, who had arrived 
in August, was made the commander of a militia organization which 
had been commenced the March previous. Thus the tree of loyalty 
was growing. The chief spirit in this far-out colony, who had represented 
her the year previous east of the mountains, was now meditating a move 
unequaled in its boldness. He had been watching the movements of the 
British throughout the Northwest, and understood their whole plan. He, 
saw it was through their possession of the posts at Detroit, Vincennes, 
Kaskaskia, and other places, which would give them constant and easy 
access to the various Indian tribes in the Northwest, that the British 
intended to penetrate the country from the north and soutn, ana annihi- 
late the frontier fortresses. This moving, energetic man was Colonel, 
afterwards General, George Rogers Clark. He knew the Indians were not 
unanimously in accord with the English, and he was convinced that, could 
the British be defeated and expelled from the Northwest, the natives 
might be easily awed into neutrality ; and by spies sent for the purpose, 
he satisfied himself that the enterprise against the Illinois settlements 
might easily succeed. Having convinced himself of the certainty of the 
project, he repaired to the Capital of Virginia, which place he reached on 
November 5th. While he was on his way, fortunately, on October 17th, 
Burgoyne had been defeated, and the spirits of the colonists greatly 
encouraged thereby. Patrick Henry was Governor of Virginia, and at 
once entered heartily into Clark's plans. The same plan had before been 
agitated in the Colonial Assemblies, but there was no one until Clark 
came who was sufficiently acquainted with the condition of affairs at the 
scene of action to be able to guide them. 

Clark, having satisfied the Virginia leaders of the feasibility of his 
plan, received, on the 2d of January, two sets of instructions one secret, 
the other open the latter authorized him to proceed to enlist seven 
companies to go to Kentucky, subject to his orders, and to serve three 
months from their arrival in the West. The secret order authorized him 
to arm these troops, to procure his powder and lead of General Hand 
at Pittsburgh, and to proceed at once to subjugate the country. 

With these instructions Clark repaired to Pittsburgh, choosing rather 
to raise his men west of the mountains, as he well knew all were needed 
in the colonies in the conflict there. He sent Col. W. B. Smith to Hoi- 



50 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

stou for the same purpose, but neither succeeded in raising the required 
number of men. The settlers in these parts were afraid to leave their 
own firesides exposed to a vigilant foe, and but few could be induced to 
join the proposed expedition. With three companies and several private 
volunteers, Clark at length commenced his descent of the Ohio, which he 
navigated as far as the Falls, where he took possession of and fortified 
Corn Island, a small island between the present Cities of Louisville, 
Kentucky, and New Albany, Indiana. Remains of this fortification may 
yet be found. At this place he appointed Col. Bowman to meet him 
with such recruits as had reached Kentucky by the southern route, and 
as many as could be spared from the station. Here he announced to 
the men their real destination. Having completed his arrangements, 
and chosen his party, he left a small garrison upon the island, and on the 
24th of June, during a total eclipse of the sun, which to them augured 
no good, and which fixes beyond dispute the date of starting, he with 
his chosen band, fell down the river. His plan was to go by water as 
far as Fort Massac or Massacre, and thence march direct to Kaskaskia. 
Here he intended to surprise the garrison, and after its capture go to 
Cahokia, then to Vincennes, and lastly to Detroit. Should he fail, he 
intended to march directly to the Mississippi River and cross it into the 
Spanish country. Before his start he received two good items of infor- 
mation : one that the alliance had been formed between France and the 
United States ; and the other that the Indians throughout the Illinois 
country and the inhabitants, at the various frontier posts, had been led to 
believe by the British that the " Long Knives" or Virginians, were the 
most fierce, bloodthirsty and cruel savages that ever scalped a foe. With 
this impression on their minds, Clark saw that proper management would 
cause them to submit at once from fear, if surprised, and then from grati- 
tude would become friendly if treated with unexpected leniency. 

The march to Kaskaskia was accomplished through a hot July sun, 
and the town reached on the evening of July 4. He captured the fort 
near the village, and soon after the village itself by surprise, and without 
the loss of a single man or by killing any of the enemy. After sufficiently 
working upon the fears of the natives, Clark told them they were at per- 
fect liberty to worship as they pleased, and to take whichever side of the 
great conflict they would, also he would protect them from any barbarity 
from British or Indian foe. This had the desired effect, and the inhab- 
itants, so unexpectedly and so gratefully surprised by the unlocked 
for turn of affairs, at once swore allegiance to the American arms, and 
when Clark desired to go to Cahokia on the 6th of July, they accom- 
panied, him, and through their influence the inhabitants of the place 
surrendered, and gladly placed themselves under his protection. Thus 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 51 

the two important posts in Illinois passed from the hands of the English 
into the possession of Virginia. 

In the person of the priest at Kaskaskia, M. Gibault, Clark found a 
powerful ally and generous friend. Clark saw that, to retain possession 
of tke Northwest and treat successfully with the Indians within its boun- 
daries, he must establish a government for the colonies he had taken. 
St. Vincent, the next important post to Detroit, remained yet to be taken 
before the Mississippi Valley was conquered. M. Gibault told him that 
he would alone, by persuasion, lead Vincennes to throw off its connection 
with England. Clark gladly accepted his offer, and on the 14th of July, 
in company with a fellow-townsman, M. Gibault started on his mission of 
peace, and on the 1st of August returned with the cheerful intelligence 
that the post on the " Oubache " had taken the oath of allegiance to 
the Old Dominion. During this interval, Clark established his courts, 
placed garrisons at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, successfully re-enlisted his 
men, sent word to' have a fort, which proved the germ of Louisville, 
erected at the Falls of the Ohio, and dispatched Mr. Rocheblave, who 
had been commander at Kaskaskia, as a prisoner of war to Richmond. 
In October the County of Illinois was established by the Legislature 
of Virginia, John Todd appointed Lieutenant Colonel and Civil Governor, 
and in November General Clark and his men received the thanks of 
the Old Dominion through their Legislature. 

In a speech a few days afterward, Clark made known fully to the 
natives his plans, and at its close all came forward and swore alle- 
giance to the Long Knives. While he was doing this Governor Hamilton, 
having made his various arrangements, had left Detroit and moved down 
the Wabash to Vincennes intending to operate from that point in reducing 
the Illinois posts, and then proceed on down to Kentucky and drive the 
rebels from the West. Gen. Clark had, on the return of M. Gibault, 
dispatched Captain Helm, of Fauquier County, Virginia, with an attend- 
ant named Henry, across the Illinois prairies to command the fort. 
Hamilton knew nothing of the capitulation of the post, and was greatly 
surprised on his arrival to be confronted by Capt. Helm, who, standing at 
the entrance of the fort by a loaded cannon ready to fire upon his assail- 
ants, demanded upon what terms Hamilton demanded possession of the 
fort. Being granted the rights of a prisoner of war, he surrendered to 
the British General, who could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw tha 
force in the garrison. 

Hamilton, not realizing the character of the men with whom he was 
contending, gave up his intended campaign for the Winter, sent his four 
hundred Indian warriors to prevent troops from coming down the Ohio, 



LIBRARY 

(INIVFR^ITV (IF 



52 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

and to annoy the Americans in all ways, and sat quietly down to pass the 
Winter. Information of all these proceedings having reached Clark, he 
saw that immediate and decisive action was necessary, and that unless 
he captured Hamilton, Hamilton would capture him. Clark received the 
news on the 29th of January, 1779, and on February 4th, having suffi- 
ciently garrisoned Kaskaskia and Cahokia, he sent down the Mississippi 
a " battoe," as Major Bowman writes it, in order to ascend the Ohio and 
Wabash, and operate with the land forces gathering for the fray. 

On the next day, Clark, with his little force of one hundred and 
twenty men, set out for the post, and after incredible hard marching 
through much mud, the ground being thawed by the incessant spring 
rains, on the 22d reached the fort, and being joined by his " battoe," at 
once commenced the attack on the post. The aim of the American back- 
woodsman was unerring, and on the 24th the garrison surrendered to the 
intrepid boldness of Clark. The French were treated with great kind- 
ness, and gladly renewed their allegiance to Virginia. Hamilton was 
sent as a prisoner to Virginia, where he was kept in close confinement. 
During his command of the British frontier posts, he had offered prizes 
to the Indians for all the scalps of Americans they would bring to him, 
and had earned in consequence thereof the title " Hair-buyer General," 
by which he was ever afterward known. 

Detroit was now without doubt within easy reach of the enterprising 
Virginian, could he but raise the necessary force. Governor Henry being 
apprised of this, promised him the needed reinforcement, and Clark con- 
cluded to wait until he could capture and sufficiently garrison the posts. 
Had Clark failed in this bold undertaking, and Hamilton succeeded in 
uniting the western Indians for the next Spring's campaign, the West 
would indeed have been swept from the Mississippi to the Allegheny 
Mountains, and the great blow struck, which had been contemplated from 
the commencement, by the British. 

" But for this small army of dripping, but fearless Virginians, the 
union of all the tribes from Georgia to Maine against the colonies might 
have been effected, and the whole current of our history changed." 

At this time some fears were entertained by the Colonial Govern- 
ments that the Indians in the North and Northwest were inclining to the 
British, and under the instructions of Washington, now Commander-in- 
Chief of the Colonial army, and so bravely fighting for American inde- 
pendence, armed forces were sent against the Six Nations, and upon the 
Ohio frontier, Col. Bowman, acting under the same general's orders, 
marched against Indians within the present limits of that State. These 
expeditions were in the main successful, and the Indians were compelled 
to sue for peace. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 53 

During this same year (1779) the famous " Land Laws" of Virginia 
were passed. The passage of these laws was of more consequence to the 
pioneers of Kentucky and the Northwest than the gaining of a few Indian, 
conflicts. These laws confirmed in main all grants made, and guaranteed 
to all actual settlers their rights and privileges. After providing for the 
settlers, the laws provided for selling the balance of the public lands at 
forty cents per acre. To carry the Land Laws into effect, the Legislature 
sent four Virginians westward to attend to the various claims, over many 
of which great confusion prevailed concerning their validity. These 
gentlemen opened their court on October 13, 1779, at St. Asaphs, and 
continued until April 26, 1780, when they adjourned, having decided 
three thousand claims. They were succeeded by the surveyor, who 
came in the person of Mr. George May, and assumed his duties on the 
10th day of the month whose name he bore. With the opening of the 
next year (1780) the troubles concerning the navigation of the Missis- 
sippi commenced. The Spanish Government exacted such measures in 
relation to its trade as to cause the overtures made to the United States 
to be rejected. The American Government considered they had a right 
to navigate its channel. To enforce their claims, a fort was erected below 
the mouth of the Ohio on the Kentucky side of the river. The settle- 
ments in Kentucky were being rapidly filled by emigrants. It was dur- 
ing this year that the first seminary of learning was established in the 
West in this young and enterprising Commonwealth. 

The settlers here did not look upon the building of this fort in a 
friendly manner, as it aroused the hostility of the Indians. Spain had 
been friendly to the Colonies during their struggle for independence, 
and though for a while this friendship appeared in danger from the 
refusal of the free navigation of the river, yet it was finally settled to the 
satisfaction of both nations. 

The Winter of 1779-80 was one of the most unusually severe ones 
ever experienced in the West. The Indians always referred to it as the 
"Great Cold." Numbers of wild animals perished, and not a few 
pioneers lost their lives. The following Summer a party of Canadians 
and Indians attacked St. Louis, and attempted to take possession of it 
in consequence of the friendly disposition of Spain to the revolting 
colonies. They met with such a determined resistance on the part of the 
inhabitants, even the women taking part in the battle, that they were 
compelled to abandon the contest. They also made an attack on the 
settlements in Kentucky, but, becoming alarmed in some unaccountable 
manner, they fled the country in great haste. 

About this time arose the question in the Colonial Congress con- 
cerning the western lands claimed by Virginia, New York, Massachusetts 



54 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

and Connecticut. The agitation concerning this subject finally led New 
York, on the 19th of February, 1780, to pass a law giving to the dele- 
gates of that State in Congress the power to cede her western lands for 
the benefit of the United States. This law was laid before Congress 
during the next month, but no steps were taken concerning it until Sep- 
tember 6th, when a resolution passed that body calling upon the States 
claiming western lands to release their claims in favor of the whole body. 
This basis formed the union, and was the first after all of those legislative 
measures which resulted in the creation of the States of Ohio, Indiana, 
Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In December of the same 
year, the plan of conquering Detroit again arose. The conquest might 
have easily been effected by Clark had the necessary aid. been furnished 
him. Nothing decisive was done, yet the heads of the Government knew 
that the safety of the Northwest from British invasion lay in the capture 
and retention of that important post, the only unconquered one in the 
territory. 

Before the close of the year, Kentucky was divided into the Coun- 
ties of Lincoln, Fayette and Jefferson, and the act establishing the Town 
of Louisville was passed. This same year is also noted in the annals of 
American history as the year in which occurred Arnold's treason to the 
United States. 

Virginia, in accordance with the resolution of Congress, on the 2d 
day of January, 1781, agreed to yield her western lands to the United 
States upon certain conditions, which Congress would not accede to, and 
the Act of Cession, on the part of the Old Dominion, failed, nor was 
anything farther done until 1783. During all that time the Colonies 
were busily engaged in the struggle with the mother country, and in 
consequence thereof but little heed was given to the western settlements. 
Upon the 16th of April, 1781, the first birth north of the Ohio River of 
American parentage occurred, being that of Mary Heckewelder, daughter 
of the widely known Moravian missionary, whose band of Christian 
Indians suffered in after years a horrible massacre by the hands of the 
frontier settlers, who had been exasperated by the murder of several of 
their neighbors, and in their rage committed, without regard to humanity, 
a deed which forever afterwards cast a shade of shame upon their lives. 
For this and kindred outrages on the part of the whites, the Indians 
committed many deeds of cruelty which darken the years of 1771 and 
1772 in the history of the Northwest. 

During the year 1782 a number of battles among the Indians and 
frontiersmen occurred, and between the Moravian Indians and the Wyan- 
dots. In these, horrible acts of cruelty were practised on the captives, 
many of such dark deeds transpiring under the leadership of the notorious 



THE NORTHWEST TERR1TOEY. 



55 



frontier outlaw, Simon Girty, whose name, as well as those of his brothers, 
was ii terror to women and children. These occurred chiefly in the Ohio 
valleys. Cotemporary with them were several engagements in Kentucky, 
in which the famous Daniel Boone engaged, and who, often by his skill 
and knowledge of Indian warfare, saved the outposts from cruel destruc- 




1NDIANS ATTACKING FRONT1EKSMEN. 

tion. By the close of the year victory had perched upon the American, 
banner, and on the 30th of November, provisional articles of peace had 
been arranged between the Commissioners of England and her uncon- 
querable colonies. Cornwallis had been defeated on the 19th of October 
preceding, and the liberty of America was assured. On the 19th of 
April following, the anniversary of the battle of Lexington, peace was 



5G THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

proclaimed to the army of the United States, and on the 3d of the next 
September, the definite treaty which ended our revolutionary struggle 
was concluded. By the terms of that treaty, the boundaries of the West 
were as follows : On the north the line was to extend along the center of 
the Great Lakes ; from the western point of Lake Superior to Long Lake ; 
thence to the Lake of the Woods ; thence to the head of the Mississippi 
River; down its center to the 31st parallel of latitude, then on that line 
east to the head of the Appalachicola River ; down its center to its junc- 
tion with the Flint ; thence straight to the head of St. Mary's River, and 
thence down along its center to the Atlantic Ocean. 

Following the cessation of hostilities with England, several posts 
were still occupied by the British in the North and West. Among these 
was Detroit, still in the hands of the enemy. Numerous engagements 
with the Indians throughout Ohio and Indiana occurred, upon whose 
lands adventurous whites would settle ere the title had been acquired by 
the proper treaty. 

To remedy this latter evil, Congress appointed commissioners to 
treat with the natives and purchase their lands, and prohibited the set- 
tlement of the territory until this could be done. Before the close of the 
year another attempt was made to capture Detroit, which was, however, 
not pushed, and Virginia, no longer feeling the interest in the Northwest 
she had formerly done, withdrew her troops, having on the 20th of 
December preceding authorized the whole of her possessions to be deeded 
to the United States. This was done on the 1st of March following, and 
the Northwest Territory passed from the control of the Old Dominion. 
To Gen. Clark and his soldiers, however, she gave a tract of one hundred 
and fifty thousand acres of land, to be situated any where north of the 
Ohio wherever they chose to locate them. They selected the region 
opposite the falls of the Ohio, where is DOW the dilapidated village of 
Clarksville, about midway between the Cities of New Albany and Jeffer- 
sonville, Indiana. 

While the frontier remained thus, and Gen. Haldimand at Detroit 
refused to evacuate alleging that he had no orders from his King to do 
so, settlers were rapidly gathering about the inland forts. In the Spring 
of 1784, Pittsburgh was regularly laid out, and from the journal of Arthur 
Lee, who passed through the town soon after on his way to the Indian 
council at Fort Mclntosh, we suppose it was not very prepossessing in 
appearance. He says : 

" Pittsburgh is inhabited almost entirely by Scots and Irish, who 
live in paltry log houses, and are as dirty as if in the north of Ireland or 
even Scotland. There is a great deal of trade carried on, the goods being 
bought at the vast expense of forty-five shillings per pound from Phila- 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 57 

delphia and Baltimore. They take in the shops flour, wheat, skins and 
money. There are in the town four attorneys, two doctors, and not a 
priest of any persuasion, nor church nor chapel." 

Kentucky at this time contained thirty thousand inhabitants, and 
was beginning to discuss measures for a separation from Virginia. A 
land office was opened at Louisville, and measures were adopted to take 
defensive precaution against the Indians who were yet, in some instances, 
incited to deeds of violence by the British. Before the close of this year, 
1784, the military claimants of land began to occupy them, although no 
entries were recorded until 1787. 

The Indian title to the Northwest was not yet extinguished. They 
held large tracts of lands, and in order to prevent bloodshed Congress 
adopted means for treaties with the original owners and provided for the 
surveys of the lands gained thereby, as well as for those north of the 
Ohio, now in its possession. On January 31, 1786, a treaty was made 
with the Wabash Indians. The treaty of Fort Stanwix had been made 
in 1784. That at Fort Mclntosh in 1785, and through these much land 
was gained. The Wabash Indians, however, afterward refused to comply 
with the provisions of the treaty made with them, and in order to compel 
their adherence to its provisions, force was used. Daring the year 1786, 
the free navigation of the Mississippi came up in Congress, and caused 
various discussions, which resulted in no definite action, only serving to 
excite speculation in regard to the western lands. Congress had promised 
bounties of land to the soldiers of the Revolution, but owing to the 
unsettled condition of affairs along the Mississippi respecting its naviga- 
tion, and the trade of the Northwest, that body had, in 1783, declared 
its inability to fulfill these promises until a treaty could be concluded 
between the two Governments. Before the close of the year 1786, how- 
ever, it was able, through the treaties with the Indians, to allow some 
grants and the settlement thereon, and on the 14th of September Con- 
necticut ceded to the General Government the tract of land known as 
the " Connecticut Reserve," and before the close of the following year a 
large tract of land north of the Ohio was sold to a company, who at once 
took measures to settle it. By the provisions of this grant, the company 
were to pay the United States one dollar per acre, subject to a deduction 
of one-third for bad lands and other contingencies. They received 
750,000 acres, bounded on the south by the Ohio, on the east by the 
seventh range of townships, on the west by the sixteenth range, and on 
the north by a line so drawn as to make the grant complete without 
the reservations. .In addition to this, Congress afterward granted 100,000 
acres to actual settlers, and 214,285 acres as army bounties under the 
resolutions of 1789 and 1790. 



58 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



While Dr. Cutler, one of the agents of the company, was pressing- 
its claims before Congress, that body was bringing into form an ordinance 
for the political and social organization of this Territory. "When the 
cession was made by Virginia, in 1784, a plan was offered, but rejected. 
A motion had been made to strike from the proposed plan the prohibition 
of slavery, which prevailed. The plan was then discussed and altered, 
and finally passed unanimously, with the exception of South Carolina. 
By this proposition, the Territory was to have been divided into states 




PRESENT SITE OF LAKE STREET BRIDGE, CHICAGO, IX 1833. 



by parallels and meridian lines. This, it was thought, would make ten 
states, which were to have been named as follows beginning at the 
northwest corner and going southwardly: Sylvania, Michigama, Cher- 
sonesus, Assenisipia, Metropotamia, Illenoia, Saratoga, Washington, F 
potamia and Pelisipia. 

There was a more serious objection to this plan than its category c 
names,- the boundaries. The root of the difficulty was in the resolu- 
tion of Congress passed in October, 1780, which fixed the boundaries 
of the ceded lands to be from one hundred to one hundred and fifty miles 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 59 

square. These resolutions being presented to the Legislatures of Vir- 
ginia and Massachusetts, they desired a change, and in July, 1786, the 
subject was taken up in Congress, and changed to favor a division into 
not more than five states, and not less than three. This was approved by 
the State Legislature of Virginia. The subject of the Government was 
again taken up by Congress in 1786, and discussed throughout that year 
and until July, 1787, when the famous "Compact of 1787" was passed, 
and the foundation of the government of the Northwest laid. This com- 
pact is fully discussed and explained in the history of Illinois in this book, 
and to it the reader is referred. 

The passage of this act and the grant to the New England Company 
was soon followed by an application to the Government by John Cleves 
Symmes, of New Jersey, for a grant of the land between the Miamis. 
This gentleman had visited these lands soon after the treaty of 1786, and, 
being greatly pleased with them, offered similar terms to those given to the 
New England Company. The petition was referred to the Treasury 
Board with power to act, and a contract was concluded the following 
year. During the Autumn the directors of the New England Company 
were preparing to occupy their grant the following Spring, and upon the 
23d of November made arrangements for a party of forty-seven men, 
under the superintendency of Gen. Rufus Putnam, to set forward. Six 
boat-builders were to leave at once, and on the first of January the sur- 
veyors and their assistants, twenty-six in number, were to meet at Hart- 
ford and proceed on their journey westward ; the remainder to follow a& 
soon as possible. Congress, in the meantime, upon the 3d of October, 
had ordered seven hundred troops for defense of the western settlers, and 
to prevent unauthorized intrusions ; and two days later appointed Arthur 
St. Clair Governor of the Territory of the Northwest. 

AMERICAN SETTLEMENTS. 

The civil organization of the Northwest Territory was now com- 
plete, and notwithstanding the uncertainty of Indian affairs, settlers from 
the East began to come into the country rapidly. The New England 
Company sent their men during the Winter of 1787-8 pressing on over 
the Alleghenies by the old Indian path which had been opened into 
Braddock's road, and which has since been made a national turnpike 
from Cumberland westward. Through the weary winter days they toiled 
on, and by April were all gathered on the Yohiogany, where boats had 
been built, and at once started for the Muskingum. Here they arrived 
on the 7th of that month, and unless the Moravian missionaries be regarded 
as the pioneers of Ohio, this little band can justly claim that honor. 



60 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



Gen. St. Clair, the appointed Governor of the Northwsst, not having 
yet arrived, a set of laws were passed, written out, and published by 
being nailed to a tree in the embryo town, and Jonathan Meigs appointed 
to administer them. 

Washington in writing of this, the first American settlement in the 
Northwest, said : " No colony in America was ever settled under 
such favorable auspices as that which has just commenced at Muskingum. 
Information, property and strength will be its characteristics. I know 
many of its settlers personally, and there never were men better calcu- 
lated to promote the welfare of such a community.' 5 




A PIONEER DWELLING. 



On the 2d of July a meeting of the directors and agents was held 
on the banks of the Muskingum, " for the purpose of naming the new- 
born city and its squares." As yet the settlement was known as the 
"Muskingum," but that was now changed to the name Marietta, in honor 
of Marie Antoinette. The square upon which the block -houses stood 
was called " Campus Martins ;" square number 19, " Capitolium ;" square 
number 61, " Cecilia ;" and the great road through the covert way, " Sacra 
Via.'''' Two days after, an oration was delivered by James M. Varnum, 
who with S. H. Parsons and John Armstrong had been appointed to the 
judicial bench of the territory on the 16th of October, 1787. On July 9, 
Gov. St. Clair arrived, and the colony began to assume form. The act 
of 1787 provided two district grades of government for the Northwest, 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 61 

under the first of which the whole power was invested in the hands of a 
governor and three district judges. This was immediately formed upon 
the Governor's arrival, and the first laws of the colony passed on the 25th 
of July. These provided for the organization of the militia, and on the 
next day appeared the Governor's proclamation, erecting all that country 
that had been ceded by the Indians east of the Scioto River into the 
County of Washington. From that time forward, notwithstanding the 
doubts yet existing as to the Indians, all Marietta prospered, and on the 
2d of September the first court of the territory was held with imposing 
ceremonies. 

The emigration westward at this time was very great. The com- 
mander at Fort Harmer, at the mouth of the Muskingum, reported four 
thousand five hundred persons as having passed that post between Feb- 
ruary and June, 1788 many of whom would have purchased of the 
Associates," as the New England Company was called, had they been 
jady to receive them. 

On the 26th of November, 1787, Symmes issued a pamphlet stating 
the terms of his contract and the plan of sale he intended to adopt. In 
January, 1788, Matthias Denman, of New Jersey, took an active interest 
in Symmes' purchase, and located among other tracts the sections upon 
which Cincinnati has been built. Retaining one-third of this locality, he 
sold the other two-thirds to Robert Patterson and John Filson, and the 
three, about August, commenced to lay out a town on the spot, which 
was designated as being opposite Licking River, to the mouth of which 
they proposed to have a road cut from Lexington. The naming of the 
town is thus narrated in the "Western Annals " : " Mr. Filson, who had 
been a schoolmaster, was appointed to name the town, and, in respect to 
its situation, and as if with a prophetic perception of the mixed race that 
were to inhabit it in after days, he named it Losantiville, which, being 
interpreted, means : ville, the town ; anti, against or opposite to ; o, the 
mouth ; L. of Licking." 

Meanwhile, in July, Symmes got thirty persons and eight four-horse 
teams under way for the West. These reached Limestone (now Mays- 
ville) in September, where were several persons from Redstone. Here 
Mr. Symmes tried to found a settlement, but the great freshet of 1789 
caused the " Point," as it was and is yet called, to be fifteen feet under 
water, and the settlement to be abandoned. The little band of settlers 
removed to the mouth of the Miami. Before Symmes and his colony left 
the " Point," two settlements had been made on his purchase. The first 
was by Mr. Stiltes, the original projector of the whole plan, who, with a 
colony of Redstone people, had located at the mouth of the Miami, 
whither Symmes went with his Maysville colony. Here a clearing had 



62 



THE NORTHWEST TEREITORY. 



been made by the Indians owing to the great fertility of the soil. Mr, 
Stiltes with his colony came to this place on the 18th of November, 1788, 
with twenty-six persons, and, building a block-house, prepared to remain 
through the Winter. They named the settlement Columbia. Here they 
were kindly treated by the Indians, but suffered greatly from the flood 
of 1789. 

On the 4th of March, 1789, the Constitution of the United States 
went into operation, and on April 30, George Washington was inaug- 
urated President of the American people, and during the next Summer, 
an Indian war was commenced by the tribes north of the Ohio. The 
President at first used pacific means ; but these failing, he sent General 
Harmer against the hostile tribes. He destroyed several villages, but 




LAKE BLUFF. 

The frontage of Lake Bluff Grounds on Lake Michigan, with one hundred and seventy feet of gradual ascent. 

was defeated in two battles, near the present City of Fort Wayne, 
Indiana. From this time till the close of 1795, the principal events were 
the wars with the various Indian tribes. In 1796, General St. Clair 
was appointed in command, and marched against the Indians ; but while 
he was encamped on a stream, the St. Mary, a branch of the Maumee, 
he was attacked and defeated with the loss of six hundred men. 

General Wayne was now sent against the savages. In August, 1794, 
he met them near the rapids of the Maumee, and gained a complete 
victory. This success, followed by vigorous measures, compelled the 
Indians to sue for peace, and on the 30th of July, the following year, the 
treaty of Greenville was signed by the principal chiefs, by which a large 
tract of country was ceded to the United States. 

Before proceeding in our narrative, we will pause to notice Fort 
Washington, erected in the early part of this war on the site of Cincinnati. 
Nearly all of the great cities of the Northwest, and indeed of the 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 63 

whole country, have had their nuclei in those rude pioneer structures, 
known as forts or stockades. Thus Forts Dearborn, Washington, Pon- 
chartrain, mark the original sites of the now proud Cities of Chicago, 
Cincinnati and Detroit. So of most of the flourishing cities east and west 
of the Mississippi. Fort Washington, erected by Doughty in 1790, was a 
rude but highly interesting structure. It was composed of a number of 
strongly-built hewed log cabins. Those designed for soldiers' barracks 
were a story and a half high, while those composing the officers quarters 
were more imposing and more conveniently arranged and furnished. 
The whole were so placed as to form a hollow square, enclosing about an 
acre of ground, with a block house at each of the four angles. 

The logs for the construction of this fort were cut from the ground 
upon which it was erected. It stood between Third and Fourth Streets 
of the present city (Cincinnati) extending east of Eastern Row, now 
Broadway, which was then a narrow alley, and the eastern boundary of 
of the town as it was originally laid out. On the bank of the river, 
immediately in front of the fort, was an appendage of the fort, called the 
Artificer's Yard. It contained about two acres of ground, enclosed by 
small contiguous buildings, occupied by workshops and quarters of 
laborers. Within this enclosure there was a large two-story frame house, 
familiarly called the " Yellow House," built for the accommodation of 
the Quartermaster General. For many years this was the best finished 
and most commodious edifice in the Queen City. Fort Washington was 
for some time the headquarters of both the civil and military governments 
of the Northwestern Territory. 

Following the consummation of the treaty various gigantic land spec- 
ulations were entered into by different perspns, who hoped to obtain 
from the Indians in Michigan and northern Indiana, large tracts of lands. 
These were generally discovered in time to prevent the outrageous 
schemes from being carried out, and from involving the settlers in war. 
On October 27, 1795, the treaty between the United States and Spain 
was signed, whereby the free navigation of the Mississippi was secured. 

No sooner had the treat} r of 1795 been ratified than settlements began 
to pour rapidly into the "West. The great event of the year 1796 was the 
occupation of that part of the Northwest including Michigan, which was 
this year, under the provisions of the treaty, evacuated by the British 
forces. The United States, owing to certain conditions, did not feel 
justified in addressing the authorities in Canada in relation to Detroit 
and other frontier posts. When at last the British authorities were 
called to give them up, they at once complied, and General Wayne, who 
had done so much to preserve the frontier settlements, and who, before 
the year's close, sickened and died near Erie, transferred his head- 



61: THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

quarters to the neighborhood of the lakes, where a county named after 
him was formed, which included the northwest of Ohio, all of Michigan, 
and the northeast of Indiana. During this same year settlements were 
formed at the present City of Chillicothe, along the Miami from Middle- 
town to Piqua, while in the more distant West, settlers and speculators 
began to appear in great numbers. In September, the City of Cleveland 
was laid out, and during the Summer and Autumn, Samuel Jackson and 
Jonathan Sharpless erected the first manufactory of paper the " Red- 
stone Paper Mill" in the West. St. Louis contained some seventy 
houses, and Detroit over three hundred, and. along the river, contiguous 
to it, were more than three thousand inhabitants, mostly French Canadians, 
Indians and half-breeds, scarcely any Americans venturing yet into that 
part of the Northwest. 

The election of representatives for the territory had taken place* 
and on the 4th of February, 1799, they convened at Losantiville now 
known as Cincinnati, having been named so by Gov. St. Clair^ and 
considered the capital of the Territory to nominate persons from whom 
the members of the Legislature were to be chosen in accordance with 
a previous ordinance. This nomination being made, the Assembly 
adjourned until the 16th of the following September. From those named 
the President selected as members of the council, Henry Vandenburg, 
of Vincennes, Robert Oliver, of Marietta, James Findlay and Jacob 
Burnett, of Cincinnati, and David Vance, of Vanceville. On the 16th 
of September the Territorial Legislature met, and on the 24th the two 
houses were duly organized, Henry Vandenburg being elected President 
of the Council. 

The message of Gov. St. Clair was addressed to the Legislature 
September 20th, and on October 13th that body elected as a delegate to 
Congress Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison, who received eleven of the votes 
cast, being a majority of one over his opponent, Arthur St. Clair, son of 
Gen. St. Clair. 

The whole number of acts passed at this session, and approved by 
the Governor, were thirty-seven eleven others were passed, but received 
his veto. The most important of those passed related to the militia, to 
the administration, and to taxation. On the 19th of December this pro- 
tracted session of the first Legislature in the West was closed, and on the 
30th of December the President nominated Charles Willing Bryd to the 
office of Secretary of the Territory vice Wm. Henry Harrison, elected to 
Congress. The Senate confirmed his nomination the next day. 






THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 65 



DIVISION OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

The increased emigration to the Northwest, the extent of the domain, 
and the inconvenient modes of travel, made it very difficult to conduct 
the ordinary operations of government, and rendered the efficient action 
of courts almost impossible. To remedy this, it was deemed advisable to 
divide the territory for civil purposes. Congress, in 1800, appointed a 
committee to examine the question and report some means for its solution. 
This committee, on the 3d of March, reported that : 

" In the three western countries there has been but one court having 
cognizance of crimes, in five years, and the immunity which offenders 
experience attracts, as to an asylum, the most vile and abandoned crim- 
inals, and at the same time deters useful citizens from making settlements 
ill such society. The extreme necessity of judiciary attention and assist- 
ance is experienced in civil as well as in criminal cases. * * * * To 
minister a remedy to these and other evils, it occurs to this committee 
that it is expedient that a division of said territory into two distinct and 
separate governments should be made ; and that such division be made 
by a line beginning at the mouth of the Great Miami River, running 
directly north until it intersects the boundary between the United States 
and Canada." 

The report was accepted by Congress, and, in accordance with its 
suggestions, that body passed an Act extinguishing the Northwest Terri- 
tory, which Act was approved May 7. Among its provisions were these : 

" That from and after July 4 next, all that part of the Territory of 
the United States northwest of the Ohio River, which lies to the westward 
of a line beginning at a point on the Ohio, opposite to the mouth of the 
Kentucky River, and running thence to Fort Recovery, and thence north 
until it shall intersect the territorial line between the United States and 
Canada, shall, for the purpose of temporary government, constitute a 
separate territory, and be called the Indiana Territory." 

After providing for the exercise of the civil and criminal powers of 
the territories, and other provisions, the Act further provides : 

" That until it shall otherwise be ordered by the Legislatures of the 
said Territories, respectively, Chillicothe on the Scioto River shall be the 
seat of government of the Territory of the United States northwest of the 
Ohio River; and that St. Vincennes on the Wabash River shall be the 
seat of government for the Indiana Territory." 

Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison was appointed Governor of the Indiana 
Territory, and entered upon his duties about a year later. Connecticut 
also about this time released her claims to the reserve, and in March a law 



<3G THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

was passed accepting this cession. Settlements had been made upon 
thirty-five of the townships in the reserve, mills had been built, and seven 
hundred miles of road cut in various directions. On the 3d of November 
the General Assembly met at Chillicothe. Near the 'close of the } r ear, 
the first missionary of the Connecticut Reserve came, who found no 
township containing more than eleven families. It was upon the first of 
October that the secret treaty had been made between Napoleon and the 
King of Spain, whereby the latter agreed to cede to France the province 
of Louisiana. 

In January, 1802, the Assembly of the Northwestern Territory char- 
tered the college at Athens. From the earliest dawn of the western 
colonies, education was promptly provided for, and as early as 1787, 
newspapers were issued from Pittsburgh and Kentucky, and largely read 
throughout the frontier settlements. Before the close of this year, the 
Congress of the United States granted to the citizens of the Northwestern 
territory the formation of a State government. One of the provisions of 
the "compact of 1787" provided that whenever the number of inhabit- 
ants within prescribed limits exceeded 45,000, they should be entitled to 
a separate government. The prescribed limits of Ohio contained, from a 
census taken to ascertain the legality of the act, more than that number, 
and on the 30th of April, 1802, Congress passed the act defining its limits, 
and on the 29th of November the Constitution of the new State of Ohio, 
so named from the beautiful river forming its southern boundary, came 
into existence. The exact limits of Lake Michigan were not then known, 
but the territory now included within the State of Michigan was wholly 
within the territory of Indiana. 

Gen. Harrison, while residing at Vincennes, made several treaties 
with the Indians, thereby gaining large tracts of lands. The next year is 
memorable in the history of the West for the purchase of Louisiana from 
France by the United States for $15,000,000. Thus by a peaceful mode, 
the domain of the United States was extended over a large tract of 
country west of the Mississippi, and was for a time under the jurisdiction 
of the Northwest government, and, as has been mentioned in the early 
part of this narrative, was called the "New Northwest." The limits 
of this history will not allow a description of its territory. The same year 
large grants of land were obtained from the Indians, and the House of 
Representatives of the new State of Ohio signed a bill respecting the 
College Township in the district of Cincinnati. 

Before the close of the year, Gen. Harrison obtained additional 
grants of lands from the various Indian nations in Indiana and the present 
limits of Illinois, and on the 18th of August, 1804, completed a treaty at 
St. Louis, whereby over 51,000,000 acres of lands were obtained from the 



THE NORTHWEST TEBKITOBY. 67 

aborigines. Measures were also taken to learn the condition of affairs in 
and about Detroit. 

C. Jouett, the Indian agent in Michigan, still a part of Indiana Terri- 
tory, reported as follows upon the condition of matters at that post : 

" The Town of Detroit. The charter, which is for fifteen miles 
square, was granted in the time of Louis XIV. of France, and is now, 
from the best information I have been able to get, at Quebec. Of those 
two hundred and twenty-five acres, only four are occupied by the town 
and Fort Lenault. The remainder is a common, except twenty-four 
acres, which were added twenty years ago to a farm belonging to Wm. 
Macomb. * * * A stockade incloses the town, fort and citadel. The 
pickets, as well as, the public houses, are in a state of gradual decay. The 
streets are narrow, straight and regular, and intersect each other at right 
angles. The houses are, for the most part, low and inelegant." 

During this year, Congress granted a township of land for the sup- 
port of a college, and began to offer inducements for settlers in these 
wilds, and the country now comprising the State of Michigan began to 
fill rapidly with settlers along its southern borders. This same year, also, 
a law was passed organizing the Southwest Territory, dividing it into two 
portions, the Territory of New Orleans, which city was made the seat of 
government, and the District of Louisiana, which was annexed to the 
domain of Gen. Harrison. 

On the llth of January, 1805, the Territory of Michigan was formed, 
Wm. Hull was appointed governor, with headquarters at Detroit, the 
change to take effect on June 30. On the llth of that month, a fire 
occurred at Detroit, which destroyed almost 'every building in the place. 
When the officers of the new territory reached the post, they found it in 
ruins, and the inhabitants scattered throughout the country. Rebuild- 
ing, however, soon commenced, and ere long the town contained more 
houses than before the fire, and many of them much better built. 

While this was being done, Indiana had passed to the second grade 
of government, and through her General Assembly had obtained large 
tracts of land from the Indian tribes. To all this the celebrated Indian, 
Tecumthe or Tecumseh, vigorously protested, and it was the main cause 
of his attempts to unite the various Indian tribes in a conflict with the 
settlers. To obtain a full account of these attempts, the workings of the 
British, and the signal failure, culminating in the death of Tecumseh at 
the battle of the Thames, and the close of the war of 1812 in the Northwest, 
we will step aside in our story, and relate the principal events of his life, 
and his connection with this conflict. 



68 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 




TECUMSEH, THE SHAWANOE CHIEFTAIN. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 69 



TECUMSEH,- AND THE WAR OF 1812. 

This famous Indian chief was born about the year 1768, not far from 
the site of the present City of Piqua, Ohio. His father, Puckeshinwa, 
was a member of the Kisopok tribe of the Swanoese nation, and his 
mother, Methontaske, was a member of the Turtle tribe of the same 
people. They removed from Florida about the middle of the last century 
to the birthplace of Tecumseh. In 1774, his father, who had risen to be 
chief, was slain at the battle of Point Pleasant, and not long after Tecum- 
seh, by his bravery, became the leader of his tribe. In 1795 he was 
declared chief, and then lived at Deer Creek, near the site of the 
present City of Urbana. He remained here about one year, when he 
returned to Piqua, and in 1798, he went to White River, Indiana. In 
1805, he and his brother, Laulewasikan (Open Door), who had announced 
himself as a prophet, went to a tract of land on the Wabash River, given 
them by the Pottawatomies and Kickapoos. From this date the chief 
comes into prominence. He was now about thirty-seven years of age, 
was five feet and ten inches in height, was stoutly built, and possessed of 
enormous powers of endurance 1 . His countenance was naturally pleas- 
ing, and he was, in general, devoid of those savage attributes possessed 
by most Indians. It is stated he could read and write, and had a confi- 
dential secretary and adviser, named Billy Caldwell, a half-breed, who 
afterward became chief of the Pottawatomies. He occupied the first 
house built on the site of Chicago. At this time, Tecumseh entered 
upon the great work of his life. He had long objected to the grants of 
land made by the Indians to the whites, and determined to unite all the 
Indian tribes into a league, in order that no treaties or grants of land 
could be made save by the consent of this confederation. 

He traveled constantly, going from north to south ; fronnthe south 
to the north, everywhere urging the Indians to this step. He was a 
matchless orator, and his burning words had their effect. 

Gen. Harrison, then Governor of Indiana, by watching the move- 
ments of the Indians, became convinced that a grand conspiracy was 
forming, and made preparations to defend the settlements. Tecumseh's 
plan was similar to Pontiac's, elsewhere described, and to the cunning 
artifice of that chieftain was added his own sagacity. 

During the year 1809, Tecumseh and the prophet were actively pre- 
paring for the work. In that year, Gen. Harrison entered into a treaty 
with the Delawares, Kickapoos,' Pottawatomies, Miamis, Eel River Indians 
and Weas, in which these tribes ceded to the whites certain lands upon 
the Wabash, to all of which Tecumseh entered a bitter protest, averring 



70 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

as one principal reason that he did not want the Indians to give up any 
lands north and west of the Ohio River. 

Tecumseh, in August, 1810, visited the General at Vincennes and 
held a council relating to the grievances of the Indians. Becoming unduly 
angry at this conference he was dismissed from the village, and soon after 
departed to incite the southern Indian tribes to the conflict. 

Gen. Harrison determined to move upon the chief's headquarters at 
Tippecanoe, and for this purpose went about sixty-five miles up the 
Wabash, where he built Fort Harrison. From this place he went to the 
prophet's town, where he informed the Indians he had no hostile inten- 
tions, provided they were true to the existing treaties. He encamped 
near the village early in October, and on the morning of November 7, he 
was attacked by a large force of the Indians, and the famous battle of 
Tippecanoe occurred. The Indians were routed and their town broken 
up. Tecumseh returning not long after, was greatly exasperated at his 
brother, the prophet, even threatening to kill him for rashly precipitating 
the war, and foiling his (Tecumseh's) plans. 

Tecumseh sent word to Gen. Harrison that he was now returned 
from the South, and was ready to visit t-he President as had at one time 
previously been proposed. Gen. Harrison informed him he could not go 
as a chief, ^ which method Tecumseh desired, and the visit was never 
made. 

In June of the following year, he visited the Indian agent at 
Fort Wayne. Here he disavowed any intention to make a war against 
the United States, and reproached Gen. Harrison for marching against his 
people. The agent replied to this ; Tecumseh listened with a cold indif- 
ference, and after making a few general remarks, with a haughty air drew 
his blanket about him, left the council house, and departed for Fort Mai- 
den, in Upper Canada, where he joined the British standard. 

He remained under this Government, doing effective work for the 
Crown while engaged in the war of 1812 which now opened. He was, 
however, always humane in his treatment of the prisoners, never allow- 
ing his warriors to ruthlessly mutilate the bodies of those slain, or wan- 
tonly murder the captive. 

In the Summer of 1813, Perry's victory on Lake Erie occurred, and 
shortly after active preparations were made to capture Maiden. On the 
27th of September, the American army, under Gen. Harrison, set sail for 
the shores of Canada, and in a few hours stood around the ruins of Mai- 
den, from which the British army, under Proctor, had retreated to Sand- 
wich, intending to make its way to the heart of Canada by the Valley of 
the Thames. On the 29th Gen. Harrison was at Sandwich, and Gen. 
McArthur took possession of Detroit and the territory of Michigan. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



71 



On the 2d of October, the Americans began their pursuit of Proctor, 
whom they overtook on the 5th, and the battle of the Thames followed. 
Early in the engagement, Tecumseh who was at the head of the column 
of Indians was slain, and they, no longer hearing the voice of their chief- 
tain, fled. The victory was decisive, and practically closed the war in 
the Northwest. 




INDIANS ATTACKING A STOCKADE. 

Just who killed the great chief has been a matter of much dispute ; 
but the weight of opinion awards the act to Col. Richard M. Johnson, 
who fired at him with a pistol, the shot proving fatal. 

In 1805 occurred Burr's Insurrection. He took possession of a 
beautiful island in the Ohio, after the killing of Hamilton, and is charged 
by many with attempting to set up an independent government. His 
plans were frustrated by the general government, his property confiscated 
and he was compelled to flee the country for safety. 



72 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

In January, 1807, Governor Hull, of Michigan Territory, made a 
treaty with the Indians, whereby all that peninsula was ceded to the 
United States. Before the close of the year, a stockade was built about 
Detroit. It was also during this year that Indiana and Illinois endeavored 
to obtain the repeal of that section of the compact of 1787, whereby 
slavery was excluded from the Northwest Territory. These attempts, 
however, all signally failed. 

In 1809 it was deemed advisable to divide the Indiana Territory. 
This was done, and the Territory of Illinois was formed from the western, 
part, the seat of government being fixed at Kaskaskia. The next year, 
the intentions of Tecumseh manifested themselves in open hostilities, and 
then began the events already narrated. 

While this war was in progress, emigration to the West went on with 
surprising rapidity. In 1811, under Mr. Roosevelt of New York, the 
first steamboat trip was made on the Ohio, much to the astonishment of 
the natives, many of whom fled in terror at the appearance of the 
" monster." It arrived at Louisville on the 10th day of October. At the 
close of the first week of January, 1812, it arrived at Natchez, after being 
nearly overwhelmed in the great earthquake which occurred while on its 
downward trip. 

The battle of the Thames was fought on October 6, 1813. It 
effectually closed hostilities in the Northwest, although peace was not 
fully restored until July 22, 1814, when a treaty was formed at Green- 
ville, under the direction of General Harrison, between the United States 
and the Indian tribes, in which it was stipulated that the Indians should 
cease hostilities against the Americans if the war were continued. Such, 
happily, was not the case, and on the 24th of December the treaty 
of Ghent was signed by the representatives of England and the United 
States. This treaty was followed the next year by treaties with various 
Indian tribes throughout the West and Northwest, and quiet was again 
restored in this part of the new world. 

On the 18th of March, 1816, Pittsburgh was incorporated as a city. 
It then had a population of 8,000 people, and was already noted for its 
manufacturing interests. On April 19, Indiana Territory was allowed 
to form a state government. At that time there were thirteen counties 
organized, containing about sixty-three thousand inhabitants. The first 
election of state officers was held in August, when Jonathan Jennings 
was chosen Governor. The officers were sworn in on Noyember 7, a.nd 
on December 11, the State was formally admitted into the Union. For 
some time the seat of government was at Corydon, but a more central 
location being desirable, the present capital, Indianapolis (City of Indiana), 
was laid out January 1, 1825. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



73 



On the 28th of December the Bank of Illinois, at Shawneetown, was 
chartered, with a capital of $300,000. At this period all banks were 
under the control of the States, and were allowed to establish branches 
at different convenient points. 

Until this time Chillicothe and Cincinnati had in turn enjoyed the 
privileges of being the capital of Ohio. But the rapid settlement of the 
northern and eastern portions of the State demanded, as in Indiana, a 
more central location, and before the close of the year, the site of Col- 
umbus was selected and surveyed as the future capital of the State. 
Banking had begun in Ohio as early as 1808, when the first bank was 
chartered at Marietta, but here as elsewhere it did not bring to the state 
the hoped-for assistance. It and other banks were subsequently unable 
to redeem their currency, and were obliged /to suspend. 

In 1818, Illinois was made a state, and all the territory north of her 
northern limits was erected into a separate territory and joined to Mich- 
igan for judicial purposes. By the following year, navigation of the lakes 
was increasing with great rapidity and affording an immense source of 
revenue to the dwellers in the Northwest, but it was not until 1826 that 
the trade was extended to Lake Michigan, or that steamships began to 
navigate the bosom of that inland sea. 

Until the year 1832, the commencement of the Black Hawk War, 
but few hostilities were experienced with the Indians. Roads were 
opened, canals were dug, cities were built, common schools were estab- 
lished, universities were founded, many of which, especially the Michigan 
University, have achieved a world wide-reputation. The people were 
becoming wealthy. The domains of the United States had been extended, 
and had the sons of the forest been treated with honesty and justice, the 
record of many years would have been that of peace and continuous pros- 
perity. 

BLACK HAWK AND THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 

This conflict, though confined to Illinois, is an important epoch in 
the Northwestern history, being the last war with the Indians in this part 
of the United States. 

Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiah, or Black Hawk, was born in the principal 
Sac village, about three miles from the junction of Rock River with the 
Mississippi, in the year 1767. His father's name was Py-e-sa or Pahaes ; 
his grandfather's, Na-na-ma-kee, or the Thunderer. Black Hawk early 
distinguished himself as a warrior, and at the age of fifteen was permitted 
to paint and was ranked among the braves. About the year 1783, he 
went on an expedition against the enemies of his nation, the Osages, one 



74 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 




BLACK HAWK, THE SAC CHIEFTAIN. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 75 

of whom he killed and scalped, and for this deed of Indian bravery he was 
permitted to join in the scalp dance. Three or four years after he, at the 
head of two hundred braves, went on another expedition against the 
Osages, to avenge the murder of some women and children belonging to 
his own tribe. Meeting an equal number of Osage warriors, a fierce 
battle ensued, in which the latter tribe lost one-half their number. The 
Sacs lost only about nineteen warriors. He next attacked the Cherokees 
for a similar cause. In a severe battle with them, near the present City 
of St. Louis, his father was slain, and Black Hawk, taking possession of 
the " Medicine Bag," at once announced himself chief of the Sac nation. 
He had now conquered the Cherokees, and about the year 1800, at the 
head of five hundred Sacs and Foxes, and a hundred lowas, he waged 
war against the Osage nation and subdued it. For two years he battled 
successfully with other Indian tribes, all of whom he conquered. 

Black Hawk does not at any time seem to have been friendly to 
the Americans. When on a visit to St. Louis to see his " Spanish 
Father," he declined to see any of the Americans, alleging, as a reason, 
he did not want two fathers. 

The treaty at St. Louis was consummated in 1804. The next year the 
United States Government erected a fort near the head of the Des Moines 
Rapids, called Fort Edwards. This seemed to enrage Black Hawk, who 
at once determined to capture Fort Madison, standing on the west side of 
the Mississippi above the mouth of the Des Moines River. The fort was 
garrisoned by about fifty men. Here he was defeated. The difficulties 
with the British Government arose about this time, and the War of 1812 
followed. That government, extending aid to the Western Indians, by 
giving them arms and ammunition, induced them to remain hostile to the 
Americans. In August, 1812, Black Hawk, at the head of about five 
hundred braves, started to join the British forces at Detroit, passing on 
his way the site of Chicago, where the famous Fort Dearborn Massacre 
hr.:\ a few days before occurred. Of his connection with the British 
u-cvernment but little is known. In 1813 he with his little band descended 
the Mississippi, and attacking some United States troops at Fort Howard 
was defeated. 4 

In the early part of 1815, the Indian tribes west of the Mississippi 
were notified that peace had been declared between the United States 
and England, and nearly all hostilities had ceased. Black Hawk did not 
sign any treaty, however, until May of the following year. He then recog- 
nized the validity of the treaty at St. Louis in 1804. From the time of 
signing this treaty in 1816, until the breaking out of the war in 1832, he 
and his band passed their time in the common pursuits of Indian life. 

Ten years before the commencement of this war, the Sac and Fox 



76 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

Indians were urged to join the lowas on the west bank of the Father of 
Waters. All were agreed, save the band known as the British Band, of 
which Black Hawk was leader. He strenuously objected to the removal, 
and was induced to comply only after being threatened with the power of 
the Government. This and various actions on the part of the white set- 
tlers provoked Black Hawk and his band to attempt the capture of his 
native village now occupied by the whites. The war followed. He and 
his actions were undoubtedly misunderstood, and had his wishes been 
acquiesced in at the beginning of the struggle, much bloodshed would 
have been prevented. 

Black Hawk was chief now of the Sac and Fox nations, and a noted 
warrior. He and his tribe inhabited a village on Rock River, nearly three 
miles above its confluence with the Mississippi, where the tribe had lived 
many generations. When that portion of Illinois was reserved to them, 
they remained in peaceable possession of their reservation, spending their 
time in the enjoyment of Indian life. The fine situation of their village 
and the quality of their lands incited the more lawless white settlers, who 
from time to time began to encroach upon the red men's domain. From 
one pretext to another, and from one step to another, the crafty white 
men gained a foothold, until through whisky and artifice they obtained 
deeds from many of the Indians for their possessions. The Indians were 
finally induced to cross over the Father of Waters and locate among the 
lowas. Black Hawk was strenuously opposed to all this, but as the 
authorities of Illinois and the United States thought this the best move, he 
was forced to comply. Moreover other tribes joined the whites and urged 
the removal. Black Hawk would not agree to the terms of the treaty 
made with his nation for their lands, and as soon as the military, called to 
enforce his removal, had retired, he returned to the Illinois side of the 
river. A large force was at once raised and marched against him. On 
the evening of May 14, 1832, the first engagement occurred between a 
band from this army and Black Hawk's band, in which the former were 
defeated. 

This attack and its result aroused the whites. A large force of men 
was raised, and (Sen. Scott' hastened from the seaboard, by way of the 
lakes, with United States troops and artillery to aid in the subjugation of 
the Indians. On the 24th of June, Black Hawk, with 200 warriors, was 
repulsed by Major Demont between Rock River and Galena. The Ameri- 
can army continued to move up Rock River toward the main body of 
the Indians, and on the 21st of July came upon Black Hawk and his band, 
and defeated them near the Blue Mounds. 

Before this action, Gen. Henry, in command, sent word to the main 
army by whom he was immediately rejoined, and the whole crossed the 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 77 

Wisconsin in pursuit of Black Hawk and his band who were fleeing to the 
Mississippi. They were overtaken on the 2d of August, and in the battle 
which followed the power of the Indian chief was completely broken. He 
fled, but was seized by the Winnebagoes and delivered to the whites. 

On the 21st of September, 1832, Gen. Scott and Gov. Reynolds con- 
cluded a treaty with the Winnebagoes, Sacs and Foxes by which they 
ceded to the United States a vast tract of country, and agreed to remain 
peaceable with the whites. For the faithful performance of the provi- 
sions of this treaty on the part of the Indians, it was stipulated that 
Black Hawk, his two sons, the prophet Wabokieshiek, and six other chiefs 
of the hostile bands should be retained as hostages during the pleasure 
of the President. They were confined at Fort Barracks and put in irons. 

The next Spring, by order of the Secretary of War, they were taken 
to Washington. From there they were removed to Fortress Monroe, 
"there to remain until the conduct of their nation was such as to justify 
their being set at liberty." They were retained here until the 4th of 
June, when the authorities directed them to be taken to the principal 
cities so that they might see the folly of contending against the white 
people. Everywhere they were observed by thousands, the name of the 
old chief being extensively known. By the middle of August they 
reached Fort Armstrong on Rock Island, where Black Hawk was soon 
after released to go to his countrymen. As he passed the site of his birth- 
place, now the home of the white man, he was deeply moved. His village 
where he was born, where he had so happily lived, and where he had 
hoped to die, was now another's dwelling place, and he was a wanderer. 

On the next day after his release, he went at once to his tribe and 
his lodge, His wife was yet living, and with her he passed the remainder 
of his days. To his credit it may be said that Black Hawk always re- 
mained true to his wife, and served her with a devotion uncommon among 
the Indians, living with her upward of forty years. 

Black Hawk now passed his time hunting and fishing. A deep mel- 
ancholy had settled over him from which he could not be freed. At all 
times when he visited the whites he was received with marked atten- 
tion. He was an honored guest at the old settlers' reunion in Lee County, 
Illinois, at some of their meetings, and received many tokens of esteem. 
In September, 1838, while on his way to Rock Island to receive his 
annuity from the Government, he contracted a severe cold which resulted 
in a fatal attack of bilious fever which terminated his life on October 3. 
His faithful wife, who was devotedly attached to him, mourned deeply 
during his sickness. After his death he was dressed in the uniform pre- 
sented to him by the President while in Washington. He was buried in 
a grave six feet in depth, situated upon a beautiful eminence. " The 



78 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

body was placed in the middle of the grave, in a sitting posture, upon a 
seat constructed for the purpose. On his left side, the cane, given him 
by Henry Clay, was placed upright, with his right hand resting upon it. 
Many of the old warrior's trophies were placed in the grave, and some 
Indian garments, together with his favorite weapons." 

No sooner was the Black Hawk war concluded than settlers began 
rapidly to pour into the northern parts of Illinois, and into Wisconsin, 
now free from Indian depredations. Chicago, from a trading post, had 
grown to a commercial center, and was rapidly coming into prominence. 
In 1835, the formation of a State Government in Michigan was discussed, 
but did 'not take active form until two years later, when the State became 
a part of the Federal Union. 

The main attraction to that portion of the Northwest lying west of 
Lake Michigan, now included in the State of Wisconsin, was its alluvial 
wealth. Copper ore was found about Lake Superior. For some time this 
region was attached to Michigan for judiciary purposes, but in 183<J was 
made a territory, then including Minnesota and Iowa. The latter State 
was detached two years later. In 1848, Wisconsin was admitted as a 
State, Madison being made the capital. We have now traced the various 
divisions of the Northwest Territory (save a little in Minnesota) from 
the time it was a unit comprising this vast territory, until circumstances 
compelled its present division. 



THE tfOBTITWEST TERRITORY. 79 

PRESENT CONDITION OF THE NORTHWEST 

Preceding chapters have brought us to the close of the Black Hawk 
war, and we now turn to the contemplation of the growth and prosperity 
of the Northwest under the smile of peace and the blessings of our civili- 
zation. The pioneers of this region date events back to the deep snow 




OLD FOKT DEARBORN, 1830. 



of 1831, no one arriving here since that date taking first honors. The 
inciting cause of the immigration which overflowed the prairies early in 
the '30s was the reports of the marvelous beauty and fertility of the 
region distributed through the East by those who had participated in the 
Black Hawk campaign with Gen. Scott. Chicago and Milwaukee then 
had a few hundred inhabitants, and Gurdon S. Hubbard's trail from the 
former city to Kaskaskia led almost through a wilderness. Vegetables 
and clothing were largely distributed through the regions adjoining the 



80 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



lakes by steamers from the Ohio towns. There are men now living in 
Illinois who came to the state when barely an acre was in cultivation, 
and a man now prominent in the business circles of Chicago looked over 
the swampy, cheerless site of that metropolis in 1818 and went south- 
ward into civilization. Emigrants from Pennsylvania in 1830 left behind 




MONUMENT, SPKINGFIELD, ILLINOIS. 

them but one small railway in the coal regions, thirty miles in length, 
and made their way to the Northwest mostly with ox teams, finding in 
Northern Illinois petty settlements scores of miles apart, although the 
southern portion of the state was fairly dotted with farms. The 
water courses of the lakes and rivers furnished transportation to the 
second great army of immigrants, and about 1850 railroads were 
pushed to that extent that the crisis of 1837 was precipitated upon us, 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



81 



from the effects of which the Western country had not fully recovered 
at the outbreak of the war. Hostilities found the colonists of the prairies 
fully alive to the demands of the occasion, and the honor of recruiting 



i'ilr^^V- ''!' : 

I : " 1-.YN 




the vast armies of the Union fell largely to Gov. Yates, of Illinois, and 
Gov. Morton, of Indiana. To recount the share of the glories of the 
campaign ivon by e^- Western troops is a needless task, except to 
mention the fact that Illinois gave co tne nation the President who saved 



82 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



it, and sent out at the head of one of its regiments tne general who led 
'ts armies to the final victory at Appomattox. The struggle, on the 




CO 

TO 



whole, had a marked effect for the better on the new Northwest, g; ring 
it an impetus which twenty years of peace would not have produced. 
In a large degree this prosperity was an. inflated one, and with the rest 
of the Union we have since been compelled to atone therefor by/ four 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 83 

years of depression of values, of scarcity of employment, and loss of 
fortune. To a less degree, however, than the .manufacturing or mining 
regions has the West suffered during the prolonged panic now so near its 
end. Agriculture, still the leading feature in our industries, has been 
quite prosperous through all these dark years, and the farmers have 
cleared away many incumbrances resting over them from the period of 
fictitious values. The population has steadily increased, the arts and 
sciences are gaining a stronger foothold, the trade area of the region is 
becoming daily more extended, and we have been largely exempt from 
the financial calamities which have nearly wrecked communities on the 
seaboard dependent wholly on foreign commerce or domestic manufacture. 

At the present period there are no great schemes broached for the 
Northwest, no propositions for government subsidies or national works 
of improvement, but the capital of the world is attracted hither for the 
purchase of our products or the expansion of our capacity for serving the 
nation at large. A new era is dawning as to transportation, and we bid 
fair to deal almost exclusively with the increasing and expanding lines 
of steel rail running through every few miles of territory on the prairies. 
The lake marine will no doubt continue to be useful in the warmer 
season, and to serve as a regulator of freight rates ; but experienced 
navigators forecast the decay of the system in moving to the seaboard 
the enormous crops of the West. Within the past five years it has 
become quite common to see direct shipments to Europe and the West 
Indies going through from the second-class towns along the Mississippi 
and Missouri. 

As to popular education, the standard has of late risen very greatly, 
and our schools would be creditable to any section of the Union. 

More and more as the events of the war pass into obscurity will the 
fate of the Northwest be linked with that of the Southwest, and the 
next Congressional apportionment will give the valley of the Mississippi 
absolute control of the legislation of the nation, and do much toward 
securing the removal of the Federal capitol to some more central location. 

Our public men continue to wield the full share of influence pertain- 
ing to their rank in the national autonomy, and seem not to forget that 
for the past sixteen years they and their constituents have dictated the 
principles which should govern the country. 

In a work like this, destined to lie on the shelves of the library for 
generations, and not doomed to daily destruction like a newspaper, one 
can not indulge in the same glowing predictions, the sanguine statements 
of actualities that fill tne columns of ephemeral publications. Time may 
bring grief to the pet projects of a writer, and explode castles erected on 
a pedestal of facts. Yet there are unmistakable indications before us of 



84 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

the same radical change in our great Northwest which characterizes its- 
history for the past thirty years. Our domain has a sort of natural 
geographical border, save where it melts away to the southward in the 
cattle raising districts of the southwest. 

Our prime interest will for some years doubtless be the growth of 
the food of the world, in which branch it has already outstripped all 
competitors, and our great rival in this duty will naturally be the fertile 
plains of Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado, to say nothing of the new 
empire so rapidly growing up in Texas. Over these regions there is a 
continued progress in agriculture and in railway building, and we must 
look to our laurels. Intelligent observers of events are fully aware of 
the strides made in the way of shipments of fresh meats to Europe, 
many of these ocean cargoes being actually slaughtered in the West and 
transported on ice to the wharves of the seaboard cities. That this new 
enterprise will continue there is no reason to doubt. There are in 
Chicago several factories for the canning of prepared meats for European 
consumption, and the orders for this class of goods are already immense^ 
English capital is becoming daily more and more dissatisfied with railway 
loans and investments, and is gradually seeking mammoth outlays in 
lands and live stock. The stock yards in Chicago, Indianapolis and East 
St. Louis are yearly increasing their facilities, and their plant steadily 
grows more valuable. Importations of blooded animals from the pro- 
gressive countries of Europe are destined to greatly improve the quality 
of our beef and mutton. Nowhere is there to be seen a more enticing 
display in this line than at our state and county fairs, and the interest 
in the matter is on the increase. 

To attempt to give statistics of our grain production for 1877 would 
be useless, so far have we surpassed ourselves in the quantity and 
quality of our product. We are too liable to forget that we are giving 
the world its first article of necessity its food supply. An opportunity 
to learn this fact so it never can be forgotten was afforded at Chicago at 
the outbreak of the great panic of 1873, when Canadian purchasers, 
fearing the prostration of business might bring about an anarchical condition 
of affairs, went to that city with coin in bulk and foreign drafts to secure 
their supplies in their own currency at first hands. It may be justly 
claimed by the agricultural community that their combined efforts gave 
the nation its first impetus toward a restoration of its crippled industries, 
and their labor brought the gold premium to a lower depth than the 
government was able to reach by its most intense efforts of legislation 
and compulsion. The hundreds of millions about to be disbursed for 
farm products have already, by the anticipation common to all commercial 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



85 



nations, set the wheels in motion, and will relieve us from the perils so 
long shadowing our efforts to return to a healthy tone. 

Manufacturing has attained in the chief cities a foothold which bids 
fair to render the Northwest independent of the outside world. Nearly 




HTTXTIXO PKAIB1E WOLVES IX AX EARLY DAY. 



our whole region has a distribution of coal measures which will in time 
support the manufactures necessary to our comfort and prosperity. As 
to transportation, the chief factor in the production of all articles excej,*" 
food, no section is so magnificently endowed, and our facilities are yearly 
increasing beyond those of any other region. 



86 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

The period from a central point of the war to the outbreak of the 
panic was marked by a tremendous growth in our railway lines, but the 
depression of the times caused almost a total suspension of operations. 
Now that prosperity is returning to our stricken country we witness its 
anticipation by the railroad interest in a series of projects, extensions, 
and leases which bid fair to largely increase our transportation facilities. 
The process of foreclosure and sale of incumbered lines is another matter 
to be considered. In the case of the Illinois Central road, which formerly 
transferred to other lines at Cairo the vast burden of freight destined for 
the Gulf region, we now see the incorporation of the tracks connecting 
through to New Orleans, every mile co-operating in turning toward the 
northwestern metropolis the weight of the inter-state commerce of a 
thousand miles or more of fertile plantations. Three competing routes 
to Texas have established in Chicago their general freight and passenger 
agencies. Four or five lines compete for all Pacific freights to a point as 
as far as the interior of Nebraska. Half a dozen or more splendid bridge 
structures have been thrown across the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers by 
the railways. The Chicago and Northwestern line has become an aggre- 
gation of over two thousand miles of rail, and the Chicago, Milwaukee 
and St. Paul is its close rival in extent and importance. The three lines 
running to Cairo via Vincennes form a through route for all traffic with 
the states to the southward. The chief projects now under discussion 
are the Chicago and Atlantic, which is to unite with lines now built to 
Charleston, and' the Chicago and Canada Southern, which line will con- 
nect with all the various branches of that Canadian enterprise. Our 
latest new road is the Chicago and Lake Huron, formed of three lines, 
and entering the city from Valparaiso on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne 
and Chicago track. The trunk lines being mainly in operation, the 
progress made in the way of shortening tracks, making air-line branches, 
and running extensions does not show to the advantage it deserves, as 
this process is constantly adding new facilities to the established order 
of things. The panic reduced the price of steel to a point where the 
railways could hardly afford to use iron rails, and all our northwestern 
lines report large relays of Bessemer track. The immense crops now 
being moved have given a great rise to the value of railway stocks, and 
their transportation must result in heavy pecuniary advantages. 

Few are aware of the importance of the wholesale and jobbing trade 
of Chicago. One leading firm has since the panic sold $24,000,000 of 
dry goods in one year, and they now expect most confidently to add 
seventy per cent, to the figures of their last year's business. In boots 
and shoes and in clothing, twenty or more great firms from the east have 
placed here their distributing agents or their factories ; and in groceries 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



87 



Chicago supplies the entire Northwest at rates presenting advantages 
over New York. 

Chicago has stepped in between New York and the rural banks as a 
financial center, and scarcely a banking institution in the grain or cattle 
regions but keeps its reserve funds in the vaults of our commercial insti- 
tutions. Accumulating here throughout the spring and summer months, 
they are summoned home at pleasure to move the products of the 
prairies. This process greatly strengthens the northwest in its financial 
operations, leaving home capital to supplement local operations on 
behalf of home interests. 

It is impossible to forecast the destiny of this grand and growing 
section of the Union. Figures and predictions made at this date might 
seem ten years hence so ludicrously small as to excite only derision. 




KFNZIE IK)tTS-E. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 



The name of this beautiful Prairie State is derived from Illim, a 
Delaware word signifying Superior Men. It lias a French termination, 
and is a symbol of how the two races the French and the Indians 
were intermixed during the early history of the country. 

The appellation was no doubt well applied to the primitive inhabit- 
ants of the soil whose prowess in savage warfare long withstood the 
combined attacks of the fierce Iroquois on the one side, and the no less 
savage and relentless Sacs and Foxes on the other. The Illinois were 
once a powerful confederacy, occupying the most beautiful and fertile 
region in the great Valley of the Mississippi, which their enemies coveted 
and struggled long and hard to wrest from them. By the fortunes of 
war they were diminished in numbers, and finally destroyed. " Starved 
Rock," on the Illinois River, according to tradition, commemorates their 
last tragedy, where, it is said, the entire tribe starved rather than sur- 
render. 

EARLY DISCOVERIES. 

The first European discoveries in Illinois date back over two hun- 
dred years. They are a part of that movement which, from the begin- 
ning to the middle of the seventeenth century, brought the French 
Canadian missionaries and fur traders into the Valley of the Mississippi, 
and which, at a later period, established the civil and ecclesiastical 
authority of France from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico, 
and from the foot-hills of the Alleghanies to the Rocky Mountains. 

The great river of the West had been discovered by DeSoto, the 
Spanish conqueror of Florida, three .quarters of a century before the 
French founded Quebec in 1608, but the Spanish left the country a wil- 
derness, without further exploration or settlement within its borders, ii 
which condition it remained until the Mississippi was discovered by the 
agents of the French Canadian government, Jolietand Marquette, in 1673. 
These renowned explorers were not the first white visitors to Illinois. 
In 1671 two years in advance of them came Nicholas Perrot to Chicago. 
He had been sent by Talon as an agent of the Canadian government tc 

88 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 



89 



(; 

&K\ V';;' : : 




90 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

call a great peace convention of "Western Indians at Green Bay, prepara- 
tory to the movement for the discovery of the Mississippi. It was 
deemed a good stroke of policy to secure, as far as possible, the friend- 
ship and co-operation of the Indians, far and near, before venturing upon 
an enterprise which their hostility might render disastrous, and which 
their friendship and assistance would do so much to make successful ; 
and to this end Perrot was sent to call together in council the tribes 
throughout the Northwest, and to promise them the commerce and pro- 
tection of the French government. He accordingly arrived at Green 
Bay in 1671, and procuring an escort of Pottawattamies, proceeded in a 
bark canoe upon a visit to the Miamis, at Chicago. Perrot was there- 
fore the first European to set foot upon the soil of Illinois. 

Still there were others before Marquette. In 1672, the Jesuit mis- 
sionaries, Fathers Claude Allouez and Claude Dablon, bore the standard 
of the Cross from their mission at Green Bay through western Wisconsin 
and northern Illinois, visiting the Foxes on Fox River, and the Masquo- 
tines and Kickapoos at the mouth of the Milwaukee. These missionaries 
penetrated on the route afterwards followed by Marquette as far as the 
Kickapoo village at the head of Lake Winnebago, where Marquette, in 
his journey, secured guides across the portage to the Wisconsin. 

The oft-repeated story of Marquette and Joliet is well known. 
They were the agents employed by the Canadian government to discover 
the Mississippi. Marquette was a' native of France, born in 1637, a 
Jesuit priest by education, and a man of simple faith and of great zeal and 
devotion in extending the Roman Catholic religion among the Indians. 
Arriving in Canada in 1666, he was sent as a missionary to the far 
Northwest, and, in 1668, founded a mission at Sault Ste. Marie. The 
following year he moved to La Pointe, in Lake Superior, where he 
instructed a branch of the Hurons till 1670, when he removed south, and 
founded the mission at St. Ignace, on the Straits of Mackinaw. Here 
he remained, devoting a portion of his time to the study of the Illinois 
language under a native teacher who had accompanied him to the mission 
from La Pointe, till he was joined by Joliet in the Spring of 1673. By 
the way of Green Bay and the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, they entered 
the Mississippi, which they explored to the mouth of the Arkansas, and 
returned by the way of the Illinois and Chicago Rivers to Lake Michigan. 

On his way up the Illinois, Marquette visited the great village of 
the Kaskaskias, near what is now Utica, in the county of LaSalle. The 
following year he returned and established among them the mission of 
the Immaculate Virgin Mary, which was the first Jesuit mission founded 
in Illinois and in the Mississippi Valley. The intervening winter he 
had spent in a hut which his companions erected on the Chicago River, a 
few leagues from its mouth. The founding of this mission was the last 



HISTORIC OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 91 

act of Marquette's life. He died in Michigan, on his way back to Green 
Bay, May 18, 1675. 

FIRST FRENCH OCCUPATION. 

The first French occupation of the territory now embraced in Illi- 
nois was effected by LaSalle in 1680, seven years after the time of Mar- 
quette and Joliet. LaSalle, having constructed a vessel, the " Griffin," 
above the falls of Niagara, which he sailed to Green Bay, and having 
passed thence in canoes to the mouth of the St. Joseph River, by which 
and the Kankakee he reached the Illinois, in January, 1680, erected Fort 
Crevecoeur, at the lower end of Peoria Lake, where the city of Peoria is 
now situated. The place where this ancient fort stood may still be seen 
just below the outlet of Peoria Lake. It was destined, however, to a 
temporary existence. From this point, LaSalle determined to descend 
the Mississippi to its mouth, but did not accomplish this purpose till two 
years later in 1682. Returning to Fort Frontenac for the purpose of 
getting materials with which to rig his vessel, he left the fort in charge of 
Touti, his lieutenant, who during his absence was driven off by the Iro- 
quois Indians. These savages had made a raid upon the settlement of 
the Illinois, and had left nothing in their track but ruin and desolation. 
Mr. Davidson, in his History of Illinois, gives the following graphic 
account of the picture that met the eyes of LaSalle and his companions 
on their return : 

" At the great town of the Illinois they were appalled at the scene 
which opened to their view. No hunter appeared to break its death-like 
silence with a salutatory whoop ot welcome. The plain on which the 
town had stood was now strewn with charred fragments of lodges, which 
had so recently swarmed with savage life and hilarity. To render more 
hideous the picture of desolation, large numbers of skulls had been 
placed on the upper extremities of lodge-poles which had escaped the 
devouring flames. In the midst of these horrors was the rude fort of 
the spoilers, rendered frightful by the same ghastly relics. A near 
approach showed that the graves had been robbed of their bodies, and 
swarms of buzzards were discovered glutting their loathsome stomachs 
on the reeking corruption. To complete the work of destruction, the 
growing corn of the village had been cut down and burned, while the 
pits containing the products of previous years, had been rifled and their 
contents scattered with wanton waste. It was evident the suspected 
blow of the Iroquois had fallen with relentless fury." 

Tonti had escaped LaSalle knew not whither. Passing down the 
lake in search of him and his men, LaSalle discovered that the fort had 
been destroyed, but the vessel which he had partly constructed was still 



92 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

on the stocks, and but slightly injured. After further fruitless search, 
failing to find Tonti, he fastened to a tree a painting representing himself 
and party sitting in a canoe and bearing a pipe of peace, and to the paint- 
ing attached a letter addressed to Tonti. 

Tonti had escaped, and, after untold privations, taken shelter among 
the Pottawattamies near Green Bay. These were friendly to the French. 
One of their old chiefs used to say, " There were but three great cap- 
tains in the world, himself, Tonti and LaSalle." 

GENIUS OF LASALLE. 

We must now return to LaSalle, whose exploits stand out in such 
bold relief. He was born in Rouen, France, in 1643. His father was 
wealthy, but he renounced his patrimony on entering a college of the 
Jesuits, from which he separated and came to Canada a poor man in 1666. 
The priests of St. Sulpice, among whom he had a brother, were then the 
proprietors of Montreal, the nucleus of which was a seminary or con- 
vent founded by that order. The Superior granted to LaSalle a large 
tract of land at LaChine, where he established himself in the fur trade. 
He was a man of daring genius, and outstripped all his competitors in 
exploits of travel and commerce with the Indians. In 1669, he visited 
the headquarters of the great Iroquois Confederacy, at Onondaga, in the 
heart of New York, and, obtaining guides, explored the Ohio River to 
the falls at Louisville. 

In order to understand the genius of LaSalle, it must be remembered 
that for many years prior to his time the missionaries and traders were 
obliged to make their way to the Northwest by the Ottawa River (of 
Canada) on account of the fierce hostility of the Iroquois along the lower 
lakes and Niagara River, which entirely closed this latter route to the 
Upper Lakes. They carried on their commerce chiefly by canoes, pad- 
dling them through the Ottawa to Lake Nipissing, carrying them across 
the portage to French River, and descending that to Lake Huron. This 
being the route by which they reached the Northwest, accounts for the 
fact that all the earliest Jesuit missions were established in the neighbor- 
hood of the Upper Lakes. LaSalle conceived the grand idea of opening 
the route by Niagara River and the Lower Lakes to Canadian commerce 
by sail vessels, connecting it with the navigation of the Mississippi, and 
thus opening a magnificent water communication from the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico. This truly grand and comprehensive 
purpose seems to have animated him in all his wonderful achievements 
and the matchless difficulties and hardships he surmounted. As the first 
step in the accomplishment of this object he established himself on Lake 
Ontario, and huilt and garrisoned Fort Frontenac, the site of the present 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 93 

city of Kingston, Canada. Here he obtained a grant of land from the 
French crown and a body of troops by which he beat back the invading 
Iroquois and cleared the passage to Niagara Falls. Having by this mas- 
terly stroke made it safe to attempt a hitherto untried expedition, his 
next step, as we have seen, was to advance to the Falls with all his 
outfit for building a ship with which to sail the lakes. He was success- 
ful in this undertaking, though his ultimate purpose was defeated by a 
strange combination of untoward circumstances. The Jesuits evidently 
hated LaSalle and plotted against him, because he had abandoned them 
and co-operated with a rival order. The fur traders were also jealous of 
his superior success in opening new channels of commerce. At LaCliine 
he had taken the trade of Lake Ontario, which but for his presence there 
-would have gone to Quebec. While they were plodding with their barK 
canoes through the Ottawa he was constructing sailing vessels to corn- 
land the trade of the lakes and the Mississippi. These great plans 
excited the jealousy and envy of the small traders, introduced treason and 
revolt into the ranks of his own companions, and finally led to the foul 
jsassination by which his great achievements were prematurely ended. 
In 1682, LaSalle, having completed his vessel at Peoria, descended 
the Mississippi to its confluence with the Gulf of Mexico. Erecting a 
standard on which he inscribed the arms of France, he took formal pos- 
session of the whole valley of the mighty river, in the name of Louis 
XIV., then reigning, in honor of whom he named the country LOUISIANA. 
LaSalle then went to France, was appointed Governor, and returned 
with a fleet and immigrants, for the purpose of planting a colony in Illi- 
nois. They arrived in due time in the Gulf of Mexico, but failing to 
find the mouth of the Mississippi, up which LaSalle intended to sail, his 
supply ship, with the immigrants, was driven ashore and wrecked on 
Matagorda Bay. With the fragments of the vessel he constructed a 
stockade and rude huts on the shore for the protection of the immigrants, 
calling the post Fort St. Louis. He then made a trip into New Mexico, 
in search of silver mines, but, meeting with disappointment, returned to 
find his little colony reduced to forty souls. He then resolved to travel 
on foot to Illinois, and, starting with his companions, had reached the 
valley of the Colorado, near the mouth of Trinity river, when he was 
shot by one of his men. This occurred on the 19th of March, 1687. 

Dr. J. W. Foster remarks of him : " Thus fell, not far from the banks 
of the Trinity, Robert Cavalier de la Salle, one of the grandest charac- 
ters that ever figured in American history a man capable of originating 
the vastest schemes, and endowed with a will and a judgment capable of 
carrying them to successful results. Had ample facilities been placed by 
the King of France at his disposal, the result of the colonization of this 
continent might have been far different from what we now behold." 



94 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 



EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

A temporary settlement was made at Fort St. Louis, or the old Kas- 
kaskia village, on the Illinois River, in what is now LaSalle County, in 
1682. In 1690, this was removed, with the mission connected with it, to 
Kaskaskia, on the river of that name, emptying into the lower Mississippi 
in St. Glair County. Cahokia was settled about the same time, or at 
least, both of these settlements began in the year 1690, though it is now 
pretty well settled that Cahokia is the older place, and ranks as the oldest 
permanent settlement in Illinois, as well as in the Mississippi Valley. 
The reason for the removal of the old Kaskaskia settlement and mission, 
was probably because the dangerous and difficult route by Lake Michigan 
and the Chicago portage had been almost abandoned, and travelers and 
traders passed down and up the Mississippi by the Fox and Wisconsin 
River route. They removed to the vicinity of the Mississippi in order 
to be in the line of travel from Canada to Louisiana, that is, the lower 
part of it, for it was all Louisiana then south of the lakes. 

During the period of French rule in Louisiana, the population prob- 
ably never exceeded ten thousand, including whites and blacks. Within 
that portion of it now included in Indiana, trading posts were established 
at the principal Miami villages which stood on the head waters of the 
Maumee, the Wea villages situated at Ouiatenon, on the Wabash, and 
the Piankeshaw villages at Post Vincennes ; all of which were probably 
visited by French traders and missionaries before the close of the seven- 
teenth century. 

In the vast territory claimed by the French, many settlements of 
considerable importance had sprung up. Biloxi, on Mobile Bay, had 
been founded by D'Iberville, in 1699 ; Antoine de Lamotte Cadillac had 
founded Detroit in 1701 ; and New Orleans had been founded by Bien- 
ville, under the auspices of the Mississippi Company, in 1718. In Illi- 
nois also, considerable settlements had been made, so that in 1730 they 
embraced one hundred and forty French families, about six hundred " con^ 
verted Indians," and many traders and voyageurs. In that portion of the 
country, on the east side of the Mississippi, there were five distinct set- 
tlements, with their respective villages, viz. : Cahokia, near the mouth 
of Cahokia Creek and about five miles below the present city of St. 
Louis ; St. -Philip, about forty -five njiles below Cahokia, and four miles 
above Fort Chartres ; Fort Chartres, twelve miles above Kaskaskia ;. 
Kaskaskia, situated on the Kaskaskia River, five miles above its conflu- 
ence with the Mississippi ; and Prairie du Rocher, near Fort Chartres. 
To these must be added St. Genevieve and St. Louis, on the west side 
of the Mississippi. These, with the exception of St. Louis, are among 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 95 

the oldest French towns in the Mississippi Valley. Kaskaskia, in its best 
days, was a town of some two or three thousand inhabitants. After it 
passed from the crown of France its population for many years did not 
exceed fifteen hundred. Under British rule, in 1773, the population had 
decreased to four hundred and fifty. As early as 1721, the Jesuits had 
established a college and a monastery in Kaskaskia. 

Fort Chartres was first built under the direction of the Mississippi 
Company, in 1718, by M. de Boisbraint, a military officer, under command 
of Bienville. It stood on the east bank of the Mississippi, about eighteen 
miles below Kaskaskia, and was for some time the headquarters of the 
military commandants of the district of Illinois. 

In the Centennial Oration .of Dr. Fowler, delivered at Philadelphia, 
by appointment of Gov. Beveridge, we find some interesting facts with 
regard to the State of Illinois, which we appropriate in this history : 

In 1682 Illinois became a possession of the French crown, a depend- 
ency of Canada, and a part of Louisiana. In 1765 the English flag was 
run up on old Fort Chartres, and Illinois was counted among the treas- 
ures of Great Britain. 

In 1779 it was taken from the English by Col. George Rogers Clark. 
This man was resolute in nature, wise in council, prudent in policy, bold 
in action, and heroic in danger. Few men who have figured in the his- 
tory of America are more deserving than this colonel. Nothing short of 
first-class ability could have rescued Vincens and all Illinois from the 
English. And it is not possible to over-estimate the influence of this 
achievement upon the republic. In 1779 Illinois became a part of Vir- 
ginia. It was soon known as Illinois County. In 1784 Virginia ceded 
all this territory to the general government, to be cut into States, to be 
republican in form, with " the same right of sovereignty, freedom, and 
independence as the other States." 

In 1787 it was the object of the wisest and ablest legislation found 
in any merely human records. No man can study the secret history of 

THE "COMPACT OF 1787," 

and not feel that Providence was guiding with sleepless eye these unborn 
States. The ordinance that on July 13, 1787, finally became the incor- 
porating act, has a most marvelous history. Jefferson had vainly tried 
to secure a system of government for the northwestern territory. He 
was an emancipationist of that day, and favored the exclusion of slavery 
from the territory Virginia had ceded to the general government ; but 
the South voted him down as often as it came up. In 1787, as late as 
July 10, an organizing act without the anti-slavery clause was pending. 
This concession to the South was expected to carry it. Congress was in 



96 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

session in New York City. On July 5, Rev. Dr. Manasseh Cutler, of 
Massachusetts, came into New York to lobby on the northwestern terri- 
tory. Everything seemed to fall into his hands. Events were ripe. 

The state of the public credit, the growing of Southern prejudice, 
the basis of his mission, his personal character, all combined to complete 
one of those sudden and marvelous revolutions of public sentiment that 
once in five or ten centuries are seen to sweep over a country like the 
breath of the Almighty. Cutler was a graduate of Yale received his 
A.M. from Harvard, and his D.D. from Yale. He had studied and taken 
degrees in the three learned professions, medicine, law, and divinity. He 
had thus America's best indorsement. He had published a scientific 
examination of the plants of New England. His name stood second only 
to that of Franklin as a scientist in America. He was a courtly gentle- 
man of the old style, a man of commanding presence, and of inviting 
face. The Southern members said they had never seen such a gentleman 
in the North. He came representing a company that desired to purchase 
a tract of land now included in Ohio, for the purpose of planting a colony. 
It was a speculation. Government money was worth eighteen cents on 
the dollar. This Massachusetts company had collected enough to pur- 
chase 1,500,000 acres of land. Other speculators in New York made 
Dr. Cutler their agent (lobbyist). On the 12th lie represented a demand 
for 5,500,000 acres. This would reduce the national debt. Jefferson 
and Virginia were regarded as authority concerning the land Virginia 
had just ceded. Jefferson's policy wanted to provide for the public credit, 
and this was a good opportunity to do something. 

Massachusetts then owned the territory of Maine, which she was 
crowding on the market. She was opposed to opening the northwestern 
region. This fired the zeal of Virginia. The South caught the inspira- 
tion, and all exalted Dr. Cutler. The English minister invited him to 
dine with some of the Southern gentlemen. He was the center of interest. 

The entire South rallied round him. Massachusetts could not vote 
against him, because many of the constituents of her members were 
interested personally in the western speculation. Thus Cutler, making 
friends with the South, and, doubtless, using all the arts of the lobby, 
was enabled to command the situation. True to deeper convictions, he 
dictated one of the most compact and finished documents of wise states- 
manship that has ever adorned any human law book. He borrowed from 
Jefferson the term " Articles of Compact," which, preceding the federal 
constitution, rose into the most sacred character. He then followed very 
closely the constitution of Massachusetts, adopted three years before. 
Its most marked points were : 

1. The exclusion of slavery from the territory forever. 

2. Provision for public schools, giving one township for a seminary r 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 97 

and every section numbered 16 in each township ; that is, one-thirty-sixth 
of all the land, for public schools. 

3. A provision prohibiting the adoption of any constitution or the 
enactment of any law that should nullify pre-existing contracts. 

Be it forever remembered that this compact declared that " Religion, 
morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the 
happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall always 
be encouraged." 

Dr. Cutler planted himself on this platform and would not yield. 
Giving his unqualified declaration that it was that or nothing that unless 
they could make the land desirable they did not want it he took his 
horse and buggy, and started for the constitutional convention in Phila- 
delphia. On July 13, 1787, the bill was put upon its passage, and was 
unanimously adopted, every Southern member voting for it, and only one 
man, Mr. Yates, of New York, voting against it. But as the States voted 
as States, Yates lost his vote, and the compact was put beyond repeal. 

Thus the great States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wis- 
consin a vast empire, the heart of the great valley were consecrated 
to freedom, intelligence, and honesty. Thus the great heart of the nation 
was prepared for a year and a day and an hour. In the light of these eighty- 
nine years I affirm that this act was the salvation of the republic and the 
destruction of slavery. Soon the South saw their great blunder, and 
tried to repeal the compact. In 1803 Congress referred it to a committee 
of which John Randolph was chairman. He reported that this ordinance 
was a compact, and opposed repeal. Thus it stood a rock, in the way 
of the on-rushing sea, of slavery. 

With all this timely aid it was, after all, a most desperate and pro- 
tracted struggle to keep the soil of Illinois sacred to freedom. It was 
the natural battle-field for the irrepressible conflict. In the southern end 
of the State slavery preceded the compact. It existed among the old 
French settlers, and was hard to eradicate. The southern part of the 
State was settled from the slave States, and this population brought their 
laws, customs, and institutions with them. A stream of population from 
the North poured into the northern part of the State. These sections 
misunderstood and hated each other perfectly. The Southerners regarded 
the Yankees as a skinning, tricky, penurious race of peddlers, filling the 
country with tinware, brass clocks, and wooden nutmegs. The North- 
erner thought of the Southerner as a lean, lank, lazy creature, burrowing 
in a hut, and rioting in whisky, dirt and ignorance. These causes aided 
in making the struggle long and bitter. So strong was the sympathy 
with slavery that, in spite of the ordinance of 1787, and in spite of the 
deed of cession, it was determined to allow the old French settlers to 
retain their slaves. Planters from the slave States mi^ht bring their 



98 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

/ 

slaves, if they would give them a chance to choose freedom or years 
of service and bondage for their children till they should become 
thirty years of age. If they chose freedom they must leave the State 
in sixty days or be sold as fugitives. Servants were whipped for offenses 
for which white men are fined. Each lash paid forty cents of the fine. A 
negro ten miles from home without a pass was whipped. These famous 
laws were imported from the slave States just as they imported laws for 
the inspection of flax and wool when there was neither in the State. 

These Black Laws are now wiped out. A vigorous effort was made 
to protect slavery in the State Constitution of 1817. It barely failed. 
It was renewed in 1825, when a convention was asked to make a new 
constitution. After a hard fight the convention was defeated. But 
slaves did not disappear from the census of the State until 1850. There 
were mobs and murders in the interest of slavery. Lovejoy was added 
to the list of martyrs a sort of first-fruits of that long life of immortal 
heroes who saw freedom as the one supreme desire of their souls, and 
were so enamored of her that they preferred to die rather than survive her. 

The population of 12,282 that occupied the territory inA.D. 1800, 
increased to 45,000 in A.D. 1818, when the State Constitution was 
adopted, and Illinois took her place in the Union, with a star on the flag 
and two votes in the Senate. 

Shadrach Bond was the first Governor, and x in his first message he 
recommended the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. 

The simple economy in those days is seen in the fact that the entire 
bill for stationery for the first Legislature was only $13.50. Yet this 
simple body actually enacted a very superior code. 

There was no money in the territory before the war of 1812. Deer 
skins and coon skins were the circulating medium. In 1821, the Legis- 
lature ordained a State Bank on the credit of the State. It issued notes 
in the likeness of bank bills. These notes were made a legal tender for 
every thing, and the bank was ordered to loan to the people $100 on per- 
sonal security, and more on mortgages. They actually passed a resolu- 
tion requesting the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States to 
receive these notes for land. The old French Lieutenant Governor, Col. 
Menard, put the resolution as follows : " Gentlemen of the Senate : It is 
moved and seconded dat de notes of dis bank be made land-office money. 
All in favor of dat motion say aye ; all against it say no. It is decided 
in de affirmative. Now, gentlemen, I bet you one hundred dollar he 
never be land-office money ! " Hard sense, like hard money, is always 
above par. 

This old Frenchman presents a fine figure up against the dark back- 
ground of most of his nation. They made no progress. They clung to 
their earliest and simplest implements. They never wore hats or cap? 









HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 99 

They pulled their blankets over their heads in the winter like the Indians, 
with whom they freely intermingled. 

Demagogism had an early development. One John Grammar (only 
in name), elected to the Territorial and State Legislatures of 1816 and 
1836, invented the policy of opposing every new thing, saying, " If it 
succeeds, no one will ask who voted against it. If it proves a failure, he 
could quote its record." In sharp contrast with Grammar was the char- 
acter of D. P. Cook, after whom the county containing Chicago was 
named. Such was hi transparent integrity and remarkable ability that 
his will was almost the law of the State. In Congress, a young man, 
and from a poor State, he was made Chairman of the Ways and Means 
Committee. He was pre-eminent for standing by his committee, regard- 
less of consequences. It was his integrity that elected John Quincy 
Adams to the Presidency. There were four candidates in 1824, Jackson, 
Clay, Crawford, and John Quincy Adams. There being no choice by the 
people, the election was thrown into the House. It was so balanced that 
it turned on his vote, and that he cast for Adams, electing him ; then 
went home- to face the wrath of the Jackson party in Illinois. It cost 
him all but character and greatness. It is a suggestive comment on the 
times, that there was no legal interest till 1830. It often reached 150 
per cent., usually 50 per cent. Then it was reduced to 12, and now to 
10 per cent. 

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE PRAIRIE STATE. 

In area the State has 55,410 square miles of territory. It is about 
150 miles wide and 400 miles long, stretching in latitude from Maine to 
North Carolina. It embraces wide variety of climate. It is tempered 
on the north by the great inland, saltless, tideless sea, which keeps the 
thermometer from either extreme. Being a table land, from 600 to 1,600 
feet above the level of the sea, one is prepared to find on the health 
maps, prepared by the general government, an almost clean and perfect 
record. In freedom from fever and malarial diseases and consumptions, 
the three deadly enemies of the American Saxon, Illinois, as a State, 
stands without a superior. She furnishes one of the essential conditions 
of a great people sound bodies. I suspect that this fact lies back of 
that old Delaware word, Illini, superior men. 

The great battles of history that have been determinative of dynas- 
ties and destinies have been strategical battles, chiefly the question of 
position. Thermopylae has been the war-cry of freemen for twenty-four 
centuries. It only tells how much there may be in position. All this 
advantage belongs to Illinois. It is in the heart of the greatest valley in 
the world, the vast region between the mountains a valley that could 



100 HISTOEY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

feed mankind for one thousand years. It is well on toward the center of 
the continent. It is in the great temperate belt, in which have been 
found nearly all the aggressive civilizations of history. It has sixty-five 
miles of frontage on the head of the lake. With the Mississippi forming 
the western and southern boundary, with the Ohio running along the 
southeastern line, with the Illinois River and Canal dividing the State 
diagonally from the lake to the Lower Mississippi, and with the Rock and 
Wabash Rivers furnishing altogether 2,000 miles of water-front, con- 
necting with, and running through, in all about 12,000 miles of navi- 
gable water. 

But this is not all. These waters are made most available by the 
fact that the lake and the State lie on the ridge running into the great 
valley from the east. Within cannon-sho.t of the lake the water runs 
away from the lake to the Gulf. The lake now empties at both ends, 
one into the Atlantic and one into the Gulf of Mexico. The lake thus 
seems to hang over the land. This makes the dockage most serviceable ; 
there are no steep banks to olamage it. Both lake and river are made 
for use. 

The climate varies from Portland to Richmond ; it favors every pro- 
duct of the continent, including the tropics, with less than half a dozen 
exceptions. It produces every great nutriment of the world except ban- 
anas and rice. It is hardly too much to say that it is the most productive 
spot known to civilization. With the soil full of bread and the earth full 
of minerals ; with an upper surface of food and an under layer of fuel ; 
with perfect natural drainage, and abundant springs and streams and 
navigable rivers ; half way between the forests of the North and the fruits 
of the South ; within a day's ride of the great deposits of iron, coal, cop- 
per, lead, and zinc; containing and controlling the great grain, cattle, 
pork, and lumber markets of the world, it is not strange that Illinois has 
the advantage of position. 

This advantage has been supplemented by the character of the popu- 
lation. In the early days when Illinois was first admitted to the Union, 
her population were chiefly from Kentucky and Virginia. But, in the 
conflict of ideas concerning slavery, a strong tide of emigration came in 
from the East, and soon changed this composition. In 1870 her non- 
native population were from colder soils. New York furnished 133,290 ; 
Ohio gave 162,623; Pennsylvania sent on 98,352; the entire South gave 
us only 206,734. In all her cities, and in all her German and Scandina- 
vian and other foreign colonies, Illinois has only about one-fifth of her 
people of foreign birth. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 1Q1 



PROGRESS OF DEVELOPMENT. 

One of the greatest elements in the early development of Illinois is 
the Illinois and Michigan Canal, connecting the Illinois and Mississippi 
Rivers with the lakes. It was of the utmost importance to the State. 
It was recommended by Gov. Bond, the first governor, in his first message. 
In 1821, the Legislature appropriated $10,000 for surveying the route. 
Two bright young engineers surveyed it, and estimated the cost at 
$600,000 or $700,000. It finally cost $8,000,000. In 1825, a law was 
passed to incorporate the Canal Company, but no stock was sold. In 
1826, upon the solicitation of Cook, Congress gave 800,000 acres of land 
on the line of the work. In 1828, another law commissioners appointed, 
and work commenced with new survey and new estimates. In 1834-35, 
George Farquhar made an able report on the whole matter. This was, 
doubtless, the ablest report ever made to a western legislature, and it 
became the model for subsequent reports and action. From this the 
work went on till it was finished in 1848. It cost the State a large 
amount of money ; but it gave to the industries of the State an impetus 
that pushed it up into the first rank of greatness. It was not built as a 
speculation any more than a doctor is employed on a speculation. But 
it has paid into the Treasary of the State an average annual net sum of 
over $111,000. 

Pending the construction of the canal, the land and town-lot fever 
broke out in the State, in 183435. It took on the malignant type in 
Chicago, lifting the town up into a city. The disease spread over the 
entire State and adjoining States. It was epidemic. It cut up men's 
farms without regard to locality, aiid jut up the purses of the purchasers 
without regard to consequences. It is estimated that building lots enough 
were sold in Indiana alone to accommodate every citizen then in the 
United States. 

Towns and cities were exported to die Eastern market by the ship- 
load. There was no lack of buyers. Every up-ship came freighted with 
speculators and their money. 

This distemper seized upon the Legislature in 1836-37, and left not 
one to tell the tale. They enacted a system of internal improvement 
without a parallel in the grandeur of its conception. They ordered the 
construction of 1,300 miles of railroad, crossing the State in all direc- 
tions. This was surpassed by the river and canal improvements. 
There were a few counties not touched by either railroad or river or 
canal, and those were to be comforted and compensated by the free dis- 
tribution of $200,000 among them. To inflate this balloon beyond cre- 
dence it was ordered that work should be commenced on both ejids of 



102 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

each of these railroads and rivers, and at each river-crossing, all at the 
same time. The appropriations for these vast improvements were over 
$12,000,000, and commissioners were appointed to borrow the money on 
the credit of the State. Remember that all this was in the early days of 
railroading, when railroads were luxuries ; that the State had whole 
counties with scarcely a cabin ; and that the population of the State was 
less than 400,000, and you can form some idea of the vigor with which 
these brave men undertook the work of making a great State. In the 
light of history I am compelled to say that this was only a premature 
throb of the power that actually slumbered in the soil of the State. It 
was Hercules in the cradle. 

At this juncture the State Bank loaned its funds largely to Godfrey 
Oilman & Co., and to other leading houses, for the purpose of drawing 
trade from Sfc. Louis to Alton. Soon they failed, and took down the 
bank with them. 

In 1840, all hope seemed gone. A population of 480,000 were loaded 
with a debt of $14,000,000. It had only six small cities, really only 
towns, namely : Chicago, Alton, Springfield, Quincy, Galena, Nauvoo. 
This debt was to be cared for when there was not a dollar in the treas- 
ury, and when the State had borrowed itself out of all credit, and when 
there was not good money enough in the hands of all the people to pay 
the interest of the debt for a single year. Yet, in the presence of all 
these difficulties, the young State steadily refused to repudiate. Gov. 
Ford took hold of the problem and solved it, bringing the State through 
in triumph. 

Having touched lightly upon some of the more distinctive points in 
the history of the development of Illinois, let us next briefly consider the 

MATERIAL RESOURCES OF THE STATE. 

It is a garden four hundred miles long and one hundred and fifty 
miles wide. Its soil is chiefly a black sandy loam, from six inches to 
sixty feet thick. On the American bottoms it has been cultivated for 
one hundred and fifty years without renewal. About the old French 
towns it has yielded corn for a century and a half without rest or help. 
It produces nearly everything green in the temperate and tropical zones. 
She leads all other States in the number of acres actually under plow. 
Her products from 25,000,000 of acres are incalculable. Her mineral 
wealth is scarcely second to her agricultural power. She has coal, iron, 
lead, copper, zinc, many varieties of building stone, fire clay, cuma clay, 
common brick clay, sand of all kinds, gravel, mineral paint every thing 
needed for a high civilization. Left to herself, she has the elements of 
all greatness. The single item of coal is too vast for an appreciative 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 103 

handling in figures. We can handle it in general terms like algebraical 
signs, but long before we get up into the millions and billions the human 
mind drops down from comprehension to mere symbolic apprehension. 

When I tell you that nearly four-fifths of the entire State is under- 
laid with a deposit of coal more than forty feet thick on the average (now 
estimated, by recent surveys, at seventy feet thick), you can get some 
idea of its amount, as you do of the amount of the national debt. There 
it is ! 41,000 square miles one vast mine into which you could put 
any of the States ; in which you could bury scores of European and 
ancient empires, and have room enough all round to work without know- 
ing that they had been sepulchered there. 

Put this vast coal-bed down by the other great coal deposits of the 
world, and its importance becomes manifest. Great Britain has 12,000 
square miles of coal; Spain, 3,000; France, 1,719; Belgium, 578; Illinois 
about twice as many square miles as all combined. Virginia has 20,000 
square miles ; Pennsylvania, 16,000 ; Ohio, 12,000. Illinois has 41,000 
square miles. One-seventh of all the known coal on this continent is in 
Illinois. 

Could we sell the coal in this single State for one-seventh of one cent 
a ton it would pay the national debt. Converted into power, even with 
the wastage in our common engines, it would do more work than could 
be done by the entire race, beginning at Adam's wedding and working 
ten hours a day through all the centuries till the present time, and right 
on into the future at the same rate for the next 600,000 years. 

Great Britain uses enough mechanical power to-day to give to each 
man, woman, and child in the kingdom the help and service of nineteen 
untiring servants. No wonder she has leisure and luxuries. No wonder 
the home of the common artisan has in it more luxuries than could be 
found in the palace of good old King Arthur. Think, if you can conceive 
of it, of the vast army of servants that slumber in the soil of Illinois, 
impatiently awaiting the call of Genius to come forth to minister to our 
comfort. 

At the present rate of consumption England's coal supply will be 
exhausted in 250 years. When this is gone she must transfer her dominion 
either to the Indies, or to British America, which I would not resist ; or 
to some other people, which I would regret as a loss to civilization. 

COAL IS KING. 

At the same rate of consumption (which far exceeds our own) the 
deposit of coal in Illinois will last 120,000 years. And her kingdom shall 
be an everlasting kingdom. 

Let us turn now from this reserve power to the annual products of 



104: HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

the State. We shall not be humiliated in this field. Here we strike the 
secret of our national credit. Nature provides a market in the constant 
appetite of the race. Men must eat, and if we can furnish the provisions 
we can command the treasure. All that a man hath will he give for his 
life. 

According to the last census Illinois produced 30,000,000 of bushels 
of wheat. That is more wheat than was raised by any other State in the 
Union. She raised In 1875, 130,000,000 of bushels of corn twice as 
much as any other State, and one-sixth of all the corn raised in the United 
States. She harvested 2,747,000 tons of hay, nearly one-tenth of all the 
hay in the Republic. It is not generally appreciated, but it is true, that 
the hay crop of the country is worth more than the cotton crop. The 
hay of Illinois equals the cotton of Louisiana. Go to Charleston, S. C., 
and see them peddling handfuls of hay or grass, almost as a curiosity, 
as we regard Chinese gods or the cryolite of Greenland ; drink your 
coffee and condensed milk; and walk back from the coast for many a 
league through the sand and burs till you get up into the better atmos- 
phere of the mountain^, without seeing a waving meadow or a grazing 
herd ; then you will begin to appreciate the meadows of the Prairie State, 
where the grass often grows sixteen feet high. 

The value of her farm implements is $211,000,000, and the value of 
her live stock is only second to the great State of New York. in 1875 
she had 25,000,000 hogs, and packed 2,113,845, about one-half of all that 
were packed in the United States. This is no insignificant item. Pork 
is a growing demand of the old world. Since the laborers of Europe 
have gotten a taste of our bacon, and we have learned how to pack it dry 
in boxes, like dry goods, the world has become the market. 

The hog is on the march into the future. His nose is ordained to 
uncover the secrets of dominion, and his feet shall be guided by the star 
of empire. 

Illinois marketed $57,000,000 worth of slaughtered animals more 
than any other State, and a seventh of all the States. 

Be patient with me, and pardon my pride, and I will give you a list 
of some of the things in which Illinois excels all other States. 

Depth and richness of soil ; per cent, of good ground ; acres of 
improved land ; large farms some farms contain from 40,000 to 60,000 
acres of cultivated land, 40,000 acres of corn on a single farm ; number of 
farmers ; amount of wheat, corn, oats and honey produced ; value of ani- 
mals for slaughter ; number of hogs ; amount of pork ; number of horses 
three times as many as Kentucky, the horse State. 

Illinois excels all other States in miles of railroads and in miles of 
postal service, and in money orders sold per annum, and in the amount of 
lumber sold in her markets. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 105 

Illinois is only second in many iniportant matters. This sample list 
comprises a few of the more important : Permanent school fund (good 
for a young state) ; total income for educational purposes ; number of pub- 
lishers of books, maps, papers, etc.; value of farm products and imple- 
ments, and of live stock ; in tons of coal mined. 

The shipping of Illinois is only second to New York. Out of one 
port during the business hours of the season of navigation she sends forth 
a vessel every ten minutes. This does not include canal boats, which go 
one every five minutes. No wonder she is only second in number of 
bankers and brokers or in physicians and surgeons. 

She is third in colleges, teachers and schools ; cattle, lead, hay, 
flax, sorghum and beeswax. 

She is fourth in population, ?n children enrolled in public schools, in 
law schools, in butter, potatoes and carriages. 

She is fifth in value of real and personal property, in theological 
seminaries and colleges exclusively for women, in milk sold, and in boots 
and shoes manufactured, and in book-binding. 

She is only seventh in the production of wood, while she is the 
twelfth in area. Surely that is well done for the Prairie State. She now 
has much more wood and growing timber than she had thirty years ago. 

A few leading industries will justify emphasis. She manufactures 
$205,000,000 worth of goods, which places her well up toward New York 
and Pennsylvania. The number of her manufacturing establishments 
increased from 1860 to 1870, 300 per cent.; capital employed increased 350 
per cent., and the amount of product increased 400 per cent. She issued 
5,500,000 copies of commercial and financial newspapers only second to 
New York. She has 6,759 miles of railroad, thus leading all other States, 
worth $636,458,000, using 3,245 engines, and 67,712 cars, making a train 
long enough to cover one-tenth of the entire roads of the State. Her 
stations are only five miles apart. She carried last year 15,795,000 passen- 
gers, an average of 36^ miles, or equal to taking her entire population twice 
across the State. More than two-thirds of her land is within five miles of 
a railroad, and less than two per cent, is more than fifteen miles away. 

The State has a large financial interest in the Illinois Central railroad. 
The road was incorporated in 1850, and the State gave each alternate sec- 
tion for six miles on each side, and doubled the price of the remaining 
land, so keeping herself good. The road received 2,595,000 acres of land, 
and pays to the State one-seventh of the gross receipts. The State 
receives this year $350,000, and has received in all about $7,000,000. It 
is practically the people's road, and it has a most able and gentlemanly 
management. Add to this the annual receipts from the canal, $111,000, 
and a large per cent, of the State tax is provided for. 



106 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 



THE RELIGION AND MORALS 

of the State keep step with her productions and growth. She was born 
of the missionary spirit. It was a minister who secured for her the ordi- 
nance of 1787, by which she has been saved from slavery, ignorance, and 
dishonesty. Rev. Mr. Wiley, pastor of a Scotch congregation in Randolph 
County, petitioned the Constitutional Convention of 1818 to recognize 
Jesus Christ as king, and the Scriptures as the only necessary guide and 
book of law. The convention did not act in the case, and the old Cove- 
nanters refused to accept citizenship. They never voted until 1824, when 
the slavery question was submitted to the people ; then they all voted 
against it and cast the determining votes. Conscience has predominated 
whenever a great moral question has been submitted to the -people. 

But little mob violence has ever been felt in the State. In 1817 
regulators disposed of a band of horse-thieves that infested the territory. 
The Mormon indignities finally awoke the same spirit. Alton was also 
the scene of a pro-slavery mob, in which Lovejoy was added to the list of 
martyrs. The moral sense of the people makes the law supreme, and gives 
to the State unruffled peace. 

With $22,300,000 in church property, and 4,298 church organizations, 
the State has that divine police, the sleepless patrol of moral ideas, that 
alone is able to secure perfect safety. Conscience takes the knife from 
the assassin's hand and the bludgeon from the grasp of the highwayman. 
We sleep in safety, not because we are behind bolts and bars these only 
fence against the innocent ; not because a lone officer drowses on a distant 
corner of a street; not because a sheriff may call his posse from a remote 
part of the county ; but because conscience guards the very portals of the 
air and stirs in the deepest recesses of the public mind. This spirit issues 
within the State 9,500,000 copies of religious papers annually, and receives 
still more from without. Thus the crime of the State is only one-fourth 
that of New York and one-half that of Pennsylvania. 

Illinois never had but one duel between her own citizens. In Belle- 
ville, in 1820, Alphonso Stewart and William Bennett arranged to vindi- 
cate injured honor. The seconds agreed to make it a sham, and make 
them shoot blanks. Stewart was in the secret. Bennett mistrusted some- 
thing, and, unobserved, slipped a bullet into his gun and killed Stewart. 
He then fled the State. After two years he was caught, tried, convicted, 
and, in spite of friends and political aid, was hung. This fixed the code 
of honor on a Christian basis, and terminated its use in Illinois. 

The early preachers were ignorant men, who were accounted eloquent 
according to the strength of their voices. But they set the style for all 
public speakers. Lawyers and political speakers followed this rule. Gov, 






HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 107 

Ford says: "Nevertheless, these first preachers were of incalculable 
benefit to the country. They inculcated justice and morality. To them 
are we indebted for the first Christian character of the Protestant portion 
of the people." 

In education Illinois surpasses her material resources. The ordinance 
of 1787 consecrated one thirty -sixth of her soil to common schools, and 
the law of 1818, the first law that went upon her statutes, gave three per 
cent, of all the rest to 

EDUCATION. 

The old compact secures this interest forever, and by its yoking 
morality and intelligence it precludes the legal interference with the Bible 
in the public schools. With such a start it is natural that we should have 
11,050 schools, and that our illiteracy should be less than New York or 
Pennsylvania, and only about one-half of Massachusetts. We are not to 
blame for not having more than one-half as many idiots as the great 
States. These public schools soon made colleges inevitable. The first 
college, still flourishing, was started in Lebanon in 1828, by the M. E. 
church, and named after Bishop McKendree. Illinois College, at Jackson- 
ville, supported by the Presbyterians, followed in 1830. In 1832 the Bap- 
tists built Shurtleff College, at Alton. Then the Presbyterians built Knox 
College, at Galesburg, in 1838, and the Episcopalians built Jubilee College, 
at Peoria, in 1847. After these early years colleges have rained down. 
A settler could hardly encamp on the prairie but a college would spring 
up by his wagon. The State now has one very well endowed and equipped 
university, namely, the Northwestern University, at Evanston, with six 
colleges, ninety instructors, over 1,000 students, and $1,500,000 endow- 
ment. 

Rev. J. M. Peck was the first educated Protestant minister in tne 
State. He settled at Rock Spring, in St. Clair County, 1820, and left his 
impress on the State. Before 1837 only party papers were published, but 
Mr. Peck published a Gazetteer of Illinois. Soon after John Russell, of 
Bluffdale, published essays and tales showing genius. Judge James Hall 
published The Illinois Monthly Magazine with great ability, and an annual 
called The Western Souvenir, which gave him an enviable fame all over the 
United States. From these beginnings Illinois has gone on till she has 
move volumes in public libaaries even than Massachusetts, and of the 
44,500,000 volumes in all the public libraries of the United States, she 
has one-thirteenth. In newspapers she stands fourth. Her increase is 
marvelous. In 1850 she issued 5,000,000 copies ; in 1860, 27,590,000 ; in 
1870, 113,140,000. In 1860 she had eighteen colleges and seminaries ; in 
1870 she had eighty. That is a grand advance for the war decade. 

This brings us to a record unsurpassed in the history of any age, 



108 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 



THE WAR RECORD OF ILLINOIS. 

I hardly know where to begin, or how to advance, or what to say. I 
can at best give you only a broken synopsis of her deeds, and you must 
put them in the order of glory for yourself. Her sons have always been 
foremost on fields of danger. In 1832-33, at the call of Gov. Reynolds, 
her sons drove Blackhawk over the Mississippi. 

When the Mexican war came, in May, 1846, 8,370 men offered them- 
selves when only 3,720 could be accepted. The fields of Buena Vista and 
Vera Cruz, and the storming of Cerro Gordo, will carry the glory of Illinois 
soldiers along after the infamy of the cause they served has been forgotten. 
But it was reserved till our day for her sons to find a field and cause and 
foemen that could fitly illustrate their spirit and heroism. Illinois put 
into her own regiments for the United States government 256,000 men, 
and into the army through other States enough to swell the number to 
290,000. This far exceeds all the soldiers of the federal government in 
all the war of the revolution. Her total years of service were over 600,000. 
She enrolled men from eighteen to forty -five years of age when the law 
of Congress in 1864 the test time only asked for those from twenty to 
forty-five. Her enrollment was otherwise excessive. Her people wanted 
to go, and did not take the pains to correct the enrollment. Thus the 
basis of fixing the quota was too great, and then the quota itself, at least 
in the trying time, was far above any other State. 

Thus the demand on some counties, as Monroe, for example, took every 
able-bodied man in the county, and then did not have enough to fill the 
quota. Moreover, Illinois sent 20,844 men for ninety or one hundred days, 
for whom no credit was asked. When Mr. Lincoln's attention was called 
to the inequality of the quota compared with other States, he replied, 
" The country needs the sacrifice. We must put the whip on the free 
horse." In spite of all these disadvantages Illinois gave to the country 
73,000 years of service above all calls. With one-thirteenth of the popu- 
lation of the loyal States, she sent regularly one-tenth of all the soldiers, 
and in the peril of the closing calls, when patriots were few and weary, 
she then sent one-eighth of all that were called for by her loved and hon- 
ored son in the white house. Her mothers and daughters went into the 
fields to raise the grain and keep the children together, while the fathers 
and older sons went to the harvest fields of the world. I knew a father 
and four sons who agreed that one of them must stay at home ; and they 
pulled straws from a stack to see who might go. The father was left. 
The next day he came into the camp, saying : " Mother says she can get 
the crops in, and I am going, too." I know large Methodist churches 
from which every male member went to the army. Do you want to know 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 109 

what these heroes from Illinois did in the field ? Ask any soldier with a 
good record of his own, who is thus able to judge, and he will tell you 
that the Illinois men went in to win. It is common history that the greater 
victories were won in the West. When everything else looked dark Illi- 
nois was gaining victories all down the river, and dividing the confederacy. 
Sherman took with him on his great march forty-five regiments of Illinois 
infantry, three companies of artillery, and one company of cavalry. He 
could not avoid 

GOING TO THE SEA. 

If he had been killed, I doubt not the men would have gone right on. 
Lincoln answered all rumors of Sherman's defeat with, " It is impossible ; 
there is a mighty sight of fight in 100,000 Western men." Illinois soldiers 
brought home 300 battle-flags. The first United States flag that floated 
over Richmond was an Illinois flag. She sent messengers and nurses to 
every field and hospital, to care for her sick and wounded sons. She said, 
i; These suffering ones are my sons, and I will care for them." 

When individuals had given all, then cities and towns came forward 
with their credit to the extent of many millions, to aid these men and 
their families. 

Illinois gave the country the great general of the war Ulysses S. 
Grant since honored with two terms of the Presidency of the United 
States. 

One other name from Illinois comes up in all minds, embalmed in all 
hearts, that must have the supreme place in this story of our glory and 
of our nation's honor ; that name is Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois. 

The analysis of Mr. Lincoln's character is difficult on account of its 
symmetry. 

In this age we look with admiration at his uncompromising honesty. 
And well we may, for this saved us. Thousands throughout the length 
and breadth of our country who knew him only as " Honest Old Abe," 
voted for him on that account ; and wisely did they choose, for no other 
man could have carried us through the fearful night of the war. When 
his plans were too vast for our comprehension, and his faith in the cause 
too sublime for our participation ; when it was all night about us, and all 
dread before us, and all sad and desolate behind us ; when not one ray 
shone upon our cause ; when traitors were haughty and exultant at the 
South, and fierce and blasphemous at the North ; when the loyal men here 
seemed almost in the minority ; when the stoutest heart quailed, the bravest 
cheek paled ; when generals were defeating each other for place, and 
contractors were leeching out the very heart's blood of the prostrate 
republic : when every thing else had failed us, we looked at this calm, 
patient man standing like a rock in the storm, and said : " Mr. Lincoln 



110 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

is honest, and we can trust him still." Holding to this single point with 
the energy of faith and despair we held together, and, under God, he 
brought us through to victory. 

His practical wisdom made him the wonder of all lands. With such 
certainty did Mr. Lincoln follow causes to their ultimate effects, that his 
foresight of contingencies seemed almost prophetic. 

He is radiant with all the great virtues, and his memory shall shed a 
glory upon this age that shall fill the eyes of men as they look into his- 
tory. Other men have excelled him in some point, but, taken at all 
points, all in all, he stands head and shoulders above every other man of 
6,000 years. An administrator, he saved the nation in the perils of 
unparalleled civil war. A statesman, he justified his measures by their 
success. A philanthropist, he gave liberty to one race and salvation to 
another. A moralist, he bowed from the summit of human power to the 
foot of the Cross, and became a Christian. A mediator, he exercised mercy 
under the most absolute abeyance to law. A leader, he was no partisan. 
A commander, he was untainted with blood. A ruler in desperate times, 
he was unsullied with crime. A man, he has left no word of passion, no 
thought of malice, no trick of craft, no act of jealousy, no purpose of 
selfish ambition. Thus perfected, without a model, and without a peer, 
he was dropped into these troubled years to adorn and embellish all that 
is good and all that is great in our humanity, and to present to all coming 
time the representative of the divine idea of free government. 

It is not too much to say that away down in the future, when the 
republic has fallen from its niche in the wall of time ; when the great 
war itself shall have faded out in the distance like a mist on the horizon ; 
when the Anglo-Saxon language shall be spoken* only by the tongue of 
the stranger ; then the generations looking this way shall see the great 
president as the supreme figure in this vortex of history 

CHICAGO. 

It is impossible in our brief space to give more than a meager sketch 
of such a city as Chicago, which is in itself the greatest marvel of the 
Prairie State. This mysterious, majestic, mighty city, born first of water, 
and next of fire ; sown in weakness, and raised in power ; planted among 
the willows of the marsh, and crowned with the glory of the mountains ; 
sleeping on the bosom of the prairie, and rocked on the bosom of the sea , 
the youngest city of the world, and still the eye of the prairie, as Damas- 
cus, the oldest city of the world, is the eye of the desert. With a com- 
merce far exceeding that of Corinth on her isthmus, in the highway to 
the East ; with the defenses of a continent piled around her by the thou- 
sand miles, making her far safer than Rome on the banks of the Tiber ; 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. Ill 

with schools eclipsing Alexandria and Athens ; with liberties more con- 
spicuous than those of the old republics ; with a heroism equal to the first 
Carthage, and with a sanctity scarcely second to that of Jerusalem set 
your thoughts on all this, lifted into the eyes of all men by the miracle of 
its growth, illuminated by the flame of its fall, and transfigured by the 
divinity of its resurrection, and you will feel, as I do, the utter impossi- 
bility of compassing this subject as it deserves. Some impression of her 
importance is received from the shock her burning gave to the civilized 
world. 

When the doubt of her calamity was removed, and the horrid fact 
was accepted, there went a shudder over all cities, and a quiver over all 
lands. There was scarcely a town in the civilized world that did not 
shake on the brink of this opening chasm. The flames of our homes red- 
dened all skies. The city was set upon a hill, and could not be hid. Alt 
eyes were turned upon it. To have struggled and suffered amid the 
scenes of its fall is as distinguishing as to have fought at Thermopylae, or 
Salamis, or Hastings, or Waterloo, or Bunker Hill. 

Its calamity amazed the world, because it was felt to be the common 
property of mankind. 

The early history of the city is full of interest, just as the early his- 
tory of such a man as Washington or Lincoln becomes public property, 
and is cherished by every patriot. 

Starting with 560 acres in 1833, it embraced and occupied 23,000 
acres in 1869, and, having now a population of more than 500,000, it com- 
mands general attention. 

The first settler Jean Baptiste Pointe au Sable, a mulatto from the 
West Indies came and began trade with the Indians in 1796. John 
Kinzie became his successor in 1804, in which year Fort Dearborn was 
erected. 

A mere trading-post was kept here from that time till about the time 
of the Blackhawk war, in 1832. It was not the city. It was merely a 
cock crowing at midnight. The morning was not yet. In 1833 the set- 
tlement about the fort was incorporated as a town. The voters were 
divided on the propriety of such corporation, twelve voting for it and one 
against it. Four years later it was incorporated as a city, and embraced 
660 acres. 

The produce handled in this city is an indication of its power. Grain 
and flour were imported from the East till as late as 1837. The first 
exportation by way of experiment was in 1839. Exports exceeded imports 
first in 1842. The Board of Trade was organized in 1848, but it was so 
weak that it needed nursing till 1855. Grain was purchased by the 
wagon-load in the street. 

I remember sitting with my father on a load of wheat, in the long 



112 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

line of wagons along Lake street, while the buyers came and untied the 
bags, and examined the grain, and made their bids. That manner of 
business had to cease with the day of small things. Now our elevators 
will hold 15,000,000 bushels of grain. The cash value of the produce 
handled in a year is 1215,000,000, and the produce weighs 7,000,000 
tons or 700,000 car loads. This handles thirteen and a half ton each 
minute, all the year round. One tenth of all the wheat in the United 
States is handled in Chicago. Even as long ago as 1853 the receipts of 
grain in Chicago exceeded those of the goodly city of St. Louis, and in 
1854 the exports of grain from Chicago exceeded those of New York and 
doubled those of St. Petersburg, Archangel, or Odessa, the largest grain 
markets in Europe. 

The manufacturing interests of the city are not contemptible. In 
1873 manufactories employed 45,000 operatives ; in 1876,60,000. The 
manufactured product in 1875 was worth $177,000,000. 

No estimate of the size and power of Chicago would be adequate 
that did not put large emphasis on the railroads. Before they came 
thundering along our streets canals were the hope of our country. But 
who ever thinks now of traveling by canal packets ? In June, 1852, 
there were only forty miles of railroad connected with the city. The 
old Galena division of the Northwestern ran out to Elgin. But now, 
who can count the trains and measure the roads that seek a terminus or 
connection in this city ? The lake stretches away to the north, gathering 
in to this center all the harvests that might otherwise pass to the north 
of us. If you will take a map and look at the adjustment of railroads, 
you will see, first, that Chicago is the great railroad center of the world, 
as New York is the commercial city of this continent ; and, second, that 
the railroad lines form the iron spokes of a great wheel whose hub is 
this city. The lake furnishes the only break in the spokes, and this 
seems simply to have pushed a few spokes together on each shore. See 
the eighteen trunk lines, exclusive of eastern connections. 

Pass round the circle, and view their numbers and extent. There 
is the great Northwestern, with all its branches, one branch creeping 
along the lake shore, and so reaching to the north, into the Lake Superior 
regions, away to the right, and on to the Northern Pacific on the left, 
swinging around Green Bay for iron and copper and silver, twelve months 
in the year, and reaching out for the wealth of the great agricultural 
belt and isothermal line traversed by the Northern Pacific. Another 
branch, not so far north, feeling for the heart of the Badger State. 
Another pushing lower down the Mississippi all these make many con- 
nections, and tapping all the vast wheat regions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, 
Iowa, and all the regions this side of sunset. There is that elegant road, 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, running out a goodly number of 



HISTORY OP THE STATE OP ILLINOIS. 113 

branches, and reaping the great fields this side of the Missouri River. 
I can only mention the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis, our Illinois Central, 
described elsewhere, and the Chicago & Rock Island. Further around 
we come to the lines connecting us with all the eastern cities. The 
Chicago, Indianapolis & St. Louis, the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & 
Chicago, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, and the Michigan Cen- 
tral and Great Western, give us many highways to the seaboard. Thus we 
reach the Mississippi at five points, from St. Paul to Cairo and the Gulf 
itself by two routes. We also reach Cincinnati and Baltimore, and Pitts- 
burgh and Philadelphia, and New York. North and south run the water 
courses of the lakes and the rivers, broken just enough at this point to 
make a pass. Through this, from east to west, run the long lines that 
stretch from ocean to ocean. 

This is the neck of the glass, and the golden sands of commerce 
must pass into our hands. Altogether we have more than 10,000 miles 
of railroad, directly tributary to this city, seeking to unload their wealth 
in our coffers. All these roads have come themselves by the infallible 
instinct of capital. Not a dollar was ever given by the city to secure 
one of them, and only a small per cent, of stock taken originally by her 
citizens, and that taken simply as an investment. Coming in the natural 
order of events, they will not be easily diverted. 

There is still another showing to all this. The connection between 
New York and San Francisco is by the middle route. This passes inevit- 
ably through Chicago. St. Louis wants the Southern Pacific or Kansas 
Pacific, and pushes it out through Denver, and so on up to Cheyenne. 
But before the road is fairly under way, the Chicago roads shove out to 
Kansas City, making even the Kansas Pacific a feeder, and actually leav- 
ing St. Louis out in the cold. It is not too much to expect that Dakota, 
Montana, and Washington Territory will find their great market in Chi- 
cago. 

But these are not all. Perhaps I had better notice here the ten or 
fifteen new roads that have just entered, or are just entering, our city. 
Their names are all that is necessary to give. Chicago & St. Paul, look- 
ing up the Red River country to the British possessions ; the Chicago, 
Atlantic & Pacific ; the Chicago, Decatur & State Line ; the Baltimore & 
Ohio; the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes; the Chicago & LaSalle Rail- 
road ; the Chicago, Pittsburgh & Cincinnati ; the Chicago and Canada 
Southern ; the Chicago and Illinois River Railroad. These, with their 
connections, and with the new connections of the old roads, already in 
process of erection, give to Chicago not less than 10,000 miles of new 
tributaries from the richest land on the continent. Thus there will be 
added to the reserve power, to the capital within reach of this city, not 
less than $1,000,000,000. 



114 ' HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

Add to all this transporting power the ships that sail one every nine 
minutes of the business hours of the season of navigation ; add, also, the 
canal boats that leave one every five minutes during the same time and 
you will see something of the business of the city. 

THE COMMERCE OF THIS CITY 



has been leaping along to keep pace with the growth of the country 
around us. In 1852, our commerce reached the hopeful sum of 
120,000,000. In 1870 it reached $400,000,000. In 1871 it was pushed 
up above $450,000,000. And in 1875 it touched nearly double that. 

One-half of our imported goods come directly to Chicago. Grain 
enough is exported directly from our docks to the old world to employ a 
semi-weekly line of steamers of 3,000 tons capacity. This branch is 
not likely to be greatly developed. Even after the great Welland Canal 
is completed we shall have only fourteen feet of water. The great ocean 
vessels will continue to control the trade. 

The banking capital of Chicago is 824,431,000. Total exchange in 
1875, $659,000,000. Her wholesale business in 1875 was $294,000,000. 
The rate of taxes is less than in any other great city. 

The schools of Chicago are unsurpassed in America. Out of a popu- 
lation of 300,000 there were only 186 persons between the ages of six 
and twenty-one unable to read. This is the best known record. 

In 1831 the mail system was condensed into a half-breed, who went 
on foot to Niles, Mich., once in two weeks, and brought back what papers 
and news he could find. As late as 1846 there was often only one mail 
a week. A post-office was established in Chicago in 1833, and the post- 
master nailed up old boot-legs on one side of his shop to serve as boxes 
for the nabobs and literary men. 

It is an interesting fact in the growth of the young city that in the 
active life of the business men of that day the mail matter has grown to 
a daily average of over 6,500 pounds. It speaks equally well for the 
intelligence of the people and the commercial importance of the place, 
that the mail matter distributed to the territory immediately tributary to 
Chicago is seven times greater than that distributed to the territory 
immediately tributary to St. Louis. 

The improvements that have characterized the city are as startling 
as the city itself. In 1831, Mark Beaubien established a ferry over the 
river, and put himself under bonds to carry all the citizens free for the 
privilege of charging strangers. Now there are twenty-four large bridges 
and two tunnels. 

In 1833 the government expended $30,000 on the harbor. Then 
commenced that series of maneuvers with the river that has made it one 



HISTORY OF THE STATK OF ILLINOIS. 115 

of the world's curiosities. It used to wind around in the low,er end of 
the town, and make its way rippling over the sand into the lake at the 
foot of Madison street. They took it up and put it down where it now 
is. It was a narrow stream, so narrow that even moderately small crafts 
had to go up through the willows and cat's tails to the point near Lake 
street bridge, and back up one of the branches to get room enough in 
which to turn around. 

In 1844 the quagmires in the streets were first pontooned by plank 
roads, which acted in wet weather as public squirt-guns. Keeping you 
out of the mud, they compromised by squirting the mud over you. The 
wooden-block pavements came to Chicago in 1857. In 1840 water was 
delivered by peddlers in carts or by hand. Then a twenty-five horse- 
power engine pushed it through hollow or bored logs along the streets 
till 1854, when it was introduced into the houses by new works. The 
first fire-engine was used in 1835, and the first steam fire-engine in 1859. 
Gas was utilized for lighting the city in 1850. The Young Men's Chris- 
tian Association was organized in 1858, and horse railroads carried them 
to their work in 1859. The museum was opened in 1863. The alarm 
telegraph adopted in 1864. The opera-house built in 1865. The city 
grew from 560 acres in 1833 to 23,000 in 1869. In 1834, the taxes 
amounted to $48.90, and the trustees of the town borrowed $60 more for 
opening and improving streets. In 1835, the legislature authorized a loan 
of $2,000, and the treasurer and street commissioners resigned rather than 
plunge the town into such a gulf. 

Now the city embraces 36 square miles of territory, and has 30 miles 
of water front, besides the outside harbor of refuge, of 400 acres, inclosed 
by a crib sea-wall. One-third of the city has been raised up an average 
of eight feet, giving good pitch to the 263 miles of sewerage. The water 
of the city is above all competition. It is received through two tunnels 
extending to a crib in the lake two miles from shore. The closest analy- 
sis fails to detect any impurities, and, received 35 feet below the surface, 
it is always clear and cold. The first tunnel is five feet two inches in 
diameter and two miles long, and can deliver 50,000,000 of gallons per 
day. The second tunnel is seven feet in diameter and six miles long, 
running four miles under the city, and can deliver 100,000,000 of gal- 
lons per day. This water is distributed through 410 miles of water- 
mains. 

The three grand engineering exploits of the city are : First, lifting 
the city up on jack-screws, whole squares at a time, without interrupting 
the business, thus giving us good drainage ; second, running the tunnels 
under the lake, giving us the best water in the world ; and third, the 
turning the current of the river in its own channel, delivering us from the 
old abominations, and making decency possible. They redound about 



116 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

equally to the credit of the engineering, to the energy of the people, and 
to the health of the city. 

That which really constitutes the city, its indescribable spirit, its soul, 
the way it lights up in every feature in the hour of action, has not been 
touched. In meeting strangers, one is often surprised how some homely 
women marry so well. Their forms are bad, their gait uneven and awk- 
ward, their complexion is dull, their features are misshapen and mismatch- 
ed, and when we see them there is no beauty that we should desire them. 
But when once they are aroused on some subject, they put on new pro- 
portions. They light up into great power. The real person comes out 
from its unseemly ambush, and captures us at will. They have power. 
They have ability to cause things to come to pass. We no longer wonder 
why they are in such high demand. So it is with our city. 

There is no grand scenery except the two seas, one of water, the 
other of prairie. Nevertheless, there is a spirit about it, a push, a breadth, 
a power, that soon makes it a place never to be forsaken. One soon 
ceases to believe in impossibilities. Balaams are the only prophets that are 
disappointed. The bottom that has been on the point of falling out has 
been there so long that it has grown fast. It can not fall out. It has all 
the capital of the world itching to get inside the corporation. 

The two great laws that govern the growth and size of cities are, 
first, the amount of territory for which they are the distributing and 
receiving points ; second, the number of medium or moderate dealers that 
do this distributing. Monopolists build up themselves, not the cities. 
They neither eat, wear, nor live in proportion to their business. Both 
these laws help Chicago. 

The tide of trade is eastward not up or down the map, but across 
the map. The lake runs up a wingdam for 500 miles to gather in the 
business. Commerce can not ferry up there for seven months in the year, 
and the facilities for seven months can do the work for twelve. Then the 
great region west of us is nearly all good, productive land. Dropping 
south into the trail of St. Louis, you fall into vast deserts and rocky dis- 
tricts, useful in holding the world together. St. Louis and Cincinnati, 
instead of rivaling and hurting Chicago, are her greatest sureties of 
dominion. They are far enough away to give sea-room, farther off than 
Paris is from London, and yet they are near enough to prevent the 
springing up of any other great city between them. 

St. Louis will be helped by the opening of the Mississippi, but also 
hurt. That will put New Orleans on her feet, and with a railroad running 
over into Texas and so West, she will tap the streams that now crawl up 
the Texas and Missouri road. The current is East, not North, and a sea- 
port at New Orleans can not permanently help St. Louis. 

Chicago is in the field almost alone, to handle the wealth of one- 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 117 

fourth of the territory of this great republic. This strip of seacoast 
divides its margins between Portland, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, 
Baltimore and Savannah, or some other great port to be created for the 
South in the next decade. But Chicago has a dozen empires casting their 
treasures into her lap. On a bed of coal that can run all the machinery 
of the world for 500 centuries ; in a garden that can feed the race by the 
thousand years ; at the head of the lakes that give her a temperature as a 
summer resort equaled by no great city in the land ; with a climate that 
insures the health of her citizens ; surrounded by all the great deposits 
of natural wealth in mines and forests and herds, Chicago is the wonder 
of to-day, and will be the city of the future. 

MASSACRE AT FORT DEARBORN. 

During the war of 1812, Fort Dearborn became the theater of stirring 
events. The garrison consisted of fifty-four men under command of 
Captain Nathan Heald, assisted by Lieutenant Helm (son-in-law of Mrs. 
Kinzie) and Ensign Ronan. Dr. Voorhees was surgeon. The only resi- 
dents at the post at that time were the wives of Captain Heald and Lieu- 
tenant Helm, and a few of the soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his family, and 
a few Canadian voyageurs, with their wives and children. The soldiers 
and Mr. Kinzie were on most friendly terms with the Pottawattamies 
and Winnebagos, the principal tribes around them, but they could not 
win them from their attachment to the British. 

One evening in April, 1812, Mr. Kinzie sat playing on his violin and 
his children were dancing to the music, when Mrs. Kinzie came rushing 
into the house, pale with terror, and exclaiming: "The Indians! the 
Indians!" "What? Where?" eagerly inquired Mr. Kinzie. "Up 
at Lee's, killing and scalping," answered the frightened mother, who, 
when the alarm was given, was attending Mrs. Barnes (just confined) 
living not far off. Mr. Kinzie and his family crossed the river and took 
refuge in the fort, to which place Mrs. Barnes and her infant not a day 
old were safely conveyed. The rest of the inhabitants took shelter in the 
fort. This alarm was caused by a scalping party of Winnebagos, who 
hovered about the fort several days, when they disappeared, and for several 
weeks the inhabitants were undisturbed. 

On the 7th of August, 1812, General Hull, at Detroit, sent orders to 
Captain Heald to evacuate Fort Dearborn, and to distribute all the United 
States property to the Indians in the neighborhood a most insane order. 
The Pottawattamie chief, who brought the dispatch, had more wisdom 
than the commanding general. He advised Captain Heald not to make 
the distribution. Said he : " Leave the fort and stores as they are, and 
let the Indians make distribution for themselves ; and while they are 
engaged in the business, the white people may escape to Fort Wayne." 



118 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

Captain Heald held a council with the Indians on the afternoon or 
the 12th, in which his officers refused to join, for they had been informed 
that treachery was designed that the Indians intended to murder the 
white people in the council, and then destroy those in the fort. Captain 
Heald, however, took the precaution to open a port-hole displaying a 
cannon pointing directly upon the council, and by that means saved 
his life. 

Mr. Kinzie, who knew the Indians well, begged Captain Heald not 
to confide in their promises, nor distribute the arms and munitions among 
them, for it would only put power into their hands to destroy the whites. 
Acting upon this advice, Heald resolved to withhold the munitions of 
war ; and on the night of the 13th, after the distribution of the other 
property had been made, the powder, ball and liquors were thrown into 
the river, the muskets broken up and destroyed. 

Black Partridge, a friendly chief, came to Captain Heald, and said : 
" Linden birds have been singing in my ears to-day: be careful on the 
march you are going to take." On that dark night vigilant Indians had 
crept near the fort and discovered the destruction of their promised booty 
going on within. The next morning the powder was seen floating on the 
surface of the river. The savages were exasperated and made loud com- 
plaints and threats. 

On the following day when preparations were making to leave the 
fort, and all the inmates were deeply impressed with a sense of impend- 
ing danger, Capt. Wells, an uncle of Mrs. Heald, was discovered upon 
the Indian trail among the sand-hills on the borders of the lake, not far 
distant, with a ba'nd of mounted Miamis, of whose tribe he was chief, 
having been adopted by the famous Miami warrior, Little Turtle. When 
news of Hull's surrender reached Fort Wayne, he had started with this 
force to assist Heald in defending Fort Dearborn. He was too late. 
Every means for its defense had been destroyed the night before, and 
arrangements were made for leaving the fort on the morning of the 15th. 

It was a warm bright morning in the middle of August. Indications 
were positive that the savages intended to murder the white people ; and 
when they moved out of the southern gate of the fort, the march was 
like a funeral procession. The band, feeling the solemnity of the occa- 
sion, struck up the Dead March in Saul. 

Capt. Wells, who had blackened his face with gun-powder in token 
of his fate, took the lead with his band of Miamis, followed by Capt. 
Heald, with his wife by his side on horseback. Mr. Kinzie hoped by his 
personal influence to avert the impending blow, and therefore accompanied 
them, leaving his family in a boat in charge of a friendly Indian, to be 
taken to his trading station at the site of Niles, Michigan, in the event OL 
his death. 



: 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 119 

The procession moved slowly along the lake shore till they reached 
the sand-hills between the prairie and the beach, when the Pottawattamie 
escort, under the leadership of Blackbird, filed to the right, placing those 
hills between them and the white people. Wells, with his Miamis, had 
kept in the advance. They suddenly came rushing ba'ck, Wells exclaim- 
ing, " They are about to attack us ; form instantly." These words were 
quickly followed by a storm of bullets, which came whistling over the 
little hills which the treacherous savages had made the covert for their 
murderous attack. The white troops charged upon the Indians, drove 
them back to the prairie, and then the battle was waged between fifty- 
four soldiers, twelve civilians and three or four women (the cowardly 
Miamis having fled at the outset) against five hundred Indian warriors. 
The white people, hopeless, resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible. 
Ensign Ronan wielded his weapon vigorously, even after falling upon his 
knees weak from the loss of blood. Capt. Wells, who was by the side of 
his niece, Mrs. Heald, when the conflict began, behaved with the greatest 
coolness and courage. He said to her, " We have not the slightest chance 
for life. We must part to meet no more in this world. God bless you." 
And then he dashed forward. Seeing a young warrior, painted like a 
demon, climb into a wagon in which were twelve children, and tomahawk 
them all, he cried out, unmindful of his personal danger, " If that is your 
game, butchering women and children, I will kill too." He spurred his 
horse towards the Indian camp, where they had left, their squaws and 
papooses, hotly pursued by swift-footed young warriors, who sent bullets 
whistling after him. One of these killed his horse and wounded him 
severely in the leg. With a yell the young braves rushed to make him 
their prisoner and reserve him for torture. He resolved not to be made 
a captive, and by the use of the most provoking epithets tried to induce 
them to kill him instantly. He called a fiery young chief a squaw, when 
the enraged warrior killed Wells instantly with his tomahawk, jumped 
upon his body, cut out his heart, and ate a portion of the warm morsel 
with savage delight ! 

In this fearful combat women bore a conspicuous part. Mrs. Heald 
was an excellent equestrian and an expert in the use of the rifle. She 
fought the savages bravely, receiving several severe wounds. Though 
faint from the loss of blood, she managed to keep her saddle. A savage 
raised his tomahawk to kill her, when she looked him full in the face, 
and with a sweet smile and in a gentle voice said, in his own language, 
"Surely you will not kill a squaw! " The arm of the savage fell, and 
the life of the heroic woman was saved. 

Mrs. Helm, the step-daughter of Mr. Kinzie, had an encounter with 
a stout Indian, who attempted to tomahawk her. Springing to one side, 
she received the glancing blow on her shoulder, and at the same instant 



120 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

seized the savage round the neck with her arms and endeavored to get 
hold of his scalping knife, which hung in a sheath at his breast. While 
she was thus struggling she was dragged from her antagonist by another 
powerful Indian, who bore her, in spite of her struggles, to the margin 
of the lake and plunged her in. To her astonishment she was held by 
him so that she would not drown, and she soon perceived that she was 
in the hands of the friendly Black Partridge, who had saved her life^ 

The wife of Sergeant Holt, a large and powerful woman, behaved as 
bravely as an Amazon. She rode a fine, high-spirited horse, which the 
Indians coveted, and several of them attacked her with the butts of their 
guns, for the purpose of dismounting her ; but she used the sword which 
she had snatched from her disabled husband so skillfully that she foiled 
them ; and, suddenly wheeling her horse, she dashed over the prairie, 
followed by the savages shouting, " The brave woman ! the brave woman ! 
Don't hurt her ! " They finally overtook her, and while she was fighting 
them in front, a powerful savage came up behind her, seized her by the 
neck and dragged her to the ground. Horse and woman were made 
captives. Mrs. Holt was a long time a captive among the Indians, but 
was afterwards ransomed. 

In this sharp conflict two-thirds of the white people were slain and 
wounded, and all their horses, baggage and provision were lost. Only 
twenty-eight straggling men now remained to fight five hundred Indians 
rendered furious by the sight of blood. They succeeded in breaking 
through the ranks of the murderers and gaining a slight eminence on the 
prairie near the Oak Woods. The Indians did not pursue, but gathered 
on their flanks, while the chiefs held a consultation on the sand-hills, and 
showed signs of willingness to parley. It would have been madness on 
the part of the whites to renew the fight ; and so Capt. Heald went for- 
ward and met Blackbird on the open prairie, where terms of surrender 
were soon agreed upon. It was arranged that the white people should 
give up their arms to Blackbird, and that the survivors should become 
prisoners of war, to be exchanged for ransoms as soon as practicable! 
With this understanding captives and captors started for the Indian 
camp near the fort, to which Mrs. Helm had been taken bleeding and 
suffering by Black Partridge, and had met her step-father and learned 
that her husband was safe. 

A new scene of horror was now opened at the Indian camp. The 
wounded, not being included in the terms of surrender, as it was inter- 
preted by the Indians, and the British general, Proctor, having offered a 
liberal bounty for American scalps, delivered at Maiden, nearly all the 
wounded men were killed and scalped, and the price of the trophies was 
afterwards paid by the British government. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 



121 




SHABBONA. 



[This was engraved from a daguerreotype, taken when Shabbona was 83 years old.] 



This celebrated Indian chief, whose portrait appears in this work, deserves 
more than a passing notice. Although Shabbona was not' so conspicuous as 
Tecumseh or Black Hawk, yet in point of merit he was superior to either 
of them. 

Shabbona was born at an Indian village on the Kankakee River, now in 
Will County, about the year 1775. While young he was made chief of the 
band, and went to Shabbona Grove, now DeKalb County, where they were 
found in the early settlement of the county. 

In the war of 1812, Shabbona, with his warriors, joined Tecumseh, was 



122 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

aid to that great chief, and stood by his side when he fell at the battle of 
the Thames. At the time of the Winnebago war, in 1827, he visited almost 
every village among the Pottawatomies, and by his persuasive arguments 
prevented them from taking part in the Avar. By request of the citizens 
of Chicago, Shabbona, accompanied by Billy Caldwell (Sauganash), visited 
Big Foot's village at Geneva Lake, in order to pacify the warriors, as fears 
were entertained that they were about to raise the tomahawk against the 
whites. Here Shabbona was taken prisoner by Big Foot, and his life 
threatened, but on the following day was set at liberty. From that time 
the Indians (through reproach) styled him " the white man's friend," 
and many times his life was endangered. 

Before the Black Hawk war, Shabbona met in council at two differ- 
ent times, and by his influence prevented his people from taking part with 
the Sacs and Foxes. After the death of Black Partridge and Senachwine, 
no <;hief among the Pottawatomies exerted so much influence as Shabbona. 
Black Hawk, aware of this influence, visited him at two different times, in 
order to enlist him in his cause, but was unsuccessful. While Black Hawk 
was a prisoner at Jefferson Barracks, he said, had it not been for Shabbona 
the whole Pottawatomie nation would have joined his standard, and he 
could have continued the war for years. 

To Shabbona many of the early settlers of Illinois owe the pres- 
ervation of their lives, for it is a well-known fact, had he not notified the 
people of their danger, a large portion of them would have fallen victims 
to the tomahawk of savages. By saving the lives of whites he endangered 
his own, for the Sacs and Foxes threatened to kill him, and made two 
attempts to execute their threats. They killed Pypeogee, his son, and 
Pyps, his nephew, and hunted him down as though he was a wild beast. 

Shabbona had a reservation of two sections of land at his Grove, but 
by leaving it and going west for a short time, the Government declared 
the reservation forfeited, and sold it the same as other vacant land. On 
Shabbona's return, and finding his possessions gone, he was very sad and 
broken down in spirit, and left the Grove for ever. The citizens of Ottawa 
raised money and bought him a tract of land on the Illinois River, above 
Seneca, in Grundy County, on which they built a house, and supplied 
him with means to live on. He lived here until his death, which occurred 
on the 17th of July, 1859, in the eighty-fourth year of his age, and was 
buried with great pomp in the cemetery at Morris. His squaw, Pokanoka, 
was drowned in Mazen Creek, Grundy County, on the 30th of November, 
1864, and was buried by his side. 

In 1861 subscriptions were taken up in many of the river towns, to 
erect a monument over the remains of Shabbona, but the war breaking 
out, the enterprise was abandoned. Only a plain marble slab marks the 
resting-place of this friend of the white man. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 



BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND PROMISSORY NOTES. 

No promissory note, check, draft, bill of exchange, order, or note, nego- 
tiable instrument payable at sight, or on demand, or on presentment, shall 
be entitled to days of grace. All other bills of exchange, drafts or notes are 
entitled to three days of grace. All the above mentioned paper falling 
due on Sunday, New Years' Day, the Fourth of July, Christmas, or any 
day appointed or recommended by the President of the United States or 
the Governor of the State as a day of fast or thanksgiving, shall be deemed 
as due on the day previous, and should two or more of these days come 
together, then such instrument shall be treated as due on the day previous 
to the first of said days. No defense can be made against a negotiable 
instrument (assigned before due) in the hands of the assignee without 
notice, except fraud was used in obtaining the same. To hold an indorser, 
due diligence must be used by suit, in collecting of the maker, unless suit 
would have been unavailing. Notes payable to person named or to order, 
in order to absolutely transfer title, must be indorsed by the payee. Notes 
payable to bearer may be transferred by delivery, and when so payable 
every indorser thereon is held as a guarantor of payment unless otherwise 
expressed. 

In computing interest or discount on negotiable instruments, a month 
shall be considered a calendar month or twelfth of a year, and for less 
than a month, a day shall be figured a thirtieth part of a month. Notes 
only bear interest when so expressed, but after due they draw the legal 
interest, even if not stated. 

* INTEREST. 

The legal rate of interest is six per cent. Parties may agree in writing 
on a rate not exceeding eight per cent. If a rate of interest greater than 
eight per cent is contracted for, it works a forfeiture of the whole of said 
interest, and only the principal can be recovered. 

DESCENT. 

When no will is made, the property of a deceased person is distrib- 
uted as follows : 

123 



124 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

First. To his or her children and their descendants in equal parts ; 
the descendants of the deceased child or grandchild taking the share of 
their deceased parents in equal parts among them. 

Second. Where there is no child, nor descendant of such child, and 
no widow or surviving husband, then to the parents, brothers and sisters 
of the deceased, and their descendants, in equal parts, the surviving 
parent, if either be dead, taking a double portion ; and if there is no 
parent living, then to the brothers and sisters of the intestate and their 
descendants. 

Third. When there is a widow or surviving husband, and no child or 
children, or descendants of the same, then one-half of the real estate and 
the whole of the personal estate shall descend to such widow or surviving 
husband, absolutely, and the other half of the real estate shall descend as 
in other cases where there is no child or children or descendants of the 
same. 

Fourth. When there is a widow or surviving husband and also a child 
or children, or descendants of the latter, then one third of all the personal 
estate to the widow or surviving husband absolutely. 

Fifth. If there is no child, parent, brother or sister, or descendants of 
either of them, and no widow or surviving husband, then in equal parts 
to the next of kin to the intestate in equal degree. Collaterals shall not 
be represented except with the descendants of brothers and sisters of the 
intestate, and there shall be no distinction between kindred of the whole 
and the half blood. 

Sixth. If any intestate leaves a widow or surviving husband and no 
kindred, then to such widow or surviving husband ; and if there is no such 
widow or surviving husband, it shall escheat to and vest in the county 
where the same, or the greater portion thereof, is situated. 

WILLS AND ESTATES OF DECEASED PERSONS. 

No exact form of words are necessary in order to make a will good at 
law. Every male person of the age of twenty-one years, and every female 
of the age of eighteen years, of sound mind and memory, can make a valid 
will ; it must be in writing, signed by the testator or by some one in his 
or her presence and by his or her direction, and attested by two or more 
credible witnesses. Care should be taken that the witnesses are not inter- 
ested in the will. Persons knowing themselves to have been named in the 
will or appointed executor, must within thirty days of the death of 
deceased cause the will to be proved and recorded in the proper county, 
or present it, and refuse to accept ; on failure to do so are liable to forfeit 
the sum of twenty dollars per month. Inventory to be made by executor 
or administrator within three months from date of letters testamentary or 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 125 

of administration. Executors' and administrators' compensation not ta 
exceed six per cent, on amount of personal estate, and three per cent, 
on money realized from real estate, with such additional allowance as 
shall be reasonable for extra services. Appraisers' compensation $2 pel 
day. 

Notice requiring all claims to be presented against the estate shall btf 
given by the executor or administrator within six months of being quali- 
fied. Any person having a claim and not presenting it at the time fixed 
by said notice is required to have summons issued notifying the executor 
or administrator of his having filed his claim in court ; in such cases the 
costs have to be paid by the claimant. Claims should be filed within two 
years from the time administration is granted on an estate, as after that 
time they are forever barred, unless other estate is found that was not in- 
ventoried. Married women, infants, persons insane, imprisoned or without 
the United States, in the employment of the United States, or of this 
State, have two years after their disabilities are removed to file claims. 

Claims are classified and paid out of the estate in the folio wing manner: 

First. Funeral expenses. 

Second. The widow's award, if there is a widow ; or children if there 
are children, and no widow. 

Third. Expenses attending the last illness, not including physician's 
bill. 

Fourth. Debts due the common school or township fund . 

Fifth. All expenses of proving the will and taking out letters testa- 
mentary or administration, and settlement of the estate, and the physi- 
cian's bill in the last illness of deceased. 

Sixth. Where the deceased has received money in trust for any pur- 
pose, his executor or administrator shall pay out of his estate the amount 
received and not accounted for. 

/Seventh. All other debts and demands of whatsoever kind, without 
regard to quality or dignity, which shall be exhibited to the court within 
two years from the granting of letters. 

Award to Widow and Children, exclusive of debts and legacies or be- 
quests, except funeral expenses : 

First. The family pictures and wearing apparel, jewels and ornaments 
of herself and minor children. 

Second. School books and the family library of the value of $100. 

Third. One sewing machine. 

Fourth. Necessary beds, bedsteads and bedding for herself and family. 

Fifth. The stoves and pipe used in the family, with the necessary 
cooking utensils, or in case they have none, $50 in money. 

Sixth. Household and kitchen furniture to the value of $100. 

Seventh. One milch cow and calf for every four members of her family. 



126 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

Eighth. . Two sheep for each member of her family, and the fleeces 
taken from the same, and one horse, saddle and bridle. 

Ninth. Provisions for herself and family for one year. 

Tenth. Food for the stock above specified for six months. 

Eleventh. Fuel for herself and family for three months. 

Twelfth. One hundred dollars worth of other property suited to her 
condition in life, to be selected by the widow. 

The widow if she elects may have in lieu of the said award, the same 
personal property or money in place thereof as is or may be exempt from 
execution or attachment against the head of a family. 

TAXES. 

The owners of real and personal property, on the first day of May in 
each year, are liable for the taxes thereon. 

Assessments should be completed before the fourth Monday in June, 
at which time the town board of review meets to examine assessments, 
hear objections, and make such changes as ought to be made. The county 
board have also power to correct or change assessments. 

The tax books are placed in the hands of the town collector on or 
before the tenth day of December, who retains them until the tenth day 
of March following, when he is required to return them to the county 
treasurer, who then collects all delinquent taxes. 

No costs accrue on real estate taxes till advertised, which takes place 
the first day of April, when three weeks' notice is required before judg- 
ment. Cost of advertising, twenty cents each tract of land, and ten cents 
each lot. 

Judgment is usually obtained at May term of County Court. Costs 
six cents each tract of land, and five cents each lot. Sale takes place in 
June. Costs in addition to those before mentioned, twenty-eight cents 
each tract of land, and twenty-seven cents each town lot. 

Real estate sold for taxes may be redeemed any time before the expi- 
ration of two years from the date of sale, by payment to the County Clerk 
of the amount for which it was sold and twenty-five per cent, thereon if 
redeemed within six months, fifty per cent, if between six and twelve 
months, if between twelve and eighteen months seventy-five per cent., 
and if between eighteen months and two years one hundred per cent., 
and in addition, all subsequent taxes paid by the purchaser, with ten per 
cent, interest thereon, also one dollar each tract if notice is given by the 
purchaser of the sale, and a fee of twenty-five cents to the clerk for his 
certificate. 

JURISDICTION OF COURTS. 

Justices have jurisdiction in all civil cases on contracts for the recovery 
of moneys for damages for injury to real property, or taking, detaining, or 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 127 

injuring personal property ; for rent; for all cases to recover damages done 
real or personal property by railroad companies, in actions of replevin, and 
in actions for damages for fraud in the sale, purchase, or exchange of per- 
sonal property, when the amount claimed as due is not over $200. They 
have also jurisdiction in all cases for violation of the ordinances of cities, 
towns or villages. A justice of the peace may orally order an officer or a 
private person to arrest any one committing or attempting to commit a 
criminal offense. He also upon complaint can issue his warrant for the 
arrest of any person accused of having committed a crime, and have him 
brought before him for examination. 

COUNTY COURTS 

Have jurisdiction in all matters of probate (except in counties having a 
population of one hundred thousand or over), settlement of estates of 
deceased persons, appointment of guardians and conservators, and settle- 
ment of their accounts ; all matters relating to apprentices ; proceedings 
for the collection of taxes and assessments, and in proceedings of executors, 
administrators, guardians and conservators for the sale of real estate. In 
law cases they have concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Courts in all 
cases where justices of the peace now have, or hereafter .may have, 
jurisdiction when the amount claimed shall not exceed $1,000, and in all 
criminal offenses where the punishment is not imprisonment in the peni- 
tentiary, or death, and in all cases of appeals from justices of the peace 
and police magistrates ; excepting when the county judge is sitting as a 
justice of the peace. Circuit Courts have unlimited jurisdiction. 

LIMITATION OF ACTION. 

Accounts five years. Notes and written contracts ten years. Judg- 
ments twenty years. Partial payments or new promise in writing, within 
or after said period, will revive the debt. Absence from the State deducted, 
and when the cause of action is barred by the law of another State, it has 
the same effect here. Slander and libel, one year. Personal injuries, two 
years. To recover land or make entry thereon, tiventy years. Action to 
foreclose mortgage or trust deed, or make a sale, within ten years. 

All persons in possession of land, and paying taxes for seven consecu- 
tive years, with color of title, and all persons paying taxes for seven con- 
secutive years, with color of title, on vacant land, shall be held to be the 
legal owners to the extent of their paper title. 

MARRIED WOMEN 

May sue and be sued. Husband and wife not liable for each other's debts, 
either before or after marriage, but both are liable for expenses and edu- 
cation of the family. * 



128 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

She may contract the same as if unmarried, except that in a partner- 
ship business she can not, without consent of her husband, unless he has 
abandoned or deserted her, or is idiotic or insane, or confined in peniten- 
tiary ; she is entitled and can recover her own earnings, but neither hus- 
band nor wife is entitled to compensation for any services rendered for the 
other. At the death of the husband, in addition to widow's award, a 
married woman has a dower interest (one-third) in all real estate owned 
by her husband after their marriage, and which has not been released by 
her, and the husband has the same interest in the real estate of the wife 
at her death. 

EXEMPTIONS FROM FORCED SALE. 

Home worth $1,000, and the following Personal Property : Lot of ground 
and buildings thereon, occupied as a residence by the debtor, being a house- 
holder and having a family, to the value of $1,000. Exemption continues- 
after the death of the householder for the benefit of widow and family, some 
one of them occupying the homestead until youngest child shall become 
twenty-one years of age, and until death of widow. There is no exemption 
from sale for taxes, assessments, debt or liability incurred for the purchase 
or improvement of said homestead. No release or waiver of exemption is 
valid, unless in writing, and subscribed by such householder and wife (if 
he have one), and acknowledged as conveyances of real estate are required 
to be acknowledged. The following articles of personal property owned 
by the debtor, are exempt from execution, writ of attachment, and distress 
for rent : The necessary wearing apparel, Bibles, school books and family 
pictures of every person ; and, 2d, one hundred dollars worth of other 
property to be selected by the debtor, and, in addition, when the debtor 
is the head of a family and resides with the same, three hundred dollars 
worth of other property to be selected by the debtor ; provided that such 
selection and exemption shall not be made by the debtor or allowed to 
him or her from any money, salary or wages 'due him or her from any 
person or persons or corporations whatever. 

When the head of a family shall die, desert or not reside with the 
same, the family shall be entitled to and receive all the benefit and priv- 
ileges which are by this act conferred upon the head of a family residing 
with the same. No personal property is exempt from execution when 
judgment is obtained for the wages of laborers or servants. Wages of a 
laborer who is the head of a family can not be garnisheed, except the sum 
due him be in excess of $25. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 129 

DEEDS AND MORTGAGES. 

To be valid there must be a valid consideration. Special care should 
be taken to have them signed, sealed, delivered, and properly acknowl- 
edged, with the proper seal attached. Witnesses are not required. The 
acknowledgement must be made in this state, before Master in Chancery, 
Notary Public, United States Commissioner, Circuit or County Clerk, Justice 
of Peace, or any Court of Record having a seal, or any Judge, Justice, or 
Clerk of any such Court. When taken before a Notary Public, or United 
States Commissioner, the same shall be attested by his official seal, when 
taken before a Court or the Clerk thereof, the same shall be attested by 
the seal of such Court, and when taken before a Justice of the Peace .resid- 
ing out of the county where the real estate to be conveyed lies, there shall 
be added a certificate of the County Clerk under his seal of office, that he 
was a Justice of the Peace in the county at the time of taking the same. 
A deed is good without such certificate attached, but can not be used in 
evidence unless such a certificate is produced or other competent evidence 
introduced. Acknowledgements made out of the state must either be 
executed according to the laws of this state, or there should be attached 
a certificate that it is- in conformity with the laws of the state or country 
where executed. Where this is not done the same may be proved by any 
other legal way. Acknowledgments where the Homestead rights are to 
be waived must state as follows : " Including the release and waiver of 
the right of homestead." 

Notaries Public can take acknowledgements any where in the state. 

Sheriffs, if authorized by the mortgagor of real or personal property 
in his mortgage, may sell the property mortgaged. 

In the case of the death of grantor or holder of the equity of redemp- 
tion of real estate mortgaged, or conveyed by deed of trust where equity 
of redemption is waived, and it contains power of sale, must be foreclosed 
in the same manner as a common mortgage in court. 

ESTRAYS. 

Jlorses, mules, asses, neat cattle, swine, sheep, or goats found straying 
at any time during the year, in counties where such animals are not allowed 
to run at large, or between the last day of October and the 15th day of 
pril in other counties, the owner thereof being unknown, may be taken up 
estrays. 

No person not a householder in the county where estray is found can 
lawfully take up an estray, and then only upon or about his farm or place 
of residence. Estrays should not be used before advertised, except animals 
giving milk, which may be milked for their benefit. 




130 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

Notices must be posted up within five (5) days in three (3) of the 
most public places in the town or precinct in which estray was found, giv- 
ing the residence of the taker up, and a particular description of the 
estray, its age, color, and marks natural and artificial, and stating before 
what justice of the peace in such town or precinct, and at what time, not 
less than ten (10) nor more than fifteen (15) days from the time of post- 
ing such notices, he will apply to have the estray appraised. 

A copy of such notice should be filed by the taker up with the town 
clerk, whose duty it is to enter the same at large, in a book kept by him 
for that purpose. 

If the owner of estray shall not have appeared and proved ownership, 
and taken the same away, first paying the taker up his reasonable charges 
for taking up, keeping, and advertising the same, the taker up shall appear 
before the justice of the peace mentioned in above mentioned notice, and 
make an affidavit as required by law. 

As the affidavit has to be made before the justice, and all other steps as 
to appraisement, etc., are before him, who is familiar therewith, they are 
therefore omitted here. 

Any person taking up an estray at any other place than about or 
upon his farm or residence, or without complying with the law, shall forfeit 
and pay a fine of ten dollars with costs. 

Ordinary diligence is required in taking care of estrays, but in case 
they die or get away the taker is not liable for the same. 

GAME. 

It is unlawful for any person to kill, or attempt to kill or destroy, in 
any manner, any prairie hen or chicken or woodcock between the 15th day 
of January and the 1st day of September ; or any deer, fawn, wild-turkey, 
partridge or pheasant between the 1st day of February and the 1st day 
of October ; or any quail between the 1st day of February and 1st day of 
November ; or any wild goose, duck, snipe, brant or other water fowl 
between the 1st day of May and 15th day of August in each year. 
Penalty : Fine not less than $5 nor more than $25, for each bird or 
animal, and costs of suit, and stand committed to county jail until fine is 
paid, but not exceeding ten days. It is unlawful to hunt with gun, dog 
or net within the inclosed grounds or lands of another without permission. 
Penalty: Fine not less than $3 nor more than $100, to be paid into 
school fund. 

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 

Whenever any of the following articles shall be contracted for, or 
sold or delivered, and no special contract or agreement shall be made to 
the contrary, the weight per bushel shall be as follows, to-wit : 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 131 



Pounds. 

Stone Coal, - - 80 

Unslacked Lime, - 80 

Corn in the ear, - - 70 

Wheat, - 60 

Irish Potatoes, - 60 

White Beans, - - 60 

Clover Seed, - - 60 

Onions, - 57 

Shelled Corn, - 56 

Rye, - - - 56 

Flax Seed, - - 56 

Sweet Potatoes, - - 55 

Turnips, - 55 

Fine Salt, 55 



Pounds. 

Buckwheat, - - 52 

Coarse Salt, 50 

Barley, - - 48 

Corn Meal, - 48 

Castor Beans, - 46 

Timothy Seed, - - 45 

Hemp Seed, - - 44 

Malt, - - 38 

Dried Peaches, - 33 

Oats, - - 32 

Dried Apples, - 24 

Bran, - - 20 

Blue Grass Seed, - - 14 

Hair (plastering), 8 



Penalty for giving less than the above standard is double the amount 
of property wrongfully not given, and ten dollars addition thereto. 

MILLERS. 

The owner or occupant of every public grist mill in this state shall 
grind all grain brought to his mill in its turn. The toll for both steam 
and water mills, is, for grinding and bolting wheat, rye, or other grain, one 
eighth part; for grinding Indian corn, oats, barley and buckwheat not 
required to be bolted, one seventh part; for grinding malt, and chopping all 
kinds of grain, one eighth part. It is the duty of every miller when his 
mill is in repair, to aid and assist in loading and unloading all grain brought 
to him to be ground, and he is also required to keep an accurate half 
bushel measure, and an accurate set of toll dishes or scales for weighing 
the grain. The penalty for neglect or refusal to comply with the law is 
$5, to the use of any person to sue for the same, to be recovered before 
any justice of the peace of the county where penalty is incurred. Millers 
are accountable for the safe keeping of all grain left in his mill for the 
purpose of being ground, with bags or casks containing same (except it 
results from unavoidable accidents), provided that such bags or casks are 
distinctly marked with the initial letters of the owner's name. 

MARKS AND BRANDS. 

Owners of cattle, horses, hogs, sheep or goats may have one ear mark 
and one brand, but which shall be different from his neighbor's, and may 
be recorded by the county clerk of the county in which such property is 
kept. The fee for such record is fifteen cents. The record of such shall 
be open to examination free of charge. In cases of disputes as to marks 
or brands, such record is vrima facie evidence. Owners of cattle, horses, 
hogs, sheep or goats that may have been branded by the former owner, 

' 



132 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

may be re-branded in presence of one or more of his neighbors, who shall 
certify to the facts of the marking or branding being done, when done, 
and in what brand or mark they were re-branded or re-marked, which 
certificate may also be recorded as before stated. 

ADOPTION OF CHILDREN. 

Children may be adopted by any resident of this state, by filing a 
petition in the Circuit or County Court of the county in which he resides, 
asking leave to do so, and if desired may ask that the name of the child 
be changed. Such petition, if made by a person having a husband or 
wife, will not be granted, unless the husband or wife joins therein, as the 
adoption must be by them jointly. 

The petition shall state name, sex, and age of the child, and the new 
name, if it is desired to change the name. Also the name and residence 
of the parents of the child, if known, and of the guardian, if any, and 
whether the parents or guardians consent to the adoption. 

The court must find, before granting decree, that the parents of the 
child, or the survivors of them, have deserted his or her family or such 
child for one year next preceding the application, or if neither are living, 
the guardian ; if no guardian, the next of kin in this state capable of giving 
consent, has had notice of the presentation of the petition and consents 
to such adoption. If the child is of the age of fourteen years or upwards, 
the adoption can not be made without its consent. 

SURVEYORS AND SURVEYS. 

There is in every county elected a surveyor known as county sur- 
veyor, who has power to appoint deputies, for whose official acts he is 
responsible. It is the duty of the county surveyor, either by himself or 
his deputy, to make all surveys that he may be called upon to make within 
his county as soon as may be after application is made. The necessary 
chainmen and other assistance must be employed by the person requiring 
the same to be done, and to be by him paid, unless otherwise agreed ; but 
the chainmen must be disinterested persons and approved by the surveyor 
and sworn by him to measure justly and impartially. 

The County Board in each county is required by law to provide a cop] 
of the United States field notes and plats of their surveys of the lane 
in the county to be kept in the recorder's office subject to examination 
by the public, and the county surveyor is required to make his surveys 
in conformity to said notes, plats and the laws of the United States gov- 
erning such matters. The surveyor is also required to keep a record 
of all surveys made by him, which shall be subject to inspection by any 
one interested, and shall be delivered up to his successor in office. A. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 133 

certified copy of the said surveyor's record shall be prima facie evidence 
of its contents. 

The fees of county surveyors are six dollars per day. The county 
surveyor is also ex officio inspector of mines, and as such, assisted by some 
practical miner selected by him, shall once each year inspect all the 
mines in the county, for which they shall each receive such compensa- 
tion as may be fixed by the County Board, not exceeding f 5 a day, to 
be paid out of the county treasury. 

ROADS AND BRIDGES. 

Where practicable from the nature of the ground, persons traveling 
in any kind of vehicle, must turn to the right of the center of the road, so 
as to permit each carriage to pass without interfering with each other. 
The penalty for a violation of this provision is $5 for every offense, to 
be recovered by the party injured; but to recover, there must have 
occurred some injury to person or property resulting from the violation. 
The owners of any carriage traveling upon any road in this State for the 
conveyance of passengers who shall employ or continue in his employment 
as driver any person who is addicted to drunkenness, or the excessive use of 
spiritous liquors, after he has had notice of the same, shall forfeit, at the 
rate of $5 per day, and if any driver while actually engaged in driving 
any such carriage, shall be guilty of intoxication to such a degree as to 
endanger the safety of passengers, it shall be the duty of the owner, on 
receiving written notice of the fact, signed by one of the passengers, and 
certified by him on oath, forthwith to discharge such driver. If such owner 
shall have such driver in his employ within three months after such notice, 
he is liable for $5 per day for the time he shall keep said driver in his 
employment after receiving such notice. 

Persons driving any carriage on any public highway are prohibited 
from running their horses upon any occasion under a penalty of a fine not 
exceeding $10, or imprisonment not exceeding sixty days, at the discre- 
tion of the court. Horses attached to any carriage used to convey passen- 
for hire must be properly hitched or the lines placed in the hands of 
mxe other person before the driver leaves them for any purpose. For 
violation of this provision ' each driver shall forfeit twenty dollars, to be 
recovered by action, to be commenced within six months. It is under- 
stood by the term carriage herein to mean any carriage or vehicle used 
for the transportation of passengers or goods or either of them. 

The commissioners of highways in the different towns have the care 
and superintendence of highways and bridges therein. They have all 
the powers necessary to lay out, vacate, regulate and repair all roads? 
build and repair bridges. In addition to the above, it is their duty to 
erect and keep in repair at the forks or crossing-place of the most 



134 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

important roads post and guide boards with plain inscriptions, giving 
directions and distances to the most noted places to which such road may 
lead ; also to make * provisions to prevent thistles, burdock, and cockle 
burrs, mustard, yellow dock, Indian mallow and jimson weed from 
seeding, and to extirpate the same as far as practicable, and to prevent 
all rank growth of vegetation on the public highways so far as the same 
may obstruct public travel, and it is in their discretion to erect watering 
places for public use for watering teams at such points as may be deemed 
advisable. 

The Commissioners, on or before the 1st day of May of each year, 
shall make out and deliver to their treasurer a list of all able-bodied men 
in their town, excepting paupers, idiots, lunatics, and such others as are 
exempt by law, and assess against each the sum of two dollars as a poll 
tax for highway purposes. Within thirty days after such list is delivered 
they shall cause a written or printed notice to be given to each person so 
assessed, notifying him of the time when and place where such tax must 
be paid, or its equivalent in labor performed ; they may contract with 
persons owing such poll tax to perform a certain amount of labor on any 
road or bridge in payment of the same, and if such tax is not paid nor 
labor performed by the first Monday of July of such year, or within ten 
days after notice is given after that time, they shall bring suit therefor 
against such person before a justice of the peace, who shall hear and 
determine the case according to law for the offense complained of, and 
shall forthwith issue an execution, directed to any constable of the county 
where the delinquent shall reside, who shall forthwith collect the moneys 
therein mentioned. 

The Commissioners of Highways of each town shall annually ascer- 
tain, as near as practicable, how much money must be raised by tax on real 
and personal property for the making and repairing of roads, only, to any 
amount they may deem necessary, not exceeding forty cents on each one 
hundred dollars' "worth, as valued on the assessment roll of the previous 
year. The tax so levied on property lying within an incorporated village, 
town or city, shall be paid over to the corporate authorities of such town, 
village or city. Commissioners shall receive $1.50 for each day neces- 
sarily employed in the discharge of their duty.' 

Overseers. At the first meeting the Commissioners shall choose one 
of their number to act General Overseer of Highways in their township, 
whose duty it shall be to take charge of and safely keep all tools, imple- 
ments and machinery belonging to said town, and shall, by the direction 
of the Board, have general supervision of all roads and bridges in their 
town. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 135 

As all township and county officers are familiar with their duties, it 
is only intended to give the points of the law that the public should be 
familiar with. The manner of laying out, altering or vacating roads, etc., 
will not be here stated, as it would require more space than is contem- 
plated in a work of this kind. It is sufficient to state that, the first step 
is by petition, addressed to the Commissioners, setting out what is prayed 
for, giving the names of the owners of lands if known, if not known so 
state, over which the road is to pass, giving the general course, its place 
of beginning, and where it terminates. It requires not less than twelve 
freeholders residing within three miles of the road who shall sign the 
petition. Public roads must not be less than fifty feet wide, nor more 
than sixty feet wide. Roads not exceeding two miles in length, if peti- 
tioned for, may be laid out, not less than forty feet. Private roads 
for private and public use, may be laid out of the width of three rods, on 
petition of the person directly interested ; the damage occasioned thereby 
shall be paid by the premises benefited thereby, and before the road is 
opened. If not opened in two years, the order shall be considered 
rescinded. Commissioners in their discretion may permit persons who 
live on or have private roads, to work out their road tax thereon. Public 
roads must be opened in five days from date of filing order of location, 
or be deemed vacated. 

DRAINAGE. 

Whenever one or more owners or occupants of land desire to construct 
i drain or ditch across the land of others for agricultural, sanitary or 
mining purposes, the proceedings are as follows : 

File a petition in the Circuit or County Court of the county in which 
the proposed ditch or drain is to be constructed, setting forth the neces- 
sity for the same, with a description of its proposed starting point, route 
and terminus, and if it shall be necessary for the drainage of the land or 
coal mines or for sanitary purposes, that a drain, ditch, levee or similar 
work be constructed, a description of the same. It shall also set forth 
the names of all persons owning the land over which such drain or ditch 
shall be constructed, or if unknown stating that fact. 

No private property shall be taken or damaged for the purpose of 
constructing a ditch, drain or levee, without compensation, if claimed by 
the owner, the same to be ascertained by a jury ; but if the construction 
of such ditch, drain or levee shall be a benefit to the owner, the same 
shall be a set off against such compensation. 

If the proceedings seek to affect the property of a minor, lunatic or 
married woman, the guardian, conservator or husband of the same shall 
be made party defendant. The petition may be amended and parties 
made defendants at any time when it is necessary to a fair trial. 



136 ABSTBACT OP ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

When the petition is presented to the judge, he shall note therein 
when he will hear the same, and order the issuance of summonses and 
the publication of notice to each non-resident or unknown defendant. 

The petition may be heard by such judge in vacation as well as in 
term time. Upon the trial, the jury shall ascertain the just compensation 
to each owner of the property sought to be damaged by the construction 
of such ditch, drain or levee, and truly report the same. 

As it is only contemplated in a work of this kind to give an abstract 
of the laws, and as the parties who have in charge the execution of the 
further proceedings are likely to be familiar with the requirements of the 
statute, the necessary details are not here inserted. 

WOLF SCALPS. 

The County Board of any county in this State may hereafter allww 
such bounty on wolf scalps as the board may deem reasonable. 

Any person claiming a bounty shall produce the scalp or scalps with 
the ears thereon, within sixty days after the wolf or wolves shall have 
been caught, to the Clerk of the County Board, who shall administer to 
said person the following oath or affirmation, to- wit : " You do solemnly 
swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that the scalp or scalps here pro- 
duced by you was taken from a wolf or wolves killed and first captured 
by yourself within the limits of this county, and within the sixty days 
last past." 

CONVEYANCES. 

When the reversion expectant on a lease of any tenements or here- 
ditaments of any tenure shall be surrendered or merged, the estate which 
shall for the time being confer as against the tenant under the same lease 
the next vested right to the same tenements or hereditaments, shall, to 
the extent and for the purpose of preserving such incidents to and obli- 
gations on the same reversion, as but for the surrender or merger thereof, 
would have subsisted, be deemed the reversion expectant on the same 
lease. 

PAUPERS. 

Every poor person who shall be unable to earn a livelihood in conse- 
quence of any bodily infirmity, idiocy, lunacy or unavoidable cause, shall 
be supported by the father, grand-father, mother, grand-mother, children, 
grand-children, brothers or sisters of such poor person, if they or either 
of them be of sufficient ability ; but if any of such dependent class shall 
have become so from intemperance or other bad conduct, they shall not be 
entitled to support from any relation except parent or child. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 137 

The children shall first be called on to support their parents, if they 
are able ; but if not, the parents of such poor person shall then be called 
on, if of sufficient ability ; and if there be no parents or children able T 
then the brothers and sisters of such dependent person shall be called 
upon ; and if there be no brothers or sisters of sufficient ability, the 
grand-children of such person shall next be called on ; and if they are 
not able, then the grand-parents. Married females, while their husbands 
live, shall not be liable to contribute for the support of their poor relations 
except out of their separate property. It is the duty of the state's 
(county) attorney, to make complaint to the County Court of his county 
against all the relatives of such paupers in this state liable to his support 
and prosecute the same. In case the state's attorney neglects, or refuses, to 
complain in such cases, then it is the duty of the overseer of the poor to 
do so. The person called upon to contribute shall have at least ten days' 
notice of such application by summons. The court has the power to 
determine the kind of support, depending upon the circumstances of the 
parties, and may also order two or more of the different degrees to main- 
tain such poor person, and prescribe the proportion of each, according to 
their ability. The court may specify the time for which the relative shall 
contribute in fact has control over the entire subject matter, with power 
to enforce its orders. Every county (except those in which the poor are 
supported by the towns, and in such cases the towns are liable) is required 
to relieve and support all poor and indigent persons lawfully resident 
therein. Residence means the actual residence of the party, or the place 
where he was employed ; or in case he was in no employment, then it 
shall be the place where he made his home. When any person becomes 
chargeable as a pauper in any county or town who did not reside at the 
commencement of six months immediately preceding his becoming so, 
but did at that time reside in some other county or town in this state, 
then the county or town, as the case may be, becomes liable for the expense 
of taking care of such person until removed, and it is the duty of the 
overseer to notify the proper authorities of the fact. If any person shall 
bring and leave any pauper in any county in this state where such pauper 
had no legal residence, knowing him to be such, he is liable to a fine of 
1100. In counties under township organization, the supervisors in each 
town are ex-oflficio overseers of the poor. The overseers of the poor act 
under the directions of the County Board in taking care of the poor and 
granting of temporary relief ; also, providing for non-resident persons not 
paupers who may be taken sick and not able to pay their way, and in case 
of death cause such person to be decently buried. 

The residence of the inmates of poorhouses and other charitable 
institutions for voting purposes is their former place of abode. 



138 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

FENCES. 

In counties under township organization, the town assessor and com- 
missioner of highways are the fence-viewers in their respective towns. 
In other counties the County Board appoints three in each precinct annu- 
ally. A lawful fence is four and one-half feet high, in good repair, con- 
sisting of rails, timber, boards, stone, hedges, or whatever the fence- 
viewers of the town or precinct where the same shall lie, shall consider 
equivalent thereto, but in counties under township organization the annual 
town meeting may establish any other kind of fence as such, or the County 
Board in other counties may do the same. Division fences shall be made 
and maintained in just proportion by the adjoining owners, except when 
the owner shall choose to let his land lie open, but after a division fence is 
built by agreement or otherwise, neither party can remove his part of such 
fence so long as he may crop or use such land for farm purposes, or without 
giving the other party one year's notice in writing of his intention to remove 
his portion. When any person shall enclose his land upon the enclosure 
of another, he shall refund the owner of the adjoining lands a just pro- 
portion of the value at that time of such fence. The value of fence and 
the just proportion to be paid or built and maintained by each is to be 
ascertained by two fence-viewers in the town or precinct. Such fence- 
viewers have power to settle all disputes between different owners as to 
fences built or to be built, as well as to repairs to be made. Each party 
chooses one of the viewers, but if the other party neglects, after eight 
days' notice in writing, to make his choice, then the other party may 
select both. It is sufficient to notify the tenant or party in possession, 
when the owner is not a resident of the town or precinct. The two 
fence-viewers chosen, after viewing the premises, shall hear the state- 
ments of the parties , in case they can't agree, they shall select another 
fence-viewer to act with them, and the decision of any two of them is 
final. The decision must be reduced to writing, and should plainly set 
out description of fence and all matters settled by them, and must be 
filed in the office of the town clerk in counties under township organiza- 
tion, and in other counties with the county clerk. 

Where any person is liable to 'contribute to the erection or the 
repairing of a division fence, neglects or refuses so to do, the party 
injured, after giving sixty days notice in writing when a fence is to be 
erected, or ten days when it is only repairs, may proceed to have the 
work done at the expense of the party whose duty it is to do it, to be 
recovered from him with costs of suit, and the party so neglecting shall 
also be liable to the party injured for all damages accruing from such 
neglect or refusal, to be determined by any two fence-viewers selected 
as before provided, the appraisement to be reduced to writing and signed, 



i: 

; 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 139 

Where a person shall conclude to remove his part of a division fence, 
and let his land lie open, and having given the year's notice required, the 
adjoining owner may cause the value of said fence to be ascertained by 
fence-viewers as before provided, and on payment or tender of the 
amount of such valuation to the owner, it shall prevent the removal. A 
party removing a division fence without notice is liable for the damages 
accruing thereby. 

Where a fence has been built on the land of another through mis- 
take, the owner may enter upon such premises and remove his fence and 
material within oix months after the division line has been ascertained. 
Where the material to build such a fence has been taken from the land 
on which it was built, then before it can be removed, the person claiming 
must first pay for such material to the owner of the land from which it 
was taken, nor shall tmch a fence be removed at a time when the removal 
will throw open or expose the crops of the other party ; a reasonable 
time must be given beyond the .six months to remove crops. 

The compensation of fence-viewers is one dollar and fifty cents a 
day each, to be paid in the first instance by the party calling them, but 
in the end all expenses, including amount charged by the fence-viewers, 
must be paid equally by the parties, except in cases where a party neglects 
or refuses to make or maintain a just proportion of a division fence, when 
,he party in default shall pay them. 

DAMAGES FROM TRESPASS. 



Where stock of any kind breaks into any person's enclosure, the 
fence being good and sufficient, the owner is liable for the damage done ; 
but where the damage is done by stock running at large, contrary to law, 
the owner is liable where there is not such a fence. Where stock is 
found trespassing on the enclosure of another as aforesaid, the owner 01 
occupier of the premises may take possession of such stock and keep the 
same until damages, with reasonable charges for keeping and feeding and 
all costs of suit, are paid. Any person taking or rescuing such stock so 
held without his consent, shall be liable to a fine of not less than three 
nor more than five dollars for each animal rescued, to be recovered by 
suit before a justice of the peace for the use of the school fund. Within 
twenty-four hours after taking such animal into his possession, the per- 
son taking it up must give notice of the fact to the owner, if known, or 
if unknown, notices must be posted in some public place near the premises. 

LANDLORD AND TENANT. 

The owner of lands, or his legal representatives, can sue for and 
recover rent therefor, in any of the following cases : 

First. When rent is due and in arrears on a lease for life or lives. 



140 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

/ 

Second. When lands are held and occupied by any person without 
any special agreement for rent. 

Third. When possession is obtained under an agreement, written 
or verbal, for the purchase of the premises and before deed given, the 
right to possession is terminated by forfeiture on con-compliance with the 
agreement, and possession is wrongfully refused or neglected to be giver, 
upon demand made in writing by the party entitled thereto. Provided 
that all payments made by the vendee or his representatives or assigns, 
may be set off against the rent. 

Fourth. When land has. been sold upon a judgment or a decree of 
court, when the party to such judgment or decree, or person holding under 
him, wrongfully refuses, or neglects, to surrender possession of the same, 
after demand in writing by the person entitled to the possession. 

Fifth. When the lands have been sold upon a mortgage or trust 
deed, and the mortgagor or grantor or person holding under him, wrong- 
fully refuses or neglects to surrender possession of the same, after demand 
in writing by the person entitled to the possession. 

If any tenant, or any person who shall come into possession from or 
under or by collusion with such tenant, shall willfully hold over any lands, 
etc., after the expiration the term of their lease, and after demand made 
in writing for the possession thereof, is liable to pay double rent. A 
tenancy from year to year requires sixty days notice in writing, to termi- 
nate the same at the end of the year ; such notice can be given at any 
time within four months preceding the last sixty days of the year. 

A tenancy by the month, or less than a year, where the tenant holds 
over without any special agreement, the landlord may terminate the 
tenancy, by thirty days notice in writing. 

When rent is due, the landlord may serve a notice upon the tenant, 
stating that unless the rent is paid within not less than five days, his lease 
will be terminated ; if the rent is not paid, the landlord may consider the 
lease ended. When default is made in any of the terms of a lease, it 
shall not be necessary to give more than ten days notice to quit or of the 
termination of such tenancy ; and the same may be terminated on giving 
such notice to quit, at any time after such default in any of the terms of 
such lease ; which notice may be substantially in the following form, viz: 

To , You are hereby notified that, in consequence of your default 

in (here insert the character of the default), of the premises now occupied 
by you, being etc. (here describe the premises), I have elected to deter- 
mine your lease, and you are hereby notified to quit and deliver up pos- 
session of the same to me within ten days of this date (dated, etc.) 

The above to be signed by the lessor or his agent, and no other notice 
or demand of possession or termination of such tenancy is necessary. 

Demand may be made, or notice served, by delivering a written or 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 141 

pnnted, or partly either, copy thereof to the tenant, or leaving the same 
with some person above the age of twelve years residing on or in posses- 
sion of the premises ; and in case no one is in the actual possession of the 
said premises, then by posting the same on the premises. When the 
tenancy is for a certain time, and the term expires by the terms of the 
lease, the tenant is then bound to surrender possession, and no notice 
to quit or demand of possession is necessary. 

Distress for rent. In all cases of distress for rent, the landlord, by 
himself, his agent or attorney, may seize for rent any personal property of 
his tenant that may be found in the county where the tenant resides ; the 
property of any other person, even if found on the premises, is not 
liable. 

An inventory of the property levied upon, with a statement of the 
amount of rent claimed, should be at once filed with some justice of the 
peace, if not over $200 ; and if above that sum, with the clerk of a court 
of record of competent jurisdiction. Property may be released, by the 
party executing a satisfactory bond for double the amount. 

The landlord may distrain for rent, any time within six months after 
the expiration of the term of the lease, or when terminated. 

In all cases where the premises rented shall be sub-let, or the lease 
assigned, the landlord shall have the same right to enforce lien against 
such lessee or assignee, that he has against the tenant to whom the pre- 
mises were rented. 

When a tenant abandons or removes from the premises or any part 
thereof, the landlord, or his agent or attorney, may seize upon any grain 
or other crops grown or growing upon the premises, or part thereof so 
abandoned, whether the rent is due or not. If such grain, or other crops, 
or any part thereof, is not fully grown or matured, the landlord, or his 
agent or attorney, shall cause the same to be properly cultivated, harvested 
or gathered, and may sell the same, and from the proceeds pay all his 
labor, expenses and rent. The tenant may, before the sale of such pro- 
perty, redeem the same by tendering the rent and reasonable compensation 
for work done, or he may replevy the same. 

Exemption. The same articles of personal property which are bylaw 
exempt from execution, except the crops as above stated, is also exempt 
from distress for rent. 

If any tenant is about to or shall permit or attempt to sell and 
remove from the premises, without the consent of his landlord, such 
portion of the crops raised thereon as will endanger the lien of the land- 
lord upon such crops, for the rent, it shall be lawful for the landlord to 
distress before rent is due. 



142 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 



LIENS. 

Any person who shall by contract, express or implied, or partly both r 
with the owner of any lot or tract of land, furnish labor or material, or 
services as an architect or superintendent, in building, altering, repairing 
or ornamenting any house or other building or appurtenance thereto on 
such lot, or upon any street or alley, and connected with such improve' 
ments, shall have a lien upon the whole of such lot or tract of land, and 
upon such house or building and appurtenances, for the amount due to 
him for such labor, material or services. If the contract is expressed, and 
the time for the completion of the work is beyond three years from the com- 
mencement thereof ; or, if the time of payment is beyond one year from 
the time stipulated for the completion of the work, then no lien exists. 
If the contract is implied, then no lien exists, unless the work be done or 
material is furnished within one year from the commencement of the work 
or delivery of the materials. As between different creditors having liens r 
no preference is given to the one whose contract was first made ; but each 
shares pro-rata. Incumbrances existing on the lot or tract of the land at 
the time the contract is made, do not operate on the improvements, and 
are only preferred to the extent of the value of the land at the time of 
making the contract. The above lien can not be enforced unless suit is 
commenced within six months after the last payment for labor or materials 
shall have become due and payable. Sub-contractors, mechanics, workmen 
and other persons furnishing any material, or performing any labor for & 
contractor as before specified, have a lien to the extent of the amount due 
the contractor at the time the following notice is served upon the owner 
of the land who mtide the contract: 

To , You are hereby notified, that I have been employed by 

(here state whether to labor or furnish material, and substantially the 
nature of the demand) upon your (here state in general terms description 
and situation of building), and that I shall hold the (building, or as the 
case may be), and your interest in the ground, liable for the amount that 

may (is or may become) due me on account thereof. Signature, 

Date, 

If there is a contract in writing between contractor and sub-contractor, 
a copy of it should be served with above notice, and said notice must be 
served within forty days from the completion of such sub-contract, if there 
is one ; if not, then from the time payment should have been made to the 
person performing the labor or furnishing the material. If the owner is 
not a resident of the county, or can not be found therein, then the above 
notice must be filed with the clerk of the Circuit Court, with his fee, fifty 
cents, and a copy of said notice must be published in a newspaper pub- 
lished in the county, for four successive weeks. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 143 

When the owner or agent is notified as above, he can retain any 
money due the contractor sufficient to pay such claim ; if more than one 
claim, and not enough to pay all, they are to be paid pro rata. 

The owner has the right to demand in writing, a statement of the 
contractor, of what he owes for labor, etc., from time to time as the work 
progresses, and on his failure to comply, forfeits to the owner $50 for 
every offense. 

The liens referred to cover any and all estates, whether in fee for 
life, for years, or any other interest which the owner may have. 

To enforce the lien of sub-contractors, suit must be commenced within 
three months from the time of the performance of the sub-contract, or 
during the work or furnishing materials. 

Hotel, inn and boarding-house keepers, have a lien upon the baggage 
and other valuables of their guests or boarders, brought into such hotel, 
inn or boarding-house, by their guests or boarders, for the proper charges 
due from such guests or boarders for their accommodation, board and 
lodgings, and such extras as are furnished at their request. 

Stable-keepers and other persons have a lien upon the horses, car- 
riages and harness kept by them, for the proper charges due for the keep- 
ing thereof and expenses bestowed thereon at the request of the owner 
or the person having the possession of the same. 

Agisters (persons who take care of cattle belonging to others), and 
persons keeping, yarding, feeding or pasturing domestic animals, shall 
have a lien upon the animals agistered, kept, yarded or fed, for the proper 
charges due for such service. 

All persons who may furnish any railroad corporation in this state 
with fuel, ties, material, supplies or any other article or thing necessary 
for the construction, maintenance, operation or repair of its road by con- 
tract, or may perform work or labor on the same, is entitled to be paid as 
part of the current expenses of the road, and have a lien upon all its pro- 
perty. Sub-contractors or laborers have also a lien. The conditions and 
limitations both as to contractors and sub-contractors, are about the same 
as herein stated as to general liens. 

DEFINITION OF COMMERCIAL TERMS. 

$ means dollars, being a contraction of U. S., which was formerly 

placed before any denomination of money, and meant, as it means now, 
United States Currency. 

< means pounds, English money. 

@ stands for at or to. R> for pound, and bbl. for barrel; fJ for per or 
by the. Thus, Butter sells at 20@30c ^ Ib, and Flour at $8@12 ^ bbl. 

% for per cent and # for number. 

May 1. Wheat sells at $1.20@1.25, "seller June." Seller June 






144 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

means that the person who sells the wheat has the privilege of delivering 
it at any time during the month of June. 

Selling short, is contracting to deliver a certain amount of grain or 
stock, at a fixed price, within a certain length of time, when the seller 
has not the stock on hand. It is for the interest of the person selling 
"short," to depress the market as much as possible, in order that he may 
buy and fill his contract at a profit. Hence the " shorts " are termed 
" bears." 

Buying long, is to contract to purchase a certain amount of grain or 
shares of stock at a fixed price, deliverable within a stipulated time, 
expecting to make a profit by the rise of prices. The " longs " are 
termed "bulls," as it is for their interest to " operate " so as to " toss " 
the prices upward as much as possible. 

NOTES. 

Form of note is legal, worded in the simplest way, so that the 
amount and time of payment are mentioned. 

$100. Chicago, 111., Sept. 15, 1876. 

Sixty days from date I promise to pay to E. F. Brown,, 
or order, One Hundred dollars, for value received. 

L. D. LOWRY. 

A note to be payable in any thing else than money needs only the- 
facts substituted for money in the above form. 

ORDERS. 

Orders should be worded simply, thus : 

'Mr. F. H. COATS: Chicago, Sept. 15, 1876. 

Please pay to H. Birdsall, Twenty-five dollars, and charge to 

F. D. SILVA. 

RECEIPTS. 

Receipts should always state when received and what for, thus : 

Chicago, Sept. 15, 1876. 



Received of J. W. Davis, One Hundred dollars, for services 
rendered in grading his lot in Fort Madison, on account. 

THOMAS BRADY. 
If receipt is in full it should be so stated. 

BILLS OF PURCHASE. 

W. N. MASON, Salem, Illinois, Sept. 15, 1876. 

Bought of A. A. GRAHAM. 

4 Bushels of Seed Wheat, at $1.50 - $6.00' 

2 Seamless Sacks " .30 - - .60 



Received payment, $6.60- 

A. A. GRAHAM. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 145 

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT. 

An agreement is where one party promises to another to do a certain 
thing in a certain time for a stipulated sum. Good business men always 
reduce an agreement to writing, which nearly always saves misunder- 
standings and trouble. No particular form is necessary, but the facts must 
be clearly and explicitly stated, and there must, to make it valid, be a 
reasonable consideration. 

GENERAL FORM OF AGREEMENT. 

THIS AGREEMENT, made the Second day of October, 1876, between 
John Jones, of Aurora, County of Kane, State of Illinois, of the first part, 
and Thomas Whiteside, of the same place, of the second part 

WITNESSETH, that the said John Jones, in consideration of the agree- 
ment of the party of the second part, hereinafter contained, contracts and 
agrees to and with the said Thomas Whiteside, that he will deliver, in 
good and marketable condition, at the Village of Batavia, 111., during the 
month of November, of this year, One Hundred Tons of Prairie Hay, in 
the following lots, and at the following specified times ; namely, twenty- 
five tons by the seventh of November, twenty-five tons additional by the 
fourteenth of the month, twenty-five tons more by the twenty-first, and 
the entire one hundred tons to be all delivered by the thirtieth of 
November. 

And the said Thomas Whiteside, in consideration of the prompt 
fulfillment of this contract, on the part of the party of the first part, 
contracts to and agrees with the said John Jones, to pay for said hay five 
dollars per ton, for each ton as soon as delivered. 

In case of failure of agreement by either of the parties hereto, it is 
hereby stipulated and agreed that the party so failing shall pay to the 
other, One Hundred Dollars, as fixed and settled damages. 

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands the day and 
year first above written. JOHN JONES, 

THOMAS WHITESIDE. 

AGREEMENT WITH CLERK FOR SERVICES. 

THIS AGREEMENT, made the first day of May, one thousand eight 
hundred and seventy-six, between Reuben Stone, of Chicago, County 
of Cook, State of Illinois, party of the first part, and George Barclay, of 
Englewood, County of Cook, State of Illinois, party of the second part 

WITNESSETH, that said George Barclay agrees faithfully and dili- 
gently to work as clerk and salesman for the said Reuben Stone, for 
and during the space of one year from the date hereof, should both 
live such length of time, without absenting himself from his occupation ; 



146 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

during which time he, the said Barclay, in the store of said Stone, of 
Chicago, will carefully and honestly attend, doing and performing all 
duties as clerk and salesman aforesaid, in accordance and in all respects 
as directed and desired by the said Stone. 

In consideration of which services, so to be rendered by the said 
Barclay, the said Stone agrees to pay to said Barclay the annual sum of 
one thousand dollars, payable in twelve equal monthly payments, each 
upon the last day of each month ; provided that all dues for days of 
absence from business by said Barclay, shall be deducted from the sum 
otherwise by the agreement due and payable by the said Stone to the said 
Barclay. 

Witness our hands. REUBEN STONE. 

GEORGE BARCLAY. 

BILLS OF SALE. 

A bill of sale is a written agreement to another party, for a consider- 
ation to convey his right and interest in the personal property. The 
purchaser must take actual possession of the property. Juries have 
power to determine upon the fairness or unfairness of a bill of sale. 

COMMON FORM OF BILL OF SALE. 

KNOW ALL MEN by this instrument, that I, Louis Clay, of Princeton, 
Illinois, of the first part, for and in consideration of Five Hundred 
and Ten dollars, to me paid by John Floyd, of the same place, of the 
second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have sold, and 
by this instrument do convey unto the said Floyd, party of the second 
part, his executors, administrators, and assigns, my undivided half of 
ten acres of corn, now growing on the farm of Thomas Tyrrell, in the 
town above mentioned ; one pair of horses, sixteen sheep, and five cows, 
belonging to me, and in my possession at the farm aforesaid ; to have and 
to hold the same unto the party of the second part, his executors and 
assigns, forever. And I do, for myself and legal representatives, agree 
with the said party of the second part, and his legal representatives, to 
warrant and defend the sale of the afore-mentioned property and chattels 
unto the said party of the second part, and his legal representatives, 
against all and every person whatsoever. 

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand, this tenth day 
of October, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. 

, Louis CLAY. 

BONDS. 

A bond is a written admission on the part of the maker in which he 
pledges a certain sum to another, at a certain time. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 147 

COMMON FORM OF BOND. 

KNOW ALL MEN by this instrument, that I, George Edgerton, of 
Watseka, Iroquois County, State of Illinois, am firmly bound unto Peter 
Kirchoff, of the place aforesaid, in the sum of five hundred dollars, to be 
paid to the said Peter Kirchoff, or his legal representatives ; to which 
payment, to be made, I bind myself, or my legal representatives, by this 
instrument. 

Sealed with my seal, and dated this second day of November, one 
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four. 

The condition of this bond is such that if I, George Edgerton, my 
heirs, administrators, or executors, shall promptly pay the sum of two 
hundred and fifty dollars in three equal annual payments from the date 
hereof, with annual interest, then the above obligation to be of no effect ; 
otherwise to be in full force and valid. 
Sealed and delivered in 

presence of GEORGE EDGERTON. [L.S.] 

WILLIAM TURNER. 

CHATTEL MORTGAGES. 

A chattel mortgage is a mortgage on personal property for payment 
of a certain sum of money, to hold the property against debts of other 
creditors. The mortgage must describe the property, and must be 
acknowledged before a justice of the peace in the township or precinct 
where the mortgagee resides, and entered upon his docket, and must be 
recorded in the recorder's office of the county. 

GENERAL FORM OF CHATTEL MORTGAGE. 

THIS INDENTURE, made and entered into this first day of January, 
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, 
between Theodore Lottinville, of the town of Geneseo in the County 
of Henry, and State of Illinois, party of the first part, and Paul Hen&haw, 
of the same town, county, and State, party of the second part. 

Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consider- 
ation of the sum of one thousand dollars, in hand paid, the receipt whereof 
is hereby acknowledged, does hereby grant, sell, convey, and confirm unto 
the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever, all and 
singular the following described goods and chattels, to wit : 

Two three-year old roan-colored horses, one Burdett organ, No. 987, 
one Brussels carpet, 15x20 feet in size, one marble-top center table, one 
Home Comfort cooking stove, No. 8, one black walnut bureau with mirror 
attached, one set of parlor chairs (six in number), upholstered in green 
rep, with lounge corresponding with same in style and color of upholstery, 
now in possession of said Lottinville, at No. 4 Prairie Ave., Geueseo, 111. ; 



148 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

Together with all and singular, the appurtenances thereunto "belong- 
ing, or in any wise appertaining ; to have and to hold the above described 
goods and chattels, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and 
assigns, forever. 

Provided, always, and these presents are upon this express condition, 
that if the said Theodore Lottinville, his heirs, executors, administrators, 
or assigns, shall, on or before the first day of January, A.D., one thousand 
eight hundred and seventy-six, pay, or cause to be paid, to the said Paul 
Ranslow, or his lawful attorney or attorneys, heirs, executors, adminis- 
trators, or assigns, the sum of One Thousand dollars, together with the 
interest that may accrue thereon, at the rate of ten per cent, per annum, 
from the first day of January, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and 
seventy-five, until paid, according to the tenor of one promissory note 
bearing even date herewith for the payment of said sum of money, that 
then and from thenceforth, these presents, and everything herein con- 
tained, shall cease, and be null and void, anything herein contained to the 
contrary notwithstanding. 

Provided, also, that the said Theodore Lottinville may retain the 
possession of and have the use of said goods and chattels until the day 
of payment aforesaid ; and also, at his own expense, shall keep said goods 
and chattels ; and also at the expiration of said time of payment, if said 
sum of money, together with the interest as aforesaid, shall not be paid, 
shall deliver up said goods and chattels, in good condition, to said Paul 
Ranslow, or his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns. 

And provided, also, that if default in payment as aforesaid, by said 
party of the first part, shall be made, or if said party of the second part 
shall at any time before said promissory note becomes due, feel himself 
unsafe or insecure, that then the said party of the second part, or his 
attorney, agent, assigns, or heirs, executors, or administrators, shall have 
the right to take possession of said goods and chattels, wherever they 
may or can be found, and sell the same at public or private sale, to the 
highest bidder for cash in hand, after giving ten days' notice of the time 
and place of said sale, together with a description of the goods and chat- 
tels to be sold, by at least four advertisements, posted up in public places 
in the vicinity where said sale is to take place, and proceed to make the 
sum of money and interest promised as aforesaid, together with all reason- 
able costs, charges, and expenses in so doing ; and if there shall be any 
overplus, shall pay the same without delay to the said party of the first 
part, or his legal representatives. 

In testimony whereof, the said party of the first part has hereunto 
set his hand and affixed his seal, the day and year first above written. 
Signed, sealed and delivered in 

presence of THEODORE LOTTINVILLE. [L.S.] 

SAMUEL J. TILDEN. 



ABSTRACT OP ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 149 



LEASE OF FARM AND BUILDINGS THEREON. 

THIS INDENTURE, made this second day of June, 1875, between David 
Patton of the Town of Bisbee, State of Illinois, of the first part, and John 
Doyle of the same place, of the second part, 

Witnesseth, that the said David Patton, for and in consideration of 
the covenants hereinafter mentioned and reserved, on the part of the said 
John Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, to be paid, kept, 
and performed, hath let, and by these presents doth grant, demise, and 
let, unto the said John Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, 
all that parcel of land situate in Bisbee aforesaid, bounded and described 
as follows, to wit : 

[Here describe the land.] 

Together with all the appurtenances appertaining thereto. To have 
and to hold the said premises, with appurtenances thereto belonging, unto 
the said Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, for the term of 
five years, from the first day of October next following, at a yearly rent 
of Six Hundred dollars, to be paid in equal payments, semi-annually, as 
long as said buildings are in good tenahtable condition. 

And the said Doyle, by these presents, covenants and agrees to pay 
all taxes and assessments, and keep in repair all hedges, ditches, rail, and 
other fences ; (the said David Patton, his heirs, assigns and administra- 
tors, to furnish all timber, brick, tile, and other materials necessary for 
such repairs.) 

Said Doyle further covenants and agrees to apply to said land, in a 
farmer-like manner, all manure and compost accumulating upon said 
farm, and cultivate all the arable land in a husbandlike manner, accord- 
ing to the usual custom among farmers in the neighborhood ; he also 
agrees to trim the hedges at a seasonable time, preventing injury from 
cattle to such hedges, and to all fruit and other trees on the said premises. 
That he will seed down with clover and timothy seed twenty acres yearly 
of arable land, ploughing the same number of acres each Spring of land 
now in grass, and hitherto unbroken. 

It is further agreed, that if the said Doyle shall fail to perform the 
whole or any one of the above mentioned covenants, then and in that 
case the said David Patton may declare this lease terminated, by giving 
three months' notice of the same, prior to the first of October of any 
year, and may distrain any part of the stock, goods, or chattels, or other 
property in possession of said Doyle, for sufficient to compensate for the 
non-performance of the above written covenants, the same to be deter- 
mined, and amounts so to be paid to be determined, by three arbitrators, 
chosen as follows : Each of the parties to this instrument to choose one, 



150 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

and the two so chosen to select a third ; the decision of said arbitrators 
to be final. 

In witness whereof, we have hereto set our hands and seals. 
Signed, sealed, and delivered 

in presence of DAVID PATTON. [L.S.] 

JAMES WALDEON. JOHN DOYLE. [L.S.] 

FORM OF LEASE OF A HOUSE. 

THIS INSTRUMENT, made the first day of October, 1875, witnesseth 
that Amos Griest of Yorkville, County of Kendall, State of Illinois, hath 
rented from Aaron Young of Logansport aforesaid, the dwelling and lot 
No. 13 Ohio Street, situated in said City of Yorkville, for five years 
from the above date, at the yearly rental of Three Hundred dollars, pay- 
able monthly, on the first day of each month, in advance, at the residence 
of said Aaron Young. 

At the expiration of said above mentioned term, the said Griest 
agrees to give the said Young peaceable possession of the said dwelling, 
in as good condition as when taken, ordinary wear and casualties excepted, 

In witness whereof, we place our hands and seals the day and year 
aforesaid. 

Signed, sealed and delivered AMOS GRIEST. [L.S.] 

in presence of 

NlCKOLAS SCHUTZ, AARON YOUNG. [L.S.] 

Notary Public. 

LANDLORD'S AGREEMENT. 

THIS certifies that I have let and rented, this first day of January, 
1876, unto Jacob Schmidt, my house and lot, No. 15 Erie Street, in the 
City of Chicago, State of Illinois, and its appurtenances ; he to have the 
free and uninterrupted occupation thereof for one year from this date, at 
the yearly rental of Two Hundred dollars, to be paid monthly in advance ; 
rent to cease if destroyed by fire, or otherwise made untenantable. 

PETER FUNK. 
TENANT'S AGREEMENT. 

THIS certifies that I have hired and taken from Peter Funk, his 
house and lot, No. 15 Erie Street, in the City of Chicago, State of Illi- 
nois, with appurtenances thereto belonging, for one year, to commence 
this day, at a yearly rental of Two Hundred dollars, to be paid monthly 
in advance ; unless said house becomes untenantable from fire or other 
causes, in which case rent ceases ; and I further agree to give and yield 
said premises one year from this first day of January 1876, in as good 
condition as now, ordinary wear and damage by the elements excepted. 

Given under my hand this day. JACOB SCHMIDT. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 151 

NOTICE TO QUIT. 

To F. W. ARLEN, 

/Sir : Please observe that the term of one year, for which the house 
and land, situated at No. 6 Indiana Street, and now occupied by you, 
were rented to you, expired on the first day of October, 1875, and as I 
desire to repossess said premises, you are hereby requested and required 

to vacate the same. Respectfully Yours, 

P. T. BARNUM. 
LINCOLN, NEB., October 4, 1875. 

TENANT'S NOTICE OF LEAVING. 

DEAR SIR: 

The premises I now occupy as your tenant, at No. 6 Indiana Street, 
I shall vacate on the first day of November, 1875. You will please take 
notice accordingly. 

Dated this tenth day of October, 1875. F. W. ARLEN. 

To P. T. BARNUM, ESQ. 

REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE TO SECURE PAYMENT OF MONEY. 

THIS INDENTURE, made this sixteenth day of May, in the year of 
our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, between William 
Stocker, of Peoria, County of Peoria, and State of Illinois, and Olla, his 
wife, party of the first part, and Edward Singer, party of the second part. 

Whereas, the said party of the first part is justly indebted to the said 
party of the second part, in the sum of Two Thousand dollars, secured 
to be paid by two certain promissory notes (bearing even date herewith) 
the one due and payable at the Second National Bank in Peoria, Illinois, 
with interest, on the sixteenth day of May, in the year one thousand eight 
hundred and seventy-three ; the other due and payable at the Second 
National Bank at Peoria, 111., with interest, on the sixteenth day of May, 
in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four. 

Now, therefore, this indenture witnesseth, that the said party of the 
first part, for the better securing the payment of the money aforesaid, 
with interest thereon, according to the tenor and effect of the said two 
promissory notes above mentioned ; and, also in consideration of the fur- 
ther sum of one dollar to them in hand paid by the said party of the sec- 
ond part, at the delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby 
acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold, and conveyed, and by these 
presents do grant, bargain, sell, and convey, unto the said party of the 
second part, his heirs and assigns, forever, all that certain parcel of land, 
situate, etc. 

[Describing the premises.] 

To have and to hold the same, together with all and singular the 
Tenements, Hereditaments, Privileges and Appurtenances thereunto 



152 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

belonging or in any wise appertaining. And also, all the estate, interest, 
and claim whatsoever, in law as well as in equity which the party of 
the first part have in and to the premises hereby conveyed unto the said 
party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, and to their only proper 
use, benefit and behoof. And the said William Stocker, and Olla, his 
wife, party of the first part, hereby expressly waive, relinquish, release, 
and convey unto the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, 
administrators, and assigns, all right, title, claim, interest, and benefit 
whatever, in and to the above described premises, and each and every 
part thereof, which is given by or results from all laws of this state per- 
taining to the exemption of homesteads. 

Provided always, and these presents are upon this express condition, 
that if the said party of the first part, their heirs, executors, or adminis- 
trators, shall well and truly pay, or cause to be paid, to the said party of 
the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, the afore- 
said sums of money, with such interest thereon, at the time and in the 
manner specified in the above mentioned promissory notes, according to 
the true intent and meaning thereof, then in that case, these presents and 
every thing herein expressed, shall be absolutely null and void. 

In witness whereof, the said party of the first part hereunto set their 
hands and seals the day and year first above written. 
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of 

JAMES WHITEHEAD, WILLIAM STOCKER. [L.S.] 

FRED. SAMUELS. OLLA STOCKER. [L.S.] 

WARRANTY DEED WITH COVENANTS. 

THIS INDENTURE, made this sixth day of April, in the year of our 
Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, between Henry Best 
of Lawrence, County of Lawrence, State of Illinois, and Belle, his wife, 
of the first part, and Charles Pearson of the same place, of the second part, 

Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration 
of the sum of Six Thousand dollars in hand paid by the said party of the 
second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, 
bargained, and sold, and by these presents do grant, bargain, and sell, 
unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, all the fol- 
lowing described lot, piece, or parcel of land, situated in the City of Law- 
rence, in the County of Lawrence, and State of Illinois, to wit : 
[Here describe the property.] 

Together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances 
thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining, and the reversion and 
reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and profits thereof; 
and all the estate, rignt, title, interest, claim, and demand whatsoever, of 
the said party of the nrst part, either in law or equity, of, in, and to tht 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 153 

above bargained premises, with the hereditaments and appurtenances. 
To have and to hold the said premises above bargained and described, 
with the appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs 
and assigns, forever. And the said Henry Best, and Belle, his wife, par- 
ties of the first part, hereby expressly waive, release, and relinquish unto 
the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, and 
assigns, all right, title, claim, interest, and benefit whatever, in and to the 
above described premises, and each and every part thereof, which is given 
by or results from all laws of this state pertaining to the exemption of 
homesteads. 

And the said Henry Best, and Belle, his wife, party of the first 
part, for themselves and their heirs, executors, and administrators, do 
covenant, grant, bargain, and agree, to and with the said party of the 
second part, his heirs and assigns, that at the time of the ensealing and 
delivery of these presents they were well seized of the premises above 
conveyed, as of a good, sure, perfect, absolute, and indefeasible estate of 
inheritance in law, and in fee simple, and have good right, full power, 
and lawful authority to grant, bargain, sell, and. convey the same, in 
manner and form aforesaid, and that the same are free and clear from all 
former and other grants, bargains, sales, liens, taxes, assessments, and 
encumbrances of what kind or nature soever ; and the above bargained 
premises in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the 
second part, his heirs and assigns, against all and every person or persons 
lawfully claiming or to claim the whole or any part thereof, the said party 
of the first part shall and will warrant and forever defend. 

In testimony whereof, the said parties of the first part have hereunto 
set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. 
Signed, sealed and delivered 

in presence of HENRY BEST, [L.S.] 

JERRY LINKLATER. BELLE BEST. [L.S.] 

QUIT-CLAIM DEED. 

THIS INDENTURE, made the eighth day of June, in the year of our 
Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, between David Tour, 
of Piano, County of >Kendall, State of Illinois, party of the first part, 
and Larry O'Brien, of the same place, party of the second part, 

Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in considera- 
tion of Nine Hundred dollars in hand paid by the said party of the sec- 
ond part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and the said party 
of the second part forever released and discharged therefrom, has remised, 
released, sold, conveyed, and quit-claimed, and by these presents does 
remise, release, sell, convey, and quit-claim, unto the said party of the 
second part, his heirs and assigns, forever, all the right, title, interest, 



154 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

claim, and demand, which the said party of the first part has in and to 
the following described lot, piece, or parcel of land, to wit : 

\Here describe, the land.] 

To have and to hold the same, together with all and singular the 
appurtenances and privileges thereunto belonging, or in any wise there- 
unto appertaining, and all the estate, right, title, interest, and claim 
whatever, of the said party of the first part, either in law or equity, to 
the only proper use, benefit, and behoof of the said party of the second 
part, his heirs and assigns forever. 

In witness whereof the said party of the first part hereunto set his 
hand and seal the day and year above written. 
Signed, sealed and delivered DAVID TOUR. [L.S.] 

in presence of 
THOMAS ASHLEY. 

The above forms of Deeds and Mortgage are such as have heretofore 
been generally used, but the following are much shorter, and are made 
equally valid by the laws of this state. 

WARRANTY DEED. 

The grantor (here insert name or names and place of residence), for 
and in consideration of (here insert consideration) in hand paid, conveys 
and warrants to (here insert the grantee's name or names) the following 
described real estate (here insert description), situated in the County of 
in the State of Illinois. 

Dated this day of A. D. 18 . 

QUIT CLAIM DEED. 

The grantor (here insert grantor's name or names and place of resi- 
dence), for the consideration of (here insert consideration) convey and 
quit-claim to (here insert grantee's name or names) all interest in the 
following described real estate (here insert description), situated in the 
County of in the State of Illinois. 

Dated this day of A. D. 18 . 

MORTGAGE. 

The mortgagor (here insert name or names) mortgages and warrants 
to (here insert name or names of mortgagee or mortgagees), to secure the 
payment of (here recite the nature and amount of indebtedness, showing 
when due and the rate of interest, and whether secured by note or other- 
wise), the following described real estate (here insert description thereof), 
situated in the County of in the State of Illinois. 

Dated this day of A. D. 18 . 

RELEASE. 

KNOW ALL MEN by these presents, that I, Peter Ahlund, of Chicago, 
of the County of Cook, and State of Illinois, for and in consideration of 
One dollar, to me in hand paid, and for other good and valuable considera- 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 155 

tions, the receipt whereof is hereby confessed, do hereby grant, bargain, 
remise, convey, release, and quit-claim unto Joseph Carlin of Chicago, 
of the County of Cook, and State of Illinois, all the right, title, interest, 
claim, or demand whatsoever, I may have acquired in, through, or by a 
certain Indenture or Mortgage Deed, bearing date the second day of Jan- 
uary, A. D. 1871, and recorded in the Recorder's office of said county, 
in book A of Deeds, page 46, to the premises therein described, and which 
said Deed was made to secure one certain promissory note, bearing even 
date with said deed, for the sum of Three Hundred dollars. 

Witness my hand and seal, this second day of November, A. D. 1874. 

PETER AHLUND. [L.S.] 
State of Illinois, 



iQQ 
I, George Saxton, a Notary Public in 

and for said county, in the state aforesaid, do hereby 
certify that Peter Ahlund, personally known to me 
as the same person whose name is subscribed to the 
foregoing Release, appeared before me this day in 
person, and acknowledged that he signed, sealed, and 
delivered the said instrument of writing as his free 
ajd voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein 
set forth. 

Giv^n under my hand and seal, this second day of 
November, A. D. 1874. 

GEORGE SAXTON, N. P. 

GENERAL FOkM OF WILL FOR REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY. 

I, Charles Mansfield, of the lown of Salem, County of Jackson, 
Scate of Illinois, being aware of the uncertainty of life, and in failing 
health, but of sound mind and memory, do make and declare this to be 
my last will and testament, in manner following, o wit: 

First. I give, devise and bequeath unto my oldest son, Sidney H. 
Mansfield, the sum of Two Thousand Dollars, cf bank stock, now in the 
Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the farm owned by myself 
iu the Town of Buskirk, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, with 
all the houses, tenements, and improvements thereunto belonging ; to 
have and to hold unto my said son, his heirs and assign^, forever. 

Second. I give, devise and bequeath to each of my daughters, Anna 
Louise Mansfield and Ida Clara Mansfield, each Two Thousand dollars in 
bank stock, in the Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, and also each 
one quarter section of land, owned by myself, situated in tht Town of 
Lake, Illinois, and recorded in my name in the Recorder's office in the 
county where such land is located. The north one hundred and sixty 
acres of said half section is devised to my eldest daughter, Anna Louise. 
6 



156 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 



Third. I give, devise and bequeath to my son, Frank Alfred Mans- 
field, Five shares of Railroad stock in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, 
and my one hundred and sixty acres of land and saw mill thereon, situ- 
ated in Manistee, Michigan, with all the improvements and appurtenances 
thereunto belonging, which said real estate is recorded in my name in the 
county where situated. 

Fourth. I give to my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, all my 
household furniture, goods, chattels, and personal property, about my 
home, not hitherto disposed of, including Eight Thousand dollars of bank 
stock in the Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, Fifteen shares in 
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the free and unrestricted use, pos- 
session, and benefit of the home farm, so long as she may live, in lieu of 
dower, to which she is entitled by law ; said farm being my present place 
of residence. 

Fifth. I bequeath to my invalid father, Elijah H. Mansfield, the 
income from rents of my store building at 145 Jackson Street, Chicago, 
Illinois, during the term of his natural life. Said building and land there- 
with to revert to my said sons and daughters in equal proportion, upon 
the demise of my said father. 

Sixth. It is also my will and desire that, at the death of my wife, 
Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, or at any time when she may arrange to 
relinquish her life interest in the above mentioned homestead, the same 
may revert to my above named children, or to the lawful heirs of each. 

And lastly. I nominate and appoint as executors of this my last will 
and testament, my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, and my eldest son, 
Sidney EL Mansfield. 

I further direct that my debts and necessary funeral expenses shaJ 
be paid from moneys now on deposit in the Savings Bank of Salem, the 
residue of such moneys to revert to my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, 
for her use forever. 

In witness whereof, I, Charles Mansfield, to this my last will and 
testament, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this fourth day of April, 
eighteen hundred and seventy-two. 



Signed, sealed, -and declared by Charles 
Mansfield, as and for his last will and 
testament, in the presence of us, who, 
at his request, and in his presence, and 
in the presence of each other, hafe sub- 
scribed our names hereunto as witnesses 
thereof. 

PETER A. SCHENCK, Sycamore, Ills. 

FRANK E. DENT, Salem, Ills. 



CHARLES MANSFIELD. [L.S.] 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 157 

CODICIL 

Whereas I, Charles Mansfield, did, on the fourth day of April, one 
thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, make my last will and testa- 
ment, I do now, by this writing, add this codicil to my said will, to be 
taken as a part thereof. 

Whereas, by the dispensation of Providence, my daughter, Anna 
Louise, has deceased November fifth, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, 
and whereas, a son has been born to me, which son is now christened 
Richard Albert Mansfield, I give and bequeath unto him my gold watch, 
and all right, interest, and title in lands and bank stock and chattels 
bequeathed to my deceased daughter, Anna Louise, in the body of this witt. 

In witness whereof, I hereunto place my hand and seal, this tenth 
day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-five. 

Signed, sealed, published, and declared to' 

us by the testator, Charles Mansfield, as CHARLES MANSFIELD. [L.S.] 

and for a codicil to be annexed to his 

last will and testament. And we, at 

his request, and in his presence, and in 

the presence of each other, have sub- 
scribed our names as witnesses thereto, 

at the date hereof. 
FRANK E. DENT, Salem, Ills. 
JOHN C. SHAY, Salem, Ills. 

CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS 

May be legally made by electing or appointing, according to the usages 
or customs of the body of which it is a part, at any meeting held for that 
purpose, two or more of its members as trustees, wardens or vestrymen, and 
may adopt a corporate name. The chairman or secretary of such meeting 
shall, as soon as possible, make and file in the office of the recorder of 
deeds of the county, an affidavit substantially in the following form : 
STATE OF ILLINOIS, 



r< t SS. 

County. 



I, , do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be), 

that at a meeting of the members of the (here insert the name of the 
church, society or congregation as known before organization), held at 

(here insert place of meeting), in the County of , and State of 

Illinois, on the day of , A.D. 18 , for that purpose, the fol- 
lowing persons were elected (or appointed) [here insert their names] 
trustees, wardens, vestrymen, (or officers by whatever name they may 
choose to adopt, with powers similar to trustees) according to the rules 
and usages of such (church, society or congregation), and said 



158 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

adopted as its corporate name (here insert name), and at said meeting 
this affiant acted as (chairman or secretary, as the case may be). 

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this day of , A.D. 

18. Name of Affiant 

which affidavit must be recorded by the recorder, and shall be, or a certi- 
fied copy made by the recorder, received as evidence of such an incorpo- 
ration. 

No certificate of election after the first need be filed for record. 

The term of office of the trustees and the general government of the 
society can be determined by the rules or by-laws adopted. Failure to 
elect trustees at the time provided does not work a dissolution, but the 
old trustees hold over. A trustee or trustees may be removed, in the 
same manner by the society as elections are held by a meeting called for 
that purpose. The property of the society vests in the corporation. The 
corporation may hold, or acquire by purchase or otherwise, land not 
exceeding ten acres, for the purpose of the society. The trustees have 
the care, custody and control of the property of the corporation, and can, 
when directed by the society, erect houses or improvements, and repair 
and alter the same, and may also when so directed by the society, 
mortgage, encumber, sell and convey any real or personal estate belonging 
to the corporation, and make all proper contracts in the name of such 
corporation. But they are prohibited by law from encumbering or inter- 
fering with any property so as to destroy the effect of any gift, grant, 
devise or bequest to the corporation ; but such gifts, grants, devises or 
bequests, must in all cases be used so as to carry out the object intended 
by the persons making the same. Existing societies may organize in the 
manner herein set forth, and have all the advantages thereof. 

SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUBSCRIPTION. 

The business of publishing books by subscription having so often been 
brought into disrepute by agents making representations and declarations 
not authorized by the publisher ; in order to prevent that as much as possi- 
ble, and that there may be more general knowledge of the relation such 
agents bear to their principal, and the law governing such cases, the fol- 
lowing statement is made : 

A subscription is in the nature of a contract of mutual promises, by 
which the subscriber agrees to pay a certain sum for the work described ; 
the consideration is concurrent that the publisher shall publish the book 
named, and deliver the same, for which the subscriber is to pay the price 
named. The nature and character of the work is described in the prospectus 
and by the sample shown. These should be carefully examined before sub- 
scribing, as they are the basis and consideration of the promise to pay, 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 159 

and not the too often exaggerated statements of the agent, who is merely 
employed to solicit subscriptions, for which he is usually paid a commission 
for each subscriber, and has no authority to change or alter the conditions 
upon which the subscriptions are authorized to be made by the publisher. 
Should the agent assume to agree to make the subscription conditional or 
modify or change the agreement of the publisher, as set out by prospectus 
and sample, in order to bind the principal, the subscriber should see that 
such conditions or changes are stated over or in connection with his signa- 
ture, so that the publisher may have notice of the same. 

All persons making contracts in reference to matters of this kind, or 
any other business, should remember that the law as to written contracts is, 
that they can not be varied, altered or rescinded verbally, but if done at all, 
must be done in writing. It is therefore important that all persons contem- 
plating subscribing should distinctly understand that all talk before or after 
the subscription is made, is not admissible as evidence, and is no part of the 
contract. 

Persons employed to solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as 
canvassers. They are agents appointed to do a particular business in a 
prescribed mode, and have no authority to do it in any other way to the 
prejudice of their principal, nor can they bind their principal in any other 
matter. They can not collect money, or agree that payment may be made 
in anything else but money. They can not extend the time of payment 
beyond the time of delivery, nor bind their principal for the payment of 
expenses incurred in their buisness. 

It would save a great deal of trouble, and often serious loss, if persons, 
before signing their names to any subscription book, or any written instru- 
ment, would examine carefully what it is ; if they can not read themselves, 
should call on some one disinterested who can. 

6 



160 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 

We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, 
establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common 
defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty 
to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution 
for the United States of America. 

ARTICLE I. 

SECTION 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in 
a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and 
House of Representatives. 

SEC. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of mem- 
bers chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the 
electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of 
the most numerous branch of the State Legislature. 

No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the 
age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United 
States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in 
which he shall be chosen. 

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the sev- 
eral states which may be included within this Union, according to their 
respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole 
number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of 
years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. 
The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first 
meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subse- 
quent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The 
number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, 
but each state shall have at least one Representative ; and until such 
enumeration shall be made the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled 
to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plan- 
tations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylva- 
nia eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, 
and Georgia three. 

When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the 
Executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such 
vacancies. 

The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other 
officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment. 

SEC. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two 
Senators from each state, chosen by the Legislature thereof for six years ; 
and each Senator shall have one vote. 

Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first 
election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. 
The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expira- 



AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 161 

tion of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth 
year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that 
one-third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by 
resignation or otherwise, during the recess of the Legislature of any state, 
the Executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next 
meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies. 

No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age 
of thirty years and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and 
who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he 
shall be chosen. 

The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the 
Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided. 

The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President pro 
tempore, in the absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall exercise 
the office of President of the United States. 

The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When 
sitting for that purpose they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the 
President of the United States is tried the Chief Justice shall preside. 
And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds 
of the members present. 

Judgment, in cases of impeachment, shall not extend further than to 
removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of 
honor, trust, or profit under the United States ; but the party convicted 
shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment, 
and punishment according to law. 

SEC. 4. The times, places and manner of holding elections for Sen- 
ators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each state by the Legis- 
lature thereof ; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter 
such regulations, except as to the places of choosing Senators. 

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such 
meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by 
law appoint a different day. 

SEC. 5. Each house shall be the judge of the election, returns, and 
qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute 
a quorum to do business ; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to 
day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members 
in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide. 

Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its 
members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, 
expel a member. 

Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to 
time publish the same, excepting such parts as may, in their judgment, 
require secrecy ; and the yeas and nays of the members of either house 
on any question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered 
on the journal. 

Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, without the 
consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other 
place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. 

SEC. 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compen- 
sation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the 
treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason, 



162 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their 
attendance at the session of their respective houses, and in going to and 
returning from the same ; and for any speech or debate in either house 
they shall not be questioned in any other place. 

No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he was 
elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United 
States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall 
have been increased during such time ; and no person holding any office 
under the United States, shall be a member of either house during his 
continuance in office. 

SEC. 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of 
Representatives ; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments 
as on other bills. 

Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and 
the Senate, shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President 
. the United States ; if he approve he shall sign it ; but if not he shall 
return it, with his objections, to that house in which it shall have origi- 
nated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and 
proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration two-thirds of that 
house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objec- 
tions, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if 
approved by two-thirds of that house, it shall become a law. But in all 
such cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, 
and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered 
on the journal of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned 
by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted), after it shall have 
been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he 
had signed it, unless the Congress, by their adjournment, prevent its 
return, in which case it shall not be a law. 

Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the 
Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a 
question of adjournment), shall be presented to the President of the 
United States, and before the same shall take effect shall be approved by 
him, or, being disapproved by him, shall be re-passed by two-thirds of 
the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the rules and lim- 
itations prescribed in the case of a bill. 

SEC. 8. The Congress shall have power 

To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts, 
and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United 
States ; but all duties, imposts, and excises shall be uniform throughout 
the United States ; 

To borrow money on the credit of the United States ; 

To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several 
States, and with the Indian tribes ; 

To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on 
the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States ; 

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and 
fix the standard of weights and measures ; 

To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and 
current coin of the United States ; 

To establish post offices and post roads ; 



AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 163 

To promote the progress of sciences and useful arts, by securing, 
for limited times, to authors and inventors, the exclusive right to their 
respective writings and discoveries ; 

To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court ; 

To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high 
seas, and offenses against the law of nations ; 

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules 
concerning captures on land and water ; 

To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that 
use shall be for a longer term than two years ; 

To provide and maintain a navy ; 

To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and 
naval forces ; 

To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the 
Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions ; 

To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, and 
for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the 
United States, reserving to the states respectively the appointment of the 
officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the disci- 
pline prescribed by Congress ; 

To exercise legislation in all cases whatsoever over such district (not 
exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the 
acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United 
States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the 
consent of the Legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for 
the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards, and other needful 
buildings ; and 

To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying 
into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this 
Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any depart- 
lent or officer thereof. 

SEC. 9. The migration or importation of such persons as any of the 
states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited 
by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, 
but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten 
dollars for each person. 

The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, 
unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may 
require it. 

No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. 

No capitation or other direct tax shall be laid, unless in proportion 
to the census or enumeration hereinbefore directed to be taken. 

No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any state. 

No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or rev- 
enue to the ports of one state over those of another; nor shall vessels 
bound to or from one state be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in 
another. 

No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of 
appropriations made by law ; and a regular statement and account of 
the receipts and expeditures of all public money shall be published from 
time to time. 



164 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States : and no 
person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the 
consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title 
of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state. 

SEC. 10. No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confeder- 
ation ; grant letters of marque and reprisal ; coin money ; emit bills of 
credit ; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of 
debts ; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the 
obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility. 

No state shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts 
or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary 
for executing its inspection laws, and the net produce of all duties and 
imposts laid by any state on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the 
Treasury of the United States ; and all such laws shall be subject to the 
revision and control of the Congress. 

No state shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty on 
tonnage, keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any 
agreement or compact with another state, or with a foreign power, or 
engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will 
not admit of delay. 

ARTICLE II. 

SECTION 1. The Executive power shall be vested in a President of 
the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term 
of four years, and, together with the Vice-President chosen for the same 
term, be elected as follows : 

Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof 
may direct, a number of Electors, equal to the whole number of Senators 
and Representatives to which the state may be entitled in the Congress ; 
but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or 
profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector. 

[ * The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by 
ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of 
the same state with themselves. And they shall make a list of all the 
persons voted for, and of the number of votes for each ; which list the} 7 
shall sign and certify, and transmit, sealed, to the seat of the government 
of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The Pres- 
ident of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Rep- 
resentatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. 
The person having the greatest number of votes shall be the President, 
if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed ; 
and if there be more than one who have such majority, and have an equal 
number of votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately 
choose by ballot one of them for President ; and if no person have a ma- 
jority, then from the five highest on the list the said House shall in like 
manner choose the President. But in choosing the President, the vote 
shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one 
vote ; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members 
from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be 
necessary to a choice. In every case, after the choice of the President, 

* This clause between,brackets has been superseded and annulled by the Twelfth.amendment, 






AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 165 

the person having the greatest number of votes of the Electors shall be 
the Vice-President. But if there should remain two or more who have 
equal votes, the Senate shall choose from them by ballot the Vice-Presi- 
dent.] 

The Congress may determine the time of choosing the Electors, and 
the day on which they shall give their votes ; which day shall be the same 
throughout the United States. 

No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United 
States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible 
to the office of President ; neither shall any person be eligible to that 
office who shall not have attained the age of thirty-five years, and been 
fourteen years a resident within the United States. 

In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, 
resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said 
office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President, and the Congress 
may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or inabil- 
ity, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall 
then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the dis- 
ability be removed, or a President shall be elected. 

The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services a com- 
pensation which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the 
period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive 
within that period any other emolument from the United States or any of 
them. 

Before he enters on the execution of his office, he shall take the fol- 
lowing oath or affirmation : 

" I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the 
office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, 
preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." 

SEC. 2. The President shall be commander in chief of the army and 
navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when 
called into the actual service of the United States ; he may require the 
opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive 
departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective 
offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardon for offenses 
against the United States, except in cases of impeachment. 

He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present con- 
cur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice of the Senate, 
shall appoint ambassadors, other public 'ministers and consuls, judges of 
the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States whose 
appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be 
established by law ; but the Congress may by law vest the appointment 
of such inferior officers as they think proper in the President alone, in 
the courts of law, or in the heads of departments. 

The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may 
happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which 
shall expire at the end of their next session. 

SEC. 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress information 
of the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such mea- 
sures as he shall judge necessary and expedient ; he may on extraordinary 



166 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

occasions convene both houses, or either of them, and in case of disagree- 
ment between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may 
adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper ; he shall receive 
ambassadors and other public ministers ; he shall take care that the laws be 
faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United 
States. 

SEC. 4. The President, Vice-President, and all civil officers of the 
United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and con- 
viction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. 

ARTICLE III. 

SECTION I. The judicial power of the United States shall be vested 
in one Supreme Court, and such inferior courts as the Congress may from 
time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the Supreme and 
inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at 
stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be 
diminished during their continuance in office. 

SEC. 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and 
equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and 
treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority ; to all cases 
affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls ; to all cases of 
admiralty and maritime jurisdiction ; to controversies to which the United 
States shall be a party ; to controversies between two or more states ; 
between a state and citizens of another state ; between citizens of differ- 
ent states ; between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants 
of different states, and between a state or the citizens thereof, and foreign 
states, citizens, or subjects. 

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, 
and those in which a state shall be a party, the Supreme Court shall have 
original jurisdiction. 

In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall 
have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions 
and under such regulations as the Congress shall make. 

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by 
jury ; and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall 
have been committed ; but when not committed within any state, the 
trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have 
directed. 

SEC. 3. Treason against the United States shall consist only in levy- 
ing war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid 
and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the tes- 
timony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open 
court. 

The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, 
but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, 
except during the life of the person attainted. 

ARTICLE IV. 

SECTION 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the 
public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And 



AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 167 

the Congress may, by general laws, prescribe the manner in which such 
acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof. 

SEC. 2. The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges 
and immunities of citizens in the several states. 

A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime, 
who shall flee from justice and be found in another state, shall, on demand 
of the executive authority of the state from which he fled, be delivered 
up, to be removed to the state having jurisdiction of the crime. 

No person held to service or labor in one state, under the laws thereof 
escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation 
therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered 
up on the claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due. 

SEC. 3. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union ; 
but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any 
other state ; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, 
or parts of states, without the consent of the Legislatures of the states 
concerned, as well as of the Congress. 

The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful 
rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging 
to the United States ; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed 
as to prejudice any claims of the United States or of any particular state. 

SEC. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every state in this 
Union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them 
against invasion, and on application of the Legislature, or of the Execu- 
tive (when the Legislature can not be convened), against domestic vio- 
lence. 

ARTICLE V. 

The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it 
necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the ap- 
plication of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, shall call 
a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be 
valid to all intents and purposes as part of this Constitution, when rati- 
fied by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by con- 
ventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratifi- 
cation may be proposed by the Congress. Provided that no amendment 
which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and 
eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth 
section of the first article ; and that no state, without its consent, shall 
be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate. 

ABTICLE VI. 

All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adop- 
tion of this Constitution shall be as valid against the United States under 
this Constitution as under the Confederation. 

This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be 
made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, 
under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the 
land ; and the Judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in 
the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding. 

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the mem- 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 



bers of the several state Legislatures, and all executive and judicial offi- 
cers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound 
by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution ; but no religious test 
shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under 
the United States. 

ARTICLE VII. 

The ratification of the Conventions of nine states shall be sufficient 
for the establishment of this Constitution between the states so ratifying 
the same. 

Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present, the 
seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand 
seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of the independence of the 
United States of America the twelfth. In witness whereof we have 
hereunto subscribed our names. 

GEO. WASHINGTON, 
President and Deputy from Virginia. 



New Hampshire. 
JOHN LANGDON, 
NICHOLAS GILMAN. 

Massachusetts. 
NATHANIEL GORHAM, 
RUFUS KING. 

Connecticut. 
WM. SAM'L JOHNSON, 
ROGER SHERMAN. 

New York. 
ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 

New Jersey. 
WIL. LIVINGSTON, 
WM. PATERSON, 
DAVID BREARLEY, 
JONA. DAYTON. 

Pennsylv ania. 
B. FRANKLIN, 
ROBT. MORRIS, 
THOS. FITZSIMONS, 
JAMES WILSON, 
THOS. MIFFLIN, 
GEO. CLYMER, 
JARED INGERSOLL, 
Gouv. MORRIS. 



Delaware. 
GEO. READ, 
JOHN DICKINSON, 
JACO. BROOM, 
GUNNING BEDFORD, JR., 
RICHARD BASSETT. 

Maryland. 
JAMES M' HENRY, 
DANL. CARROLL, 
DAN. OF ST. THOS. JENIFER. 

Virginia. 
JOHN BLAIR, 
JAMES MADISON, JR. 

North Carolina. 
WM. BLOUNT, 
Hu. WILLIAMSON, 
RICH'D DOBBS SPAIGHT. 

South Carolina. 
J. RUTLEDGE, 
CHARLES PINCKNEY, 
CHAS. COTESWORTH PINCKNEY, 
PIERCE BUTLER. 

G-eorgia. 

WILLIAM FEW, 
ABR. BALDWIN. 

WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary. 



AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 169 



ARTICLES IN ADDITION TO AND AMENDATORY OF THE CONSTITUTION 
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA* 

Proposed by Congress and ratified by the Legislatures of the several states, 
pursuant to the fifth article of the original Constitution. 

ARTICLE I. 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, 
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of 
speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, 
and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 

ARTICLE II. 

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free 
state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. 

ARTICLE III. 

No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without 
the consent of the owner, nor in time of war but in a manner to be pre- 
scribed by law. 

ARTICLE IV. 

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers* 
and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be vio- 
lated ; and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by 
oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched 
and the persons or things to be seized. 

ARTICLE V. 

No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous 
crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in 
cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia when in actual 
service in time of war or public danger ; nor shall any person be subject 
for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb ; nor shall 
be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be 
deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law ; nor 
shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. 

ARTICLE VI. 

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a 
speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district 
wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have 
been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and 
cause of the accusation ; to be confronted with the witnesses against him ; 
to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor ; and to 
have the assistance of counsel for his defense. 

ARTICLE VII. 

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed 
twenty Hollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact 



170 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United 
States than according to the rules of the common law. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, 
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. 

ARTICLE IX. 

The enumeration, in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be 
construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. 

ARTICLE X. 

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, 
nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, 
or to the people. 

ARTICLE XI. 

The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to 
extend to any suit in law or equity commenced or prosecuted against one 
of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or sub- 
jects of any foreign state. 

ARTICLE XII. 

The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot 
for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an 
inhabitant of the same state with themselves ; they shall name in their 
ballots the person to be voted for as president, and in distinct ballots the 
person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of 
all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice- 
President, and of the number of votes for each, which list they shall sign 
and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United 
States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the 
Senate shall, in presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, 
open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person 
having the greatest number of votes for President shall be the President, 
if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed ; 
and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the 
highest number not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as 
President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by 
ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be 
taken by States, the representation from each state having one vote; a 
quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two- 
thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to 
a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a Presi- 
dent whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the 
fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as 
President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of 
the President. The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice- 
President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be the majority 
of the whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a major- 



AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 171 

ity, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose 
the Vice-President ; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds 
of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number 
shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible 
to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the 
United States. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

SECTION 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a 
punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, 
shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their juris- 
diction. 

SEC. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appro- 
priate legislation. 

ARTICLE XIV. 

SECTION 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and 
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States, and 
of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law 
which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United 
States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, 
without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction 
the equal protection of the laws. 

SEC. 2. Representatives shall be appointed among the several states 
according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of per- 
sons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed; but when the right to 
vote at any election for the choice of Electors for President and Vice- 
President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the execu- 
tive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the Legislature 
thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being 
twenty-one years of age and citizens of the United States, or in any way 
abridged except for participation in rebellion or other crimes, the basis of 
representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the num- 
ber of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens 
twenty-one years of age in such state. 

SEC. 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, 
or Elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or 
military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previ- 
ously taken an oath as a Member of Congress, or as an officer of the 
United States, or as a member of any state Legislature, or as an execu- 
tive or judicial officer of any state to support the Constitution of the 
United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the 
same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress mav 
by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such disability. 

SEC. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States author- 
ized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and boun- 
ties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be ques- 
tioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall pay any debt 
or obligation incurred in the aid of insurrection or rebellion against the 
United States, or any loss or emancipation of any slave, but such debts, 
obligations, and claims shall be held illegal and void. 



172 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 



SEC. 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate 
legislation, the provisions of this act. 

ARTICLE XV. 

SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall 
not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any state, on 
account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 

SEC. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appro- 
priate legislation. 



ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT. 
NOVEMBER 7, 1876. 



COUNTIES. 


Hayes and 
Wheeler, 
Republican. 


Tilden and 
Hendricks, 
Democrat. 


PeterCooper 
Greenback. 


Smith, 
Prohibition 


Anti-Secret 1 
Societies. 


COUNTIES. 


Hayes and 
Wheeler, 
Republican. 


Tilden and 
Hendricks, 
Democrat. 


PeterCooper 
Greenback. 


Smith, 
Prohibition. 


Anti-Secret 
Societies.li 


Adams 


4953 


6308 


41 


17 




Livingston 


355(J 


2134 


117CJ 




3 


Alexander 


1219 


1280 








Logan 


2788 


2595 


37 






Bond 


1520 


1142 


17 






Macon 


3120 


2782 


268 


16 




Ill 10 111- 


1965 


363 


43 


> 




Macoupin 


3567 


4076 


114 








944 


1495 


183 


I 






4554 


4730 


39 


j 




Bureau 


3719 


2218 


145 


2 


11 


Marion 


2009 


2444 


209 






Calhoun 


4'41 


900 








Marshall 


1553 


1430 


135 




1 


Carroll 


2231 


918 


111 


1 


3 


Mason 


1566 


1939 


86 


3 






1209 


1618 


74 


7 






1231 


793 


20 






Champaign 


4530 


3103 


604 




1 


McDonough 


2952 


2811 


347 






Christian .. 


2501 


3287 


207 


1 


6 


McHenry 


3465 


1874 


34 




3 


Clark ... 


1814 


2197 


236 




9 




6363 


4410 


518 


g 


j 


Clay 


1416 


1541 


112 






Menard 


1115 


1657 


10 






Clinton 


1329 


1989 


132 








2209 


1428 


90 




3 




2957 


2822 


102 








845 


1651 


7 






Cook 


36548 


39240 


277 






Montgomery '. 


2486 


3013 


201 








1355 


1643 


38 








3069 


3174 


109 




3 


Cumberland . . . 


1145 


1407 


129 






Moultrie 


1245 


1672 


28 






DeKalb .. 


3679 


1413 


65 




3 


Ogle 


3833 


1921 


104 




g 


DeWltt 


1928 


1174 


746 


10 


3 


Peoria 


4665 


5443 


95 






Douglas 


1631 


1357 


94 






Pope 


1319 


800 


5 








2129 


1276 


25 




3 




1541 


1383 


48 






Edgar 


2715 


2883 


161 






piatt 


1807 


1316 


117 






Edwards 


970 


466 


61 






Pike..., 


3055 


4040 


35 


1 


4 




1145 


2265 


43 






Pulaski 


1043 


772 








Fayette 


1881 


2421 


57 






Putnam 


646 


459 


14 






Ford 


1601 


742 


204 








2357 


2589 


2 






Franklin 


966 


1302 


391 






Richland 


1410 


1552 


55 






Fulton .. 


4187 


4669 


89 




1 




3912 


2838 


27 






Gallatin 


703 


1140 


282 


<} 




Saline 


980 


1081 


fill 






Greene 


1695 


3160 


1 




9 




4851 


5847 


29 






Grundy 


1996 


1142 


108 






Schuyler 


1522 


1804 


115 






Hamilton 


627 


1433 


770 




4 


Scott. . . . 


910 


1269 


182 






Hancock 


3496 


4207 








Shelby 


2069 


3553 


341 






Hardin 


330 


611 


134 






Stark 


1140 


786 


96 






Henderson 


1315 


1015 








St. Clair 


4708 


5891 


99 




1 


Henry 


4177 


1928 


340 


.1 


6 


Stephenson 


3198 


2758 


26 




3 


Iroquois 


3768 


2578 


249 


M 


1 


Tazewell 


2850 


3171 


44 


V 


i 


Jackson 


2040 


2071 


106 








978 


2155 


3 






Jasper 












Vermilion 


4372 


3031 


288 




9 




1346 


1667 


647 








650 


936 


207 






Jersey 


1345 


2166 




1 




Warren 


2795 


1984 


138 




1 




2907 


2276 


140 


<> 


3 




1911 


1671 


39 






Johnson 


1367 


893 


61 








1570 


1751 


482 






Kane 


5398 


2850 


172 




5 


White 


1297 


2066 


469 




4 


Kankakee 


2627 


1363 


26 




2 


Whiteside 


3851 


2131 


133 


R 


1 


Kendall 


1869 


524 


309 






Will 


4770 


3999 


677 






Knox 


5235 


2632 


141 




1 


Williamson 


1672 


1644 


41 






Lake 


2619 


1647 


55 




1 


Winnel>ago 


4505 


1568 


70 


13 


9 


LaSalle 


6277 


6001 


514 




15 


Woodf ord 


1733 


2105 


237 


1 


4 




H98 


1329 


27 


















Lee ... 


3087 


2080 


100 


2 


6 


Total... 


275958 


257099 


16951 


130 


157 



PRACTICAL RULES FOR EVERY DAY USE. 



Sow to find the gain or loss per cent, when the cost and selling price 
art given. 

RULE. Find the difference between the cost and selling price, which 
will be the gain or loss. 

Annex two ciphers to the gain or loss, and divide it by the cost 

price ; the result will be the gain or loss per cent. 

i 
How to change gold into currency. 

RULE. Multiply the given sum of gold by the price of gold. 

How to change currency into gold. 

Divide the amount in currency by the price of gold. 

How to find each partner's share of the gain or loss in a copartnership 
business. 

RULE. Divide the whole gain or loss by the entire stock, the quo- 
tient will be the gain or loss per cent. 

Multiply each partner's stock by this per cent., the result will be 
each one's share of the gain or loss. 

How to find gross and net weight and price of hogs. 

A short and simple method for finding the net weight, or price of hogs, 
when the gross weight or price is given, and vice versa. 

NOTE. It Is generally assumed that the gross weight of Hogs diminished by 1-5 or 20 per cent, 
of itself gives the net weight, and the net weight increased l>y K or 25 per cent, of itself equals the 
gross weight. 

To find the net weight or gross price. 

Multiply the given number by .8 (tenths.) 

To find the gross weight or net price. 

Divide the given number by .8 (tenths.) 

How to find the capacity of a granary, bin, or wagon-bed. 

RULE. Multiply (by short method) the number of cubic feet by 
6308, and point off ONE decimal place the result will be the correct 
answer in bushels and tenths of a bushel. 

For only an approximate answer, multiply the cubic feet by 8, and 
point off one decimal place. 

How to find the contents of a corn-crib. 

RULE. Multiply the number of cubic feet by 54, short method, or 



174 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 

by 4 ordinary method, and point off ONE decimal place the result wili 
be the answer in bushels. 

NOTE. In estimating corn in the ear, the quality and the time it lias been cribbed must be taken 
into consideration, since corn will shrink considerably during the Winter and Spring. This rule generally lioldi 
good for corn measured at the time it is cribbed, provided it is sound and clean. 

How to find the contents of a cistern or tank. 

RULE. Multiply the square of the mean diameter by the depth (all 
in feet) and this product by 5681 (short method), and point off ONE* 
decimal place the result will be the contents in barrels of 31 gallons. 

How to find the contents of a barrel or cask. 

RULE. Under the square of the mean diameter, write the length 
(all in inches) in REVERSED order, so that its UNITS will fall under the 
TENS ; multiply by short method, and this product again by 430 ; point 
off one decimal place, and the result will be the answer in wine gallons. 

How to measure boards. 

RULE. Multiply the length (in feet) by the width (in inches) and 
divide the product by 12 the result will be the contents in square feet. 

How to measure scantlings, joists, planks, sills, etc. 

RULE. Multiply the width, the thickness, and the length together 
(the width and thickness in inches, and the length in feet), and divide 
the product by 12 the result will be square feet. 

How to find the number of acres in a body of land. 

RULE. Multiply the length by the width (in rods), and divide the 
product by 160 (carrying the division to 2 decimal places if there is a 
remainder) ; the result will be the answer in acres and hundredths. 

When the opposite sides of a piece of land are of unequal length, 
add them together and take one-half for the mean length or width. 

How to find the number of square yards in a floor or wall. 

RULE. Multiply the length by the width or height (in feet), and 
divide the product by 9, the result will be square yards. 

How to find the number of bricks required in a building. 

RULE. Multiply the number of cubic feet by 22. 

The number of cubic feet is found by multiplying the length, height 
and thickness (in feet) together. 

Bricks are usually made 8 inches long, 4 inches wide, and two inches 
thick ; hence, it requires 27 bricks to make a cubic foot without mortar, 
but it is generally assumed that the mortar fills 1-6 of the space. 

How to find the number of shingles required in a roof. 

RULE. Multiply the number of square feet in the roof by 8, if the 
shingles are exposed 4 inches, or by 7 1-5 if exposed 5 inches. 

To find the number of square feet, multiply the length of the roof by 
twice the length of the rafters. 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 175 

To find the length of the rafters, at ONE-FOURTH pitch, multiply the 
width of the building by .56 (hundredths) ; at ONE-THIRD pitch, by .6 
(tenths) ; at TWO-FIFTHS pitch, by .64 (hundredths) ; at ONE-HALF 
pitch, by .71 (hundredths). This gives the length of the rafters from 
the apex to the end of the wall, and whatever they are to project must be 
taken into consideration. 

NOTK. By K or J pitch fc meant that the apex or comb of the roof is to be K or M the width of the 
building higher than the walls or base of the rafters. 

How to reckon the cost of hay, 

RULE. Multiply the number of pounds by half the price per ton, 
and remove the decimal point three places to the left. 

How to measure grain. 

RULE. Level the grain ; ascertain the space it occupies in cubic 
feet ; multiply the number of cubic feet by 8, and point off one place to 
the left. 

NOTE. Exactness requires the addition to every three hundred bushels of one extra bushel. 

The foregoing rule may be used for finding the number of gallons, by 
multiplying the number of bushels by 8. 

If the corn in the box is in the ear, divide the answer by 2, to find 
the number of bushels of shelled corn, because it requires 2 bushels of eai 
corn to make 1 of shelled corn. 

Rapid rules for measuring land without instruments. 

In measuring land, the first thing to ascertain is the contents of any 
given plot in square yards ; then, given the number of yards, find out the 
number of rods and acres. 

The most ancient and simplest measure of distance is a step. Now, 
an ordinary-sized man can train himself to cover one yard at a; stride, on 
the average, with sufficient accuracy for ordinary purposes. 

To make use of this means of measuring distances, it is essential to 
walk in a straight line ; to do this, fix the eye on two objects in a line 
straight ahead, one comparatively near, the other remote ; and, in walk- 
ing, keep these objects constantly in line. 

Farmers and others by adopting the following simple and ingenious con- 
trivance, may always carry with them the scale to construct a correct yard 
measure. 

Take a foot rule, and commencing at the base of the little finger of 
the left hand, mark the quarters of the foot on the outer borders of the 
left arm, pricking in the marks with indelible ink. 

To find how many rods in length will make an acre, the width being given. 
RULE. Divide 160 by the width, and the quotient will be the answer. 



176 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 

How to find the number of acres in any plot of land, the number of rods 
being given. 

RULE. Divide the number of rods by 8, multiply the quotient by 5 r 
and remove the decimal point two places to the left. 

The. diameter being given, to find the circumference. 

RULE. Multiply the diameter by 3 1-7. 

How to find the diameter, when the circumference is given. 

RULE. Divide the circumference by 3 1-7. 

To find hotv many solid feet a round stick of timber of the same thick- 
ness throughout will contain when squared. 

RULE. Square half the diameter in inches, multiply by 2, multiply 
by the length in feet, and divide the product by 144. 

Greneral rule for measuring timber, to find the solid contents in feet. 

RULE. Multiply the depth in inches by the breadth in inches, and 
then multiply by the length in feet, and divide by 144. 

To find the number of feet of timber in trees with the bark on. 

RULE. Multiply the square of one-fifth of the circumference in 
inches, by twice the length, in feet, and divide by !*.44. Deduct 1-10 to 
1-15 according to the thickness of the bark. 

Howard s new rule for computing interest. 

RULE. The reciprocal of the rate is the time for which the interest 
on any sum of money will be shown by simply removing the decimal 
point two places to the left ; for ten times that time, remove the point 
one place to the left; foi; 1-10 of the same time, remove the point three 
places to the left. 

Increase or diminish the results to suit the time given. 

NOTE. The reciprocal of the rate is found l>y inverting: the rate ; thus 3 per cent. IM-V month, in- 
verted, becomes % of a month, or 10 days. 

When the rate is expressed by one figure, always write it thus : 3-1, 
three ones. 

Rule for converting English into American currency. 

Multiply the pounds, with the shillings and pence stated in decimals, 
by 400 plus the premium in fourths, and divide the product by 90. 

U. S. GOVERNMENT LAND MEASURE. 

A township 36 sections each a mile square. 
A section 640 acres. 

A quarter section, half a mile square 160 acres. 
An eighth section, half a mile long, north and south, and a quarter 
of a mile wide 80 acres. 

A sixteenth section, a quarter of a mile square 40 acres. 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 177 

The sections are all numbered 1 to 36, commencing at the north-east 
corner. 

The sections are divided into quarters, which are named by the 
cardinal points. The quarters are divided in the same way. The de- 
scription of a forty acre lot would read : The south half of the west half of 
the south-west quarter of section 1 in township 24, north of range 7 west, 
or as the case might be ; and sometimes will fall short and sometimes 
overrun the number of acres it is supposed to contain. 

The nautical mile is 795 4-5 feet longer than the common mile. 

K SURVEYORS' MEASURE. 
92-100 inches make 1 link. 

^5 links' " 1 rod. 

4rods , " 1 chain. 

80 chains " 1 mile. 

NOTE. A chain is 100 links, equal to 4 rods or 66 feet. 

Shoemakers formerly used a subdivision of the inch called a barley- 
corn ; three of which made an inch. 

Horses are measured directly over the fore feet, and the standard of 
measure is four inches called a hand. 

In Biblical and other old measurements, the term span is sometimes 
used, which is a length of nine inches. 

The sacred cubit of the Jews was 24.024 inches in length. 

The common cubit of the Jews was 21.704 inches in length. 

A pace is equal to a yard or 36 inches. 

A fathom is equal to 6 feet. 

A league is three miles, but its length is variable, for it is strictly 
speaking a nautical term, and should be three geographical miles, equal 
to 3.45 statute miles, but when used on land, three statute miles are said 
to be a league. 

hi cloth measure an aune is equal to li yards, or 45 inches. 

An Amsterdam ell is equal to 26.796 inches. 

A Trieste ell is equal to 25.284 inches. 

A Brabant ell is equal to 27.116 inches. 

HOW TO KEEP ACCOUNTS. 

Every farmer and mechanic, whether he does much or little business, 
should keep a record of his transactions in a cle"ar and systematic man- 
ner. For the benefit of those who have not had the opportunity of ac- 
quiring a primary knowledge of the principles of book-keeping, we here 
present a simple form of keeping accounts which is easily comprehended, 
and well adapted to record the business transactions of farmers, mechanics 
and laborers. 



178 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



1875. A. H. JACKSON. D r . C r. 


Jan. 10 

" 17 
Feb. 4 
" 4 
March 8 
8 
" 13 
" 27 
April 9 
9 
May 6 
24 
July 4 


To 7 bushels Wheat at $1.25 


$8 

6 
1 

48 
6 

17 


75 

30 
25 

Go 
2 r> 

50 


$2 

18 
2 

25 
4 

35 


50 

00 
40 
25 

00 

75 

15 


By shoeing span of Horses 


To 14 bushels Oats at $ .45 


To 5 Ibs. Butter at .25 


By new Harrow 


Bv sharpening 2 Plows. _ 


By new Double-Tree 


To Cow and Calf 


To half ton of Hay 


By Cash . 


By repairing Corn-Planter 


To one Sow with Pigs . 


By Cash, to balance account 




$88 


05 


$88 


05 


1875. CASSA MASON. Dr . Cr . 


March 21 
" 21 
" 23 
May 1 
1 
June 19 
26 
July 10 
29 
Aug. 12 
12 
Sept. 1 


By 3 days' labor . at $1.25 


$6 

8 

10 

2 
2 

20 
18 


UO 
10 

00 
76 

;o 

00 

vo 


$3 

25 
12 

18 
9 


75 

00 
00 

00 

00 


To 2 Shoats at 3.00 


To 18 bushels Corn at .45 


By 1 month's Labor 


To Cash 


By 8 days' Mowing at $1.50 


To 50 Ibs. Flour 


To 27 Ibs. Meat at $ .10 


By 9 days' Harvesting at 2.00 


By 6 days' Labor . at 1.50 


To Cash .. ... . 


To Cash to balance account 




$67 


75 


$67 


:-> 



INTEREST TABLE. 

A SIMPLE RULE FOR ACCURATELY COMPUTING INTEREST AT ANY GIVEN PER CKNT. KOR ANY 

XiENGTH OP TIME. 

Multiply the principal (amount of money at interest) by the time reduced to days; then divide this product 
by the quotient obtained !>y dividing 360 (the number of days in the interest year) by the per cent, of interest, 
ahdt/ie quotient thus obtained will be the required interest. 

ILLUSTRATION. Solution. 



Require the interest of $462. 50 for one month and eighteen days at 6 per cent. An 
interest month is 30 days; one month and eighteen days equal 48 days. $462.50 multi- 
plied by .48 Rives S222 0000; 360divided by 6 (the per cent, of interest) gives 60, and 
$222.0000 divided by 60 will give you the exact interest, wnie'i is $3.70. Ifrhe rare of ______ 

interest in the above example were 12 per cent., we would divide the $222.01)00 by 30g)360\ 185000 
(because 360 divided by 12 gives 30); if 4 per cent., we would divide by 90; if 8 per 



462.50 
.48 



370000 



ent., by 45: and lu like manner for any otber per cent. 



60 / $222.0000(83.70 
180 



420 
420 



00 



MISCELLANEOUS TABLE. 



12 units, or things, 1 Dozen. 
12 dozen, 1 Gross. 
20 things, 1 Score. 



196 pounds, 1 Barrel of Flour. 
200 pounds, 1 Barrel of Pork. 
56 pounds, 1 Firkin of Butter. 



24 sheets, of paper. 1 Quire. 

20 quires paper 1 Ream. 

4 ft. wide, 4 ft. high, and 8 ft. long, 1 Cord Wood. 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 179 

NAMES OF THE STATES OF THE UNION, AND THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS. 

Virginia. The oldest of the States, was so called in honor of Queen 
Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made 
his first attempt to colonize that region. 

Florida. Ponce de Leon landed on the coast of Florida on Easter 
Sunday, and called the country in commemoration of the day, which was 
the Pasqua Florida of the Spaniards, or "'Feast of Flowers." 

Louisiana was called after Louis the Fourteenth, who at one time 
owned that section of the country. 

Alabama was so named by the Indians, and signifies " Here we Rest." 

Mississippi is likewise an Indian name, meaning " Long River." 

Arkansas, from Kansas, the Indian word for "smoky water." Its 
prefix was really arc, the French word for " bow." 

The Carolinas were originally one tract, and were called "Carolana," 
after Charles the Ninth of France. 

G-eorgia owes its name to George the Second of England, who first 
established a colony there in 1732. 

Tennessee is the Indian name for the " River of the Bend," i. e., the 
Mississippi which forms its western boundary. 

Kentucky is the Indian name for " at the head of the river." 

Ohio means " beautiful ; " Iowa, " drowsy ones ; " Minnesota, " cloudy 
water," and Wisconsin, " wild-rushing channel." 

Illinois is derived from the Indian word illini, men, and the French 
suffix ois, together signifying " tribe of men." 

Michigan was called by the name given the lake, fish-iveir, which was 
so styled from its fancied resemblance to a fish trap. 

Missouri is from the Indian word " muddy," which more properly 
applies to the river that flows through it. 

Oregon owes its Indian name also to its principal river. 

Cortes named California. 

Massachusetts is the Indian for " The country around the great hills." 

Connecticut, from the Indian Quon-ch-ta-Cut, signifying "Long 
River." 

Maryland, after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles the First, of 
England. 

New York was named by the Duke of York. 

Pennsylvania means " Penn's woods," and was so called after William 
Penn, its orignal owner. 



180 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



Delaware after Lord De La Ware. 

New Jersey, so called in honor of Sir George Carteret, who was 
Governor of the Island of Jersey, in the British Channel. 

Maine was called after the province of -Maine in France, in compli- 
ment of Queen Henrietta of England, who owned that province. 

Vermont, from the French word Vert Mont, signifying Green 
Mountain. 

New Hampshire, from Hampshire county in England. It was 
formerly called Laconia. 

The little State of Rhode Island owes its name to the Island of 
Rhodes in the Mediterranean, which domain it is said to greatly 
resemble. 

Texas is the American word for the Mexican name by which all that 
section of the country was called before it was ceded to the United States. 



POPULATION OF THE 
UNITED STATES. 


POPULATION OF FIFTY 
PRINCIPAL CITIES. 


STATUS AND TERRITORIES. 


Total 
Population. 


CITIES. 


Aggregate 
Population. 




996. 992 
484,471 
560,247 
537,454 
125,015 
187,748 
1.184,109 
2,539,891 
1,680,637 
1,191,792 
364,399 
1,321,011 
726,915 
626,915 
780,894 
1,457,351 
1,184,059 
439,706 
827,922 
1,721,295 


Arkansas 


California 
Connecticut 
Delaware. 
Florida 
Georgia 
Illinois 
Indi ana 
Iowa 
Kansas 
Kentucky 
Louisiana 
Maine 
Maryland 
Massachusetts 
Michigan 
Minnesota 
Mississippi 
Missouri 


New York, N. Y. . . . 
Philadelphia, Pa 
Brooklyn, N. Y 
St. Louis, Mo 
Chicago, 111 
Baltimore, Md 
Boston, Mass 
Cincinnati, Ohio 
New Orleans, La 
San Francisco, Cal 
Buffalo, N. Y 
Washington, D. C 
Newark, N. J 
Louisville, Ky 
Cleveland, Ohio 
Pittsburg, Pa 
Jersey City, N. J 


942,292 
674,022 
396,099 
310,864 
298,977 
267,354 
250,526 
216,239 
191,418 
149,473 
117,714 
109,199 
105,059 
100,753 
92,829 
86,076 
82,546 


Nevada 
New Hampshire 
New Jersey 
New York 
North Carolina 
Ohio 
Oregon 
Pennsylvania 
Khode Island 
.South Carolina 
Tennessee 
Texas 
Vermont 
Virginia 
West Virginia 
Wisconsin 

Total States 


42,491 
318,300 
906.096 
4,382.759 
1,071,361 
2,665.260 
90,923 
3,521,791 
217,353 
705,606 
1,258,520 
818,579 
330,551 
1,225,163 
442,014 
1,054,670 

38.113,253 


Detroit, Mich 
Milwaukee, Wls 
Albany, N. Y 
Providence, B. I 
Rochester, N. Y 
Allegheny, Pa 
Richmond, Va 
New Haven, Conn 
Charleston, S. C 
Indianapolis, Ind 
Troy, N. Y 
Syracuse, N. Y 
Worcester, Mass 
Lowell, Mass 
Memphis, Tenn 
Cambridge, Mass 
Hartford, Conn 
Scran ton, Pa 


79,577 
71,440 
69,422 
68,904 
62,386 
53,180 
51.038 
50,840 
48,956 
48,244 
46,465 
43,051 
41,105 
40,928 
40,226 
39,634 
37,180 
35,092 
33,930 
33,579 
32,260 
32,034 
31,584 
31,413 
31,274 
30,841 
30,473 
28,921 
28,804 
28,323 
28,235 
28,233 

9K 7fifi 


Arizona 
Colorada 
Dakota 
District of Columbia 
Idaho 


9,658 
39,864 
14,181 
131.700 
14,999 


Paterson. N. J 
Kansas City, Mo 
Mobile, Ala 
Toledo, Ohio 
Portland, Me 


New Mexico 
Utah 
Washington 
Wyoming 

Total Territories. 


91,874 
86,786 
23,955 
9,118 

442,730 


Wilmington, Del 
Dayton, Ohio 
Lawrence, Mass 
Utica, N. Y 
Charlestown, Mass 
Savannah, Ga 
Lynn. Mass 


Total United States .... 


38,555,983 


Fall River, ass . 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



181 



POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. 



STATES AND 
TERRITORIES. 


Area in 
sauare 
Miles. 


POPULATION. 


Miles 
R. R. 
1872. 


STATES AND 
TERRITORIES. 


Area in 
square 
Miles. 


POPULATION. 


Miles 
R. R. 
1872. 


1870. 


1875. 


1870. 


1875. 


States. 


50,722 

52,198 
188.981 
4.674 
2,120 
59,268 
5S.OOII 
55,410 
33.809 
55,045 
81.318 
37,600 
41,346 
31,776 
11,184 
7,800 
56,451 
83,531 
47,156 
65,350 
75.9P5 
112,090 
9,280 
8.320 
47,000 
50 704 


996,992 

484,471 
560,247 
537,454 
125,015 
187,748 
1.184,109 
2,539,891 
1,680,637 
1,191.792 
364,399 
1,321,011 
726,915 
626,915 
7SO.H94 
1,457,351 
1,184,059 
439,706 
827,922 
1,721.295 
123,993 
42,491 
318.300 
906,096 
4,382,759 
1 071 361 




1,671 
25 
1,013 

820 
227 
466 
2,108 
5,904 
3.529 
3.160 
1,7(10 
1,123 
539 
871 
820 
1,606 
2,23:. 
1,612 
990 
2.5SO 
828 
593 
790 
1.265 
4,470 
1,190 
3,740 


States. 
Pennsylvania 
Rhode Island 
South Carolina... 
Tennessee 


46,000 
1,306 
29.385 
45,600 
237,504 
10,212 
40,904 
23,000 
53,924 


3,521,791 
217,353 
705,606 
1,258,520 
818,579 
330,551 
1,225,163 
442,014 
1,054,670 


""258i239 
925,145 


5.113 
136 
1,201 
1,520 
865 
675 
1,490 
485 
1.725 


Arkansas 


California 












Texas 




Florida 




Vermont 




Georgia 
Illinois 
Indiana 


1,350,544 
528,349 

"857!039 


Virginia 




West Virginia 
Wisconsin 




1,236,729 


Total States 


Kansas 


1,950.171 

113,916 
104,500 
147,490 
60 
90,932 
143.776 
121,201 
80.056 
69,944 
93,107 


38,113,253 

9,658 
39,864 
14,181 
131,700 
14,999 
20,595 
91,874 
86,786 
23,955 
9,118 




59,587 


Kentucky 
Louisiana 


Territories. 
Arizona 




Maine 










392 


Massachusetts. . . 


1,651,912 
1,334,031 
598,429 

"246,280 
52,540 


Dakota 




Dist. of Columbia. 











Mississippi 


Montana 






Missouri. 
Nebraska 


New Mexico... 






Utah 




375 


Nevada 


Washington 




New Hampshire. 
New Jersey 


Wyoming 




498 


1,026,502 
4,705,208 


Total Territories. 

Aggregate of U. S.. 
Included in t 




965,032 

2,915,203 
he Railro 


442,730 




1.265 






Ohio 
Oregon 


39,964 
95,244 
s of Mic 


2,665.260 
90,923 
higan tak 




38,555,983 

nl Mileage 




60,852 
id. 


* Last Ceiisu 


en in 1874. 


of Marylar 



PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD; 

POPULATION AND AREA. 



COUNTRIES. 


Population. 


Date of 
Census. 


Area in 
Square 
Miles. 


Inhabitants 
to Square 
Mile. 


CAPITALS. 


Population. 


China 


446 500 000 


1871 


3 741 846 


119 3 


Pekln 


1 648 800 


British Empire 


226.817.108 


1871 


4 677 432 


48.6 


London ... 


3,251 800 


Russia 


81,925 400 


1871 


8 003 778 


10.2 


St. Petersburg 


667 000 


United States with Alaska 


38,925,600 


1870 


2 603.884 


7.78 


Washington 


109,199 


France 


36,469,800 


1866 


204 091 


178.7 


Paris 


1 825.300 


Austria and Hungary 


35 904 400 


1869 


240 348 


149.4 




833 900 


Japan 


34.785,300 


1871 


149 399 


232.8 


Yeddo 


1,554,900 


Great Britain and Ireland. . . . 


31,817 100 


1871 


121 315 


262.3 




3,251 800 


German Empire 


29 906 092 


1871 


160 207 


187. 


Berliu 


825 400 


Italy 


27,439,921 


1871 


118,847 


230.9 


Rome 


244,484 


Spaf n 


16 642 000 


1867 


195 775 


85. 


Madrid 


332 000 


Brazil 


10,000.000 




3 253 029 


3.07 


Rio Janeiro 


420,000 


Turkey 
Mexico 


16,463,000 
9 173 000 


i869 


672,621 
761 526 


24.4 


Constantinople 


1,075,000 
210 300 


Sweden and Norway 


5,921 500 


1870 


292 871 


20. 


Stockholm 


136,900 


Persia 


5 000 000 


1870 


635 964 


7.8 


Teheran 


120 000 


Belgium 


5 021 300 


1869 


11 373 


441.5 




314 100 


Bavaria 


4,861,400 


1871 


29 292 


165.9 


Munich 


1(19 500 


Portugal... 


3 995 200 


1868 


34 494 


115.8 




224 063 


Holland 


3 688 300 


1870 


12 680 


290 9 




90 100 


N ew Grenada. . . . 


3,000 000 


1870 


357 157 


8.4 


Bogota 


45,000 


Chili 


2 000 000 


1869 


132 616 


15.1 




115 400 


Switzerland 


2 669 100 


1870 


15 992 


166.9 




36 000 


Peru . . . 


2 500 000 


1871 


471 838 


5.3 


Lima 


160,100 


Bolivia 


2 000 000 




497 321 


4. 




25 000 


Argentine Republic 


1 812 000 


1869 


871 84S 


2 1 




177 800 


Wurtemburg 


1,818 500 


1871 


7 533 


241.4 


Stuttgart 


91,600 


Denmark 


1 784 700 


1870 


14 753 


120 9 




162 042 


Venezuela 


1,500,000 




368.238 


4.2 


Caraccas 


47,000 


Baden 


1 461 400 


1871 


5 912 


247. 




36,600 


Greece 


1 457 900 


1870 


19 353 


75.3 




43 400 


Guatemala : 


1,180,000 


1871 


40,879 


28.9 


Guatemala 


40,000 


Ecuador 


1,300 000 




218 928 


5.9 


Quito 


70,000 


Paraguay 


1 000 000 


1871 


63 787 


15* 




48,000 


Hesse . . . 


823 138 




2 969 


277 




30 000 


Liberia 


718 000 


1871 


9 576 


74.9 




3,000 


San Salvador 


600 000 


1871 


7 335 


81 8 




15 000 


Hayti 


572 000 




10 205 


56 




20 000 


Nicaragua 


350 000 


1871 


58 171 


6 




10 000 


Uruguay 


300 000 


1871 


66 722 


6 5 




44 500 


Honduras 


350 000 


1871 


47 092 


7 4 




12 000 


San Domingo 


136 000 




17 827 


7 6 




20 000 


Costa Rica 


165 000 


1870 


21 505 


7.7 




2,000 


Hawaii 


62.950 




7.633 


80. 


Honolulu 


7,633 



182 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION 



POPULATION OF ILLINOIS, 
BY COUNTIES. 



COUNTIES. 


AGGREGATE. 


187O. 


I860. 


1850. 

26508 
2484 
6144 
7624 
7198 
8841 

3231 
4586 

7253 
2649 
3203 
9532 
4289 

5139 
9335 
43385 

7135 
3718 
7540 
5002 


1840. 


1830. 


1820. 


Adams . - 


56362 
10564 
I3I52 
12942 
I22O5 

32415 
6562 
16705 

11580 

32737 
20363 
18719 

15875 
16285 

25235 
349966 

13889 
12223 
23265 
14768 

13484 
16685 
21450 
7565 
15653 
19638 
9103 
12652 
38291 

"134 

20277 

14938 
13014 
35935 
5"3 
12582 
35506 
25782 
i9 6 34 
11234 
17864 

15054 
27820 
11248 
39091 
24352 
12399 
39522 
21014 
60792 

12533 
27171 

3M7I 
23053 


41323 
4707 
9815 
11678 
9938 
26426 
5144 
H733 
11325 
14629 
10492 
14987 

9336 
10941 
14203 
144954 

"551 

8311 
19086 
10820 
7140 
14701 
16925 

5454 
7816 
11189 
1979 
9393 
33338 
8055 
16093 

10379 
99'5 
29061 

3759 
9501 
20660 
12325 

9589 
8364 
12965 
12051 
27325 
9342 
30062 
15412 

13074 
28663 
18257 
48332 
9214 

17651 
11637 
14272 


14476 

3313 
5060 

1705 
4183 
3067 
1741 
1023 
2981 

1475 
1878 

7453 
3228 
37i8 
9616 
1 020 1 

4422 


2186 
1390 
3124 




Alexander. 


626 
2931 


Bond 


Boone . 


Brown 






Bureau . ._._- - -- 






Calhoun . 


1090 




Carroll - - 




Cass 






Champaign '. 






Christian 






Clark .. 


3940 

755 
2330 


931 


Clay 


Clinton _ - 




Coles 




Cook 






Crawford.. 


3"7 


*23 

2999 


Cumberland - . . . 


De Kalb - 


1697 
3247 






De Witt 






Douglas 






Du Page 


9290 
10692 
3524 
3799 
8075 


3535 
8225 
3070 
1675 
6328 






Edgar 


4071 
1649 




Edwards ..- - .... 


3444 


Effingham . 


Fayette - - 


2704 




Ford 




Franklin . 


5681 
22508 
5448 
12429 
3023 
6362 
14652 
2887 
4612 
3807 
4149 
5862 
3220 
8109 

7354 
18604 
4114 
16703 


3682 
13142 
10760 
"951 


4083 
1841 
7405 
7674 


1763 


Fulton 


Gallatin .. _ 


3155 


Greene .. 


Grundy . 




Hamilton .. ... 


3945 
9946 

1378 


2616 

483 




Hancock . 




Hardin . 




Henderson _. 






Henry 


1260 
1695 
3566 
1472 
5762 

4535 
6180 
3626 
6501 


4i 




Iroquois . _ . .. . . 




Jackson 


1828 


1542 


Tasper . _ 


Jefferson .... .... 


2555 


691 


Jersey .. 


Jo Daviess 


2III 
1596 




Johnson 


843 


Kane .... 


Kankakee. 






Kendall .. 


7730 
13279 
14226 

17815 
6121 
5-292 
1553 
5128 









Knox .. . .. . 


7060 
2634 
9348 
7092 
2035 
759 
2333 


274 




Lake ..... . 




La Salle ... 






Lawrence . 


3668 




Lee 




Livingston - __ 






Loean . . 







MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



183 



POPULATION OF ILLINOIS CONCLUDED. 



COUNTIES. 


AGGREGATE. 


1870. 


I860. 


1850. 


1840. 


1830. 


1820. 


Macon ..... 


26481 
32726 

44131 
2O622 
16950 
16184 
9581 
26509 
23762 
53988 
"735 
18769 

12982 

25314 
28463 
10385 
27492 
47540 
13723 
10953 
30708 

"437 
8752 
6280 
20859 
12803 
29783 
12714 
46352 
17419 
10530 
25476 
10751 

51068 
30608 
27903 
16518 
30388 
8841 
23174 
17599 
19758 
16846 
27503 
43013 
17329 
29301 
18956 


13738 
24602 
3"5I 
12739 
13437 
10931 
6213 
20069 
22089 
28772 
9584 
15042 

12832 

13979 
22II2 

6385 
22888 
366OI 
9552 
6l27 

27249 
6742 

3943 
5587 
17205 

97" 
21005 

9331 
32274 
14684 
9069 
14613 
9004 

37694 
25112 
21470 
11181 
19800 

7313 

18336 

I373I 
12223 
12403 

18737 
29321 
12205 
24491 
13282 


3988 

12355 
20441 
6720 
5180 

5921 
4092 
7616 
14978 
10163 

6349 
5246 

7679 
6277 
16064 

3234 
10020 

17547 
5278 
l6o6 
18819 

3975 
2265 

3924 
11079 
4012 

6937 
5588 
19228 
10573 
7914 
7807 
3710 

20180 
11666 
12052 
7615 
11492 
4690 
8176 

6953 
6825 
8925 
536i 
16703 
7216 
"773 
4415 


3039 
7926 

14433 
4742 
1849 


1122 

igV> 
6221 
2125 




Macoupin ....... 1. . . 




Madison .... 


13550 


Marion. 


Marshall ..... 




Mason ._ 






Massac ..'.. 








McDonough 


5308 
2578 
6565 
4431 
2352 

4481 
4490 
19547 


w 




McHenry .... 




McLean.. 






Menard 






Mercer. . .. _ ........ 


26 

2OOO 

2953 
12714 




.Monroe 


*2I 
1516 


Montgomery 


Morgan 




Moultrie.. . .. 




Ogle . . 


3479 
6i53 
3222 






Peoria 


w 

1215 




Perry 




Piatt 




Pike 


11728 
4094 


2396 
3316 




Pope 


26lO 


Pulaski... 


Putnam. ... . 


2131 
7944 


(TI3IO 

4429 




Randolph ... 


3492 


Richland .. 


Rock Island '_. .. 


2610 






Saline 






Sangamon 


14716 
6972 
6215 
6659 
1573 

13631 
2800 
7221 
5524 
9303 
4240 

6739 
4810 

5133 
7919 

25M 
10167 

4457 
4609 


12960 

2959 




Schuyler .. 




Scott 




Shelby 


2972 




Stark 




St.Clair 


7078 


*5 

5248 


Stephenson 


Tazevvell.. 


4716 
3239 

5836 

2710 

308 
1675 
2553 

6091 




Union 


2362 


Vermilion. . 


Wabash 




Warren 




Washington 


1517 

1114 

4828 


Wayne 


White 


Whitesides 


Will. 






Williamson 






Winnebago 






Woodford 






Total.. 








2^0801 


I7IIO<U 


S=;iJ7o 


47618^ 


I* 74.4 e. 


*49 
<;ii62 



184 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



STATE LAWS 
RELATING TO RATES OF INTEREST AND PENALTIES FOR USURY. 



STATES AND TERRITORIES. 



Legal I Rate al- 
Rate of lowed by 
Interest. Contract. 



Alabama 

Arizona 

Arkansas 

California 

Colorado 

Connecticut 

Dakota 

Delaware 

District of Columbia ., 

Florida 

Georgia 

Idaho 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi .... 

Missouri 

Montana 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New Hampshire 

New Jersey 

New Mexico , 

New York 

North Carolina 

Ohio 

Ontario, Canada 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania 

Quebec, Canada 

Rhode Island 

South Carolina 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Utah 

Vermont 

Virginia 

Washington Territory 

West Virginia 

Wisconsin 

Wyoming 



per cent 

8 
10 

6 

10 
10 

7 
7 
6 
6 
8 

7 

10 
6 
6 
6 
8 
6 

5 

6 

6 

6 

7 

7 

6 

6 
10 
10 

10 

6 

6 

7 
6 
6 
6 
10 
6 
6 
6 

7 

6 

8 
10 

6 

6 
10 

6 

7 

12 



per cent. 

8 
Any rate. 

10 

Any rate. 
Any rate. 
7 

12 

6 

IO 

Any rate. 
12 
24 
8 
10 

10 
12 

8 

8 

Any rate. 

6 

Any rate. 
10 
12 
10 
10 
Any rate. 

12 

Any rate. 
6 

7 
Any rate. 

7 



Any rate 

12 

Any rate 
Any rate 
Any rate 
Any rate 
10 
12 

Any rate 
6 
6* 
Any rate, 
6* 

10 

Any rate, 



Penalties for Usury. 



Forfeiture of entire interest. 
Forfeiture of principal and interest. 



Forfeiture of excess of interest. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 
Forfeiture of principal. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Fine and imprisonment. 

Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of excess of interest. 

Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of ex. of in. above 12 per cent. 

Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of excess of interest. 

Forfeiture of ex. of in. above 7 per cent. 
No Usury Law in this State. 
Forfeiture of excess of interest. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of thrice the excess and costs. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of contract. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 
Forfeiture of excess above 6 per cent. 



Forfeiture of excess of interest. 
Forfeiture of excess of interest. 

Forfeiture of excess of interest. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of excess of interes* 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 



* Except in cases defined by statutes of the State. 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



185 



STATE LAWS 

RELATING TO LIMITATIONS OF ACTIONS : SHOWING LIMIT OF TIME IN WHICH 
ACTION MAY BE BROUGHT ON THE FOLLOWING : 



STATES AND TERRITORIES. 


Assault 
slander, 
&c. 


Open 

Accts. 


Notes. 


Judg- 
ments. 


Sealed and 
witnessed 
Instru- 
ments. 




Years. 
I 


Years, 
i 


Years. 
6 


Years. 
2O 


Years. 
IO 




I 


3 


5 


IO 


IO 




I 


2 




e 


e 




I 


6 


6 








7 


6 


6 


2O 


17 




2 


6 


6 


2O 


2O 




I 


? 


6 


2O 


2O 




I 






12 




Florida 


2 




c 


2O 


2O 




I 




6 


7 


2O 




2 


2 




e 


C 




I 


5 


10 


2O 


IO 


Indiana 


2 


6 


20 


2o 


2O 




2 


e 


IO 


2O 


IO 


Kansas 


I 




c 


e 


tc 




I 


2 


1C 


tc 


1C 




I 






IO 


20 




2 


6 


20 


2O 


20 


Maryland .* 


I 


3 




12 


12 


Massachusetts 


2 


6 


20 


2O 


2O 


Michigan 


2 


6 


6 


6 


IO 


Minnesota 


2 


6 


6 


IO 


6 




I 




6 


7 


7 


Missouri .. . 


2 


c 


IO 


2O 


IO 


Montana 


2 


c 


IO 


IO 


IO 


Nebraska 


I 




c 


c 


IO 


Nevada 


2 


2 




c 




New Hampshire 


2 


6 


6 


20 


20 


New Jersey 


2 


6 


6 


20 


16 


New Mexico 


I 


6 


IO 


IO 


IO 


New York . 


2 


6 


6 


20 


20 


North Carolina 


j. 


2 




IO 


IO 


Ohio 


I 


6 


1C 


T e 


I f 


Ontario (U. Canada) 


2 


6 


6 


20 


20 


Oregon... 


2 


6 


6 


IO 


20 


Pennsylvania 




6 


6 


20 


20 


Quebec (L. Canada) 




5 


^ 


IQ 


I/O 


Rhode Island 




6 


6 


20 


20 


South Carolina 


2 


6 


6 


20 


20 


Tennessee , 




6 


6 


IO 


6 


Texas 




2 




IO 




Utah 




2 




c 


j 


Vermont 


2 


6 




8 


8 


Virginia 


I 


e 


c 


IO 


20 


Washington Territory 


2 




6 


6 


6 


West Virginia 


I 


5 


IO 


IO 


IO 


Wisconsin 


2 


6 


6 


20 


20 


Wyoming... 


I 


6 


!< 


i<; 


K 



PRODUCTIONS OF AGRICULTURE, STATE OF ILLINOIS, BY COUNTIES. 1870. 



JOUNTIES. 
Total 


Improved 
Land. 


Woodl'nd 


Uther un- 
improved 


Spring 
Wheat, 


Winter 
Wheat. 


Rye. 


Indian 
Corn. 


Oats. 


Number. 
19.329.952 


Number. 
5,061.578 


Number. 
1.491.331 


Bushels. 
10,133.207 


Bushels. 
19.995,198 


Busliels. 
2,456,576 


Bushels. 
129.921, 39f 


Bushels. 
42.780.851 


Adam s 


287,926 
13,836 
145,045 
137.307 
57,062 
398,611 
37,684 
186,864 
92.902 
419,368 
241,472 
118,594 
146.922 
150,177 
208,337 
348.824 
105,505 
75,342 
334,502 
168,539 
147,633 
564,874 
^65,458 
58,912 
120,343 
187,196 
141.228 
80,749 
228,132 
49,572 
175,408 
193,999 
88,996 
311,517 
28,117 
140,954 
265,904 
322,510 
78,548 
90,867 
118,951 
94,147 
156.51? 
57,820 
240,120 
312,182 
164.004 
330,829 
207,779 
533,724 
87,828 
322,212 
377,505 
321,709 
205,259 
231.059 
257,032 
178.081 
166,057 
209,453 
25,151 
261,635 
230, 5b6 
494.978 
134,173 
222.809 
92.810 
276,682 
293,450 
144,220 
316,883 
170,729 
93 754 


112,576 
17.761 
42,613 
29,886 
35,491 
41,866 
63.443 
29,793 
33,493 
16,789 
19,803 
102,201 
80,612 
48.868 
45,214 
19,635 
78,350 
40,334 
17,722 
29,548 
11,897 
17,243 
66,803 
57,585 
56.330 
93,460 
2,996 
3,994 
123.823 
68,750 
93,242 
6,256 
93,878 
43,385 
44,771 
34,705 
12,620 
22,478 
87,642 
67,023 
94,888 
51,42? 
82,076 

34,646 
10,978 
14,244 
41,566 
21,072 
48,117 
72,738 
12,071 
12,462 
17,394 
18,153 
81,224 
89,450 
61,579 
?8,26d 
J1.739 
33,396 
52,54? 
53,293 
40,366 
34.931 
45,97? 
83,369 
47,804 
60217 
24,783 
43,643 
48,666 
68,470 
5,978 
128,953 
87,754 
12,516 
17,184 
162,274 
50,618 
31,239 
70,393 
51,085 
62,477 
44,633 
74,908 
12,375 
76,591 
43.167 
45.268 
83,606 
53.078 
37,558 
27,294 
55,852 
146,794 
78.167 
21.823 
24,261 
116,949 
37.238 
25,217 


19,370 


16,191 


947,616 
42,658 
368,625 
599 
117.502 
724 
221,298 
260 
127,054 
123,091 
504,041 
195.118 
85,737 
610,888 
154,485 
4,904 
212,924 
84,697 
190 
11,695 
65,461 
693 
247,360 
122,703 
195,716 
351,310 
1,008 
111.324 
223,930 
83,093 
577,400 
150 
92,347 
232,750 
32,306 
69,062 
445 
10,480 
329,036 
87.808 
100,553 
558,367 
555 
92.191 
325 
480 
1,249 
7,654 
221 
2,193 
264,134 
2,260 
1,339 
40,963 
196,613 
861,398 
1,207,181 
173,652 
900 
125,628 
72,316 
36,146 
270 
10,955 
45,793 
13,203 
651,76? 
744,891 
357,523 
196,436 
5,580 
31.843 
350,446 
39,762 
1.057,497 
70,457 
44 Q22 


20,989 
30 
6,240 
35,871 
4,742 
43,811 
186 
25,721 
2.772 
45,752 
10,722 
7,308 
3,221 
1,619 
8,825 
20,171 
15,497 
14,798 
21,018 
11540 
9,017 
7,532 
37,508 
528 
19,759 
25.328 
11,577 
5.195 
131,711 
512 
415 
4,930 
11.672 
133,533 
865 
96,430 
35.766 
23,259 
524 
9,165 
5,934 


1,452,905 
244,220 
1,064,052 
466,985 
337.769 
3,030,404 
234,041 
1,367 965 
1,146.980 
3,924,720 
1,883,336 
614,582 
1,019,994 
813.257 
2,133,111 
570,42? 
581,964 
403,075 
1,023,849 
1,311,635 
1,680,225 
331,981 
2,107,615 
352,371 
620,24? 
962,525 
565,671 
653.209 
1,508,763 
509,491 
1.051,313 
295,971 
735,252 
1,510,401 
172.651 
1,712,901 
2,541,683 
799,810 
611,951 
461,345 
887,981 
519,120 
1,286,326 
343,298 
674,333 
637,39ft 
681,26? 
2,708,316 
517,353 
3,077,028 
656,36: 
1,656,978 
l,182,69b 
4,221,640 
2,214,468 
1,051,544 
2,127,549 
1,034,05? 
1,182,903 
2,648,72(5 
133,126 
1,362,490 
1,145,005 
3.723,375* 
1,973.881 
2,054,962 
543,718 
1,527,898 
3,198.835 
1,753.141 
1,787,066 
969,22-4 
384.44(i 
1,029,725 
1,399,188 
315,958 
195.735 
334,259 
510,080 
482,594 
1,459,653 
531,516 
4,388,763 
440,975 
752,771 
2,082.578 
1,149 878 
1,423.121 
1,615,679 
2,062,053 
679.753 
2,818,027 
421,361 
2,982,853 
836,115 
1,179,291 
870.521 
2,162,943 
1,131,458 
655,710 
1,237,406 
2,154,185 


759,074 
21,627 
461,097 
579,127 
70,852 
987,426 
26.234 
775,100 
168,784 
721,375 
383,821 
212.628 
269,945 
446,324 
315.954 
1,584,225 
136,255 
171,880 
1,087,074 
216,756 
225,074 
860,809 
290,679 
129,152 
386,073 
497,395 
154,589 
222,426 
261,390 
27,164 
64,029 
269,332 
203,464 
579,599 
26,991 
229,286 
668.367 
430,74ft 
149,931 
149,214 
285,949 
71.770 
874,016- 
74,525 
785,608 
772,408 
468,890 
787,952 
699,069 
1,509,642 
131,386 
903,197 
659,300 
490,226 
454,648 
459,417 
475,252 
389,446 
362,604 
272,660 
22,097 
280,717 
910.397 
911,127 
235,091 
458,889 
152,251 
668,424 
198,724 
263,992 
141,540 
334,892 
338,760 
130,610 
161,419 
67,886 
16,511 
86,519 
414,487 
204,634 
276,575 
69,793 
397,718 
119.359 
13,462 
637,812 
316.726 
476.851 
960.620 
505,841 
124,473 
436.051 
110,793 
601.054 
033,398 
404,482 
119,652 
880.838 
1,868,682 
180,986 
868. 903 
744,581 


Alexander 


Bond 


1,915 
2,658 
25,608 
15,803 
2,754 
33,302 
6,604 
58,502 
19,173 
5,420 
5,225 
8,722 
3,274 
17,337 
27,185 
5,604 
6,551 
17,633 
7,316 
3.851 
14,282 
830 
26,206 
16,786 
63,976 
86,710 
4,076 
2,565 
29.653 
4,505 
3,343 
18.480 
107 
14,243 
31,459 
63,498 
5.991 
12,250 
778 
1,363 
45,779 
79,141 
399 
10,598 
2,283 
25.155 
24,399 
2,356 
3,273 
7,409 
41,788 
408 
9,115 
7,343 
13,675 
4,142 
2,976 
31,013 
30 
14,035 
57.998 
49,087 
13,952 
22,588 
666 
8,495 
1.376 
13,112 
14,913 
2,516 
220 
13,897 
9,302 


700 
241,042 
13,276 
465,236 
75 
418,073 
12,165 
102.577 
18,360 


Boone 


Brown 


Bureau 


Calhouu 


Carroll 


Cass 


Champaign 


Christian... 


Clark 


Clay 


1,894 
500 
2,651 
144,296 
60 
550 
398,059 
106,493 
7,683 
106,096 
13,283 


Clinton 


Coles 


Cook 


Crawford 


Cumberland 


DeKalb 


DeWitt 


Douglas 


DuPage 


Edgar 


Edwards 


Effiughain 


77 

""42,571 
365 
193,669 


Fayette 


Ford 


Franklin 


Fulton 


Gal hit in .... 






Grundy 


21,700 
129 
181,378 
13 
161,112 
462,379 
57,160 
890 


Hamilton 


Hancock 


Hard in 


Henderson 


Henry 


Iroquois 


Jackson 




Jefferson 




Jersey 




JoDaviess 


282,758 


7.185 
2,468 
23.618 
12,935 

5.16;} 

113,547 

5.87d 
48,308 
1,121 
14,829 
26,163 
37.232 
29,223 
2.404 
3,685 
1'4,51? 
36,135 
49,182 
544 
52.401 
29.264 
39.824 
4.283 
40,778 
1,425 
3,296 
5,535 
6,670 
157,504 
99,502 
1,016 
9,248 
25,303 
2.309 
222 

7;70? 

3,235 
3.401 
20,003 
568 
23,073 
20,841 
930 
23.686 
30,534 
1,008 
135,362 
59,027 
1,737 
52,476 

""72;2l'2 

2,576 
8,665 
418 
31,658 
8.030 
6.228 
137,985 
20,426 


Johnson 
Kane 


188,826 
103,466 
90,681 
267,764 
168,914 
271,181 


ftankakee 


Kendall 


Knox.... 


T^ake 


LaSalle 




Lee 


450.793 
120,206 
198,056 
55,239 
160 
550 


Livingston 


Logan 


Macon 


Macoupin 




Marion 


Marshall 


106,129 
73,261 


Mason 




McDon ough 


273,871 
401,790 
211,801 
36,152 
289,291 


McHenry 


McLean 


Menard 


Mercer 




Montgomery 


59 
18,196 
17,128 
497,038 
92,361 


Morgan 


Moultrie 


Ogle _ 


Peoria 


Perry 


Piatt... 


94,454 
233.785 
55,980 
19,319 
37.271 
140.764 
75,079 
155,214 
72,309 


26,382 
130 


Pike 


Pope 


Pulaski 






Putnam 


4.174 
1.170 
2025 
20,755 
809 
19,932 
21,294 
1,610 
9,314 
' 2,783 
2,016 
13,701 
14,846 
5,300 
31,122 
509 
14,583 
1,931 
10,486 
869 
37.310 
6,335 
1,648 
15,237 
23,135 


28,137 
450 


'796 
1,031,022 
150,268 
2.279 
83.011 
247.658 
165.724 
266.105 
452,015 


Randolph 


Richland 


Rock Island 


243,541 
200 
89,304 
56,221 
18 
15,526 
124,630 
2,550 
527,394 
132,417 

""44; 806 
""186,290 


Saline 


Sanganion 


421,748 
96,195 
85,331 
310,179 
138,129 
231,117 
254,857 
229,126 
75,832 
360,251 
54,063 
266.187 
177.592 
147.352 
92,398 
289,809 
419,442 
128,448 
241,373 
225,504 


Schuyler 


Scott 


Shelby 


Stark : 


St. Clair 


1,562.621 
2,118 
72.410 
180.231 
249,558 
202.201 
5,712 
672,486 
164,689 
184,321 
264 
1,996 
170,787 
2,468 
108,307 


Stephenson 


Tazewell . . . 


Union 


Vermilion 
Wabash 


Warren 




Wayne ... 


266 


White.... 


Whitesides.... 


457,455 
195,286 
176 
408,606 
178,139 


Will 


Williamson 


Winnebago 


V.'oodf ord 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 



BY REV. R. D. MILLER. 

Long ages ago, the worst curse that a good man could wish to befall an 
enemy was that he were compelled to "write a book," for good old Job cried 
out in anguish "0, that mine enemy would write a book;'' and surely this 
should be enough to gratify the enmity of a much worse man than he of Uz, 
especially if the book written was to be one giving a detailed history of the 
early settlement of a central county in Illinois sixty years after the beginning 
of that settlement. 

Immediately after the close of the war of 1812, or, at least, as soon as the 
news of peace was confirmed through the country, the mass of the people were 
siezed with a mania for Western emigration, and, although the sagacious editor 
of New York had not at that time given the advice to young men to go West, 
yet thousands of both young and old were seized with the fever, and, as a 
result, the Western Territories began to fill very rapidly from the older settled 
portions of the country. 

During almost the whole of the eighteenth century, the name Illinois was 
applied to all the known region lying west and north of Ohio. As early as 
1673, French colonists established themselves at Kaskaskia and Cahokia. Just 
one hundred years from the establishment of these colonies, the territory of 
which they were the nucleus, in conjunction with Canada, was ceded to Great 
Britain. This was again transferred to the United States in 1787. In the'same 
year that this territory was acquired, Congress passed an ordinance that the 
territory lying north and west of the Ohio River was to be divided into not less 
than three, nor more than Jive, States. Congress also divided the region named 
into Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. When we remember that this legislation was 
less than ninety-five years ago, we may smile at the short-sightedness of our 
statesmen, especially when we reflect that the territory was bounded on the north 
by the British Possessions. * 

So rapidly did this Northwestern country fill up, that, in 1810, the Illinois 
Territory, which then included a part of Wisconsin and Minnesota, contained 
a population of 12,282. Michigan had been formed into a separate Territory 
in 1805, and Indiana in 1809. The reader is, perhaps, acquainted with the 



190 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

history of the controversy with Wisconsin concerning the northern boundary 
of Illinois. If the people of Wisconsin are -correct in their views of the mat- 
ter, then Illinois has no northern limit save that first given to the Territory, 
and her area still extends to the British Possessions in Canada. 

Illinois, like other new Territories, was at first divided into counties, cover- 
ing very large areas, in fact, the entire State was once " Illinois County ; " but 
as the country became more thickly settled, these counties were subdivided, and 
many portions re-divided the third or fourth time. Illustrative of this fact, it 
mav be stated that at the time of the admission of Illinois into the Union, it 



comprised only fifteen counties. As the settlement of the State began in the 
southern portion and gradually extended northward, it is not at all surprising 
that in more than one case it would have been impossible to find the northern 
boundary of the county unless it were considered as extending to the. north 
line of the State. As an illustration of this subdivision of counties, it may 
be stated that the city of Chicago, or at least the land on which the city now 
stands, was once in Fulton County ; whereas, the nearest point of Fulton 
County to the city of Chicago is now 150 miles on an air line. A further 
illustration of this fact may be briefly given. If the reader will turn to the 
map of Illinois, he will observe that Crawford County is the eighth county 
south on the State line from Chicago. This county at first included Chicago. 
When Clark was formed, it embraced Chicago ; and when Edgar was cut off of 
Clark, the "great city" was in it; and then when Vermilion was cut' off of 
Edgar, Chicago fell into it : so that a great many counties in Illinois can boast 
of at least at one time including Chicago. 

In consideration of the fact that Mehard County was stricken off from Sanga- 
mon, it becomes necessary to give a brief outline of the latter. The reader, 
having perused the history of the Northwest, as given in a former part of this 
volume, will remember that portions of Illinois were settled even before the 
close of the last century. Prior to the formation of the county of Sangamon, 
by act of the Legislature, approved January 30, 1821, the territory of which 
it was formed was included in the counties of Bond and Madison. Sangamon 
County, when first formed, included all of what is now Logan, Tazewell, 
Mason, Menard, Cass and parts of Morgan, McLean, Marshall, Woodford, 
Putnam and Christian. The boundary remained thus till the year 1824, when 
the Legislature reduced its limits ; it still, however, extended to the Illinois 
River and included all of Menard and parts of Christian, Logan and Mason. 
The boundaries of Sangamon County remained unchanged till the year 1839, 
when the Legislature again subdivided it, cutting off Menard, Logan and 
Christian. The uame Dane was first given to the latter, but, after a few years, 
it was changed to Christian. 

At the session of the Legislature in 183839, Menard County was stricken 
off froni Sangamon, and named in honor of Col. Pierre Menard, a Frenchman, 
who settled at Kaskaskia in 1790. Menard was so popular in his day, with the 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 191 

people of Illinois, that when the Convention framed the Constitution of the 
State, a clause was included in the schedule to the Constitution providing that 
" any citizen of the United States, who had resided in the State for two years, 
might be eligible to the office of Lieutenant Governor." This was done in 
order that Col. Menard, who had only been naturalized a year or two at the 
time, might be made Lieutenant Governor under Shadrach Bond, first Gover- 
nor of Illinois, after its formation into a State. 

As Menard County was named after this popular Frenchman, it may be 
interesting to the reader to give a brief account of his life. Pierre Menard was 
born in Quebec in the year 1767. He remained in his native city till in his 
nineteenth year, when his native spirit of adventure led him to seek his fortunes 
in the Territories watered by the Mississippi and its tributaries. He was, there- 
fore, soon found in the town of Vincennes, on the Wabash River, in the employ 
of a merchant, one Col. Vigo. In the year 1790, he formed a partnership 
with one Du Bois, a merchant of Vincennes, and they removed their stock to 
Kaskaskia, in Illinois. Menard, though possessed of but a limited education, 
was a man of quick perception and of almost unerring judgment. He was candid 
and honest, full of energy and industry, and these qualities soon marked him 
as a leader among the scattered population of his adopted home. For a number 
of years, he was Government Agent for the Indians, and his candor and integ- 
rity soon won for him the esteem and friendship of the Indian tribes. This 
fact secured him great advantage as a merchant, as he could buy their peltries 
for half that they could be purchased by the " Longknives." He was a mem- 
ber of the Lower House of the Legislature while Illinois was under the Indi- 
ana regime, and, from 1812 to 1818, he was a member of the Illinois Legisla- 
tive Council, being the President of that body. He was Lieutenant Governor 
from 1818 to 1822, and after that he declined to accept further honors at the 
hands of the people. He acquired a considerable fortune, but much of it was 
lost through his liberality in going security for his- friends. He died at the 
good old age of seventy-seven years, in Tazewell County. Such was the man 
for whom the county of Menard was named. 

The boundaries of the county of Menard are as follows : Beginning at the 
southeast corner of Section 22, Township 17, Range 8 west of the Third 
Principal Meridian ; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 21, Town- 
ship 17, Range 6 west of the Third Principal Meridian ; thence north to the 
southwest corner of Section 15, Township 17, Range 6 west of the Third 
Principal Meridian ; thence east to the southeast quarter of Section 18, Town- 
ship 17, Range 5 west of the Third Principal Meridian ; thence north one-half 
mile ; thence east one-quarter of a mile ; thence north one-half mile ; thence 
east one-quarter of a mile ; thence north one and one-half miles ; thence east to 
the southeast corner of Section 30, Township 18, Range 4 west of the Third 
Principal Meridian ; thence north to the northeast corner of Lot 19, Township 
19, Range 4 west of the Third Principal Meridian ; thence west to the southeast 



192 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

corner of Section 13, Township 19, Range 5 west of the Third Principal 
Meridian ; thence north to Salt Creek ; thence with said creek to the north- 
east corner of Section 7, Township 19, Range 6, where said creek unites with 
the Sangamon River ; thence with the river to the southwest corner of Section 
10, Township 19, Range 8 ; thence south to the place of beginning. The 
county contains an aggregate of 197,975 acres. The Sangamon River is 
estimated to occupy an area of 700 acres within the limits of the county. This 
will leave the entire area within the limits of the given boundary, 198,675 
acres. 

The Sangamon River flows through the county from south to north, dividing 
it into almost equal parts. A number of small streams flowing into the 
Sangamon River and Salt Creek afford an abundance of pure, fresh water for 
every purpose. The surface of the county is gently undulating, in the main, 
though for a mile or two back from the river it is somewhat broken. The greater 
portion of the land, in its native state, was prairie, covered with a rank and 
luxuriant coat of grass, and interspersed with a countless variety of wild 
flowers. 

Groves and bodies of timber are interspersed all over its entire area, in 
ample abundance for all purposes of manufacture and agriculture. Along the 
Sangamon River, for a distance of a mile and a half, on either side, there is 
heavy timber ; while on Rock Creek and Indian Creek, are considerable bodies 
also. In the eastern part of the county are Irish Grove, Bee Grove and 
Sugar Grove, each large bodies of good timber. On the west side of the river 
are Little Grove and Clary's Grove, which are also good timber. The principal 
kinds of timber are black, spotted, burr, white and pin oaks ; elm. ash, walnut, 
(white and black), hard and soft maple, sycamore, linden or basswood, hickory 
(white and shell-bark), cottonwood, black and honey locust, pecan, cherry and 
mulberry. 

AGRICULTURE. 

The soil is adapted to agricultural pursuits in a very remarkable degree. 
Not only in the bottom and table lands is the black loam deep and rich, but the 
uplands are also equally productive. Of the 310.4 square miles, or 198,675 
acres of land in the county, there were, in 1878, 168,282 acres jn cultivation, 
against 134,173 acres in 1870. Of this, 63,286 acres were in corn, yielding 
1,875,096 bushels. The same year, 1878, there were 8,987 acres in winter 
wheat, yielding 125,149 bushels; 891 acres in spring wheat, yielding 6,244 
bushels ; 8,352 acres in oats, producing 263,666 bushels ; 10,168 acres in tim- 
othy meadow, yielding 14,542 tons of hay ; 303 acres in Irish potatoes, pro- 
ducing 15,620 bushels ; 1.469 acres in apple orchards, yielding 56,157 bushels 
of apples. The acreage of grain raised in 1878 was not as large as usual, from 
the fact of the extreme wet weather in the early part of the season, preventing 
the cultivation of large amount of the flat and low bottom-land. Beside this, 
winter wheat has been such an uncertain crop for some years past, that little 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 193 

attention has been paid to it ; but the yield per acre of what was sowed last 
year being so fine that the acreage the present year is almost double that of 
1878, and the quality and yield are both much better. There are a variety of 
crops raised beside those named above, but those given are the most important. 

The county is well supplied with the various kinds of stock, and for many 
years great pains have been taken to improve the quality by securing the best 
imported breeds, for a number of years, there was great profit in feeding 
cattle and hogs for the Eastern markets, and many of the cattle raised on the 
rich pasture-lands of "Little Menard" were shipped to European ports, and- 
proved to be as rich and savory as the boasted beeves of the Old World. For a 
few years past, however, farmers have found but little profit in this department 
of labor, and raising cattle and hogs as a business is falling into desuetude. 
The price of pasture and the cost of raising corn, together with the Western 
competition in prices, render the cattle business very uncertain and dangerous, 
while the prevalence of hog-cholera for several years past, renders the business 
of hog-raising so dangerous that but little attention is given to it. In 1878, 
there were 5,961 head of cattle fatted in the county, the aggregate gross weight 
of which was 2,104,900 pounds. There were 1,089 milk-cows kept, from which 
was sold, beside the home consumption, 43,890 pounds of butter, 225 pounds of 
cheese, 15 gallons of cream and 2,300 gallons of milk. The same year, 18,902 
hogs were fatted, the gross weight of which was 4,664,546 pounds ; besides 
these, there were 22,495 hogs, big and little, died with cholera during the same 
year, the aggregate weight of which was 1,5>14,421 pounds. The sheep of the 
county yielded, in 1878, 19,689 pounds of wool. Of the horses, mules and 
asses in the county, we have no statistics later than 1870 that are reliable. 
There were then 6,840 horses and 921 mules and asses. Since that time, 
there has been, doubtless, an increase of 15 or 20 per cent. For the last five 
or six years, the attention of farmers has been turned largely to the improve- 
ment of the breed of horses. For this purpose, large sums have been expended 
in importing, from various portions of Europe, studs of the finest horses. The 
most popular breeds are, perhaps, the Norman and Clydesdale. In this short 
time, a marked improvement is observable in- the stock all over the county. 

The total valuation of farm lands, at the last census, was $7,944,895. The 
total farm products were estimated to be worth $2,237,505, and the live stock 
was valued at $1,617,389. This gives a total of $11,899,809 as the valua- 
tion of real estate, farm products and live stock, leaving out, however, a num- 
ber of minor matters that would aggregate no inconsiderable amount. This is 
distributed among a population of not more than 13,000 or 14,000 (only 
11,735 in 1870), of whom only 8 were colored. The reader will bear in mind 
that, instead of the above estimates being exaggerated, those which were 
not taken from absolute official statistics taken in 1878, were taken from the 
census of 1870 ; hence the facts will fall considerably below the above figures. 
From 1860 to 1870, the increase of population in the county was about 23 per 



194 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

cent ; but for the last decade it will fall very far below this, as the emigration 
to Kansas and other parts of the West will equal, if not exceed, the immigra- 
tion into the county, so that the population as given above may be too great- 

Although this county covers but a small area of territory, yet there is no 
county in the State possessing finer natural advantages. As before intimated, 
pure, fresh, living water for man and beast, and for purposes of irrigation, is 
distributed in every part of the county; while the Sangamon River and Salt 
Creek afford abundance of water for driving manufacturing machinery, either 
-by steam or by water power. 

Inexhaustible deposits of bituminous coal of the best quality, underlie the 
entire area, and at such a depth that it can be mined at a trifling cost. This coal 
is deposited in three layers, or strata, that have been worked, and Prof. Worthen, 
the State Geologist, says that the strata in this part of Illinois will all together 
make at least twenty-five feet in thickness. A tolerably correct idea of our 
wealth in this direction may be gained when we remember that miners estimate 
that in every foot of the vein in thickness, there are twenty million bushels, 
or one million tons to the square mile. Now, to say nothing of the twenty-five 
feet of strata of which Prof. Worthen speaks, let the reader contemplate the 
wealth that is hidden in the vein that is now being worked. This layer aver- 
ages over six feet in thickness ; but, for safety, we will estimate it at six feet. 
This gives us 120,000,000 bushels, or 480,000 tons to each square mile of area. 

This, of itself, is a source of inexhaustible wealth. A writer in the Lon- 
don Quarterly Review said, not long since, that no people can succeed in the 
arts of Christian civilization without a supply of coal ; and as it is essential to 
many classes of manufacture, and to the navigation of the ocean, and conse- 
quently to the commerce of the world, the statement does not appear to be 
extravagant. The same writer says that the paddle-wheels of European enter- 
prise are constantly stirring up the dark waters of superstition in the East, and 
every Christian steamer that navigates those waters goes as a herald of Chris- 
tian civilization and advancement ; and that coal is thus becoming a grand and 
essential agent in the enlightenment of the world. Such were the stores of 
coal deposited in the bowels of England, and her supply so inexhaustible as 
supposed that the expression, " carrying coals to Newcastle " has long been 
the manner of expressing the inexhaustibleness of the deposit. But present 
indications bid fair for it to become literally true, and also that the " coals 
carried to Newcastle " shall be from America. Thus we see that in respect to 
this source of wealth, this little county is behind none of her neighbors. Some 
seven ^er eight coal mines are being operated successfully in the county; the 
most of them, in fact, nearly all, are in the immediate vicinity of the town of 
Petersburg. In addition to the fact that we thus keep the price of this article 
at home, it also affords employment for a large number of laborers, and in the 
same proportion, it furnishes market of our produce. The coal interests are just 
beginning to be developed here ; but the time is not far in the future when this 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 195 

will be an important branch of industry here. The first regular coal-shaft was 
opened by Elijah Taylor, in the southeast part of town, in the fall of ] 865. Since 
that time, the several shafts near town, and that of Tallula have been opened. 

Stone is not as plentiful in the county as could be desired, yet there are some 
quarries that, when fully opened, will be of great value. A large field on 
Rock Creek is underlaid with a fine strata of limestone, lying near the surface 
in many places, and is finely adapted to building purposes. These quarries 
have never been properly opened, though great quantities of stone have been 
taken out along the hillsides where the ledge crops out ; but the time is not far 
in the future when they will be properly opened. Limestone is also found on 
the Sangamon River at Old Salem, and also at Petersburg. Near the east end 
of the highway bridge over the river at Petersburg, is a stratum of sandstone, 
though it is not yet known whether it is of a good quality, or of sufficient 
quantity to pay for working. Some have used this sandstone for foundations 
and cellar-walls, but some have fears that it will not resist the weight of the 
walls and the influence of the frost. There is rock in small quantities in other 
localities, but these named are the most important and promising. 

Taking all the natural advantages of this county into account, no locality 
possesses more or better facilities for manufacturing enterprise. Here is the 
timber, the stone, the coal, the water, and, as Mr. Hardin Bale has recently 
demonstrated, we have also a quality of clay for the manufacture of drain-tile 
that is equal to the best in the State, or elsewhere. Brick of an excellent 
quality are also made here in abundance. Taking all these facts together, it 
is strange that these advantages have not been utilized before the present time. 
The vast amount of agricultural implements purchased every year by our 
citizens, takes out vast sums of money, for which we have but little return 
made. The plows, reapers, planters, threshers, wagons, buggies, etc., that are 
annually purchased, cost a vast sum. If our advantages were utilized, not only 
would all this money be kept in our midst, but other great advantages would accrue 
to us. A market would be created here at home for our surplus timber, which 
is now rotting in vast quantities all over the county ; a demand would be made 
for greater quantities of coal, and this would employ a great number of laborers ; 
the erection of these factories would create a demand for stone and brick, and 
sand, and lime ; then all these, so well as the timber to manufacture, must be 
delivered on the ground, thus giving employment *to a great number of men 
and teams ; and last, but not least, this would call together great numbers of 
laborers and mechanics, who, bringing their families with them, would improve 
our towns, and create a market at home for all the products the soil produced 
by our farmers. Surely our people will not remain blind to this important 
matter many years longer. 

The raising and fatting of cattle and hogs having ceased to bring remuner- 
ation to the agriculturists, they must look in some other direction for a reward 
for their toils. 



196 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

The county is intersected by two railroads, the Jacksonville branch of the 
Chicago & Alton Railroad, and the Springfield & North-Western Railroad. A 
detailed account of the erection of these roads will be given as we advance in 
the history of the county, as giving facts in their proper chronological order 
will enable the reader to understand and retain them to a much better advantage. 

Having thus hastily glanced at the resources and advantages of the county, 
we are now prepared to enter into the history of the 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

Considerable settlements were made in other parts of old Sangamon County 
before any were made in the limits of what is now Menard. The reader will 
bear in mind that this county had no existence till 1839, hence the history of 
the early settlement and development of the county is connected with the 
history of Sangamon. 

Although the white man had frequently visited the "Sangamon country," 
as it was called, and had traveled over the beautiful prairies, and explored the 
deep woods of this locality, yet we have no evidence that any one ever settled 
in the area of the county prior to April, 1819. The first settler, according to 
the best evidence we have, was Mr. John Clary, who came with his family at 
the date just named. He settled in a grove in the southwestern part of the 
county, near the present site of the village of Tallula. This grove was ever 
after known by the name of its first settler, and is to-day noticed on the maps 
and known far and near as Clary's Grove. Mr. Clary settled on the south- 
west quarter of Section 32, Town 18, Range 7, the land being now owned by 
George Spears, Sr. Mr. Clary built what was known to the pioneer settlers as 
a "'three-faced camp," that is, he erected three walls, leaving one entire side 
open. These walls were built about seven feet high, when poles were laid across 
at a distance of about three feet apart, and on these a roof of clapboards was 
laid, and these boards were held on by weight-poles laid on them. These 
boards were some four feet in length, and from eight inches to a foot wide, and 
were split out of oak timber with an instrument called a froe. No floor was 
laid in the camp, nor was there any such thing as window or chimney con- 
nected with the structure ; neither would you see such thing as a door-shutter 
in all this edifice. Now, these are facts, and we doubt not that the young men, 
who are now growing up, wonder what the people did for light, and where their 
fires were built, as well as how they found ingress and egress. The one side 
of the structure that was left out answered all these purposes. Just in front 
of the open side was built a large log heap, which served to give warmth in 
cold weather, and for cooking purposes all the year round. Abundance of 
light was admitted by this aperture, while on either side of the fire were ample 
passage-ways for passing in and out. We describe this camp thus particularly, 
because in such as this the early settlers spent the first few years of their 
sojourn in the new country. Mr. Clary had a family when he first came. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 197 

Judge Robert Clary, recently deceased, was six weeks old when the family set- 
tled in the grove. The large and respectable family of Clarys, now living in 
the county, are the descendants of this pioneer. Not long after Clary settled 
in the grove, Mr. Solomon Pratt, with his family, took up their residence in 
a cabin on Section 3, Town 17, Range 7, this being in the vicinity of Mr. 
Clary. During the fall of 1819 and the spring of 1820, emigration came in 
pretty rapidly, and, there being no record kept of the order in which they 
came, and the names of some being forgotten, it is impossible to get the detail 
correct. About this time, the Armstrongs, Greens and Spears came, a njore 
detailed account of whose settlement will be given in another place. 

It was before stated that the first settlement in the county was in Clary's 
Grove ; this we believe is true ; however, there is a great diversity of opinion 
on this subject among the oldest citizens now living. Amberry Rankin, of 
Athens, is of the opinion that Judge Latham was the first white man to 
take up his abode in the limits of the county ; and it is a known fact that 
Sugar Grove, in the northeast part of the county, was settled very soon after 
Clary's Grove, if not at the very same time. From a document left by Charles 
Montgomery, deceased, and from the statement of Alexander Meadows, now 
living in Greenview, we learn some important facts. These statements are 
fully reliable, as the gentlemen named were members of the first party that 
settled on the east side of the Sangamon River. 

Jacob Boyer and James Meadows, who were brothers-in-law, came to Sugar 
Grove, from the American bottom, in the spring of 1819. They had lived a year 
or two on Wood River, in the American bottom, two and a half miles from Alton 
meadows, brought one wagon drawn by two horses, and, in addition, one milk 
cow, a yoke of yearling steers, that had been broken to work when sucking- 
calves, and some thirty head of hogs. Boyer brought three horses, two milk 
cows, and perhaps a yoke of oxen. About the same day that Boyer and 
Meadows came, the Blane family, consisting of four brothers, one sister and 
the mother, came to the same grove. This family was of Irish blood, and it 
was from them that the "Irish Grove," in the east part of the county, received 
its name. The Blanes brought two two-horse teams and six or seven yoke of 
oxen. Boyer and Meadows erected a cabin on the south side of the grove, 
which was occupied by Boyer, and Meadows put up a "three-faced camp " on 
the ground now occupied by the " Sugar Grove Cemetery." Before the Blanes 
settled there, they had been camped for a few days in the "Irish Grove," as 
it has since been called ; it is therefore very probable that they were camped in 
the county when Clary settled at Clary's Grove. 

The Blanes also " took claims," erected cabins and began business in earnest. 
These were the first settlers on the east side of the Sangamon River. 

Before giving an account of the further settlement of Sugar Grove, it may 
not be amiss to relate an incident in the early history of this settle- 
ment, illustrating the fact that human nature is ever the same, and that 



198 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY". 

even in this early day men had need of civil courts. It will be necessary to 
explain that although the trouble began when but few families had settled 
there, it was some time before it culminated in a lawsuit, as there were no 
courts of justice in reach till some time later. 

As stated above, Meadows brought two horses, thirty head of hogs and two year- 
ling calves with him to the grove. Not many months elapsed until both the horses 
were missing, and the hogs were all strayed away and lost. Not a great while 
after these misfortunes, one of the little oxen was found dead in the woods. 
Diligent search was made in every direction for the missing stock, as they 
could not be replaced without great trouble and expense, owing to the distance 
from any older settlement. In his anxiety, Mr. M. applied to a fortune-teller, 
who strolled through the new settlement, practicing his art, as the ancient 
troubadour used to stroll from village to village, to rehearse the deeds of his 
heroes. This seer told Mr. Meadows that the horses were in the possession of 
the Indians, and that he would recover them after awhile, though but one at a 
time. Sure enough, the horses were found in the hands of the Indians, 
who said they had traded for them from a Frenchman. The horses were so 
jaded that they were of no service, and soon after died. The hogs, he was 
told, had gone down the Sangamon River, where one-half of them had been 
eaten by a " squatter," and the rest he would recover. Meadows followed the 
directions given, found the cabin of the suspected settler, but found none of the 
hogs. He, however, traded for a frying-pan from the worthy citizen, the one, 
he supposed, in which his hogs had been fried ; but the remainder of the hogs 
were found as had been predicted. The fortune-teller further said that the ox 
came to its death at the hands of one of Mr. M.'s neighbors, in the following 
manner : The neighbor was making rails in the timber, his coat lying on a log 
near by, when the poor calf came browsing along, and, spying the coat, he 
determined to make a meal of it. The laborer, seeing his coat about to be 
swallowed, ran and struck the brute on the loins with his maul, and the blow 
proved sufficient to kill it on the spot. 

Although this was only the statement of a superstitious fortune-teller, yet 
it was believed strongly enough to induce Mr. Meadows to begin a suit against 
the accused party, which was in the courts for several years, cost a vast sum of 
money, and created a feud between two families, which lasted to the second gen- 
eration. This is spoken of as the first lawsuit of any importance in the 
county ; and also as illustrating a superstitious belief in fortune-tellers that at 
that time was almost universal. 

Not long after the settlement of Boyer. the Blanes and Meadows, another 
caravan of immigrants came to the grove. John Jennison, Mr. Hill, William 
McNabb, his wife, son and daughter were of this company. James McNabb, 
son of William, above named, was a surveyor, and taught the first school in the 
grove. A few years later, he was drowned in trying to swim the Sangamon 
River with his compass tied on his head. It is said that he had been drinking, 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 199 

or he would not have made the attempt. A few months after the arrival 
of those last named, others came, among them Roland Grant and family, Benja- 
min Wilcox and Ward Benson. About the same time, a Mr. Pentecost came 
from Kentucky, bringing a family of four sons and three daughters. He 
settled near the present residence of Judge Marbold, near Greenview. Cavanis, 
for whom Cavanis Creek,, running near Greenview, was named, cam,e about this 
time. He also was from Kentucky. The next to find their way to this grove 
was a company from Deer Creek, Ohio ; it was composed of the Alkires and 
William Engle. No party of weary travelers ever entered a new country that 
was destined to exert a stronger influence on the future growth and prosperity 
of community than this little band. Leonard Alkire brought considerable 
means with him, and invested it largely in "claims," which he afterward 
entered. He purchased the claims of Meadows, Grant, Wilcox, and the 
Blanes. This was the beginning of a change among the early settlers of this 
grove. Hill, who was spoken of above, moved to St. Louis. John Jennison 
farmed a year or two in the grove, and then removed to Baker's Prairie, three 
miles southeast of Petersburg. Meadows moved to the lower end of the grove, 
and bought the claim of Pentecost. McNabb and Wilcox also moved to 
Baker's Prairie, where they took claims, which they entered as soon as the land 
came into market. There they reared families, and many of their descendants 
are still in that vicinity. Not long after the arrival of Alkire and Engle, Mat- 
thew Bracken came with a large family ; after him came Nicholas Propst ; then 
Wall and William Sweeney, Milt Reed, Thomas and William Caldwell. From 
this time the tide of immigration constantly grew deeper and wider, pouring in 
a host of earnest, industrious and enterprising men to develop this most highly 
favored body of country. 

While the settlement here was being made, of course other localities were 
not neglected. It is rather a remarkable fact, however, that no settlers were 
found on the prairie for several years, but each grove of timber contained 
a settlement, and was the nucleus of a community. ' Of the more important of 
these, we will speak farther in the proper place. It may be of interest to the 
reader to know that the first marriage on the east side of the river was John 
Jennison to Patsy McNabb ; the second was one Henman-to Rosina Blane ; and 
the third; William Engle to Melissa Alkire. The last-named couple were mar- 
ried by Harry Riggiri, J. P. 

The first death was an infant son o" Jacob Boyer named Henderson. The 
second was James Blane, and the third was Joseph Kinney, who was thrown 
from a horse. He was brought home but soon died. Some say that he was 
the second person who died in the grove, and the first aduh buried in the bury- 
ing-ground ; but Charles Montgomery, in a statement written some years before 
his death, says that James Blane was the second, and Kinney the third who 
died. Kinney was buried in Sugar Grove Cemetery, and an elm came up immedi- 
ately out of his grave, and it is now a large, wide-spreading tree ; and although 



200 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

its roots and stem have obliterated all signs of a grave, yet it is a verdant mon- 
ument to the memory of Joseph Kinney. 

The first schoolhouse was built in Sugar Grove in 1822, by Meadows, 
Boyer, Wilcox, McNabb and Grant. It was constructed of split logs, and was 
about sixteen feet square. This house was furnished on a par with all the 
schoolhouses in the early settling of the country. Covered with boards held in 
their places by " weight poles," the floor of " puncheons " made of split logs, 
the seats the half of a- log 10 or 12 feet long, with four pins set in with a large 
auger for legs, a log left out along one side for a window, beneath which a slab 
was laid on two large pins in a slanting position to serve as a writing-desk. 
The text-books were few in number, and the teacher made all the pens of goose- 
quills. The books used were the New Testament for a reader, with occasionally 
a copy of the old "English Reader," Pike's or Smiley's Arithmetic, but few of 
the pupils ever advanced farther than the Single or Double Rule of Three (i. e., 
single or double proportion), geography was seldom studied, and English 
grammar was totally unknown in the schools here for several years. Uncle 
Minter Graham, who has taught school longer than any other man in Central 
Illinois, perhaps, tells an amusing anecdote about teaching grammar in an early 
day here, and he vouches for the truth of the statement, as it came under his 
own personal knowledge. A certain teacher whose aspirations were consider- 
ably in advance of his acquirements, felt himself called upon to teach English 
grammar. He accordingly organized a class in that science, and very kindly 
assisted them in preparing the first lesson, which was the four general divisions 
of grammar; these he pronounced for them, with a gusto, as follows: Or- 
iho-graph-y, Et-y-mo-?o-gy, Swine-t&x and Pro-so-dy. The text-books used 
when grammar began to be taught in the schools, were Murray's and Kirk- 
ham's Grammars. The above books, with Webster's old Speller, or the Element- 
ary, and a "horn-book" a wooden paddle with the alphabet pasted on it for 
the littfe fellows, were the entire outfit of school-books. The schools at this 
time were all on the subscription plan, which is fully explained under the head 
of Education in this volume, and seldom were for a longer term than three 
months, and that in the middle of the winter. James McNabb, who, as the 
reader will remember, was drowned in the Sangamon River, was the first 
teacher in Sugar Grove ; he was followed by Daniel McCall, and soon by others. 
Perhaps, one Templeman was the third teacher in this settlement. The first 
preaching in Sugar Grove was in the cabin of Roland Grand, by one Hender- 
son, a preacher of the "New-Light " faith, as it was then termed. The New 
Lights and the followers of Alexander Campbell afterward united, forming what 
was at first denominated the Church of the Disciples, but afterward changed to 
the Church of Christ, sometimes called Campbellites. Of this a more extended 
account will be given under the head " Religious Denominations." 

When the settlement was first begun at Sugar Grove, and for some time 
after, the nearest physician was in Springfield, then a mere village. Dr. Allen 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 201 

of that city was the first practitioner of the healing art that was called to visit 
the community at the grove. Not a great while elapsed, however, till Dr. 
Winn settled near Indian Point, and began the practice of medicine. 

Having thus glanced hastily at the early history of Sugar Grove, we turn 
now to other localities, where settlements were made in an early day, as New 
Salem, two and one-half miles from Petersburg, up the river ; the vicinity of 
Indian Point; the Concord neighborhood, three miles north of Petersburg. 
The Indian Point settlement includes that of Lebanon and Athens, while that 
of New Salem is associated with that of Rock Creek. These, with Clary's and 
Sugar Groves, before mentioned, were the more important of the early centers 
of civilization ; indeed, all the others may be regarded as offshoots of these. 
About 1820, the settlement at Indian Point began. The first settler was Rob- 
ert White, who settled on the farm on which his son Franklin now lives, 
adjoining the ground on which Lebanon Cumberland Presbyterian Church now 
stands. With him came James Williams father of Col. John Williams and 
family, consisting of two sons and four daughters. Archibald Kincaid, Jacob 
Johnston and Dr. Charles Winn came about the same time, with those named 
above, and, soon after, John Moore also settled in this vicinity. William B. 
Short was also among the earliest settlers in this part of the county. These 
were all intelligent, earnest, enterprising people, and by their industry and 
economy laid the foundation of the wealth and development of that part of the 
county. The descendants of those named above make up the larger part of 
the population of Indian Creek neighborhood at the present time. Indeed, 
we are not surprised at this, when we reflect that these people held in high 
regard the Divine command, to "multiply and replenish the earth," as is 
proven from the fact that James B. Short ventured no less than five times into 
the bonds of matrimony. About 1820, Joseph Smith, from Kentucky, and his 
brother-in-law, William Holland, from Ohio, came and settled in 1 the south side 
of Indian Point timber. Matthew Rogers, of Otsego County, N. Y., came the 
same year and settled one mile northeast of the present site of Athens. From 
this time the stream of emigration grew deeper and wider, and the numbers 
were such that but little can be given of the order of their arrival. Having 
thus sketched these three centers of early, settlements, viz., Clary's Grove, 
Sugar Grove and Indian Point, we will now turn to the most important local- 
ity, so far as early settlement is concerned, in the county ; we refer to " New 
Salem." This was the first town or village laid out in the county. At a 
point some two and a half miles above Petersburg, the Sangamon River washes 
the foot of a high hill or bluff, whose precipitous sides and level summit were, 
at an early day, covered with a thrifty growth of forest trees. The country, 
back from the crest of the hill, is almost perfectly level for miles to the west. 
The timber continued back from the river in a dense forest, for the distance of 
half a mile. From this the prairie continued in unbroken sameness for many 
a mile. At a distance of perhaps three miles farther up the Sangamon, the 



202 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

little stream for it is hardly worthy the name of a creek of Rock Creek, 
mingles its waters with those of the "St. Gamo," as the Sangamon was some- 
times called by the early settlers. Rock Creek, rising in the western part of 
the county and flowing almost due east, enters the Sangamon at almost right 
angles. Its borders on either side were covered with a fine growth of tim- 
ber, making a body of, perhaps, a mile in average width, and five or six in 
length. The land on both north and south of this stream was neither flat nor 
broken, but gently undulating and of the richest arid most productive soil. 
Taken altogether, there is no more attractive or more productive section of 
country in Central Illinois than Rock Creek and New Salem. Just on the 
brow of the bluff, above described, in years long gone by, was situated the vil- 
lage of Salem. This locality, though not so at present, will in time become 
almost as historic as Mt. Vernon itself. Although Nature has not been so pro- 
fuse in the gorgeousness of the scenery here as in that -of the Old Dominion, 
nor is the quiet Sangamon to be compared with the majestic Potomac, yet, in 
many respects, Salem is as sacred to the lover of human liberty as Mt. Ver- 
non in all her historic glory. Many a visitor seeks the spot where President 
Abraham Lincoln spent the years of his early manhood ; where he studied the 
law, wrestled, foot-raced, romped and sported with the young men of his age, 
and where those principles were imbibed and matured, which, in after years, 
made him the idol of a great mass of the American\ people, and wrote his name 
in tablets more enduring than granite, brass or bronze but they are ever dis- 
appointed at finding no vestige of the village of Salem. At the foot of the 
bluff, just at the brink of the water, stands an old water-mill, a broken dam 
stretches across the stream, and through its countless chinks and crevices the 
water murmurs, making sad music to the seeming desolation, which seems to 
reign all around, for there is not a building of any kind, save the old mill, 
nearer than a fourth of a mile to the old town site. Settlements had been 
made in this vicinity several years before the laying-out of Salem. Green had 
settled southwest of there, Potter, Jones, Armstrong and others settling near 
there, with Lloyd and others farther up the Rock Creek timber. Somewhere 
about 1824 to 1826, John Cameron and James Rutledge erected a rude and primi- 
tive mill near the site, perhaps on the very spot, of the present mill. Two or 
three log pens were built and filled with stone to prevent their being washed 
away by high waters ; upon these was erected a platform, and a shaft attached 
to a rude breast-wheel gave motion to a small pair of "home-made" buhrs on 
the platform. Nothwithstanding the extreme simplicity of this mill, it was a 
"big thing" in that early day, for mills were so scarce, as we shall see in 
another place, that people came from a distance of fifty and even one hundred 
miles in every direction, to have their grain ground in this mill. Such was 
the patronage given to this enterprise, that the proprietors determined to lay 
out a town adjoining the mill property. Accordingly the surveyor, Reuben 
Harrison, was employed, and, on the 13th day of October, 1820, the town of 



HISTORY OF MENARU COUNTY. 203 

Salem was duly and legally laid out. The first improvements in the town 
were made by the proprietors, John Cameron and James Rutledge. Each of 
those gentlemen at once began to improve a lot by erecting a log cabin. 

We may here remark that the town was destined to a short life, for in less 
than a decade it had run its course ; but the cabin of John Cameron long 
remained as a monument to the memory of Salem. Until a few months ago r 
it stood in desolate solitude, but lately it has fallen down and has been removed,, 
and there is nothing now to mark the locality of this first town in the limits of 
Menard County, save the scattered debris, barely indicating that buildings of 
some character once stood there. 

The third building erected was a store-room, which, when completed, was 
occupied by Samuel Hill and John McNamar. These were probably the first 
merchants in the county, except Harry Riggin and A. A. Rankin, of Athens. 

At the time that Salem was laid out, there had never been a post office in 
the limits of what is now Menard County, the people getting what little mail 
matter they received from Springfield, then a mere village. A post office was 
established at Salem, and Col. Rogers was appointed the first Postmaster. His 
duties, however, were not very arduous, as newspapers were then scarcely 
known in the West, or in the East, for that matter, and but few persons were 
ever in receipt of a letter. The youth of to-day can scarcely imagine how 
people lived in those days. To illustrate this postal system, it may be stated 
that, while Illinois County was under the government of Virginia, Col. 
John Todd was appointed Lieutenant Commandant of said county, with instruc- 
tions to report to Gov. Patrick Henry, of Virginia, each month, and, although 
Todd lived in Fayette County, Ky., yet his reports were often one month in 
reaching Gov. Henry. 

Hill and McNamar were followed in the mercantile business by one George 
Warburton, who soon became addicted to hard drink, and ended a wretched 
existence by committing suicide by throwing himself into the Sangamon River. 
Warburton was a shrewd business man, possessing a fine education, and of a 
genial, friendly turn, so much so that he had but one enemy, and that was 
alcohel. 

Warburton was succeeded in the store by two brothers from Virginia, by 
the name of Chrisman, who remained a short time, and followed the "star of 
empire," going Westward. 

About this time, W. G. Greene, from Kentucky, and Dr. John Allen and 
brother, from the Green Mountain State, came to Salem. Dr. Allen was a 
thorough Christian gentleman, and stood very high in the medical profession. 
It was through the influence of Dr. Allen that the first Sunday school and 
first temperance society were formed. The meetings of both these were held 
in a log cabin south of Salem, across the ravine that ran just at the south 
limit of the village. Dr. Allen died in Petersburg some seventeen to twenty 
years ago, and his brothers, after remaining here a number of years, removed 



204 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

to Minnesota, and at last accounts were in the lumber regions, running facto- 
ries, stores, banks and mills, giving employment to three or four hundred men. 
Dr. Duncan came some time after Dr. Allen, and after a few years removed to 
Warsaw, 111., where he built up a flourishing practice. 

In the summer or early fall of 1831, Abraham Lincoln came to Salem, on 
his return from a trip with a flat-boat to New Orleans. This was his first visit 
directly to the village, although he had passed down the Sangamon River early 
in the preceding spring. And here we cannot refrain from relating an anedote 
often repeated by the old citizens, illustrative of the peculiarities of this eccen- 
tric though celebrated statesman. The story is told of Lincoln's boring a hole 
in the bottom of a sunken flat-boat, in order to set her afloat by letting the 
water run out of the hole, and it is literally true. It happened as follows : 
Before Mr. Lincoln's father left Indiana for Macon Co., 111., the youthful Abraham 
had made a successful flat-boat trip to New Orleans, via the Wabash, Ohio and 
Mississippi Rivers. Some time after their settlement near the Sangamon, in 
Macon County, a gentleman came to the younger Lincoln, desiring him to 
assist in running a flat-boat to New Orleans, the gentleman having heard of 
Mr. Lincoln's success in a former trip. A bargain was soon made, and soon 
the boat was partially loaded with salt pork in barrels, and a small number of 
live hogs, the supercargo intending to complete the burden by the purchase of 
more live hogs on their way. All went well and " merry as a marriage bell " 
till the craft reached the dam erected across the river at Salem, by Cameron & 
Rutlege. Here they were doomed to trouble, for, coming to the dam with speed 
accelerated by the draw of the fall to such a degree that the boat, striking prow 
first, ran far enough upon the dam to extend the prow several feet over. This, of 
course, elevated the forward part of the boat, and the result was, the water came 
over the stern till that part of the boat settled to the bottom. In this dilemma, 
the owner of the flat proposed to get the freight ashore as best they could, and 
abandon the boat. Not so with Lincoln. A canoe was secured and the freight 
principally removed to a place of safety. Lincoln then said that he would get 
an auger and bore a hole in the bottom of the boat and thus set her afloat. 
Some smiled incredulously, some laughed outright, while all thought it the act of 
a dolt. Nevertheless, an auger was procured, a hole was bored in the bottom of 
the boat near the bow where it projected over the dam. The bow was then 
lowered, when, of course, the water in the stern ran to the front, and. as the 
bow extended over the dam, it ran out, and, in a very short time a pin being 
driven into the hole the boat was again afloat. By a little care, the " flat'' 
was gotten safely over the dam, reloaded, and they pursued their course down 
the river. It was on this trip, some four or five miles below the present site of 
Petersburg, that, they having bought a lot of hogs, which refused to go on the 
boat, Mr. Lincoln conceived the novel idea of sewing up their eyes. A needle 
and thread was procured, and the eyes of the stubborn porkers duly stitched up, 
when, being unable to see, they quietly and calmly marched on the boat, when 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 207 

the stitches were cut, and the swine restored to sight. Having completed the 
cargo, they reached their destination without accident, and Mr. Offutt, having 
purchased a stock of goods, he determined to ship them to Beardstown, and 
thence remove them by wagon to Salem, where he intended to open a store. 
He also engaged the young boatman, Lincoln, to serve him in the capacity of 
clerk in the store. It was on the return from this trip that Abraham Lincoln 
made his first appearance on the streets of the village of " New Salem." The 
writer is aware that it is claimed by some that Lincoln had resided in Salem 
prior to this visit to New Orleans ; but after a careful examination of all the 
testimony, he is fully convinced that this visit, in autumn, 1831, was Lincoln's 
first residence in Salem, and, in fact, his first knowledge of it, except that he 
passed down the river early in the preceding spring. 

The goods having come, Lincoln was soon duly established in the Salem 
store as clerk. It may not be amiss, in this connection, to state that the charge 
has often been made that Lincoln "kept a saloon" while in Salem. Now, 
while the writer was never a political admirer of Mr. Lincoln, yet truth and 
justice demand that this matter be stated correctly ; and, after diligent search 
and inquiry, he is obliged to state it is as his deliberate conviction that this was, 
indeed, a store in which dry goods and groceries were kept. It is a truth, 
however, that in that early day, perhaps nearly all the stores kept liquor to 
sell by the pint, quart and gallon. In the joint discussion between Lincoln 
and Douglas, in 1858, Mr. Douglas sneeringly spoke of Lincoln having 
engaged in " keeping a grocery." In reply, Lincoln said Mr. D. was " wofully 
at fault," for he had " never kept a grocery, anywhere in the world." 

Offutt's mercantile business soon increased to that extent, that he found it 
necessary to engage another clerk ; William G. Greene, now one of the 
wealthiest farmers of Menard County, was engaged for this position. Here 
Lincoln and Greene formed a friendship that lasted long as life. 

In the fall of 1831, Mr. Lincoln was appointed Postmaster at Salem, which 
position he held several years. 

In the summer of 1832, the Black Hawk war began, and, Gov. Reynolds 
issuing a call for volunteers, a company of 100 men was soon raised in the 
section of country around Salem. Mr. Lincoln went in as a private soldier, 
but, soon after the company was organized, it became necessary to elect a cap- 
tain. Mr. Lincoln and one Kirkpatrick were the aspirants, the former being 
chosen by a large majority. The company reported at once at Beardstown, 
whence they marched to Oquawka. The soldiers soon became dissatisfied, 
as they had no opportunity to engage the Indians ; and, in some regiments, the 
dissatisfaction ran so high, that two or three times it threatened to break out in 
open mutiny. At the end of the time for which Lincoln's company had 
enlisted, they were honorably discharged and returned to their homes. Mr. 
Lincoln re-enlisted in another command and remained till the total defeat of 

Black Hawk and the ratification of peace. Mr. L. then returned to Salem, 

B 



208 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

where he continued the study of the law in the idle moments snatched between 
waiting upon customers in the store. This study had been begun soon after his 
first settlement in Salem, and, though his opportunities were of the very poorest, 
yet, during his stay in Salem, he laid the deep and wide foundation of his 
future brilliant career in the legal profession. Mr. Lincoln was doubtless born 
to be a leader. He was possessed of all those peculiar gifts and traits which 
caused him to be looked up to for counsel and direction, even when a mere 
youth. During his stay at Salem, especially the first few years of.it, there was 
a kind of feud or rivalry between the " Clary's Grove boys " and the " River 
timber boys." Perhaps, in the entire State there was not a harder set to be 
found than those Clary's Grove lads, for there was no rowdyism or revelry in a 
circuit of twenty miles that they were not in some way connected with. Occa- 
sionally they would repair in force to Salem to drink their grog and settle old 
scores. On such occasions, in the early stage of their revels that which may 
be termed the social and friendly stage they talked, laughed, told yarns, 
cracked jokes, wrestled and ran foot-races ; during this stage, Lincoln was always 
umpire, arbiter and judge, all having the most implicit confidence in his honor 
and ability. During the second, or combative stage, when the fiery juice of the 
grain or fruit, had worked its way into their noddles, and made each one con- 
sider himself a hero, the war began in earnest. And then such scenes of fisti- 
cuff and ground tussle were scarcely ever seen. Lincoln was still arbiter, 
and his decision was the end of all dispute. When the third or stupid stage 
came on, the boys from the Grove often with battered pates and depleted 
pockets, wended their sullen way back to the timber, to bind up their bruises 
and condole with one another over the cruel fate that ever awaited them at 
Salem. Lincoln soon became Surveyor, and in the discharge of the duties of 
his office, he visited every part of the county, for by him the land of the entire 
county was surveyed. Almost his last work as Surveyor was laying out the 
present town of Petersburg. 

Some time near the time of the Black Hawk war, Mr. Lincoln, for the 
first time, was pierced with the cruel darts of the little blind god Cupid. The 
"beautiful Anna Rutledge," as she was called, was then just ripening into 
lovely and perfect womanhood, and he felt the force, as Lytton says, of " the. 
revolution that turns us all topsy-turvy the revolution of love," for 

" Love, like death, 

Levels all ranks, and lays the shepherd's crook 
Beside the scepter." 

From the few old settlers who could remember these scenes distinctly, we 
have gleaned some facts concerning this event in the life of Mr. Lincoln an 
event which affected his whole after-life. Anna Rutledge was not a beauty in 
the modern sense of the word ; for, brought up in this rural district, and in 
total ignorance of the conventional follies of fashionable life ; accustomed from 
early childhood to out-door exercise, and the rough, wild pastimes of the day 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 209 

in which she lived she was stamped with a beauty entirely free from art or 
human skill a beauty all the result of Nature's handiwork. That the young 
clerk "was captivated is not surprising. It is not our purpose to invade these 
hallowed precincts by detailing their many strolls along the margin of the river, 
or over the rugged bluffs in the vicinity of Salem. Suffice it to say that his 
affection was fully reciprocated, and the two were doubtless pledged in the 
indissoluble bonds of love. But in 1835, disease laid its cruel hand upon the 
young girl, and, in spite of the love of friends, and the skill of the ablest 
physicians, on the 25th of August, 1835, death came to her relief, and, as Mr. 
Herndon expresses it, " The heart of Lincoln was buried in the coffin of Anna 
Rutlege. ' Be this literally true or not, one thing is sure, from that time 
a dark shadow seemed to be cast over him, from which he never fully 
emerged. It is said by those having the means of knowing, that ever after 
this, whenever an opportunity offered, Lincoln would wander alone to the little 
hillock raised above her ashes, and sit and ponder in sadness, doubtless living 
over in memory the happy hours spent at Salem. Notwithstanding his tall, 
ungainly form, and the readiness of his humor, there was hid in his breast a 
heart as tender and full of sympathy as a woman's a heart touched by every 
tale of sorrow, and full to overflowing with the milk of human kindness. 

Before the close of the first decade after Salem was laid out, the citizens of 
the village were all scattered and gone. John McNamar settled four miles 
north of Petersburg, in Sand Ridge Precinct, where he reared a respectable 
family. He was respected in the community where he lived. He died on the 
old homestead, on the 22d of February, 1879, at the ripe age of seventy-eight 
years. Mr. Hill, partner of Mr. McNamar, was the last to leave Salem ; he 
afterward became a prominent merchant and manufacturer in Petersburg. Had 
we space, we would be glad to detail the entire history of this little town, giving 
an account of each citizen. We can, however, mention in passing a few more 
characters, as Jonathan Dunn, the millwright ; Henry Onstott, cooper ; Edmund 
Grier, Justice of the Peace and school-teacher ; Minter Graham, who still lin- 
gers on these "mortal shores," living at present in Petersburg, the man who, 
perhaps, has taught school a greater number of months than any other man in 
Illinois. He has taught constantly over fifty years, having taught over one 
hundred terms of from three to nine months in length. When Lincoln first 
came to Salem, Mr. Graham gave him instructions in English grammar, when 
Mr. L. had leisure from his duties in the store. " Uncle Minter," as he is 
familiarly known, taught the first school in Salem. 

We would mention John Herndon, who was for awhile a merchant there, 
and who accidentally killed his wife while taking a loaded gun from the loft of 
his dwelling; John H. Kelso, tavern-keeper; Martin Waddel, Jiatter ; William 
Berry, Reuben Radford, Allen Richardson, and several others whose names 
have escaped the memory of the few remaining citizens who knew the village 
in the days of its prosperity. 



210 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

Of the company of Capt. Lincoln in the Black Hawk war, but few still 
survive. We can only learn of a few individuals who are still living here or 
elsewhere. Of these are Hon. W. G. Greene, David Pantier, Samuel Tibbs, 
Travis Elmore, Sr., and Royal Clary, the latter recently deceased. 

Speaking of the Black Hawk troubles, brings to mind an anecdote so 
characteristic of Lincoln, that we beg the reader's indulgence while we relate it. 
In 1848, while Mr. Lincoln was in Congress, the Democrats were striving hard 
to make a military hero of Hon. Lewis Cass, of Michigan, in order to increase 
his chances for the Presidency of the United States, and Mr. Lincoln, in a 
speech in Congress, thus playfully referred to the fact : 

By the way, Mr. Speaker, did you know / am a military hero ? Yes, sir, in the days of 
the Black Hawk war I fought, bled and came away. Speaking of Gen. Cass's career reminds 
me of my own. I was not at Stillman's defeat, but I was about as near it as Cass was to Hull's 
surrender, and, like him, I saw the place very soon afterward. It is quite certain I did not 
break my sword, for I had none to break, but I bent a musket pretty badly on one occasion. If 
Cass broke his sword, the idea is, he did it in desperation ; but I bent the musket by accident. 
If Gen. Cass went in advance of me in picking whortleberries, I guess I surpassed him in 
charges upon the wild onions. If he saw any live, fighting Indians, it was more than I did, but 
I had a good many bloody struggles with the mosquitoes ; and, although I never fainted from 
loss of blood, I can truly say I was often very hungry. 

Mr. Speaker, if I should ever conclude to doff whatever our Democratic friends may sup- 
pose there is of black-cockade Federalism about me, and thereupon they should take me up as 
their candidate for the Presidency, I protest they shall not make fun of me as they have of Gen. 
Cass, by attempting to write me into a military hero. 

. The reader will pardon this rather lengthy account of the settlement and 
subsequent history of Salem, but, as Lincoln's early history is so interwoven 
with this community, it seems that loyalty to truth demands this account. And, 
while we are not giving a history of " Honest Old Abe," and while the writer 
was never a political admirer of him, yet, history demands the statement of a 
few other facts regarding him. 

In 1834, when he was elected to the Legislature, he walked to the seat of 
government, and one suit of home-spun jeans was his outfit for the entire session. 
At present, it takes three or four " Saratogas " to carry the wardrobe of the 
average legislator. An appropriation is now made of $50 per member, to pay 
for stationery ; but, at the session of the Legislature of Illinois, in 1817-18, a 
committee was appointed to contract for stationery for the members during the 
session. The committee reported that they had purchased the necessary 
amount at a total cost of $13.50 ! 

Lincoln was popular with all classes. At one time, his compass and chain 
were sold for debts, and were bought by Mr. James Short, who at once handed 
them over to Mr. Lincoln, who gladly accepted them, remarking, " I'll do as 
much for you some day." Firm and true to his word, after he became President 
of the United States, he did repay it, by tendering Mr. Short an appointment 
to a lucrative office. 

As an illustration of the popularity of Lincoln, it may be stated that when 
Clay and Jackson ran for the Presidency, Mr. Lincoln was of course a Clay man, 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 211 

being a life-long Whig. That year his friends brought him out for the Legis- 
lature. The whole Whig ticket was of course defeated, but in his own precinct, 
out of 284 votes polled, he received 277. 

Such is a brief account of the settlement of Salem, rendered historic by 
being the home of Abraham Lincoln. 

The next center of the early settlements in the limits of the county, aside 
from those we have named, is Concord, four miles north of Petersburg. An 
account of the early settlers in that community will be found given in the his- 
tory of Sand Ridge Precinct. The early settlements were all made in the tim- 
ber, and it was many yoars before the prairies were cultivated to any extent, 
and settlements were not made on the larger prairies till a comparatively recent 
date. It is an amusing fact that the early settlers, instead of opening their 
farms in the prairies, ready cleared by the hand of nature, and ready for the 
plow, would " squat " in the heart of the most dense forest, and by the most 
tedious and laborious process would "grub out " a farm. The first settlers in 
Clary's Grove opened fields of from twelve to thirty acres in this way, cutting 
down and burning up the most valuable timber in large amounts. The result 
of this was to settle up the timber along the streams, and the groves, long before 
the country was generally covered with improvements. The reader will thus 
understand us, when we speak of the nuclei of early settlements. Clary's 
Grove, Rock Creek and the river timber on the west side of the river, and 
Sugar Grove, Indian Point, Athens and the river timber on the east, were thus 
the localities where the first settlements were made. Gradually, the settlements 
extended farther anfl farther into the prairies, till at present all the land of the 
county is under fence, and nearly all in cultivation. 

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS. 

Of the history of Menard County, as Associated with that of the Indian 
tribes, but little can be said. 

On the highest bluff along the Sangamoh River, there are to be seen, to the 
present time, remains of the works of that strange people called the " Mound 
Builders." Many of these mounds have been opened, but no relics of any 
value have been found. Stone axes, arrow-heads and spear-points of flint have 
been picked up on the surface, and exhumed from below the surface of the 
ground, some having been found as deep as twelve feet below the top of the 
ground. The present writer opened a number of mounds along the crest of 
the bluffs of the Sangamon. In one of these was found, at a depth of thirty 
inches below the surface, a full set of human teeth embedded in the clay. Noth- 
of them remained save the portion above the gums, covered with enamel. The 
entire thirty-two were present, with no mark of decay in any of them. They 
were as white as those in any living subject, and the upper and lower sets were 
closed together as in the closed mouth of a living being. These were setting 
in the pure unmixed clay, and in all the surrounding earth not a sign was 



212 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

visible of the remains of decayed bones or anything save pure clay. The teeth 
slacked like lime, turning to a fine white powder in a few minutes after being 
brought to the air. The mound in which these were found, was nearly exactly 
round, about twelve feet in diameter, and about three and a half feet above the 
natural level. Some three hundred feet from this, another of almost exactly 
the same size and form of this was opened. This contained two human skele- 
tons, lying about three feet below the surface. The heads were very near the 
center of the mound, lying within about ten inches of each other, the body of 
one lying nearly east and west, the other extending from northeast to south- 
west. These were thought to be the bones of a male and a female. Some 
three hundred yards from these, was another mound, somewhat smaller in 
diameter than the others, but a foot or more higher. Carefully removing the 
top of the mound, it was found that about two and a half feet below the top 
was a basin about the proportion of a breakfast plate, burned to the hardness 
of an ordinary brick. It appeared that a small mound, perhaps two feet high 
and six feet across the top, had first been raised, and a basin, six feet across 
and ten inches lower in the middle than at the outer edge, had been formed, 
and a fire built in this till the clay was burned hard to the depth of two inches. 
In this basin, mingled with charcoal and ashes, were the bones of a man. The 
smaller bones were all burned to a snowy whiteness, while the larger ones were 
charred on top and the under surface was entirely unaffected by the fire, indi- 
cating that the fire had been built on the top of the body, thus leaving the 
under surface of the bones unmarked by fire. 

Further down the river a great number of Indian graves are found, in 
almost all of which specimens of pottery are found in connection with the 
bones. 

When the first settlements were made in the limits of the county, the 
Indians had nearly all been removed ; a few were still in the timber on Indian 
Creek, in the neighborhood of Indian Point ; and two old men, with ten or a 
dozen of their relatives, remained for some time. These were Shick-shack and 
Shambolee. They lived a year or two on the hill just south of the late resi- 
dence of Judge Robert Clary ; they then removed to a high hill within a mile of 
the present town of Chandlersville. Here Shick-shack died and was buried, 
and the hill is still called Shick-shack's Hill. After his death, the rest of the 
little band left the haunts of the pale-face and were heard of no more. 

There being no trouble with the Indians at the time of the settlements 
here, and there being various forts near the frontiers, as Fort Clark, at Peoria, 
and others, there was never any need of forts or block houses in this section of 
the State. At one time, while the Indian town was in Elkhart Grove, a band 
of warriors made an incursion on the settlements farther south, and carried oft 
a young lady prisoner. The first day, she was tied fast on the pony that car- 
ried her, but she had presence of mind enough to tear off bits of her clothing 
which she dropped at intervals when not watched by her captors, as marks by 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 213 

which her friends might know she was still alive, and also to serve as guides 
for her pursuers. The band, with their captive, crossed the Sangamon River 
almost east of where Springfield now stands. The father of the captive, with 
a few friends, was in rapid pursuit, and came up with them somewhere near 
where Williamsville is located. At the first fire, the girl having clandestinely 
loosed the thongs that bound her to the pony, leaped off and ran toward her 
rescuers. An Indian gave chase, and, seeing his prisoner about to escape, 
hurled his tomahawk at her, striking her in the small of the back, and fasten- 
ing the blade firmly in the spinal column. She fell helpless in the prairie, 
but, after a brief skirmish, the Indians fled, and the young lady was restored to 
her friends ; but it was long before she recovered from the wound of the 
Indian's missile. Some aver J;hat this took place after the first settlements had 
been made in this county ; but others, equally entitled to credit, with equal 
confidence affirm that it was not. The reader interested in the Indian history 
of Illinois is referred, for further information, to the " History of the North- 
west " in the former part of this volume. 

EARLY MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 

The young men and women of the present time have no conception of the 
mode of life among the early settlers of this country from forty to sixty years 
ago. In fact, one can hardly conceive how such changes could have taken 
place in so short a period of time. In nothing are the habits and manners of 
the people in any respect similar to those 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. 

In a former part of this article, we spoke of the " three-faced camps " in 
which some of the early settlers lived, and it may be truthfully said that the 
dwellings of the early pioneers, for a number of years, were but slightly in 
advance of these camps. The house was, in almost every case, built of logs, 
the cracks filled with pieces of wood called " chinks," and then daubed over 
with mortar made of clay. If the floor was anything more than the earth 
tramped hard and smooth, it was made of "puncheons," that is, logs split open 
and the split side turned upward, and the spaces between the uneven edges of 
these were often of such dimensions that the younger inmates were compelled 
to use care to keep from stepping their feet through these crevices. The roof 
was made by drawing in the top after the manner of a boy's quail-trap, and 
laying on these "clapboards," as they were called by the Western people, but 
known among Yankees as "shakes." These being three or four feet in 
length, were held in place by logs laid on them, instead of nails. These were 
called weight-poles. For a fire-place, the logs were cut out of one wall of the 
room, for a space of five or six feet, and three sides were built up of logs, 
making an offset in the wall. This was lined with dirt, or stone if it could be 






214 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

had. The flue or upper part of the chimney was built of small sticks, plastered 
over with mud, mixed with grass or straw to hold it together. This was called 
a " cat-and-clay " chimney. The door was also an aperture made by cutting out 
the logs in one side of the room ; and the shutter was composed of a rude frame r 
with clapboards nailed or pinned across. The hinges were also of wood, while 
the fastening consisted of a wooden latch catching on a hook of the same mate- 
rial. To enable the occupants to open the door from the outside, a buckskin 
string was tied to the latch-bar, and passed through a small hole two or three 
inches above, so that when the string was pulled from the outside it lifted the 
latch out of the hook, and the door opened without further trouble. At night, 
or in time of danger, when they wished to lock the door, all that was necessary 
was to draw the string in through the hole, and all was safe. This is thus 
minutely described in order that the young people may understand the saying 
so common among the old people, when speaking of their hospitality, that " the 
latch-string hangs out." The furniture in the house was on a par with the 
house. Illustrative of this matter of buildings, I will state a fact that may be 
surprising to others beside the young. The house in which George Spears, Sr., 
lives, in Clary's Grove, was, perhaps, the first brick house in the county. The 
bricks were made in the fall of 1829, the mud being tramped by oxen. In the 
spring of 1830, the house was begun. All the lumber was sawed by hand with 
a whip-saw, that is, a pit was dug, over which the log was placed, and one man 
standing in the pit worked one end of the saw, while the other was handled by 
another on a frame above. In this way all the flooring, of blue ash. and all 
the finishing lumber, of black walnut, and the sheeting for the roof, was sawed. 
This must have been an immense job, as the house is one of the largest farm- 
houses in the county. Any one examining this building at the present time 
would not suppose it to have been built more than ten or twelve years, for it 
seems as perfect as when first built. During the erection of this house, Mr. 
John Clary, the first settler in the grove, being then between forty-five and fifty 
years of age, came to Mr. Spears and, after watching the workmen for awhile 
very earnestly, remarked that that was the first brick house he had ever seen. 
Mr. Spears was obliged to send to St. Louis for window-glass, for even at that 
comparatively late day it could not be procured nearer. This was occasioned 
by the fact that glass windows were almost entirely unknown, the ordinary 
window being an unclosed crack between two logs, over which a greasy paper 
was fastened in the winter. 

The articles used in the culinary department were as few and simple as can 
be imagined. A " flat-oven " or skillet, a frying-pan, an iron pot or kettle, 
with, occasionally, a coffee-pot, completed the outfit of the best furnished kitchen. 
Stoves were then entirely unknown, hence all the cooking was done on the fire- 
place. The oven was set on a bed of glowing coals, and the frugal housewife, 
taking as much stiff dough of Indian meal as she could conveniently hold in 
both hands, and, deftly tossing from hand to hand to mold it into the desired 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 215 

shape, tossed it into the oven, patting it with her hand to the desired thickness. 
About three of these "dodgers" would fill the oven, when the ready heated lid 
was placed on the oven, and all was covered with burning coals. As soon as 
the bread was done, it was taken out upon a tin platter and set on the hearth 
near the fire to keep warm. Generally, the impress of the fingers of the cook 
were plainly visible in each "dodger." In the oven from which the bread was 
taken, the ham or venison was then fried, and often, in the fall and winter, the 
grease tried out of the meat when fried was allowed to remain, and in it the 
"lye-hominy," made also of Indian corn, was seasoned for the meal. Thus 
the repast was prepared, and sweeter bread or more savory meats were never 
eaten than was prepared on those rude fire-places. As to sweetmeats and con- 
fections, they were things entirely unknown. Sugar was unknown save in sec- 
tions of country where sugar-maple abounded ; but nearly all of the early 
settlers had an abundance of the finest honey in their cabins the year round ; 
for wild honey-bees were found in great numbers wherever there was timber. 
Sometimes wild crabs, wild grapes, and berries of various kinds were preserved 
in honey ; but these were only opened on the most important occasions. For 
many years after the settlements were commenced in this section, wheat bread 
was entirely unknown. This fact will demand a separate paragraph on 

MILLS AND MILLING. 

In a new country, the preparation of grain for making bread is a matter of 
no slight importance ; for while grain may be produced from the soil as easily 
in a new country as in an old one, it is not so easy to have the grain 
converted into meal. The first settlers here had a very primitive method of 
grinding corn, but the process was at once slow and toilsome. As said above, 
nearly or quite all of the first emigrants settled in the timber. A large stump was 
selected at a convenient point ; the top was dug or burned out into the form of 
a mortar ; a large, heavy block of hard wood, weighing from fifty to two hun- 
dred pounds, was shaped at one end so as to fit into this mortar. A long, 
springy pole was then placed in such a position that when the block named 
above was hung to the end of the pole, it would hang just over the mortar ; 
the mill was now ready for use. A small amount of corn was placed in the 
mortar, and taking hold of the pestle, it was worked up and down, and by its 
weight the corn was crushed ; this was taken out and more put in, and the 
finest being separated from the coarse, the last was placed again in the mortar to 
be rebeaten, and the fine used for bread. But this process was so slow, that in 
a large family, the pestle must go almost constantly, or some of the family 
would be "placed on short rations." This kind of a mill was used the first 
three years after the settlement was begun in Sugar Grove. The first milling 
done from Sugar Grove, was done by John Jennison and James Meadows. 
These men went in a canoe down the Sangamon to the Illinois River, thence 
by the Mississippi to Alton. They were gone twenty-one days, bringing back 



216 HISTORY OF MEN'ARD COUNTY. 

a canoe-load of breadstuff with them. Soon after this, Mr. Meadows built a 
"band-mill " in the grove, and, soon after this, a similar structure was put up at 
Salem, detailed accounts of which will be found in the history of the respective 
precincts. The reader will bear in mind that these mills antedated, by several 
years, the water-mill of Cameron and Rutledge. at Salem, which, at the time, 
was looked upon as almost a wonder of mechanical invention. Those band- 
mills, or horse-mills, though much better than the sweep and pestle, were sorry 
affairs at best. Like the rule made among the barbers at the present time, it 
was then a rule or custom that those who came first should be served first, and 
this custom was most rigidly adhered to. Persons would take a "grist " of one or 
two bushels of corn to the mill, and they must stay till it was ground. Reli- 
able men at Tallula, stated to the writer that they came from there to Peters- 
burg only eight miles in the days of the old band-mill, using their utmost 
diligence, it was midnight of the ninth day before they returned with their 
grinding. How strangely this must sound to the ears of "Young America." 
It was several years before there were any mills in this county provided with 
bolts, etc., for the grinding and bolting of wheat, so that those comparatively 
young can remember when wheat bread was a great rarity, and the little ones 
rejoiced to know the Sabbath was approaching, for they would get "cake" for 
breakfast Sunday morning. 

CLOTHING. 

Among the early pioneers, everything was plain, simple and in conformity 
with the strictest economy. This was not only true of their dwellings, furni- 
ture and provisions, but also of their clothing. In a very early day, the men 
usually wore pants and hunting-shirts of buckskin, and caps of coon or fox 
skin, while both sexes clothed their feet in moccasins. Cotton goods were then 
extremely hard to get, because, in the first place, of the distance such goods 
were to be conveyed by private means, and, secondly, because the manufacture 
in this country was very limited, the greater part being manufactured in Europe. 
As a consequence, the pioneers of the West found this one of the hardest 
demands to meet. Many were the expedients devised by them, especially by 
the frugal and economical dames ; for, ever since the wonderful expedient of 
preparing an entire wardrobe from fig-leaves, devised quite a number of years 
in the past, woman has been very gifted in laying plans and adopting expedi- 
ents in the matter of clothing. But, unfortunately for her skill and industry, 
the country afforded nothing, the first few years of its occupancy, that could be 
turned to any account in this direction. If cotton had been planted on their first 
arrival, it would have amounted to but little, because neither the soil nor climate 
were favorable to its growth, and the seasons were so short that it could hardly 
be planted early enough to mature in quantities sufficient to justify its cultiva- 
tion. It was almost useless, in an early day, to take sheep into the frontier 
settlements, on account of the vast numbers of prairie and black and gray 
wolves, which would destroy an entire flock in a single night. Hence the 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 217 

people had no choice save that between adopting expedients and appearing in 
nature's light and airy garb." So, after the first year or two, the people 
began to sow crops of flax or hemp, and this the women spun and wove by 
hand into a coarse but substantial and pleasant linen. Of this, underwear was 
made, dresses for the ladies, towels, table-cloths, etc. But. you may inquire, 
what did they do till a crop of this could be raised, rotted and made into cloth. 
In reply it may be stated that the clothing taken with them to the new country 
wa- made to do an immense service. But even wild nature was often appealed 
to for aid. In an early day, vast fields of wild nettles grew here, often stand- 
ing on the ground thicker than a field of wheat, and not unfrequently attaining 
a height of three and four feet. This produced a most excellent lint, that was 
susceptible both of being woven and bleached. Thousands of yards of linen 
were made from these nettles by the pioneer settlers in Illinois. The year after 
James Meadows settled in Sugar Grove, his wife spun and wove no less than 
thirty yards of this nettle linen. It was strong, serviceable, and bleached to 
almost a snowy whiteness. 

Even after flax was raised in sufficient quantities, and sheep had been 
introduced in considerable numbers, still it was an arduous task to spin and 
weave the cloth for the entire wearing apparel of a family. Had the fashions 
prevailed then that have in a later day, the women would have given up 
in despair. But, instead of eight or ten widths of cloth being put in a dress 
skirt in order to cover a balloon-frame of crinoline, two or three widths were 
considered amply sufficient for the fullest dress. On a certain occasion, under 
the old "blue laws " in Connecticut, a young lady was taken before the magis- 
trate, charged with having leaped over a little brook on her way to church on 
Sabbath ; and this was an offense for which she was liable to pay a severe fine. 
The mother of the young lady came into court and made oath that the skirts of 
the prisoner's dress were so narrow that she was obliged to leap the brook, or step 
into the water. Upon this testimony she was released. Doubtless there was as 
great economy practiced by our ancestors as by the staid old Puritans in godly 
Connecticut ; but it was more necessity than piety that dictated the limited 
amount of material in their clothing. Our modern young gentlemen, who have 
dressed in the very best ever since they could remember, would be surprised at 
the scanty outfit of the boys of that time. The summer wear of the boys up to 
ten and twelve years of age was simple and very free from any effort at display, 
as it consisted of but one article, that being a long, coarse overshirt. With this 
indispensable article they explored the forests, traversed the prairies, thought 
about the girls, and built as many castles in the air as the boys of more favored 
times. In winter, they were supplied with buck-skin or tow pants, moccasins 
or raw hide shoes, and coats of jeans after sheep began to be raised among the 
settlers. In winter, when the deer-skin pantaloons had, by any accident, become 
wet, and dried again, it is affirmed that they could be heard to rattle a distance 
of forty yards as the wearer walked in them. This scarcity of clothing 



218 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

continued to be felt for at least two decades, or even more. In summer, nearly all 
persons, both male and female, went barefoot ; and it was nothing uncommon to 
see young ladies on their way to church on foot, carrying their shoes in their 
hands till near the place of worship, when, carefully brushing the dust from 
their feet, the shoes and stockings were donned, and they mingled with the 
throng. This continued to be common for nearly twenty years. After sheep 
could be protected from the wolves, the people fared better in the matter of 
clothing. Flannel and linsey were woven for the wear of women and children, 
while jeans was woven for the men. For want of other dye-stuffs, the wool for 
the jeans was almost invariably colored with the bark or young shoots of the 
walnut; hence the inevitable "butternut" worn so extensively in the West for 
many years. As a matter of course, every family did its own spinning and 
weaving; and, for many years, all the wool had to be carded by hand on a 
little pair of cards about five by ten inches. Each family had its spinning- 
wheels, little and big, winding blades, reel, warping bars made by driving pins 
into the wall of the house on the outside in some place where no door was in 
the way, and wooden loom. These were indispensable articles in almost every 
household ; and during the fall and early winter the merry whir of the wheels, 
and the regular "bat, bat" of the loom could be heard till a late hour at night. 
Generally, the shoes worn were all made in the family, and mostly during the 
long evenings. No scene can be imagined that is more full of real happiness 
than the home of the pioneer, when, in the evening, all were engaged in earnest 
labor. A bright fire burns on the wide hearth, and the ruddy flame leaps far up 
the wooden chimney, affording the only, yet sufficient, light in the room. In 
one corner sits the father busily engaged in making shoes ; the mother at her 
little wheel hums a tune in low harmony with its steady whir ; while in front of 
the ample fire-place the daughter trips nimbly back and forth, drawing out the 
long woolen threads, while the wheel, seeming to partake of the general happi- 
ness, swells out its musical whir-ir-r, which swells and dies away in regular and 
harmonious cadence : the younger members of the group engaged in some 
absorbing pastime, all undisturbed by a single discordant note. 

Boots were almost unknown for many years, and many of the old men 
never had such things during their entire life-time ; while none of the youths 
were forcunate enough to boast the possession of boots till they reached man- 
hood. Boys of fifteen and sixteen years of age never thought of wearing any- 
thing on their feet except for three or four months in the midst of winter ; 
while the number who were not so fortunate as to get them even in winter was 
by no means small. Boys, and even men, went to church many times without 
shoes or stockings. But what would the people of to-day think of the minister 
who would propose to present himself before his auditory barefooted ! This may 
never have occurred in Illinois, yet it did in some of the older States, and pos- 
sibly even here. The writer was intimately acquainted with two ministers, 
both of whom died, at an extreme old age, a number of years ago, who often 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 219 

spoke of preaching, in their younger days, without anything on their feet. 
They began preaching in Tennessee, and were men of far more than ordi- 
nary ability ; in fact, we have heard many sermons in finely frescoed churches, 
from men dressed in broadcloth, which were not worthy of comparison, in 
any respect, with the sermons of those men. Several times they spoke of 
preaching in their youthful days, on a certain occasion, in a private cabin, 
the loft or ceiling of which was very low, and one of the preachers being a 
very tall man, a plank was taken up in the floor, so that he might stand in this 
opening, his head thus being below the "loft." This being in the summer- 
time, and that region being infested with rattlesnakes, the speaker soon felt a 
thrill of horror convulse his frame, as the thought crossed his mind that per- 
haps he stood in the midst of these unwelcome companions. Of course, under 
these circumstances, the sermon was not painfully long. 

We are fully aware of the incredulity with which the above and similar 
facts will be received by the mass of the present generation ; but we write the 
facts, facts which, in the majority of cases, were known to be such by the 
writer in person. These facts should all be recorded, for none of the present 
generation have any just conception of the changes that have taken place in 
the last half-century. If the next fifty years are as productive of change as 
the past fifty have been, who can imagine the state of affairs a half-century in 
the future? 

The tools and agricultural implements were about on a par with everything. 
The ground was broken up by the use of a wooden mold-board plow, and the 
corn cultivated with hoes, and bull-tongue as shovel-plows. These plows were 
all single, and in plowing corn the plowman was obliged to go three or four times 
between every two rows. In planting, the ground was marked oft" with a plow 
and the corn dropped by hand and covered by hand with hoes. Wheat and 
rye, etc., were cut with a sickle a hooked instrument some eighteen inches in 
length, with a handle some six inches long. This was taken in the right hand 
of the laborer, while the grain was held in the left hand. In later years, the 
sickle was superseded by the scythe-and-cradle, which enabled the laborer to 
accomplish more in a given time, but the labor was of the severest kind. What 
would the farmers of to-day think, after following our reapers and self-binders, 
to be obliged to go into the harvest-field with a sickle, or even a scythe-and- 
cradle ? 

The teams principally used were oxen, yoked together, and thus made to 
draw burdens. In breaking up ground the first time, cattle were generally 
used. It was by no means uncommon to see six or seven yoke of oxen hitched 
to a plow, and, at fearfully slow pace, dragging the ponderous plow, as it steadily 
crushed through turf and roots, turning over the long and evenly sod ; and, not- 
withstanding the tardy pace at which they moved, owing to the width of the fur- 
row, a considerable amount of land would be plowed in a day. Oxen were also 
much used single, that is, hitched singly to a plow with harness, or rather "gears," 



220 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

as they were called, for little, if any, leather was used in their manufacture. 
A huge collar, made of corn-husks, tugs of twisted raw-hide, or of iron chains 
when they could be procured, made the outfit ; for bridle and lines were dis- 
carded, as the well-trained animal did everything by word of command. Occa- 
sionally, horses were used in farming, but they were far from being plentiful. 
After a few months or years, the people had preaching occasionally, and on 
such occasions a yoke of oxen was hitched to a cart, sled 'or wagon, and in this 
the family attended service; but we will speak of this in detail in the proper 
place. 

THE EARLY CHURCHES. 

It is a fact highly commendable of the early settlers of Illinois, that with 
all the trials and toils incident on settlement in a new and undeveloped country, 
and the numbers of rough and vicious men who always seek the frontiers, 
the teachings of the Christian religion were felt and realized in the most 
remote settlements. What a rebuke, too, is given to the ministers of the pres- 
ent, by the self-sacrifice, devotion and arduous toil of those men who first 
planted the standard of the Cross of Christ in the sparsely settled frontiers of 
the West. Without the most remote hope of the least temporal remuneration, 
exposed to danger and disease, subject to th# severest trials and most painful 
privations, they went out, foregoing all the joys of home and the society of 
loved ones, only to be instrumental in the advancement of the truth and the 
salvation of men. Often the pioneer preacher, with no companion but the 
horse he rode, would start across the wide prairies, with no guide but the knowl- 
edge he had of the cardinal points, or, perhaps, a point of timber scarcely visi- 
ble in the dim and hazy distance, and, reaching the desired settlement, would 
present the claims of the Gospel to the few assembled hearers, after the toilsome 
and lonely day's journey ; then after a night of rest in the humble cabin and 
partaking of the simple meal, he again enters upon the journey of the day, to 
preach again at a distant point. Thus the "circuit" of hundreds of miles was 
traveled month after month ; and to these men we owe the planting of churches 
all over our land, and the hallowed influences of religion as seen and felt in 
society everywhere. At this late day, it is impossible to learn who was the 
first minister who visited the territory now embraced in Menard County. This 
honor is claimed for at least a dozen different individuals, and three or four 
different denominations lay claim to the honor of being first to be represented 
by a minister here. There were at least five different denominations that were 
represented by ministers coming here in a very early day. ' These were the 
Regular, Hard-Shell or Calvinistic Baptists, the Separate (now Missionary) 
Baptists, the Methodists, the New-Lights, afterward called Disciples, some- 
times called " Campbellites," and the Cumberland Presbyterians. We may 
give a very brief account of each of these separately. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 221 



REGULAR BAPTISTS. 

These people, generally called " Hard-Shells," have ever been anti-mission- 
ary and have opposed temperance societies. They also teach that it is the duty 
of ministers to refuse stipulated salaries. As a people, they are good citizens, 
candid and reliable, while their ministers are generally men of good natural 
minds, yet very few of them are educated. Being Calvinists of the most 
decided type, it is not to be wondered at that they believed if God made it one's 
duty to preach the Gospel, He would also enable him to do the work when the 
time came, without any previous preparation. Hence they, in their preaching, 
gave the people the truth "just as God gave it to them." If this was really 
true, all we can say (speaking with reverence), is that God gave them some 
very much mixed harangues. 

Very soon after the settlements were begun here, " Hard-Shell" preachers 
made their debut also. Some even affirm that an organization of " Hard- 
Shells" was formed in the vicinity of Salem even before the Baptist Church at 
Clary's Grove was organized. Grandmother Potter, who was a grown woman, 
and living within a mile of Salem, in 1820, is positive that the Church there was 
older by a year or two than that in the grove. But the recollection of all 
other pioneers is at variance with hers on this matter. Be this as it may, a 
Regular Baptist Church was organized there in a very early day. The names 
of ministers, etc., etc., is given in the township history. Other societies were 
perhaps formed in the county ; but, if so, they, with that near Salem, have long 
since become extinct, so that there is not one at present in the county, and has 
not been for many years. While we would not say anything disrespectful or 
disparaging of this venerable people, yet we cannot refrain from relating an 
anecdote of them, the truth of a part of which, at least, can be vouched for. 
In the palmy days of the Salem Church, Dr. Allen created considerable excite- 
ment on the temperance question, and many signed a pledge of total absti- 
nence. Among those signing the pledge was Minter Graham, the pioneer 
school teacher of this county, who was a member of the Baptist Church. So 
soon as this was known to the Church, Graham was tried and promptly turned 
out. Thus far, the story is true to the letter. But the story, as popularly told 
at the time, is to the effect that, on the same day that k ' Uncle Minter" was 
suspended, another brother was tried for getting drunk, and he, too, was 
expelled. After this, an old brother arose very solemnly, and, drawing a quart 
" flask " from his pocket, the bottle being about half-full of whisky, and, holding 
this steadily between his eye and the light, and inclining his head slightly 
to one side, addressed the congregation as folloAvs : " Brethering, you have 
turned one member out because he would not drink, and another because he 
got drunk, and now I want to ask a question. It is this : How much of the 
critter does one have to drink in order to remain in full fellowship, in the 
Church?" 



222 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

We are not advised what answer was given to this important question, but, 
doubtless, there was a medium well defined and understood by the ministry, if 
not by the laity. 

This denomination of people performed a very important part in the early 
history of the county, and its members were among the very best men and 
women of the entire population. Although they have ceased to exist here as a 
distinct body, yet their influence is still felt, and the results of their labors are 
seen on every hand. Scattered over the county- are a number of persons who 
once belonged to this Church, but their numbers being too small to form a 
society in any locality, they are living out of regular connection with any 
society, calmly awaiting the transfer to the great "congregation above." 

ANTI-CALVINIST BAPTISTS. 

As before stated, the Baptists here, in an early day, were considerably 
divided, especially on the subject of Foreign and Domestic Missions. There 
were, beside the "Hard-Shells," or Regulars, the Separate and the United Bap- 
tists ; and these were divided into the Missionary and Anti-Missionary parties. 
The Anti-Missionary spirit, however, gradually declined, till, many years ago, 
there ceased to be any Baptists in the whole country, who opposed the mission- 
ary work, except the " Calvinists." No people can justly be said to be opposed 
to missions who enroll among their membership such characters as the 
Judsons. 

Clary's Grove Baptist Church was organized on Christmas Day, 1824. 
This was the first Church organized in the limits of the county, and it was the 
focal point from which an influence radiated over the surrounding territory. It 
is not our province, in writing the general history of the county, to enter into 
detail respecting each separate congregation. For this, the reader is referred 
to the several township histories. The early Baptist ministers, like all the Evan- 
gelical preachers of that time, were earnest, devoted and self-sacrificing in their 
labors. " Baker's Prairie " congregation of Baptists, three miles east of 
Petersburg, was organized at rather an early date. A congregation was also 
formed in Petersburg, early in the history of that town, which has flourished 
from that time. This Church has a large and commodious house of worship' 
built of brick, and out of debt. At present writing, they have no regular Pas- 
tor. In Greenview, the Baptists have a substantial frame church, and a toler- 
ably strong congregation. In Sand Ridge, there is a Baptist congregation ; 
they worship in the New Hope Church, erected by the Cumberland Presbyteri- 
ans, and, by order of the Presbytery, under the control of the Concord congre- 
gation. As full details are given elsewhere, we will merely give a summary 
here. The Baptist denomination have, in the county, four houses of worship, 
two brick and two frame. They have, also, some congregations having no 
church edifice. They form an important element in society, exerting an influ- 
ence for good that is felt far and near. 








PETERSBURG- 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 225 

Several Baptist ministers are resident of the county. We cannot forbear to 
mention Rev. William Goldsby, who died only a month ago. Mr. Goldsby grew 
up from early youth in this county, professed religion here, spent his life here 
in the ministry, and died at his home, six miles southwest of Petersburg, on the 
18th of August, 1879. He was a man of but limited education, and possessed 
of nothing brilliant, intellectually ; but his straightforward integrity, unswerv- 
ing honesty and devoted piety gave him a wonderful power for good ; and while 
he was not regarded as an able preacher, yet, in his simple way, he won many 
to the way of righteousness, and will, doubtless, have many stars in his crown 
of rejoicing. His devoted wife, who was in her usual health at the time of her 
husband's death, survived him only eleven days ; and they were buried, side by 
side. May they rest in peace. 

Elder Homey, of Greenview ; P. E. Clark, six miles east of Petersburg ; 
H. P. Curry, of Oak Ridge ; John Coffee, of Fancy Prairie, and George Bell, 
of Tallula, are all ministers of this Church, but not all actively engaged in the 
ministry. Fuller accounts of each are given in the. precinct histories, and in 
the biographical portion of this work. 

THE M. E. CHURCH. 

It would seem eminently proper to have placed this denomination first in 
the history of churches in Menard County, for it is to all intents and purposes 
pioneer in its operations. Its policy for spreading the Gospel is exactly 
adapted to the wants and needs of new and sparsely settled sections of 
country. The itinerant system, so long practiced and brought to such perfec- 
tion among the Methodists, is the. method of sending the Gospel to the remote 
settlements. It is not surprising then, that the Methodist "circuit-rider" is 
found in every new country. The first Methodist that ever settled in Illinois 
was Capt. Joseph Ogle, who settled here in 1785. The first preacher of the 
Church to come into the State was Rev. Joseph Lillard, who formed the first 
society in the State. This class met in the house of Capt. Ogle, in St. Clair 
County, and he was appointed the leader. Some years later, Rev. John Clark, 
who had preached in the Carolinas from 1791 to 1796, desiring to get beyond 
the limits of slavery, wandered westward, and was the first to preach Methodism 
west of the Mississippi River, and subsequently came to Illinois. Rev. Hosea 
Riggs was the first local preacher to settle in the State. The first regular work 
of the Church in the State under authority of Conference, was in 1803, when 
Rev. Benjamin Young was appointed missionary to the State by the Western 
Conference holding its session at Mt. Gerizim, Ky. In 1804, the missionary 
reported sixty-seven members in the State. In 1806, Rev. Jess Walker was 
sent to the State ; he was a man of great zeal and energy. He held the first 
camp-meeting in the State during this year. This meeting awakened a revival 
interest, which was felt in nearly all the settlements in the State. At the close 

of the year, he reported 218 members. The Western Conference then 

c 



226 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

included Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and all the Northwest. In 1812, it was 
divided, and Tennessee and Illinois formed a Conference. In 1816, the Mis- 
souri Conference was formed, and Illinois was included in this. In 1824, 
Illinois Conference was formed, including Illinois and Indiana. In 1832, 
Indiana was separated from it. We speak of this to show the rapidity with 
which the Church increased in the sparsely settled regions of the West and 
North. From about the close of the war of 1812, the itinerants of the M. E. 
Church were constantly traversing the country from East to West, and from 
North to South, organizing classes wherever opportunity offered. There are no 
means of learning who the first minister of this denomination was who first 
preached in Menard County. We have positive proof that in the summer of 
1820, a class was formed in the settlement near where Athens now stands. 
One James Stringfield was perhaps the first Methodist preacher in the county ; 
certainly he was the first local preacher who settled here. He came in 1819 
or in the early part of 1820. About the time that the class was formed near 
Athens, or not long after, a society was formed west of the river, but its precise 
locality cannot be determined. The matter is not positively decided, but it is 
believed that the first regular circuit formed included the societies on both sides 
of the Sangamon River. In 1821 or 1822, a regular circuit was laid out, 
including the classes here. Rev. Isaac House was the first preacher placed on 
the circuit, and Rev. Mr. Simms was Presiding Elder. The Methodists, per- 
haps (in fact, it is absolutely certain), built the first house of worship that was 
erected in the county ; this was in the year 1825. This house .was built on 
the farm of Mr. Harry Riggin. The land was donated by Mr. Riggin, with 
the understanding that it was to revert to him or his heirs, so soon as it ceased 
to be used for religious purposes. This was a neat hewed-log building, 22x36 
feet. It had glass windows by chance ; we say by chance, because Mr. Riggin 
brought quite a large quantity of window-glass with him when he came to 
Illinois, and this was part of his contribution. This house was used constantly 
till about 1839 or 1840, when it was sold, and is now a barn on the farm of 
Henry Rankin. The proceeds, with a considerable subscription added, was 
expended in the erection of a new frame church in Athens. This house was 
built about the year 1840, and is still used by the M. E. Church there. 

This portion of the Church has been blessed with the services of very able 
men. The venerable Peter Akers, D. D., was for years Presiding Elder of this 
district. Peter Cartwright, of national reputation, was Elder of the district 
longer than any other man, and Dr. Akers next. Cartwright has preached in 
every part of the county ; indeed, we might say in almost every gr.ove of tim- 
ber. The fruits of the labors of this people are to be seen in every locality. 
The denomination has, in the county, four church edifices, three frame, and one 
brick. (This, of course, is exclusive of the Free Methodist Church at Athens, 
and the German M. E. Church on Sand Ridge). Besides these, there are sev- 
eral classes having no house of worship. A large volume might be written, 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 227 

giving interesting accounts of the labors of the Methodists here. The ministers 
in the county at present, are as follows: Rev. Mr. Coombs, in Petersburg ; Rev. 
Mr. Eckman, at Athens ; Rev. Mr. Finity, at Greenview. These are on the 
circuits in the county, and the only local preachers are Rev. Starling Turner 
(he being a Protestant), and Rev. F. E. Foster, Greenview. 

Reminiscences of Methodist ministers rush on our mind, demanding to be 
recorded, but, if the flood-gate is once opened, no telling where the end will be. 
But, in imagination the portly form and smiling face of Rev. Barrett rises up, 
and with the face an interminable store of remembered incidents. That eye, 
so full of humor, looks out on the world no more ; the voice, so sweet in 
persuasion, so dire in denunciation, and so convincing in argument, is long since 
silent in death, but those who knew him will never forget the power of his 
pulpit efforts, or the unrivaled point and potency of his witticisms. Ever a 
devoted and consistent Christian, but at the same time ever ready to see the 
ludicrous phase of everything, and lead others to see, and, with his anecdotes, to 
convulse everything with merriment. Sometimes, though seldom, this char- 
acteristic of the man would manifest itself in the pulpit, and when this was the 
case, the house was sure to be " brought down." Pardon one illustration, kind 
reader, aud we will pledge ourselves to give but the one. 

Mr. Barrett was a plain Western man, used to Western habits and customs. 
He was also blessed with a powerful physical constitution, and being a man of 
very active habits, his nature demanded, and he relished most heartily, good, 
plain, wholesome food. At one time, he was on a circuit, one of the preach- 
ing points being in a settlement of New England people, and most of the class 
were "Yankees." Of course, their manners differed widely from his, and 
especially in the matter of diet, they were totally unlike. In that early day, 
"sweetmeats" were scarce, and those Eastern people had no idea of eating 
meat like the Western people. They lived nearly without meat, and the inev- 
itable " pumpkin-pie " was nearly the standard part of their food. Brother 
Barrett visited different houses, but it was everywhere the same pumpkin-pie 
confronted him where'er he went. At last, almost starving, he hinted very 
broadly that he wanted meat, but all of no avail. Finally, one Sabbath morn- 
ing, when a large congregation had assembled, he decided to present his case in 
prayer. So, when they bowed for the opening prayer, after addressing the 
throne of grace for a time, he continued : " Oh, Lord, we thank Thee for this 
good land, for this productive soil, and for sunshine and shower. And we 
pray Thee, oh, Lord, if Thou canst bless under the Gospel, what Thou didst 
curse under the law, that Thou wilt bless the hogs. Oh, may they fatten and 
thrive ; and do Thou send abundant crops of corn, that they may be made fat, that 
Thy servants may have meat to eat, that they may grow strong to serve Thee 
and do Thy Will. Oh, Lord, we pray Thee to blight the pumpkin crop. Send 
blasting and mildew on every vine, for Thou knowest we cannot serve Thee on the 
strength they give." He then went on and closed his prayer in the usual way. 



223 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

Suffice it to say that the brethren took the hint, and after that Brother Barrett 
had meat to eat. The foregoing anecdote is literally true, otherwise, a number of 
men of unimpeachable character for truth and veracity have stated falsely. 
Rev. Mr. Barrett lived and continued to preach till some time during 1878 ; 
during that year, while living in Jacksonville, he went to an appointment at 
Grigg's Chapel, in the Sangamon Bottom, in Cass County, and preached morn- 
ing and evening with his usual power and energy. Retired at night as well as 
usual, and was a corpse in a few hours. Thus passed away this eccentric, 
though faithful and successful minister of the Gospel. The M. E. Church 
could boast a great many faithful and devoted men among her early ministers, 
as well as among those of later years. This Church is still, with great energy 
and zeal, performing her part of the work in sending the Gospel to men in this 
county. She has here a large, devoted and wealthy membership, and a faith- 
ful and zealous ministry. 

THE DISCIPLES. 

This body of people, known as Disciples, Christians or Church of Christ, 
had its origin in Western Pennsylvania. It originated thus : In 1809, Thomas 
Campbell, aided by his son, Alexander Campbell, both of whom were Presby- 
terian ministers, becoming deeply impressed with what they regarded as the 
unfortunate divisions among professed Christian people, made an effort to bring 
about a union of all, not intending to start another "sect" or party. It 
was thought that taking the Bible alone, without any standard of interpreta- 
tion, would do this. Quite a number of people, mostly Presbyterians, went 
into this enterprise. Soon the question of the mode and subject of baptism 
was mooted among them, and this resulting in a rejection, by the majority, of 
infant baptism and affusion ; the body becoming thus one of immersed believers, 
they were soon united with the Redstone Baptist Association. Not many years 
after this, views were developed at variance with the Baptist Church, and the 
" Disciples " were formed into a new sect. About three years before the 
beginning of the move by the Campbells in Pennsylvania, a' Presbyterian min- 
ister in Kentucky had tried to bring about a union of all Christians on the basis 
of the Bible alone. This movement was introduced and led by one Barton W. 
Stone, who had been for years a Presbyterian minister. He had collected 
quite a little band together, and, after considerable time spent in controverting 
various points by the two leaders, a union of the two parties, forming when 
united quite a large body. The followers of Stone were called New Lights, 
while Campbell's party was denominated " Disciples." But, for sake of dis- 
tinction, some persons who belonged to neither called one party Stoneites and 
the other Campbellites ; neither were these names given in reproach, but merely 
to distinguish them. For many years after the union of the two parties, the 
name " New Lights " was kept up, and thus applied to the " Disciples." Soon 
after the consolidation of the two, they began work in earnest, sending out mis- 
sionaries to various parts of the country. It is almost certain that the "New 



, HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 229 

Lights," as they were called here, sent preachers into this part of Illinois as ' 
early as any, unless it was the Methodists and Hard-Shell Baptists. As said 
before, Rev. Mr. House, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was the first 
preacher in the county, and it is probable that old Mr. Crow, the Regular 
Baptist, was the next. As early as 1820 or 1821, a New Light preacher of the 
name of Henderson came to Sugar Grove, and preached in the cabin of 
Roland Grant, but there is no evidence that he ever attempted to organize a 
society. Not very long after this, Barton W. Stone himself preached in Clary's 
Grove, which he did several times after. He was followed by Sidney Rigdon, 
then a New Light, but who afterward became a Mormon, becoming one of the 
twelve apostles of that Church, and visiting various parts of Europe as a mis- 
sionary. A congregation of " Disciples " was formed in Clary's Grove as early 
as 1827, and a few years after, they erected a " log meeting-house." This log 
church was occupied for several years, when a new frame edifice was erected. 
This last served them till after the village of Tallula was laid out and settled up. 
The Church, seeing that this village was destined to be the center of the com- 
munity, they disposed of their house in the grove, and, just at the close of the 
late war, they erected in the village the large and commodious house in which 
they now worship. The date of the organization of the " Disciples' " Church 
in Sugar Grove is not definitely known, but it was at a very early day, as all 
admit. This soon became a very strong and prosperous body, and was for 
many years the largest and most wealthy congregation in the county. It con- 
tinued [to hold this enviable reputation till about 1867, when misfortune 
seemed to overtake it, and, in a short time, it was nearly annihilated. This 
happened in this wise: One J. K. Spears, of Indiana, a man of more than 
average ability, was employed as Pastor. At first, his preaching was in con- 
formity with the doctrines of the Church ; but it was not long till he began to 
drop expressions occasionally that pointed to materialism very strongly. When 
interviewed on the subject, he boldly affirmed the doctrine of "soul-sleeping," 
denying, in toto, all spiritual existence, and, as a consequence, denying the 
immortality of man, except in the resurrected body. He also taught that the 
Bible clearly aifirmed the second advent of Christ as being just at hand. Such 
was his influence and tact, that he carried off with him about one-half of the 
entire congregation, among them some of the most influential, intelligent and 
wealthy of the entire flock. They all seemed utterly demented ; they were 
re-baptized, and some of them were ready for months to start, at a day's warn- 
ing, to Jerusalem, to meet the Savior there. Others believed that he would 
make his appearance right in Menard County, and some actually made the 
remark that they expected to go fishing with Christ in Salt Creek. 'Mr. Spear 
would not preach for a stipulated salary, as he regarded it as very sinful to do 
so ; all he wanted was a simple support for himself and family ; but he was 
exceedingly careful to have the support specified in every particular, so that it 
aggregated more than any salary paid in all this region, hence, he and his did 



230 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

literally "fare sumptuously every day." In order to the quiet of the com- 
munity (for the excitement was at fever-heat for months), a public discussion 
was inaugurated, and Elder Linn, of Indiana, met Mr. Spear in open con 
flict. The debate, perhaps, did not do much toward quieting the troubled 
waters ; but, after the people had anxiously awaited the coming of Christ for 
several months, they began to grow incredulous ; the enthusiasm died out, and 
then the revenues almost entirely failed. This was hint enough for Mr. Spear, 
who, in a short time, like the "star of empire," took his way westward. In 
an incredibly short time, all mention of" soul-sleeping " ceased'to be made. As. 
far as we can now learn, all those who followed Mr. S. in his folly are now 
open and avowed infidels. We often wonder what the feelings and thoughts 
noAv are of those who were at one time so enthusiastic as to become teachers of 
the new faith, but are now blasphemously profane ! The old Church has never 
fully recovered from this blow, though it is gradually approximating its former 
strength. 

The Church in Petersburg is of comparatively recent origin. In August, 
1875,. Elder D. R. Lucas came to this place, bringing with him a tent, capable 
of holding eight hundred or one thousand" people. In this he conducted a pro- 
tracted meeting of about six weeks' continuance, which resulted in the addition 
of something near one hundred persons to the Church. Immediately after 
the close of this meeting, an effort was made to build a house of worship. These 
efforts were crowned with success, and before the next spring, a neat brick 
edifice, some 40x60 feet, and finished in beautiful style, was ready for use. 
Elder M. M. Goode was engaged as Pastor, who still serves his people to the 
entire satisfaction of all. Being an intelligent, eloquent and very sociable gen- 
tleman, he commands the respect and friendship of all classes. 

Of the Church in Athens and Greeriview, the reader is referred to the his- 
tory of those townships. 

This Church has in Menard County five church edifices and as many pros- 
perous congregations. The ministers in the county are : Elder Breeden, Pas- 
tor at Tallula ; W. W. Linn, near Tallula, not now actively engaged in the 
ministry ; M. M. Goode, Petersburg ; D. T. Hughes, Greenview ; Dr. Engle, 
Athens; Elder Hughes, Sweetwater, and G. A. Davis, Petersburg, not now 
actively engaged. 

The Disciples are an intelligent, liberal and enterprising people, keeping 
full pace with the age in all that advances and elevates the people. 

THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANS. 

About the close of the last century, the state of spiritual religion had reached 
a very low state, especially in Kentucky and Tennessee. The Presbyterians of 
that region had fallen into a cold formalism that was truly fearful. A promi- 
nent Elder of the Church, speaking of that period, says that he sat for twenty years 
under the ministry of an able Doctor of Divinity, and in all that time he never 



HISTQRY OF MENARD COUNTY. 231 

heard him speak directly of the work of the Spirit in regeneration. While no 
body of people, as such, insist more strongly on the necessity of divine power 
in the salvation of the sinner, yet so many formalists had entered the Church 
that vital piety was almost extinct. 

About this time, Rev. James McGready, who had been preaching seven 
years, was, by accident, awakened, sought religion and was powerfully con- 
verted. From this time, he turned his energies to arouse the Church. The result 
was a powerful revival of religion spreading over all that region. The Church 
was divided into a revival and anti-revival party. Some of the revival party 
could not accept the doctrines of the Westminster Confession touching fore- 
knowledge and decrees, believing that it taught fatality. 

The Church was organized February 4, 1810, in Tennessee. Hence, it 
could not be expected to have spread very far as early as the first settling of 
this country, in 1819 and 1820, especially when we remember that it had its 
origin as far south as the southeast part of Tennessee, near the Kentucky line. 
It is, however, true, notwithstanding this fact, that ministers of this Church 
found their way into Illinois before the Church was fifteen years old. 

The Church in Menard County. The first preacher of this denomination 
who visited this part of the State was John McCutchen Berry. He was born 
in the " Old Dominion," March 22, 1788. His education was limited. When 
twenty-two years of age, he made a public profession of faith in Christ, and 
united with the C. P. Church. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and par- 
ticipated in the battle of New Orleans. He was licensed to preach by the 
Logan Presbytery, in Tennessee, in 1819 ; and in 1822, was ordained by the 
same body. In 1820, he had removed to Indiana, but he returned to Tennes- 
see to attend Presbytery. A few years later, he removed to Sangamon County, 
111., settling in the limits of what is now Menard County, on Rock Creek. 
This section of country was then in the bounds of Illinois Presbytery, and so 
remained until the spring of 1829, when Sangamon Presbytery was organized. 
Mr. Berry had organized the Sugar Creek congregation, ten miles south of 
Springfield. 

Revs. Gilbert Dodds and Thomas Campbell had migrated from Kentucky 
some years before the year 1829 ; both being licensed preachers when they 
came ; were soon after ordained by the Presbytery of Illinois. Mr. Dodds set- 
tled on a farm some five miles south of Petersburg, where he resided until his 
death. 

Synod Old Cumberland Synod ordered the organization of Sangamon 
Presbytery, and, agreeably to this order, the ministers and a few Elders met, 
at the house of William Drennan, on Sugar Creek, the 20th of April, 1829, 
and held its first meeting. The ministers were John M. Berry, Gilbert Dodds, 
Thomas Campbell, David Foster and John Porter, Mr. Berry, by order of 
Synod, acting as Moderator, and Gilbert Dodds as Clerk. Mr. Berry preached 
the opening sermon, from Matthew, xvi, 15. The Elders present were : Joseph 



232 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

Dodds, representing Sugar Creek ; John Hamilton, from Bethel, and Samuel 
Berry, from Concord and Lebanon. There were also present, John M. Cam- 
eron, William McCord and Neill Johnson, licentiates ; Payton Mitchell and 
Archibald Johnson, candidates. Needham Roach, a licentiate from Nashville 
Presbytery was received under the care of this. This session of Presbytery 
also discontinued Payton Mitchell as a candidate under its care. 

As Rev. John M. Berry was the first minister of this Church who preached 
in this county, it is due to history to give a brief description of him. As before 
stated, owing to his early surroundings, his education was limited ; but his 
natural powers of mind were very far above the average. He was independent 
in his manner of thought, gentle and kind, but uncompromising in his opposi- 
tion to all that he thought to be wrong. He was charitable in his feelings to 
the views of others, but unyielding in his convictions until convinced by the 
force of argument. As a speaker, he was plain, solemn and unassuming, making 
no eifort at display or show ; but, possessing a commanding presence and a 
voice at once full of power and a persuasive attractiveness, he was in every way 
qualified to exert a great power over an audience. Though usually full of 
force and logic, yet sometimes, when warmed with the inspiring power of his 
subject, he arose almost to sublimity, and at such times his solemn and earnest 
appeals were almost irresistible. His method of argument was of the clearest 
logical character, and when fully aroused by the importance of his subject, he 
seemed to carry everything before him. His character, and the estimate in 
which he was held, can be, to some degree, illustrated by relating an incident 
in the early history of this country. The reader is doubtless aware of the fact 
that the lamented Abraham Lincoln was engaged in the grocery trade at Old 
Salem, in this county, in an early day. A son of Mr. Berry was, for a time, a 
partner of Mr. Lincoln in the grocery, and it is probable that intoxicants were 
sold by them ; in fact, this is generally conceded to be true. Be this as it may, 
Mr. Berry's son contracted habits of dissipation in some way, and ultimately 
became an utter wreck, dying a most horrid death. This was a blow from 
which the father never fully recovered ; but a deep, dark shadow seemed ever 
after to be cast over his mind. It appears that during the partnership in the 
store that the father strove hard to dissuade his son from a life of intemperance, 
but failed. His labors were not lost, however, for the counsel, though lost on 
the son, made a lasting impression on Mr. Lincoln. Years after the close of 
the partnership,, when Lincoln had reached a position of eminence in the legal 
profession, a grog-shop in a certain community was having a bad influence upon 
some men who were married, and whose wives suffered by the evil. These 
injured wives, on a certain occasion, gathered together and made a raid on the 
vile den, demolished the barrels, broke up the decanters and demijohns, and 
played havoc with things generally. For this the ladies were prosecuted, and 
Mr. Lincoln volunteered his services for their defense. In the midst of a most 
powerful argument upon the evils of the use of, and the traffic in, intoxicating 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 233 

t 

spirits, while all in the crowded room were most intensely interested and many 
bathed in tears, the speaker turned and, pointing his long, bony finger toward 
where the venerable Berry was standing, said : " There stands the man who, 
years ago, was instrumental in convincing me of the evils of trafficking in and 
using ardent spirits. I am glad that I ever saw him. I am glad that I ever heard 
his testimony on this terrible subject." This was a higher honor than to have 
been made the Chief Magistrate of the nation. Such an encomium from such 
a man speaks volumes in praise of Mr. Berry's influence for good. 

Such is a brief sketch of the pioneer of Cumberland Presbyterianism in the 
State of Illinois. Mr. Berry died as he had lived, with his armor on, in the 
winter of 1856-57, in the town of Clinton, De Witt Co., 111., where he had 
lived for several years. His early colaborers were equally earnest, pious and 
devoted to their work. Dodds, Campbell and others will ever be remembered 
with warmest gratitude by the people of that Church. 

Some of the old citizens are firm in their convictions that the Lebanon con- 
gregation of the C. P. Church, was the first Church organized in the county, 
though the writer is fully convinced that Clary's Grove Baptist Church is older 
by a year or more. In 1829, the Lebanon congregation, six miles east of Peters- 
burg, and Concord, four miles north, were represented in Presbytery. Lebanon 
was organized, perhaps, in 1825 or 1826, and Concord a year or two later. The 
Cumberland Presbyterians were accustomed, from their first introduction in this 
part of Illinois, to hold camp-meetings every summer. These meetings were held 
in various communities, as Lebanon, Concord, Rock, Creek, Irish Grove, Salt 
Creek, and various other places. This custom was kept up till some twenty 
years ago. The Church grew and prospered from the first, and at the present 
time it, perhaps, has a larger membership than any other denomination in the 
county. The following is a list of the congregation and Pastors in the county r 
Irish Grove, Rev. J. T. May ; Fancy Prairie, Rev. 3. S. Stevenson ; Greenview, 
Rev. James White ; Rock Creek, Rev. J. Momire ; Petersburg, Rev. R. D. 
Miller ; Concord, Rev. A. H. Goodpasture ; besides these there are Tallula, New 
Hope and Lebanon congregations that, at present, are without Pastors. The fol- 
lowing additional ministers of this Church live in the county : Revs. James 
Knoles and C. B. Parkhurst, who are engaged in teaching. Thus it will be 
seen that there are nine congregations and eight ministers in the county. 
Each congregation has a good and finished house of worship, except Petersburg, 
which, at this writing July, 1879 has a good and neat brick edifice nearly 
ready for occupancy. A detail of the history of each of these congregations 
will be found in the history of the several townships in which they are situated. 

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.* 

When Diedrich Knickerbocker set about writing the history of New York, 
that his subject might have a broad foundation, he went back to the beginning 

*We arc indebted for this sketch of the Presbyterian Churches, to Rev. John Crazier, Pastor of North Sangamon 
Church at Indian Point. R. D. M. 



234 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

of the world. In giving a sketch of the Presbyterian Church, in Menard 
County, we may not go back as far in order of time, and yet, it may interest 
those who read this sketch to know something of the early planting of the 
Presbyterian Church in Illinois, and especially this central portion, where our 
lot is cast. In 1797, just three years after Anthony Wayne's victory over the 
Indians at the battle of the Fallen Timber, and five years before Ohio was 
admitted into the Union as a State, and when all the vast territory covered by 
the States of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois was yet under Territorial government, 
an effort was made by a Presbyterian minister to plant the Gospel ordinances of 
Christ according to the Westminster Standards, upon the soil of Illinois. Rev. 
John E. Finley, a Presbyterian minister from Chester County, Penn., to Mason 
County, Ky., coveted the privilege of being the first to plant the Church of 
Christ upon the territory of the future great State of Illinois ; and also in the 
Louisiana Territory, in what is now the State of Missouri. In 1797, Mr. Fin- 
ley descended the Ohio River in a keel-boat, with several of his neighbors, 
members of the Presbyterian Church, and ascended the Mississippi, and landed 
at Kaskaskia, with the bold design of planting the standard of the Cross in the 
Spanish Colonies west of the Mississippi River. Mr. Finley probably had 
ultimate reference to a mission among the Indians. He preached the Gospel, 
catechised and baptised several of the " red men." But, in a short time, he was 
led to abandon the enterprise. A few years later, while Capts. Lewis and 
Clark, under the recommendation of President Jefferson and by appointment of 
Congress, were exploring a route over the Rocky Mountains, and descending the 
Columbia to the Pacific, earnest ministers of Christ were planning the conquest 
of these regions for Christ. In the years 1804, 1805 and 1806, short mission- 
ary excursions were made to the vicinity of Vincennes by Rev. Messrs. Samuel 
Rannels, Samuel B. Robinson, James McGrady and Thomas Cleland, members 
of the Presbytery of Transylvania in the State of Kentucky. As the result of 
these labors, the First Presbyterian Church was organized in Indiana, near 
Vincennes, and was then named, and still is known as Indiana Church. This 
was in 1806. During the years 1810, 1811, and also in 1814 and 1816, Rev. 
James McGrady spent a considerable time in the southern counties of Indiana, 
and in Illinois, and in 1816, or some accounts say, in 1814, Mr. McGrady 
organized Sharon Church in White County. This was the first Presbyterian 
Church in Illinois, and its honored name still stands on the roll of the Presby- 
tery of Cairo. 

About the same time, Revs. J. F. Schemerhorn and Samuel J. Mills visited 
Kaskaskia, and left a deep impression of their zeal and fidelity, especially in 
the family of Gov. Ninian Edwards. At that time, there was not a town of a 
thousand inhabitants in Indiana, Illinois or Missouri, unless it was Madison, 
Vincennes or St. Louis. Sparse settlements were scattered along the eastern 
part of Illinois as far north as the Vermilion, and on the west side as far north 
as Quincy. All the northern part of the State was a wilderness, with here 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY, 235 

and there an Indian trading-post. Peoria was Ft. Clark, and Chicago only 
appears on the maps as Ft. Dearborn. The fort was on the south side of the 
Chicago River, and on the north side just opposite was John Kinzie's agency 
and trading-post. A few mud and stick shanties along the river near the 
agency, and at Wolf Point on the west side, was all the town there was on the 
site of the great city of Chicago. In 1821, Rev. Dr. Gideon Blackburn, the 
founder of Blackburn University, was in the full tide of his popularity as a 
most effective preacher of the Gospel. He passed through the State and held 
a camp-meeting at Shoal Creek, in Bond County, where there was a great out- 
pouring of the Holy Spirit, and many were converted, and a church was there 
formed. Rev. Abraham Williamson, from Princeton, N. J., also Rev. Messrs. 
Orrin Catlin and Daniel G. Sprague, from Andover, Mass., preached in that 
part of the State and organized a church at Carrollton. In 1825, Rev. John 
M. Ellis arrived in Illinois, and spent a year or two with the Church of Kas- 
kaskia. About the same time, the Rev. John Birch, a Scotsman who had 
spent his earlier years in his native country and in England, came to America, 
and, after a few years in Southern and Western Ohio, came to Morgan County, 
111., where the village of Jacksonville had lately been laid out. Here he 
labored, and had organized a church before any one came to his aid. He was 
succeeded by Mr. Ellis, who. besides his zeal as a preacher of the Gospel, had 
initiated those movements which led to the establishment of Illinois College. 
Mr. Ellis was one of the seven ministers who were organized into the first 
Presbytery of Illinois, known as the Center Presbytery of Illinois. 

January 30, 1828, a church was organized by Mr. Ellis at Springfield, and 
was called the Sangamon Church, after the name of the river near which, and 
the county in which it was located. This Church was composed of nineteen 
members, of whom only five lived in the village of Springfield, and these were 
all women. The membership was scattered over a region of twenty miles 
around, and several of them (Messrs. John and John N. Moore) in what is now 
Menard County. It is worthy of note that this organization was made in the 
house of Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, widow of Dr. John Blair Smith, a very eminent 
man in his day, and once the President of Hampden and Sidney College, Vir- 
ginia. The Church of Edwardsville was also organized in her house, when she 
lived there in 1819. The original Elders of the Sangamon Church at Spring- 
field were John Moore, Samuel Reid, Isaiah Stillman and John N. Moore. 
Ever since about 1820, people from different parts of Kentucky had begun to 
settle on Indian Creek, then a part of Sangamon County. Many of these were 
Presbyterians and Cumberland Presbyterians. The Presbyterians had united 
with the Sangamon Church-; but it was impossible that they should have the 
full benefit of the privileges of a church twenty miles away, with high waters 
and often impassable roads between. Soon after the Sangamon Church was 
organized, the Rev. John G. Bergen, lately from New Jersey, began his labors 
as the Pastor of the Church. But he did not confine his labors to Springfield, 



236 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

but made extended missionary tours in every direction, and preached the AVord 
wherever an opportunity offered. During the winter of 182829, Mr. Bergen 
visited Vandalia, then the capital of the State, and preached before the Legis- 
lature. On his return, in January, 1829, he went to the Moore neighborhood, 
on Indian Creek, and there formed the acquaintance of Elder John Moore, the 
patriarch of the Moore family. Mr. Moore was a Virginian by birth, but had 
emigrated to Kentucky in early life, while the Indians were still a terror to the 
white settlers. He is represented as having been greatly useful in planting 
Presbyterianism in the Green River country. He passed through the great 
revival at the beginning of the century, and took an active part in it, but 
opposed the extravagances by which it was characterized. His wonderful 
knowledge of the deep things of God began with the study of an old torn and 
coverless book, which he found in the garret of his father's house. " Law 
Death, and Gospel Life " was its title, probably written by Dr. Bellamy. This 
book he read, and reread, until its thoughts were inwrought into the very text- 
ure of his soul. Mr. Moore came to Indian Creek in 1822. After Mr. Bergen 
came to Springfield, he found in Mr. Moore a warm and trusted friend, and 
was his companion in many a preaching tour. It is related of him that once, 
during the summer before the deep snow, they rode together 130 miles north to 
organize a church in Union Grove, in what is now La Salle County. On their 
return, Mr. Bergen preached at Holland's Grove, where the town of Washing- 
ton now stands, a few miles east of Peoria. At this service, nearly all the 
settlers were present for seven miles around, including a company of Potawat- 
omie Indians, who, by invitation, attended the service, filing in one by one, and 
taking their seats on the floor, near the minister. 

In 1832, the time had come when it was thought that the interests of religion 
required a separate Presbyterian church organization north of the Sangamon 
River. On the 20th of May, 1832, a meeting was appointed at the Lebanon 
"Meeting-house," the place of worship of the Cumberland Presbyterians. Mr. 
Bergen preached an appropriate sermon, after which a church was organized, 
consisting of thirty-two members, all presenting letters from the Sangamon 
Church, at Springfield, and, as this church was on the north side of the Sanga- 
mon River, it very appropriately chose the name of the North Sangamon 
Church, the name which it still bears. The names of the original members 
were as follows, viz. : Elijah Scott, John Stone, Andrew Moore, Samuel Moore, 
Alexander Barnett, David AValker, Milton Rayburn, Phrebe Moore, Margaret 
S. Moore, Stephen Stone, Ann Barnett, John N. Moore, Mary Moore, Jane 
Patterson, Panthy Barnett, Hannah Baxter, Jane Rayburn, Polly AValkor, 
Matilda AValker, Elizabeth Walker, Jane Walker, Ann AValker, John Moore, 
Ambers Stone, Jane Scott, Lucy Stone, Polly Stotts, Catherine Stone, Jane 
Casey, Isabella Walker, Alexander AValker and AVilliam Stotts. At the same 
time, the following persons were received on profession of their faith in Christ : 
John Allen, Henry C. Rogers, Sarah H. Rogers and Elizabeth Patterson. 






HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 237 

John Moore, John N. Moore, aad Alexander Walker, were elected Ruling 
Elders. As their first place of worship, the North Sangamon Church occupied, 
a part of the time, the log meeting-house built by the Lebanon congregation of 
the C. P. Church, and then they assisted the Cumberland brethren in building 
a frame church, which has since been replaced by their present commodious 
brick church. In consideration of aid thus rendered, the North Sangamon con- 
gregation had the use of the Lebanon house of worship one-half the time until 
1844, when they built a frame church of their own, 28x36 feet, which was 
occupied seventeen years, until 1867, when the present brick edifice was finished 
and dedicated to the worship of the Almighty God, with appropriate services by 
John G. Bergen, D. D., who had organized the church thirty-five years before. 
Rev. George W. F. Birch, Pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church in Spring- 
field, assisted in the services. As to ministers who have served this church, 
either by invitation of the Session, or by appointment of Presbytery, we may 
mention the honored names of Rev. William K. Steward, Rev. Thomas A. Spill- 
man, also Rev. George W. McKinley, who often supplied the church and pre- 
sided in the Session. The first minister who regularly supplied this church, was 
the Rev. Samuel Foster, a licentiate from New England, who was ordained as 
an evangelist by the Presbytery of Sangamon, in the year 1833. Mr. Foster 
served this church only a little more than one year. The measure of success 
attending his ministry does not appear from the records. But the his- 
tory of this church seems to be marked with frequent additions on pro- 
fession of faith. After Mr. Foster left, the church -remained vacant for 
nearly a year, when, in 1835, Rev. Alexander Ewing entered upon his labors. 
His name first appears as Moderator of the Session, at the house of Mr. 
Stephen Stone, in Irish Grove,. March 22, 1835. On the 13th of June fol- 
lowing, thirteen persons were received by letter. North Sangamon Church, 
which had only had a separate existence of four years, was now about " to 
become two bands." At a meeting of the Session held April 2, 1836, Mr. 
Bergen presiding, it was resolved to apply to the Presbytery of Sangamon for 
a separate organization at Irish Grove. Preparatory to such organization, thirty- 
one persons, living at and near Irish Grove, asked for, and obtained letters from 
the North Sangamon Session, with a view of uniting in the new organization. 
The Irish Grove Church was soon after formed, and Mr. Ewing, who lived at 
the grove, gave half his time to that church, and the remainder to the church 
at North Sangamon. This arrangement continued until the beginning of the 
year 1837, when the controversies between the New and Old School cul- 
minated in a separation in 1838. The North Sangamon Church adhered to 
the Old School Assembly, and remained in connection with the Presbytery of 
Sangamon, and was without a settled Pastor from early in 1837, until late in 
1838. At this time Rev. John W. Little, of the Central Congregational Asso- 
ciation of New York, was received by the Presbytery, and became the stated sup- 
ply of this church and Irish Grove, giving one-half of his time to each church. 



238 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

This relation continued with mutual good-will, until Mr. Little's death, in June, 
1842. The church was then supplied by Rev. Thomas Gait, for one-half his 
time until 1850, or nearly seven and one-half years. In the third year of Mr. 
Gait's ministry there seems to have been quite a revival, and nineteen persons 
were added to the church on profession of faith. In November,/ 1849, Rev. 
William Perkins began to supply this church on the alternate Sabbaths, when 
Mr. Gait preached at Irish Grove. Mr. Perkins continued his labors until 
November 1, 1851. They were then without a Pastor until the fall of 1853, 
when Rev. R. A. Criswell began his labors, and, in November of that year, 
Mr. Criswell was ordained and installed Pastor, and continued his labors until 
November 1, 1866, when he resigned his charge, and ceased to minister to this 
church. In April, 1867, his pastoral relation was dissolved by Presbytery. 
This pastorate seems to have been much blessed. During the thirteen years of 
Mr. Criswell's ministry there were sixty-three additions on profession, and forty* 
nine on certificate, clearly showing that the continued pastorate of one man with 
ordinary faithfulness is more conducive to Church growth than frequent changes. 
Soon after Mr. Criswell's resignation Rev. R. A. Van Pelt, formerly from Pennsyl- 
vania, but more recently from Wisconsin, began to serve the church, and continued 
as the stated supply for about two years with a reasonable measure of success. 
During the summer of 1869, after Mr. Van Pelt ceased his ministrations in 
the church, Rev. Mr. Reese supplied the church for a short time, but his health 
failing, he was obliged to give up his charge, and eventually to retire entirely 
from the work of the ministry. In the fall of 1869, the church invited Rev. 
John Crozier, then Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Oxford, Ohio, 
to become their Pastor. This invitation was accepted, and Mr. C. began his 
ministry in this church about the middle of November, 1869. In March fol- 
lowing, at a regular congregational meeting, with Rev. S. J. Bogle, of Mason 
City, presiding, the church made out a regular and unanimous call for the 
labors of Mr. Crozier as their settled Pastor. This call was duly presented to 
the Presbytery of Sangamon, in session in the First Presbyterian Church of 
Springfield, in April, 1870, and, being found in order, was placed in the hands 
of the Pastor elect and accepted, and, in August following, the installation was 
consummated, Rev. Messrs. D. J. Strain, J. D. Kerr and F. J. Moifatt as the 
Committee of Presbytery taking part in the services. This relation still con- 
tinues at the date of this sketch, September, 1879, with mutual good-will and 
confidence between Pastor and people. During this period, many changes have 
taken place, which have materially aifected the progress of the church. Many 
have been removed by death, and many persons owning small farms have sold 
to larger land-holders, and removed to other places. By this process, there 
has been an actual decrease of population. During the present pastorate, there 
have been thirty-five added to the church by profession of faith, and twenty- 
seven by letter ; forty-five have been dismissed to other churches, leaving the 
present active membership a little less than one hundred. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 230 

This sketch would be incomplete without mention of the office bearers who 
have faithfully served this Church. The first Session, chosen at the organiza- 
tion in 1832, was John and John N. Moore and Alexander Walker. The 
senior Elder was John Moore, a native of Virginia, and born in the year 
1767. He was a man of devoted piety. He was twice married, and was the 
father of eleven children, all of whom became pious. Joseph Moore, of Clin- 
ton, DeWitt County, William Moore, of Irish Grove, and Mrs. Sarah H. Rog- 
ers, wife of Henry C. Rogers, Esq., of Athens, also Mrs. Margaret Waters, of 
Clinton, were children of John Moore, and are still living. John Moore 
served as an Elder in this church from its organization in 1832 till his death 
in 1843. His oldest son and third child was John Newell Moore, who was 
born in Kentucky in 1794 ; was married to Phoebe Scott in Adair County, 
Ky., in 1820, and located in this vicinity in 1822. He was elected Elder at 
the organization of the Sangamon congregation when it was organized in. 
Springfield in 1828, and when the North Sangamon Church was organized in 
1832, he was chosen Elder in it, and filled the position faithfully up to his 
death in 1842. Mr. Alexander Walker, another of the original Session, came 
from Kentucky at an early day. and settled in Irish Grove. He was first an 
Elder in the North Sangaraori Church, but, when the Irish Grove congregation 
was formed, he removed his membership there. Some years ago, he removed 
to Iowa. Elijah Scott was another 'of the first members of the Church, and at 
an early period was chosen Elder. After serving in this office a number of 
years, he removed t.o Cass County, where he still lives, being over eighty years 
of age. Dr. James Smick was another most acceptable Elder in this church. 
He was born in Mercer County, Ky. His parents were Presbyterians, 
and he united with that Church in Lexington, Ky. He studied medicine in 
the same city and practiced there, and also in Indiana, and came to Menard 
County in 1847. He was an Elder before he came to Menard. He was 
chosen Elder here in 1850, which office he filled till his death in 1853. Alonzo 
H. Whitney and Samuel Moore were elected Elders and ordained December 
30, 1855. Mr. Moore was born in Kentucky in 1806 ; was a son of John 
Moore and brother of Elder John N. Moore. He was one of the original 
members of the church. His name appears as Elder for the last time March 
13, 1862. He moved near Concord, where he died January 26, 1864, aged 
fifty-eight years and six months. Alonzo H. Whitney was born in Brattleboro, 
Vt., April 26, 1816 ; professed religion at Syracuse, N. Y., when near nine- 
teen years of age. He came to Illinois in 1834, and joined the Second Presby- 
terian Church in the town of Springfield. He married Miss Mary A. 
Kincaid. In 1841, he joined this church, and, in 1855, was elected and 
ordained Elder. He continued in this office till October 9, 1871, when he was 
called to his reward. Milton Rayburn was also one of the original members, 
and was made an Elder in 1835 ; he being a citizen of Irish Grove, was dis- 
missed to join there in 1836. The present Session is composed of John 



240 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

Kennedy Kincaid, James Scott Moore and Robert A. Young. The senior 
Elder, J. K. Kincaid, was born in Bath County, Ky., in 1808, and settled in 
Illinois in 1832. He joined this church by letter in 1834. The exact date 
of his election and ordination to the office of Elder is not known, though his 

' O 

name appears on the records as such as early as 1843. He has been an Elder 
at least thirty-seven years. He has served much of the time as Clerk of the 
Session, and has frequently represented his congregation in Presbytery and 
Synod. James S. Moore is a son of Elder John N. Moore ; was born in Ken- 
tucky in 1821. His father settled on Indian Creek in 1822. December 3, 
1836, he united with the church on profession of faith, under the ministry of 
Rev. Alexander Ewing. He was ordained Elder May 4, 1857, Rev. William 
Perkins officiating. Mr. Moore has served the Church faithfully in that 
capacity from his ordination to the present time, except near three years spent 
in Jacksonville, where he removed in 1870, to educate his children, returning 
to his old home in 1873. He has been much of the time Clerk of the Session; 
has often represented the congregation in Presbytery and Synod. He was 
representative on the part of the Eldership from Sangamon Presbytery to the 
General Assembly in 1867, which met in Cincinnati ; and, in 1877, he repre- 
sented the Springfield Presbytery in the General Assembly which met in the 
city of Chicago. He is an efficient Sabbath-school Superintendent, and serves 
his church in this capacity much of the time. The junior Elder is Robert A. 
Young, who was born in Bath County, Ky., November 23, 1829. His parents, 
William P. and Margaret Young, came to Illinois in 1836. On the 1st of 
April, 1848, he united with the church. On the 20th of July, 1871, he was 
ordained Ruling Elder. The present Deacons are William C. Kincaid, A. E. 
Kincaid, J. H. Kincaid, A. S. Kirk and J. M. Fulton. Trustees, W. C. 
Kincaid, C. 0. Culver and H. M. Moore. The officers of the Sunday school 
are Superintendent, James S. Moore ; Assistant Superintendent, William B, 
Thompson ; Secretary, R. A. Young ; Chorister, James S. Moore ; Organist, 
Laura P. Moore ; Sexton, Henry Walker. 

The following persons who were communicants in this church, have entert 
the ministry : John H. Moore, Pastor at Birmingham, Iowa ; D. J. Strain, 
Pastor at Virginia, 111. ; John W. Little, Pastor of Cross Roads Church, Alle- 
gany Presbytery, Pennsylvania ; John J. Graham, Pastor at Mount Vernon, 
111. ; W. C. McDougall, now an evangelist in Scotland. John Howe Moore, a 
young man of rare piety and promise, was called to his reward before he com- 
pleted his studies preparatory to entering the ministry. 

In estimating the influence of this church for good, we must go beyond the 
actual of the communion roll. In the first place, this church, in a spirit of self- 
reliance, has sustained its ministry without aid from the Board of Missions 
even when weak in numbers and material wealth. In its early history, whei 
unable to support a Pastor, it united with some other in the support of a min- 
ister. It has built two houses of worship without asking for help from the 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 243 

general funds of the Church as a body. Its present commodious house of worship 
was finished and furnished at a total cost of over $3,000, it being 40x60 feetrin 
size. Beside this, they rendered substantial aid in building the Presbyterian 
Churches of Petersburg, Mason City, Sweetwater and Irish Grove. This 
church may be regarded as the parent of all the Presbyterian congregations 
in the county. This congregation has furnished the first material for the 
organization of all the other churches of this body in the county. The Presby- 
terians have three flourishing congregations in the county, and four excellent 
houses of worship. Each of those congregations . have regular ministers. The 
reader will find a detailed account of each of these congregations in the history 
of the townships, in which they are severally situated. The Presbyterians pur- 
chased the house of worship erected by the " Soul-Sleepers," in Sweetwater, 
some years ago, in which they have occasional services. 

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

There is but one Episcopal Church in the county, and this is located in 
Petersburg. The house was erected, and the Church organized, through the 
energy and zeal of Mrs. Harris, relict of the late Hon. Thomas L. Harris. 
The Trinity Church is a substantial brick of the Gothic style of architecture, 
standing on the hillside, commmanding a fine view of Petersburg. The first 
Rector of Trinity was Rev. Mr. Steel, who served the congregation very 
acceptably, and then gave up this charge to accept one in Alton, 111. The 
Church was without a Minister for upward of a year, but have recently secured 
the services of a Minister, who entered on his duties in August. 

LUTHERAN CHURCH (GERMAN). 

This denomination has had a church in the county seat for several years, 
and, although representatives of the Church are found all over the county where- 
ever there are Germans, yet no congregation was ever organized in the county, 
out of Petersburg, until two years ago, when Prof. Winnekin, of the Lutheran 
Theological Seminary, located at Springfield, organized a congregation in the 
vicinity of Tallula, and they have since erected a neat, though cheap house 
of worship. There is, also, a large community of German Lutherans in the 
neighborhood of Greenview, though they have not, as yet, been formally organ- 
ized. In Petersburg, the Church owns a small brick church house, and on 
adjoining lots are a schoolhouse and parsonage. These are all free from debt. 
Rev. Robert Collier is at present, and has been for more than a year past, 
their Pastor. The membership in this congregation is large, and they have 
regular services each Sabbath. 

CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

There is but one congregation, and one house of worship in this county 
belonging to this people. The house stands on the crest of the high hill at the 
south border of the town, and commands a most commanding view of the town 






244 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

and river. The house is large, substantially built, and finished in the very best 
taste. With the church is connected half a block of ground, on which stands a 
two-story parsonage and a schoolhouse, in which a school is conducted eight 
months in the year, by Sisters. The membership is large, extending to almost 
every part of the county. The Pastor occasionally visits the villages of the 
county, and holds services in them. The church was built about the close of 
the war, and, since it was completed, there has been a regular Pastor in charge 
almost the whole of the time. At present, they are without a Pastor, Rev. 
Father Ahne having left some two months ago, on a'ccouut of his health, and, 
as yet. his place has not been supplied. 

With this brief account we close the general history of the churches in this 
county, though the reader may turn to the histories of the several precincts, where 
he will find full details of all these matters. We sincerely regret that we are 
not able to get fuller details of the early preachers and churches, but it was 
impossible to get this in any reliable form. It is no trouble to find parties 
professing to know the early history of each of the different churches, but the 
difficulty is, that when you accept one of these statements so positively made, 
you will soon find, perhaps, half a dozen persons equally reliable, who will con- 
tradict almost every fact, and give an almost exactly opposite statement. No 
doubt many facts here given will be disputed, yet we have the pleasure of 
knowing that they were gotten from the most trustworthy sources, and where 
there were conflicting statements, we accepted those corroborated by the greatest 
amount of reliable proof. 

DEATHS AND CEMETERIES. 

As before stated, the first death in the county, of which there is any record 
or recollection, was a son of Mr. Boyer, named Henderson. Some affirm that 
Joseph Kinney thrown from a horse and killed was the second, and some say 
the third death. The burden of the proof is that he was the second. His 
grave was the first in the burying-ground now known as Sugar Grove Cemetery. 
There is a strange fact in connection with this oldest known grave in Menard 
County. Kinney was injured by being thrown from his horse while on his way 
from a horse-race, and he died very soon after the fall. Shortly after his burial, 
an elm sprang up from the very center of the grave. This was allowed to grow 
from year to year ; and it seems there was peculiar nutriment in the soil of that 
spot for the elm, for it grew with remarkable rapidity. It stands there to-day, 
a giant tree, and the grave is entirely covered and obliterated by it ; and there 
it stands, a living, verdant monument, wrestling with the tempest, and glitter- 
ing in the sunshine, silently telling of the death of Joe Kinney. 

Soon after this, the old "graveyards " in Clary's Grove, and at Lebanon, 
and at other points were opened. No fact, connected with the early settlement 
of the country, is more to be regretted than the practice of burying their dead 
in places totally unprotected by law, and doomed soon to be abandoned, and, in 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 245 

time, to be inclosed in farms, the soil above them ruthlessly torn by the plow, 
and the very ashes of our ancestors made to feed the cultivated crops. A 
very little care and effort at the proper time would have prevented all this. 
But it is a lamentable fact that, even to the present time, there are scarcely any 
cemeteries in the county for which proper provisions are made. 

The principal cemeteries proper are as follows : " Rose Hill" situated on 
the hill east of the river, one mile from Peterburg. Some fifteen years ago, 
Mr. William S. Conant purchased the tract of land, and laid out the cemetery 
into blocks and lots. The location is one well suited for the purpose. It is a 
high ridge, level on top, and gradually sloping off, at first into gentle undula- 
tions, and then, farther south, it breaks into abruptly rolling hills ; so that any 
taste can be satisfied. Fine drives for carriages traverse every part of the 
grounds, so that every lot may be closely inspected without alighting. The 
ground was originally covered with a fine growth of young and thrifty forest- 
trees, oak, hickory, elm, walnut, etc. ; and the proprietor has displayed great 
taste\in setting out evergreens and flowers in every part of the ground. A 
great number of graves are already to be seen there, while a great number of fine 
monuments beautify the ground, standing as mute, but eloquent mourners, bring- 
ing to the memory of many the tender but broken ties of other years. Mr. 
Conant deserves great credit for his energy and perseverance in opening and 
keeping up this " city of the dead." 

"Oakland Cemetery" is deserving of mention here, for, while it has been 
opened but a few months, in point of importance it stands among the first cem- 
eteries in the county. It is located just outside the corporate limits of Peters- 
burg, at the southwestern point. It consists of some twenty acres purchased 
by the proprietor, Mr. D. M. Bone, of Mr. Wadkins, in the autumn of 1878. 
It would seem that the Great Architect prepared this spot as a private chamber 
where the sleeping dead may rest. The cemetery proper is cut off from the 
surrounding fields by a deep ravine running along each side, thus forming a 
high ridge, slightly declining toward the city, while, on the summit, there are 
at least seven or eight acres that are almost level, rolling just enough fo- the 
water to run off. Along the entire extent of the crest of the hill, running clear 
around the whole bluff, is the broken brow of the hill, offering a choice of every 
quality of ground, from the level sward on top to the sloping, wave-like undu- 
lations on the brow, to the rugged and precipitous sides of the bluff. The earth 
is close and compact, and, at the depth of three or four feet, it is almost white 
as lime, while, owing to the peculiar conformation of the entire tract, the ground 
underneath is very dry, caused by the shedding of the water from the surface. 
The surface of the tract was by nature covered with a dense growth, princi- 
pally young and thrifty forest trees, with here and there a gnarled and wrinkled 
oak or elm, looking the parent of the surrounding forest. These old pioneers 
of the wood, centuries old, yet showing no signs of age, are fitting sentinels to 
guard these precincts of the slumbering tenants of the tomb. The natural 



246 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

forest was marred but little by the ax, but left almost as nature formed it. 
Mr. Bone secured the services of Mr. Cleaveland, of Chicago, the most gifted 
landscape gardener on the continent, to come and view the ground, and, having 
examined the land, he laid it out in the highest perfection of the art. Mr. 
Cleaveland has superintended the laying-out of the leading cemeteries of the 
country, and, so soon as they got a view of the natural .tract, he and his son 
both spoke in the highest terms of its beauty. It is laid out in gentle curves, 
and smoothly gliding lines, without any sharp angles, or monotonous squares or 
diamonds to weary the eye and surfeit the taste. No two blocks or lots are 
alike ; no two drives or walks are similar ; but an unending variety and 
every varying contrast is presented to the eye. Broad drives sweep in grace- 
ful curves through every part of the ground, and from the carriage every grave 
may be viewed from the foot, and every inscription be read. In addition to 
this, the cemetery is chartered on a basis that it can never be neglected nor fall 
into decay. Provisions are made by which an ample fund, as a kind of endow- 
ment fund, is laid by in store, the interest only of which is to be used in keep- 
ing up the repairs. No individual can ever assume the control of it ; and as 
much care will be taken of the grave fifty years after the interment as the first 
year. Taking all these facts together, and in connection with its location within 
an easy walk from any part of town, it will, in the very near future, be one of 
the most lovely cemeteries in the county. Quite a number of persons are 
already interred there, and many lots have already been sold. 

At Indian Point, there is a cemetery one mile east of the church, that is 
duly incorporated, and is beautifully laid out. At Athens, the cemetery laid 
out by Mr. Hall is also incorporated, as also the Tallula Cemetery. These, we 
believe, are all the incorporated cemeteries in the county. There are a large 
number of private burying-grounds in the county, some containing hundreds 
of graves ; some have some little care and attention, while most of them have 
fallen into neglect, and, in the course of a few years, will have gone to entire 
ruin. This is a matter in which our people are shamefully negligent, and it is 
sincerely to be hoped that the public mind will become awakened on this sub- 
ject. Will we take so much pains with our homes and barns and farms, while 
the dust of our fathers and mothers are thusneglected ? A mere pittance, in 
the way of expense, and very little care and labor would gather these scat- 
tered remains from those dreary scenes of desolation and neglect, and place them 
in incorporated cemeteries, where their graves would be remembered, protected 

and cared for. 

RAILROADS. 

There are two railroads passing through Menard County ; these are the 
Jacksonville branch of the Chicago Alton, and the Springfield & Northwest- 
ern. These roads cross each other at nearly right angles at Petersburg, which 
is near the center of the county, thus dividing the county in four almost equal 
parts. The Chicago & Alton Railroad enters the county within less than a 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 247 

half-mile of the southwest corner, and it leaves the county at the Salt Creek 
bridge, which is but a few miles from the northeast corner ; thus it traverses 
the entire county diagonally from corner to corner. The Springfield & North- 
western road enters the county at the southeast corner, or as near as it can be 
found ; it traverses the entire area, and the bridg'e on the Sangamon. where it 
enters Mason county, is precisely at the corner of Menard. 

The question of the navigation of the Sangamon River had been agitated 
as early as 1832 or 1833, as the reader will see in another place, but this was 
soon given up entirely. Another project was then proposed, of opening a canal 
from Beardstown to Decatur, by way of the Illinois and Sangamon Rivers. In 
the Legislature of 1834-35, a charter was granted for this purpose. In the 
spring following, a careful survey wcs made of the route ; then, after a vast 
deal of gas and calculation and suggestion, the matter was abandoned; 
but it did not die in the rninds or energies of the people. Occasionally, the 
matter was agitated, but it was not till 1850, or 1851, that it was again 
warmly canvassed. So high did the fever run at this time, that the Leg- 
islature of 1852 granted a charter to the "Springfield and Northwestern Rail- 
road Company " to construct a road from Springfield to Rock Island. This 
road was to pass through the county just as the Springfield & Northwestern 
Road has since done. So far was this enterprise pushed, that the county of 
Menard voted $50,000 to aid in its construction. The people were so full of 
enthusiasm over the enterprise that it was thought for a time that it could not 
fail. Even a small per cent of the amount voted was absolutely raised to defray 
the expenses of the survey. But it is true that 

" The best laid schemes o' mice an' men 
Gang aft ngley," 

and as Sangamon County refused to vote her share of the stock, and troubles 
anticipated concerning the favorable negotiation of the bonds if voted, as also 
some unexplained trouble among the Company, the enterprise finally " went up.'' 
The people of "Little Menard," by these constant failures, became thoroughly 
discouraged. For a few years they were despondent ; but in the fall of 
1856, a new enterprise was suggested. An intelligent citizen informed the 
writer, that when this was first proposed, the people heard it with a scowl ; but 
laier, hope began to revive. 

The enterprise proposed was the construction of a line of railroad from 
Jacksonville to Tonica in La Salle County, to intersect the Hennepin & Streri- 
tor. Tonica is a village on the last-named road, nine miles from the town of 
La Salle. A gentleman from La Salle County came along the proposed line of 
road, talking to the people and holding public meetings; and, having a corps of 
surveyors with him, he was making a preliminary survey at the same time. 
As the proposed line was to pass through Petersburg, and that being twenty- 
two miles from the nearest railroad or navigable river, the proposed road was a 
grand scheme to the citizens of this section of country. Menard, as a corporate 



248 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

body, voted $100,000 stock, and such was the zeal of the people that 
nearly $30,000 -stock was subscribed by individuals. A charter was granted 
the Petersburg & Tonica Railroad. The subscriptions were legalized, and 
Hon. Richard Yates was made President of it, and Menard County had two 
representatives on the Board'of Directors, viz., John Bennett and Hon. "W. G. 
Greene. Work was soon commenced on both extremes of the line, and prose- 
cuted with vigor, and a great amount of grading was soon done ; but, unfor- 
tunately, notwithstanding the zeal of the people, the subscriptions ran short, 
and the work was compelled to stop. About this time, Mr. Yates resigned the 
Presidency, when Hon. W. G. Greene was called to fill the position, and Hon. 
W. T. Beekman was made a Director and Superintendent of the road. By 
almost superhuman efforts, means were raised to complete the road from Jack- 
sonville to Petersburg, a distance of twenty-eight miles. During the fall of 
1861, the locomotive whistled for the first time in Petersburg. This being 
just at the opening of the war, all hope of its immediate completion was aban- 
doned. Mr. Milton Moore, recently deceased, was the first agent in the 
Petersburg depot, and Mr. William Bacon, the very prince of conductors, had 
charge of the first train. Many were the anecdotes told of the remarkable 
speed of this train. There being one train, and the time-table requiring him 
to make the round trip every twenty-four hours, of course he must run. 
Fifty-six miles in twenty-four hours ! Think of it ! They still tell of the 
train waiting for a farmer to shell a "grist " of corn to take to mill, and of the 
conductor's strictness in carrying out the time-table ; so strict, indeed, that he 
helped shell the corn ! Of the lady who had eleven eggs to send to market on 
the train, and of Mr. Bacon waiting for the hen to lay the other egg ; but 
they do not say that he hurried the hen ! One thing is sure ; that is, Mr. 
Bacon was always a gentleman, and still is. 

About the close of the war, a proposition was made by the Chicago & Alton 
Railroad Company, which was accepted, whereby the latter company completed 
the road, not to Tonica, however, but following the old road-bed to Delavan, in 
Tazewell County ; there leaving the old Tonica line, it was run directly to 
Bloomington, there intersecting the line of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. 
Since that time, this has been an important line of road. Some years ago, the 
Chicago & Alton Company secured entire possession. Now it is finished to 
Kansas City. There are no finer trains run anywhere west of Ohio than the 
''Denver Express" and the "St. Louis Mail." The passenger and freight 
business of this road is simply immense ; and the company spare no expense in 
keeping their road up with all others, by putting all new appliances that can 
add to the success of the road into use. 

The reader will remember that, in 1852, a charter was granted by the 
Legislature to the " Springfield & Northwestern Railroad Company," to build 
a railroad from Springfield to Rock Island. After that old charter had lain 
dead for seventeen years, it was revived by the Legislature in 1869 to a new 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 249 

company, however, allowing them to construct a road on the line of the old 
survey. Menard County voted $100,000 stock in this road, and the town of 
Petersburg pays $15,000. There was a great amount of trouble over this 
mfitter of the "town bonds," as it was in the courts for quite a while; but as 
it is a matter that produced trouble and hard feelings, and as it has been settled 
in the courts, we think it the part of prudence to let it be buried in the obliv- 
ion of forgetfulness. In the latter part of 1870, work was begun on this 
line at Havana, but it progressed but slowly. During the next year, 1871, 
it was completed across Mason County, and a few miles into Menard. In 1872, 
the cars began to run as far as from Havana to Petersburg. By late autumn 
in 1873, the road was finished all the way to Cantrall, a distance of no less 
than thirteen miles from Petersburg ! Here another rest was taken ; but after 
the needed rest and recuperation necessary after such an arduous summer's 
work, the road was completed at last, in 1874. Mr. William Ludwig was 
appointed agent at Petersburg depot, a position which he has held to the pres- 
ent time, to the entire satisfaction of all. The road is doing a good business, 
both in freights and travel, and both rapidly increasing. 

NAVIGATION OF THE SANGAMON. 

The location of Menard County being so remote from large rivers, the roads 
of course, poor, and railroad transportation being then unborn, it is not to 
be wondered at if the early settlers did seriously ponder the navigation of 
the Sangamon. We are to bear in mind another fact, viz.: the forests being 
then undisturbed, the ground untrampled by stock and unplowed, and the flat 
prairies undrained, it follows, of course, that the average amount of water flow- 
ing in the river was at least a third more than at present ; for, there being 
more vegetation then than now, there was then a greater rain-fall. Also, 
the ground being untrampled, the rain all sank in the earth and passed off 
regularly by springs, feeding the river constantly ; whereas now the ground is 
hard, and the fall of rain runs off with a dash. The result of this is that we 
have greater freshets and lower waters than they had in an early day. 

Not only was the matter pondered, but the experiment was absolutely made 
more than once. Some gentlemen in or near to Springfield, being very desir- 
ous for some lumber, conceived the plan of shipping it up from Alton by way 
of the rivers. A steamer was found at Alton of the desired size. It was duly 
laden with lumber, and started on its long voyage. The season was favorable 
to them, the waters being extremely high, as this was 1831, the spring follow- 
ing the deep snow. All went swimmingly until they reached the inevitable 
Salem dam of Cameron and Rutledge. The water was nearly level over the dam, 
and so they tried to run over it. Unfortunately, they hung ; but, removing a 
part of the cargo, and taking a cable above and fastening it to a tree, and 
working the rope on the capstan, by steam and ropes combined they pulled 
over. From this on, they had no more trouble. It went as far as Cotton Hill, 



250 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

which is due east of the city of Springfield. The boat soon after returned in 
safety to the Illinois River. The name of this first steamer up the Sangamon 
was the " Talisman." 

Five years later, in 1836, the steamer Utility came up the same river 
as far as Petersburg ; but, owing to the rough usage it received coming up, and 
the low stage of the water, the Captain was afraid to start back to the Illinois 
with it. He sold the Utility, as he could not utilize it, to Col. John Taylor, 
one of the early pioneers of Petersburg. Mr. Taylor built the first frame 
house that was ever in Petersburg or Menard County, of the debris of this 
boat; the first glass windows in the town came out of this boat, and the first 
steam mill ever in the town or county was run by the engine belonging to it. 
One of the residents of the town at the time says that there was not a house 
in the town that was not ornamented with some part of the Utility. Certainly, 
the primitive "burghers" utilized it to pretty good purpose. 

Some of the old citizens affirm that a third steamboat came up as far as this 
place ; while others positively deny it. If such a vessel did visit the " wharf" 
of Petersburg, its name was never known to the people, or is entirely forgotten. 
It is true that the citizens sent Maj. Hill to Cincinnati, and had a boat built 
expressly "for Sangamon River ports." The boat was built and came on, .but 
it was too large, and never made a voyage, as some say, but others say that it 
came to Petersburg and was sunk here in the raging Sangamon. So much for 
navigation. 

EDUCATION. 

The year has its seasons, in which the vegetable kingdom is variously 
affected. During the spring, it grows, expanding and enlarging ; in summer, 
the newly-formed portions are matured and hardened so as to ensure the rigors 
of winter. Among animals, there is a period in which they grow and advance, 
and then they decay and die. The tide ebbs and flows ; day is succeeded by 
night ; and so, all through nature, there is change and variety ; even the plan- 
ets in their orbits at one point fly with inconceivable rapidity, while at another 
their motion is retarded. This seems to be true even of the intellectuality of 
the human family. Especially since the introduction of letters among the 
Greeks, there have been seasons of advancement and then retrogression in the 
intellectuality of the race. But this is not so plainly visible till after the revi- 
val of letters in Europe. This is true, however, in civilization, arts and 
sciences ; we advance and then recede, drop back, not to the former state, how- 
ever, and then advance again beyond the point reached before ; so that the 
general tendency is advancement. So it is in the literary improvement of 
mankind, the advance being greater than the retrogression. About the close 
of the war of the Revolution, literature and science began to advance in a man- 
ner they had never done before, and the interest awakened at that time is still 
on the advance. From that time, the American people have been fully aroused on 
the subject of education. But in those sections of country that were settled after 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 251 

the Revolution, time was absolutely necessary to any beneficial results from the 
efforts. In the early development of Illinois, there was a great variety of 
influences in the way of general education. The settlements were sparse, and 
continued so for years. Money or other means of remunerating teachers was 
scarce, as the pioneers of new countries are nearly always poor. There were 
no schoolhouses erected, nor was there any public school fund, either State or 
county. All persons, of both sexes, who had physical strength enough to labor, 
were compelled to take their part in the work of securing a support, the labors 
of the females being as laborious and important as that of the men ; and this 
continued so for a quarter of a century. In the last place, both teachers and 
books were extremely scarce. Taking all these facts together, the wonder is 
that they had any schools whatever. With all our present advantages our 
commodious schoolhouses, our abundant and ever ready public fund, and the 
superabundance of teachers of every quality, from the very poorest up to the 
best still some communities will lose months of precious time in wrangling 
over some matter of the most insignificant character. But the pioneers of Illi- 
nois deserve the highest honors for their prompt and energetic efforts in this 
direction. Just so soon as the settlements would at all justify, schools were 
begun at each one. The teacher or pupil of to-day has no conception of getting 
an education under difficulties. Everything connected with schools was as 
simple and primitive as the dwellings, clothing or food. The schools were at 
first kept in private dwellings, and then, a few years later, houses were built in 
the various neighborhoods, not by money subscribed, but by labor given. The 
men of the vicinity would gather together at some point previously agreed upon, 
and, with each an ax in hand, the work was soon done. Logs were cut, six- 
teen or eighteen feet in length, and of these the walls were raised. Broad 
boards composed the roof, and a rude fireplace and clapboard door, a puncheon 
floor, and the cracks filled with " chinks," and these daubed over with mud, 
completed the schoolhouse, with the exception of the windows and furniture. 
The window if any was made by cutting out a log the full length of the build- 
ing, and over the opening, in winter (and they had school during no other season 
of the year), paper saturated with grease served to admit the light. Just under 
this window, two or *,hree strong pins were firmly driven in the log in a slant- 
ing direction. On these pins, a long "puncheon" was fastened, and this was 
the writing-desk for the whole school. For seats, they used benches made in 
the following manner: Smooth, straight trees, about a foot in diameter, were 
cut in lengths of from twelve to sixteen feet. In the round side of these, two 
large holes were bored at each end, and, in each, a stout pin fifteen inches long 
was driven. These pins formed the legs. On the uneven floors, these rude 
benches were hardly ever seen to have more than three legs on the floor at one 
time. The dirt to daub the house and construct the fireplace and chimney was. 
nearly always dug in the center of the building, before the floor was laid. This 
dug quite a cellar under the schoolhouse floor. The venerable Minter Graham 



252 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

informed the writer that, while he was teaching in Salem, he was one day 
walking the floor, deeply interested in hearing the recitation of a class. All at 
once, one of the "puncheons" in the floor, being a little short, slipped off" the 
"sleeper" at one end, and, quick as thought, the teacher was sent like an 
arrow, feet foremost, into the hole under the floor. The children screamed 
with fright, doubtless thinking that, like Korah of old, the earth had swallowed 
him up; nor would they be pacified till "Uncle Minter " crept out, and 
adjusted the treacherous slab. 

The books were as primitive as the houses. The New Testament, when it 
could be had, was the most popular reader, though occasionally a copy of the 
old "English Reader" was found, and very rarely the " Columbian Orator" 
was in a family. Pike's and Smiley's Arithmetics, "Webster's Speller" was 
first used, and after eight or ten years, the "Elementary Speller" came in. 
Grammar was scarcely ever taught ; when it was, the text-books used were 
Murray's and Kirkham's Grammar. To illustrate the scarcity of these books, 
it may not be amiss to state in this connection that while Lincoln was in Salem, 
he took lessons from Mr. Graham in English grammar. But he must have a 
book, and, after diligent inquiry, he learned that Mr. John Vance, then living 
seven miles north of Salem, at Concord, had a copy of " Kirkham's Gram- 
mar." Mr. Lincoln walked barefoot the seven miles and back, procured the 
book, mastered its contents, and then returned it. 

The schools were made by subscription, the charge being from $1.50 to 
$2.50 per scholar for a term of three months, the schools running only in mid- 
winter. School opened at 8 o'clock in the morning and closed at 5 in the 
evening. The teacher must be an adept at making quill pens, as pens of steel 
or gold were then unheard of. The principal game among the boys was " bull- 
pen," a kind of ball. The party was equally divided. A field was laid out 
with as many corners, or bases, as there were men on a side. They tossed for 
choice, the winners' side taking the corners, or bases, the others going into the 
" pen." The game was this : The men on the bases, tossing the ball from one 
to another as rapidly as they could, threw and struck one in the "pen" 
whenever they could. If one threw and struck no one, he was out ; but if he 
struck one, the men on the bases all ran away, and if the one struck first did 
not throw and hit one in return, he was out; though if he did, both kept their 
places. So the game went on till all on the "corners" were out; the others 
then took the bases. This was a rough, but lively and amusing game. Those 
in the " pen " often had their ribs sorely battered with the ball ; but many 
became such adepts in the art of "dodging" the ball when thrown at them, 
that it was almost impossible to strike them. This game was, in time, aban- 
doned for a game called "town ball;" the present baseball being town ball 
reduced to a science. 

It is a rather strange, but very creditable fact, that schools were begun in 
the principal centers of the early settlements nearly at the same time, and 



HISTORY OF MEXARD COUNTY. 253 

* 

within less than two years after the first pioneers came to the country. It 
cannot be decided who it was that taught the first school in the county, or where 
it was taught. It is pleasing, however, to know that the name of the first 
teacher in each of those settlements has been preserved the place, the approx- 
imate time, and all this ; but the exact date not being given, we cannot tell 
which was first. Clary's Grove, Sugar Grove, Indian Creek and Rock Creek 
settlements each claims the honor of being the first to start in this direction. 

Mr. Tarleton Lloyd, now ninety-five years of age, had settled on a claim on 
Rock Creek, on which were two log cabins, one 16x17 feet, the other, 15 feet 
square. Mr. Lloyd lived in the larger of these, and, about 1820 (Mr. L. can- 
not give the date positively), a man by the name of Compton opened a school 
in the smaller of these cabins ; and this served as a schoolhouse for two years, 
when a better one was built. In 1820 or 1821, Messrs. Meadows, Boyer, 
Wilcox, McNabb and Grant put up a house in Sugar Grove, in which to have 
school. This was built of split logs, or large rails, and a school was at once 
opened in it by James McNabb, who, as the reader will probably remember, 
was drowned in the Sangamon River some time after. The next school there 
was taught by a Mr. McCall, and the third by Mr. Templeman. In 1820 
(positively), a school was taught in Clary's Grove, in a log cabin, by Robert 
Armstrong. The old settlers of this grove are very positive in the assertion 
that this was the first school in the limits of " Little Menard." 

In 1820 or 1821, a log cabin was put up on the brow of the bluff on Indian 
Creek, not far from the present site of Indian Point Church. In this, a Mr. 
Hodge taught the first school in that vicinity. We give in detail only these 
earliest schools, for, by one or two years after those named were begun, schools 
were opened in considerable number, so that any effort at giving any farther 
particulars would be simply ridiculous. As the school system .was not adopted 
and put into operation by the authority of the State till as late as 1847, it fol- 
lows, of course, that there were no regular districts for schools, no public funds 
of any amount, and, therefore, they were all run by private enterprise, and on 
the subscription plan. But in order that the people should not be imposed 
upon too egregiously, it was common for the neighborhood to select some one of 
their number to examine and pass on the qualifications of the applicant, giving 
him, if qualified, a certificate of the fact. In another part of this work, Mr. 
Perrin relates an incident actually occurring in the county : A gentleman 
applying for a certain school was sent to the proper dignitary to be examined 
and procure a certificate. He appeared before his honor, and was handed a Bible, 
opened at a chapter of genealogy in the Old Testament, which, of course, was 
all jaw-breaking proper names. He read the chapter, when the old gentleman 
said, " I guess you can teach school." He then produced pen and paper and told 
the applicant to write a certificate. He did so, and, when done, handed it to the 
old gentleman for his signature. Said he, " Just sign it for me, and I will 
make my mark, as I can't write." 



2- r )4 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

In some communities they were determined not to be imposed upon ; as in 
the vicinity of Indian Point. Long before the introduction of our admirable- 
system of school laws, a number of leading citizens constituted themselves a 
committee on examinations, and these examinations were close and rigid. 
Many were the poor fellows in ye olden time, who, after sweating for long 
hours in the dreadful ordeal of a cross fire between these sturdy old farmers, 
were doomed at last to fail. But the result was a wholesome one to the com- 
munity adopting the plan. The Indian Point school is an illustration, for 
they, adopting this plan in a very early day, have always had the very best 
of schools the best in the entire county, perhaps. 

After the adoption of the present school system, the interest in education 
was greatly advanced, and, at present, our districts in every part of the county 
are enjoying the very highest privileges. Each district has a neat and pleas- 
ant schoolhouse, furnished with every comfort and necessity. The best of 
teachers can be employed, and a public fund is provided to meet all the expen- 
ses. Subjoined, we give some important items from the County Superintend- 
ent's report for the year ending July 30, 1879. 

There are, under twenty-one years of age, males, 3,226; females, 3,041: 
total, 6,267. Between the ages of six and twenty-one years, males, 2,160 ; 
females, 2,012 ; total, 4,172. Number of schools in the county, 63. Frame 
schoolhouses, 35; brick, 28. Number of teachers employed during the year, 
males, 58; females, 53; total, 111. Months taught by males, 327; by females, 
266 ; total, 593. Total number of days attended, 264,043. Number unable 
to read and write, males, 8 ; females, 4 ; total, 12. This includes, of course, 
only those between six and twenty-one years. The cause, in one case, was men- 
tal incapacity ; in all the others, the cause was the neglect of parents. Aver- 
age wages paid to male teachers per month, $51.37 ; average paid to females, 
$34.13. State fund received, $4,650.22. Interest on public fund, $264.77. 
Amount of district tax levy, $14,833.16. Total sum expended in the county 
for school purposes during the year, $38,386.28. The county never had any 
normal school till during 1878, and the summer of 1879. Each term was 
of six weeks, and forty pupils were in attendance during each term. Each 
term was a decided success. 

WAR RECORD. 

Under this head, we think it best to give the entire history of Menard 
County as connected with the various wars in which the United States has 
been engaged since the State came into the Union. The Black Hawk war 
was spoken of in the history of the village of Salem ; it is therefore unnecessary 
to repeat what was there said. Ever since the Indian troubles of the country, 
the Western people have shown the strongest devotion* to the interests and 
honor of the whole country. And when a portion of the frontier citizens of 
the country, after repeated and long-continued abuses from heartless and despic- 
able neighbors, appealed to the whole country for aid, and a call was made for 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 255 

volunteers, the whole American people were filled with enthusiasm. The citi- 
zens of the " Lone Star State," as it has since been called, had for years been 
engaged in a kind of guerrilla warfare, with varying results; but in 1836, a 
battle was fought at San Jacinto, wherein Santa Anna, the dictator of Mexico, 
was captured, and, being held in strict confinement, he was finally induced to 
sign a treaty acknowledging the independence of Texas. But, in violation of 
the treaty and of every principle of honor, the republic of Mexico treated Texas 
and the Texans just as she had previously done. From this time on, petitions were 
frequently presented to the United States asking admission into the Union. 
But Mexico, through sheer spite, endeavored to prevent the admission of Texas, 
by constantly declaring that her reception would be regarded as a sufficient 
cause for a declaration of war, thinking, perhaps, that this would serve to 
intimidate the United States. In the Presidential canvass of 1844, this was 
one of the leading issues before the people, and Mr. Polk being elected, this was 
taken as a public declaration on the subject. After this, Congress had no hesi- 
tancy in granting the petition of Texas, and, on the 1st of March, 1845, for- 
mally received her into the sisterhood of States. Mexico at once, in her indig- 
nation, broke off all diplomatic relations with the United States, calling home 
her Minister immediately, which was a clear declaration of war. War was soon 
declared. Congress passed an act, authorizing the President to accept the ser- 
vices of 50,000 volunteers, and appropriating $10,000,000 for the prosecution 
of the war. Just at the opening of actual trouble with Mexico, the United 
States was disputing about the boundary of Oregon, the motto being " 54, 40 
or fight." But, as we had one war on hand already, it was thought best not 
to get into trouble with Great Britain, and the boundary was placed at the 
4th parallel of north latitude. When the call for volunteers was made, the 
requisition on Illinois was for "three regiments of infantry or riflemen." As 
to the pay, that matter was nothing, being only $8 a month. The troops 
were to be enlisted for a term of twelve months, and the privates were lim- 
ited to eighty men in a company. The call of the Governor Ford was 
issued May 25, for the organization of the three regiments. Soon the State 
was alive with almost frantic enthusiasm. The strains of martial music 
were heard in almost every village and hamlet. The first man to enroll 
himself a volunteer was the well-known and brave J. J. Hardin. In ten days, 
thirty-five full companies were raised, and by the middle of June there 
were no less than forty companies in excess of the call. After the three 
regiments hal rendezvoused at Alton, and had been received and sworn in> 
Hon. E. D. Baker, member of Congress from the Sangamon District, 
was authorized by the Secretary of War to raise another regiment in Illi- 
nois. The regiment was promptly raised, and was composed of two com- 
panies from Sangamon, and one company from each of the following coun- 
ties: Macon, McLean, De Witt, Logan, Tazewell, Edgar, Perry and '"Little 
Menard." Hon. Thomas L. Harris, of Petersburg, and whose family still 



256 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

reside in that place, was, by general consent, recognized as Captain of the 
company, though no election was held till some time later. They stopped 
for a short time at Springfield, where they were partially drilled. At Alton, 
they were sworn in and received arms. They then removed to Jefferson 
Barracks, twelve miles below St. Louis, on the Mississippi River. When 
they reached the barracks, they still had no officers, except Capt. Harris who 
was tacitly regarded as such. Here an election was held for regimental offi- 
cers, which resulted in the choice of E. D. Baker as Colonel ; the former 
Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, John Moore, of McLean, as Lieutenant Col- 
onel, and Thomas L. Harris, of Petersburg, as Major. 

Officers were here elected for the company. A. D. Wright, of Petersburg, 
was elected Captain ; William C. Clary, First Lieutenant ; Shelton Johnson, 
Second Lieutenant ; Robert Scott, Third Lieutenant. The whole number of 
men in the company, mustered in, was eighty-two; these, with Maj. Harris, 
promoted, made eighty-three men from Menard County actually entering the 
service. Some others volunteered, but they never went so far as to be mustered 
into service. So soon as the Fourth Regiment reached the city of Alton, a 
serious question of rank arose between Col. Baker, of the Fourth, and Col. 
John J. Hardin, of the First Regiment. This matter was referred to a court 
of inquiry, composed of Capts. Bishop, Crow, Coffee, Dickey, Elkin, Hicks, 
Jones, McAdams, Morgan, Roberts and Wiley, and G. T. M. Davis as clerk. 
After a careful investigation of the whole question, Col. Hardin was declared the 
senior officer. The men who went from Menard County were the following: 

Clayborn Altig, Lewis Atchison, Robert Bishop, Wilson Bess, John Bond, 
Banister Bond, Greene Bond, Jesse Browne, Preston Berry, Andrew Bell, 
Oliver Cox, William Close, David Clark, Robert Clary, William Clary, Thomas 
Clary, Daniel Clary, Franceway Day, Phillip Day, Washington Denton, Aaron 
Durben, Isaac Estil, Samuel Ely, Elijah Elmore, Napoleon Greer, Isaiah 
Goldsby, Wade H. Goldsby, Charles Gum, Christopher Goodman, Conover 
Gum, Evans Greene, Amos Gurnsey, John Garber, Alvin Hornback, William 
Hutchinson, Peter Hamilton, Elias Hohimer, Aaron Houghton, Michael Hed- 
rick. John Jones, Robert N. Jones, Shelton Johnson, Richard Johnson, Walter 
W. King. Joseph M. King, Jesse Lukins, Robert Moore, Royal Miller, John 
Miller, Philemon Morris, T. Nance, Henry Nance, George W. Nance, James 
Patterson, William Phillips, Cornelius Rourke, Robert Rayburn. William 
Rhodes, John Ritchie, William Stone, 0. H. F. Smith, Daniel Staten, Robert 
Scott, Richard Smedley, Jonathan Simpson, David R. Short, Robert Smith, 
Anderson Trent, Robert Trotter, Samuel Tibbs, Owen Thomas, J. P. Walker, 
John Wright, Enoch Wiseman, John Wiseman, Thomas Watkins, Richard 
Witt, Capt. A. D. Wright, James Watkins, Benjamin Wiseman, Nelson Yocum, 
George Yocum. 

This list contains eighty-two names, and, with that of Maj. Thomas L. 
Harris, makes the number of men from Menard County eighty-three in all. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 257 

This was Company F, in the Fourth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. From 
Jefferson Barracks, William Phillips came back home on furlough, and never 
returned to the army. At New Orleans, Elias Hohimer received permission to 
return home, and remained there. All the remainder of the Menard County 
men, eighty-one in number, boarded the brig Mary Jones and were landed at 
Point Isabella, at the mouth of the Rio Grande River, in Texas. This was a 
seven days' voyage, and on the way, two men died, and were buried in the 
Gulf. After landing, they marched up the Rio Grande toward Camargo. 
This was a toilsome march, and the climate nor food agreeing with the soldiers, 
death made fearful havoc among them. Every day's march was marked by a 
grave. In that short journey, twenty-one men died, among whom were Short, 
Atchison, Thomas Clary, Joseph M. King ; seven others were sent home, being 
unfit for service, on account of disease. From Camargo, they marched by land 
to Tampico, a distance of near five hundred miles. On this march, seven more 
men died, making thirty-seven in all from the ranks by death, and returning 
to the States. From Tampico, the command sailed to Vera Cruz by the steam- 
ship Alabama. In this battle, the company did not lose a man. From there, 
they marched to Cerro Gordo, and entered the battle with forty-two men. In 
the engagement, three of this company were killed and three severely wounded. 
George Yocum, Al Hornback and Lieut. Johnson were killed. Robert Scott, 
John Ritchey and Cornelius Rourke were severely wounded. Mr. Rourke 
lost his left leg, it being shot off near his body. He still lives, however, an 
honored member of society. His home is in Petersburg, where he is engaged 
in the lumber trade. He is now Major in the State militia. The command 
was discharged shortly after the battle of Cerro Gordo, their time having 
expired, and they reached home in the fall of 1847. By the best information 
we can get, there are fourteen of those who started out with this company who 
are still living. The remnant of the company who still survive, are sorely scat- 
tered, and it is almost impossible to obtain a correct list of the survivors and 
the places of their residence. A few, however, still live in this and adjoining 
counties. Col. Cornelius Rourke, William Hutchinson, Walter W. King and 
Robert Bishop live in Petersburg. Washington Denton, Charles Gum, Elias 
Hohimer, Samuel Tibbs, Aaron Houghton and Thomas Watkins are still citi- 
zens of Menard County. Dr. J. P. Walker is a successful practitioner of 
medicine in Mason City, Mason Co., 111. William Clary lives in Kansas, R, 
N. Jones is in Iowa, and Richard Witt is perhaps in Nebraska. Royal Miller 
lives in Sangamon County. Soon the last of them will be gone to their final 
reward. 

WAR OF THE REBELLION. 

It is not our purpose to write a history of the " War for the Union," for, 
even if we had time, space and material, we should not then be tempted to the 
task, as there is, at present, vastly more war literature extant than is read. 
And this is not to be regretted, as this class of literature is very unreliable. 



258 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

But a history of Menard County that did not contain its war record, would be 
no history. Nothing will be of greater interest to coming generations in our 
country, than a true and faithful account of the events of those four long and 
gloomy years. It. is a duty that we owe to the soldiers who took part in the 
bloody struggle, to record and preserve the leading facts ; especially do we owe 
this to the long list of the dead, who willingly laid down their lives for their 
country's honor and preservation ; we owe it to the maimed and mangled 
cripples who were lacerated and torn by shot and shell ; and last, but not least, 
we owe it to the widows and orphans of our brave soldiers, who, for love of 
country, forsook home with all its endearments, and whose bodies fatten the 
soil of the Sunny South. Menard County had been Democratic in politics for 
many years, and in the Presidential race between Lincoln and Douglas, just at 
the beginning of the war, notwithstanding the high esteem in which Mr. 
Lincoln was personally held by the people, Mr. Douglas received a large 
majority of the votes cast in the county. A large class of people boldly 
opposed the Republican party and its policy ; yet, when the grim visage 
of war began to frown over the land, when the American flag was fired upon 
at Fort Sumter, and the blood of American citizens had been actually spilled, 
the feelings of patriotism ran high, and the pulses of all began to beat full and 
quick ; and when the question of union and disunion was brought full before 
the face of all, then Democrats and Republicans forgot old issues, and petty 
quarrels, and, with united hands and hearts, resolved to sacrifice all else for the 
preservation of the Union. When the first call was made for volunteers, it set 
the entire State in a blaze of excitement, martial music was heard in every 
town and hamlet, and tender females, no less than males, were wild with enthu- 
siasm. Wives encouraged their husbands to enlist, mothers urged their sons 
to patriotic devotion, sisters tenderly gave their brothers to the cause of their 
country, while cases are not unknown where the bride, of an hour, joyfully 
though tearfully, gave the young husband the parting embrace, admonishing 
him to be brave and true. We propose now, in as brief a manner as we can, 
to give the part that Menard County took in the late war. 

The reader is doubtless aware of the fact that the State of Illinois furnished, 
in all, six regiments of men for service in the war with Mexico. Those in 
authority at the beginning of the rebellion, thought it due to the patriotism 
and devotion of the heroes of that war, to begin the numbering of the regiments 
raised in the State with seven, thus preserving the numbering of those old reg- 
iments. It will, therefore, be borne in mind that the Seventh Regiment is in 
reality the first furnished during the rebellion. This " Seventh " Regiment of 
Infantry, Illinois Volunteers, was mustered into service the 25th of April, 1861. 
The first regiment that had a representation in it from Menard County was the 
" Fourteenth," and Company " E " was raised in this county. This regiment 
was first called into the State service for thirty days, under the " Ten Regiment 
Bill." It rendezvoused at Jacksonville, 111., and was mustered in for thirty 




TALLULA 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 261 

days, on May 4, 1861. On the 25th of May, it was mustered into the United 
States' service for three years, by Capt. Pitcher, U. S. A. The Colonel of this 
regiment, when it first went into service, was John M. Palmer. In July, 1861, 
it was ordered into Missouri. Its first active service was the capture and parole 
of a rebel force under James S. Green, formerly United States Senator from Mis- 
, souri. After being with Gen. Fremont in his campaign to Springfield, Mo., it 
went into winter quarters at Otterville. In February, 1862, it was ordered to 
Fort Donelson, but arrived there one day after the battle. At Donelson, it 
was brigaded with the Fifteenth and Forty-sixth Illinois, and the Twenty-fifth 
Indiana, and assigned to the Second Brigade, Fourth Division, under Gen. 
Hurlbut. Before this, Col. Palmer had been promoted, and Maj. Hall, of the 
Seventh Illinois Cavalry, became the Colonel. From Fort Donelson, the reg- 
iment marched to Fort Henry, and went from there by transports up the Ten- 
nessee River to Pittsburg Landing. Up to this time, the regiment had never 
smelt the powder of an enemy, but a baptism of fire, in the full meaning of the 
term, awaited it there. Here, on the 6th and 7th of April, this command lost, 
in killed and wounded, fully one-half of those engaged. This is not mere sur- 
mise, but it is taken from the Adjutant General's report. On the evening of 
the 7th, a grand charge was made, which turned the tide of battle in favor of the 
Union, notwithstanding the numbers and power of the enemy. This splendid 
charge was led by the Fourteenth, with Col. Hall at the head of the columns. 
Gen. Veatch, who commanded the brigade to which the Fourteenth was attached, 
uses the following language : " Col. Hall, of the Fourteenth Illinois, led with 
his regiment that gallant charge on Monday evening, which drove the enemy 
beyond our lines, and closed the struggle of that memorable day." If any one 
has doubts concerning the force of the storm of lead and iron that this command 
passed through on that occasion, let him go to Memorial Hall, in Springfield, 
and count the forty-two bullet-holes made in the regimental colors in that battle, 
and this will surely convince him. This regiment took an active part in the 
battles of Corinth, Memphis, Bolivar. On January 18, 1863, it went into win- 
ter quarters at La Fayette, Tenn. It took part in the siege of Vicksburg until 
its fall, July 4, 1863. In the latter part of this year, the Fourteenth and 
Fifteenth, which had been together nearly all the time, were consolidated into 
the " Fourteenth and Fifteenth Illinois Veteran Battalion." In October, 1864, 
when Gen. Hood made his demonstration against Sherman's rear, a large num- 
ber of this battalion were killed, and the greater part of the remainder taken 
prisoners, and sent to suffer in Andersonville Prison. Those who escaped were 
mounted, and acted as scouts during the remainder of the march to the sea. 
They were first to drive the rebel pickets into Savannah, Ga. They were also 
first to enter Cheraw, S. C., Fayetteville, N. C., and took an active part in the 
battle of Bentonville. In the spring of 1865, the battalion organization was 
discontinued, and at Goldsboro, N. C., the two regiments were re-formed, being 
filled up by recruits, and Col. Hall again took command of the old Fourteenth. 



262 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

It was mustered out of service at Fort Leaven worth, Kan., on September 
16, 1865, and reached Springfield September 22, 1865. The aggregate of 
men belonging to this regiment from first to last, was 1,980, and the number 
mustered out at Fort Leavenworth was 480. It was in service four years and 
four months, and during that time, it marched no less than 4,490 miles, 
traveled by rail 2,330 miles, and by steamboat and transports, 4,490, 
making an aggregate of 11,670 miles. The officers of the Fourteenth, 
in their order, were Cols. John M. Palmer and Cyrus Hall ; Lieut. Cols. 
Amory K. Johnson and William Cam ; Majs. Jonathan Morris and John F. 
Nolte. 

Company E of this regiment was raised in Menard County, eighty men of 
the county joining it. The first Captain was Amory K. Johnson, followed by 
Frederick Mead, of Petersburg, and he by Henry M. Pedan, of Shelbyville. The 
First Lieutenants, in their order, were : Jacob M. Early, of Petersburg ; Ethan H. 
Norton, of the same place, and Alonzo J. Gillespie, of Bloomington. Second Lieu- 
tenants, E. H. Norton and A. J. Gillespie. Of this company, John L. Kinman, 
of Petersburg, was killed in action at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. None deserted. 
The following were discharged on account of disability, viz., John Murphy, 
James Wilhite, Edwin Worth and Joseph Todd. The above statement is taken 
from the report of the Adjutant General, that is, as far as that report goes ; 
but even this is imperfect in many respects, and a number of facts are added, 
derived from individual members of the regiment. 

One company Company A of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Illinois Vet- 
eran Battalion, was also composed of Menard County men ; but in the eighty 
men of Company E, of the Fourteenth, and the twenty-four men of Company 
A of the Battalion, no man is counted twice. The history of the Battalion is 
sketched in that of the Fourteenth, given above, hence it is unnecessary 
repeat it here. Suffice it to say that the men of this command saw hard service, 
but never flinched when the storm beat the hardest. 

We come now to the Twenty-eighth Infantry. This regiment was organize 
by Lieut. Col. Louis H. Waters, and Maj. Charles J. Sellan, at Camp 
Butler, Illinois, in the month of August, 1861. On the 28th of August, was 
ordered to Thebes, 111., and thence to Bird's Point, Mo., on September 9. 
Early in October, it was removed to Fort Holt, Ky., and there remained until 
the last day of January, 1862, when it wag taken to Paducah, Ky., and was 
there assigned to Col. M. L. Smith's Brigade, Brig. Gen. Lew Wallace's 
Division. On the 6th of February, this regiment took part in the capture of 
Forts Hinman and Henry. A little event took place on the 13th of February 
that is worthy of a place here : 

A detachment of 500 rebels were in the vicinity of Little Bethel Churcl 
which Was only five miles from Fort Henry, seeking some kind of adventure. 
Now, it so happened that Col. Johnson was out on a scout with 48 men and 12 
officers 61 men all told and, hearing of the 500 " Johnnies," determined to 



try 

*, 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 263 

try their mettle; so, finding out their locality, approached them, cautiously at 
first, but, soon after the firing began, he ordered a charge, and so furious was 
the attack that the rebels gave way in confusion, and were completely routed. 
About the 6th of March, the regiment was ordered to Pittsburg Landing, and 
was assigned to Gen. Hurlburt's (the Fourth) Division. Just at dawn, on 
Sabbath morning, April 6, 1862, the shrill notes of martial music called the 
men into line. Ominous signs of danger, if not disaster, were everywhere. 
Buckling on their belts and cartridge-boxes as they fell into line, they were hur- 
ried at double-quick over half a mile to the front, where they met Gen. Prentiss' 
command, being driven before the exultant enemy. It was, in a short time, 
assigned a position on the left of the line, in what was called, and since known 
as, the Peach Orchard. The enemy immediately began to pour a galling fire 
on this point, with a view to turning the flank. Stubbornly and doggedly these 
Illinoisans held their position, from before 8 o'clock in the morning till after 3 
in the afternoon. Nor did -they then retire, until orders were given from Brig. 
Gen. S. A. Hurlbut, commanding the " Old Fighting Fourth Division." On 
Monday, the 7th, it was assigned a position on the right of the line, and was 
there most hotly engaged until victory closed the two-days' struggle. Thus 
they were two full days, from dawn till evening, in actual engagement. These 
were long and trying days ; blood flowed everywhere, and the night was ren- 
dered hideous by the groans of the dying ; yet, in all this hotly contested con- 
flict, this regiment never wavered, nor was its line once broken or driven back. 
During these two days, the regiment lost 239 men in killed and wounded. In 
May, it was active in the siege of Corinth, then marched to Memphis. Reach- 
ing Memphis the 23d of July, 1862, it rested there until early in September, 
when the march was taken to Bolivar, which point was reached September the 
14th. Some twenty days later, the regiment was in the battle of Hatchie 
River, or Matamora, in which it lost in killed, wounded and missing, 97 
men. In the summer of 1863, the Twenty-eighth was ordered to Vicks- 
burg, and was there in the siege from the llth of June to July 4. After this, 
on the 12th of July, a detachment, composed of men from the Forty-first, 
Fifty-third and Twenty-eighth Illinois and Third Iowa Infantry, amounting in 
all to not more than 800 men, were ordered to charge across an open and level 
corn-field, some six hundred yards in width, and carry a line of rebel works 
that were strong in their formation, and from which twelve dark-mouthed can- 
non frowned defiance on all comers, and behind which lay 2,000 men, ready 
for the fray. The bugle sounded the onset; not a man faltered nor a cheek 
paled, but right onward " into the jaws of death, rode the " 800. As 
they came, they were met with a pitiless storm of rifle and minie balls, 
while the twelve cannon belched a constant tide of fire and iron ; but when they 
reached the works, their whole line was swept from right and left and front, so 
that to persist in the attempt to carry the works was sure annihilation. They 
^treated to their line, leaving more than half their number, rank and file, in 



264 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

dead and wounded. Of the 128 men of the Twenty-eighth that were in this 
charge, 73 were killed and wounded, and 16 taken prisoners ; 89 left behind, 
to 39 who returned. 

In 1864, the regiment re-enlisted as veterans, after which, it was in the 
engagement at Spanish Fort and at Mobile. It had, during the war, 9 officers 
killed ; 19 wounded, and 2 died of disease. Privates killed, 52 ; died of 
wounds, 34 ; wounded, 265 ; missing in action, 17 ; killed by accident, 5 ; 
died of disease, 139. The officers of the regiment, in their order, are as fol- 
lows : Colonel, Amory K. Johnson, of Petersburg; Lieutenant Colonels 
Louis H. Waters, of Macomb ; Thomas K. Killpatrick, of Milton, and Rich- 
ard Ritter, of Havana ; Majors Charles J. Sellon, Springfield ; Barclay C. 
Gillam, Rushville, and Hinman Rhodes, Vermont, 111. Of this regiment, 
companies F, K and C were all or in part from Menard County. Com- 
pany F contained in all 107 men from this county. The officers were : Cap- 
tains William J. Estill and Thomas Swarenguin, both of Petersburg; 
First Lieutenants Isaac B. Estill, Thomas Swarenguin and John H. Ewing, 
all of Petersburg ; Second Lieutenants Thomas Swarenguin and John H. 
Ewing. There were killed in action, 4, viz.: James T. Jones, at Shiloh ; J. 
Deerwester, at Vidalia; James H. Stewart, at Jackson, Miss., and Charles N. 
Riley, at Hatchie. Five died of wounds, viz., David C. Stone, Jacob Ackle- 
son, Peter Farnheine, Jacob Homer and H. G. Toland. Wounded and dis- 
charged, 3, viz., Jesse D. Bradley, David Lucas and Elijah S. Nichols. Died 
of disease, 9, viz., William Canterbury, Henry H. Fulton, Elijah Ferguson, 
Henry T. Gudgell, James Harman, Francis M. Twaddle. Christopher Alexan- 
der, William B. Davis and Michael Johns. There were 3 who deserted, viz., 
John W. Rutledge, Henry Johnson and Charles Noble. 

In Company K, there were 39 men from Menard County. The officers 
of Company K were : Captains William R. Roberts, of Menard, and 
Albert J. Moses, from elsewhere ; First Lieutenants John Brewsaugh, Fred. 
Garternicht, Albert J. Moses, John B. Newton and Dennis Pride, the last 
two from Menard; Second Lieutenants John B. Newton, of Menard, and 
J. Moses. Of these, only 1, Adam Forsyth, was killed in action ; Alonzo G. 
Fleming died of wounds; 4 were wounded, but recovered, viz., Richard Bei 
nard, Amos Mouser, Logan Rayburn and Samuel T. Rogers ; discharged or 
account of disability, 2, viz., John Sulivan and John Rogers ; discharged on 
account of wounds, 3, viz., William W. Dudley, James H. Gardener and Nult 
Greene; the 4 following died of disease : Elijah Edwards, Gottlieb Fotsch, 
Francis Schasner and Phillip A. Simpson. None of the men in this company 
from Menard County deserted. 

Company C of the Twenty-eighth had 46 men from Menard County 
in it. None of the commissioned officers of this company were from Menarc 
County. One man of this company, Deerwester, was killed in action, 
were wounded. Two died of disease, viz., William B. Davis and Mike Jone 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 265 

Columbus Crosby was the only deserter. The above companies took their 
share of all the trials and honors of the gallant Twenty -eighth Regiment of 
Illinois Volunteers. 

We come now to the Thirty-eighth Regiment, as this is the next in order 
in which there were any companies containing, any considerable number of 
Menard County men. It is true, however, that there was scarcely an Illinois 
regiment that did not have a representation from this county. The writer has 
performed an amount of labor that none would imagine, hunting these stragglers. 
Where there were less than four or five in a company, we have not given a 
detailed history of it. But in order that none be overlooked, we read every 
name and post-office address in the eight volumes of the Adjutant-General's 
Report. 

The officers of the Thirty-eighth were as follows : Colonels William P. 
Carlin, Daniel H. Gilmer and Ed. Colyer ; Lieutenant Colonels Mortimer 
O'Kean, D. H. Gilmer, William H. Chapman and Ed. Colyer; Majors D. H. 
Gilmer, Henry L. Alden and Andrew M. Pollard, none of whom were from 
Menard. This regiment was organized in September, 1861, at Camp Butler, 
Illinois, by Col. William P. Carlin. Moved at once to Pilot Knob, Missouri, 
receiving arms en route, and as early as the 21st of October, one month arid 
one day, from leaving Camp Butler, it was introduced to the stern realities of 
war, at Fredericktown, by being engaged in battle with the Missouri " Swamp 
Fox," Jeff. Thompson. This introduction was a very good index to the future 
four years and three months of its service. At or near the city of Nashville, 
it lost in battle, 3 killed and 8 wounded. At Stone River, 34 killed, 109 
wounded, and 34 missing. Near Liberty Gap, the regiment lost, killed, 3 ; 
wounded, 19. In the battle of Lookout Mountain, the Thirty-eighth suffered 
severely. Col. Gilmer was killed, Maj. Alden severely wounded ; and of the 
301 men who went into the action, 180 were killed, wounded and missing. 
The history of this regiment is one of constant hard work and bloody fighting, 
from first to last ; and the student of history can trace its way through those 
long, dark four years by the weary marches, and bloody fields that it left as 
waymarks. Only one company of this regiment had representatives from 
Menard County on its roll, and this was Company G. Only twelve of these 
were from this county. The company officers were as follows, viz. : Captains, 
A. M. Pollard, Abraham Golden and John H. Adams ; First Lieutenants, 
William F. Chapman, Abraham Golden and J. H. Adams ; Second Lieutenants, 
A. J. Rankin and Abraham Golden. Of these only Golden was from Menard. 
Of the twelve men from here, none were killed, wounded, or deserted. Two 
died of disease, these were Edward W. Martin and Ralf Snodgrass. Consider- 
ing the general mortality in the regiment, those twelve came off remarkably 
well. 

The next regiment containing men from Menard County was the Fifty- 
first Illinois Infantry. As there were but few of our men in this regiment, we 



266 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

give but a very brief history of it. This regiment was organized at Camp 
Douglas, Chicago, 111., by Col. Gilbert W. Gumming, on the 24th of Decem- 
ber, 1861. On the 14th of February following, it moved to Cairo, 111., and 
thence on the 27th to Camp Cullum, on the Kentucky shore of the Ohio 
River. Its first actual engagement was at Island No. 10, where, on the 8th 
of April, 1862, is forced the surrender of Gen. Mackall, with four thousand 
men. 

On the 24th of April, the brigade of Brig. Gen. John M. Palmer, com- 
posed of the Twenty-second, Twenty-seventh, Forty-second and Fifty-first 
Illinois, and Company C, First Illinois Artillery, was assigned to Brig. Gen. 
Paine's Division. This division was engaged in the battle of Farmington, and 
the siege of Corinth. At Mission Ridge, the regiment lost one-fifth of the 
men who went into the battle. At Kenesaw Mountain, it lost, in killed and 
wounded, 2 officers and 54 men. During the fighting around Atlanta, 
the regiment lost in killed and wounded, 7 officers, and 105 privates. At 
Franklin, Tenn., Lieut. Thomas was killed, 3 officers wounded, 52 men killed 
and wounded, and 98 missing. Mustered out of service September 25, 1865. 
The regimental officers were all Chicago men. Company F, of this regiment, 
had eleven men from this county. The company officers were all from else- 
where. Of these eleven, none were killed or wounded. One, John H. Martin, 
died of disease. Two of the eleven deserted, viz., Samuel Wagstaff and Jordan 
Shoon. t 

The Seventy-first Illinois Infantry was enlisted for three-months' service, 
only. Company G, of this regiment, was partially raised in Menard 
County thirty-seven of the men being from here. Of the officers of the 
company, only one was from Menard, this was First Lieut. James C. Tice, 
of Petersburg. Of these, none were killed or wounded, and only one died of 
disease this was William H. Graham, from the eastern part of the county. 
Being out only ninety days, they saw but very little of the reality of soldier 
life. 

We come now to the Seventy-third Infantry, and we cannot more 
briefly or pointedly give an outline of the work of this brave body of 
men, than by quoting the report of Lieut. Col. James I. Davidson, as made 
to Adjt. Gen. Haynie. This report was dated at Springfield, 111., March 19, 
1867. 

Having no record of the regiment with me, a history would be impossible. The regimen \ 
was organized at Camp Butler, State of Illinois, in August, 1802, and immediately became part 
of Gen. Buell's army. Fought nobly at Perryville, finished under Gen. Thomas, at Nashville. 
The Seventy-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry was in every battle fought by the Army of the 
Cumberland, from October, 1862, until the rout of Gen. Hood's army at Nashville, and the 
winding-up of the whole matter. The only report I can make, General, is that our dead are 
found at Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, away in East Tennessee, 
and then in the succession of battles from Chattanooga to the fall of Atlanta. And when Sher- 
man pushed down South, the Seventy-third remained with Gen. Thomas. It formed a part of 
Opedyke's Brigade, at Franklin, which saved the day and gave him his star, and lost its last 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 267 

man killed in driving Hood's army from Nashville. It has, more than once, been complimented 
by its Generals. It lost heavily in Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and Frank- 
lin. It had two Majors and two Adjutants killed and nearly every officer of the regiment, 
wounded, at some time several of them many times ; but as to the number of killed and 
wounded, I know not. We left the State one of the largest, and returned one of the smallest 
regiments. Her officers and men, and especially the men, have never been surpassed for brav- 
ery, endurance and devotion to the country. I believe that nearly two-thirds of the organiza- 
tion wasted away, either by disease, death or battles, during the three years' service. 

Such is the simple, unostentatious record of this devoted regiment. In 
Company F of this regiment, were thirty of the citizens of Menard County. 
Of the officers of this company, none were from this county, except the first 
Captain, George Montgomery, and he served only till the 19th of December, 
1862, when he resigned and left the command. Three were killed in action, 
viz., Robert Z. McBride, Enoch Preston and William Weaver. Eight of the 
others died of disease ; these were Thomas D. Nolan, George W. Gardener, 
Joseph Montgomery, William W. Martenia, David Martenia, Ritchey Mont- 
gomery, William L. Stollard and Cornelius C. Wolf. Four others were 
severely wounded, viz., James A. Coil, Wesley Long, Isaac C. Coil and 
George H. McKinney. Thus it will be seen that, of this little band going 
out from here, more than one-third the number were left to sleep amid the 
flowers of the Sunny South, undisturbed by the roar of battle, while half the 
number were among the dead or the wounded when the final account of the 
regiment was made up. Their comrades in arms " carved not a line, and 
raised not a stone, but left them alone in their glory." 

From the Seventy-third up to the Eighty-fifth, there was to be found no 
representative from "Little Menard," except here and there a company 
having on its muster-roll the name of some one who had enlisted among 
strangers, but who should have been credited to this county. But Company E, 
of the Eighty-fifth, was largely made up from this county, having the names of 
seventy-five men from here on its roll. Here again it becomes our duty to 
chronicle some of the leading events in the history of that regiment, though the 
record will necessarily be brief. 

This regiment was organized by Col. Robert S. Moore, and it was mus- 
tered into service August 28, 1862. The organization was at Peoria, 111. 
Immediately after being mustered in, it was ordered to Louisville, Ky., which 
point it reached about the 6th or 7th of September. Here it was assigned to 
the Thirty-sixth Brigade, Eleventh Division, Third Army Corps, Col. McCook 
commanding the Brigade, Brig. Gen. Phil. Sheridan commanding the Division, 
and Maj. Gen. Gilbert commanding the the Corps. The Eighty-fifth marched 
in. pursuit of the enemy under Gen. Bragg, October 1, 1862, and took part in 
the battle of Champion Hills, at Perryville, Ky., October 8th, and moved with 
the army to Nashville, Tennessee, arriving November 7, 1862. After long 
and hard service, it was mustered out June 5, 1865, at Washington, D. C., and 
arrived at Camp Butler, Illinois, June 11, 1865, where they received final 



268 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

payment and discharge. Company E, of the Eighty-fifth Regiment was largely 
made up of men from this county ; the company officers were all from Peters- 
burg. The regimental officers were Cols. Robert S. Moore and Caleb J. 
Dilworth ; Lieutenant Colonels, C. J. Dilworth, James P. Walker, and James R. 
Griffith ; Majors, Samuel P. Cummings, Robert G. Rider and Pleasant S. Scott. 
Of these, none were from Menard County except Maj. Scott. The company 
officers of Company E were : Captain, Pleasant L. Scott ; First Lieutenants, 
Joseph M. Plunket, Hugh A. Trent and Charles Borchert ; Second Lieuten- 
ants, Abraham Clary, Clark N. Andrus and Andrew F. J. Shackey. All of 
these were from Menard County ; seventy-five of the men were also from this 
county. Three were killed in action, viz., J. C. Miller, George Watterman and 
Thomas Owens; William S. Potter was killed in a railroad accident, and William 
Ray by the accidental discharge of a pistol. The following named persons, six 
in number, died of wounds : James N. Sheets, Bowling Green, Richard Griffin, 
William F. Hokimer, A* J. Taylor, and J. E. Thomas ; four received severe 
wounds, of which they recovered ; these were James Linn, William F. Allen, 
James Senter and John H. Arnold. Ten others died of disease, viz., Samuel 
Havens, David Armstrong, John Barnett, John Cox, Michael Ekis, Wesley 
Frost, William A. Mence, Thomas Osterman, Christopher Shutt and Ephraim 
Stout. Thus, of the seventy-five who enlisted, just one-third, or twenty-five, 
were dead or wounded before the time of service expired. Of the remainder, 
no less than ten deserted the ranks, and sought safety elsewhere. Pleasant 
S. Scott, who was Captain of the company at first, was promoted to the 
position of Major, served out his time, and Js now a respected citizen of Peters- 
burg.- 

From the Eighty -fifth, we pass the intermediate regiments up to the One 
Hundred and Sixth before we find any men from Menard, unless it be a single 
individual in a company here and there. The One Hundred and Sixth was 
organized at Lincoln, Logan Co.. 111., by Col. Robert B. Latham, in August, 
1862. It was mustered into service on the 18th of September, the same year. 
On the 7th of November, it started for Columbus, Ky., by way of St. Louis, 
arriving at the objective point on the 10th of the same month. From there it 
was soon removed to Jackson, Tenn. At that time, Col. M. K. Lawler com- 
manded the post at Jackson, and Brig. Gen. J. C. Sullivan the district. Much 
of the time was spent west of the Mississippi River ; and the regiment was 
mustered out of service at Pine Bluff", Ark., on the 12th of July, 1865. It 
reached Camp Butler, Illinois, July 25, ,1865, and there received final pay- 
ment and discharge. 

While this command was eminently useful in guarding posts and various 
kinds of service, it was not its lot to see much'of the real tragedy of war, and 
perhaps the comedy was equally as full of amusement to the men composing 
it. Only one officer of the regiment was from this county, and that was Lieut. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 26D 

CoL John M. Hurt, of Athens, who died at Pine Bluff, Ark., November 18, 
1864. A company from this county Company K, consisting of 102 men 
belonged to this regiment. The first Captain of this company was Alonzo 
E. Currier, of Athens. He resigned June 15, 1863, and was succeeded by 
George Collier, of Petersburg. But, only eleven days after, Capt. Collier 
died of disease, and was succeeded by Lieut. John A. Hurt, of Athens. On 
the 28th of March, 1865, Capt. Hurt was honorably discharged, to be pro- 
moted Major. Lieut. Samuel H. Blane then became Captain and served to 
the close of the war. He is now a popular lawyer in Petersburg, 111. The 
other officers, in the order of their service, are as follows : First Lieutenants, 
George Collier, John A. Hurt, James D. McCam, Samuel H. Blane and Gage 
S. Gritman ; Second Lieutenants, John A. Hurt, S. H. Blane and Enoch B. 
Smith. All of these, except McCam, Gritman and Smith, were promoted. 
Of these 102 men, besides the officers, 20 died of disease, viz., James McCam, 
Jesse Stone, Henry C. Black, Andrew Gunstenson, Calvin Goodell, Homer 
Goodpastine, John C. Goff, Samuel H. Hardin, James C. Hurst, James H. 
Jackson, James W. Kincaid, James McClary, Thomas H. Metteer, Francis 
Rice, James E. Roberson, Odd A. Roe, William A. Smith, Terry Tuckleson, 
Francis A. Vanaman, George D. Brockway and David S. Rice. None were 
killed or wounded in action, nor did any desert. Through a singular Provi- 
dence, or fatality, as some of them regarded it, they were given no chance ta 
exhibit their great prowess on the ensanguined field. But we doubt not 
that the motive prompting them to enlist were just as pure as that of those 
who stood where the fight was hottest ; and, if opportunity had presented 
itself, no doubt they would have won as many laurels as any who marched 
under the Stars and Stripes. As said before, it was no fault of theirs that 
they were not in the thickest of the fight, for both officers and men enlisted 
to fight. 

Of the regiments we have named, there is not one of which an Illinoisan 
need be ashamed ; but there were some that had better opportunity to write its 
deeds of daring in crimson letters than others. Among the Illinois regiments 
that will live in the memory of man, we may name the gallant One Hundred 
and Fourteenth. This regiment was composed of six companies from Sanga- 
mon County, B, C, E, G, H and I ; two from Cass County, A and D ; and 
two from Menard, F and K. The regiment was made up in the months of 
July and August, 1862, and was mustered into service at Camp Butler, Illinois, 
on the 18th of September following. It was at once ordered to Memphis, 
Tenn., and there did picket duty until the 26th of November, when it started 
on the Tallahatchie campaign as a part of the First Brigade of Brig. Gen. 
Lanman's Division. During the winter, it marched to College Hill, and then 
to Jackson, and thence back to Memphis. On March 17, 1863, it was trans- 
ported down the river to Young's Point, and soon after went into camp at 



270 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

Duckport, La. On the 2d of May, the regiment broke camp to take a posi- 
tion in the rear of Vicksburg, and, on the 14th of May, engaged in the battle . 
of Jackson, Miss. Reached the rear of Vicksburg the 18th, and took part in 
the siege. Just one mouth after the fall of Vicksburg, Col. James W. Judy, 
of Menard County, resigned. This was August 4, 1863, he having served 
eighteen days less than one year. He was succeeded by Lieut. Col. John F. 
King. Samuel N. Shoup acted as Colonel after May 11, 1865. The regiment 
participated in the battles of Wyatt, Mississippi, Guntown, Tupelo, Harris- 
ville. It was on the long and tedious pursuit of Gen. Price in Missouri, 
marching from the Arkansas border, to Kansas City and back to St. Louis. 
At, both Guntown and Harrisville, the regiment was highly complimented fo r 
bravery. Having returned South, on the night of the 13th of April (the very 
idght that President Lincoln was shot), the regiment was ordered to attack 
Forts Tracy and Hugee, situated in Mobile Bay. The attack was made in 
pontoon boats, but when the forts were reached, they were found to have been 
entirely evacuated. After the surrender of Mobile, the regiment marched to 
Montgomery, Ala., arriving April 24, and bridging the Alabama River with 
pontoons, remained on duty at the bridge until the 17th of July, when it was 
ordered to Vicksburg, to be mustered out. On the 3d of August, 1865, it was 
mustered out, and reached Camp Butler, Illinois, August 7, and were paid off, 
and discharged August 15, 1865. 

Company C, though not credited as a company to Menard County, had 
thirty men from that county in its rank and file. Out of the thirty, four were 
killed in battle, viz., William M. Blue, James Griffith, John W. Langston and 
William Bumford. Two died of wounds, James H. Mitchell and Benjamin F. 
Sever. One was severely wounded but recovered ; this was William Lawrence. 
Two died in prison, viz., Simeon Little and Charles S. Parker; two others, 
who were in prison, lived to be exchanged, viz., William H. Holland and 
William Staples. Six deserted. Thirteen died of disease ; these were 
William Cantrall, George H. Broaderick, Young M. Oantrall, David S. Dris- 
call, Charles Frisby, Jacob B. Hutchinson, Isaac N. Halladay, Henry Parks, 
William 0. Smith, John W. Sampson, Peter Sebriney, Charles C. Tufts and 
John W. Wilson. 

Company F mustered fifty-six men from Menard County. Capt. Absalom 
Miller, of Menard ; First Lieutenant, Willett B. Taylor, of Cass, and Second 
Lieutenant, Joseph T. Workman, of Menard, were the company officers. Two 
of this company, George A. Bell and Charles P. Carson, were killed in action ; 
Thomas R. Humphrey and Robert J. Clarke died of wounds ; James S. Smith 
was severely wounded but recovered ; two died in prison, viz., David Monroe 
and William H. Penny. Seven out of this company were for a time prisoners 
but were exchanged ; their names are as follows : Jacob Brown, Jasper I. 
Campbell, William D. Colby, A. J. Etherton, George H. Hoff, John 



' 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 271 

Kinner and Russel B. Thrapp. Died of disease, twelve, viz., Richard Smedley, 
Thomas S. Armstrong, James W. Bell, Thomas D. Fuller, John A. Kurd, 
John McNeal, Michael Spinner, William A. Smith, William Tippet, George 
M. Wilson, Lycurgus Workman and John A. Conyers. There were also two 
deserters from this company, but we wiil not record their names on these 
pages. 

Company K, of the One Hundred and Fourteenth, was also raised in this 
county, and ninety -two of her citizens were enrolled in it. The company offi- 
cers were all, save one, from this county. They were: Captains, Samuel Estill 
and Robert Hornback, First Lieutenants, Lucian Terhune and Ezra Fish, Sec- 
ond Lieutenant, Henry C. Rogge. All of these, except Fish, were from Men- 
ard. Of the men, Joseph Denton was killed in battle ; James Morris and 
John M. Hart died of wounds received in battle, while Jesse Knoles lost a leg 
at the knee, but recovered. Four were taken prisoners ; these were William 
J. Allen, Henry Beekman, Evan McLean and Samuel S. Knoles ; the last 
named, now editor of the Petersburg Democrat, was in Anderson ville for nine 
months. Not long before he was taken prisoner, while in the heat of battle, 
he was hit square over the heart with a minie ball, but having a large bunch 
of letters in the breast pocket of his coat (letters from the girl he left behind 
him, perhaps), the ball lodged in the center of the letters and he escaped with 
a thorough shaking-up and a severe bruise. Fourteen of the company died of 
disease ; these were David F. Estill, Louis P. Moore, William J. Denton, 
George W. Powell, Isaac F. Estill, William Johnson, Harman Meyer, Joseph 
Oswold, Isaac Snodgrass, Rhodes Snodgrass, John W. Trumbo, Walter Taylor, 
Arthur Thomas and John Yelkin. Eight of the privates, full of chivalry and 
patriotism, took " French leave," that is, they deserted ; their names we will 
not give at present. This completes the record of this regiment, so far as we 
have space to give it. Menard County had 178 men in the ranks of this 
brave body of men. Many are sleeping on the hillsides of the Sunny South, 
while many others, having almost forgotten the arts of war, are here enjoying 
the liberties for which they fought, showing the same fortitude and courage 
exhibited by them in battle. 

The One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Infantry will now be noticed 
briefly, as among its men we find quite a number from this county. But had 
there been none of our volunteers among them, we would be almost led to 
state a few facts concerning it, as it merits a place wherever a record is made 
of Illinois soldiers. The One Hundred and Fifteenth was ordered into the 
field from Camp Butler, Illinois, on October 4, 1862, having mustered in the 
l->th of September of the same year. It went to Cincinnati, and, the same day, 
crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky. It was assigned to the Second Bri- 
gade, Second Division, Army of Kentucky. It was never actively engaged in 
battle until it was ordered to Franklin, Tenn., in March, 1863. But the 



272 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

mortality, on account of exposure, hard marching and a diet to which they were 
unaccustomed, with the change of climate, was fearful. Up to that time, more 
than two hundred men had died or been permanently disabled by disease ; they 
had died by scores. After driving Gen. Bragg's army across the Tennessee 
River, on the 24th of June, 1863, the brigade had a respite from battle until 
the 19th of September. On this day, it engaged in the bloody conflict of 
Chickamauga. In this battle, the loss of the One Hundred and Fifteenth 
was very slight. On September 20, it crossed to the support of Gen. 
Thomas, on the extreme right, leaving camp at sunrise. At 1 o'clock P. M., 
it engaged the rebels of Thomas' right with Steadman's division, ten regiments 
reserve corps. After a most fearful and sanguinary struggle, it held its posi- 
tion until night put an end to the day's carnage. But it was held at a fearful 
sacrifice, more than one-half the command being cut down on the field. 
The regiment took part in the battles of Chattanooga, Mission Ridge and 
countless skirmishes. 

In the campaign around Chattanooga, the regiment lost 235 men and 10 
officers, among them being Lieut. Col. Kinman, of Jacksonville. After this, 
it fought at Dalton, Resaca, Atlanta and other points, and finally was in the 
pursuit of Hood from Nashville. It was mustered out of service near Nash- 
ville^ on the llth of June, 1865, and reaching Camp Butler, Illinois, on the 
16th of June ? there received final pay and discharge June 23, 1865. 

Company K pf this regiment was made up in part of men from this 
county, there being forty-three among the privates and three of the company 
officers from Menard County. The company officers were as follows : Cap- 
tains James Steele and Alanson Pierce, both of Menard, and Philip Riley, of 
Springfield ; First Lieutenants Sylvester M. Bailey, of Salisbury ; Philip 
Riley and Samuel Alexander, of Menard ; Second Lieutenant Philip Riley. 
This company had killed in action, two, James B. Strode and William B. 
England. Three of its number died in prison, Lewis J. Ferguson, Edward R. 
Center and William H. Bumgardner. Two were for a time prisoners, but 
were at length exchanged ; these were Andrew J. Hall and Jacob A. Allison. 
The following persons, six in number, died in prison : James P. Moran, Will- 
iam Bailey, William Ferguson, William L. Hyde, Smith A. Marshall and Law- 
rence Newhart. Six, also, were deserters. In one or two other companies in 
this regiment, there were one or two men from this county, but the reader will 
find a list of these scattered individuals at the close of this article ; it is unnec- 
essary to speak of any of them in this place. 

The One Hundred and Thirty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry was organ- 
ized at Camp Butler by Col. Thaddeus Phillips, and mustered into the service 
for one hundred days on the 31st of May, 1864. On the 3d of June, it was 
removed to Rock Island Barracks, and was there assigned the duty of guarding 
prisoners of war. This duty it faithfully performed during its term of service, 
and, on the 24th of the following September, it was mustered out of service at 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 273 

Camp Butler. The regimental officers were : Colonel, Thaddeus Phillips ; 
Lieutenant Colonel, John E. Moore ; Major, James F. Langley. Company I, 
ofthe One Hundred and Thirty-third contained twenty-three men from Menard 
County. The company officers were : Captain, Alfred Orendorff, of Lincoln ; 
First Lieutenant, Ethan A. Norton, of Petersburg ; and, Second Lieutenant, 
Samuel A. Rannels, of Murrayville. Of the twenty-four men of this county, 
counting Lieut. Norton, not one died or deserted ; and, as they were never in 
action, of course none were killed or wounded. 

The One Hundred and Fifty-second Illinois Infantry was organized by Col. 
Ferdinand D. Stephenson, at Camp Butler, and was mustered in for one year's 
service on the 18th of February, 1865. On the 20th of the same month, it 
moved to Tullahoma, Tenn., by way of Nashville, and there reported for duty 
to Maj. Gen. Milroy, February 28, 1865. The regiment was mustered out at 
Memphis, Tenn., on the llth of September, 1865. It reached Camp Butler, 
Illinois, September 19, 1865, and received final payment and discharge. The 
regimental officers were: Colonel, Ferdinand D. Stephenson, of Groveland; 
Lieutenant Colonel, Jasper Partridge, of Whitmore; and John N. Nale, 
of Blue Mound. One company of the regiment was partially raised in this 
county. This was Company A. Of the company, forty-eight men and two 
officers (fifty, in all) were from Menard. The company officers were : Cap- 
tain, William S. Slocumb, of Groveland ; First Lieutenant, Merritt Hurst, 
of Menard; and Second Lieutenant, James N. Barger, of Menard, also. 
None were killed, wounded or prisoners, the only reduction of the company 
being from disease and desertion. Four died of disease, viz.: Andrew J. Brown, 
John Flemming, Noah L. Weaver and Stephen L. Wilson. The deserters 
were three. 

This closes the record of the part taken by this county in the infantry ser- 
vice, but the cavalry had several representatives from Menard County, a record 
of which we will now give very briefly. The Tenth Cavalry was the only 
cavalry regiment in which any considerable number of men from this county 
were enrolled. The Tenth Cavalry was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois, 
on the 25th of November, 1861. Dudley Wickersham was appointed its 
Colonel on the 15th of May, 1862. On the 20th of December, 1861, 
it moved to Quincy, 111., and, on the 13th of March following, it was ordered 
to Benton Barracks, Mo. From this time on, this regiment saw hard 
service until it was mustered out. It was made up of a fine lot of men, who 
were ever ready for the fray. It was finally mustered out of service at San 
Antonio, Tex., on the 22d of November, 1865, and ordered to Springfield, 
111., for final pay and discharge. The regimental officers were as follows: 
Colonels, James A. Barrett, Dudley Wickersham and James Stuart ; Lieutenant 
Colonels. Dudley Wickersham, James Stuart, Samuel N. Hitt, Egleton Car- 
michael and Thomas D. Vredenburgh ; Majors, T. D. Vredenburgh, George A. 
Wills, William A. Chapin and Tabner B. Pierce. Of these officers of the 



274 HISTORY OF MEN ARC COUNTY. 

regiment, none were of this county. Two companies of this regiment were made, 
partially, at least, in this county. These were Companies A and E. Of the 
first of these, thirty-two men and two officers were from Menard. These 
were Capt. Christopher H. Anderson, of Swee'twater, and Second Lieut. 
Samuel F. Russell, of Athens. None of Company A were killed in battle, 
although Samuel Montgomery died of wounds received in action. Seven died 
of disease. These were Bradley V. Atwood, Joseph McReynolds, Joseph L. 
Markwell, John C. Rogers, George W. Reding, Elisha Hall and Selathiel G. 
Leach. Company E mustered sixty-six men from Menard County, and one 
officer. The company officers were : Captains, Henry Reily, Samuel J. Byrd 
and William H. Stout ; First Lieutenants, Columbus Cross, William H. East, 
S. J. Byrd, Henry J. Solomon and Samuel B. Garber ; Second Lieutenant, 
William J. Darman. Of these officers, only Samuel B. Garber was from 
Menard County. Out of this company, none were killed in action. Simon P. 
Sampson died of wounds received in a fight. Four died of disease, viz.: Levy 
Shaw, Michael Bolson, James M. Reed and William Young. From some 
unknown cause, the number of deserters was excessively large in proportion to 
the numbers, there being no less than ten of the sixty-six who did not 

" Fight and run away 
To live to fight another day ; " 

but they ran away before they fought a battle. 

This brings us to the artillery. Only three men of Menard County were 
in the artillery, so far as we can learn, as the Adjutant General's Report shows. 
James Ward, of Athens, Menard County, was mustered in as an unassigned 
recruit, into the First Artillery, on the 20th of March, 1864. Edward L. 
Bingley, of Petersburg, enlisted as a recruit in Battery B, of the Second Artil- 
lery, on the 8th of March, 1864 ; and was mustered out July 15, 1865. Albert 
Albertson, of Petersburg, enlisted in Battery K, of the Second Artillery, on the 
27th of January, 1862. He re-enlisted as a veteran, and served till the close 
of the war. He served most of the time, while in action, as No. 1 or No. 2, 
that is, either placed the cartridge in the mouth of the gun, or rammed it home. 
Albertson was in a number of battles, his battery being charged more than 
once, and many of the men cut down at their guns. Mr. Albertson still resides 
in Petersburg, a respected and industrious citizen. 

It is beyond our power to give a full list of those men of Menard County 
who belonged to commands belonging to other counties ; we will mention a few 
of those who were officers. Charles E. McDougall, now a merchant of Peters- 
burg, was Captain of Company E, in the Sixty -first Infantry. He enlisted in 
Greene County. James C. Tice, of Menard County, was First Lieutenant in 
Company G, of the Seventy-first Infantry. As before stated, quite a number 
of enlistments from this county, in companies from other parts of the State, 
cannot, by any possibility, be found. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 



275 



Below we give a tabular view of the enlistments, officers, deaths from vari- 
ous causes, the wounded, deserters, etc., etc., from the county. Had space 
allowed, we would have given the place, date, circumstances, etc., of all the cas- 
ualties of soldiers from this county, during the war from first to last : 

SUMMARY OF THE WAR RECORD OF MENARD COUNTY. 



REGIMENT AND COMPANY. 


Number 
Enlisted. 


_B 

3 o 

=3 
53 


"S-S 

B 

a s 
o 

5 


Killed by 
Accident. 


Wounded. 


s| 

5 


Prisoners 
Released. 


.| 

of 

0> 00 

Sa 


Deserted. 


. ~ 


80 
24 
107 
39 
46 
24 
12 
11 
37 
30 
75 
102 
30 
56 
92 
43 
23 
48 
32 
66 
1 
1 
1 


1 












Fourteenth and Fifteenth Regiments, Company A.. 
















4 

1 


5 
1 
1 




3 






9 
4 


3 






7 
















2 


1 






























'? 


















1 
1 


2 


















3 
3 






4 






8 






6 


2 


4 






10 

>o 


10 


One Hundred and Sixth Regiment, Company K... 
One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, Co. C 
One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, Co. F 
One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, Co. K 






4 

2 

rt 






1 
1 
1 


2 
2 

O 


2 
7 
4 
2 


13 
12 
14 

a 


6 

2 
8 
5 


2 
2 








One Hundred and Thirty -third Regiment, Co. I.... 
One Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment, Co. A... 




















4 
7 


3 




1 










T "/I, n i r v ' ' ""*" 




1 










4 


10 


















































Total Privates 




19 














980 
31 
73 


21 
2 
3 


2 


21 
6 


8 


15 


117 
3 


50 


Total Officers 


Total Privates enlisted elsewhere . . 










9 




















Total 


1084 


26 


19 


2 


26 


8j 15 


129 


50 



Total deaths of officers and men from all causes, 184. A great many of 
those who returned home have since died, so that soldiers of the late war are 
not numerous in the county, even though over one thousand entered the service 
eighteen years ago. The record of the names of all who enlisted should be 
given, that the future generations should know who they were that came to the 
rescue in the hour of the country's peril. A few years in the future and the 
Report of the Adjutant General will be out of print, and the great mass of 
those who suffered and bled and died will be forgotten. 

SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812 IN MENARD COUNTY. 

Of course this county sent no soldiers into the last war with England ; but 
as this part of Illinois began to be settled up only a few years after the close 
of that war, a great many who had served their country at that time, settled 
here, and made this their home ever after. But nearly all of these have long 
since gone to their final rest. In our cemeteries, we frequently see inscriptions 



276 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

telling the fact that some of these men sleep in this part of the State. Only 
a year or two ago, one of these old patriots was laid to rest beneath the . leaves 
and flowers of Rose Hill Cemetery. He was well stricken in years, but, at the 
mention of the days of trial he experienced in the war, the old fire would come 
back to his eye, and, for a time, he seemed to have regained all the fire of his 
youth '; but, at the change of the theme of conversation, he relapsed again into 
the apathy and weakness of extreme old age. He was buried by a detachment 
of the State Guard with the honors of war. We can learn of only three per- 
sons now living in the county, who were soldiers in that war, and these are, of 
course, all very old men. Mr. Tarleton Lloyd, living on Rock Creek, some 
six miles south of Petersburg, was a man of, at least, thirty years of age at the 
beginning of that war. When war was declared, he was living with his family in 
one of the Southeastern States. Notwithstanding the fact that he had a wife 
and children at the time, he unhesitatingly responded to the call of his country, 
and enlisted in the army. He served faithfully till the fall of Gen. Packen- 
ham and the close of the war, having been in several engagements, and then 
returned to his family. In 1820, he settled on the place where he now lives ; 
reared a large family (several of whom are still in this part of the State), and 
still lives, a hale and hearty man considering his age. He remembers facts in 
his earlier life remarkably well, and nothing pleases him better than for the 
younger people to listen to his stories of the war, and the early history of Illi- 
nois. There are conflicting statements concerning Mr. Lloyd's age. Accord- 
ing to his own statement, he is now about ninety-six years of age. But those 
who have known him long, say that he has claimed to be of that age for several 
years. Those who knew him forty or fifty years ago, say that according to the 
account he then gave of his age, together with his appearance at that time, 
he is now, certainly, several years above a century old. William Estill, liv- 
ing on Indian Creek, five miles east of Petersburg, was also a soldier in 
the late war with England. Sometime after the close of the war, he removed 
to Illinois, and has lived ever since within a few miles of his present residence. 
His first wife was a Miss Williams, sister of John Williams, one of the leading 
capitalists of this county. She died many years ago, and some years la.ter, he 
was married to a widow lady Mrs. Eliza Hayden. By his first wife, he reared 
a large family of children, among them were Capts. William J. and Samuel 
Estill, of the war of the rebellion ; Lieut. Isaac and a younger brother, both 
of whom died in the service ; and also, Joseph and James Estill (both 
farmers) living in the eastern portion of the county. Besides these sons, he 
has two daughters still living. These are Mrs. Luther Jennison, living 
near Greenview, and Mrs. William Price, near Athens. " Uncle Billy," as 
as he is generally called, is now eighty-five years of age, and, with the 
exception of considerable suffering from rheumatism, is in remarkably good 
health for one of this great age. He became a professor of religion in early 
life, and has, for about half a century, been a Ruling Elder in the Cumberland 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 279 

Presbyterian Church. He is a man of deepest piety, and, perhaps, no man 
in this part of Illinois has exerted a greater influence for good by a con- 
stantly devoted and consistent Christian life than he. In fact, among all classes, 
he is held in the highest esteem, and regarded as a model of devoted 
piety. The third soldier of the late war with England, living in this county, 
is Mr. Lewis McKay, living on Rock Creek, seven miles south of Petersburg, 
and in the same neighborhood with Mr. Tarleton Lloyd, spoken of before. 
Mr. McKay is now eighty-two years old ; as straight as a boy, and, with the 
exception of a defect in his hearing, he seems to be in the enjoyment of excel- 
lent health for one of his years. Unfortunately, we have not had the means 
of learning the history of Mr. McKay. He went into the service -in 1814, 
hence, was not more than seventeen years old at that time. He served till the 
close of the war, and then settled down to the practice of the arts of peace. 
He is a perfect gentleman in all his deportment, and is honored and respected 
by all who know him. He, at present, makes his home with his son-in-law and 
daughter Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Golden. We should delight to honor those 
old men who have done so much for our country. They are almost all gone. 
Here and there one still lives, but a few years from now in less than a decade 
the last of them will have gone to the journey's end. 

It becomes our duty, in this connection, to speak briefly of another military 
organization in this county. This organization is the 

HARRIS GUARDS. 

On the 8th day of October, 1874, a militia company was organized in Peters- 
burg, under the provisions of the statutes entitled "Militia," and approved 
March 3, 1845. The company kept up its organization, though not in a perfect 
form, until the 1st of July, 1877, when it was re-organized under the new 
militia law, of the State, which was approved May 18, 1877. The company 
was named in honor of a former statesman and soldier of this place, Maj. 
Thomas L. Harris. Maj. Harris filled that position in the Mexican war with 
bravery and distinction ; and, after the war, represented this district in Con- 
gress. He was growing rapidly in popularity, but when little more than forty 
years of age, he was stricken down by death. When the company was organ- 
ized and sworn in, it was attached to the Fifth Regiment of Illinois National 
Guards, the company being Company E. regimental headquarters at Springfield. 
The Guards have occupied Fisher's Hall as An armory, in the past, but they, 
in connection with the Masonic fraternity, have now in process of erection an 
armory and hall, which is to be finished this fall, and is to cost $10,000. The 
Harris Guards have never been called into active service but once ; this was 
during the labor riots, in the summer and fall of 1877. The company was 
first called to Springfield, and thence ordered to East St. Louis, where they 
remained until quiet and order were restored throughout the country. While 
on duty, they exhibited coolness, discretion and fortitude in a very remarkable 

F 



280 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

degree, and in this way exerted a great influence in restoring quiet in East St. 
Louis and St. Louis. They are well armed and nicely uniformed, and are well 
drilled in the manual of arms. The men are principally just in the prime of 
life, and on parade they present a fine appearance. The officers of the company 
are all old soldiers, and well informed in military matters. Capt. McDougall 
was captain of a company in the war of the rebellion, and proved himself a 
true soldier. Below we give a full roster of the officers and men of the com- 
pany: Captain, Charles E. McDougall; First Lieutenant, John M. Walker : Sec- 
ond Lieutenant, James H. Carman ; First Sergeant, James W. Conant ; Second 
Sergeant, Edward C. Drake; Third Sergeant, John C. Cabanis; Fourth Sergeant, 
Frank Meyer; Fifth Sergeant, Julius Rothschild; First Corporal, Michael F. 
Farney ; Second Corporal, William Kern ; Third Corporal, Powell Antle ; 
Fourth Corporal, L. H. Fouch ; Fifth Corporal, Charles R. Collier ; Sixth 
Corporal, Eugene W. Eads ; Seventh Corporal, John B. Barnhard ; Secretary, 
E. R. Oeltjen. Privates Leopold Ahronheim, John P. Brehl, Howard D. 
Burbank, James E. Davis, Alonzo E. Estill, John D. Freeze, Harry Harris, 
William E. Hatfield, Robert H. James, Mayo Jones, John A. Larman, John 
H. McDougall, George W. Morris, Frank A. Rainey, Thomas A. Ruddy, 
Henry Wegharst, Fred Wilkinson, Thomas J. Lewis, Edward L. Goodman, 
James M. Bale, William R. Humphreys, James H. Bowen, Lynch Brooks, 
John R. Connover, Orin D. Doland, George C. Freese, William G. Gottschall, 
Albert L. Hatch, Lorenzo W. Heelan, Hermann Janssen, William S. Judy, 
Frank McDougall, George S. Montgomery, Albert F. Oeltjen, Edward D. Rob- 
ertson, Marshall W. Thomas, Leo Werner, Edward D. Wright, Marcus John- 
son, Charles Laparierre, James Faith and Frank Huggins. 

The company has on its roll of officers and men fifty-eight names in all. 
They also have connected with the company an excellent brass band, known 
as the Harris Guard Brass Band. They drill regularly, and, taken all in all, 
they are a remarkably fine company of military men. 

This general history would be incomplete without a list of the county offi- 
cers from its organization to the present time. This we will give, without com- 
ment. The reader will remember that the county was not organized until 
1839. 

Sheriffs. James Goldsby, commissioned April 15, 1839, August 28, 
1840, and August 16, 1842; N. A/Rankin, August 9, 1844, and August 18, 
1846 ; James Taylor, August 17, 1848 ; James G. Long, December 26, 1848 
and December 2, 1850 ; B. D. McAtee, November 13, 1852 ; J. B. Gum, 
April 8, 1853, and November 14, 1854 ; J. B. Goldsby, November 10, 1856 ; 
J. M. Hurt, December 3, 1858 ; A. K. Johnson, November 20. 1860 ; W. C. 
Smoot, December 8, 1862 ; J. M. Quinn, November 21, 1864 ; John Tice, 
November 14, 1866 ; Robert Clary, November 20, 1868 ; Fred Wilkinson, 
November 29, 1870, and November 27, 1872 ; Wolf Feulner, November 24, 
1874, and November 27, 1876 ; Fred Wilkinson, March 26, 1878. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 281 

Probate Justices. Asa D. Wright, commissioned April 15, 1839, May 1, 
1839, and August 23, 1843 ; Nathan Dresser, September 18, 1-846 ; Asa D. 
Wright, August 11, 1847. r 

Recorders. William G. Spears, commissioned April 15, 1839 ; Jacob H. 
Laning, September 11, 1843; Cornelius Rourke, September 17, 1847. 

Coroners. Martin S. Morris, commissioned April 15, 1839 ; George D. 
Adams, August 7, 1840; John E. RawUngs, August 5, 1842; Ira McGlas- 
son, August 9, 1844, and August 27, 1846 ; McLean Wood, August 23, 1848 ; 
T. P. Garretson, November 20, 1850 ; C. Levering, November 13, 1852 ; W. 
T. Hutchinson, November 23, 1853 ; William Trent, November 14, 1854 ; F. 
C. Davis, November 10, 1856 ; J. T. Brooks, December 3, 1858 ; C. Lever- 
ing, November 24, 1860, and December 8, 1862 ; A. L. Clary, November 26, 
1864, and November 28, 1866 ; L. L. Montgomery, June 23, 1869 ; G. W. 
Hicks, February 20, 1871; J. J. Erwin, November 24, 1874; L. Ahronheim, 
November 27, 1876 ; Charles Cowan, December 1, 1877. 

Surveyors. Edmund Greer, commissioned April 15, 1839 ; John B. Gum, 
September 12, 1843, and September 17, 1847 ; Anno Ritter, December 11, 
1849, November 10, 1851, and November 20, 1853 ; E. Hall, November 12, 
1855 ; William F. West, November 20, 1857 ; D. N. Carithers, November 
25, 1859, and December 9, 1861 ; John'B. Gum, November 18, 1863; A. E. 
Mick, December 2, 1864, November 18, 1865, and November 14, 1867 ; A. J. 
Kelly, November 23, 1869, and November 18, 1875. 

Public Administrators. Lewis B. Wynn, commissioned February 14, 1843 ; 
George U. Miles, July 31, 1845 ; McLean Wood, February 16, 1849. 

County Judges. Jacob Garber, commissioned November 22, 1849 ; C. J. F. 
Clarke, November 23, 1853, and November 14, 1857 ;' J. H. Pillsbury, December 
9, 1861 ; M. B. Harrison, November 20, 1865 ; C. M. Robertson, November 

#, 1869 ; J. H. Pillsbury, November 19, 1873 ; John Tice, December 1, 1877- 
Associate Justices. James Mott, commissioned November 20, 1853 ; J. 
Reed, November 23, 1853; C. J. Hutchinson, July 17, 1854, and November 
14, 1857 ; Robert Clary, November 14, 1857, and December 9, 1861 ; D. T. 
Hughes, December 9, 1861'; R. Woldridge, November 15, 1869 ; H. Warn- 
sing, December 3, 1869. 

County Clerks. Cornelius Rourke, commissioned November 22, 1849, 
November 23, 1853, November 14, 1857, and December 9, 1861 ; Hobard 
Hamilton, November 20, 1865 ; A. E. Mick, November 15, 1869 ; Anson 
Thompson, November 19, 1873, and December 1, 1877. 

Circuit Clerks. A. K. Riggin, commissioned September 4, 1848, Novem- 
ber 13, 1852, and November 14, 1856 ; Joseph Johnson, November 20, 1860 ; 
William J. Estill, November 12, 1864, and November 20, 1868 ; T. C. Ben- 
nett, November 15, 1872, and November 27, 1876. 

States' 1 Attorneys. H. W. Masters, commissioned November 29, 1872, and 
'November 27, 1876. 



282 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

Assessors and Treasurers. John Tice, commissioned November 25, 1857, 
November 25; 1859, and November 18, 1863; J. W. Cheaney. November 
15, 1869, and December 18, 1871; Charles H. Thomas, November 18, 1875, 
and December 1, 1877. 

School Commissioners. 0. D. Clarke, commissioned November 20, 1853 ; 
J. H. Pillsbury, December 20, 1857, and November 25, 1859 ; Edward Lan- 
ing, November 18, 1863 ; Edward . Booth (changed to Superintendent of 
Schools), November 15, 1865 ; William H. Berry, November 15, 1869 ; K. 
B. Davis, November 19, 1873 ; R. D. Miller, January 3, 1877, and December 
1, 1877. 

The present officers of the county are as follows, viz.: County Judge, John 
Tice ; Master in Chancery, R. N. Stevens ; Sheriff, Frederick Wilkinson, and 
Deputy, John Cabanis ; County Commissioners, James Altig, Andrew Gaddy 
and Frank Duncan ; State's Attorney, H. W. Masters ; Circuit Clerk, Theo- 
dore C. Bennett, with 0. B. Carter, Deputy ; County Clerk, Anson Thomp- 
son, with E. D. Robertson, Deputy ; Assessor and Treasurer, Charles 'H. 
Thomas ; Surveyor, A. J. Kelley ; Coroner, David Cowan ; Superintendent of 
Schools, R. D. Miller. The county owns an excellent farm, well improved, 
and lying within two miles of Petersburg, which is used as a home for the indi- 
gent and homeless. 

PETERSBURG PRECINCT. 

Mount Vernon, the ancestral home of the Father of His Country, is dear 
to every American heart. His mortal remains lie entombed there, and feelings 
of patriotism diverge from the venerated spot, as golden rays are reflected back 
from the setting sun. As Columbia's first and greatest son, he is embalmed in 
the national memory as Joseph was by his brethren, and reverently assigned a 

place "Among the few immortal names 

, That were not born to die." 

In that portion of Menard County to which this chapter is devoted, is an his- 
torical spot, that, next to Mount Vernon, should be highly cherished as long as 
liberty and true patriotism prevail in this great republic. We allude to Old 
Salem, formerly the home of Abraham Lincoln. Hefe it may be said that he 
made his start in the world, and, although little remains of the original town, ' 
the spot is endeared to the people of the county as the early home of the mar- 
tyred President. It seems to us a duty that the State owes to his memory, to 
purchase the site of the old town, appropriately care for it, as the National 
Government does Mount Vernon, and doubt not but the time will come when 
this additional honor will be paid him. We shall have more to say of the old 
historical town elsewhere in these pages. 

Petersburg is the largest township -or precinct in Menard County, and like- 
wise the most important, inasmuch as it contains the seat of justice. It' 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 283 

embraces portions of Towns 18 north, Ranges 6, 7 and 8 west, and by Gov- 
ernment survey contains about fifty-seven sections, and is bounded north by 
Sandridge Precinct, east by Indian Creek and Athens, south by Rock Creek 
and Tallula, and west by Cass County. The Sangamon River flows through 
the precinct, entering it at very nearly the southeast corner, running almost a 
northwest course to Section 25, in Range 7, when it turns due north, passing 
out through Section 1, when it becomes the boundary line between Indian 
Creek and Sandridge Precincts. Indian Creek forms the boundary between 
this and Indian Creek Precinct, while Clary's Creek runs through the western 
part of the precinct, and Little Grove Creek has its source at a few miles dis- 
tance, southwest of Petersburg, flowing northwest to the Sangamon River. 
These streams supply an abundance of water for all general purposes, as well 
as ample means of drainage. Excellent timber borders the water-courses, as 
more minutely described in the general history of this work, and consists of 
the species usually found in this part of the State. A large portion of the 
precinct is fine prairie land, the timber, as above stated, being confined chiefly 
to the margin of the streams. The Chicago & Alton Railroad and the Spring- 
field & Northwestern intersect it, the one crossing from northeast to southwest 
and the other from southeast to northwest, thus affording ample means of com- 
munication with the outside world. Petersburg, the capital of the county, is 
the only town of any note within its borders, and will be more particularly 
referred to further on in this chapter. It also contains the historic, but now 
almost defunct town of Old Salem, which receives due notice in another page. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

The first settlements made in this division of Menard County are involved 
in some obscurity, and authentic information' pertaining to them seems almost 
beyond reach at the present day. With nearly sixty years stretching between 
the advent of the pale-face pioneers and the present period, it is not strange 
that there should be conflicting statements as to whom belongs the honor of 
making the original settlement in Petersburg Precinct. From our investigations 
and the most reliable sources of information at hand, we are of opinion that the 
Esteps were the first white men in this locality. They were originally from 
the State of North Carolina, but emigrated to Tennessee early in the beginning 
of the present century, and from thence came to Illinois, locating in St. Clair 
County. In the spring of 1820-21, James Estep came to Menard County, or 
Sangamon, as it then was, and made a claim in this precinct, near or within the 
present city of Petersburg. - He was followed in a few months by his brother 
Enoch and his father, Elijah Estep. Upon the arrival of his father, he gave 
his claim to him, and moved across the river and located on what was later 
known as Baker's Prairie. Elijah Estep built a small horse-mill, which was 
afterward embraced in the city limits, and otherwise improved the claim by 
erecting on it a cabin of the regular pioneer pattern. He died early, and but 



284 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

little is remembered of him by any now living in this section. Enoch Estep 
removed to Arkansas many years ago, and whether living or not, we do not 
know. James, who seems to have been a kind of roving character, never con- 
tented long in one place, from Baker's Prairie moved over into the present 
township of Crane Creek, in Mason County, where he bought a claim of one 
James Sutton. In the few years following, he occupied various places, and in 
1832 moved to Arkansas, but returned the following year to Mason County. 
Remaining a few years, he moved back to Menard County, and finally to Mis- 
souri, but again returned to Mason County, where he died in 1857, on the place 
now owned .by his son, J. M. Estep. He is described as a man of considerable 
eccentricity, and, with all his meandering around from place to place, never 
rented a home, but always bought and sold. True, the old saying is, that " A 
rolling stone gathers no moss," and Mr. Estep accumulated but little of the 
world's goods, dying in indigent circumstances. This pioneer, supposed to 
have been the first white settler in Petersburg Precinct, sleeps in New Hope 
Cemetery, in Mason County, beside the partner of his life, who preceded him a 
few years to the " land of shadows." 

Soon after the settlement of the Esteps probably the latter part of the 
same year the Watkinses and a man named Teeters came to the precinct. 
There were Joseph, Samuel, James, John and Thomas Watkins. They were 
from Kentucky, and some of them settled in Clary's Grove as early as 1819-20. 
Joseph and Samuel Watkins made claims in this precinct in 1821, as noted 
above, while James Watkins did not come until 1825-26. Thomas Watkins 
bought the claim of John Clary, acknowledged by the majority of old citizens 
to be the first white settler of Menard County, as noticed in the 'history of 
Clary's Grove. This claim Watkins sold to George Spears, in 1824, and 
removed to the "river timber," n'ear the present city of Petersburg, where he 
eventually died. The eld Watkins stock are, we believe, all dead, but there 
are still descendants of the family living in the county. Thomas, Jr., a son of 
Thomas Watkins, was born in the county in 1824, and may be recorded among 
the early births. He is still living in this precinct, and is probably the oldest 
native-born citizen of the county. He served one year in the Mexican war. Mack 
Watkins, another son, also lives in the precinct. Teeters moved into Sandridge 
Precinct, where he is further noticed. Jacob Short and three sons, Obadiah, 
Harrison and James came in 1822. They were from the south end of the 
State, where they had resided for some time before coming to this county. In 
1824, they moved into Sandridge, where Jacob Short died in 1825, and wher 
Harrison also died some years later. Obadiah died at Nauvoo, and James 
removed to Iowa, where he, too, died. 

During the next two or three years, the little community was increased by 
the arrival of several additional families, among which were : Jesse Baker, 
Henry and William Clark, Ephi'aim and William Wilcox, Henry McHenry, 
Daniel Atterberry, Andrew, Jacob and Spencer Merrill, and perhaps others. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 285 

Jesse Baker settled on Baker's Prairie, and from him it derived its name. He 
moved into Mason County about 1836, and located in the present township of 
Kilbourne, where he is mentioned as one of the pioneers of that section. He 
has passed to his last account since we began the work of compiling this his- 
tory. Henry and William Clark, brothers, came from Kentucky and settled 
in this precinct. William died many years ago, but Henry is still living upon 
the place of his original settlement, just across the river from Petersburg. 
He and his wife have lived together for fifty-six years. Ephraim and 
William Wilcox were also from Kentucky, and both died in this county, a 
number of years ago. Henry McHenry still lives in Petersburg, and owns 
the brick hotel at the northeast corner of the public square. Daniel Atterberry 
was from Kentucky, made a claim here, but has been long dead. Andrew 
Merrill and his sons, Jacob and Spencer Merrill, were also from Kentucky. 
The old gentleman died in 1835, and it is said that he pointed out one day, a 
short time previous to his death, the spot where he desired to be buried. When 
he died, his son Jacob carried out his wish and had him laid away in the des- 
ignated spot. In 1859, his wife was laid by the side of him. Jacob and 
Spencer are both living but a short distance west of Petersburg, the former in 
his seventy-fourth year. Thomas Edwards was among the very early settlers, 
but is described as a rather hard character, and of little benefit to any commu- 
nity. He remained here but a short time, pulled up stakes and moved on to 
other frontier settlements. Thomas F. Dowell came about 1825-26, and is still 
living in Sandridge Precinct, at an advanced age. Jesse Gum was among the 
early settlers of Clary's Grove, as noticed in the history of Tallula Precinct. 
He was a native of Kentucky. Charles Gum, living near Petersburg, is his 
son. John B. Gum, who now lives at Kilbourne, Mason County, and who is 
one of the largest landholders in Mason or Menard County, is also a son of 
Jesse Gum. 

In addition to the names already given, the following recruits were added 
to the settlement prior to the "deep snow:" George Curry, Henry Bell and 
sons, John Jones, Zachariah Clary, Bartley Milton, John and Anno Ritter, 
Pollard Simmons, William Edwards and sons, John Jennison, Bartlett Con- 
yers, Henry and David Williams, Conrad Strader, Josiah Crawford and others. 
George Curry came .from Green County, Ky., and laid a claim in this pre- 
cinct, near where his son, Rev. H. P. Curry, now lives. He died in 1876. 
Rev. H. P. Curry has been actively engaged in the ministry for thirty-nine 
years, and at present administers spiritual consolation to four churches, in 
addition to superintending his farm. Henry Bell and sons were from Ken- 
tucky. The old gentlemen is long since dead, but some of the sons still live 
in the county. John Jones was another Kentuckian, and settled in Clary' 8 
Grove in 1824. He moved into this precinct some years later, and finally 
located in Little Grove, where he died. Zachariah Clary, a brother to John 
Clary, the first settler, came from Tennessee and settled in Clary's Grove in 



286 HISTORY OF MENA.RD COUNTY. 

the latter part of 1819, and, in 1825, moved into this precinct. He sffll lives 
upon the place where he then settled, a mile or two north of Petersburg. He 
is eighty-two years old, and he and his good wife, who is also living, have been 
plodding on over the old stumpy road of life together for fifty-nine years, hav- 
ing been married, as he informed us, in 1820. John and Anno Ritter were 
from Kentucky. Anno died here ; John moved to Mason County, where he 
died. Pallard Simmons removed also to Mason County and died there. David 
and Henry Williams, and Bartlett Conyers settled in the same neighborhood, 
but where they came from, we could not ascertain. Conrad Strader is dead, 
but has a son still living in the precinct. Josiah Crawford moved to Mason 
County, where he died. This completes the settlement up to the time of the 
deep snow, so far as we have been able to obtain names and facts. As we have 
have had frequent occasion to mention, in our capacity as historian, in North- 
ern and Central Illinois, the "deep snow" is an epoch from which the chro- 
nology of the pioneer dates " fore and aft." All important events are reck- 
oned from the deep snow. It is a waymark that will not be forgotten by those 
who witnessed it, until their life journey closes at the brink of the tomb. Ask 
the old grandfather or grandmother about the deep snow, and note the sparkle of 
their eyes, as memory rolls back over a period of fifty years, when 

" All the land with snow was covered," 

to a depth of four feet, and so remained for a period of three months or more. 
They can tell you of the hard times, and the dreary aspect of that long, long 
winter, better than we, for it was before our day. 

The population was increased during the five or six years immediately fol- 
lowing the deep snow, by the following emigrants, a majority of whom came 
from Old Kentucky, that famous land of blue grass, pretty women and good 
whisky : The Davidsons, the Taylors, William Butler, Dr. John Lee, William 
P. Cox, W. G. Greene, Thomas Epperson, William J. Hoey, the Bennetts, 
C. G. Brooks, S. and C. Levering, A. D. Wright, Jacob H. Laning, James S. 
Carter, John McNarnar, A. Humphrey, John McNeal, Samuel Hill, Nathan 
Dresser, Charles B. Waldo, Zachariah Nance and sons, George U. Miles, 
Chester Moon, Thoims L. Harris, W. C. Dawson, Martin Morris, Jordan 
Morris, J. W. Warnsing, William Haggefty, Dr. John Allen, George War- 
burton, Peter Lukins, the Rutledges, Jonathan Colby, Robert Carter, J. A. 
Brahm, James Goldsby, Nicholas Tice, Abraham Bale, Jacob Bale, Hardin 
Bale and others. The Davidsons, George A., Isham G. and Jackson, were 
from Kentucky and were among the early merchants of Petersburg. They 
first settled in the southern part of the State, in Bond County, we believe, 
where they resided for a number of years before coming to this county. George 
A. Davidson lives at present in Greenview, Isham G. in Fulton County, and 
Jackson has been lost sight of. They were related to the Taylor family, and 
came to the county soon after, or about the time the Taylors came. The 



: 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 287 

Taylors were from Kentucky. John Taylor was the first merchant of Petersburg, 
and one of the original proprietors of the town, as noticed in that con- 
nection. He died in Beardstown, but was living in Springfield at the time. 
Richard Taylor was a brother, but never a permanent resident here. James 
Taylor was a son of John Taylor, but did not live here. Made frequent busi- 
ness visits to the place, however. He died in Springfield, where he made his 
home. James Taylor, a cousin to the latter, lived here some years and died 
here. William Butler was a transient guest and did not remain long in the 
community ; was merely here attending to Taylor's business for a short time. 
Dr. John Lee was from the Old Dominion and a member of the original L?e 
family of Virginia. He at present lives at Athens, this county. William P. 
Cox came from Kentucky and is yet living in the county. William G. Greene 
came from Tennessee, but his father, William Greene, was a native Kentuckian. 
He came to Illinois in 1821-22 and settled near where the village of Tallula 
now stands, where he died. William G. Greene was a mere boy when his 
father came to Illinois. He is and has been for years a prominent man of the 
county and is still living. He is mentioned elsewhere as an intimate friend of 
Mr. Lincoln when he was a resident of Menard County. Thomas Epperson 
was from Kentucky and died here many years ago. William J. Hoey was a 
son of the " auld sod" and was one of the early merchants of Petersburg. 
He had a brother, James Hoey, who was also an early settler, but came several 
years after William. They both died here. 

The Bennetts came from Old Virginia, the home of statesmen and the 
birthplace of Presidents. There were three brothers John, William and 
Richard E. Bennett. John came to Illinois in 1835, and to this section in 
1836, and became one of the early merchants and prominent business men of 
Petersburg, as noticed in that chapter. He was a member of the Legislature 
during the session of 1840-41, and was one of the first directors of the old 
Tonica & Petersburg Railroad, now the Jacksonville division of the Chicago & 
Alton Railroad, besides holding many other positions of importance. He is 
still living in the city of Petersburg, retired from active business life, and to 
his excellent memory we are indebted for much of the early history of Peters- 
burg and surrounding vicinity. William Bennett came to the settlement one 
year after John, and is long since dead. Dr. Richard E. Bennett came about 
the same time, and is elsewhere mentioned as the first practicing physician in 
this portion of the county. Dr. Bennett is dead, but has a son, Theodore C. 
Bennett, living in Petersburg, who is the present Circuit Clerk. C. G. Brooks 
was from Kentucky and came in 1836, and died here years ago. Septimus 
and C. Levering, half-brothers, came from Baltimore ; Septimus came in the 
spring of 1837, and his brother some time later. The former is dead, but the 
latter is living here still. James S. Carter was from Virginia and came in 
1838. He is at present living in the Tillage of Oakford. Jacob H. Laning 
came from New Jersey in 1838. He is still living in the city of Petersburg, 



288 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

and his sons are among the prominent business men of the place. A. D. 
Wright is mentioned in another place as connected prominently with the mill 
interests of the city at one time. John McNamar was a a Down Easter," but 
from what State is not known. He was one of the early merchants in Salem, and 
moved to Petersburg after the decline of Salem, where he again embarked in 
mercantile business. He died here about a year ago. Dr. John Allen was 
also an early merchant at Salem, as well as an early physician. He moved to 
Petersburg about the same time as McNamar. They were in business together 
at Salem, which was continued for a time after locating in Petersburg. He 
died here some years ago. A. Humphrey was also a " Down Easter," and 
came here about 1837-38, and died long ago. John McNeal was a native of 
Pennsylvania, but went to Virginia, where he married, and then removed to 
Illinois, locating in this precinct, where he finally died. Samuel Hill came 
from Ohio and first located in Salem very early. He moved to Petersburg in 
18-39, and died several years ago. Charles B. Waldo, Nathan Dresser and 
Thomas L. Harris were natives of Connecticut, whence they emigrated to 
Virginia, then to Illinois arid settled in Petersburg. Waldo is mentioned on 
another page as the first pedagogue in the neighborhood. Both he and Dresser 
moved to the southern part of the State, in the vicinity of Cairo, where they 
died. Harris, though originally from the same place, came several years later. 
He was a man of considerable prominence and political aspirations, and served 
one or two terms in Congress with some distinction. He died here, but his 
widow and other members of the family are still living. Zachariah Nance and 
several sons came from Kentucky to Illinois in 1833, locating in what is now 
Rock Creek Precinct. Here the old gentleman died and was buried in the 
Farmers' Point Graveyard. Among his sons were Thomas and Washington, 
the latter now living in Petersburg; quite an old man. "Albert G. Nance, a 
son of Thomas, served two years in the Legislature, and was a candidate for 
the ^State Senate, but died a few days before the election. His father is also 
dead. Mrs. Hill, widow of Samuel Hill, now living in Petersburg, is a daughter 
of Zachariah Nance. George U. Miles was from Kentucky, and settled here 
in 1839, but had been living in the southern part of the State several years 
before coming to Menard County. He is still living, but very old and feeble. 
Chester Moon was a Yankee, but what State he came from we could not ascer- 
tain. He died some years ago in Morris. W. C. Dawson came from Ken- 
tucky about 1840, and resides at present in Springfield. Martin and Jordan 
Morris, though of the same name, and both blacksmiths, were in nowise related. 
Jordan was one of those transient characters who are always on the move, and 
did not remain long in this community, but what actually became of him is 
not now remembered. Martin Morris, after a residence here of some years, 
removed to Missouri, where he still lived at last accounts. William Haggerty 
was also a blacksmith, came with Jordan Morris, worked with him and left 
with him. J. W. Warnsing was a German, and came here very early. Has 



HISTORY. OF MENARD COUNTY. 289 

been dead several years. Samuel Berry came from Tennessee at an early day 
arid died long ago. 

George Warburton, who is noticed in the history of the city of Petersburg 
as the owner of a part of the land on which the town was laid out, came from 
the East. He was drowned in the Sangamon River, when the water, it is said, 
was not over six inches deep. It is supposed that he was intoxicated, as he 
was in the habit of drinking to excess, and in that state fell into the water, 
when no help was at hand, and being unable to help himself, was drowned. 
Peter Lukins, the joint proprietor with Warburton of the land on which the 
town stands, and for whom Petersburg was named, as noted hereafter, came 
from Kentucky. He and Warburton. as more particularly detailed in the his- 
tory of Petersburg, owned 160 acres of land, upon which the original town was 
laid out. This they afterward sold to Taylor & King, who became the propri- 
etors of the town. Lukins is noticed as the first hotel-keeper and the first shoe- 
maker. He was found dead in his bed one morning, supposed to have been the 
result of excessive drink, as he too, was in the habit of taking overdoses of the 
fiery demon. The Rutledges are originally from Kentucky, and are elsewhere 
noticed in this work. The Rutledges went from Kentucky to South Carolina, 
and from there came to Illinois, locating first in White County, where they 
remained som'e years, and then came to the present county of Menard, in 1825. 
William and James Rutledge, and John Cameron, came to the neighborhood 
together, and settled in the vicinity of Old Salem. Cameron and William Rut- 
ledge were brothers-in-law. They lived in the county until their death, and 
still have many descendants residing here. Jonathan Colby came from New 
Hampshire in 1834, and located where he now lives. His parents lived together 
as man and wife for sixty years, and at their death their combined ages were 
172 years. Robert Carter came from Kentucky in 1830, and settled where his 
daughter, Mrs. Jemima Gum, now lives. He died in 1866. J. A. Brahm 
came to this county with his father's family, in 1830, and settled just north of 
Petersburg. They were from Germany. The elder Brahm died here in 1852. 
His son, J. A. Brahm, is a prominent banker and business man of the city of 
Petersburg. James Goldsby came from Kentucky, and settled here in 1830. 
He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and the first Sheriff of Menard County. 
He has a son, Rev. William M. Goldsby, in this precinct, who has been a min- 
ister of the Baptist Church for a quarter of a century. Nicholas Tice was a 
native of Virginia, and came to Illinois in 1831, locating at the village of 
Athens. In 1832, he purchased a farm at what is now Tice's Station, where he 
died in 1856. John Tice, a son, is the present County Judge of Menard 
County. He is one of the faithful county and precinct officers, as evidenced 
in the fact that he has been in the official harness for thirty years in suc- 
cession. 

The Bales were from Kentucky. Jacob Bale located near the present city 
of Petersburg, in 1830. He was a minister, and the father of Hardin Bale, 



290 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

proprietor of the Petersburg Woolen Mills, which are more particularly alluded 
to on another page. Abraham Bale came to the precinct in 1839, and located 
at Salem. In 1840, he purchased a farm, on which he resided until 1852, 
when he bought the mill-site at Salem, and commenced repairing the old mill, 
but he died in 1853. His sons completed the repairs he had begun, and, in 
1873, T. V. Bale became sole proprietor of the once famous Salem Mills, and 
has ever since operated them. The Bales seem to have had a kind of genius or 
talent for mills, as we learn that Rev. Jacob Bale bought a small grist-mill, 
wherein his son Hardin took his first lessons in the business, and thus qualified 
himself for the successful business man that he is to-day. Aaron B. White was 
among the pioneers of Clary's Grove, and came from Kentucky. He has 
a son, William M. White, living in Petersburg, who remembers the hardships 
of those early days. Judge Pillsbury is a son of Alpha Pillsbury, and is a 
native of New Hampshire. His father died there in 1831, and, in 1836, the 
family came West, locating in the town of Petersburg. His mother died here 
in 1868. He has served several terms as County Judge, and was for several 
years Principal of the city schools. Mrs. Elizabeth Potter, the widow of Elijah, 
ranks among the pioneers. Her husband was a native of White County, 111., 
and came to Menard County in 1819-20. He died in March, 1876, on the 
place where his widow now lives. Robert McNeely was an early settler in the 
neighboring county of Morgan. His son, Hon. Thomas W. McNeely, is one 
of the prominent men of Petersburg. 

This comprises the early settlement of Petersburg Precinct up to a period 
when emigrants were flocking to the great plains of the West in such numbers 
as to render it a Herculean task to keep trace of them. It is a work of no 
little trouble, owing to the large and irregular divisions of the county, to avoid 
confusion and error in the location of early settlers, and mention them, in all 
cases, in the precinct or particular locality where they truly belong. We have 
exercised the utmost care in this respect, yet doubt not that many such mis- 
takes have been made. And doubtless, too, the names of many pioneers of 
the county and precinct have been overlooked, which deserve honorable men- 
tion in this work. But when we reflect that the allotted period of almost two 
generations have passed since white men came to this region, and that many of 
these early comers are gone and the memory of others weakened by age, it is 
not strange that early facts are sometimes difficult to obtain, and when gath- 
ered from different sources, as they necessarily must be, are often so at variance 
as to baffle the historian's skill to place them before his readers in a satisfactory 
manner. Had the compilation of this work been postponed a few years longer, 
the last of the old settlers, able to contribute facts and incidents of the far 
past, would have been beyond the historian's reach, and the opportunity of 
getting an authentic history lost forever. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 291 

THE PIONEER DAYS. 

If the ghosts of some of the pioneers, whose settlement we have been not- 
ing in these pages, could rise, like that of Banquo's, imbued with power to 
observe the changes wrought since they first saw the country, their astonish- 
ment would doubtless exceed that of Rip Van Winkle's, when he awoke from 
his long nap in the Catskill Mountains and found himself no longer the loyal 
subject of George III., but the free and sovereign citizen of " the greatest 
country in the world." When white men came here, nearly sixty years ago, 
the forests were unbroken ; the prairies were yet in their pristine beauty, fresh 
from the Creator's hand, and were the abode of the wolf and the wild deer. 
The canoe of the Indian was paddled up and down the " Sangamo;" and its 
forests echoed the crack of his rifle, while the paths' worn by his moccasined feet 
were the guiding trail of the emigrant. The flight of years has clothed those 
" verdant wastes " with flocks and herds, with waving harvest-fields and vast 
forests of rustling corn, in whose depths armies might ambush. The Indian 
trail has become obliterated by the railway track, and the ox team and " prairie 
schooner" are displaced by the locomotive and the rushing train. The land- 
scape, where first the savage set his tepee and where his pale-face successor 
built his '"pole cabin" or his "three-faced" camp, is now dotted with hun- 
dreds of happy homes, churches and schoolhouses ; the silence broken by the 
Indian war-whoop and death song, now echoes to 

"The laugh of children, the soft voice 
Of maidens, and the sweet and solemn hymn 
Of Sabbath worshipers." 

And these are not all. Many other changes and improvements have taken 
place, which these rude and honest pioneers never dreamed of in their most extrav- 
agant flights of fancy. They were content then with the old " Gary " or "bar- 
share " plow, drawn by the patient ox, and were thankful if they had corn-meal 
and wild-deer meat to satisfy the cravings of hunger. Their homes were cabins, 
built of poles or split logs, with puncheon or dirt floors, clapboard roofs and stick 
chimneys, and their beds were usually wild prairie grass, which honest toil and 
contentment rendered "soft as downy pillows are." Nor were the women idle 
spectators. They were in truth helpmates, and metaphorically they put their 
hands to the plow and, when occasion demanded, did not hesitate to do so liter- 
ally. They spun and wove cloth, manufactured their own and their families' 
clothing. No doubt they were as happy then in their humble attire as their 
fair sisters of the present day are, when robed in silks and salins and sparkling 
with jewelry. But the pole cabin, the Gary and barshare plow, and the homely 
raiment are things of the past and are buried beneath the years that have 
come and gone in rapid succession, while the panorama has been unfolding to 
view. Soon these " relics of barbarism " will be wholly forgotten. Even 
now, they are fast becoming fireside legends. 



292 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

As is usually the case in townships or precincts wherein are located county 
seats, the more important events center at the capital, leaving little of historic 
interest in the township at large. Thus it is in Petersburg. Beyond the 
mere fact of settling the country, the history of the precinct is mostly con- 
fined to Old Salem and to the county's metropolis. The first stores, mills, post 
offices, churches, schools, shops, etc., were established at these places. With a 
brief notice on one or two points of interest, we will pass to the history of the 
city. 

The church history, as we have said, is given more particularly in the 
town of Petersburg. It is proper, however, that a notice of Baker's Prairie 
Church should be given in the precinct history. It is one of the old church 
organizations of the Baptist denomination in the county, and was organized 
about 1835, by Rev. John Antle. The first church was a log building, and 
served as both church and schoolhouse for a time, and stood two or three miles 
east of Petersburg, and about the same distance north of Tice's Station. In 
1849-50, a frame church superseded the old log structure, and is still in use as 
a temple of worship for this pioneer society. Rev. H. P. Curry, who has 
been frequently mentioned in this work as a Baptist preacher, at present 
administers to the spiritual wants of the Church. Another of the early 
churches of the precinct is the Methodist Church, at Tice's Station, which will 
be noticed in connection with that place. 

The railroads passing through this precinct are the Jacksonville Division of 
the Chicago & Alton and the Springfield & North-Western, which cross at the 
town of Petersburg. But, as they have been fully noticed already, we will not 
repeat their history here. Suffice it, they give the precinct and the town the 
benefit of transportation in any direction and to any market, and, indeed, 
bring the best markets in the country to the people's very doors. 

Petersburg Precinct is Democratic in politics, as is the entire county. 
During the war of the rebellion, it furnished many soldiers to the Union 
armies, and performed a good part to maintain the supremacy of the Govern- 
ment. But for a more complete record of these stirring events, the reader is 
referred to the war history of the county, which is given in a preceding chapter. 

As the first schools taught in the precinct were in the present town of 
Petersburg, the school history is mostly given in that connection. The schools 
of the surrounding country are in a flourishing state, corresponding with those 
in other portions of the county. Comfortable houses are conveniently situated, 
and efficient teachers employed during the usual school term, so that a good 
common-school education is within the reach of all. and there remains no 
excuse for children growing up in ignorance. 

THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. 

Petersburg, the metropolis of Menard County, is beautifully situated on the 
west bank of the Sangamon River, at the crossing of the Chicago & Alton and 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 293 

the Springfield & North- Western Railroads, twenty-one miles from Springfield 
and twenty-seven miles from Jacksonville. It extends back from the river on 
to the bluffs, where are located many elegant residences. The streets are broad 
and lined with rows of trees, thus presenting an inviting appearance in the sul- 
try months of summer. The public square is a well-shaded spot, nicely set in 
grass, and containing many fine trees, in the midst of which stands that 
immense pile of architectural beauty and magnificence the Court House. The 
principal portion of the business, as in a majority of Illinois towns, is done 
around the square, and the business houses, as a class, are superior to those 
usually found in towns p,f this size. 

Peter Lukins and George Warburton were the original owners of 160 acres 
of land, on which Petersburg now stands. This tract of land was embraced in 
Section 14 of Town 18, and Range 7 west. They laid out the town about 
1832-33, surveying and dividing the entire 160 acres into blocks of town lots, 
which performance being ended, they quietly sat down and waited for the place 
to grow. It was a rather extensive foundation for a town forty or fifty years 
ago, and it was probably these ponderous proportions that retarded its growth 
for the first few years of its existence, as we karn that city real estate com- 
manded but limited figures in either the home or in foreign markets. Finally, 
becoming discouraged or disgusted because a town did not rise as if by magic, 
they sold out to Hezekiah King and John Taylor. These gentlemen employed 
Abraham Lincoln, then Deputy Surveyor of Sangamon County, to resurvey 
and plat it, which plat was admitted to record February 22, 1836. The town 
was named for Peter Lukins, one of the original proprietors of the land. The 
accident, or incident, which led to the name of Petersburg, instead of that of 
Georgetown, occurred in this wise : Peter Lukins and George Warburton, 
who laid out the original town as already stated, were each desirous of being 
immortalized in history by bestowing his name upon the incipient city, and 
became involved in a dispute as to whether it should be called Georgetown (for 
Warburton) or Petersburg (for Lukins). They finally agreeed to play a game 
of " old sledge," or " seven-up." then the national game (instead of base ball), 
and allow the winner to name the place. Lukins won the game, and, rising from 
the costly* Turkish chair (an empty nail-keg) on which he sat, solemnly pro- 
nounced the name Petersburg. 

From the most authentic information to be obtained at the present day, it is 
probable that the first shanty erected on the present site of Petersburg was by 
Elijah Estep, mention of which has been made in the precinct history. As the 
settlements there noticed include both town and precinct, we will not recapitu- 
late the settlement of the town under this head. There was also a building, 
which people, out of respect, called a mill, erected by Estep, which is supposed 
to have been put up about 1826. It was what was called, in those early times, 
a ''gear horse-mill," and, we believe, used for sawing only. If any of our 
readers are curious to know what a -'gear horse-mill " is, they will have to 



294 HISTORY OF MENAKD COUNTY. 

Consult some of the old settlers, for we cannot enlighten them. The first store 
was opened by John Taylor, in 1833. Not long after Taylor commenced busi- 
ness as a merchant here, the Davidson Brothers opened a store, which is said to 
have been the second in the place. Taylor sold his store to John Bennett, who 
is still living, and is a highly respected citizen of the town. He was for a 
number of years one of the leading merchants and business men. Jordan 
Morris was the first blacksmith, and Peter Lukins looked after the soles of the 
early settlers, otherwise, the first shoemaker. A post ofiice was established 
about 1833-34, with James Taylor as Postmaster. It was a very small affair, 
and could have been easily carried in a man's hat, but Ijas grown to considerable 
proportions, and its emoluments are more eagerly sought after at the present 
day than when established nearly fifty years ago. The present Postmaster is 
A. N. Curry, and, fnstead of a weekly mail, four mails are now received daily. 
The first practicing lawyer was David M. Rutledge, a brother to Miss Anna 
Rutledge, once the fiancee of Mr. Lincoln, and whose premature death alone 
prevented her becoming his wife. Dr. R. E. Bennett was the first located physi- 
cian. The first tavern was kept by Peter Lukins, and stood in the south end 
of the town. It was a small and unpretentious affair, but accommodated, in its 
time, the limited demand made upon an establishment of that kind. At pres- 
ent, there are four hotels in the city, and several restaurants. The two 
principal hotels are the Menard House on the southeast corner, and the brick 
hotel on the northeast corner of the public square. 

From this small business, beginning back nearly a half-century ago, Peters- 
burg has grown to be a stirring and energetic little city, of nearly three 
thousand inhabitants, commanding as large a trade as any town of its size, 
perhaps, in the State. The little 'store of Taylor has given place to twelve or 
fifteen large establishments, handling dry goods, groceries and clothing. Mor- 
ris, the " village blacksmith," is now represented by six shops, the smallest of 
which is far more pretentious than his, and some half a dozen disciples of St. 
Crispin supply the place of Lukins. The successors of 'Squire Rutledge in 
the legal profession comprise a dozen or more attorneys who rank at the head 
of the bar, and six physicians represent Dr. Bennett, the first of his kind in 
the town. All other branches of business have correspondingly incpeased, and 
hardware stores, agricultural, harness, drugs, furniture, meat and millinery 
stores, and lumber-yards nourish, and are well patronized and maintained. 
There are also two banks included in the business of the town. 

The next mill after the small affair already mentioned, was a saw and grist 
mill, built by one Dorrell. It was operated for a number of years, when a man 
named Sanford erected a very fine mill, at a cost of $18,000, which he sold, in 
1853, to A. D. Wright. After operating it for several years, his sons, J. D. 
and E. D. Wright, took charge of it. In a few years, the latter withdrew from 
the firm and the former failed, necessitating the sale of the property. The mill 
was purchased, in 1878, by D. Fischer and E. L. Gault, who are now running 




'"Q-. O 



TALLUU 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 297 

it. with good success. They make a fine article of flour, as evidenced in the 
fact that it took first premium at the State Fair, last year, at Freeport. 

The Eagle Mills were built in 1867 by Nance, Brother & Co., at a cost of 
$.14,000, and were operated by them for about fifteen months, when they sold 
out to Philip Rainey. He operated them for a time, in connection with Thomas 
Barfield, but, at the present time, is alone in the ownership of these excellent 
mills. He has recently added what is termed a " New Process," a process, by 
the way, of which we are ignorant, but, as some of our readers may be better 
informed upon the subject, we give them the benefit of the information. " The 
Process," whatever it is, the customers say, greatly improves the quality 
of the flour. While on the subject of mills, we should not omit to men- 
tion the fact that in early times the Sangamon River was supposed to be sus- 
ceptible of navigation, as noticed in the general history, and that about the 
year 1836, a little steamboat, in paddling up (or down) the crooked stream, 
became stranded on the beach in this vicinity. The machinery was purchased 
by John Taylor, who placed it in a saw-mill, and afterward added a grist-mill 
to the establishment. The machinery proved more valuable here than in the 
navigation of the Sangamon River, and performed good service until the mill 
was destroyed by fire. 

The grain trade of Petersburg, though quite an extensive branch of busi- 
ness, scarcely equals many other towns of this size. The principal dealers 
here at present are Phil Rainey, of the Eagle Mills, Fischer, Gault & Conover, 
of the Charter Oak Mills, and Laning & Co., all of whom have done a large 
business the present year. Fischer, Gault & Conover have an excellent grain 
elevator in connection with their mills, which is the only grain elevator in the 
town. This struck us as a little strange that in a section of country as rich 
as this, where corn and wheat are the main staples, to find no extensive grain 
elevators looming up along the railroad tracks. But much of the wheat is 
shipped as soon as threshed, the corn cribbed by the railroads, where it is 
shelled and loaded into the cars ; hence, elevators are but little needed. 

PETERSBURG AS THE COUNTY SEAT. 

As noted in the general history, the act for the formation of Menard County 
was passed at the Legislative session of 1838-39. The new county included 
the larger part of the present county of Mason, which was not set off until two 
years later. One of the first questions of agitation was the location of the seat 
of justice. New Market, Huron, Miller's Ferry and Petersburg were the con- 
testants, and, after a short, but sanguinary struggle, it was decided in favor of 
Petersburg, and, in the spring of 1839, it became the capital of the county. 
Its competitors in the struggle for official greatness were long since submerged 
u 'neath the waves of dark oblivion," and few, except the grizzled pioneers who 
are left, know that such places ever existed in their county. From this time 
forward, Petersburg rapidly increased in population, and grew in importance. 



298 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

After the formation of Mason, it was found that, by a favorable stroke of for- 
tune, the county seat of Menard had been located very near its geographical 
center. For four years after the organization of the county, court was held in 
the store of Grinsley & Levering. In 1843, the court house was erected, at a 
cost of $6,640. The old and time-worn building, with the moss of more than a 
third of a century growing upon its walls, still adorns the town, and though an 
eye-sore to many, is, perhaps, more ^referable to the majority than being 
encumbered with an exorbitant debt, contracted to supply a gorgeous edifice. 
It is the old Kentucky tobacco-barn style of architecture, and on a par with 
the court houses built in this section of the State forty or fifty years ago. 
About the time the court house was built, a jail was erected, at a cost of $300. 
This served as a repository of the lawless until 1870, when a new jail was put 
up, of brick and stone, which cost about $22,000, and is a far nlore gorgeous build- 
ing than the court house itself. 

The coal interest of Petersburg has become an extensive business, and the 
mines now in successful operation in the immediate vicinity afford employment 
to a large number of men. The South Valley Shaft and the North Junction 
Shaft are among the most productive being worked. As the coal interest is 
more particularly mentioned in the county history, we will not dwell on it 
here. Suffice it to say, with the double advantage of coal in endless quantities and 
the water-power afforded by the Sangamon River, there is no reason why 
Petersburg should not become a manufacturing town. The facilities are almost 
unbounded, and all that is necessary is to encourage enterprising business men 
and capitalists to locate in the place. 

The Petersburg Woolen Mills are but a sample of the facilities presented by 
this locality for manufacturing enterprises. As an institution of considerable 
importance, it is appropriate that a description of their origin and progress 
should appear in the history of Petersburg. The present proprietor, Hardin 
Bale, a son of Jacob Bale, one of the pioneers of Menard County, built a 
carding machine at Salem about 183637. After Salem became extinct, he 
moved the establishment to Petersburg. Here he started up his wool-carding 
machine by horse or mule power. As trade and business increased, he added 
machinery and improvements until 1852, when he purchased an engine, 
enlarged his building and introduced a spinning-jack of 168 spindles and 
four .looms. With these improvements, he commenced the manufacture of 
woolen goods, and added a storeroom to accommodate his increased busine 
In 1865, the entire building, including others adjacent, were destroyed by fir 
involving a loss of nearly $150,000. Nothing daunted, he made immediate 
preparations to resume business, and being the owner of a large brick pork 
house, he at once placed all necessary machinery in it, consisting of a jack of 
240 spindles, cards, fulling-mill and five looms. After a short season of pros- 
perity, he was again, on the 22d of February, 1869, burned out, this time at 
a loss of about $45,000. Again he set to work to rebuild, and in a short time 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 299 

after the conflagration, had still another fine woolen-mill in operation. About 
the first of May, 1874, he leased it to C. P. Horner, who operated it for a 
time, when Mr. Bale again assumed control, and is now operating it successfully. 
In company with his son, Mr. Bale commenced the manufacture of drain 
tile in 1878, and at this time is conducting an extensive business in this branch 
of industry. They manufacture drain tile of all the sizes in common use in 
tliis section of the country. "When they first opened their factory, they used 
clay taken out of the hill near by, but now work the clay from the coal shaft, 
which makes, it is said, a better tile. Such enterprises as those given above,, 
merely go to show the advantages possessed by this locality, and what a busy 
manufacturing little city this may become if it has a chance to develop ita 
resources. Mr. Miller, in the general history of this work, speaks very intelli- 
gently upon this subject, and to his timely hints the attention of business men 
and friends of the town is directed. 

SCHOOLS PAST AND PRESENT. 

After a thorough investigation, it is pretty definitely ascertained that the 
first school in Petersburg was taught by Charles B. Waldo, a brother-^i-law of 
John Bennett, Esq., mentioned as one of the early settlers and business men 
of the town. This school was taught in 1837, in a small log cabin which 
stood in the extreme south end of the village. In a year or two, a small frame 
building was erected, for school purposes, on the brow of the hill west of the 
village, and near the "Old Dr. Allen place." It is described as being "out 
in the brush " then, with a " little path leading to it." In this primitive 
temple of learning, the youth of the period laid the foundation of their educa- 
tion and learned to shoot paper wads, until 1855, when the town purchased 
the building from the Masonic fraternity, which they had used as a hall, and 
turned it into a common or free school building,* flinging its doors open to all, 
rich and poor, alike. 

About the year 1845 or 1846, the Masons started a school in the lower 
story of their hall, for the benefit of their children, and engaged W. A. Dickey 
as teacher. The school was not confined exclusively to their own children, but 
others were admitted upon a certain subscription. This was continued until 
bought by the town, as above noticed. After its purchase, an addition was 
built to it, making a large and comfortable building, which was used for educa- 
tional purposes until 1874, when the present elegant building was commenced 
and pushed forward with such energy as to be ready for occupancy by Febru- 
ary. 1875. It cost $10,000, and has six large, well-ventilated rooms, three 
on each floor, besides several private rooms, for library purposes, offices, etc. 
The names of all the teachers employed previous to the inauguration of the 
.common school cannot be given. 

*It seems a little strange, but is vouched for as true, that, although the common-school law was passed in 1847, 
the first free school in this place was not taught until 1855. Up to this date, the old subscription-schools were the 
ily kind in Petersburg. 



300 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

The first free school was taught by Judge J. H. Pillsbury, in 1855 and 
1856. The following is a list of Principals, in regular rotation, from Pillsbury 
down to the present time : Judge J. H. Pillsbury, 1855 and 1856 ; John Dor- 
sey, 1856 and 1857 ; Edward Laning, 1857 and 1^58 ; J. H. Best, 1858 to 
1860 ; A. Bixby, 1860 and 1861 ; W. Taylor, 1861 and 1862 ; Edward Lan- 
ing. 1862 and 1863 ; M. P. Hartley, 1863 and 1864 ; W. Taylor, 1864 and 
1865; C. E. McDougall, 1865 and 1866; J. A. Pinkerton and J. H. Pills- N 
bury, 1866 and 1867 ; W. H. Berry, 1867 to 1869 ; C. H. Crandall, 1869 
and 1870 ; - - Mayfield, 1870 and 1871 ; M. C. Connelly, 1871 to 1876; 
. L. Hatfield, 1876 and 1877; J. A. Johnson, 1877 and 1878; M. C. Con- 
nelly, 1878 and 1879. 

It will be perceived from the above that Prof. Connelly has swayed the 
scepter over the schools of Petersburg six years, and has, we learn, been 
retained for the year just beginning. His assistants for the opening year are 
as follows : G. W. Shepherd, J. W. Whipp. Miss Grace Brown. Miss Clara 
McDougall, Miss Dora Lorentzen, Miss Mary Fisher and Miss Anna Morris. 
The school is graded, and includes in its course of instruction all the branches 
usually taught in the common schools of the country. Prof. Connelly's long 
administration as Principal shows him to be what he really is, " the right man 
in the right place." 

In 1870, the public schools of the town having somewhat retrograded, or, 
as our informant expressed it, "run down," John A. Brahm, Isaac White, H. 
W. Montgomery, David Frackelton, J. M. Bobbins and B. F. Montgomery 
formed a joint-stock company, and erected a building on the hill, west of the 
public square, for the purpose of having a "good school." This building cost 
$3,750, and was styled the "Petersburg Seminary." As will be seen from 
the above facts, it was a private and individual enterprise, and the rate of 
admission to it was $36 per scholar, for a term of nine months. The first 
year of the new seminary, W. S. Bennett and Miss M. A. Campbell were 
employed as teachers ; the second year, D. M. Bone and Miss M. P. Rainey. 
We may remark here, parenthetically, as a ritatter of interest to our lady 
readers, that both Principals married their assistants. Whether this fact led 
to the position of assistant being much sought after by young lady teachers or 
not, we are not informed. 

School was conducted two years longer, when the public schools, under th< 
efficient management of Prof. Connelly, had attained to such a degree of pro- 
ficiency that the stockholders or Directors of the seminary wisely decided 
close it. The building, accordingly, was sold, and is now used as a residence. 
Mrs. Rachel Frackelton bought the ground, and has since erected thereon 
one of the finest residences in the city of Petersburg. 

CHURCH HISTORY. 

Cotemporaneous almost with the erection of the pioneer's cabin, came the 
.Methodist circuit-rider. Usually these itinerant preachers were the first in the 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 301 

field, and, traveling from settlement to settlement, they held meetings in the 
settlers' cabins, or, in pleasant weather, in the groves " God's first temples." 
As soon, therefore, as half-a-dozen families had settled upon the site of the 
present city of Petersburg, the Rev. Mr. Springer, mentioned in connection 
with the Methodist Church of Athens, and who was a brother to Mrs. Isham 
Davidson, an early settler of the place, came on his circuit and commenced a 
meeting in Mr. Davidson's house in 1835. He continued to preach at David- 
son's residence until the erection of the little log schoolhouse, when it became 
a temple of worship as well as of learning. This house was used, and after it 
the frame schoolhouse, until the erection of the Methodist Church in 1846, in 
which edifice they still worship at the present day. The first appointed circuit- 
rider by Conference was Rev. Michael Shunk, in 1837-38, so often referred to 
in the history of both Menard and Mason Counties as a pioneer preacher. 
Among the early members of this venerable church were Isham Davidson and 
wife, George Davidson and wife, Jacob West, Parthenia West, E. B. Spears r 
Ellen Spears, Elizabeth Harrison, John Bagby, Caroline Bagby, M. B. Harri- 
son, Susan Smith, Ellen Young, Christina Alkire, Anna Engle, Frances 
Webb. W. P. Elam and Martha Elam. In 1846, Rev. James Newman, the 
Pastor, deeming the society of sufficient -strength to erect a building, set to 
work and succeeded in arousing sufficient interest to erect the present edifice. 
It has been recently remodeled, improved and modernized, until it presents a 
very handsome and attractive appearance. Among the improvements are new 
paper, new pulpit, new chandeliers, a re-arrangement of the seats, and many 
other little items, adding beauty and comfort. All these changes have been- 
wrought under the administration. of Rev. W. 0. Peet, now in his second year 
as Pastor. Among the Pastors who have administered to the spiritual welfare 
of this church are the following, who officiated in the order named : Revs. 
James Shaw, H. C. Wallace, T. C. Wolf (two years), S. Goldsmith, W. W. 
Roberts, N. R. Whitehead, S. Goldsmith (two years), W. N. Rutledge, George 
W. Reed and the present Pastor, Rev. W. 0. Peet. The Church is in a 
flourishing condition, maintaining an interesting Sunday school and prayer- 
meeting. 

We are indebted to Mrs. Hill for much of the history of the Presbyterian 
Church of Petersburg. She is one of its original members, and had thought- 
fully preserved a paper containing a sermon preached by Rev. Maurice Waller, 
in which is given a brief history of the Church. This paper she kindly placed 
at our disposal, and from it we extract the following item of interest : 

" The first church of Springfield, which may well be regarded as the 
mother church of this immediate region, was organized by Rev. John M. Ellis, 
in January, 1828. The North Sangamon Church was organized in May, 1832, 
by the Rev. J. S. Bergen. The name of John Allen, one of the first Elders 
of this Church, appears as one of the members received upon examination into 
the North Sangamon Church at the time of its organization." 



302 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY, 

The following is from the records of the Petersburg Church : In Decem- 
ber, 1839, a number of persons met in Petersburg, Menard County, agreeably 
to previous notice, and were organized into a church by Rev. Thomas Gait, 
known as the Petersburg Presbyterian Church, under the care of the Presby- 
terian Assembly of America. The following members were admitted by letter: 
James White, Sr., John Allen and! Parthenia Hill, from North Sangamon 
Church ; S. L. Hallock, Second Church, Springfield ; Richard Dey, from 
Presbyterian Church, Laurenceville, N. J. ; Catharine Conover, from Dutch 
Reformed Church of New Jersey, and upon examination, Eli W. Hoff, Will- 
iam L. Conover, Phoebe Conover and Laurenah Conover, in all, ten members. 
For some time after organization, they worshiped in people's houses and in the 
schoolhouse. In 1842, a building was erected, and dedicated May 12, by Rev. 
John W. Little. Rev. Mr. Gait preached for them occasionally the first year, 
and again from 1842 he appears as occasional preacher until 184647. The 
first regular Pastor of this Church who resided in town, commenced his labors 
in 1847, and gave three-fourths of his time to it. He was succeeded, in 1857, 
by Rev. J. A. Pinkerton, who continued in charge for thirteen years. In 
1871, Rev. John Mehan, of Pekin, took charge of the Church as temporary 
supply, and remained seven months, when Rev. George Wood, of Jacksonville, 
took charge, and continued until 1872. In February of this year, Rev. 
Maurice Waller assumed the pastorate, which position he held for six years. 
During his administration, the elegant church, which is an ornament to the 
town, was built. It was dedicated in the fall of 1874, by Rev. William. 
Harsha, of Jacksonville. At present, the church is without a regular Pastor, 
but is attended occasionally, by the Rev. Mr. Nevins, of Jacksonville. A 
flourishing Sunday school is maintained and largely attended. 

The first services of the Episcopal Church held in the county took place in 
the Methodist Church, of Petersburg, May 26, 1867, by Rev. I. S. Townsend, 
of Jacksonville. Mrs. Thomas L. Harris was almost the only representative 
of the Episcopal faith in the town, and it was through her influence that Rev. 
Mr. Townsend was induced to come here. In October of this year, she organ- 
ized a Sunday-school class at her own house, of eleven scholars, which increased 
to fifteen on the next Sunday. She continued to collect them together at her 
house every Sunday for two months, when the school was removed to Mrs. 
Thomas Bennett's, as being more convenient to the majority of attendants. It 
was held at Mrs. Bennett's until the following spring, when Mrs. Dr. Antle 
tendered the use of her residence, which w,as used for some time. Bishop 
Whitehouse made a visit to the place, and confirmed those who were desirous 
of uniting with the Church, the Lutheran Church being used on the occasion. 
It was also tendered for the use of the Sunday school, and regular services 
were held in it once a month by Rev. Mr. Townsend. Rev. James Cornell 
became Rector in 1871, and remained about a year, and was succeeded by Rev. 
William Gill, of Jacksonville. Through the untiring efforts of Mrs. Harris 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 303 

and a few other zealous workers, means were finally raised for the purpose of 
erecting a church, and in October, 1873, the corner-stone was laid on a lot 
presented by Mrs. Harris (in the northern part of town), by Bishop White- 
house, assisted by Rev. William Gill. It was completed and dedicated August 
30, 1874, by Rev. Mr. Gill, who remained with them until December of that 
year, when he removed to Colorado. For some time, services were read by lay 
members. In 1876, Rev. W. W. Steele became Rector and continued until 
1878, when he was called to Dixon, and again they were without a regular 
minister. Starting with one member (Mrs. Harris), it has now twenty-eight ; 
and the Sunday school, from eleven scholars, has increased to an attendance of 
from seventy-five to one hundred, who are instructed by some half-dozen or 
more competent teachers. 

The German Lutheran Church was organized in Petersburg in the spring 
of 1861. Among the original members were Harmon Scherding, John Scherd- 
ing, Henry Messmann, Henry Fischer, J. P. Bela, J. H. Stagemann, Jerry 
H. Stagemann, Jerry Bonties and others. They bought a house used by 
Diedrich Fischer as a carpenter-shop, which they fitted up as a temple of wor- 
ship, where they met for some time and held services without a preacher. They 
finally secured, as Pastor, Rev. Paul Lorentzen, and purchased a parsonage adja- 
cent to the church, at a total cost, for both edifices, of about $1,750. In 1863, 
Rev. Mr. Lorentzen was succeeded by Rev. Peter Dahl, he by Rev. Mr. 
Schmidt, and he by Rev. William H. Schmidt, who remained the Pastor until 
his death, in 1872. Rev. Mr. Dubiel was their next preacher. He was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. John Karminsky, he by Rev. Mr. Deichmann, he by Rev. 
Charles Behrends, and he by Rev. Mr. Conrad, the present minister. Services 
are held in the German language, and the congregation numbers about thirty 
members. 

In the latter part of the year 1862, a society of the Roman Catholic faith 
was organized. The first services of this denomination were held in the pri- 
vate residences of Cornelius Rourke, Adam Johns and John Lucas. As the 
meetings increased in importance, they were held in the schoolhouse and Court 
House, until their numbers increased to such an extent as to render it neces- 
sary to build a church, which was completed, at a cost of $5,000, and services 
held in the new edifice in the fall of 1866. The dedicatory services were held 
by Rev. Father Mettinger, and at the time of the completion of the church 
the Society comprised about fifty members. The following are the Priests in 
charge of the Society since its organization : * Fathers Quigley, Zebell, Jarn- 
sen, Fitzgibbons, Costa, Clifford (the latter at the laying of the corner-stone), 
Mettinger (at dedication), Jaques, Cleuse, Wegman, Sauer and Ahne. Father 
Ahne has for some time been in bad health and has been forced to resign his 
charge in consequence, hence the Church is without a Pastor at present. The 
Church now numbers 1,500 members. (This includes all members of families 

* The first seven named, as Missionaries, the remaining five as regular Pastors or Rectors. 



304 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

who have been baptized or christened from parents down to infants.) There is 
but the one Catholic Church in Menard County, and much praise is due to. the 
zeal and energy of Messrs. Rourke, Luthinger and others, for this prosperous 
organization and its elegant temple of worship. A parsonage has been erected 
adjacent to the church, also a schoolhouse, together with stables and other 
necessary buildings, increasing the value of the church 'property to about 
$8,500. During the pastorate of Father Sauer, the school building was erected, 
in which a "mission school," as it is termed, is carried on under the present 
charge (or for the year just closed) of Sisters Augustine and Teresa. It is 
attended by from sixty to eighty pupils. 

The first years of the Christian Church at Petersburg were rather check- 
ered. Forty years or more ago, a society was formed under the charge, or 
through the exertion, of Aaron B. White, which continued for some years, 
receiving spiritual consolation now and then from passing ministers. About 
1842, several preachers congregated and held an " open-air meeting," one block 
southwest of the public square, which resulted in a. great "shaking of the dry 
bones of the valley," and a large addition was made to the number of believers. 
From this time until 1850, religious services were held by the society in the 
Court House, which seems to have, at certain periods, served as a temple of 
worship for all the religious bodies represented in Petersburg. About this 
period (1850), many of the early members having died and moved away, the 
society became considerably reduced and meetings finally ceased altogether, 
except as an occasional minister passed through and preached a sermon. In- 
1862, it was again organized under the influence of William White, and, with 
varying- success and fortune, existed until 1875, when it was re-organized by 
Elder D. R. Lucas, and, July 30, a "tent meeting" was commenced, which 
lasted until the '12th of September. This increased the membership to nearly 
two hundred. Having no church edifice, a hall was used as a place of worship, 
but being over a livery stable, as a dernier resort, they moved to the Court 
House. At the close of the revival mentioned above, an eifort was made to 
build a church, which resulted in the erection of the substantial brick building 
standing in the northwest part of the town, and which was opened for services 
on the first Sunday in March, 1876, Elder D. R. Lucas preaching the dedica- 
tory sermon. Elder M. M. Goode was secured as Pastor of the Church in 
February, 1876, and is still laboring in that capacity. The Church is in a 
very prosperous condition, with a membership of about two hundred and 
seventy-five, and a Sunday School correspondingly flourishing. 

Of the Baptist Church, we were unable to obtain any information beyond 
the following, from a history of it already published : " The Baptist Church 
was organized in 1854, with fourteen members, the Presbytery being Revs. N. 
J. Coffey and H. P. Curry. In 1856, it built a comfortable brick church, 
35x60 feet, at a cost of $4,000. The list of Pastors who have filled the pulpit 
from time to time, of this church are N. J. CofFey, H. P. Curry, M. P. Hartly, 



HISTORY OF MENARD- COUNTY. 305 

Clarke, A. Blount, P. G. Clarke, J. M. Winn, Clarke and A. Scott. 

?he Church, by death and removals, was so weakened that, for several years, it 
was without a regular Pastor. Rev. H. P. Curry, who assisted in the first 
organization of the Church, and who has ever been a pillar of strength in the 
society, for whose advancement in Central Illinois he has labored with great 
earnestness and zeal for many years, is at present the Pastor. The society at 
Petersburg now numbers about eighty members, thirty of whom were added 
during the past year." The above was written about 1874, and we learn that, 
at the present time, the Church is again without a Pastor. 

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized, in 1870, by Rev. 
James White, with some seven or eight members. He preached to them occa- 
sionally, occupying the Court House, for one year. The society them became 
dormant, and so remained until 1874, when it was re-organized by Rev. R. D. 
Miller, with nine members, viz. : Dr. H. A. Harris, C. L. Hatfield, W. R. 
Edgar, C. H. Thomas, 'D. M. Bone, T. E. Clarke, Miss Anna Shepherd, Mis& 
Elizabeth Barclay and Mrs. Lucy Thomas. The Session was Harris, Hatfield 
and Clarke. Ever since re-organization, services have been held in the Court 
House, and Rev. Mr. Miller is still Pastor. The society numbers, at present, 
between forty and fifty members. The Session is comprised of D. M. Bone, 
C. L. Hatfield and B. P. Blood ; Deacons, C. H. Thomas and Robert Carver. 
A n-ew church edifice was begun the present summer, and, at this writing, is 
nearing completion, which will cost not far from $5,000, and will be one of the 
handsomest churches in the town. To Mrs. Dr. Antle, we are told, more than 
to any other one person, is the society indebted for the erection of this edifice. 
The church is known as " Barclay Chapel," and was named in honor of Rev. 
John Barclay, one of the most promising young ministers of this church in his. 
day, in Central Illinois. He died in this county about twenty-five years ago, 
and was a brother to the Miss Barclay mentioned in the organization of the 
society. A flourishing Sunday school is maintained, under the superintendence 
of C. L. Hatfield. 

Freemasonry and Odd Fellowship, those benevolent institutions that exert so 
wide an influence for good, usually follow close in the wake of the Christian 
Church. We know that the causes which actuate them are beneficent and good, 
because the results achieved are so grand and glorious. Freemasonry was 
introduced in Petersburg nearly forty years ago. Clinton Lodge was organized 
under dispensation, in October, 1842. In due time, it was chartered as Clin- 
ton Lodge, No. 19, A., F. & A. M. The first officers were : John Bennett, 
Worshipful Master ; Martin *S. Morris, Senior Warden ; John McNeal, Junior 
Warden ; Jacob West, Treasurer ; John Broadwell, Secretary ; David McMur- 
phy, Senior Deacon ; and W. B. Kirk, Junior Deacon. The present member- 
ship is 115, and the officers are as follows : John Bennett, Worshipful Master ; 
Homer Stewart, Senior Warden ; R. S. Stevens, Junior Warden ; H. W. 
Montgomery, Treasurer ; J. G. Strodtmann, Secretary ; J. R. Carver, Senior 



306 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

Deacon ; and J. R. Jarad, Junior Deacon. As a matter of interest to 
the fraternity, we make the following extract from a local writer : " Clinton 
Lodge was named in honor of ex-Gov. De Witt Clinton, of New York. To 
perpetuate his memory and great virtues, the Masonic brethren have caused to 
be built, for the ornamentation of their lodge-room, a ' shell monument,' con- 
sisting of a collection of shells arranged with genius and skill. As the number 
of Clinton Lodge indicates, it is one of the old Lodges of the State." Mr. 
Bennett has served the Orde* as Worshipful Master for nearly a score of years, 
and, as appreciation of his earnest labors to advance the interests of the society, 
his brethren have honored him, the present year, by again elevating him to the 
Oriental Chair. 

De Witt Chapter, No. 119, Royal Arch Masons, was organized March 25, 
"L868, with the following as its first set of officers : > Hobart Hamilton, M.\ E.\ 
High Priest; T. W. McNeely, E.v King; J. T. Brooks, E.-. Scribe; John 
Bennett, Captain of the Host ; H. W. Montgomery, Treasurer, and J. G. 
Strodtmann, Secretary. The Chapter has now sixty-one members, and the fol- 
lowing officers: Hobart Hamilton, M.'. E. - . High Priest; J. H. Traylor, E.\ 
King; Fred Wilkinson, E.\ Scribe; Anson Thompson, Captain of the Host; 
T. C. Bennett, Principal Sojourner ; C. E. McDougall, Royal Arch Captain ; 
H. W. Montgomery, Treasurer, and J. G. Strodtmann, Secretary. 

St. Aldemar Commandery, No. 47, Knights Templar, was organized Octo- 
ber 27, 1875, by Right Eminent Sir Hiram W. Hubbard, Grand Commander 
of the State. The first officers were : Eminent Sir Hobart Hamilton. Com- 
mander ; Sir T. W. McNeely, Generalissimo ; Sir Charles B. Thacher, Captain 
General ; Sir Anson Thompson, Senior Warden ; Sir Edward Laning, Junior 
Warden ; Sir F. P. Antle, Treasurer ; Sir J. G. Strodtmann, Recorder ; Sir J. 
M. Sawyer, Standard Bearer ; Sir J. T. Brooks, Sword Bearer ; Sir T. C. 
Bennett, Warder, and Sir J. E. Dickinson, Captain of the Guard. There are 
the names of twenty-six Sir Knights on the roll, and the officers for 1879 are : 
Eminent Sir T. W. McNeely, Commander ; Sir Fred. Huggins, Generalissimo ; 
Sir J. M. Sawyer, Captain General ; Sir T. C. Bennett, Prelate ; Sir Anson 
Thompson, Senior Warden ; Sir E. W. Eads, Jucftor Warden ; Sir F. P. Antle, 
Treasurer ; Sir J. G. Strodtmann, Recorder ; Sir I. N. Stevens, Standard 
Bearer; Sir C. B. Laning, Sword Bearer; Sir Fred Wilkinson. Warder, and 
Sir John T. Brooks, Captain of the Guard. 

Bennett Chapter, No. 19, Order of. the Eastern Star, was organized January 
18. 1872. The first officers were : John Bennett, W. P. ; Mrs. Isaac White, 
W. M. ; Mrs. James W. Judy, A. M. ; Mrs. A. D. Wright, Treasurer, and 
Mrs. John Bennett, Secretary. The officers for 1879 are : Homer Stewart, 
W. P. ; Mrs. J. E. Dickinson, W. M. ; Miss Elizabeth Beekrnan, A. M. ; Mrs. 
W. S. Conant, Treasurer, and Mrs. Jennie Harris, Secretary. 

The Masonic Fraternity, in connection with the Harris Guards, are now 
engaged in the erection of a substantial brick building, the upper story of 



HISTORY OF 1VJ.ENARD COUNTY. 307 

which will be used as a Masonic Hall. The corner stone of the edifice was 
laid with appropriate ceremonies, under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of 
Masons, on the 9th of September of the present year, by Most Worshipful 
William Lavely, Past Grand Master of the State. We shall refer to this 
building again in another page. 

Salem Lodge, No. 123, I. 0. 0. F., was organized under dispensation 
April 13, with the following charter members : B. F. Stevenson, C. N. Gould- 
ing, J. H. Collier, Theodore Baker and Z. P. Cabaniss. The first officers 
were : John H. Collier, Noble Grand ; B. F. Stevenson, Vice Grand ; Z. P. 
Cabaniss, Secretary, and Theo. Baker, Treasurer. The Lodge continued under 
dispensation to the 14th of October, when it was chartered, and, for the first few 
years following its organization, it flourished almost beyond precedent. At the 
end of the first year, it had enrolled upward of fifty members. This prosperity 
continued until the commencement of the war in 1861, and from that and 
other causes, its fortunes waned and its membership became much reduced in 
numbers. The few remaining members even contemplated a surrender of their 
charter, and a vote upon the question, we are tyld, was actually taken, when 
the dormant energies of the lukewarm were aroused, and the Lodge received a 
new lease of life. The financial difficulties which had for some time harassed 
it, were overcome, and from that time it has prospered. Its present member- 
ship is fifty, and its officers are : W. P. Elam, Noble Grand ; E. M. Morris, 
Vice Grand ; A. J. Kelley, Secretary ; Douglas Bale, P. Secretary ; Robert 
Frackelton, Treasurer. 

An Encampment was organized under dispensation, August 16, 1871, with 
the following original members : J. W. Cheaney, John W. Briggs, James W. 
Bracken, Richard Mullen, Alfred E. Mick, George Clemens, W. S. Conant 
and Charles Fricke. The first officers were : James W. Cheaney, W. P. ; J. 
W. Briggs, H. . ; J. A. Bracken, S. W. ; A. E. Mick, Scribe ; George Clem- 
ens, Assistant Scribe. At the October session of the Grand Encampment, a 
charter was granted to this body, and it was regularly instituted as Charity 
Encampment No. 125, I. 0. 0. F. It has a membership, at present, of 
twenty, and is governed by the following corps of officers: Richard Mullen, C. 
P. ; A. E. Mick, H. P. ; A. J. Kelley, Scribe ; Charles Fricke, Treasurer ; 
Robert Bishop, S. W., and Douglas Bale, J. W. 

Rebecca Degree Lodge, No. 92, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted- May 5, 1876, 
and re-instituted March 3, 1879, with sixteen members, to which have since 
been added twenty-six, making a total membership of forty-two. The follow- 
ing officers were installed in March, 1879, and still fill their chairs: R. S. 
Frackleton. N. G. ; Mrs. Sarah C. Cheaney,. V. G. ; Mrs. Helen L. Zilly, 
Secretary ; Mrs. Belle Coneys, Financial Secretary ; Mrs. Nancy Pemberton, 
Treasurer ; Charles Fricke, Warden ; Mrs. Mary E. Mick, Conductor ; E. M. 
Morris, 0. G. ; Mrs. Margaret Clemens, I. G. ; J. W. Faith, R. S. N. G. ; W. 
P. Elam, L. S. N. G. ; Mrs. Mary A. Mullen, R. S. V. G. ; Mrs. Martha J. 



308 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

Elam, L. S. V. G., and Robert Bishop, Chaplain. Meetings, the first Thurs- 
day of each month. 

Social Lodge, No. 1306, Knights of Honor, was instituted December 26, 
1878, and has, at present, thirty-five members, with the following officers : D. 
M. Bone, Dictator ; J. R. Carver, V. Dictator ; J. M. Walker, Asst. Dictator ; 
A. J. Kelley, Reporter ; Arthur Young, Financial Reporter, and Thomas Lev- 
ering, Treasurer. 

THE CITY PRESS. 

The first newspaper was established in Petersburg in the fall of 1854. It 
was published by S. 13. Dugger, and was called the Petersburg Express. After 
conducting it for about a year, he disposed of it to Henry L. Clay, and it became 
neutral in politics, and its name changed to the Menard Index. In September, 
1858, he sold it to Hobart Hamilton arid a man named Brooks, who changed it into 
a Republican paper, and continued its publication until 1863, when it was sold 
and removed from the county. Brooks continued with Hamilton about a year, 
and says after changing the politics of the paper, and sending out the first 
issue as a Republican sheet, its patrons became very much enraged, and would 
come to the office by scores with their papers wadded up in their hands, and, 

throwing them at the door, would exclaim, "There's your Abolition paper." 

Shortly before the removal of the Index, the Northwestern Baptist, a religious 
paper, was issued from the Index office, and edited by M. P. Hartly. After 
Hamilton changed the Index into a Republican paper, the Menard County 
Axis, a Democratic organ, was established with C. Clay as editor and 
publisher. Its first issue wa,s April 12, 1859, and was continued by Clay until 
1867, when it was purchased by a joint-stock company, with M. B. Friend as 
editor, and its name changed to Petersburg Democrat, which name it still 
retains. Mr. Friend remained in charge of the paper until 1871, when E. T. 
McElwain became editor. He continued in editorial control until July 1, 1877, 
when he was succeeded by A. E. Mick. July 1, 1878, Mr. Mick associated S. 
S. Knoles with him in its publication, and so the firm continues to the present 
time. 

During the campaign of Fillnaore, Buchanan and Fremont, in 1856, William 
Glenn started a paper called the Fillmore Bugle, but it ceased at the close of 
the campaign. In June, 1868, the Menard County Republican was established 
with Richard Richardson as editor. He sold out in about a year to John T. 
McNeely, who conducted it until 1871, when Bennett & Zane became the pro- 
prietors. About a year after, Zane was succeeded by John Frank, who soon 
retired, and was followed by F. M. Bryant, who likewise remained but a short 
time, and Bennett continued alone in its control for a time. F. J. Dubois then 
became a partner, and assumed editorial control for a year. The material of 
the Republican wa"s sold to John Frank early in 1874, who had started a new 
paper the August preceding, called the Menard County Times. It and the 
Republican were now consolidated and published under the name of the Times. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 309 

Frank sold out to F. M. Bryant, who continued the paper until May 9, 1878, 
when he sold it to G. W. Cain & Parks. Cain had been publishing a paper in 
Tallula, and when he bought out Taylor, he changed the name of the paper to 
the Petersburg Observer. The paper is now devoted to the Greenback and 
Labor party, and is still under control of Cain & Parks. 

On the 4th day of September of the present year, the Petersburg Republi- 
can made its first appearance. The salutatory is signed by Martin & Davis, 
and from it we make the following extract : " We expect to do our utmost to 
maintain and build up the Republican Party as well as the interests of Peters- 
burg and Menard County, and, in return therefor, simply ask a liberal share 
of the public's patronage." The late hour at which this newspaper was born 
into the world, had well-nigh excluded a notice of it from this work, and these 
few lines are all the history of it that we were able to obtain. 

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. 

The Harris Guards, comprising Co. E, of the Fifth Regiment of I. N. G., 
with headquarters at Springfield, was organized originally, in October, 1874. 
md re-organized under the militia law, in July, 1877. The commissioned 
officers under re-organization, and who still maintain their positions, are C. E. 
McDougall, Captain ; John M. Walker, First Lieutenant ; and James H. Car- 
man, Second Lieutenant. The three commissioned officers served in the late 
war. Capt. McDougall entered the army as a private, and, after nearly four 
years' service, retired as Captain of his company. The Harris Guards consist, 
at present, of about fifty-five, rank and file, and are well drilled, and present a 
very soldierly appearance. In connection with the Masonic Fraternity, of Peters- 
burg, they are, at the present writing, erecting a building,, the first story of 
which belong to them, and will be so constructed as to equally adapt it to their 
use as an armory, or, with a few minutes' work, change it to an elegant Opera 
House. The building, when completed as designed, will be not only an orna- 
ment to the town, but an honor to the Harris Guards, and the Masonic Fraternity. 
The estimated cost of that part of the building belonging to the military includ- 
ing the ground, is about $5,200, while the Masonic part will cost nearly as 
much more. 

Petersburg was incorporated as a village a number of years ago, but, as we 
were unable to get hold of the early records, cannot give the exact date of its 
first organization. Although it now claims a population greater than many 
incorporated cities, it is still under village organization. The question of 
incorporating it as a city was agitated some years ago. The project, however, 
was voted down, and thus it still remains a village, subject to village laws, and 
governed by a Board of Trustees. The following is the present Board : Dr. 
F. P. Antle, Philip Rainey, D. S. Eicher, John F. Miller and Isaac McDougall. 
F. P. Antle is President of the Board ; Philip Rainey, Treasurer ; and 



310 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

Black, Clerk. W. P. Elam is Police Magistrate ; W. B. Vaughn, Town Con- 
stable ; and A. J. Bless, Night Policeman. 

The first bank was established in Petersburg by Brahra & Greene, in 1866. 
The bank is still in operation, and in the hands of the original proprietors, 
who conduct a general banking business in all its branches. Another bank is 
carried on by D. S. Frackelton, so that the town and surrounding country 
have no lack of facilities of a financial character. 

The bar of Menard County is represented by a body of gentlemen who, in 
ability and legal lore, will compare favorably with any of the surrounding 
counties. In a work of this character, we cannot devote space to extravagant 
panegyrics, however deserving, nor to criticisms, as one might indulge in in a 
newspaper article. But we may mention in connection with the bar of Peters- 
burg, the name of Hon. T. W. McNeely, who has represented his district two 
terms in Congress, and Hon. N. W. Branson, who has served with distinction 
in the State Legislature. There may be others who have served their country 
with honor and ability, but of whom we failed to obtain the facts. The health 
of the city and neighboring country, is in charge of a corps of able physicians, 
who are zealous in their chosen profession, and watchful of the welfare of the 
people, whose health is trusted to their care. 

There are four cemeteries around Petersburg. The first is known as " The 
Old Burying Ground," which is free to all, and is supervised by the Town 
Board. It contains the remains of many of the pioneers, who reduced the 
country from a wild and savage wilderness and laid the foundations of the pres- 
sent state of civilization. The Calvary Cemetery is under the auspices of the 
Roman Catholic Church. Oakland Cemetery is a lovely spot adjacent to the 
city. But the most beautiful of all is Rose Hill Cemetery. It was laid out in 
1858, and incorporated in 1859, with the following officers : J. M. Greene, 
President ; Directors, Tilford Clarke, W. M. Cowgill, W. P. Elam and W. S. 
Conant. The present officers are : N. W. Branson, President ; W. P. Elam, 
James Robbins, Con. Rourke, Directors ; and W. S. Conant, Treasurer. To 
the latter gentleman, piore than to any other, is the town indebted for this 
beautiful little city of the dead. 

"OLD SALEM." 

This ancient village of Menard County, now a pile of moldering ruins, 
was once the center of business for a large scope of country. Before the birth 
of Petersburg, it was the principal trading-point in the present limits of the 
county. It is, or was, situated on the " Heights of Abraham," some hundred 
feet or so above the level o the raging Sangamon, and about two miles from 
Petersburg. It was surveyed and laid out on the 13th of October, 1829, by 
Reuben Harrison, for Rutledge & Cameron, the owners of the land. The first 
dwellings erected were a couple of cabins built for John Cameron and James 
Rutledge. The first storehouse was put up by Samuel Hill and John McNamar, 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 311 

in which they opened a stock of goods, probably the first store within the 
present bounds of the county. The next store opened was by George Warbur- 
ton, who, in a short time, removed to Petersburg, and became one of the original 
proprietors of that town, as noted in its history. It is said that he was a man 
of fine business qualities, an excellent scholar, and without an enemy, except 
his appetite for strong drink. At Salem, he sold out to two brothers named 
Crisman, who came from Virginia. After remaining a short time, they dis- 
posed of their possessions and moved away. 

A post office was established at Salem, and was the first (or the second) in 
the county. John McNamar was the first Postmaster. He was succeeded by 
Abraham Lincoln, who held the office until his removal to Springfield. The 
following story is told of this pioneer office. There was a man who lived in the 
settlement, who was never known to get a letter, or mail-matter of any kind, 
and was in the habit of coming to the office every day and, to annoy the postmaster, 
inquiring for letters. One day Hill and some others prepared a letter, couched 
in the most endearing terms, to which they appended the name of a swarthy 
female of "African descent," living in the neighborhood, and when he again 
inquired for letters, it was given him in the most matter-of-fact way. He was 
never known to ask for mail-matter at that office afterward. 

Dr. John Allen, as noticed in the history of Petersburg, first located at 
this place; a brother also came here with him. Dr. Allen was the first prac- 
ticing physician in the village. Dr. Duncan was another of the early practi- 
tioners of this section. Joshua Miller was the first blacksmith. Edmund 
Greer, "learned in the law," dealt out justice to the guilty as the first 
magistrate, and when "law business" was at a low ebb, he filled in the 
time teaching school, and was the first pedagogue, as well as the first 
Justice of the Peace. A hotel was opened by John Kelso, and within its hos- 
pitable walls were entertained the wayfaring men who chanced to pass through 
the village. Rutledge & Cameron built a mill here at an early period, which 
was patronized by the people living within a circuit of fifty miles. This is the 
mill over the dam of which Abraham Lincoln piloted the flatboat, and, with a, 
display of tact and ingenuity wholly astonishing to those who beheld the opera- 
tion, relieved the boat of water by a new style of pump not much in use on 
board of vessels at that day. The story, however, is so familiar to the people 
of Menard County that we will pass 'over it in this chapter. The Old Salem 
mill was known far and near, and, as already stated, was patronized by a large 
district. It was a very rude affair, and stood just under the bluff" upon'which 
the town was located, and is thus described by a local writer of the period : "It 
consisted of two or three log pens, anchored with rocks, upon which was 
erected a platform, where a pair of rough stones were placed, and driven by a 
water-wheel attached to an upright shaft." It was, however, considerably 
improved before Salem became extinct, and, in 1852, was purchased by Abra- 
ham Bale. He set in to repair it, but died before accomplishing his purpose. 



312 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

His sons finally put it in order, and one of them, T. V. Bale, still owns and 
operates it. 

This is a synopsis of the early history of Salem, except the connection with 
it of Abraham Lincoln. And upon this point there has been so much written 
that we will not dwell upon it now. With a brief notice of him and his res- 
idence here, we will close the chapter. Mr. Lincoln was a native-born Ken- 
tuckian. Stuve, in his history of Illinois, says : "Abraham Lincoln was born 
in La Rue (now Hardin) County, Ky., about two miles south of the village of 
Hodgensville, February 12, 1809. Here his father had taken up a land claim 
of 300 acres, rough, broken and poor, containing a fine spring, known to this 
day as the " Linkum Spring." Unable to pay for the unproductive land, the 
claim was abandoned, and the family moved from place to place in the neigh- 
borhood, being very destitute. These removals, occurring while Abraham was 
scarcely more than an infant, have given rise to different statements as to the 
exact place of his birth. It is said that in that part of Kentucky, four places 
now claim the honor. 

" Thomas Lincoln, the father of Abraham, moved to Spencer County, Ind., 
in 1816. Here he remained until 1830, when he came to Illinois, and settled 
in Macon County, on the north fork of the Sangamon River, ten miles south- 
west of Decatur. In 1833, he removed to Coles County, where, years later, he 
died. There, in a quiet little cemetery, known as " Gordon's Graveyard," 
he sleeps, without stone or lettered monument to mark the spot. As appropri- 
ate in this place, we give a poem, written by a citizen of Coles County, on his 
death, which went the rounds of the press at the time, and appeared in several 
leading magazines, entitled the " Grave of the Father of Abraham Lincoln : " 

" In a low sweet vale by a murmuring rill, 

The pioneer's ashes are sleeping ; 
Where the white marble slabs so lonely and still, 
In silence their vigils are keeping. 

" On their sad, lonely faces are words of fame, 

But none of them speak of his glory ; 
When the pioneer died, his age and his name, 
No monument whispers the story. 

" No myrtle, nor ivy, nor hyacinth blows 

O'er the lonely grave where they laid him ; 
No cedar, nor holly, nor almond-tree grows 
Near the plebeian's grave to shade him. 

" Bright evergreens wave over many a grave, 

O'er some bow the sad weeping-willow ; 
But no willow-tree bows, nor e'ver-greens wave, 
Where the pioneer sleeps on his pillow. 

" Some are inhumed with the honors of State, 

And laid beneath temples to molder ; 
The grave of the father of Lincoln the Great, 
Is known by a hillock and bowlder. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 315 

" Let him take his lone sleep, and gently rest, 

With naught to disturb or awake him, 
When the angels shall come to gather the blest 
To Abraham's bosom they'll take him." 

While engaged in writing the history of Livingston County, we met a gen- 
tleman, Hon. A. A. Burton, a native Kentuckian, who was a great admirer of 
Mr. Lincoln, and who was a Lincoln Elector, in Kentucky, in 1860, for the 
State at large, a position that at that time required considerable grit to assume. 
Judge Burton had a rail draped in mourning, carefully preserved in his library, 
to which was attached the following certificate : 

DECATUR, 111., June 1, 1860. 

I do hereby certify, that the piece of rail this day delivered to Dr. G. W. McMillan, to be 
by him sent to A. A. Burton, of Lancaster, Ky., is from a lot of 3,000 made by Abraham Lin- 
coln and myself in this cdunty, and that I have resided in this county ever since that time. 

his 

Attest: R. J. OGLESBY. JOHN X HANKS. 

mark. 

It was on this place, settled by his father in Macon County, that Lincoln 
spent his first winter in Illinois, and "from this place," says Mr. Stuve, " the 
rails which played so important a part in the campaign of 1860, were procured." 
In the following spring, having attained his majority, he came to Salem, where 
the history of his residence is familiar to every school-boy in Menard County. 
His employment as clerk, and with a partner, his succession to the business, 
their subsequent failure, are so well known as to require no repetition. After 
the failure of his firm as merchants, Lincoln turned his attention to surveying, 
and, as stated elsewhere in this work, surveyed much of .the lands, both in 
Menard and Mason Counties. When the Black Hawk war broke out, in 1832, 
Lincoln volunteered his services, and was elected Captain of his company. 
The same year, after the close of the war, he became a candidate for the Legis- 
lature, and from that time, his life, until terminated by the assassin's hand, was 
closely intertwined with State and national history. 

With the laying-out of Petersburg, the glory of " Old Salem " began to 
wane, and the location of the county seat at that place sealed its doom. The 
leading business men removed to the new metropolis, and Salem became another 
edition of Goldsmith's " Deserted Village." But little remains to, designate 
the spot where it once stood. The mill is still there, but improved, renovated 
and changed, until it is a very different establishment from that which Old Salem 
knew, and which used to "crack corn" for the pioneers of the Sangamon 
bottom. 

Tice's Station is on the Springfield & North-Western Railroad, about four 
miles from Petersburg. It consists merely of a shipping-point for grain, a 
post office, depot and small store, together with a schoolhouse and church. 
The place has never been laid out as a village. It is located on the old Tice 
farm, and at Oak Ridge Post Office. This office was established about twenty- 
five years ago, with Hampton Woodruff as Postmaster. He was succeeded by 



316 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

Seneca Winters, and he in turn by A. W. Tice, the present incumbent, and 
who is a brother of Judge Tice, of Petersburg. The first and the only store at 
the place is kept by Mr. ,Tice. There is considerable grain bought here, and 
shipped from this little station. The present buyers are Fischer, Gault & 
Conover, of Petersburg, and Low & Foster, of Havana. A saw-mill is in oper- 
ation near the station, owned by Seneca Winters, a prominent business man of 
the neighborhood. A large and flourishing school is located near the station. 
The teacher, for the present year, is Prof. W. H. Berry, formerly County Super- 
intendent of Schools. The school has increased to such an extent that it is 
thought that an assistant teacher will be required for the year just beginning. 
Within sight of the station is the Methodist Church, built about 1849-50 r 
on land given for the purpose by Judge Tice. It is a frame building, and cost, 
perhaps, about $1,000 or $1,200. Rev. Mr. Eckman, of Athens, is the present 
Pastor, the Church being included within the Athens circuit. A Sunday 
school is maintained during the summer season, of which Seneca Winters is 
Superintendent. The Rev. Mr. Curry, the veteran Baptist Minister of Menard 
County, resides in this immediate neighborhood. 

TALLULA PRECINCT. 

This is sometimes termed the banner township of Menard County. The 
section of country lying within its borders is one of the finest in this part of 
the State ; mostly fine rolling prairie, and, without being hilly or broken, is 
sufficiently undulating to drain well. Besides Clary's Grove, there was orig- 
inally little timber in what is now Tallula Precinct. It is likewise nearly 
devoid of water-courses. Clary's Creek and Rock Creek have their source in 
the central or southern part, but are so small as scarcely to deserve even the 
name of creeks. The Jacksonville Division of the Chicago & Alton Railroad 
runs diagonally through from northeast to southwest, and has been of incalcu- 
lable benefit, as elsewhere noted. Tallula is the southwestern precinct of the 
county, and contains three sections less than a regular Congressional town. It 
is divided into four parts by the township and range lines which cross each 
other one mile north of the village of Tallula, thus throwing a tier of sections 
more in the two southern, divisions than in the northern, the west one of the 
latter being three sections short, OAving to a jog in the line. The precinct i& 
bounded on the east by Petersburg and Rock Creek Precincts, on the south by 
Morgan County, on th'e west by Cass County, and on the north by Petersburg 
Precinct. No large cities or towns, nor extensive manufactories exist, but 
farming and stock-raising are the principal sources of business enterprise. 
The beautiful little village of Tallula is the only town in the precinct, and will 
be noticed more fully farther on in this chapter. This section produces coal of 
an excellent quality, and mining is carried on to some extent in the vicinity of 
the village. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 317 

Notwithstanding Tallula Precinct is the very perfection of civilization, and 
the home of wealth and refinement, the time was when it might have boasted 
of the other extreme. Something over half a century ago, the name of 
Clary's Grove was synonymous with all the deviltry and mischief that 
occurred within a radius of fifty miles, and the few honorable men whose mis- 
fortune it was to live among the " border ruffians ", of that remote date, say 
they were ashamed to tell where they were from when they went to Spring- 
field. The settlement was composed chiefly of the "'rag, tag and bob-tail" 
who leave the more civilized sections for their own and the country's good, seek 
the frontier where they are unrestrained by law and order, and again take up 
their line of march as the star of empire wends its way westward. So it was 
here. As civilization advanced, these roughs pulled up stakes and moved on 
to other frontier localities, and Clary's Grove developed into one of the most 
quiet and respectable neighborhoods in all the surrounding country, and to-day 
it is looked on as the very paradise of Menard County. The ill name given it 
by the lawless deeds of the ".Clary's Grove boys" is almost forgotten, or 
remains only as the last lingering memories of a hideous nightmare. But 
we would not have our readers impressed with the idea that we include the 
Clary family, than whom none better exists in the county, with these hard 
characters. As we have stated, they were, the rough element always found in 
frontier settlements. . 

SETTLEMENT OF THE PRECINCT. 

The first settlement made in Tallula Precinct was in Clary's Grove, by a 
man named John Clary, from whom the grove derived its name. Clary was 
from Tennessee, and squatted here about the year 1819. For three years, he 
spent the winters in a kind of camp, made of poles, with three sides built up, 
the fourth left open, and where a huge log heap was kept burning night and 
day during the winter season, while his family reposed and were sheltered in the 
camp attached to this burning pile. He sold his claim to a man named Wat- 
kins, and he sold it to George Spears, who now lives upon the site of this 
original settlement of Clary's Grove. After selling his claim to Watkins, 
Clary removed to Arkansas, but many relatives and descendants are living still 
in the county. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and participated in 
many of the fierce battles with u King George's red-coats." By nature a 
pioneer, he sought the wilds of Illinois, and, as people crowded him too close, 
removed to Arkansas as above slated. Thomas Watkins was from Kentucky, 
and settled in Clary's Grove as early perhaps as 1820-21, and bought the 
claim of Clary, as stated above. He sold out to George Spears upon his arrival 
in the country in 1824, and removed into the river timber near the present 
city of Petersburg, where he died at a later day. He has two sons and per- 
haps other descendants living in the county. Absalom Mounts was here also 
about 1820-21. He built a mill here in a very early day, which was of the 



318 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

most primitive pattern, dimensions and capacity. Whence he came, no one 
seems to know, but he afterward went to Mason County, as we hear of him 
there in the milling business very early. 

James White and Robert Conover were brothers-in-law to George Spears, 
and came from Green County, Ky. White settled here in 1820, and Conover 
in 1822. They both married sisters to Spears, and they, as well as their wives, 
are dead. They died on the farms they originally settled, but have left behind 
them numerous descendants. Solomon Matthews was another of the early 
comers, and was from Tennessee. He came about 1821 or 1822, but was one 
of the transient settlers to be found in all new countries, who, as game thins 
out and becomes scarce, follow it. Matthews left after a few years, and what 
became of him no one seems to know or care. Another of these very early 
ones was Bannister Bond, who was also from Tennessee. He remained here 
some twenty or twenty-five years, when he sold out and removed to Iowa, where 
he li^ed at the last account of him. Cyrus Kirby came from Kentucky about 
1822 or 1823, and settled in the grove. He was rather poor, and had no team 
to plow and break his ground, but took a mattock and dug up two acres of 
prairie, and planted it in corn. Think of this, ye " silk-stockinged " farmers, 
as you ride over your broad fields upon your sulky plows, and watch with pride 
your reapers and " headers " gliding through the golden grain, and remember 
that half a century ago, perhaps, some indigent farmer Avas toiling upon the 
same spot, like Cyrus Kirby, to make bread for his little ones. When Kirby 
died here some years ago, this memorable mattock was sold at his sale and 
bought by one'of his sons, who still keeps it as a relic of the pioneer days. 
Solomon Speer is another of the pioneers who came to the grove in 1820. He 
came with White, and was a brother-in-law to him. After remaining here a 
number of years, he moved to Cass County where he died. He has two grand- 
daughters living in the village of Tallula ; one of them the amiable landlady 
of the Wathen House, arid the other Mrs. Lovesey. Jacob and Jesse Gum 
came in 1821-22, and were also from Kentuqky, where most of the early 
settlers of this section came from. Jesse died in the neighborhood where he 
settled ; Jacob moved to Knox County and died there some years ago. William 
Clary was here as early as 1822-23, and came from ^ennessee. He sold his 
claim to George Spears when he came in 1824, and removed to Arkansas* 
Andrew Beard came about the same time, and also sold out his claim to Spears, 
is the place where John Q. Spears now lives. He came from Kentucky, 
and after selling his claim to Spears, moved over on the west side of the grove, 
where he remained a few years, sold out and started to remove to Oregon, but 
died on the Gulf of Mexico, on his way to his intended home. Burton Lytton, 
another Kentuckian, sold his claim to Spears in 1824, and removed to what is 
now Cass County. It is not known what year he settled in the grove, but he 
was here when Spears came. William Revis came here about 1822-23, but 
did not remain long. He sold out to Conover and followed the star of empire. 






HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 



319 



Mrs. Jane Vaughn, a widow lady, came about the same time as Revis, but sold 
out some years later and moved to Knox County. Joseph Watkins was also 
here as early as 1820-21. He moved to Little Grove, where he afterward died. 
John Gum, Sr., came in 1822, and was from Kentucky. He afterward removed 
to Knox County, where he was living at the last known of him. 

The pioneers named above settled in the grove previous to 1824 the year 
that George Spears came to the settlement. Some had even moved away before 
he came, and others left soon after. They were mostly of that character who 
squat in the wilderness where game is plenty, and when that begins to fail, 

they, like the Arabs, 

" fold their tents, 
And as silently steal away." 

Mr. Spears came from Kentucky in 1824, and, as already noted, bought 
the claims of several of the parties, whose setttlement in the grove has b$en 
mentioned in the preceding pages. His father and mother came here with him, 
far advanced in years at the time, and died in a ripe old age, as noticed in the 
biographical department of this work. George Spears bought the claims of 
these squatters, which were squatter's claims only, and then entered the land 
when it came into market. He has, since he came here in 1824, entered and 
opened up over three thousand acres of land and settled his children around 
him upon good farms. He has seen the wilderness transformed into the excel- 
lent state of cultivation we find to-day. When he came here, the few scat- 
- i 

tering voters had to go to Springfield to exercise that right of American free- 
men. He built the second brick residence, in 1829, erected in Sangamon 
County, which then embraced Menard, Cass, Mason and perhaps as many 
others. That brick residence has been his home for fifty years, and in it, a 
few years ago, he celebrated, with his beloved helpmeet and a circle of friends, 
their golden wedding. Since then she has left him for a home up yonder. 
He is still in vigorous health, both mentally and physically, and to him 
we acknowledge our indebtedness for many facts pertaining to the early 
settlement of this section. An earnest and zealous Christian of the Baptist 
type, he has contributed liberally ro the support, and to the building of the ele- 
gant church in Tallula. Coleman and John Gaddie, with their widowed 
mother came in 1824. and were from Kentucky. John Workman was among 
the early settlers who came in 1824-25. He died soon after, and a man named 
Simpson bought out the widow. Simpson died some years later, and his family 
remained on the place until last year, when they sold it and removed to Kansas. 
John Jones was another of the pioneers of 1824. He came from Kentucky, 
and died in Little Grove a number of years ago. Mrs. Rebecca Spears, a 
widow lady, came here with her family about 1826, and settled in the grove, 
where all the first settlements were made. 

Elias Conover was the first man who settled out on the prairie. He built 
his residence four miles from the timber, and was supposed at the time to be 



320 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

crazy. He was from New Jersey, and possessed the idea that by locating out 
on the prairie he would always have an uninterrupted range for his stock on 
"nature's waving meadows," as it was the universal supposition that those then 
living would never see the prairies settled up. How nearly correct they 
were in their estimation of things, the present state of the country goes to show. 
Mr. Conover settled his family around him and died some years ago on the 
place of his original settlement. Thomas Arnold was from Tennessee, and 
came to the settlement in 1826-27. He was very poor when he came, and 
lived on Spears' land until able to buy land, and finally accumulated a fail- 
property. John Sewell was a brother-in-law to Arnold and came at the same 
time. He brought his aged mother to the settlement Avith him. William Tip- 
pett came about the same time, and both lived on Spears' land until able to 
buy land. They are mentioned as extremely honest, hard-working men, and 
finally secured comfortable homes. 

Samuel B. Neely came from Tennessee and settled in the grove in 1828. 
He removed to Mason County, where he died recently. Abraham Burgin was 
from New Jersey and came to the settlement in 182526. He was a man of 
some prominence and died near Galesburg several years ago. Abraham B. 
Bell came from Kentucky in 1826 and settled in the neighborhood, where he 
died a few years ago. He has two sons who are merchants in the village of 
Tallula and among the live business men of the place. John Kinner was 
from Virginia and came to the settlement at the same time as did Bell. He is 
still living in the grove. William T. Beekman came from New Jersey. He is 
a son-in-law of George Spears, and is still living near the village. Robert 
Conover, brother of Elias Conover, came a few years before the latter and set- 
tled in the grove. Other early settlers in what is Jiow Tallula Precinct are 
George, Jacob and Jesse Greene, William Smedley, Samuel Colwell, Joseph Cot- 
tingtonj Theodore Baker, Isaac N. Reding and William G. Greene. The latter is 
a native of Kentucky and came here at a very early day with his parents, who 
settled near the village of Old Salem, where they died many years later. William 
G. Greene has spent most of his life in this section and has accumulated a large 
fortune. As a full and complete history of his career is given in the biograph- 
ical portion of this work, we will not repeat it here. There are probably 
other old settlers who deserve mention in this chapter, but a long period has 
' elapsed since the first settlements were made in what is now Tallula Pre- 
cinct, and so few of the early pioneers are left, that it is simply an impossibility 
to collect the names of all who, by right, come under the head of early settlers. 

EARLY PRIVATIONS. 

As we look back over a period of sixty years to the beginning of the 
century which is now rapidly reeling off the last quarter of its existence, we 
are struck with wonder at the great change wrought in this flourishing region. 
In 1819, the first Anglo-Saxon pitched his tent in the little, grove of timber in 






HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 321 

this portion of the county, standing in the prairie like an oasis in the great 
desert ; while far beyond, to the east and the west, and the north and the south, 
naught met his eye but the vast -and gloomy wilderness, infested with wild 
beasts and savages. As other white people flocked to the grove with undaunted 
jurage, they met the ancient possessors of the soil, whether savage beasts or 
savage men, and, despite their strongly contested right to it, succeeded in 
gaining a foothold that has developed into the state of civilization we find 
around us to-day. These people knew nothing of railroads ; they had never 
heard of a locomotive, and had any one prophesied the railroad system of the 
present day, he would have been treated as a lunatic. Steam threshers, sulky 
plows, mowers and reapers were alike unknown to these pioneers, and are 
inventions that had never entered into their wildest dreams. The old sod, or 
Gary plow, drawn by two or three yoke of oxen, was their mode of subjecting 
the soil to cultivation. Their nearest trading-point was Springfield, and the 
supply of goods kept there was limited, and often, for the lack of funds, beyond 
their means to obtain. Springfield was likewise their post office, and a 
letter from the old home cost 25 cents, and sometimes laid in the office for 
months before the requisite " quarter" could be obtained to compensate Uncle 
Sam for its transportation, as the old gentleman had a peculiarity of usually 
requiring his little fees in advance. Milling was a great source of inconven- 
ience, to say the least, and, at times, it was almost impossible to obtain meal 
except by pounding the corn in a mortar, sifting it, making bread of the finest 
and hominy of the coarser part of it. When they went to the horse or ox 
mills, it was with an uncertainty as to when they would get their "grinding." 
The prairie fires, and the prairie-wolves, the " deep snow," the sudden " cold 
snap," and hundreds of other troubles and trials met them, of which the 
present generation know nothing, except as they gather around some old grand- 
mother or grandfather and listen to their stories of the pioneer days. But little 
more than half a century has passed, and lo ! the change that has come over all. 
Upon the face of nature the rolling years have written their record, and the 
wilderness is transformed into a very garden of Eden. The railroad train has 
supplanted the ox-wagon ; in fact, the country is a perfect network of rail- 
roads, as an evidence of which an old settler, who has witnessed all these 
changes, informed us that he could stand in his dooryard and hear the locomo- 
tives whistle on five different railroads. The horse and ox mill have given place 
to magnificent steam-mills, while inventions and improvements in farm 
machinery have kept pace with everything else. What the next fifty years 
may produce we dare not conjecture ; but, judging of the future from the past, 
it is not extravagant to predict that, fifty years hence, we will be flying through 
the air as we now fly over the prairies at the heels of the iron horse. 

The first mill in this section of the country was built by Absalom Mounts, 
and was a rather small affair, but was of great convenience to the few residents 
then in the country. Its capacity was limited, the buhrs being not larger in 



322 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

diameter than a half-bushel measure. This supplied the people until the erec- 
tion of the mill at Old Salem, described in another page. The precinct of 
Tallula, as bounded at present, has not a mill within its limits, and its citizens 
patronize the mills of Petersburg and Pleasant Plain. The village of Tallula, 
situated, as it is, in the midst of a fertile region, seems to us to present an 
excellent opening for a first-class mill, and that some enterprising individual 
will, erelong, discover the fact, we have no doubt. 

The first practicing physicians in this section of the country were Dr. Allen, 
of Petersburg, and Dr. Renier, who settled in this precinct about 1828-29. 
The latter was a bachelor when he came here, and, for a period of some four 
years, boarded with George Spears. He then became a Benedict, and went to 
housekeeping. In those early days, people could not afford to get sick, and 
hence doctors were not such important personages as they are now. A man 
who owned a mill or a blacksmith shop was a " bigger man " than any doctor, 
as it was supposed that the good wives could do all the " doctoring " with cat- 
nip tea and "yarbs." 

Robert Armstrong was the first Justice of the Peace, and, as we are 
informed, possessed but little legal knowledge. His familiarity with legal 
technicalities wes limited in the extreme, and his courts the theater of many 
humorous scenes, as the following will show : A case came before him one 
day, upon which a couple of lawyers were employed. After the case was 
decided, the defeated lawyer gave notice that he appealed the case from his 
decision, when the other lawyer nudged him, and whispered in his ear, " Don't 
allow an appeal." The Justice drew himself up with all the dignity embodied 
in the ponderous form of David Davis, and replied, " There is no appeal ; I 
allow no appeal from this court, sir." 

The first blacksmith in Clary's Grove is not now remembered, although the 
blacksmith is usually a necessary character in a frontier settlement. The first 
stores in the present limits of the precinct were opened at the ancient and now 
extinct village of Rushaway, as will be noticed further on. The first post office 
established was also at this village. The first birth, death and marriage are now 
lost in the lapse of time, but are supposed to have occurred among the early set- 
tlers who came here, and many of whom left the settlement previous to 1824, 
at which date we reach a period within the memory of those still living. 

EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS. 

The first school in the grove was taught by James Fletcher, in a little log 
cabin erected on the land of George Spears, about 1824-25, for school purposes. 
Fletcher taught a school in this cabin the first winter after it was erected, and 
which was the first in Clary's Grove, as noted above. He was not an efficient 
teacher, according to the standard rules of the present day, but we are 
informed that he could spell in two syllables, and read a little, by jumping 
over the hard words. He was the best, however, to be obtained in those 






HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 323 

2arly times, and with him the people were forced to be satisfied. This log 
cabin served the grove as a temple of learning several years, when it was 
burned to the ground. The people then erected a hewed-log house, which 
was used many years for church and school purposes. Now the precinct 
has some half-dozen neat frame schoolhouses, besides the elegant brick one in 
the village of Tallula, in which good schools are conducted by accomplished 
teachers for the usual period each year. 

The first church organized in what is now Tallula Precinct was the 
Clary's Grove Baptist Church, and is one- of the oldest, if not the oldest, 
church organization in Menard County. In regard to this venerable Church, 
we make the following extract from the "County Atlas," which Mr. Spears 
informs us is as correct as is possible to get its early history, after the 
lapse of so many years : 

" This Church was organized on the 25th of December (Christmas Day), 
1824, the Ordaining Presbytery consisting of William P. Crow, William Rol- 
lin and James Bradly. The constituent members were thirteen in number, 
viz. : George Spears, Sr., Mary Spears, Rev. Jacob Gum, Samuel Combs, 
Sr., Jane Combs, Ezekiel Harrison and wife, M. Houghton and wife, Elijah 
Houghton, Catharine Houghton, Robert Conover and Hannah White. The 
first Pastor of this now venerable Church was Rev. Jacob Gum, with Robert 
Conover as Clerk of the Session. The first church-book was made of foolscap 
paper, and bound with pasteboard. The early meetings of the society were 
held, for the most part, alternately at the residences of George Spears, Sr., 
and Robert Conover. From a period a few years after its organization until 
1845, a log schoolhouse (the one referred to above) was used by the society as 
a place of worship. During the year last mentioned, the society erected a 
substantial frame building, thirty by forty feet in dimensions, which was used 
as a church building until 1871. This building is thought to have cost about 
$2,000, and was built under a contract with W. T. Beekman, who did the prin- 
cipal part of the carpenter work." 

After the building of the new brick church, the old frame building was 
sold to Mr. Bell, of the village of Tallula, who converted it into a residence. 
The new church will be noticed in connection with the village, as it stands 
within the corporate limits. The Rev. Mr. Berry was also an early preacher 
in this vicinity, and of the Cumberland Presbyterian faith. He lived in what 
is now Rock Creek Precinct, but preached in Clary's Grove occasionally. 

A Christian Church was organized in the grove in October, 1834, with 
the following members : John Wilson, William G. White, Jane White, Jesse 
L. Trailer, Obedience Trailor and Lydia A. Caldwell. Services were held in 
private residences until 1847, when a comfortable little church was built 
on the farm of William Smedly. In this house they worshiped until 1864, 
when they sold it and erected a church in the village, as noticed in that con- 
nection. 



324 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

The Methodist circuit riders used sometimes to pass this way, but seem 
never to have obtained a foothold, as there is no Methodist Church, nor ever has 
been, in the present limits of the precinct. We believe there is a society of 
*' sanctified " Methodists, or some members of that peculiar faith, but of them 
we know nothing. They have no church building. 

Tallula Precinct is Republican in politics, in fact it is one of the Republi- 
can strongholds. During the war, and for some time after, there were but eight- 
een Democratic votes in the precinct. It was, as a natural consequence, and as 
one would judge from the color of its political faith, loyal to the core, and fur- 
nished many soldiers to the armies of the Union. Failing, however, to get 
credit for all of its recruits, it was subjected to a draft before the struggle was 
over, though we understood that but one man was drafted, and he, with a loyal 
devotion to his country, furnished a substitute. In addition to the rank and 
file from this precinct, we have the names of the following commissioned offi- 
cers : J. W. Judy, Colonel of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infan- 
try; R. V. Black, Captain of Company H, same regiment; J. T. Workman, 
Lieutenant in Company F, same regiment, and J. F. Wilson, Assistant Surgeon 
of same regiment. Also, Capt. Gibson of the Sixty-first Regiment Illinois 
Infantry, but the letter of his company could not be obtained. The Fourteenth, 
as well as the One Hundred and Fourteenth, drew many recruits from this pre- 
cinct. What the history of these regiments was during the war, it is not our 
purpose to give in this connection. We have not taken the trouble to look it 
up, but doubt not it was glorious as that of all Illinois soldiers. 

This precinct originally embraced a part of Petersburg and all of Rock 
Creek, extending to the Sangamon River, with the voting-place at Old Salem. 
But the voting-place being remote from some of the inhabitants, after the laying- 
out of Tallula, boundary lines were changed, the precinct of Rock Creek laid 
off, and the voting-place of this precinct established at the village of Tallula. 
The fact that Old Salem, the venerated spot where once lived the martyred Lin- 
coln, was embraced in this precinct, is still cherished by many of the citizens. 
But as Salem is more particularly referred to elsewhere, we will not dwell upon 
it here. 

The Jacksonville Division of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, as 
already noted, passes through this precinct, and was completed during the war. 
As stated in our general county history, this road was begun under the title of 
the Tonica & Petersburg Railroad, but was afterward leased or bought by the 
Chicago & Alton Railroad Company. A full history of the railroads of the 
county is given under another head, and for full information on the subject the 
reader' is referred to that chapter. This road has been of much benefit in 
developing this section of the county, and, during the last years of the war, 
much grain and forage was shipped over it to our army. In building the 
road, in addition to the stock voted by the county, the people individually took 
considerable stock, some subscribing for as much as twenty shares. 

O v 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 325 



VILLAGE OF TALLULA. 

This little gem of a village is situated in the center of Tallula Precinct, 
id on the Jacksonville Division of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, 
about eight miles from Petersburg, the county seat. It is in the midst of a 
fine rolling prairie, surrounded by a splendid agricultural region in all direc- 
tions. It was laid out in the latter part of 1857, by W. G. Greene, J. G. 
Greene, Richard Yates, T. Baker and W. G. Spears. The name of Tallula 
was given by the latter gentleman,, and is said to be an Indian word signifying 
"dropping water," though what relation the word or its signification bears to 
the village, we are unable to discover. There is no dropping water near the 
place, except when it rains, and water drops from the trees and eaves of the 
houses. Nevertheless, it is a pretty name, whether appropriate or not, and its 
sound is as musical as the country around the village is beautiful. The first 
house was erected by W. G. Spears, soon after it was laid out, and is now 
owned by R. B. Thrapp. The next building was put up by Robert M. Ewing, 
and so nearly at the same time with that of Spears, that it is not easy to say 
which was first. It is now occupied by Dr. Sandford. The first store was 
opened in January, 1858, by Thrapp <fe Spears, which continued about eight 
months, when Spears retired and Thrapp continued the business alone. Mr. 
Thrapp is still in business in the village, and is one of the oldest business men 
of the county. A post office was established in 1858, with F. S. Thrapp as 
Postmaster. C. C. Smedley is at present the representative of the Post-Office 
Department in Tallula. Hugh Hicks opened the first blacksmith- shop in 
1859, and still pounds away at his anvil. Dr. J. F. Wilson was the first prac- 
ticing physician to hang out his shingle in the new village. 

The first grain-buyer was F. S. Thrapp, who commenced the business as 
soon as the railroad was opened. He bought and shipped mostly from wagons, 
but finally built a grain warehouse. A. T. Gaylord built an excellent grain 
elevator here two years ago, which cost about $4,000, but is at present stand- 
ing idle. It has all the modern improvements of steam power, cribs, shellers, 
grain-dumps, etc. F. S. Thrapp, Bell Brothers and C. B. Laning & Co., of 
Petersburg, are at present in the grain trade, and a large amount is handled 
annually. The first tavern in Tallula was kept by Mrs. E. Brooks ; but the 
first building erected purposely for a hotel was put up by Frank Spears, who 
ran it for some time as such. The village has two hotels at present. The 
^ athen House J. F. Wathen, proprietor is one of the best and most per- 
fectly kept hotels in Central Illinois. The Revere House is kept by Mrs. 
Zolman. A bank was established here in May, 1877, by. Wilson & Greene, 
which still continues under the same firm. A coal shaft was sunk some four 
years ago by Charles Greene and a man named Deal. It was finally sold in 
bankruptcy, and bought by C. B. Laning & Co., of Petersburg, who are now 
operating it. The shaft is about 200 feet deep, at which depth an excellent 



326 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

vein of coal is reached, some six feet in thickness. The trains going nortl 
take coal at this point ; besides this, much is shipped over the road to other 
points. 

The first church erected in the corporate limits of the village was the Cum- 
berland Presbyterian Church, which was built in 1861. It is a frame build- 
ing, and cost about $3,000. Their first preacher was Rev. J. G. White, who? 
greatest forte seems to have been in fighting the Catholics, not with fisticuffs 
but with his tongue. The Church is without a regular Pastor at present, anc 
has but a small membership. Quite a flourishing Sunday school is maintainec 
The next church edifice was the Christian Church, erected in 1864. It ws 
built under the pastorate of Elder H. Osborne ; is a frame building, and cost 
about $4,000. The present Pastor is Elder H. 0. Breeden. A Sunday schoc 
is carried on, of which, Dr. Metcalf is the Superintendent. There was 
church, at one time, of the German Reformed, but their society dwindlec 
down and finally became extinct, and they sold their church building. The 
Baptist Church was erected in 1871, at a cost of $8,500, and is a handsome 
brick edifice. This is the original Clary's Grove Baptist Church, already 
noticed as having been organized in the little log schoolhouse, in 1824. Sine 
that time, it has had fifteen pastors, viz. : Revs. Joseph Cogsdall, Williamson, 
Trent, J. H. Daniel, William Spencer, Tannehill, Evens, Theodore Sweet 
Abraham Bale, J. L. Turner, 'Gouldsby, Winn, Gross, Jones and H.,P. Curry. 
From this patriarchal Church have grown nine of flhe Baptist churches of 
this county, besides some located in the adjoining counties. Since its organi- 
zation, nearly fifty-five years ago, more than 2,000 members have been receive 
into fellowship. There is no regular pastor at present. A large and flourish- 
ing Sunday school is carried on, of which George W. Bell is the Superin- 
tendent. There is no Masonic or Odd Fellows' Lodge in Tallula, a circumstanc 
that is rarely to be met with in a village of its size in Illinois. There is, how- 
ever, a Lodge of the Knights of Honor. 

The first school taught in the village of Tallula was by Miss Sarah Brocl 
man, in 1859, in the district schoolhouse, which stood just without the corporate 
limits. This may seem an Irish bull, but it was termed the village school, and 
patronized by children from the village. The German Reformed Church was 
afterward used for a schoolhouse. The brick school building erected in 1868-69 
is one of the finest in the county, and cost between $8,000 and $10,000, 
besides three acres of land, upon which it is located, and donated by Mr. 
Greene. The corps of teachers employed for the coming year is as follows : 
George S. Montgomery, Principal, assisted by Miss Sallie A. Johnson, Miss Nellie 
Robertson and Miss Mary D. Riley. The usual attendance at the school is 
about one hundred and fifty pupils. 

Tallula was incorporated as a village under the general law in 1871-72. 
The first Board of Trustees were J. F. Wilson, R. H. Bean, J. T. Bush, 
J. F. Wathen and F. S. Thrapp, who organized for business by electing 






HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 327 



R. H. Bean President of the Board. The present Board is J. Q. Spears, S. 
T. Carrico, G. Bullock, Dr. E. T. Metcalf and Frank Wilkinson, of which 
John Q. Spears is President ; C. T. Spears, Clerk ; J. F. Wilson, Treasurer, 
and N. L. Randall, Police Magistrate. The population is about eight hundred, 
and the business may be summarized as follows : Eight general stores, 
embracing dry goods, groceries, hardware, drugs, etc., with the usual supply of 
blacksmith, wagon, shoe and harness shops. There is no saloon in the place, 
and has been but one since it was laid out as a town, and it was starved out, 
which speaks well for the high standard of its morals. 

The cemetery of the village is a beautiful and well cared-for burying- 
ground. It has been carefully laid out and incorporated, and has a fund of 
about $1,500, with which to keep it in order. Col. Judy is President of the 
Association, and F. S. Thrapp, Secretary and Treasurer. About one-fourth of 
the lots have been sold, and, when the remainder have been disposed of, it is 
intended to .spend the proceeds in beautifying the grounds, by laying out walks, 
planting trees and shrubbery and otherwise improving it. Nothing speaks 
more highly of a people than a loving care of their dead, and Tallula's pretty 
little cemetery bears many a token of affection to the loved and lost. 

The village of Rushaway, once a thriving business place, almost the equal of 
what Tallula now is,, has rushed away among the things that were. It was 
laid out by J. T. Rush and William Workman some time in the fifties, but just 
what time is not now remembered. The first store was kept by J. T. Rush and 
a man named Way. These two names, associated in business and combined 
together, gave the name of Rushaway to the village. F. S. Thrapp also had a 
store there. A post office was established, with Rush as Postmaster. When 
the railroad was built, it missed the town a few miles, and on the laying-out of 
Tallula, a portion of the place rushed to Tallula, and the remainder to Ashland. 
The post office was moved to Tallula, and its name changed to its new location. 
The proprietors of the railroad, it is said, would have run their road through 
the village, if they had received the proper encouragement, but the people of 
Rushaway, believing that the road would be compelled to come that way, stood 
upon their dignity and even refused to give the right of way, save at the highest 
market value. As a consequence, the road was located elsewhere, and Rush- 
away was left out in the cold. The completion of the road sealed their doom, 
and, as already stated, a part of the business men removed to Ashland, and 
the others to Tallula. At present, there is nothing left to designate the spot. 
The original site of the town is a flourishing farm and orchard, and the passing 
strangers would be surprised to learn that the place was once a thriving 
village. 



328 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 



ATHENS PRECINCT. 

The year immediately succeeding the admission of Illinois Territory to a 
position among the sisterhood of states, immigration commenced to flow steadily 
into the Sangamon country, and during the following half-decade quite a num- 
ber of settlements were formed within the present limits of Menard County. 
Settlements, cotemporaneous with those at Clary's Grove, which are recorded 
as the first made in the county, were begun in the present precinct of Athens. 
But first as to its position and topography. It is situated in the extreme south- 
eastern portion of the county, and is bounded on the north by Indian Creek and 
Sugar Grove Precincts, east and south by Logan and Sangamon Counties, 
respectively, and west by the Sangamon River and Petersburg Precincts. In 
shape, it very closely resembles the capital letter L, being ten miles along its 
northern boundary, by two and one-half on the east, and five and one-half on 
the west. The surface is pretty nearly equally divided between woodland and 
prairie. Congressionally, the precinct is included in Townships 17 and 18 
north, Ranges 4, 5 and 6 west of the Third Principal Meridian. The northern 
half of this section is far better adapted to purposes of tillage and pasturage 
than the southern. The soil is of the finest quality, and yields abundant har- 
vests of the various cereals commonly cultivated in this latitude. Handsome 
and costly private residences, such as are seen mostly in the suburbs of populous 
cities, are not infrequently met with in traveling through this part, and these 
along with the finely cultivated farms which they adorn, bespeak the success 
which has attended those who were fortunate enough to secure a firm footing' 
here in an early day. Nearly the entire surface is sufficiently elevated and roll- 
ing to obviate the necessity of artificial drainage. The timber area is con- 
fined to the western portion, along Indian Creek and the Sangamon. The 
west and middle fork of Fancy Creek crosses the eastern portion, and affords 
drainage to a vast area of the prairie portion of the precinct. Indian Creek 
flows in a general western direction through the northwest part, and with 
streams of lesser importance on the west side, all tributary to the Sangamon, 
drains effectually the woodland district. The Springfield & North-Western 
Railroad crosses it in a general northwestern direction. Having taken this 
somewhat cursory glance at the topography of this section, we will next direct 
our attention to its 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

As was the unvarying custom, these were made in the edge of the timber, 
and not far distant from the water-courses. And here, upon the very thresh- 
old of our investigation, we are environed with difficulties. To designate any 
one of the earliest settlers as being the first, would be to assume a risk that 
we do not feel disposed to take upon our shoulders. A number came in at so 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 329 

nearly the same date, and the testimony is so evenly balanced in making each 
first, that we are rather inclined to think that that honor cannot, at this late 
date, with safety, be accorded to any single individual. Among the earliest, 
however, we may chronicle the arrival of Robert White and William B. Short. 
Both were from Green County, Ky.,and settled in the northeastern part of the 
precinct, in Indian Point timber. They are said to have staked off their claims 
and commenced their improvements in the fall of 1819. Short settled near the 
creek, while White laid his claim a short distance north and west of him. The 
claims first staked off they improved and afterward entered, and these they con- 
tinued to hold during their lifetime Short died in 1863, and was buried at 
the old Lebanon Cemetery, near his place of residence. He was the " most 
married " man in the entire community, as he plighted his love at the nuptial 
altar no less than five times. White's decease occurred a few months ago, he 
having lived to a ripe old age. The old homesteads are owned and occupied by 
James C. Short and R. F. White, sons of the early pioneers. An elm tree, 
bearing the initials " W. B. S.," yet stands not far distant from the family 
residence, and marks the corner of the Short claim made in that early day. 
The same fall, or possibly in the early spring of 1820, Joseph Smith, who 
came from the southern part of Kentucky, made a claim on the south side of 
Indian Point timber. Smith was a wagon-builder by trade, and, as he had a 
shop at his residence in quite an early day, it was, beyond question, the first in 
the precinct. He improved the farm now owned by Alfred Turner. He died 
a number of years ago, and lies buried at Indian Point Cemetery. William 
Holland, a brother-in-law of Smith, came from Ohio and laid a claim, also on 
the south side of the creek. Holland was a blacksmith, and, like Smith, was 
the first mechanic of his kind in this entire section of the country. He was 
appointed by the Government blacksmith to the Kickapoo Indians in this sec- 
tion, and received for his services $500 per annum. Some years later, by 
order of the Government, he went to Peoria, or Fort Clark, as it then was, 
where he was similarly employed for some time. He finally moved to Wash- 
ington, in Tazewell County, where he died several years ago. Some of his 
descendants are still living in and around the city. Matthew Rogers, from 
Otsego County, N. Y., built a log cabin one mile north and east of the present 
village of Athens. This he did not occupy, however, until the spring of 1821. 
Four years later, the claim was surveyed, and as soon as it came into market, 
he entered quite a body of land. The closing years of his life were spent in 
the village of Athens, where he closed a long and well-spent life in 1847. 
Three of his children are yet residents of the precinct Henry C., its oldest 
citizen, Mrs. Amsberry Rankin and Mrs. Harry Riggin. The life of Mr. 
Rogers was so prominently connected with the early settlement of this section, 
that he seems worthy of more than a passing notice. He is a descendant from 
the same stock with the celebrated John Rogers, who was burned at the stake, 
a martyr to his devotion to religious principles. He married Anna, daughter 



330 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

of Timothy and Miriam Lee Morse, through whom the family is connected with 
the late Professor S. F. B. Morse, the illustrious inventor of the electric tele- 
graph. While in New** York, Matthew Rogers occupied a prominent position 
in the community, and was a colonel of militia. The family emigrated to 
Illinois in 1818, but so tedious and slow were the means of travel in those early 
days, that, leaving home in September, they did not reach Troy until the fol- 
lowing February. He built a frame barn in 1825 or 1826, and this is said to 
be the first frame building erected in the State north of the Sangamon River. 
He established the first nursery in the same limits, and kept the first post office. 
In the fall of 1819, Thomas Primm came from St. Clair County, and laid a 
claim southeast of where Athens now stands. After taking the preliminary 
steps necessary to secure his claim, he returned to his family. He returned in 
the summer of 1820, and raised a crop, but did not bring his family until the 
fall following. On his first visit, he sold the animal on which he rode, to 
Stephen England, in payment for which England was to build him a cabin and 
make a stipulated amount of rails. His cabin was built in 1819, but was not 
occupied till the fall of 1820. The family of John Primm, his brother, was 
here in the summer of 1820. The advent of the Primm family to Illinois dates 
back to a very early day. John, the father of Thomas and John above men- 
tioned, came from the Old Dominion to St. Clair County in 1802. The date 
of coming on their mother's side reaches even farther back. Mrs. Primm was 
a daughter of Abram Stallings, who came down the Ohio River from Virginia, 
and settled in the present bounds of St. Clair County in 1796. Their father, 
with his three brothers, William, James and Thomas, were soldiers in the Revo- 
lutionary struggle, and fought in Washington's command. Thomas Primm 
died at his home, near Athens, in May, 1856, at the age of seventy-four. Three 
of his sons still reside in the precinct, viz. : William, Dr. Thomas L. and Abra- 
ham. Daniel, Ninian, James and John died after arriving at manhood, each 
having acquired considerable property. The sons of John still living are 
Elisha, John and Enoch. The settlements now mentioned were the very first 
made in what is now Athens Precinct. Orimal Clark laid a claim on the site 
of the village of Athens as early as 1820. He did not remain long before he 
sold out to Rev. John Overstreet, and moved to Fancy Creek, below Williams- 
ville. He finally moved to Springfield, where he died a number of years ago. 
A number were added to the citizenship of the precinct during the year 1820. 
Martin Higgins, John Moore, a Mr. Terry, William Armstrong, James Haynes 
and John Good, all came during the last-mentioned year. Higgins was from 
New York, and was a son-in-law of Matthew Rogers. He settled the farm on 
which William Primm now resides, and which, in an early day, he sold to his 
father, Thomas Primm. Higgins next located south of Indian Creek, and con- 
tinued to live there until the date of his decease. Moore and Terry were both 
from Vermont, and settled at Indian Point. Moore was a cabinet-maker by 
trade, and had the first cabinet-shop in this section. Terry and his wife were 








TALLULA 









HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 333 

finely educated, and found themselves ill at ease among their less fortunate 
backwoods neighbors. Both sold to Martin Higgins, and moved to Springfield. 
Here Moore followed his trade for some years, and then located in Macomb, 
Schuyler County. The last that was seen of him in this section, he was trav-' 
eling in the capacity of a colporteur for the Presbyterian Book Concern. 
Terry, after his removal to Springfield, engaged in clerking, and his wife in 
teaching school. A few years later, they again returned to their native State and 
never returned West subsequently. William Armstrong settled near Indian Creek, 
and in a few years sold to Eli Branson and moved to what is now Sandridge 
Precinct, near the present village of Oakford. A number of his family reside 
there at present. Pleasant Armstrong, a single brother, lived with him and 
was an early Justice of the Peace in this section. Haynes and Good were both 
Buckeyes. The former settled south of Indian Creek, and, after some years, 
sold to Martin Higgins and moved to Texas. Good settled further west on 
the prairie between Indian Creek and Oak Ridge timber. He sold to the 
father of Judge Tice, and, in company with Haynes, moved to Texas. The 
name of James Gardner, also, should appear among those of the settlers of 
1820, Gardner was from the Empire State, and laid a claim where the Widow 
Riggin now resides. His father, quite an aged man, lived with him. He 
remained but a few years, then sold to Harry Riggin and moved over into Ful- 
ton County. In 1821, Walter Turner made a claim on the south side of Indian 
Creek, which he improved and occupied until the date of his demise. His son 
Walter now occupies the old homestead. Harry Riggin also came the same year, 
purchased land and engaged in tilling the soil. His ancestry dates back to 
Ireland, and there bore the name of 0' Regan. Soon after coming to America,' 
having renounced Catholicism and espoused Protestantism, the family name was 
changed to Riggin, the form it has since borne. During his lifetime, he was 
often heard to express himself sorry that a change in the name should ever have 
been deemed necessary. He was an enterprising and useful citizen, and his 
name was many times prominently before the people. He was a member of 
the first Board of County Commissioners for Sangamon County, whose duty it 
was to locate the county seat. He was at different times a candidate for office, 
but was defeated, his competitors for popular favor being such men as Stephen 
F. Logan, Ninian Edwards and Abraham Lincoln men who afterward achieved 
success in a wider field of fame. His long and public-spirited life closed in 
1874, after he had attained to the ripe age of eighty-one years and six months. 
Elisha, Abner and James Hall, brothers, came from Ohio and settled in the 
vicinity of the present village of Athens as early as 1822. Some of their 
descendants are still living in and around the village. Phillip Smith was a 
Buckeye, also, who made an improvement where Theophilus Turner now lives. 
Smith was a blacksmith by trade and followed his profession in connection with 
farming. William Johnson and James Williams were from Bath County, Ky., 
and made settlements in 1823, north of Indian Creek. Johnson died in 1843. 



334 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

His wife, having reached the seventy-fourth milestone on life's journey, is yet 
living, and is passing her few remaining years in the families of her children. 
Her son Jefferson now owns the old homestead, and a naked spot in the yard, 
but a few feet distant from his excellent farmhouse, marks the location from 
which but very recently the pioneer cabin of his father and family has been 
removed. Williams located west of Johnson and further down the creek. He 
was a farmer and tanner by trade. He reared a large family, and amassed a 
goodly amount of this world's goods. He died in 1837, and was buried on the 
farm which he improved and which is now owned by Col. John Williams, his 
son. Although Col. Williams has been a citizen of Athens Precinct only for 
the past three years, still we deem it apropos to give a short sketch of his life 
in this connection. At the time of his father's removal from Kentucky, he was 
a lad of some sixteen or seventeen summers, and was engaged in clerking in a 
village store. His employer was unwilling to release him, and, consequently, 
he did not come until the year following. He made the trip on horseback, 
bringing the sale-money of his father, and, as the currency at that time was 
almost exclusively silver, to successfully conceal it and bring it safely to its des- 
tination was no small feat for a boy of his age to accomplish. This, however, 
he did, after a long, tedious journey. John's inclinations were for the life oft 
a merchant and soon after coming he obtained a situation as clerk in Springfield, 
afterward became partner and finally proprietor. His success fully attests the 
wisdom of his choice. He continued to make Springfield his home until about 
three years ago, when he erected his splendid mansion on his father's old home- 
stead and brought his family from the city to enjoy the retreats of his quiet 
country home. In a business way, he is largely identified with the city of 
Springfield to-day, and is one of the solid business men of the capital. To him 
more than to any other one individual is Menard County indebted for the suc- 
cessful completion of the railroad which links with iron bands her county seat 
to the State capital. John H. Moore, from Kentucky, was here as early as 
the fall of 1823, possibly a year earlier. Included among those who came prior 
to 1830, we find the names of. John Turner, William Stanley, Scott Rawlins, 
Jonathan Dunn, Asa Canterberry, John S. Alexander, William McDougal, 
Theophilus Bracken, Allen Turner, Amberry A. Rankin and Fleming Hall. 
They were mostly from Kentucky and Ohio, and settled near Indian Creek and 
in the vicinity of Athens. Fleming Hall had emigrated from Virginia to Mis- 
souri, in 1828, and, in 1829, he came to Menard and pre-empted the land on 
wkich the village of Athens now stands. He remained two years upon his 
pre-emption claim, then entered it and sold it to Abner Hall and a Mr. Catter- 
lin. Mr. Hall removed to his present place of residence, a short distance from 
the village, some forty-eight years ago. Here, in the family of his son Elihu, 
the father, having attained the age of eighty-five and the mother the more 
advanced age of ninety-one, are passing quietly their few remaining days. 
When Mr. Hall and Benjamin and John Wiseman were laying off the school 






HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 335 

section into small lots for sale, Mr. Lincoln was their surveyor, and the tall, 
athletic form of the future President, passing silently through the deep ponds 
which the others were glad to avoid, is recollected as something edifying. 
Canterberry and Alexander were both from Kentucky, and settled in the south 
part of the precinct. Some of the descendants of Canterberry are still resi- 
dents of the neighborhood in which he settled. Scott Rawlins settled on the 
farm now owned by W. L. Rankins. He was a kind of horse doctor and horse 
jockey professionally, and withal was not very popular with his neighbors. 
Indeed, his sudden accumulation of large numbers of horses at different times, 
warranted the suspicion that they were not always obtained by strictly legiti- 
mate means. His increasing unpopularity led him to dispose of his land in an 
early day. He moved to an island in the Illinois River, not far from Bath, 
where he died a number of years ago. McDougal and Bracken are both dead, 
but have a number of representatives yet living in the precinct. Amberry A. 
Rankin is still living, and having accumulated a fine competency, has retired from 
active business pursuits, and is quietly passing his declining years in the village 
of Athens. During the years 18303132, but few were added to the settle- 
ments already made. The excitement incident upon the Black Hawk war had 
a tendency to check emigration for a time. In the spring of 1832, J. Kennedy 
Kincaid, then a young man, came from Bath County, Ky., and located in the 
neighborhood where he at present resides. He was a carpenter by trade, and 
found here a fine field for operating his mechanical genius. Landing at Beards- 
town, he walked from there to Springfield, in order to save his scanty means 
for the purchase of a kit of tools. By dint of industry, he soon secured means 
enough to enter a small piece of land, and this he improved and still owns. He 
was also one of the early pedagogues of this section. In the fall of 1833, his 
father, Andrew Kincaid, came through on horseback to visit his son and pros- 
pect the country. In the fall of 1834, he came with his family and settled 
where his son Thomas Kincaid now lives. After a long and useful career, he 
terminated his life in 1872, at the ripe age of eighty-seven. His wife lingered 
ion the shores of time tilt March, 1879, when she followed that beckoning hand 
at the more advanced age of ninety-one. They left a large family of children, 
and their sons are among the wealthy and influential farmers of the section in 
which they reside. James -Rankin, also from Kentucky, settled in the vicinity 
in 1833. As early as 1840, further settlements were made by Jesse G. Hurt, 
David and James K. Hurt, Jesse Preston, Josiah Francis, Thomas Hargus, 
William Strawbridge, Charles Robinson, R. L. Wilson, Neal and Archibald 
Johnson and others, doubtless, whose names have passed from memory. But 
time and space forbid that we shall particularize in regard to all these. Suffice 
it to say that they were all good citizens, and aided in the improvement and devel- 
opment of the country of which, at an early day, they became citizens. 



336 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 



EARLY TRIALS AND DIFFICULTIES. 

The early pioneers found none of the conveniences by which they are to-day 
surrounded. Naught but wild waste of country, fertile indeed, yet unsubdued. 
It was unbroken by the single habitation of civilized man, and was yet the hunt- 
ing-place of the red man of the forest. Without roads and without bridges, 
and far removed from the public marts, the incentives to engage in the tilling 
of the soil were few. Yet surrounded by the manifold annoyances which ever 
attend the early pioneer, in the love of that liberty which they earnestly desired 
to transmit to their children, and in the fond hope of one day possessing them- 
selves of many of these broad, fertile acres, they erected their rude cabins and 
began their life-work. One thing which contributed largely to the success of 
the early settlers of this section was the inflexibility of purpose with which 
they set about making a home for themselves and their families. Though most 
of them were men of limited means, they were not of that class often found in 
the first settlement of a country, who, having made a slight improvement, are 
ever ready and waiting for an offer to sell out and again move forward to the 
frontier. 

There are many here to-day, an abstract of whose title is couched simply in 
the patent from the Government to their father, and in the deed from father 
to son. Not a few hold their title direct from the Government, over the 
signature of John Quincy Adams. The difficulties and inconveniences endured 
by these early settlers were such as would appall the heart of the stoutest of the 
present generation. Their milling was obtained at points 100 miles distant, 
and supplies for the family were obtained from a like distance. Mr. William 
Primm relates that his father used to go to mill at St. Louis, distant 120 miles. 
Mills, however, were established in quite an early day on Salt Creek, and at 
points on the Sangamon. The history of the earliest mill in the precinct 
belongs in the history of the village of Athens and Avill be given in that connec- 
tion. 

The first post office, established north of the Sangamon, was at the house 
of Matthew Rogers, and was known as Rogers' Post Office. The exact date 
of its establishment cannot now be ascertained, but was probably not later than 
1826-27. The mail at that time was carried on horseback from Springfield 
to Lewistown by way of Rogers, Walker's Grove and Havana, and was known 
as the Spoon River Route. John Renfro was mail carrier on this route for a 
long time. At that date, four weeks were consumed in the transmission of a 
letter from New York to this point. The office continued to be kept at the 
house of Mr. Rogers until the laying-out of Athens, when the name was 
changed from Rogers to that of the village, and it was removed there. Henry 
C. Rogers, after attaining his majority, succeeded his father as Postmaster and 
held the position a number of years. At this office, among others who received 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 337 

mail matter for quite a while was our late martyred President, Abraham Lincoln. 
He came to the office from Salem on horseback, when he did not make the 
trip on foot, which he often did. Mr. Rogers says, if he had been at that time 
commanded to shoct at a future President of America from among the number 
that frequented the office, he should have turned his gun upon many another 
before singling out the long, lank youth from Salem. 

The first school in the precinct was kept by J. A. Mendall, in a cabin near 
the residence of Henry C. Rogers. Mendall was an Eastern man, finely edu- 
cated and a successful teacher. The only drawback to his usefulness in the 
community was the fact that he was too fond of the flowing bowl, and often 
indulged in a spree to the annoyance of his patrons. The last account had of 
him here he had located in Peoria where he was engaged in the study of law. 
Henry C. Rogers was himself an early pedagogue in this section, and taught in 
the days when it was fashionable for the "Master " to "board around " and 
when scraps of old copy-books greased with lard were used for the admission of 
light. But these primitive temples of learning have long since passed away, 
and we find the precinct dotted over to-day with houses well adapted to the 
wants of the age, and more advanced and cultivated tastes of society. The cit- 
izens in and around Indian Creek, recognizing the need of a higher education 
for their children than could be obtained at the common schools, conceived 
the idea of establishing a school of a high grade in their midst. To this end, 
individual subscriptions to the amount of $3,000 were secured, and, in 1856, 
the North Sangamon Academy was erected. The building is a substantial brick, 
two stories high, and situated most eligibly in the edge of Indian Creek timber. 
Located as it is in a grove of native forest-trees and where there are 

" Books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, 
And good in everything." 

one would naturally infer that the enterprise would meet with merited success. 
Such, we are glad to state, has been its history so far. During the first 
years of its existence, it drew patronage from points as far distant as Jacksqn- 
ville. A boarding-house was erected for the accommodation of foreign students, 
and for a number of years was well patronized. Prof. D. J. Strain was the 
first Principal and held the position nine years. The interests of the school 
have been in charge of Prof. W. B. Thompson for the past year, in whose hands 
its former good reputation has not been permitted to suffer. A neat cottage 
residence for the use of the Principal was erected a few years ago at a cost of 
some $1,400. The first merchant in the precinct was Harry Riggin, who 
opened a small stock of goods at his farm residence as early as 182526. This 
was a matter of great convenience, as, prior to its establishment, the nearest 
trading-point was Springfield. To that point and to Beardstown the produce 
of the farmer was taken to market and the supplies for family consumption 
were obtained. But as year succeeded year in rapid flight, population increased, 
villages sprang into existence as if by magic, conveniences multiplied on every 



338 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

hand and the trials and difficulties with which the early pioneer was wont to 
contend became things of the past. 

CHURCHES OF THE PRECINCT. 

Religion was one of the first interests that claimed the attention of the 
early settlers of this section, and the first religious society formed was upon a 
voluntary basis, to meet the existing spiritual wants of the period. As early 
as 1820, Joseph Smith and wife, James Haynes and wife and William Holland 
and wife organized themselves into a class of the Methodist order, under the 
leadership of Mr. Holland. This was the first religious society formed in this 
entire section, and constituted the .basis of the first M. E. Church in the county. 
Soon after its formation, Rev. James Simms, the first "circuit rider," took 
charge of this interest. The Cumberland Presbyterians were in the field in 
quite an early day. The first church building erected in the present limits of 
Athens Precinct was the Lebanon C. P. Church in the extreme northwest 
corner. The first was a log house, quite primitive in style of architecture and 
in its various appointments. This building was constructed near the close of 
1824 or early in the beginning of 1825. Having served its day and genera- 
tion, it was removed out of the way and superseded by a commodious frame 
structure. This in turn gave place in 1866-67 to the present substantial brick 
building which occupies the spot to-day. Rev. John M. Berry, the great 
apostle of Cumberland Presbyterianism in Menard County, was the first min- 
ister and labored for the congregation a number of years. Revs. Thomas 
Campbell and Gilbert Dodds also preached here in an early day. Among the 
early communicants were the families of Robert White, William B. Short, 
Francis Ray burn, James Williams, Harry Riggin and Martin Higgins. The 
Uorth Sangamon Presbyterian society was organized at Springfield in 1832. 
Among the first members of the organization were John Moore and family, 
Elijah Scott, John N. Moore, a Mr. Stillman and J. Kennedy Kincaid. The 
members from Indian Creek attended services for a time at Springfield. After 
the building of the frame house above alluded to, the society worshiped some years 
with the Cumberlands. Finally, they erected a substantial brick building about 
two miles "east of the old Lebanon Church, in which the society has since held 
its meetings. As a full and complete history of the Church has been prepared 
for the general county history by Rev. William Crozier, the present Pastor, we 
deem it unnecessary to trace it in detail in this portion of the work. A Cum- 
berland Presbyterian Church was organized at the residence of Richard Fulker- 
son, in the summer of 1867, by Rev. J. C. Van Patton, of Springfield. R. 
Fulkerson, James Estile and William Price were chosen Elders, and A. A. 
Fulkerson and John Woods, Deacons. A neat church building was erected in 
the fall of 1867 and has been regularly occupied since the society was organ- 
ized. The*present membership is about fifty. Rev. George Flowers was the 
first regular Pastor for the congregation. Rev. J. Stephenson is laboring for 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 339 

the society at present. Not only have ( the citizens in and around Indian Point 
manifested an interest in whatever has had a tendency to increase the happi- 
ness and welfare of the living, but in the provision made for the dead they have 
exhibited a spirit of enterprise not often met with in the country. Indian 
Point Cemetery, as a corporate body, was organized February 14, 1870. It 
incloses seven acres, beautifully situated for burial purposes. It occupies 
a commanding position overlooking Indian Creek and the surrounding 
country. It is tastefully laid in blocks, drives and avenues, and the lots are 
ornamented with various kinds of shrubbery. All moneys arising from the sale 
of cemetery squares or lots, by the terms of the organization, are kept in an 
endowment fund, the interest thereof to be expended in improving and ornament- 
ing the cemetery. The present value of this fund is not far from $3,000. The 
object of those engaged in organizing this cemetery has been to endow the 
corporation and not themselves, to provide and leave guarded a fund for its 
maintenance through all future time. Many of the early pioneers of this sec- 
tion have here found a last resting-place, and the chiseled marble shaft erected 
by surviving love to their memory attests the veneration in which they were held 
while living. The interests of the cemetery are intrusted to the hands of a 
board of directors, who are chosen at stated periods. 

Among the first to sit in judgment upon matters of litigation between their 
fellow-citizens were Matthew Rogers and John N. Moore. Henry C. Rogers, 
following in the footsteps of his father, has long hehl the office of Justice of the 
Peace. The first death of which we have been able to obtain any reliable 
information was that of Capt. Hathaway, which occurred in 1822. John Jen- 
nison and Martha McNabb were the first to plight their vows to each other 
before the hymeneal altar. The first birth has been lost in the mists of antiq- 
uity though it is an event that doubtless occurred. While the railroad interests 
of the county have been given in detail in the general county history, yet the 
prominent part taken by Col. John Williams, a citizen of this section, in the 
completion and operation of the Springfield and North- Western Railroad, by 
means of which he has placed the citizens of this precinct under lasting obli- 
gations to himself, renders it altogether proper that mention of it should again 
be made in connection with this part of the history. The original charter for 
the road leading from Springfield via Petersburg, Havana and Lewistown to 
Keithsburg or Rock Island on the Mississippi, was granted in 1853. Sanga- 
mon County failed to vote her allotted amount of the stock, and this in con- 
nection with other untoward events so discouraged the company that the enter- 
prise was wholly abandoned. By special act of Legislature, the charter was 
revived in 1869, and late in the fall of 1870, work was commenced at Havana, 
and vigorously pushed through Mason and a part of Menard. It was completed 
to Petersburg in 1872, and, in the fall of 1873, reached Athens and Cantrall. 
At the last named point (eight miles north of the capital) the panic struck the 
company, and further operations looking to the completion of the road ceased. 



340 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

In 1874, Col. Williams, who had been treasurer of the road since the revival 
of its charter, by the use mainly of his own private means, completed the line 
to Springfield. It was operated under the management of contractors until 
1875, when it passed into the hands of G. N. Black as Receiver, and was thus 
controlled until 1878, when it was sold and bid in by Col. John Williams, who 
thus became President, and under whose efficient direction and management it 
is in a flourishing condition, and operated with care. 

ATHENS VILLAGE. 

In that classic land which holds the most conspicuous place in the pages of 
early history, a land abounding in fine natural objects and picturesque scenery 
alternate mountain peaks and ravines, hills and valleys, wooded headlands 
and shaded torrent streams, sat 

"Athens, the eye of Greece, mother of arts 
And eloquence, native to famous wits." 

While, under the all-conquering hand of Rome, she saw every trace of 
her political importance vanish, she rose to an empire scarcely less flattering, 
to which Rome itself was compelled to bow, and she became to her conqueror 
the teacher and arbiter of taste, philosophy and science. It is not our purpose 
to trace the history of the far-famed city, but of one of far more humble pre- 
tensions, and which, though bearing the same name, is different in every other 
respect. The village of Athens is situated in the southeastern part of the 
county, and, next to extinct Salem and Petersburg, is the oldest town in 
Menard. The village site is an eligible one, the country adjacent being finely 
adapted to agricultural and horticultural pursuits. Woodland, comprising as- 
fine oak timber as can be found in any section of Illinois, adjoins the place, 
and coal of a superior quality abounds in almost inexhaustible quantities, at a 
depth of less than one hundred feet beneath the surface upon which the town is 
founded. It was surveyed and platted in 1831, by James Stevenson, County 
Surveyor, for Rev. John Overstreet. The original plat contained about forty 
acres, to which some four additions have subsequently been made. Two 
cabins, one for a residence, and the other for a blacksmith-shop, had been erected 
by Orimal Clark, who had laid a claim here a year or two previous to the lay- 
ing-out of the town, and from whom Overstreet purchased the original town- 
site. A small band-mill, operated by horse-power, was also here at the date of 
the laying-out of the village. About the year 1832 or 1833, Col. Matthew 
Rogers became a citizen of the town, and made the first permanent improve- 
ments, the large and commodious building now occupied by L. Salzenstein as a 
store being one of the results of his enterprise. John Overstreet was the first 
merchant of the village, having purchased the remnant of a stock of goods 
which had been kept by Harry Riggin, at his farm residence ; he made some 
additional purchases, and opened out a small stock, soon after the laying-out of 
the village. Jonathan Dunn was the second merchant in the field, but 






HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 341 

remained in the mercantile business but a short time. In the latter part of 
1832, or the beginning of 1833, Harry Riggin and Amberry A. Rankin 
opened a store, and, after two years, sold their stock to Martin M. Morgan. 
During the year, James D. Allen and Simeon Clark became merchants of the 
village as did Abner and Elisha Hall. In 1836, Sebastian Stone became a 
partner with Allen, and that firm remained in business a number of years. 
The early merchants received their goods from St. Louis, a distance of 120 
miles, by ox team, a master means of transportation at that day. The arrival 
of a new supply of goods for the merchants created almost as much excitement 
among the villagers as the pageantry of Barnum's own and only show on earth 
does in our cities at the present day. The bustle and hum that was seen and 
heard upon her streets at one time, betokened for her a bright and glorious 
future. But alas for human hopes and prophecies ! The tidal wave of adver- 
sity set in hard against her in the spring of 1839. She entered the list for 
county seat honors, and, though she played her hand skillfully, Petersburg 
over-reached her and left her to weep over blasted hopes and blighted prospects. 
The failure to secure railroad communication with the outside world, until quite 
recently ; the establishment of the county seat at Petersburg, and the capital 
at Springfield all contributed to check the growth of Athens and to give to 
her. as early as 1841, the appearance of a finished town. But to return to 
her early history. As early as 1826, Elijah Estep had erected a small band- 
mill on the present site of Petersburg. Owing to the high rates charged for 
grinding, and the difficulty oftentimes experienced in reaching the mill, those 
living in the immediate vicinity of the present village of Athens, in the fall of 
1829, joined in the purchase and removal of the mill to this point. After the 
mill was brought and put in running order, John Overstreet took charge of it, 
taking toll from each and every one using it, the same as if he had been the 
individual owner. He was to keep up the necessary repairs and superintend 
the " mammoth concern " for the term of four years, at the expiration of which 
time the property was to pass into his hands. Two classes of individual inter- 
ests were represented in the mill, viz., money-signers and work-signers. There 
were rules and regulations governing the rights of each, and so strictly were 
they observed that but few difficulties ever occurred. The moneyed aristocracy 
in those days, as well as at the present, belonged to the privileged class. If A 
had contributed $5 in work toward securing the mill, and B had contributed 
fifty cents in cash, it was B's privilege, whenever he came to the mill, though 
A might be using it at the time, to take full possession as soon as the hopper 
was empty, and grind out his grist. If, in the mean time, no other money- 
signers came, A could resume operations, but not otherwise. It thus hap- 
pened that sometimes a work-signer would go early and remain all day, 
returning home at night without having had the privilege of cracking a grain 
of his grist. While this worked a hardship to many, yet none knew better 
how to observe both the spirit and letter of the law than did the early 



342 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

pioneers. About the year 1834, Overstreet ground a flat-boat load of flour on 
this mill, and, in company with Jesse Gr. and David Hurt, took it to the 
New Orleans market. Some two or three months were consumed in manu- 
facturing the load, the bolting being done by hand. From that trip, Over- 
street and David Hurt never returned. Both were stricken with disease and 
died in the Crescent City. Jonathan Dunn built a steam grist-mill here in 
an early day, and, after operating it a year or two, sold out to Strawbridge & 
Croft, who attached a distillery and ran the two conjointly for some time. 
This enterprise, however, has long since become a thing of the past. In 1856. 
John Overstreet, a relative of the pioneer, and Alexander Hale, built a brick 
steam grist-mill, at a cost of $11,000, and began operating it in 1857. It has 
a run of two buhrs and is capable of grinding fifteen bushels per hour. It is 
at present in successful operation. Charles P. Smith opened a blacksmith 
shop in 1832, and soon afterward Thomas Tabor and William Brown followed 
in this business. Smith was the first on the ground after the laying-out of the 
village. After a short residence, he moved to Texas, and later, started for the 
gold regions of California. Like many others, he failed to reach what he no 
doubt deemed the land of promise, and his bones were left to bleach on the sandy 
plains with those of others of his unfortunate companions. A pottery was 
established here in quite an early day by John Pierson. and for a time did quite 
a paying business. Goble Sackett and likewise Ramsey followed in a like 
enterprise at a later date. Tradition informs us that a cotton-gin was once 
operated here, and, if so, it must have been not later than 1827-28, as this 
article of merchandise was not cultivated in this section subsequent to the win- 
ter of the "deep snow." 

CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, ETC. 

The Methodists were the pioneer organization of the village. Their house 
of worship, erected in 1835, is still standing, though, from outward appear- 
ances, it is rather the worse for wear. The original organization was effected 
by Rev. Asahel E. Phelps, with seventy members. It has always held a lead- 
ing position in the religious element of the village. Rev. J. W. Eckman is 
now completing his second year as pastor. The Christian Church was built 
in 1851, and is the only brick church building in the town. The congregation 
has never been large, and has prospered indifferently well. Among the early 
ministers were Elders Robert Foster and John A. Powell. The Church is at 
present without a regular Pastor, though Elder Claiborne Hall often officiates 
in that capacity. The Free Methodists have recently erected a neat frame 
building, and the congregation connected therewith, though small, is in a 
flourishing condition. A Sunday school is held in connection with each of the 
churches. 

The first public school kept in the village was, probably, presided over by 
Rev. Carman Clark, though some are inclined to award that honor to a Mrs. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 343 

Rowe. It was taught in a diminutive farm house which formerly stood on the 
site of Charles Salzenstein's store. A large frame school building was erected 
southeast of the present edifice, and served the double purpose of schoolhouse 
and church for a number of years. In 1873, a substantial and commodious 
brick building was constructed, at a cost of $7,000, which is an ornament to the 
village and a source of just pride to her citizens. James Steel was the first 
Principal, and Prof. Nye at present holds the reins of government. Among 
her early physicians were Drs. Winn, Abbott, Lee and Eatey. Of these, all 
but one are long since gone. Dr. Lee is yet in the precinct, and resides on his 
farm near Indian Creek. The medical fraternity is at present represented by 
Drs. T. J. Primm, E. D. Thomas and William F. Roberts. Each enjoys a 
reputation for skillfulness and proficiency in his profession. 

Floral Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., No. 647, was organized under dispensation, 
November 16, 1877. A charter was issued from the Grand Lodge, bearing 
the signatures of John Lake, G. M., and N. C. Wason, G. S., in October, 1878. 
The charter members were C. C. Scott, T. B. Turner, Jacob Boyd, Louis Sal- 
zenstein, Charles Bair, W. C. Fisk and Julius Kerst. The first officers were : 
C. C. Scott, N. G. ; T. B. Turner, V. G. ; Jacob Boyd, Secretary, and Louis 
Salzenstein, Treasurer. The regular meetings of the Lodge are holden on 
Friday evening of each week, in a room in the school building. A new hall, 
26x60, will soon be erected. Present officers are : Jacob Boyd, N. G. ; John 
Ekberry, V. G. ; Henry Heilhower, Secretary, and Louis Salzenstein, Treas- 
urer. The present membership of the Lodge is twenty -five. 

VILLAGE INCORPORATED. 

At a meeting of the citizens held at the cabinet work-shop of James Mott, 
January 25, 1859, John M. Ward was chosen President, and Joel Hall, Clerk. 
The vote being canvassed, it appeared that thirty-one votes had been cast for, 
to eight against an act incorporating the village. February 8, the following 
Board of Trustees was chosen : Seneca Winters, Nathaniel F. Stone, Stephen 
England, Levi Gibbs and Robert C. Arnold. February 25, the Board organ- 
ized by electing Seneca Winters, President, and Joel Hall, Town Clerk. March 
7, the Board met and elected the following officers : John M. Ward, Town 
Attorney ; John V. Freeman, Town Treasurer ; John F. Whitney, Constable ; 
Joseph W. Center, Street Commissioner. In its corporate capacity it did 
much in the way of improving the village. Since the building of the Spring- 
field & North- Western Railroad new life has been infused into the village, and 
her business has revived to a considerable extent. Some substantial improve- 
ments have been made in the past year or two, both in the erection of business 
houses and private residences. The ravages of the remorseless tooth of time 
are, however, plainly discoverable on many of her fast decaying buildings. Her 
business interests at present comprise four general stores, two drug stores, one 
cabinet shop, one saddle and harness shop, two or three general wagon and 



344 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

repair shops. Quite an amount of grain and live stock is also shipping from 
this point. The moral status of the place is not surpassed by any of her sister 
towns. Such is the Athens of Menard to-day, venerable for her age, and for 
the important part she played in affording conveniences to the early settlers of 
this portion of the county. 

FANCY PRAIRIE, 

a village in embryo, is located in the northeast corner of the precinct, and is 
surrounded by a beautiful belt of prairie bearing the same name. In the fall 
of 1867, a neat little church was erected here by the Cumberland Presbyterian 
society. In 1875, a general store was opened by B. Fulkerson. About the 
same date, T. Baker opened a blacksmith and wagon shop. The post office, 
Fancy Prairie, was established in 1875, with B. Fulkerson as Postmaster. 
The present Postmaster is A. B. Waters, who also operates the store. L. 
Shuck at present shapes iron for the villagers, and those living in the vicinity. 
These improvements, with some half-dozen private residences, make up the 
village, which is simply a point of interest to the neighborhood in which it is 
situated. 

GREENVIEW PRECINCT. 

Greenview, as a precinct, is one of the youngest in Menard County. 
Until some six or eight years ago, it was included in what is now Sugar Grove 
Precinct, with the voting-place at the village of Sweetwater. The latter was 
remote from the people in the extreme northern part, and the intelligent voter, 
from this little drawback, often neglected to exercise the right of franchise. 
Hence the result was a division of Sugar Grove, or Sweetwater, as it was then 
called, and the creation of a new precinct, now known as Greenview. This 
precinct lies in the extreme northeast part of the county, and is bounded on 
the north by Mason County, or Salt Creek, on the west by Indian Creek Pre- 
cinct, on the south by Sugar Grove, and on the east by Logan County. At 
least three-fourths of the precinct is the finest of prairie land, the timber being 
confined to. the creek bottom and to Bee Grove, Ash Grove and Irish Grove, 
about half of the latter grove lying in Greenview. It is well drained by Salt 
Creek and its tributaries, of which Pike and Greene Creeks, with other smaller 
branches and brooks, flow through it, carrying away the surface water. As an 
agricultural region, Greenview is not surpassed in the county, and its farmers 
are among the most thrifty and energetic in all the surrounding community. 
The completion of the Jacksonville Division of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis 
Railroad, which runs through the western part of the precinct, capped the cli- 
max of their prosperity, by placing the market for all their surplus produce at 
their very doors. The village of Greenview, the metropolis of this flourishing 
region, is an enterprising little village in the southwestern part of the pre- 
cinct on the railroad mentioned above, and will be more fully described in 
another page. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 345 



THE EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

Although the youngest precinct in Menard County, white people were 
within the present limits of Greenview as long ago as 1823. Fifty-six years 
stand between then and now, and, in that period, what changes have been 
wrought, not only in this spot but throughout the world. Ancient palaces, in 
whose spacious halls the mightiest monarchs proudly trod, show " the ivy 
clinging to their moldering walls." Thrones, tottering, have crumbled into 
dust ; empires have fallen, and their place on the map been blotted out forever. 
In our own great country, the war of revolution has raged with a tornado- 
like fury, shaking the republic from its center to its circumference, and threat- 
ening for a time its total destruction. Four millions of human beings have 
been liberated from a worse than Egyptian bondage, and placed upon an 
equality with the enlightened citizens of the "greatest country upon which the 
sun ever shone," together with hundreds of other mighty events beyond our 
limited space to chronicle. And in these fifty-six years the territory of Green- 
view Precinct, one of the small particles that go to make up our great country, 
has, from a wilderness, been metamorphosed into a paradise as compared to its 
original state. In the year above mentioned (1823), James Meadows settled 
in the present limits of Greenview on the place now owned by Mr. Marbold. 
He came from Ohio to the neighborhood of Alton in 1818, the year that 
Illinois was admitted into the sisterhood of States. The next year, he 
removed to what is now Sugar Grove Precinct, where he resided until 
1823, when he removed into this precinct as already stated. A son of 
this early pioneer, Alexander Meadows, now lives in the village of Green- 
view, and has an excellent recollection of early scenes and events. He 
came to Illinois sixty-one years ago, a mere boy ; now he is an old man, broken 
down in bodily health by a life of toil. The history of this family is more 
particularly given in Sugar Grove, where they first settled after coming to the 
county. The elder Meadows built a mill on the Marbold place, which was the 
second mill in the eastern part of Menard County, and is again alluded to in 
another page. Soon after the settlement of Meadows in this precinct, George 
Blane and his mother came here. Like Meadows, they first settled on the 
other side of Sugar Grove, but sold out there to Leonard Alkire in 1823. 
They are mentioned further in the history of Sugar Grove Precinct, where 
they first located. 

Most of the first batch of settlers in this precinct were Buckeyes, and set- 
tled in Irish Grove, a body of timber already mentioned in this chapter. 
From Ohio, the native State of the chief magistrate of the nation, the precinct 
received the following recruits, viz., Joseph Lucas, George Borders, John 
Martin, George and Peter Price, John Waldron and John Hamill. Lucas 
squatted down in the grove about 1825-26. He was a genuine frontiersman, 
and remained in this community no longer than game abounded. When that 



346 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

failed and the Indians left the country, he followed in the wake of the red men 
and died a few years later in the Mackinaw settlement. The next settlers 
found his cabin, with three acres of ground cleared around it and fenced. He 
had two sons, Peter and George, who settled in Logan County ; the latter i& 
still living, but Peter died there some years ago. Abraham, another son, 
settled near his father in Irish Grove, where he died at an early day. Borders 
and Martin came in 1827. The former died about 1872, on the place where 
he originally settled, and the family is nearly extinct. One daughter was liv- 
ing in Logan County at the last account of her, and is the only surviving 
member of the Borders family, so far as known. Martin remained here a few 
years and then moved to Logan County, where he died.* His son Samuel, liv- 
ing in the city of Lincoln, is the last survivor of this family, so far as the 
pioneers of this section know to the contrary. George Price came to the 
grove in 1826, and his brother, Peter Price, in 1829. They were of the reg- 
ular frontier type and followed the Indians and the game, as they meandered 
on toward the setting sun. William Walker bought Peter Price's claim when 
he came to the settlement in 1830. Waldron settled here in 1827-28, and 
was another frontiersman who folded his tent and moved away on the trail of 
the Indians. John Hamill came about 1842, and is still living in the settle- 
ment, a prosperous farmer. 

Following close upon the heels of this delegation of Buckeyes, cornea an 
importation from the " dark and bloody ground." From Kentucky came 
William Walker, his son Joseph M. Walker, his brother-in-law David Walker, 
William Stotts, William Patterson, Alexander Gilmer, William A. Stone, John 
W. Patterson and Robert Rayburn. The latter gentleman was born in the 
Old Dominion, but emigrated to Kentucky when it was the hunting-ground of 
numerous tribes of hostile savages. From Kentucky he came to Illinois, in 
1827, and settled in Irish Grove, now in Greenview Precinct. His son, Joseph 
H., came here with him, and he is now an old man. Next to Alexander 
Meadows, he is the oldest living resident of this precinct, and resides upon the 
old homestead where his father settled fifty-two years ago. The elder Rayburn 
died in 1836, and Joseph is the only one of his family now living. His 
mother, the wife of Robert Rayburn, was a Logan, and of the family of 
Logans so celebrated in the Indian wars of Kentucky. She died in giving 
birth to twin boys Joseph and David L. Rayburn. Robert Rayburn is else- 
where mentioned as the pioneer school teacher of this section of the country. 
Walker came to Illinois in the fall of 1828, and stopped in Morgan County, 
and, after spending three weeks on horseback, in search of a cabin to shelter 
his family for the winter, and failing in his endeavor, went back to Clarke Co., 
Ind., and wintered there. In the fall of 1829, he returned to the Rock Creek 
settlement in this county, where he spent a part of the winter in his wagon and 
about a month in a vacant cabin. In February, 1830, he came to this neigh- 
borhood, and, as already stated, bought the claim of Peter Price. He died here 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. o47 

on the 29th of August, 1836, and his son, Joseph M. Walker, lives on the 
place where his father then settled. His residence stands upon the identical 
spot his father's cabin occupied. David Walker, a brother to the wife of Will- 
iam Walker, and who came to the settlement soon after the latter, bought the 
claim of Joseph Lucas, upon which he remained until 1837, when he removed 
to Iowa, where he died in 1876. Capt. William A. Stone was also born in 
Virginia, but taken to Kentucky by his parents when quite young, whence 
he emigrated to Illinois in 1830. His father, Moses Stone, came to the settle- 
ment at the same time, and was the head of a large family. Both he and his 
wife died the next year, leaving their twelve children, of whom William A., men- 
tioned above, was one, to battle with life alone. Five of the twelve children are 
still living, but none, except William A., reside in this precinct. John W. Patter- 
son came in 1830, and William Patterson about 1832. The latter gentleman 
bought the claim of John Martin upon his arrival in the neighborhood. He 
did not remain long, but sold out and removed to Iowa in 1837, and now lives 
. in the city of Keokuk. John W. Patterson bought the claim of George Price, 
upon which he lived until his death, which took place about 1844. The farm 
upon which he originally settled is still owned by his family. Gilmer came in 
1833-34, and made a permanent settlement. He had been here, however, 
several years before, and married a Miss Walker, as noticed in another page, 
after which he returned to Kentucky, remaining until the date given above. 
He died upon the place of his settlement, as did all of the family, except one 
son, who is still living, and resides on the old homestead. Stotts came to the 
settlement in 1830, and removed to Iowa in 1840, where he was still living at 
the last account of him. William Eldridge came to the grove in 1840. He 
was from the chalky cliffs of old England, and is still living in the precinct. 

This comprises all of the early settlers of this precinct whose names we 
have been able to obtain. As Greenview contains but little timber-land, it was 
not settled until the virtues of the prairies were discovered, which was at a date 
so recent as scarcely to entitle the people to the name of " old settlers." And 
then, too, Irish Grove, where most of the first settlements were made, is partly 
in the present precinct of Sugar Grove, and the history of that portion of it 
is there given. 

THE HISTORY OF THE PAST. 

The winter of the "deep snow" (1830-31) is an era of the past that is 
vividly remembered by the few survivors of that gloomy period. The snow 
began to fall about the middle of December, continued until nearly four feet 
deep on a level, and remained on the ground until the following March. Much 
of the game in the country starved to death, and many people came near 
sharing the same fate. We were informed by Joseph Walker that, in his father's 
family, the snow caught them without meal or flour. They had laid in their 
winter's supply of meat, and this, with corn pounded into hominy, sustained 
them for six weeks. Their corn was standing in the field in shocks, and every 



348 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

day they would shovel away the snow to a shock of corn, in order to procure 
their supply of hominy and to feed their limited amount of stock. The sudden 
freeze of 1837 is another event that will be remembered by all who were of a 
sufficient age to note such an occurrence. It was in the month of November, 
and several inches of snow had already fallen. The weather had become rather 
warm, the snow was melting, and. aided by a drizzling rain, it was a perfect 
mass of slush, when, without premonitions of its approach, a great " Manitoba 
wave " swept over the country, and apparently in the twinkling of an eye, the 
slush congealed, and, in the language of the Song of Hiawatha : 
" As hard as stone became the waters." 

The suffering was great. We have heard of no loss of human life in this sec- 
tion; but in other localities where our duties have called us, people were not so 
fortunate. In this " cold snap " much stock perished from the sudden change 
and the intensity of the cold. Another event of the past history of this part 
of the country, was the great hailstorm of 1851. It came in the month of 
May, and we were informed by one old settler that they had plenty of it to cool 
their mint-juleps on the 4th of July. In its course, it left the trees with the 
appearance (in their nakedness) of midwinter, and all vegetation was literally 
beaten into the ground. It was destructive to stock, where exposed to its fury, 
and many animals, hogs particularly, were killed outright. 

In further illustrations of past history, we will take a glance at the early 
mills of this section. James Meadows built a small grist-mill on his place 
(where Marbold now lives), which was the second or third mill in the eastern 
part of Menard' County. This was in 1831, the year following the " deep 
snow." He was a millwright by trade, and built this mill himself. It was 
of the old-fashioned tread-mill style, but was much better than pounding 
corn into meal in a mortar, as many an old settler can testify. It continued 
in active operation about eight years, when mill facilities were much improved 
by water-mills, and this primitive affair became obsolete. The mill at " Old 
Salem " received most of the patronage from this section after its erection, but 
even it had its inconveniences of low and high water, etc. Many people went 
to Springfield to mill after the erection of a steam mill at that place, and when 
a mill was built at Petersburg it brought accommodations to their doors. 

The pedagogue and the Methodist circuit-rider were in the field in 'an 
early day. Robert Rayburn taught the first school in Irish Grove. He had 
taught in Kentucky before coming to this section. It was a subscription school 
and taught in a little log cabin in the grove, before the building of regular 
schoolhouses, or before the adoption of the present system of free schools. 
Greenview Precinct has now six schoolhouses besides the elegant building in 
the village. Four of these are comfortable frames, and the other two are brick. 
In these temples of learning, schools are conducted for the usual period each 
year by competent teachers. No precinct in the county pays more attention to 
education, nor has more extended educational facilities than Greenview. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 351 

That old Methodist pioneer, Peter Cartwright, is supposed to have preached 
the first sermon in Irish Grove, at an early period of the settlement, probably 
as early as 1830. He used to preach at the cabin of Mr. Stone, not only 
before the building of churches, but also before there were any schoolhouses in 
the neighborhoods. Many stories and anecdotes are still told of the eccentric 
old preacher. The following, related to us a few days ago, is characteristic of 
the man : He was present at the dedication of a certain Methodist Church in 
the county, and preached one of his peculiar sermons. At the close of it, 
before taking up a collection (the church was not quite paid for), he said : 
" The people of the country are excited over the erection of a monument to 
Abe Lincoln at Springfield (it was about the time that move was on foot) arid 
are contributing liberally of their means for its completion. This is all very 
well ; but, my friends, I am engaged in building a monument to the Lord Jesus 
Christ. This monument is the house in which we are assembled, and I want 
you to contribute enough to complete it." Revs. Hargus and McLemore were 
also Methodist itinerants, and were early in the field. 

Rev. John G. Burgin, of Springfield, organized the Old School Presby- 
terian Church in Irish Grove, about 1831-32, in a little log schoolhouse built 
about that time. The society thus organized is still in existence, and worships 
in the brick church located on Section 23, in the midst of which the early set- 
tlements were made. The present brick edifice was erected in 1865, and cost 
from $2,500 to $3,000. It has about one hundred members, and is under the 
pastoral charge of Rev. Mr. Braden. The Church supports an excellent Sun- 
day school, of which Robert Gilmer, the last survivor of the Gilmer family, is 
Superintendent. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church is on Section 24, 
about one and one-half miles from the church mentioned above, and was built 
about 1850, at a cost of $1,000 ar $1,200, and is a neat frame edifice. It was 
built at a time when labor and material were as cheap as they are now. Ten or 
twelve years later, it would have cost nearly twice as much. It has a large 
congregation, of which Rev. Mr. May is Pastor; and a flourishing , Sunday 
school is maintained during the summer season. Charles Reed is its present 
Superintendent. 

BIRTHS, DEATHS, MARRIAGES, ETC. - 

The first death in the settlement remembered with any degree of certainty 
was Mary Ann Walker, who died September 8, 1830. But there are supposed 
to have been deaths among the earlier pioneers prior to this date. A son of 
Mr. Lucas died here very early, though the date of his death is not definitely 
known, but is thought to have been before that of Mr. Walker's daughter. 
Moses Stone and his wife, mentioned in the catalogue of early settlers, died in 
1831, within two weeks of each other. They left a family of twelve children, 
two of whom died soon after the parents, and two others died the next year. 
These burials were in Irish Grove Cemetery, a regularly laid-out burying-ground 
on Section 24, and where most of the pioneers of the grove, u sleep the sleep 



352 HISTORY OF MENARi) COUNTY. 

that knows no waking." The grounds have recently been enlarged, put in 
excellent order and Trustees appointed to care for them. 

The first birth in the neighborhood was George Borders, but the date could 
not be obtained. 

The first marriage on record was that of Alexander Gilmer and Jane 
Walker, November 4, 1830. They were married by Rev. Mr. Burgin, and 
went to Kentucky immediately after their marriage, resided there several years, 
and then returned to this settlement, where they spent the remainder of their lives. 

Dr. Morgan, at " Old Sangamon Town," was the first physician who prac- 
ticed medicine in this neighborhood. In those days, there was not a doctor's 
shingle swinging in the breeze at every cross-roads and country store, as at the 
present day. Nor did the hardy pioneers get sick so often or so easy as we do 
now. They fought the malarial fevers with little aid from the medical frater- 
nity, and, if they did not conquer, succumbed without the expense of doctor's 
bills. The fever ancl ague was looked upon as a natural consequence, and 
received but little attention at their hands. The first Justice of the Peace was 
John W. Patterson, but several years before his appointment to the office, there 
were some of these dispensers of justice in that part of the Grove, now in 
Sugar Grove Precinct. The Jacksonville Division of the Chicago & Alton 
Railroad was completed through this section in 1867. It had H>een running 
from Petersburg south several years before this portion of it was finished. It 
enters the precinct on Section 23, near the village of Greenview, and from 
thence in a direction almost due north, passes out through Section 31, giving 
Greenview about five miles of road. It has proved quite valuable to the com- 
munity as a highway of travel, and a means of transportation of their "exports 
and imports." 

Politically, Greenview Precinct is Republican, usually giving a small Repub- 
lican majority. In the late war, it did its whole duty, turning out a large number 
of soldiers. An entire company was raised in Irish Grove at an early period of 
the war, but, by some means, was credited to Logan County. By failing to 
get credit for recruits in this manner, the precinct had to stand a draft, as a 
result of its negligence. The draft, however, was small, as most of the quotas 
were filled in advance. Samuel Blane enlisted as a private, and rose to the 
rank of Captain in. Company K, of the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment of 
Illinois Infantry. Owing to ill health, he was forced to resign, and G. S. 
Gritman was promoted to Captain in his place. Both of these were from Irish 
Grove, in this precinct, and, so far as we could learn, were the only com- 
missioned officers it claims. The private soldiers 'were of the sturdy sons of 
the soil, who gallantly sustained the reputation of Illinois' soldiers on many 
hard-fought fields. 

VILLAGE OF GREENVIEW. 

This little village is eligibly located in the midst of a fertile and productive 
region, on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, about eight miles from. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 353 

Petersburg. It is on Section 23, of Town 19 north, Range 6 west of the 
Third Principal Meridian, according to Government survey, and was laid out 
October 2, 1857, by William Engle, elsewhere mentioned as one of the pioneers- 
of the county. The land upon which the village stands was originally owned 
by Charles L. Montgomery. The name of Greenview was given in honor of 
William G. Greene, a prominent citizen of Menard County, residing in the pre- 
cinct of Tallula. The first dwelling-house erected in the village was put up by 
Robert McReynolds, soon after it was laid out, and very soon after this, James 
Stone erected a dwelling. The first brick house was built by John Wilkinson,, 
and is now used as a hotel. One of the first business houses of importance 
was built by McReynolds, and afterward occupied by him as a store. There is 
some question at the present day as to whether McReynolds was the first 
merchant in the place, or whether Emanuel Meyer & Bro. deserve the honor. 
These were, probably, the two first stores in the village. Silas Beekman had a 
store here the fall the railroad was completed through the town. The first 
tavern was kept by John Wilkinson, and is still in existence (in the brick house 
mentioned above), but is now conducted by the widow of Mr. Wilkinson and 
their son. It is an excellent hotel for a village of the size of Greenview. The 
first blacksmith was Jacob Propst, who opened a shop soon after the laying-out 
of the village. The first physicians were Drs. Davis and Galloway. At 
present, the practitioners of the place are Drs. S. T. Hurst and W. A. Mudd~ 
A mill was built some years ago (the exact date we could not obtain), by 
McCormick Brothers. In January of the present year, it was burned to the 
ground. It was a frame building, two stories high, with two run of buhrs 
originally, but a third run was added at a later day,, and the entire structure 
was erected at a cost of about $10,000. It has not been rebuilt, which leaves 
quite a large scope of country between Petersburg and Mason City without a 
mill. Harvey Yeaman was the first man who handled grain at this point. He 
built a part of the present grain elevator, and then sold out to Morse & Co., 
who raised the elevator and built another story under it. This seems to have 
been on the principle of the Irishman's mode of building a chimney, viz. r 
"Laying down a brick and putting some others under it." While it is quite* 
common to build another story on a house, it is rarely we hear of one having a 
story built under it. They also added cribs, machinery and all modern 
improvements. It is now owned by Petrie & Co., who are the only grain- 
buyers in the village. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Greenview in the fall of 
1858. This Church was originally formed at New Market, but, upon the lay- 
ing-out of the village, was moved, or rather re-organized within the corporation^ 
and the church building erected the same year. It is a frame edifice and cost 
about $3,000. The present minister in charge is Rev. S. H. Martin, with a 
active membership of about twenty-five persons. Its members have been 
greatly reduced in number by death and removals. About thirty-five children 



354 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 



regularly attend the Sunday school, under the superintendence of Hugh 
Foster. 

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in the village in 1858, 
or rather, was moved from the Knowles' Schoolhouse in Indian Creek, and was 
originally organized in the now extinct village of New Market. The society 
erected a church edifice in Greenview in the year named above, which cost 
about $1,200, and is a substantial frame building. The first Trustees were 
Thomas Stone, Allen Knowles, Robert McReynolds and Luther Jenison. The 
congregation at present numbers about one hundred, members, but has been 
much larger. A flourishing Sunday school is maintained. For the early his- 
tory of this venerable Church, our readers are referred to Indian Creek Pre- 
cinct. 

The Baptist Church was built in 1868, and is occupied jointly by the Bap- 
tists and Christians, the latter denomination having no sanctuary of their own. 
The building cost about $2,000 and is a substantial frame. The Baptists have 
no regular pastor at present and their membership is rather small. The 
Christians organized their society in the fall of 1869, and have a membership 
at present of about sixty, under the ministerial charge of Elder D. T. Hughes. 
A union Sunday school of the Baptist and Christian denominations is car- 
ried on, under the superintendence of M. M. Engle, with a regular attendance 
of about forty children. 

The Catholics have an organized Church society, which meets for worship 
in Hatch's Hall, and has been ministered to by Father Sauer, of Petersbug. 
But, as he has very recently resigned the charge at the latter place, the society 
here is without a minister until other provisions are made for their spiritual 
welfare. 

Greenview Lodge No. 653, A. F. & A. M., was organized under dispensa- 
tion May 12, 1870, and chartered at the following session of the Grand Lodge. 
The charter members were F. E. Wilson, W. H. Crites, H. K. Rule, Charles 
Atterberry, W. S. Morse, J. A. Rule, Abner Engle, Jacob Propst, Jr., Fred 
Wilkinson, M. S. Eby, William Houston, D. A. Petrie, Robert Hornback, Jacob 
Killion, John Johnson, F. A. Craig, C. R. Pierce, R. B. Godby, A. H. Whit- 
ney and Hosea Dockum, of whom the following were the first set of officers : ' 
F. E.Wilson, Master; William H. Crites, Senior Warden; H. K. Rule, 
Junior Warden ; Charles Atterberry, Treasurer ; W. S. Morse, Secretary ; John 
A. Rule, Senior Deacon : F. A. Craig, Junior Deacon, and Jacob Propst, Tiler. 
The present officers are : W. H. Williamson, Master ; H. K. Rule, Senior 
Warden ; Edward Johnson, Junior Warden ; Alexander Montgomery, Treas- 
urer ; E. D. Taylor, Secretary ; D. A. Petrie, Senior Deacon ; Samuel Rogers, 
Junior Deacon, and Thomas Robinson, Tiler. The roll contains the names of 
thirty-six members, but has greatly decreased by removals, as at one time the 
lodge numbered over sixty members. The hall is an elegant one for a country 
town, and is handsomely furnished, but the building does not belong to the 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 355 

fraternity. The Odd Fellows had a Lodge here at one time, but from some 
cause it has ceased to exist. 

There was no school taught in the village until after the completion of the 
new schoolhouse in September, 1870. The following winter, Prof. Harris 
taught a school in the new building. Previous to the erection of this building, 
the children of the village patronized the district schoolhouso which stood just 
outside of the corporate limits. There was, we believe, a private or subscrip- 
tion school taught in the village, in a vacant building somewhere, before the 
new building was erected, but of it we could learn nothing definite. The 
elegant brick schoolhouse which adorns the village was completed, as we have 
said, in 1870, and cost about $10,000. It is one of the finest school edifices 
in the county. The corps of teachers for the coming year is as follows, viz. : 
Prof. W. H. Williamson, Principal (his third year in that position); Miss 
Fuller, Intermediate Department, and Miss H. A. May field, Primary Depart- 
ment. The average attendance during the school year is not far short of one 
hundred and twenty pupils. 

Greenview was incorporated as a village, under special act of the Legisla- 
ture, and its charter dated 6th of May, 1869. The first Board of Trustees 
were C. R. Pierce, G. W. Hatch, John Anderson, Fred Wilkerson and A. H. 
Bogardus. This was the Board upon organization under the charter, but as 
far back as March, 1868, the records show regular proceedings of a Board of 
Trustees, which were as follows : C. R. Pierce, J. W. Guyer, John Anderson, 
Fred Wilkerson and A. H. Bogardus, and were sworn in by H. H. Marbold. 
Of the first Board under the charter, C. R. Pierce was President and W. S. 
Morse, Clerk. On the 7th of March, 1877, it was re-incorporated under the 
general law of the State. The following is the present Board of Trustees : T. 
C. Pond, J. D. Alkire, James A. Bracken, J. L. Knoles, P. J. Palmquest and 
M. M. Engle. T. C. Pond is President of the Board; A. P. Blane, Clerk; 
A. A. Fickes, Police Magistrate; H. K. Rule, Treasurer, and George W. 
Chamberlain, Town Marshal. 

It may be an object of interest to some of our readers to know that A. H. 
Bogardus, the champion shot, was once a resident of this little village. For a 
number of years, this was his home, and, as he moved about among the quiet 
citizens of the place, they appeared wholly ignorant of the fact that their town 
contained "more than Caesar and his fortunes." For several years past, news- 
paper writers have made the world familiar with "Captain" Bogardus. 

The village of Greenview is a flourishing place, containing some 500 or 
600 inhabitants, and, considering its proximity to Petersburg on one side and 
Mason City on the other, enjoys quite a large trade. Its business is about as 
follows: Two dry-goods stores with groceries added, one store of groceries 
exclusively, one drug store, one store of hardware and stoves, two blacksmith 
and wagon shops, one harness shop, one shoe shop, two saloons, two carpenter 
shops, one undertaker, one livery stable, one jeweler, one bank, two lumber 



356 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

yards, two physicians, one hotel, one butcher shop and one grain elevator. 
Marbold, Alkire & Co., carry on the banking business in all its details. A 
very handsome public square has been set apart in the center of the village and 
inclosed with a substantial fence. It is well set in trees and grass, and it is 
intended, we learn, to lay it out in walks, plant shrubbery and arrange rustic 
seats. When this is done, it will be a spot of which the citizens of Greenview 
may well feel proud. 

A strange feature in the history of the village is the fact that it has no 
cemetery. Its dead are taken mostly to Petersburg for burial. There are also 
several burying-grounds in the immediate vicinity, where repose many of the 
early dead, and these cemeteries receive additions, now and then, from the vil- 
lage ; but, as we said, most of its dead are taken to the cemetery at Petersburg. 
But the village, in our mind, should have a cemetery of its own. Such a place, 
kept as it should be, adds much to the interest of a town. 

"A prophet is without honor in his own country," has grown into a common 
saying, and often bears upon its face more truth than poetry. In proof of this, 
the little village of Greenview contains a genius, of whose existence its citizens 
seem almost wholly ignorant. We allude to the eminent lecturer, Miss Righter. 
She is a lady of commanding intellect, a lecturer of considerable note, and has 
a reputation in the lecture-field that is rapidly increasing. A graduate in the 
science of phrenology, she used to devote much time to the subject, but recently, 
we learn, has laid it aside, and is now giving her time and talents to the sub- 
jects of metaphysics and of temperance. She is well known in many portions 
of Illinois, Indiana and Iowa as a pleasing and fluent speaker. A feeling of 
pride in home talent should prompt the people of Menard County to highly 
cherish this gifted woman. 



SUGAR GROVE PRECINCT. 

If the garden of Eden was not in Sugar Grove Precinct, then we are 
inclined to believe that there was some mistake as to the place of its location. 
So must have thought the early comers to this land of " corn and wine and 
oil," as they beheld 

" Earth's unnumbered flowers 
All turning up their gentle eyes to heaven ; 
The birds, with bright wings glancing in the sun, 
Filling the air with rainbow miniatures," 

and combining to restore, in all its loveliness, "lost Eden's faded glory." No finer 
section of country should mortal crave than is embodied in this division of Menard 
County. Fine rolling prairie, rich in soil, with here and there a grove of timber, 
scattered over the broad plains like " the islands that slumber in the ocean," is 
no untrue description of Sugar Grove Precinct, and, but for the absence of the 
4 ' apples and fig-leaves," might have been mistaken for the original garden. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 357 

The hand of civilization has been laid upon it to improve, and not to destroy, 
its virgin beauty. It has but improved under the sway of man, as the pro- 
ductive fields and handsome residences abundantly show. The wild prairie 
grass and the myriads of wild flowers have given place to the corn and wheat, and 
to the shrubbery and cultivated flowers of men (or women, rather), and the 
orchards of luscious fruits are to be found on nearly every plantation. And so 
on, ad finem. 

Sugar Grove Precinct lies in the eastern part of Menard County, south of 
Greenview Precinct, east of Indian Creek, north of Athens and west of Logan 
County. By Government Survey, it is located in Townships 18 and 19 north, 
and Ranges 4, 5 and 6 west of the Third Principal Meridian, and contains 
about thirty-five sections of land. Some three-fourths or perhaps four-fifths is 
prairie land, sufficiently rolling to need little artificial draining. The timber is 
principally in what is known as Sugar Grove and Irish Grove ; the latter grove 
being about half in this precinct and the other half in Greenview. Sugar Grove 
Creek is the only water-course and is but a small stream the greater part of the 
year ; but several fine springs are found here, which is a rare occurrence in this 
portion of Illinois. The name Sugar Grove is obtained from the little body of 
timber in the northwest part of the precinct, and in which the sugar-maple 
predominates. Formerly, Greenview was included in this precinct, and was 
called Sweetwater, after the little village by that name, but, being large in extent, 
a division was made about 187172 and Greenview created into a separate pre- 
cinct. The name of this one was then changed to Sugar Grove. No railroads 
mar its soil, but the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad comes so near its 
borders that it serves all the purposes of its people almost as well as if it ran 
through the center of the precinct. The village of Sweetwater is a small place 
in the edge of Sugar Grove timber, and is scarcely large enough to entitle it 
to the name of village. 

THE SETTLEMENT. 

One of the first settlements in Menard County was made in what is now 
Sugar Grove Precinct. In 1819, the same year that the Clarys settled in 
Clary's Grove, James Meadows settled on the eastern side of Sugar Grove tim- 
ber on the place owned by J. Alkire. He came from Ohio, and located first 
in the vicinity of Alton, in 1818, and the next season came to this place. He 
remained here until 1823, when he sold out to Leonard Alkire, and removed 
to the west side of the grove, where he lived until a few years before his death, 
which occurred in the village of Greenview in 1869. This last settlement was 
on the place now owned by H. H. Marbold. a banker of Greenview, and one 
of the prominent men of the neighborhood. Mr. Meadows was a millwright, 
and built a mill on this place, which accommodated the neighbors for a period of 
about eight years. It was of the tread-wheel pattern, and is more particularly 
mentioned in the history of Greenview. There are but two representatives of 
the Meadows family now living, viz., Alexander Meadows, living in the village of 



358 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 



Greenview, and Mrs. 0. P. Bracken. Jacob Boyer came with Meadows, and 
their first night in this region they encamped at a spring on the present farm of 
Milem Alkire, near Sugar Grove Cemetery. The next morning, being struck 
with the beauty of the surroundings, and the abundance of pure water afforded 
by 'the spring, Mr. Boyer remarked, "this is my future home," and proceeded 
at once to stake off his claim. Meadows moved on to the place as noticed above 
(the Jack Alkire place), where he, too, located at a fine spring. Boyer also 
sold out to Leonard Alkire, upon his removal to the country in 1823. A few 
days after the settlement of Meadows and Boyer, the Blanes came to Sugar 
Grove. " There were four brothers, viz., Robert, William, John and George, 
their mother and a sister. They were from the " Gim of the Say," and, 
being the first Irishmen in the neighborhood, Irish Grove, a part of which is 
in this precinct, received its name from them. William died in an early day ; 
John soon returned to Ireland, and remained there some twenty-five years, then 
<;ame back to this settlement. He raised quite a large family, most of whom 
are still living in the county. Robert and the sister removed to Wisconsin, 
leaving George and his mother on the place of their original settlement. This 
place they sold to Leonard Alkire, in 1823, and moved to the opposite side of 
the grove, in what is now Greenview Precinct, where they both finally died. 
The Blanes were well educated, and George, in the early time, held many offices 
of trust and honor. He was an Old-Line Whig, and afterward Republican in 
politics. In 1820, Roland Grant came to Sugar Grove, and brought with him 
a number of sheep, the first of these animals introduced in this section of 
Illinois. He was from )hio here, but originally from Kentucky, and when the 
Alkires came a few years later, sold out to them and removed to Island Grove, 
in Sangamon County. William Grant, a brother, came with him, and also sold 
his claim to Alkire, and moved away with his brother. 

As in the different settlements of Menard County, many of the pioneers of 
Sugar Grove were from Virginia and Kentucky. The following Kentuckians 
came here among the early settlers : Leonard Alkire and family, William Engle, 
Lemuel Oifille, the Hugheses, Westley Whipp, Samuel McNabb, the Pentecosts, 
John and George Stone, a man named Parsons, Matthew Bracken, William 
Douglas, and perhaps a number of others. The Alkires and Engles came from 
Ohio here, but were from Kentucky to the Buckeye State, and originially from 
Virginia to Kentucky. William Engle came in the spring of 1823, raised a 
crop and then went back to Ohio, and brought out the family of Leonard Alkire. 
Mr. Engle was a bachelor at this time, but soon after the arrival of the Alkires, 
he married the daughter of Leonard Alkire. He was a prominent and leading 
man in the community for a period of nearly fifty years ; he died in March, 
1870. He took an active part in organizing the county of Menard, was one of the 
first County Commissioners, represented the county in the Legislature, and was 
the first merchant in the territory now embraced in Sugar Grove, Greenview 
and Indian Creek. Was liberal in his views, an ardent supporter of Christianity, 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 359 

and a zealous advocate of education. As stated, he married a daughter of 
Leonard Alkire, and their first winter was passed in a small cabin near the vil- 
lage. He then built a cabin where his son, John Engle, now lives. His widow, 
is still living on the same place, and is' an active old lady for her years. The 
mother of William Engle (a widow at the time), came to the settlement about 
ten years after her son. She was a genuine pioneer lady, large and stout almost 
as a man, kind and benevolent to all, and a great nurse and friend in cases of 
sickness. William Engle has eight children still living ; one daughter in Lin- 
coln, a son in Decatur and the remainder of the family (including his widow) 
in this county. 

Leonard Alkire, as already stated, was a native Virginian, but emigrated 
to Kentucky, or was taken there by his parents, more properly speaking, when 
very young. Arriving at man's estate, and taking to himself a wife, he removed 
to Ohio, where he resided until his removal to Illinois, in 1823. While a resi- 
dent of Ohio, he followed, to some extent, the buying-up of cattle and driving 
them to Eastern markets ; a business at that day exposed to considerable 
danger. On one of his trips home, after having disposed of his drove, he 
traveled on horseback at the rate of eighty miles a day, carrying the cash, 
mostly in silver, received for his cattle, in his saddle-bags. " In swimming the 
Ohio River," says a local writer, " perched upon his hands and feet on the top 
of his saddle, his sturdy and fleet roadster stemming the rapid current with 
great power and speed, when nearing the opposite shore, suddenly went down ; 
but with a terrible struggle for life finally succeeded in landing his precious 
freight on terra firma, when Mr. Alkire made the discovery that his saddle- 
bags (tilled with silver) had drifted back by force of the current, remained 
suspended by the stirrups, the whole weight resting on the hocks of the noble 
animal and cramping his movements, thus jeopardizing his life as well as the 
life and hard-earned treasure of his master." Hearing frequent stories of the 
beauty and richness of the "Far West," as Illinois was then, he made a trip of 
inspection to this country. Alone and on horseback, he explored this then 
almost unbroken wilderness. His route led him to Sugar Grove. Entering 
it upon the south side, and upon obtaining a favorable view of the surrounding 
country, he stopped his horse and "viewed the landscape o'er." When fully 
comprehending the scene, he shouted out at the top of his voice, " Hurrah for 
old Kentuck, the garden spot of the world.!" He soon came upon the cabin 
of James Meadows, already referred to, and being highly pleased with the sur- 
rounding country, he finally struck a bargain with Mr. Meadows, buying his 
claim. He returned home, sold his farm in Ohio, and the following year 
removed to Illinois, locating in this precinct, where the remainder of his life 
was spent. John Alkire, his father, came a few years later. He had removed 
from Virginia to Kentucky in an early day, during the bloody wars then with 
the Indians, which gave rise to the appellation the State still bears, that of the 
"Dark and Bloody Ground," and, like all the other pioneers of the time, he 



360 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

bore an active part in those wars. He died here, and was buried in what is 
called the Blane Graveyard. Leonard Alkire built the first brick house in the 
then county of Sangamon (now Menard) in 1828, just fifty-one years ago. It 
is still standing, though a more elegant and modern brick has been reared 
upon the farm where this original brick house was erected. Three daughters 
and two sons are still living in this county, a son in Denver and one in Missouri. 
To his son Milem Alkire, we are indebted for much of the early history of this 
precinct, as well as to John Engle and Jesse England. Without their aid, and 
that of Alexander Meadows, our history of Sugar Grove, the early part of it 
at least, would have been rather meager. William Alkire, of Greenview, is a 
brother to Leonard, and is also an old settler of this section. Leonard Alkire 
died in 1877. The following will show the energy and public spirit of the 
man : About 1828-30, he was appointed Road Supervisor of his district, by 
the Sangamon County Commissioners, which was then larger than Menard 
County at the present day, and ordered to open a public road from near the 
mouth of Salt Creek to Havana, on the Illinois River. A serious difficulty to 
travel at the time was the Crane Creek Swamp. He called together all the 
able-bodied men, and proceeded to the place with wagon, tools, provisions, etc., 
and set to work making rails in the forest and hauling them to the swamp. 
Then he would cut down a large quantity of the swamp grass, which grew in 
great abundance and luxuriance. With this he would spread a thick bed on 
which to lay the rails. After laying down the rails he would place long poles 
across the ends of them, which would be secured by driving forked limbs astride 
of them, to prevent the water from floating them off. Then put on more grass, 
covering it finally with two or three inches of sand. He thus built a road over 
the swamp, which lasted many years without repair. 

Lemuel Offille and the Hugheses came among the early settlers and about the 
same time. James Hughes was a Christian preacher, and one of the first of that 
denomination in this part of the country. A son. Daniel T. Hughes, now living 
in the village of Greenview, is also a Christian preacher. James Hughes' family 
moved into Greenview in 1839, he having died several years previously. Hugh 
D. Hughes, his son, was one of the first residents of the village of Sweetwater, 
and one of the builders of the mill at that place, as noticed in the history of 
the village. Offille and the Hugheses came to this settlement from Indiana, but, 
as stated, were originally from Kentucky. One of OflBlle's daughters married 
Hugh D. Hughes. Offille died some years ago, and none of his family, we 
believe, are here now. Westley Whipp came about the time of the " deep snow.'' 
He married a daughter of Leonard Alkire, and died several years ago, and is 
buried in Sugar Grove Cemetery. Two sons are living in Petersburg. Samuel 
McNabb was a brother-in-law of John Jenison and came previous to 1824, and 
has been dead some time. Pentecost and his sons, William, John and George, 
came in 182425. The old gentleman's first name is not remembered ; all of them 
are gone from the neighborhood. John Stone came about the "deep snow," 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 361 

and had several sons, viz., William, James, Stephen, Henry, Boyd and Oliver. 
James lives in Green view Precinct, the others in Sugar Grove. Henry lives on 
the old homestead with his father, who is still living. George Stone, a brother 
to John Stone, was an early settler, but is long since dead. A man named 
Parsons was a brother-in-law to the Stones, and came to the country about the 
s ame time. He had two sons, William and Joseph, the former of which is dead, 
as well as the old gentleman, but Joseph is living, and is the mail-carrier between 
Greenview and Sweetwater. William Douglas was here as early as 1881-32, 
and settled in Irish Grove, and is still living. Matthew Bracken came in 
1824-25, afterward sold out to Nicholas Propst, and removed to Woodford 
County, where he died. A man named McKinney ranks among the old settlers, 
but there could be very little learned in regard to him. He, with several 
others, had been to a horse- race, one day, and on their way home got up a 
little race of their own, when McKinney was thrown from his horse and injured 
to such an extent that he died from the effects soon after. 

Enoch B. Smith came to the settlement in Irish Grove in 1821, and Josiah 
B. Smith, a nephew, came in 1824. The latter was an old Whig, and took an 
active part in politics. Enoch Smith settled in the south end of Irish Grove, 
and a son, Jordan Smith, settled in the same vicinity. Enoch Smith died in 
1841. His sons are also dead, and the entire family, except Mrs. Jesse England, 
who is his daughter. Jesse England also settled in Irish Grove in 1834. 
He married a daughter of Enoch Smith, and is still living on the place where 
he originally settled. His father came from Ohio to Sangamon County in 
1819, and was the first white man who came north of the Sangamon River, 
and his daughter the first white woman. 

John S. Jenison was a native of the Old Bay State, and came to Sugar 
Grove about 1822-23. He sold his claim to Leonard Alkire, and moved into 
the present precinct of Indian Creek. A son, Luther Jenison, now lives near 
the village of Greenview. Joseph and Samuel Powell, two brothers and broth- 
ers-in-law to Leonard Alkire, came about 1825. They were from Ohio here, 
but natives of the Old Dominion. They raised large families, finally died here, 
and their families scattered and moved away, some of them to Fulton County, 
and some to the State of Oregon. Nicholas Propst came from Virginia, and 
settled in Sugar Grove prior to the " deep snow," that epoch from which the 
pioneer dates so many events in his early history. He died here a number of 
years ago, and was an eccentric old gentleman of German descent. A cabinet- 
maker in the neighborhood owed him a debt, and not having the requisite funds 
on hand to cancel the obligation, told Propst that he would make him, anything 
in the furniture line that he might need. Propst said he did not need any- 
thing just then, but that he would some day need a coffin, and, if he chose to 
do so, he might make him one. The cabinet-maker went to work on the coffin, 
and Propst superintended it, and had it made according to his own taste. When 
finished, there was still a small balance due Propst, so he had the man make a 



362 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

long bench to lay him out on when the time came, and he had "shuffled off the 
mortal coil." Being thus far prepared for final dissolution, he went still 
farther, and had a tombstone cut out of a limestone rock, nicely dressed, and 
the single words, "Nicholas Propst," cut in it. When he finally died, this 
stone marked his resting-place in the Sugar Grove graveyard, until the effacing 
hand of time crumbled it to pieces, without other words or letters. After his 
coffin was completed, he got into it to try it i? and, as he said, " to see how it 
would fit." He afterward told Rev. John Alkire that it scared him like h 1 
when he got into it. 

John Wright came some time previous to 1830, and was, it is believed, from 
Ohio, though it is not remembered with certainty. He bought out one Samuel 
Alkire, a cousin to Leonard Alkire, who had settled here about 182425, and 
removed to Indiana after selling out to Wright. After living in Sugar Grove 
several years, Wright sold out and removed to Petersburg, and built the first 
bridge over the Sangamon River at that place. William Gibbs came from Bal- 
timore, but was an Englishman. He bought out Wright when he went to 
Petersburg, as above stated. His oldest son lives in the village of Sweetwater. 
Reuben D. Black came from Ohio, and, after living here "awhile, married a 
daughter of Leonard Alkire. He was a physician, and, at last accounts, was 
living in Missouri. 

1819 1879. 

Sixty years ! But a little space, as reckoned in the six thousand years 
since the creation of the world ; even time itself is only 

" a brief arc, 

Cut from eternity's mysterious orb, 
And cast beneath the skies" 

and yet what a vast record these sixty years have borne with them from the 
world. Revolutions have swept over the earth, as troubled visions sweep over 
the breast of dreaming sorrow. Cities have arisen and flourished for a little sea- 
son, then disappeared, leaving no trace to tell where or when or how they sunk. 
New empires have sprung into existence, gathering in a brief time the strength 
of centuries, and then suddenly sunk from the world forever. The changes and 
mighty events that have occurred in our own country in those years are equally 
astounding. The building of railroads and steamboats, and the invention of the 
telegraph, are but a few of these great events. Sixty years ago, when James 
Meadows erected a cabin in Sugar Grove, he would not have believed that 
to-day would present all the changes and improvements that it has presented, 
" though one had risen from the dead " to proclaim it to him. The wild prai- 
ries, and the timbered groves and dells, inhabited then by Indians, deer, wolves, 
panthers and other savage animals, are now vast fields of waving grain ; and the 
farmers' palatial dwellings are seen now where there were the hunter's cabin and 
the Indian's wigwam. All these changes are difficult of realization by others 
than those who have witnessed them. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 363 

The pioneers of this section had the same difficulties in procuring meal and 
flour as the new-comer had in other localities. Sometimes a trip was made to 
St. Louis for such supplies as flour, salt, and sugar and coffee when the settlers 
could afford such luxuries. James Meadows made more than one trip to that 
city in a canoe via the Sangamon, Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. He built a 
mill also in 1823, which was a great convenience to the people in the Sugar 
Grove end of the precinct. Those in the Irish Grove end used to go to Athens 
to mill, and even to Springfield, until a mill was erected in the village of 
Sweetwater, which will again be referred to. The erection of this mill secured 
to this district the best of facilities for obtaining the "staff of life." Jacob 
Boyer was the first blacksmith, who followed the trade for the benefit of others. 
Leonard Alkire kept a forge for his own benefit, as did Propst and James 
Meadows. Meadows was a wheelwright, but also kept a blacksmith-shop, prin- 
cipally for his own work. Josiah B. Smith was the first Justice of the Peace 
in the Irish Grove end of the precinct. Who was the first in Sugar Grove we 
did not learn. 

James McNabb taught the first school in the limits of the present precinct 
of Sugar Grove in a small log cabin near where Gregory Lukins now lives. He 
is still living, and the cabin in which he taught was erected for school purposes 
the first temple of learning built in the precinct. As his old pupils look back 
to the days when he ruled them with rod of iron they call to mind, no doubt, 
Goldsmith's familiar lines : 

" Beside yon straggling fence that skirts the way, 
With blossomed furze unprofitably gay, 
There, in his noisy mansion, skilled to rule, 
The village master taught his little school ; 
A man severe he was, and stern to view, 
I knew him well, and every truant knew ; 
Well had the boding tremblers learned to trace 
The day's disaster in his morning face ; 
Full well they laughed with counterfeited glee 
At all his jokes, for many a joke had he ; 
Full well the busy whisper circling round 
Conveyed the dismal tidings when he frowned ; 
Yet he was kind, or if severe in aught, 
The love he bore to learning was in fault. 
****** 

Amazed the gazing rustics ranged around ; 
And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew 
That one small head could carry all he knew." 

The precinct has now six schoolhouses, including the one in the village. 
These schoolhouses are commodious and comfortable, and furnished with all the 
modern improvements. Good schools are taught during the usual school term 
by competent teachers, and every facility is offered to the youth of the neigh- 
borhood for obtaining an education. 



364 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

The religious history of Sugar Grove is somewhat complicated, as related to 
us by those who have been close observers of its mission in this region. It will 
be more fully given in connection with the village. Rev. John Alkire and Rev. 
Hughes were two of the early divines of the Christian Church in the precinct; 
also Rev. Abner Peeler, who afterward removed to Woodford County. A 
Christian Church was erected at an early day near where Gregory Lukins now 
lives. It was built of logs with puncheon floor, clapboard roof and a stick 
chimney at each end of the building. This served the double purpose of church 
and schoolhouse until 1838, when a frame building was put up 18x20 feet, and 
alpo used for church and school purposes. About the year 1848, a brick church 
was built on the site of the original house. It was quite an edifice for that day 
and was built upon a stone foundation. After the laying-out of the village of 
Sweetwater, the society moved their quarters, and built a church in the village. 
This building was then remodeled and changed into a dwelling-house. 

William Engle and Elizabeth Alkire were married in 1823 and this was the first 
marriage in the present bounds of Sugar Grove Precinct, or in the eastern part of 
Menard County. The first birth and death are not remembered. But in proof that 
there have been a number of both, we refer the reader to the present population, 
and to Sugar Grove Cemetery. In its quiet shades sleep many of the early 
settlers of the neighborhood, as well as those who were cut down in the bloom 
of youth. It has been incorporated, and is beautifully situated on an elevated 
piece of ground about two miles from the village ; is substantially inclosed and 
well cared for. 

William Engle kept the first store in the precinct, and the first in the east- 
ern part of Menard County, except at Athens. He opened a store on his farm 
(where John Engle now lives) several years before the laying-out of Sweetwater. 
After the village was laid out he moved his store into the corporation, where it 
is again alluded to. In politics, Sugar Grove is pretty evenly divided upon the 
great questions of the day. At one time, Irish Grove, lying partly in this pre- 
cinct and partly in Greenview, gave but one Democratic vote, but the sentiment 
has somewhat changed since then. The precinct taken altogether, is perhaps, 
Republican by a small majority. During the late war, it did its full share in 
furnishing troops to maintain the Union. If it had a draft at all, it was for but 
a very few men, as all calls were promptly filled. Our space will not admit of 
an extended sketch of the precinct's war record, and we pass with the tribute, 
that its soldiers did their duty. 

VILLAGE OF SWEETWATER. 

Sweetwater was laid out by William Engle and the Alkires on Sections 31 
and 32, of Township 19. about the year 1853. It is located in Sugar Grove, 
a beautiful body of timber, some three miles from the village of Greenview. It 
is surrounded by a fine farming community, and has a large trade for so small 
a place. The first store was opened by the Alkires, and about the same time 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 365 

William Engle moved his store from his farm, and opened up in the village. A 
post office was established with William Engle as Postmaster. Just here arises 
the name of Sweetwater. P. M. Harris was the representative of this district 
in Congress at the time, and through him the post office was obtained, and des- 
ignated in the petition Sugar Grove. But it was found that there was already 
a Sugar Grove in the State, and Harris wrote Mr. Engle to select another 
name. After some deliberation with those interested, Sweetwater was decided 
upon as being nearest Sugar Grove the water of the sugar maple being sweet, 
and thus the name of Sweetwater was obtained. The present Postmaster is 
Joseph Schofield. When the office was first established, the mail was received 
on the line from Petersburg to Elkhart, mostly on horseback. It is received now 
from Greenview. Jacob Propst, Jr., was the first blacksmith in the village, and 
Dr. John H. Hughes was the first physician. A mill was built soon after the 
village was laid out, by Deal & Hughes. It is still in operation and doing 
excellent work, though the building shows the ravages of time. The firm name 
of Deal & Hughes has never changed since the mill was first built ; the present 
Hughes, however, being a son of the one concerned in its erection. It is a 
frame edifice, operated by steam, with two run of buhrs, and it is said makes as 
good flour as any mill in the county. The business of the village may be thus 
summarized: Two general stores, including in their stocks dry goods, groceries'^ 
drugs, hardware, etc., etc.; one shoe-shop; one blacksmith and wagon shop; 
one post office; one mill; one schoolhouse; one physician (Dr. Hurst) and two 
churches. 

The schoolhouse was built about 1868 or 1870, is an elegant two-story 
brick, and cost something like $4,500. James Steele taught the first school in 
it. Prof. Ayers has been the teacher for the past two years, and is engaged 
for the coming year. It is conducted as a graded school, and is fully up to the 
average standard of that class of schools. 

If we could write the church history of Sweetwater in the same language 
in which it was told us, it would be highly entertaining, no doubt, to many of 
our readers, at least. But we feel inadequate to the task, and hence we give it 
in our own words. The first church built in village was that of the Christians, 
or New Lights, and is a sort of continuation of the one mentioned in the history of 
the precinct as erected near Gregory Lukins'. It is a spacious brick edifice, 
and cost about $3,500 at the time it was built. There is no regular pastor at 
present, but transient ministers frequently call and preach to the flock who are 
wont to worship within its Walls. The original society underwent several 
changes, as we understand it that is, New Lights, Campbellites and then Apos- 
tles, or Christians. It finally became somewhat stirred up as Adventists, or a part 
of the congregation did, when they sold their interest in the building and 
erected the present frame church, at a cost of about $2,500. When the Advent- 
ists went up, or, more correctly speaking, failed to go up, some got disgusted, 
and, as a result, the church was sold to the Methodists, who worshiped in it for 



366 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

a time, with services held occasionally by the Presbyterians. The Methodists, 
eventually, broke down, and, as our informant expressed it, " all went into the 
mush-pot together." The church was again sold, and this time was bought 
by the Old-School Presbyterians, who still own it and hold regular services, 
though the congregation is composed of several creeds. It was re-organized 
under the Presbyterians by Rev. Mr. Crosier, of Indian Point. A union Sun- 
day school of the two churches is carried on, but the Superintendent's name we 
did not learn. 

This village used to go by the pseudonym of Chloeville, and when we 
inquired of an old gentleman why it was so called, he said it was for an old 
lady who once lived in it, whose first name was Chloe, " and some one, in 
acknowledgment," said he, "of her general cussedness, as a burlesque, called 
the town after her." 



INDIAN CREEK PRECINCT. 

The prairies of the West, though favored with a soil scarcely equaled in the 
world, and possessed of climate and water unsurpassed, yet, apparently, lacking 
in the means of producing warmth, were slow to attract the emigrant ; while 
the eastern portion of the United States, though not so highly favored in these 
respects, was settled two hundred years earlier than those vast Western plains. 
When Illinois began to fill up with the Anglo-Saxon race, we find its first occu- 
pants steering their "prairie schooners" for the groves of timber and the 
streams of water, where they rightly concluded lay, with a productive soil, also 
plenty of fuel and water. It was not until nearly every acre of timber-land 
lying adjacent to water-courses had been " claimed," that people in this section 
of the country turned their attention to the prairies. With the utmost caution, 
they ventured out beyond the protecting shelter of the forest, and, as cabins 
rose up on the broad plains, the croakers, who are ever ready to prophesy evil, 
indulged in all manner of predictions in regard to the fearless pioneers such 
as freezing to death, and being blown away by storms. This was the case in 
this county and in this precinct, as well as elsewhere, and no settlements were 
made beyond the timber, until necessity compelled the increasing population to 
' move on." 

Indian Creek Precinct, the subject of this chapter, is as fine a body of land 
asfto use a familiar expression, "a crow ever flew over." The greater portion 
of it is fine rolling prairie, neither hills nor bluffs, nor low, flat levels, but more 
resembling the swells of the ocean. It is well watered and drained by Salt 
Creek on the north boundary, Sangamon River on the west boundary, Indian 
Creek on the south boundary, and Little Grove and Sugar Grove Creeks flow- 
ing through it, so that it has no lack of water facilities. It is bounded on the 
north by Mason County, on the west by Sandridge Precinct, on the south by 




;.; 




HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 369 

Petersburg and Athens, and on the east by Sugar Grove and Greenview Pre- 
cincts, and lies in Townships 18 and 19 north, Range 6 west of the Third 
Principal Meridian, according to Government survey. No villages or towns 
break the monotony of its vast productive fields at the present day, though 
quite a village / at one time existed in its territory, as noticed in another page. 
The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad runs through from southwest to 
northeast, and, while it is a vast benefit to the precinct as a means of trans- 
portation, yet there is no station within its borders. The shipping point is 
'Greenview, principally, which is but a mile or so from the line. This is the 
smallest precinct in Menard County except Rock Creek, having but about 
twenty-nine sections of land. But while the land of Rock Creek is rather 
inferior in quality, taken altogether, that of Indian Creek is of the best, and 
its farmers, judging from their spacious farms and elegant residences, are among 
the most prosperous in the county. 

SETTLEMENTS OF INDIAN CREEK. 

This precinct was settled mostly from Kentucky, with a few Virginians 
thrown in to perfect the state of society. The following recruits were received 
from the old Blue Grass State : James Short, Solomon Taylor, Robert and 
James Bracken, Andrew Trumbo, John Moore and sons, Robert White, William 
McDougall, Abraham Hornback and sons, Elijah Scott, Francis Rayburn, 
William Brewer and son, Samuel Rogers and son, Alexander Crawford, David 
Onstott, John Pentecost and sons, Michael Killion, William Denton, William 
and James Estill, Coleman Smoot, Hamilton Elliott, Isaiah Low, and, perhaps, 
others. James Short is supposed to have been the first white man to settle in 
the present precincts of Indian Creek. He located here in 1824, and, in 1828, 
removed to Sangamon County. Solomon Taylor came in about 1828. He is 
still living; resides in the village of Greenview, and is, perhaps, the second 
oldest living settler of this precinct. Robert and James Bracken, brothers, 
came in 182627. Robert died here, but his widow is still living on the place 
where her husband settled more than fifty years ago, and is in her eighty-first 
year. She is a sister to Walter Turner, in Athens Precinct. James Bracken 
removed to Missouri. Andrew Trumbo came in 1828-29, and died in the neigh- 

O 

borhood some years ago. Solomon Taylor's wife having also died, Mr. Taylor 
and Mrs. Trumbo were recently married, and though a rather aged couple to 
embark, or, rather, to re-embark on the sea of matrimony, it is said to have 
been an excellent arrangement for both, and that they are living comfortably 
together in Greenview. John Moore and his five stalwart sons, John, Joseph, 
Andrew, Samuel and William, came in 1828. They were a fine family, and 
ranked among the prominent people of the neighborhood. The old gentleman 
and most of the family are dead. William and Joseph, we Relieve, are all that 
are left. The latter lives in De Witt County, and Joseph in this county. 

Robert White came about 1826-27, and was monarch of all he surveyed, from 

K 



370 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

where he located to the mouth of Salt Creek, no family having squatted 
between the two points. He died here many years ago. William McDougall 
came about the same time, and was a son-in-law of White. He died a few 
months ago at the age of seventy-two years. Elijah Scott came about 1825-26. 
He moved away some twenty-five or thirty years ago. Abraham Hornback and 
his sons, John, Jesse and Andrew, came about 1826. The old gentleman is 
long since dead, as well as most of the others, except Andrew, who lives in this 
precinct. Francis Rayburn came in 1828. He finally died in Iowa, to which 
State he removed some time before. William Brewer and his son, John Brewer, 
came about 1827-28. Both died in this precinct. Samuel Rogers and his 
son, Joseph Rogers, came about l2i>. They also died in the precinct. 
Squire Godby relates the following anecdote in which he and Joseph Rogers 
were actors : Rogers was a Captain of the militia, and, as such, used to call 
the "able-bodied citizens" together for the purpose of "muster." At one of 
these periodical musters, Godby failed to put in an appearance, for which 
delinquency, Rogers had him appointed Fourth Corporal in his company. Soon 
after this, Rogers returned to Kentucky, where he remained some time. 
Several other officers died, moved away or resigned, so that Godby, the Fourth 
Corporal of the company, became the senior officer. In this state of affairs, 
the Black Hawk war broke out, and the Governor made his call for troops r 
when this company presented the novel spectacle of being commanded by its 
Fourth Corporal. But, bearing his " blushing honors " with becoming dignity, 
he summoned the company together, called for volunteers, made up the requisite 
number, sent them to the front, and then, Cincinnatus-like, returned to his 
plow. 

Alexander Crawford came in 1827, and died here some twenty-five or thirty 
yeatrs ago. David Onstott came as early as 1825, and erected a mill and dis- 
tillery, which is noticed on another page. He was a character that could not 
be surrounded, as an old gentleman expressed it to us, and as people moved in, 
he gathered together his worldly goods and took up his journey to a far coun- 
try to Arkansas, it is believed. He said he had waded through h 1 to get 
here, and did not propose to be crowded, so he again struck out for the wilder- 
ness when people got too thick around him. Coleman Smoot bought him out in 
this settlement. John Pentecost and three sons, William, Henry and John, 
came in 1827. They were originally from Virginia, but emigrated to Ken- 
tucky in early times, whence they came to Illinois, as above. They are 
all dead or moved away from the precinct. William Denton came in 1830, 
and died here many years ago. Michael Killion came in 1830. He lived in 
the Moore neighborhood, and came from the same section that they came from. 
He died here years ago. When Squire Godby settled here, in 1830, he built 
his cabin on the prairie, about half a mile from the timber, and Killion remarked 

that 'that fool Virginian would freeze to death so far from the timber.' 

William Estill, a brother-in-law of Killion's, came about 1825-26. He is still 






HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 371 

living, and in his eighty-fifth year, quite an active old man, and the oldest liv- 
ing settler in the precinct. James Estill, his brother, was also among the early 
settlers, and died long ago. Hamilton Elliott and two sons, Richard and Had- 
den, came in 1830-31. Richard removed to Fulton County. He is described 
as an enterprising man, speculated considerably, and, as our informant expressed 
it, "would risk his life for a coon-skin." He finally went to California, and 
amassed quite a fortune. Hiram Chapin and Benjamin Day came very early, 
but did not remain long in the settlement. William Day was another of the 
early ones. He was a brother to Benjamin. The latter gentleman had entered 
the ferry on Salt Creek, where the State road from Springfield to Havana 
crossed, and when William came a few years later, he took charge of this place. 
He finally moved to Iowa. Coleman Smoot came about 1831, and bought out 
Onstott. He is dead, and his son, William C. Smoot, lives on the old home- 
stead. The elder Smoot was an enterprising farmer, a prominent man, and 
accumulated a handsome property. His son is also a man of wealth and influ- 
ence in the community. Isaiah Low came in 1831-32, and a few years ago 
moved to Iowa. These settlers, so far as names are given, all came from Ken- 
tucky to Illinois, though some of them, and perhaps a majority, were originally 
from Virginia, as Kentucky was settled principally by Virginians. Squire 
Godby informed us that when he came to the country, he " squatted right in a 
nest of Kentuckians, and as jolly good fellows, too, as ever lived." 

From Virginia, the venerable mother of Presidents, the following additions 
were made to the Indian Creek settlement : Russell Godby, Isaac Snodgrass 
Fielding Ballard, William Sampson, with, probably, a few others. Godby 
came in the spring of 1830, and his first winter here was that of the "deep 
snow," which cast something of a damper (particularly when it began to melt 
off in the spring) upon the feelings with which he had regarded the fine prairies 
of Illinois, as compared to the red hills of " Old Virginny." He was the first 
man in the present precinct of Indian Creek who settled outside of the timber, 
and he did not venture very far from its shelter. He still lives upon the place 
of his original settlement, and is one of the prominent and leading men of the 
neighborhood, and was one of the early Justices of the Peace. Although his 
bodily health is failing, his mental condition appears as strong as if still in the 
noontide of manhood, and we acknowledge our indebtedness to him for many 
facts connected with this precinct and its early settlement. Messrs. Snodgrass 
and Ballard were brothers-in-law to Godby, and came the same year. The 
former gentleman lives now in Salt Creek Township, in Mason County. Bal- 
lard, though originally from Virginia, had emigrated to Indiana, where he 
resided for a few years before coming to this county, and, upon his arrival here, 
bought the claim of Joseph Rogers. He died in this precinct. Sampson came 
to the Indian Creek settlement several years before Godby, Snodgrass and Bal- 
lard, probably about 1826-27. He remained a resident of the precinct until 
his death, which occurred about 1870. Philip Barnett was an Eastern man, 



372 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

and a brother-in-law to Godby. These four gentlemen, viz., Godby, Snodgrass, 
Ballard and Barnett, married sisters. Barnett died a few years ago in Fulton 
County. 

John King came from North Carolina in 1826-27. He was born in 1775, 
and died at the advanced age of one hundred and one years and twenty-nine 
days. A soldier of 1812, and of the Indian wars of the South, under Gen. 
Jackson, he was a firm believer in and a devoted admirer of Old Hickory to the 
end of his life. When he first came to Illinois (1821), he settled in the south- 
ern part of the State, where he resided until his settlement in this section, as 
given above. Before his death, he and Tarlton Lloyd, of Rock Creek Precinct, 
were the only relics left in Menard County of the war of 1812. His death 
leaves Mr. Lloyd like "the last rose of summer, blooming alone." Dedman 
Powers was an early settler, but of him not much could be learned. William 
Duff came in 182728, but where from no one could tell. He is mentioned as 
a " hard old customer," rough, profane, and a poor acquisition to the settle- 
ment, any way. He remained but a few years, and then moved away. John 
Clary came to the settlement very early, and was attending Onstott's mill when 
'Squire Godby came in. He was probably from Tennessee ; has a son still 
living in Menard County, but the old gentleman has been dead several years. 
This brings the settlement of Indian Creek down to a period when the tide of 
immigration poured in with such volume and force as to baffle the historian's 
skill to keep pace with it, and we will not attempt it further, but turn our 
attention to other items in its history. 

EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS. 

f 

One of the first moves made by the pioneer, after securing a claim and 
erecting a cabin to shelter his family, was in the direction of education and 
religious worship. A school was taught in this settlement as early as the sum- 
mer of 1830, in a vacant cabin on the premises of Samuel Rogers. It was 
taught by John Pentecost, who walked a distance of three and a half miles to 
and from the scene of his labors. The next school was by Dr. David Meeker, 
who taught in an old house belonging to Coleman Smoot. The first regular 
schoolhouse built in the present bounds of Indian Creek Precinct was on land 
belonging now to William Smoot, and was of the primitive pioneer schoolhouse 
pattern. It was built about 1833, and Silas Alexander Avas the first pedagogue 
who presided over the young ideas within its classic walls. In this log cabin, 
known as the " Smoot Schoolhouse," many of the youth of the neighborhood 
(now old men) took their first lessons in Webster's spelling-book, and in the art 
of shooting paper wads. The precinct now has five excellent brick schoolhouses 
conveniently located in its territory, in which every child may receive a 
good English education, sufficient to fit him for the ordinary walks of life. 

The first minister who proclaimed the Gospel in this section was the Rev. 
John Berry, a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher from the Rock Creek 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 373 

settlement. He was Pastor of the New Lebanon Church, near the line of the pre- 
cinct, which was one of the first places of worship of the people of this settlement. 
In 1843, a society of this denomination was organized at New Market, avillage 
now extinct, but at one time entertaining rather lofty pretensions. This soci- 
ety was organized by Revs. J. R. Torrence and A. II. Goodpasture, with the 
latter preacher as its first spiritual, director. It was known as the "New 
Market Congregation" for a period of five years, and increased during the 
time from a membership of thirty to seventy communicants. It was then 
moved to the Knowles Schoolhouse, and from that time until its removal to 
the village of Greenview, about 1858-60, was known as the " Bethel Con- 
gregation." The remainder of its history is given in the chapter devoted 
to Greenview. A society of Baptists was organized in the precinct before 
the Cumberland Presbyterian organization, above described, by the Rev. John 
Antle, who was the first divine of that denomination in this section. It was 
originally held in a schoolhouse, but, like the Presbyterians, removed to 
Gpeenview upon the laying-out of that village. These are all the church 
organizations of Indian Creek Precinct. Although there are no church edi- 
fices within its borders, there are a number scattered around it in other and 
adjoining precincts. 

The first mill in this immediate vicinity was built by David Onstott, 
away back in the twenties, but just what time we could not learn. Squire 
Godby says it was in full blast when he came to the settlement in the spring 
of 1830, and had a small copper still attached, such, perhaps, as are used 
by the "moonshiners" of the present day in Tennessee and North Carolina. 
It was a small affair, and worked up the superfluous corn into spiritus fru- 
menti, which was consumed by the pioneers nearly as fast as it was made, 
as an antidote (!) for snake-bites. The mill was propelled by horse-power, 
and served the purpose of making hominy and meal for the neighborhood. 
This, we believe, is the extent of the mill business in this precinct. Since 
the burning of the Greenview mills, most of the people of this community 
patronize the mills of Petersburg. 

The first birth and marriage are forgotten, but as eyery thing must have a 
beginning, these had a beginning in Indian Creek Precinct, as the present 
population will go to show. The first death is supposed to have been the 
mother of Fielding Ballard, who came to the settlement in 1830. He brought 
his mother with him, who was quite aged, and who died the next year. The 
first physician in the settlement was a Dr. Walker, but he did not remain very 
long. Whence he came or whither he went, we did not learn. Dr. David 
Meeker was the next doctor, and combined school teaching with the practice 
of medicine. In those days, people did not send for a doctor on all occasions, 
as they do now ; consequently had less sickness no offense to the medical fra- 
ternity intended and fewer doctors' bills to pay. The first blacksmith-shop 
in the neighborhood was opened in the now extinct village of New Market by 



374 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

two men named George Saunders and William F. Rogers. Coleman Smoot 
was the first Justice of the Peace, and Russell Godby the second in the pre- 
cinct. The name of Indian Creek was obtained from the creek flowing along 
the southwest boundary, and emptying into the Sangamon River at the corner 
of this precinct, Sandridge and Petersburg. The name was applied to the 
creek in memory of some of the tribes of Indians that once occupied the 
country. 

Politically, Indian Creek Precinct is Democratic. During the late war, it 
was patriotic, as all other portions of Menard County, and turned out a large 
number of soldiers shoulder-straps as well as muskets. Company K, of the 
One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, was raised principally in this 
precinct. The Captain of the company was Samuel Estill; Lucian Terhune, 
First Lieutenant, and Henry Roggy, Second Lieutenant. Company F, of the 
Twenty-eighth Regiment of Illinois Infantry, also drew a few men from this 
precinct. William J. Estill, of Petersburg, a brother of Capt. Estill of Com- 
pany K, mentioned above, was Captain of a company, and was wounded on 
the second day's fight at Pittsburg ; Landing, and came home, leaving the com- 
mand of the company to Isaac Estill, the First Lieutenant, also a brother. 
The latter was killed in the battle of Hatchie, Tennessee. Capt. Estill's wound 
not permitting his return to the army, he finally resigned, and a gentleman 
from Athens Precinct became Captain of the company. 

THE VILLAGE OF NEW MARKET. 

i Doubtless many of our readers are ignorant of the fact that a village bear- 
ing the above name once existed in their midst. It not only did exist, but 
even aspired, we are told, to the dignity of becoming the seat of government 
for the State of Illinois, as well as the capital of Menard County. It was laid 
out by Dr. Ballard and a man named Speer. Ballard put up a large two-story 
building, intended for a tavern ; but the glory of the new town waned so soon 
that it was never needed or used for the purpose. A store was opened by one 
Clarke, who afterward sold out to Ballard & Speer. A blacksmith-shop was 
opened, as before noted, by George Saunders and William F. Rogers, and the 
place presented quite as much the appearance of a town as did Petersburg at 
the time the county seat was located there. In establishing the county seat, it 
was " entered for the race" against the latter place for that dignified position, 
and it is even stated that it was a competitor with Springfield for the State 
capital. This may be a joke, but we give it as we heard it. If true, it played 
for a high stake, and lost. With the location of the seat of justice at Peters- 
burg, it faded away into nothingness. It became a village of the dead rather 
than of the living ; "a grave for ambition an antidote for pride." The ruins 
of Baalbec are in many respects a mystery ; Palmyra, at least in vastness, sur- 
passes even Baalbec ; Athens, Rome, Jerusalem, and other scenes of decay, 
appeal to our pity and touch our hearts ; but for New Market, the " mighty city 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 375 

of lofty aspirations," we can only, like the Hebrew captives of old, "hang our 
harps upon the willows" and weep. It owed its origin to a rather wild ambi- 
tion, and waned to its extinction when fate decided adversely to its hopes and 

Wishes. ( , gweet 8m in n g village, loveliest of the lawn, 

Thy sports are fled, and all thy charms withdrawn ; 

Amidst thy bowers the tyrant's hand is seen, 

And desolation saddens all thy green ; 

One only master grasps the whole domain, 

And half a tillage stints thy smiling plain ; 

No more thy glassy brook reflects the day, 

But, choked with sedges, works its weedy way ; 

Along thy glades, a solitary guest 

The hollow-sounding bittern guards its nest ; 

Amidst thy desert-walks the lapwing flies, 

And tires their echoes with unvaried cries. 

Sunk are thy bowers in shapeless ruin all, 

And the long grass o'ertops the moldering wall, 

And trembling,"shrinking from the spoiler's hand, 

Far, far away thy children leave the land." 

Finally, when the fact was ascertained beyond any shadow of doubt that 
it was " born to blush unseen, and waste its sweetness upon the desert air," it 
was vacated, by legislative enactment, and nothing now remains to point out 
the spot where once it stood. Its original site is a productive farm. 



SANDRIDGE PRECINCT. 

This division of the county lies in the extreme northwest corner and com- 
prises within its limits a little more than fifty-four sections, or a township and 
one-half. It is designated Congressionally as Township 19 north, Ranges 7 
and 8 west of the Third Principal Meridian. It is bounded on the north and 
east by the Sangamon River, south by Petersburg Precinct, and west by Cass 
County. Originally, its surface was about equally divided between woodland 
and prairie. The timber was of a fine quality and, untouched as yet by the 
woodman's ax, was heavier than the third or fourth growth of our day. Much 
of its surface is sufficiently elevated and rolling to obviate the necessity of 
artificial drainage. Small portions contiguous to the Sangamon on the east 
and north are subject to overflow, but afford excellent pasturage. Concord 
Creek on the east, Clary's and Little Grove on the southwest, tributaries of the 
Sangamon, afford outlets for the surface waters of a large area. The Spring- 
field & North- Western Railroad crosses the precinct in a general northwestern 
direction. The Jacksonville branch of the C., A. & St. L. R. R. touches the 
southeastern boundary of the precinct. The villages of Oakford and Atter- 
berry, whose history will be given at the close of this chapter, are stations on 
the first-mentioned road. A belt of woodland extending in a general north- 
eastern direction, elevated considerably above the adjacent prairie, and with 
quite a sandy soil, gives to the precinct the name which it bears. 



376 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

Few, indeed, in the county antedate the first settlements made within the 
limits of this precinct. An apparent mist of doubt appears to gather about 
the answer to the question, " Who was the first settler in Sandridge ? " Jesse 
Armstrong, William Sampson and Royal Potter were the first to make perma- 
nent settlements, but just which of these three pioneers was first on the ground 
is a matter not very readily determined. All were in the precinct in 1819. If 
there be a preponderance of evidence in favor of either, it points more clearly 
to Armstrong than either of the others, and, for this reason, we are inclined to 
confer upon him the honor of making the first improvement. Armstrong was 
from Tennessee, and laid a claim in the southeastern part of this section on 
land now owned and occupied by Grady Rutledge. After a few years, he 
moved to Arkansas, and thence to Texas, where, some years later, he 
died. William Sampson was from Kentucky, and made an improvement not 
far from where John A. Clary now lives. He kept bachelor's hall for a time, 
but was married as early as 1821-22, to Hannah Schmick. After living and 
making improvements at various points in Sandridge, he finally crossed the 
Sangamon and settled in Greenview Precinct, where he died. Some of his 
immediate family are still citizens of this section. Potter was from Tennessee 
or Kentucky, and made an improvement on land now owned by Henry B. 
Shipley. This he afterward sold to Sampson and he to Reason Shipley. 
George and Jesse Miller were here not later than 1820, and established them- 
selves in the northeast corner of the precinct. They kept the ferry across the 
river known to this day as Miller's Ferry. The town of Huron, the history 
of which is given in the general history of Mason County, was located at this 
point. Bannister Bond came from Tennessee and made an improvement on 
what is known as the Dolman place, in 1821. Here he lived but a short time, 
and next located in Clary's Grove. He finally moved to Iowa, and, at last 
accounts, was living. If still an inhabitant of terra firma, he is not far from 
his centennial birthday. He was a man of powerful muscular development 
and great physical endurance. He would cut his timber and manufacture rails 
by day and then carry them upon his shoulders and make them into a fence by 
night. George Kirby and William Watkins became citizens the same year. 
Kirby came from Madison County. His father, Cyrus Kirbj, was a native of 
Kentucky, and came to this State in 1811. The first settlement of the family 
was at Clary's Grove. The exact year of removal to Sandridge we have not 
been able to ascertain. Watkins, who by way of distinction is known as 
"Fiddler Bill," acquired his citizenship by birth, and is the oldest living 
native-born citizen- of Menard County. His finely improved farm and the 
large accumulation of this world's goods by which he is surrounded, afford 
abundant evidence that life with him has been a grand success. George Hud- 
speth, from Monroe County, Ala., came in 1823, and though now quite feeble, 



HISTORY OF MKNARD COUNTY. 377 

is still an honored and highly esteemed citizen of the precinct. Elias Hohi- 
raer, Reasdn Shipley, Jacob Short and his sons Obadiah, James and Harrison, 
were added to the settlement during 1824. Hohimer and Shipley were from th& 
" dark and bloody ground," and became permanent settlers of this section from 
the time of their first arrival. Short and sons were from Madison County, and 
settled in Petersburg Precinct, whence they came to this section. The 
elder Short died the year following his removal to this section. Of his sons, 
Obadiah died at Nauvoo, James in Iowa, and Harrison here. Jacob Short, as 
were a number of the other early pioneers of this part, was a ranger in the 
war of 1812, and did good work in the service of his country. The year 
1825 brought in a large number of settlers. John Clary, who had settled at 
Clary's Grove in 1819 with his sons, John A. and Hugh, still citizens of the 
precinct, came in at this date. William Armstrong and his brother Pleasant, 
Isaac Colson, William and James Rutledge, John Cameron, Charles Revis 
and his sons Isham and Alexander, Absalom Mounts and his son James, Rob- 
ert Davis, and doubtless some others, were here before the close of 1825. The 
Armstrongs were from Kentucky, and had settled prior to coming to Sand- 
ridge on Indian Creek. Pleasant, who maintained a state of celibacy, died 
here a number of years ago. William moved to Fulton County, and is still 
living. Colson was from Maine, and settled in the northwest corner of the 
precinct. The Rutledges and Cameron were originally from South Carolina, 
but they lived some time in White County before coming here. Cameron was 
a brother-in-law to William Rutledge, and, with them, settled in the southeast- 
ern part of this section. They remained citizens till removed by death, and 
many of their descendants are yet to be found here. The Revises were from 
Tennessee. Alexander became an early citizen of Crane Creek Township, 
Mason County. Absalom Mounts, whose name has become inseparably con- 
nected with pioneer milling in Menard and Mason Counties, came into the pre- 
cinct during the year. He finally moved to Arkansas, where he engaged in 
his favorite pursuit, and, during the late civil war, lost his life at the hands of 
federal soldiers. James Pantier and his son David M., came in the winter of 
1826. The elder Pantier was a native of Kentucky, and was the second male 
white child born in the State, his father having accompanied Daniel Boone in 
his earliest adventures in hunting and warring with the savage red-skins on the 
"dark and bloody ground." He settled near the site of old Concord Church, 
purchasing a claim of William Armstrong. Here he continued to reside till 
near the close of his earthly career, when he made his home with his son. He 
died in 1859, and, with many of the other pioneer settlers, lies buried in the 
cemetery, on land owned by W. Goodpasture. Among the arrivals of 1827, 
we note the names of Thomas Dowell, John and James Yardley, Solomon Nor- 
ris, James Runnels, George Bowman and John Braham. Dowell was from 
the South, and settled on the Sangamon bottom not far from where the village 
of Oakford now stands. The Yardleys and Norris soon crossed into Mason 



378 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

County, and a notice of their early settlement is found in the history of Crane 
Creek Township. James Hudspeth, Mathias Young and John B. Colson were 
here prior to the "deep snow." Hudspeth and Young may possibly have 
come as early as 1827, but Colson did not locate prior to 1829. The fall and 
winter succeeding the " deep snow," quite a large settlement was made in and 
around the site of the present town of Oakford. Julius Simmons, Legrande 
Winton, Amos Ogden, Isaac White, William Edwards, Alvin Smith, Matthew 
Lownsberry and sons Jonathan and Matthew, Jacob and Lee Brown were 
among the arrivals. Nearly all the early settlers before mentioned were from 
the South. These, however, were from the Northern and Eastern States, and 
the settlement made by them was termed "Yankee Settlement," by way of 
distinction. They were a thrifty, industrious and energetic class of citizens, 
and many of them acquired a competency for themselves and family. Most of 
them have followed the beckoning hand across the "dark waters," while a few 
yet linger on the shores of time. During the two decades immediately suc- 
ceeding the first settlements, many were scattered here and there throughout 
the length and breadth of the precinct ; some became permanent fixtures, 
while others improved a small claim, sold out at first offer, and moved farther 
out on the borders of civilization. As was the invariable custom, the first set- 
tlers reared their cabins in and near the timber. The rich prairie lands out of 
which farms could be made in a day, were left for those coming at a later date. 
Passing down through the years, we find the list already given increased by 
the names of William B. Cloe, Samuel Lownsberry, Isaac Ogden, Hayden 
Thomas, John Waldridge, John Kirby, Milton'G. Combs, James Altig, George 
R. Watkins, J. L. Short, James Potter and E. C. Stith. These were all 
here prior to 1840, and many of them settled in the prairie. Many of these 
yet remain citizens of the precinct, and some on the very farms on which they 
began life's battle forty-odd years ago. Passing now from the early settle- 
ments, we come to notice some of the inconveniences and disadvantages with 
which the pioneer was forced to contend. 

Some one has asserted that the pioneer settlers of almost every section have 
been men of a roving disposition, given largely to hunting, fishing, and such like 
amusements, with strong aversions to agricultural pursuits. While many an old 
pioneer refers with a just pride to the gala days of yore, when all was " fun and 
frolic," when hunting and trapping was his daily occupation, we must not for- 
get that the comfort and welfare of the family depended largely upon the skill 
and prowess of the huntsman. Most of the pioneers of every section are men 
of limited means, and, in opening up their farms, underwent many hardships. 
It is related of Mr. Kirby that he planted his first crop of cereals by digging 
up the ground with a common mattock. The " wooden mold-board plow " 
which merely rooted up the surface was a luxury at that period that was not 
within the reach of many. Farming, in those days, we are assured, was 
comparatively a slavish occupation, and when we take into consideration the 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 379 

indifferent implements with which they were compelled to labor, we can pardon 
much of the evident aversion of the hardy pioneers to farm labor. Reaping 
wheat with a sickle, threshing it with a flail, or tramping it out with horses, win- 
nowing it with a sheet, and grinding it in a hand-mill, or, in the case of corn, 
beating it in a mortar, were not operations in and of themselves that were cal- 
culated to impress the early farmers with a fondness for agricultural pursuits. 
In those early days the women dressed almost exclusively in home-made woolens, 
cottons and linens of their own manufacture, and wore moccasins (when they 
wore anything) on their feet. Men wore leather shoes considerably, with pants 
of buckskin, and generally a hunting shirt. Dandies affected a blanket coat 
and a fox-skin cap, with the tail turned up over the top. We mention these 
incidents that the youth who con over these pages may understand something of 
the habits, customs and inconveniences to which the first settlers were subjected, 
and that those who read may, by comparison, more fully appreciate the grand 
strides that have been made in our civilization within the last half-century. 
While the senior members of our population, against whom we jostle in our 
daily walks, are, for the most part, unskilled in "book larnin," they have 
a fund of wisdom gathered from experience and observation which would 
do credit to the head and heart of many a book-worm of the present day. They 
were scrupulously honest, and had not learned the " tricks of the trade." 
When the Rev. Thomas Plasters was called upon to recommend a horse which 
his son-in-law had for sale, he said to the would-be purchaser, " The horse has 
two pints about him that well nigh spiles him in my estimation. The 
first is, he is very hard to ketch, and secondly, when you have ketched 
him he is of no earthly account." It is needless to add that this brilliant 
recommendation, coming as it did from the reverend old gentleman, completely 
put an end to the trade. 

EARLY MILLING, BLACKSMITHING. ETC. 

Primarily, the hominy mortar was the instrument used for the production of 
breadstuff. When wheat began to be raised, a trip, occupying two weeks, to 
Madison County for grinding, was no uncommon thing among the early settlers, 
and at a point on the Sangamon, near Springfield, was for a number of. years 
their nearest mill. Early blacksmithing was obtained at Springfield. If an ox- 
ring was needed, or a log-chain was to be mended, it necessitated a pilgrimage 
to the present capital. After the founding of Salem, many of these incon- 
veniences became things of the past. Money, as a medium of barter and 
exchange, was but little used by the early settlers. Indeed, as was remarked 
by one of the pioneers, it was " truck for truck," even to the paying of the 
the minister for his labors. All the money they needed was the small amount 
necessary to meet the demands of the Government in the way of taxes, and 
this required but a nominal sum. One old settler informed us that on the same 
quarter-section on which in recent years he has paid $75 in taxes, in those 



380 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

early days $1.75 was amply sufficient to satisfy all demands. In the matter of 
church organization, the Cumberland Presbyterians were the first in the field. 
Their first church was organized in 1826, and for some time services were held, 
as was the custom, at private houses and in the groves. Old Concord Church, 
on the creek of the same name in the southeastern part of the precinct, was 
erected about the year 1830. It was a. substantial frame building and served 
the congregation a,s a house of worship for about thirty years. John M. Berry 
was the early Pastor of the flock. James Pantier and wife, William and 
James Rutledge and wives, Samuel Berry and wife were the original members. 
Jesse Armstrong was the first received into membership. The denomination 
has prospered remarkably and has a large membership throughout the county. 
The present church edifice was built about 1862-63, and is a model of neatness 
for a country church. The Baptist society effected an organization in the pre- 
cinct as early as 1833. Revs. Thomas Plasters and John Antle were among 
the early Baptist ministers of this section. Their first church was doubtless 
erected near the site of Robinson's Mill, but the date of its building we were 
not able to ascertain. New Hope Church, built on the northwest corner of 
Section 16, was the result of the united efforts of the Cumberland Presbyterians 
and Baptists, who occupy it alternately for public services. The building is 
a neat frame and was erected about 186162. A German church has recently 
been built on the southeast quarter of Section 10, but of these last we were 
able to obtain but very meager statistics. Robinson's Mill was built on 
Clary's Creek, not far below the confluence of Little Grove Creek and the first- 
mentioned stream. It was a water-mill and did work for a large scope of terri- 
tory. Though the exact time of its establishment cannot be given, it is safe to 
say that it was not far from 1840. A town site was surveyed and platted, but, 
from some hindrances, failed to develop into much of a village, and is now num- 
bered with the dead. The only post office ever established in the precinct out- 
side of the ones now found in Oakford and Atterberry was at this point 
about the year 1844-45. Over this, John Bonnet presided as Postmaster. 
The place is now deserted ; no mark or vestige of its former greatness remains. 
The mill has long since been abandoned, and the merchants and mechanics of 
" Bobtown " have given her over to the moles and bats. 

Dr. John Allen was the first practicing physician in this section. He 
came from the Green Mountain State and located in Salem at an early day. 
He was thoroughly qualified and became eminent in his profession. Dr. Dun- 
can was also early in the field, and, like Allen, was a resident of Salem. He 
afterward moved to Warsaw. He is spoken of as being a well-read and suc- 
cessful practitioner. Early mail matter was received at Springfield, when the 
settler was fortunate enough to be able to lift the billet-doux, or a line from 
the loved ones at home, from the office, for this luxury cost the sum of 25 
cents, an amount of. cash not at all times readily obtained. Among those 
clothed with legal authority in an early day, we may record the names of 



HISTORY OF MENARU COUNTY. 381 

Samuel Berry and Robert Armstrong as the first Justices of the Peace. William 
Armstrong was, perhaps, the first to serve in this capacity after the present 
precinct organization was effected. S. D. Masters was also quite an early 
Justice, and, in 1855, was chosen a member of the Legislature. It was dur- 
ing this session that Abraham Lincoln first figured prominently as a candidate 
for a seat in the United States Senate. The history of this precinct has, as 
regards its early settlement, been so intimately connected with other portions 
of the county that should the date given as to the coming of some of its citi- 
zens fall wide of the mark, we can only offer in palliation of the offense, that 
we have closely adhered to the testimony of the oldest and best-posted citizens 
now living within her borders, guided, also, by an earnest desire to present the 
record in as perfect and complete a manner as possible. 

VILLAGE OF OAKFORD. 

This is a small village on the S. & N.-W. R. R., and was surveyed and 
platted by A. J. Kelly, County Surveyor, for the proprietors, William Oakford 
and William Colson, in March, 1872. The town plat contains sixty acres and 
is in the midst of a fine agricultural district. The land on which the town is 
situated belonged to Colson, and Oakford acquired a half-interest for his 
influence in securing a station. A public sale of lots was made April 11, 

1872, at which time some $2,000 worth were disposed of, and soon after 
improvements began to be made. The first building or shanty on the town 
site was what was known as the railroad store, a kind of portable affair carry- 
ing chiefly in stock a supply for the railroad hands. Soon after the village was 
laid out, William Oakford built a storeroom and opened out a stock of grocer- 
ies. In the summer of 1872, a general store was opened by Calvin Atterberry, 
who had been in business at "Bobtown." This was purchased in 1873, by 
Isaac Ogden and A. G. Colson. In January, 1874, L. W. Roberts bought out 
Colson, and the firm became that of Ogden & Roberts. In October, 1875, they 
sold out to Sutton Bros., who operated the store three years and then sold to 
S. L. Watkins & Bro., who have since conducted the business. In June, 

1873, H. A. Bennett, from Petersburg, opened out a stock of drugs and shelf 
goods in the old railroad storeroom. This he soon after sold to William Col- 
son, and he in turn to A. G. Colson and J. H. Green. In January, 1876, S. 
L. Watkins, the present proprietor, bought the establishment. In the spring 
of 1875, Dr. J. D. Whitney and W. C. Roberts erected a building and opened 
a drug store. T. P. Renshaw & Co. began the operation of a branch store 
with a general stock in August, 1878. They occupy the room erected by 
Watkins & Colson, and formerly occupied by Moon & Gault, of Petersburg. 
Their main store is located at Chandlerville, Cass County. Oliver J. Moltby and 
J. W. Walker started a harness-shop in 1876. This branch of business is at 
present operated by Berget Guist, from Virginia, Cass County. A confection- 
ery and restaurant is operated semi-occasionally by C. P. Stith. James S. 



382 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

Carter, from Petersburg, opened a furniture store here in 1877, but did not 
continue the business long. Dr. J. D. Whitney and Charles Meyers built the 
first dwellings in the village in the summer of 1872. Meyers had formerly 
kept a doggery at Robinson's Mills and supplied the villagers and surrounding 
inhabitants of the infant Oakford with fire-water for the space of two years. 
James P. Thomas, familiarly known as "Porky Thomas," now issues out 
rations to the "boys" in the way of "smiles." James S. Carter, after closing 
out his furniture store, opened a saloon and still operates it. Gilbert Skaggs, 
now editor of the Chandlerville Independent, built the first blacksmith-shop in 
the village. This was purchased by James McElhern, who came from Canada, 
and was the first blacksmith in the place. L. W. Roberts, Isaac Ogden, 
William Jackson, A. G. Colson, Henry Garter, James McElhern, and perhaps 
others, built dwellings in the summer of 1874, and for a time the village 
seemed to be well out on the highway to prosperity. But as the storm is ever 
succeeded by the calm, so the spirit of improvement gradually subsided and 
the village has pretty much since remained in statu quo. The first practitioner 
to locate in the village was Dr. J. D. Whitney, who has recently taken up his 
residence in Petersburg. Jacob A. Bolinger, M. D., is the present resident 
physician. He has but recently located here and is a young man of much 
promise in his profession. He is an alumnus of Missouri Medical College. 
Rev. John Kennedy, a minister of the Baptist persuasion, preached here in 
quite an early period of the village history. No schoolhouse or church build- 
ing has ever been erected in the village limits. Services are held occasionally 
by the different denominations of the vicinity, in the hall orer the storeroom 
of Renshaw & Co. The mortality among the children of the village and 
neighborhood in the summer of 1873, was very great. Five interments some- 
times occurred in a single day at the Oakford Cemetery. The first death 
among the adult population, was that of Horace Purdy, whose decease occurred 
in the winter of 1872. His wife also died a few weeks later. The first birth 
was that of a son of John Whitley, born in September, 1872. The marriage 
of A. G. Colson and Rachel Skaggs, in November, 1872, and that of L. W. 
Roberts and Carrie C. Ogden, in March, 1873, were the ^ first weddings that 
occurred in the village. The post office was established soon after the village 
was started. It is at present presided over by S. L. Watkins. Low & Foster 
built a small elevator in 1877, and handle the grain shipped from this point. 
A case of justifiable homicide occurred in the village during the summer of 
1876. James McElhern, who has already been mentioned as the first black- 
smith, lost his life at the hands of one A. J. McDonald. McElhern was a 
man of great physical strength and of rather a quarrelsome disposition, espe- 
cially when under the influence of intoxicants. It was clearly proven at the 
preliminary examination that McDonald was making every effort possible to 
avoid an encounter, but finding every avenue of escape cut off, suddenly turned 
upon him and delivered a pistol shot which proved fatal. The grand jury 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 383 

failed to find a bill of indictment and so the matter ended. The business interests 
of the village to-day are represented as follows : Two general stores, one drug 
store, one harness-shop, one boot and shoe shop, one barber-shop, one flour and 
feed store, one butcher-shop, two saloons and one grain elevator. The popula- 
tion of the village does not exceed two hundred. 

Atterberry, a station on the S. & N.-W. Railroad, midway between Peters- 
burg and Oakford, was laid out by Daniel Atterberry, in March, 1872. By 
birth, it is one day younger than Oakford. An acre of ground was donated to 
the road for depot purposes. The town site is in the midst of a rich farming 
community, but from some cause the growth of the village has failed thus far 
to meet the expectations of its founder. Not to exceed half a dozen dwellings 
mark the spot to-day. A post office, which is a mere neighborhood conven- 
ience, is presided over by Mr. Colburn, the gentlemanly agent of the S.& N. 
W. R. R. at this point. As a point from which to ship grain and live stock, 
it pays the railroad to keep a station here. Few points on the road show a 
larger shipment of live stock, and the grain trade is rapidly increasing. There 
is some talk of erecting a steam elevator and mill combined at the town, and 
should this be made an accomplished fact, no doubt a spirit of enterprise and 
improvement would spring up in the village. 



ROCK CREEK PRECINCT. 

" Time writes no wrinkles upon the brow of Old Ocean, as upon those of 
the fading race of men." With some degree of truth, the same might be said 
of Rock Creek Precinct. The last fifty years have produced far less change in 
it than in many other portions of Menard County. The "storms and sunshine " 
of more than three-score years have " flung their light and shade " over its hills 
and vales since the first people (whom God made white) laid their claims in ita 
sheltering timber. Numbers of those log cabins may yet be found upon the 
summit of the little hills, or nestled away in the valleys and dells, as if hiding 
from the storms. The log cabins and the old-style rail fences do not show the 
advance in the " fine arts " displayed by some of Rock Creek's sister precincts, 
but still bear many of the traces of pioneer times. Much of the land, too, in 
quality falls below the average standard of the land in the county. There are 
some very fine spots, however, and upon these may be found the flourishing, 
well-to-do farmers of the precinct. 

Rock Creek is the smallest division of Menard County, and, taken as a 
whole, is, perhaps, one of the poorest in worldly wealth. The larger portion 
of it is timber, and much of it rough and broken in surface. The heaviest tim- 
ber is, perhaps, along Rock Creek, which meanders through it, bearing a little 
to the northeast after passing the center of the precinct, and emptying into the 
Sangamon River through Section 4. Timber borders the Sangamon Riveiv 



384 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

which forms the boundary line between this and Athens Precinct with numer- 
ous little groves besides, leaving but little prairie land. Geographically, Rock 
Creek Precinct lies south of Petersburg Precinct, east of Tallula, north of San- 
gamon County and west of Athens Precinct. Its only water-courses are Rock 
Creek and branches, and the Sangamon River flowing along its eastern bound- 
ary, as noted above. According to Government survey, it is pretty equally 
divided in Ranges 6 and 7 of Township 17 north, and contains but about 
twenty-three full sections of land. It has no cities or towns, neither has the 
snort of the iron horse ever echoed through its forests, disturbing the cattle 
grazing upon its "thousand hills." It is decidedly a rural district, devoted 
wholly to agricultural pursuits and home industries. In early times, it received 
the soubriquet of " Wolf County," but just why the name was .given we could 
not learn. Whether it was owing to the fact that wolves abounded among its 
hills and brakes, or from some other fancied resemblance to something or some- 
body, we leave it to our readers to find out, and will now turn our attention to 

ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

The first cabin erected in what now forms Rock Creek Precinct, is said to have 
been built by a man named Amor Batterton. In 1819, the year after Illinois 
became a State, he settled in this precinct on the place now owned by Jonas 
Combs. He had, it is stated, made a claim and built a cabin the previous 
autumn, but did not permanently locate until during the early part of 1819. 
He came from Kentucky, raised quite a large family, and has descendants still 
residing in the precinct. The same year that Batterton settled here, a man 
named Ratliff and four sons James, Job, William and Joshua James Fisher 
and George Gamerel settled in the timber along the Creek. Jacob Miller 
settled at what is called Farmer's Point in 1819. Solomon Keltner and William 
Stephenson came also in 1819-20, and made settlements in this neighborhood. 
Rev. James Simms and his son-in-law, James Black, also came in 1819-20. 
They were from Kentucky, and of Mr. Simms we learned the following, which 
we give for what it is worth without vouching for its correctness : " That he 
was a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, a great revivalist and leader at camp- 
meetings. He established a " camp-ground" soon after he came to the neigh- 
borhood, which, for many years, was the scene of an annual camp-meeting, and 
that some of the old remains are still to be seen on the sacred spot." Mr. 
Simms seems to have taken an active part in temporal as well as spiritual affairs, 
as we are told he was the first. Representative in the Legislature from Sangamon 
County. At the early period of which we write, Sangamon included in its 
territory not only Menard but several other of the surrounding counties. He 
finally moved West, but to what point we did not learn. Absalom Matthews 
came also this year. Little, however, is remembered of him now. This com- 
prised the settlement up to the beginning of the year 1821, when the following 
recruits were added to the number already here : Tarleton Lloyd, George 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 387 

Miller, Marshall Duncan, David S. Taylor, Mathias, James and William 
Yoakum, and, perhaps, others whose names are forgotten. Lloyd came from 
Virginia, and was born in 1784, and is now ninety-five years of age. He set- 
tled where he still lives, and says there were two log cabins on the place at the 
time. Into one of these, which was 12x16 feet, he moved his family. Two 
years after, he built a log house 18x20 feet, which has since been " weather- 
boarded," and a frame addition built to it. The house is fifty -six years old, 
and, like its venerable owner, begins to show the ravages of time. Mr. Lloyd 
says he had nothing when he came here but his household effects, etc. He 
bought a cow from a man named Shipley, for which he gave a wagon, and also 
a cow from George Greene, giving therefor a feather bed. He was a soldier in 
the war of 1812 ; served under Capt. Henry West, Fourth Regiment, and was 
in the battle at New Orleans. Miller settled in the Sangamon River bottom, 
and Duncan, on what is known as Garden Prairie. Taylor bought the place 
settled originally by Batterton, also the claim of Matthews. The Yoakums 
came originally from Virginia, but had emigrated to Kentucky in an early day, 
whence they came to Illinois, first stopping in Madison County, a then in 
Montgomery, and finally locating in this neighborhood, as above stated. Samuel 
Combs settled here in 1824, and Jonas Combs, a brother, in 1826. They came 
from Kentucky. Samuel died here years ago, and Jonas is still living on the 
place of his original settlement at an advanced age. Ekhu Bone came from 
Tennessee in 1824, and bought out a man named Flynn, on Rock Creek. He 
died here in 1856. Isaac Cogdall is from Kentucky, and came to the country 
in 1826. He still lives on his original settlement, and is quite a prominent 
man in the community. Joseph Cogdall, the father of Isaac, and a Baptist 
minister, carne as early as 1823. He died in 1828, and was one of the early 
deaths in the little settlement. Rev. John Berry, a Cumberland Presbyterian 
minister, came as early as 1821. He organized a church society at a very early 
day, as elsewhere noticed. 

Elijah Houghton came in 1824 and settled on Rock Creek, in this precinct. 
His father, Aaron Houghton, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and a 
native of New Jersey, though of English origin. He emigrated to Kentucky 
when it was, in reality, the "dark and bloody ground" and the battle-field 
between the Northern and Southern Indians, as in after years it became the 
battle-field between Northern and Southern whites. Elijah Houghton was a 
man of considerable prominence in the settlement, and died in 1852. A. M. 
Houghton, a son, resides on the old homestead. Charles Houghton, a brother 
of Elijah Houghton, came in 1824. He settled on the place now owned by 
Isaac Cogdall. Robert Johnson, Jesse Vowell, Michael Davis and William 
Irwin came about 1826 to 1828. J. H. Smith was also an early settler in this 
neighborhood. He is a son of Samuel Smith, of Rhode Island. The latter 
gentleman married a Rhodes, of the family of Rhodeses for whom, it is said, 
Rhode Island was originally named. J. H. Smith is still on his original 

L 



388 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 

settlement. C. J. F. Clarke may also be ranked among the early settlers. 
He was one of the first County Commissioners, and claims to have been the first 
County Judge of Menard County. He served eight years in the latter office, 
and four years as County Commissioner. He died some years ago in Cass 
County. 

This includes all the early settlers whose names we have been able to obtain. 
There were, doubtless, others who are entitled to mention in this connection ; 
but when we look back over a period of sixty years, it is not strange that many 
of the pioneers who came to the wilderness then and remained but a short time, 
or died early, are forgotten by the few still left. We are not remembered long 
after we pass from the stage of action. 

" If you or I to-day should die, 

The birds would sing as sweet to-morrow ; 
The vernal Spring her flowers would bring, 
And few would think of us with sorrow. 

" ' Yes, he is dead,' would then be said ; 

The corn would floss, the grass yield hay, 
The cattle low, and summer go, 

And few would heed us passed away. 

" How soon we pass ! how few, alas ! 

Remember those who turn to mold ! 
Whose faces fade, with autumn's shade, 
Beneath the sodded churchyard cold ! 

" Yes it is so. We come, we go 

They hail our birth, they mourn us dead, 
A day or more, the winter o'er, 
Another takes our place instead." 

It is with no intention of injustice to any one that we quote the above lines. 
They are beautifully pathetic, and as true as beautiful. None miss us when we 
pass away but our immediate relatives, and in a short time they forget us, and 
laugh as merrily as when we sat beside them. Such is life, and such is human 
nature. 

As we have already noticed, Rock Creek is the smallest precinct in the 
county, containing a little less than two-thirds of the surface area of a Con- 
gressional township. Many of its first settlers were from Kentucky and Vir- 
ginia, where timber and running water abounded in the most plentiful profusion, 
and hence looked upon the timbered borders of Rock Creek and the Sangamon 
as a second paradise. The prairies then were supposed to be " barren wastes " 
that would always be useless except for pasturage. Thus it was that the early 
settlements , were all made in the timber and along the water-courses. " Drive- 
wells" had not then been invented, and to have settled out on the prairie at 
that, early time would have appeared as rash as to attempt to cross the Great 
Desert without water. 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 389 

CHURCHES. SCHOOLS, SHOPS, ETC. 

One of the very first church societies formed in what is now Menard County 
was the Rock Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church, as it is known at the 
present day. The society was originally organized by Rev. John Berry, in 
1821 or 1822. Rev. John Simms came a short time prior, and these two 
pioneer preachers laid out a camp-ground, as elsewhere noticed, in the foresta 
of Rock Creek, held camp-meetings for a number of years, and the " seed sown 
in good ground" here has developed into the present Rock Creek Church, 
which stands near the line between Sections 14 and 15. The first start toward 
a church was a shed put up for the purposes of holding camp-meetings, as 
above mentioned. The next was a little log building used for both church and 
school exercises. It was, some years later, rebuilt on a more extensive scale, 
and, finally, the present elegant frame church succeeded these primitive edifices, 
and now the people of Rock Creek Precinct have quite a handsome temple or 
worship. Revs. Berry and Simms were the first preachers of this denomina- 
tion, and laid the foundation of this prosperous church almost sixty years ago. 
The present Pastor of the Rock Creek Church is Rev. J. C. Momeyer. A 
Sunday school is conducted during the summer season. This is the only church 
edifice in the precinct. A neat little parsonage is attached to it for the accom- 
modation of the minister. There is also a cemetery adjacent, in which repose 
many of the pioneers both of the Church and the neighborhood. It is laid out 
with taste, well kept, and inclosed with a substantial fence. Rev. Joseph Cog- 
dall was also an early preacher in this settlement, and belonged to the Baptist 
denomination. 

The first school taught in the present precinct of Rock Creek, is said to have- 
been taught by a man named Cumpton, in 182425, in a little log cabin, on 
the place settled by Tarleton Lloyd. Another of the pioneer pedagogues was 
Ira McGlasson, who taught in a log cabin, near Andrew Houghton's, probably 
the next year after Humphreys. The precinct, at present, has five, comfort- 
able and commodious schoolhouses, all of which are brick or frame, and in 
which schools are maintained during the usual term each year. The people are- 
alive to the benefits of education, and have secured ample facilities for educating 
their children. The following, which is said to have occurred in this precinct, 
will illustrate the early educational advantages of a new country : A young man 
applied to the proper authority (an old farmer) for a school in the neighborhood. 
The old gentleman deeming an examination necessary, put him to reading the 
Bible as a test of his qualifications. It so happened that the young man opened 
the book in Genesis, at the genealogical record, and, after reading for a time in 
those jaw-breaking names, the old fellow stopped him, and said, "he guessed! 
he'd do to keep school thar," and that he might write out a certificate. The- 
young man complied, and, after writing the certificate, handed it to the old man 
to sign, who remarked, " you sign my name and I'll make my mark, I can't 
write it myself." 



390 



HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 



Tarleton Lloyd was the first blacksmith, and opened a shop as early as 
182223, and did the work in this line for the surrounding country. A mill 
was built by Rev. Mr. Simms, in 1823, the first in this region. It was a prim- 
itive affair, and propelled by horse-power, but served to crack corn for hominy, 
and even wheat was " mashed " on it sometimes, as an old settler informed us. 
But it has long since passed away, and milling is now done at other points. 

The first Justice of the Peace is supposed to have been a man of the name 
of Syniard, who was among the early settlers. One of the Bones was also an 
arly Justice of the Peace in " Wolf County," as this precinct is familiarly 
called. In illustration of these early courts, the following is told at the expense 
of Squire Syniard : Two of his neighbors got into a, wrangle over a debt which 
one owed the other, and which he had promised to pay in hogs. In the fall, 
when the debt was to have been paid, hogs happened to be a good price, so the 
debtor sold his fat hogs, and delivered to his creditor a sow and pigs, which he 
contended fulfilled his obligation, as they were hogs. The creditor demurred, 
and a suit was the result. It came up before Squire Syniard for trial, and, 
after patiently hearing both sides of the question, he rendered judgment in favor 
of the creditor, deciding that, legally, a sow and pigs were not hogs. A post 
office was established in the precinct in 1877, called Lloyd Post Office, after 
the oldest living settler. It is on the creek, east of Isaac Cogdall's, and is kept 
by L. B. Conover. 

Politically, Rock Creek is Democratic to the backbone. Farmer's Point is 
the voting-place. During the late war, it was loyal, and turned out as large a 
number of soldiers to its population, as any neighborhood in the county. The 
men of Rock Creek volunteered into the regiments raised in this section, which 
drew their chief strength from Menard, and among which were the Fourteenth 
and One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiments, Illinois Infantry. This precinct 
receives its name from Rock Creek, which meanders through it from east to 
west. Whether the creek was named for the rock in and about it, or because 
all things must have a name, we do not know, but leave it to our readers to find 
out. This comprises the history of this little precinct. The territory being 
small, and without villages and towns, there is little history beyond the settle- 
ments made within its borders. 




HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 



BY GEN. JAMES M. RUGGLES. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



History is but the footprints upon the sands of time, by which we trace the 
growth, development and advancement of the people constituting a nation. It 
takes note of the humblest tiller of the soil as well as of the scholar, the states- 
man, the soldier, and the great and good men and women who build the 
imperishable monuments of a country's greatness. 

Tradition tells us of the glories of the garden of Eden, and the purity and 
happiness of the first pair, and also of their transgression and fall from their 
high and happy estate. Of the men and things that existed in the world 
during the many dark centuries that precede the historic period, we know 
nothing, except through rude hieroglyphics and vague traditions, handed down 
through the beclouded minds of unlettered and superstitious people. 

Beginning with the age of letters and improvements in the languages 
of the world, followed by the modern inventions of printing types and presses, 
and the immense institution of the daily newspaper and telegraph, minute and 
reliable records of the world's daily doings are chronicled, and out of these 
veritable history is formulated. 

The multiplicity of inventions and discoveries, resulting from a rapid growth 
of intelligence, during the last half-century, has produced the necessary con- 
ditions for the production of a more perfected type of the genus homo, by 
whom the world is peopled, and through whom history of a still higher order 
will be furnished for those who may live in the hereafter. 

The events that make up the annals of a new and growing country will 
always be of interest to the seeker after knowledge, who may in them learn who 
has lived and what has been done in the past ages of the world. The time is 
approaching when ignorance of the world's historic past will be a reproach, 
however it may be as to a lack of knowledge of the future ! 

America constitutes a great nation of people, made up from the populations 
of many other nations, and Illinois is one of the greatest and most highly 
favored by nature of all the thirty-eight States ; extending as it does over a 
range of five and a half degrees of latitude, causing a more varied climate than 



392 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 

X 

any other State, and for its fertility of soil is unsurpassed in the world ; thus 
making Illinois the jeweled crown in our glorious Union. 

MASON COUNTY. 

Mason is one of the hundred and two counties of Illinois, and is entitled 
to her place in the local history that makes up that of the State, in its intelli- 
gence, enterprise and industrial wealth and prosperity. The patient toil and 
hardships of its pioneers, living in their rude huts and log cabins, as well as 
the noble and patriotic deeds of its public men in later years, and the gallantry 
of its soldiers on the battle-field are a part of the pride and glory of the State 
and the nation. 

The territory that constitutes the county of Mason has been subjected to 
many changes since the discovery and settlement of America. Originally, or, 
rather, as far back as we know, it belonged to Mr. 

" Lo, the poor Indian, whose untutored mind, 
Sees God in clouds and hears Him in the wind ! " 

Who Mr. Lo got it from we may never know ; that once the red men lived 
here in their homes we do know. On the bluff banks of the Illinois River, at 
Havana and Bath, they occupied their villages, and builded their mounds (pro- 
viding always that they were not built by some other people who lived here 
before them) in which they buried their dead and deposited their wares and 
implements of war, where these trophies of the ages of the past may still be 
found. Undisturbed in those days by the pale-faced race, beneath the shadows 
of the rude wigwam, 

" The Indian wooed his dusky maid, 
And the red fox dug his hole unscared." 

These mounds, and the relics they contain, are the only historic chapters 
handed down to us to tell of the people whose moccasined feet once pressed 
upon the sands that border upon our beautiful river. With those people there 
were no learned men to chronicle the history they were making, though among 
them unlettered sages and warriors there may have been. 

With us, how different. We know the uses of letters, printing presses, 
books and telegraphs, and there is no reason why we should die and leave no 
sign. The history we are making can be handed down to posterity, in the ages 
that are to come, for thousands of years, when other and higher races of men 
shall have taken our places in populating and controlling the destinies of the 
great American continent. 

For a long period, the territory constituting the county of Mason and the 
State of Illinois, was dominated by the French nation, whose brave pioneers 
were the first of the white race to tread upon its soil and voyage upon its 
rivers. 



HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 393 

EARLY HISTORY. 

In the year 1678, Louis Joliet, a French trader, and James Marquette, a 
Jesuit missionary, who had possibly received a call, started out from Green 
Bay on a voyage of successful discovery of the great Father of Waters, which 
the Indians informed them flowed southward through the great west country. 
Going up the Fox River and crossing over the narrow portage into the Wiscon- 
sin, they in due time came to the Mississippi, on the ample bosom of which 
they floated down to the mouth of the Arkansas. At this point, they became 
satisfied that the great river emptied itself into the Gulf of Mexico, and, as 
they were satisfied with the situation and did not propose to make any changes 
in the course of the river, or put any jetties in its mouth, they retraced their 
voyage up to the mouth of the Illinois River> and up that stream to Chicago, 
via the Des Plaines, passing by Havana, and perhaps Bath, on their way. 

Tradition says that these men of God and Mammon stopped upon the bluff 
where Havana now stands, and had a grand fish-fry, but it does not inform us 
that they had the incomparable culinary services of Judge Mallory on that 
occasion! In their piscatorial exploits, it is said they lost a "spoon hook," 
and from this little incident, the river coming in on the opposite side was called 
Spoon River ! 

As the writer has not had the pleasure of interviewing these distinguished 
strangers, or of examining their notes of travel, he cannot vouch for the truth 
of the incident ; but it is highly probable that these were the first white men 
that trod upon the soil of Mason County, while passing up the river on an 
excursion, some two hundred and six years ago ! 

A few years after this, two other French explorers La Salle, a trader and 
explorer, and Father Hennepin, another Jesuit missionary passed from the 
St. Joseph River into the Kankakee, and down that river into the Illinois. 

After the visits of these four French gentlemen, there is no record of this 
portion of the country being visited by a white man for nearly one hundred 
and fifty years ! It was, no doubt, a favorite hunting and fishing ground for 
the Indians, as there is evidence of its abounding in buffalo, elk, deer, and 
other choice game, as well as fish in abundance, making it the land of " the 
happy hunting-grounds." 

In the year 1763, the French nation, after a long and exhaustive war, sur- 
rendered the Northwest Territory (including Mason County and the State of 
Illinois) to England, the transfer having been arranged at the treaty of Paris. 

One of the most celebrated Indians of history was Pontiac, the chief of 
the Ottawas, of Michigan. After the surrender of the Northwest, by the 
French, Pontiac for awhile contested the claims of the English, and was known 
as their most bitter and formidable foe. 

When he could no longer maintain the contest, he left the vicinity of 
Detroit, where he was born and had always lived, and with the remnant of his 



394 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 

once powerful tribe (about two hundred warriors and their families), found 
refuge on the banks of the Kankakee, near Wilmington, Will County, where 
he merged the remnant of his tribe with the Pottawatomies. 

This region of country was claimed by the Illinois tribe of Indians, and a 
conflict arose between the tribes as to the right to hunt the buffalo on the west 
of the Illinois River. After fighting for a time over the question, a council 
was agreed upon to settle the question. 

This Council met at Mount Joliet (near the city of Joliet), in 1769. Whilst 
Pontiac was making a speech on his side of the question, he was treacherously 
assassinated by "Kineboo," the head chief of the Illinois tribe. 

This treacherous act led to the bloody war which resulted in the destruction 
of the great Indian city " La Van tarn," which stood upon the site where the 
little town of Utica, in La Salle County, is now built, and also to the tragedy 
of Starved Rock, not far distant, and to the final extinction of the once great 
nation of Indians from whom the State took its name. 

The treaty of Paris, in 1763, terminated the rule of France over the North- 
west, and it passed into the British possession, which circumstance somewhat 
changed the type of religion and civilization of this country*. Many of the 
early explorers, missionaries and traders, remained, and of these and their 
descendants it is estimated that two thousand were still within the boundaries 
of the State at the time of its admission in the Union, in 1818. Now there 
are but a few local names to remind us that the French nation once exercised 
the right of eminent domain in the State of Illinois. 

The termination of the Revolutionary war begun in 1776, and ending in the 
treaty with England, in 1783 brought the Territory of the Northwest under 
the dominion of the United States, and by the treaty of 1833, at Chicago, with 
the Pottawatomies, the red man surrendered his right of domain also. In 
1835, these Indians, numbering five thousand, assembled at Chicago, received 
their annuity, danced their last war dance in Illinois, and took up their line of 
march toward the setting sun, on the far-off Missouri River. 

During the progress of the Revolutionary war, Lieut. Col. George Rogers 
Clark, of Virginia, organized a military expedition to subdue and capture the 
Northwest Territory, then inhabited by a vast horde of savage Indians, belong- 
ing to many tribes, and some French -settlements along the river borders. On 
the 4th day of July, 1778, with his little army of grim-visaged warriors, con- 
sisting of 300 men, all jaded and worn down with the fatigues and hardships of 
forced marches across the country from the Ohio River, wading through marshes, 
swamps and streams, without roads or supplies in the country, he arrived at the 
French town of Kaskaskia, surprised and captured the town and military fort* 
without firing a gun/ The capture of Cahokia and Fort Vincent (now the city 
of Vincennes), soon followed, and thus, without the shedding of blood, but with 
immense suffering and hardships, was secured the whole Northwest Territory as 
tKe property of the State of Virginia, by right of conquest, and so remaining 



HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 395 

until, by the Ordinance of 1787, passed on the 13th of July, it was transferred 
to the United States, under certain conditions as to the formation of States and 
other matters. 

In October, 1778, the Virginia Assembly erected the conquered territory 
of the Northwest into the county of Illinois: a pretty extensive county, which 
has since been carved into five States Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and 
Wisconsin with a population of over eight millions of people ! 

On the 5th of October, 1787, Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Glair was by Congress 
elected Governor of the Northwest Territory. In February, 1788, Gov. St. 
Glair, with his Secretary, arrived at Kaskaskia and proceeded to organize all 
of the State lying north of the mouth of the Little Mackinaw, in Tazewell 
County, into the county of St. Clair, thus making her the mother of all the 
102 counties of the State ! The county was divided into three Judicial Dis- 
tricts, a Court of Common Pleas established, with three Judges appointed, viz : 
John Edgar, an Englishman, of Kaskaskia, John Babtiste Barbeau, a French- 
man, of Prairie du Rocher, and John D. Moulin, a native of Switzerland, of 
Cahokia, each to hold court in the district of his residence every three months, 
making what was called the " Court of Quarterly Sessions," the first court 
established in Illinois. 

By act o: Congress, May 7, 1800, the territory constituting the States of 
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, then containing a white population 
of 4,875 ; negro slaves, 135, and an estimated population of 100,000 Indians, 
was organized into the Territory of Indiana, with the seat of government 
established at Vincennes, and, on the 13th of May, William Henry Harrison, 
afterward President of the United States, was appointed Governor of the Ter- 
ritory, thus dispensing with Gov. St. Clair, who had become very unpopular. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE TERRITORY OF ILLINOIS. 

On the llth of January, 1805, Congress passed an act cutting off the 
peninsula of Michigan from the Territory of Indiana and forming the Territory 
of Michigan ; and, on the 3d of February, 1809, all that part of Indiana Ter- 
ritory lying west of the Wabash River and a line drawn due north from the 
river at Vincennes to the line between the United States and Canada, was, by 
act of Congress, set apart into the Territory of Illinois, the act to take effect 
on the 1st of March, 1809. This included what is now the State of Wisconsin. 
The population at that time was estimated at 9,000, leaving about double that 
number in Indiana. The entire Territory at that time composed but two coun- 
ties, St. Clair and Randolph. 

The formation of the Territory of Illinois, at that time, was due to the 
election and subsequent efforts of Jesse B. Thomas, (then a resident of Indi- 
ana), as a delegate to Congress. By pledging himself in a bond to procure the 
formation of the Territory, he secured the united vote of Illinois, and after a 



396 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 

bitter contest he was elected by one majority, and if there is truth in history 
that one vote which made the majority was cast by himself! 

The population of the Territory of Illinois, by the census of 1810, con- 
sisted of 11,501 whites, 168 slaves and 613 of all others, except Indians. 

Ninian Edwards, then Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals in Kentucky, 
was appointed first Governor of the Territory of Illinois by President Madison, 
his commission bearing date April 24, 1809 ; and Jesse B. Thomas, Alexander 
Stuart and William Sprigg were appointed the three first Judges of the Ter- 
ritory. 

Gov. Edwards continued in office as Governor until the organization of the 
State in 1818 the act providing for which passed on the 18th of April, and 
the admission of which was on the 3d of December. 

During the war with England, in 1812, Gov. Edwards headed a military 
expedition, composed of 350 men, against Peoria Lake, then the abode of 
several Indian tribes an Indian village at the head of the lake and a French 
town and fort at the lower end, where Peoria City now stands. In this expedi- 
tion the Indian village was destroyed, the inhabitants dispersed, killed and 
captured, and the town was also burned and the inhabitants taken prisoners 
down the river. The expedition returned to Camp Russell, near the present 
town of Edwardsville, from which it had marched out on the 18th of October, 
after an absence of thirteen days, without the loss of a man. 

A second expedition to Peoria left Camp Russell in 1813, passing up the 
Mississippi to where the city of Quincy now stands, and from thence across to 
the Illinois River, at the mouth of Spoon River, and from thence to Peoria, 
where the soldiers built Fort Clark, which was burned down in 1818, and the 
town was again rebuilt in 1819 this first time by American pioneers. The 
French fort, Crevecosur, was built in 1680, and the first European settlement 
at that place was in 1778. 

At the time of the organization of the State in 1818, Illinois was composed 
of fifteen counties, viz. : St. Clair, Randolph, Madison, Gallatin, Johnson, 
Edwards, White, Monroe, Pope, Jackson, Crawford, Bond, Union, Washington 
and Franklin, and contained a supposed population of 40,000 people. 

POPULATION AND REPRESENTATION. 

The population of Illinois in 1810 was 12,282, and. the Territory was 
represented by one delegate in Congress. 

The population of 1820 was 55,211, with one member of Congress Daniel 
P. Cook, who was the first member of Congress elected from the State of Illinois. 

In the year 1830, the population of the State Was 157,445, and three mem- 
bers of Congress were accorded to the State. 

In 1840, the population of the State was 476,183, and seven members were 
given to the State. 



HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 397 

In 1850, the population was 851,470, and nine members of Congress were 
apportioned to the State. 

In 1860, the population was 1,711,951, and fourteen members of Congress 
were given to the State. 

In 1870, the population had swelled to 2,539,831, and the State is repre- 
sented by nineteen members of Congress, and now there are but two States in 
the Union that have a greater population or more wealth than the State of 
Illinois. 

GOVERNORS. OF ILLINOIS. 

As a matter of interest to those who are interested in the political history 
of the State, a list of the Governors who have filled the executive department 
of Illinois from its organization as a Territory down to the present date, is here 
given, with the date and time which they served. 

Ninian Edwards was the first Governor of the Territory of Illinois, 'serv- 
ing from 1809 to 1818. 

Shadrach Bond was the first Governor of the State, serving from 1818 to 
1822. 

Edward Coles was the second Governor, serving from 1822 to 1826. 

Ninian Edwards was the third Governor of the State, serving from 1826 
to 1830. 

John Reynolds, the Old Ranger, served as the fourth Governor, from 1830 
to 1834. 

Joseph Duncan served as the fifth Governor, from 1834 to 1838. 

Thomas Carlin served as the sixth Governor, from 1838 to 1842. 

Thomas Ford was the seventh Governor, serving from 1842 to 1846. 

Augustus Caesar French was the eighth Governor, serving from 1846 to 
1849, when the new Constitution was adopted, and after which he was again 
elected, and served from 1849 'to 1 853. 

Joel A. Matteson served as the ninth Governor, from 1853 to 1857 the 
last of the line of Democratic Governors. 

William H. Bissell, the tenth Governor, was the first of the list which fol- 
lows of Republican Governors. He served from 1857 to the llth of March, 
1860, when death removed him from the executive chair, which he had filled 
with great ability and to the entire satisfaction of the people who elected him. 
This is the first and only instance of a Governor dying during his term of 
office in Illinois. 

John Wood, Lieutenant Governor, served out the balance of the term of 
Gov. Bissell, ending with 1861. 

Richard Yates, the great war Governor of Illinois, served as the eleventh 
Governor, from 1861 to 1865. 

Richard J. Oglesby, the popular soldier, served as the twelfth Governor, 
from 1865 to 1869. 

John M. Palm