L I E> R.APCY
OF THE
UN IVERSITY
or ILLINOIS
911. i^B
-rr
HISTOKY
OF
MERCER COUNTY
TOGETHER WITH
BIOGRAPHICAL MATTER, STATISTICS, ETC.
GATHERED FROM MATTER FURNISHED BY THE MERCER COUNTY HISTORICAL
SOCIETY, INTERVIEWS WITH OLD SETTLERS, COUNTY, TOWNSHIP
AND OTHER RECORDS, AND EXTRACTS FROM FILES OF
PAPERS, PAMPHLETS, AND SUCH OTHER SOURCES
AS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE.
CONTAINING ALSO
A SHORT HISTOBY OF HENDERSON COUNTY.
CHICAGO:
H. H. HILL AND COMPANY, PUBLISHERS.
1882.
Shepard & Johnston, Printebs.
140, 142, 144, 146 Monroe St., Chicago.
Si
LIST or PORTRAITS.
i
^
William Drury,
Vashti Drury,
J. M. Emerson,
Frederick Frick,
B. C. Taliaferro, .
William Gayle, .
Daniel Mowry,
Samuel Cabeen, .
James Heaton,
Dennis Murto,
Richard Kiddoo, .
James Vernon,
John Glancey,
Martin Bear,
Mrs. Martin Bear,
Jacob Bear,
G. D. Miller, .
George McPherren,
Thomas Candor,
33
51
69
87
105
123
141
159
177
195
231
249
267
285
303
321
339
357
375
Dan W. Sedwick, .
J. C. Cabeen,
S. P. Cabeen, .
John Seaton,
William Retherford,
Joseph Glancey,
Daniel Jones,
J. W. Kimel,
LoRiMER Johnston,
Harison Brown,
Thomas Likely,
John Lafferty,
William Stuart,
H. B. Frazier,
• S. F. Everett, .
Samuel Clark,
A. J. Streeter,
A. P. Petrie,
393
429
447
465
501
519
555
591
609
627
645
663
681
699
717
735
753
771
INDEX.
Abington Township 512
Adams, John B 740
Additional Matter 820
Aledo, Merc-er Connty 539
Aledo Pubhc Schools 564
" Aledo Weekly Record," 552
Allen, John S ." 204
Aly ea, Thomas 99
Anderson, Joseph 505
Ansley, Dr. J. M 738
A Scrap of Ancient History 99 ,
Associate Reformed Branch, Suez
Township 630
Attig, Nicholas 510
Baker, Dr. Jacob Russell 529
Banking in Keithsburg 152
Bassett, Isaac Newton 832
Bay, James E 293
Bear, Jacob 293
Bear, Martin 287
Bell, John 252
Bell, John 263
Bentley, James L 604
Beverlin, Thomas 293
Biographical —
Abington Township 515
Duncan Township 498
Eliza Township 287
Greene Township 671
Keithsburg Township 118
Ohio Grove Township 444
Miller>burg Township 205
Mercer Township 583
New Boston Township 72
North Henderson Township . . 809
Perryton Township 324
Preemption Township 713
Richland Grove Township. . . . 737
Rivoli Township 763
Suez Township 634
Bishop, Edwin 289
Bissell, Ammi 690
Black Hawk War 23
Blue, George A 813
Boise, Milton S 618
Boone. George 248
Boone, Hopkins 059
Boone, Washington 607
Bopes, David 327
Borutf, Milton 506
Boyd, Joseph P 251
Boyd, Martin 597
Boyd, William C 259
Bradford, W. W 336
Brady, John, Jr 242
Brain, William 326
Bras, Charles W Ill
Branch t, Jacob 247
Braucht, John 503
Breckenridge, Hugh 748
Breckenridge, William C 691
Brewer, Louis AValdo 527
Bridger, G. W 116
Bridger, Henry T 644
Bridger, James 742
Bridgford, Oliver A 241
Bridgford, W. A 238
Brooks, Isaac 782
Brown, Allen S 811
Brown, Benjamin F 809
Brown, Harrison 637
Brown, John H 451
Brown, Joshua H 643
Bi'own, Loami 622
Brown, Samuel 622
Brownlee, David S 650
Brownlee, James H 648
Brownlee, Willium C' 46]
Briggs, William 723
Bristol, C. Beeeher 738
Bruington, George 648
Bruington, Gus (i43
Bullock, John Y 529
Burgett, Frederick P 1 54
Business of Aledo 548
Cabeen, Hon. Robert J 525
Cabeen, John W 445
Cabeen, Sanuiel 445
Cabeen, Samuel P 444
Cabeen, Thomas B 153
Cable, Ricbland Grove Township. 737
Calhoun. Henry G 180
Campbell, Alexander 2(»2
Campbell, Dr. James A (ilO
Campbejl, INIatthew S 639
Campbell, Robert 647
Campbells, The 199
Cameron, Peter 725
Candor, ("apt. Daniel M 3:>4
Candor, Josiah 334
Candor, Thomas 446
Cannum, Mark ()03
8
INDEX.
Carver, Jesse 720
Carver, Redding L 720
Castle, Edward M 504
Cemeteries of Ohio Grove Town-
f^hip 443
Cemetery of Greene Township. - . . 668
Cemetery of Suez Township 632
Chidester, Nelson 745
Chidester, Sidney 100
Childs, Augustus B 823
Chowning, Dr. John P 264
Church, Beard 472
Churches of Aledo 575
Churches of Duncan Township. . . . 495
Churrhes of Millersburg 217
Chun hes of New Bo.ston 86
Churches of Rivoli Township 755
Clark, James G 739
Clark, Samuel 737
Clark, Sarah 737
Clarke, David Andrew 719
Clarke, G. R 20
Cofflan. :\rartin L 605
Cole, William Anderson 620
Coleman, John 780
Collins, J. H 510
Collins, William P 674
Commissioners' Record 56
Cook, Henrv C 188
Cool, George M 616
Cooper, David H 329
Cooper, Hamlet 329
Cooper, Levi 338
Company E, 9th Regiment 701
Company A and G, 13th Regiment 788
Companv I, 17th Regiment 730
Company C. 26th Infantry 7^03
Companv G, 27th Regiment 787
Company C, 36th Regiment 729
Company A, 37th Regiment 729
Company B, 6oth Regiment 853
Company D, 83d Regiment 794
Company D, 83d Regiment 854
Company G, 124th Regiment 794
Company G, 124th Regiment 856
Company B, 126th Regiment 795
Company B, 126th Regiment 858
Company F, 140th Regiment 796
Company F, 140th Regiment 859
Company C, 11th Cavalry 859
Company H, 11th Cavalry 860
Connell, James H 833
Connolly, William 722
Conway, Joseph 721
Corns, Warner 344
Cox. Richard 744
Crabs, George D 325
Cramer, R. S 112
Crane, J. H 244
Creighton, Samuel M 460
Crosby, Edwin T 680
Criswell, Dr. M 333
Cummins, Thomas S 190
Cullison, William B 778
Damp, Michael 341
David, Dr. E. B 619
Davison, D. A 260
Deets, Joseph 819
Denison Family 73
Denison, Henry W 92
Democratic Press in Aledo 554
Description of Mercer County 31
Detwiler, Charlds W 622
Detwiler, Lewis Cass 621
Dillev, John Webster 620
Dilley, William 458
Dingwell, John 647
Discoveries 17
Ditto, John W 522
Doak, Daniel F 174
Doak, William 345
Dool, John 262
Dool, Robert 343
Doughty, Lucien B 613
Doughty, Thomas L 103
Doughty, T. H Ill
Douglass, Andrew J 517
. Downey, Joseph A 259
Downing, John 265
Drury, Coiirtney 94
Drury, Silas 289
Drury, William 93
Dryden, Gary 252
Duncan, Jonathan 454
Duncan Township 492
Dunlap, Isaac N 593
Dunn, Henry 498
Dunn, John 191
Dunn, J. M 336
Durston, Charles F 597
Durston, Samuel L 775
Durston, Sidney 774
Early Courts 820
Early History of Richland Grove
Township 732
Early Settlement of Greene Town-
ship 656
Earlv Settlement of Suez Town-
ship 623
Early Settlements 45
Eckley, George 738
Edgar, Richard S 247
Education in Perryton Township. • 347
Edwards, Nicholas 590
Egbert, W. W 261
Eighty-fourth Reg. 111. Inf 363
Election — Ohio Grove Township. . 439
Eliza Township 269
Ellett, Benjamin D 172
Emerson, Dr. Edward Ij • ' 780
Emerson, James ^l 822
Emerson, Oliver P 175
Emerson, William S 179
Engle, Charles 741
Episcopal Church 711
Episodes — Greene Township 665
INDEX.
9
Epperly; William 499
Evangelical Lutheran Church 734
Evans, George M (541
Everett. Samuel F 719
Faran John 2.")5
Feather, James 480
Felix, M. F 017
Felton, Herchel 234
Felton, J. B 343
Fender, Jonas oUO
Fires in Greene Township 602
First Settlers in Duncan Township 493
Fisk, H. W 338
Flehartv Family 802
Fleharty, Bennett E 809
Flehartv, Govert S 805
Fleharty, H. C 804
Flehartv, J. Q. A 804
Fleharty, Rev. J. J 805
Flehartv, S. F 805
Flehartv, Stephen W 803
Flehartv, S. W, Wm. D., Mary A.,
and William 806
Fleharty, William L 804
Fleming, Marshall 116
Florv, Moses K 675
Forsvth, Elijah 480
Foster. Robert 728
Frazier, Jesse V 071
Frazier, Hugh B 673
Frazier, j\Iiss Amanda E 354
Frew, AVilliam B 607
Frick, Clarence 192
Frick, Frederick 510
Fuller, Jefferson 234
Fuller, William 638
Garber, Leonard 507
Gardner, John C 088
Garrett, Richard 819
Garrett, William C 775
Gaunt, Jonathan 332
Gayle, William 128
Geiger, John 580
Geology of Greene Tow^nship 052
Gilmore, Edwin 241
Gilmore Familv 588
Gilmore, J. G.'. 326
Gilmore, J. M ' 244
Gilmore, Joseph C 511
Gingles, James 342
Gilbert, John G 088
Gillespie, William C 090
Gladman, William H 834
Glancey, John 292
Glancev, Joseph 515
Glover; Allen F 184
Goding, Joseph A 076
Gore, George 117
Gorman, James 337
Graham, James 459
Gniham, William F 639
Gray, George 336
Green Bower Nursery 669
Greene Township 652
Greenwood, Thomas J ()44
Greer, Minerva A 518
(iriflin Brothers' Tile Works, Rich-
land Grove Township 734
GrifHu. John 695
Grifhth, Edward. 233
Gruwell, Benjamin F 174
(iuffy, Theodore 340
Gustin, Lemuel ■ ■ 479
Guthrie, Jacob 474
(luthrie, Robert 078
Habits and Customs of Pioneers.. . 36
Halstead, C. B 327
Hamilton, Robert 470
Hamlet, Perryton Township 317
Hammond, William 720
Hardin, Alvis. 190
Hardin, P>enjamin L 179
Harison, W. II 22
Harriott, Van R 676
Harroun, J. E 570
Hartman, Frederick 328
Harts(m, John L 108
Harvey, J. F 230
Hawkins, John J 188
Heaton, .tames 185
Heaton, William H 140
Helwig, John 203
Henderson, William 457
Henry, John 525
Henry, AVesley 521
Heriford, John 467
Hicks, Robert 725
Hindman, Daniel T 000
Historical Society 60
History of Henderson County 863
Hoaeland, Francis A 677
Hoisted, David M 193
Holister, Lee 325
Holmes, Louis D 615
Holmes, William Henry 000
Howe, Lucien B 240
Hoye, Rev. John F 021
Huffman, Henry 250
Humbert, Robert 191
Humes, Joseph H 813
Humi)hrey, John C 192
Indian Implements 29
I.O.O.F., Rivoli Township 701
Irvin, Dr. George 611
Ives, Gideon 1 1 1
Jackson, Isom 115
Jackson, Thomas J 115
Jenne, Lansing K 20-i
Jewel, Zachariah 204
Johnston, Dr. D. R 015
Johnston, John Y 721
Johnston, John Y 722
Jol)nston, Lorimer 035
Johnston, M. H 814
Johnston, Peter W 816
Jolinston, Thomas L 722
10
IKDEX.
Joueri, Daniel 747
Jones, Milton M o23
Jones, Orson 747
Jordan, Capt. John A 741
Keithsburi: Township 118
KeHogg, James -^-1
Kellogu, James A 477
Kellv, l^otter 724
Kendall, A 330
Kelly, S.imuel 199
Kennedy, Matthew K <)79
Kidd<M),".John S 243
Kiddoo, Kiehard 236
Kiddoo, William 243
Kiddoo, William 233
Kimel, Henry 601
Kinsley. .Samuel 516
Kirlin,'Dayid 102
Kitzmiller, Frank E 679
Knox, Asa 23o
Krause, Jacob 689
Lafferty, James H 649
Lati'erty, John 642
LaffertV, John B 639
Lafferty. William A 639
Lair, Joseph 605
Lakes, Eliza Township 283
Lambert, Francis 288
Landers. John W 521
Landi'eth, Lewis 509
Landreth. Thomas 251
Larue, William B 824
L:i Saile 18
Lathrop, LTrban D ()95
Latter Day Saints, 220
Leary, Thomas 680
Lee, ( iraham 331
Lee, James M 651
Leech, John Humphries 294
Lemon, Francis 614
Lemon, W. R 266
Leuze, George 507
Lewis, William 109
Likely, Thomas ()36
Little, Dayid W 723
Livingston, Dayid H 499
Lloyd, Benijah 173
Lloyd, James 503
Looser, Jacob 110
Longshore, James H 260
Lorimer, William A 594
Lunbiad, Joseph Oscar 606
Lunn. Charles Elsworth 500
Lutz, O. (' 113
Mack, Daniel 727
^laddux, Thomas 500
Main, William Riley 517
Manners and ( 'ustoins of Indians . 28
Mannon, James M 96
IMarder, Michael 506
Mardock, Michael 506
Markec, Jesse 611
Marlatt, Thomas ISO
Marquette 18
Marquis, Samuel 832
Marrow, John A 640
Marsh, Mordecai L 595
:Marsh. William A 253
Marshall, Elisha L 835
Martin, Mrs. Eliza 296
Mason, John 292
Masonic, Preemption Township. . . 712
Masons, Rivoli Township 760
IMauk, Henry W 647
Mauk, John! 642
Maxwell, John A 777
Mayhew, D. S 508
McArthur, Alexander 593
McBride, Alexander 477
McBride, James 450
McBride, John F 617
McClannahan, William S 692
MtiClellen, John 4-55
McClellen, Richard C 643
McC'lure, Warren B 528
INIcCreight, John W 678
MeCutchan, Dr. James F. C 651
McGee, John 478
McGinnis, John T 242
McGuflin, John G 595
McHard, William 346
Mclntire, John B 473
Mclntire. Moses 473
McKee, .Toseph 604
McKee, William 603
INIcKinney. John, Sr 824
McKinnie, Dr. Ebenezer L 648
McLaughlin, James R 639
McLaughlin, John L 650
:\IcMullen, Major.' 746
INIcPherren, George 449
McPherren, Jesse W 612
McWHiorter, Tyler 618
Mercer County Agricultural Board. 489
Mercer County Poor Farm 481
Mercer Township 581
Merritt, J. Y 290
Merryman, Albert I) 740
INIerryman, Dayid I) 740
Merryman, Henry 739
Merryman, Timothy D 785
Mertz, Charles A . .'. 200
Methodist Ejjiscopal Church, Pre-
emptif)n 709
jSIethodist Episcopal Church, Suez
Townshi]) 634
^lethodist Episcopal Chui'ch, Swe-
d( »na. , 734
Miller, Abraham 48
Miller, G. D 344
Miller, William M 258
INIillcrsburg Township 205
Milligan. David 476
Mills, Eliza Township 277
Moore, (leorge 288
M(jore, Joseph B .598
INDEX.
11
Montgomery, John 333
Morev, Benjamin F 691
Morford, John T 81S
Morgan, William P 643
Morris, Kdwin 698
]\Iorris, George AV 697
Morris, John 698
Morrow, James K 251
Mowrv, Daniel 740
Murray, William T 109
Murto^ Dennis 202
Natural Historv 68
Nelson, Alfred W 815
Nesbitt, Henry 606
Nevius, William 1 452
New Boston Township 72
Newspapers of Keithsburg 137
Nigger Ridge, Greene Township.. . ()2
Noble Family 183
Noble, Daniel 274
Noble, D. F 290
Noble, D. J 95
Noble, Ira 296
Noble, L. D 297
Noble, Mrs. Harriet 296
Noonan, Timothy 262
North Henderson Township 796
Odd-Fellows of Miller.'sburg 221
Odd-Fellows, North Henderson . . . 799
Ogle, Jasper 528
Ogle, Joseph D 528
Ogle, Lewis F 527
Ohio Grove Township 424
O'Learv, Cornelius 154
Oliver," S. A 266
One Hundred and Second Regi-
ment 386
Organizations in Greene Townsliip 665
Organization of Duncan Township. 497
Organization of Eliza Township.. . 281
Organization of Greene Township . 660
Organization of Keithsburg Town-
ship 165
Organization of Mercer Township . 49
Organization of Millersburg Town-
ship 227
Organization of Preemption Town-
ship 713
Organization of Suez Township. . . 626
Orth, C. S 11)7
Ott, Edward 189
Otto, Julius E 725
Page, James 638
Pardee, David 17<)
Park, Russell 684
Parker-son, Robert C 478
Parks, John 475
Patterson, Moses 471
Patterson, William T 453
Pease, A 649
Pease, John A 649
Pease, Josei)h 649
Pease, Martin 648
Pepper, Hon. John C 607
Pepper, John C 834
Pepi)er, William 4,56
Perry ton Township 298
Peterson, Peter 470
Petrie, Cornelius L 773
Petrie, Hon. Alexander P 767
Pickup, G. W 266
Pinkerton, Albert M 678
Pinkerton, George W 695
Pinkerton, John C 687
Pinkerton, Joseph 686
Pinkerton, Wallace W 693
Pinkerton, William M 683
Pioneer Log Cabin 41
Pioneer Settlements of Millersburg 207
Pollock, Samuel 518
Postlewait. Matthew S 779
Potter's Clay in Greene Township 654
Powlev, Janies P 116
Pratt, John 97
Pratt, John 297
Prentiss, S. V 92
Prouty, William M 102
Preemption Townshij) 704
Presbyterian Church, Suez 632
Public Improvements, Keith.sburg. 166
Qunintance, James S 739
Railroads 62
Ramsey, James H 616
Randall, Stephen 113
Range, William 1 198
Ransom, Asa W 637
Rathbun, Dr. John B 781
Religion in Keithsburg 148
Religious Meetings, Eliza Town-
ship 284
Religious, Ohio Grove Township. . 442
Republican Party in Mercer County (>0
Retherfcrd, William '. 509
Reynolds, Gov 25
Reynolds, J. Warren 778
Reynolds, William D 188
Richey, Cornelius Springer 828
Richland Grove Township 732
Riddell, S. H 255
Riggs, H. M 238
Riggs, William H 229
Rivoli Township 742
Roads, Eliza Township 2S1
Robb, Thomas S 455
Roberts, Henry H 1 00
Robinson, George L. F 686
Rosenberry, Dr. James S 742
Rosenbum, Andrew J 777
Rubert, John 261
Russell, Sanu:el E ()89
Rural Places in Eliza Township. . . 282
Sapp, George B 203
Schools of Eliza Township 284
Schools of Greene Township 667
Schools of Keithsburg 144
Schools of Millersburg 228
12
IXDEX.
Schools of New Boston 85
Schools of Preemption Township.. 713
Schools of Rivoli Township 749
Schrader, August 293
Scott, Notley 817
Scott, Siunuel 197
Scudder, Lyman H 114
Seastone, John 110
Seat of Justice, Mercer County. . . . 572
Seaton, Duncan 523
Seaton, John 459
Seaton, John J 524
Secret Societies of New Boston .... 89
Sedwick, Dan. W 634
Sedwick, George W 620
Sexton, John G 774
Sexton, Roswell C 694
Shafer, Aaron P 258
Sharer, Cliristian 468
Shaw, Clinton 776
Shearer, George A 634
Shearer, Nicholas 472
Sheese, Samuel 500
Sherer, A. A 254
Sheriff, Paul 173
Sherrard, David 739
Shevler, Dr. James H 726
Shields, William 291
Shingledecker, P. D 263
Shroyer, A. P " 786
Signor, George H 117
Simi)son, William H 640
Slocumb, C^harles G 203
Smith, Alfred H 337
Smith, D. C. C 467
Smith, George 727
Smith, Hugh 194
Smith, John B 693
Smith, Lucius E 698
Smith, Nathan P 784
Smith, Stephen 745
Smith, Warren L 697
Smith, William H. H 477
Societies of Aledo 581
Societies of Keithsburg 155
Soldiers of Eliza Township 282
Soldiers' Monument 837
Southern, Charles W 696
Speculators, Eliza Township 279
Spicer, Reuben H. Sr 763
Spicer, Thomas 638
Sprowi, Samuel 475
Steam Mill, (ireene Township 670
Steele, David A 246
Stephens, Prof. Alex 569
Stewart, William L 644
St. JoKeph Catholic Church 711
Stratton, J. D 254
Streeter, Hon. Alson J 769
Strong, Luke 616
Stuart, William 685
Suez PostotHce 626
Suez Township 623
Swafford, Jacob H. 99
Swartwout, Cornelius 331
Swezy, Jerome A 187
Talliaferro, Benjamin Coleman. . . . 830
Terrv, William 696
Thede, C. F 608
Thirtieth Regiment 791
Thornton, H. W 235
Thornton, J. D 245
Thompson, Benjamin F 621
Timber in Eliza Township 282
Townsley, Benjamin F 594
Townsley's Tile and Brick Factory 583
Tracy, Victoria CM 783
Tragedies in Keithsburg 162
Trask, Andrew 638
TurnbuU, Rev. Thomas B 617
Unangst, Jacob Wilson 605
United Brethren, Richland 734
United Presbyterians, Suez Town-
ship 629
Valentine, William 257
Vance, James 524
Vance, William R 474
Vandalsem, W. C 335
Vatcr, George 503
Venable, Joseph 182
Vernon, Caleb 505
Vernon, James 239
Vetter, Michael 328
Villages of Millersburg 211
Village of Swedona 733
Viola, Greene Township 661
Viola Vinevard 6()8
Vdlkel, Fred 508
Wade, Josephus 176
Wait, F. G 330
Wait, Meigs 324
Walter, George 343
War Record of Greene Township. . 670
Watson, Abram 746
Webster, Hammond 458
Werts, George W 469
West End Creamer}', Millersburg. 583
White, Snowden K 605
Whitehall, Thomas 526
Whitham, Kenneth M 608
Whiting, George W 197
Whitsitt, John 715
Willits, Dr. T 97
Willits, Isaiah 171
Willits, Levi 583
Willits, Mary D 101
Willits, Milton L 96
Willits, Mrs. Sarah G 527
Willitt, Thomas 114
Wilitts, Thomas 254
Willits, Thomas T 836
AVillits, William M 523
Willis, J. M 621
Wilmerton, William 714
Wilson, David 741
Wilson, James McCormick 829
INDEX,
13
Wilson, William A 94
Winchester, W. A 526
Winders, William 596
Wirt, Martin 176
Wolf, George S 823
Wolfe, Jacob 181
Wood, J. W 246
Wood, W. A 345
Woodhams, T. G 786
Woods, Alexander M 608
Wordin, Charles C 599
Wright, George A 607
Wright, James C 596
Wycoff, J. P 192
York, Charles 240
Zentmire, Wilson P 257
PREFACE.
In presenting the history of Mercer County to the public the editors
and publishers have had in view the preservation of certain valuable
historical facts and information which without concentrated effort
would not have been obtained, but, with the passing away of the old
pioneers, the failure of memory, and the loss of public records and
private diaries, would soon have been lost. This locality being com-
paratively new, we flatter ourselves that, with the zeal and industry
displayed by our general and local historians, we have succeeded in
rescuing from the fading years almost every scrap of history worthy of
preservation. Doubtless the work is, in some respects, imperfect ; we
do not present it as a model literary effort, but in that which goes to
make up a valuable book of reference for the present reader and future
historian, we assure our patrons that neither money nor time has been
spared in the accomplishment of the work. Perhaps some errors will
be found. With treacherous memories, personal, political and sectarian
prejudices and preferences to contend against, it would be almost a
miracle if no mistakes were made. We hope that even these defects,
which may be found to exist, may be made available in so far as they
may provoke discussion and call attention to corrections and additions
necessary to perfect history.
In this work we have been greatly aided by the officers and mem-
bers of the Mercer County Historical Society, and to Messrs. Tyler
McWhorter, I. N. Bassett, C. S. Richey, Graham Leq, and John
Geiger, we are indebted not only -for valuable advice, but for articles
on various topics that cannot but prove interesting and acceptable to
our patrons. Messrs. L. B. Doughty, C. E. Shove, J. S. Fugate, J. V.
Frazier, R. H. Spicer, Hopkins Boone, William Marsh, E. S. Ricker,
16 PREFACE.
Dr. A. W. Hyde, E. Mathews, Miss Amanda Frazier, and many
others, have placed Mercer County under lasting obligations for
valuable matter rescued from the fading years.
The biographical department contains the names and private
sketches of nearly every person of importance in the county. A few
persons, whose sketches we would be pleased to have presented, for
various reasons refused or delayed furnishing us with the desired
information, and in this matter only we feel that our work is incom-
plete. However, in most of such cases we have obtained, in regard
to the most important persons, some items, atid have woven them
into the county or township sketches, so that, as we believe, we cannot
be accused of negligence, partiality or prejudice.
HISTORY OF
Mercer and Henderson Counties.
DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS.
That our readers mav have a full understanding of the history of
Mercer and Henderson counties, it will be necessary to take them back,
not merely to the time of their earliest settlement by the whites, but a
time far anterior to that. This part of the State of Illinois has at
different periods been in the possession and under the dominion of
various persons and powers, whose acts play an important part in the
history of this section. Of course we fully realize that, to the present
population, the present history will prove much more interesting than
that which precedes, but as the foundation of the house is much less
appreciated by the occupants and is yet one of its very important parts,
so that part of history which forms the basis for what follows must
necessarily be of the utmost value as a foundation or root on which to
develop the complete work.
Though but a little more than half a century has passed since the
soil of this part of the Mississijtj^i valley was occupied and cultivated
by white men, three times that length of time had elapsed since its
first discovery. During that 150 years it was occupied by various
tribes of Indians, and was under the dominion of several powerful
governments, who contended for its possession with varying success,
with but little aj^parent design of occupation other than for the
purpose of trading with the original owners, in furs and such other
natural products as they could easily gather, and their simple and
indolent habits required. Indeed the fur trade seems to have been not
only the chief object, but eventually to have led to the peo])ling of the
country with those who added to the industiy of fur catching that of
agriculture.
The first white men to visit Illinois with a view of making extended
explorations were Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette, their travels in
this state beginning in 1673.
Joliet was born at Quebec in 1645, and educated for a priest of tlie
2
18 HISTORY OF JbfERCER AJSTD HENDERSON COUNTIES,
Roman Catholic Church, but at the time of which we write had aban-
doned his profession, and at the age of twenty-eight was engaged in the
fur trade.
Father JNIarquette was born in France in 1637. He was also a
priest of the same church and of the order of Jesuits. It was with a
view to promulgate the doctrines of Ms church that he left comparative
comfort in his native country, crossed the Atlantic and braved the
western wilderness, hundreds of miles beyond the boundaries of civili-
zation, to convert the Indians to the faith he professed, in which, by
his kindness, he made many enduring friendships.
These t^'o men, with their several objects in view, set out from the
Jesuit Mission on the Sti-ait of Mackinaw with five other French com-
panions on their journey, May 17, 1763, their objective point being the
Mississippi river, of which they had but a vague idea. Coasting along
the northern shore of Lake Michigan, they reached Green Bay, on the
west side of the lake, and the mouth of Fox river, in Wisconsin. Up
this river they pushed their canoes as far as the depth of the water
would pemiit. IIa\dng reached the head waters of the Fox, it was but
a few miles to the waters of the "Wisconsin, which flows thence into the
Mississippi. Across this stretch of prairie they carried their small
boats and scanty outfits, and again launched them. On the 17th of
June, just one month after their embarkation at the Mackinaw, they
found theraseltes on the broad bosom of the Father of Waters (mean-
ing of the Indian words composing the name Mississippi). Down the
river they glided rapidly and easily, touching frequently at difterent
points on either shore, and doubtless the soil of these counties was
pressed, for the first time by white men, by the feet of Joliet and Mar-
quette and their companions. On landing at one place their journal
shows that they went ashore and remained several days with the
natives. This could not have been far from this part of the river's
course — probably near Rock Island on the west side. They were
treated kindly by the Indians, and given all the supplies at their dis-
posal for the further prosecution of their explorations. They continued
tlieir course imtil they came near the mouth of the Arkansas river,
where, finding Indians who showed some signs of hostility, they
deemed it expedient to return. They now entered the mouth of the
Illinois river, up which they toiled to Lake Michigan, whose western
shore they followed to Green Bay, where they arrived the latter part of
September. In this journey they had spent about four months and
traveled nearly 3,000 miles. Joliet had accomplished his purpose of
discovering a route to the great water thoroughfares and opening up
friendly relations with the inhabitants along their shores, and Father
DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS. 19
Marquette had made known the gospel to those with whom his brief
visits brought him in contact.
The formal occupation of the Mississippi and Illinois valleys was.
accomplished in IBS**, in the name of the French, by Robert La Salle,
who came, with about thirty followers, for the i)urpose of building forts
on the Illinois river at different points, and establishing trading points
with the natives in the name and for the benefit of the French govern-
ment, which he represented. Even at this early date the English and
French were disputing the rights of each other to the trade of these
valleys, and this expedition was watched with suspicious eyes by the
former. Not only so, but the enterprise which bid fair to be popular
and profitable was jealously viewed by the order of Jesuits, who had
been excluded from it, and their rivals of the Recollet order selected
as spiritual counsel and companions. Of the last was father Hennepin,
after whom, 150 years later, was named a town on the Illinois river.
OwiTig to these, and unfaithful members of the expedition, ti'eacherous
guides and hostile Indians, with many unforseen mishaps, the story of
La Salle's travels sounds more like fiction than truth. Often, almost
alone, he traveled for many days through the wilderness in the dead of
winter and almost without a mouthful of food. His forts and trading
posts were built and destroyed and rebuilt by turns, until at last, having
formally taken possession of the country and traversed the Illinois
river from Lake Michigan, the Kankakee to its junction therewith, and
the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, he was basely assassinated by
his own followers in January, 1687. In taking possession of the
country he gave it the name of his reigning monarch and called it
Louisiana, so that what is now Mercer and Henderson counties and
Illinois was once called by that name.
Very much that would be interesting to the general reader concern-
ing La Salle's voyages must necessarily be omitted, as our work has
not so much to do with the State of Illinois and the great water-courses
explored by him as with the locality under immediate consideration.
Father Llennejnn, whose name has already been mentioned, made by
La Salle's order an excursion from the mouth of the Illinois up the
Mississippi as far as the Falls of St. Anthony, and may have touched
at points bordering on this section. Henry Tonti, one of La Salle's
companions, figures largely in the early explorations of this part of the
country. He spent over twenty years in establishing posts and build-
ing fortifications for their protection. Under his command was all of
the territory from the Allegheny to the Rocky Mountains, and from the
Gulf of Mexico as far north as imagination could carry.
Although the French had, as noted, taken possession of this large
20 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
tract of country, it was not an undisijuted occupation. The English,
having settled the Atlantic coast, were gradually pushing their settle-
ments toward the west, and finding the fur trade a profitable soui-ee of
revenue to individual enterprise and also to the government, disputed
with the French who inhabited the shores of the great lakes, the right
to the monopoly. To cany out then- plans it became necessary for
either to enlist the Indians in their schemes, as from them they were
to derive their profit. Accordingly, the natives of the Alleghenies and
the Ohio valle}' were naturally arrayed against each other and many
and bloody wars were the consequence. In the mother countries the
French and English were engaged from time to time in combat, which
naturally extended to the colonies of America, and thus were the strug-
gles for the fur trade, which might otherwise have been confined to
active comj^etition, transformed into long-continued and bloody conflict.
These wars in history are termed the French and Indian wars, and
lasted for a period of more than fifty years. At last, in 1763, at a
ti'eaty between these nations, all that portion of the Mississippi valley
east of the river was ceded to England, and thus for a time, imtil the
war of the revolution, this section of country remained a province of
Oreat Britain.
The great struggle of the colonists, commencing in 1775 and ending
with then- independence in 1783, though mostly confined to the shores
of the Atlantic were not wholly so, for while a fierce conflict was going
on at the east, the valleys of the Mississippi, Wabash and Ohio were
receiving some attention from both the English and Americans. At
the beginning of that war the whole northwest was in the possession
of the British.
Tlie brilliant achievements which wTested these beautiful valleys
from English rule were brought about by Gen. George Rogers Clarke,
of Virginia. He well understood the relations existing between the
Indians and the mother country, and though the natives had been
stirred up to jealousy by the rapid encroachments of white settlers upon
their domain, he wisely judged that if the British posts and forts could
be wrested from them, the subjugation of the Indians would be a com-
jjaratively easy matter. Accordingly he applied to the authorities of
Virginia for men and means for the accomplishing of the enterprise, and
though they could at that time ill be spared, they were granted, and
Clarke set out upon the undertaking. Though many hardships conse-
quent upon hunger and fatigue had to be endured, the whole line of forts,
including Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Vincennes, was taken with scarcely
a show of resistance, the inhabitants of the posts aj^jjarently being
desu-ous of coming under the new government. In February, 1777,
DISCOVERIKS AND EXPLORATIONS. 21
Yincennes was taken, and tlins hostilities for this region, not only
between tlie Americans and English, but for the time being between
the Americans and Indians were terminated, and the possession of the
northwest made secure. But for these brilliant strokes of Gen. Clarke
it is hard to conceive what would have been the history of this part of
the country. Possibly a union of all the tribes from Maine to Florida
might have been effected, which in conjunction with foreign foes,
though then somewhat discouraged, would have retained jDOSsession of
the whole Mississipi)i valley even to this time.
The close of the war of independence left this portion of the
coimtry under the government of the United States, and as a part of
Virginia. In 1778, the legislature of Virginia formed, from the ter-
ritory under that dominion, all of the country now embraced in the
states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, AVisconsin and Michigan, the county
of Illinois, so that what is now embraced in Mercer and Henderson
counties was once a part of Virginia. Illinois continued a part of
Virginia until March 1, 1784, when that state ceded it with all other
territory north of the Ohio river to the United States.
In 1787, the whole country under consideration was, by an ordinance
passed by the government, set apart and named the Northwestern Ter-
ritorv. After a while the terntory was divided into smaller territories,
and what is now the state of Illinois fell into that portion called
Indiana Territory as one of its counties, with its old name of 1778 —
Illinois county.
In 1809, the country now known as Illinois and Wisconsin was
erected into a separate territory with the name of Illinois Territory.
The population of this vast region was then only about half that of
Mercer and somewhat less than Henderson county, being all told
9,000. Many of the oldest citizens of this region, but then residents
of other states, doubtless remember, if not the event itself, many
incidents of as early a date. Now there are 102 counties in the State
of Illinois, few of which contain a smaller population than did both
these great states only seventy-iive years ago, one of which has residing
within its limits a population sixty times as great. At the time of
which we write, the territory was divided into two counties — St. Clair
and Randolph.
Though the valley of the Mississippi was a part of the United
States,^ and though it belonged to the government, it was occupied
almost exclusively by the Indians, and they claimed it as their rightful
possession in which to live and derive support, not from the culti\'ation
of its soil, but from its natural products. In 1801 William Ilemy
Harrison, authorized by the general government, made a treaty with
90
HISTORY OF ^tERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
the chiefs and head men of the Sac and Fox nations who were then the
occupants of all this region, whereby all the country on both sides of
the Mississippi and including all the country west of the Illinois, was
given up to the government for purposes of settlement by the wliites.
Out of this treatv, a number of years later, gi-ew what is known as the
Black Hawk wai-.
GENERAL HARRISON.
In 1816 all that portion of the state between the Mississippi and
Illinois rivers, and extending from the mouth of the latter about 170
miles north, and including the counties of which we now wi'ite, was
surveyed by the government and subsequently set apart as bounties to
soldiers of the regular anny who had served in the war with Great
Britain, and which had just preceded the date just given. The whole
tract contained 207 entire townships and several fractions. These land
grants or bounties became a kind of currency in this part of the coun-
try, and were used not only by actual settlers in making homes for
themselves, but large numbers were bought by speculators for a trifling
part of their face value. From misunderstandings as to their real
value and of their validity, many claims were put in jeopardy, and
much litigation in regard to the land titles in the parts of the counties
•embraced by the military tract have been the result. "Wlioever has
held successfully a disputed title in the Bounty lands, from bitter expe-
rience has learaed the history of these land schemes and speculations
better than any but the attorneys engaged in unravelling them can
know or cai*e to learn.
BLACK HAWK WAR. 23
In 1818 the territory now embraced in Illinois became a separate
organization and was admitted into the Union as a State. As yet but
fifteen counties had been formed in the state and all of these in the
southern part. None had been formed in the military tract, nor
indeed was there much necessity for such organizations, as there was
scarcely a lamily permanently established. However, a few years
later, Pike county, embracing all of the wilderness of Warren, Mercer,
Henderson and a number of other counties, was organized.
From and after the Black Hawk war, settlements were quite rapid
west of the Illinois river, and new counties were accordingly as rapidly
authorized. The army which went forward to suppress the uprising of
the Indians under that chief in 1832 had much to do in settling the
section between the mouth of the Illinois and Eock Island. It was
then discovered by many of the soldiery that the warden of Illinois lay
along that line of march. Many of them profited by their experience
by themselves selecting homes in the section under consideration.
Information sent by others to friends in the east and south brought
many more, so that in 1825 the county of Warren, embracing all ot
the territory now included in Warren and Henderson, and Mercer with
its present limits, were formed and attached to Peoria for })olitical i)ur-
poses. Subsequently, Warren county was organized and Mercer was
attached to Warren for a few years. In 1835 Mercer was organized,
and in 1841 Henderson with its present limits was cut oft' fi'om the
west side of Warren and immediately organized. This then brings us
to the consideration of the several counties as separate organizations,
and as such we shall refer to them as separate items of historical
interest.
BLACK HAWK AVAR.
Tliough this was not the battle-field of the Indian troubles, yet its
proximity to the scenes of the stniggle makes the Black Hawk war a
peculiarly interesting topic for consideration ; indeed this petition of
the valley of the Mississippi was the home of the Indian. On its
banks and those of the Edwards, Pope and Henderson rivers, and the
smaller streams of the two counties, he built his wigwam, hunted game
and fished in theu- waters. Tlds country was dear to him and for it,
though not in it, he made his last desperate struggle.
The rich mines of lead at and in the \'icinity of Galena had for
some time been worked. That section, about fifteen miles square, had
been bought by the government in 1804, and its occupation by the
whites had been the source of some ill-feeling on the part of the
Indians, which was resented by the whites. In 1825 or thereabouts
real trouble be£:an to show itself and confiicts between the two races
24 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
were common. At this time the number of miners had increased to
more than 1,500 and they were not always careful to avoid crossing-
the Indian claims, nor were they always particular about holding sacred
the rights of Indians to their property, or of shooting their game or
stealing their ponies, and it finally came about that an Indian's scalp
was considered as much of a trophy as was a white man's to an
Indian.
These gi-owing animosities hnally culminated in an attack by the
"Winnebago Indians on the 30th of July, 1827, on two keel-boats which
were passing up the Mississippi river with supplies for Fort Snelling.
Several of the crew were killed and others wounded. The state gov-
ernment being apprised of the outbreak ordered forward, to the tlireat-
ened portion of the state, military to quell the hostiles. The whole
countiy roundabout was in confusion and alarm, and settlers,
throughout the northern part of the state fled to distant points where
had been erected fortifications for safety. At Galena 3,000 people,
men women and children from the surrounding country were gathered
for protection. Several hundred men at Galena were armed and
equipped, and in Sangamon and Morgan counties a regiment was
foraied and sent foi*ward, but before they arrived the Indians had been
driven far north and some of the leaders captured.
Hardly had the excitement occasioned by this outbreak died out,
however, until trouble began with the Sac and Fox tribes. Tlie leaders,
and chiefs of these were Keokuk and Black Hawk, whose names have
been perpetuated in different localities in this vicinity by places which
bear their names. These men were not friends ; had they been, the
war which was soon to follow might have been a much more serious
affair than it proved. Keokuk was loyal to the government and con-
trolled much the larger portion of the people, though they were anx-
ious for war, and in accordance with the stipulations of a preceding
treaty he with a majority of the two tribes remained on the west side
of the Mississippi river. Black Hawk, however, claiming that the
treaty alluded to was void, crossed the river with 300 warriors in the
spring of 1831 with a view of occupying his former home near where
the city of Kock Island now stands. Here had these people lived for
more than a hundred years and this was the principal town of the Sac
nation. According to one provision of the treaty the Indians had a.
right to occupy the lands until wanted by the government for actual
settlement, and though the Indians had been ordered to vacate them
no actual settlers were very near — in all of Mercer and Henderson
counties perhaps not more than five or six families, and in the whole
county of Rock Island not one. However, in those times people liv-
BLACK HAWK WAK. 25
ing witliin forty miles of each other were neighbors, and the two races
could not well exist within twice the distance without encroaching on
each other. Doubtless both parties were much to blame in bringing
about this final conilict, and doubtless both were anxious that the iinal
test should be made. It is not our province to discuss causes or
details, but simply relate facts that seem to have a close connection
with the territory whose history we set out to write.
On the 30th of April, 1831, a petition signed by forty persons was
sent to the executive of Illinois representing that the Indians had done
much damage to their property, and that their lives and homes were
in constant danger. John Reynolds was then Governor of Illinois and
believing from this petition and other information received, that
Black Hawk was determined to retain possession of the dis-
puted territory to the detriment of tlie state, resolved to ex-pel
him. He accordingly made a call for volunteers. In a vdry
short time 700 militia were assembled at Beardstown on the
Illinois river ready to take up the line of march toward the camp of
Black Hawk. Before moving, however, Gen. Gaines, who was then
stationed at St. Louis, passed up the river to Rock Island in command
of a regiment of United States troops, with the hope of returning the
Indians to the west side of the river without the necessity of calling
upon the militia. The Indians were obstinate and refused to move,
and according to previous arrangement the volunteers from Beards-
town were advised to go forward, which they did with much enthu-
siasm, their numbers having in the meantime been swelled to twice
the original call.
The brigade was accompanied by Governor Reynolds ; and Joseph
Duncan, whose name appears on the records of Mercer and Henderson
as a large land-holder in the early times of this section, was appointed
brigadier-general. On the loth of June, this, the largest body of
military that had ever been seen in the state, left their encampment at
Rushville, just west of the Illinois river, and marched to within a few
miles of the Sac village. This line of march took them directly
through the centi'al part of Mercer county, and the exact route is still
known and pointed out, it being on the old Indian trail (which was
nearly on the Henderson and Warren county line) and extending
through Mercer county northward between Aledo and Joy. When the
Indians found that the government and state were in earnest, and that
they were nearly surrounded with bristling bayonets and cannon, and
were about to be cut off, they took the alarm, and the night before the
intended attack escaped to the west side of the river. Doubtless their
retreat was known and could have been cut off, but Gen. Gaines was
"26 HISTORY OF >rERCER AXD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
anxious that the aftair should end without bloodshed. The soldiery
were somewhat disai)pointed, and in a spirit of revenge burned their
town, though the wigwams and cabins were needed to i)roteet them-
.selves from the rain which was falling incessantly.
Thus bloodlessly terminated the campaign, but the war was not yet
at an end. Black Hawk had promised to submit to the government of
the country and to the counsel of the friendly chiefs, but he still had
the defiant \vi\\ which ere long must needs break out in the act which
did not terminate so favorably to him and his braves. During the fol-
lowing winter he was busy inciting the Indians to hostility, and by
spring had succeeded in raising a force of 500. His headquarters
were at the site of old Fort Madison, just on the west side of the Mis-
sissippi. From thence they proceeded up the river on horses, the
women and childi'en in canoes, to a point just opposite the present
town of Oquawka. Here they were met by White Cloud, the prophet,
who, at a council held at the place named, advised them to go torward
and cross the river, and that numerous other tribes would surely join
them in a war against the whites. Accordingly the Indians crossed
the Mississippi at Rock Island and ascended the Rock river to the
■country still occupied by the Winnebagos, near its source. Couriers
were sent to warn them to return, but with no effect. The attitude of
Black Hawk looked so alarming that the settlers of the whole of the
north half of the state fled precipitately to the southern j^art and to
the more thickly settled jjortions of Indiana.
Governor Reynolds at once called for volunteers to meet at Beards-
to^vn. About 2,000 men assembled upon this call, and on the 27th of
April the army started on their march to Oquawka, whei'e they were
joined by two companies from Shelby county. Here the army
encamped for several days awaiting supplies and provisions, which
were furnished them from Rock Island and St. Louis. As soon as
they could be supplied, baggage wagons were loaded and all was got
in readiness for a march to Dixon, where they had been informed the
■enemy was encamped. When the army was ready to start a letter
was brought from Gen. Atkinson, who commanded several com})anies
■of the regular army at Fort Armstrong, that Black Hawk had
descended the Rock river, and requesting tlie governor to march
immediately with troops to Fort Armstrong. The army was then put
in motion and moved to the mouth of Rock river, where they were
received into the service of the United States, and Gen. Atkinson
.assumed command.
The volunteers now took up their course along Rock river toward
Dixon, where they were joined a few days later by Gen. Atkinson and
BLACK HAWK WAR. 27
tlie regulars. From this point ]\rajors Stillman and ]*>aik'v liad been
detailed to protect the pioneer border, and having as yet seen l;ut little
service they were anxious to go farther up the river to reconnoitre.
Accordingly orders were given to proceed up the river for this purpose,
and with nearly 300 men tliey advanced about thirty miles, where they
captured a few Indians and pursued some others, who had tied, into
the very ambush of Black Hawk, who with only about forty warriors
put them to flight and killed several of them. The retreat was as
inglorious as it was confusing ; ammunition, food, horses and wagons
were left in the precipitate flight, and the fugitives did not stop
running until they arrived at Dixon, in squads of from two or three to
a dozen.
The war was now fully inaugurated, and the next day the army
started for the fleld of action. They found the ground strewn with
their comrades in a horribly mutilated condition, with heads and limbs
sundered from the bodies and hearts plucked out. The fragments were
gathered together and buried in one common grave on the sjjot. The
Indians had fled, well knomng that the fury of the whites would be
fully aroused upon the discovery of the atrocious deeds.
The Govermnent now sent Gen. Scott with 1,000 United States
troops to superintend operations in the future campaigns. New levies
of troops were made and sent forward by the State. On the 6th of
June Black Hawk made an attack with about 150 warriors on the fort
at Apple river, near (xalena. There were only twenty-five men in the
fort, but they defended it witli desperation for fifteen hours, and the
Indians were finally compelled to retire, the only damage sustained
being the loss of one man, the burning of the houses of the village,
and the destruction of other property.
Other conflicts followed rapidly in succession between bands of
Indians and detachments of American troops, but as the engagements
did nf>t occur in the vicinity of the counties of which we wi'ite, we shall
but mention them. The battle at Kellogg's Grove, and other conflicts
in the northern portion of Illinois and the southern part of Wisconsin
occurred during the months of June and July.
At last, about the first of August, the Indians were completely
hemmed in at a point on the Mississippi called Bad Axe, where they
were driven into the river, many being killed and many others being
drowned in the attempt to gain the opposite shore. The loss of the
Indians was not far short of 300, and near 100 more were wounded and
taken prisoners. The war \'irtually ended with the battle of Bad Axe,
-and the further pursuit of the hostiles was not deemed necessary.
Many of the names of those engaged in the war, such as Anderson,
Turney, Ewing, Breese, Dement, Ford, Duncan, Dodge and Lincoln,
28 HISTORY OF >rERCER AND HENDERSON COrNTIES.
afterward became noted in the history of the state and of the nation.
Among the many who distinguished themselves, none made a more
brilliant record than did Gen. James D. Henry, of Springfield, after
whom has been named an adjoining county.
A few weeks subsequent to the battle of Bad Axe, Black Hawk and
the Prophet were captured by some friendly Indians and turned over
to the United States authorities. They were held in custody for about
one year, when they were set at liberty ; subsequently Black Hawk
settled dowTi in Lee county, Iowa, for a short period, and then moved
to the vicinity of the Des Moines, twenty miles above its mouth. In
1838 he contracted a disease which ended his life when he had
attained the age of seventy-two years. Abraham Miller, formerly a
resident of Mercer county, says, in a letter to the Historical Society of
Mercer county, that he frequently saw Black Hawk after his expulsion
from this section, in the neighborhood of New Boston, where, Mr.
Miller says. Black Hawk's daughter lies buried. Quite a number of
citizens of Mercer and Henderson counties yet survive who were per-
sonally acquainted with this great chief, notably amongst whom is
Colonel Patterson of Oquawka, whose intimacy with him and his his-
tory we shall notice at length on a subsequent page.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE INDIANS.
The Indians inhabiting this portion of the state at the time of the
advent of the white settler, and for many years previous, were the Sac
and Fox nations, and consisted of the Ottawa, Ivickapoo, Chippewa,
Shawnee, Mascoutin, Piankeshaw aud Pottawottamie tribes. They
had obtained possession of this part of the State by conquest from
other tribes who had lived here before the occupation by these nations.
The Sacs and Foxes were at the beginning of the present century
indeed but one nation in reality, intermarrying, li\nng, hunting and
fighting together as an individual nation. As their history is so
closely connected with this section, doubtless many of our younger
readers, whose fathers and mothers and elderly fi'iends have recollec-
tions reaching back to the closing scenes of the Indian's last years on
the east side of the Mississippi and their final departure, will be inter-
ested to read something relating to their modes of life.
Before the arrival of the Europeans and their intercourse with them,
their manners, implements of agriculture, hunting and war, were much
more rude than after contact with the more enlightened whites. They
were at first found in possession of the most simple utensils ; the fiint
dart, of which many have been found along the timber lands of the
streams, were the points for the arrows, which, shot from the bow,
brought down the game which was their principal subsistence. The
MANNERS AND CUSTOilS OF THE INDIANS.
29
"boys as soon as they were strong enough were given tliis instrument,
and their education consisted in its use and the knowledge of the
habits of the animals it was designed to destroy.
This, too, was theu- instrument of warfare. For the difterent pur-
poses different shajjed points were used. Some were fashioned with
barbs at the base, so that the arrows ha%'ing entered the object would
not be easily withdrawn, which, possibly were used for shooting fish ;
some were made broad at the base, and were no doubt designed to
make a large wound, and were perhaps used for the slaying of the
larg-er animals and in war ; and vet others were e^-identlv intended for
small game, and where it was not desirable to injure the flesh more than
^
absolutely necessary. Of these three principal varieties cuts are here
given, but there were numerous modifications of these, as can be seen
by reference to the collections in the possession of a number of persons
30 HISTORY OF MEKCEK AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
in this section. For knives and axes they also used iiint and granite
stones fashioned into proper shapes.
Mr. Tyler McWhorter has in his valuable and extensive cabinet Si
very large number of these and other implements used by these
people.
These rude implements were, after the iur trade was established,
gradually supei-seded by knives and guns procured fi-om the traders
in exchange for furs, and many of the Indians soon became as skillful
in the use of the rifle as the white men, and afterward made eftectual
and savage use of it against the race by whom it had been supplied.
However, when our fathers and grandfathers found these people here
they were still anything but cultured in then* ways.
Tlieir houses consisted of a few poles ten or fifteen feet in length,
planted in the ground in circular form and approaching each other at
the top, and covered with the skins of animals. In the winter the fire
was kindled in the middle of the area inside and the smoke found its
way out at the top, where an opening had been left. At this fire they
cooked their food by roasting animaFs flesh held on the ends of sharp-
ened sticks, and by baking cakes of meal that had been made by
breaking the grains with stones on flat, heated stones. A common food
was made by boiling the carcass of an animal ^vith kernels of corn and
such vegetables as they could find. Abraham Miller, an early settler
at the town of Millersburg, relates that he saw Black Hawk and a few
of his friends regale themselves on a stew prepared from a polecat
thrown into the kettle without any dressing whatever. Skins of ani-
mals taken in the chase constituted their beds, and around the smoul-
deiing embers of the camp-fire they smoked their pipes and recounted
there the incidents of the chase or war, and slept the long winter
nights upon these primitive couches.
The business of the Indian was to kill game and spear fish, while
that of the wife was to till the soil in summer, gather and chop the
wood for the fires and do the drudgery for the simple household.
Cleanliness was by no means essential to respectability, neither did
the clothing nor the person of the Indian receive so many ablutions
but that all these events in his life could be easily remembered.
Marriage with them was not even a matter of form, unless it be
considered in the light of a bargain and sale, for such it really was,
ponies, and bear and deer skins being almost always given in exchange-
for wives. In general they had but few children. The women were
treated as slaves and were subject in consequence of exposure to many
and severe attacks of sickness.
The stories found in novels of the wooing of the dusky nuiiden by
the noble waiTior or daring hunter, and of their tender attachment for
DESCRIPTION, 31
their wives and children, are in tlie main very much overdrawn. A
few rare exceptions are known. It is said tliat Bhick Hawk was a
most devoted husband, and was, througliout his h)ng Hfe, true to hi*
marital relations.
The amusements of the Indians were the war dance, athletic sports,
and the narration of their hunting and war experiences, but in none of
these did the females take any part.
Though filthy in their habits to the extreme they were nevertheless
proud, and were fond of decorating their dirty bodies with paint,
feathers, and such bits of ribbons and beads as they could obtain.
After its introduction by the whites the Indians grew very fond of
whisky, and drunkenness became much more common with them than
with their pale brethren. Sometimes when a fresh supply of liquor
was obtained, a whole band, with the exception of two or three, who-
were required to remain sober for the puqjose of keeping the rest from
murdering each other, would get on a grand big drunk, which would
not end until the whisky was all gone or they got beyond the power of
locomotion.
DESCRIPTION.
Mercer county lies on the northwestern border of the state and em-
braces a little more than fifteen townships, or about 550 square miles.
It is bounded on the north by Rock Island county, on the east by Henry
and Knox, on the south by Warren and Henderson, and on the west
by the middle of the Mississippi river. The fourth principal meridian
passes along the eastern border, and it embraces townships 13, 14 and
15 north, and ranges 1, 2, 3, 4, and a part of 5 and 6 west. It is inter-
sected fi'om the east to the west, through the northern portion, by
Edwards river, which, near the western border, changes its course, and
running in a southwesterly direction, empties into the Mississippi about
a mUe and a half below New Boston. A few miles south of the
Edwards is Pope creek, which passes through the county in the same
direction, and enters the Mississippi at Keithsburg. In addition to
these there are in the northwest, Eliza creek, which empties into Swan
lake, and Camj) creek, a tributary of the Edwards. South of these is
North Pope, a tributary of Pope creek, and in the southeast are North
Henderson and Duck creeks. These, together with some smaller
streams, farnish an abundant supply of water.
A large portion of the county is prairie, while along the
borders of the streams are the so-called barrens. The soil of
the prairie is a deep black or chocolate colored loam, with
a yellow or dark bro%vn clay subsoil. The soil of the barrens
is similar to that of the prairie, only lighter colored and of
32 HISTORY OF SIEECER AJJD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
less depth, while along the upper part of the slope it is of a light
hrown or yellowish color, owing to the character of the subsoil, which
comes near the surface. In some portions of the barrens there is but
a thin covering of the soil, and in these places it is quite light colored.
The most extensive allmdal deposit is along the Mississijipi bottom.
This extends along the whole western border of the countj, with a
varied width of from two to five miles. Of this, that portion which is
situated on the northwest and extends as far south as New Boston, is
much cut up by swamps, lakes and bays. Through a large j)ortion of
these bottom lands there are one or more low ridges of sand. The
soil of this sandy portion is of but little value, there being but few
seasons when it is wet enough to produce. In other portions the
soil is a deep black loam and very productive. [Narrow alluvial belts
are also found along nearly all the water-courses, the soil of which is
very dark colored, but more or less intermingled with sand and peb-
bles. Coal of a good quality is found in various parts ; the veins are
fi'om three to five feet thick. The mines furnish a large amount of
good coal. The seam furnishing the largest portion of the coal of this
county extends over most of the northeastern half of the county, but
is most extensively mined in the townships of Greene, Rivoli, Rich-
land Grove and Preemption. In the township sketches, devoted
to these townships, will be found more extended notices of these
mines.
The soU of this county is well adapted to agricultural purposes, and
is in nearly every part of the county productive of large crojjs of corn,
oats and hay. Wheat is not much raised. Formerly, spring wheat
was grown to a considerable extent, but of late 3T^ars its cultivation has
greatly decreased. Recently, considerable attention has been given to
producing winter wheat. The land along or near the water-courses,
though of a lighter character, is valuable for the production of fruit.
Nearly all the lands along the streams were formerly hea^ily timbered,
but here the first settlers built their cabins, and in consequence of
habits acquired in their eastern and southern homes, much of the orig-
inal forest has disappeared. In the early times coal was not used for
fuel ; indeed it was scarcely known to exist, and its value as a fuel was
overlooked for a number of years. Fencing and house-building also
required much timber, and so the once heavily timbered portions of
the county now resemble much more than formerly the oi)en prairies
which lie beside them. The kinds of timber most abundant are white,
burr, black, red and laurel oak, red and white elm, blue and white ash,
hickory, maple, wild cherry, and occasionally a black walnut. In the
bottoms are also locust, sycamore, cottonwood, box alder, wild plum
WILLIAM DRURY.
A SCRAP OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 35
and crab-apple, and occasionally pecans and buckeyes. Grape Wnes
and other climbers are abundant. In later years the hand of man has
added many varieties of fruit and ornamental trees, which thrive
apparently as though in their native soil. The osage orange grows
well here, and many of the most tasty farms are now fenced with this
shrub. The climate is rather cold for it, however, and its fruit scarcely
ever comes to perfection.
In the larger rivers, especially near their mouths, are abundant
supplies of fish, and formerly in the timber along their banks were
found many wild animals, such as deer, squirrels, raccoons, turkeys
and chickens. The game has almost all vanished from before the face
of the white man. The description of the county will be given more
in detail in the several township sketches.
A SCRAP OF ANCIENT HISTORY.
The following, wi'itten nearly half a century ago, by a visitor to
this section, will doubtless prove interesting to many readers. It is
from Augustus Mitchell's description of Illinois in 1837.
"Mercer county is situated in the northern part of the Military
Bounty tract. It lies north of Warren, south of Eock Island, west of
Henry, and east of Louisa and Musquitine counties, ^Wisconsin terri-
tory, from which it is separated by the Mississippi river.
The town of Mercer is located in the exact geogi*apliical center and
wdtli the ex]Dres8 \dew of becoming the county seat of Mercer county.
It is situated midway between Pope and Edwards rivers, wliich run
through the county parallel to each other, and at this point are n<^t
more than five miles apart. The site is healthy and elevated, com-
manding a beautiful Aiew of the smTounding country, which is as rich
and as well adapted to the culture of wheat, and indeed of all kinds
of grain, as any in the state. The county is settling rapidly with a
moral, industrious and enterjjrising population. The water-power
afibrded by Pope and Edwards rivers is equal to that of any county
in the state : a circumstance of much importance, not only for fur-
nishing lumber for building, but for the erection of grain and flouring
mills. There is one saw mill now in operation wdthin two and one-
half miles of Mercer, and several others will be built the approaching
season, also within a few miles of the town. The situation of Mercer
admits of the convenient access to the timber, stone and stone coal of
both Pope and Edwards rivers and their branches. Mercer is situa-
ted about fourteen miles from New Boston, on the Mississippi, at which
there is an excellent landing. It is also on the direct route from the
*Now Iowa.
36 HISTORY OF MERCER AXD HENDERSON COrNTIES.
latter place to Heiinepiu. and from Oquawka to Rock Island. New
Boston, the seat of justice, is the only other town in the county, and is
situated at the upper Yellow bank, just above Edwards river, nearly
opposite the mouth of the Lower Iowa, a considerable stream of the
Wisconsin territory. This place has a good landing and a fine harbor,
and when the opix>site territory becomes settled it cannot fail to become
a town of considerable impoitimce, as it will be the commercial entre-
pot of a large extent of feitile covmtiy."
HABITS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PIONEERS.
Perhaps most of the grown people of this section have some knowl-
edge, either by actual observation or fi-om the lips of the few worthy
pioneers who still linger on the shores of time, of the eai'ly modes of
life which obtained during most of tlie first quarter of a centmy of its
historv. But the last original settler will soon have left us. and then
these things, but for the historian's pen. would become but matters of
tradition. Even now. amonsrst the voun^er class, the stories of the
early hardships, tiials and triumphs of this worthy class of heroic men
and women, are not so verv ftdlv realized, and in the neai* future an
account of what were once considered **atilictions gi-ievous to be
borne." will, without doubt, prove interesting reading to the gi-and-
children of those whose voices will have been hushed, and whose
weai-v bodies will have been lain awav in the soil thev first tm-ned to
the sun.
Hotc they came. — A single instance would almost answer for the
history of the emigi-ation of all of the early settlefs to this section.
We will give it in substance, though not exactly in the words of one
who came to this connti'v in 1S3S :
Far across the dense woodlands of Indiana, neai* where Ohio's
broad watei"S roU onward to join the Mississippi in its com'se to the
great ocean, among the gi-aceful forest trees, and gushing spi-ings and
fertile fields of Oliio, rests in quiet beauty a shady liillside, a bright
green valley, and a dancing water-brook. Xear the lane which passes
this spot and crosses the little stream of water just beyond, may be
seen a fine old farm house surroimded with towering elms and fronted
with evergreens of difierent varieties. But not with this place, as it
exists to-dav. has our narrative to do. True, the surroundmors have
changed but little in half a century. The trees are much larger, and
the house has been so metamorphosed that its former occu]»ant would
not recognize it ; but the hillside and the brook, the valley and the
forest, present the same appearance as when forty-odd years ago the
scene which we are about to describe might have been witnessed.
HABITS AN-D CUSTOMS OF THE PION-EEES. 37
It was no uncommon ocenrrence that was taking place Aere, but
because of its being a usual circumstanc-e it becomes of the greater
importance and is described the more minutely. To the parties c-on-
cemed. h<:»wever. it was a matter of the greatest moment. The family
who had for years occupied this place had caught a glimpse of the
wonderful country in the Bounty tract, one of the number having the
year before made a trip to the new State of Illinois and brought back
glowing acti-ounts of the broad prairies, the fine belts of timber, the
richness of the soiL the abundanc-e of game, and the many other real
and fancied advantages to the emigrant bold enough to face the dan-
gers and privatirins incident t«:> a pioneer life. The matter had been
talked over for many months. The children talked it over and won-
dered at the length of the j< :»umey. the exciting incidents of the trip,
and the novel scenes that awaited them in their new home, little c-om-
prehending the hardships to which they would be subjected. The
mother and wife had said but little, but naturally shrank from the trial
of leaving relatives, friends and home, and taking up her abode in the
wilderness. She could scarcely rec-oncile herself to the life of priva-
tion, and perhaps danger, that awaited her and those she loved. But
the father argued that the little farm on which they lived, and rented
by the year, but barely gave them a support : that the prospect, as
much as he liked his neighb<:>rs, and much as he prized the social and
other privileges, was very feeble for an independence. He was advanc-
ing in years, and the children would soon arrive at manhc« :>d and wom-
anhood with no prc> vision for old age for himself and wife, and with
nothing for the young f«:>lks with which to begin life. And s<:» it was
decided to remove to what seemed to be the land of prcimise.
Acc«:»rdingly, their plans had been announced to their neighbors,
a sale had been made of what they found to be superfluous articles,
though f>erhaps with a view to realize a little ready money, with which
to make a substantial start in their new location and to liquidate a few
debts that had been contrac-ted at the stores, and all was ready for the
journey.
The wagon had been backed to the fi^^nt d<x»r the evening before,
and the c-ows. and a few sheep, that they had concluded to take with
them, and which had been reserved frc»m the sale, had been penned
up. that they might not stray away before the hour at which they were
wanted to begin the ioumev. The morning had arrived, the c-andles
were lighted, the tire in the tireplac-e was crackling, and the kettle boil-
ing, preparatory to taking the last meal in the house. The breakfast
was dispatched in an unusuallv short time, and then commenced the
exciting process of packing up. Bedsteads were knocked to pieces.
38 HISTORY OF MEECEE AND HENDEESON COUNTIES.
bed-clothes were tlirown in all directions, and things in general pre-
sented a confused appearance. The children seemed to enjoy the ex-
citement, the mother hastened about, but on her face was a look
of dejection ; but the father and husband moved around vntli a firm
gait, attending t<j the work of preparation with no sign that betrayed
the feeling of reluctance with which he was leaving the place that he
had for so many years called home, though doubtless much of his
cheerfulness was assumed for the eifect that his demeanor might have
on the other members of the familv.
Soon the household effects and the simpler class of farming uten-
sils were stowed away in -the wagon, the bows to support the wagon
cover were put in their staples, and the white cover stretched on and
tied. Then the oxen were hitched to the wagon, the sheep and cows
turned into the road, and all were readv to start.
Numerous relatives and friends by this time had gathered to bid
them good-by, looking on in the meantime with mingled feelings of
sorrow and wonder. When at last the moment for starting came, the
wife broke into weeping ; and though the husband showed no outward
signs of regret, when he bid his nearest friends farewell his hand
shook a little and his voice was husky.
Such a trip as lay before these adventurers would now be consid-
ered comparatively a trivial undertaking, but at the time of which we
write it was of a more serious nature. It would well compare with the
embarkation of the hundred pilgrims, who left their native shores two
hundred years earlier to make their way across the boundless deep, to
find a home in the new world. Indeed, the hardships of the mlder-
ness road which lay before were gi-eater than those experienced by the
emigrants of the Mayflower. The length of time required to complete
the journey was almost as great.
The mother and the youngest children rode in the wagon, while
the father and oldest boy trudged along on foot to guide the oxen and
attend to the stock. It would be interesting to listen to the account of
all the incidents of their long and tedious journey, but time and space
forbids more than brief allusions. The roads, even in Ohio and Indi-
ana, were but poor, and after crossing the AV abash, consisted of mere
trails across prairies, through sloughs, fording creeks and ferrying
livers. There were but few bridges across the streams then, especially
on this side of the Wabash, and after some days out 'some of the
streams were found to be so swollen by recent rains that the emigrants
were compelled to go into camp for several days to wait for the flood
to subside. On one such occasion they became so impatient that, |)ut-
ting into the stream before it had fallen sufficiently, they all came near
HABITS AND CUSTOMS OF TIFE PIONEERS. 39
losing tlieir lives. At another place, where there was a prospect of
having to stay several days, a raft was constructed of timbers cut and
prepared on the spot, and lashed together with bed cords. On this
they crossed to the other side, bringing over the last wheel of the
wagon after a whole day's M^f)rk, tlius camping only a few hundred feet
from their camping place of the night before. Their little stock ot
provisions soon gave out, but they did not suft'er for lack of food, as
the timber was full of game and the rifle supplied them witli i)lenty ot
meat. The cattle easily subsisted upon the gi*ass that grew along the
road. However, the journey was a wearisome one, and all were well
pleased when at length it was completed.
Finally, at the close of a weary day, the company came to a halt,
not with a design of locating at this stopping place, but, knowing that
they must be in the vicinity of the point toward which they had been
traveling, they concluded to camp a few da^^s and look around.
Accordingly, arrangements for more than an ordinary stop were made,
and our pioneer the next day started out on foot to select a location for
his future home, leaving his family in camp. After a few day's search,
he had fully made up his mind, and the camp was removed to the s})ot
selected for the future home, provided the land was not already the
})roperty of some one else. It was yet early spring and they at once
set about i)lanting some corn and other vegetables, even before the
land they were breaking had been secured, living in the meantime in
the now empty box of the wagon.
After the crop was planted, the father made his way to the land
oflSce, and secured the quarter on which he had pitched his tent. By
fall, a cabin was erected, and thus began the new life of one of the
many brave families who at that early date came to this country to seek
an independence and a home.
Doubtless many of the earliest settlers will recognize the expe-
riences of this familv thus far as that of their own, and manv of the
younger people will imagine they have heard the story before, as told
by father or mother, who may long since have been laid to rest in the
little cemetery at Sugar Grove or the Yellow Banks, near the -great
river.
The experiences of the ficst emigrants were so similar that a rep
etition of them destroys the novelty ; but it could never destroy the
charm or lose the interest, while at the same time it renders the faith-
ful description the more valuable, applying as it does, to so many cases.
With the change of the name of the state from which the family came,
and the addition or suppression of a few more details which marked
their journey, no doubt the narrative might be made to tit the emigi'a-
40 raSTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
tioii to this section of a majoritv of its early occupants. A few brought
horses, which drew the great prairie schooner wagon, and not infre-
quently a horse and an ox did duty in the same team. A single ox or
a single horse lias drawn to this country all of the worldlj' wealth pos-
sessed by some of what have proved its most worthy citizens.
The Fii'st Dwellings. — Judge Gilmore, whose recollection of the
early features of the country are probably as correct as any, gives us
the pen picture of the pioneer cabin which follows. The pioneer cabins
were nearly all built after the same pattern, the plans and specifications
being very simple indeed. Tlie building site was a spot in the edge
of the grove, so as to be near the patch of prairie designed to be
cultivated, and within the shelter of the grove for the protection of
themselves and stock from the cold winds of winter. This w^as
considered a colder climate than that from which most of them had
come, and protection from its inclemencies was a matter for serious
consideration.
The \'ery first cabins were constructed from logs entirely undressed,
the small dift'erence in length being considered no disadvantage to looks
or utility. The trees selected for the purpose were generally a foot or
less in diameter. From these logs were cut, usually about sixteen feet
in length. In both ends of the logs notches were cut to receive the
notches cut in each other, so that in their building up they would lie
close one upon the other, in the manner of a rail pen. AVhen the pen
was built to the height of six or seven feet, a portion of one or two logs
on one side would be removed for a window ; another opening would be
made for a door, and another for the stick and mud chimney, which
would be built outside as a kind of an addition to the house.
In winter the windows consisted of greased paper })asted over the
opening mentioned. In summer none were needed. The door was
usually made from boards that had been fashioned from a straight
grained tree by no other tool than the ax. The latch was a liome-made
affair, similar to those still to be seen on farm gates. A little above
the latch a small auger hole was bored through the door, and through
this hung a thong of buckskin attached to the latch, by which it could
be lifted from the outside by pulling the string.
The floor of the dwelling in very many instances was the earth.
The heartli of the fire place, where the cooking was done, was made of
such fiat stones as could be found in their natural state. A little later
bricks for this purpose, and in a few instances for entire chimneys, were
made by tramping mud in a box with the bare feet and burning a few
hundred of them at a time. Abraham Miller, formerly of Mercer
county, but now in Oregon, writes that he made the first bricks ever
HABITS AND CUSTOMS OF TIIK PIONEERS.
41
used in Mercer coiintj, and that the mud for them was mixed with his
bare feet.
The cabins were covered witli boards riven from straiglit grained
trees the full length of one side of the building, and held in their places
by the weight of the bodies of small trees. The cracks between the
logs composing the sides of the cabin were filled with wedge shaped
pieces of wood called ''chinks,'" and these were daubed over with mud,
the hands in many cases being used as the trowel. Abraham Miller
says that the young men were particular to leave linger marks on this
kind of work, as it was a sure road into the good graces of the maidens,
who held this sign of industry and democracy in high repute.
"^
A PIONEER LOG CABIN.
Li the constructi(tn of these simple dwellings the only tools em-
ployed were an ax, a saw and an auger, and in A-ery many cases only
the ax. Not a nail or any piece of iron was used, and not a pane ot
glass; neither paint nor plaster were available.
Decorations, such as pictures or brackets for the walls, would have
been a great curiosity. In their ])lace festoons of corn for the next
year's planting hung from poles in the ui)})er space of the cabins. The
trusty riile lay in two wooden hooks over the door or tire place, and
from pegs near the chimney often hung bits of venison that were being
dried for future use, and was called ''jerk." These were the decora-
tions of grandfather's house.
42 • HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
The pioneer cabin has seen its clay, however, and is now a thing of
the past. It has been superseded by the more pretentious hewed log
house of two or more rooms, and this in turn has given place to the
fine frame and brick dwellings which dot the prairies and groves all
over. A few of the ancient cabins are still doing service as pig-sties or
hen houses, and the modern traveler would hardly dream that once
they were the dwellings of large and happy families.
We give in this connection a view of a cabin still standing in Eliza
township, Mercer county, though the artist has had to draw somewhat
on imagination for the surroundings, as the once pioneer mansion now
serves the ignoble pui'pose of sheltering the chickens.
Ancient House Furniture. — Perhaps in nothing has there been a
greater cluinge than in the furniture, both ornamental and useful, with
which the houses of this county have been supplied. Any one curious
enough to make a list of the numberless articles now considered indis-
pensable to a well furnished house, will be surprised to find that scarcely
an article now in use was in the early times of this section even known.
And so also the few utensils and ornaments used by our grandmothers
would be curiosities now. Sewing macliines only began to come into
use here in about 1860, and now scarcely a family is without one.
Grandmother Dennison, of Keithsburg, says all of the clothing in use
by the family was made by the skillful and industrious fingers of the
housewife with the needle and thimble. Not only so, but even the
cloth of which the clothes were made was a home manufacture.
Each family kept a few sheep, and from these the wool was sheared,
washed, picked, carded, spun, woven, d^^ed and cut, in many instances,
all at home.
None of the young ladies of to-day know what a "wool pickin'" is.
The last one was had years ago. The picking of the particles of dirt
and burs from tlie fleece was a very tedious process, and in the early
times it was customary for the matron of the family to call in the help
of all the young and middle aged ladies for some miles around to assist
in tliis work. These invitations were gladly accepted, for the picking
always ended with a frolic at night, to which the young ladies' beaux
were invited.
So in the making up of clothing, there were in use the big sheep
shears, the cards, which were two instruments much resembling the
instruments used for currying horses at the present day, the spinning-
wheel, the hand loom and the dye kettle. None of these remain in
use, but occasionally one may be found in the garret of the house of an
old settler.
Many of the early settlers were skillful in the use of some of the
HABITS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PIONEERS. 43^
simplest tools of the shoemaker, and could turn out a decent, but rough
pair of shoes from leather that they had themselves tanned from the
skins of animals that they had themselves reared. Even the lasts and
the pegs were of home manufacture. The simple kits of tools used in
the manufacture of leather and shoes were, however, soon superseded
by the tan yards and the professional shoemaker, and they in turn have
had their time and are almost extinct. The few pelts that are now
taken from the cattle are sent to the great cities and tanned by improved
processes, made into shoes by machines driven by steam, and sliipped
back to us in nice green boxes containing a dozen pairs of all sizes and
qualities.
The culinary implements were as rude and simple as it is possible
to conceive. The old Dutch oven for baking bread, a skillet and an
iron pot, that hung from a wooden hook in the great wide chimney,
were about all that were considered necessary for baking, frying and
boiling. There was not a stove in the county until about 1845, and,
therefore, the fireplace, extending almost across .one end of the cabin,
was the only source of heat in the winter, and also answered all the
demands of cooking. Even the first cook stoves were simple aftairs-
compared to those in present use, and were constructed witli a double
purpose of heating and cooking.
In a letter from Abraham Miller, he says: "Our early crops were
mainly corn, wheat, oats, flax for home use, and the most useful vege-
tables of all kinds, all of which did remarkably well. We raised
melons in abundance. The only market point for the county was New
Boston, then only known as Dennison's Landing and wood yard, at
upper Yellow Sand Banks, on the Mississippi river. The first store or
trading post was there in 1834, and was kept by a man by the name of
Irvin, who was very exact, both in a commercial and moral point of
view. He was a seceder by profession. So coiTect was he in his views
of the Sabbath that he penned up his rooster on that day, that he might
not disturb the holy day. This is neither jest nor hoax. I only men-
tion it to show that, in those early times and among backwoods settlers,
religious rites, according to each order, were stiictly obsei*ved. Prices-
of produce were very low. Wheat was not more than forty cents per
bushel, and this was the highest priced article, proporti(mately, that the
farmer had to sell. In those days we were all new begimiers and had
but little suii^lus to market. We raised our own hogs and hominy,
killed deer, wild turkeys, prairie hens, caught fish and found wild bees.
We had to get what little groceries we had with raccoon and deer skins,
and frequently the best of us did without any. We were inured ta
anything from hard times down, and small privations were not noted-
44 HISTORY OF IVreRCER AJS^D HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Our wives and dau^l iters could spin and weave, and wear the product
of their own in(histry. We drank i)arched corn or pea coffee until we
got to raising wheat and rye enough to answer the pui-po^e. "VVe drank
tea made from sycamore chips. A favorite tea was made of red-root
leaves, sweated under a Dutch oven, rolled between the two hands and
dried. When drawn and sweetened with well scummed honey, your
readers are assured it was not bad to take. This tea we called grub
h^'son. An early merchant of ISTew Boston, after the discovery of this
tea, caught at the idea, and when his black tea ran short in the store,
ti-adition says, he sold many a pound of red-root leaves.
'' The men and boys could wear buckskin breeclies ; and a coon-
skin cap, wdth the tail dangling behind the head as an ornament thereto,
was not a novel sight. We were all poor, but on a social equality.
We hardly had an idea of what aristocracy was. With the greatest of
pleasure I yet look back on those good old times as my golden days,
when all around was clothed in the wild, yet gorgeous robes of nature,
and while its half-forgotten scenery plays about and flits across mem-
ory's path, imagination paints the flush of youth where age as well as
grief have coursed bitter tears down its lachrymal furrows. Des])ite
this, for the moment, the blood of boyhood rushes through the sunken
veins and makes the aged young.
''We had our backwoods mechanic in almost every farmer and
fai-mer's boy, who learned early in life, and who turned his hand to
anything necessary for carrying on our backwoods operations, both in
wood and iron. But as the country grew uj) mechanics of almost all
kinds dro])ped in, but it was only upon a small scale that they were
patronized, or that they expected patronage, as they generally added to
their mechanical skill agricultural industries, and pursued their trades
only at odd times. "
The wool picking has been alluded to. It had its corresjwnding
diversion for the young men in the corn husking, or "•shuckin\''' as it
was called. It was common, not only in the early days, but until with-
in a score of years, to break the ears from the stalks as they stood in
the fleld, and haul them to the vicinity of the barn and then invite all
the young men to come in on some afternoon or evening to strip them
of their husks. Thus a wearisome task for the single handed farmer,
refjuiring weeks of labor, would be performed in a single evening.
The husking bee would usually end with a sumi)tuous sup})er, and fre-
quently with a spree, to which the young ladies had been previously
invited. Other i)astimes of the olden time, some of which are but
barely obsolete, were the quiltings, which ])artook of features of the
wool pickings, the singing schools, the spellings, wolf hunts, house and
EAUI.V SK'ITLKMENT. 45
bam raisings. At all of these the young peo])le took great interest and
manifested their skill according to the adajjtution of age or sex for such
amusements.
The Fourth of July was, fifty years ago, kept more as a reminder of
its origin than it is to-day, and some of the early celebrations were
grand affairs. There was less of show and noise than to-day, but of
all that goes to make u]) a grand holiday, and that conduces to a hearty
rejoicing on account of our country's independence, was present in full
force. The people were more democratic in their habits and thoughts,
and consequently a gathering of the kind embraced all the citizens of
the county. Not unfrequently a revolutionary hero honored the scene
with his presence, and exhibited himself in the evolutions and drill
learned by necessity in his country's birth.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The Eastern, Middle and Southern states, from which the early
settlers came, were densely covered with a vigorous growth of timber.
A patch of prairie was a curiosity east or south of the center of In-
diana. The avocations of the pioneer in the east and south had been,
for the lirst half of his manhood, to cut down the giant trees of the
forest, roll the logs together and burn them. With the unpleasant
remembrances of log rolling, brush burning and stump grubbing, it
seems a little strange that the prairies of the Mississippi valley and the
tributaries thereto were not the very first to claim the early settler's
attention. Here were open farms ready for the plow. Not a stump,
or a root, or a stone, was in the way of immediate successful culti^•a-
tion. The oldest and most carefully cultivated fields of Ohio, Indiana
or Kentucky, from which most of the first settlers came, were not as
clear of obstacles to the agriculturist's implements as were the prairies
of Mercer county.
Then where shall we seek for the reasons tor the neglect of the
more generous soil of the prairie and the preference for groves and the
poorer soil bordering thereon ? We must not forget that times have
greatly changed within a half century. Implements that could not be
used on rough and stuni])y grounds are a modern invention. Corn
planters, grain drills, reapers and culti\ators were invented after the
prairies began to be cultivated, and their uses admissable. These
machines were not invented for the rough lands of the east, but for the
broad, level fields of the western states.
Again, we nmst keep in mind, habits of thought and action are
not very easily changed. In ]>arts of the old world implements of
agriculture have not changed nmcli in some thousands of years. Tlie
46 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
pioneers of this county were used to a wooded country. Tliey were
used to having stake and ridered fences ; houses and barns made of
logs ; used to liaving large, blazing fires of wood in the large chimney
place in the winter, and used to wasting large quantities of fine logs by
burning in great heaps every year. So when they came here, with all
these habits and predispositions, it must naturally have occurred to
them that the supply of wood was limited and everyone sought for a
good piece of timber, which should adjoin another piece of prairie,
whether that prairie was of the best or not. So we find all of the first
settlers hugging close to the water-courses upon whose banks grew the
only reminder of their former southern or eastern homes.
One need not in this respect be told the early history of any locality
in the state. The same rule governed all over, and Mercer county waa
no exception. Of course, navigation had something to do with settling
the shores of such sti'eams as were large enough to allow the steamboat
to ply back and forth upon its waters. Steamboats began running
along the Mississippi in 1823, and to tliis circumstance, doubtless, we
can trace very many of the first settlements in the valley. The vicin-
ity of New Boston was permanently occu])ied first by paities who sup-
plied the boats with wood, and this, indeed, was the very first settle-
ment made by white men in the county. It was in the year 1827 that
the Dennison family came to that point to supply the boats with fuel,
and in the plat of the towTi of New Boston they as proprietors reserve
the right to the monopoly of that trade, and of running a ferry. The
Dennisons were a large and respectable family, who had come origi-
nally from Lidiana, but had lived a year in Sangamon county.
These were the first to make what is now embraced in Mercer
county a permanent home. Through the influence of this family others
came in, a year or two later, and settled in the immediate neighbor-
hood. Indians were still plenty on this side of the river and some of
them were quite unfriendly to the encroaching settler, though they
endeavored to keep up a show of friendship with the government.
This hostile disposition on the part of the Indians made it not only
desirable, but imperative, that settlers should keep within a reasonable
distance of each other, and of the river, and for this reason, more than
any otlier, no settlements were made far up the Edwards or Pope
rivers until after the Lidians had been removed in 1832.
Among the earliest records of Warren county we find the names of
parties who voted once or twice in this vicinity, but of whose identity
all other trace seems to have been lost. Tlie earliest settler cannot now
even remember the names. These were ])robably steamboat men,
hunters or laborers, who possibly may have been here but a few days..
EARLY SETTLEMENT. 47
III those times the ballot was not guarded so closely but that a man
could have deposited his ballot, even if he had not been in the precinct
the prescribed number of days. The names of such cut no iigure in the
history of the county, and need not be even repeated here.
We have to do especially with those who came here to reside, to
subdue the forest and the soil, to pro\ide for families who have since
made themselves known and felt in the comnninity, who founded
society and moulded opinions, and who, in a general way, have left
their mark upon the county. They are yet kno\\ni, or if de])arted, they
are remembered for their bravery, their endurance of hardshii)S, tlieir
virtue and honor. Of such we desire to write, and of such we desire
to peq^etuate the memories.
The Dennison family came originally from Ohio, and lived a short
time in Indiana. In 1826 they came to Sangamon county in this state
and stayed about a year, and in the year above named came to the
vicinity of New Boston. For two years the Dennisons and Shaunces,
who at that time lived a few miles farther north, and the Vanatas at
Keithsburgh, were almost the sole occupants of the county. In 1830
the census reports show Mercer county as ha^dng a population of only
twenty-seven persons, and these nearly all belonged to the two families
named. In 1831 the Indian troubles began, and did not end until the
fall of 1832, and of course no additions were made during that time,
nor indeed for a year or so after, when confidence in the peaceful solu-
tion of the troubles was fully restored.
The year 1834 brought a number of settlers, not only to the Den-
nison neighborhood, but to other portions of the county. In the spring
of the year named, several persons fi*om Indiana came in and took
claims, planted sod com, and went back in the fall and brought out
their families. Among those worthy of record were Joseph Glancey,
Wm. Dniry, William, Newton J, and Joshua Willits, Isaac Drury,
Joseph, Jolm S. and Lewis Noble.
Several of the names mentioned will be found in future pages with
extensive and numerous notices, as they proved to be valuable acquisi-
tions to the then new but growing community. Jesse Willits was after-
ward first probate judge, with his appointment from the governor.
His name appears on the poll book as the first man to deposit a ballot,
after the county was organized in 1835. Silas Drury was the first
sherifi", and Isaac Drury was one of the first county commissioners.
Other prominent settlers in the west end of the county (and then con-
sidered in reality the same neighborhood), were Jolm Long, first school
commissioner, Wm. L Ne^'ius, Eli Reynold's, a physician, and Isaac
Dawson, a carpenter.
48 inSTORY OF MERCER AND HEKDERSON COUNTIES.
In the meantime a new and distinct settlement was forming, some
ten miles np the Edwards river, at a point then and for years aftei*ward
known as the Sngar Grove settlement, and after the organization of the
county, called the Sugar Grove precinct. A large family, consisting of
four brothers, John, Isaac, George and Abraham Miller, wath several rel-
atives and friends, settled at tliis point in 1834, completely surrounding
the grove. The Miller family was originally from Crab Orcliard,
Tennessee, whence they had removed to near Crawfordsville, Indiana,
in about 1820. From that place several members of the family came
on here, in the latter part of April, 1834, bringing Avith them several
yoke of oxen and some agricultural im]>lements, for the pui-pose of
making claims and of planting sod corn. AH but Abraham Miller,
Junior (son of George Miller), and his wdfe and wife's sister, returned
to Indiana and came out subsequently. Abraham Miller, Jun., proved
to be a man <if much note in public affairs of this county, and indeed
the whole family was, for ten years or more, during their sojourn here,
an influential one.
Abraham Miller remained with the growing crops, built a cabin,
and became the fu*st permanent settler of the grove, and indeed of a
radius of ten or twelve miles. Several other families, some relatives
and others mere acquaintances, followed these during the next season,
so that by the time the county was organized in 1835, it was found
most convenient to diA'ide the county into two precincts : the one at
New Boston, which had just been laid out and given that name, instead
of Dennison's Landing, and the Sugar Grove precinct. By the fall of
1835 there were i)r(jbablv about sixtv inhabitants in and about the
Grove, and between 200 and 250 in the whole county.
The groves along tlie Edwards river were gradually being occupied
by settlers, who ])ushed farther and farther toward its source. In
the spring of 1835 a distinct settlement, known as the Eichland settle-
ment, or Farlow's Grove, was begun. This was not in what is now
known as Richland Grove township, but in reality along the north side
of the Edwards, in what is now Preemption township.
John Farlow and family, who settled on section 22, came from
Indiana in the s])ring of 1835, and settled as stated. In the fall of the
same year Hopkins P)Oone, now a resident of Viola, occupied section
34. Mr. Boone, with his faniily, came from Pennsyhania. This was
the fartliest from the mouth of the river that any one had yet settled,
and inde(Ml at that time there was not a family residing between that
l>oint and the Rock ri\-ci-, nor for many miles to the east, and but one
family on the south, between that and Monmouth. The next spring
(183(1) Rev. John Montgomery, a Presbyterian minister, and James
ORGANIZATION OF MERCER CONUTY. 49
Boone, came out t'roni Pennsvlvania and located in the Ricliland neiirh-
borliood. (-rabriel Barklev, Rev* Joseph Jones, a Baptist minister,
and C. IMiller, came the same year from Indiana and settled in the
vicinity of Farlow's Grove.
Thus have we traced the main settlements of the Edwards valley,
from the mouth of that river to near the eastern line of the county. In
the same way the banks of Po])e creek were being occupied, but
not quite so rapidly, nor were the neighborhoods quite so distinct, but
were considered somewhat as branches of the three principal settle-
ments named. Up the North ITenderson, from the vicinity of Oquawka,
the pioneer was gradually extending his domain, until the banks of
these streams were lined on either side, where grew the native forests,
with the pioneer's cabins and the pioneer's patches of corn and other
crops.
As the settlements grew older and more populous they gradually
divided in interest, and centers began to form at points which at the
first were considered as being in the same neighborhood, and thus two
or more new neighborhoods were by common consent, and by conven-
ience, formed from one. Keithsburg and Eliza, on the west side of the
county, separated their interests from ]Vew Boston. Ohio Grove,
farther up the Pope, and North ITenderson, became more dis-
tinct and held less close relations with Sugar Grove or the Miller
neighb<jrhood. Most of these places had for their centers either a post
office or a voting place, and in some cases a church organization was-
the distinctive feature.
ORGANIZATION OF MERCER COUNTY.
By the year 1835 the territory now embraced within the limits of
Mercer county had received quite a number of permanent settlers.
The Black Hawk war had ended three years previously, and the excite-
ment caused thereby had almost all passed away. Information had
been spread abroad that this country, so lately overrun by the Indians,
and about which comparatively little was known, was one of the most
desirable for settlement in the west. Accordingly, emigrants began to
find their way up the Mississippi and overland, from the more thickly
settled portions of Ohio, in search of cheap homes ; some in search of
good hunting grounds, the game having begun to be scarce in their
former haunts. So they came, some on horseback, some on foot, some
up the river on boats, and some in wagons, bringing with them all their
worldly goods, and their families. Nearly all were ])oor, but nearly
all came with the one ])ur]iose of securing an independence and a home
for their families, which could not be obtained in tlie older sections of
50 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
the country, where land had ah-eady become comparatively dear. The
iii-st settlements were made along the Mississippi river, and from
thence they gradually spread outward and followed the smaller rivers
toward their sources. By the date named, there were probably forty
or fifty families in the territory designed for Mei'cer county.
The act of the legislature organizing the county was passed January
31, 1835. By a provision of the act, an election was directed to be
held on the first Monday of April, 1835, in the to^v^l of New Boston,
at the house of Eli Reynolds, and at the house of Geo. Miller, for
county ofiicers. James Irvin, George Piper and Benjamin Yanata, or
any two of them, were to be judges at New Boston, and George Mil-
ler, David Shaunce and Ebenezer Cresswell, or any two of them, at
the house of George Miller. New Boston was designated as the tem-
porary county seat. Tlie following is an exact coj^y of the act, as will
be found on page 156 of the session laws for the year 1835, and as it
will be deemed a historical relic by many, we think it advisable to give
it entire.
AN ACT TO ORGANIZE MERCER COUNTY.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the people of the state of IlUnois represented in
the general assembly, That on the first Monday of A];)ril next, between the hours
of eight o'clock in the morning and seven o'clock in the evening, an election
shall be held in the town of New Boston, at the house of Eli Eeynolds, and the
house of George Miller, in the county of Mercer, for three county commissioners,
one sheriff, and one coroner, for said county, who shall continue in office until
their successors shall be duly elected and qualified.
Sec 2. That James Irvin, George Piper and Benjamin Vanata, or any two
of them, shall be judges of the election to be held at the town of New Boston,
and George Miller, David *Shonce and Ebenezer Cresswell, or any two of them,
shall be judges of the election to be held at the house of George Miller. Said
judges shall be authorized to a^jpoint two clerks at each precinct, and said judges
and clerks shall be qualified in the same manner as judges and clerks of elections
are now required by law, and said elections shall in every respect be conducted
in conformity with the election laws of this state.
Sec. 3. Until the county seat of said county of Mercer shall be located, it
.shall be the duty of the county commissioner's court of said county to procure a
suitable house at New Boston, and the several courts shall be held at New Boston
until suitable buildings are furnished at the county seat thereinafter to be located,
and the said town of New Boston is hereby declared the temporary seat of said
county of INIercer until the same shall be permanently located by law.
Sec. 4. Said county of Mercer is hereby declared to be organized, with such
corporate powers as belong to other counties in this state.
This act to be in force from and after its j)assage.
Approved January 31, 1835.
The act was passed at Vandalia, which was at that date the capital
of the state, to and from which the legislator of the olden time, unlike
* Shaunce.
VASHTI DRURY.
UNIVUiblTY OF laiNOtS
UKBAMA
ORGANIZATION OF MERCKR (y)UNTY. 53
his more aristocratic successor who may travel in the palace cars, jonr-
neved to and fro on horseback, with his changes of raiment strapped on
behind his saddle.
The act of organization was completed on the <Uh day f)f April of
the same year by the election of officers, as pro^^ded in the law. Two
voting places were designated. Tlie one })recinct embracing the terri-
tory in the west part of the county, and the other the eastern settle-
ments. At the election in the New Boston precinct there were thirty-
five votes cast for Edward AVillett for coroner ; twentv-five and twelve
votes respectively for Silas Drurs- and John Long for sheriff; and
twenty-four, thirty-three, sixteen and thirty votes, respectively, for Isaac
Drury, Abraham Miller, Jose])h Noble and Erastus Dennison for
countv commissioners. Jesse Willits, Benjamin Yanata and Samuel
Piper were the judges, and AVilliam C. Townisend and Ephraim Gil-
more acted as clerks. At the Miller precinct, Isaac Drury, Joseph
Noble, Erastus Dennison and Abraham Miller received five, nine,
thirteen and twelve votes, respectively, for commissioners ; John Long
received six, and Silas Drury seven, votes for sheriff, and Edward
Willett received thirteen votes for coroner. David Shaunce and Ebe-
nezer Ci*esswell acted as judges, and John and Abraham Miller as
clerks. The result of the election can be seen bv the reader without
recapitulation.
We cannot think of a more interesting item of histon- than the list
of names of those who took part in the election that day, as sho-wnng
who were the residents, heads of families and politicians of Mercer
county in 1835. A number of the names figure prominently in the
history of the county, some drop out of sight in a very few years, and
a very few, with whitening heads and bent forms, are still with us to
tell the story of the early times, waiting only a little while when they
will follow on to a new and better countiy beyond the river of time.
As the list is short we give it entire, as recorded on the poll book of
the two precincts. There may have been a few others entitled to vote,
but if there were tlieir names are not now remembered.
Jesse Willits, Samuel Piper, Benjamin Vanata, Hamilton Christie,
Newton Willitts, John Long, Silas Drury, Lewis Noble, William
Dniry, George Fisher, Joseph Leonard, William Jackson, William
AVillitts, John Hall, Elias Fisher, William Wilson, John Kester, James
H. Barnes, AVilliam J. Nevius, Joseph Dennison. AVilliam Pool. Adam
W. Richie, John Richardson, W. Dennison, John Reynolds, Edward
Willett, AA^lliam Dennison, Joseph Noble, Jose])h Glancy, Tsjuic
Drury, M. Leeper, Jesse Kester, Robert Reynolds, E. S. Dennison,
Ephraim Gilmore, William C. Townsend. Second precinct — John AV.
4
54: HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Dennison, David Sbaimce, Eli Reynolds, Isaac Dawson, John Farlow,
John Shaunce, George Miller, Ebenezer Ci*eswell, Abraham Miller,
Sen., John Miller, A. Miller, Jun., Harrison W. Riggs, George
Miller, Jun.
One week after the first election was held (April 13, 1835) the
commissioner's court, corresponding in later times to the board of
supervisors, met at Kew Boston and transacted the first public business.
The court consisted of the recently elected commissioners, Isaac Drury,
Abraham Miller and Erastus Dennison. The first business was to
appoint a clerk, which they did in the person of William C. Townsend.
Ephraim Gilmore was then appointed treasurer, Jolm Long, school
commissioner, Harrison W. Riggs, judge of election in first, and Isaac
Miller in second precinct. William Dennison was granted a license to
run a ferry at New Boston, on the Mississippi river, for which Dennison
had to pay four dollars tax. In his license he was allowed to charge
for ferriage for 1835 : for each four-horse wagon, $1.50 ; two-horse
wagon, $1 ; man and horse, 50c ; one horse, 18f c ; cattle, each, 18fc ;
sheep and hogs, each, 6Jc ; each footman, 18f c (it will be noticed
that it was somewhat cheaper for a man to send his horse across alone);
each yoke of work cattle, 50c (cheaper to send them separately). The
county was laid off" into four road districts, of which Abraham Miller was
designated as supervisor of first, Lewis Noble of second, Jesse Kester of
third, and James H. Bane of fourth. Ordered that a tax of $1.20 be
levied on each quarter section of taxable land in the county. Tlie
above embraced all of the business of the fii'st day.
On the second day, Tuesday morning at eight o'clock, the court,
consisting of the commissioners, the clerk, and Silas Drury, sheriff,
met and transacted additional important business. The following per-
sons were selected as grand jurors for the first term of circuit court in
Mercer county : George Miller, Isaac Miller, John Farlow, Jesse Wil-
lits, John Hill, Mark Willits, David Shaunce, Lewis Noble, Daniel
Pinkley, John W. Deimison, William Willitts, Joseph Glancey, John
Reynolds, George Blake, Benjamin Vanata, Jolm Long, James Irvin,
Wesley Wicks, Ephraim Gilmore, Jolm Kester, Jesse Kester, Thomas
Morgan and John Bates. And for petit jurors : John Miller, Isaac
Miller, George Miller, Abraham Miller, Isaac Dawson, William W.
Wilson, John Shaunce, Isaac Drury, Wm. H. Dennison, Joseph Noble,
Joseph A. Dennison, William Drury, Harrison W. Riggs, William
Jackson, Robert Reynolds, Newton Willits, Joseph Leonard, Joshua
Willits, James H. Bane, Eli Reynolds, John P. Reynolds, Drury Rey-
nolds, Cln-istopher Shuck, John Rankins. This, with the addition
of levying a tax of one-half of one })er cent on certain personal projv
erty, embraced all the business of the special term.
ORGAJ^IZATION OF MERCER COUNTY. 55
At the first regular term, wliich was held June 1, 1835, though the
first appointed clerk had recorded, as the first item, that he had taken
the oath and given bond, iie failed to get the bond approved, and so at
the regular meeting it was found necessary -to appoint a new clerk, in
the person of William Drurj, upon which Mr Townsend resigned.
Mr. Drury did not experience the ti'ouble in giving secm-ity, as did his
predecessor, E. S. Dennison and Joseph Leonard going on the bond in
the sum of $1,000. Mr. Drury made a good clerk and served until
succeeded by Abaham Miller in October 1837. Mr. Drury, in signing
his name to all of his legal documents, makes a ])eculiar flourish be-
neath his signature, which cannot be described without an engraving,
and indeed which could not be easily imitated. Judge Gilmore is our
authority for a stoiy that has been received for more than forty years as
genuine history, that when Miller was elected to succeed Driu*y, he was
found one day sitting on the sand bank barefooted tr^dng to cut the
figure in the sand with his great toe. The evidence in the record bear-
ing on the case is quite strong. The first two or three times that Miller
signs his name to the record there is an e^ddent, but fraitless, attempt
to imitate Drury's flourish, but after that it is entirely abandoned.
In the Recorder's oflice is a relic that marks its author as a boss
mechanic. It consists of a blank book of home manufacture, and to
William Drury is given the credit of its construction. It is one of the
first record books, and its description is worthy of a place here. The
book consists of about one hundred pages of foolscap paper. This the
maker evidently ruled himself with columns to suit his convenience,
and also headed in a proper manner. The cord for binding tile leaves
together seems to have been a fishing line, or some other equally stn^ng
cord. Tlie sides are two oak boards, evidently rived ti'om a straight-
grained tree and di*essed down with a draw shave ; or if with the axe,
must have been by an exceedingly skillfiil hand. The sides are then
covered with paper that seems to have been a window blind. The back
and corners are buckskin, doubtless taken from the body of some deer
shot by the rifle of the bookmaker and tanned by himself. The book is in
excellent preservation, as ai-e all the old records of Mercer county, which
show that our first ofiicers were not only men of ability and taste, but
that they exercised proper care of what was entrusted to their keeping.
Mr. Miller doubtless had in his soul real genius, and though he
could not imitate Drury's flourish, has left e\ndences of his invention
and artistic skill upon the records. In one of the records we find the
title page decorated with red, black and yeUow colors, the artist's hand
revealing itself in gaudy colors and finely displayed printing, of which
the following is as nearly a copy as our type will represent :
56 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Count
Y. c O M I
S S I O N E Rs
Recoil
D
Vol. I
OROAMIZATION OF MERCER COUNTY. 57
In another record, Mr. Miller makes a further disjilay of his skill in
the use of the brush. The law required that the owners of stock shc^uld
mark the same by a cut of some kind in one of the ears of the animal.
Some chose as their mark a slit in the right, some a crop from the left
ear, and the crops, slits and quarters of either ear were varied to suit
the taste of the owner. To make these distinctions legal, it was neces-
sary to have a description of the same recorded in a book used for the
"recording of marks of animals." Tlie common method with record-
ers is to write the description, appending the name of the owner, with
date of entry, but Mr. Miller, finding this a good opportunity for the
dis})lay of his genius, paints in the margin of the record the whole
animal, with the particular ear, minus the crop, pointing directly to the
name of the man who mutilated it.
The iirst business transacted at this term of court was the granting
of a license to Eli Reynolds to vend gi'oceries in New Boston, for
which privilege he had to pay into the treasury of the county 87^ cents.
The iirst road established by authority of the county was ordered at
this term. The road was from New Boston toward Rock Island, and
was designated by stakes driven in the prairie and trees blazed through
the timber. The road was viewed by Ephraim Gilmore, Harrison W.
Riggs and Lewis Noble, for which services they received in the aggre-
gate the sum of $8. Of course it is not a profane pun, but simply a
coincidence of euphony, that at this meeting the board ordered that a
writ of ad quod dam-num be granted to Silas B. Hubbard to enquire
and ascertain what d^images may be sustained by building a mill and
dam on Edwards river. An ad quod da7n-n\un was also granted to
Charles Jack in regard to dama,ges for a mill dajn on same river.
Tlie county at this session was laid oft' into two justice districts.
Tlie New Boston district embraced all that part of the county lying
west of the middle of township 4, and the balance of the county
embraced the Sugar Grove disti-ict.
The state road ft-om Knoxville to New Boston was at this session
endorsed.
For a number of terms the most of the business of the court con-
sisted in authorizing roads, and the sm'veyor was the ofticer of greatest
importance.
The first report by the commissioners made March 9, 1837, is
interesting, as compared with similar reports at present. It is gi\'en
entire:
58 HISTORY OF MERCEK AJSTD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
1836, Receipts. $ cts.
Mar. 7, Remaining in tlie treasury 4 47^
Revenue from the state 400 00
Tax on personal property 58 61
Road tax 922 38
Received for licenses 35 00
Interest on notes 12 25
1,432 71^
• To amount paid on county orders for county jjurposes, 439 51 J
Balance in treasury 993 20
The above balance included notes for $950, leaving $43.20 cash on hand.
The regular election of county officers occurred August 3, 1835.
At this election William Drury was elected recorder, Ephriam Gilmore,
surveyor, E. Creswell and Abner Arrasmith were elected justices of the
peace, and John Miller and Wesley Arrasmith, constables. The elec-
tion of justices and constables was found to be illegal, and a special
election was held October 5, for the purpose of electing two justices and
two constables for New Boston and one justice and one constable for
Sugar Grove precinct. To these offices Joshua Willits and Lewis
Noble .were elected justices, and Newton I. Willits and William B.
Wilson constables, for New Boston, and Abraham Miller, Jun., and
John INIiller were elected justice and constable, respectively, for Sugar
Grove.
An idea of some of the difficulties that our primitive officers had to
contend with in administering justice, may be easily gained fi-om the
following, in Mr. Abraham Miller's own words: "'The iirst lawsuit ever
instituted in the Sugar Grove precinct was by an old Yankee plaintiff
(B. Lloyd), who from that time onward kept his neighbors warmed up
to more than fever heat with vexatious lawsuits, as far as his neighbor-
hood dealings or business transactions were extended. An excuse for
a lawsuit was a sufficient warrant for a 'pitch in.' Sometimes they
were civil, sometimes criminal, and sometimes for a supposed trespass.
This first suit was the first ever tried before me, and the court was
without practice, precedent or law. There was then but one copy of
the statutes of Illinois in Mercer county, and that was in the hands of
the county clerk (Wm. Drury) at New Boston, and could not be loaned.
The justice begged time to get up the papers till law could be procured,
but our plaintiff* was so rampant for litigation that but little or no time
could be given. The poor justice was therefore doomed to saddle 'old
gray,' throw a bed cpiiit around him, and ride some twelve miles
over the prairie on a cold, snowy day, with a bleak northwest wind
on the side of the court's face, to Dan Edgingtoii's, a justice of the
peace in Rock Island county, to borrow a statute. Tlie loan of thia
ORGANIZATION OF MERCER COUNTY. 59
conld only be procured for tliree days, and it would be needless to say
that tlie honiestretcli of that day"'s travel was s])eedily ])erfomied. For
the three days' grace allowed in the loan, this backwoods justice, now
a law-student, ])lied all his ])owers, manual and mental. Day and
night were spent in poring over this precious volume to discover the
duties enjoined upon a justice of the peace, and short notes were taken
for ftiture reference. Being rather ex]3ert with the ])en, a summary
statute of Abe's own was comjnled, published and issued from the
press (not, bless you, reader, from a printing press, but from the com-
pulsory press of necessity), and tit for use in the short space of three
days and nights. This backwoods edition, comprised of the general
duties of justice and constable, was destined to become as useful and
familiar as household words in a family. During the night part of his
labor, the second or third night, the court, becoming very drowsy, upset
an inkstand, emptying its sable contents upon a good part of a page of
the borrowed statutes. Seizing the book, the obliterated part was saved
from entire ruin by licking the ink from the same with the tongue.
The book was returned within the specified time, with many baclcM'oods
thanks and humble apologies for the accident of the old ink liorn, all
of which were most courteously accej)ted by Dan, who was every inch
of him a backM'oods gentleman, and a full pardon granted and gra-
ciously accepted." It is needless to add tliat the Yankee plaintiff got
ample justice, as did many others who brought their grievances to
this court; for, whatever may have been his peculiarities, he is not
accused of any of the peculiar methods that obtain in some high and
low courts of a later day.
August 1, 1836, the first election for members of congress and leg-
islature in which the voters of Mercer county took part was held. Of
the sixty-seven votes cast for congi-essman, John T. Stuart received
fifty-three and William L. May fourteen. Elijah Cliarles and James
Craig received the highest number of votes for re])resentatives in the
state legislature. At that election James IT. Bane, Iliram llardie and
James Burleigh were elected county commissioners, and Daniel Pinck-
ley sherift'.
As we have seen, the county was divided into two precincts, or dis-
tricts, but soon settlements made in the eastern part of the county, far
up the Edwards river, called for fiirther division. At the regular
meeting of the newly elected commissioners, September 5, 1836, that
p<^)rtion of the countv^ east of a line running due north and south, one
mile east of the line dividing ranges two and three west, was erected
into a new precinct. Tliis, it will be seen, embraced all of what are
now known as Richland Grove, Rivoli and North Henderson town-
60 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
ships, and nearly all of Preemption, Green and Suez. The name of
Kichland was given to this district. One of the commissioners, Hiram
Hardie, was a citizen of the district. Besides him there were about
one dozen voters.
A year later, September 5, 1837, Richland precinct was divided,
forming a new election and justice's district out of all that portion of
Richland lying south of the line, separating townships 14 and 15, and
leaving Richland with a little less than two congressional townsliips.
The settlements to be provided for were mostly those along Pope creek
and the new precinct was called by that name.
Pope creek was now setthng rapidly. A year later a new district
was found necessary in the southern middle part of the county, and so
at the meeting of the board, March 9, 1838, it was ordered that all
that part of Sugar Grove lying south of an east and west line equally
diA'iding township 14 be organized and called Ohio precinct. Edwards
precinct was formed March 9, 1839, from what are now all of Preemp-
tion, the north half of Green, the northeast quarter of Mercer, and the
east half of Perryton. At the same meeting Eliza precinct was estab-
lished, and was composed of the territory which now lies within Eliza
township. Keithsburg precinct was formed by the commissioners June
1, 1840, and comprised the territory now embraced in Abington and
Keithsburg tovniships. This pro^'ided, as was supposed, all parts of
the county \vith convenient polling places, and with local offices for the
government of the different neighborhoods, and these divisions thus
remained intact until the adoption of township organization, after which
each congressional township, with the exception of the fractional town-
ships of the western portions of Eliza and Xew Boston, were organized
separately. The convenience of this method is apparent. Congres-
sional townships, by act of congress, are separate school townships, and
cannot be changed to suit any other boundaries by any state or local
enactment.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN MERCER COUNTY.
Prior to the passage of what is known as the '' Kansas and Nebras-
ka Act of 1854," Mercer county was a whig county in politics. The
democratic party was in a minority of some two or three hundred.
Tlie anti-slavery feeling was strong in both of the old parties, and
there were quite a number of A'oters who were abolitionists or free-
soilers, and who would vote for the abolition or fi-ee-soil candidates
when an o])p()rtunity occurred ; but the most of these, in all except
presidential elections, voted and acted with the other political parties.
When the ''Kansas and Nebraska Act" was passed in May, L854,
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN MERCER COUNTY. f)l
it created such an excitement and alarm, that a large number of the
people, of both of the old parties, were ready to unite with the free-
soil ers and abolitionists in the fonnation of a new party, to resist the
aggressive policy of the pro-slavery party, which controlled the two
■dominant political parties of the United States. Meetings were called
as early as June 9, 1854, in two at least of the townships of the county,
and resolutions passed in opposition to the ^ ' Kansas-Nebraska Act, "
and calling for a united effort of all persons oj)posed to the extension
of slavery in the territories, to fonn a political party to stay the aggress-
ive pro-slavery legislation.
Leading citizens of the county conferred with each other ; and a
convention of all persons in the county, of all political parties, wlu»
were opposed to the "Kansas-Kebraska Act'' and the extension of slav-
ery in the territories, to meet at Millersbm-g for the pm'pose of organ-
izing a new political anti-slavery party.
Tlie convention assembled in Millersburg pursuant to the call, in the
summer of 1854, and was represented by delegates from all parts of
the county, and from all of the old political parties. John Collins, an
old settler, and life-long democrat, was elected president of the conven-
tion. A committee of nine was appointed to draft resolutions and arti-
cles of organization. Tlie committee was composed of Judge E. Gil-
more, a whig and old resident of the county, who had tilled many
important offices, and who is now (1882) residing in Aledo ; James H.
Reed, a whig, who was afterward successively editor of the ''Oquaw-
ka Plaindealer," the ''Aledo Weekly Record" and the "Monmouth
Atlas,""' and who died in Monmouth ; L. W. Myers, an abolitionist,
then a young man, who is now and has been for a number of years,
editor of the " Wappello Republican," Iowa ; Isaac N. Bassett, a whig,
who is still liWng, a lawyer in Aledo ; John W. Miles, a whig, after-
ward quartermaster of the 17th reg. 111. Vol. Inf., who died in 1863 ;
Harvey S. Senter, a whig, who tilled various offices in the county, and
has since died in Aledo ; Tyler McWhorter, a democrat, now resident
near Aledo ; Samuel Miller, an abolitionist, who has been dead several
years ; J. R. Whitham, abolitionist, now residing near Aledo.
There was an animated controversy in the committee room, and at
•one time it seemed impossible for the committee to agree ; but tinally
resolutions and a platform were agreed upon that was satisfactory to
all, and a unanimous report made to the convention, which was adopted,
and the organization of the republican party of Mercer county was
completed. The exact date of this convention cannot now be ascer-
tained, but it is believ^ed to have been the iirst county convention of the
kind held in the state.
62 HISTOKY OF MEKCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
There had not at least been any convention called for a similar pur-
pose in any of the adjoining counties, and Mercer county is properly
entitled to the credit of being the pioneer county in the formation of
the republican party. Tlie gi*eater part of the whigs in the county
approved of the platform, and at once became active members of the
new party. Some of the political leaders in the whig party, however,
approved the formation of the new party. John S. Tliompson and
Lewis W. Thompson (both lawyers, and one clerk of the county court
in Keith sburg), were at first violently opposed to the new party organi-
zation, but another year gave the party such recognition throughout the
state and United States that they, with other opponents, ceased their
opposition, and became warm supporters of the party.
Tlie abolitionists and ii-ee-soilers, with a considerable number of the
democrats, were incorporated into the new party, which was, fi'om the
commencement, strong in numbers. In the presidential election ia
1856, Fremont received 1,141 votes ; Buchanan, 769 ; and Filmore, 140.
Tlie Filmore vote doubtless represented the whigs who refused to act
with the re'publican party. In 1860, Lincoln received 1,808 votes, and
all the democratic candidates received 1,193 votes, the majority being
615, and the majority has never been less than that since, at any presi-
dential election. I. N. Bassett.
THE CHICAGO, BURLINGTON & QUINCY RAILROAD.
As stated on another page, the first settlements of this region were-
made along the water-courses, and nan-ow belts of timber skirting the
same, and to the fact of the existence of these natural features can be
traced nearly every improvement in the whole State of Illinois prior to-
about 1850. Even as early as 1840 almost all the timber tracts were
occupied by sattlers, and it was then supposed by many, that further
development of the country, if made at all, would be by a poorer class
of herdsmen and other employes of the more fortunate inhabitants of
better favored portions of the country. Tlie Mississippi was of course
the great thorouglifare of business and travel on the west, and the Illi-
nois river on the east, and between these was a barren, trackless waste.
Whole townships, and indeed almost whole counties, were without a
single inhabitant, and though the soil was known to be excellent, every-
body supposed that a century would elapse before it could be made
available for any purpose. Indeed, it was difficult to see that with
the lack of fuel and building timber it could ever be more than a grand
herding ground for stock owned by those wlio had been so foi-tunate a&
to secure homes and strips of woodland along the courses of the streams,
of water.
THE CHICAGO, BURLINaTON AND QUENOY RAILROAD. 63
It will not do to sav that railroads, which eventually redeemed the
best country that lay under the sun from absolute uselessness, had not
been dreamed of, for from 1835 until 1840 they had been the dream of
politicians, speculators and emigrants, but, as all supposed, they had all
been awakened by a crash in financial matters in 1838^0 to the reality
that such enterprises were a luxury not to be enjoyed by this portion of
the world. For now they began to argue that the country was about
settled up, and the small trathc that would come to such an enterprise
would not be sufficient to sustain it, and that population must necessa-
rily precede such improvement. The more modern idea of such roads
as the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy is, to make the improvement
first, and the population and the traffic immediately follow, and it is
now well understood that nothing in the natural features of the country
have ever tended so much to its development as the opening up of these
means of travel and commerce.
At the risk of seeming to write in the interest of railroads, or for
the purpose of manufacturing sentiment, we venture the remark that,
as far as can now be seen, the opinions of the early settlers that the
great prairies of this section, only for the advent of the railroad, were
sound, and that improvement -of Illinois to-day would have been but
little in advance of what might have been seen in 1850. The water-
courses had exerted all their influence in settling and developing the
country, and as has been noted, that infiuence extended back but a few
miles, and now the railroads begin and complete their work where the
other left it unfinished.
It is interesting to note the changes that have come to this portion
of the country since the advent of the railroad system which now pre-
vails so universally, and while it is not claimed that railroads have done
everything, it is doubtless true that much of the present prosperity and
greatness of the country are due to their influence.
The railroads have brought better prices for grain, and reliable
markets for it ; consequently, these surplus profits in agriculture have
brought to the farmer hundreds of comforts of which the pioneers knew
but little by experience, and scarcely hoped to make their own. The
railroads themselves have been a miracle of growth and improvement.
A notable example of this is to be found in the Cliicago, Burlington &-
Quincy, which passes through the entire length of both Mercer and
Henderson counties. From a small, unimportant line of thirteen miles,
a little more than twenty-five years ago, it has grown to include in its.
organization lines amounting to 3,500 miles, its facilities for transit in
tlie meantime increasing in proportion.
The nucleus for this great enterprise was a line extending from
64 HISTORY OF MERCEK AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Aurora to a point now known as Turner Junction, thirteen miles nearly
nortl least. Aurora was a small village then, and the other end of the
line was nothing, so it will be seen how insignificant this beginning
was. However, a charter had been granted to what was known as the
Aurora Branch company for a line from Aurora to Mendota, a distance
of fifty-eight miles. These two lines were consolidated under tlie name
of the Chicago tfe Aurora railroad, their connection with Chicago being
by way of the Galena branch from Turner Junction. Another charter
had been granted to what was styled the Central Military Tract road,
extending from Mendota to Galesburg, in about the center of the
northern part of the Bounty lands. On July 9, 1856, this last named,
with the Chicago ct Aurora road, consolidated under the name of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, thus giving a line of 151 miles.
The comi)any had taken a lease of the Peoria & Oquawka road and
had advanced considerable money to aid in completing the line from
Galesburg to Burlington. Tliis gave them a through line to the last
named place. The Peoria & Oquawka company failed to pay the
indebtedness, the mortgage secui'ing the money loaned was foreclosed,
and thus another line was added to the already fast growing enterprise.
'Tlie company then built a track of their own from Aurora to Chicago
and made rumiing arrangements with a line then in operation ti-om
Galesburg to Quincy, 100 miles distant. In 1864 the Quincy road
came into possession of the company, thus making the three termini
indicated in the name of the corjioration. From that time to the pres-
ent, branches have been built or bought in quick succession, until a
map of the same looks like a ])icture of a great occiput, with its long
arms stretching out in all directions over the vast plains of Illinois,
Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska. By the time this will be in print a di-
rect line will have been completed to Denver in Colorado. When we
take into consideration the wondeiful groM^h of these states, and the
^reat probability of still greater development, we are led to wonder
what the tiiture of this enterprise is to be.
The branch that most interests our readers, however, is that now
known as the Galva and Keithsburg extension, from Galva to Glad-
stone. Originally this was three distinct enterprises, the main one
from Galva to New Boston being called the American (^entral railroad.
This road was built by the company named, but equi])i)ed by the Chi-
cago, Burlington ik Quincy, and finally passed, with the short branches
between Gladstone and Keithsburg and New Boston and Keithsburg,
into the possession of the present owners.
The road enters Mercer county on the east at Windsor, and takes a
nearly dii'ect westerly course through the townships of Ilivoli, Green,
ROCK ISI.AND AND MERCER COUNTY RAILROAD. 65
Mercer and Millersburg, and tlien deflecting somewliat toward the
sontlu it reaches the town of New Boston, in the soutliwest c(jrner of
the township by the same name. From thence it follows the course of
the Mississippi river south, tlirough the towaiships of Keithsburg, Bald
Bluff and Oquawka. tf) Oquawka, finally reaching the main line at
Gladstone. Tlie main line passes through the townshij)S of Biggsville,
South Henderson and Warren, in a westerly direction. The direct
branch from P>urlington to Quincy ])asse8 througli three townships of
Henderson: "Warren, Honey Creek and Dallas. The local enterj)ri8es
complete and in prospect will be noticed on anotlier page.
THE ROCK ISLAND AND MERCER COUNTY RAILROAD.
A line of railroad of a good deal of local imjxtrtiince is the one
indicated by the above title, extending from Rock Island in a southerly
direction to the town of Cable, in Richland township. The road is
twenty-six miles in length, including a run of four miles of the C'hicago
& Rock Island road, from Milan to Rock Island. The line was pro-
jected by R. R. Cable (vice president of the Chicag(% Rock Island &
Pacific), P. L. and Ben. T. Cable, for the purpose of reaching the great
coal fields of Richland township, and by these gentlemen built and made
ready for the use of tlie coal comjjany organized and owned by the
same paities. The cost of the road, including grading, ties, iron, etc.,
was about $18,000 per mile, or about ,$3(>(»,000.
The coal com])any mentioned has fiirnished the rolling stock and
put the line in operation, not only for carrying coal but for the trans-
portation of merchandise and grain from and to the little towns that
have since sprung up all along the line. Passenger coaches are
attached to all the trains for the accommodation of the ti-aveling public.
Tlie mails and express matter are also sent over this line, so that this
enteii^rise has not only been the means of bringing the coal deposits to
market, but has also given a considerable section of country through
which it lies postal, commercial, telegraphic and traveling facilities.
The road passes tln-ough the town of Preemption, and nearly
througli that of Richland Grove, in this county, and is highly appre-
ciated by the citizens of the northeastern part of the county.
Tlie coal company, of which an extended notice is given in the his-
tory of Richland township, mines and transports from 90,000 to 100,000
tons of coal yearly.
66 HISTORY OF MERCER AJSTD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
MERCER COUNTY SCIENTIFIC AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Mr. Tyler McWhorter and James H. Connell, Esq. , ftirnish us data
for the following :
This society was organized in Aledo February 19, 1878, under the
name of Mercer County Scientific Association. At this meeting were
present Tyler McWhorter, W. J. Pepper, J. H. Connell, I. N. Bassett,
J. V. Frazier and W. A. Marsh. Mr. McWhorter presided, and Mr.
Connell served as secretary. A constitution and by-laws were adopted;
a number of invitations issued to others to attend the next meeting,
and adjourned to March 5, 1878, to which time election of officers was
postponed.
The objects and purposes of this organization may be briefly stated
as follows :
DiflPerent individuals of our county were more or less interested in
scientific investigation, but were isolated from each other, and had few
opportunities for interviews, or to profit by each other's study, or line
of thought.
The native flora and fauna of our county ; the carboniferous fossils,
in connection with our seams of coal ; the implements and relics found
in connection with the numerous ancient mounds in various parts of
the county; these, and other kindred subjects had elicited the atten-
tion of many of our citizens. Already many j^rivate collections of sci-
entific interest had been made by difterent individuals of the county,
and it was thought that persons whose minds are directed to scientific
investigation should associate themselves together, so as to have an
interchange of ideas, and enjoy the advantages of each other's re-
search. It was believed that, with such an organization, a more gen
eral interest might be elicited to investigate and attain to a higher com-
prehension of nature.
While we have social organizations, with large expenditures, in
support of our various churches, it would seem that we should also
have some organizations to encourage thought and stimulate investiga-
tion in those important questions of science that are so directly related
to the progress of the present age. It was for these reasons that many
of our citizens felt that many advantages might be enjoyed by banding
themselves together in such a society. Another purpose of the society
was to make up a cabinet, or scientific collection, of such specimens
relating to the natural sciences as might be contributed by its members,
or others.
The meetings of the society are held quarterly, on the first Tuesday
of March, June, September and December of each year.
On March 5, 1878, the adjourned meeting was held, and ten names
MERCER COUNTi' SCIENTIFIC AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 67
were added to the roll of members. Orgaiiization was completed by
the election of the following officers : president, Dr. J. V. Frazier, of
Viola ; vice president, I. N. Bassett, Esq. , of Aledo ; secretary, J. H.
Comiell, of Aledo ; treasurer, W. J. Pei)per, of Keithsburg ; trustees,
six years, Tyler McWliorter, Aledo ; four years, W, J. Pepi)er, Keiths-
burg ; two years, J. C. Pepper, Aledo.
Tlie presidents of the society to date, each holding one year, are as
follows : Dr. J . Y. Frazier, Yiola ; I. jS^. Bassett, Aledo ; E. L. Larkin,
New Windsor ; Tyler McWlioiter, Aledo ; and John Geiger, now serv-
ing in that capacity.
James H. Connell was elected secretary at the tirst meeting, and
was reelected annually until March, 1882, when Alex. McArthur was
elected.
The cabinet of the society is very interesting, and includes several
hundred specimens — geological, fossil, mineral, etc. The largest do-
nations were made by the following persons: geological, etc., by Tyler
McWhorter; shells, by W. A. Marsh; mineral, etc., by J. IT. Connell;
miscellaneous, by J. C. Pepi)er and W. J. Pepper ; birds, by W. B.
Crapnell.
The followiug papers have been read before the association : Cli-
matic Changes and their Resultant Periods, Dr. J. Y. Frazier ; Metric
System of Weights and Measures, J. R. Wylie ; The Domain of Sci-
entific Investigation and Thought, I. N. Bassett ; The Mississippi River:
Its Geological History, Tyler McWhorter; Future Punishment;
from Etlmical Scripture, E. L. Larkin ; Probable Origin of Life on the
Globe, John Geiger ; Shall we Impo^'erisll the Fertility of the Earth,
T. McWliorter ; Utility of the Stars, W. J. Pepper ; Antiquity of Man,
T. McWhorter ; Crystalography, J. R. W} lie ; Electricity, R. H. Spi-
cer, Sr. ; Conchology, W. A. Marsh ; Inclination of the Earth's Axis,
T. McWhorter ; Force, E. L. Larkin ; Flesh Eating. John Geiger ;
Flesh Eating, Joseph McCoy ; Population and its Distribution, C. Y.
Shove ; Motion, E. L. Larkin ; The Birds and Animals we are Losing
and Gaining, W. B. Crapnell ; Hygiene of Soil Waters, Dr. J. Y. Fra-
zier ; Embryology, J. R. Wylie ; Axial Rotation, John Geiger ; People
of North America, E. L. Larkin ; Biology, T. McWhorter ; The Sur-
face or Economic of our Prairies, Graham Lee ; Imj^erfections of Hu-
man Knowledge, Tyler McWhorter ; The Planet Yenus, J. C. Pepper ;
The Coming Man, Tyler McWhorter; Conscience Man's True Guide,
J. Geiger ; Progress in Science, I. N. Bassett ; Some Observations on
the Rocky Mountains, J. H. Connell; Silver Coinage, John Geiger;
Protoplasm and Life, I. N. Bassett ; Scientific Instruments, E. L. Larkin ;
68 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Improved Socialism, John Geiger ; Clianges of Organic Life with the
Advance of Civilization, Tyler McWhorter.
In December, 1879, the name was changed to the "Mercer County
Scientific and Historical Society," the object being to gather up notes-
on the liistory of Mercer county. John Geiger, I. N. Bassett, Graham
Lee and C. S. Richey were appointed a committee to receive all that
had been prepared. May 1, 1880, the committee reported that they
had received a considerable amount of historic matter from diflferent
sources, which was given into the custody of the society. In 1882 the
society turned all papers in their hands over to Prof. H. H. Hill, to be
embodied in this book.
Tlie membership roll contained the following names: Tyler Mc-
Whorter, Aledo ; J. V. Frazier, Viola ; W. A. Marsh, Millersburg tp. ;
I. N. Bassett, Aledo ; W. J. Pepper, Millersburg tp. ; J. H. Connell,
now of Pueblo, Col. ; J. C. Pepper. J, P. Wylie, Aledo ; E. L. Larkin,
New Windsor ; W. B. Crapnell, New Boston t]>. (died 1881) ; C. A.
Ballard, New Boston ; W. C. Galloway, Joseph McCoy, John Geiger,
Aledo ; John B. Holland, Keithsburg ; Thos. Shaver, Tennessee Poll-
ing Mills, Ky. ; Geo. P. Graham, Paola, Kan. ; F. D. Pathbun, New
Windsor; K H. Spicer, Sr., Viola; C. F. Durston, J. M. Wilson, W.
A. Lorimer, B. F. Brock, Alex. Stephens, D. T. Ilindman, Horace
Bigelow, L. B. Morey, Alex. McArthur, Aledo ; C. S. Ortli, William
Griftin (died 1882), E. L. Marshall, Keithsburg ; C. V. Shove, E. L.
McKinnie, G. L. F. Pobinson, Viola ; L. C. Gilmore, E. B. Da\T.d,
Miss A. E. Frazier, B. C. Taliaferro, D. P. Johnston, Aledo ; P. F.
Warner, Havana, Pis.; Graham Lee, Hamlet; C. H. Gran, Alpha,
Henry county ; J. F. McCutcheon, Norwood ; A. P. Willits, T. B.
Cabeen, Keithsburg. Honorary member : Lieut. F. S. Bassett, U. S.
Na\'y.
Such is the history, objects and membership of this societ)% which
has already accomplished a work of which its members may feel ]3roud,
and has but laid the foundation of a grand and most commendable
effort in the advancement of scientific research. And from the pro-
gressive character of the men composing its membership we may safely
predict for the society a glorious future, and a name that will be knoAvn
wherever science is made a special study.
NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON
COUNTIES, ILLINOIS, BY WILLIAM A. MARSH.
Paloiontology. — The ])rincipal geological formations that occur in
Mercer and Henderson counties which contain fossils are, the coal
measures and the St. Louis group, Keokuk limestone, Burlington lime-
: ;, >:&
W.
•X
■/•?t
JAMES M. EMERSON
(OECE-ASEDJ
1
NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY. 71
stone, and Kinderhook group, of tlie lower carboniferous system. Tlie
number of s])ecies of fossil flora found within the limits of these two
counties is very small compared with other sections, but our fossil fauna
will compare favorably with any section of the state, at least as far as
the number of species is concerned, although they are not found in as
good a state of preservation as might be desired. The whole number
of fossil species that have come under my observation, in collecting
among the different fonnations of the two counties, is about 400 species,
divided as follows : coal measure flora, twenty-five species ; coal meas-
ure fauna, 250 species; lower carboniferous, 125 species. The most
remarkable and interesting forms are the crinoiden of the lower car-
boniferous, and the different fonns of the genus Productus, belonging
to the Brachiopoda.
Miirnmals. — The mammalian fauna of these two counties is almost
the exact counterpart of all prairie sections. Tlie time was wlien the
larger forms of life abounded ; when the deer, elk, bufi'alo, beaA'er,
etc., made the prairies their home. The coming of the white man,
attended by all the circumstances of progress, has driven these larger
fonns fi-om the country, and now the smaller kinds alone retain a foot-
ing. They are American buffalo, beaver, red deer, gray wolf, prairie
wolf, gray fox, otter, mink, weasel, skunk, Nvild cat, opossum, raccoon,
fox Squirrel, gray squirrel, black squirrel, flying squirrel, chipmunk,
gray prairie squirrel, striped prairie squirrel, woodchuck, striped
badger, rabbit, brown rat (introduced), white-footed wood mrmse, white-
footed prairie mouse, long-tailed jumping mouse, prairie meadow
mouse, wood meadow mouse, long-haii*ed meadow mouse, shrew mole,
star nose mole, muskrat, house mouse (introduced), long-eared bat.
The number of species of birds, as far as I have been able to iden-
tify them, ^vill reach about 180 species, embracing forty-one families.
This includes those that remain with us the year round, those that are
known to visit us through the spring and summer season, and those
that tariy with us a short time during tlieir migrations through the
country from north to south.
The number of fish species thus far identified as occurring in the
Mississip])! river, its lakes and sloughs, and the small sti'eams flo\vnng
into it, through the counties of Mercer and Henderson, is about seven-
ty-seven species. Besides the fish used for food, this list includes the
dog fish, the eel, the gar pike, the alligator gar, the spoon-bill, the
spotted sturgeon, and the leech lamprey.
The snakes are : blowing viper, hog-nosed snake, red-bellied water
snake, Holbrookes water snake, ribbon snake, Faireye's garter snake,
5
72 HISTORY OF MERCER A>fD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
racer, summer green snake, king snake, com snake, spotted adder,
ground snake, timber rattlesnake (now extinct), prairie rattlesnake.
Tlie Batrachians are : frogs, four species ; tree frogs, three species ;
toads, one species ; salamanders, seven species ; lizards, four species ;
turtles, ten s])ecies.
The molluscan tauna of Mercer and Henderson numbers 137
acknowledged species. Seven years of careful studj and collecting in
this particular branch leads me to believe that very few, if any, new
forms will be likely to be found. They may be classed as follows:
unionidae, sixty-eight species ; corbiculadae, twelve species ; ^'iviparida3,
seven species ; vulvatidae, one species ; strepomatidse, one species ;
rissoidae, six species ; helicidse, twenty-five species ; limnaeidre, four-
teen species ; ancylinse, three species. It will be observed that the per
cent of land shells is very small in comparison to the water shells.
The absence of timber, the frequent overflowing of our water-courses,
and the great number of swine running in the timbered sections, has
had a tendency to nearl}^ destroy this interesting class of mollusks.
The flora of Mercer and Henderson counties presents a study of
very great interest to the botanist. Over 800 sj)ecies have been iden-
tified, including indigenous and introduced species, as existing in the
two counties. The woody plants, including the trees, shrubs and
woody climbers, number about 120 species. The filices or ferns, twelve
species. The grasses, including the juncacese or rush family, and the
C}^erace8e or sedge grass family, number 180 species. Among the
ti'ue grasses may be found some of the most valuable and interesting
species found in the United States, and a few of the most obnoxious
kinds. It would be a pleasant task to present lists of some of the most
interesting orders of our plants, but as the number is so great, it
would be almost imi)ossible to list them in a brief report like this.
NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP.
Tlie township of New Boston embraces congressional to-^aiship 14
north, and ranges 5 and 6 west, extending to the Mississippi river.
The eastern part is undulating and contains a depth and richness of soil
unexcelled in the county. The westeiTi part of the township is level,
containing a narrow strip of sandy soil, in some places almost destitute
of vegetation ; between this strip and the undulating region of the east
the bottom land is extremely fertile and })roduces heavy crops.
The minerals, as far as knowai, are limited in kind and quantity,
being wholly comprised in a stone quarry at the mouth of the Edwards
NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. 73
river. The drainage is excellent. Tlie swamp lands so common to
some localities are almost wholly wanting here. The Edwards river
flows through the townshij), entering on section 1 and })assing out on
section 33. In the western part are several small lakes, of which Bald
Eagle, Eliza and ISwan lakes are the principal ones. The township is
well supplied with timber in the eastern part and along the river bot-
tom, the kinds being oak, maple, walnut, sycamore, and similar decid-
uous trees.
The township has a somewhat interesting railroad history, to which
we shall refer more fully farther on. The Galva and Keithsburg
branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy enters the township on
section 2-i and takes a diagonal course to the to\vn of New Boston, a
branch running to Keithsburg from a point on section 27, thereby giv-
ing a southern outlet and southern connections.
This, in brief, is a description of the tow^l today, ^vith its happy,
independent, self-reliant people. Let us tuiTi back to earlier days and
trace the work of the hardy pioneers, who bravely struggled to reclaim
the land trom its native wikhiess, and plant here the institutions of the
more favored east.
To Mr. William Denison and his son John W. belong the honor
of planting the first settlement in the township, as well as in the county.
They were Pennsylvanians, and came directly fi-om Wa}Tie county,
Indiana, ha%nng previously lived for a short time in Ohio. They set-
tled near the site of the present town of New Boston in ] 827, and there
lived in close and friendly relations with the Indians who at that time
frequented the place. The \'icinity offered many attractions to the
Indians in the shape of hunting and fishing ; and, indeed, at the pres-
ent time it has more than a local celebrity in this respect.
H. W. Denison, a son of John W. Denison, born in 1832, was
the first white child born in Mercer county. He is still a resident of
New Boston, as is also his mother.
Let the reader pause here a moment and call to aid his imagination
in picturing a settlement of this kind. On the one hand a boundless
waste of prairie, covered with tall waving grass, which sinks and rises
with a billow}- motion, as far as the eye can reach. On the other lumd
the great Father of "Waters, spread out in silent majesty, or lashed to
fiiry by the untrammeled winds which sometimes sweep over the ])lains
from the west. Here was to be found the savage in his native wildness.
Here he smoked his pipe of peace or hallooed his wnld war-dance. And
here was started the first settlement of what was to be, at a tuture time,
one of the myriads of fair towns that dot the broad State of Blinois.
The elder Denison had several children besides John AV., mention-
74 HISTORY OF MERCER AXD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
ed above. Among them were Erastns, James, Joseph, Ezra, Xewton
and Ehner. . The family of Denisons, individually and collectively,
(»ecn])ied the greater portion of the region bordering on the river,
including what is now the to^^^l of Xew Boston.
During the Black Hawk war of 1832, the Denisons left the county,
but returned after the close of hostilities. Tlieir being enabled to leave
the county iminjured was due wholly to the warning of friendly
Indians. Tlie tirst of these warnings were not heeded, but at last those
Indians with whom they were friendly came and told them that, as they
seemed determined to stay and be killed, it was thought best to let the
friendly Indians kill them decently. The ftimily concluded that they
would take an excursion in preference to staying at home, even though
the staying would secure "decent" killing by their friends. The story
is told that, after they had left, their Indian friends gathered up all the
articles that had been left in the hurrv and excitement of the occasion
and placed them in the deserted cabin, marking the spot with such
signs as would deter other marauding parties from committing any dep-
redations. These articles were found on the return of tlie family, all
in good order and nothing missing. A detailed account of the dangers
and narrow escapes is given elsewhere.
Mr. Denison's recollections of the manners, customs and traits of
the Indians in tliis vicinity, are curious and interesting. Though
exceedingly cruel after the actual commencement of hostilities, they
invariablv abstained from anv preliminarv bloodsheddinff, Wlien
• fit/ o
Black llawk was passing his warriors up the Mississippi, previous to
the last campaign of 1832, he came ashore, stopped at Mr. Denison's
house, partook of tlieir hospitality, and guarded the house until the last
canoe had passed up the river. They were capable of the strongest
sentiments of friendship, and held in lasting remembrance any act of
kindness, rewarding the same, sometimes, after the lapse of 3'ears.
They were strictly honest with those whom they considered honest, and
though the Denison family lived among them for years they never
suifered a loss from theft or other depredation committed by them.
Immediately after the death of an Indian, the family and friends
went into mourning for a length of time proportioned to the dignity of
the deceased, which continued day aud night until the appointed time
had expired. When the sick became conscious of approaching death,
they usually selected their own burial place, which was located gener-
ally on some commanding eminence, thus enabling the spirit to have a
commanding view of the surrounding country, with its more or less
busy scenes of wartare or friendly intercourse. In burying the dead, a
small amount of food was deposited with the body to last the spirit a
NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. 75
year. This was repeated until the rehitioii oY body and spirit was 8ui>-
posed to be tf)tally severed ; nsnally till about tlie third year. A stran-
ger was disposed of by beinpc \n'aj)ped in bark and hoisted among the
branches of some comnumding tree. From this fact doubtless arose
the supposition that this style was a mode of burial among some of the
tribes.
Black IFawk is described as a short, thick-set indiWdual, wlio was
the war chief, wliile his associate, Keokuk, was a peace chief Although
knowing the su]>erior power of the whites, lie made war relying on the
help of the Great Spirit to sustain the right. He was taught by bitter
experience, as many another has been, the time when ''right shall
trium])h over might '' is still in the future.
From Mrs. Margaret Denison, widow of John W. Denison, who
was one of the original settlers at the Upper Yellow Banks, we have
derived the follo^ving information, here given almost in her own words:
William Denison, and his son John W. Denison, with their tam-
ilies, came from Conners^-ille, Ind., to Springfield. 111., in lS2<i. In
1827 both families came to this county, arriving on the 2oth of A])ril,
and made settlement at New Boston. They were the first white settlers
in Mercer count v. A week afterward John Vannatta arri^•ed and lo-
cated his home on the present site of Keithsburg. His brother Benja-
min came two or three years later to the same place. The Denisons
pitched their home on the river bank, half a mile below New Boston,
where they started and kept a wood yard for supplying steamboats.
They lived opposite the old graveyard. William Denison made a
claim in that place, and John Denison took the ])resent site of New
Boston. Until the Black Hawk war they planted their garden close to
where Dr. Willits' house stands, in rear of the Union hotel. The soil
was a rich mold on which vegetables flourished ; but it was blown ofl" by
the winds, and is now only a bleak sand ridge.
The Indians called this locality "Upper Yellow Banks." From the
time of their settlement here till the spring of 1831. the Denisons
lived in perfect peace with the Sacs and Foxes. Only occasionally did
a Winnebago Indian show himself in these parts. The men of this
tribe were large, tall, broad-shouldered, and superior in stature to the
Sacs and Foxes, and spoke a difl'erent dialect. The Indians dwelt here
in great numbers.
In the s])ring of 1831 the friendly Indians, who l)i'Ionged to Keo-
kuk's band, told the whites at the Upper "i'ellow Banks that there was
going to be war, and urged them to dej)ai't to a place of safety among
their own people, or to go with them and they would secure them from
hann. Keokuk was livhig on the Iowa river; he said he was going to
76 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
build a town, and tried to persuade them to come to his settlement,
promising to give them ftill protection, but they declined to go, feeling-
that, if they must leave their homes, it would be better to be among
their kindred race.
Tlie only settlers at this place at that time were the Denisons, and
Daniel S. Witter and Avife, and his hired man, named Twist. A cap-
tain coming down the river ti'om Rock Island brought word that an
outbreak was imminent, and all these persons were taken on board his
steamer and carried to Nauvoo. Aiter a sojourn there of two months
tliey returned, but found their com, which was up large enough to be
cultivated when they went away, all destroyed, and not an ear was
raised that year. Witter and Twist never came back. The latter had
taken a claim and was cutting wood.
Concerning the troubles of this year, it is recorded in the Atlas Map
of Mercer county, that after the whites "had been moved to Fort
Edwards, now Warsaw, the ti'iendly or 'pet' Indians assembled on
the deserted premises, gathered up all the articles of their friends that
had been left in tlie hurry and excitement of the occasion, stored them
safely away in the loft of the house, closed the doors securely, and put
a mark upon them well understood by the tribes. When the family
returned home not an article was missing."
Against this recreation of fancy stands the ti'ustworthy statement of
old Mother Denison, that they left behind a part of their movable
effects, as dishes, books, soap, chairs, chickens, and that such goods as
tliey could they buried ; but the despoilers carried off everything. Her
lady's saddle was found with the plush covering taken ofl' and the skirts
cut into strips. Mrs. Denison complained to Keokuk of the loss of
this, and when he went to St. Louis, he bought another and gave her.
At that time there was not business enough on the upper Mississippi
to call for a special class of boats. The furnishing of wood to these
boats was a considerable business. About $3 per cord was paid.
The Denisons all conversed readily in the Indian language, having
learned it after their settlement on the river. The Indians could talk
but little in English.
Early in 1S32 a council of war was held at New Boston. This was
attended by Black Hawk, Keokuk, and some 3,000 followers. Black
Hawk came down the Mississi])pi, and Keokuk down the Iowa river, on
which he was living. New Boston was a central point, and the general
rendezvous on grave or mirthful occasions. The council was held on
the site of the town, beneath some scattering trees. The Denisona
were present and heard the speeches of the two chiefs. Keokuk spoke
first. His counsel was jjacific. He told his people that a war with the
NKW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. 77
wliites would be wasteful, hopeless, disastrous ; that they were as
numerous as the trees of the Mississippi valley, and could not be con-
quered. Black Hawk sullenly closed his ears with his fingers, and
refused to hear what was said. He followed in a speech" for war. He
said the whites had stolen his land; that his father was buried at Rock
Island, and his desire was to be laid among his ancestors.
These two men were strikingly dissimilar in personal appearance.
Keokuk was large, of fine person, noble bearing, neat in dress, and
went appareled like a white man, in fine blue broadcloth. Black Hawk
was a heavy set man, not tidy like Keokuk, and wrapped his muscular
form in his blanket, though sometimes he was seen to wear a coat.
Once more the Denisons were urged by their red friends to aban-
don their home. They were told that war was decided upon, and that
to remain was to court cei-tain death. They were on familiar and
friendly terms with the savages, and their experiences of the year
before did not make them hasty subjects of fright. AVhen they asked
why the war was not begun when threatened the first time, the Indians
replied that they were not ready then ; that they submitted to the situ-
ation to gain time ; but that they were now fully prepared for war.
The Denisons hesitated about departing three or four days, and all
the while the Indians showed a truly anxious interest in their safety and
did not relax their exertions to induce them to go away to a white set-
tlement. Keokuk, who was employing all his infiuence to prevent his
followers from joining the war party, promised them protection if they
would come and live with him. Appearing still to be determined not
to forsake their homes, an Indian calling himself Captain Pepo, who
seemed to have a solemn concern about their respectable extermination,
came to them and with all the fidelity of a friend urged them to go,
telling them that the young warriors who would come would roughly
insult and barbarously murder and mutilate them, and that to save
them from so painful and humiliating treatment, it they would not
leave for a place of safety, "he would come and kill them decently .^"
After this, discovering moccasin tracks among their garden-beds, they
concluded that the savages were prowling around, and thought it no
longer safe to tarry in the neighborhood. They were living about iialt
a mile down the river, where the woody ard was, and opposite where
the graveyard now is. Taking most of their goods, they began their
removal one morning, and went down to Pence's Fort, which consisted
of some block-houses, and was situated four miles northeast of
Oquawka.
Having at the time nearly 150 cords of wood at the yard, the two
sons of the senior Denison, William and Erastus, were left behind to
78 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUTS'TIES.
cord up what was not piled", and to sell as much as they could to the
steamboats. In the turn that affairs took, this wood was all lost.
A Frenclnnan b}' the name of Pentacosa, who called himself Coty,
had a trading house at ]^^ew Boston, and that evening the young Den-
isons went up to stay with him. In the night the Indians surrounded
the premises and assaulted the building ; the three inmates escaped by
the back way, and gliding swiftly but cautiously down to the edge of
the nver, followed along precipitately under the bank, tlie Indians
coming behind and whooping with vengeance. The fleeing men waded
the Edwards at the mouth, and then struck for Pope creek, at a point
where it was spanned by a foot-log, Ave miles distant. At this point a
dog in pursuit closed up with them and Erastus Denison shot him.
The Indians were last heard here, about a quarter of a mile back, and
it is supposed they threw up the chase at the creek. The party con-
tinued their flight apprehensive of pursuit until * * Coty *" ga^'e out and
was secreted by his companions in the tall grass, in a sink or basin.
Tlie two men now went forward as rapidly as the darkness of night
would allow, and arrived at Pence's at two in the morning, having
accomplished the flight of sixteen miles since nightfall. At daylight
the men at the stockade turned out to go for the Frenchman, and when
he had been safely brought in they went up the river together in boats
to the Upper Yellow Banks, and brought away all his goods from the
trading post. Two squaws were found sitting in the house, having
been stationed there to take care of the place and prevent its being
despoiled.
After peace was made and the families returned, the Indians affected
to have much sport in telling the Denison boys that in their flight they
made the brush crack as if they had been bucks.
Not being satistied with their confinement at the fort, the Denisons,
a week later, went to Monmouth to stay. John Denison bouglit a
house and a small piece of ground, and lived there through the summer.
In the fall they came back to New Boston in time to put up hay for
winter. AVilliam Denison returned to his old place on the river, but
John went back two miles, where he made a farm. Mrs. Denison
had three small children, and that fall she stayed alone with the children
in her house a week, while her husband went back to Monmouth to get
his com and potatoes. Mother Denison was a brave woman and felt
no alarm, though she heard the guns of the Indian hunters as they were
fowling, and her husband's absence was prolonged several days beyond
expectation.
The same day that the Denisons left the Upper Yellow Banks,
Benjamin Yannatta, who was living at Keithsburg, loaded up his goods
NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. 79
at night and drove out on the prairie and remained in a low place,
going from there next day to the fort.
Just before hostilities ended a party of seven Indians i)enetrated the
country as far as Little York, and creeping uj) on a young num named
Martin, who was mowing on the prairie, all fired ujjon him at once and
shot him dead. They aftei*ward said that they could have killed many
more, but being acquainted with them, and having been fed and warmed
by them, they were deterred from taking their lives. Uufortunately,
Martin was a stranger who had never had the privilege of bestowing a
favor. A company of rangers was raised that summer at Monmouth,
and this command scoured the country between Oquawka, New Boston
and Monmouth. A detachment of these was sent out after this prowl-
ing band and pursued them so close that they threw away everything
in their flight, and escaped across the Mississippi.
When Black Hawk returned from his tour to Washington, he had
the candor to tell his people that Keokuk was right in his estimate of
the strength and number of the whites, and assured them that instead
of being as mnnerous as the trees of the Mississippi valley they were
as numberless as the trees and the leaves together, -
William Denison had a very handsome daughter by the name of
Julia, about lifteen years old, for whom the savages conceived a great
fancy and to buy whom they exhausted every means. Mother Den-
ison cannot remember the offers that were made by her savage
admirers, but thinks that they at one tune brought thirty ponies. They
came several times to urge a bargain. That young lady is now the
wife of Judge E])liraim Gilmore, of Aledo. •
Nancy Denison, daughter of John Denison (now Mrs. William
Willett, of Keithsburg), was another white child whom the savages
were bent on possessing, and several times attempted to kidnap. The
squaws would pick her up and wi'ap her in a blanket, but before they
could get away the vigilant watch dog would discover their movements,
and assailing them funously, compel them to leave her. They were
often at the house, and by making much of her, and giving her
presents, had artfully won her childish confidence so that she was
greatly pleased at the prospect of going with them. She learned to
converse in the Indian as early as in her own tongue.
All the Indians drank whisky. When they went on a spree two or
more kept sober to take care of the others. When any got trouble-
some and ungovernable, these would bind them till they recovered
themselves.
Mrs. Denison is living in New Boston at the age of eighty.
In 1833 Wm. Drury came to this vicinity and made a claim near
80 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
the bluffs. At the first glance he felt convinced he had found "God's
country, " and he has never felt that he made a mistake in so estimating
it. At that time there were but four distinct white families in the
township.
VerN' soon after this, as the richness of the soil became tested, set-
tlers began to come in rapidly. At about the same time land specula-
tors from the east also turned their attention to this locality. The^
inordinate cupiditN' of these speculators often involved them in bitter
contests with the settlers. As soon as the lands were surveyed and came
into market, the settlers, in order to compete more successftiUy with the
speculators, were in the habit of forming a ring around the land office,
and endeavoring to keep out the " land sharks, " as they were called, by
physical strength. Nearly all the land sold in this locality, was sold
from the government land office in Galena. The settlers usually ap-
pointed some one person to attend the land sale and bid otF the several
lots upon which they had made claims. The settlements mere made
principally along the river, the settlement of the upland country being
regarded as an absurdity.
In 1834 Wm. AVilson made a settlement. During this year tlie^
number of settlers increased so rapidly as to cause great inconvenience
in some parts of the country on account of the great extent of territory-
embraced in the jurisdiction of AVarren county.
In September of this year, 1834, the town of New Boston was laid
out (the first of any in the county). The land, as has been previous-
ly stated, was owned originally by Wm. Denison. He sold out his
claim, or two-thirds of it, to Elijah lies, of Springfield, and Edward Bur-
rail, of Massachusetts. An honor attaches to it of more than usual
importance fi'om the fact that the surveying was done by Abraham
Lincoln, the Mart}T President of the United States. The site possessed
peculiar natural advantages, and had been known as the upper Yellow
Banks, the Lower Yellow Banks being located at Oquawka. To say that
site was more favorable for a city than any other point for miles either
way is certainly no discredit to the larger cities that have since been
founded and hold populations largely in excess of New Boston. Situ-
ated opposite the mouth of the Iowa river, which is a navigable stream
for some distance ; located on high banks, without the inconvenience
of bluffs in the roar ; with Sturgeon Bay as a safe and commodious har-
bor ; a rich agricultural ccjuntry surrounding it, and no large city with-
in a great distance ; what more natural than to suppose it simply a
question of time when it should be the city of the west ! The thought-
ful reader will undoubtedly satisfv himself why these expectations were
not fulfilled as he peruses the subsequent history.
NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. 81
In 1835 the legislature passed an act erecting the new county of
Mercer, and ap})ointing New Boston as the tempoary county seat. By
the ])rovisions of the act an election was directed to be held on the first
Monday in April, 1835, in tlie town of New Boston at the house of Eli
Reynolds. Thirty seven votes were deposited for county officers!
S. V. Prentiss located here during this year, as did also Mr. Ed.
Drury and M. L. Willits. They are all living in the township at present
and have been since their settlement here.
About 1835 a school was organized at the bluff about four miles
east of New Boston. This was also the first school-house in Mercer
county. The first school teacher was the Hon. Geo. W. Julian, since that
time almost countless numbers of teachers have been engaged in the work
in the town ; but perhaps the most prominent and deserving of mentic)n is
the name of Simeon P. Smith. Hardly a man now living in the vicinity
but knows personally or by hearsay of his good work as an educator.
Of him Dr. Thomas AVillitts says : "Among the aims and interests of
human life, opening wide the avenues to independent thought and
efficient intellectuality is paramount, and he who has been successful
as an educator, is most tiiily a benefactor.
Having lived long, and been an interested observer of human pro-
gress in many of its phases, I can most conscienciously say that no other
instance has come under my notice in which so much was achieved in
common schools in the same time (short or longf as was done by
my friend Simeon L. Smith in the town of New Boston and vicinity
(begining about forty years since), in awakening the latent possibilities
of the infant mind.
The causes and reasons for his singular and marked success in
school were no doubt many ; perhaps some that were peculiar and
purely intellectual.
But he seemed to form a clear and correct judgment quickly of the^
capacity of each pupil, and of their home discipline, and was so intensely
earnest himself that his feeling and action seemed contagious. He
seemed to know just what a jmpil could do, or should do. and was careful
to know that it was done, or to require a suitable reason why it was not.
If one in a class failed, he seemed to know whether idleness or ina-
bility was the cause, and promptly used the appropriate remedy. Even-
ings, mornings. Satin-days ; indeed, any unoccupied time the class, or the
pupil, or any number that he deemed required awakening aid, were called
to the residence of some employer, his boarding place, or the school-
house, where the appropriate exercises, instructions or questions were
presented. Prompt and absolute obedience of evefy scholar seemed
a prerequisite, and understanding every principle in the branches-
82 HISTORY OF MERCER AJs^D HENDERSON COUNTIES.
taught himself, knew the cause of faihire or embarrassment, and lifted
or led the pupil so gentlv into the light that he was impressed that he
had found it himself. Scholars thus energized went on and up to
greater and more successful effoi-ts, opening wider the way to greater at-
tainments in the more advanced and progressive series of scholarly
developements. Every pupil under his teaching for a few years is now
easily distinguished from the mass in this, that they are good spellers, good
readers, and prompt, ready and accurate mathematicians, all achieved by
a thorough, clear, and logical mental analysis of the problem, ever
making their own rules, and never committing those of another. Of
his religious sentiments I can say that he was an admirer of puritanic
rigidity in the observances of an ideal straight edge, as a guide in re-
ligious and moral duties. If not an apologist for its bigotry of the inspira-
tional claim for or of the bible, he said or cared little, but ever obsen'ed,
applauded and advocated the clearly marked moral duties as expressed
by the life and precepts of Jesus, with little or no respect for the cere-
monies and formalities of the churches, regarding them as figments ot
€atholicity that the world would be the better for losing.
Johnson Koble settled in the township in this year, 1835. Mr.
Ephraim Gilmore was the first assessor and treasurer, appointed April
13, 1835. He was also the first surveyor and first postmaster.
The following settlements were -made in 1836. John "VV. Ditto,
who settled on S. E. ^ Sec. 27, having previously made the claim
in March of the same year. His was the only house out on the
prairie except Joseph Denison\s on the S. W. ^ Sec. 34, which was built
the same spring. John Denison was living in the timber out on the
Edward's Elats, liaving settled there on his return after the Black Hawk
war in the autumn of 1832. John Pratt, Milton L. Willits, Isaac
Lutz, James M. Mannon, Gilbert Ives, and Harley Ives, also made
settlements in this year.
During this year a somewhat animated discussion arose in regard to
the removal of the county seat. ISTew Boston being situated at the ex-
treme west of the county lacked a central location, an item of great im-
portance in the days of horseback conveyances, and this fact was strongly
urged as sufiicient grounds for the removal of the county offices to a
more accessible point. Those who favored its retention did so on the
grounds that as New Boston was the town of the county, and always
destined to be, so far as could be ascertained at tliat time, nothing
€0uld be more aj)propriate than to let the county seat remain.
In 1837 the legislature enacted a law by which Win. Mc.Murty, ot
Knox county ; Thomas Spragins, of Jo. Da^•iess ; and John S. Stei)hen-
son, of Ogle, were appointed a commission to locate a permanent seat
NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. 83
of justice. The provisions of the act required that the proprietors of the
place selected should donate to the county lots equal to at least twenty
acres, the proceeds of the sale of which should be used in the erection of
public buildings. The commissioners fixed the site at Millersburg on
the N. E. i Sec. 3, T. 14, K. 4.
Dissatisfaction still existing, the question of its removal was agitated
still further, until the legislature, in 1839, authorized an election to be
held in April of that year, to decide its location by vote ; providing,
how^ever, that, if it resulted in locating it at New Boston, the'propnetors
"should donate not less than two acres of land and the sum of four
thousand dollars in money,"- the money to be paid in four semi-annual
instalhnents. The effort was unsuccessful. The matter did not stop ;
but, as the topic is a matter of county history, we we will return to our
settlements of tlie year 1836 and 1837.
Lots in New Boston were held at high figures in these earlier times,
prices ranging from $20(1 to $7U0. The lot where the old "Drury
Warehouse" stands brought $900. James S. Thompson settled and
commenced business in New Boston in 1836, and from that time until
his death, 1868, was closely connected in public and private life with
the welfare of the community. In 1837 John Roberts, J. C. Sloan,
N. N. Larrance and John Davis settled in the township.
In 1838 Isaac Lutz came to this township, and began the erection
of a grist mill on Edwards river, on section 1. This mill has been
kept up ever since, and is still running and doing good work. It
belongs to some of the heirs of Isaac Lutz.
Elias Pullen, E. A. Crapnell and Joseph Alyea, with their families,
settled in the towhship in this year. Elias Pullen settled on section 9,
E. A. Crapnell on section 14, and Joseph Alyea in town, which at that
time contained twelve or fifteen buildings. This was four years after
the survey and plat of the town was made ; and, although the town
was laid out, only a small portion had been subdivided into lots.
Tliis, together with the lact that the majority of the proprietors were
non-residents and held their property at high figures, ijartially accounts
for the slow growth of the town.
In 1839 Jacob Beard settled on section 9, and Charles and Christian
Rader settled on section 27. The settlements up to this time had been
located mostly along the rivers Mississippi and Edwards ; but from this
time forward the settlements increased rapidly in number and take a
wider range.
In 1840 Dr. Mark Willits settled in New Boston, the fii-st resident
doctor of the place.
He is still living in the town at this date, April, 1882, and has had
S4: HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
a wide and extensive practice almost continually during his long sojourn
in the county. *Drs. Hereld, Shiner and Howej were early physicians.
Mr, M. Potfenbarger settled in the town in 1840.
In 184.5 the first newspaper in tlie county was established at New
Boston, under the name of the "New Boston Advertiser." The name
and management were changed several times, being successively "The
Yeoman of the Prairie Land," the "New Boston Broadhorn," "The
Golden Age," ''The New Boston Nonpareil," "The New Boston Ee-
poiter," and lastly, the "New Boston Herald," the last number of the
latter being published in 1872, C. A. Ballard, editor.
The township was organized in 1852 ; and the first super^^sor from
New Boston was I. N. Bassett ; the first town clerk, Thomas Alyea ;
the first justice, G. W. Warner.
The following have been supervisors for the township : I. N. Bassett,
one year ; Sidney Chidester, one year ; Amos Prouty, one year ; Wil-
liam Drury, one year; John Boberts, five years; D. J. Noble, two
years ; Thomas Martin, four years ; Walter Pryne, one year ; William
A. Wilson, twelve years. Mr. Wilson is supervisor at the present
time.
The following is a list of the town clerks : Thomas Alyea, one year ;
B. Tliomas, one year ; Isaiah Alyea, one year ; G. B. Tyler, one year ;
Simeon Sheldon, one year ; J. E. Griffin, six years ; A. F. Waterman,
two years ; D. T. Hindman, one year ; George Lytle, one year ; C. A.
Ballard, three years ; R. S. Scudder, two years ; T. H. Doughty, eight
jears.
. The justices of the peace have been : G. W. Warner, sixteen years ;
J. C. Swafford, two 3'ears ; Amos Prouty, fourteen years ; John Sharp,
four years ; C W. Bras, twelve years ; W. C. Austin, eight years ;
John Roberts, four years.
The village of New Boston is situated on a part of sections 31 and
32. It received an addition, known as Turner's Addition, in 1856, and
in 1859 was incorporated under a special charter, lia\dng at that time
about TOO inhabitants.
At the breaking out of the war in 1861, New Boston responded
promptly to the call, and was always ready to aid the cause with men
or money. To say there were none who sympathized with the South,
would, of course, be an exaggeration ; but the town may justly feel
proud of her war record. We give elsewhere a detailed history of
company "G," 27th regiment. The whole interest of the town, during
the four years of this bloody struggle, seemed centered in the welfare
of her "boys in blue" and the success of the Union forces.
Shortly before the war, in May, 1859, the township held an election
NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. 85
to vote for or against a subscription of $ IS, 000 to aid in the construc-
tion of the Western Air Line railway. The bonds were voted, but
the road was never completed. In June, 1868, another election was
held to vote for or against a subscription of $18,000 to aid in the con-
struction of the American Central Kailway Company. One hundred and
eighty-four (184) votes were polled for the subscription and three (3)
against. The township bonds were to run ten years, bearing ten per
cent interest. In June, 1879, the unpaid bonds were refunded at a
lower rate of interest, and there now remains but $5,500 indebtedness
against the townshi]), a mere trifle when her magnificent resources are
taken into consideration.'
The village of New Boston voted bonds to the amount of $30,000,
running twenty years and bearmg se^'en per cent interest, for the same
purpose. All these bonds were voted -with the understanding that the
road was to be extended to Fort Wayne, thus making connections with
the eastern seaboard lines, and westward to Council Bluffs. The reac-
tion in railroad speculation set in before the road was completed, and
the company soon found themselves in want of capital, being finally
compelled to sell the road to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail-
road Company, by which company it is now owned and operated. Had
the road been completed as projected, crossing the Mississippi at its
present western terminus, there is hardly a doubt that New Boston
would to-day have been one of the most thriving cities in the west.
At the present time a new road is surveyed from Rock Island south-
ward, crossing the Mississippi at or near New Boston, and making con-
nections through to Kansas City. Should this road be completed, the
future prospects of the town are indeed bright.
SCHOOLS.
The first school was held in a log cabin out at the blutt", and pre-
sided over by the Hon. George W. Julian, in 1834 or 1835. The
township was finally divided into eight districts, each supporting school
for six or more months each year. The only graded school is the New
Boston public school, it being divided into five departments. Tlie first
school-house built in the city district still stands in a rather dilapidated
condition on lot 1, block 3.
At the last census there were 517 school children in the township,
distiict No. 5 furnishing 312.
The religious sentiment of the people is quite diversified, a large
number being in opposition to the ortliodox church. Of the three or
more church organizations, but one, the Methodist, supports a resident
pastor.
86 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
THE :methodist episcopal church society.
This society was organized in July, 1S38, at the residence of Emily
Burleigh, with the following members, viz : Joseph Alyea, Thorlea
Alyea, Tliomas Alyea, Mary Alyea, Dr. Edmond Harrell, Butler,
Emily Burleigh — 7. New Boston at that time was in what was called
the Mercer Mission. There were so many appointments that the
preacher was comi)elled to preach almost daily, having but two or three
rest days in a month.
Tlie tirst resident preacher was George Smith, who was pastor over
the society. The first meetings of the class were held at the residence
of Emily Burleigh, but after Joseph Al^-ea had built his house in the
toAMi of Xew Boston, the meetings were moved to that point. Mr.
Smith remained with the church but one year, and but little is remem-
bered concerning him. Henry Summers was the presiding elder at the
time of organization. The next year Tliomas M. Kirkpatrick was the
preacher in charge. This was about the year 1839. The preacher in
those times had to be economical. He was allowed for that year, $75
for table expenses, and $100 salary, and a trifle for traveling expenses.
He also remained a year,, and accomplished a good work. He was fol-
lowed by Brothers McMurtry, Wilson and Burr. Brothers Doughty
and Ross at this time were local preachers, and as the circuit was very
large, most of the work devolved upon them.
In 1866 the society built the parsonage on lots 7, 8 and 9, block 4,
in Thompson's addition. It cost about $1,500. The church building,
in which the congregation has since worshiped, was erected in 1876,
on lots 2, 3 and 4, block 13, in Thompson's addition. At the time of
its erection it was the best in the county, and it still remains one of the
best. Its cost was nearly $6,000. The present board of trustees con-
sists of T. H. Bras, J. T. Bell, E. Stevens, John Stevens, W. A. Wil-
son,. Eli Ci-aft and Thomas Alyea. The last named has been trustee,
with the exception of one year, since 1845, and class leader thirty-four
years. Tln-ee of the members of the first class, Emily Burleigh, Mary
Willits and Thomas Alyea, are yet alive and members of the church,
having been engaged in the good work forty-four years.
The present pastor of the church is Rev. G. B. Snedecker. The
church, like most organizations of such long existence, has had its ups
and downs, sometimes in the valley of humiliation and sometimes on
the mountain's top, as on the mount of transfiguration ; but always has
its course been forward, and the good it has accomplished cannot be
comi)ared with anything in this world. Only eternity will reveal the
amount of treasure gathered on earth and stored in the Master's gran-
•^,.
HON. FREDERICK PR I CK
(dec eased)
NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. 89
eries above. [To Mr. Thomas Alyea we are indebted for the notes from
which the foregoing has been written. — Ed.]
BAPTIST SOCIETY.
The Ba})tist society was organized in 1844 by Elder Hovey, with the
following members, viz : William Denison and wife, James Denison
and wife, Harrison Smith and wife, M. Poffenbarger and wife, E. A.
Crapnell and wife, William Crapnell, William Xoble and wife, Mr. and
Mrs. McChesney, and Miss Williamson. In 1845 a church buihiing
was commenced on lot 5, block 13, and completed in 1848.
Elder Hovey is described as a man of great mental powers, and one
thoroughly in earnest in his work. Although a man well advanced in
years at the time he began his labors in the place, he remained as resi-
dent pastor for five years after its organization.
The building being situated on sandy foundation, was at length com-
pletely undermined by the action of the wind, and fell down about 1859.
The last resident pastor was Elder Brimhall, who remained a year or
two. The society has had no resident pastor since 1851, but has kept
up the organization, and also a Sunday school, holding meetings at
present in the town hall. It is hoped at some future time to see the
scciety in a flourishing condition;
PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY.
This society was organized in February, 1857, ^\^th the following
members, viz : Mrs. Eva Nevius, Mrs. Joseph Kane, Mrs. M. J.
Edwards, Mrs. Sarah Poffenbarger, Mrs. M. J. McLaughlin, Mr. G.
W. Crabb. The first and only church building the sogiety has had was
begun about 1868. It is a large, commodious structure, and cost, when
completed, $6,620.17. The first pastor was Eev. S. G. Hair. The
church has had no resident pastor for some years, the last one being the
Rev. William Gay.
At the present writing, no meetings are held, but the society still
keeps up its organization, and the few members left hope at some future
time to see the church resume its old position.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD -FELLOWS.
In the latter part of the year 1855 a few members of the society of
Odd-Fellows determined to establish a working lodge of the order in
New Boston, and the following facts have been presented by M. Cham-
berlin, D.D.G.M. : The mystic number (five) made a]>plication for
a dispensation. Tlie Grand Master, by authority of the Right Worthy
Grand Lodge of Illinois, issued a charter dated October 12, a.d.
6
90 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HEXUERSON COUNTIES.
1855, granting tlie dispensation. Monday evening, November 20,
A.I). 1855, a meeting was held with District Deputv Grand Master
Kelley in the chair, Past Grand Sweeny acting as grand marshal. By
order of Grand Master Kelley, the grand marshal presented Charles H.
Bell, M. M, Prentiss, John L. Hartson, Mark J. O'Brien and W. T.
Power, who were duly obligated, and the grand master declared the
lodge duly instituted under the name and title of "JS^ew Boston Lodge,
No. 188, I.O.O.F.
After election and installment of officers. Brothers J. C. Bell and
Daniel Ilines were admitted by card, H. W. Denison and B. Milliken
were initiated, and J. S. Thompson petitioned for membership. The
meeting was regularly held on Monday evening of each week.
During the late rebellion the membership was reduced very nearly
to the magic number, several brothers being enlisted as soldiers. The
form of one now lies moldering away to kindred dust in southern soil
— a tear to his memory. All credit is due to the few members who
held their meetings, paid the capitation tax, and held their representa-
tion in the Grand Lodge. Several lodges in the state became defunct
during the war.
After peace was again restored No. 188 increased in membership,
and in October, 1865, the brothers were very arduous in their endeavors
to secure a home for themselves. Clieerfully each brother donated to
the building fund, and on the evening of May 21, 1866, the lodge met
in their new hall, size 27x-iO feet, lodge room cai-peted and well fur-
nished, and no one regrets the extra effort to secure a home, but with
honest pride they can feel that they are beneath ''the shadow of their
own vine." The membership enrolled from organization up to April
1, 1882, is 178. The number of brothers buried by the lodge has been
nine. The amount of relief paid, $1,456.^0 (this amount was paid by
the lodge and the members by individual donation). Charity abideth
in the heart of every good and true Odd-Fellow. It is within tlie knowl-
edge of members of our order that the relief extended by them, under
their teachings, has been the means, under providence, of bringing
within the church many who to-day would have been aliens from the
household of faith. Many of the brothers cheerfully donated in honor
to the "Wiley monumeut fund ; also to the Lincoln monument fund, not
forgetting our worthy and honorable G.R.S. ; to his memory, we have
a name in the Ridgley Monument Fund. Of the members at the
organization of our lodge, only one. Brother Daniel Hiixes, now holds
a membership.
Connected with the order is the Rebekah Degree. This degree
associates the wives of Odd-Fellows with them in the high and
^'E^V BOSTON TOAVNSHIP. 91
imiX)i'tant work of "\'isiting the sick, relieving the distressed, burying
tlie dead, and educating the orphan." •
ARCHER ENCAMPMENT No. 70, I.O.O.F.
This is the liome of the patriarch, the evergreen retreat of Odd-
Fellowship, supported bv the three ])iilars of Faith, Hope and Charity,
and here we have the tables of law, likewise the lesson as taught in the
golden rule. A weary pilgrim can here find rest, eat at our table and
drink of our pure water. IIosj)itality to the stranger is a pure prin-
ciple within the heart of every true patriarch encampment.
No. 70 was instituted December, 1866. The number of patriarchs
enrolled up to April 1, 1SS2, was eighty-two. Several of the patriarchs
instituted a new encampment, others changed their residence, and like
our subordinate lodge, the time came when there were but one or two
more members than the original number ; but like the ancient Patriarch
Abraham, the father of the faithful, our trust was in God, and to-day
our tent is enlarged for the increase of membership.
A^'CIENT FKEE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.
A dispensation and charter were issued to New Boston Lodge No.
59, in the latter part of 1848. Tlie history from that time to 1853 is
somewhat obscure, owing to the fact that in 1851 the records were
burned ; also, all books, paj^ers, furniture, etc.
In 1852 a new dispensation was granted, and the following officers
duly installed : John E. AYillits, W.M.; George Ralston, S.W.; Wil-
liam Wilson, Jr., J.W. ; Elias Willits, Treas. ; Daniel Winslow, Sec;
E. J. Denison, S.D. ; M. Potfenbarger, J.D. ; Josiah Mai-field, Tyler.
In October, 1853, a new charter was issued and the following named
individuals duly elected and .installed as officers, viz : J. E. Denison,
W.M.; E. Harrell, S.W.; A. Gingles, J.W.; R. Thomas, Treas.;
G. W. Warner, Sec; Elias Willits, S.D. ; John Hoover, J.D. ; Josiah
Maxfield, Tyler.
The lodge has had a prosjjerous existence, and to-day is one of the
strongest and most efficient in the state. The misfortune of losing the
records by fii'e is more to be deplored, fi*om the fact that the Grand '
Lodge of the state has also lost the records covering about the same
facts.
The lodge has always been noted for its activity, and during the
somewhat lengthy jjeriod of its existence has had no serious dissen-
sions.
Something over 200 members have been admitted since the re-
organization, and at present the membership is sixty-seven, with the
following corps of officers : George Lytle, W.M. ; Ed. L. Willits,
92 HISTORY OF >rERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
S.W. ; A. Iinber, J.W. ; John Fry, Treas. ; W. C. Austin, Sec. ; -J. J.
Mason, S.D. ; N. W. Gibson, J.D. ; S. Swartwout, Tyler.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Henry ^V. Dexisox was born in Mercer county, Illinois, IMarcli
16, 1832, being the first Avhite child bora in the county. His father,
John AV., together with his grandfather, William, formed the first set-
tlement in the county, which was in the year 1827. He is the youngest
child of John AY, and Margaret (Swatford) Denison. His folks came
overland with teams from AA^ayne county, Indiana, with Indians on all
sides of them, reaching Mercer county without losing any of their
family. They ever afterward lived on friendly terms with the Indians.
One of the Indian warriors once remarked that if they killed them they
would do it easy, which meant that they would never do anything more
than whij) them. He has been mostly engaged in farmmg and stock-
raising. His chances for obtaining an education were limited to what
he could obtain from Simeon P. Smith, who taught his first school in
Henry's father's kitchen. He has been a member of the Independent
Order of Odd-Fellows since the first organization of that society in New
Boston. He was either the first or second one taken into the lodge.
He does not know whether he or B. Milliken, of A^iola, was first, as
the}'' both came in at the first meeting. He has held all the oflices in
Iiis lodge at various times. He was always a democrat until 1872.
From that time to the present he has been a "greenbacker.''' He was
married to Miss Turana C. Moore, daughter of John S. and Hannah
Moore. Mrs. Denison was born February 17th, 1814. They have
had six children, in the following order : Carrie (dead). Sail}' (married
to Herbert Good), Alice (married to -John Fuller), Maggie (dead),
"Willie (dead), and Freddie.
Stanton V. Prentiss, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Meigs
county, Ohio, May 10, 1826, and is the fifth child of Stanton and
Susannah (Brookheart) Prentiss. His parents came west and settled at
AVarsaw, in Hancock county, where they remained until 1833. AVhile
living at that pr)int, they were often compelled to leave their farm, and
flee to Fort Edwards for safety from the Indians, as this was at the
time when Black Hawk was making his raids up and down the Missis-
sippi. In 1833 they came to Mercer county, where they have lived
ever since, with the exception of a short time in Rock Island county,
and two years spent in California. He has always been engaged in farm-
ing and raising stock, the latter very extensively. During the period
between 1852 and 1857, he also ran a dry goods and grocery store.
His means of attaining an education were very limited ; however, he
NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. 93
managed to get a common school education between the intervals of
farming. He owns l,l»o<i acres of land on Bay Island, all in one body
and under fence, forming the largest pasture in the county, and the
largest body owned by any one person. In })olitics he has always been,
a rei)ublican. He was married to Miss Hannah E. Creveston in May^
1865. They have two children: Park and Don. They are both living
arid at home with their parents. Mr. Prentiss' m(»ther died in 1852 at
New Boston, and his father in 1875.
William Drury, the subject of this sketch, was born in Pickaway
county, Ohio, September 17, 1809, and removed to Wayne county in
1811, with his parents, where Mr. Drury remained until he attained the
age of manhood. The family were subject to all the ]>rivations of pio-
neer life as well as the alarms of savage warfare, and during the
troubles in 1812 they often had to retreat to the block-houses for pro-
tection. Mr. Drurv's education was limited to a common school, but
he attained education enough to teach several terms of school before he
came west. In 1833 Mr. Drury came to Illinois to look at the country,
and for the tii'st time saw real prairie land — quite a curiosity to one
who has been reared in a wooded country. Mr. Drury <letermined to
make this his home, made a selection, and in 1834 returned and made
a claim, and settled down at the foot of the bluffs, near where he now
resides. Through his influence several families came with him. So'
disgusted wnth things were they, that they threatened a dissolution of
friendship with him if he did not desist in S})eaking in praise of the
country. In 184(» Mr. Drury returned to Indiana, and was married,
July 1, to Miss Vashti Lewis, daughter of Caleb and Polly (Willits)
Lewis. Mrs. Drury's father served as a member of the legislature
a number of times. Immediately after the organization of Mercer
county in 1835, Mr. Drury was elected to fill .the office of countj
recorder a number of consecutive years. In 183(1 he was elected county
clerk, in conjunction with the former office. While holding these offices
Mr. Drury furnished all his own stationery and met his office expenses
out of liis own private means. In 1836 he commenced a small trade in
dry goods and groceries in partnership with Levi Willits, under the
firm name of Drur}' <fe AVillits. They furnished the people with all
necessaries that were required. They bought pork, grain and other
products, and shipj>ed them to St. Louis. They did the first pork pack-
ing in the county. They continued business until 1848, when they sold
out to Courtney Drury and James S. Thompson, who formed a partner-
ship under the name of Thompson tk Drury. Mr. Drury spent about
a year, after the sale ttf liis interest, in settling up his business, when, in
1850, he started a small cash store, whicii he conducted until 1853,
94: HISTORY OF >rERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
when, on account of failing liealth, be sold out his interest, and has
since given his attention to the management of his large estate, and
to the importation and raising of fine stock, and the banking business.
In 1871, in ])artnership with other wealthy men of the county, he
assisted in organizing a Farmer's Xational Bank, at Keithsburg, of
which he is a large stockholder and president. Mr. Drurj says he has
made it a j)ractice all his life, that at the end of each year his income
shall be greater than his expenses. He thinks this accounts for his
large estate, and not to an}- mental gift. This he would recommend to
all young men staiting in life. Mr.. Drury was among the first settlers
of the county. lie was well acquainted with Black Hawk and Ivet)kuk,
the two noted Indian chiefs.
Courtney Druky was born in WajTie county, Indiana, November
23, 1820. He came to Mercer county, Illinois, with William Willits
and family, in the fall of 1834. He remained witli them for some time,
and then sold goods for the firm of Drury it Willits. In 1842 he
returned to his old home in Indiana, and went to school that fall and
winter. He was married April 12, 1842, to Ruth Willits, and removed
to Mercer county, Illinois, in the fall of the same year. That winter
he bought eighty acres of land, partly improved. He sold his farm in
the winter of 1845, and the following spring moved to the village of
Kew Boston. Mr. Drury lost his wife February, 1847. He then
returned to the State of Indiana, and spent the most of that summer
there ; then returned to Kew Boston, and, with James S. Thompson,
purchased the mercantile establishment of Drury & AVillits. The new
fii-m conducted the trade of this house for eight years, at the end of
which time they sold out, and Mr. Drury benight land near the village
of New Boston, which he improved, and has engaged in farming and
stock raising ever since. Mr. Drury has made a specialty of breeding
fine horses, and has had some of the best stock ever kept or owned in
Mercer county. He has a passion for a fine horse, and gratifies it.
William A. Wilson, farmer, was born in Shelby county, Indiana,
August 18, 1831. Tlie family removed to Mercer county in the fall
of 1834, and settled in Eliza to%ynship. Mr. W^ilson's education was
limited to a common school, as in those early times the advantages
■ofiered were few and rude ; however, he acquired considerable of a
business education, especially in arithmetic, as that was a favorite
«tudy of his. When twenty-two years of age he commenced farming
for himself on a small scale. His father wanted liim to take a horse
when starting out, but he refused to do so ; but by persuasion he
accepted a ten dollar biJ]. He rented three years, when he found he
liad money enough to buy eighty acres of land lying in New Boston
NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. 95
township. lie lived with his brother-in-law, Tiiehard Shields, and
tilled his small farm until 1857, when he was married to Miss Kate
"Woodward, daughter of Joel and Keziah Woodward. A year after
his marriage he sold his farm for $2,5(>(J, and bought another in Mer-
cer township for $3,500, wiiere he lived until 1S61. Mr. Wilson has
always dealt considerably in live stock while farming. In 1861, in
response to the country's call for troops, Mr. Wilson enlisted in the
102d Vol. Inf., and was elected second lieutenant of Company K, and
before going into active service was promoted to tirst lieutenant. His
first engagement ■with the enemy was at Gallatin, Tennessee, after
which he was elected captain of his company by a unanimous vote.
Returning home from the war in 1864, he sold his • farm in Mercer
township for $7,000, and again bought a farm of 120 acres in New
Boston township, which he has increased to 420 acres in New Boston
township, and 402 acres in Eliza. They have had eleven children :
Jay, Ed., Dick, Ressa, Gen. Phil. Sheridan, John S., Harvey, Louie,
Grace, Bert. M. and Frank M. Grace and Louie are deceased. The
rest are in good health and at home with their parents. Mr. Wilson's
mother still sur^■ives at the age of eighty-seven, and is in good health.
D. J. Noble is the ninth child of a family of twelve children. He
was born May 1, 1818, in Fayette county, Indiana. His parents, Lewis
and Elizabeth (Burgess) Xoble, came to Mercer county, lUinois, in
1835, and settled on Sec. 16, in New Boston townsldp, where they
lived until their death. His father gave D. J. seventy acres of Sec.
16, and to this he added the N. W. i of Sec. 22 and the N. E. i of
Sec. 21. He has a large and commodious residence and is comfort-
ably situated. Besides making a competency for himself he has
helped each of his sons to a good home. He has the benefits of only
a common school education, owing to the many disadvantages aft'orded
in youth. He has been engaged in farming from boyhood up. He
has always taken an active part in temperance, and has been a mem-
ber of the ]\Iethodist church since 1840. He has held all the offices in
his church at various times. In politics he has always been a republi-
can. He was married July 5, 1840, to Miss Sally liadei-, daughter of
Abraham and Catharine Bader. She was born March 4, 1818. They
have had ten children, nine of whom are living : Melissa, married to
Frederick Fleming; John N., married to Mary Hill, and lives in Da-
kota; Leroy, married to Miss Rachel Ilollingsworth ; David L., dead ;
Harvey, married t<j Miss Luella Bowden ; Nathan, married to ]Miss
Alida Pryne ; Sarah E., married to J. A. Coding; Dora, married to
Melvill Danford ; Robert, married to Miss lola Ilolingsworth, ami
James, who lives at home vArith his parents.
96 HISTORY OF MERCER AIJD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Milton L. Willits, farmer, son of Reuben and Mary Willits, wa&
bom in Wavne conntv, Indiana, Kovember 13, 1826. He came west
with his gi-andfather, Isaac AVillits, in the spring of 1836, and settled
in New Boston township, where he has lived ever since, with the ex-
ception of three years spent in California. He crossed the plains in
the summer of 1850, and returned in the spring of 1853 to Isew Bos-
ton, and started a lumber yard in partnership with Anderson Kirlin.
They continued business until fall, when they dissolved, and Mr, Wil-
lits started a grocery store, which he continued till the spring of 1854,
when he traded his grocery in part payment on seventy-six acres of
land "five miles northeast of New Boston, where he has been engaged
in farming ever since. He was married October 25, 185-1, to Miss
Sarah J. Kirlin. They have had ten children : Horace G., born
July 31, 1855 ; Mary L., December 23, 1856 ; Homer C, January 8,
1858; Lavina H., March 25, 1859; Elias M., December 13, 1860;
William R., September 23, 1862; Minnie D., March 3, 1864; Frede-
rick, June 22, 1866 ; Ruth, November 6, 1867 ; Sarah J., February 8,
1869. His wife died February 13, 1869 ; Mary L., October 31, 1857;
Sarah J., March 17, 1869 ; Ruth, August 26, 1869 ; Frederick, Jan-
uary 5, 1873 ; William R., October 25, 1879. His oldest son, Horace
G., mamed Miss Ida McGrew ; Clinton, to Miss Adda Kiddoo ; La-
vina. to Levi Lewis. The other two remain at home with their father.
Mr, Willits' education was liriiited in youth but improved by study in
later life. He was one of the pupils of Simeon P. Smith, one of the
first and best teachers of the county. His early youth was spent in
farming until eighteen years of age, when he learned the carpenter's
trade, at which he worked for six years. He has always been an
active temperance man. In politics he is a reijublican. He has at
present 513 acres of Mercer county's best land situated in New Boston
township.
We cannot expect in a short sketch to do justice to one who has re-
sided in the county near foi*ty six years, but glean a few facts in which
the readers of this work will feel a deep interest. Such a person is
James M. Mannon, who was born in Wayne county, Indiana, Septem-
ber 16, 1823. He resided in his native state until thirteen years of age
and then came west to Mercer county, and with his parents settled in
Eliza township, where he lived until he attained the days of manhood.
He took such chances as were offered in those early times for acquiring
a common school education. By much reading and general study he
has become well infoniied on all the leading questions of the da}^ April
6, 1849, he was married to Miss Rebecca daughter of Patrick Sliirkey.
After being married some nine years, his companion was called away to
NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. 9T
the silent tomb, September 5, 1857. He married his present wife,
Sarah J. ^Nfoore, January 6, 1859. She is a daughter of George and
Jemima Moore, of New Boston townsliij). Their ehihh-en are Bertha
B., George M., James M., Levi E., and Charles N. Mrs. Mamion's
grandfather, liobeit Moore, served in the war of 1776 — ^^and he and his
two sons, Thomas and James, served in the war of 1812. CVjlonel ^[an-
non started out in life as tiller of the soil which business he followed some
fifteen years, when he was elected sheriff of ]\Iercer county on the re-
publican ticket. In 1858, after serving his term as sherift', he was elected
circuit clerk and county recorder, w4iich positions he held for two years.
In response to the call of the government for troops to put down the re-
bellion of the southern states, he enlisted in the 102d 111. Yt)l. Inf., and
was elected captain of company K, afterward major, and latei-, lieu-
tenant colonel. He was in all of the fighting in Sherman's march to
the sea coast, until the siege of Atlanta, when pressed by home interests
he resigned and came home. Soon after joining his family he com-
menced mercantile business in New Boston in partnership with Anthony
Burdick under the firm name of Burdick and Mannon. They did a large
business for some tjiree years when Mr. Mannon purchased the interest
of Mr. Burdick and continued the business two years longer. He then
sold off his stock of goods and bought a fann five miles northeast of
New Boston, where he resides at present, comfortably situated. He
commenced his business life vrith only eighty dollars. Mr. Mannon
has always been an active republican and taken considerable interest in
advocating its principles, and carrying into effect the doctrines advo-
cated by that party.
John Fkatt, butcher, was born in Union county, Indiana, in 1829.
He is the oldest son of Begin and Mary (Long) Pratt. His parents came
to Mercer county in 1836, and are therefore among the earliest settlers of
the county. He was engaged in farming and carpentering until 1876,
since which time he has been engaged in the butcher's trade. In 1869
he joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which body he has
been a member ever since. He has held numerous offices in his lodge
at various times. In politics he is a democrat. His father lived in
Mercer county until June 6, 1880, when he was called away to a bet-
ter land. His mother is still living at the age of seventy-five, and
maintains good health.
Of the representative men of Mercer county the name of none
occupies a more honorable ]>lace in the list than that of Dr. Thomas-
"WiLLrrs, of New Boston. He was a pioneer in his profession as
well as a pioneer settler, and has been a practitioner fifty^six years.
His nativitv was in Pickawav countv, Ohio, in 1S(I5. It was there
58 HISTORY OF FIERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
his parents, James and Amy (Allison) Willits, wlio had emigrated
from Penns}-lvania, were married. At the age of twenty he started
out from home with the design of going to St. Louis, but stopped
at Montezuma, Parke county, Indiana, where lie began the practice of
medicine. In three or four years he returned to his father's home, which
had meantime been removed to Richmond, Indiana. He remained
there till 1837, and then came west and settled in AVarren, now Hen-
derson, county, this state, on the line between that and INIercer. There
he entered 500 acres of land, which property is now known as the
Mickey farm. Having enclosed a large tract, he gave his attention
for a few years to raising stock for market ; but after hauling to Xew
Boston he could obtain only $1-50 per hundred for the hind quarters
of neat animals and $1 for fore quarters, while pork brought but
$1.25, all in store pay, and corn could not be sold at any price. N^ot
pleased with this state of things, in 184-0 he decided to quit farming,
and moved ta New "Boston and continued his practice.^ In 1850 he
was elected a representative to the legislature from Mercer county and
served one term. While a member of that body the charter for the
Illinois Central railroad was passed, and he made a strenuous but futile
eifort to fix the percentage which the company should be obliged to
pay into the state treasury at ten per cent of their gross earnings,
instead of seven. The doctor \'oted first for president for John Quincy
Adams, but fell into line with the opposite party in the Jackson cam-
})aign of 1828, and since that time has been an old school democrat.
In controversy he has upheld the principles of his party, but never with
hope of office or aspiration for it. With the exception of a division of
the Sons of Temperance, which he organized in Kew Boston, he has not
been connected with any of the secret orders which are now so com-
mon. To the extent that his example could give force to his convictions,
he has encouraged the temperance cause, and under no circumstances
could he ever have fallen to such depths of humiliation as to counte-
nance or tolerate drunkenness or any patronage of the rum traffic.
Dr. Willits was married in early life to Mrs. Catherine Libby, formerly
Miss' Ainsworth, and five children were the fruits of this union. The
eldest, Ehnira, died in infancy; Leroy lives in New Boston township;
Viola, who was the wife of Russell Scudder, died over twenty years
ago ; Celeste is now Mrs. William A. Anderson, of Chicago ; and Kate
is the wife of Thomas Manning of the same city. We regret our ina-
bility to give a more extendi^d notice of one who has figured so largely
in the useful aft'airs of this locality, and who, by universal consent, has
been of so much service and benefit to the public at large as Dr.
Willits. A man of liberal education and correct understanding, whose
NEW BOSTON ToWNSHII'. 99
Icnowledge covers a wide range, Mercer county has never liad a better
tvpe of the old school practitioner and gentleman than he. As a con-
versationalist he is fluent, entertaining and instructive, with ]>leasing
powei's of description.
Jacob II. Swoffokd was born in llenrv county, Indiana. A])ril 8,
1829. His ])arents were born in North Carf)lina. lie came to
Mercer county, Illinois, August 10, 1837. He was a common laborer
for a time, and then learned the ])rinting business, which he followed
for ten years. Since leaving oft' the ])rinting business he has engaged
in various avocations. He was married November 16, 1854, to
Annie, daugliter of John and Mary Shuft". They are the parents of
•eleven children, eight of whom are living. The family have resided
in the villa":e of New Boston for manv vears.
IIarley I^'ES, farmer, was born in Connecticut, January 15, 1803.
He is the third child of Caleb and Sarah (Booth) Ives. He came over-
land, and settled near Oquawka, in Henderson county, in 1836, where
he lived two years, when he moved to Mercer county, and settled one
mile east of New Boston, where he has lived ever since. During the
early part of his life he was engaged in farming, and working at the
cooper trade, being the first cooper in the county. In 1827 he was
married to Miss Ruth Ives, daughter of Gideon and Charlotte (Hall)
Ives. They have had five children born to them : Gilbert II., who is
man-ied to Miss Mary A Scudder. a daugliter of Ennis Scudder ; Mar-
tha AV., dead ; Gideon, at home with his parents; Emery K., married
to Miss Marv E. Hartsock ; Caroline, married to John AV. Histed.
Mrs. Ives has always been a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Ives
has always been an active temperance man. In politics he is a demo-
crat. At present, Mr. Ives is seventy-nine years of age and in splen-
did health and ver}" active. Financially he is in good circumstances.
Thomas Alyea, druggist, was born at Miamitown, Ohio, Se]>tem-
ber 21, 1821. His fathei-, Joseph Alyea, from New Jersey, was
tliree times married. By his first wife he had two children ; by his
second, Margaret Love, mother of our subject, four were born ; and by
the last, eight : three sons and five daughters. The family moved
from Mr. Alyea's birthplace to Fairfield, Franklin county, Indiana,
where his mother died when he was eight years old. In 1838 a second
removal broujrht them to New Boston where Mr. Alvea has resided
continuously until the present time. In 1845 he went to Mount Morris
Seminary in Ogle county and attended school there one year. He was
the second vender of drags in New Boston, and oj^ened in 1853 the
first exclusive drug store, which he has conducted since. From 1847
lo 1853 he was selling dry goods, and from 1854 till now he has been
100 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
engaged in the ice business. On the 28tli of June, 1849, he was mar-^
ried to Miss Sarali A., daughter of John and Amelia C. Signor. The-
same year he was elected county surveyor, and hekl that office one term
of two years. He still devotes a little attention to surveying, and has
in his possession the old field notes procured by Judge Gilmore nearly
fifty years ago. He was the first town clerk after the adoption of town-
ship organization, and has filled the same position in the town of New
Boston. A leading member of the Methodist church for many years,
he has held official connection in the responsible positions of trustee
thirty years, class-leader twenty-five years, and sexton, recording
steward and Sunday school superintendent, also, for long periods. He
was the first treasurer of the American Bible Society in this county.
He has shown himself active and useful in the temperance movement,
and has belonged to about all the organizations in New Boston. He
was bred politically in the whig party, and cast his first vote for Henry
Clay in 1844. He has maintained his fidelity to the republican party
since its organization. Mr. and Mrs. Alyea have been the parents of
eleven children, seven of whom are dead. The survivors are : Thomas
Edmund, a physician, living at Princeville ; Willard Henry, Florence
Luella, and Lily Belle.
Sidney Chidster, farmer, was born in Trumbull county, Oliio^
April 1, 1816. He is the fourtli child of Hezekiah and Lyda Chidster.
He worked with his father at the carpenter's trade until twenty-two
years of age, when he came west and settled in Mercer county, where
he has lived ever since. Being one of the early settlers of the county,
he had to endure all the hardships connected with pioneer life. His edu-
cation was limited to a common school course. In politics Mr. •Chidster
had always been a republican until 1875, when he joined the party known
as the greenback party, of which he has since been a member. He
was elected school trustee in 1845, and served twenty-five years consec-
utively. In 1847 he was elected justice of the peace, and served three
years. In 1840 he was elected county associate justice for the term of
three years. He was the first supervisor of New Boston township, and
served as chairman of that board. In later years, he has served ten
years as township collector. He has always been an active temperance
man. In Mai-ch, 1842, he was married to Miss Rachel Stewart,
daugliter of William and Nancy Stewart. She was born in Trumbull
county, Ohio, August 10, 1823. They have had three children : Wil-
liam and Lyda, who are at home, and Bachel, who is married to Milton
F. Weeden. August 10, 1853, Mr. Chidster was called to mourn the
loss of his beloved wife.
Henry H. Roberts, lumber merchant, was born in England,.
NEW BOSTON TOWNSIIIl'. lUl
August 11, 1819. He is nest to the youngest child of James and
Elizabeth Roberts, who came to America in 1828, landing at Boston,
]\[assachusetts, where they lived until 1836. Mr. Roberts lived in
Indiana two years before coming to Mercer county. He built a card-
ing machine in New Boston township, which was the first in the county.
This he ran for two years, M'hen he removed to P^liza townshi]), entered
120 acres of land and bought eighty acres more, and went to farming.
He remained in this business until 185P), when he went to New Boston
and built a large three-story brick carriage and wagon factory in part-
nership \dth Joe Graham, forming the Unn of Graham & Roberts.
They continued business until 1860, when Mr. Roberts bought Graham
out. In 1S61 Mr. Roberts went back to his farm, and farmed until
1865, when he went to Monmouth. Illinois, and started a sash, door
and blind factory and planing-mill, which he ran until 1869, when his
mill was burned down. Returning to New Boston, he refitted the
building he had formerly occupied as a factory, for a hotel, the
Roberts House, wdiicli he ran until 1875, since which time he has been
engaged in the lumber trade. On March 20, 1845, he was married
to Miss Mary Baker, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Baker. She
was born December 7, 1826, and died June 16, 1858. He was mari-ied
again September 29, 1859, to Miss Maria J. Dunn, daughter of Thomas
and Nancy Dunn. By his first marriage he had six children : Eliza-
beth H. (married to Albert Denison), Marshall, Albert (dead), Harriet
(dead), Clarence (dead). Charles S. (dead). By his last marriage he
has two children : Richard II. and Ernest. Morally speaking, he has
always been an active temperance man. Politically he was a republi-
can until 1872, when he joined the greenback party, to which party he
has ever since strictlv adhered.
^ Mary D. Willits was. born in Butler county, Ohio, May 31, 1823.
She is the sixth child of Joseph and Margretta (Love) Alyea. She
•came wdth her parents to Franklin county, Indiana, where they lived
until 1838, when they came to Mercer county, settling in the town of
New Boston. Her father was one of the first to start in business.
She was married to William Danford September 13, 1845. i\Ir. Dan-
ford was born March 21, 1807. He was the third child of Enoch and
Mary Danford. They had four children : William B., married to Alice
Kesler; Melville C, to Dora Noble; Joseph A., to Famiie Strong;
Mozart, to Clara Mannon. William B. was born June 29, 1846 ; Mel-
ville C, September 22, 1847; Joseph A., Decembers, 1848; Mozart,
March 16, 1850. AVilliam Danford, Sr., died July 27, 1850. Mrs.
Danford married again March 10, 1852, to William Willits, who was
the seventh child of Jesse and Susannah Willits. He was bom
104 HISTORY OF iCERCER AKD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
sionally as far as Preemption. He was always present at the annual
cam|>meetings at Sugar Grove, where he worked incessantly, ardu-
ously and willingly in the grand cause. He would frequently start
from home early on the Sabbath, preach at 11 a.m. at one point, at
4 P.M. at another, and at early candle-light at a third, driWng home,
twelve or fifteen miles, at the close of the latter serWce, and all from
a love for the work, with no thought of reward in this life. He was
very frequently called uj)on to perform the marriage ceremony and to
preach funeral sermons, often riding fifteen to twenty miles in response
to these calls, and recei\'ing only the thanks of interested parties as
payment for liis serWces and loss of time. In the spring of 1850 his
second wife went to her reward, closing a life of earnest, active and
efficient christian work, loved and mourned by all who knew her, yet
lea^dng the memory of her pm-e nature to be fondly cherished b}' all.
In October, 1851, he was again married, his wife being Mrs. Rachael
SahTU, of Warren county. On the night of his return to Isevf^ Boston
with his bride liis residence was burned to the ground, and as it was
bis all, he removed what little was saved fi*om the flames to the farm
of his wife, lying in the northwest corner of Warren and the northeast
comer of Henderson counties, adjoining the Mercer county line. Here
he continued his pastoral labors, having regular aj^pointments at Sun-
beam, Bald Bluff, Little York, Pleasant Green and other points. For
three years he rode the Camden circuit. Rock Island county, as a
"supply," and for one or more he supplied the Oquawka circuit, Hen-
derson county. He organized what is now known as Belmont Church,
in the latter county, and it was largely tlii'ough his influence that the
church building was erected. In the winter of 1865, after a life of
earnest work and usefulness, he passed ' ' over the river " to meet the
Master whom he had so faithfully and conscientiously served, well
assured of the welcome, "Well done, good and faithftil servant, enter
thou into the joy of thy Lord." His remains were interred at Bel-
mont, but in 1872 were removed to the New Boston cemetery, where
a small but appropriate stone marks his grave. His wife died in 1872.
!Kot one of the early settlers of the county was more widely known,
more highly respected, or more sincerely mourned than Father
Doughty. Politically Father Doughty was identified with the demo-
cratic party, particularly the Douglas wing, until the breaking out of
the rebellion, after which he voted with the republicans. His sympa-
thies were all with the Union, and the enlistment of his youngest son,
Lucien B., and two stepsons, F. J. and Benjamin Sarvin, deepened
his interest and solicitude in the movements of the Union army. In
answer to a letter announcing the enlistment of his son, he wrote :
V--
-1 ■■■■^.:i
NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. lU7
" AVliile I sluill always feel an anxiety for your safety, and all the more
keenly that I realize in part the dangers to which you will be exposed,
I have no word of regret for your course. G<jd bless you and ])reserve
you, and grant a sj.)eedy victory to our noble army." And again,
when that son wrote that he had re-enlisted as a veteran, he writes :
"I had hoped that you would return after your three years' service.
It would seem that you had certainly pert'ormed your whole duty in
that time, and that some one might take your place. But perhaps I
am getting selfish, as it seems so long since I have seen you. Your
iirst duty is to your country, and I will only say what I said when you
first enlisted : *Do your duty, and may God protect and keep you.'"
Who will say that the prayers of such a true christian were not
answered in the return of that son unharmed after over four years of
active service. His educational advantages were limited, but the Bible
was his constant companion and study. Without the rhetorical flour-
ish and orat(jrical display of the modern preacher, his sermons were
delivered with a force and earnestness peculiar to the early itineracy,
and with a power for good that would to-day seem phenominal. Of
this power lie v. Richard Haney, still li^'ing, tells the following/ "I
remember one scene at an early campmeeting at Sugar Grove. I
had charge of the services for the day. Two sermons had been deliv-
ered, and in the afternoon Father Doughty occupied the stand. I
never listened to such earnest appeals to the sinner, nor did I ever
witness such an immediate answer to the prayers. Tlie large audience
were completely carried away by the sermon, and the shouting, and
praying, and crying soon drowned the voice of the preacher, who, with
his gray locks flying m the wind, and the tears rolling down his cheeks,
was vainly tr}4ng to make himself heard. Turning to me he asked,
' what shall I do V and I could only say, ' let them alone. Father
Doughty ; the Lord has taken this meeting out of your hands. Let
them alone ; He will take care of it now ;' and he sank exhausted to
his seat. I repeat it : I never heard a sennon of more power, nor ever
witnessed such an outijouring of the s])irit.'' With an early-day mar-
riage at which he ofliciated, we will close this sketch. Driving along
the "Blutt"' road one summer day, he was hailed by a man plowing
cor", who, leaving his plow, invited Father D. into the house of his
employer " on urgent business." Here was the daughter of the house,
a comely maiden, engaged in mixing bread. After a whispered word
from the plowman she wiped the flour from her hands, rolled down her
sleeves, and the pair presented themselves for marriage, he in his shirt-
sleeves, she with a big apron on. The ceremony was promj)tly per-
7
108 HISTORY OF MERCER AJST» HENDERSON COUNTIES.
formed, the bride returned to her bread, the groom to his plow, and
the minister proceeded on his jom-ney, all as if nothing unusual had
happened.
The ancestors of John L. Hartson, of IS^ew Boston, came from
England and settled at Haverhill, Massachusetts, and took an active
part in the struggle for American indej)endence. Andrew Hartson,
grandfather of J. L., who was bom April 6, 1756, was under twentj
jears of age when serving under Gen. Washington at Dorchester
Heights, etc. He was mariied to Miss Elizabeth Baldwin, November
28, 1780, in Connecticut, where he subsequently made his home, fol-
lowing the occupation of a mechanic, excelling in the manufacture of
augurs. He invented the screw augur, although the credit has since
heen claimed by another. His family consisted of three sons : Jesse,
the eldest, who died in early childhood; Ebeuezer, still li^dng (Feb-
ruary 11, 1882), at the advanced age of ninety-six years ; and John, the
father of John L. John was born September 3, 1790 ; was married
in March, 1810, to Miss Alice Utley, by whom he had three sons,
named in the order of then- ages : Andrew, Lester and John Lyman,
"born December 29, 1814. His father died March 5, 1816, when John
X. was but little past fourteen months old. He remained with his
mother until about ten years old, when he started out to make his own
way in the world. The first two or three years he worked on a farm
in summer, and went to school in winter, doing chores for his board.
lie thus received the rudiments of an English education, and acquired
£i love of reading, by which means he has stored uj) a large fund of
useful knowledge and general intelligence. He next worked in a
Tvoolen factory a year or two, but not liking that business aj)preuticed
liimself to learn the trade of scythe-making ; but his employer being
an intemperate man failed in business, and John L. was thus thrown
out of employment before he had served his time. It was at this time,
seeing the e\"il eifects of strong drink, he became a firm advocate of
total abstinence, and has always been strictly temperate, using neither
spu-ituous liquors, wine nor tobacco. He soon after found employ-
ment in an augur factory in Ashford, Windham c(mnty, where he re-
mained until he was twenty-one years old, becoming a very skillful
workman. He went to Ilumphreysville (now Seymour), New Haven
county, in January, 1836, where he worked as journeyman at augur-
making. He was married April 24, 1836, to Miss Mary J. Hartshorn,
by whom he had three children : one daughter, Alice A., and two sons,
Lyman L. and John S., all of whom died under three years of age.
In January, 1843, he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of
which he was an active and exempUiry member. In March, 1843, he
NKW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. 100
was initiated into tlie Housatonic Lodg^e, No. 6, I.O.O.F., at Bir-
mingluini, and in September, ls4<), he withdrew from tliat lodge in
order to organize one in llmnplireysville, his ])lace ot' residence, and
accordingly was a charter member of Mechanics Lodge, No. 73, and
was the second N.G. (^f that lodge. In 1848 he purchased an inter-
est in the manufactory where he had been employed since 1836. In
1850 he bought the whole establishment, which he carried on very suc-
cessfully for a number of years. In 1852 he was elected re})resenta-
tive to the state legislature, which office he tilled with credit to himself
and satisfaction to his constituents. In 1854, having met with a con-
siderable loss by indorsing for others, he sold out and came west, landing
in New Boston November 8th of that year, where he i)urchased the
N. W. ^ of Sec. 29, T. 14, R. 5, which he commenced improving the
following s])ring. Soon after his settlement in New Boston. J. L.
Hartson, Mark^ J. O'Brien, J. C. Bell, C. II. Bell, D. Ilhies and
others, became charter members of the New Boston Lodge, I.O.O.F.,
which was the tirst organized in the county. Mr. Hartson was the
lirst N.G. and the first representative to the state Grand Lodge from
this town and county. He remained on his farm about four years,
when he bought a drug store in New Boston, which he carried on a
little over two years ; during that time his wife Mary died. On Jan-
uary 8, 1860, he was married to his present wife, who was Mrs.
Fanny M. Campbell, nee Mead. In April of 1863, having sold his
town property, he returned to his farm, where he is still enjoying the
quiet of rural life in his home, surrounded by a few congenial friends
who know him best and love him most.
William Lewis was born in Wayne county, Indiana, April 25, 1832.
His parents were formerly from Greene county, Virginia. He received
a common school education, and in 1854 came to Mercer county and
settled in New Boston township, where he has since resided. He was
married October 30, 1850, to Sarah Jane, daughter of Pettis and Maria
J. Finch. They have one child : Levi. Mr. Lewis is a member of the
Masonic fraternity, and has been since 1862. He is an extensive
farmer, owning 620 acres of land. He has very fine buildings on his
farm, and is engaged largely in stock raising and shipping. Politic-
ally he is a republican.
William T. Murray was born in Frederick county, ^laryland,
April 16, 1820. He is tlie oldest son of William and Susan (Jackson)
Murray. William T. left his native state in 1840, and aftei- traveling
over the states of Indiana and Ohio, he settled in Wayne county, In-
diana, where he lived several years. In 1856 he came to Mercer county,
Illinois, where he has resided ever since. During his early life he was
108 HISTORY OF IVrERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
formed, the bride returned to lier bread, the groom to his plow, and
the minister proceeded on his journey, all as if nothing unusual had
liappened.
The ancestoi-s of John L. Hartson, of JSTew Boston, came from
England and settled at Haverhill, Massachusetts, and took an active
part in the struggle for American indej^endence. Andrew Hartson,
grandfather of J. L., who was bom Apiil 6, 1756, was under twenty
years of age when serving under Gen. Washington at Dorchester
Heights, etc. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Baldwin, November
28, 1780, in Connecticut, where he subsequently made his home, fol-
lowing the occupation of a mechanic, excelling in the manufacture of
augurs. He invented the screw augur, although the credit has since
"been claimed by another. His family consisted of three sons : Jesse,
the eldest, who died in early childhood; Ebenezer, still living (Feb-
ruary 11, 1882), at the advanced age of ninety-six years ; and John, the
father of John L, John was born September 3, 1790 ; was married
in March, 1810, to Miss Alice Utley, by whom he had three sons,
named in the order of theii* ages : Andrew, Lester and John Lyman,
Tjorn December 29, 1814. His father died March 5, 1816, when John
L. was but little past fourteen months old. He remained with his
mother until about ten years old, when he stai-ted out to make his own
way in the world. The first two or three years he worked on a farm
in summer, and went to school in winter, doing chores for his board.
He tlnis received the rudiments of an English education, and acquired
a love of reading, by which means he has stored up a large fund of
"useful knowledge and general intelligence. He next worked in a
"woolen factory a yeai* or two, but not liking that business apprenticed
liimself to learn the trade of scythe-making ; but his employer being
an intemperate man failed in business, and John L. was thus tlii'own
out of employment before he had served his time. It was at this time,
seeing the evil efiects of strong drink, he became a firm advocate of
total abstinence, and has always been strictly temperate, using neither
spirituous liquors, wine nor tobacco. He soon after found em})loy-
ment in an augur factory in Ashford, AVindham county, where he re-
mained until he was twenty-one years old, becoming a veiy skillful
workman. He went to Humphreysville (now Seymour), I^ew Haven
county, in January, 1836, where he worked as journeyman at augur-
making. He was married April 24, 1836, to Miss Mary J. Hartshorn,
by whom he had three children : one daughter, Alice A., and two sons,
Lyman L. and John S., all of whom died under three years of age.
In January, 1843, he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of
which he was an active and exemplary member. In March, 1843, he
NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. 109
was initiate(l into the Ilousatoiiic Lodge, Xo. 6, I.O.O.F,, at Bir-
mingliam, and in September, 184<>, lie withdrew from that lodge in
order to organize one in lluniphreysville, his place of residence, and
accordingly was a charter member of Mechanics Lodge, No. 73, and
was the second N.G. of that lodge. In 1848 he purchased an inter-
est in the manufactory where he had been em])loyed since 1836. In
1850 he bought the whole establishment, which he carried on very suc-
cessfully for a number of years. In 18.52 he was elected rejM-esenta-
tive to the state legislature, which office he tilled with credit to himself
and satisfaction to his constituents. In lSo4, having met with a con-
siderable loss by indorsing for others, he sold out and came west, landing
in New Boston November 8th of that year, where he purchased the
N. W. ^ of Sec. 29, T. 14, R. 5, which he commenced improving the
following s])ring. Soon after his settlement in New Boston, J. L.
Hartson, Mark J. O'Brien, J. C. Bell, C. H. Bell, D. Hines and
others, became charter members of the New Boston Lodge, I.O.O.F.,
which was the tirst organized in the county. Mr. Llartson was the
first N.G. and the first representative to the state Grand Lodge from
this town and countv. He remained on his farm about four vears,
when he bought a drug store in New Boston, which he carried on a
little over two years ; during that time his wife Mary died. On Jan-
uary 8", 1860, he was married to his present wife, who was Mrs.
Fanny M. Campbell, nee Mead. In Ai)ril of 1863, having sold his
town property, he returned to his farm, where he is still enjoying the
quiet of rural life in his home, surrounded by a few congenial friends
who know him best and love him most.
WiLLiAJM Lewis was born in Wayne county, Indiana, April 25, 1832.
His parents were formerly from Greene county, Virginia. He received
a common school education, and in 1854 came to Mercer county and
settled in New Boston township, where he has since resided. He was
married October 30, 1856, to Sarah Jane, daughter of Pettis and Maria
J. Finch. Thev have one child : Levd. Mr. Lewis is a member of the
Masonic fraternity, and has been since 1862. He is an extensive
farmer, owning 620 acres of land. He has very fine buildings on his
farm, and is engaged largely in stock raising and shipping. Politic-
ally he is a republican.
WiLLiA]^! T. Murray was born in Frederick county, ^larvland,
April 16, 1820. He is the oldest son of William and Susan (Jackson)
Murray. William T. left his native state in 1840, and after tra\'eling
over the states of Indiana and Ohio, he settled in Wayne county, In-
diana, where he lived several years. In 1856 he came to Mercer county,
Illinois, where he has resided ever since. During his early life he was
110 HISTORY OF ilERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
engaged in tlie butchering business. Since coming to Mercer county
he lias been cliiefly engaged in fanning and stock raisting. In 1877- he
again engaged in the butcherhig bus-iness in New Boston. Pohtically
he has been a republican since 1860, but previous to that time he was
a democrat. He has been a member of the Methodist church since
1854, and has always advocated the temj^erance cause. In August,
1843, he was married to Miss Mary Jackson, daugliter of Amor and
Debbv Jackson, of Wavne countv, Indiana. Althouii:h her maiden
name is the same as his mother's, tliey are not related. They have
reared three children: "William H., who is married to Miss Amna^
Essley ; Alice, married to Thomas Murphey ; and Gertrude, who
remains at home with her parents.
Jacob Loozer, farmer, was born March 10, 1834, in Switzerland,
and emigrated to this country in 1854, and after working one year in
Michigan came to Mercer county, where he has since resided. Mr.
Loozer came, hearty and industrious, and with nothing to aid himself
in this distant land but a willing pair of hands. Although he did not
come until much later than some, he ranks among the wealthiest men in
the county. After he came to the county he labored for four years on
the farm for William Drury. Living very economically, at the end of
four years he found he had money enough to purchase eighty acres of
land, which he did. He has added to it at different times, until he has at
present 640 acres. He was married March 10, 1859, to Miss Barbary
Sloan. They have four children, all of whom are living. Mr. Loozer
was the first man in the county to put up a wind pump. He is also
agent for the Halladay's wind-mill, which is one of the best mills manu-
factured. He has always been an active republican. Mr. Loozer farms
on a very large scale. He generally puts in 250 acres of corn.
John Seastone, wagomnaker and blacksmith, was born in Sweden,
August 3, 1834. He came to this country in 1858, landing at Quebec
August 21. From Quebec he went to Minnesota, where he stayed
until 1859, when he came on to New Boston townshi}), where he has
lived ever since. He worked at the blacksmith trade about four years
at the "brick yard," which is five miles northeast of New Boston.
From this point he removed to New Boston, where he has been largely
engaged in wagonmaking, blacksmithing, and selling machinery of
all kinds. He does a very large business, especially in the way of
selling machinery. May 23, 1860, he was married to ]\Iiss Eva S.
Hilmore. They have had seven children: Mary, Dora, Kate, JolmE.,
Charles V., Emma, Charlotte. They are all single, and live at
home with their parents. Mr. Seastone is a member of the Swedish
Lutheran church, at Swedona, Mercer county, Illinois. He is also a
NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. Ill
member of the order of ^lasoiis, at New Boston. Politically he is a
republican.
T. II. DouGHTi', police magistrate and book-keeper, was bom in
Centerville, "Wayne county. Indiana, in 1831, and was the fourth child
in a family of eleven children by Thomas L. and Mary J. (Kibbey)
Doughty. In 1842 he emigrated to New Boston with his parents.
He was a pu})il of Simeon P. Smith, and under his tuition obtained
a useful education. When a boy he worked in his father's shop and
learned the saddler's trade ; but most of the time since he became
of age he has been a book-keeper. He was married in 1850 to ^liss
Hattie M. Doughty, b}' whom he has had seven children : Willie
(dead), Kate (now Mrs. P. E. Tovey), Harry (dead), Josie (dead),
Jim E., Sue, and an unnamed infant. Mr. Doughty has been active
among his townsmen in promoting temperance work, and the interests
of the republican organization. He is a member of the Indei)endent
Order of Mutual Aid, and has held several local ottices. He was the
Urst mayor of New Boston, and is at present town clerk and police
magistrate.
Gideon Ivks, merchant, was born in Wallingford, Connecticut,
in 1825, and was the youngest son of Gideon and Charlotte (Hall)
Ives. He received an academic education in his native town, and
in 1843 came west and settled in New Boston, where he at once
began clerking for the tirm of Denison & Ives. As early as 1846
he embarked in general merchandising in partnership with Elmer J.
Denison, and kept up this connection until about 1865. At that date
Mr. Ives withdrew from the firm and was out of trade till 1881, when
he formed a partnership with Frank Ives (his son) and C. II. Ballard
(his son-in-law), under the style of Ives, Ballard tt Co. Mr. Ives was
originally a whig, and voted first for president for Gen. Taylor in 1848.
He has been a steadfast republican since his party came into existence.
He has always been squarely identified with the tem})erance work. In
1853 he was united in marriage with ]\Iiss Rachel, daughter of John
Dniry, by whom he has had seven children, as follows : Frank, who
married Miss Lizzie Moll ; Jennie, wife of C. H. Ballard; Flora, Fred,
Nellie (died in infancy), Hattie and Paul.
CiiAKLEs W. Bras, lawyer and collector, was born in Lake county,
Ohio, May 16, 1828, and is the fourth child of Thomas and Ann
(Norton) Bras. He came west with his parents in 1S3T, settling in
Louisa county, Iowa, wiiere he worked with his father until of age. He
then learned the mason's trade and was engaged in this until l^.■)(^
when he went overland to California, enduring all the hardshij)s con-
nected with an overland trip across hundreds of miles of a wilderness,
112 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
where rain never falls, and vegetation does not exist. After arriving irr.
California lie clerked in a store one year, after which he was engaged
in mining and running a pack-train. He returned to Louisa county,
Iowa, in 1853, and was in business there until 1868, when he came to-
New Boston, where he opened up a law office, and has been in business'
ever since. During the late rebellion he enlisted in the '45th reg. Iowa
Vol., and served six months, and was discharged. He received sl
common school education, and being a close student he has acquired a
good education. In September, 1853, he was married to Miss Hannah.
M. Dennott. They have four children : Clarence C, Harry L., Ralph
C, Charlotte E., all of whom are living. He has served eleven years-
as justice of the peace, and has been a Mason over sixteen years. In
pohtics he is a republican.
R. S. Cramer, farmer, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, Se])-
tember 5, 1825, being the first child of William and Sarah (Shute)
Cramer. AYilliani was tlie first son of Adam Cramer, an early settler
of Kentucky, being a near neighbor of the noted Daniel Boone of early
Kentucky fame. R. S. was married to Mrs. Charlotte B. Hams in the
fall of 1847 ; she was born in Miami countv, Ohio, in the vear of 1831.
They emigrated to Knox county in the fall of 1855. His wife was
feeble at the time, and died in Julv, 1856. Two children were born
of this union, but they both died while quite young. Mr. Cramer
came to this county in the fall of 1856 to make this his permanent
home. He remembers of passing along the Air Line raih-oad (surveyed)
over the site where now stands Aledo. It was tlien (1855) nothing but
a bleak j^rairie, relieved only by the stakes for the raih-oad. He made
his home with James M. Manon, of Eliza township (afterward elected
sheriff and circuit clerk of this county, and who was, during the late
war, colonel of the 102d 111. Vol.), until he married the Widow Cole in
February, 1857. She was a sister of the colonel and daugher of Aaron
Manon of the same township. The Widow Cole (his present wife) was
born in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1820, and emigrated to this county
with her father's family in 1836, and settled in Eliza township. There
has been no children by this marriage. Immediately after his marriage
he settled two and a half miles north of New Boston, where he has
lived for more than twenty-five years. Mr. Ci'amer was brought up in '
a neighborhood where almost everybody belonged to the Methodist
Episcopal church. He joined at fifteen years of' age and remained a
member of the same some fifteen years. He always indulged in much
reading and refiection. The result was he became heterodox in his
theological opinions, and to-day is well known as a spiritualist. In
politics he early became convinced of the great wrongs infiicted upon
NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. 113
the slaves. He gave his lirst vote for Sahnon P. Chase for governor of
Oliio, because of his anti-slavery proclivities. From that time till the
formation of the republican party he gave his votes where he thought
they would promote the anti-slavery interest. He voted for Fremont,
in 1856 and continued to act with the republican party until Grant was-
candidate for president the second time; and although he was a great
admirer of Greeley he refrained fi'om voting at all until Peter Cooper
run on the greenback ticket for president. From that time to the
present he has been an ardent greenbacker and anti-mono}>olist. He
is serving at this time (1882) as chairman of the central committee for
the greenback labor party of this county. Mr, Cramer was a very
enthusiastic supporter of the late war, having full coniidence that it
would result in the fi'eedom of the slaves. He wrote the first articles
(published in the "New Boston Herald" and the "Aledo Record")
that were ever published in this county advocating the policy as well as
the justice of giving the negro the right to vote.
We think it proper to mention here the name of Stephen Randall
as one of the well to do farmers of New Boston township. He came
to the northeastern part of the township, where he has resided ever
since, having accumulated considerable property. He was born in
Rensselaer county, New York, November 8, 1813. He is the oldest
child of Stephen and Nancy (Cutler) Randall. He came with his
parents to Mercer county in the year 1843. He was married February
13, 1844, to Miss Rachel Trumbull of Rensselaer county, New York.
She was born September 29th, 1827, and is the sixth child of William
and Pauley Trumbull. They have had eleven children (three of whom
are dead): Nancy A., married to Joseph Tomelson; William M., to
Lueinda Uterback; Lucy M., to Calvin C. Wyatt; Pauley E., to John
Fulerton; Celia M., to James AV. Scott; Stephen, Cilvia and Aaron
are dead ; Minnie, Alonzo and Tlieron are at home with their
parents. Rachel, his wife, died November 15, 1864. He was married
again June 14, 1875, to Mrs. M. J. Jones. She was born June 29,
1833, in Rensselaer county. New York, and is a daughter of Jacob and
Catherine (Brooks) Bradt. Mr. Randall received only a common
school education. In politics he is a republican. He has at present
434 acres of land in section 10 of New Boston township, and also 160
acres in Iowa.
Tlie subject of this sketch, O. C. Lutz, was born in Mercer county,
Illinois, March 14, 1845, and is next to the youngest child of Isaac and
Lydia (Light) Lutz. His father came to Mercer county in 1836 and
settled in New Boston township, where he resided until his death,
which took place in October, 1879. His mother died Sei>tember, 1879,
114 HISTORY OF IVIERCER AXD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
at the age of seventy-four. His father was seventy-eight years of age
at his death. O. C.'s father built the iirst grist mill in the county
about 1838. In 1858 he built a large and commodious mill near the
site of the old one. O. C. Lutz started out in life with limited means.
He has gradually worked his way u]) until he now owns considerable
property. The first real estate he owned was eighty acres in Eliza
township. This he sold in 1873 and went to York county, Nebraska,
"where he became the owner of 480 acres of land, which yields him an
annual income of $700. In March, 1881, he bought the mill estate of
his father's in Mercer county, Illinois, and returned in October of the
same year, and has refitted the mill and is now prepared to compete
with any other mill in the country. Xovember 1, 1871, he was
married to Miss Permelia, daughter of Henry and Permelia Hempton.
She was born October 12, 1854. They have had two children. In
connection with his mill property he owns 167 acres of land. • Mr.
Lutz is a republican and cast his first vote for Lincoln.
Thomas Willitt, farmer, was born August 22, 1846, in Mercer
county, Illinois. His parents were Kentuckians. He was married
September 18, 1871. His wife was the daughter of David and Xancy
Brought. She was born in Hancock county, Ohio, December 9, 1848.
In 1862 Mr. Willitt enlisted in the 30th reg. 111. Yol. He served his
country until the close of the war, and then returned to his home and
engaged in agriculture. He received a common school education. He
makes a living for himself and family by honest toil.
LviiAN H. ScuDDER was born in Cattaraugus countv, Xew York,
October 29, 1829. In the year 1847 he came to jS^ew Boston, where he
resided until the spring of 1852, when he started with an ox team for
California, and arrived in Placerville in September of that year. He
was engaged in mining and farming until the summer of 1855, when he
returned to iS^ew Boston. He then ene-a^ed in the liverv business,
which he followed until the summer of 1862. In July of that year he
enlisted, and on the tenth day of September he was mustered into the
service of the United States as captain of company G, 124th reg.
111. Yol. Inf. His regiment became a part of the third Division of
the 17th Ai'iny Corps, which was then engaged in pre})aring for
the capture efYicksburg, Miss. He i)articipated in several skirmishes
and battles, in one of which (Champion Hills, Miss.) he was wounded,
and in July, 1864, owing to ill health, he resigned his commission and
returned to his home. He has been a resident of New Boston ever
since. The subject of this sketch has been twice married. May 13,
1861, he was nuirried to Miss Fanny E. Ives, of Oquawka, Illinois,
who died in May, 1865, leaving one son. February 11. I>i66, he was
NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. 115
inarried to !Miss Helen L. Moore, daughter of George and Jemima
Moore, of New Boston. She was born in EHza township, four miles
from her ])resent residence, on May 10, 1837. She has a just claim
to be called one of the early settlers. In politics Captain Scudder
is 'republican, having voted and advocated the principles of that party
ever since its organization. For the past sixteen years he has resided
on a farm three miles north of New Boston and has taken considerable
interest in a])ianan pursuits.
The subject of the following sketch is not identified with the his-
tory of Mercer county for so long a period as some others, as he did
not come until 1S48. Mr. Isom Jackson was born in Hancock county,
Indiana, A})ril 4, 1839, and consequently was nine years of age when
he came to this county with his parents. He is the youngest child of
Dempsy and Mary Jackson. His parents are still living at the age of
seventy-five" each. As a tiller of the soil Mr. Jackson has worked at
it all his life. By grasping the few advantages afforded in early times
he obtained a common school education. He was married May 29,
1864, to Miss Salinda, daughter of John and Rachel Fisher. Mr.
Jackson was always a democrat nntil 1876, when he joined the green-
back party, of which he has been a member ever since. They have
had six children, all of whom are living: they are Ed., John, Homer,
Thomas, Bert and Edney. Mr. Jackson has been very successful in
accumulating property. At present he has 240 acres of land, 200 of
which is in New Boston township and 40 in Eliza. In response to his
country's call he enlisted in the 124tli regiment, and after serving
eleven months, was wounded in the left hand and right arm, from
which he has been a cripple ever since.
Among the well-to-do farmers of New Boston townshi]) may be
mentioned Thomas J. Jackson, who was born in Hancock county,
Indiana, July 24, 1837. He is next to the youngest child of Demsy
and Mary Jackson. When eleven years of age he came with his
parents to Mercer county, Illinois, settling in New Boston township,
where he has resided ever since. His parents are still living at the
age of seventy-five each, and in good health. Mr. Jackson worked
with his father until twenty-one years of age, when he commenced
farming for himself, in which business he has been engaged ever since
with the exception of two years spent in California, where he went in
1862, staying two years. He went by the way of New York, down
the Atlantic, across the Isthmus of Panama, and up the Pacific ocean
to San Francisco, and returned in 1864. Received a common school
education. He was marrie<l to Miss Samantha Drew, daughter of
Harrison and Eliza Drew, ]\Iarch, 1860. They had one child, which
116 HISTORY OF MERGER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
died April, 1862, His wife died March, 1863. He was married again-
August 12, 1868, to Miss Louisa, daughter of David and Eliza Honey-
man. They had one child : Gid, who was born April 23, 1875. Mr.
Jackson owns the northeast quarter of section 8, in New Boston town-
ship, 80 acres of which he bought in 1873 and 80 in 1875.
Marshall Fleming, farmer, was born in Henry county, Indiana,
September 8, 1831, and is the oldest child of John W. and Angeline
(Cellars) Fleming. He came with his parents to Mercer county, Illi-
nois, in the year of 1819. Two years later he commenced farming
for himself. His father was born in Fairmont county. West Virginia,
April 20, 1809, and departed this life February 26, 1854. His remains
rest in the New Boston cemetery. His mother was born in 1812, in
Brown county, Ohio, and is still living at the age of seventy years.
Marshall was married to Miss Nancy Kader August 20, 1853. She is
the daughter of Abraham G. and Catharine Rader. Her pareiits were
among the early settlers of the county, coming in the year 1838. She
was born September 27, 1836, in Henry county, Indiana. The young
couple started out in life with nothing but a two-year-old colt. For
their household goods and one horse they went in debt. This horse
and his two-year-old colt made his teauL Thus he went on adding a
little each year to his capital, until he has acquired a good, well-
improved farm, having twice taken the first premium. His farm is
situated two miles northeast of New Boston. He and his wife have
been members of the Methodist church since 1 872. In politics he is a
republican. They have had two children : Josephine, born November
27, 1858 ; Elsie, iDorn January 29, 1862, and died October 8, 1863.
G. W. Bridger, farmer, was born January 13, 1858, in Mercer
county, Illinois, and is the oldest son of Charles H. and Martha F.
Bridger. He was married February 3, 1881, to Miss Josephine Flem-
ing, daughter of Marshall and Nancy Fleming. He lived with his
father and worked on the farm until nineteen years of age, when he
determined to have at least a common school education. Working in
summer he earned enough to send him to the village school of Viola
during the fall and winter. This he followed up for three years, work-
ing summers and attending school fall and winter. He then taught
school for a number of terms. At present he is engaged in farming.
James P. Powley, farmer, was born in Hancock county, Indiana,.
September 4, 1832. He came to Mercer county, Illinois, in 1849.
He was married February 22, 1854, to Sarah J., daughter of Andrew
and Jane Malady. He has been in Mason since 1861. He owns a
farm of 140 acres, well improved. Mr. and Mrs. Powley have had
born to them two children.
NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP. 117
George H. Signor, grocer, was born in New York in 1835. He
was the oldest son. His parents, John and Araminta C. (Lawi-ence)-
Signor, had eleven children, and in 1839 they removed with them to
Ross conntv, Ohio. In 1845 the family emigrated still farther west,
settling in Columbus City, Louisa county, Iowa. Living there a year,
they next came to Oquawka, where his father shortly after died, aged
about forty-six years. In 1853 Mr. Signor settled in New Boston,
where he was married and has since had his home. His mother is still
living at the age of seventy-three. It is a curious fact that the ages of
her nine living brothers and sisters average her own age. His mar-
riage on January 1, 1857, was with Miss Maria Alyea, of New Boston,
daughter of Josei)li Alyfea, one of the tirst settlers and business men
in the place. Mr. Signor was employed by him as a clerk when he
iirst came. Both he and his wife are communicants in the Methodist
church, of New Boston, of which he is steward. He takes a lively
interest in the temperance cause, and has always taken a leading part
in organizations of that nature. He has filled the highest position in
three Good Templar lodges and is an Odd-Fellow of twenty-five years'
standing. Raised a whig, he voted first for Fremont, and has since
trained strictly with the republicans. In 1880 he started in the grocery
trade.
George Gore, banker, was born in Maryland in 1837, and was
the only son of Philip and Susannah (Baugliman) Gore. He had six
sisters. In 1841 his parents moved west and settled in Columbus
City, Louisa county, Iowa, where his mother died the next year at the
age of forty-two. In 1846 his father married again, this time Mrs.
Margaret Alexander, and in 1854 moved with his family to Keiths-
burg, where he engaged in merchandising. He had been previously
selling goods in Columbus City. Mr. Gore remained with his father
at Keithsburg until 1864, when he went to Montana for the benefit of
his health. Being restored, he returned at the end of nine months and
settled in New Boston, and during the succeeding eight years was in
the service of Wells Willits as book-keeper. In 1873 he embarked in
trade on his own account, and was in partnership the first two years
with C. H. Bell. Impaired health caused him to sell out in 1880, and
with his family he went to Florida, spending seven months there.
Returning somewhat improved, he engaged in banking in the autumn
of 1881. Mr. Gore has been a Mason since 1874, and has held the
office of alderman and mayor. He was mayor of New Boston in
1879, and as a firm sui)porter of the tem])erance programme and princi-
ples was chosen to that place to further the interests of the conmninity
from that standpoint. Always a democrat in politics, he stood
118 HISTORY OF MEKCEK A^"D HENDERSON COUNTIES.
with tliose who gave hearty encouragement to the Union cause
throughout the war. In h)cal elections he votes for whomsoever is, in
his judgment, the best man. He was married in July, 1861, to Miss
Emily C. Hubbell, step-daughter of H. G. Calhoun. Their only son,
Clair, is nine years old.
Is:eithsburg township.
This is township) 13, range 5, embracing fifteen full and four frac-
tional sections. The soil is generally sandy, particularly so along the
river which is skirted above Keithsburg by a narrow belt of timber.
It lies upon the elevated bottom lands below the blutf, which once
confined a mightier and more majestic flood than the "Father of
Waters," whose headstrong tide washes its western boundary in easy
and graceful curves.
The first settler was John Vannatta. He came alone from Pitts-
burgh, Pennsylvania, arriving here about the first of May, 1827, and
ojjened a supply yard for wooding steamboats. A year oV two
afterward his brother Benjamin followed him, and the two carried on
together the peaceful employment of cutting and selling wood, until
interrupted in 1831 by disquieting rumors of the uneasy disposition
of the Indians and their pre])arations for war. Their neighbors at the
Upper Yellow Banks, the Denisons, left their home for two months,
and it is probable that these families also went away until security was
assured. Next year the Black Hawk war broke out — a war in which
the excitement was more disproportion ed to the danger than in any
other of which we read. But the danger was real and imminent in
this region. Yet these white families remained busy at their toil, un-
moved by the warnings and entreaties of their dusky friends, tarrying
in the face of peril, refusing to depart. How was it hundreds of miles
away ? The people, alarmed by exaggerated reports, had loaded their
wagons for possible flight, and regularly laid down to their slumbers
with barricaded doors and in feverish anxiety. On the day that the
Denisons came down on their way to Pence's fort, so-called, the Yan-
nattas gathered up their goods, and with their families went out and
stayed all night in a low place on the j)rairie. The following day they
reached Pence's, where the inhabitants had collected from the sur-
rounding country. This i)lace and Monmouth were the rallying points
for a large section during the war. Pence's stockade was made of
logs split once in two, stood upright and close together with one end
in the ground, forming a palisade not less than twelve feef high and
KEITHSBIRG TOAVNSHIP. 119
enclosing about 700 square yards of ground. After a few months^
absence the Vannattas returned. Benjamin Vannatta liad a pre-emj^-
tion claim to the S. E. ^ of See. 22, where Keithsburg now stands.
About the montli of August, 1833, John Bates settled on the
N. W. ^ of Sec. 33, and made a small farm which was occu})ied some
three years afterward by Isom Lakey, who continued to reside in this
township with his family up to 1860 or 1861. The next settler was
Erastus S. Denison, who came down from the Upper Yellow Banks-
(New Boston) in 1835, and made a claim npon the N. E. ^ of Sec. 1.
Samuel Vannatta joined his brothers about the spring of 1835. In
the fall of that year they sold out their claims to Robert Keith, a
Scotchman, who had emigrated to America the year before, and who
took possession the following spring, when the Vannattas all removed
to the vicinity of Muscatine (then called Bloomington), Iowa.
As the founder of Keithsburg Robert Keith is entitled to more
than incidental notice. He was reared in Belfrone, Scotland, where
he received a liberal education.
After his second mamage in that country in 1821, he lived two
years in London, and was a traveling salesman for a book establish-
ment. He then went to Dublin, where he had control of a similar
house, and whence he embarked for this countrv. He left New York
and came direct to Quincy, Illinois, in the spring of 1835, and in the
autumn following made his selection for a permanent home at this
place, which became known as Keith's Landing.
In the spring of 1836 Abner Martin settled on the southwest quar-
ter of section 13, and in the same year sold out to John McH.
AVilson, who occupied the premises the following year and lived in
the same place until his death in 1879. He was one of the most
respectable citizens of the township.
The same spring William Sheriif and Paul Sheriff settled on the
west half of section 24, and on the southwest quarter of the same sec-
tion the latter is still a resident and prosperous farmer. In 1837
William Sheriff erected a saw-mill on Pope creek on the northeast
quarter of section 23, and expended a large amount of money upon a
dam which was a total loss, owing to quicksand in the bed of the
stream, rendering the structure unserviceable. The mill rotted down,
but at low-water mark some of the spiles in the bottom of the creek
on which the dam rested may still be seen. J. McH. Wilson, Paul
Sheriff, A. B. Sheriif and T. B. Cabeen were employed as laborers,
and did many hard days' work ui)on this mill and dam, and all except
Wilson are still living in the t<jwnship. This was the only attempt
ever made to erect a dam on Pope creek in this township. A. B. Sheriff
120 HISTORY OF MERGER AJS'D HENDERSON COUNTIES.
came in 1836, and Matthew Sheriff a year or two later. The latter
■died in 1863.
In 1836 Daniel Justice began to improve a farm on tlie southwest
quarter of section 1, where he made a fine home and resided until the
summer of 1851, when he sold to John Doak and moved to Polk
countv, Iowa. William "Wilson, formerlv of Dam-ille, Pennsylvania,
then of Chicago, Illinois, settled also in 1836 on the east half of the
northeast quarter of section 13, where he improved a good farm and
where his wife died in 18M, and he himself about two years later.
John McH. Wilson was his son. His daughters, Hannah Ne^•ius and
Xucy Cabeen, are still residents of this township. About the year
1838 Joel A. Hall, the mill-wright who had charge of the work on
William Sheriff^s mill, entered and settled on the northwest quarter of
section 13, but resided there only a year or two, when he sold out and
■went west. Near the same time Bennett Hurst settled on the north-
east quarter of section 2 and made his home in that place up to 1850,
when he disposed of his farm and bought other property in the town-
ship, and has been a citizen here till a recent date. Benjamin F.
Gruwell moved from Indiana and took up a farm in November, 1837,
on the northwest quarter of section 1 ; in 1852 he sold out and came
to Keithsburg, where he \e^t hotel a number of years and has since
resided. In 1837 or 1838 John W. Nevius began a home in the
township. He lived here till his death in 1875, Joseph J. AYordin
emigrated from Ohio and landed at New Boston in 1837. The follow-
ing spring he became a resident of this township, and has had his
iome in Keithsburg nearly ever since. His wife died here in 1873.
Robert Keith laid out the town in 1837, and between that date and
1846 not more than half a dozen families, including Mr. Wordin's, came
to reside in the place. The Rev. James Ross, a local preacher of the
United Brethren church, arrived with his family about 1841, and was
the first minister to take up his residence here. Both he and his wife
died in this township some five years afterward, and many of their
descendants can yet be found in this vicinity. In 1841 B. L. Hardin
began a home on the S. E. ^, Sec. 11, where he still resides and has
"become one of the solid farmers of the neighborhood. About 1842
James Garner came to Keithsburg with a few trifling articles of trade
and a barrel of whisky, and made the first attempt at merchandising in
the township. The business was unremunerative, and he sold out to
David Bowen, who had come in 1839, and moved on to the N. E. J,
Sec. 25. In 1847 he left that place and came again to Keithsburg and
this time went to keeping hotel. In the same year, and again in 1849,
lie was elected justice of the peace, and at one time was sheriff of the
KEITHSBUEG TOWNSHIP. 121
'County two years. I^ot long after his first election as magistrate he
presided in a jury trial, with C. M. Harris, of Oquawka, and John
Mitchell, of Monmouth, as opposing attorneys. The former was a
man of admirable physical resources, while the latter would scarcely
weigh a hundred pounds, and, besides, was disabled in the left arm
from a wound received in the Mexican war, Harris stated the case to
the jury and sat down. Mitchell arose and had proceeded but a little
way with his statement when Harris in bullying tones said, "That is a
lie!" A glance from Mitchell was all the attention that this sally
received. A few moments elapsed and again Harris interposed, say-
ing, "That is another lie !" Mitchell turned to him with gleaming eye
.and warned him not to repeat that insult or he would strike him, and
then went on. A minute or two more and Harris broke in: "And
that is an infernal lie ! " The words were not more than uttered before
Mitchell delivered a stunning blow between his eyes which sent him
over backward to the floor. Some one interfered to separate them,
while the justice was standing and looking over his table in bewilder-
ment to see the light go on. All of a sudden, as soon as it was over,
he involuntarily brought his finger-tips down upon the board with
a thud, exclaiming, in blank astonishment: "Well, I'll be d — d!"
but instantly recovering himself and his dignity he called out to the
offenders : ' ' Gentlemen, I fine each of you $10, by ! "
A small chapter of such court incidents could be written, but this
furnishes fully enough at one view of the manners of the period. Many
years ago Mr. Garner removed to Millersburg where he still lives,
holding on to life by feeble tenure.
Soon after purchasing Garner's mercantile stand Bowen closed up
the business and moved to Rock Island, of which city he is still a resi-
dent. His son George was born on election day, August 3, 1840, and
this is supposed to have been the first birth in Keithsburg. This elec-
tion is said to have been the first held in the place. "A quart cup of
whisky was kept standing on the judges' table all day for an hour glass,"
writes Mr. Bowen. About 1843 an old Frenchman by the name of
Bochelle landed here in a small boat, bringing with him a few goods
with which he started a country store. Shortly after a family named
Omy came to the settlement, and it has always been reported that the
young men made an excursion down the river one fine day in an open
boat, accompanied by Rochelle, who suspiciously failed to return, and
that his companions approjjriated his effects.
In 1842 Zephaniah Wade made a claim to the N. W. ^, Sec, 14 ; he
died in a few years, but his widow survived until a few months since,
when she jjassed away in Keithsburg among her decendants.
122 HISTORY OF jrERCER AXD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
In 1843 Nicliolas Edwards settled on section 5, at the moutli of the
Edwards river, where he and "William Willett and Isaiah Brown had
the year before erected a saw-mill. This year AYillett sold his interest
to Brown. After doing a successful business for sometime Edwards
removed to his farm in Mercer townshi]) and is now a resident of
Aledo. Brown went to California, where he died.
Another settler, who was less conspicuous for the term of his resi-
dence than for his ambition to become the builder of a town, was a man
named Gavitt who made a claim about a mile below the landing, wdiere
in 1837 he laid off a town and designated it Columbia city. It
occupied a high plateau which bore signs of having been formerly an
Indian encampment. There was the held where the squaws had raised
their corn ; the pits in which it had been buried ; and the places where
their fires had burned were yet visible ; and poles still standing in the
ground showed where their lodges had stood. Gavitt's i)lat was not
recorded, and he was not long in this vicinity. Alexander Davis
bouo-ht his claim and entered the land.
"VVe borrow the following sketch of "What Grandmother Said,"
which gives a very fair idea of the methods and resources of every day
life in the pioneer period: "We came here in October, 1832. We
lived the first winter in a log cabin made of hickory. We had a door
made of clapboards, and a crack between the logs for a window. Our
bedstead was made in the corner with one leg drove into the ground
(we had no floor) and slabs laid across. The straw would freeze to the
slabs. We had two chairs, brought with us from Kentucky ; grandfather
made stools for the children. We built our fire on the ground, and our
chimney was made of sticks and daubed with mud. We baked our
bread in a skillet, and made our own coftee by scorching meal and
pouring boiling water on it. We had no table, so we ate on a goods
box. We bored holes in the logs and put pins in and made our cup-
board. I swept our floor with a bunch of hazel brush or a hay broom.
In those days we never had to scrub or mop. Wlien we butchered we
made a scafibld on one side of the chimney and laid our meat up there,
so the dogs and wolves could not get it. When I washed I went down
to the spring, a quarter of a mile from the house, and carried the
clothes. I had neither tub, board, nor boiler, but washed on my
hands, in a large bucket, and did the boiling in an iron kettle. I have
the kettle yet.
"' This is the way we lived the first winter, and we were glad to get
so good a house. I lived hapj)ier then than I do now in a fine house.
There were two or three log cabins and a log court-house in Mon-
mouth. . . . The mail carrier carried the mail from Oquawka to
"Wk
W"^ G AY LE
KEITHSBURG TOWNSHIP. 125
Monmouth in the top of his hat. We had to go to Rock Island to mill.
We lived here one year without cows, sheep or chickens. We had one
horse and two yoke of oxen that we moved here with, and a few hogs.
In the fell of 1834 my husband died and left me with five little children.
That fall the Indians burned our flax and wheat. When the children
saw the flax burning they said : ' Oh ! mother, what are we to do for
clothes ? our flax is burning up ! ' I j^aid my children's schooling, and
my store bill, and my expenses for one year, with $15. My taxes on
half a section of prairie land and eighty acres of timber were two or
three dollars."
The flrst visible results of civilized society are mail privileges,
religious exercises and public instruction of the young.
PoRtoffice. — The ''Bluft'" postotflce, the pioneer in this vicinity, was
established some time about 1837 at the house of Frederick Frick, in
Abington towniship, Ave miles northeast of Keithsburg. As late as
1846 the people of the village, yet inconsiderable in numbers, went
away out there to post their letters and to bring back their own and
their neighbors' mail.
First Schools. — The first school in Keithsburg township, as we learn
from Mrs. Samuel Scott, who was one of the pupils, was kept by Mrs.
William Sherift', in the summer of 1841 or 1842, in one room of her
double log house, situated close to the site of the present farm house of
James AVilson, northeast of Upper Keithsburg. The next was in John
McH. Wilson's cabinet shop, in the summer of 1845, and Miss Lucy
Wilson, noW' Mrs. T. B. Cabeen, was the teacher. The third school
was in Keithsburg ; but we shall defer the account of this and others
imtil we come to the history of the town.
Early Preaching. — The earliest preaching was by the Rev. John
Montgomery, who settled in Preemption township in the S]M"ing of
1836. He w^as a Presbyteiian and held services throughout the coun-
try in difterent places, and usually in these parts once in two weeks,
sometimes at William Sherifl''s in this township, at other times at
Frederick Frick's in Abington, or at Thomas Candor's in Ohio Grove,
lie died over thirty years ago.
The first Methodist minister of wdiom we have heard any account
was the Rev. Asa McMurtry, who preached at the house of John
Nevius in 1838. Religious services for some years after, no less than
at this period, W'ere irregular and only occasional. Tiie Revs. Frank
Smith and Sanuiel P. P>urr came among the people soon after
McMurtry.
For a long wliile at first the inhabitants were mostly Universalists,
and they were ministered to from about 1842 to 1850 by the Rev.
8
126 HISTOKT OF MERCER AJiTD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Gregg, who came fi-om Galesburg and occupied the church at the bluff
in New Boston township, and whejti passing through Keithsburg to and
from his charge, held services in the place.
The outward evidence was that the Master's kingdom did not more
than hold its own. B. L. Hardin, who came in the sprmg of 1841,
was here three montlis, he says, before he discovered a professing
cliristian, though like Diogenes he hunted the bailiwick over, but not
with the same c^niical philosophy. The first meeting he attended was
four miles north of his home, in New Boston township, at a Mr.
Rader's, where the congregation numbered just six persons, including
Mr. Rader's family. The Rev. Wiley was the itinerant. Preaching
followed at that place every four weeks during the summer, and has
been kept up in that neighborhood nearly ever since.
In the autumn of the same year services were begun at Mr.
Hardin's house, and the first sermon was by the Rev. Burr, who had a
charge in New Boston township. When the appointment was given
out Mr. Hardin set himself to making benches out of common slabs to
seat the crowd that he could see with the eye of faith would come to
the meeting. He labored with zeal and the pile of benches grew.
Unwittingly though done, it was successful advertising, rivaling the
subtlest conception of the down-east Yankee. Curiosity and inquiry
were the result, and as Noah when building the ark was the butt of
questioners and doubters, so Mr. Plardin was beset with questions and
skeptical objections, and if he was ridiculed a little it was all the same ;
the work went on. The preacher was early at hand, and as the hour
for service approached, the door was thrown open to surjDrise the wait-
ing minister with the inspiring sight of people swarming from every
direction. He said the house would not hold the people, and it would
not but for their standing up in a densely packed throng. The benches
and the Christian perseverance of Brother Hardin had done holy work,
iMit the former were now as useless as the open roof of the Arkansas
traveler. However, they had subsequent use. This meeting showed
that souls were hungry. Either an influx of orthodox Christians had
come into the settlement between spring and fall, or the Universalists
had turned out like boys to a circus.
The appointment was regularly continued at this place, and in the
autumn of 1843 the first class ever organized in the township was
formed at Mr. Hardin's house. The original members were James
Gibson and his wife Polly, John Nevius and his wife Hannah,
B. L. Hardin and his wife Minerva, and James Nevius, Jr. Mr .Kel-
logg joined at the next meeting. In the summer of 1846 preaching
was begun at John McII. Wilson's by the Revs. Whitman and
KEITHSBURG TOWNSinP. 127
Geddings, circuit riders, and services were kept up liere one year. In
warai Aveatlicr day nieetinfi;s were held in tlie grove ; and at night in
Mr. Wilson's cabinet shop. Other preaching points in the country
were at John Nevius' and James Gibson's; and all four places were
used until about 1850, when Keithsburg became the center where the
people came together for worship.
Tlie Vannattas made the beginning here. As early as 1834 Rousy
Bowen was living in a little house on the bank of the river, and chop-
ping wood for these men. By the next year Jesse Mount had come
to the settlement, and the same season Robert Keith bought Benjamin
Vannatta's claim, which embraced the site of the present town, and in
the spring of 1836 took possession of his purchase. He continued
keeping the wood-yard which his predecessors had started, and hence-
forth the place was called Keith's Landing. It was in this same year
that the insane policy of internal improvement inaugurated an era of
the wildest speculation ever witnessed in this country. It is next
to incredible that men could have been capable of so \asionary
schemes. In the absence of epidemic excitement, half-grown boys
would have shown more reason. But as it was, towns were planted
everywhere by being laid off, as this was cheaply done ; for the pro])ne-
tors imagined they saw in it the source of sudden wealth. Although
Father Keith could not have escaped the ruling influence of the times,
it is ])lain that he did not reckon without some judgment, and that he
was not mistaken as to the right place for the town, but it was witli
several years of patient suspense that he waited for the fruition of his.
hopes and plans.
The original survey was made by Hiram Hardie, deputy county
surveyor, on July 29, 1837, and the plat was acknowledged before
Abraham Miller, Jr., county clerk, by Mr. Keith, on November
IS. The location is on Sec. 23, T. 13, R. 5. Two principal streets,
Main and Washington, were laid out east and west, and these were
crossed by seven others designated as First, Second, etc., beginning
next the river. The plat com})rised thirteen blocks. The first sale of
lots took place in July, the same year, and several of them were
bought at prices varying fi*om $20 to $60. Subsequeiitly a few families
came here to settle, and prominent among the number was Joseph J.
Wordin, the first wheelwright, who still resides in the town. But the
place lingered along in discouraging inactivity until 1845. We refrain
from calling it a town at this date, for its actual towjihood has always-
been reckoned by the citizens from 1847, when it succeeded to the dig-
nity of county-town. When emigration had brought to the back
country a moderate but sturdy population, a convenient ship]ting })oint.
128 HISTORY OF MERCER AJS'D HENDERSON COUNTIES.
was of the first necessity. Even yet eai)ital was scarce, and the times
had not ahogether abated their stringency, and business men did not
stand ready then to invest in town })roperty in a new country, in
advance of the real demands of trade. So an association of farmers,
living mostly in Abington and Ohio Grove townships, undertook, in
1844, to erect a warehouse in Keithsburg for storing and handling
then- grain. To encourage the project, Robert Keith gave lots six and
iseven, in block three, on which the building was begun, facing north
at the foot of Main street ; and when the fi'ame was up, title to the
property passed to William Willett. The evident prospect of future
business brought Col. J. B. Patterson, of Oquawka, here, and he
secured an equal interest in the warehouse on condition of finishing it.
Keith had put up a small building for a business stand, and he per-
suaded Patterson to fill it with a stock of goods. "The Colonel put
Spence Record into the new warehouse to receive grain, while he and
Roothe Nettleton sold -dry goods and groceries over on Washington
street."
Writing afterward of the small beginnings of the place. Col. Pat-
terson said: "At this time, 1845, we visited Keithsburg with a view
of making it a trading point ; to sell goods and buy produce. The
improvements consisted of one frame house (which we had fitted up
for a store), one log house, and three cabins. The trade of that season
amounted to 3,690 bushels of wheat, 512 barrels of flour and 2,250
bushels of corn. At the close of the season we retu*ed, leaving the
work we had begun in the good hands and stout hearts of Messrs.
Noble & Gayle; and Nohly have they kept the banner we entrusted
to them waving in the Gayle until many a Doughty champion has
risen up to proclaim the glories of a town which, though a wilderness
a few years ago, is now Rife with business (the Spice or life we may
say of prosperous progress), and ranks high among her sister towns. "
Noble & Gayle, young and enterprising business men, erected a
one-story frame store on lot 1, block 2, corner of Main and Second
streets, and a warehouse on lot 10. In 1848, thev built a brick
packing house, which stood on lot 0. In the same year that Noble &
Gayle began business, McConaha & Rife started a saloon, called in
those days a grocery. The next store was ojjened the following year
by Jonathan Judah, a Jew, and occupied lot 7, block 4. The old
building is still standing. In 1848 Wilford J. Ungles arrived with his
family and began trading at the foot of Washington street, where,
in 1855, he erected a large warehouse, which is yet in use. Wilson
Redmon began the erection this year of the brick building on Main
street now owned and occupied by Mrs. McManus. AVhile in process
KEITIISBURG TOWNSHIP. , 120
of building lie sold it to Dr. A. ]]. Campbell, who finished it. In the
spring of 1849, McConaha tfc Rife dissolved partnership, and the latter
embarked in the grocery trade, afterward adding dry goods, first occu-
pying the Camj)bell building until he erected, the same year, the brick
house adjoining it on the west. The brick store on the northeast
corner (»f ^fain and Second streets was built by T. B. Cabeen, in 1S48.
On the second and third floors lie fitted up a suit of rooms which
were occupied by his family, while the business part of the house was
filled the next year with a stock of goods by Mrs, E. Smith. In
1851, R. H. Spicer *k Co., Mrs. Smith being the other member of the
firm, started in trade in the same place.
In 1847 a series of elections liaving taken place, the ultimate choice
for the county seat fell to Keithsburg, Donations from the citizens in
and around the place were nearly, if not fully, sufficient to build the
court-house. Keith gave half of the fractional tract known as Keith's
first addition, which was shortly after laid out (January 12, 1848), and
then the division of blocks was made by alternate choice. Those fall-
ing to the county were subdivided into lots, which were sold and the
proceeds ajiplied to the erection of the court-house ; but Keith did not
commence the sale of his for some years. The first term, and several
subsequent ones of the circuit court, after the removal of the seat of
justice, were held in AVillett's warehouse, which use in various ways
became a public convenience. The coui't-house was built on the
secluded campus covering four-fifths of block 7, and all that part lying
within the addition. It was finished at the end of the summer of
1851, and was considered a building that the county might be proud
of in its infancy, though its squat a])pearance called out the malicious
remark that it might be mistaken for a church. It is a one-story brick,
40 X 50 feet on the foundation.
Col. Patterson having wound up his business here in 1846, William
Willett, who emigrated in 1838 and had just settled in the town this
year, started up in the grain trade in the warehouse in which he and
Patterson held joint ownership. When the latter transferred his
interest to Burr P. McConaha, in 1849, the two formed a short-lived
partnership, the last-named withdrawing early in 1850 and joining the
emigration to California. Willett then leased the building foi- one
year to Willits & Doughty and accepted a situation in their service.
Next year Willits, who was tlie heavy member of the firm, and had
stocked the house and sent Df)ughty down from New Boston, where
both lived, to manage the business, sold out to A. B. Sherifi", William
Willett and J. W. Doughty, and these men carried on business
together a few years, Doughty fiiuilly selling to his partners. The
130 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
partnership of Sheiiff & "Willett lasted till 1864, when the latter
retired just in time to save himself fi-om the prodigious decline in
prices following the close of the war, which overtook his partner and
swamped him, as had been the issue with nearly all of the tradesmen
in the crisis of 1857. The building was used for grain storage till
about 1875, and from that time as a liver j until January 20, 1879, at
wdiich date it was burned down. Thus disappeared the original land-
mark in which the real business history of Keithsburg had birth.
Phelps tfe Brewer occuj^ied it, but the loss, reaching $1,000, fell upon
Willett.
Dropping back to 1850, we find trade and industry in lively
growth and activity, and the other attributes of townhood multiplying
in social, benevolent and literary organizations. Before railroads came
into use produce was hauled to the Illinois and Mississippi rivers ; and
prior to the construction of the Illinois & Michigan canal farmers
went all the way to Chicago from this and adjoining counties with ox
and horse teams to sell a little grain and pork, and to bring back a
few store goods. Some of the pioneers who toiled in this manner are
still living, and we have heard them say that the expenses of a trip
were sometimes greater than the receipts. In point of business
Oquawka was the senior of Keithsburg by a number of years, but
now she had a spirited rival which was diverting a generous share of
her hitherto large trade.
October 16th Col. Patterson published in Oquawka the first num-
ber of the ' ' Oquawka Spectator and Keithsburg Observer, " this title
being confined to the inside of the sheet, and the ''Observer" depart-
ment to the third page. The Keithsburg editor was James "W.
Doughty, of the mercantile firm of Doughty & Willits.
At this time there were two places of public entertainment : the
Calhoun House, built by John Moore in 1850, and kept by H. G.
•Calhoun ; and the Keithsburg House, with J. B. McConaha as land-
lord.
A division of the Sons of Temperance was in a fiourishing state,
and in the early spring of 1852 "Star Union" of the Daughters of
Temperance came to its support in the same beneficent work.
Late in the season a debating society was formed by some of the
leading men for mental culture and entertainment during the winter,
the most active being Robert Keith, John C. Pepper, B. C. Taliaferro,
N. C. Adams, R. C.^Cabeen, O. C. Allen and Dr. E. L. Marshall.
At the opening of the packing season James A. ISToble put in oper-
ation his large, new slaughter-house, and about the same time Gayle
finished an additional warehouse. Next spring Noble began selling
the first drugs.
KEITIISBURG TOWXSIIII'. 131
A little later occurred the remarkable flood of 1851. Tlie water
began rising near the end of May, and on the 2^th was encroaching
upon the streets ; it continued to spread until it reached nearly to
Fifth street, when it was standing over the lower part of the town
from four to seven feet in depth, according to the inequalities of the
surface. In the main quarter the ground has since been raised four
feet by filling. The river kept u]i,at its highest stage until the 11th of
June, when it commenced falling slowly. The "Observer" of that
date said: "Our town is flooded. Goods and household furniture
on platforms and second floors. We share the fate of our neighbors."
It adds that the Mississippi covers the country from seven to ten miles
in width 1,800 miles above its mouth. Rafts circulated in the streets
in the course of business ; and the row and sail boats Kate and Fawn
went about the town by moonlight, bearing ' ' lovely women and brave
men," in pleasuring and serenading parties. The river was not within
its banks again till after the 20th. This rise was compared to those of
1844 and 1828, and it is said sui-passed them.
The high water of October, 1881, rose within a few inches of the
same mark. Half a mile of the railroad track was submerged ; and
skifl^'s tied up on Second street. There was a notable freshet the previ-
ous June, and also one the preceding year.
July 15, 1852, by a vote of the citizens, Keithsburg became a
corporate town under the general incorporation law ; and on Monday,
the 26th, the first board of trustees was elected, consisting of AVilliam
Willett, J. J. Wordin, T. B. Cabeen, Alexander Davis and X. B.
Partridge.
The same year William Gayle built a steam saw mill on Pope
•creek, where the railroad bridge crosses, and sold it to John H. Mar-
shall & Co., by whom, in 1856, it was converted into a flouring mill.
Subsequently it was known as the Ogden mill, and was burned after a
few years. Tlie second saw mill was built by Ender & Eckly at the
foot of Van Buren street. This was burned down, and they immedi-
ately built another, which was run unsuccessfully some three years,
when, being abandoned to creditors, it was bought b}' William D.
Smith, who moved it to Jackson street, between Eighth and Ninth,
where it was used for planing and sawing out dimension and hardwood
lumber. Tlie next saw mill was removed in 1857, or the year after, to
the foot of Jackson street, by Alexander Frick, it having been flrst put
up on John E. Willit's land to saw ties and timbers for the Warsaw &
Rockford railroad. It was leveled by fire in 1859.
Tlie fourth saw mill is the one standing at the foot of Tan Buren
street, on the site of the Ender 6c Eckly mill, and was built about 1865
132 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
by Smitli c% Hersey. It was the largest mill in the county when biiilty
and was run with profit, employing some thirty-iive men, till 1872,
since which time it has not been operated, except in a small way,
James C. Stevens erected a grist mill on Eighth street, between Main
and AVashington, about 1864. This was never a success, and was dis-
mantled between 1877 and 1879. The Elevator Flour Mills were put
into the Eife warehouse on Second street, at the foot of Washington, by
W, D. Smith, in 1868. This building was consumed January 1, 1878.
About 1855 a distillery was erected on the river, in Mechanics'^
addition, by W. L. Matthews and O. C. Richardson. After operating
it a year they sold it to AVilliam Gayle. Through his failure it passed
out of his hands in 1857, and was idle till Benjamin Phelps became the
o-vvner. He ran it very successfully three years and sold it to Pickering.
Stewart and Colvin each owned it afterward, a^id finally Mason &
Crosby, of Chicago, who refitted it at large expense, when it was
burned down in 1872, before they had put it in operation. It wa&
insured for the sum of $10,000. This distillery was not exempt fi-om
certain infirmities of transaction which was common to the distiller's
business after the war had induced the high tax on spirits.
In 1880 C. A. & L. L. Mertz erected a saw and planing mill at the
base of the sand bluif in Keith's first addition, which they are now
operating in conjunction with their lumber trade.
In July, 1853, the ferry boat Dove, owned- by Seth H. Redmon,
began making daily trips between Keithsburg and Huron and Prairie
Point. The same proprietor was "running the swift, staunch and
capacious steam ferry boat Iowa," three years later.
Mr. Gayle erects a large two-story packing house in 1853. Keiths-
burg is in the middle of the period of its greatest growth, which
extended from 1850 to 1856, and two more additions are laid out:
Keith's seconfl, April 1, and Sheriff & Cabeen's, June 3. The country
for thirty-five miles back was tributary to this point, which was
becoming, and soon became, the leading produce market above St.
Louis. Trade got to be immense for a town of so moderate size. One
"big day" in February, 1854, 250 teams were counted in the town,
and it was believed that 300 had been in from the country. Of this
number eighty remained over night. Gayle & Co. and Noble & Bro.
were the packers at this date. In the following autumn the first-
named firm erected a slaughter house near the steam mill. It might
be well to say that the first packing done in the place was by Noble &
Cxavle in the winter of 1846-7. Gore ife Gamble beffan business in the
spring of 1854. The latter retired at the end of two years and Miv
Gore remained in trade till after the war.
KEITHSBURG TOWNSHIP. 133-
Tlie storekeepers and produce dealers in 1855 were W. Gayle & Co.,
A. Rife, Sheritf & AVillett, B. P. Frick & Co., Gore & Gamble and P.
T. Iluijlies. Three of these iirms were doing the i)aeking at the close
of tlie year.
At this period goods were sold on long credit, a year's time. After
a day of large sales hardly money enough could be found in the drawer
to take the salesmen to a show. At the end of the year debtors settled
their accounts by note. Many of these ran one, two and three years,
and some are running yet. For ten years from 1850, when the ])opu-
lation of the county was 5,300, the country east of Keithsburg, like all
parts of the west, settled up rapidly. The settlers were generally men
of small means, who depended upon the heavy dealers for money to
make payments on their land, expecting and engaging to discharge
tliese second obligations with their crops. It was the custom of Messrs.
Gayle and Rife to advance large sums in this way, and tliey oflen took*
the risk of cri])])ling their own credit by these accommodations. Tlie
necessities of trade also required that the more extensive tradesmen
should buy their patrons' grain and hogs, and these two kinds of busi-
ness, dissevered now, naturally iitted together then as parts of the same
system. Accordingly the heavy merchants combined a warehouse and
slaught.ering business with merchandising.
A few statistics will show the gi'owth and amount of business better
than any other form of statement. From the first of October, 1850, to
the iirst of October, 1851, the shipments of grain purchased here
amounted to 169,366 bushels of wheat, corn and oats, besides some
meat and other products. In the same time tliere were received 407-|-
tons of merchandise. Februaiy 24, 1852, 3,176 bushels of grain
were taken in, "this being no inore than an average day for the last
ten. The receipts for the week ending the 2Stli exceeded 20,000
bushels."
During the packing season of 1854-5 there were slaughtered 6,852
hogs by the several packers, as follows : William Gayle & Co., 4,790 ;.
A.^Rife, 1,064 : J. A. Noble, 853 ; and W. H. tingle's, 145.
Between May 10 and June 14, 1856, there were shipped 48,231
pieces of bulk pork, 374 barrels of pork, 75 casks of hams, 344 sacks
of hair and 250 sacks of potatoes. From May 10 to October 11 the
aggregate amount of grain taken on board here (in addition to heavy
shipments in April) reached 108,291 sacks, or 27tN727 bushels. During
the two weeks ending October 11 the shipments by the various firms-
were as follows: William Gayle & Co., 16.162 sacks; A. Rife,
10,284; B. P. Frick 6z Co., 3,536; W. II. Ungles, 7,018; and Slieriff
& Willett, 2,054.
134 HISTORY OF MERCEE AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Tlie largest single shipment ever made was 33,000 bushels of corn
Id J William Orayle, in April of the present year (1882). The total
receipts at this market between the opening of navigation in 1881 and
the same time this rear were 550,000 bushels.
The first shipment ever made from here was by Thomas B. Cabeen,
March 25, 1842, and consisted of about 1,400 bushels of wheat in
437 barrels. The grain was raised by himself and his father in Ohio
Grove township, and was transported by the steamer Hunts ville, which
was a week making the passage to St. Louis.
In 1855 Mr. Gayle erected the three-story brick structure, now the
Larue House, on the corner of Main and Second streets, for a store,
and the next year put up the addition on the west. The same year
B. F. Gruwell built a three-story brick addition to his hotel on the
•corner of Main and Third streets where Wliiting's store stands. The
•main part was also brick, and from September, 1850, until it became
the property of Mr. Gruwell in 1852,. it was conducted by H. G. Cal-
houn. The entire establishment was destoyed by lire in February,
1860.
Among the earlier and better residences we note as landmarks the
first brick building in the place, the small house put up by Robert
Keith in 1846, on Fourth street, adjoining the Commercial Hou§e ; the
wing of C. S. Ortli's liouse by J. A. Noble in 1849, and the two-story
front subsequently added by him ; Gayle's in 1850-51 ; EUett's in 1853 ;
T. B. Cabeen's in 1854 ; Rife's in 1855, and Keith's new brick in 1856.
The Central House was built for a residence by Oliver Ross, in
1856, and next year it was enlarged by G. J. Ross. At one time it
Avas the Beasley House.
The Commercial House was erected in 1849 by Matthew R. Patter-
son, for a private residence. In 1850 he conveyed it to S. S. Phelps,
^nd then went to California, where he died. Seven years ago it was
opened as a public house by the present proprietor, David N. "Wolfe.
He was born in Wayne county, Indiana, February 27, 1833, and is
the son of Jacob and Mary (Yount) Wolfe. In 1852 he came to
Mercer county, looking for a place for settlement. He soon returned
to Indiana and made arrangements to remove and permanently
inhabit this county, and in 1855 carried out this plan. His first loca-
tion was in New Boston township, where he engaged in farming. In
September, 1861, he enlisted in company G, 30th 111. Inf , and carried
a gun in his country's service nearly four years. After his ""veteran"
re-enlistment he was appointed second sergeant, but very soon was
commissioned captain of his company by Gov. Yates. He was hon-
orably mustered out of the army at Louisville. On his return he
KKITHSIURG TOWNSHIP.
135
began doing a mercantile business, but in a little while was compelled
by loss of eyesight to abandon it. lie went t(t Chicago for treatment,
which resulted in partial recovery. Since 1875 he has been keeping
the Commercial. On March 4, 1857, he was married to Miss Mary J.,
daughter of John and Sarah (Campbell) Willits. She was born in
the same county that he himself was, October 17, 1833, and was
brought to Mercer county in her infancy. Gertrude, Josephine and
Sarah E. are their children.
The following list is believed to contain about all the tradesmen
and mechanics whose length of residence or business importance enti-
tles them to mention. The dates cover the term of their residence in
the town ; while many of them are exact, some are only approxi-
mately so, and a very few may be found wider still of the correct
mark :
1838-82. J. J. Wordin. 1848-75.
1830-49. David Bowen. 1848-80.
1840-59. G. J. Ross. 1848-56.
1840-77. C. C. Wordin. 1848-56.
1842-56. James Garner. 1848-81.
1844-82. H. G. "Calhoun. 1848.
1845-6. J. B. Patterson. 1849-82.
1845-50. Matthew^ R. Patterson. 1849-82.
1845-82. T. B. Cabeen. 1849-73.
1846-57. James Patterson. 1849-58.
1846-82. William Gayle. 1849-82.
1846-62. James A. Noble. 1849-69.
1846-56. Jonathan Judah. 1849-82.
1846-82. II. G. Calhoun. 1850-56.
1846. Mrs. J. A. Hubbell. 1850-54.
1846-82. Abraham Rife. 1850-58.
1846-82. William Willett. 1850-67.
1846-79. Daniel Keith. 1850-82.
1846-82. A. F. Glover. 1850-82.
1846-65. I. J. Mitchell. 1850-72.
1846-51. Dr. S. S. Gruber. 1850-60.
1847-8. E. F. Barstow. 1850-56.
1847-8. Wm. R. Robinson. 1851-8.
1847-82. A. B. Sheriff. 1851-2.
1847-59. Levi Buttertield. 1852-3.
1847-51. Dr. David Camj-blell. 1852-4.
1847-60. Dr. A. B. Campbell. 1852-6.
1847-68. K. B. Partridge. 1852-82.
Francis Stebinger.
B. D. Ellett.
L. W. Thompson.
John S. Thomi)Son. ,
B. C. Taliaferro.
Richard Rice.
Mrs. E. Smith.
William D. Smith.
Wilford J. Ungles.
R. C. Cabeen.
Thomas Freeman.
John C. Pepper.
James C. Stevens.
Jolm W. Xoble.
James W. Doui^hty.
Jolm H. ^larshall.
J()sei)h Ilarvey.
Dr. E. L. Marshall.
Dr. A. P. Willits.
John T. Calhoun.
Truman Lord.
Thomas Morehead.
W. L. Matthews.
R. H. Sjjicer.
William Hawkins.
John W. Ditto.
J. C. Cabeen,
J. A. Swezv.
136
HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
1S52-62. David Harvey. 1857-68.
lbo2-68. J. S. Pinkerton. 1857-82.
1852-60. Argilleous Swindler. 1858.
1852-82. B. F. Gruwell. 1858-82.
1853-73. C. C. Matlock. 1858-82.
l.s:..3-72. Philip Coonrod. 1858-66.
1853-71. S. H. Kedmon. 1858-63.
1853-82. Chas. J. Simpson. 1858-67.
1853-68. Joseplms Wade. 1858-65.
1853-78. R M. Eddington. 1858-82.
1853-82. Joim Thomson. 1858-82.
1853-82. R C. Hnmbert. 1859-64.
1854-72. Philip Gore. 1859-72.
1854-64. M. J. O'Brien. 1859-82.
1854-78. Dr. Joseph Ogden. 1859-82.
1S54-7. J. W. Elrick. 1859-82.
1854-82. G. W. Whiting. 1859-82.
1854-82. Thomas Sonster. 1860-65.
1854-80. Walter J. Pepper. 1860-56.
1854-67. E. D. W. Coville. 1860-82.
1854-82. Branson Brewer. 1860-82.
1855-63. P. T. Hughes. 1860-82.
1855-82. B. P. Frick. 1861-82.
1855-82. C. S. Frick. 1861-75.
1855-7. I. N. Bassett. 1862-6.
1855-9. Pdchard Keese. 1862-82.
1855-72. Joseph Thompson. 1862-4.
1855-71. C. Lellyenberg. 1863-82.
1856-80. Andrew Frazier. 1863-70.
1856-69. S. M. Evans. 1864-79.
1856-82. J. C. Humphreys. 1864-82.
1856-82. C. A. Frick. 1864-82.
1856-82. Pvobert McKnight. 1864-73.
1856-62. Luther T.BalL 1864-82.
1857-78. Dr. C. S. Hollingsworth. 1864-82.
1857-62. Thomas Hardin. 1865-82.
1857-70. L. A. Ender. 1865-82.
1857-60. Charles Eckly. 1865-82.
1857-82. Benijah Lloyd. 1865-82.
1857-60. Robert Gray. 1866-82.
1857-82. William L. Millman. 1866-82.
1857-82. William Deterline. ls«;7-76.
John Beavens.
Jacob Wolf.
M. B. Cox.
Dennis Murto.
C. S. Orth.
John P. Reed.
C. P. Elder.
T. L. Greenhow.
Margaret Hughes.
C. d'Leary.
Jacob Wolf.
Alexander Holland.
O. Holland.
Dr. Samuel Kelly.
John Kaufman.
E. Pritz.
Jacob Abraham.
Washington Wolf.
John F. Gurley.
W. L. Range.
George F. Parsons.
Hugh Campbell.
William Kolkenbeck.
J. H. T. Madden.
C. W. Cilley.
Mrs. Isaac Manus.
Edwin S. Stockton.
Joseph Venable.
William Home.
Gilbert Brewer.
P. Buford.
W. Mellinger.
C. W. Talhiferro.
Henry Mellinger.
David H. AVolfe.
AVilliam Dempster.
Dr. E. Rathburn.
C. A. Mertz.
L. L. Mertz.
W. H. Phares.
A. H. Ebv.
Merrick A. Weaver..
KEITHSBL'RG TOWNSHIP. 137
1867-82. F. p. Burgott. 1875-82. C. G. Slocumb.
1868-82. James D. Clark. 1875-82. John Ilehvig.
1869-82. S. L. Long. 1879-82. G. B. Sap]).
1869-82. H. L. Long. 1880-82. John Dunn.
1870-82. Milton Anderson. 82. Tom Marshall.
The third addition to tlie town, called Mechanics addition was laid
off June 10, 1854, by J. B. Stockton. A. B. Sheriff laid out another
iN'ovember 5, 1855; Keith's third addition was i»latted May 21, 1861,
and his fourth October 17, 1863 ; Ender and Stockton's October 26,
1863 ; and Ender's May 9, 1857. Upper Keithsburg, which is a mere
hamlet, was surveyed on section 13 by C. S. Ricliey in the summer
of 1857 for Johalon Tyler and T. B. Cabeen.
A man named Larue was the first blacksmith. James Heaton, who
came in 1848, was the second. He burned his charcoal in ]Main street
opposite Dennis Murto's present residence. Thomas Hendricks, O. C.
Allen, and another by the name of Pierce were early smiths.
Wm. Brewer started the first cooper shop, and his place was taken
by Phili]) Forward. Jacob Cooper had the next, and Kelson Green also
worked some tim'e at the trade.
The first barber was a man named Folder, who set up the strijied
pole in 1854.
^'EWSPAPERS.
Owing to the reason that, with a single exception, files of Keiths-
"burg newspapers have not been presen^ed, we are obliged to confess
our inability to give a full account of the publishing business. As
stated on a former page. Col. Patterson of the '"Oquawka Spectator"
introduced into his paper a Keithsburg department under the title of
"Observer." Tliis was begun October 16, 1850, and continued till the
spring of 1856, when he was persuaded by the very liberal and confident
promises of Mr. Keith and others to found the ''Keithsburg Observer."
He went to Kew York and purchased a press and office material at an
outlay of $1,300, and on April 23 issued the first number of his
paper. Some five hundred patrons were enrolled on the subscription
list — not more than half the number anticipated by the too sanguine
Ijromoters 'of the enterprise. Business men were liberal in advertising
jjatronage, and after a useful existence of over a year under Col. Pat-
terson, the pa})er, cleverly avoiding during that time partisan j)()litics
and religious dogmatisms, was sold by him to William li. Calhoon,
the last issue under the original proprietorship being August 15, 1857.
In the summer of 1S5S Calhoon changed the title of the paper to
^'Mercer County Democrat," and at the same time changed it from an
138 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
independent to a democratic sheet. He was a good printer but bad
financier, and tins transition was one ratlier of necessity than of in-
clination, for he was from this time simply the publisher while the
editorial columns were exclusively under the control of a committee.
The paper now ceased measurably (and during the political canvass of
that year, when the intellectual gladiators, "Honest Abe" and the
"Little Giant," went up and down the state discussing momentous
issues, absolutely), to be a medium for communicating local news and
discussing home topics, and was an organ only for disseminating the
doctrines of a party.
Sometime in 1859 the paper suspended, and on December 28 Mr.
Calhoon began the publication of the ' ' Northern Illinois Commer-
cial " apparently, if not really, for a company which had furnished
the funds for the establishment. This was short lived.
In June, 1860, "The Democratic Press" was started by Y. B. Shouf,
who continued the publication till he went to the army about the begin-
ning pf August 1861. The office was the property of the Hon. Thomas
B. Cabeen.
Xear the close of the year J. A, J. Birdsall and George D. B.
Birdsall came to Keithsburg, and in the tirst week in January, 1862,
revived the ' ' Observer " without resurrecting the partisan features
with which it went down. The former was the chief person, for we
hear no more of his brother. Bating a constitutional want of steadi-
ness and tenacity, Birdsall was above mediocrity in journalism, and
he gave the new publication not only life and zest by infusing the
spirit of his own energy and talent into it, but by his neutral course-
commanded the support of all classes, and his subscription list is said
to have reached 1,200, the largest ever obtained by any Keithsburg
paper. Unfortunately for his interests he was seized with the delu-
sive ambition for office and engaged with his paper on the side of the
democrats. For this service it is understood that he received his
subsequent but fruitless nomination for the legislature. This swap-
ping of a bird in the hand for two in the bush i-uined his business, and
he departed from the place poor. A. G. Lucas, a man of clerical
antecedents, now took the vacant place at the beginning of Septem-
ber, 1865, and the paper was under his management iintir the same
month next year, and during that time was run as a republican organ.
Col. Isaac McMjinus succeeded Lucas, and Ijiroughout the exciting
congressional campaign of that year it was edited with refreshing
spirit and logical power. McManus' energy no less than his industry
was unbounded, and whatever he did was done with fervent might.
From the knowledge this wi'iter had of his composition and character
KEITHSBURG TOWNSHIP. 130
he is not surprised to learn that liis cohnnns were stamped with tlie
rougli strength and active ability of his tireless brain. He was in
control only six months when he sold his paper to Tlieodore Glancey,
in whom there was a curious combination of youth and manhood, and
who published what was regarded as a \'eiy s}»rightly ])aper. In
March, 1870, he disposed of his office to an Iowa purchaser who
moved it away ; but early in September, 1871, he resumed the busi-
ness and issued the first number of the "West End Kerana," which
was afterward called simply ''Kerana." He soon associated Henry
Hurst wnth himself as })ai1:ner, but this not turning out to be a felici-
tous arrangement. Hurst parted with his interest to Edward Thomas.
In the spring of 1873 they sold the office and it was moved to other
parts.
Some allusion to Mr. Glancey's life and sad end cannot be omitted
in this place. He was a native of Mercer county and reared in Abing-
ton township, where the survivors of his father's family yet reside.
On the breaking out of the war he enlisted as a private in company
I, 17th 111. Vol., and served till the expiration of his three years'
term, and was mustered out as first lieutenant. Soon afterward, as
already observed, he engaged in the newspaper business ; and after its
final relinquishment in Keithsburg, went to California where, in March,
1874, he became managing editor of the "Placer Argus." In 1880, he
became editor-in-chief of the "Los Angeles Press," a republican organ,
and in September of that year Clarence Gray, alias Maginiss, a man
of dissolute reputation, republican candidate for district attorney, feel-
ing himself aggrieved at Glancey's strictures upon his character, foully
assassinated him when he was unarmed, without giving opportunity
for defense. He lived nineteen hours, at times in great sufll'ring, but
conscious to the last and full of courage. His last words just before
he expired were: "Tell my friends that I die like a man — die for
principle; and that I would not go back on it now if I could." He
was high-tempered, self-willed, pugnacious ; but earnest, courteous and
generous. Strong but honest in bias, he uttered his convictions with
great boldness. Whatever opinions were ever formed of his methods,
his sincerity was always unquestioned. He was a good speaker,
and as a wi-iter is said to have been one of the best on the country
press.
About the first of Aj^i-il, 1874, W. C. Brown started the "Keithsburg
Xews," but before the first year was up he sold to Taylor & Blackmail.
The latter died in Sei)tember, 1876, and the folLnving spring William
H. Heaton bought the office from the Hon. T. B. Cabeen and C. A.
Frick, and issued his first number May 17. This is a live paper.
140 HISTORY OF MERCER A^D HENDERSON COUNTIES.
abounding in reliable news, crisp and pungent paragraphs and edito-
rials, temperate and wholesome in their tone, and it receives from the
public solid support. It has been a greenback pa])er since Mr. Heatoii
became proprietor; and it is worthy of remark that he has been longer
in the publishing business in Keithsburg than any other man who has
attempted to conduct a paper in the place. Mr. Ileaton is an easy,
rapid, oif-hand writer who culls from the mass of daily hap})enings
with true journalistic care and judgment, and who brings to his aid in
the profession a thoroughly practical knowledge of men and aftairs. To
be racy and entertaining he does not believe it necessary to be a scav-
enger, nor to be always squinting at the immoral side of things which
he has the sagacity to see is relished only by a loose and depraved
sentiment. His taste is not in this direction, nor does it run toward
public criticism of private character. But to uphold the welfare of the
community according to his judgment, and to encourage and defend
all that is worthy, engages on his part the closest interest. To do this
work he does not want for spuit or independence. In May of this
year (1882) his paper was enlarged from a seven to an eight-column
sheet, which may be taken as evidence of its growing prosperity. He
is efficiently assisted by his wife, who is a fine specimen of healthful
womanhood and a lady of education and great good sense. Recently
he has associated her name with his own as co-editor.
Mr. Ileaton was born November 13, 1828, on a farm in Clark
county, Ohio, about ten miles east of Springfield. He was the second
son of a family of twelve children, six boys and six gu'ls. Of the boys
John Ileaton, of Red Bluft', California, and the subject of this notice are
the only ones now living. The daughters are all married and mothers
of children. AVilliam came with his father, James Heaton, to Illinois
in 1836. He was given a good English education ; he attended a high
school in Paris, Illinois, two years, and though he was the youngest
pupil enrolled he was too far advanced for the district school of that
day. He learned with facility but always preferred hard work to hard
study, which agreed better with his rather delicate constitution. He
labored on a farm, taught school in the winter, clerked in dry goods and
grocery stores ; but these were not congenial to his love of out-door
work, sport and exercise. In 1852, he and his father and brother
George engaged in farming and buying raw prairie land in Henderson
county. He broke prairie four years for himsel/ and his neighbors ; the
two last years he worked twenty-eight head, or fourteen yoke of oxen,
and used plows which cut a furrow thirty inches wide. In this way he
paid for and im})r()ved a half section of land. He was married February
17, 1803, to Miss Millecent E. Davis, of Abingdon, Knox county, and
daNie^l MOv/f(y.
KEITHSBURG TOWNSHIP. 143
lived on the tarin witli liis ycjuiig- wife five years. In 1868 he rented
his farm and moved to Abingd(jn, and for two years was engaged in
traveling for the Wier Plow Company, of Monmoutli. Getting tired
of being away from his family, he was persuaded to buy a newspaper
office, which he did in 1870, and started a democratic jtaper which he
called the "Ivnox County Democrat." With this enteri)rise he was very
successful, but at the end of six years sold the office at a large advance
on the cost of the same when new. He made arrangements to go to
his brother, who was then in Texas engaged on a large scale in tlie
stock business, and by wliom he was advised that it was not safe to
bring his chihh'en to that climate before the autumn season. He
heeded this advice, and while waiting in the north was allui-ed into ])ur-
chasing a half interest in the Hannibal, Missouri, " Clipper,''"' for which
he paid $3,000 down. In this office he spent most of his money in
trying to kee|) the business and his partner out of debt. In April,
1877, he and his wife visited his aged father and mother, at Keithsburg,
and while here was induced to purchase the "Keithsburg Xews," which
had been taken on a debt. He went fortlnvith to Hannibal and sold his
interest in the ".Clipper" office to his partner, taking ])romissorv notes
which he still holds. Under his management the "Xews" has been a
successful venture; not a dollar is owing on the office, and the papcjr
lias just been enlarged. Through the indefatigable energy of Mrs.
Heaton, they have purchased a small farm a mile northeast of the town,
on the Aledo road, and christened it "The Wilderness." Here they
live in domestic enjoyment with then* six happy, sprightly and intelli-
gent children, who read and work, and bless and enliven the lu^me
of their parents. It gives us pleasure to say that no ha])])ier house-
hold exists in all the land. Mrs. Heaton keeps her husband's books
and wi'ites most of his correspondence, and he holds that her help is
invaluable. In his judgment every newspaper man ought to maiTv an
intelligent wife and give her his entire confidence — a sentiment which
does honor to both head and heart of its author.
The "Keithsburg Times," an independent weekly, was established
by Eichard Wolfe and H. C. Cook, the first number being issued June
8, 1881. December 23d Mr. Cook withdrew, and the publication of
the paper was continued by Mr. Wolfe until its suspension, April 12,
1882. The latter, son of Washington and Rebecca (Marlott) Wolfe, is
a native of this county, was born in 1852, and reared a tiller of the soil.
His parents emigrated from Wayne county, Indiana, to Mercer county
subsequently to 1840. From 1801 to 1866 he lived in Keithsburg ; in
1872 he matriculated at Hedding College, where he was in attendance
144 HISTOKY OF MERCER AXD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
one year, and since that time he has taught school irregularly. In
1875 he began reading law in the office of B. C. Taliaferro and studied
tlie requu'ed time, but has never been admitted.
R. S. Scudder brought the "Keithsburg Independent" here in
March, 1880, and kept it alive about six months. It was printed by
the • • Burlington Hawkeye. "
SCHOOLS.
It was many years fi-om the fii'st settlement before any educational
progress had been made. Settlers were few, everything was in a rough
state, all improvements had to be supplied by slow and hard toil ;
ground broken up, timber felled, cabins built, fences made ; so that
rigid muscle was the fii'st demand, while little use was found for books,
and pictures, and teachers.
But the schoolmaster came at last, and his dominion has grown
more powei-ftil than church and more extensive than state. The begin-
nings were of the feeblest character. One term in a year was thought
to be a good achievement, and indeed it was for the frontier ; but who
would think of calling this the frontier as late as 1847 or 1848?
Fifteen years had elapsed since the Black Hawk war. Children had
passed the school age in that time. Does it not seem to our young
Iriends that it must have been a gloomy era ? We dare say that it was
not less joyous than the present. Wants were fewer then than now,
and the greater number of to-day are not more easily satisfied. Then
they were supplied without vexation, because they were mostly natural ;
but now they are gratified with sensible, if not painful, effort, for the
reason that they are largely artificial. Intellectual attainments cost
something ; physical power is the gift of natm*e. In the former time
hewers of wood and drawers of water were of the first station, eco-
nomically, for tliey accomplished that which was the chief necessity —
material development. Education was less valued when bone and
sinew held sway, but mind has taken the throne of power, and skilled
labor and intelligent machinery, to use a figure, have driven blind
force into the rayless gloom beneath the feet of the majority. Acquire-
ments which mean cost to the possessor, the world demands of him
with all ease. Hence the multiplication of wants and the shai'per
struggle.
At fii'st there was little public money, and schools were maintained
by subscription. In this township the school section, number 16, was
surveyed and classified with the swamp lands. It was but a fi'actional
tract, and the trustees made a selection on section 9, but did not get the
KEITlISBrRG TOWNSHIP. 145
*
quota to which the township was entitled. It was all timber land and
was sold in small lots vaiying in price from $2.60 to $10 per acre.
" Deli<:htful task ! to rear the tender thought,
To teach the youn<r idea how to shoot."
The first school in Keithsburg was taught in a log cabin on the lot
now occupied by C. S. Orth's house. Tliis was in the summer of 1846,
and Tliomas Libby was the teacher. Isaac Bliss taught next in 1847
in a vacant cabin in Robert Keith's dooryard. The third pedagogue
was John Heaton, who had a school in 1848 in a small frame house on
the site of Dennis Murto's residence. He taught also in 1849. Mrs.
Lucretia Freeman opened a small school in the summer of that year in
the brick building belonging to Mrs. Isaac McManus.
Tlie fii-st school-house was a brick structure built in 1849 on lot 3,
block 13, the site of the present Methodist parsonage. John C. Pepper,
who had just arrived, and was preparing for the bar, was employed to
teach. He filled three terms and yielded the post to Isaac N. Smith,
who was at the head of the school througli the following winter, and
was assisted by Mrs, Freeman. Harvey Senter was the principal from
the fall of 1851 to 1855. He was an instructor of excellent capabilities,
ingenious in resom-ce, practical in method, untiring in efi'ort. sharp in
discipline, and a splendid arithmetician. He died in Aledo a few years
ago. N. P. Brown took his place and taught the last term in the old.
school-house. This building had been erected by private subscription
on a lot donated to the public by Robert Keith so long as it should be
used for school purposes. Tlie donor deferred the conveyance till suit
was brought to compel such performance, but on his promise to execute
a deed the action was withdrawn ; still he failed to carry out the agree-
ment, and afterward sold the property to the Methodists.
The main part of the present building was erected, as near as we
can learn, in 1856, and was dedicated by Warren Shedd, who was.
i:)rincipal about two years. He served in the war of the rebellion as-
colonel of the 30th reg. 111. Vol. Inf His death in Montana occurred
in 1881. 'No records of this distant period can be found, and the
recollections of men fail at this point.
T. C. Swafibrd, of New Boston, a printer by trade, was principal in
the year 1862-3. He died in the profession at Oneida, Kjiox couiity^
in 1878. Isaac McManus taught about 1867. The princi})alship has.
been held by the following persons: William A. Wray, 1869-70;
John P. Chowning, 1870-71; C. W. Searies, 1871-2; w! H. Farris,
1872-3; E. H. Jamison, 1873-6; William A. Griflin, 1876-80; B. V.
Leonard, 1880-81 ; William A Willits, 1881-2. I. Cook Brisbin and
146 HISTOKY OF MERCER ^VXD IIEXDERSOX COUNTIES.
Pliili}) "Weaver were teachers of good re])utation in the lower (lei)art-
ments in the long ago, prior to the war. Rebecca Weaver and Josie L.
Calhoun taught several years in succession at a later perirxl. Of the
present teachers Miss J. Hannah Willits presides over the grannnar
department, and has been connected with the school as teacher nearly
twenty 3'ears. Miss Julia Willett is employed in the first intermediate,
Miss Marv Thomson in the second, Miss Alice Sheriff in the tliird. and
H. W. Kile in the primary. Mr. Kile commenced, in the school in
1865, and since 1870 has been continuously employed. He first began
teaching in Ohio in 1816. In the spring of 1850 he emigrated to this
town, and lias taught until the present time without intermission,
excepting three years when he was fighting the battles of his country.
The school-house is a strong, two-story brick edifice, with low
ceilings, but apartments that are models of neatness and taste. They
are all seated with patent furniture and heated with Snead's school
room heater and ventilator, and supplied with necessary charts and
apparatus of approved kinds. The main part is 30x56 feet on the
foundation, and the wing in the rear, built in 1875, is 26x36 feet in
dimension. The location is on block 7, second addition. This is the
best school building in Mercer county. Under its efficient manage-
ment for several years past the school has taken a rank inferior to no
other of similar grade an^-where.
In Keithsburg select schools .have flourished vrith no common
success, and their number has not been small. As far back as the
autumn of 1855 a Miss Mulky opened a female seminary in Apollo
Hall. Slie retired fi'om the work at the close of the spring term
of 1857. The Misses Todd immediately organized the Keithsljurg
Seminary, but it is not known how long it was continued. The sessions
were held in tlie Methodist church. The Rev. C. M. AVriglit started
the Mercer Female College in 1863, in the Orth liouse, subsequently
occupying the Masonic building. Late in 1861 the reverend educator
was commissioned chaplain of the 102d 111. reg., on the request of the
rank and file, and at once departed for his new field of labor. He was
very ably assisted by the Misses Mary AV. Evans and Emily J. AVliit-
lock, fi'om Pennsylvania, and probably by Miss Louisa B. Gass. The
first two ladies remained .in charge of tlie school after AVright's with-
drawal, and the institution was kept up about three years. J. S.
McMillan, another tutor of rare qualification, gave instruction tliere
immediately after, and Miss Gass kept select scliools in the same ])lace.
Mrs. Lou Kessel also taught several schools of the same class. Five or
six years ago W. P. Allen luid a business school in A])ollo Hall.
These do not comprise all, but are the principal ones. The veteran
kp:itiisburg township. 147
jKHlag'tiii'iie, Reziii W. Kilo, lias oi-^-tinizcd and tauijht iiunKTuus ''pay
sc'liools." These private schools have usually been well patronized.
Until recently this townshi]) was divided into but two districts. It
now contains three, and will likely remain without important chan<i;c
for a long time. District Xo. 2 extends from east to west across the
north part of the township and is two miles wide north and south.
No. 3 embraces sections 1-I-, 24, part of 23, including U})per Keiths-
burg, and all of 13, except the E. -J N. E. •^, which, with sections 25
and 3(3, is attached to Abington for school purposes. The rest of the
township constitutes No. 1, having Keithsburg in the center. District
No. 3 was formed from No. 1, after a long and determined contest.
The lirst effort for a division was nuide about eight years ago. A vote
had been taken on the question of authoiizing a bonded debt to enlarge
the school-house in Keithsburg, and w^as adversely decided. As soon,
as the movement for a division was begun the opportunity was seized
by those favoring the extension (which was seriously needed) to obtain
the necessary authority by election. As the law then stood a district
with a bonded debt could not be dismembered. Before the inhabitants
in the proposed district began the agitation, the want of more room in
the school building was not apparent to the majority. As soon as a
se})aration was seriously attem])ted it was instantly recognized wdtli
swee])ing unanimit}'. The debt was made and the addition built. The
matter slumbered some two years, then the petitioners revived it, on
the technical failure of the board of trustees to follow the exact re(]uire-
ments of the law concerning the registration of the bonds. The trustees
denied their prayer, and the subject was allowed to rest. In the mean-
time the law was changed so as to permit a division of bonded districts
and an apportionment of their liabilities. In ISSO the struggle was
renewed. Some additions to the number of pujjdls had been made in
the dissatisfied territory, and the bounds were now extended by the
petitioners, enlarging the proposed district. They went to work this
time with every advantage in their favor. The trustees again rejected
their claims. Tlie case went to the county superintendent on appeal.
The application was successful. But before proceedings could be taken
upon the order of the superintendent, an injunction was served upon the
trustees and treasurer, restraining them from any action in the premises
until the question should come before the circuit court of Mercer county
for review. Here the decision of the superintendent was sustained.
An appeal was next carried to the a])pellate C(jurt. sitting in Ottawa,
and on February 2S, ISSl, the judgment of the lower court was
attirmed. This victory w'as followed by the election of directors for the
new district on March 1!». These were II. S. Scott, David Pardee and
1-iS HISTORY OF MERCER AXD HEXDERSOX COUNTIES.
O. A. Wilson. The enumeration of scholars at this time was fifty-
seven. A school-house was straightway built at an exj^ense of $700.
RELIGION.
Preaching in Keithsburg was of irregular occurrence until near
1850. Several persons are mentioned as having held meetings before
that time, but it was individual rather than organized work that was
done. The Rev. Tail was probably the earliest Presbyterian, and the
Rev. Crittenden was another who visited this locality at a somewhat
later date. He was here in 1849, and very likely before and after.
Tlie Rev. Gregg, Universalist, held early meetings. Yarious Metho-
dist ministers came to lead the hearts of men, but the names of most of
them, no doubt, are lost. The Rev. Kirkpatrick is remembered, and
the local preachers, Thomas L. Doughty, of Xew Boston, and James
Ross, a United Brethren, of this township. Tlie last two are best
known, for they were a part of the people and their ministry covered
longer periods. Services took place wherever a room could be found
that would accommodate the small audiences. After 1845 AVillett's
warehouse was used ; in 1849 the old brick school-house was built, and
then resort was had to that ; and in 1851 the court-house was finished,
when that also was occupied for the same purpose.
The first Sunday school in Keithsburg, except one as early as 1844,
in the cooper shop on block 13, corner of Main and Seventh streets,
was started in August, 1849, and was founded and taught by John
Heaton and Mrs. Lucretia Freeman. About two dozen little boys and
girls were regular attendants. After thirty years' improvement in
Everything else, the editor of the "News" says "this was the best
behaved school we were ever in, and was a complete success." They
met from Sabbath to Sabbath on the lot where Dennis Murto's house
is situated. In the spring of 1850 another school was organized in
the brick school-house. Uncle John Kile was the superintendent, and
W. II. Heaton secretary. At that day Mrs. Thomas Iliatt was the
only Methodist living in the town, })ut a few months later the number
was advanced to two by the arrival of Col. George S. Pierce. Within
two miles of town were John Wilson, James Gibson, B. L. Hardin,
John Kile and John Eckley, all Methodists. These could not always
attend, so it became necessary to reorganize the school, and W. L.
Mathews was chosen superintendent, and B. C. Cabeen taught the
bible class. Of the ladies, Mrs. Mathews, Mrs. Freeman, and Mrs.
Hiatt were active workers. The young ladies were: Maggie and
Emma Ungles, Mary Jane Mount, Maria Heaton, INIarv Pie, and
three by the name of Williamson. The singing, which J. W.
KEITIISBURG TOWNSHIP. 149
Doughty led in splendid style, was excellent, and, according to testi-
mony, has not since been excelled in Keitlisburg. The present editor
of the ''News," writing of this school, says: "•Uncle John Kile did
the praying for the school when he was there. In his absence, the
superintendent or secretary read from the scriptures, and a hymn was
sung. "We had a committee on attendance, and if a scholar or teacher
was not in his or her place, next Sunday he or she was called on, and
a reason had to be given and reported for absence. . . . We will
remark that this school, for two years, was not under the auspices
■of any church, yet it embraced about all the children in the town."
The first circuit preaching was begun in the autumn of 1S4J) by
the Rev. Pierce T. Rhodes, who was on the New Boston circuit and
lield meetings every two weeks. He was a man of too much business
energy and capacity .to fail to work up an interest favorable to the
building of a meeting-house, and therefore we find that in the fall of
1851 a brick church was erected on the northwest corner of block 13,
original i)lat, at a cost of some $1,600. It was not entirely finished
and plastered till 1853. The Rev. Chandler, of Peoria, conducted the
dedicatorial services. The Rev. C. M. AYright came shortly after, and
superseded Rhodes. From this time to 1860 the history of the
church is a blank. In that year Keithsburg, which had heretofore
belonged to the New Boston circuit, was erected into a separate one.
Mr. B. L. Ilardin furnishes a list of pastors from 1860, and we use it
as it comes to our hands, although it does not complete the period by
one year: Job Mills, two years; Steward, two years; 0. M.
Wright, one year; J. L. Phares, one year; Stafford, one year;
O. W. Brown, one year ; J. Winser, one year ; S. Brink, three years ;
A. R. Morgan, two years ; L. B. Dennis, one year ; J. Smith, two
years ; Richard Haney, one year ; G. W. Martin, one year ; C. B.
Couch, one year ; and the present minister, II. S. Humes, who came
"upon this charge in the conference year 1881-2.
About 1856 the society i)urchased from Robert Keith the old brick
school-house; the walls they partly tore d(^wn and ivbuilt for a
parsonage on the original foundation.
The Rev. Stephen Brink conducted a great re%'ival in 1S71 and
added over one hundred to the membership. He was a very popular
preacher and successful revivalist, and taking the movement in the
<;hurcli at its highest tide led the society at once into building their
present imposing edifice. Tliis was done in the year 1872. The site
was purchased from Bennett Hurst for $1,30<» and the old chui-ch was
taken by him in i)ayment of ^100. John McH. Wilson, B. L. Hardin,
Dr. C. S. Ilollingswortli, ZMerrick A. Weaver and William (4ayle were
150 HISTORY OF jVIEKCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
the building committee. The entire cost' was $10,000. Chaplain
McCabe dedicated it on the 29th of October, and on this occasion
$3,715 were subscribed. Over $550 were never collected; a loan of
$300 had been obtained fi'om the chnrch extension fimd ; these
amounts with interest brouglit the society in time into debt for $1,300.
A new subscription was raised in 1880 and this was paid off. The
church is a two-stoiy ft-ame 38 X 60 feet on the ground. Tliere are 140
members em'olled, and the condition of the society is good. The
Sabbath school, with H. L. Long as superintendent almost consecu-
tively for twelve years, has an average of over 100 scholars. Some of
the oldest and most active members have been John McH. Wilson,
John j^evius and B. L. Hardin. The tw^o first have gone to try the
reality of the faith they professed.
The fu'st Presbvterian minister who settled and lived in Keiths-
burg was the Rev. Smith. This was before the church was linished.
A number of persons of this faith having their membership in the
Pope Ci'eek church in Ohio Grove township, in 1854 enclosed the house
they now own, but were not able to hnish it for use until three years
afterward. May 2, 1857, the present societ)' was organized with
tvventy-eiiiiit members, and was named the ''First Presbyterian Church
of Keithsburg." Joseph P. Wycoif and Paul Sheriif were elected
ruling elders, and Dr. I. N. Anderson deacon. Two days after, Paul
Sheriif, A. B. Sheriif and Harvey Senter were chosen trustees. The
Rev. E. K. Lynn was the first to supply the church after the organiza-
tion ; he preached half the time for one year. The Rev. Samuel Hart
commenced his labors in the spring of 1858 and ministered to the
church till September 2, 1862. During this period twenty-six members
were added. The Rev. H. Hanson came as stated supply November
2d, and ended his pastorate ten years aftei-ward, ISTovember 1,"1872.
The church was increased during this time by the reception of eighty-
four members. From the last date until October 15, 1873, only occa-
sional supplies filled the pulpit, but at this time the Rev. John L.
Martyn commenced his ministrations as regular pastor. He was
superseded October 15, 1876, by the Rev.* J. E. Williamson. The
latter gave place, October 16, 1879, to the Rev. Thomas Hicklin, who
remained one year. There was no stated supply again until the pres-
ent occupant of the pulj^it, the Rev. R. IL Fulton, connnenced his
labors in September, 1881. In December, 1859, Philip Gore was
elected deacon. November 30, 1862, Dr. I. N. Anderson was elected,
ordained and installed a ruling elder. He was removed by death
January 22, 1863. Dr. Samuel Kelly was elected ruling elder March
13, 1869, and ordained next dav. Calvin S. Orth and W. S. Home
KEITHSBURG TOAVNSHIP. 151
were elected and ordained deacons on tlie same days. George S. Wolf
was elected a ruling elder December 16, 1876, and was installed next
day, the usual form of ordination being dispensed with as unnecessary
for the reason that he had been an elder in the Reformed church. In
1866 an American church organ was placed in the church ; in the
winter of 1S67-S a new bell was hung in the steeple ; October 25,
1871, the society paid $100 for five Gothic chairs and a marble-top
communion table; March 15, 1872, a new communion service was
purchased at an e::^pense of $65 ; and in 1875 the church was reno-
vated at an outlay of $1,000. The building is 36x51 feet, built of
brick, graceful without and tasteful within, where it is cheery and
agreeable, without any of that air of the dungeon so common in
houses of this description. The number of members is foity-five.
An organized Sunday school is maintained.
St. Mary's Catholic church comprises in its membership not fewer
than fifty families. Mass was celebrated in this place over thirty years
ago, but the people had no regular pastor until Father Lorimer, of
Monmouth, established stated ser\^ces in 1865. He continued in
charge of the parisli until the Rev. R. P. O^Xeill came in 1867. Under
the pastorate of the latter funds were raised, and in 1869 a house of
worship was enclosed and subsequently finished. The Rev. Bowles
came next after Father O'Xeill and remained until 1872, and was suc-
ceeded by Father Ilalpin, who was followed in 1875 by Father
O'Farrell. The first priest to settle in the parish was the Rev. Weldon,
who arrived in 1877, and in October began the erection of the parson-
age. This stands on Thirteenth street, adjoining the church, and was
finished the following spring and fornished at a total cost of $2,000.
The Rev. C. F. O'Neill took charge of this society in 1879 and was
replaced the same year by the Rev. William McKenna, who ministered
until early in 1882, when the Rev. B. H. Corley took his place. The
church is situated in the southeast part of the town, in Sherifi^s addi-
tion, on land one-half of which was donated by T. B. Cabeen. It is
cruciform, 24x72 feet in the main part, with a transept 24X56, and
was built at a cost of about $6,000. This property is vested in the
bishop of the diocese, according to the custom and laws of this church.
In the early history of the society services were held in the old court-
house and at the residence of Dennis Murto.
The Rev. Bernard II. Corley, present pastor, was born in Provi-
dence, Rhode Island, March 11, 1.S55, and is the son of Michael and
Elizabeth (McCaron) Corley. llis father is a mixer of colors used in
printing calicoes, and resides in Providence, where the mother of
Father Corley died March 4, 1882. He was educated at the Jesuit
152 HISTORY OF MERCER AJS'D HENDERSON COUNTIES.
college of St. Mary at Montreal, and at the Ottawa University, of
•Canada, and finished his studies at the latter institution. His ordina-
tion took place at Peoria, Illinois, in June, 1879, and he at once
became assistant pastor at Bloomington, where he remained one year.
He was next called to the pastorate of Lewiston, from whence he went
to Monmouth as assistant, and in the present year was settled over this
parish.
The United Brethren society in Keithsburg, now dissolved, was
formed in the winter of 1849-50. and was the first oi" this denomination
in the county. The original members were St. Clair Ross and wife,
James Goldsberry and wife, a Mr. Mapes and wife, and a few others.
The pastors were : J. L. Condon, 1819-51 ; O. F. Smith, 1851-3 ; B.
Wagner, 1853-4; P. ^Y. Knowles, 1851-6; G. W. Keller, 1856-7;
Pvev^ Weaver, 1857-8 ; D. F. Bear, 1858-9 ; J. W. C. Toll and P.
Watts, 1859-60 ; D. Stanley, 1860-62 ; J. B. Speaks, 1862-3 ; St. Clair
Eoss, 1863-5; Pvev. Bugby, 1865-6; E. Godfrey, 1866-7; B. Wag-
ner, 1867-9 ; O. F. Smith, from 1869 to the spring of 1872, A. Shes-
ler finishing the conference year; B. Wagner. 1872—1; A. G. Smith,
1871-5; S. P. Davis and A. A. Wolf, 1875-6; Z. Pease, 1876-8;
Percival Spurlock, 1878-9 ; O. O. Smith, 1879-81 ; and A. Worman,
the present pastor on the charge, who occasionally preaches to the few
unorganized members of the old society. About 1857 the erection of
a church was begun, but the house was not completed until four years
.afl;erward. It is a low brick. 36x50 feet, now beginning to show
signs of decay.
A Christian society was organized here about 1856, but traveling
preachers of this denomination stopped here and held services, begin-
ning some years earlier. The Rev. Davidson, of Monmouth, was the
main dependence of these people at first. Others well remembered
"were the Shortridges, Revs. Wallace, Moses B. Warren and W. B.
Fisk. The latter was here three or four years, and it was in his pas-
torate that the unused church standing in the east part of the town was
built. This was done in 1866. The Rev. J. B. Royal occujiied the
pulpit about ten years ago.
FARMERS' BANK.
This institution began business in Keithsburg in April. 1871, as the
Farmers' National Bank, with a capital of §50,000, and was the second
"bank ever organized in fiercer county, and the only one under the
national banking act. Tlie stockholders are William Drury, F. P.
Burgett, T. B. Cabeen, R. J. Cabeen, John Seaton, Hiram Burgett,
3. P. Frick, Thomas S. Flack, C. S. Orth, Mrs. Julia H. Frick, and
KEmiSIJUEG TOWNSHIP. 153
Mrs. Yashti Driiry- William Driirv, one of the wealthiest and most
valued citizens of Mercer county, has been president from the begin-
ning, and Hon. Thomas B. Cabeen, of Keithsburg, vice-]>resident.
C. S. Orth was the first cashier. In 1874 the capital was doubled, -and
the same year Mr. Orth resigned and was succeeded by F. P. Burgett,
who had been connected with the bank from the first opening, as
assistant cashier. On January 1. IS'^O, the charter was surrendered,
and the bank became a private corporation. It passed through the
crisis of 1873 without shock, and its integrity and reputation rest upon
a firm basis.
Mr. Cabeen is of Irish lineage. His grandfather, Thomas Cabeen,
had seven sons and two daughters bom and reared in Ireland, and who
emigrated to this country at different times, and settled in various
localities. His father, Samuel Cabeen, crossed the Atlantic in 1808
and had his home first in Pennsylvania, where he married Miss Eliza-
beth P. "Wright. In 1815 he removed to Muskingum countv, Ohio.
In 1836 these parents with their five sons, Thomas, Joshua, Samuel,
Pobert, and Pichard, removed to Mercer county and improved a home
in Oliio Grove township. The father died at his residence, May 1,
1856, when sixty-eight years of age. He was a man of good talents
and natural Irish wit and versatility ; his conversation was intelligent
and sparkling and always enlivened with appropriate quotations fi-om
his favorite poet Bums. Mr. Thomas B. Cabeen was bora December
15, 1815 ; he learned the carpenter's trade, and for the fii'st dozen years
that he lived in Mercer county was employed at that useful occupation.
In conjunction with Abram B. Sherift' he built the first fi-ame house
south of Pope creek; in 1845 he did some of the first cai-penter w^rk
in Keithsburg, and the next year the joiner work on the first brick
house in the place, which was owned by Robert Keith. He and Mr.
Sherift" built under contract the first court-house in Mercer county,
for wliich they received about Sl.-lOO. It was begun March 6,
1839, and was •finished the same vear. This was situated at Millers-
burg: a two-story frame, still standing. During the time that Mr.
Cabeen was chifiy engaged at his trade he also improved a farm of 160
acres in Ohio Grove to\^Tiship. He settled in Keithsburg in 1845, and
from 1847 to 1848 he was a clerk for the firm of X-oble & Gavle ; in
the latter year he gave up his position with that firm to accept the oftice
of clerk of the circuit court, wliich he filled ^vith satisfaction until 1856.
In 1862 he was elected by the democrats to the lower house of the
general assembly to represent the counties of Mercer and Henderson.
For over thirty years Mr. Cabeen has been a ]>rominent business man
of his countv, and has been most of that time largelv interested in real
154 HISTORY OF MEKCER A^S'D HEXDEESON COUNTIES.
estate transactions. He owns 2,000 acres of valuable land besides a.
large amount of town property. He celebrated liis nuptials with Miss-
Lucy, daughter of William and Sarah (McHerron) Wilson, on June
26, 1849. She was a native of Danville, Pennsylvania; and her
father's family removed to Mercer county about 1837. Mr. Cabeen's
children have been: AVilliam S., Sarah E., and Boyd "W. The last
died in infancy. AVilliam was married in 1881 to Miss Lou Dempster,
and Sarah is now the wife of Thomas A. Marshall. Mr. Cabeen's
mother died December 6, 1874, ripe in years.
Mr. Frederick P. Burgett, cashier, was born in Hartland, Windsor
county, Vermont, April 24, 1839, and is the oldest child of Hiram and
Charlotte (Willard) Burgett. In 1851 he emigrated with his parents
to Ellisville, Fulton county, Illinois, and lived there till 1859; in that
year he went to JSTashville, Tennessee, and remained there till 1864,
clerking in the principal hotels. In 1867 he came to Keithsburg and
at once engaged in selling dry goods ; after two years he changed to
lumber and was in that business the same length of time ; then in 1871
he assisted in organizing the Farmers' National Bank and became
assistant cashier. Since 1875 Mr. Burgett has owned a well improved
farm of 800 acres ten miles southeast of Keithsburg, mostly in pasture
^ and meadow, and devoted to stock-raising. He regards ample and
comfortable shelter as indispensable to the profitable rearing of
domestic animals, and purposes to improve his place with barns and
sheds to furnish sufficient housing for all the stock that his large farm
can support. He is introducing improved sti*ains of blood into his
cattle ; and as a favorite scheme of breeding he is giving special atten-
tion to rearing a distinctive type of horses which shall combine the
qualities of roadster and draft horse and produce a class useful, and
even superior, for all purposes. Mr. Burgett is a Mason and a repub-
lican. In 1880 he was a delegate to the republican state convention
at Springheld, and was elected a delegate under the unit rule to the
republican national convention at Chicago ; but he and his associate
appointees were not seated by the latter body. December 20, 1867,
he was married to Miss Mary J., daughter of the late B. D. Ellett, Esq.
Her father was an early settler in Mercer county, having begun a home
in New Boston township in 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Burgett have four
children : Grace, Bessie, Louis ()., and Kate.
Mr. Cornelius O'Leary, book-keeper and assistant cashier, was born
in the city of Cork, Ireland, March 25, 1826. In 1848 he emigrated
to this country, arriving in New York on the 19th of June. He came
directly to Wisconsin and became employed in the pineries, transacting;
business principally for Francis I>iron of Grand Rapids, Wisconsin^.
KEITHSBURG TO^V^'SHIP. 155
until 1S5S, in which year hu arrived at Keithsburg with a rati: of
lumber. Having disposed of that he associated himself '^'ith B. D.
Ellett in the lumber trade ; and excepting the time that he was absent
in the army, he was in company with Mr. Ellett until 1869. Imme-
diately on the first call of President Lincoln for troops, in April, 1861,
he enlisted in company I. 17th reg. 111. Yol., and was appointed first
sergeant. He fought' at Fredericktown, Missouri, at Fort Donelson,
and at Shiloh, and in the last engagement commanded his company ;
he was in the siege of Corinth, and after that returned with his regi-
ment to Bolivar, Tennessee, where he was discharged October 29,
1862. In 1869 he built a store and a residence in Keithsburg, and
was in the grocery trade a year; ft-om 1871 to 1876 he made several
changes in business : was first manufacturing plows with W. C.
Taliaferro, then wagons with H. Campbell ; a part of the time was in
Wisconsin, and the last year and a half was running a steamer on the
Missouri river. In May, 1876, he came into the Farmers' Bank as
hook-keeper and assistant cashier, and has been steadily engaged in
this position since November, 1880. He was united in marriage with
Miss Roxanna De Haven April 29, 1869, and by this union three
children have been born : Margaret, Arthur, and Eichard. !Mr.
O'Leary has been town trustee three terms, and is now treasurer.
ORGANIZATIONS.
Robert Burns Lodge, Xo. 113, A.F.AM., was organized mider dis-
pensation in 1850, and the first meeting was held on the 19th of No-
vember. Tliomas Freeman, was master ; A. C. Adams, senior warden ;
W. J. Ungles, junior warden : James Gibson, senior deacon ; Wyman
Parker, Daniel Winslow and Hiram Mills, from Kew Boston, completed
the organization. Petitions were received from I. X. Anderson. H. (i.
Calhoun, R. C, Cabeen, and Truman Lord. The charter was issued
October 7, 1851, to Thomas Freeman, Alexander C. Adams. AVilford
J. Ungles, and James Gibson. The lodge was constituted under the
charter Xovember 21-, bv Gov. William McMurtrv, of Henderson,
deputy grand master. In 1855 a two-story brick building, 20x50 feet,
was erected by the lodge on Washington street at a cost of $1,9()0.
The contractors and builders were John Dunn and Jahalon Tvler.
The hall, which is-neatlv fimiished and decorated with emblematic
charts, is one of the best in Mercer county. Communications are on
Friday nights on or before the full moon of each month. The officers
for the current vear (1882) are R. C. Humbert, W.M.; Ira Jay, S.W.;
H. Pratt. J.AV.- W. H. Phares, T.-. A. F. Glover, S. ; Samuel Kelly,
>C.; E. J. Glancv, S.D.; ^\. B. Phillips, J.D.; J. J. Hawkins, S.S.;
156 HISTORY OF IVrERCEB AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
W. H. Heaton, J.S.; Wm. P. Strong, M.; Ben. Lloyd, T. Tlie lodge-
has enjoyed a liealtliy growth and useful and prosperous existence.
The number of members at present is 44.
Illinois Chapter ]S"o. 17, A.F.A.M., was chartered in 18.54, Robert.
Keith, Thomas D. Cabeen, and R. Cyrus Cabeen being granted powers
to organize. The first meeting took place August 9, 1853, and the
chapter was instituted by Harmon G. Re\Tiolds, acting as grand high
priest. A steady career of ]jrosperity marks the whole history of this
organization. Meetings are held on Wednesday night before the full
moon of each month in the Masonic building. This chapter owns a
one-third interest in that property. Present officers : C. A. Mertz,
H.P.; T. II. Freeman, K.; J. J. Hawkins, S.; A. F. Glover, S.
W. H. Phares, T.; R. C. Humbert, C.H.; H. G. Calhonn, P.S.
T. B. Cabeen, R.A.C.; L. L. Mertz, M.T.Y.; C. A. Frick, M.S.V.
W. Hadley, M.F.V. ; Benjamin Lloyd, T. An efficient working
membership of 37.
Mercer Lodge, No. 210, LO.O.F., was instituted July 29, 1856, by
W. B. Linel under dispensation issued by P. A. Armstrong, grand
master. The first elective officers were M. J. CBrien, N.G. ;
L. W. Thompson, Y.G.; J. Scott Pinkerton, R.S.; J. N. Shoe-
maker, P. S. ; Thomas Stephenson, T. When the organization took
place applications for membership:) were received from William M.
Glover, John Weidner, Erastus Thompson, and O. C. Richardson ; aU
these were favorably rej^orted upon and elected, and the first two
were initiated at this meeting. . October 17, 1856, a charter was.
granted to M. J. O'Brien, Thomas Stephenson, M. P. Rippy,
L. W. Thompson, J. S. Pinkerton, J. N. Shoemaker, and Ferdinand
Davis. The number of initiates is 201, and 44 have been admitted
by card, making a total of 245, including a present membership of
6S. The amount paid out for charity is $1,136. Meetings of the
lodge are on Tuesday evenings at their pleasant and well-furnished
hall on Main street. This building was purchased about 1871 for
$1,000, and rebuilt in 1873 at a cost of $700. The present officers
are W. A. Willard, KG.; Lemon Dewitt, V.G.; P. Q. Nestle, Sec;
Thomas Souster, Treas. H. H. Pratt is the representative to the
grand lodge.
Mercer Encampment No. 89, composed at present of 22 contributing
members, was instituted by J. Ward Ellis, past grand master, of
Chicago, April 26, 1875. The first officers were T. S. Cummins, C.P. ;
W. II. Phares, H.P.; G. W. Whiting, S.W.; Paul Q. Nestle, J.W.^
J. H. T. Madden, Scribe; Edward Rathburn, Treas. A charter was
issued to this encampment October 10, 1876, and the following brethren
KEITHSBURG TOWNSHIP. 157
are named in it: T. S. Cummins, W. II. Pliares, G. W. "Wliiting,
J. H. T. Madden, Paul Q. Nestle, E. Ratliburn, G. W. Ditto,
D. M. Halsted, M. G. Rice, C. S. Frick, H. Stancer, G. K. Beard,
Jacob Abrahams, Joseph Venable, Fred. Nagle, T. J. JVIoffatt. The
last nine of these were the earliest initiates, and were admitted at the
first meeting. Present officers: T. S. Cummins, C.P. ; John Ilel-
wig; H.P.; J. S. Allen, S.W.; T. A. Marshall, J.W.; II. H. Pratt,
Scribe : AY. II. Pliares, Treas. Both lodge and encampment are in a.
highly satisfactory condition.
Mary Burns Chapter, No. 24, Order of the Eastern Star, was organ-
ized by D. AV. Thompson, and chartered July 31, 1872, with 30 mem-
bers. Mrs. Pose A. Cumby was Worthy Matron ; W. P. Strong,
Worthy Patron ; and F. B. Stout, Secretary. C. A. Mertz represented
the chapter in the convention held in Chicago November 6, 1875, tcv
institute a grand chapter of the order for Illinois, and he was elected
deputy grand patron of the organization. The grand chapter having
been formed, Mary Burns Chapter surrendered its original charter,
number 118, and accepted the one under which it is now working.
The organization has a healthy membership of nearly 60 persons, and
holds its regular meetings in Masonic hall on every Thursday evening
before the full moon. The present elective officers are C. A. Mertz,
W.P.; Mrs. A. B. Mertz, W.M.; Mrs. Lillie Glancy, A.M.; Miss Sue
Calhoun, C. ; Miss Hattie Jay, A.C. ; Mrs. Millecent Heaton, S.,
Miss Agnes Jay, T.
The Keithsburg Thespian Club, a dramatic association, was organ-
ized January 10, 1863, and has been in existence until the present
time, though of late years it has not been before the public with
regular performances. It has always been composed of some of the
most respectable ladies and gentlemen of Keithsburg, and has given
numerous entertainments abroad, consisting of both comedy and
tragedy. The first president, or manager, was G. F. Gurley ; Will-
iam H. Ungles was secretary at the same time, and C. S. Orth,
treasurer. Besides these officers, the earlier members were : G. W.
Whiting, M. J. O'Brien, C. O'Leary, J. O. Butler, C. C. Matlock,
W. D. Smith and G. F. Parsons. The first ladies connected with the
club were: Mrs. R. C. Cabeen, Mrs. Matlock, and the Misses Famiy
M. Sheriff, Mary J. Holland, Rebecca Frick and Ivittie Ellett.
Among those who came into the organization afterward were:
J. B. Holland, Joshua Willits, R. C. Humbert, Henry Mellinger,
G. K. Beard, T. S. Cummins, F. P. Burgett, Dr. A. P. Willits, Mrs.
J. O. Butler, Misses Emma AVillits and Emma Swezey, C. A. Frick,
158 HISTORY OF IVIEKCER AJSTD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
S. H. Meyer, Theodore Glancy, N. H. Manner, E. J. Goodlander,
J. H. T. Madden, J. W. McCrary, W. W. Souster.
After becoming thoroiiglilv organized, this troupe secured the assist-
ance of four of the most popuhxr professionals on the boards. Melissa
Breslau, Old Breslau, and Montgomery and Johnson made their resi-
dence here two years and took the tragic parts in the plays. The tovra
trustees granted the use of the old court-house to this company with
permission to fit it up to suit their purpose, and the building has ever
since been used for an opera house, and now goes by that name. It is
proper to add that this house was purchased of the county several years
ago for the sum of $500.
The Keithsburg Reading and Conversational Club, having a mem-
bership of forty, young and old, was formed Dec. 4, 1S80, with a
general view to social improvement, but for the particular object of
studying the lives and characters of noted authors, and of becoming
familiar with their writings. This end is sought to be accomplished by
assigning a selected author to one or two persons who come to the next
meeting with papers embodjdng their study of the subject, while others,
also appointed, read selections from the same author's works. Weekly
meetings take place at the private residences of members, and the club
is under the government of a set of officers elected in pursuance of its
constitution and by-laws. Mrs. Yisa Griffin and Miss Marie Hebbard
were respectivel}^ the first president and secretary. The officers are
chosen bi-monthly. The club has a free library of 120 volumes.
The Keithsburg Silver Band and Musical Association was chartered
under the law of the state June 3, 1880, by Karl A. Range, G. C.
Humbert, T. A. Marshall, II. P. Humbert, W. F. Kolkenbeck, Edward
Ott and B. L. McKnight. W. B. Ellet, E. E. Humbert, W. S. Cabeen,
Elmer Deterline, Fred Ellet, Louis Range, Charles Helwig, Robert
Jackson and H. C. Cook complete the present membership. The first
officers were George Beard, president ; W. S. Cabeen, vice-president ;
G. C. Humbert, secretary; Dennis Merto, treasurer; and T. A. Mar-
shall, contracting agent. Present officers : Edward Ott, ])resident ;
W. S. Cabeen, vice-president ; K. A. Range, secretary ; II. P. Humbert,
treasurer ; and T. A. Marshall, agent. This is one of the best instructed
and most popular bands in this part of the west, and was engaged to
accompany the Jim City on her first trip between St. Louis and St. Paul.
It embraces a full orchestra.
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union, auxilliary to the organ-
ization of this name for the State of Illinois, was organized by the ladies
of Keithsburg, January 31, 1880, under a call issued by Mrs. Kirkpat-
rick, president of the imion for the tenth congressional district. Mrs.
^
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t:Vj
\
1 s:
^
QP(^-7^n^<^<JLyi ^(2yiLuh^
KKITIISBURG TOWNSHIP. 161
M. E. Slocnmb was the first president. The union is in a flourisliing
condition, and is composed of sixty of the most earnest, active, zealous
women of Keithsburg and vicinity. Temperance organizations of
various kinds have been establislied here from the time the town has
had a business history, and eacli lias lived the life of the awakened im-
pulse which brought it forth. We cannot undertake an account of
them, for the data are not accessible; nor would it be desirable, as this
class of organizations go and come like the seasons, and are but the
effects of a principle or power as fixed and sure as that which called the
light day and the darkness night. It is enough to know that there has
always existed in Keithsburg a strong, unwavering public sentiment in
favor of improved social customs, and that every effort in this direction
has been ennobled with the labors of good men and the chastening exer-
tions of not less devoted and noble women. In the month of jNIarch,
this year (1882), the professional temperance lecturers Ward and
Hughes held a revival of one week and formed a red ribbon and a
I)lue ribbon club, the two embracing several hundred members.
An event, the result of a movement started by the W. C. T. Union
occurred in the spring of 1880, which is noted less for its local signifi-
cance than the wide attention it attracted at the time. On the petition
of over 300 men and women, the town board, in February, passed an
ordinance permitting men twenty-one years of age and women eighteen
years of age, having qualifications of residence, to vote for or against
licensing the sale of intoxicating liquors, at the election for municipal
■officers on the fifth of April following, and annually thereafter. A
separate ballot-box and election board had necessarily to be provided,
and the ordinance made it mandatory on the board of trustees to
appoint three persons to receive and canvass the votes, two of whom
should act as judges and one as clerk. When the day came a number
of female celebrities in the suffrage and temperance reform had gath-
ered from distant parts of the country to assist the fair contestants to
touch off' what Miss Frances E. Willard had christened "the Sumter
Gun." The work of preparation began on Saturday afternoon, when the
first meeting was held in the Presbyterian church. A mass meeting
followed in the evening. On the Sabbath very solemn services took
place at the churches, and the strangers from abroad were conspicuous
in all the public exercises. Early on the morning of election day the
women assembled for religious worship, after which a procession of
forty-seven, headed by Mrs. E. G. Ilibben, of Peoria, president of the
W. C. T. Union of Illinois, marched to the polls. Committees of
women were on the street throughout the day laboring with active and
effective zeal in the christian cause, under tlie incitement of a grave
10
162 HISTORY OF ifERCER XSD HKXDERSON COUNTIES.
preparation and the first ilush of gratitude for their enlarged privileges.
Twice in the day the band, with brazen horns, paraded Main street,
discoursing awakening strains. Boys trooped in advance carrWng-
banners with the legends, "Bad luck to whisky," "Down with license,"
etc. Xo opposition was made, and the poll stood 159 women and 98
men against license. A solitary man voted by mistake for license.
The same thing was repeated the next year, but with less demonstra-
tion, and this time a license board was elected, when on the eighth of
April the famous home protection ordinance, which had excited the live-
liest interest and comment, and had brought letters of inquiry and
gratulation from all" parts of the United States and from Europe,
was rescinded.
The Keithsburg Building and Loan Association was organized early
in. the present year (1882), by some of the leading citizens of the town,
who were licensed on the sixth of February, by the secretary of state,
to open books for subscriptions to the capital stock. The object
aimed at is to assist members to procure and improve real estate.
T. B. Cabeen is the president, and T. S. Cummins, secretary.
Green Mound Cemetery lies one mile east of Keithsburg, on
ground donated by Paul Sheriff, in 1852, and laid out the same year.
Some handsome monuments have been erected, but the enclosure has
fallen into a state of sad neglect.
TRAGEDIES.
Reuben Williams, being assailed by James Fierman, in his defense
killed him by accidentally breaking his neck. The men were shelling
corn for William Gayle when the difficulty occurred. This was in the
summer of 1851. Williams was forthwith arraigned at the September
term of the circuit court, pleaded guilty to the indictment charging
him with manslaughter, and was sentenced to the penitentiary for
nine months, one day's solitary confinement and the remainder of the
time at hard labor.
Mrs. Ungles, the aged mother of W. J. Tingles, was suffocated in
her bed by the clothing taking fire from the stove. This occurred
about 1855.
In 1858 William, son of James C. Stevens, was di'owned at the
foot of Mapes' island. lie was eleven years old.
A little daughter of G. L. Dunn fell into a tub of hot water and
was so badly scalded that she died after six days, April 22, 1859.
Her age was four years.
Francis Marion Gruwell was killed November 9, 1859, by the
bursting of a cannon while firing a salute over election news, the
KEITHSBURG TOWNSHIP. 163
particular tlieme of rejoicing being the success of AVarren Sliedd,
republican candidate for county clerk.
Catharine, wife of James Geiger, and her infant child perished
from a foolish attempt to fill a fluid lamp while burning. This was
on September 1, 1860. Mrs. Geiger lived six hours in terrible
suffering.
In the summer of 1860 Columbus Caufield shot and killed Jake
Price in self-defense. Caufield was fully exonerated by the coroner's
jury. At another time he killed a man in New Boston township and
departed the country and has not since been seen.
Two years later Nathan Shockley, a Missouri secessionist and des-
perado, stabbed and killed North Fleming. Political malignity was
the moving cause, though a trumped-up subterfuge was assigned and
so efi'ectively used as to secure the murderer's acquittal. He was
afterward fatally cut to pieces in Missouri by a butcher whom he was
on the point of shooting down in cold blood.
On the third of November, 1864, Alexander Holland was thrown
from his buggy by a runaway horse at the corner of Main and Second
streets, and died in a few hours from his injuries.
A little nine-year old daughter of Joseph Wadsworth's caught her
clothes on fire from the stove while the rest of the family w^ere out,
and was so burned that she died in a few hours. This was in the
autumn of 1864.
Hannah Jane Frazier, the handsone and intelligent daughter ot
Andrew Frazier, lost her life in 1868 by the imprudent use of kero-
sene in kindling a fire. Her body was horribly burned and she lived
only a few hours, but in excruciating agony and conscious to the last.
She was about sixteen years of age and had a disposition of great
sweetness.
Francis Johnson, son of John Johnson, was drowned in the river
about 1869.
The most considerable fire which ever took place in this town was
on the night of July 4, 1870, and broke out in the livery stable
belonging to H. N. Ives and situated on the west side of Fourth
street, between Main and Jackson. The Nelson House adjoining was
burned, as were also Mrs. Emily Wade's and Joseph Thompson's
dwellings, and O. Holland's corn house. The total loss, after deduct-
ing $5,500 of insurance, was $13,000. The distressing feature of this
sad misfortune was the loss of the two young boys, Frank Ives and
Willie Dempster, who perished in the flames while sleeping in the
livery stable. These lads were about fourteen years old. They
164: HISTORY OF MERCER AND HEXDERSOX COUXTIES.
suffocated, it is thought, before the fire reached their couch. Their
cliarred bodies were removed and the burial took place from the
Methodist church where most solemn and impressive funeral services
were performed. The fire is believed to have been incendiarv.
John T. Calhoun was drowned in the river at the foot of Main
street, on Sunday morning. May 12, 1872. He and his wife were in
a skiff which was capsized by the current. She was insensible when
rescued but recovered.
George H. Frick was killed by a bursting cannon when celebrating
election news on Wednesday, Xovember 6, 1872.
AVillie Pliares, son of W, H. Phares, a very beautiful and prom-
ising child of little less than four years, was left slee})ing in bed in the
morning. The family being startled by his screams rushed to the
room and found his night-clothes in flames. It is supposed that he
set himself on fire with matches. This was on July 22, 1875. He
survived until the next day.
M. Kelly, of this place, while on a trip to Canada for his health,
committed suicide by drowning at Michigan City, Indiana, Septem-
ber 19, 1876.
On June 23, 1877, John Moore lost his little son John, eight years
old, by drowning in Pope creek.
Mrs. Julia Strong, a useful and respected woman fifty-six years
of age, living in the country, was thrown from her buggy by an
unmanageable team, and after being dragged some distance violently
struck a tree on Main street, which fractured her skull and caused
instant death. This melancholy accident happened iS^ovember 20,
1880.
Frederick Fry, a saloon-keeper on Black Hawk or AVillett's island,
was shot and mortally wounded by AVilliam A. Gritfin, on the even-
ing of February 28, 1881, when avoiding arrest \ipon a ca})ias in the
hands of Thomas L. Pippey. These men were in pursuit of him
upon the ice near the main land, and when within twenty yards of
him he began shooting at Gritfin, who returned his fire with fatal
efiect. He- lived twelve hours. Upon the inquest Gritfin was
acquitted of blame.
About ten years ago some.bo^'s were pushiug a car on the track
near the Rockford, Rock Island tfe St. Louis depot, when Frank Got-
clialk, aged ten or twelve years, was crushed under the wheels.
An infant child of Samuel Woods was burned to death at the stove,
while left alone, some seven years ao;o.
KEITHSBURG TOWXSHIP.
165
TOWNf^HIP ORGAMZATIUN.
In the earlier history of this township the people went out to
Glancy's mill to vote. Keithsbnrg was made a polling ])lace in 1S40,
and on the third of August the first election was held. In the fall of
1853 Mercer coimty adopted townshij) organization, and the next
spring the lirst officers were elected in Keithsbnrg. Below is a list of
the principal ones from that time to the present date :
Year.
SVPERVISOR.
Town Clerk.
Assessor.
Collector.
18.54
(' Allen
18.3.'i
0. C. Allen
W. J. Fugles
J. S. Pinkerton
K. C. Cabeen*
John Xevius
John Xevius
John X'evius
H. G. Calhotni
William Willett
James Fleming*
G. L. Dunn
E. L. Wolf
18:.()
l.S.')7
N. B. Partridge
11 S .'^cott
J. B. Matlock.
J T Calhoini
18.iS
18.i9
Washington Wolf
Joseph Harvey
B D EUett
J. J. \\'ordin.
J. J. Wordin.
18fiO
A. F. Glover
A. F. Glover
C. J. Simpson
C. J. Simjjson
C. J. .'^impson
J J Wordin
1861
J. C. Pepper .,
John E. Willits
John E. Willits
John E. Willits
John E. Willits
T. B. Cabeen
C.C. Matlock
C.C.Matlock
C.C.Matlock
C.C.Matlock
Benijah Lloyd
Benijah Lloyd
Benijah Lloyd
Benijah Lloyd
Beni. ah Lloyd
Benijah Lloyd
Benijah Lloyd
Benijah Lloyd
Benijah Lloyd
Benijah Lloyd
Benijah Lloyd
Seth E. Gate's
John Xevius
180)2
1863
John Xevius
John X'evius
Joseph Thompson.
Josepli Thompson.
B. P. Frick
1864
John Xevius
186'>
1866
186"
1868
1869
1870
William P. Litten
J. H. T. Madden
J.H. T. Madden
J.H. T. Madden
J. H. T. Madden
J. II. T. Madden
A. H. Frazier
A. H. Frazier
(ieorge Gore
C. J. Simpson
C. M. Wright
J. A. Swezy
J. A. Swezy
J. A. Swezy
Joseph Tlmmpson.
Josej)!) Thompson.
K. C. Humbert.
K. r. Humbert.
John Thomson,
(ieorge F. Parsons.
Thomas H. Freeman.
1871
1872
J. A. Swezy
John Beavens
A. F. (ilover
1873
T. S. Cummins
T. S. Cummins
T. S. Cummins
T. S. Cummins
J.X.McGee
T. S. Cummins
T. S. Cummins
T. S. Cummins
T. S. Cummins
T. S. Cummins
Thomas II Freeman.
1874
187.5
1876
1S77
1878
1879
1880
1881
Isaiah Willits
Isaiali Willits
Isaiah Willits
Isaiah Willits
Isaiah Willits
Isaiah Willits
Isaiah Willits
.Joshua \\'illits
Thomas H. Freeman.
Thomas II. Freeman.
Thomas H. Freeman.
Thomas H. Freeman.
Thomas II. Freeman.
Thomas H. Freeman.
Thomas H. Freeman.
Thomas II Freeman.
1882
Joshua Willits
Thomas H. Freeman.
* These persons refused to qualify and serve, and the town board on the second of Jlay filled
the vacancies with the following appointments : John Xevius for town clerk and Jacob Spangler
for assessor.
The following citizens of the township have been elected to the
office of justice of the peace: 1840, J. McH. Wilson, resigned in 1841;
1843, B. D. Ellett, Nicholas Edwards, John W. Nevius; 1847, James
Ganier, Xathaniel B. Partridge, B. D. Ellett, John AV. Xevius ; 1849,
O. C. Allen, James Garner ; 1852, Peter Eckly, X. B. Partridge ; 1854,
H. G. Calhoun, P. W. Kile; 1855, John Dunn, vice Kile, resigned;
1858, John Xevius, Mark J. O'Brien; 1860, H. G. Calhoun, ^^ce
O'Brien, resigned ; 1862, John Xevius, resigned in 1865 ; M. J.
O'Brien, resigned in 1864; 1864, J. A. J. Birdsall ; 1865, O. C. Pich-
ardson; 1866, Matthias "Wickiser, O. C. Pichardson; 1868, Jacob B.
Spangler; 1870, Matthias Wickiser, resigned same year and J. B.
Sj>angler elected to vacancy; A. F. Glover, resigned in 1873; 1873,
T. S. Cummins, II. S. Scott\ 1877, T. S. Cummins, II. S. Scott; 1881,
T. S. Cummins, Pichard Wolf; 1882, II. S. Scott, Wee Wolf, resigned.
166 HISTORY OF MERCER ^\^'D HENDERSON COUNTIES.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
The first roads in this townsliip were opened by order of the county
commissioners June 3, 1839. one havina; been surveyed from the bridsre
on the Edwards river, on the New Boston and Knoxville state road,
through Keithsburg to Gavitt's cabin (alias Cohimbia City) on to the
county line, and the other from Keithsburg to Isaiah Willits', and from
thence intersecting with the county road leading to the Ohio settlement
on Pope' River. This is substantially the description given in the
petitions which Robert Keith presented at the regular term, March 9,
1839. June 7, three dollars were deposited with each petition to pay
the viewers, Lewis Xoble, Rezin Pratt and Joseph Leonard. For
laying out these roads the follovtdng disbursements were made from the
road fund: Lewis Noble, for three and a half days' viewing, $3.50;
John Noble and Isaac Bates, for two days' chaining, $2 each ; and
Paul Sheriff, for hauling stakes one and a half days, $3.
A railroad fi'om "Warsaw to Rockford having been projected to run
through Keithsburg, November -1, 1855, the town unanimously voted
to subscribe $20,000 to the capital stock of the company. The work of
grading was commenced in 1856, B. P. Frick and J. C. Cabeen having
the contract from Warsaw to Keithsburg, the former taking charge of
the construction at this end of the route and the latter at the other. To
settle all doubt as to the legality of the subscription and to make it
available, an act of the legislature chartering the town was procured,
with a special provision legalizing the subscription and authorizing the
issue of bonds. This was approved February 16, 1857, and on the
4th of May following an ordinance was passed directing the presi"
dent of the board of trustees to subscribe to the stock of the Warsaw
& Rockford Railroad Company in the above-mentioned sum, and em-
powering that officer and the clerk to execute the bonds of the town,
due in twenty years, with interest at the rate of ten per cent, payable
semi-annually. They were to be delivered as work upon the road
progressed, to pay the assessments upon the stock taken by the town,
and on the 1st day of June eight bonds for $1,000 each were issued.
On the 16tli four of them were passed over to B. P. Frick, and
on the loth of July the remaining four were surrendered to the same
person. In this last month the company failed, and work on the road
was permanently suspended. No part of the route was finished. Below
Sagetown some bridging was done, but as the contractors were never
paid for the bridges these were afterward taken down.
The corporation paid the interest on the indebtedness made in aid of
this railroad uritil the hardship prompted the town to resist further
collection, and in 1863 suit was brous^ht in the circuit court of Mercer
KEITHSBIRG TOWNSHIP. 167
county and carried to the supreme court of tlie state, from which a writ
of mandamus was procured, compelling the town to levy a tax to meet
this obligation. In 1874 one of these bonds was paid and canceled,
the second in 1876; and August 3, 1877, a corporation election was
held to vote on the question of a new issue to retire the six then out-
standing. A unanimous vote of forty-seven decided this in the affirma-
tive, and on the lirst day of December the bonds were issued in
denominations of $100. Next year ten of these were redeemed,
leaving the presented bonded debt of the town So^OOO.
Hiram W. Thornton, last i)resident of the Warsaw & Rockford
railroad, brought suit against the company for services and obtained
judgment ; and when the road was sold under execution he bought the
grading and has since disposed of it piecemeal at private sale. The
Kockford, Rock Island tfe St. Louis railroad having been projected with
the intention of running the line through Keithsburg, a part of the
road-bed of the Warsaw ife Rockford was purchased by this company.
To preserve the continuitv of events it is necessarv to sav that in
1869, through the exertions of Col. Isaac McManus, state senator from
the fourteenth district, a charter for the Dixon ife Quincy railroad was
obtained, with the ulterior design, no doubt, of transferring it to the
Chicago, Burlington 6z Quincy corporation. The Dixon & Quincy
company was forthwith organized with Col. McManus as president,
and on the 18th of May a special election was held in Keithsburg
to decide whether the township should take $35,000 of stock in the
road, the bonds covering the subscription not to be issued until thei'e
should be a running connection by rail from Keithsburg to lines con-
necting with Chicago. This was favorably determined by a vote of
229 against 11. Abington township also voted to subscribe $10,000
to the ca])ital stock of the company.
Subsequent to these elections a meeting of the directors was held
in Chicago, at which a very warm discussion took place regarding the
transfer of the charter. A representative was present from each of
the Chicago, Burlington <fe Quincy and the Rockford, Rock Island &
St. Louis companies. McManus was still interested in behalf of the
former, but w^ien the vote was taken his object was defeated, the rest
of the board voting solidly to turn over the subscriptions to the other
coi-jjoration on conditi(jn that it give to Keithsburg railway connection
with Chicago by the way of Rockford.
To be certain that this proceeding was satisfactory to the people,
the directors caused a special election to be called for the 4th of Octo-
ber, and submitted the proposition to recall the aid formerly voted to
the Dixon 6z Quincy, and to grant the same amount to the Rockford,
168 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Eock Island cV: St. Louis railroad. Tliis was understood bv the
directors themselves to be simply informal and without legal conse-
quence, as the charter invested the board with fidl power in the
premises. Their action was endorsed by 197 against 5.
From the moment the assignment of the subscriptions was made,
work on the Rockford, Rock Island tk St. Louis road was pushed north,
from Sagetown (now Gladstone) with great vigor ; and December 14,
1869, the first locomotive ran into this town amidst the ringing of
bells, the firing of an^'ils, and the blowing of steam whistles. Very
little, if any, aid. except that guaranteed by these two townships, had
been secured upon this route ; but about tliis time "Warren county ten-
dered a liberal donation upon condition that the road should be built
through Monmouth, and this had the effect to divert the line at Bush-
nell from the contenq^lated com'se, and to break off" consti'uction sud-
denly at this point. The grading had been done betw^een here and the
American Central railway, but the iron was not down, and the bridge
which had been erected over Pope creek was partly washed out, when
the remainder was removed. The tenninal depot was built on the
eastern verge of the town, and up to 1877 this was the river branch of
the main line.
This action of the Rockford, Rock Island cVr St. Louis Company in
changing their road left the Dixon & Quincy Company in a position to-
make a new arrangement, and the matter slumbered until the summer
of 1870, when it was revived by Theodore Glancy. The result of this
fresh agitation was that the directors held a meeting and passed a reso-
lution to open the books for new subscriptions. Gen. A. C. Harding,
of Monmouth, appeared at this meeting and subscribed an amount
sufficient to give him control of the affairs of the company ; and
immediately a new board of directors was elected, of which Harding,
by virtue of his power, became president, when he filled the other
positions according to his own caprice. But the general refused to
proceed with the consti'uction of the road until the bonds should be
issued, and toward the close of the year 1 870 a citizens*' meeting was
held at which H. S. Scott, AVilliam Willett and C. C. Matlock were
appointed custodians to hold them in trust and to deliver them to-
Harding when the road should be completed from Keithsburg to the
American Central railroad. C. S. Orth, heading the opposition, sued
out an injunction to restrain the issuance and delivery of the bonds,
and before service could be had on Matlock, the supervisor, the latter,
not^vith standing he had promised not to evade service of the wi'it,
hastened off to Monmouth and turned them over to Harding, taking-
the generaPs bond for $70,000, binding him to surrender them to the
KETTMSHLKci TOWNSHIP. 10^
townshi}) in the event that the road sliouhl not be built between the
points above-named by the first of Januarv, IS Ti-
lt is said tliat it was never eonteniphited to build this road; that
while the ostensible purjjose w^as to lav a track between the two cities
named in the charter, the real object was to construct only the six-mile
section from Keithsburg- to the Ameiican Central railway. AMiatever
may have been the covert design, this was all that was done. The work
was performed late in 187<> with the capital and by the construction
comjjany of the Chicago Burlington 6z Quincy Railroad Company, the
deception being kept u}) meantime until the Dixon & Quincy corpo-
ration could secure the township bonds, which were the great prize
that at last fell into Harding's hands for disiJosal. It is alleged that
all that was asked of the general by the Chicago Burlington ik: Quincy
Railroad Company, was to obtain for that corporation the right of
way, which he did for something less than $3,000.
Trains ran into Keithsburg over this short line on January 1, 1871.
At the annual towmship election, in April of this year, Benijah Lloyd
was elected to succeed C. C.Matlock as supervisor; on the 11th he
qualified, and the following day demanded the books and ])apers
belonging to the office. A few hours previous to this demand Matlock
certified to the auditor of state that the towniship bonds issued to the
Dixon iS: Quincy Railroad Company w^ere entitled to registration. These
bonds, seventy in number, were for $500 each, bearing ten per cent
interest, dated November 1, 1870, and payable January 1, 1891. The
township regularly paid, by taxation, the aimual interest on these
bonds up to and including the year ISSO, when a suit in equity was
brought by the township in the circuit court of Mercer county, to
declare them void. Tliey were supposed to be payable at the will of
the people after five years, as this was one of the conditions on which
the subscription was voted ; but no knowledge of their pro\asions could
be obtained, and to pay so high a rate of interest had become unneces-
sary and impolitic. The people were willing to refimd at lower interest,
but when no trace of the bonds could be discovered and the matter
began to have the appearance of a design on the part of the liolders to
thwart any endeavor to retire them, inquiry w^as excited and in^•esti-
gation followed, when the numerous irregularities surrounding their
issue and registration came to light, and it was decided to contest their
validity. As a further defense of the people against the presumptions
raised against them by the fact that for ten years they ])aid the interest
without ])r()test, it is true that a lai-ge majority were not aware that a
tax for this puri)ose was being levied and collected.
Morgan G. Bulkley, of Connecticut, holder of $23,500 of this
170 HISTORY OF :SCERCER A^^) HEXDERSON COT:rN"nES.
municipal indebtedness filed an answer to the complainant's bill ; and
on his motion the case was removed to the district court of the United
States for the northern disti-ict of Illinois, where it was heard bA' Judge
Blodgett, who, on January 9, 1882, dismissed the suit. The case is
now pending in the United States supreme court, where it has been
taken on appeal.
When Gen. Harding obtained possession of these bonds it only
remained for him to transfer the road to the Chicago Burlington &
Quincy Company, which he did ; and during several succeeding years
Keithsburg was the terminus of the Galva branch, the depot being
situated where it now is, close to the river. Finally, the main line and
branches of the Rockford, Eock Island & St. Louis railroad were
absorbed by this company, and in the latter part of July. 1S7T, the
right of way through the town between the two depots was procured,
and in August the extremities of the two lines were brought into con-
nection by a half mile of new track.
The Keithsburg, Lacon & Eastern Railroad Company was organized
here, and a survey made for a standard gauge road from this point
to Lacon in 1873, and a considerable amount of subscriptions was
taken along the line, but the financial revulsion of that year caused the
enterprise to be abandoned.
The Keithsburg 6z Eastern Railroad Company was organized under
the law of the state providing for a general system of railroad incorpo-
rations, September 22, 1873, by the following incorporators : "W. D.
Smith, T. B. Cabeen, C. A. Frick, E. L. Marshall, G. W. Whiting,
B. C. Taliaferro, Harry Weaver, AVilliam Gayle, Theodore Glancy,
J. P. Wycoft; A. B. Sheriff, R. J. Cabeen and'WiUiam Willett. The
project was to construct a narrow gauge railroad from Keithsburg to
the east line of the state in Kankakee or Iroquois county, with a branch
to Chicago ; but it was never surveyed east beyond the Illinois river.
Grading was begun at Keithsburg in the spring of 1874, and when the
line had been extended eight miles it was decided to change the route
either to Galesburg or Monmouth. Denny, in Warren county, distant
twenty miles, being readied, work came to a standstill in 1875. Sub-
'sequently the road was sold in sections under execution, and finally
the whole property was sold under mechanic's lien, but in each case it
was purchased for D. M. Halstead and T. B. Cabeen. Halstead
assigned his interest to George Seaton, R. J. Cabeen and T. B. Cabeen,
who received a sherifi''s deed. Recently these owners have contracted
with William Hanna and B. P. Phelps, of Monmouth, who represent
the Peoria >k Farmington railroad, to convey to them for a consider-
ation all their interest in the Keithsburg S: Eastern, if the former shall
be completed to this point by February 22, 1884.
KKITilSBrRir TfiWXSHIP. 171
BIOGRAPHICAL.
The subject of this sketch, Isaiah Willits, was born in York
county, Pennsylvania, November 2, IS 12, where his boyhood, days
were spent in rambling over the rocky bluffs and' helping his father on
a small farm. In 1826 the family removed to Wa\Tie county, Indiana,
where he was engaged in farming near Centerville, ten miles west of
Kiehmond. In 1835 he came to Mercer county, Illinois, where he took
a claim near Pope Mills, now known as the old Frick farm. lie went
back to Indiana several times for cattle, driving them through on
horseback, until 1838, when he permanently settled at Bald Bluff",
Henderson county, erected a rude log cabin and endured all the hard-
ships and privations known to the earlier settlers. It was in this year
that the famous Black Hawk chieftain visited the Bluff", together with
four hundred of his warriors. Mr. AVillits says tliat his courage was
never questioned, but when he saw them all approaching under full
gallop, he is willing to acknowledge that he felt somewhat "shaky."
Thev were tribes of Sacs and Foxes, who were on their wav to their
reservations on the Des Moines river, Iowa. April 4, 1839, Mr.
"Willits was united in marriage to Elizabeth Peynolds, daughter of
Caleb Reynolds, of Ohio, she too being one of the pioneers, having
come to Mercer county among the first who settled here. They lived
on their Henderson county farm till the year 1857, when they removed
to Keithsburg, where he went into the mercantile business, continued
in this pursuit for four years, sold out and purchased a farm south of
town half a mile, where he resided till the spring of 1873, when he
became so afflicted as to unfit him for active duties, and he moved
again to Keithsburg, where he still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Willits are
parents of ten children, nine of whom are living. Joshua, the eldest,
was born in Henderson county March 13, 1840, was raised on a farm
with limited educational ad^■antages such as existed at the early settling
of the country, yet by close ap]>lication and study at home he acquired
a good practical education. He was married November 31, 1873, to
Miss Clara Willits. They have two children : Norman, born Decem-
ber 6, 1875 ; and Harry, born July 5, 1879. His vocation is farming.
His farm joins the old homestead place. Emily, the eldest daughter,
bom in Henderson county, November 11, 184], obtained the rudi-
ments of learning in a little log school house, subsequently attended
graded school in Oquawka and Keithsburg, was married to Mr. A. B.
Childs November 10, 1880. They have one son, Benny, born Novem-
ber 14, 1881. Leander, second son, born November 21, 1843, and
Minerva, second daughter, born September 6, 1845, both unmarried,
are living at home with their parents. Byron, born April 5, 1847, died
172 HISTORY OF FIERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
November 21, 1847, aged seven months. Jo. H. Wird, daughter, born
August 26, 1848, received her education principally in the graded
schools at Keithsburg, where she began teaching at the age of seven-
teen years, and has been constantly engaged in the work in this place
for sixteen years, attending normal schools during the vacations. Last
year (1881) she was at State Normal, at Bloomington, Illinois.
AzYO p., born July 19, 1850, was educated in Keithsburg; read medi-
cine with Dr. E. L. Marshall and attended two courses of lectures in
Rush Medical college, Chicago; was a member of the graduating -class
of 1877 ; received his diploma on examination before the Illinois State
Board of Health, and is now (1S82) a practicing physician ; January
19, 1880, he was united in marriage with Lizzie F. Wliiting, of Keiths-
burg. "William A., born November 10, 1852; passed creditably
through the high school at Keithsburg ; began his career as teacher in
the State of Missouri, after which he came to his native county
(Mercer) and taught three years in the district schools ; then took the
principalship of the Keithsburg graded school, and is now (1882)
occupying that position. Leone, fourth daughter, born August 11,
1855, is unmarried and living with her parents. Lydia A., youngest
daughter, born January 12, 1859, was married to Heman N. Childs,
November 16, 1881. They are living on their farm in Henderson
county, live miles southeast of Keithsburg.
Benjamin D. Ellett (deceased) was born near Richmond, Virginia,
February 2, 1813. He was reared partly on a farm, but early in life
turned his attention to merchandizing in the dry goods line. In the
spring of 1836 he emigrated to Illinois and settled in Henderson
county, where he however remained but a short time, and removed to
Mercer county, April 19, 1838. He was united in marriage with Miss
Grace E., a daughter of Mr. Charles Jack, an early settler of Mercer
county. She died in October, 1850, leaving three children, but one of
whom is now (1882) living: Mrs. Mary J., wife of F. P. Burgett,
banker, of Keithsburg. Mr. Ellett's second marriage was on Septem-
ber 8, 1851, with Miss Oq^ha B., daughter of Andrew and Mary
(Lloyd) Myers. She was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, September
1, 1827, and came with her parents to Mercer county in 1836. Here
she received such an education as was obtainable in the pioneer schools
of this county's early history. At the time of his second marriage
Mr. Ellett was filling the position of sherifl* of Mercer county. After
the termination of his official term, he permanently located in Keiths-
burg and engaged in the lumber business, which he followed till the
time of his death, which occurred October 29, 1880. By his last
marriage he had borne to him nine children, as follows : Frank A. ;
KEITHSBURG TO^^'NSHIP. 173
Minnie, wife of Martin Rice; Nellie, wife of C. S. Frick ; AVilliam B.,
Harry B., Bettie, Ethvin M., Frederick D. and Thomas A. Mrs.
Ellett and family are living in her comfortable home in Keithsburg.
Benijah Lloyd was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania March IT,
1825, and is the second son of Benijah and Elizabeth (Dunn) Lloyd,
who were among the early settlers of Mercer county, coming here in
September 1835. Mr. Lloyd settled in Millersburg township where he
lived till the time of his death (1864). He was the father of six children,
one of whom was killed by falling out of the wagon near Keithsburg
while on their way to their pioneer home. Benijah, the subject of this
notice, thus early became identified with the count}" and enjoyed only
the means of pioneer school education. December 9, 1847 he was
united in marriage with Miss Arrelda J., daughter of Dr. Mark Willits,
an early settler of Mercer county. Tliey have reared a family ol' nine
children, A-iz: Omer H., Ella J., ISTettie, Charles M., William W.,
George W., Maurice E, and Maude. After his marriage Mr. Lloyd
engaged in farming which he successfully followed till the fall of 1856,
when he was elected Sherift' of Mercer. He then located at Keiths-
burg, then county seat, where he remained till its removal to Aledo.
At the expiration of his official term, in 1859, he returned to his farm
but in 1860 came to Keithsburg where he has since resided enjoying
the respect and esteem of his many friends who have almost continually
kept him in some position of trust, as shown b}' the records of the
township.
As early as 1836 there came one to Mercer county with limited means
but hearty and industrious, and with a strong resolution to pro^^de for
the present and procure plenty for the future. Such a character was Paul
Sheriff, who was born in Columbia county Pennsylvania, February 16,
1810. He was married December 23, 1832, to Miss Mary daughter of
John and Margaret Doak. Four years after their marriage they left
their native state and came to Mercer county where they have resided
ever since. Mr. Sheriff has always taken a lively interest in public en-
terprises and given largely to their benelit. He has been very suc-
cessful in accumulating quite a large property. He has a large farm
that comes to the corporation limits of Keithsburg, Politicaly Mr.
Sheriff has always been a republican. Religiously he has been a
member of the Presbyterian church for thirty years. In temperance
movements he has always taken an active part and has tried to
show men that liquor will ruin those who become its slaves. Mr.
Sheriff' has always been engaged in farming. His father was born in
Ireland, and emigrated to this country in the year 17!><> and settled in
Pennsvlvania.
17-i HISTORY OF MEECER ^V^'D HENDERSO>r CO^^"rIES.
Thomas and Marv (Woodhain) Bridger emigrated fi'om Sussex, Eng-
land to America in 1826, landing at New York. They then went direct
to Troy where they lived until 1836, when they came west to Mercer
county, Illinois, and settled in what is now Suez township, where he and
his wife lived but one year when they both took sick and died about ten
days apart. Mrs. Emma Doak, daughter of the above, was born Feb-
raary 4, 1819, in Sussex England, and crossed the Atlantic when seven
years of age. She remembers the trip well and many facts connected
therewith. In May, 18'42, she was married to Dajstel F. Doak, second
child of John and Margaret Doak. He was born August 5, 1810.
After their marriage they first lived in Green township two miles north
of Viola until 1850, when they sold out and removed to Perryton town-
ship where they li^'ed one year. They then removed to Keithsburg
township where they have lived ever since. In 1864 they bought the
S. W. J of Sec. 2, in Keithsburg township, whicli makes a very com-
fortable home for them. They have about one hundred acres in
cultivation, the balance in pasture. Tliere have been ten children from
this luiion, eight living, two dead. James T., Martha J., Mary A.,
Sarah E., Nancy M. (married to T. J. Hayes), Anna, Daniel W.,
Ida M., John, Fannie A. Mary A. and Ida M. are dead. Daniel
(their father) died in September, 1869. Mrs. Doak is still li\ang but in
poor health.
Benjamin F. Geuwell, was born in Greene count}', Ohio, Novem-
ber 22, 1808. In 1825 he removed with his parents, Jacob and
Prudence (Dill) Gruwell, to "Wayne county, Indiana, where he lived at
farming until 1837. He was mamed in Miami county, Ohio, to Miss
Lucy Hurst, December 18, 1829. In the autunm of 1837 Mr. Gruwell,
taking his wife, their two children, and his wife's sister, emigrated to
this township, he driving a six-ox team and hauling the family effects,
while Mrs* . Gruwell and the others kept company in a one-horse car-
riage. They arrived at the blufl:' on the 18th of October, and Mr.
Gruwell bought out the claim of Jack Harris, a single man, to 80 acres
on the N. AV. ^ of Sec. 1. Tlie time was short for making improve-
ments before the biting blasts of winter, so a 10 X 12 foot cabin was
hastily constructed from small ti-ees eight inches in diameter rived and
stood upright, with one end in the ground. Sod fi-om the prairie
formed a tight roof, and sticks and mud composed the chimney. The
crevices were daubed in the usual way, and a quilt was hung up at the
door to keep out snow and wind. The parents and two little children
lived in this four months in great enjoyment. During the time many
visitors came to their cabin. It was here that their .fourth child,
Martha, was bom. Boxes in which they had brought their household
KEITHSBURG TCAVNSIIIP. 175
goods were their bedstead that winter, and their "fall-leaf table was
the only one that anybody had knowledij^e of in the country. There
was just room enough for two to sit dowii to the table at once. They
had hired help that winter, and when the hands had got their supper
they went to their own homes to lodge. Tlie people then thought
nothing of going ten miles to yisit ; all within a radius of that distance
were neighbors ; and at that time most people knew everybody in the
count}\ The family lived on this farm until they owned 300 acres of
land. In 1850 Mr. Gruwell went across the plains to California, and
returned by steamship the next year. In 1852 he disposed of his fai-m
and moved to Keithsburg, where he bought the Calhoun House and
kept hotel seven years. They have been the parents of seven children,
as follows : Joseph, who died in infancy ; Melissa ; Francis Marion,
who was killed in Keithsburg Xovember 24, 1859, by the bursting of
a cannon while celebrating a victory at the polls ; Martha ; Erastus,
who was killed at Fort Donelson February 13, 1862 ; Alice ; and Edna
(dead). Martha was married February 21, 1856, to John Tliomson, a
native of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, a carpenter by trade, who came to
Keithsburg in 1853 and worked here till the summer of 1862. At
that time he enlisted in company 11, 84th reg. 111. Vol., and served
upward of a year in the field. The hardships of the service com-
pletely shattered his health, and he has since been a confimied and
helpless invalid. Of his eleven children eight are now living. One
daughter, Miss Mary L., has lived with her grandmother Gruwell since
the age of five. These two are commimicants in the Presbyterian
church.
Oliver P. E^ierson, retired farmer, is a son of Edward and Sarah
(Swaford) Emerson, and was bom in Wayne county, Indiana, June 17,
1817. He was reared on the farm, where he helped to clear up and
make a home among the tall Indiana timber. In 1839. he came to
Mercer county, Illinois, but soon returned to his father's home in In-
diana. In 1840 he again came to this county, where he worked till
1842, when he went back to Indiana, and on Febniar}- 15th of the
same year was married to Miss Sarah Kelly, a native of that place. In
about 1847, with his family, he came to this county and permanently
located and engaged in fenning and stock raising, following the busi-
ness for many years. Mr. Emerson begun for himself, with but very
Httle except a pair of willing hands and an industrious disposition, but
by dint of hard work and good management, has accumulated a large
farm, comprising over 600 acres, the most of which he has recently
divided among his children. Plimself and wife have been life-long
members of the Christian church. She died August 29, 1881, and is
176 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
buried at the Xew Boston cemetery. His five li\-ing children are :
Hester, wife of IMi-. Charles Dryden ; Monroe ; Elizabeth, wife of Mr.
Alexander Calhoun ; George L. ; and Grind Y. , wife of Mr. William
Prvne.
David Pardee, farmer, was born in Xew Haven countv, Connec-
ticut, June 26, 1809. Early in life he served an apprenticeship at
carj^entering. In 1831 he went to Xew Grleans, where he worked at
his trade till 1840, when he came to Illinois and bought land near
Tiola, in Mercer county, where he lived three years. At the time he
bought his land he paid down a large part of the purchase money,
agreeing to pay the balance out of money then due him, but which he
failed to get, and consequently lost his land. He then came to Keiths-
burg and built a flat-boat in which to carry himself out of the country.
After floating down the Father of Waters into Louisiana, he landed
near Port Hudson, where he remained on his boat till by chance he
met a friend of whom he borrowed a few dollars, went ashore and
bought a suit of clothes, and then soon found work. In 1861: he again
came to Mercer, purchased his present home in Sec. 14, T. 13, P. 5,
Keithsburg townsliip, where he is now pleasantly located engaged in
farming. Mr. Pardee has been twice married ; first, in Louisiana, to
Miss Ellen Crenan, by whom he has three sons living in Kansas :
Jf)hn, Thomas, and Josiah. His second marriage was with Miss
Sophia Green, a native of Iowa, by whom he has three children living :
Elbert F. , Stephen, and Ora May.
M.VRTIN Wirt was born in Ohio in 18*20. He was educated in the
<?ommon schools of his native state. In 1840 he came to Illinois and
settled on a farm near the ^'illage of Keithsburg, Mercer county, Illinois,
and engaged in farming. June 11, 1850, he was married to Miss Esther
Groves, a native of London, England, who was born January 24, 1831,
and came to America in 1849. They became the parents of eight
children, seven of whom are living : Jane, wife of Fred Freter ; Ada
C. , wife of J. Lester ; George G. ; Emma Y. , wife of A. L. Emerson ;
Willie M., Maggie M., Fred. N. and Samuel, deceased. In 1868
Mrs. AVirt fidfilled a long cherished desire of her heart in returning to
see her parents in the old home in England, where she remained on a
visit six months. On August 5, 1879, Mr. Wirt died, leaving his
aftectionate family a comfortable home.
JosEPHUS Wade (deceased), was born in Highland county, Ohio,
Xovember 19, 1826, and spent his early youth on the farm. His edu-
cation was such as could be obtained in the common schools. In 1840
lie emigrated with his parents to Llinois, landing at Keithsburg on
December 4. October 16, 1851, he was united in marriage with
'^,
luW^- 'rrv>^
JAMES HEATON.
KEITHSIU'K<i TOWNSHIP. 170
Miss Emily 1)., (Uiuglitor of .Tolni M. Nicholson, who was born in
"Washington oonntv, Indiana, February IS, 1S33. In iSoH he perma-
nently located in Keitli.sbiirg and engaged in the livery business,
following the same thrfaigh life. He died at St. Anthony's Falls,
Minnesota, August 1, iSfls, where he had gone with a view of improv-
ing his health. While there he was accompanied by his wife who
brought ))ack his remains to Keithsburg for interment. Besides an
affectionate and sorrowing wife, he left two living children. Two are
deceased. The two living are John M. and Mary J. The former,
born October 20, 1855, was married November 24, 1880, to Miss Mol-
lie E. Cummins, a daughter of T. S. Cunnnins, Esq. lie died Janu-
ary 18, 1880, of consumption. Mr. Wade's only surviving child,
Mary J., was bom in Keithsburg, January 13, ISfJl, and is living with
her mother, and by the pleasant sunshine of her presence renders
home very happy and agreeable. Mv. Wade's mother died in Keiths-
burg, January 20, 1882, and was at the time of her death the oldest
person living in the town.
Among the 'few early settlers of Keithsburg townshi]) still remain-
ing we find Mr. Benjamin L. Hardin. He was born in Wayne county,
Indiana, April 29, 1818, and is a son of Thomas and Polly Wilson
Hardin. He was raised on a farm with only the advantages of a
pioneer log cabin school, but where he enjoyed the means of fully
developing his muscular powers in the- tall timber of Indiana.
December 24, 1840, he married Miss Minerva, daughter of James
(-ribson, Esq., of Indianapolis, Indiana, and the next year emigrated
to Mercer county, Illinois, and settled near where he now (1882) lives
in the township of Keithsburg. After his first settlement in the new
country he realized the lack of religious worship and soon engaged
the services of a Methodist preacher to liold meetings at his cabin,
which was continued till a more suital)le place could be provided.
Suffice it say that to his energy and untiring zeal is largely due the
prosperity of the chui'ch in this townshi]). Mr. Hardin has reared a
family of nine children, all living: William, now farming in Iowa;
Joseph W.. now farming in Iowa ; James A., also fai-ming in Iowa ;
John P., at home; Alvis, on a farm in Keithsburg; Thomas, Lava,
Perry and Frank, at home. Mr, Hardin's farm of 3f)(> acres is located
in Sees. 11 and 12, T. 13, R 5.
Among the early settlers who came to Mercer county, Illinois, may
be mentioned the name of William S. Emerson, who was 1)oi'n in
AVayne county, Indiana, Jamuiry 15, 1822. He is the fourth child of
Edward and Sarah (Swaford) Emerson, living with his parents until
twenty-two years of age, when he commenced fai'iniug for himself on
II
180 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
a small scale, in wliicli business he lias been engaged ever since,
having accunuilated considerable property, lOo acres in section 11,
ninetj- acres in section 10, and fortv-eight acres in section 10 of the
neM^ survey. He came to Mercer county, Illinois, during the year of
ISlrl, leaving his parents and his native state for the purpose of
securing him a home in the valley of the Mississippi, where so many
have accumulated wealth from its fertile soil. November 13, 1845,
he was married to Delila Hurst, who was born in Wayne county,
Indiana, February 15, 1828. They have had seven children, five of
whom are living and two dead : Edward L. was born August 18, 1846 ;
William E., February 10, 1850 ; Francis M., May 8, 1852 ; Lynden,
August ly, 1857 ; Thomas H., April 16, 1861 ; Xettie F., October 22,
1865 ; Ida May, June 25, 1870. Edward L. is married to Miss Ella
Gailey, and is at present practicing medicine in New AVindsor, Mercer
county. Lynden is married to Miss Emma Wirt, and is engaged in
farming. Francis M. and Nettie are dead. Thomas and Ida remain
at home with their parents. In politics Mr. Emerson has always been
a republican. He has been a member of the Christian church since
twenty-two years of age.
Henry G. Calhoun, fourth in a family of ten children, by Thomas
and Jane (Gray) Calhoun, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio,
October 31, 1820. He was reared on his father's tarm, obtained a
common school education, learned the cooper's trade, and after working
at that three or four winters took up with carpentering. In 1844 he
left the home of his childhood and embarking at Wheeling came by
river to Keithsburg, landing here on the fifth of April. He worked
three years at carpentry, and meantime, June 10, 1846, was married to
Miss Sarah J. Brown, who died ten months afterward, leaving twin
daughters, one of which lived a year, while the other, Sarah Jane, is
yet living and is the wife of AVilliam S. McCormick, of Ohio Grove
townshi}). From 1847 to 1849 Mr. Calhoun was clerking for Messrs.
Noble tic Gayle. After that he was in the employ of Abrani liife for
some time, and while engaged wath him was married again to Mrs.
Julia A. Hubbell, November 29, 1849. In October of the same year he
opened the Calhoun house and conducted it over two years, and in the
same time he im})roved a farm of eighty acres near the town. In 1853
he was elected to the office of justice of the peace and was api)ointed
deputy recorder, and also held tlie a])pointment of notary i)ublic. He
was thus engaged in ]iublic l)usiuess foi- eight years. Septeml)er 30,
1861, he enHsted in coinpany (t, 30th 111. Vn]., and was elected and
connnissioned first lieutenant of lii> (•()mi)any. lie was taken prisoner
September 1, ls62, at Brittain's Lane, Tennessee, and having been
kr:ithsbl'rg township. ISl
paroled on the IHth he resigiK'<l and came home broken down in health.
Since that time he has been variously engage<l in building, clerking,
book-keei)ing and canvassing. Mr. Calhoun is prominent in the
Masonic order. In December, 1850, he was made a Mason in Kobert
Burns Lodge, No. 113, A.F.A.M., and in October, 18.51, he took the
chapter degrees in Horeb Chapter, No. 4, R.A.M., at Knoxville, and
in June, 1880, the degrees in Galesburg Gommandery, No. 8. He has
filled all the offices in the lodge and the cha|)ter, and has been a repre-
sentative to the grand lodge at two different periods, first in 1850 and
at a subsequent time four consecutive years, in each of which last he
held the appointment of district deputy grand master. lie was also a
member of one of the standing committees seven or eight years from
the expiration of his service as representative. Mr. Calhoun was
originally a whig. On the dissolution of that party he, with the Hon.
John S. Tliom})Son, was the first to take active measures looking toward
the organization of the republican paitj in Keiths))urg townshi]), and
he is still as ardent as ever for the success of the same party. By his
second marriage he has two daughters : Josephine Louisa and Augusta
Belle. The latter is the wife of C. A. Mertz.
Jacob Wolfe was born in the State of Maryland, near Harper's
Ferry, October 10, 1792. His parents moved to the State of Ohio in
17J>8 and settled twelve miles south of Dayton, near Germantown.
May Yount, his wife, was born in the State of North Carolina May 9,
1797, near the Shallow Ford on the Yadkin river. Her parents
removed to ( )hio and settled in the same neighborhood. They were
married in the State of Ohio in 1814, moved to Indiana in 1822, and
raised a family of nine children. The mother died ( )ctober 19, 1838,
and the father August 23, 1861. W. AVolfe, son of the above, was
born in the State of Ohio, July 22, 1816, and his 'sdfe, Rebecca Marlatt,
in the State of Yii-ginia, November 14, 1816. They were married in
Wayne county October 19, 1839. In 1844 they moved t(» Mercer
county, Illinois, landing here on the 23d of October. At that time
there was but one house on what was called the Prairie road from
Henderson Grove to the bluff", and that was a small frame. There was
then only a track where the horses walked, and prairie grass was as high
as the horses' backs. There were then only a few families in the
bottom, and not a house could be seen from the bluft" to Keithsburg.
At that time there was not what couhl be ])roperly called a house
where Keiths])urg now is. He says the first time he was in town he
«aw Bill Brewer shooting ducks where now stands the Birch building^
owned by T. B. Cabeen and occupied as a drug store. There was then
only one small frame house ])artly tinished and sided half wav up.
182 HICTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Tlie town iin}»roved, and built up smartly in a short time. He
recollects being ]>resent at the tirst trial of any importance that was
liad in the }»laee. The newly-elected justice, by the name of Garner,
was the court. The parties to the suit were G. Mossman, plaintitt", and
I. Lakey and I. Raynolds, defendants. Tlie attorneys were B. C.
Taliaferro, for the plaintiff, and C. M. Harris, of Oquawka, for the
defendants. In the course of the trial there was some trouble as to
the admissibility of some evidence. The attorneys argued their points
before the court. When one of them would get through, the court
would admit the e\'idence. Then the other attorney would make a
speech showing the case in a different light, when the court would
exclude the evidence. It went on so for some time, when the attorneys
as well as the court became much excited and one of the attorneys used
some pretty short talk. The court then said ''he'd be d d, if be
did not shut up, he'd tine him for contempt."' The legal man told the
court to "•tine and be d d, for the court wouldn't have sense
enough to collect the tine.'' He says New Boston was a town when
he came here. He went over to see the town and the Mississippi.
There was quite a crowd there, and every man carried a gun and was
followed by one or more dogs. Most of the men wore the coon-skin,
cap with the tail hanging down the back. After Mr. Wolfe had been
here some time he thouglit he would look around some and see the
country. He was anxious to see some timber. These bluffs were com-
paratively bare of timber at that time. The first growtli had been cut
off, and he was told of Sugar Grove, north of Aledo, which was repre-
sented as nice timber as heart could wish, so he struck out for the
gi'ove. On the road to this settlement were then the cabins of
H. Biggs, Eb. CVesswell and N. Edwards. The last named is north
of the road and is still standing. Another was unoccupied. At the
grove he found the Millers, and they were anxious to sell out. They
had the Oregon fever badly, but he did not like the location. Mr.
Wolfe finally bought in the bottom where he now lives.
l*rominent am<^)ng the young business men of this town, who have
by industry and good management succeeded in making a pleasant home
and building up a j)ros})erous business, may be mentioned Mr. Joseph
Venabi.e. He was born in the county of Tyrone, Ireland, April 2,
1848. Ill ls.")<'). in com])any with his mother and her family, he em-
barked on the sailing vessel New Australia for America. Soon after
their arrival they settled in Mercer county, Illinois. At the age of
twenty he commenced work as an apprentice with Mr. Charles Clark,
in the shop he now owns, and in wliich he keeps six steady workmen
and is turning out a su|)erior class of wagons, carriages and other farm
KEITIISBrRrr TOWNiSlIIl'. 183
machinery. November !<!, 1S05, he was married to Miss Sarah
Ivrenier, a native of PeJinsylvania. They have a family of three chil-
dren, Frederick L., Harry C. and Joseph C He is a member of Mercer
Lodge, Xo. 210, I.O.O.F., and also of the encampment.
The Xoble Family. — ]\Irs. Harriet W. Xoble, who is the widow
of James A. Xoble, was born in Danville, Columljia county, Pennsyl-
\'ania, September 22. 1830. She is the daughter of Frederick and
Nancy A. Frick. She was married to Mr. Xoble June 20, 1849. They
liad born to them seven children (Alice F. and Harry F. dead). The
living are Kate A., Ida J.. Hattie X., James L. and M. Adella. Kate,
the eldest child, is postmistress at Keithsburg, and has served in that
capacity for about twelve years, and it may not be out of place to say,
in this connection, tliat in everv i)articular she has been a model officer.
Tlie ability with which Miss Xoble has lilled her im^iortant ])lace t)f
tiiist proves, beyond the possibility of a doubt, that woman is (pialitied
as well as man to liohl positions of responsibility. Hattie has been
deputy postmistress for a good many years, and she, also, in connection
■with another hidy, can-ies on a millinery establisliment. Tlie home of
Mrs. Xoble and tamily is a pleasant and desiral)le one. Mr. Xoble
died March 3, 1862, which place<l the responsibility of rearing their
family of small children upon the mother, and the result })roves that
ehe was equal to the emergency. Mrs. Xoble is a member of the Pres-
byterian church.
Among the business men of Mercer county none occu[)ies a more
tiidy honorable position than WiiLLL\it Gayle. The thoughtless
masses bestow hasty credit u})on men who have only climbed the hill of
fortune; but it may be necessary to pass down the sharp declivity
on the other side, in the face of all who know them, to discover the pro-
portion of i)ure gold in their characters. Mr. Gayle is a conspicuous
example of that class who have trod the wine-i)ress of business pros-
perity an<l adversity, and whose rugged qualities of integrity and
fortitude luive been proven by .severe trial. He is a native of Fi-ank-
fort, Kentucky, where he was born August IH, 1819, of })arents
descended from purely English ancestry, that settled in this country
prior to the Revolution. In the autumn of 1845 he formed a partner-
ship with James A. Xoble, with whom he had been co-clerk in
Louisville, and this firm of Xoble & Gayle brought a stock goods at
once to Oquawka and (opened out in trade. The following si)ring they
divided their business, and Mr. Gayle came to Keithsburg with half
their stock and began selling goods on the first day of May. This
shortly proved to be a superior location, and the next fall the senior
partner came here from Oquawka and the business was consolidated
184 HISTORY OF MEKCER AJsD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
in this place. Early in 1850 Mr. Noble witlidre-sv. and his place was-
taken % Mr. Gayle's brother-in-law, R. H. Alvis, of Henderson^
Kentucky, who was a partner two years. Before his retirementv
B. F. AYilson, who had been clerking in the house a number of years^
was ffiven a small interest and continued with Mr. Gavle until the
crash of 1857, when the latter failed with assets five-fold greater than
his liabilities. The exceeding stringency of affairs caused his com-
plete financial ruin. Declining all offers of assistance, he at once
engaged in clerking, first in St. Louis and afterward in Keithsburg,
and was so employed until 1871 when he again started in trade on his
own account, and is now firmly established and doing a large business
in grain, flour, coal, lime and cement. Mr. Gayle was liberally
educated, chiefly under the priyate tuition of his father, George Gayle,
who was a scholar of 'scientific and classical attainments. He is a
man who enjoys an unconscious exaltation in being always kind and
accommodating to all men. September 7, 1851, he was maiTied to
Miss Margaret A. Ungles, who has been the mother of ten children
by this marriage, four of whom are liying.
Allen F. Glo\t;r, tailor, oldest child of Silas and Mary (Rob-
ertson) Gloyer, is a native of Abbeville, South Carolina, where he
was born June 17, 1823. At the age of ten he emigrated with his
fathers family to ( )hio. At Fairhaven he learned the tailor's trade,,
and in 184-2 he left the state and the following year settled at Oquawka.
In the spring of 1848 he removed to Keithsburg. and next year was
married to Miss Sarah L., youngest daughtQi- of Jesse and Christinia
Brewer. Her birtlqjlace was Wayne county, Indiana, where she was
born in 1^27. Her parents were originally from North Carolina, and
came to this county in 1835 and settled on the farm now owned by
Solomon Wolf, northeast of Keithsburg. This wife died without
issue in 1850, and three years afterward he was married a second time
to Miss Minerva Catlin, who bore him six children and died in 1873.
In 1854 Mr. Glover removed to Wisconsin, staying there two years.
During some eighteen years after his return he was tending grocery
store as clerk ; since that time he has worked at his trade. About
eii^ht vears aijo lie united with the Methodist church and is now one of
the stewards. He has been a member of Mercer Lodge. Xo. 210,
I.O.O.F. ; he has jjassed all the chairs and been representative to the
grand lodge. In 1864 he was ''raised"* in Robert Burns Lodge,
No. 113, A.F.A.M.. and has been Secretaiy of that lodge since. He
has been elected to the offices of assessor and justice of the peace ;
the latter proving distasteful lie resigned it. lie affiliates politically
with the republicans. His children have been Irene, who died at the
KEITHSBURG TOWNSHIP. 185
age of uiiic-eteu ; Eunim ; kla, now Mrs. ISctli C'luuidler ; (.'luirlie,
George, and Bell (dead).
John Heaton was born at Xenia. Oliio, November 2, 18(»4. His
father was John, son of Jonah Ilcatoii of Bryant's Station, Kentucky,
who was from Connecticut, and who. history says, made the first gun
ever manufactured in the former state. Jouali's son John was edu-
cated by his uncle Daniel, and was a prominent man in his county,
holding the office of county commissioner anfl justice of the peace for
twenty-two consecutive years. James Ileaton worked at and thor-
ouglily learned the trade of his father, that of a bhicksmitli and gun-
smith. In the spring of 1820 (May 25), he was married to Miss Nancy
Henry, daughter c^f William Henry, who was a lirst cousin to Patrick
Henry, of Virginia. It may be proper here to state that while Patrick
was a democrat of the Jefferson school, William was a federalist and
did not sym])athize with him as his descendants have done. Mrs.
Heaton is a woman of great practical ability and native good sense,
who believes that the patent of real royalty belongs to those who do
right and live by industry. They have lived a long and useful life.
Fifty-six years have tliey passed together, and in this time reared a
large family of children : John, of Red Bluff, California, the eldest,
and William Henry, the second child, now of Keithsburg, being the
only sons of six born to them now living. George died in Texas at
the age of forty-three ; James at the age of eleven ; Chauncy, when
eight months old ; and his twin Ijrother Oliver at the same age. Their
six daughters are all living. These ai'e : Sarah Salisbury, at Red
Oak, Iowa ; ^Maria Adair, in Hutcliinson county, Dakota ; Marienne
Phares, at Keithsburg (with whom Mr. and Mrs. Ileaton make their
home); Margaret Ilanna, at Fort Scott, Kansas; ]^[attie Hanna, at
Ocpiawka ; and Sippie Wolff, at Clarinda, Iowa. Mr. Ileaton was a
great lover of stock, and when first married fenced a tract of 3,000
acres on the head of the Little Miami river in Clark county, Ohio,
where he kept in pasture several thousand head of cattle. In 1836
he came to Edgar county, Illinois, and engaged in lousiness. In 1842
he moved to the New Purchase in Iowa. In the fall of 1843 he came
to Henderson county, Illinois, opposite the tlien small town of Bur-
lingtctn. In the spring of that year he settled on a farm on the Elli-
son, in Warren county, and the same season Ixnight the farm where
the to\vn of Ellison now stands. In the fall of 1848, wanting better
facilities for schooling his children, he came to Keitlisburg, where he
lived till the s})ring of 1852, when he moved to Bald Bluff. There he
and his boys made a large farm and gratified that old love of stock by
raising cattle, hogs and horses. In 18<>;s William went to Abingdon,
186 HISTORY OF MERCER AJCD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Knox county, and the next year (leorge went to Texas. It was then
that he gave u\) the farm and nio\ed to Keithsburg, where he now has
a pleasant home and varies his exercise e\ery day with a walk down
town. He is perhaps the best known man in the count}'. He has
always lived a quiet, unassuming life, has worked hard and aimed to
deal fairlv with all who huve had intercourse with him. He is in
religion a predestinarian Ba})tist, in politics a democrat, having cast his
tirst vote for Andrew Jackson in 1828, and adhered to that school ever
since. Like most of the early settlers, Mr. Heaton's home was tlie
abode of hos|)itality, and friend or stranger who came his way was
alike M-elcome to share its refreshments. In his old age he still retains
his love of society, and enjoys recounting the incidents and adventures
of the past. This worthy couple are never happier than when their
house is full of their children and grandchildren, of whom they have
a great number.
From youth to age this wedded pair
Have journeyed on together —
Not alway.s gentle was the wind,
Xor always bland the weather ;
Yet few and light have Iteen their cares,
And light and few their crosses,
And God has shown his ])itying face
Amid their griefs and losses.
Oh, sore the travel and the toil
To reach the roseate i)resent.
Had no affection cheered the way
And made the journey pleasant.
What if the cheek has lost its bloom.
The eye its olden lustre —
What if the locks are thinned and blanched
Which on the temples cluster —
Still hope is fresh and hearts are young,
And love is unabated,
Aud men and angels hail to-duy
The married and the mated.
The loveliest thing on earth is love.
The loveliest and the purest ;
The dearest thing on earth is love,
The dearest and the surest ;
And not alone is heavenly sweet
The honey nf its kisses :
The very tears of love are sweet,
Its very jnings are blisses ;
And they who love witii lnvc tin- best.
The fondest and the strongest —
Love with the loveliest love of all —
Are they wlio love the longest.
KEITHSBriU. ToWNSHIl'. IS"
Ah I I.Kve's dear veterans well deserve
Our <_'reetiii;_'.s and our i)rai!<es.
Since >vhere we l<K)ke<l for Winter's snuws
They point to Siirinti'rf sweet daisies :
Since, when the sea is sniooth and fair,
Or black the tide is tlowinjr,
ThrouLdi all the voyage uf the years
They keep their fond hearts glowing ;
Since, though the frame may show the trace
Of many a blight and fever,
The teeming vineyards of the soul
Are fresh and green as ever;
Since, through the long sweet married days
Their faith and fervor i)roving, •
They make a noble thing of life.
A godlike thing of loving.
Oh, ha])py, true and honored pair I
Oh. ever leal and loyal I
We pay you willing court to-day,
For love has made you royal !
All gentle thoughts and hopes are yours,
All wishes sweet and tender —
What richer tributes can we bring,
What worthier homage render?
God's cherubs still your steps attend.
His peace your fond hearts strengthen,
As o'er the sky above your heads
The evening shadows lengthen ;
And when the night comes on, at last,
And Ijrings its welcome slumber,
Sweet angels from the wondrous host
Which none may name or number.
Shall lead your still united souls
Through shining arch and jKjrtal,
To gardens fair and pastures green,
Where love shall be immortal I
Jerome A. Swezy, deceased, was born in Go.slien. ( )range county,
'New York, August 15, 1815. He removed to Quincy, Illinois, in an
earl}^ day, and was there niamed to Miss Mary J. Atkinson October
12, 1843. He removed to 0(|uawka in 184<!, where he engaged in
merchandising till 1850, when he started on an overland tri}> to Cali-
fornia taking with him two four-horse teams and twelve men. He
remained in California till the following December, when he started
home via the Isthmus, on a passenger steamer. At Grenada. Centi-al
America, he was taken down with a severe fever and remained there
till the following June. When he reached his home he wa.s still in
feeble health, and with a view to impro\ing it, went with his wife
188 HISTORY OF MERCER AJSTD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
to his boyhood liome in jS^ew York. In 1852. hining regained
his health, he returned and settled in Keithsburg. During his thirty
years residence here, he was in business as book-keeper, shipper,
lumber and real estate dealer. He died March 26, 1882. His wife
and six children survive him. The latter are : Emma, \vife of
C. T. Combs; Jessie C. ; Somerville E., wife of H. C. Cook, whose
biography follows ; HattieE. ; Georgia A.; and Hub er.
Henry Chalmers Cook was born in McConnellsburg, Pennsyh'ania,
February 7, 1856, where he grew to manhood. He served an appren-
ticeshi]) of three years in the office of the "Fulton Kepublican"" at
McConnellsburg. In 1876 he came to Illinois and for three years
worked dt his trade of printer at Princeton. In the spring of 1879 he
came to Keithsburg, where he engaged as foreman in the ''News"
office for W. H. Heaton. In June, 1881, he formed a partnership with
R. Wolfe and started the ' ' Keithsburg Times. " In December follow-
ing he sold his interest to his partner and returned to his former place
in the "News'"' office. August 19, 1880, he was united in marriage
w^th Miss Swezy. They have one child, Michael Jerome, born
September 14, 1881.
WiLLi.ui D. Reynolds, stock dealer, was born in Pennsylvania,
September 14, 1841. His parents, William C. and Catharine A.
(Tiger) Reynolds, removed to Mercer county in 1846. and settled in
Ohio Grove township, where they early became identified with the
affairs of the county. Mr. Reynolds, Sr., remained here till the spring
of 1882, when he sold out and went to reside with his daughter in
Iowa. Young William received his education at the pioneer schools
of this county's early history, as well as a thorough knowledge of farm
labor. In 1861 he responded to the President's call for men to pre-
serve the honor of their country's flag and became a member of com-
pany A, 30th reg. 111. Yol. Inf During the service he was twice
wounded, first at Belmont, Missouri, and afterward at Fort Donelson,
-and was soon after discharged on account of disability. He was
married February 11, 1869, to Miss Sarah E., daughter of Lewis and
Maria Sponsler, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Mercer county
in 1860. They are the ])arents of six children living: Maud E.,
Clara A., Lora E. (died March 22, 1882), Lewis G., Guss, Glenn, and
Lucv. Mr. Revnolds is now a resident of the town of Keithsburg,
but expects to I'emove to his farm of 160 acres in Edwards county,
Kansas.
John J. Hawkins, retired farmer, was born in Bath county, Ken-
tucky, September 7, 1 829, and is the sou of Thomas and Malinda
Hawkins. In 1847 they came to Illinois and settled in Abington town-
KKrrirsiui;(i tmwnshii'. 18f>
islii]", Mercer county, wliere lie engaged in funning. December 1, iSoO.
he was united in marriage with Miss Maria E., daughter of Russell
Wordin. Esq., an early settler of Mercer county. She was born
in the State of New York, June 7, 1831. They are the parents of
tliree children, as follows : Lucy, wife of Mr. A. F. Winslow, who is a
conductor on the Central Pacilic i-ailroad and resides at Ogden, Utah ;
Alvis T., and Albert D., on the farm neai- Keithsburg. They are both
members of the ]\Iasonic fraternity. Mr. Hawkins is a member of
liobei-t Burns Lodge, JS'o. 113, Illinois Chapter, No. IT, and Gales-
burg (V)mman(lerv, No. s. A few years after his marriage Mr.
Hawkins removed to the north ])art of Henderson county, where he
lived till 1878, when he took up his residence in Keithsburg. By hard
work and honest industry he has accumulated, besides his town
property, 466 acres of farming land.
Edward Ott, blacksmith, was born in Henderson county, Hlinois,.
March 23, 1848, and was left an orjthan when about eleven years old.
Li December, 1862, when but a little over fourteen years of age, he^
enlisted in the war for the Union as a member of the 12tli Illinois
cavalry and followed the fortunes oi' war till May, 1866. On returning
home he engaged in the butcher business, but soon after turned his-
attention to learning the trade of blacksmith and permanently located
in Keithsburg. February 26, 1875, he was married to Miss Sarah E.
Hall, of Henderson county, Illinois. They have two children :
Mary C. and William C.
Thomas Marlatt, retired farmer, was born in Wayne county,
Indiana, September 12, 1824. His father was a farmer and reared
his children to that hardy and honorable occupation. Mr. ]\Iarlatt
obtained such an education as the common schools of his boyhood
days afforded. At the age of twenty-one he began for himself at
farming. In 1849 he caiiie to Mercer county, wliere he permanently
located and engaged in farming and stock raising. February 2, 1854,
he was united in marriage with Miss Caroline, daughter of James M.
and Elizabeth (Ellis) Dryden. She was born in Highland county,
Ohio, September 4, 1834, and came to Mercer county in 1853. Thej
are the parents of xVlta I., Adella V., Jessie F.. and two children
deceased. On August 17, 1870, Mr. Marlatt met with a painful mis-
fortune, this being no less than the instant loss of his eyesight, caused
by a kick in his face from a nnile. The following year he gave u]>
farming and took up his residence in Keithsburg, where he is now
(1882) enjoying the comforts of a very ])leasant home. Early in life
he became a member of the United Brethren church ; in 1853 was.
licensed to preach, and is now a member of Illinois annual conference,.
190 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
His parents are of English and German ancestry, and were born in
Burkley county, Virginia. The father, Thomas Mariatt, was born in
April, 1792, and the mother, Miss Elizabeth Bellar, in 1799. They
reared a family of twelye children : seyen sons and fiye daughters. In
1823 they remoyed to AVayne county, Indiana, where they resided till
the time of their death after a life of industry and usefulness. He died
in March. 1877, and she in March, 1875. They were consistent mem-
bers of the United Brethren church.
Thomas S. Cl'mmins, justice of the peace, notary, and insurance
agent. Keithsburg. was born February 23, 1836, in Xew Concord,
Muskingum county, Ohio, and was the son of Dayid'R. and Sarah
(Speer) Cummins. In 1851 the family sold their home and embarked
at AVlieeling, Virginia, and came by riyer transportation to Keiths-
burg. arriving in April. They liyed that summer in Ohio Groye
township, where Mr. Cummins had an uncle, Richard Cummins, who
had emigi'ated as early as 1836 and was one of the first settlers.
Most of the family fell sick of the ague, and getting dissatisfied with
the country, returned in the fall to Ohio. They remained there but
two weeks, when they turned their faces again to the west and came to
Granyille. Putnam county, Illinois. Xext summer their experience
with ague was repeated, and when autumn came they were so much
disheartened by the gloomy situation and prospect that they went back
again to their old home in Ohio, where they I'emained till 1851. That
year they came to Keithsburg, this time by team, and Mr. Cummins
has liyed in Mercer county since. He was engaged from that time till
1866 as warehouseman and shipping clerk. From that year till 1873
he was constable ; he was then elected justice of the peace and has
held the office continuously until this time. He has been notary public
since 1871 ; township clerk since 1873, excepting in the year 1877, and
yillage clerk the last two years. In 1871 he began doing an insurance
business, and now represents the Home company of New York. His
marriage with Miss Martha Knight was celebrated Sej^tember 3. 1857.
Their two daughters are Mary Etta and Maggie Belle. The former is
the wddow of John M. Wade, recently deceased ; she and her mother
are communicants in the Methodist church. Mr. Cummins has
always taken much interest in local politics and is a liberal-minded
-democrat.
Ai.yis Hardin was born in Mercer county, Illinois, September 20,
1852. He is the son of B. F. and Minerya Hardin. He was married
to Miss Xettie Doak January 1, 1882. Mrs. Hardin is the daughter of
Matthew and Sarah A. Doak. Mr. Hardin is a farmer.
KKITHSIURG TOWNSHII'. 191
In tlie fall of 1853 Ciiarle-s J. Simpson came from Ohio and perma-
nently located in the village of Keithsburg, where he now enjoys the
comforts of a jDleasant home, lie was born in Preble county, Ohio, Feb.
ruary 22, 1823. He is a son of Aaron and Hannah (Smith) Simpson,
who were natives of Xew Jersey, and are of Scotch and English ances-
try. He was bred a farmer. May 2, 1814, he married Barbara,
daughter of John and Dorothea (Mowen) Beaver. She was born in
Franklin county, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1827. In 180O Mr. Sim]>-
son began the practice of veterinary surgery in which he has had good
success. They have four children, Laura, Daniel A., who has a brilliant
war record, William B., and Pauline G. wife of E. Loosley. Mr. Simp-
son is a member of the I.O.O.F., lodge Xo. 210.
John Dunn, butcher, was born in Pennsvlvania Februarv 1, 1814.
and is a son of Amos and Catherine (Cameron) Dunn. In 1853 he
with his parents embarked on the steamer New York at Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, for Keithsburg, Illinois, and made the entire trip without
change. They at once went to Ohio Grove township where they pur-
chased a farm and began to make a home for themselves. They lirst
camped out till they could build a cabin. Here John grew up to man-
hood with but little means of obtaining an education. In August, 18f)2,
he enlisted in company G, 102d 111. Vol. Inf., and for the next three years
devoted his time in the defense of his country's flag. At the battle of
Resacca, Georgia, he was wounded in the hips and was placed in the
hospital for treatment, from which he was discharged June 22, 1865,
and returned to Keithsburg. March 21, 1867, he was united in mar-
riage to Miss Maria McPherren, who was born in Suez township, Mercer
county, March 1, 181-3. They are the parents of Catharine P., Amos D.,
and Thomas, and three deceased. After his marriage Mr. Dunn en-
gaged in farming, but on account of his wound disabling him for farm
labor he abandoned farming and bought an interest in a coal mine and
.five years later sold out and came to Keithsburg, where he still resides
engaged in the butcher business. He is a member of the I.O.O.F.,
lodge No. 210.
PoBERT C. Humbert, merchant, is a son ol' Emanuel and Frances
(McPeynolds) Humbert ; was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, Jan-
uary 26, 1831 ; removed with his parents to Fountain county, Indiana,
when about three years of age, where at the age of sixteen he became
an apprentice as bricklayer and plasterer. In 1853 he came to Mercer
county, Illinois, and engaged in working at his trade in Keithsburg till
1857, when he became a merchant in the dry goods line, following the
business till 1864. At that time l\Ir. Humbert arranged to go west as
far as Montana. His object was partly speculative but more particularly
1i)'2 HISTORY OF MEKCEK AXD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
for tlie benefit of an invalid brotlier-in-law. George Gore, who was suf-
fering with that dreaded disease consumption, who while there regained
his health. On their way out they purchased a stock of goods which
they afterward lost, being attacked by Indians and robbed. The next
year Mr. Humbert returned to his home in Keithsburg where he has
since had a continuous residence, except three years spent on his farm
in Henderson county. November 26, 1857. Mr. Humbert was united
in marriage with Miss Sarah, daughter of Pliilip Gore, Esq., an early
settler of this county. She was born in Maryland, January 31, 1839.
They are the parents of seven children: Harry P., George C, Edward E.,
James F., Fannie D., Bart G., and Robert R. Mr. Humbert is a mem-
ber of Robert Burns Lodge, Xo. 113, Illinois Chapter, Xo. IT, imd
Galesburg Commandary, Xo. 8.
John C. Humphrey, harness maker, is a native of Columbiana
.■county, Ohio, and was born February 12, 1827. He was reared on
the farm and educated in the common schools of his native state. In
1854 he made a trip to California, where he remained nearly three
years. Soon after his return home he came to Iveithsbura;, and in
company with Mr. Samuel Evans, engaged in the business he now
follows. September 2, 1858, he married Miss iVmanda, daughter of
Jacob Wolf, a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, who with
her ])arents came to Illinois in 1856. They are the parents of eight
children: Mary, Harry W., Willis M., Ida, Ernest L., Mark J.,
Edward F., and Eva B.
Clarence S. Frick, grain dealer, is a son of Benjamin P. and
Annie E. (Stewart) Frick, who are well known and prominently con-
nected in this county. He was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania,
•January 2, 1848, and came to Mercer county, Illinois, in 1855, with
his parents. His education was principally obtained m Keithsburg,
though he attended several terms of high school in M(jnmouth, Illinois.
In 1872 he engaged in merchandising and grain buying in Keithsburg.
under the firm name of C. A. Frick A: Bros. He was also for a time
connected with the Farmers" Xational Bank, of this ]:>lace, as book-
keeper. In 1881 he began his present business of buying and shipping
o;rain. February 2, 1876, he was united in marriage with Miss Xellie
EUett, a daughter of Benjamin D. and (JrjJia (Myers) Ellett, early
settlers of Keithsburg. They have one child, George Henry, bom
February 17, 1870. Mr. Frick is a member of Mercer Lodge, Xo. 210,
I.O.O.F.
Captain Wycofl^'s father was born in Allegheny county, Penns}'!-
vania, in 1703, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife
was a Miss Susan Peairs. Soon after his marriage he removed to
KEITHSBURO TOWNSHIP. 193
Muskingum county, Ohio, where he reared a family of nine children,
two sons and seven daughters. lie died in 1857, and his old and hon-
ored wife is still (1882) living at her old home in Ohio. Our subject,
Captain J. P. Wyooff, is eldest son and second child. He was born in
Muskingum county, Ohio, September 18, 1819, and was reared on the
farm with but limited educational advantages. December 23. 1840, he
was- united in marriage with Miss Matilda Davis, of the same county.
Her parents were Samuel and Mai-y (Geyer) Davis, who were also
natives of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. The year after his mar-
riage Mr. Wycoif removed to Allen county, near Fort Wayne, Indiana,
and settled in the tall timber, and there hewed out for himself a home
on land previously entered by his father. In 1855 he bought a farm
in Sec. 11, T. 13, R. 5, Keithsburg township, and in 1856 sold his
home in Indiana and moved to his new home, which he has since built
up to be one of the most pleasant in the county, and contains 2 HO acres.
In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in company G, 102d reg. 111.
Vol. Inf., to which he was at once elected captain, but in December
of the same year was forced to resign on account of sickness. Mr.
Wycoif has been a member of the Presbyterian church since the age
of seventeen and an elder for the past tliirt}' years. He has one son
(an only child), Albeit P., born January 1, 1842. His means for ob-
taining an education were quite limited, but by extensive reading, and
being a close observer, he has gained a good business education.
October 17, 1861, he was married to Miss Myra, daughter of George
•and Xancy (Maxfield) Jay. She was born in Mercer county, Illinois,
November 29, 1843, and is one of this county's literary ladies. They
have a family of three interesting children: Earl J., Lura D.. and
Ethlin Fern. They are membei's of the MethocUst Episcopal church
and take an active part in its affairs.
To the soldier who dared death that a great nation with all its
legitimate institutions might live, not only belongs i)raise, but the
gratitude of a whole people. The })ages of future history will not
shine with examples of generalshij) alone, but the captain, his
subordinates and privates, who fought in the thickest cai'nage, will
lend their light to future heroes. Captain DA^■ID M. Holsted, son of
David and Nancy (Allshaver) Hoisted, was born in Oneida county,
New^ York, Julv 10, 1832. He resided on a farm till fifteen vears
of age, receiving a common school education. He early engaged in
the manufacture of brick. In 185U he became foreman of the Cleve-
land cV: Ohio Pailroad Construction Comi)any, and soon after became
a contractor. In 1856 he canu' to Illinois. In ISCI, when war's
cruel tongue called for soldiery, he, in company with Col. R. G.
l!»4 HISTORY *»F MERCEK .V^T) HEXDERSON COUNTIES.
Ingersoll. recruited the lltli reg. 111. cavalry. Col. Ingersoll receiving
the command. In 1882 Mr. Hoisted aided in raising the 85th reg. 111.
Vol. Inf.. whose commander was Col. Moore. Mr. Hoisted volun-
teered as 1st lieutenant. For heroic conduct at the battle of Stone
river. Gov. Yates commissioned him captain. At the battle of Chick-
amauga he was wounded, necessitating his resignation. For four
months he w'as unable to feed himself; for one year he was unable
to step up six inches high, and disabled for work a year longer.
After regaining his health he resumed contracting, this time on the
Toledo, Peoria 6z AVarsaw railroad. In ll^TS he came to Keith sburg,
and, in company with J. K. Hornish, contracted to build the Keiths-
burg t^ Eastern narrow-gauge railroad, which, on account of the
financial crash of 1873, is yet unbuilt. In 1857 he became a member
of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows, and now holds liis mem-
bership in Mason Lodge, 143. He is also a member of the encamp-
ment at Keithsburg, and a member of the Order of the Red Cross
organization of Faii'field. Iowa. Mr. Hoisted was married March 28,
1849, to Miss Eveline L., daughter of Ori-in Fenton, Esq., of Cleve-
land, Ohio. They have one child living. Miss Lottie.
Hugh Smith Scott, farmer, was born in Washington county, Vir-
ginia, July 20, 1807, and is the son of Samuel and Jane (Hntton) Scott.
He was reared a farmer. His education was received in the pioneer
schools of Virginia. September 18, 1828, a few months after obtaining
majority he was nnited in marriage with Sarah, daughter of James
and Jane (Clark) Lion, also a native of the same county. Soon after
marriage they emigrated to Indiana, and settled in Fountain county,
remaining there until 1856. In that year they again removed, this
time to find a linal resting place in Mercer connty, where he settled
on a farm ])reviously purchased of Mr. Gayle. AVhile a resident of
Indiana, in 1845, Mr. Scotfs friends put him forward as a candidate
on the democratic ticket for representative in the state legislatnre, to
which office he was elected by a large ma.iority. As an evidence of
his popularity, the towniship in which he resided, that usually gave
a democratic majority of about 80, gave him the compliment of 144
majority. He was also twice elected county assessor and once county
collector of Fountain county. He has also held numerous other
offices of honor and trust, among which have been that of supervisor
of Keithsburg township, and also of* justice of the peace for eight
years. He has been prominently identified with the Methodist church
of Keithsburg since his residence here. Of his large family, Sanniel,
.lane, wife of Ro])ert Campbell, of Fountain county, Indiana, Lilburn
^ii^^T^^ycyC^
/^;
KEITHSBURG TOWNSHIP. 197
S., Angeline T., Julia C, wife of C. Dryden, Howard and Florilla,
wife of William Stewart, are living. Susan is deceased.
Samuel Scott, farmer and stock raiser, is a son of Hugh S. and
Sarah (Lion) Scott. He was born in Fountain county, Indiana,
Koyember 21, 1829, and was reared principally at farming. He
received the best education obtainable in the early schools of his native
state. Early in life he made clerking his business for five years, and
spent two years in the state auditor's office at Indianapolis. In 1855
he came to Mercer county and engaged in farming, making that his
pennanent business. October 1, 1857, he was united in marriage
with Miss Sarah E., daughter of John McH. and Margaret (Cramer)
Wilson, a native of Michigan, who came to Mercer county wdien about
■six months old. She was born August 26, 1836. They are the
parents of live children, viz : Guy C. , Edgar S. , Carrie W. , John
McH. , and Hugh M. Mr. Scott is a member of the masonic fraternit}',
and holds his membership in Robert Burns Lodge, Ko. 113. He is a
live, energetic business man, and one whom it would be well for om*
young men to pattern after.
Mr. C. S. Orth. who was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania,
in 1835, educated at Franklin and Marshall colleges, at Mercersburg,
in the. same state, emigrated to Iowa City in 1857; came the next
year to Keithsburg where he located in general merchandising in com-
pany with N. B. Cox. In 1862 the latter was rei»laced by J. P. Reed,
^ho died in 1866 ; afterward Mr, Oith continued in the same line
of trade with M. A. Weaver as partner, and in 1877 he closed up his
business in the place. He is now in trade at Bedford and Clarinda,
Iowa, but his family reside in Keithsburg. He has been closely iden-
tified with the history and devotedly attached to the interests of this
place since he settled here, and a public-spirited supporter of every
worthy undertaking. He was president of the town board one year,
and for seven years fi'om 1874 was a director of the public school, a
position in which he won credit and popularity for very efticient and
acknowledged valuable services. In the railroad questions which have
agitated the people of this section, he has taken a full share of interest
and exhibited his well-known vigilance and activity. He has some-
times directed his infiuence and energies against these as well as other
enterprises, and time has generally confirmed his judgment and fore-
sight. His marriage with Miss Fanny M., daughter of Abram B.
Sheriff, a pioneer settler of Mercer county, took place in 1863. They
are the parents of eight living children.
George W. WnrriNG, boot and shoe dealer, was born in Cam-
bridgeshire, England, September 27, 1834, and was the eldest son of
12
198 HISTORY OF MERCER AXD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
William and Sarah (Gothard) Whiting. His father was a native of
Iladnam. England, where he was born June 12, l^il4, and his mother
w-as born in the same place June 17, 1815. This couple was joined
in marriage May 11, 1833. In 1837 the family emigrated to the
United States, in the sailing vessel Neptune, and having settled at
Lockport, uS^ew York, Mr. Whiting's father began manufacturing boots
and shoes in a small way. By close attention to his trade his business
grew into a large manufacturing house in which, after a few years,
he employed from thirty to forty men. In 1854 he lost his property
by fire, and in October of the same year he brought his family to
Mercer county, where he arrived on the 23d of the month. He settled
in Keithsburg and died in this place September 26, 1879. His wife
preceded him to her final rest January 18, 1877. The subject of
this notice remtiined at home with his father and learned the shoe-
maker's trade. In March, 1855, he also came to Keithsburg w4th his
newly-married wife, and at once engaged in the boot and shoe trade,
which he has built up to its present prosperous condition. His
marriage with Miss Sarah A. Wilson occurred in Lockport, Xew York, .
September 7, 1854. She was born at Saratoga May 1, 1835. Mr.
Whiting ranks with the foremost and most public spirited men of his
township, and his family is justly esteemed for their social qualities
and literary tastes.
William L. Range is a son of Christian and Louisa (Block)
Range, and was born and reared a Hessian, in -what is now a province
of Prussia. His father was a baker by trade, and he was reared to
that business. His education was principally obtained in the common
schools. September 24, 1858, he was married to Miss Caroline Xagle,
a native of the same place. On the 4th of October following they
left their native home to seek one in America, and after a perilous
voyage of three months on the sailing vessel Aristiezer, landed in
New York January 4, 1859. During their last four weeks on the sea
they were reduced almost to a point of starvation, the ship having
gone out of her course during the terrible storms that prevailed in
the early part of the voyage. After landing in Xew York they at
once came on to Rock Island, Illinois, where they remained about one
year, when they came to Mercer county, and soon after permanently
located in Keithsburg and established a bakery and restaurant, making
the same their business through life. They are the parents of five
children : Karl A. W. C, Lewis W., Emnui A., Eda L., and William F.
They are members of the Lutheran Church of Rock Island, where the
older ones of the children ha\e been sent to be educated and confirmed.
KEITIISRURr, TOWNSHIP. 199
Mr. Range was born N<^>venibcr 24, 1834, and Mrs Kange December
19, 1832. He is a member of Mercer Lodge, No. 210, I.O.O.F.
Dr. Samuel Kkllkv, physician and surgeon, is a native of New
Jersey, tlioiigh he was reared in Ohio, his parents moving to Cincinnati
wlien he was quite young, lie was born February 17, 1812, and at
the age of about twenty began the study of law at Lexington, Ken-
tucky, and was admitted to tlie bar at Lafayette, Indiana, where he had
read law for nine months with Hon. John Petit and Hon. Godlove
Orth, in 1841. After practicing law a short time he turned his atten-
tion to the study of medicine, which he successfully practiced in Oliio
and Indiana, the last twelve years prior to 1859 being spent in tlie
latter stiite. In Fountain county he was united in marriage with
Miss Frances E., daughter of Mr. David Parrott, September 6, 1849.
In 1859 Dr. Kelley came to Mercer county, Illinois, where he has con-
tinued in the practice of his profession, and has been a citizen of
Keithsburg, where he is enjoying the society of his many warm friends.
He has one son, Wilber, born in Fountain county, Indiana, October
27, 1858. He is a graduate of the Physicians and Surgeons Medical
College of Keokuk, Iowa, where he received his diploma February 28,
1882.
According to well authenticated tradition the Campbells w^ere Scotch
Highlanders connected with the House of Argyle. During the ]K'riod
of religious persecution they fled to the north of Ireland where John
Campbell was born, reared and married, and where to him his children
were born. In the spring of 1849 he with his wife Catherine (McKee)
emigrated to the L^nited States, sailing in the Gertrude. After landing
on the American shores thev at once came on to Illinois, settlino; in
Kock Island, where Mr. Campbell died from sun stroke in 1851. Mrs.
Campbell died in 1857, lea\'ing a family of eight children. Hugli
Campbell, the eldest son, was born in county Down, Ireland, April 7.
1831. Soon after settling in Rock Island he became an apprentice to
a wagon and carriage •maker. After completing the trade in isOO he
came to Keithsburg with a view of following his trade in this place,
which, however, was abandoned at the outbreak of the rebellion in 1861,
when he enlisted in company I, 17th 111. Vol. Inf. After following the
fortunes of war three years and going safely through a number of hard
fought battles he was honorably discharged and returned to Keithsburg,
where he permanently settled and engaged in the manufacture of wagons
and carriages. October 3, 1807, he was united in nuirriage with
Mrs. Mary C. Ball, \\ndow of Lieut. L. T. Ball, of corn j. any II, 84th
111. Vol. Inf., killed in the late war December 31, 18<;2. Mr. Campbell
has been for a number of years a member of the city council, and his
200 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
good judement and thorough business principles have won for him
numj warm friends. Two other sons of John Campbell, John and Will-
iam, are extensive farmers of Otoe county, Nebraska, the latter of
whom was elected in 1881 state senator on the republican ticket.
Samuel was killed at Atlanta, Georgia. Alexander's sketch appears
elsewhere in this work. There were also three daughters : Mary, widow
of "William Collins ; Elizabeth, widow of William Walker, who is now
the mother of eight sons ; and Jane, wife of Samuel Wamock. The
first two are now residents of Nebraska, the last of Kansas, Their
father was born August 14, 1799, and their grandfather. Hugh Camp-
bell, September 22, 1755.
Charles A. Mertz, lumber dealer, was born in the kingdom
of Bavaria, January 30, 1844. His father died when he was
four years old, and in 1854 the widowed mother, taking her little
family, came to America in the sailing vessel Magdalin. and settled in
Rochester, New York. After a short residence there they went to
Wisconsin. In 1861 our subject returned to New York, and in January.
1853, enlisted in company G, 159th N. Y. Yols., being a recruit in
that regiment. The first considerable battle in which he was a partici-
pant was that of the Wilderness ; then followed in rapid succession
Spottsylvania, the North Anna, Paumunky River, Cold Harbor, and
the battle in front of Petersburg, up to August 25th, in all of which he
was engaged. On the last date he was captured at Reams' station on
the Weldon railroad vntii 2,600 others. He was confined first at
Petersburg, then removed to Libby prison, and from there to Belle
Isle. Li the last two places he spent three months. He was taken
next to Salisbury, where he remained till February, 1865, when there
began a general perambulation of prisoners in that region of the Con-
federacy on account of the movements of Gen. Sherman's army. From
Salisbury he went to Columbia and stayed there two weeks ; then about
as much time was passed in Charleston ; a stop of a few days was made
in Raleigh ; and then the detatchment went on to Jamestown, North
Carolina, where Mr. Mertz and eight others made their successful escape
from a camp of 8,000 by wading neck deep in water past the rebel
sentinel and swdmming the rest of the way for a mile. From thence
his progress to the Union lines was a repetition of the experience of
every escaped prisoner : he was fed and ])iloted by negroes, and he hid
and wandered about in racking fear and anxiety for three long weeks,
and traveled 240 miles when the squad struck the 16th N. Y. cavalry
in the neighborhood of Burkesville Junction, Yirginia. When Mr.
Mertz was captured he weighed 165 pounds ; when he got back into the
Union camp his weight was 98 pounds. His prison life forms a chapter
KEITIISBURG TfAVNSHIP. 201
of thrilling experiences and terrible suffering^*, while he was the helpless
witness of the most atrocious diabolism in the treatment of Union
prisoners that ever blackened the page of human history. AVlien the
159th was mustered out in May, 1865, Mr. Mertz was transferred to
company H, lOth N. Y. Inf., in which he completed his tenn of service
and was discharged at New York city in August following. ITe came
directly to Mercer county, but shortly after went to the oil regions of
Pennsylvania and stayed a little while, after which he went west in the
employ of the Union Faciiic Railway Company. In 1871 he returned
to this county and settled in Keithsburg, engaging in the furniture
trade ^vith C. C. Wordin, the present gentlemanly clerk of the county
court. In May, 1880, he embarked in the lumber business with his
brother, their place of trade being on the corner Washington and
Third streets. Besides a saw-mill here they have another on the Iowa
side above New Boston. October 27, 1873, he celebrated his nuj)-
tials with Augusta Belle, daughter of 11. G. Calhoun. She was born
in Keithsburg, November 29, 1862. They have one child, Ora B.,
born September 13, 1874. Mr. Mertz is a member of Robert Burns
Lodge, No. 113, Illinois Chapter, No. 17, and Galesburg Commandery,
No, 8. Lewis L. Mertz, brother of the above, was born also in
Bavaria, February 11, 1847, and emigrated to this country with the
rest of the family. On February 1, 1864, he enlisted at Rochester,
New York, in Battery L, 1st N. Y. Light Artillery, and served until
mustered out at Elmira, June 19, 1865. Beginning with the battle
of the Wilderness, he fought throughout the campaign following
ui> to the surrender of Lee. At the age of twelve he entered
the AVoodbury Engine Works, where he learned the trade of an
engineer, which he has followed in different ])laces, but }>articularly
in the oil regions of Pennsylvania. In December, 1865, he came
to Keithsburg and sold furniture with his brother a short while ;
in 1867 he engaged with a surveying party on the I'nion Pacitic
railway ; in 1868 he went into the gold mines of Montana, where
he remained nearly four years. He was married to Miss Janet,
daughter of Daniel Keith, July 6, 1871. She was born in this place in
September, 1849. They settled on a farm of 320 acres in Boone county,
Iowa, and lived there six years. In May, 1880, Mr. Mertz removed
with his family to Keithsburg, where he has since been engaged in the
furniture and lumber business. He is a Roval Arch ^Mason. His four
children are: Sibvl J., Jacob R., William B., Elizabeth M. The
father of these brothers was named John J. Mertz, and was a native of
Ijavaria, where he was born in the year 1800. In early life he learned
the trade of a cooper, but later he became quite wealthy, and engaged
202 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
in farming. In the Ke volution of 1848, he lost his property by sign-
ing with other men, and in the same year died. The mother, IMather
Mina (Watchter), born in 1805, has her home with her children in this
place.
Dennis Murto, merchant, was born in Sligo county, Ireland, Jan-
uary 1, 1882, and is the third son of a family of six children wliosa
father died early in life, leaving them to tlie care of their widowed
mother, who soon after sold out her interest there and went to
England, where she remained till August 1860. She then came to
America, bringing her three daughters. Dennis, the subject of this
notice, left England in a full clipper American sailing vessel, the
Martha Greenleaf, and after a voyage of nineteen weeks arrived
in jSTew Orleans April 4-, 1858. He at onpe pushed on up the Missis-
sippi river to Davenport, Iowa, but soon returned to Oquawka,
Illinois, and hired out to work for Mr, C. W. Harris, beginning at
$10 per month, and remained for three years. He was also for a
short time engaged in driving stage and carrying the mail from Sage-
town to Keithsburg. On August 14, 1862, being refused a place
in the ranks of the army in the war for the Union, he started for
California, from where he returned to Keithsburg in October, 1865,
and at once engaged as a day laborer. In 1874, in company with his
brother, he began the mercantile business in the grocery line, and in
1880 he become sole owner of his present prosperous business.
Besides his town property he owns two good farms in Mercer county.
December 6, 1865, he married Miss Bridget Gilrain, a native of Ire-
land, by whom he has one child, Mary Rose.
Alexander Campbell was born June 22, 1846, in county Down,
Ireland, from whence three years later he came with his parents to
America and settled in Rock Island, Illinois. In the early part of the
late wai', though only sixteen years of age, he enlisted in company D,
11th Iowa Inf.^ and carried a gun three years. At the end of this
time he re-enlisted and was chosen color-bearer, and carried the old
flag to the end of the war, when he was honorably discharged, having
served his country as a soldier four years before he was twenty-one.
On the 23d of Jul}^ 1864, in front of Atlanta, his brother Samuel was
killed while fighting by his side.. After his return from the war
Mr. Campbell came to Keitlisburg and learned the trade of wagon and
carriage making, which business he followed until 1878, when he was
appointed mail agent on the Clalva and Keithsburg route of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, which position he has since
held. December 16, 1870, he was united in marriage with Sarah A.,
daughter of John and Hannah (Wilson) Nevius, early settlers
KEITHSBL'RG TOWNSHIP. 203
of Mercer county. She was born in ( )liio, Febrmirv 19, lS-48, but
was reared in Keitlisburg. Tliev have a family of live chihh'en :
Daisy L., Walter C, Maud G., Mabel N. and Harry L.
Dr. George B. Sapp, dentist, was ])oi'ii in Clermont county, Ohio,
July '23, 1832. He received the greater |)art of his education in a log
school-house in his native county. In 1854 he came to Illinois. In
I860 he began studying in Decatur, where he comj)leted a course of
study lie had previously begun. In 18(55 he came to Mercer county
and began the practice <^f his profession. The doctor has been twice
married. His lirst marriage was in 1860, but death soon deprived
him of his partner. His second marriage was on June 22, 1871, to
Miss Norah Plesants. They have three chihh'en, whose names in the
order of their ages are : Ula, Rosa G., and George B.
John Helwig, butcher, is a son of Christopher Helwig, and was
born in Germany December 26, 1839. In 1856 he emigrated with his
parents to America, and with them settled in Dunkirk, in the State of
New- York, where the most of the family and his parents still reside.
In 1868 he came to Illinois and settled in Hancock county, where he
remained till 1875, when he came to Keitlisburg and engaged in his
present business. Since his residence in Keitlisburg he has been three
times elected as one of the town board, and is one of the school
directors. He is a member of Mercer Lodge, ]^o. 210, I.O.O.F., and
of Encampment No. 89. May 5, 1861, he was united in marriage to
Miss Katharine Hacker, a native of Bavaria. They have four children :
John L., Frank W., Lewis A., and Charles.
Charles G. Slocumb, lumber dealer, was born at Albany, Wliite-
side county, Illinois, January 1, 1843, and is a son of Mr. Alfred
Slocumb, an old and well known settler of that county, who helped to
lay out the town of Albany. He died there September 9, 1860, after
a life of usefulness and industry. Charles, the subject of this sketch,
was reared as most boys in a new country, at hard work, with but lim-
ited means of obtaining an education, yet by industry and close ai)pli-
cation to study he has acquired a good business education. In 1865
he went into the anny, and after his return home engaged in mer-
chandising at Havana, Mason county, Illinois. This he followed but a
short time wdien he sold out and went to Cliii)pewa Falls. Wisconsin,
where he engaged in the manufacture of l)rick. wliich he followed
about three years. After this he engaged in boating on the Mississii)i)i
river. In 1876 he came to Keitlisburg, where he permanently located,
and engaged in the lum})er Ijusiness. He also o^\nis a mill here for the
manutacture of lumber. March 20, 1875, he was united in marriage
204 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
with Miss Maria E. Stephens, of Mount Yernon, Iowa. They have
two children : Clyde E. and Maud S. Mr. Slocumb is a member ot*^
Eobert Burns Lodge, ITo. 113, A.F.A.M.
In all professions and occupations there are those who are ' ' fussy, "
nervous and bombastic, making great noise over small achievements,
while others are quiet, unobtrusive, meritorious workers in whatever
sphere they occupy in the world's great drama. Such an one is the
subject of this sketch. Dr. John S. Ai.len. He is not old enough to be
a pioneer of the country or in his profession, but is performing well the
part which he has chosen in life's duties. Dr. Allen is comparatively
a young man, having been born in Galesburg, Illinois, Xovember 23,,
1851. He is the seventh son of Sheldon W. and Fidelia (Leach) Allen.
The doctor attended the common schools of the city f»f Galesburg, and
also Knox College and Lombard University. He also took a coui'se in
the Western Business College of the same city. At the age of twenty-
two years he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. J. B.
Yi^don, of Galesburg, and after a due course of study he attended three
terms at Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, and graduated in 1877.
He settled in Ivewanee, where he remained but a short time, and then
removed to Keithsburg, where he has since remained, doing a line
business in his profession. Dr. Allen was married June 20, 1877, to
Miss Florence, daughter of H. M. and Jane Condie, of Chicago. They
have two children : Harry S. and John L. Dr. Allen is a member of
the Order of Odd-Fellows, and is quite an active worker in the interests,
of the order. Politically he is a republican, but p^ys more attention
to medicine than to politics, and it has been the good fortune of few
young professional men to more quickly win the confidence of the
majority of the people than Dr. Allen has.
L^vnsing K. Jenne, veterinary surgeon, is a son of John and Sarah
(Freeman) Jeime. He was born in Genesee county, jSTew York, June
15, 1820. Xovember 4, 18-10, he was married to Miss Submit Ashley,
a native of Ontario county, New York. In about 1850 he removed to.
Michigan, and settled near Grand Rapids, where he bought land and
made a larni by chopping it out of the green woods. This tiirm he
sold, and in 1872 removed to Muscatine, Iowa, where he remained till
1880, when he came to Keithsburg. Early in life he paid some atten-
tion to the study of veterinary surgery, and by careful study and good
luck has become master of his profession. He is the father of six chil-
dren, living: jSTewton E., Edward S., Frank F., JolinW., Sarah S., and
Lua M.
MII-LERSBlKi; TO\VNSim>. 205-
MILLERS13URG TUAV^XSHIP.
As we begin the task of writing the first history of this township,
knowing tliat ahnost a half centurv lias passed since the first settlement
was made within its boundaries bv civilized men, without so much as
a diary of incidents and dates being kept of what has transpired, we
can but feel that the task is a ditticult one. The resources for data
concerning the early settlement has been rapidly decreasing during
the later years, till at present only a very small number of the
pioneers remain to tell the story. AVere the memory so absolutely
perfect that nothing once known could slip away, we could yet exj)ect
to pen for the present all things of interest that have transpired in
Millersburg township during the past fifty years.
But notwithstanding all the imperfections of memory, enough of
the history of Millersburg township remains to impress upon the
minds of the rising generation the noble and resolute character of
the pioneers who first planted civilization and civilized institutions
within its boundaries. Those old pioneers, 'tis true, did not lead great
armies like Genghis Khan, or a Napoleon, or Cajsar, devastating
whole empires and kingdoms, but they did a noble work — a work
that should cro^v^l their memories with the hon(5r of pushing out
upon the frontier and lapng the foundations of happy and pleasant
homes for those who should come after them, in a wilderness beset
with the privations and toils inherent to early settlement of almost
every country. Let us seat ourselves by the grassy mound that marks
the resting place of their aged dust and study their characters and the
part they played in the world's drama, and then ask ourselves these
questions : Are they not deserving of all the honors we can heap upon
them i Can the gay, festive boy aff<>rd to pass lightly by the character
of his now sleeping ancestor, to study the character and lives of those
wlio have become eminent in the world's history because of the cir-
cumstances which made them? Is there not a lesson for the blithe
and lively girl of to-day in the patience of that old grandmother now
sweetly sleeping beneath the sod, after so many years of earnest toil,
that her granddaughter might live the life of a queen instead of the
life of a slave in a desert ■
There is a lesson for all in the character of these sturdy ])ioneers.
whose toiling hands only rested when the angel said: "Kest; your
work is done." That lesson can only be learned from the institution*
they planted and nurtured till they were called away.
Let us look o\er and locate the territory of the section whose
206 HISTORY OF MERCER A>'D HEXDERSON COUNTIES.
history we are to write. It consists of thirty-six S(|uare miles, bounded
■on the noitli by Duncan township, on the east by Mercer, on the south
by Abington, and on the west by Xew Boston.
Let us iniayine ourselves near the center of this tract of country,
looking around us from some high eminence, a half century ago.
Almost at our feet is the Edwards riyer, quietly mo^-ing along to join
the father of waters, flowing almost directly west across the to^ynship.
On either side it is almost inyariably fringed with narrow, fiat
bottoms overgrown with forest trees, and hedged in by abrupt bluffs
reachingf to the height of sixty, and sometimes eie^htv. feet. Casting
our eye to the northwest we can see the forest undulations, like the
billows of an angry sea, where breaks of Camp creek and those of the
Edwards river meet. This last-named stream flows southwest across
sections 5 and 7. The Edwards makes a sharp curve on sections 8 and
9, approaching almost to within one mile of the north line of the
township. Looking to the northeast of the township we see the undu-
lations growing smaller and smaller, until they present almost a
straight line on the horizon ; this is partly timber and the rest prairie.
Turning to the south, a beautiful landscape meets the eye. The tall,
waving grass marks the gentle undulations of the land on the south
and southeast ; on the southwest the breaks of Pope creek extend
north of the south' line about one mile. What were at first low sags,
extending back from the streams, receiving quietly the water exuding
from the upland and bearing it on without a ripple, have now grown in
many places into deep gulches, growing deeper with each freshet. At
the time of the first white settlement the Indians of this part of the
state had been conquered and most of tliem were gone. Could we
have stood here fifty years ago, looking down into the Edwards river as
it rolled gently along, we would have realized that the red men who
once in awhile come to "sdew the hunting-grounds of their fathers and
visit the graves of their kindred are almost the only visitors to this
locality. The deer, the wolf, the wild duck, the jn-airie chicken and
the sand-hill ci-ane sport upon the banks, watching the fish as they play
in its jdacid waters, without fear of being molested even by the skulk-
ing red man whom they had been accustomed to see creeping down the
ravine, through the tall grass, to surprise them in their haunts. These
were balmy days for these inhabitants, of so many different species.
The red man of the forest had taken up his march in the direction of
the setting sun, to make room for the industrious settler who was soon
to follow, taking nothing with him but his wigwam and weapons.
As the red nuxn moved out to make room for the civilized settler.
Mii.i.KKsnrKc; TiiwxsHii'. 207
so must these motley, but interesting- ami lia])py groups .of binls and
■quadrupeds move out and give place to the domesticated of their kind.
. Of the man (»f the forest but few traces of his haunts or works
remain, save a few mounds on section 4. The section is well timbered
with oak, hickory, walnut and other kinds of forest trees. (.)f so great
anti(|uity are these mounds that the forest trees nsing from their
summits compare in size and age with those of the surrounding forest.
These mounds are from three to six feet high. Froin some of them
have been taken tomahawks of stone, arrow heads, human bones,
which nature's forces had not yet reduced to common clay, and other
trinkets. To us here is the history of a race unwritten so far as we
can tell, save by the implements they buried with their dead. Of the
lower orders of the early inhabitants few remain, and tliev ]ir)ke
through hedge and wood to escape the hunter and his dog.
The whole scene is now changed. The northwest quarter, which
was originally all timber, is now partly cut oif, and herds of cattle and
sheep dot its hills and sloi)es. Looking to the northeast quarter,
beautiful farms of waving tields of wheat and growing corn, with here
and there a forest grove, meet the eye. Turning to that part of the
township south of the Edwards, the fields of tall and waving wild
grass have disappeared, in lieu of which we now behold beautiful
farms, with cozy dwellings, inhabited by a prosperous people. This
section of the township for all agricultural purposes cannot be excelled
in the county; nor can the part north of tlie Edwards be excelled for
line stock farms.
pioxep:r settlers and settlements.
It will not be out of phlce to drop a few remarks as to the charac-
ter of the pioneers, for the character of history <lepends upon that of
the men who made it. The greater part of the pioneers and early
settlers who located in Millersburg township were from Pennsylvania
and Ohio, a few coming from Virginia, some from Ireland, some from
NeV York and Kentucky, with now and then a settler from some
other quarter of civilization. But, remarkable as it may seem, they
belonged for the most part to the same class of scx'iety. They
were people of small means, whose object in coming to the western
wilds was to procure for themselves and their families homes which
their means would not ])rocure where tliev were reared. Tiiey were
of that industrious and economical class who had not oidy been
reared under the influence of Christianity, but had been taught to
obey its jirecepts from a high sense of moral honor and dignity.
Like the Puritan fathers, they were scarcely housed in their cabins
208 HISTORY OF >rERCEK AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
before they . began to erect school-houses and churches, the same
building being used for both purposes. Owing to their proximity to
their neighbors on the Mississippi, they endured less privations and
hardships than did the colonists who came over in the Mayflower ; but
they were men and women who possessed no less courage and earnest-
ness for the principles wliich had been taught them under the paternal
roof. Had it been theirs to exercise that stubborness to the edicts of
kings and priests in defense of human rights, as it was that of the
pilgrim fathers, they would haye proved equally indomitable and
immoyable. It has been remarked that men die, are buried, and
even their graves are lost ; but their influence, like the stains of
human gore, cannot be removed from the coummunity where they
resided. This, we must admit, is true of Millersburg township ; ita
society is pushing along in the direction laid out by its lirst settlers.
The township is divided into two geographical divisions by the
Edwards river. Between the early settlers of each there was but little-
communication, because of there being no bridges across this stream.
Settlements were made in the township both north and south of the
river about the same time in the fall of 1834. The flrst families ta
locate south of the river were Harrison Itiggs, Ebenezer Creswell
and Edward Willitts. The flrst located on section 30, and erected the
fii'st cabin in the township ; his wife, Mrs. Julette Riggs, still resides
upon the same fann where she and her husband flrst located, and
where she is patiently waiting the summons that shall call her to a
world with less privations and cares. The second, Ebenezer Creswell,
located on section 21, where he built a saw-mill in 1834 or 1835. This
was on Camp creek and was the flrst mill in the township. The
Willitts family located on the same section as did Creswell. Among
others who came sliortly after were : Thomas Riggs in 1836, on sec-
tion 25 ; Rice Peckingbaugh, on section 21, in 1840 ; Charles Griflith,
on section 16, in 1839, where he yet resides ; Isaac Burson, on section
20, in 1837 ; W. Hubbard, on section 32, in 1836 ; Edward Brady, Sr.,
in 1842 ; John T. McGinnis, in 1846 ; Richard and John S. Kidoo-
came in 1845 ; AVilliam Kidoo and his father came in 1847 ; John and
Edward Brady came in 1842 ; Peter Spangler, Thomas Jackson and
others came about 1840, and located south of the Edwards. Thus was
civilized society planted in Millersburg on the south of the river.
North of the Edwards the flrst settler located was Benijah Lloyd, on
section 5, in 1834. Two years later the town of Millersburg was laid
out by the Miller brothers, who had previously settled in another
township, about 1834. Among those who located in and around the
new town were : H. "W. Thornton, in 1836 ; James Thompson, in
MILLERSBURG TOWNSHII'. 209
1838 ; Esq. Routzong, in 1838 ; Erastus, AVilliam :in<l Joseph Deni-
son came prior to 18-1:0 ; Judge Gilmore came about 1838, and after-
ward moved south of the river opposite where tlie Peniel church
now stands. All of these located either in the village of Millersburg
or near by. I. M. Gilmore located east of the village about 1840 ;
L. B. Howe, Thomas Brighton, Elbridge Howe, W. A. Bridgford and
his son, O. A. Bridgford, came about 1840. These and a few others
were the pioneers who located in the north part of the townshijt
during the period of its early settlement. William Cline was an
€arly settler and great hunter ; his brother. Christian Cline, located in
Millersburg.
From 1840 to 1855 the township settled ra])idly, and but little land
was left unoccupied. . For the names and history of many of those
families, reference may be had to the biographical department of this
township. Millersburg township was one of the first to be settled
away from the Mississipj^i river. It now seems a short journey to
the river, but it must be remembered that half a century ago there
were no laid out roads across the country and the streams were
without bridges. Then the only products that would bring money or
could be exchanged for the necessities of life, were wheat and pork,
and these must be transported to the river towns ; nor was this all :
there were but few wagons in the country. Sleds were used in summer
as well as in winter. Previous to the settlements in Millersburg, only
three or four years, the Indians had control of all the country away
from the river to Rock Island. Till about 1840 the settlers saw hard
times. Their products, wheat and pork, were exchanged at low
figures for goods at enormous prices. Many were dependent on
credit. But economy and industry, such as the settlers of Millersburg
possessed, in such a country of rich land, was soon to overcome the
various impediments which then beset her people. The country was
wild and the health of the people was not good. Chills and fevers
were sure visitors, and not unfrequently permanent inmates of the
pioneer homes. With the imj^rovement of health and circumstances,
many who had found it difficult to get the benefit of the merchant's
credit, established for themselves a better credit than those whose
credit they had sought ever had. At the present time some of the
most wealthy citizens of the township are those who had hard work to
keep the wolf from their door.
The manners and customs of the early settlers and ])ioneers were
those of a plain but honest people. They were social among them-
selves and hospitable to strangers. Their houses were small and their
food coarse, but welcome to all. Each settler's neighborhood might be
210 HISTOEY OF iMERCER A^"D HENDERSON COUNTIES.
bounded bv a circle whose diameter was twenty miles. "Were a family
in distress willino; hands were ready to administer to its wants.
The entertainments, such as the people now enjoy, were few and far
between, and they amused themselyes in hunting the wolf, which then
could be lieard upon eyery eleyation and hollow. The last great hunt
of this kind came off in 1840. A large tract of country was suiTOunded.
The point for meeting was southeast of Millersburg, north of the
Edwards. Two hundred deer were corralled in the ring, but the
wol yes made good their escape. The deer, which at this time were
plenty, disappeared almost entirely between 1844 and 1850. Early
settlers were annoyed greatly by the wolyes. When they killed fresh
meat the wolyes would come around the house, set up a dismal, heart-
rending howl, and eyen skip about oyer the roof, but they were so sly
that one was seldom killed.
Among the early settlers came a few who delighted to spend their
time in hunting and fishing, and others who looked upon horse-racing
and other kindred amusements as the highest calling of humanity.
These, like the red man, could not endure the telling blows and pros-
perity of the more ciyilized habits and customs which predominated,
and haye long since disappeared from among the citizens of Millers-
burg township.
Mrs. Julette Riggs, the pioneer settler, now Hying on section 30,
had great anxiety to see an Indian baby. She called at a hut near by
and implored the inmates to bring the little red skin out that she
might examine it, but the mother was not so desirous of exhibiting her
offspring as her palefaced sisters seem to be, and coldly imformed Mrs.
Ricrcrs if she desired to satisfy her curiosity she must come in, and in
she went. William Drury, when he first came to the settlement south
of the Edwards, says Mrs. liiggs was exceedingly hungry for meat,
Mrs. liiggs being out of that article at the time. Drury went coon
hunting and caught seyeral coons, which he had cooked, and they
were eaten by him with the remark, ''They are superior to mutton in
flayor and taste."
Almost with the early settlers of Mercer county there was formed a
company of bandits, sui)posed to haye their rendezyous in the north-
east of- Mercer and the south part of Rock Island counties, which
greatly alarmed the settlers of Millersburg township, especially at such
times as they had receiyed any money. The story is told us of Joseph
King, liying near Millersburg at that time, haying received $700. He
could not secrete it in his i)Ockets, as it was in gold and silver, and
there were no banks in the country. lie was so scared that he would
not even carry it home, but u'ave it to a friend, who took it home for
MILLEKSBIKG TuWNSHII*. 211
him. His uneasiness did Jiot cease here. lie cleaned up his fowling-
piece and stood guard till he could invest his money, which having
been done he remarked, "Money is a good thin'g to have, but a source
of pleasure to be rid of when one feels unsafe."
The tirst death that occurred in the township was in 1835. While
Bcnijah Lloyd was on his way to his claim on section 4, his son, nearly
seven years old, fell out C)f the wagon and was run over by the wheels,
killing him instantly. There were no neighbors to assist in the funeral
except Ebenezer Ci'eswell and his hired man. The remains were
interred at the new home on section -i. We have been told by good
authority that Benijah Lloyd was the first to settle in Millersburg town-
ship, and equally good authority informs us that Hiram Hardy, Albert
P. Taylor (at one time sheriff of the county, at another county clerk)
and Ebenezer Creswell were here before him.
Alfred Gray, a wagonmaker by trade, and John Jackson, a black-
smith, who had a shoj) near where Joy is now located, were, we have
reason to believe, the first tradesmen of this kind in the townshii).
The early settlers used to go to Bald Blufl" (now Henderson county)
for medical aid. Benijah Lloyd thinks the first physician to locate in
the township was Dr. Martin Willitts, at Millersburg. Another early
physician was Dr. Daniel Pickley, an early sheriff of the county. The
first preaching Mr. Lloyd remembers of in the township was at the
house of Abraham Miller, by a preacher from (John) Farlow's Grove,
named James, a predestinarian Baptist.
VILLAGES.
Millersburg township has two villages, Millersburg and Joy. The
former is the oldest laid-out town in the county back from the river,
and has a history connected with the county second to none in
importance. It was laid out in 1836 by John Miller, after whom the
town and township was named. Of the Miller family there were
John, George, Abraham, Isaac, and Philip, who were brothers, and
Abraham, Jr., son of George. Abraham, Jr., is now living in
Oregon. The Millers came to Mercer county from Indiana (they
were formerly from Tennessee), and located in Peri'vton at Sugar
Grove in 1834. Abraham, Jr., was one of the first county clerks of
Mercer countv. There is not one of the familv living in the countv at
this time. The family was remarkable for their love of pioneer life,
and the remaining members, when the country here became settled,
moved west.
When Millersburg was first laid out it seemed a fit location for
almost anything else rather than a town. The country around could
212 mSTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
scarcely be said to be even sparsely settled. Abraliam Miller, Jr., is
said to have built the first dwelling-h(?use inside the corporation.
James Thompson and William Drurv soon after erected the first store-
room and sold the first goods. In 1S38 Erastus Denison erected the
first hotel. The buildmg is still standing. It is a two-storv frame.
The lower storv is now used for a store-room. The upper is occupied
by the LO.O.F. lodge. William Pinckney established a pottery here
in 1837 or 1838. The first doctor to locate in the town was Martin
Willitts. Among the first attorneys to locate in the town was H. W.
Thornton, who has retired from the law practice and now lives on his
farm adjoining the village. The first blacksmith shop located here was
erected by Thomas Biglow about 1836 or 1837. The fii-st postoflice
was established at Millersburg in 1837 or 1838, and mail was received
twice a week. William Drurv was the first commissioned postmaster.
As early as 1839 Millersburg had grown to quite a ^-illage.
The county seat was located here as early as 1836. Courts were
held in the hotel till the court-house was completed, which was in 1839.
The building is a two-story frame, still standing, and is now occupied
by Harrison Bethuram as a wagon and blacksmith shop. The building
was when built not only a spacious edifice, but fine, for the time ; now
it is a dilapidated structure, presenting every appearance of the ravag-
ing hand of time. It was used till 1847 as the oflice of justice. For
several years it was the school-house and church of the town. It
stood formerly on the south side of Main street, toward the west end
of the town. AVhen the countv seat was moved from Millersburs: in
1847, H. W. Thornton bought the court-house and moved it to its
present location on the south side of the ^dllage. He converted it into
a store-room. A jail was erected about the same time. It was a stone
structure lined upon the inside with heavy timbers. The first prisoner
who became its inmate, had borrowed a horse and failed to return as
«oon as was expected, hence a warrant was procured and A. P. Taylor,
who was then sherifl:', set out towards New Boston in search of his
game. The sherift' met the man on his way back to Millersburg with
the horse. Pie, true to his olfice oath, arrested the man, brought him
to Millersburg and lodged him in the jail. But the inhabitants of the
town were scarcely wrapped in slumber profound before the prisoner
made his escape. All were confident he had no intention of stealing
the animal, and no attempt was made for his re-arrest. The second
and last person lodged in the building was held prisoner for debt. He
enjoyed his meals at the hotel, aiul ^\•as liL-ard to remark that he pre-
ferred the lodging and board of the county to that of his own home.
He has since become quite well ofli" and now resides in the county.
MILLERSBURG TOWNSHIP. 215
Tlie jail was used most of the time bv the slieriff tor a granary and
fodder-house. Sheritf Taylor remarked it ouglit to be ])ut to some
use. It was located on the north side of Main street, a Itttle west of
where the court-house stood.
The tirst wagon shop erected in the town of Millersburg was that
of A. P. and Asa G. Shafer in 1856. The former still carries on the
business in the same old shop. Tlien there was no shop of this kind
nearer than New Boston. The second was built by Cri}ipin and
Powers in 1857, the next bv McGlathlin and Jones in 1859, the fourth
bv James Gilmore in 1861, the tifth bv J. H. Lonjjjshore about 1)S62.
The last is running a shop doing all kinds of repairing in his line.
The first death in the town was by sijicide. The person was a
married lady. She deliberately took a handkerchief, put it around
her neck and choked herself to death bv takino; hold of two of the
corners with her bands and pulling till she closed the air passage to
the lungs.
From the laying out of Millersburg till after the county seat was
removed, it was the best business point, outside of Keithsburg and
New Boston, in the countv. The countrv trade came here fi'om the
east for a distance of fifteen miles. But as other towns sprang up in
different parts of the countrv the trade was divided, and when the
county seat was taken away the trade that came here because of the
county seat went elsewhere. The unnatural attraction which had
brought the business to this point was gone, and Millersburg was cut
short in the zenith of her prosperity, and many of her business men
went elsewhere. The improvements that have been made here since
1857 are few beyond a few cozy dwellings. But notwithstanding the
antiquated appearance of the village, it has a good local trade. It has
two stores of general merchandise, one kept by AV. W. Egbert, the
other by John Farran, two blacksmith shops, one grocery store kept
by David T. Howe, one barber shop, one shoe shop, one harness
shop, one hotel, kept by "William Dunn. The creamery erected here
in 1881, by Strattan, is the leading business of the village. It is run
by a foin- horse-power engine, and uses the Elgin cream \ats. Its full
working capacity is 15,000 pounds of butter per day, and gives em-
j)loyment to twenty men and fifteen teams.
Tlie first and only mill ever erected in the town was built by Steven
Strattan about 1850, and run till 1875, when it was torn down and
moved south of Millersburg, on the Edwards, and water power is used
instead of steam. Since the establishing of the postoffice here, with
William Drnry as first postmaster, the foll<»wing ])ersons have had
the otfice : James Thom]»son, Dr. Allen, 11. AV. Thornton, J. M.
1:3
216 HISTORY OF ISIERCER x\.ND HENDERSON C'd'NTIES,
Nevans, William H. Green and his wife (]\Irs. Green held the office
for fifteen years, and was postmistress durinti: tlie war), -J. D. Strattan
and John Farran, who is present postmaster. Mail is received twice
each day.
While Millersburg lost to a great degree her former \-ivacity in
business, she retained her good morals, out of which has grown
one of the finest temperance societies in the county, if not in the
state, considering her population. Previous t(» 1868 a temperance
society was organized which was of short duration. It seemed
to be an aid to the dram-shop, as they located here almost simultane-
ously. The more moral and lovers of good society, becoming tired
of the increasing vices, products of the dram-shop, met in deliberate
assembly for the purpose of driving out from their midst the licensed
traffic of intoxicating liquors. The result is, the voice of the people
has, since 1868, ruled supreme, and not a saloon has been kept here
since that time. The fire that drove the demon from the village has
been kept burning brightly since its embers were first fanned into a
flame, and out of this, in 1879, grew the Millersburg Christian Tem-
pemnce Union, organized by T. J. Adams, who, prior to effecting the
organization, delivered a series of lectures on the subject of temperance.
The society was organized with 160 members, and now numbers 400.
It uses the blue ribbon badge and the Murphy pledge, and is auxiliary
t(» the state and National Temperance Union. Unlike most societies
of its kind, it has no assessments, the funds necessary to defray its
ex})enses being su})plied by public collection. Its meetings are held
alternately at the Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal churches on
Sunday evening of each week. It is now a pros])erous society. Its
meetings are C(»nducted in the form of entertainments, and the society
])ei'forms the double office of cultivating the morals of the rising
generati(m and at the same time gives its members an opportunity to
cultivate, exj^and and air their literary powers. Its first officers were :
President, J. W. Madox, who still occupies the chair, with Thomas
Herman, Mrs. J. M. Gilmore and Mrs. Eddy as vice-presidents ;
Recording Secretary, J. M. Grady ; Corresponding Secretary, J. D.
Strattan ; Board of Managers, Nelson Taylor, Miss A. Shafer, William
Dunn, Rev. G. M. Morey and William Long; Treasurer, Geneva
Farran. Present officers are : president, same as the first, with James
Pepin, Alexander Greene, and James W. Terry, vice-}>residcnts ;
Recording Secretary, James Grady ; Corresjionding Secretary, ,Jane
(Tihnore ; Treasurer, Miss Mattie Bay; Board of INIanagers, ]\lrs.
Maggie Egbert, Ephraim (Gilmore and Annie Williams. The charter
was given the society by John P. St. John, president, and J. E. Letton,
8ecretar\', of the national societv.
Miij.i:i:suuK(i TDWNsiiip. 217
There is yet another society now in (i]»eration at Milk'rsl)urg, for
the moral cultivation of its chihhvn. This is the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union. It was organized in 1S80, at the Methodist
church. The first mcndjers of the society deserve to be remembered
by those who come after, as they embrace the ladies of most of the
leading families in and about Millersljurg. They are as follows : Mrs.
Eddy, Mrs. M. Bay, Miss S. E. Thornton, Miss A. Shafer, Mrs. Bur-
gess*, Mrs. B. C. Greene, Mrs. M. Boyd. Mrs. M. E. Boyd, Mrs.
T. Comell, Mrs. Boyles, Mrs. Vernon, Mrs. L. Thornton, Mrs.
L. Landreth, Mrs. M. A. Lee, ]\Irs. M. E. Sivens, Mrs. Norbury, Mrs.
T. Gilmore, Mrs. J. M. Gilmore, Mrs. Dr. Chowning, Mrs. Ellen
Everett, Mrs. J. Morey, Miss J. Farran. The funds accumulating
from initiation fees and term dues are used to procure reading matter
that will interest the children, and direct them in a right direction as
to 'other literature. The present number of members is eighteen.
The tirst otiicers of the societv were: President, Mrs. E. Eddv : Vice-
presidents, Mrs. E. Bay, Mrs. Burges and Mrs. E. Dunn ; Corresi)ond-
ing Secretary, Mrs. R. Green; Recording Secretary, Miss S. E.
Thornton ; Treasurer, Miss A. Shafer. The present officers are :
Mrs. M. Merriman, president, with Mrs. Burges and M. Egbert, vice-
presidents ; corresponding and recording secretaries same as the first.
The Children's Temperance Society was organized in 1882, with
twenty-two members. Its officers are : President, Mrs. Dr. Chown-
ing; Vice-Presidents, Miss A. Shafer and Mrs. W. Egbert. This
society is kept in the interest of the Woman's Christian Tem})erance
Union. Credit must be given the ladies of Millersburg and the sur-
rounding countrv for the active and energetic ijart thev have ever
taken to build u}> a good class of society around them, and banish
from their midst those evils and temptations which tend to destroy
the harmonious progression of well regulated society.
CHURCH HISTORY.
This part of the history of Millersburg is no less interesting than
her tem}»erance history. As we have before stated, in the cabin of the
first settler in the town in 1836 begins this department of Millersburg's
history. Until the court-lunise was c<>mpleted in 1839 the several
denominations represented here held their meetings at the houses of
their members and in the groves, when, in 18rl4, the first school-
house was built, and meetings were held in it and at the court-house
till churches were erected. The first orijanization of the Presbvterian
faith in Mercer county was at what is now known as Pope's Civek, in
1837, with John Montgomery as pastor. TIk- adxocates o Presby-
218 HISTORY <:>F MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
terianism living at Millersbnrg and tlie sniTonnding conntrv attended
cliurcli at that place and made up a }»art of the society. In 1839 they
began to have regular services at ]\Iillersburg, which were held in the
court-house till 1814. but had no organization of their o^vn till about
the close of 1813 or the beginning of 1841. John Montgomerv was
their first regular preacher in the court-house. In 1844, the time of
tlie buililing of the tirst school-house in Millersburg, the house was
made larger than was needed for school that it might serve for both
school-house and church. At this time the following-named persons
were dismissed fi-om the Pope Ci*eek church to organize a society at
Millersburg : Messrs. E. Gilmore, J. M. Gilmore, Henry Lee, Edward
and John Brady, J. T. McGinnis, J. G. Gilmore, A. A. Sherer, Samuel
Guffy, John Kiddoo, Graham Lee, David Morrow and H. W. Thornton.
The ladies were: Betsy King. Margaret S. Gilmore. Ann J. Taylor,
Martha Lee, Mary Marsh, Mary E. Murphy, Sarah E. Lloyd, Sarah
Clark. Elizabeth A. Edgar. Elizabeth Davis, Mary M. Steele. Mary
Sherer, Eliza Brady, Catherine Gilmore, Tabitha W. Bay, Mary A.
McGinnis, Mary Gutty, Eliza Kiddoo, Elizabeth Morrow, E. F.
Thornton, Bachel T. AVillitts and Hannah Reed, making in all forty-
four members to organize and establish the first church in ]\Iillersburg.
The society held services in the above-mentioned school-house till 1854,
when was erected the present church edifice, a frame building, at a cost
of $1,600. Its size is 40x50, with a seating capacity for 300 persons.
It has several times been refitted, and even now, as to outward appear-
ances, is comparatively a new building. The ministers who have
served this congregation since it began to have preaching are : Rev.
John Montgomery, from 1839 to 1843 ; Thomas Tail, till 1848 or 1849 ;
L. Y. CVittenden, 1854; A. Loomis, till 1858 ; J. N". Jamison, till 1861 ;
William Dool, from 1865 to 1869 ; J. McBride, till 1872 ; Joel Kennedy,
three years, and till 1879. The present pastor is W. B. Phelps. The
first officers of the church were : Elders, Ephraim Gilmore, J. W.
Ne\aus. Shortly after the organization J. T. McGinnis. J. M. Gilmore
and Henry Lee were added to the eldership.
The largest membership the society ever numbered at any one
time was 140 members. It now numbers little more than one-fourth
that number. This reduction has been owing to circumstances. The
greatest drain upon the society has been the number that have been dis-
missed to organize other societies. At one time there were dismissed
forty-five members to organize a society s<^uth of the Edwards, at Avhat
is now Peniel ch\u-ch ; at another, eighteen were dismissed to organize a
society at Hamlet in Perryton townshi}) ; and several were dismissed to
unite with the Perryton society in Pcn-yton township. This church
MILI.ERSBURG TOWNSHIP. 210
society has ahvavs had SuiKhiy-school at its church-hoiist.', but nut ct>n-
nectc'd with the churcli. Tlie SuiKUiv-school whieli it has always
supported was (tri;anized at Millersburg, in the c<»urt-h()use in 1842, by
the American Sundav-school Union. Anionii:: the members of this
society since its organization are the names of many promirtent
families, both of the past and present.
The next church organization in age and extent is the Methodist
Episco})al church. The people of this faith who located here at an
early day, like the Presbyterians, held their meetings at }»rivate houses
and in groves till the coui1:-h< »use was erected, when they used that till
the school-house was built in 184-I-, when they held services there till
they erected their first church building.
The early pioneers of the Methodist Episcopal church worshiped
at Camden Mills (now Milan, Rcjck Island county), and for several
years only had preaching at Millersburg now and then. It remained
a part of the Camden Mills circuit till 1865, when it became the Mil-
lersburg circuit, then including Aledo, which was afterward detached
fi'om the circuit. They began to have regular preaching about 1850,
but no organization distinct from the Camden MiDs church till 1857,
when the organization was eftected and included in the Peoria con-
ference. P. X. More was the elder who presided here at the (organi-
zation. J. ^y. Long was secretary of the meeting. D. M. Falkinbury
was first pastor in charge. James Sheritf. Jacob A\1iarton and John
Ashbaugh were the first class-leaders. The first stewards were:
J. W. Lane, Ambrose Eddy, Jacob Colier, Peter Blue, E. C. Paitlet,
William T. Shafer, and Joseph Richmond. Samuel Wliarton was
appointed Sunday-school superintendent, and Samuel Ai*tz assistant
superintendent. The Methodist Episco}tal society erected their first
and |)resent church building, 40 X 60, seating room 40 X 50 feet, in 1857,
at a cost of $4,(»00. Previous to erecting this present church a build-
ing was begun on the same foundation, and when partly com})leted,
w^as blown down by a storm. This was a sad thing for the churcli; it
needed a place for worship, and tlie generosity of many had received
considerable tension, and it seemed like raising mountains of granite
from their foundations to arouse the people again to a necessity of
beginning a second building, and to renew their subscriptions for that
l>urpose. Citizens with money to loan were less common than now.
But in the face of all this o})])Osition the Methodist Episcopal people
Went to work with a will which meant to carry the point, and did so.
The building is well furnished, and the best in the town. The chin-ch
has enjoyed a good degree of prosperity since its organization. Like
the Presbyterian church, it has come up from the jnoneer days, and
220 HISTORY OF MEKCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
among its members since the clmrcli was established here, and before,,
are many of the prominent families, not only of Millersburg township,,
but of the county.
The ministers who haye labored here since 1857, are : F. A.
Falkinbury, from 1857 to 1858, during which time Josepli Richmond
was exhorter in the church ; L. D. Crouch, till 18«i( i ; Z. E. Kaufman,,
till 1861; J. D. Taylor, till 1863; L. S. Ashbaugh, till 1864; J. D.
Taylor again, till 1865 ; James Cowden, till 1866 ; M. P. Armstrong,,
till 1868, who came here from Indiana, and as the conference year of
the two conferences did not end at the same time, his place was tilled,
till his time expired in Indiana, by J. H. Pay ton ; A. ^lorey, till
1870; A. Peeler, till 1871; Thomas Head, tilf 1874; J. J. Walter,
till 1875; G. M. .Morey, till 1878. Present pastor in charge is
G. W. Frizell. The present officers are : Ambrose Eddy, J. D. Strat-
tan, J. H. Purdum and Dr. J. P. Chowning, church stewards; Jac<:>b
Wliarton, William Dunn, Ambrose Eddy, J. D. Strattan and S. H.
Eiddell, trustees ; Charles York, J. H. Purdum and William Robinson,,
parsonage trustees.
The Methodist Episcopal church has had connected with its organi-
zation, since 1857, a liye and profitable Sunday-school. Previous to
1857 they labored in the capacity of a Sunday-school in the interest
and under the auspices of the American Sunday School I'nion. The
school is now kept in operation throughout the year, and is in a
prosperous condition.
LATTER-DAY SAINTS' CHURCH.
Tlie third and last of the cliurches n<3w represented in Millersburg
is the Latter-Day Saints' church, not unfrequently called Mormons,
but the people of this faith here detest the yery idea of polygamy.
This doctrine of the church was first preached in the county about
1840, by Elder G. M. Ilinkle. The first society in the county was.
organized in 1861 in Duncan township. The members of this faith
then at Millersburg worshiped with the congregation in Duncan town-
ship till 1872, when they ^yere organized into a distinct societ}-, which
met at priyate residences for worship for a short time after its organ-
ization, and other buildings suitable, till 1876, when they built their
present church-house .at a cost of 860<.>. The first members were as.
follows : W. S. Morrison, Joseph Harris, James Vernon, Eliza Vernon,
Viola Vernon, J. M. Terry, Mary Terry, Elizabeth, Emma, Stephen*
Theresa, James and ]S^ancy Miller, Jasper, Mary, Mary E., Clara,
Juliet, Adelaide and Edward Duncan. Hannah Terry, Margaret Brown,
William Cardman, Sarah Cardinaii, Elizabeth Webb. The present
members number forty-six.
MILLERSBITRG TOWJS'SHIP. 221
A partial list (^f the ministers, as furnished us, is as follows:
J. ]\r. Terry, J. AV. Terry, E. Bryant, J. L. Terry and J. B. Harris,
present pastoi- in cluirge. The iirst officers were J. B. Harris and
J. M. Terry. The i)resent officers are J. L. Terry, E. Bryant and
J. W. Terry. The tirst death that occurred in the society was that of
W. S. Morrison in 1873. The society is in a prosperous condition.
It receives much uncalled-for censure because of the infamous docti-ine
preached by the Utah church.
While these three church societies compose those who have erected
church buildings in Millersburg, they do not embrace all the creeds
re})resented by her people. The earliest preaching at ^lillersburg was
of the predestinarian Baptist faith, which at that time was rapidly
losing its favor with the ])eople from whence came the greater part
of the early settlers of Millersburg. In addition to these Ba;)tists
were the Missionary Ba})tist, who have had at no time in the history
of the settlement of the township a church building and a ivgular
organized society, but have had, at irregular intervals, })reaching
almost from the beginning of the settlement. The people a part of
the time held their meetings in the Presbyterian church building, and
the remainder in the school-house and at other places. In 1870
G. M. Zook preached here regularly for one year ; he was followed
by A. F. Sharpner. Among others who have from time to time
labored here in the ministerial capacity are M. I). Murdock and
J. W. Washdale. Owing to the fact that no record of the early
settlers who held to the Missionary Ba])tist faith has been kept of
those who resided at and around Millersburg, we are not able to give
a list of their names, and give only the names of this faith at tliis
time residing here : A. P. Sharpner and fa)nily, Thomas Landreth
and family, James Burges and wife, Herschel Felton and wife, and
James Cash. These hold tlieir membership at Antioch. in Duncan
township, or at Aledo. Such is the history of the religious sects of
the town of Millersburg from its Iirst settlement.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOW>S.
This society ranks high in this vicinity in morals, business ability
and intelligence. The history of its organization and progress,
as follows, has been pre]>ared by a committee a]>pointed for the
purpose.
Iris Lodge, No. 267, I.O.O.F., was organized December 13,
1858, by AVilliam L. Green, James McJenkins, -I. \V. Close, John S.
Moore and (). C. Allen, over the old store of (). A. Ih-idgford.
J. W. Close is the onlv livinsj; charter member, as known bv the
»
222 HISTORY OF MERCER A>T) HE>rDERSON COUN'nE!^.
lodge at the present time. The first oftieers of the lodge were as
follows: X.G., AV. L. Green; V.G., J. W. Close; Sec, James
Mclenkins; Treas., J. S. Moore. The first niemhers of Iris Lodge
had a pretty hard struggle to keep life in the organization ; for, when
the lodge was yet young, a number of the members were called away
to the army, which left only about a quorum, and it was a hard matter
to get all out at once. But by hard work they pulled through. The
brethren never forgot those who were called awa}- to help in the su}>
pression of rebellion, and showed their interest in the absent ones by
paying all back dnes, and in gaining help. The first death in the lodge
was that of Lewds Trimble, and the whole number of deaths since the
lodge was organized is five. The progress of the lodge, since the close
of the war, has been very rapid, increasing from the five charter
members to an average of forty members in good standing, and from a
state of bankruptcy to a suq^lus of $1,500. The society now owns
their own hall, which is very neat and attractive, and claims as a mem-
bership the best men that society aftbrds. The present ofiicers of the
lodge are as follows : N.G., C. C. Brown; V.G., W. W. Wakeland ;
Sec, J. U. Eoberts; Treas., J. jS^. Close. The number of members at
present is forty-five. The society has occupied one building almost all
the time, and it cost $500. The lodge is now in a prosperous condition,
and is one of the ablest lodges in the county.
Millersburg public schools is one of the institutions in which her
people take great pride, and it is well that they should feel proud of an
institution that can prepare her sons and daughters to become men and
women among men and women. About the first, if not the very first,
school taught in Millersburg, was kept in H. W. Thornton's law oflice
by a man named Bell, in 1838. Aftei- this, school was held in the
court-house till 1844, when the first house for school purposes was
erected. Harry Scenter, David Felton, Hiram Hardie, Mrs. H. W.
Thornton, Da^id Lloyd, Charles AVinchip and Joseph McChesney were
pioneer teachers of Millersburg, some of whom taught both in the
rural districts and in town. The first school building was used for
school purposes till 1862, when the present spacious brick school-house
was erected, with four de])artments. The present jn-incipal is Prof
Daniel Farmer, of Normal, Illinois. A word complimenting the sys-
tematic course of instruction is not out of place. Students are fitted
here for teachers without further drill.
The other xdllage in the township is Joy, located on the Keithsburg
division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railnvad. It was laid
out in 1860 by L. W. Thompson and William Lngles, on section 19.
The first business house in the j)lace was a store of general mer-
^tll.I.KlJSlURG TOWNSHIP. 223
tliandise, kej^t bv ('. S. Kiclioy. and the first drug store by John Moss.
The tirst bhicksmith to locate here was Joseph Hughes. The first
religious ineetiugs in tlie town were held by the Presbyterians, Metho-
dists, and Later Day !>aints, in the school-house. The population of
the town is about 150. It has two stores : one kept by J. H. Crane ;
the other by J. T. C-ralloway ; both have a good trade. One wagon
shop is run by Jose])h Hughes, and one bhiokstnith shop by G. W.
Cook. The hotel is kept by J. W. Wood. The first hotel ever k5i)t
in the village was by (). F. Green.
The village is quite a shi})ping point. The railroad established a
station here the same year the village was laid out. For some time
the business of" the station was almost nothing; the people had
become so accustomed to take their produce to the river that it seemed
hard to get out of the old ruts. The first station agent was H. N.
McNeil. The }>resent agent is Hiram Standish ; he came here in
1870, and took hold of the business for both the company and the
farm^-s ; hi^ object was to bring to this point the ship])ing both of
;grain and live stock that properly belonged here. In 1881 there
were loaded at this ])lace 196 cars of stock and 74 of grain ; the
number of cattle ship])ed was 1,338; of hogs, 7,678. To bring the
business of the surrounding country here the agent received the
produce from the producer and shipped it. .Vt that time there were
no buyers here. J. H. Crane is the present grain merchant.
The post-office now at Joy was first established in 1847, and named
High Point. George Scott was the first postmaster, and kept the
* office at his home, where Edward Griffith now resides. Tlie next
appointed postmaster was Samuel Eayle, who kej^t the office one year,
when it was given again to George Scott. In 1865 Peter Si)angler
was appointed jjostmaster and held the office till 1870, when it was
moved to Joy, and the name changed from High Point to that of Joy,
and the office given to O. F. Green. In 1871 J. T. McGinnis was
made postmaster. The present postmaster is J. II. Crane, apjjointed
in 1878, but has kept the office since 1873.
Joy has one church, the Methodist Episcopal. It was organized
in 1874 by liev. Head. Previous tc* this time they had irregular
preaching at the scIkjoI-Iiousc at Joy and at the brick church two miles
southeast of the village. The s'ociety was organized with the folhjw-
ing named members : J. W. Wood and wife, W. P. Zentmire and
wife, AVilliam Kiddoo and wife, Richard Edgar and wife, Eli/a Kiddoo,
K. H. Day and wife, Frank ]\Iore and wife, and Augusta Mays. The
society now numbers foity members. In ls77 it built its first and
present church edifice, a frame, at an outlay of §1,8(>0, The trustees
224 .• HISTOEY OF MERCER A^D HENDERSON COUNTIES.
at present are : William Kiddoo, P. P. Zentniire and J. M. Shingle-
decker. The stewards are : J. M. Shingledecker and Mrs. Mays,
The class-leader is W. P. Zentmire. The ministers who have-
labored here' are : J. J. Walters, instrumental in bringing about the
bnilding of the church ; M. Morej, and W. B. Frizell, present pastor
in charge. The society has lost by removals several of- its valuable
members.
* A Sunday-school was organized shortly after the church organiza-
tion was effected, whicli has since been in operation, and now numbers
forty scholars. W. P. Zentmire is the present superintendent. Both
the church and Sunday-school are in a prosperous condition.
In addition to those church societies in the town of Millersburg-
and 'the village of Joy,, there are the Seventh Day Adventists church
at the Marsh school-house in the southeast part of the township ; the
Peniel church, four miles south of Millersburg, and the free Presby-
terian church, familiarly known as the old brick church a half mile
south of the Peniel church. •
The Seventh Day Adventists are of recent date in Millersburg
township, being as late as 1871 ; though there was a society of this
belief much earlier in Aledo, with Elder Andrews as pastor, who came
to the Marsh school-house previous to 1871, and preached for the
benefit of the members of the church living in that community, at
irregular intervals. The society^ was organized with about thirty com-
municants, and at this time numbers twenty members. The society
has been very much affected by the unsettled condition of the popu-
lation. The first officers were : J. R. Witham, elder ; C. Dreyden,
deacon ; J. C. Middaugh, clerk. The present officers are : elder,
same as the first ; clerk, Mary Miller. The society is flourishing, and
proposes to erect a church-house for worship at the earliest possible
period.
The Presbyterian congregation, known as the Peniel class, was
organized into a distinct society in 1871. From the early settlement
of the township there were several of this faith in this comnninity,
but not sufficient for sometime to support an independent society ;.
hence they held their membership at Millersburg. For several years
they had preaching at the Pleasant Hill school-house, two miles east
of Joy, and occasionally held meetings in the brick church one mile
south. In 1871 the organization was effected by forty-five members,
who were dismissed from the Millersburg society for that purpose.
They met at the brick church and proceeded to form themselves into
a society, and forthwith adopted measures for the erection of a church
edifice, which was completed in 1872, at an outlay of $4,500. This is
millersburct township. '^r 2:25-
by far tlie finest clmroh in the tcjwnship. It is a frame, "structure
40 X 60, witli a seating capac-ity for 3()() persons. J. Downing donated
the ground for the cluirch and cemetery. Tn addition to tliis a par-
sonage was built at an outlay of $1,600, Edwin Gilmore donating the
ground on which it stands, one-fourth mile north of the church. This
society and the one at Millersburg employ the same pastor ; hence it
is not necessary to repeat the names of the ministers who have lab<^)red
here since the organization was effected ; nor before, as they will be
found in the list of ministers in connection with the society at Millers-
burg. The first elders of the society were : J. Downing, William
Miller, J. T. McGinnis and John Love. A few years after there were
two more added to this number : Eichard Kiddoo (deceased) and
Henry Dool. The present eldership is the same. Tlie largest mem-
bership the society has had at any one time was 125 membei's, which
has been reduced to S4 by removals. The society dedicated its
building out of debt Many of the friends of the church came on
dedication day with their pocketbooks, and went away surprised to
think that no collection was taken. The Presbyterian element is
largely predominant in the section surrounding this church. The
society has kept, in connection with the church work, an interesting
Sabbath-school. Until quite recently it was discontinued during the
winter 'months, but now continues throughout the year. The i^resent
superintendent is William Jewel. The average attendance is 100.
Tlie brick church one and a half miles north of the south line of
the township, and directly south of Millersburg, was the first church
building erected in the towniship. It was built in 1847. It is in size
40 X 60, and is still standing. It was built not so much by subscription
as by contributions in work. The society was that of the Free Presby-
terian faith. The leading members, and those who were instrumental
in building the church, were the Kiddoo brothers, James, Eichard,
William and John, and others of the neighbors whose names we
failed to get, as the records are either lost or have been carried away.
The brick were bui'ned by Richard Kiddoo. The men who did the
work were kept by the people who were interested in its erection.
Pev. James Pogue was the first minister in charge. The first elder
was James Kiddoo, who moved west a tW years since. This society
was an advocate of freedom, not at that time inherent with the
(jther branches of Presbyterianism. The organizati<^n was ke]jt up
till sometime during the war, when the principles of the denomina-
tion, whose mission it was to demonstrate, became impressed upon
the connnunity ; and the society having become reduced in its mem-
bership by frequent removals of its members, it united with the
226 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES,
Methodist Episcopal church society now located at Joy. as the prin-
ciples of freedom advocated by the two societies were one and the
same. The society was reincorjtorated under the name of the Metho-
dist Episco})al church, which held its meeting here regularly till the
present church building wjis erected in Joy.
Connected with the church is the first established cemetery in the
township, south of the Edwards. Here reposes the dust of several of
the early settlers of the surrounding country.
The first Sunday-school in this part of the township was organized
at this church, about the time of its dedication, under the auspices of
the American Sunday School Union, which was kept u}) till the
Methodist Episcopal society ceased to hold meetings here. The only
use now made of the church building, is for funeral services at the
cemetery. The erection of this church, at the time it was effected, if
we consider the financial circumstances of the community, and the
durability of the building itself, clearly illustrates the character of the
people of the surrounding community.
Among the societies of the township, held at Millersburg, which
clearly illustrates the progress of agriculture and stock raising is the
county fair. It was the first association of the kind in the county.
The fair grounds were located southwest of Millersburg, adjoining the
town, and originally consisted of three acres, and enlarged to nine,
at the time of its removal to Aledo. The expenses were kept within
the annual income. The labor necessary to make the needed
improvements was donated by the members of the association. Any
one could become a member of the society by })aying the fee of one
dollar at eacli annual meeting. The sole interest of the society was
manifested in behalf of the products of the county, and was con-
ducted on strictly moral principles. Yery little racing was permitted,
and no gambling witliin the enclosure. Those who attended its
amiual show of stock, agricultural j^roducts and woman's wares, say
that a marked ]H-ogress in each department was perceptible, and it
is not unfre(piently the remark is made of the good social times
eni(jyed at the Millersburg fair. The ladies of the county are equally
entitled to their share of the praise for the success of the institution
while at Millersburg. The officers of the association gave free of
charge their services, without even charging up their expenses while
conducting the business of the association. When the place of its
annual meeting was moved to Aledo, the society was out of debt
and had a surplus of twelve or fifteen hundred dollars in the bank.
We now leave the history of the society to be continued in the history
of Mercer township.
MILLKKSIiL'K*; TOWNSIIII'.
227
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
In 1854 the peo[)le of Millersburg township mot at tlie school-liouse
near Edward Brady's corner, with Ephraini Gilmore, chairman, ap-
pointed by L. B. Howe, and L. B. Howe, secretary. These temporary
ofRcei-s became the permanent officers for the year. The townshijj was
divided into three road districts : No. 1, north of the Edwards ; No. 2,
embraced the east lialf of the township, south of the Edwards; No.
3, the west half of township, south of the Edwards.
The following list of township officers, taken from the records, will
prove of great interest as being a list of gentlemen, who at various
times, were considered worthy of the votes of their constituents and
well litted for the offices to which they elected them :
1=3
18o4
1855
18.'iG
1»7
18.58
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
Supervisors.
I
David Llovd ,
M. L. Marsh
James Haverlield
James Haverfield
J. T. McGinnis...,
J. T. McGinnis...,
J. T. McGinnis. . . ,
Ephriiim (iilmore
A. P. Tavlor
A. P. Tavlor
J. T. McGinnis...,
J. T. McGinnis
J. T. McGinnis...,
J. T. McGinnis
Thos. Merriman. ,
J. T. McGinnis...
J. T. McGinnis...,
R. H. Day
R. H. Dav
R. H. Dav
J. T. McGinnis...,
J. E. Bay
J. E. Bav
J. T. McGinnis....
J. T. McGinnis...,
J. W. Close
J. W. Close
J. W. Close
S. H. Riddell
Clerks.
J. E. Bav
J. O. Allen
J.O.Allen.......
S. J. Strattun
Wm. A. Crane . .
Wm. Greene
J. M. Xevius
Wm. L. Greene,.
J. E. Bav
J. E. Bav
J. E. Bav
J. E. Bav
J. E.Bay
J. E. Bav
J. E. Bay
J. E.Bay
J. E. Bav
J. E. Bav
J. E. Bav
J. E. Bay
John Brady
John Brady
John Brady
John Brady
John Brady
John Brady
John Brady
John Brady
J. G. Havertield.
ASSE.SS()RS.
Benijah Llovd, Jr.
R. W. Bav
J. T. McGinnis...,
O. A. Bridgford . . ,
W. A. Bridgford..,
James Kiddoo, Jr,
James Haverfield ,
Wm. M. Brown
Wm. M. Brown
Wm. M. Brown...,
L. B. Howe
Johnson E. Beatv.
J. E. Beaty ". .
R. H. Day
R. H. Dav
O. A. Bridgford...
E. L. Emerson
E. L. Emerson
Ed. (irittith
Ed. (iriffilh
J. (i. McCarnahan,
J. A. Gilmore
J. E. Bay
J. E. Bav
J. E. Bav
J. E. Bav
J. E. Bav
J. E. Bav
Collectors.
J. R. Lemon
W. A. Bridgford.
W. A. Bridgford.
W. L. Crane
J. R. Lemon
Wm. L. Greene..
Wm. L. Greene.
Wm. L. Greene..
W. A. Bridgford.
W. A. Bridgford.
W. A. Bridgford .
J. E. Bav
M. L. Detuler . . .
J. H. Gradv
J. H. Gradv
C'O.M.MISSIOXKRS
OK HKiUWAYS.
John Brady
I A. W. McClain..
I W. A. Bridgford.
j W. A. Bridgford.
I John Love
! L. B. Childs
John Bradv
W. O. Dungau.
/Ed. Brady,
\ J. W. Close.
W. A. Marsh.
J. W. Close.
Ed. Brady.
Richard kiddoo.
J. W. Close.
Edward Brady.
Jahn Bradv R. Kiddt)0.
J. R. Wartwick..
J. R. Wartwick..
John Harvey
W. R. Lemon... .
W. R. Lemon
J. W. (lose.
Ed. Bra<ly.
R. Kiddoo.
Tavlor (iilraore.
Ed". Brady.
W. C. Irw in S. A. Steele.
Previous to 1868 there were elected each year three commissioners
of highways, w^hose names are as follows : 1854, J. Falls, S. Carnahan
and Charles Griffith; 1855, J. Falls, C. Griffith and O. A. Bridgford;
1856, C. Griffith, J. P. Boyd and H. L. Marsh; 1857, C. Griffith,
J. P. Boyd and James Kiddoo; 1858, C. Griffith, A. Eddy and J. P.
Marsh ; 185!>, A. Eddy, Charles Griffith and AVilliam Brown ; i860,
AVilliam Brown, Ed. Brady and A. Eddy ; 1861 and 1862, same as in
1860; 1863, Ed. Brady, A. Eddy and J). Thatcher; 1864 and 1865,
same as 1863 ; 1867, J. M. and R. II. Gilmore.
22>^ HISTORY OF itERCEK AXD HEXDERSOX COUNTIES.
In 1S55 the vote as to whether or not the to'vniship organization
should be ado])ted, the result was 21 votes for and 19 against the
organization.
The following is a list of the justices of the township since 1S35 :
Ebenezer Creswell, apjiointed May 3, 1835 ; Abraham Miller, Octo-
ber 5, 1835 ; Isaac Beson. April 30, 1838, refused to accept; Christian
Routzong, 1838 ; Frank Miller, probate justice, 1838 ; Abraham
Thorp, 1839 ; E. Gilmore, 1839 ; John Carnahan, 1839 ; Daniel Pink-
ley, 184U; Joseph W. Lloyd, 1841; AVilliam J. Phelps, 1842; Isaac
McDaniel, 1848 ; Daniel Pinkley, 1843 ; Hiram Hardy, 1843 ; Charks
Sullivan, 1845 ; J. W. Wood, 1845 ; W. A. Bridgford, 1847 ; Charles
Sullivan, 1847 ; J. W. Wood, 1847 ; W. A. Bridgford, 1847 ; Lucian
B. Howe, 1849 ; W. A. Bridgford, 1849 ; Ephraim Gilmore, Jr., 1849 ;
W. A. Bridgfcrd, 1851; W. A. Bridgford, 1858; W. L. Green,
1858 ; W. A." Bridgford, 1862 ; S. AV. Gailey, 1862 ; S. H. Ptiddell,
1866; B. F. Brock^ l.s66 ; Lucien B. How, 1869; W. A. Bridgford,
1870 ; O. F. Green, 1870 ; S. H. Ptiddell, 1870 ; Joseph Lyle, 1873 ;
W. A. Bridgford, 1873 ; J. W. Wood, 1877 ; S. II. Riddell, 1877 ;
W. A. Bridgford, 1881 ; I. W. Huckins, 1881.
SCHOOLS.
The free schools of MiUersburg have kept pace with the progress
'i>t' the township. In 1841 the money paid out for teaching was
^124.86. that being the available school fund. At that time there
were C)nly three distiicts, one north of the Edwards and two south.
The treasurers report in 1863 shows seven distiicts ; 503 persons
of school age in the township, with an attendance of 320. The
amount paid out for teaching, $1,134.42 ; highest wages paid per
month was $30 ; lowest, $14. School fund, $1,600. The report of
1881 shows the same number of districts ; 580 children of school age,
with an enrollment of 360 pupils ; total days' attendance, 33, 340 ;
the school fund, $2,322.38 ; teachers' wages for the year, $2,259.80 ;
incidental exj^enses of the schools, $382.82. Highest wages paid,
$60 per month.
The improvements in roads have been no less rapid since 1835.
The amount of road in the township is sixty miles, with an average
width of three rods. In 1854 the road tax was ten cents on the one
hundred dollars of taxable property; in 1856, twenty cents ; from 1856
t(» 1865, ten cents ; from 1865 to 1877, the levy was twenty cents on
the one hundred dollars, when the roads passed under the commis
sioners' law. In ls81 the levy was twentv cents on the one hundred
<lollars ; in 1882, twenty cents.
MILLERSBUKG TOWis'SHIP. 229
The towaisliip electi<>ns were first held at the school-house near Ed-
ward Brady's corner, but continued to be chanii:ed from here to Millers-
burg, and then from Millersburg back to Brady's corner, as it is called,
till 1879, then by vote the place of holding elections was settled perma-
nently at Brady's corner, and a town-hall built over the school-house
for town and public purposes, excei)t for dances, shows and such things
that are considered to be detrimental to morality. The cost of the hall
• was $387, a part of which was made up by private subscription to
secure the use of the building from entertainments of the character
mentioned.
The census report of 1880 gives the population as 1,071. The
taxable property in the township in 1881 was valued at ^401,618. The
real estate was valued at $328,410, town lots at $16,060, personal
property at $117,148. The equalized value was $425,127.
The tax money collected on the above assessment, for general state
purposes and schools, $2,255.45 ; county pm^poses, $1,065.25 ; road tax
$6«;i.35 ; district school tax, $2,391 ; dog tax, $166.
The township has one railroad, the Keithsburg & Galva division
of the Chicago Burlington & Quincy. For voting a tax of $13,400
to the American Railroad Company, which built the road, a meeting
was called in 1868, which carried by 114 votes for, to 27 against such
donations. The bonds were issued in 1869, on ten years time. They
have all been paid, the last in 1881, and the townshij) feels wise enough
not to vote any more such taxes, as the following call-meetings show.
In 1870 a meeting was called with the expectations that the town-
ship would vote an appropriation to the Rockford, Rock Island &
St. Louis Railroad Company, and for the donation there were 107
votes against 126. A second attempt was made to get the township to
vote the tax, but with no better result this time; the votes when counted
showed 106 for taxation and 117 against.
In conclusion let us add, the present population of the township are
a thrifty, energetic, well-to-do, and hosjiitable people. In agriculture and
stock raising they are up with the times, and few laggards exist among
them. For a more extensive history of the prominent business men,
farmers and stock raisers of the township, reference may be had to the
biographical department of Millersburg township, where the i)ersonal
and tamily history of almost all of them may be found.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Among the pioneer settlers yet living is William H. RiuciS, a
farmer and stock raiser, a native of Kentucky, born in l'^28, son of
Thonuis M. and Rebecca B. (Jenkins) Riggs, both of Kentucky. The
230 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Riggs family came from Virginia to Kentuckv, but are of Scotcli
descent, as also is the Jenkins family. Both families emigrated to
America at an early period in the history of the colonies. William
II. Riggs' grandfather, Richard Jenkins, came to Mercer county in
lS3f!, and was cr)nstable before the township organization. He died
in Aledo, After his death his wife returned to Kentucky. William
H. located in Mercer county, where he now resides, in 1836, where
he has been engaged in farming and stock dealing. His early educa-
tion was limited, as the advantages at that early period for education
were few. When a young man he went one year to an academy at
Galesburg. In 1851, he was married to Elizabeth Dungan, native of
Indiana, born 1830, daughter of Benjamin and DeLabor Dungan, by
occupation farmers. The former was a carpenter by trade. They
were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and came to Mercer
county with the early settlers. By this marriage AVilliam H. Riggs
has one chihl, Thomas B., educated at Abingdon. He was married
in 1872 to Loretta D. McClanahan, native of Mercer county, born in
1851, and daughter of James McClanahan, who came in 1837 and
located in Mercer county, and now resides in Henderson. Thomas R.
Riggs has, by this marriage, four children : Guy H., Robert A.^
Lillian (deceased), and James H. Thomas B. lives on the farm of his
father, and helps to carry on the business. Among the tine stock men
of Millersburg township William H. Riggs has been known for many
years. He imports the best of cattle from the noted fine stock locali-
ties. While he makes cattle a specialty, both as to fine stock and
feed cattle, he by no means keeps a poor grade of hogs and horses.
His farm of 330 acres of plow land and seventy acres of timber is
second to none, as a stock farm, in the township. Mr. Riggs is a
genius, doing almost all his own work whether it be smithing, car-
penter work or otherwise. While he has raised but one child of his
own, several orphans have found under his roof a pleasant home,
where they were the recipients of motherly and tatherly kindness.
Tlic subject of this sketch, J. F. Harvey, is a native of Indiana,
born in 1833, son of Beauehamp and Margaret Harvey, both of Mary-
land. They emigi-ated to Indiana and settled on White river about
1825. They were both members of the Christian church. The former
died in 1874^ aged sixty-three years, the latter now makes her home
with her childi-en. Mr. Harvey was married in 1866 to E. J.
McClure, of Indiana, daughter of John and Sarah McClure. They
came to Mercer county about 18-17, and now live in Abingdon town-
ship. J. F, Harvey has, by this marriage, two children : Charley B.
and George F. Mr. Harvey came to Illinois in 1838 and located in
\
ip^
RICHARD KIDDOO
MILLERSBURG TOWNSHIP. 233
Clianipaig'ii county. Jk- thoii cininTatcMl to Misi^ouri, and at'ter\vtir(.l
came to Mercer county and located where lie now resides. He and
wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He has a farm of 125
acres, fairly im})roved and stocked with good grades. lie served in
the army, during the late war, from 1861 to 1865, a period of three
years and ten months, in the 18th 111. \'ol. He was in the battles of
Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Pritton's Lane; went down the
Mississippi with Grant to Watervalley and back to Memphis ; was iu
the siege of Yicksburg; was wnth Sherman on his march to the sea,
then on the ocean, through the Carolinas, tlien to ItichnKjnd, Wash-
ington and Louisville, where he was mustered out. During his term oi'
sei'vice in the army he passed through ten of the southern states.
Among the several old settlers and prominent gentlemen of Mercer
county who have taken an active part in its development, we mention
the name of Edward Griffith, who M-as bom November 13, 1834. in
Hancock county, Indiana, and is the oldest child of Charles and
Martha (Scott) Grithth. He came with his parents to Mercer county in
1839. As he was the oldest child he was so much needed at home
that his education was limited to a common school. He remained at
home until twenty-four years of age, when he started out in life 'for
himself as a tiller of the soil. He purchased the S. -J of the X. "W. ^,
Sec. 14, in Millersburg township. He remained on this place for seven
years, when he sold out and bouglit the N. E. ^j of Sec. 12, where he
remained for eight years, when he sold out and bought the S. AV. ^ of
Sec. 18, Millersburg township, where he resides at present. He has
been very successful in accumulating considerable property. March 24,
1859, he was married-to Miss Elizabeth Church, daughter of Thomas
and Rachel Church. She was born March 25, 1838. Mr. Griffith has
been a member of the order of Masons since 1869.
William Kiddoo, farmer and stock raiser, is a native of Pennsylva-
nia. His parents are Richard and Eliza Kiddoo. Lie came to Mercer
county with his parents when a child, and was reared on the farm, re-
ceiving only such educational training as the pioneer school of his
neighborhood could furnish. He has always pursued the occupation of
his father. Lie takes great pride in keei»ing a good grade of stock of
all kinds. He is introducing on his farm shorthorn cattle. He was
mamed in 1864 to Mary Edgar, daughter of R. S. and Elizabeth
Edgar. She is a native of Pennsylvania and came with her parents to
Mercer countv when a ccirl. Pv this union William Kiddoo has eie:ht
children : Henry G., Harry (de), Francis (de), Maggie M., Alvin A.,
Nettie P., Kora P., Mary V. He and wife are members of the Metho-
14
234 HISTORY OF MERCER .VXD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
dist Episcopal church at Jov. He has a farm of 330 acres of iine land,
located in the south part of the townshijx
Jefferson Fuller, farmer, now resident of Millersburg township,
near Joy, is a native of Maine, born in 1839, and came with his parents
in 1842 to Mercer county, where he has since resided ; here he was
reared on the farm. He enlisted in company I, 17th 111. Vol., in 1861,
in which regiment he served three years, and then veteranized and
was transferred to the 8th 111. Vol., and continued in the service till
June, 1866. He was in the battles of Frederickton, Sliiloh, Fort Donel-
son ; in the siege of Vicksburg, Mobile, and numerous skirmishes in
Texas. At Fort Donelson he received a slio;lit wound, the only one
received during his term of service. He was married in 1866 to
Josephine Awbery, native of Kentucky, and daughter of Gabriel "W.
Awbery, of Kentucky, wdio served during the war in the federal arm}'
as a volunteer from his native state. In 1865 the southern sentiment
becoming too warm for a federal soldier in his own state he came north.
Mr. Fuller has by this marriage two children: Mary O., and Dora E.
His parents Jeiferson and Tabitha (Libby) Fuller, located in Xew Bos-
ton township, where the former still lives, his wife having died when
their son Jefferson was a child. Jefferson Fuller, Jr., raised four sons,
three of whom were in the army. He and wife were members of the
Baptist church. Jefferson Fuller, the subject of this sketch, began life
for himself with such capital as nature supplied him, energy and
muscle. He now owns a good farm of 100 acres, which he has well
.stocked.
Da^dd and Lucinda (Baldwin) Felton, the parents of our subject,
Herchel Felton, came to Scott county, Illinois, in the latter part of
1840, where they remained till the following spring, when they came
to Millersburg, Mercer county, where the former died in 1849, at the
age of thirtv-six years. They were both natives of Vermont : he of
Tunbi'idge, Orange county ; she of Sharon, Windsor county. The
parents of David Felton were Amos and Sarah Felton, both of Massa-
chusetts. The parents of Lucinda BaldM-in Felton were John and
Lucinda (Clark) Baldwin. Tlie former was born in 1783, the latter
1785. David Felton was by profession a school teacher, which busi-
ness he followed till his death, clerking during the intervals between
his schools. He was a member of tlie Coni^reo-ational church. Mrs.
Felton after the death of her husband returned to Vermont with her
family, where she remained ten years. She now lives witli her son
Herchel, one mile east of Millersburg. Flerchel was married in 1864
to Elizabeth Sliafer, born in 1842, daughter of Aaron P. Shafer, whose
history will appear on another page. By this marriage he has five
MII.LERSBUEG TOWNSHIP. 235
■fhiMren : Milo P.. deceased, Anna E., Benjamin R., Lucinda B., and
Hiram E. He and wife hold to the Missionary Baptist fjiith.. He was
born in 18-H. in Millersburg township, where he now resides. His
early education was that of the common school. He enlisted August,
1861, in company H, 3Tth 111. A'ol. He was wounded at Prairie Grove,
Arkansas, December 8, 1862, and M'as discharo-ed the followinsi; Feb-
ruary. Previous to his being wounded, he was in the battle of Pea
Ridge. He held the office of sergeant in his comjjany. His brother,
Aaron D.. enlisted in company C, 45th PJ. Vol., and died shortly
after he was mustered into the service. His brother Hiram died in
1875, at the age of thirty-five, at home with his mother.
One of the old settlers of Millersburg township that remains is Asa
Knox, who came to Mercer county in 1842, and located where he now
lives. In 1841 he took a claim in what is now Xew Boston township.
Mr. Knox is a native of Maine, born in 1814, and reared in the town
of Jay, New Hampshire. His parents were Moses and Susana Knox,
natives of Dover, Kew Hampshire. They emigrated to Maine shortly
after their marriage. He was by trade a shoemaker. About 1841 he
and wife joined the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1841 he located
in Millersburg township, where he died in 1858, at the age of seventy-
live years ; his vnfe died in 1848, aged sixty-four years. Asa received no
literarv training beyond the common school. Dislikino; the trade of
his father he chose farming for a livelihood, which he has always fol-
lowed. He was married in 1836 to Elmira Perkins, native of Fairfield,
Maine, born in 1815, daughter of Daniel and Polly Perkins, both of
whom resided in Maine till tlieir death. By this marriage Mr. Knox
has eight children: David P., Sumner B., James T., Asa D.,
Margarette, Elzina, Ellen M. (deceased). Elmira (deceased). Sumner B.
and James T. served in the army during the late war. The former en-
' listed March 14, 1865, in the 83d III. Vol., and was transferred to
company E, 61st 111. Vol., and served eight months. The latter
enlisted in company I, 17th 111. Vol.. and was in the battles of
Fort Blakely, Spanish Fort, and Jackson, Mississij^pi, and served three
years. They both now live in Millersburg township. Asa Knox and
wife are members of the United Brethren church, at the Palestine con-
gregation in Abington township. He has a farm of sixty acres, on
which he keeps a good grade of farm stock.
The subject of this sketch is a native of Bloomsburg, Pennsylva-
nia ; was born October 16, 1812, and is the son of Eli and Rachel
Thornton, both of whom were of English descent and natives of Penn-
sylvania. H. W. Thornton's early e<lucation was limited to the com-
mon schools of the country at that time. In his eii»:hteenth year.
236 HISTORY OF MERCER .\XD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
William G. Hiu'ley, Esq., a prominent lawyer in the county, gave
him the privilege of his othce for study (and with whom he read law),
and in 1S37 was admitted to practice in the courts of Columbia county.
He came to Illinois and located in Millersburg in 1838, where for
several years he followed his profession. In 1839 he was elected
clerk of the county court, which office he resigned the following spring,
being nominated and, in 1840, elected, with Hon. Thomas Drummond,
now judge of the United States court in Chicago, to represent the ten
northwest counties in the state legislature. In 1842 he was elected
recorder of tlie county to fill a vacancy, and in 1844 re-elected for four
years. At the end of the term the county seat was located at Keiths-
burg. For six or eight years he engaged in selling goods and in
impro^'ing his farm adjoining the town of ]Millersbm*g. In 1858 he
was elected president of the Warsaw, Rock Island & Galena Railroad
Company, which position he held for ten years, and during his term
of presidency secured the building of the line from Port Byron junction
(six miles above Rock Island) to Savanna, a distance of forty-eight
miles. After the completion of the road from Port B}Ton to Savanna,
thirty-eight miles, Richard Irvin, senior member of the firm of Irvin
& Brother, bankers, of New York, and financial agents of the Bank
of Glasgow, Scotland, who furnished funds for the work, gave him the
following letter as a testimonial :
"New York, April 25, 1866.
"Dear Sir, — I have jileasure in stating it as my opinion that to your exertions
in presenting plans and surveys for extending the Northern Illinois railroad from
Savanna to Fort Byron, and in setting forth the feasibility and probable advan-
tages of such extension, has it been owing that the work was undertaken and
completed at a period of very high prices both of material and labor. Whatever
benefit to your district of country has accrued, or may in future accrue, from the
work referred to, you are fairly entitled, I should say, to great credit for the
active and intelligent part you took in forwarding it.
'■ I remain, dear sir, vours truly,
"RICHARD IRVIN.
"H. W. Thornton, Millersburg, 111."
Mr. Thornton was 'married February 25, 1839, to Elizabeth F.
Norbury, of Philadelphia, born December 19, 1816, daughter of Joseph
B. and Rebecca M. Xorbury, both natives of Pennsylvania. By this
marriage they had seven children ; two died in infancy, one (Susan) at
the age of twenty-one ; four are now living : Martha X. , Sarah E. , oS'or-
bury AV., and George E. Since 1868 he has lived quietly on his farm,
and in the same house he built forty-three years ago.
Richard Kiddoo, deceased, was a native of Beaver (now Lawrence)
county, Pennsylvania ; born April 25, 1816. His parents, James and
Mary Kiddoo, were natives of Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Millers-
MILLERSBURG TOWNSHIP. 237
burg- township, Illinois, some twc) or three years after their son
Richai'd. . They located where Mrs. Brvant, formerly ]\frs. John
Kiddw>, now resides. Here they lived out theu' days in the faith of
the Presbyterian church. Richard Kiddoo was married October 12,
1S37, to Eliza Yannatta, native of Pennsylvania, born in 1821, and
daughter of James and Betsv Vannatta, both of Pennsvlvania, The
former died in 1837, aged sixty-one years; the latter came in 1844
to Mercer county, where she remained four years ; went to Jasper
county, this state, and there died at the ripe old age of seventy-
two years. They were of good family, well-to-do farmers, and honored
members of the Presbyterian church. By this marriage Richard
Kiddoo raised a family of thirteen children : Mary (deceased), William,
James. John (deceased), Xancy, Eliza, Martha (deceased), Thomas,
Hannah, Amos F., Cjtus C, Adda, Caroline S. In 1845 with his
family he came to Mercer county and located in Millersburg township,
where he resided till his death, which occurred February 3, 1882.
He came here with small means, which, combined judiciously with his
good business judgment and industry, crowned his life with success.
He never engaged in speculation but made his money by raising grain
and feeding stock. He left his family a property valued at $.50,000.
To use the words of his neighbors, he accumulated wealth rapidly and
practiced strict economy. But his economy was not of a close and
penurious kind ; his family lived comfortably and he gave generously
to every public benefit. He was a man of warm impulses and strong
convictions, and never inconsiderate of the convictions of others, a
helper of the needy and a friend to all. His great simplicity of
character and moral integrity won the esteem of many and coinmanded
the respect of all. If many who are disposed to complain of their
surroundings would adopt his rules of life they would move more
smoothly over life's impediments. Xo man manifested greater interest
in the upbuilding of Christianity and morality in the community than
did Richard Kiddoo. "It will not be regarded a disparagement to
others whr» were helpful in the same direction, to say the high
morality and marked religious character of this comnnmity are
largely due to the influence and efi:V)rts of Richard Kiddoo." The
expression of all who knew him is that a good man has gone out
from among us. He and his ancesters so far back as we are able to
ascertain have been strict members of the Presbyterian church. His
widow, who was a coworker in all his undertakings to build uj)
society, the church, and to make home happy and pleasant for all,
still resides on the farm where they have lived since they came to
Illinois.
238 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Among the tirst settlers of Millersburg township was M. IL Riggs^
and family. Thev located on section 30 as early as 1834. The sur-
rounding country was then only a wilderness. He planted his first
crop and fenced it afterward. Mr. Riggs is a natiye of Kentucky.
lie married in 1S37 Julette Froman, daughter of Thomas and Dice,
(Ilichison) Froman, both of Vii-ginia, but emigrated to Kentucky as
])ioneers, where their daughter Julette was born and reared. They
both died in Kentucky, members of the Baptist church. The olfspring
of tliis marriage is : Thomas, Isaac, AVilliam, James. Filman, Wash-
ington, Marion, Jasper, Clay. Mrs. Riggs liyes on the old farm of 400
acres where they first located, and is the oldest settler liying in the
township at this time. Her son Marion resides with her. He was
born and reared where he now liyes. In 1862 he enlisted in the 124th
reg. 111. A^ol. Inf., company G, and seiwed three years and a few
days. He was in the siege of Yicksburg, with Smith at Mobile, the
taking of the Sj^anish fort. He returned home and was married in
1865 to Sarah A. Hubbard, natiye of Illinois and daugliter of "Willard
and Xancy Hubbard, the former of Massachusetts, the latter, Kentucky.
By this union Marion Riggs has three children: Julette, Xancy and
Adda. He is a farmer, and keeps a good grade of farm stock, grade
cattle and hogs and Cotswold sheep. In politics he is a republican
straight.
AV, A. Bridgford, farmer, is by birth a Kentuckian, born in 1810,
and the son of AY. J. and Elizabeth Bridgford, both of whom were
natiyes of Virginia and emigrated to Scott county, Kentucky, where
our subject was born. In 1813 they moyed to Ohio, where they bcttli
died, the former aged eighty-four, the latter thirty-six years. Mr.
Bridgford was reared and educated in Ohio, where he resided till 1832,
when he emigrated to Indiana, near Indianapolis, where he remained,
eight years, and then came to Illinois and located in Richland Groye
township, where he remained till 1856, when he moyed to Millers-
burg, where he has since liyed. He was married in 1839 to Nancy
AVorkland, natiye of Kentucky and daughter of Charles and Permelia
"Workland. They have ten children, fiye of whom are liying : ( )liyer A.,
Malinda, ^Mai-y E., Martha and Laura, two of whom live in this county
and three in Kansas. He has held the office of justice of the peace
for about forty years and is now acting in that capacity. He also holds
the office of notary |>ublic. AVhen his ])resent term expires he will
have served in that office sixteen years. He held the office of c< >llector
eleven years. He belongs to both the secret orders, I.O.O.F and
Masons. He sold goods in .Millersburg from 1850 to 1860. The last
few years he has been engaged in farming. Previous to leaving Ohio-
MILLERSBURG TOWI^SHIP. 239
he studied law and was admitted to tlie bar at Oxford in 1832. but
never en<j:a*;ed in active practice. "When he arrived in Mercer conntv
his wealth in this world's goods for most part consisted of a team, and
cow and six sliee[). lie now owns a farm of eighty acres in Mercer
countv, eighty acres in Kansas, and considerable town property.
Among the early settlers of Millersburg is Mr. James Vekxon.-
He made his advent into this county when it was yet almost a wilder-
ness. His parents, Joseph and Sarah Vernon, settled in Warren
county, Ohio, in 1812, where their son James was born ; then moved to
Preble countv, Ohio, then to Shelbv countv, Indiana, where thev lived
out their natural lives. Mr. Jose|)h Vernon was a native of New Jersey,
his wife of South Carolina. James Vernon, disliking the vocation of
his father, which was that of mechanic, in early life engaged in farm-
ing, which he has pursued successfully till within the past lew years,
when he sold his land, resei'ving seventy -three acres for a home, and
has virtually retired. ' In 1836 he married Eliza Duncan, native ot
Virginia, and daughter of Buford and Fanny Duncan, both of Virginia
and among the first settlers of Duncan township. This marriage was
blessed with three children: Thomas A., Sarah F., and Viola I. He
and tamily are members of the Latter Day Saints church, but very
different to the church at Utah. They disapprove of the doctrine ot
plurality of wives.
Edward Brady, native of the "Buckeye"" State, born in 1825, is
the son of John, Sr., and Eliza Brady. The former is a native ot
Ireland, born about 1792, and came to America in 1813. He located
in Green countv, Ohio, where he remained about twenty-five vears,
when he came, about 1842, to Mercer countv and settled on the farai
where his son John now resides, where he lived during the rest of his
life. His wife, a native of New Jersey, is yet living, and is seventy-
seven years old, hale and heait}^ for a person of her age. They raised
a family of twelve children, five of whom now live in Mercer county.
Edward's early literary training was that of the common school. In
1848 he was married to Jane Gingles, native of Pennsylvania, born in
1827, and a daughter of James and Elizabeth Gingles, both of Penn-
sylvania. They came to Mercer county in ls39 and settled in Perrj'-
ton township, where he died in 1S72. His wife, Elizabeth, is yet
living. Edward Brady has by this union five children: James N.,
Clara E., Ella M., Nellie J. (deceased), and Eddie G. He and wife
are Presbyterians and belong to the society at Peniel church. He has
lield the olfice of school treasurer in MillersVjui'g township for the past
twenty years, and has been severel times elected commissioner of
highways. In politics he is a straight out re}>ublican. He has a
240 HISTORY OF MERCER AXU HEXDERSON COUNTIES.
well-improved farm of sixty acres, where he has resided since he came
to the county. He keei>s a good grade of tarm stock.
LuciEX B. Howe is one of the early settlers of the township and
county. He came here when the deer were yet plenty on the prairies
of Mercer county. He was born in Vermont, shortly after which his
parents. Ezekiel and Louisa, moved to Troy, Kew York, where he
was reared and educated. His parents were natives of Massachusetts,
and descendants of the pioneer families. The Howe family at first, in
America, consisted of three brothers who came from England to
Massachusetts. Among their descendants is the great inventor of the
Howe sewing machine. Lucien's father was a carpenter and joiner.
He died in 1837, aged sixty-two vears. His 2:randfather Howe fouo-ht
at the battle of Bunker Hill. The subject of this sketch graduated at
Union colleo-e, Schenectady, Xew York, in 1840, at the ao-e of twenty-
six, in the classical course. Then read law 'udtli J. P. Abertson, at
his home in New York; was admitted to the bar in 1841, and practiced
in Troy two years, then he came to Mercer county and located at
Millersburg, where he has since resided. He has held the office of
justice of the peace two tenns. He is a charter member of the
masonic lodge, at Aledo. and formerly a member at New Boston. He
was married in 1846, to Martha King, a native of Massachusetts, and
daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth King. They have six children, four
.of whom are now living: Charlotte A., Otis M., Cahin K., and
David T. He has a farm of seventy acres and pursues his ])rofession.
In politics he is an old line democrat.
Charles York emigrated with his lather to Illinois, in the tail of
1843, and located in Keithsburg township, where they remained a
short time when they bought a farm in Abington to^^mship, which they
sold and then went to Henderson county, where his mother died. His
fiither died in October, 1874, aged eighty-two years. Charles York
was born in Kentucky, in 1825, and is the eldest of a family of six
children. His early educational training was limited. Fen- eighteen
years after he came to Illinois he broke prairie. He was nuirried in
1855 to Mary J. Landreth, native of Mercer county, and dauo-hter of
Zacharia and Elenor Landreth, both natives of Virginia and among the
early settlers of Mercer county. By this union hv has seven children
living: Nancy E., Nettie, Alice, Olive, Eva, AVilliam L., and Linie
Mr. York and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church,
at Millersburg. He has given his entire attention to farming and
stock raising, both of which Ik- has made successful. He now owns
three farms in Mercer county, containing 432 acres. He brought with
him and still ivtains the a}»]n'eciati()n of a good horse, for which
MIM-KUsniMG ToWXSIiri'. 241
Kentucky is so noted. lie was assessor of Perrvton to^nishi]) two
years. Few men luwe Ix-en more snccessful than Mr. York.
Capt. Oliver A. Bkidgford is a native of Ohio, born in 1830, and
is tlie son of AV. A. and Nancy ("Wakland) J>rido:f()rd. whose sketch
will appear in the bioo:rai)hical department of this townshi]). Capt.
Bridgford was educated in the ccanmon school, and ciime to Mercer
county in 1843, one year after his father. Tlis early life, till he-was
nineteen years old, was spent on the farm. At that age he went to
California on a gold hunt; he went across the ]»lains with a team,
remained in California two vears, when he returned bv wav of Cuba
and New York, satisiled that gold was chea})er in Illinois than in the
gold regions. In 1851 he settled in ^Sfillersburg, bought a half
interest in his father's store, in which business he remained till istil.
when he raised Company I. 45th 111. Vol., and entered the army,
haWng been commissioned ca}>tain by Gov. Yates. He was in the
battles of Fort Donelson, Fort Henry and Shiloh ; was wounded in the
last named engagement. Having remained some time in the hospital
at Savannah, he was furloughed home, and returned after forty days.
At the end of twelve months after he entered the service, he resigned
his commission because of disabilitv to discharo-e the duties of his
office, caused by the wound received at Shiloh, and was discharged
from the service and returned to his home in ^lillersburff. In the fall
of 18(32 he was elected sheriif of Mercer county, and served the full
term, and then he returned to his store in Millei'sburg. where he con-
tinued till ]\Iarch, 1878. The following year he moved ujjon his farm
near Joy, where he now resides, since which time he has given his
farm his entire attention. Ca])t. Bridgford was married in February,
1852. to ]\Iiss Eliza A. McLain. native of Kentucky, born in 1833, and
•daughter of Joseph and Susan McLain, now residents of Millersburg.
They have ten children, five living: Medora E., Clayton AV., ]\rinnie
L., Archie G., Miles E. He owns a farm of 1.720 acres of land, all of
which except eighty acres is hi ]\Iercer county. He raises thorough-
hred cattle. Poland china hogs and Leicester sheep. He keeps on his
farm 100 head of stock cattle, 200 hogs. 150 sheep, and horses to carry
on his farm work. He is among, if not the largest, tax payers in
Millersburg tcnvnship. He is a charter member of the I.O.O.F. lodge
at ]\rillersburg, only two of whom are now living. Notwithstanding
his disal)ility from the wound received at Shiloh, he receives no pen-
sion, neither has he made application for one. Politically he is a
republican.
The parents of Edwix Gilmoki:. Judge Ephrahn and Julia A.
Oilmore, both of Ohio, came with the first settlers to ]\rillersburg
242 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
townshi}) and located near tlie Peniel clmrcli. He was the countj
surveyor at the time the country was being settled, and held the office
of judge. He raised his family in Millersburg township, and is now a
resident of Aledo. Edwin Gilmore was reared and educated on the farm.
Tlie advantages for obtaining an education at that early period in the
settlement of this part of the ' county were few. He was born in
1844, on the farm where he now lives, on section 21. In 18<')2 he
enlisted in the service in Company C. 102d 111. Yol., and served till
the war closed. He was on the skirmish line till he left Chattanooga
with Sherman's division on his march to the sea. He was married in
1870 to Miss Mary A. Morrow, native of Pennsylvania, daughter of
David and Elizabeth (Kiddoo) Morrow. They have three children :
Nellie, Burton, and Xewton R. Mr. Gilmore and wife are members of
the Presbyterian church at Peniel. He has a fine stock farm of 320
acres, and raises a good grade of cattle, sheep and hogs.
John T. McGinnis, came to Alercer county in 1846, and located in
Millersburg township. At that time the country was sparsely settled.
Like most of the pioneers, he came \\dth small pecuniary means, to
seek a home. He is a native of Pemisylvania, born 1821. His
parents are William and Elizabeth McGinnis, both natives of Pennsyl-
vania, his father of Irish, and his mother of Scotch descent. They
followed agriculture for a livelihood, and belonged to the United
Presbyterian church. John T. received little literary training in his
early life, but was well bred in the characteristics of the people of the
Quaker state, namely, energetic industry and honesty. Two years,
before his coming to Mercer county he was married to Margaret Kid-
doo, of Pemisylvania, born in 1824, and daughter of James and Mary
Kiddoo, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. McGinnis's chil-
dren are Mary E., Sarah, Emily, William, Alice. Maggie, Charlie E.,
and C«:)ra S. He was justice of the peace before the township organiza-
tion, and has held the (»ffice of supervisor fourteen years. He represented
Mercer and Knox counties in the legislature during the sessions of 1874
and 1875. Apart fi'<»m the offices mentioned he has been chosen to till
most of the offices of the township. Mr. McGinnis has a beautiful
home of 100 acres, located on section 21. Here he lives a quiet farmer'^
life, while his accumulated capital is employed in other directions. He
has never engaged in speculation, but kept his means em})loyed where
reasonable returns were certain. He was at one time stock holder in a
bank at Keithsburg, and at this time owns an interest in the Farmer's
Bank in Aledo, and also in one in Kansas. He and wife are members,
of the Peniel Presbvterian church. Politicallv he is a republican.
John Brady, Jr., is the son of John and-Eliza Brady, whose history
MlLLKKSUlRi; TMWXSHU'. 2iS
will be fouiul in connection with the sketch written of E<lward Brady.
John Brady, Jr., was born in Green connty, Ohio, in ls;-5.s. He came
with his parents to Mercer county in 1S42. lie received no educational
training beyond the district school. lie was reared to the business of
fanning, which i)ursuit he has followed for a livelihood. In 1S02, he
enlisted in company D, 83d 111. Vol., and served till July, 18f>5,
nuiking his term of service two years and eleven months. lie was with
the army of the Cumberland, in the second battle fought at FortDonel-
son, and at Franklin, and Lawrenceburg. The remainder of tlie time
he was kept chasing gnerrillas. At Fort Donelson he was wounded.
He was married in 1861 to Martha C. Gibson, daughter of George and
Isreal Gibson, the former a native of Tennessee, the latter of Ohio.
They were among the first to locate in AVarren county, Illinois, in 1832.
The indians had not quit the country. Among the slain by the Indians
of Warren countv was a brother to Georij;e Gibson. Thev were mem-
bers of the Associate Presbyterian church. John Brady has four
children: William, George P., Harry (deceased), and Mary. They
hold letters of membership in the Presbyterian church. He has a well
improved farm of 160 acres, and keeps a good grade of farm stock.
He held the ottice of township clerk for several years, and is now com-
missioner of public highways. In politics he is a republican.
The subject of this sketch, William Kiddoo, is a native of Lawrence
county (now Beaver county), Pennsylvania, where lie was bom in 1830 ;
came to Mercer county in 1847, and located w^ith his parents, James
and Margaret Kidchxj, where his widow, now Mrs. Bryant, resides.
He and wife and jjarents were members of the Presbyterian .church.
He married in 1853 Catharine Yance, native of Pennsylvania, b(jrn in
1834, and who came with her parents, AYilliam and Rachel (Vannatta)
Vance, to Mercer county, and located in Keithsburg in 1836. They
were members of the Presbyterian church. The former died in 1867,
the latter now resides with her daughter Caroline, and is seventy-eight
years old. William Kiddoo had by this marriage seven children:
E. Vila, Xancv, Olive, Forbes M., Marv, William M., and Rachel E.
He left his family in good circumstances. Like the rest of the Kiddoo
family he was a man of exemplary habits, a gcxjd citizen, kind husl)and
and lather. His widow married in 1871 Fi-ank I>. Bryant of Ohio,
by whom she has three children: Laura B., Frank (deceased), and
Archie H.
John S. Ivil)I)<:»o, deceased, emigrated from his native state, Penn-
sylvania, to Illinois, in 1847, and l()cated in Millersburg towiisliip,
where he resided till his deatli in 1866, in the thirty-seventh year of"
his age. His parents were James ami Maiy Kiddoo, who emigrated
244 HISTORY OF MERCKR -VXD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
to Mercer coimtj at the sam^ time as tlieir son Jolm S. Their remains
repose in the cemetery of the old brick church. John S. Kiddoo, was
married in 1S50 to Eliza Day, of Pennsylvaina. born in 1821, and emi-
grated with her parents, John and Mary Day, to Iowa, in 1S36, and
then to Mercer county in 1S46, where they still reside. Her father,
John Day, in early life was a boatman on the Mississippi riyer. He is
n member of the United Brethren church, his wife of the Methodist
Episcopal church. John S. Kiddoo had by this marriage six children:
John, Kobert (deceased), Mary (deceased), Alonzo, William (deceased),
and Lizzie. John S. Kiddoo and wife were members of the Free
Presbyterian church, but both united with the Methodist Episcopal
church a few years before his death. His wife still remains a member
of the church. He began in this county with small means ; when he
died left his family a property worth $8,000. Alonzo, son of John S.
and Ehza Kiddoo, was born in 1860, near where he now resides, in
Millersburg township. His early educational training was that of the
common school of the neighborhood. He is by occupation a farmer.
He was married in 1881, to Florence Shingledecker, born in 1858, and
daughter of James and Caroline Shingledecker, both of Pennsylyania.
They came to Mercer county in 1858, and located near Joy, where
they haye since resided. Both are members of the Methodist Episco-
pal church at Jo}'. Alonzo Kiddoo and wife are members of the same
church. They haye a farm of 140 acres well stocked. In politics he
yotes the republican ticket.
Mr. J. II. Cr/Vne located in Millersburg township in 1849. His
•early education was that of the commoi^ school. He began business
for himself as a farmer, which he followed ten years, when he opened
a store in Joy and engaged in shipping grain, both of which he still
carries on. He is the son of Dr. John W. and Ruth Crane, of Ohio,
early settlers of Fc)untain county, Indiana. J. H. Crane was born
in 1837. His parents came to Mercer county in 1847, and located
on the old Bassett farm, where they died, his father in 1850, aged
forty years, his mother in 1841. His parents were members of
the Methodist Episcopal church. His father by profession was a
doctor, and practiced in Illinois till his death. Mr. Crane was
married in 1861 to Sarah A. Griffith, a natiye of Indiana, and
daughter of Charles and Martha Griffith. In 1861 he enlisted in the
army of the late war, in company K, 10'2d 111. Vol. He was out
twelye months, when he was discharged, because of ill health. He
owns a line farm of 24< » acres, and is present postmaster at Joy.
iVmong the oldest citizens now liying in Millersburg township is
Mr. J. M. GiLMi^RE. In 1840 he located in the yillage of Millersburg
itlLLERSnURG TOWNSHIP. 245
and kept liotel for two and a half years, then moved upon his farm east
of the village, where he remained till seven years ago when he
returned to take up his residence in Millersburg, where he now
resides. He came to Mercer county ^vith small means which, com-
bined with unabating energy, has made him a successful former.
He owns a fine farm of 354 acres of plow land and 100 acres of timber.
He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Is 14: liis lather of Pennsyl-
vania and his mother of i!^ew Jersey. In 1S47 they came and settled
in Perryton township, Mercer county, where the former died in 1S57,
aged seventy-tsvo. His wife, who is still living, is a devoted member
of the Presbyterian church. They raised a family of nine children, all
of whom grew up to adult age. Three yet remain in Mercer county.
J. M.'s early educational trahiing was such as the common schools of
his neighborhood could furnish. He served an apprenticeship to a
tanner, and began immediately to raise the material for making leather
instead of dressing it. He held the office of county assessor for six
years, and also the office of county treasurer for the same time. He
was married in 1838 to Margaret Taylor, of Pemisylvania. born in
1815, daughter of Jacob and E. (Hoover) Taylor, both of Pennsylva-
nia. By this union Mr. Gilmore had eight children, five of whom are
now living: George M. (deceased), Eva C, Catharine (deceased),
Taylor, Mary, Richard (deceased), Jannett, and Fanny A. George M.
served three years in company E, 9th 111. Inf.; was veteranized and
promoted to steward. He was wounded at Fort Donelson, having
his index finger on the left hand carried awav bv a ball. He was with
Shennan on his' march to the sea, and died of disease in the ser^^ce
two months before the war closed. Taylor served three years in the
14th 111. cavalry, and was commissioned hospital steward. He and
wife are ardent supporters of Christianity and good morals, and belong
to the Presbyterian church at Millersburg. In politics he has always
been a democrat.
J. D. Thornt<jn is 'a native of Columbia county, Pennsylvania, and
born in 1828, and is a son of Eli and Abagail (Ilittle) Thornton, b(^th
natives of Pennsylvania. J. D.'s early education was limited to the
subscription school of his home. He learned the trade of blacksmith-
ing in his fathers shop. This he followed ten yeai's, when he left the
fori>;e to enlist in the service of his country. He seiwed in the army
through the Mexican war. His soldierly qualities were soon recog-
nized, and he was appointed to fill the first vacancy in Capt. Pember-
ton's company, to which he belonged, which was the office of sergeant.
He was with Scott when he made his campaign to the city of Mexico.
Then he joined the U. S. marines and went to West Africa to suppress
246 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
f
the slave trade. In 1862 he again enlisted in the 124th 111. Yol. Inf.,
company G, and served three years as sergeant. He was with Grant
«nd in all the rear battles at Yicksburg, the siege of the Spanish Fort,
and the taking of Mobile, making in all seven years he has served his
country as a soldier. In 1S40 he came to Illinois and settled at
Millersburg where he has since resided. J. D. Thornton was married
in 1855 to Lucy AVharton, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Jacob and
Martha Wharton. She died in 1871. He was married a second time
to Letticia L. Carver, a native of Pennsylvania, and daughter of Jesse
Carver, a descendant of Gov. Carver, first governor of Massachusetts.
Mr. Thornton has been a republican since the organization of the
party.
J. AV. Wood is a native of Tennessee, born in 1810, and is the
son of Isaac and Elenor Wood, both of whom were natives of Virginia.
They located in Indiana in 1822, where they died, the former in 1839,
aged sixty years ; the latter in 1852, aged eighty-two years. They
were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and respected mem-
bers of society. Isaac Wood by trade was a wheelwright, by profes-
sion a local preacher. J. W. Wood emigrated to Indiana with his
parents where he remained till 1842, when he came to Mercer countv
where he has since lived. He is a caii3enter by trade, which he fol-
k)wed till within the few j'ears past. He was lii'st married in 1832 to
Frances Reed, native of Indiana, daughter of Jacob and Mary Reed,
-of South Carolina. She died in 1869, aged fifty-eight years, leaving
nine children, of whom the living are James R.., Enos A., and
Samuel S. He was married a second time to Mrs. M. C. Robinson,
native of England, born in 1830, and daughter of George and Cath-
arine Staftbrd, natives of England. J. W. Wood has held the office
of justice of the peace most of the time during his residence in Illinois,
is now notary public, and served one term as constable. He and wife
are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Joy. In politics he
votes the republican ticket. He keeps the only hotel in Joy.
The subject of this sketch, David A. Steele, came to Mercer
countv with his parents, James and Mary Steele, in 1860. They
located on section 29 in Millersburg township, where they both died,
the former in 1856. at the age of sixty-five years ; the latter in 1868,
■aged seventy-six years. They were natives of Pennsylvania, and
successful farmers, and members of the Presbyterian church. David
was born in 1832, and reared and educated on the farm of his father in
the Quaker state. In 1859 he was nuirried to Matilda Denison, native
of Illinois, and daughter of Joseph and Sarah Denison, both of whom
were from Ohio. Bv this union he lias ten children, seven of whom
MILLERSBURG TOWNSHIP. 247
are living: Elizabeth, William, Walter, Cora, Maud, Fred., and Asliel.
He lias a farm of 130 acres, weir improved and faii-ly stocked with a
good grade of farm stock. In ]>olitics he votes with the republican
party. He is a man who takes great interest in sup})lying his children
with literature to feed their minds. He has always lived a c^uiet life
without seeking the notoriety of office.
The subject of this sketch, James E. Bay, is the son of James and
Hannah E. Bay, both of whom are natives of Pennsylvania, and
emigrated to Oliio at an early period of its settlement. They were
farmers. The former was a soldier in the war of 1812, and emigrated
to Cedar Eai)ids, Iowa, where he died in 1843, aged fifty-tAvo years ;
the latter died in 1856, aged fiftv-six years. J. E. Bav was born in
1829, in Guernsey county, and in 1851 came to Millersburg where he
has since lived. He was married in 1860 to Mary Marsh, a native of
•Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and daughter of John B. and Lydia (Porter)
Marsh, the former of New Jersey, the latter of Pennsylvania. The
f(^rmer was a soldier in the war of 1812. He and family move<l in
1848 to Illinois, where he died in 1864, aged seventy-three years; his
wife in 1834, aged thirty-six years. He was by trade a carriage trim-
mer. He first emigrated to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, ti-om
Xew Jersey. The Marsh family were formerly from Scotland.
J. E. Bay has by this union four children : H. M., John M., Fanny S.,
and Catharine M. Mr. Bay is a farmer and stock trader. He has
several times been chosen by the voters of his townshi]i to fill various
offices. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian church at Millers-
burg. Mr. Bay and family are quiet and respectable citizens.
Among the early settlers of this township is Richard S. Edgar.
He was born in Pennsylvania in 1818, and came to Mercer county in
1851 and located in Millersburg township where he has since been a
citizen. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, members of the
Associate Presbyterian church, and died there, his father, Richard, in
1861 at the age of sixty-five years ; his mother, Margaret, in 1862, aged
sixty years. R. S. Edgar was married in 1841 to Elizabeth A. Steele,
daughter of James and Mary Steele, of Pennsylvania. They have
three children: Margaret, James S., and Mary A. He served three
years in the late war as a soldier, in Company A, otith 111. Vol. Inf.,
during which ser^ace he lost his health and now receives a pension.
He owns a well improved farm of thirty acres, and keeps a good grade
of farm stock. , He and wife are membei'S of the Methodist Episcopal
church at Joy. In politics he is a rei>ublican.
Jacob Braucht, son of David and Mary Braucht, was born in 1828
and is a native of Pennsylvania, as were his parents. They emigrated
24:8 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
to Ohio when their son Jacob was a mere child, where they resided
the remainder of their lives. They were pioneer settlers of Ohio.
Jacob remained in Ohio until he arrived at the age of twenty-three and
then came to Mercer county and located on section 19, Millersburg
townshi]), where he has since resided. He has pursued the occupation
of farming, the vocation of his father. He married, in 1S51, Christina
Eiter, a native of Germany and daughter of John F. and Machdalana
Riter, who came to America in 1831 and located in Ohio, and after-
ward to Mercer county, locating in Millersburg to'waiship. Th'e latter
died in 1871, aged seventy years. The former, John F. Riter, resides
with his daughter, Christina. He served as a soldier in his native
country, Germany. Jacob Braucht has by this marriage six children :
Jemima, David AV. , Lucinda, Sarah (deceased), George, and Catharine.
He has a fine farm of 227 acres, well improved and well stocked with
the best of farm stock. Xo better stock farm is to be found in this
section. In politics he is a democrat. His parents and also his wife's
parents were of the Lutheran faith. His wife's father, John F. Riter,
still holds his membership in that church.
Among the citizens and soldiers now resident of Millersburg town-
ship is George Boone, native of Ohio, born in Medina county in 1837.
His parents were Hezekiah and Sarah A. (Greene) Boone, the former
of Pennsylvania, a great-nephew of Daniel Boone, the Kentucky hunter,
the latter also of Pennsylvania. They emigrated to Medina county
with its early settlers with their parents, and were married there. Thej
came to Mercer county in 1851. The latter, George's mother, died in
1857, aged thirty-eight years. Her remains repose in the Millersburg
cemetery. Tlie former is a tailor by trade and now lives at Fort
Dodge, j^ebraska, and is a member of the Lutheran church. His wife
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. George Boone
came to Mercer county with his parents and located in this township,
then went to Perryton township, where he resided for a time, and also
for a while in Aledo. His early education was that of the common
school. He first enlisted in Company I, 17tli 111. Vol., served two
years and was discharged because of ill health. Li 1864 he, in com-
pany with R. S. Osborne, raised a company for the llOth 111. Vol.
Osborne was captain of the company, and George held the office of first
lieutenant. The company was out seven months. He was in the
battle of Fort Donelson and a part of the two days' fight at Shiloh.
During his second term of service the company was detailed to fight
the guerrillas. He was married in 1865 to Mrs. Xancy J. Fullerton,
daughter of Robert and Eliza Shearer. By this marriage George
Boone has one child, Ella F. His wife bv her former husband has one
JAMES VE RNON
MILLERSKURG TOWNSHIP. 251
daughter, Marv A. Fullertoii. lie has a nicely improved t'arni of
eighty acres, and a good grade of farm stock.
James K. Morrow was born in 1852, on the farm wliere he now
resides. His parents, David and Elizabeth (Kiddoo) Morrow, were
both natives of Pennsylvania. The latter was the daugjiter of James
Kiddoo. David Morrow came to Mercer county with his family in
1847 and located in Millersburg township, where he resided till his
death, which occurred in 1854, in his thirty-seventh year. His wife,
mother of James K., died in 1872. They were married in 1846 and
raised a family of four children, two sons and two daughters. They
were quiet farmers and good citizens and members of the Presbyterian
church. They left their children in good circumstances. Their son,
James K., occupies the old homestead of 120 acres. He pursues the
vocation of his father. He keeps a good grade of farm stock. He
has imbibed the republican spirit of his neighborhood. His early
educational training was that of the common school.
Dr. Joseph P. Boyd, deceased, was born inWa^oie county, Indiana,
in 1826. His parents were James and Hester Boyd, both members of
the Christian church. Dr. Boyd earlv exhibited a fondness for books,
and at the age of sixteen entered the profession of school teaching,
which he followed till he began reading medicine with Dr. James Ruby
at Abington, Indiana. He began tlie practice of his chosen profession
at Benton ville, Indiana, then went to Randolph county, wliere he
remained two years, and then came to Millersburg in 1852, where he
had a large practice. He began life for himself with limited means,
but died in 1878, leaving his family in easy circumstances. He was
man-ied to Ellen Commons, daughter of William and Sarah Commons,
who emigrated ti'om England to America. The Commons family
in England were members of the aristocracy. The offspring of this
marriage were three children: William C, Sarah H., and Omer. He
was a member of the masonic order at Aledo, and the Mercer County
Medical Society. The community mourned his death as a great loss.
He was a man respected for his ability and thorough going business
ability.
Thomas Landreth is a native of Owen county, Indiana, where he
was born in 1842. His jjarents, Zacharia and Elonder (Fender), both
natives of A'^irginia, settled in Owen county, Indiana, about 1825,
where the subject of our sketch was reared and educated on the farm.
In 1852 they came to Mercer county and located in Perryton township,
where the former died in 1872, aged sixty years ; the latter in 1875,'
aged sixty years. They were quiet, good farmers and earnest suj>
porters of good societv, and were members of the Missionary Baptist
15 ■ ^ i I
252 HISTORY OF MERCER AND IIEXDERSOX COUXTIE.S.
church. Our subject came to Mercer county when a small boy with
his parents. He had two brothers, Crisby and Andrew, in the army
in tlie late war. The former belonged to the 126tli 111. Vol., and
died at La Grange, Temiessee, but a few montlis after his enlistment ;
the latter died two days later at the same place. Mr. Landreth is a
member of the I.O.O.F. at Millersburg. lie was married in 1865, to
Rachael Reed, a native of Mercer county, born in 1843, and a daugh-
ter of Harper and Louisa (Drury) Reed, early settlers in Mercer county.
They have three children: Lillie M., William R., and Nola L. He
has a farm of ninety acres well suited to stock raising. He keeps a
good article of farm stock. He and wife are members of the Mission-
ary Baptist church. In politics he is a Greenbacker.
Caey Dryden is a native of Ohio, born in 1840, and is a son of
J. M. and Elizabeth (Ellis) Dryden, the former of Ohio, the latter of
Virginia. She came to Ohio with her j^arents when eleven years old.
J. M. and Elizabeth Dryden came to Illinois in 1851, and located in
Peoria county, where thej^ remained till 1853, when they came to Mer-
cer county. In 1855 they went to Iowa, but returned to Mercer county
in 1864, where the former died in 1872, aged sixty-eight years; the
latter is living in Keithsburg, this county, and is seventy-four years old.
Gary Dryden accompanied his parents, first to Peoria county, then t(^
Mercer county and to Iowa, and returned in 1858 to Mercer county,
where he has since lived. He has pursued the occupation of farming
aU his life, except three years and one month he served in the army.
He enlisted in 1861 in company G. 27tli 111. Vol. He was a non-com-
missioned officer all the time of his service, and was in the battle of
Belmont, siege of Island No. 10, the numerous skirmishes around Cor-
inth, battle of Stone River, Chickamauga, siege of Knoxville, Res-
aca, Georgia, and Kenesaw Mountain, where he Was wounded and
taken to the hospital, where he remained till after his term of enlist-
ment expired. In 1867 he was married to Catharine Wolfe, native of
Illinois and daughter of Solomon and Evaline (Marlatt) Wolfe, both of
Indiana, and came to Mercer county with its early settlers. Mr. Dry-
den by this marriage has four children: Eva (deceased), Mary, Fred-
erick, Xellie L. He and his wife are members of the Seventh Day
Advent church, at the Marsh school-house. He has a farm of KiO
acres of fine land, well improved, located near the south line of the
township, upon which he keo]~»s a good grade of all kinds of farm
stock.
John Bell is a son of John and Mary (Cliftbrd) Bell, both of Ire-
hmd. He was born in Ohio in 1848, and came with his parents to
Illinois in 1862. He was reared on the farm. His early education
MILLERSBURG TOWNSHIP. 253
was such as he couhl ijet in the district schooL He was married in
18S1 to Fh)rence S. Adams, native of Illinois, born in 1858, and daugh-
ter of Samuel and Mary Adams, of Kentucky. They came to Rock
Island county, Illinois, with its early settlers, and now reside in Eliza
township, Mercer county. The former is a member of the Latter Day
Saints church. Mr. Bell has by this marriage one child, Harry Earl.
He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Aledo ; his wife is a member
of the Latter Day Saints church. He has a farm of 160 acres of tine
land fairly stocked. Politically he is a democrat.
The subject of this sketch, William A. Marsh, is by birth a native
•of New York, bom in 1833, son of M. L. and Eliza Marsh, both of
New York. They came to Mercer county in 1853, and are now resi-
dents of Aledo, where the former is justice of the peace. M. L, INIarsh
is by vocation a farmer. He first settled in Illinois, in Millersburg
township, where he now owns a farm of 150 acres. He and wife first
moved to New York city, where their son, William A., was born ; then
to Buft'alo, New York ; from there to Licking county, Ohio ; then to
Illinois, where they have since resided. William A.'s early education
was that of the common school and two years as a student in a graded
school. He accompanied his parents in all their removals till they
located in Mercer county, and then he located on the farm where he
has since resided. While he has pursued the vocation of farming for a
livelihood, he has by no means given all his time and thought to
making the farm pay, but is one of the most active members of the
Mercer County Historical and Scientific Society, the truth of which his
lai'ge collection of well-arranged specimens of shells, woods, grasses
and Indian implements demonstrate without further question. No one,
we have good reason to believe, has added more to the conchology and
botany of Mercer county than Mr. Marsh. So large is his collection
in ^ these two sciences, and that of Indian implements, that one who
has any taste in either of these directions could spend months in his
cabinet with both pleasure and profit. The proficiency Mr. Marsh has
.acquired in these branches of science clearly shows that success de}»ends
U])on the amount of labor we give to one thing, and not to the num-
ber of branches we take up. Mr. Marsh was married in 1855 to
Mary J. Patterson, of Licking county, Ohio, born in 1837, daughter of
AVilson and Isa Patterson, both of Pennsylvania. They emigrated
in 1835 to Mercer county, where they are both living. They are
members of the predestinarian Baptist church, and farmei'S by occu-
pation. Mr. Marsh has nine children: Philip, Eliza, Francis L.
(deceased), Mary J., Isa E., William A., Frederick A.. AVilson, and
Estella E. Mr. Marsh has a good farm of 24o acres, well im})roved
254 HISTORY OF MEKCER AXD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
and fairly stocked with a good grade of farm stock. In politics he
votes for the man, not for the party.
A. A. Sherer, the subject of this history, is a native of Pennsyl-
vania, Lawi-ence coimty, born in 1839. His parents were Robert and
Eliza Sherer, both of Pennsylvania. The latter died in 1841 ; the
former was married a second time in 1843, and came to Mercer coimty
in 1853, where he died in 1861, aged lifty-six years. His business was
that of stock dealing. At the time of his death he owned 600 acres of
land. He was a devoted Cliristian and member of the Presbyterian
church, as was also both his wives. His second wife now lives in Joy.
Robert Sherer did much to improve the stock of horses in the county.
No one carried off more first premiums from the county fairs than he.
A. A. Sherer came to Mercer county with his father. His early educa-
tion was limited to the district school. He was reared to the business
of the farm, which he has alwavs followed. He was married in 1861
to Hannah Church, native of Illinois, born in 1841, daughter of
Thomas and Racliel Church, both of Indiana, and early settlers of Xew
Boston township. They were prominent farmers and respected citizens,
of the community where they resided. The former died, 1859, aged
forty-eight years ; the latter in 1871, aged seventy-three years. Mr.
Sherer has by this marriage seven children: Ella M., Willie T.
(deceased), Robert C, Jane E., Adda P. (deceased), Rachel C, and
Frank E. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian faith and
hold their membership with the congregation at the Peniel church ;
and also his two eldest children have embraced Christianity in the same
church. Mr. Sherer has a tine stock farm three miles south of Millers-
burg, which consists of 420 acres. He deals in both stock and fat
cattle. His herd of sheep is of the Leicester stock ; hogs, Poland
China. He follows in the footsteps of his father as to class of stock he
keeps.
Tlie Wilitts familv came from Pennsvlvania to Mercer coimty
among its early settlers ; but at the present writing but few of the once
large family resident remain. Thomas Wilitts was born in Columbia
county, Tennessee, in 1804. His parents, Nathaniel and Sarah AVilitts,
were natives of Pennsylvania, where they lived out their lives. His.
mother lived to the ripe old age of 60 ; his father died ten years
younger. His vocation was that of a shoemaker. Thomas came to
Mercer county in 1854 and settled in Duncan township, where he now
owns a farm, and lived there till the winter of 1881-2, Avhen he retired
from active farm life and took up his abode in Millersburg. In 1828
he was married to Margaret Taylor, of his native state. She was boi-n
in 1810, and is a daughter of Christopher Kahler, a native of Germany.
MILLERSBURG TOWNSHII'. 255
Tliey had twelve children, eight of whom are now living: William,
To^^^lsend, practicing i»hysician in Philadelphia ; Horace, Charles,
Korman, Thomas, Maggie, and Chester. His four sons, Xorman,
Ohester, Charles, and Horace, were soldiers in the late war. The first
served as quartermaster; the second, in the 102d reg. 111. Vol. Inf.,
was out three years, and was with Sherman on his march to the sea ;
the third served eight months in the IHh 111. cavalry ; the fourth served
six months in the 27tli reff. 111. Yol. Inf. He and wife are members
of the Methodist Episcopal church in Millersburg. In politics he i& a
straight out republican.
S. H. KiDDELL is a native of Clinton county, Ohio, born in IS-tO,
and came to Mercer county with his parents, Humjdirey and Mary
(Mori) Riddell, in 1855. His father was a native of Maryland, his
mother of Pennsylvania. The former emigrated from his native state
to Pennsylvania, where he was married, and emigrated to Ohio in
1836, where he remained till he came to Mercer county. He died in
1871, at the ripe age of seventy years. His wife now resides in Aledo
and is sixty-four vears old. He was bv trade a slioemaker, bv vocation
a farmer, and superintended the county farm for ten years. He and
wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The early
literary training of S. H. Riddell was that of the common school. He
began a collegiate course at Delaware, Ohio, but owing to his ill health
it had to be abandoned. From the age of twelve he was reared on the
farm, which business he fdlowed for himself only three years. In
1861 he was married to Sarah F. Yernon, boi-n in 181:3, daughter of
James and Eliza Yernon, whose history will appear elsewhere. Mr.
Riddell by this union has five children : Jennett, James (deceased),
Frank A., Milo A., and Thomas Y. In 1865 he engaged in the
mercantile business in Millersburo;, which he carried on till 1871.
Since that time he has been employed as clerk, and is now engaged by
W. W. Egbert. He now holds the offices of notary public and super-
visor, and has filled most of the township offices. He and wife are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the
I.O.O.F. lodge.
John Farax came to Millersburg in 1855, where he has since
resided. He is by trade a plasterer, which trade he followed till 1879,
when he engaged in the grocery business. In 1882 he bought the
store of J. D. Strattan, and now is engaged in general merchandise.
In connection with his store he keeps the postoffice. Mr. Faran is a
native of Dearborn county, Indiana, born in 1832, sou of John and
Stinche Faran. The former was a native of Ireland. He first located
in Cincinnati, where he was married, and then came to Indiana and
256 HISTORY OF MERCER ^NJN'D HENDERSON COUNTIES. •
settled in Dearb(5rn county, where his son John was born. The wife of
the Latter was a native of Ohio. Both were members of the Methodist
Episcopal chnrch. The former died in 1835, at the age of thiity-eight
years. The latter tlien moved to Topeka, Kansas, where slie died in
ISfiJ. Mr. Faran was married in 1857 to Harriet Riddell, dangliter of
Humphrey and Mary Riddell, whose history will appear in the sketch
of S. II. Riddell. By this marriage he has three children : Jeneva J.,
Ida, and Howard. Mr. Faran is one of the men now living in Millers-
burg who was instrumental in driving the saloons from the village and
stopping the whisky traffic. He now has a good business, with an
increasing trade.
Henry Huttman, farmer and stock-raiser, Aledo, was born in
Pennsylvania in 1824, and is the son of Henry and Charity (Feazel)
Huffman, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, and resided in
Washington county. Tlie former died in 1827, aged forty-iive years^
and the latter in 1845, aged fifty -two years. They were farmers and
members of the Methodist Episcopal churcli, and were quiet, well-to-do
and highly-respected people in their community. Henry Huffman
came to Mercer County in the fjill of 1854, and located in Keithsburg,
where he resided till the following spring, when he located on section 25,
Millersburg township, where he has since lived. He was married in
J.854 to Mary Witherspoon, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1S31,
daughter of John and Margaret (Kennedy) Witherspoon. They were-
members of the Presbyterian church, kno^vn as Seceders. They were
peaceable farmers and highly respected citizens. Mr. Huffman has six
children : John (deceased), Maison B., Samuel I., Willie E. and Dora A.
(twins), and George AY. He and wife are members of the United Pres-
byterian churcli. He has a farm of 2<)8 acres of fine farming land,
located one-half mile from the east line of Millersburg townsliip and
four miles from the county seat. He keeps a good grade of all kinds
of farm stock.
Among the business men of Millersburg is J. D. Strattan, native
of Clinton county, Ohio, bc)rn in 1839. His parents were Da\ad and
Harriet (Ilinman) Strattan ; the former of Lynchburg county, Virginia,
the latter of Connecticut, near Xew Salem. Thev came to Mercer
countv and located at Millersburg in 1855, then emigrated to West
Liberty, Iowa, where the former died in 1807, aged seventy-four years.
The latter then moved to Mt. Vernon. Illinois, where she died in 1880,
at the age of seventy -three years. David Strattan was by profession a
merchant and did business in Cincinnati as early as 1812-13. He sold
goods both at Millersburg and West Liberty, Iowa, where he resided at
the time of his death. David Strattan and wife were members of the
MILLERSIJURG TOWNSHIP. 257
Ilic'ksite Friends. J. D.'a literary education was that' of tlie common
school. lie learned the business of merchandise with his father. He
began business for himself as a merchant in 1803, in Millersburg,. at
which he continued till 1882, with the exception of one and a half
years, during which time he engaged in farming. In 1881 he and
Lunn established in Millersburg a creamery, to which he now giyes all
his time and attention. He was married in 1862 to Fanny E. Merrimar,
native of Maine, born in 1843, daughter of Thomas and Mary E. Merri-
man. who came to Illinois about 1844. ]>v this marrias:e he had six
children, three of whom ^ire liying: Ora A., Frank P., and George C.
The mother of these died in 188(7. He was married a second time to
Adella V. Turner, natiye of Illinois, daughter of John H. and Mary J.
Turner. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
He is a member of the I.O.O.F. lodge at Millersburg.
William Valentdve is the son of Absalom and Susan Valentine,
the former a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio when a child,
with his parents. The latter is a native of Ohio. Tliey emigrated to
Mercer county in 1855, having spent the winter of 1854-5 in Lawrence
county, Illinois. Tliey located in Mercer county, where Absalom
Valentine died, in 1864, aged sixty-two years. His wife is now living
w4th her son William, and is seventy-four years old. She is an old sol-
dier of the cross in the Methodist Episcopal church, and holds her
membership at Joy. William Valentine received but a meager literary
education such as he was able to obtain during the winter months, in
the district school of his neighborhood. He was reared to the vocation
of farming, which he has followed. He was born in Ohio in 1837,
and came with his parents to Mercer county in 1855, where he has
since resided. He enlisted in the seiwice of his country in I8(i2, in
company K, 102d 111. Vol., and served till the close of the war, and
was mustered out June 6, 1865. He was in the battles of Resaca,
Georgia, at the siege of Atlanta, and with Slierman, on his march to
the sea, at Goldsborough, and Savannah, and from there to Richmond,
and Washington. He was married in 1869 to Easter Bell, daughter
of John and Margaret Bell. By this marriage he has one child, Ben-
jamin II. He has a fai-m of 120 acres of tine land, and keeps a good
grade of farm stock.
Wilson P. Zentaore's parents, David and Dianna (Minick) Zent-
mire, emigrated fi-om their native state, Ohio, where their son, Wilson P.,
was born, to Illinois, in 1855, and located in .Vbington township, Mer-
cer county, where they resided nine years. They then moved to
Millersburg township, where the former died in 187<>, aged sixty years,
the latter in 18(U), aged forty-nine years. He was a carpenter and
258 HISTORY OF MERCEE AXD HENDERSON COUXTIES.
iaiTiier. The Zentmires family emigrated to America from GeiTuanv
at an early time. Wilson P. came to Mercer county with his parents,
when eight years old. His early education was such as the common
schools of that time could fin-nish. He has given his entii'e time to
farming. He was married in 1S6S. to Miss Xancv Kiddoo, daughter
of Richard and Eliza (Tannatta ) Kiddoo. whose sketch will appear in
the work. They have live chikb'en ; Harry, Hattie, Ray (^deceased),
Tellv (deceased), and Tuse. He owns a tine stock farm of 160 acres,
and keeps a good grade of fai-m stock. In 1881 he had his house on
section 33. burned, loss $2,20Cr, $1,300 of which was covered by insm-
ance. Politically he is a republican.
William M. Miller, tanner and teacher, is one of the early teachers
in Millersburg. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 182V>. His
earlv educational ti-ainins: was that of the common school of his home,
and ten months at an academy. Five years pre^'ious to his coming to
Illinois, which was in 1855, he began teaching in his native state,
when he was in his nineteenth year, and has taught school eighteen
years in ]Millersburg township, lodging at the same house all this time,
making twenty-tlu-ee years he has spent in tlie profession. His parents,
James and Mary (McCreary ) Miller, were natives of the Quaker state.
The former died in 1881, aged seventy-seven years, the latter is yet
living and is in her seventy-third year. His parents were well-to-do
fanners, and members of the "VVestiield Presb"\'terian church. His
father came from Ireland; his mother's family, the McCrearvs. em-
igi-ated to Pennsylvania in its early settlement. Mr. Miller was mar-
ried in 1856 to ^liss Elizabeth Galaway. native of Ohio. She came
with her parents to Mercer county in 1854 and located in Millersburg
township. Her parents were natives of Ohio. They had pre%-iou8ly
emigrated to Kansas. There the fathft- died in 18 Ti, aged sixty-three
years. Tlie mother is still living:. Mr. Miller bv this marriao'e has a
family of eight children : Mary J.. Laura B.. Eva S., Granville S.,
Jessie S., Jolm G.. Mattie R.. and Lizzie L. He and family, except
the three youngest, are members of the Presb}i:erian faith. His present
occupation is that of farming. He has a line farm of eighty acres, on
which he keeps a good gi-ade of fann stock. In politics he is a
republican.
A-VRox P. Shafer is a native of Xew York state, born in 1811, son
of Adam and Hellena Shafer, both of Xew York. He was by occupa-
tion a farmer. For a number of years he held the office of colonel of
the state militia. Both were members of the Baptist church. They
were reared, educated and spent their lives witliout emigrating from
their native state. Then* son, Aaron P., was reared on the farm with
MILLERSBIRG TOWNSHIP. 259
such educational advantages as the pioneer scliouls of his boyhood
•couhi furnish, which were limited. He lived on the farm till he
arrived at the age of twenty-three. He was then engaged for a time as
clerk in a store, then began in the mercantile business in Xew York
for himself, which he followed for a time when he sold out his business
and bouirht a farm which he sold and came to Illinois in 1S56. and
located in Millersburg. where he has since resided. Here he learned
the wagonmaker's trade and has earned on a shop since 1856. He was
mari-ied in 1S41 to Eliza Da^-ls, of Xew York, born in 1818, daughter
•of John S. and Elizabeth Davis, both of Xew York. They were well-
to-do tanners. Mr. Sliafer has by this mai-riage two children :
Elizabeth, now ]\L'S. Felton. and Annie A. Their mother died in
18J:6. He has since remained unmarried. He is a member of the
Baptist church, and a republican in politics.
William C. Buyd, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Indiana in
1847, and is the son of Dr. Joseph P. and Ellen (Commons) Boyd,
whose history ^^'ill appear in the sketches of Millersburg township.
"William C. came to Mercer county with his father when a mere boy.
His educational training was that of the -s-illage school at Millersburg.
During his boyhood his father was engaged more or less in stock
raising, for which AVilliam C. formed a liking and has chosen for a
livelihood. He lives one mile west of Millersburg. near the line
between Millersburg and Duncan townships, on a j^art of the farm
owned by his father, which consists of 64<> acres, and is yet undivided
between his thi-ee children. "U^illiam C. Boyd was married in 1873 to
Emma Longshore, native of Indiana, born in 1853. and came to Mercer
■county with her parents. J. H. and Sally ( Hadley ) Longshore. Mr.
Boyd has bv this marriaare two children : Archie L. and Edna. His
wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Millersburg.
La politics he is a republican.
Joseph A. Downey is 'the son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Wilson)
Downey, both of whom are natives of Ireland. He first located in
Pennsylvania where he worked uj^on the railroad for several years,
then came to Mercer count}- where he rented land for a while, and now
o^vns a fine farm of 419 acres in Millersburg townshiji, where he
resides. He was married in Philadelphia and has a family of eleven
children: Joseph A.. John, Mary (deceased), William. Wilson,
Andrew, Martha, Annie (deceased). Moses, George (deceased), and
Harry. Josej)h. the eldest of his father's family, is a native of Mercer
county, born in 1858. He M-as nuirried in l>>sl to Mary ]\Ic(Tinnis. of
Mercer county, daughter of John J. McCiinnis now a resident of Duncan
township. Mercer county. Joseph A. lives (^n the farm of his father
260 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
and keeps a good grade of farm stock. His early educational training
was tTiat of tlie common school. He was reared on the farm and thia
business he has always followed.
James H. Longshore was formerly from Bucks county, Pennsyl-
vania. He first emigrated from his native state to Ohio, Clinton
county, where he remained till 1852, then he moved to Indiana, where
he remained seven years, when he came to Mercer county and located
in Millersburg, where he has since remained, pursuing the trade of
his choosing for a livelihood. He was born in 1823. His parents,
James and Sarah Longshore, remained in their native state all their
lives. His father was a wagon builder by trade. The religion of his
parents was that of the Hicksite Quakers. Mr. J. H. Longshore's
earlv educational trainino; was such as the common schools of his time
could fin-nish. When a boy he learned his trade with his father. In
1849 he was married to Sally Hadley, of Clinton county, Ohio, whose-
birth dates to 1842. She is the daughter of William and Susanna
Hadley, both of whom are natives of Virginia. They came to Ohio
quite early, where they both departed this life, the former at the age of
tifty years, the latter at eighty-seven years. Both were members of
the orthodox Friend's church. By this marriage Mr. Longshore has
four children: Alvin E., now in California, Emma B., Carrie, and
Howard. In politics his principles are those advocated by the republi-
can party. He was one of those men who came to Millersburg in tha
zenith of its prospects of prosperity and yet remains, having secured a
good run of trade in his line.
D. A. Davison was born in 1833, in the State of Pennsylvania.
His parents were Moses and Elizabeth Davison, both of Pennsylvania.
They emigrated to Wells county, in 1843. There they died, the former
in 1880, aged seventy-seven years ; the latter in 1864, aged iifty-seven
years. The former was a farmer, miller and millwright. D. A. came
fi'om Pennsylvania to Mercer county in 1859, and located in New Bos-
ton township, where he remained two years, then moved to Keithsburg
two years. In 1866 he located in Millersburg township, where he now
resides, near the south line. He was married in 1860 to E valine Wolfe,
a native of Indiana, born in 1842, and daughter of Solomon and
Evaline (Marlatt) Wolfe. They came to Illinois in 1846. They are
both natives of Indiana, and are now" citizens of Abington township,
Mercer county, and members of the Methodist Episcopal cluirch. Mr..
Davison has by this marriage twelve children : Ida (deceased). May,
Cora, Ealpli, Walter, Edward (deceased). Albert, Clarence, Morgan,
Grace, Rose, and Maud. Mi-. Davison enlisted in 1862 in the late
war, in company G, 124th III. Vol. Inf, served three years, and was.
MILLERSBURG TOWNSHIP. 2<'tl
in the following encrag-ements: Fort Gibson, Brownsville, Jackson^
Champion Hills, Black river, siege of Yicksburg, nnmerons skirmishes,
and at Spanish Fort. lie lives on a tine farm of 320 acres.
W. AV. Egijkrt is a native of Stark county, Illinois. His parents,
James C. and Catharine (Swank) Egbert, the former a native of New
Jersey, the latter of Pennsylvania, came with the early settlers to
Stark county, where our subject was born in 1854. There his tatlier
depai'ted this life in lSf>3, aged thirty-six years. W. W. Egbert
recei\'ed a fair common school education and five tenns at Iledding
college. He first began business for himself as druggist in j)artnership
with Dr. D. J. Perry at AVest Jersey, Illinois. In 1870 he brought a
stock of drugs to Millersburg and opened a store. In 1878 he engaged
in general merchandise in which business he is at present. He has a
good trade. In 1878 his store was burned; loss S2,00U, $1,000 of
which was paid by the insurance company. He was married in 1877
to Miss Margaret M. Green, native of Illinois, daughter of AY. L. and
Rebecca E. Green, both of Pennsylvania, and came to Alercer county
in 185-I. The former was by ti'ade a carver and gilder. He held the
office of justice of the peace for several years, was in the mercantile
business with H. AY. Thornton, and was for a time postmaster at
Millersburg. He enlisted in the army in 1861 in the 45th 111. A^ol.
Inf., in company I, as second lieutenant. He was in the battle of
Sliiloh, and died of wounds in 1862, while in the service. He was a
member of the I.O.O.F. His widow now receives a pension and
resides in Millersburg. She was at one time postmistress at Alillers-
burg for about fifteen years. AY. AV. Egbert has by this marriage
two children : AYilliam C. and Frederick AV". He is a member of the
I.O.O.F. lodge at Millersburg. He and wife are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church.
Among the well-to-do citizens and farmers of Millersburg township
is John Pubert, born in New York in 1838, and son of John and
Magdalena (Chat) Pubert, the former a native of France, the latter of
New York, and of German descent. John Jr.'s father died when he
was an infant ; his mother died when he was fourteen years old, aged
thirty-seven years. She came to Chicago in 1843, where she resided
for a time, when she removed to Peoria county. John's parents were
members of the Christian church. Mr. Pubert's early education was
limited. He came t<j Mercer county in 1858 and located near New
AA^indsor, where he remained till 1861, when he enlisted in the army
in August of that year, in company A, 30th 111. Yol. Inf , and served
till December, 1862. He was in the battle of Belmont and bombard-
ment of Fort Henry. .Vt Fort Donelson he was taken prisoner, and
262 HISTOEY OF MERCER A^TD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
taken first to Memphis where he remained six weeks, then to Mobile,
then to Tuscaloosa, fi-om whence he was sent to parole camp at St.
Louis, and discharged December, 1862. He returned home and
located in Millersburg township in 1863, where he now resides. In
1863 he was married to Miss K. J. Hughes, of Pennsylvania, born in
1842, and daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Hughes, the former of
Pennsylvania, the latter of Ohio. Thev came to Mercer county in
1857 and located in Millersburg township,- where both now reside. He
is a wagon maker b}' trade and carries on a shop in the village of Joy.
Both are members of the Seventh Day Advent church at Marsh
school-house. John Eubert has by this marriage three children :
Bertha E. (deceased), Joseph B., John C, and Jennie E. He and
wife are members of the Seventh Day Ad^'ent church. He o\yns a
well-improved farm of eighty acres, fairly stocked with a good grade
■of stock.
One of the early families yet resident in Millersburg towhship is
the Dool family. Of that family now resident of this township is
John Dool. His father, Robert Dool, was a native of Ireland (Antrim
county), and came to America in 1819, landing in Pennsylvania, where
he remained two years when he moved to Ohio, and died in 1829,
aged forty-two years, leaving a wife and eight children to mourn his
loss. His wife, Margaret (Spears) Dool, was a native of Ireland ; her
parents were John and Mary (Hannah) Spears, who came to America
in 1S2-1- and settled in Ohio, where they both died. Robert Dool's
•children were named as follows: William S., Henry and Hannah
(twins). Rosanna, Margaret, Mary, John, Thomas. Robert Dool and
mfe were farmers both in Ireland and America, and were members of
the Presbyterian church. His wife, who still survives, lives with her
daughter on the farm of her son John, and is now eighty-eight years
old. John Dool was born in 1826 in Harrison county, Ohio, where he
remained till 1858, when he came to Mercer county with his mother
and her eight children. Here he has since resided. He was married
in 1.S63 to Sarah Havertield, daughter of James and Mary Ilaveriield,
the former of Ohio, the latter of Ireland. The former died in 1862,
aged sixty-two years, while in the service of the 9th 111. Vol. Inf The
latter died in 1857. They were both members of the United Presby-
terian church. By his marriao-e John Dool has four children : Anna
L., James L, William H., and Robert B. He and wife are members
of the Presbyterian church. He has a farm of 120 acres of tine farm-
ing land, well improved and fairly stocked, and fifteen acres of timber.
In politics he is a democrat.
Timothy Noonan, farmer and stock raiser, is a native of Tipi)erary
MILLEKSBUKG T( (WNSHIP. 263
oountv, Iivhuid, born in is?, 7, and came to America with liis parents,
Daniel and Ellen Xoonan, both of Ti])[»erarv county, Ireland, in iSoD.
Thev first located for a time in Massachusetts; then came to Mercer
county. Both were members of the Ronnm Catholic church. The
former died in 1878, aged ninety-live years ; the latter, his wife, lives
in the village of ]\[illersbnrg, and is ninetv'-two years old, hale and
hearty for one twenty years her junior. Timothy Noonan learned the
trade of his father, which was that of shoemaker. He and his father
carried on a shoe shop for a time in the village of Millersburg. In
1859 he made a trip to the Rocky Mountains, and was gone nearly one
year, when he returned to Millersburg and opened a shoe sho]), but
soon left the shop for the farm where he now resides, some three miles
west of Aledo. He was married in 1860 to Sarah Mc(4innis. born in
1839, and daughter of Thomas and Mary McGinnis, both of Ireland.
They first located in Pennsylvania ; \hen moved to Keithsburg, Mercer
county, when their daughter Sarah was seven years old. The former
died in 1863 ; the latter in 1872. Both were of the Roman Catholic
faith. By this nuirriage Mr. Noonan has six children: Thomas F.,
William, John L., Eddy 11., Mary J., and an infant. He and wife
are members of the same church as their parents. He has a fine farm
of 240 acres, well improved and well stocked.
P. D. Shingledecker, Aledo, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in
1852, son of John and Sarah Shingledecker, both of Pennsylvania.
They emigrated to Mercer county in 1852, remained one year, and
returned to their native state, where they spent the remainder of their
days. The former died in 1858. at the age of fifty-two ; the latter in
1872, aged fifty-one years. They were members of tlie Presbyterian
faith. P. D.'s early education was that of the common scho<fl. He
came to Illinois in 1862, staid five years and returned to Pennsylvania,
where he remained se\'en years, when he came again to Mercer county,
where he now resides. He was married in 1872 to Racliel Richards,
of Whitesides county, Illinois, born in 1858, daughter of George and
Eliza Richards, both of Illinois. The latter died in 1864, and was a
member of the Presbyterian church ; the former is now living in Colo-
rado. Mr. Sliingledecker is a man of steady habits and industrious
turn. He keeps a good grade of farm stock, but raises grain to sell
rather than to feed.
John Bell, farmer and stock raiser, Aledo, was born in 1805, is a
native of Ireland, and came to America in 1841. His ])arents were
Benjamin and xVnn ]>ell, both of whom were Presbyterians. Mr. Bell
first landed at Philadelphia, and proceeded to Ohio, where he remained
till 1S63, when he came and settled in Millersburg township, on the
264 HISTORY OF MERCER A^'D HENDERSON COUNTIES.
•
farm of 360 acres where lie now resides. He was married to Margaret
Gilford, native of L'eland, and daugliter of John and Mary Clifford, of
Ireland, both of whom came to America in 1841. They were farmers
and members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Bell by this marriage
has six children: Mary. John C, Easter, George, Aiui, and Jane. His
wife is of the Presbyterian faith. In politics he is strictly a democrat.
He keeps on his farm a good grade of farm stock. His farm is the
result of his own labor, economy and business ability.
Zachariah Jewel, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Harrison
countv. Ohio, born in 1824. He was reared on the farm in his native
state, where he resided till 1873 when he came to Mercer county where
he now resides. During the late war he was a member of the Harrison
Countv Home Guards, and was called out to drive Morgan from the
state. He was married in 1847 to Mary Dool, native of Ohio, daughter
of Pobert and Margaret Dool. By this marriage he has seven chil-
dren: Margaret A., Nancy E., James W., Rebecca J., Hannah L.,
Mary O., John W. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian
church at Peniel. Mr. Jewel's parents were James and Xancy (Spring)
Jewel, both of whom came to Harrison county, Ohio, from their native
state, Virginia. They were pioneer settlers of Harrison county,
and still reside in Ohio. They are farmers and members of the Baptist
church.
Dr. JdHN P. Chowning, Millersburg, was born January 21, 1843,
in the town of Payson, Adams count}', Illinois. His parents, Thomas
J. and Louisa (Holman) Chowning, -were nati^'es of Tennessee, of
Scotch descent. They emigrated to Adams county in 1840, and located
on a farm near Payson. In 1850 they removed to Adair county, Mis-
souri, Jjut returned to Adams county, after an absence of tlu-ee years,
where they remained till the close of the rebellion. They are at
present living in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Chowning was the oldest of
nine chiklren, eight of whom are still living. After completing the
common school studies he spent two years in the academy of his
native town. The rebellion having broken out he enlisted August 7,
1862, iu Company E, 84th 111. Vol., in which he served till the close
of the second days' fight at Chickamauga, when lie was taken prisoner.
He was taken to Kichmond, Virginia, and confined in what was known
as ''Castle Pemberton." for one and one-half montlis, after which he
was removed to Danville, A^irginia, where he remained four and one-
half months, from thence to Andersonville, Georgia, where for seven
montlis he was subjected to scenes of cruelty and suffering that beggar
description. On the night of October 1, 1864, while being transferred
from Andersonville to Charleston, South Carolina, he escaped with one
>[ILLERSBURG TOWNSHIP. 265
of his fellow prisoners, by jumping from the train while in motion.
Keduced by starvation and disease to a mere skeleton, the tendons of
of his limbs contracted till he was literally compelled to walk on ti})
toe by the aid of a "walking stick.'' After a perilous journey of
eighteen days, through an enemy's country, subsisting on sweet pota-
toes and such other edibles as were obtainable, he at last reached the
Union lines, then at Atlanta, Georgia. Through the kindness of Cien.
Stanley he was at once detailed as a clerk in the di\ision hospital,
where he remained till the close of the war. In the fall of 1S64 he
entered tjie Iowa Wesley an University, from which he graduated in
1869, defraying his expenses by teaching during the mnter months
and working at the car})enter's trade during the summer vacations.
In the spring of 1870 he commenced the study of medicine, with
Dr. E. L. Marshall, of Keithsburg, Illinois, as preceptor, lie con-
tinued his medical studies, teaching in the meantime ; was principal of
the schools in Keithsburg and Barry, Illinois, respectively. During
the winter of 1872-3 he attended lectures at Rush medical college.
Locating at Millersburg, he practiced two j-ears and six months, when
he again attended lectures at Bellvue hospital medical college. New
York, from which he received the degree of ^M.D. Dr. Chowning
was married to Florence, daughter of A. B. and Anna Sheriff, in 1871;
her father a native of Pennsylvania, her mother of Ohio. By this
marriage they have four children : Florence M., "William M., Josephine,
and Eva. They are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The doctor is a member of the masonic fraternity ; is also a member of
military tract medical society.
John Downing, Aledo, is a native of Belmont county, Ohio, born in
181:0, son of John and Ellen Downing; former, native of Pennsylvania,
the latter of Ohio. They came to Mercai- county in 1864, and located one
and a half miles east of where their son John now resides, and where
they both died ; the former in 1873, at the age of seventy-two ; the latter
in 1874, at the age of sixty-eight years. They were members of the
Presbyterian church, and their remains repose in the cemetery of the
Peniel church. John Downing came to Mercer county with his
])arents. He was married in 1863 to Rachel J. Cami)bell, native of
Belmont county, Ohio, daughter of John and Jane Cani})bell, both of
Ohio, and are now residents of their native state." Mr. Downing has
by this union iive children: Jane E., Maggie L., Robert L.. Birdie S.,
and John 0. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
He served in company K, 102d 111. Vol., was mustered into the service
in 1862, served six months, and was discharged because of ill health.
He moved upon the farm where he now lives in 1877. His farm con-
266 HISTORY OF FIERCER A^■D HENDERSON COUNTIES.
tains 150 acres, which cost $50 pp ■ acre. It is fairly improved and
stocked witli a good grade of cattie, liogs and horses.
W. E. Lemon, Aledo, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1837,
son of John and Eliza Lemon, both of Pennsylvania. They came to
Mercer county in 1867, and located in Aledo, where they resided till
1871, when they moved upon a farm, where the latter died in 1874, at
the age ol' fifty-seven years, when the foi-mer returned to Aledo, where
he now resides. Having sold his farm he now lives a retired life. He
and wife were Presbyterians. W. P. was reared on the farm. His
educational training was such as he could get in the district school.
During the war he was a member of the home guards in his native
state, and was ordered out once. He was married in 1868 to Alice
Lair, native of Indiana, and came to Mercer when she was a girl with
her parents. She died in 1870, at the age of thirty years. He was
married a second time to Julia A. Barcroft, of Ohio, daughter of
AVilliam and Anna Barcroft, both of Ohio. By this last marriage he
has three children : Frank, Lena, and Earl. Mr. Lemon has a fine
stock farm of 120 acres, lying upon both sides of the railroad, three
and a half miles west of Aledo. He keeps a high grade of cattle,
sheep, hogs and horses, the latter of the Clidesdale and Norman stock.
His sheep are of the Merino breed. He is a member of the Presby-
terian church at Aledo.
S. A. Oliver was born in 1855 in Henry county, Illinois, and is the
son of Pobert P. and Mary E. Oliver, both of Ohio, now citizens of
Henry county. By vocation they are farmers. S. A. was reared and
educated to the farm, which pursuit he has always followed. His
early educational training was such as the common schools of his
neighborhood could ftirnish. He was married in 1874 to Maggie Lyle,
native of Henry county, Dlinois^ born in 1855, daughter of William and
Margaret Lyle, both of Scotland. They came to Henry county with its
early settlers. By this nuirriage Mr. Oliver has two children, twins :
Marian and Mary. He came to Mercer county and located in 1879,
where he now resides. He has a fjirm of eighty acres, fairly improved
and stocked with a good grade of cattle, sheep, hogs and horses.
G. W. PrcKUP, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Iowa, born
in 1848, and came with his parents, John and Mary E. Pickup, to
Burlington, Iowa. -They were natives of England, and emigrated to
America in 1838. They both died during the cholera scourge of 1840,
tlie former before (t. AV. was born. G. W.'s mother was a member of
the Episcopal churcli. In isc.l he enlisted in company D, 7th 111. Vol.,
ninety days* men, tlieii le-enlisted in com]>any G, l(»th 111. Vol., and
served till July 4, 1865. He was in tlie siege of New Madrid ; then
•1',.
. ^''y'-'^-t-
..^
JOHN GLAUCEY.
KIJZA TOWNSHIP. 2^9
went to Mempliis ; was in tlie ))attles of Shiloli and Corinth ; with (tgh.
E. A. Payne, wlio was sent to reinforce Xasliville; in ls<;8 was phiced
in Rosecrans' division; was in the battles of Stone nver, Chickamaui^a,
and was witli Sherman's division in his marcli to the sea, at (toMs-
boroiigli, and tlien went to Richmond, Washiiifi^ton and Louisville,
where he was mnstered out of the service July 4, 1S65. He was
married in 1S71 to ]\[ary E. Grithth, of Mercer county, born in 1853,
and daughter of Charles and !^^artha (ii-iffith; the former of Indiana,
the latter of Ireland. They came with the early settlers to Mercer
county, and located in ]\[illersburg township, where the former now
resides, his wife having died in 1879, aged sixty-seven years. Mr.
Pickup by this marriage has one child, George A. He resides two
miles south of Millersburg, on a farm of eighty acres, which is nicelv
improved and well stocked. In politics lie is a republican.
ELIZA TOWNSHIP.
This is No. 15, in range 5, of the fourth principal meridian. Rock
Island county bounds it on the north, and the Mississi}»])i river on the
west. A chain of irregular and abrupt bluffs extends from north to
south, through the center of the township, from the south line of
section 32 to the northern boundary line between Eliza townshij) and
Rock Island connty, at the northwest corner of section 0. Three
creeks run in a southwesterly direction through the town, the princii)al
one of which is Eliza creek, whose source is in the N. E. J of Sec. 12,
of Duncan township. Fed by small tributaries on botli sides, it runs
southwest through that township, crossing the eastern boundary line
between the two townships in the N. E. ^ of Sec. 24 ; runs southwest
to the center of section 23; thence northwest to the north section line
between sections 15 and 22 ; thence southwest, crossing the west section
line between sections 21 and 22, through sections 21, 29, 30, 25, and
36, and em])tying into the head of lower Eliza lake. Winters- creek
enters the township in the N. E. J of Sec. 25 ; flows southwest through
sections 25 and 35. Glancy branch enters the townishi]) at the north-
ern boundary line between Eliza township and Rock Island county, in
section 5, and runs southwest through sections 5 and 7. These streams
and theii- tributaries furnish am]de sui)plies of water for stock at all
seasons of the year.
In the western part of the townslii]i, below the bluffs and between
the river, are nestled numerous small lakes and ]>onds. The most
]>i-oininent of the lakes are U])])er Eliza, (Tlancv, and Swan, the largest
10
270 HISTORY OF MERCER A>,'D HENDERSON COUNTIES.
being Swan, part of wliich extends south into Xew Boston township ;
this lake is two and a half miles long and a half mile wide, and, like all
the rest, the water in this lake is clear and from four to five feet in
depth. Upper Eliza is one mile long and a quarter mile vnde, and
from three to eight feet deep. Glancy extends north into Rock Island
county, and is about two miles long, one-eighth mile in width, and
i'rom five to twenty feet in depth. These lakes and tlieir tributaries are
mostly skirted with timber and a species of willow commonly called
buck brush. The timber consists of the various oaks, hickory, maple,
sycamore, hockberry, buckeye, wild honey-locust, ash, walnut, and
pecan, of which a fine young growth is now growing. Grape and
other wild climbers also abound along the banks of creeks and lakes.
These lakes and tributaries abound in game and fish of fine flavor, and
the business of fishing is carried on to some extent by parties who
lease the grounds for that purpose. Wild ducks and geese are also
plentiful in seasons when they migrate Irom north to south, and vice
versa.
The soil of Eliza township is admirably adapted to agricultural
purposes. The land lying on the southeast side of Eliza creek is
mostly prairie, and is composed of rich black loam, with yellow and
brown clay subsoil in places, which produces heavy crops of corn and
other agricultural staples. The land lying north of the creek is undu-
lating, and, near the bluft', quite hilly ; is mostly covered with timber,
and is used for pasture, for which it supplies a fine growth of blue
grass.
The land on the bluft' and in the vicinity of the river seems to have
been the favorite abode of the ancient mound builders, of which race
of people we know but little at the present day. All along below and
on the summit of these bluft's can be seen these mounds, the most
noted of which are on sections 28 and 29, north of Jay Wilson's farm,
Martin Bear place, on section 16, now occupied by Edwin Bishop's
house, and on the east part of sections 1 9 and 30, the most prominent
of which are (tn sections 19 and 3,0. All through the timber on these
lands can be seen what appears to have been at one time a line of
earth-works, thrown up for a defense, inside of which are hundreds of
these mounds. Some of them measure fortv feet at the base, and on
top large oak trees, four feet in diameter, have grown. Many of these
mounds have been o])ened by scientific men and curiosity seekers. In
some of them have been found S])ecimens of several grades of pottery,
from the common clay to some artistically decorated and a]»])arcntly
glazed. Some curiously shaped pi])es and axes have also been found,
among which was a double edged one, having a round hole in the
ELIZA TOWNSHIP. 271
center for an eve. The most important thing found in these mounds
was a skeleton measuring nine feet in lengtli. Tlie bones taken fi'om
the mounds are all well preserved.
All that portion of land extending westward and nearest the river
is of the finest quality, but owing to tlie exjiosure to ovei'ilow and the
damp nature of the soil in seasons for y)lanting, is not farmed. It is
covered with a heavy growth of tall coarse grass which makes line
l>asture for cattle, hundreds of which are grazed upon it annuall}' and
hundreds of tons of hay are made and stacked for winter use. The
land nearer the bluff is of the finest grade, the soil being from five
to ten feet deep, and susceptible of the highest state of cultivation, and
in favorable seasons unaccom])anied by overfiow, has produced more
corn })er acre than any other land in the country; but in seasons of
extreme rtiiny weather in the northern states, it is subject to ovei-fiow,
as was too truly the experience in that locality in the sj^ring and fall of
1881. After the farmers had planted their corn and it had grown a
foot or more the land began to overfiow, and in the course of a few days
crops were completely submerged in a vast sea of water extending from
the blufi' to the Mississippi. Crops of all kinds were completely
destroyed. Many cattle, horses and hogs were drowned and those
only were saved that could be brought out on fiat-boats. The sudden
and unexpected appearance of this fiood was without a parallel Xo the
oldest inhabitants. The water reached a height equal to that of 1851,
soon subsided and disappeared. The inhabitants were at first discour-
aged at the pros})ect for a crop that season, but they went to work
re})laiiting their corn hoping to be favored by a long season to mature
the second crop ; the second planting germinated and grew and so<jn
looked better than the first. The season of 1881 being unfavorable for
corn throughout the state, proved the best in this locality on account
of the peculiar adaptability of the soil. The crop raised that season
was the best in the county, but when harvest time came and the
farmers were about to realize the results of their labor, with corn at
sixty cents i)er bushel, a repetition of what had taken i)lace in the
spring ensued ruining the crops and swee})ing away horses, cattle,
hay and fences. No portion of land could be seen anywhere. Unlike
the previous overfiow in the spring, the water was slow to pass ofi'and
covered the land for two months, during which time, drawn there by
the excellent feeding, the wild ducks swarmed in by the thousands,
completely stripj)ing the corn that was standing out in the water.
Sj)ortsmen came from all })arts of the state, the reports of whose guns
sounded to the old soldier like a distant skirmish line. It has been
estimated that during that season forty thousand ducks were killed and
shi])ped from tluit ])lace to the large cities.
272 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
The lirst early settlers of Eliza, with but few exceptions, came from
Indiana and, in most instances, brought their families with them,
making the journey through the open prairie and enduring all the
hardships incident to the times. There being at that time a few trad-
ing places at New Boston, that point was mostly aimed for on account
of the freight and commercial advantages it then afforded. Another
attraction was the timber along the bluff. The majority of these
people having been raised in and adjacent to timber in the Ibrmer
state, looked npon farming without the use of timber as impracticable,
and without which they were unable to constrnct their rude log cabins
and fence their farms.
J. H. Witter was the first settler in Eliza township. He came
from Indiana to Eliza in the spring of 1833 and settled on Witter's
creek, then named for him, but afterward changed to Winter, who was
the next man to settle near the same place. Witter did not stay long
in Eliza, but sold out and moved to Iowa.
In the fall of that year David Shaunce and family, accom])anied by
his son, John Shaunce, arrived. They entered the E. ^ of the S. E. J
of Sec. 29, but by mistake settled on a quarter of land in the W. -J- of
the S. W. J of Sec. 29, soon after which William AVilson and John
Hill came. AVilson was from Indiana and Hill from Kentucky. Hill
took a claim and built the best house then in the to"«Tiship, on the E.
^ of the S. E. ^ of Sec. 29, which land by right belonged to Shaunce.
As soon as the mistake was discovered a difficulty between the parties
ensued, causing a bitter enmity in both men. After considerable
quarreling" over the disputed land, Shaunce sold it to J\Ir. I). F.
Noble on condition that he (Shaunce) should take possession of the
l)lace. Shaunce first tried to get Hill off the place by legal process,
but failing in that he then nndertook it by force, which was the cause
of some heavy fist battles in the neighborhood. Hill, howcs'er, relin-
quished his right to the property by moving off the premises, of which
Noble took possession. Hill then bought a piece of land on section 31,
where he lived for a short time, and sold out to Sanuiel Elliott and
moved to Iowa. Shaunce's name is familiarly remembered by all the
old settlers of the ])resent time. His house was the radiating point.
A traveler inquiring the way to a place was invariably told that the
place inquired for was so far to or from Shaunce's. Shaunce was one
of the first grand jurors chosen in the C(Minty, and also one of the first
]^arties in a law suit.
In the spring of 1834 Silas Drury and father, accompanietl by a
cousin, Charles Drury, and J. P. Keynolds, arrived. Silas Drury
ELIZA TOWNSHIP. 273
entered a piece of land, wliere he built a cabin and lived until he sold
out to Daniel Noble, when he moved to liock Island county, town
of Drury, which bears his name. lie then built a large mill on
Co])])eras creek, familiarly known to all the old settlers as Drury's mill.
Mr. Drury's lather, Charles Drury, and J. P. Reynolds did not remain
long in Illinois, but took i)assage on board a steandjoat at New Boston
on their way back to Indiana by way of Cincinnati. Reynolds return-
ing the same season lived with Dr. Reynolds until the following
spring of ls35, when he was married to Miss Ilettie Elliott, formerly
from Morgan county, Indiana. This was the iirst marriage in the
township, which event is distinctly remembered from the circumstance
that followed. Reynolds died in just four weeks after the wedding
day, and was buried in Eliza cemetery, Charles Drury, returning in
the fall of 1S35, was also nuirried to Miss Nancy Prentice, who died
eleven months after, lie then moved to Rock Island county and
studied medicine with Dr. Revnolds, after which he married Mrs.
Eliza McGreer, moved back and practiced medicine throughout the
townshi}), living upon what is known as the E. W. Mardock farm.
He quit the practice of medicine in 1851 and moved to Oregon.
In the fall of 183-4 Jesse Willits and family, also from Indiana,
settled on section 32, the place now owned by Frank Willits. Willits
was the first probate judge, and one of the first justices of the peace ;
also one of the first grand jurors chosen in 1835. lie lived on the
place where he first settled until the time of his death in 1S43. Dr.
Miivk AVillits settled on the same piece of land \vitli Jesse Willits, on
section 32, which he sold after li\ing upon the place one year. Dr.
Mark Willits was also one of the first grand jurors chosen fi-om the
township that year. Dr. Willits was a native of Indiana. ]\Iark
Mullen and family arrived late in the fall of that year and settled on
section 7, where he built a cabin and small blacksmith shop, near the
bluff, which is still standing. Mullen was the first blacksmith in the
township, and it is presumed he was not troubled much with com])e-
tition, as the nearest shop to him was at North Henderson, some thirty
miles distant. INIullen lived but a short time on the place where he
settled, and selling his place to Samuel Elliott he moved to Iowa.
Isaac Dawson and AVilliam Jackson came next. Dawson settled on
land now the August Schrader place, which he sold to Martin A. Cook
in ls.51, and moved to Iowa. Both men were from Montgomery
county. Indiana. Jackson settled on Poj)e creek, near Keithsburg.
Lewis Noble and family settled on section 32, where he built a house
and im})roved a farm, which he afterward sold. :nid moved to Decatur
countv, Iowa.
274 HISTORY OF MERCEK AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Tlie glowing accounts of the then far west sent back by those who
had settled here, induced others to follow them, and the next one
coming in the spring of 1S35 was John Drury and family. They
settled on section 35, now known as the A. B. Childs place, on which
he lived until the time of his death. Aaron Mannon then bought a
piece of land on section 29, which is now owned by Harvey Mills.
After Mannon bought the land he returned to Indiana for his family,
leaving his son, who had come wdtli him, in charge of the place.
During his father's absence he built a house on section 30, which land
he had entered soon after his first arrival with his father. Ilis father
returning in the following May, settled on section 30, land now owned
by W. H. Mills. Abijah Wilson and Allen Wilson came in the
summer of 1835 ; they took up land on section 33, which they after-
ward sold. Robert Childers settled on section 16, where he built a
cabin, lived a short time, sold out and moved to Iowa. John and
William Fisher came in the fall and settled on section 18, the Joseph
Bush place. John also bought land in section 23. William settled on
the Ira Noble place, at the foot of the bluff. Jesse L. Adams settled
on section 19, from which place he moved to section 22, where he now
resides. Rezin Pratt came from Indiana to Mercer county in 1836.
He first bought in section 30, and subsequently bought land adjoining.
He then returned to Indiana the same season for his family. Pratt was
the fu'st postmaster in the township and had his office in the house in
which he lived. He was also the first justice of the peace.
Daniel Noble and family, accompanied by his son, D. F. Xoble,
and wife, came soon after Pratt. They rented land the first season of
Jessie Willits, and the same year Daniel iSToble bought some land from
Silas Drury, arid atthe^ame time entered on sections 30, 18' and 19.
He built a house on the S. E. |- of Sec. 30 the same year. D. F. Noble
fii"st entered land in sections 31 and 20, which he afterward sold ; he
also bought eighty acres in section 29 at the same time, as did David
Shaunce, where he first settled. He afterward bought land in section
30, near the bluff, u])on which there was a small house, in which he
lived until 1881, at which time he built a fine new frame, near the
site of the old one. Thomas Morgan, of Montgomery county, Indiana,
settled with his family on section 22, on which place he died in 1S5»>.
The place is now owned by Martin Bear, and occupied by his son
Madrew. The first log cabin built upon the place is still standing in
a good state of preservation. Morgan was buried in Eliza cemetery.
Samuel Elliott bought the Mark Mullen ])lace in 1836, in section 7.
George Moore came in the spring and settled on the S. W. ^ of Sec. 30,
which he sold in the spnng to his brother John Moore, who came"
ELIZA TOAVXSHIP, 275
during the j^revions winter, Moore started early in tlie winter to make
the jonrney by boat, accompanied by liis wife and a small cliild.
AVhen boarding the boat at Cincinnati he fell througli u liatchvvay and
was severely injured. On arriving at Fort Madison they found that
they could not proceed farther by boat, owing to the river being frozen
over at that point. They left the river at that place and began the
balance of the journey on foot, through a wilderness of prairie grass
and howling wolves. The sufferings they endured on account of cold
and hunger was intense, but after several days ])ainful travel, tired and
foot sore they finally arrived at the house of Joseph Glancey, where
they staved during the winter, and in the s[)ring settled in EHza
on land bought of his brother George. John Moore seems to have
been exceedingly unlucky, for in the s])ring of 1839, while in the
timber s])litting rails, a tree fell u[)on him crippling him for life.
But notwithstanding all the sufferings he had previously endured,
he went to work and built a saw-mill on Eliza creek, the first of
the kind in the triwnship, Martin and Jacob Bear came next.
They started from Indiana about April 16, in company with John
Thompson, and Abraham Piatt. Thomjoson and T^iatt were from
Ohio, and settled in AYalnut Grove, in Knox county, Illinois. The
Bears' outfit consisted of four yoke of oxen hitched to an old fashioned
Virginia road wagon, heavily loaded, in consequence of which the
journey was a slow and tedious one. Often the drivers had to unhitch
their teams and carry their loads out of a slough on their backs, and
often tills interesting performance was re])eated several times during
each days' j<nu-ney. Many times they would hitch all the (^xen to one
wagon to pull it through a slough, and when that failed* then the inter-
esting process of wading throngh the mud was resorted to. Mr. Jacob
Bear's ex])erience on the occasion as related by him must have been an
exceedingly interesting one to him. Among the party there was a
small child who was very fond of him, and when not in his company
would continually cry for him, and as Mr, Bear's part of the programme
was to drive the cattle, he was forced to strap the child to his back, in
which manner they made the trip to Illinois together. The party
arrived in Mercer county on the evening of May 10, 1836, having been
twenty-four days on the road. Arriving at a point two miles below
Pope creek, they went into camp for the night, on top of a high bluff.
Tliey turned their cattle out to graze, built a fire and began })re}>arations
for su])])ei-. A heavy storm that had been threatening for a few hours
before suddenly broke with great violence upon the i>arty, ])utting out
their fires and carrying away their tents, leaving them to sit all night in
a drenching rain. As soon as daylight came, they moved foi-ward to
276 HISTORY OF FIERCER A^"D HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Mrs. William "Will its', where a breakfast was prepared for them, after
which the}' continued their journey, reaching the place where they
settled and still own. George and Isaac Dawson, learning of their
arrival in the neighborhood, concluded to frighten them, and accord-
ingly prepared their toilets in true Indian style, jjainted their faces
with blood root, and, to give them a more hideous look, they bedaubed
their hair with yellow clay, in which style they suddenly rushed upon
the emigrant party. It is hardly necessary to add that the scheme had
the desired effect upon the party. Martin Bear bought his land of
Thomas Morgan, on section 22, upon which he lived until a few years
since when he moved to Aledo. Jacob Bear still lives where he first
settled, and has at different times since bought other lands adjoinmg.
For the first few years after coming to the country, he lived with his
brother Martin. He first broke ten acres the first season, and built a
cabin near the site of which he has since built a large frame house.
John Glancy settled in Eliza in 1837. He still lives where he first
settled, on section 7. He bought the land of Samuel Elliott, and from
time to time bouglit lands adjoining it, and now owns one of the largest
farms in the county.
The Indians were plentiful here in the days of the first early settlers.
They were peaceful, however, and disposed to ti'ade honorably with the
whites. They belonged mostly to Black Hawk's tribe. Black Hawk
himself was a frequent visitor to Mr. Silas Drury's cabin, where he was
accustomed to stop to enjoy a night's rest on his cabin floor. , Among
Black Hawk's tribe was one familiarily known to the old settlers as
Slim Jim, who was noted for his cunning, and of whom many good
stories are still told by the surviving settlers. Jim lived in the bottoms
below the bluff', but was quite fond of lounging about the settlers'
cabins, and especially at Mark Mullen's. One day Jim came up out of
the bottom and reported to Mullen that he had found a bee tree in the
timber below, which, after considerable bartering, he succeeded in
buying Jim's right in the tree for one dollar in silver. Then Mullen
and Jim started to hunt for the tree, which they found as Jim had
stated. Mullen then set to work chopping the tree, which was a large
one. Mr. D. F. Noble and John Pratt, being in the neighborhood, on
hearing the noise went to where the parties were at work, and offered
their assistance for a i)art of the honey. Thus reinforced the tree soon
began to fall, and on its downward course fell against another near by,
breaking off' a large limb, from the opening of which there fell out
upon the snow a comb of honey, about the size of Jim's fist, which he
quickly picked up and ate. Upon furtlier examination it was soon
found that Jim had got all the honey the tree contained, besides a good
ELIZA TOWNSmi'. 277
joke on the parties present and a dollar in silver. Mullen concluded
to keep cool about the matter and revenue himself in some other way.
lie used to keej) li(|uor for sale at his cabin, an article that Jim had a
])cculiar liking for. One day, not long after the bee-tree transaction,
Jim's thirst ibr fire water became so great as to force him to ])awn a
line new blanket to him for a quart of the ardent, which, if he failed to
redeem in a specitied time, was to be the i)roperty of ^lulleii. When
redemi)tion day came around, Jim's cash account being short, he
forfeited his right to the blanket. Jim took in the situation at once,
but said nothing, and quietly walking away was not seen about the
place for many days after, and wdiile the settlers were feeling alarmed
lest some evil had befallen him he one day suddenly made his aj»])ear-
ance. with a large powder horn filled with lead ore, which he took into
^Mullen's cabin and began to mold bullets from. This excited Mullen's
curiosity greatly to know where Jim had found the ore. Upon inquiry
Jim pointed across the ri^■er, and by signs and gestures conveyed the
impression that the place was quite a distance away. Mullen began
at once to enter into negotiations with Jim to be conducted to the
El Dorado. Mullen wished to start immediately for the place, but
Jim, pointing to the ground, told Mullen that the place could not be
reached in the winter season, but that they must wait until the grass
grew in the spring, so the oxen could graze. This philoso])hical state-
ment satisfied Mullen, and he took Jim and his squaw in the cabin
with him, where they both enjoyed Mullen's hospitalities during the
winter, but when spring came, and they were nearly ready to start for
the promised land, Jim suddenly disappeared, and was not seen again
for many years.
MILLS.
The first mill built in the township was by Rezin Pratt and John IL
Mannon, about 1837. It was situated just above Daniel Noble's, and
was built about 184-1-, or 1845. This was a grist mill, and disai)peared
years ago. No other mill has since taken its jjlace, owing to an insuffi-
cient body of water of late years to run one. A saw mill, built by
Rezin Pratt and E. Esley, stood on the same stream, a little below ^Ir.
Koble's, and was built somewhat later; no remains of it can be seen
there now. The mill was a large one and was well patronizetl at tlie
time. For a long time after this mill ceased running there was no
other mill in the township, until about 1864, when a steam saw mill
was erected by Jesse Bogart. which, for the want of jtatronage, did not
do much business. A steam grist mill for grinding feed was started on
section IT. bv J. C Achisoii. Before the establishment of the first
278 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
mill in the township, the inhabitants, having then to go as far as J^ortli
Henderson and Monmouth, one man would generally do the business
for several of his neighbors ; he was usually detained fi'oni six to ten
days, according to the stage of water and the number of jjersons ahead
awaiting their turn. They usually started with a supply of rations and
feed for an emergency. The teams quartered about these mills gave
the place the appearance of a camp-meeting ground.
The only town of importance in the township was started by Edwin
Bishop, who settled there in 1S50. Being a blacksmith by trade, he
there started a shop on the corners, and the place was then called
Bishop's Corners until Mr. Bishop's appointment as postmaster ; the
office having formerly been called Eliza, that name was substituted.
The place is located near the center of section 16. On or about the
year 1876 Dr. Thomas L. Edwards bought a house and moved to the
place, where he followed his profession until a few years since, when
he retired from practice on account of advanced age, and was succeeded
by Dr. Reynolds, who is the only physician in the place. Harrison,
son of Edward Bishop, built a large house in the place a few years
ago, on the opposite corner from his father's, where he resides and
follows the carpenter trade. The next, a building sixteen feet square,
was built for a store by Isaiah Bishop in 1876, which was stocked and
opened up for the first time on the morning of the annual town meet-
ing of that year. His stock consisted of a barrel of kerosene and a
few other light goods which he had carried on his back from Muscatine
the day before. Not having a large stock, his business at first was
slow and perplexing ; some of his customers greatly annoyed him by
calling for such goods as they knew he did not have on hand. After
a careful survey of his stock, one of his customers remarked that his
was the only store he ever saw which he felt able to buy out. Bemem-
bering the old adage, that from small acorns large trees grow, he
continued in business, and by carefiil watching of the wants of his
customers, has built up a large trade, and added an addition to his
store-room, which is now well stocked with such merchandise as is
usually needed by farmers. Before the establishment of this store, the
trade of the township was divided between New Boston and Musca-
tine, Iowa. The place also contains a jeweler shop and the business is
carried on by Mr. Taylor.
Soon after the organization of, and at the September term of the
board of supervisors of ISo-l, on order was made by that body author-
izing the issuing of a bond of $100,000 to the capital stock of the
Warsaw & Rockford Railroad Company, to be paid in county bonds to
nm twenty years with interest at six per cent, providing that the bonds
ELIZA TOWNSHIP. 279
should not be issued until a sufficient amount of available capital stock
was subscribed to build the road ; and providing tliat the monev from
the sale of the bonds should be expended within the limits of the
county. In 1S55 Mr. Iliram Thornton, agent for said company, filed
a petition asking a modilication of the terms of the bonds, and asking
that the bonds be made unconditional and payable on demand of the
company or its agents. The question of rescinding the former action
was submitted to the voters of the several townships in the spring of
1856. Eliza township cast eight votes for rescinding the former vote,
and twenty-eight against.
SPECULATORS.
For a few years after the first settlement here the settlers were
greatly annoyed by speculators and land grabbers, in consequence of
which they were ever upon the lookout for intruders, who usually
appeared in the guise of emigrants seeking homes, therefore all
new comers were eyed with suspicion. Upon one occasi(m three
strangers were noticed in the neighborhood whose actions aroused the
8usj)icions of Mr. Silas Drury, then sheriff of the county, as to the real
nature of their business. After carefully examining several of the best
pieces of land in that vicinity, they came to Drury and requested him
to show them such lands as had not already been taken, saying that
they were seeking places upon which to settle. Supposing that they
were land sharks, he took them up on tojD of the bluff in a thickly
timbered place where left them, knowing that they would get lost.
Then returning to his cabin he mounted a swift horse and notified his
neighbors of the threatening danger. They all met that night at a cabin
at the foot of the bluff to determine the best course to pursue in the mat-
ter. Believing the parties to be sj)eculators, they began to realize the
importance of quick action, and accordingly concluded to gather all the
money in the neighborhood and start Mr. Drury to the land office to buy
in their lands for them. Drury left that night in com[)any with a neighbor
who was going a part of the way. They took a trail leading through
Eock Island county, at which place it was their intention to have staid
for the night, at a cabin owned by one Dunlap. On arriving they rode
up to the cabin, and looking through a partly open door, saw the same
parties whom Mr. Drury had left in the timber but a few hours before.
Mr. Drury at oitce came to the conclusion that the parties were head-
ing for the land office, and determined to get ahead of them if possible.
Not wishing to proceed farther that night, the man accompanying
Drury rode forward to the cabin and called Mr. Dunlap, who, being in
sympathy witli the settlers, was confidentially told their business. A
280 HISTORY OF AMERCER ASH HENDERSON COUNTIES.
cabin a short distance away was pointed, out to tliem, where they were
assured they could find quarters. Drurj started from that phice early
the next morning, and reaching Andalusia just at sun up in the morn-
ing, was directed to cross the river at that point and take a trail made
the day before, from Rock Island down the river by drawing a log
through the snow, to allow the Indians to go there to trade. Arriving
at Rock Island about noon, he stopped at a tavern kept by a man
named Dixon, who was county clerk of the county. He was instructed
by him as to the route to take, and also informed him that he should
stop at Port Byron for the night, which if he passed he would not find
another stopping place within forty miles. Soon after leaving Rock
Island Mr. Drury looked back and saw a man on horseback, appar-
ently in pursuit, which he supposed to be the speculator. On arriving
at Fort Byron the man o^'ertook liim and remarked that Drury must
have a fine horse as he had tried all the afternoon but had failed
to overtake him. They left in the morning in company, but had
not gone far until Drury noticed that the stranger's horse was a
superior animal, which, not agreeing with the statement he had
made the day before, caused Driu-y to fear that the man was fol-
lowing him for the purpose of waylaying him at the first opportunity.
After a few hours' ride together he told Drury that he had just come
from Eliza township, where the day before he had beaten a citizen
doctor in a horse race and taken $500 from him. Drury also noticed by
the actions of the man that he likewise -suspicioned him, and thus
the two men rode along together in silence, the one watching the
movements of the other. Presently the stranger asked Drury if he had
any money about him. He replied that he had $2.50 and was hurry-
ing to get to Galena to find work, and asked if he was acquainted there.
The man said that he was, but that work was scarce. He ofiered to
bet Drury that his money was counterfeit, and demanded an examina-
tion, after which he passed it back, and producing some of the same
kind fi'om his own pocket, said that he was well acquainted with the
parties in Galena, who made it. This statement aroused Drury's fears
more than ever, and as it was now growing dark both parties watched
closer than ever. They however reached Dubuque in safety, and Drury
going straight to the land office was there informed that they were
three weeks behind with their books and that he would have to await
his turn to make the entries. Not satisfied he went Ijack and enlisted
the co-operation of a friend and the tw(^ succeeded in making the
entries that same night. The next morning just as Drury was prepar-
ing to start back the speculators made their appearance, and going to
the office were told that the lands had all been entered the day before,
ELIZA TOWNSHIP. 281
at wliicli tliev broke out in a fit of rao;e and said the trick liad been
played by that little sheriff of Mercer county, and if he conld be found
they Avould cowhide him within an inch of his life. Instead of being
settlers looking for homes, they turned out to be Virginia land agents.
ROADS.
The first road laid out in the township was one leading from the
bluff to Rezin Pratt's mill, on Eliza creek. This road was located in
1850. In the same year a road was laid out from the blufi" to the old
Bloomington road, at Bear's. Another road, commencing where the
Millersburg and Muscatine road crossed the county line, running west
in Mercer county, through II. Mardock's land, intersecting the county
line at John Boruff's, then west into Rock Island county, was laid out
in 1851. A road leading from George Scott's house in New Boston
township to D. F. Noble's, was laid out in 1851.
A portion of an old Indian trail, leading from New Boston to Bock
Island, is still yisible in the southeastern part of the township.
" ORGANIZATION.
The first town meeting was held at the house of Daniel Noble
A])ril 2, 1854. J. P. Mannon was chosen moderator and Joseph
Leonard clerk. The first election resulted in the choice of John
Glancy, for supervisor ; L. AV. Noble, town clerk ; James M. Mannon,
assessor ; AYilliam Irvin, M. A. Cook and D. W. Noble, commis-
sioners of highways ; H. H. Randolph and G. W. Black, overseers of
highways; Dudley AVillits, overseer of the poor; and Eli Mills, pound-
master. The whole number of votes cast was thirty. At an annual
town meeting held at the school-house in district No. 2, twenty-five
votes were cast for supervisor ; twenty for town clerk ; twenty-five for
assessor ; twenty-three for commissioner of highways ; twenty-four for
overseer of the poor, and five for pound-master. A vote was taken to
decide the question of township organization, which received eight
votes in favor, and twenty-three against it.
D. F. Noble has served as su])er\'isor nine years ; Martin Bear, six ;
and A. B. Swisher, eight years. J II. Nolan, J. Y. Merritt and
J. H. Leech have each served one year.
The Nobles at times held nearly all the ]3rincipal ofiices in the
township. The Bishops have also held numerous ofiices, notably that
of town clerk, which was filled by one or the other for ten consecutive
years.
282 HISTORY OF IVIERCER AIs'D HENDERSON COUNTIES.
SOLDIERS.
At the first breaking out of tlie late civil -svar, the question as to
"my duty to go," was responded to affirmatively by many of Eliza's
truest patriots, and from the beginning to the termination of the great
struggle, they bravely answered ever}- call for troops ; father and son
left the farm to offer their lives, if need be, that the nation might be
perpetuated. And it was not until the town liad almost exhausted her
resources that men were hired to fill the quota. Many from Eliza
enlisted in Iowa regiments, among whom were P. Whaley, B. R.
Whaley, Jasper Eeed, David j^oble, Mom-oe Leech, Eli Mills, Pyrhus
Glancy, Isaiah Bishop, E. A. "Wood, S. S. Wood, Walter Keneday,
John I. Reed, Alexander Irwin, Harrison Bishop, wounded. Those
who enlisted in the 102d reg. III. Yol. Inf. were : J. G. Merritt (who
entered company K as a private and was promoted to captain, and
was wounded at Averysborough, North Carolina), Maclison Reth-
erford, Jacob A. Reed, Thomas Beverlin, James A. Barlett, William
Carr, Ezra Fuller, H. J. Frazier, Josiah Spicher, James R. Wood,
Abram Fuller (died of disease February 8, 1862), James Collier (died
of disease December 4, 1862), George Barlett (died May 18, 1864, of
wounds received at Resaca), Noah Spicher (died of disease October IT,
1863), Otis Albee (discharged on account of wounds), Peter O. Pierce
(died May IT, 1864), M. Biverlin, John H. Murfin, Franklin Ferguson,
Daniel Knapp, Walter Smithers, Henry Smithers, Harvey J. Fisher
(wounded at Averysborough, North Carolina), J. F. Essly (enlisted in
company outside of the county), II. C. Esley, W. D. Maladay (who was
killed at Stone River), and Van A. Noble (wounded at Chickamauga).
BURIAL PLACES.
There are several burial places in the township, the most noted of
which are Eliza and Leech's. Eliza cemetery is situated just east of
Mr. D. F. Noble's house, on top of the bluff, on a beautiful site over-
looking the Mississippi. More than a hundred have been buried here.
The first person buried in this cemetery was Miss Elizabeth Pratt, who
was also the first person to die in the township. Leech's cemetery is
located in the northeast part of the township, just south of William
Leech's house, and contains some fifty graves. There is also a burial
])lace on the old Miller farm, and one at John Clancy's.
The first child born in the township was Mrs. John Shaunce.
TIMBER.
At the time of the first settlement of the township, old timber, such
as the various oaks and hickory, ash and elm, was found in abundance
on the upper lands along the edge and on top of the bluffs and in the
ELIZA TOWNSHIP. 283
bottoms near the lakes, but young timber could not be found, having
been destroyed by prairie fires started by the Indians to drive out the
deer and other game to points where they could the more easily cap-
ture them. Noticing the destruction of the young timber by these
fires, many of the settlers began plowing around the edges of the
timber to protect it, which had the desired effect, and in a few years
young saplings sprang uj), and where once only large trees could be
seen the ground is now thickly dotted with a fine new growth of oaks
and hickory large enough to convert into rails. Many of the large
oaks now standing were here when the early settlers first came. On
the land of Harrison Bishop, pc large white oak is standing, as straight
as an arrow, three feet through at the base, and sixty feet to the first
limb, xbiother, the largest tree in the county, is standing in tlie door-
yard of J. Y. Merritt. It is an elm measuring 37^ feet in circum-
ference at the ground, and 34 feet three feet fi-om the ground. It is
108 feet high and has a spread of top of 104 feet. Much notice has
been taken of this tree by the j^ress throughout the country, and having
several times been measured by competent surveyors is pronounced
the largest in the county. It is said that Black Hawk used to hold
council under the shade of its branches.
LAKES.
In the bottom lands west of the bluff and near the Mississippi
river is nestled numerous small lakes, all linked together by a chain of
tributaries extending from one to another from north to south, the
currents in these outlets being strong in places. The lakes are all fed
by the under drainage of the river and from numerous springs along
the summit of the blufts, in consequence of which the water is fresh
and clear. In many places the lakes are shaded by large trees, and
the sun's silvery rays shining through the tree-tops on the face of the
water gives it a picturesque beauty. Fish and wild game are plentiful,
and the angler and hunter find enough to occupy them pleasantly for a
short stay. Late in the summer season these lakes become thickly
matted along the edges with a tall green moss growing from the bottom
to the surface of the water. At the time of the first settlement here,
these lakes, with the exception of Glancy lake, were much wider and
deeper than at the present time, owing to the accumulation of decayed
vegetation and continual washing from the blufi". Glancy, however,
still maintains its usual depth, owing to a swift current passing through
it from the river in seasons of high water. At the present time the
depth of Glancy lake is from twenty to twenty -five feet in places;
Eliza, three to five ; Swan, four to six. All along these lakes was
the favorite hunting ground of the Indians.
284 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
SCHOOLS.
Tlie first school-house in the township was built on top of the
bluff, a short distance from where D. F. Noble now lives. The house
was built of logs, and the first school tauglit in it was presided over
by ]\Iiss Mary Ann Delabar, and afterward by Miss Emily Cawkins.
The school was kept up for many years by subscription, until tlie
legislature passed a law authorizing such townships as desired to levy
a tax for the maintenance of schools, soon after which a meeting was
called to discuss the merits and demerits of changing to that system.
It being determined at that meeting to accept the provisions of that
act, the schools have thus been kept u]) ever since. Before the
change was made the township had but one district, whicli was com-
posed of what is knowTi now as districts 1, 2, and 3, since whicli the
town has been divided into six school districts, as follows : Center,
No. 1; Boruff", No. 2; Glancy, No. 3; AVhite Eagle, No. 4; Eliza
Creek, No. 5 ; Winter Creek, No. 6. The following, as shown by
Mr. A. B. Swisher, present school treasurer, are the amounts received
and disbursed by him for school purposes for the year 1880 :
Amount levied for 1881 §1,000 00
State funds received 364 62
Interest received from town fund 161 65
$2,126 27
RELIGIOUS MEETINGS.
Many of the early settlers here were church members, and re-
ligious meetings date from 1836. At the request of Mr. Daniel
Noble, the first was held at his son's (D. F. Noble) house which, at
the time, was the largest house in the neighborhood ; and afterward
at David Shaunce's and other places in the township, until the first log
cabin was built on the blufi', which was then used for all meetings,
public and religious. The Methodists were the most numerous at that
time, but the meetings were of a union character, and were partici-
pated in by members of all other religious sects. The Metliodists
afterward became a regular organized body here, which has since been
broken up owing to many of its members having joined churches
located elsewhere outside of the townsliip. They, however, as well as
the Baptists and Cln-istians, still continue to hold meetings at the
several school-houses in various ])arts of the town. Neither denomina-
tion being strong enough to support a regular minister, the services
are conducted 'by transient preachers. Asa McMerter and Samuel
l^inkly were the first preachers, who were at tliat time termed ex-
horters. Soon after the first log cabin on the blufi* was built, a regular
MARTIN BEAR
ELIZA TOA\TSrSHIP. 287
camp-Ill ooting ground m\is cstal)lislied near the site of it, wliere the
peo])le of the whole neighbor! lood congregated to worship and talk to
familiar friends and acquaintances.
In 1S42 a kiln of brick was burned in the township, on the premises
of Samuel Strauss, from which several houses in the neighborhood were
built the same season.
Eliza township has never yet sent a man to state j)rison for crime.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Maktin Be.ve, a retired farmer, now residing in Aledo, was born in
Northumberland county, Catawissa township, Pennsylvania, April 6,
180S, and moved with his father at an early date, to Pickaway county,
Ohio, where he was raised and educated at a common school, and
resided till his marriage with Miss Catherine Dodson, September 8,
1831. In the same month thev were married thev emigrated to Cov-
ino-ton, Fountain countv, Indiana, and after a residence of four years
there thev came to Mercer countv in 1836, arrivino; May 10th and
settling near Eliza creek, in what is now Eliza tcnraship. Jacob Bear,
his brother, then a single man, accompanied and settled near him. In
1835 Mr. Bear first came out to look at some land, and traveled
pretty much all over northern and central Illinois, and bought a claim
from Thomas Morgan. In 1836 he went to Galena and entered the
tract, with some other pieces to which he had obtained the choice
number. When Mr. Bear came out here in 1835, somewhere about
the head of the Edwards river, night overtook him, and the darkness
was not relieved by moon or stars. Xo house could be seen, so without
anything to eat, he slipped the reins over his horse's head and sat
down in the tall grass to hold his horse while he M-as grazing. He fell
asleep, and in the morning when he awoke found that his horse had
gotten away from him. After iinding his horse he journeyed on and
the following night reached Major Lloyd's at Camp creek a little below
Millersburii:. That was the onlv house around. ]\Ir. Bear felt at home
here. The major was bragging about the fat of the land, which the
good housewife illustrated with a very fat coon for supper, the first Mr.
Bear had ever tasted. In early times Mr. Bear used to go to Spoon river
to get his milling done, and to Knoxville to get his plows sharpened and
general smithing done. When Mr. Bear first came here he found the
following persons living in the neighborhood : Isaac Dawson, Esq.,
John Drury. Daniel Xoble, D. F, Noble, Aaron Mannon, Elisha
Essley, John Shaunce, Isaac Drury, William Fisher, Jesse L. Adams,
all from Indiana ; David Shaunce, from Carolina ; Abijah Wilson,
from Connecticut ; John Shaunce and Thomas Morgan, from Ohio ;
17
288 HISTORY OF MERCEK AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Martin Fislier (father of "William Fislier), Jacob Bear and John Pratt,
all from Indiana, in 1836. Thomas Miller came about 1837 ; William
Eetherford, in 1840 ; James Larue, about 1812 ; J. J. Huston arrived
about 1847 ; Edwin Bishop, in 1850 ; William Irvin, about 1849.
A. B. Cliilas, still residing in the township, settled here June, 1838, at
which time there were residing in the northern part of the township,
John Glancey, William and John Fisher, Valentine Boruif (and his
sons, Felty and John), Miles Boyd, and Martin Bear. In the northern
part of the township was Daniel Strauss, who fell from a tree while gath-
ering hickorj-nuts, and was partly devoured by hogs before found.
John Shaunce lived near Boruif 's. Mr. Chilas was a blacksmith, and
worked at his trade there ; was a smith in New Boston ; he sharpened
plows and shod horses for twenty miles around.
Francis Laivibert was born in the southern part of Ireland, in 1816,
and moved to America with his father's family in 1840, landing first
at St. Johns, New Brunswick, where he resided for two ^^ears, and then
went to New York, in which city he resided for ten years. Being of a
roving dis^^osition, he next went to Pennsylvania, where he staid one
year ; then went to Tazewell county, Illinois, where alter a short stay
he started back to New York, but changed his mind when arriving at
St. Louis, and started north for Galena, at which place he resided ten
months. He then came to Pock Island, and from there to Buffalo, Iowa,
and from there to Eliza, settling on section 10, where he made a farm
and now resides. He was married in Iowa in 1844 to Miss Nancy
Moore, who was a native of Ohio. Mr. Lambert was educated in this
country, and has followed farming as an occupation. He began life
poor, but by industry and close attention to business has attained an
easier position in life. In politics Mr. Lambert is a democrat.
George Moore, of New Boston township, was born in Pickaway
county, Ohio, October 5, 1807. He moved with his parents while
young, from that state to Wayne county, Indiana, in 1814, where he
was educated at a common school and afterward worked at the car-
penter and wheelwi'ight trades until his marriage, when he moved to
Mercer county, settling in Eliza, near where D. F. Noble now lives.
Since his residence in the county he has followed farming. In April,
1852, Mr. Moore crossed the plains to Oregon, and was five months
making the journey, in company with other parties. They sto])ped
first at Yam Hill county, Oregon, and went from there to the southern
part, where they stayed until February 20, then went back to Yam
Hill county, where tliey stayed until October 7, and then started for
home. Leaving Port Louis, Oregon, on board a steamer they went by
way of San Francisco and the Isthmus of Daricn to New York, then
KLIZA TOWNSHIP. 289
lip the Iliidsoii to ButJhlo, and froin thence to Chicago, reacliing home
December 8, 1853. Geoi-fi^e Moore's great-grandfather was born on
December 19, 1732. His grandmother was born February 24, 1706.
Mrs. George Moore, wife of the subject of this sketch, was born in
Ohio September 27, 1813. They have seven children, one of whom,
Leslie G., died a soldier, at St. Louis, January 14, 1862. lie was a
member of the 2d Iowa cavalry. Sarah Jane, Helen L., Araminta E.,
Cara, Robert C, are living. Ella Clarissa is deceased. In religion
Mr. Moore is a Universalist, and in i^olitics a republican.
Edwin Bishop was born in New Jersey October 29, 1815. and
moved with his parents to this state November 13, 1850. They made
the journey through by canal and steamboat up the Mississippi river,
landing first at Muscatine, Iowa, where he stayed until December 2,
1850, when he settled in Eliza. He received a common school educa-
tion in the former state, and learned the blacksmith trade, which he
has followed during his residence in Eliza. Lie was married in Penn-
sylvania August 31, 1837, to Miss Sallie Meeker, who was born in
Crawford county, that state, in 1819. Mr. Bishop's father was an
American and his mother Scotch. They left New Jersey in January,
1816, and moved to Pennsylvania. Mr. Bishop has from time to time
filled all the various oftices in this town, and has served as justice of
the peace for twenty-four years, and is at present postmaster. He is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His family of children
consists of Delilah, Isaiah, Harrison, Barbara A., Levi A., and Sarah
(deceased).
Silas Drury was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1808, and
moved with his parents to Wayne county, Indiana, in 1811, and from
Wayne county to Morgan county in 1820, where he received a common
school education and was brought up to farming. His father was
English and his mother AVelch. His grandfather was also English,
and was born in London (Drury Lane, which bears the name of
the familv), where he was educated for a lawver. After this he
turned Quaker and moved to America, settling in Baltimore, Mary-
land, where he followed legal writing as a profession. Silas Drury,
the subject of the sketch, came from Indiana to Mercer county in the
spring of 1834, just after serving as a soldier in the Black Hawk war,
which service he entered in 1832. He first settled in Eliza township,
and was the first sheriff" elected in the county, April 6, 1836, after
which he moved to Rock Island county, Illinois, where he now resides.
He has, since his residence in that county, held the office of justice of
he peace, assessor, and several minor oftices, for twenty-six consccu-
ive vears. ^Ir. Drurv is a member of the masonic fraternitv, and a
290 HISTORY OF aiERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
member of the Illinois Citj Lodge ; also a member of the Old Settlers'
Association, of Eock Island county. In i)olitics he is a national.
His business is farming and trading along the river. He was married
in Ivock Island countv in 1843 to Miss Malinda Bentley, by which
marriage they had four children : Silas, Sarah, Oscar, and Byron.
J. y. MERirr, the subject of this sketch, was boi-n in AVayne
■county, Indiana, January 5, 1828, and is the third child of a family
of eight, all of whom are liying except Aaron J., who died a soldier
at Bardstown, Kentucky. He was a member of the 36th reg. 111. Vol.
Inf. Moses, a merchant, resides in Appanoose county, Iowa. Eliza,
wife of A. C. Reynolds, whose husband is a farmer, also resides in
that county. Mary, wife of Samuel Spangler, a farmer, resides in
Whitesides county, Illinois, near Port Byron. Sarah Free also lives in
that county. Mary M. Kirlin lives in Mercer county, Illinois. John,
a farmer, lives in Wayne county, Indiana. J. Y. Meritt's mother's
maiden name was Margaret Trindall, and of Scotch-Irish descent ; was
raised in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. His father, E. J. Meritt,
was born and raised in Belmont county, Ohio, and served as a soldier
in the war of 1812. J. Y. Meritt received a common school education
in Indiana, and was there raised to farming. He came to Mercer
county, Illinois, in 1848, and for the first few years worked at the
carpenters' trade, which he picked up after coming to the state. He
bought the land where he now resides in 1856, and on December 25
of that year was married to Miss Mary Prine, and in 1858 moved
upon the place. His residence is marked by a large elm tree, the
largest tree in Mercer county. J. Y. Meritt enlisted in the three
gears' service in the late war in 1862, as a private in company Iv.,
102d 111. Vol. Inf., and was afterward jDromoted to the captaincy of
the company, and participated in all the battles in which his regiment
was engaged. He was wounded at Avery sborough, North Carolina, in
March 1865. Unlike many who enlisted at that time, he served until
the close of the war, in 1865, when he was mustered out of service
after participating in the grand review at Washington, U.C. In
politics Capt. Meritt is a republican.
D. F. Noble was born in Fayette county, Indiana, February
9, 1813, and is the son of Daniel and Sarah Xoble. His father
is Scotch-English, and was born in !North Carolina, August 22, 1787 ;
his mother is Crerman, and was born in Pennsylvania, January 20,
1788. His father left Xorth Carolina with his })arents at the age
of six years, and went to Tennessee, where he remained until he was
twenty-one years of age, at which time he moved to Oliio, where he
was married in 1810 to Miss Barbara Fruit, soon after which he went
ELIZA TttWXSIIII'. 291
to Indiana, where he resided until 1836 ; he then moved to ^Mercer
county, Illinois. Jle was drafted for a sohlier in tlie war of 1812, but
did not serve, owing to the termination of the war soon after his
enrolhnent. Ilis father was a soldier in the revolutionary wai*. On
comin*!; to this county Daniel Xoble tirst settled in Eliza township,
where he remained until the time of his death in 1880, his wife having
preceded him in 1875. They were buried side by side in Eliza ceme-
tery, which place is marked by an appro])riate monument. They had
lived together sixty-five years. D. F. Xoble, the subject of this
sketch, is widely and favorably known, ha\ing from time to time
served in all the various offices in this township. Soon after township
organization he was elected supervisor of his town, which office he
held for several years in succession ; he also served as justice of the
peace, and was postmaster for twenty consecutive years when the
salary of the office amounted to one dollar per year. After serving in
that office for twenty years he received his twenty years' salary,
amounting to $20 and a few cents. During the late war of the re-
bellion he was appointed enrolling officer for Eliza and Millersburg
townships. lie has also served as school director for thirty-six con-
secutive years. Mr. Xoble received a common school education in
Indiana, and moved with his parents to Eliza in 1836, since which he
has been engaged in farming and stock raising. Pie was married in
Union county, Indiana. January 26, 1836, to Miss Sarah Pratt, who
died in 1881 and was buried in Eliza cemetery. Eight children have
been born to them, six of whom are living. Miss Avarilla married
Elisha L. Essley, to whom four children were born ; Essley having
died, Mrs. Essley married Michael Shannahan. Ira Xoble married
Miss (Airoline Reed, who also died. The result of that marriage was
ten children, two of whom died in infancy. Ira lives just a mile north
of his father's place. David Xoble married Eliza Hampton, of Kock
Island county, and they had five children, one of whom died while
young. Miss Barbara E. lives with her father on the home place.
J. F. Xoble also lives at home. Edward II. was married to Miss
C. A. Bean in 1881, and lives with his father and farms the place.
William Shields was born in AVayne county, Indiana, January 9,
1819. He there received a common school education, and was also
raised to fanning. His father was a native of Westmoreland county,
A'irginia; and his mother, of Kentucky. They moved to Hamilton
county, Ohio, wdiere they were married. William Shields came to
Mercer county in the spring of 1840, and first settled in Xew Boston
township, after which he moved to Eliza and settled on section 33,
which land was then owned by Abijah Wilson, whose daughter Lucy
292 HISTORY OF MERCER A^TD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
he married April 12, 1849. His father and motlier foUowing in the
same fall, settled in ISTew Boston township, in sight of their son's resi-
dence. William Shields has long been a member of the Methodist
Episcoj^al church, and also a Mason for thirty-two years ; he is a mem-
ber of Xew Boston Lodge, I^o. 59. Out of a family of eight children
only three are living: Mariah AYillits, Ira, and Jo. The two last
named are living with their parents.
John Glancey, a farmer and stock raiser, was born in York county,
Pennsylvania, January 11, 1800. He moved with his brother from
that state to Indiana in 1820, where he received a common school
education, and for a while after followed wool carding and cloth
dressing. Joseph Glancey, his father, was Irish ; and his mother,
whose maiden name was Maith Willits, was English and the second
wife, his father having been twice married. Mr. Glancey was the sixth
child of that family. His father's third wife was Lura Chambers.
Mrs. John Glancey ""s father's name was Robert Moore, Scotch-Irish ;
his mother's maiden name was Deborah Willitts, of English descent,
and having formerly li^-ed in York county, Pennsylvania, moved from
that state to Ohio, and then to Indiana in 1812. Mrs. Glancey's father
was married twice, and Mrs. Glancey is the seventh child of the second
family. John Glancey, the subject of the sketch, came to Illinois and
settled in Eliza in 1837, and still resides where he first settled. Mr.
Glancey's name has been familiar to the public for many years. The
most striking points in his character are his disposition to help others
in their life struggles ; his generosity ; his animated and kind nature ;
his earnestness in his neighbors' success ; and these have made for him
friends everywhere, and he lives to see his bright dreams realized at
the golden age of eighty-two. Mr. Glance}' was elected first super-
visor of his township; he was also one of the first county commis-
sioners.
John Mason was born in Switzerland, December 8, 1812. Casper
Mason, his father, was born in the same parish in 1787, as was also his
grandfather, Casper, July 11, 1762. Jacob John Mason, son of Casper,
was born in the same parish, October 28, 1722. Susana, wife of John
Mason, was also born in the same parish, May 3, 1816. They were
married January 10, 1834, by which marriage they had eight children :
Jacob, Henry, Albert, August, Jacob John, and John. Two not
named died in inlancy. Jolm Mason received a liigli school educa-
tion in the parish, which school was controlled by the family. He. also
served as a soldier in the Zurich war before coming to this country.
He left his native country for America June 20, 1847, and arrived at
New York city July 21. After his arrival in this countiy he sj)ent
ELIZA TOWNSHIP. 293
several years traveling from place to place, finally settling in Berks
county, Pennsylvania, where be remained six years, from which place
he moved to "Wayne county, Indiana, where he stayed ten months.
He then came to Illinois, settling on the Essley place. After a resi-
dence of five years he moved where he now resides. Like many
others of the first settlers, ]\Ir. Mason's circumstances in life were
exceedingly limited, but by industry and economy in his business he
has managed to acquire a good farm, with plenty around him.
Thomas Beverlin was born in Wayne county, Indiana, I^overaber
10, 18Jr3. His father was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, and his
mother in Virginia. They were married in Indiana, and. moved to
this state in IS-iO. Thomas Beverlin received a common school educa-
tion in this state, having come with his parents while young. His
occupation is that of farming. He enlisted in the three years' service
in the late war in lS*i2, in company K, 102d 111. A"ol. Inf , commanded
by Capt. J. Y. Meritt, and after serving for nearly three years was
mustered out of the service in 1865, having been engaged in all the
battles with his regiment. On arriving in Illinois Mr. Beverlin's
father first settled in Bock Island county and afterward in Eliza, Mercer
county, on the place where Henry Brockett now lives, at which place
he died August 8, 1878. His family consisted of eight children, of
whom only tAvo are now li^'ing. Thomas Beverlin was married July
16, 1866, to Miss Mary L. Denison. Four children born to them are
all living: Emaranda, Fannie E., Estel, and Carrie. Mr. Beverlin is a
memWr of the republican party, and also a member of the Masonic
fraternity, Illinois City Lodge, I'l(jck Island county.
August Schrader, a native of Germany, was born in King county,
Hanover, December 27, 1830. He was educated at a common school,
and afterward learned the wheelwright trade, which he followed until
he came with his parents to America. The family first landed in iVew
Orleans, where they remained a short time, and then moved to Mercer
county, settling at Xew Boston, where August followed his trade for a
while. After a residence of twelve years at Xew Boston he moved to
Eliza, settling on the old Martin A. Cook farm, which he imju-oved and
still resides upon. Mr. Schrader was married in ^S'ew Boston in 1851.
He is a member of the Methodist E]>iscopal church and also of the
masonic lodge of that city. In })olitics he is a re}»ublican.
Jacob Bear was born in Pickawav countv, Ohio, November 29,
1812. Peter Bear, his father, was a German, a native of Hamburg,
who on fii'st coming to America settled in Pennsylvania, after which he
moved to Pickaway county, Ohio, about the year 1811. Catharine, his
mother, was a native of Pennsvlvania also. Jacob Bear is the third
294 HISTOET OF MEKCEE A2s'D IIEXDEKSON COUKTIES.
child of a fiimily of eight, six of whom are still living. lie came to
Mercer county in company with his brother Martin in 1836, and
immediately began improving a farm, upon which he broke ten acres
the fii-st year. He was married in 1844 to Miss Jemima Carson, of
Morgan county, Ohio. His family are Clinton, Carlton, and Holland.
Clinton is at home. Carlton is at present absent from home. Holland
is deceased. Mr. Bear received a common school education in Indiana
and was brought up to farming. He is now engaged in farming and
stock i-aising.
JoHX HoiPHEiES Leech was born April 8, 1811, -in Monroe county,
now West Virginia. His parents were Chichester and Margaret
Leech. His mother's maiden name was Humphries. Chichester
Leech was born in Culpepper, Yirginia. His parents were Andrew
and Elizabeth Leech. Chichester Leech was of English origin, his
grandparents being among the first early settlers of America. Losing
his father very vouno;, his mother married one Burns and moved west
to Monroe countv. He had two uncles in the revolution, George and
Valentine Leech, who . entered that service at the age of sixteen and
eighteen. They went to Georgia and were never after heard of.
Margaret Humphries was the daughter of John and Catharine Hum-
phries, whose name before marriage was Dickison. Her parents
were from Ireland, but raised in America, near the Cow Pasture
river in Virginia. John Humphries was raised in Ireland, near
Dublin. His mother was the only daughter of Sir Toby Butler, lord
mayor of Dublin. Young Humphries lirst landed in Pennsylvania,
and from thence went to Virginia, where he became acquainted with
and married Catharine Dickison, after which he moved to AVest
Vu-ginia. He there laid a warrant on 1,0U0 acres of land, had the
same surveyed and recorded at Pichmond. He there made his home,
and raised a family of ten children, six boys and four girls, namely :
John, James, William, Samuel, Pichard, Pobert, Elizabeth, Isabel,
Margaret, and Martha. John was a miller by trade, Pobert a shoe-
maker; the rest were all farmers. Samuel and Pobert were in the
war of 1812. Pobert was present at the surrender of Hull in Canada.
After the war he moved to Calloway county in 1818. Pichard, follow-
ing in 1820, settled in the same county where, after a short time, they
were followed by their grandparents, accompanied by Isabel Carlton
and husband, the rest of the familv remaininc; in A^irs-inia, where thev
died. William was elected high sheriff of tlie county where he was
raised. Pichard was elected county judge in jNIissouri, and was also
there elected to the legislature of that state. In 1832 Chichester Leech
and a family of nine children, all single but Samuel, started for ]\Luli-
ELIZA TOWNSHIP. 295
son county, Indiana, on which journey tliey lost one of the fjunily.
On the fourth morning of their journey they met tliirty-fiye droyes of
hogs being driyen from Kentucky to the markets of Phihi(k'l]^liia,
Baltimore, and Richmon(h The journey was an exceedingly hazardous
one, it haying rained almost incessantly and the muddy roads were
almost impassable. ( )n the lirst day of Deceudjer the party arriyed at
Henry Warner's, in AVayne county, where they went into a log cabin
for the winter. Here they i'ound times good; wheat 50 cents per
bushel; corn, 374^; ])ork, 83 per hundred; day's wages, 37^ cents;
rail-making, 37^ cents per hundred. When the spring opened up the
])arty started for Madison county, forty miles distant, which place they
reached in a week's trayel. J. 1 1. Leech at this time was twenty-two
years old, and he concluded to begin life for himself, and accordingly
api)renticed himself to C. T. Ilooyer, a cabinet maker of Pendleton.
At this jilace in 1.S42 malarial feyer was prevalent and the family
suli'ered terribly from its rayaji:es, their father falling a yictim to the
malady in the s[)ring of 1835. The family still stayed at Madison,
where they experienced the financial crash of 1837. This caused a
reverse in tlie family affairs, ending in great financial ditliculty to
them. At tliis time J. II. Leech wt'iit into partnership witli Samuel
Dale, his old employer, bought his uncle's interest, and they carried on
the Ijusiness until 1830, when Leech entered tlie carpenter trade Ayitli
Isaac Williams. In the fall of that year, money being scarce, they
wound up that business, and from that time till 1842 they were en-
gaged in fixing u|) their business preparatory to moving farther west,
and in that tall they came to Illinois, first landing in Mercer county
near where J. Y. Merritt now lives, on section 31. In the early i)art
of 1839 Mr. Leech was married to Eiener R. Sibley, by which mar-
riage they have had eight children, as foHows: James W., Marianna
II., Leander M. (who was a member (jf the 9th Iowa cavalry),
Corydon, Adolphus M., Sarah E., A'irginia C. and Mary B.
The Leeches are widely and finorably known throughout Mercer
county. They came to Mercer county in an early day, with but little
means with which to begin life in the new country, but by energy and
honest diligence have attained an enviable position in the comnuniity
in wliich they live. The three brothers, William, Andrew, and
J. II., live but a few miles a})art in Eliza township. William Leech
was born in Monroe county, Virginia, in 1821, and came to this state
at the age of twenty-one. He was married in Eliza township to Miss
Eliza Spirling. Viewing his fine residence now one would hardly
suppose that lie came to this country with but .half a dollar in his
296 HISTORY OF MERCER A^T) HEXDERSON COUNTIES.
pocket, ret such was the case. Andrew Leech was born in Virginia,
in 1S19, and when he left that state for Indiana was but twelve rears
old. After his arrival in Mercer county he first bought eighty acres
before he was married to Miss Matilda Spirling. His wife was bom
December 25, 1830. From this union they had born to them : Daniel,
AVilliam, Eliza J.. Delphia A., George R., Mary E., Ulysses G.,
Susan F., and D. A. Leech. His daughter, Eliza J., married
S. W. Anderson, who died October 22, 1873. George married
Maggie Sloan December 26, 1878. Delphia died June 27, 1867.
Mrs. Hariet Xoble, widow of Jonathan Xoble, formerly a native
of Indiana, was born in that state in 1821. He spent his youth in that
state where he also received a part of his education, finishing in Illinois
after his removal here with his parents. He was married in 1861 to
Miss Harriet Irvin, a native of Pennsylvania. Eight children resulted
in this union : Peter, George, Cora, Omar, Charles, Jennie, Beecher,
and Henry, named in order. Mr. Xoble first began business with his
father which he continued for some length of time, when he removed
to Iowa where he purchased 160 acres of land near Iowa City. Then
returning he was married and soon after bought a farm of 280 acres
on sections 17 and 18, upon which Mrs. Koble is now living, and
which is sujDcrintended by the oldest son. Mr. Xoble was a hard-
working, thorough business man, and highly esteemed by all who
knew him. He was a member of the masonic fraternity.
Ira Noble, son of D. F. Xoble, was born in Mercer county in 1839,
and was married in 1860 to Miss Caroline Reed, of the same county.
She died December 28, 1878, leaving a large family of children, all of
whom are residing at home with their father: Sarah, Eva, Blanch,
Clarinda, Gertie, Avarilla, Tom, and Caroline. The two oldest, Fred
and Flora, were t^vins and died while young. Mr. Xoble is a repub-
lican in politics, and a member of the masonic order of Xew Boston.
Mrs. Eliza Martin, wife of the late sergeant J. Martin, was born
in Franklin county, Ohio, and went from there to Burlington, Iowa, in
company with her sister in 1859. Mrs. Martin has been twice married,
first to Charles Sabin, after whose death, July 19, 1865, she married a
second time to J. Martin, who was well and favorably known, especially
among his army associates, whose friendship and esteem he merited.
He was chosen first sergeant of his com})any, 124th Vol. Inf., and
credibly distinguished himself in the battles of Raymond, Jackson,
Fort Gibson, Champion Hill, Fort Hill, Siege of A'icksburg, Browns-
ville, Spanish Fort, Yazoo City, Benton, and was present with his
regiment during th« ^Nft-ridian cam]iaign. He served from the com-
ELIZA TuWXsIIir. 207
menccment of tlie o;reat struggle to its close in 1S65. He died in 1S70,
leaving four cliildri'ii to lament his deatli : Albert J., Laura, Grant,
and Jenny. Grant is superinten<ling tlie farm.
L. B. NoHLE, son of Lewis and Matilda Xoble, was born in Eliza
townslii]) in LS39. Ills gi'oat-grandfatlier was Irish and his great-
grandmother English. They settled in Virginia in an early day, where
our subject's grandparents were born and raised near Lynchburg, and
where his parents were also born. They mo\'ed from that state to
Tennessee, then to Ohio and from there to Lidiana, in an early day.
Here they resided about twenty years, after which they moved to this
state in 1834, and were among the first early settlers of the townshi}).
Lnmediately after arriving here he took a claim and began improving
a farm upon which our subject was raised. L. B. Xoble enlisted in
the late war, in the !2Tth 111. Inf.. in which he served three years. He
was wounded at Kenesaw Mountain in 1864. After the close of the
war he returned home and continued farming. In 1873 he was
mai-ried to Miss Irabell Stephens, of Adams county, Iowa. By this
marriage they had four children: Archer L., Elsie M., Don L., and
Ethel J., all whom are residing at home.
John PRArr, son of John and Avarilla Pratt, and brother of Rezin
Pratt, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1815. His father,
a German by descent, and a native of Maryland, moved w4th his
parents to Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in a very early day, where
he was married to Mrs. Avarilla Boner. Eleven children was the
result of this union, all born in Pennsylvania. His father first mo^'ed
to Union county, Indiana, in 1830, where they remained until 1838, at
which time they moved to Mercer county, Illinois, first settling in
Eliza township, on section 29, where he lived until thej' moved to his
son Jonas' house in Xew Boston to^\^lship. Here he died, his wife
following seven years later. His oldest daughter, Eliza, died in 1830,
and was tlie first death in Eliza township. They are all reposing in
the Eliza Creek cemetery. Benjamin died in 1868, Lacey, in 1866,
and liezin in 1880. Jonah resides in New Boston township where he
settled about the year 1852. Xancy, widow of AVesley Wicks, resides
with her brother Jonah. Avarilla, wife of Elisha Essley, resides in
Kansas. Tamar resides in X'ew Boston. Annie, wife of John Dun-
gan, in Kansas. The subject of this sketch was married in 1852 to
Miss Xancy Fergason, by which marriage they have had nine children
born to them. Sarah, the oldest, married Joel Woodward, a farmer,
and they reside in Adams county, Iowa. Avarilla, wife of Oliver
Essley, also resides in the same county. Louis married Miss M. Mol-
298 IlISTOKY r)F MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
iiiger, of Iowa. ^Mary. wife of Henry Taylor, resides in Adams county,
Iowa. Nancy, wife of Jolm Jones, resides in Adams connty, Iowa.
Harvey, Malisse, Riitli. and Xellie are at home with their parents.
Our subject began the busines of farming in Eliza township, on section
30, where he lived five years and in 1853 bought a farm in section 36
and soon after eighty acres adjoining it, where he built a handsome
residence and is now living in comfort and ease. His business has
been tarming and stock raising.
PERRYTON TOWNSHIP.
In writing a history of the town of Perryton, I have considered
it desirable to embrace in it only those facts that at present have
no historical record in existence elsewhere, and which would otherwise
be lost with the present generation. I have also endeavored, as far as
possible, to place myself with the people who will occupy our places at
the recurrence of our national centennial anniversary, and relate such
things as will be of most interest to them, as well as our more imme-
diate successors.
Owing to the fact that the earlier settlers kept no written history or
record or even regular accounts, and also to the fact that many of them
have died or moved to distant localities, it has been very difficult to
gather the facts herein recorded, and they must be my excuse for any
errors of matter or data herein contained.
I would here acknowledge my indebtedness to all those who have
kindly furnished assistance in this historical record of the town of Per-
ryton, and I would especially acknowledge my obligaticjns to William
Doak, now living among us, and to Abraham Miller, Jr., who since
1847 has resided in Oregon.
The ^Jhysical features of the town that will not change with time,
are only those that are aftected by amount of prairie woodland and
such features of water courses as would be aftected by cultivation and
by domestic animals. When the white man came he found the surface
in the condition created by natural causes, or as aftected by the annual
prairie fires of the Indians. Tlie better and more level land was prairie
covered by a coat of mixed natural grasses and plants that grew in
stools, each independently, to the height of eighteen to twenty-four
inches ; some like the polar plant, or rosin weed, running up in
alternate years to five or six feet. The ground seemed covered like a
meadow, yet there was no sward as in blue grass, altliough the matting
PKRKYTOX ToW.NSIIIl'. 209
of roots l)olow bound the soil very firmlv, oacli ])lmit growing by
itself as u tuft. As a })astnrc and for hay, it would yield from one to
two tons i)er ac)"e, and most of the plants were eaten by stock, but
when closely pastured were sure to die out, giving place, subsequently,
to the cultivated grasses. The broken grounds furnished the same
grasses but in much less quantity, and in many places the coat was so
light that the autumn fires were not hot enough to destroy certain kinds
of timber in the most protected places, as on the south sides of ravines
and creeks, and such as black oak and white hickory. In some few
places the more valuable white and burr oaks had established small
groves.
As it may in the future be desirable to know what part of the to\vn
once grew timber, I will in brief specity tracts which it occupied in
1845. In the fork of Camp creek, on sections 23 and 24 was some
sixty acres of very fine white oak, and there were forty acres of good
mixed timber in the southeast corner of section 21. The land that lay
between the level and Camp creek on the north on sections 30 and 19,
and a little on section 29 had large old white oak trees upon it. On
the north side of the creek there was timber, white and burr oak, on
KE., KE. 18, on S.E., KW. IS; a little on S.E. of KW. 17, and
N.E. of N.E. 16. The broken ground in the southeast corner of the
town had some scattering timber, mostly grown since the Indians had
left; also most of section 24, and that part of sections 12, 13 and 14
that lay between the two large ravines up to the centre of section 12.
The K ^ of 19, S. ^ of 18, S.AV. 17, and north to section 20 was more
or less occupied by scattering young black oaks, or, as commonly called,
blacks jacks, and white hickory ; also a small body of mixed timber on
northeast corner of 16 and southeast corner of 9.
In the early settlement of Perryton none of the woodland was con-
sidered as of any value but that containing white and burr oak, and for
that reason was the last entered or bought of the Government. The
ravines (or sloughs, as called by early settlers) were covered with a
dense growth of grass and weeds, rising often to the height of six to ten
feet, and were the hiding })laces of deer and wolves. AVhere there was
sufficient water to create a channel, it was often not more than one or
two feet wide and deep, even a mile from its source on the prairie.
The channel being tortuous, and the bottom soil bound by very strong
roots, it was only a channel for low watei- that a})})arently rarely
changed or increased in size, the fiood water running over the level
bottoms without washing. "Where now channels are washed twenty
feet wide and six feet deep, the writer has stepped across the original
channel without nuich effort.
300 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
After tlie removal of tlie Indians, and previous to 1846, they
returned to hunt by permission of the Indian agents. The last evidence
of their ^dsit was in that year. Besides their knives and arrow head^^,
of wliich numbers are still found, they left- no mark save the great trail
their tribes followed in cutting oif the bend of the Mississippi to the
west, in their navigations up and down the river. This trail entered
the town on the south side of 31 ; thence along the divide to Camp
creek, crossing at a ford in 19 ; then along the ridge through 20 and
17, and nearly diagonally through the north half of 9, southeast of -1,
and northwest of 3. In 1845 there were still five or six distinct, deep
worn paths tliroughout the entire distance, and were the guiding path
to Rock Island and Oquawka, the two points where it left the river.
It is said that the army pursued Black flawk upon this trail, and that
Camp creek got its name from having been one of the camping places
of the army. The pioneers found the country abounding in deer,
wolves and prairie chickens, with many quails, turkeys, rabbits, and
occasionally the wildcat and badger. The elk and bulfalo had been
ajjundant at no very distant period, as attested by their horns and
skeletons, which were found all about this region even as late as 1845.
As was the case everywhere in the prairie country, the earliest
settlers made their claims adjacent to a body of timber suitable for
fencing and building, and believed almost universally that farms could
only be made by the few who were early enough to secure a tract, or
take from the government land the scattering white oaks ; and it was
for this reason that the best prairie land was the last selected.
Although not strictly belonging to the history of the town of Perryton,
the early settlement and history of Sugar Grove is so thoroughly inter-
mixed, that no record of either can well be complete without encroach-
ing somewhat on the domain of the other. The first settlement in this
vicinity was at Sugar Grove, April 24, 1834. In the month of March,
1834, the following named persons left Montgomery county, Indiana,
bound for the Mississippi river: Abraham Miller, Jr., and family,
consisting of self, wife, and wife's sister; George Miller, Sr., Abraham
Miller, Sr., Isaac Miller, Jr., Jacob Miller, John Miller, Elias Moore,
Ben. Welch, Dr. John Kester, "William Shuck, Thomas Dauson, James
Kester, and William Moore. This company was fitted out with six ox
teams, with breaking plows and other necessary farming utensils.
Tliey intended putting in crops and then returning for their families.
George Miller, Sr., was selected as guide, because of his extensive
experience as a pioneer, and he steered his trackless route through the
boundless prairies for days and days, without the aid of a compass,
consulting only the stars to guide him to his destination. This
PERRYTON TOWNSHIP. 301
coni])any Urst landed at Sugar Grove, April 24, 1834, and built a .small
cabin made of split linn logs, on the east side of the grov^e, on the
claim of xVbrahani IMiller, Sr. ; and under the protection of this rude
cabin the entire company were sheltered until they had each broken
up and ])lanted a piece of sod corn, interspersed with pumpkins and
melons. The wife of Abraham Miller, Jr., did the cooking for the
entire colony. Xone of the crops were fenced that season, lor as
soon as planted they all started back to Indiana, with the exception of
Abraham Miller and family. At that time there were no other inhab-
itants within a circuit of ten miles. Abraham Miller, Jr., with his
family, remained in their cabin at Sugar Grove until the corn had got
well out of the ground, when he removed to l^ew Boston, where he
remained until fall, and until the balance of the company returned with
their families from Indiana. Of the original company of settlers at
Sugar Grove, all but the Millers and Elias Moore went back to Indiana
to remain, or settled in the vicinity of New Boston, while a few addi-
tions were made to this colony by several families that returned with
them in the fall. After the corn crops were all gathered, cabins were
built for the different families and preparations were made to settle
down for the winter. As the nearest grist mills were on Spoon river,
most of the meal f<)r subsistence was procured by pounding the corn in
improvised and rudely-constructed mortars.
George Miller, Sr., father of Abraham Miller, Jr., to whom I am
greatly indebted for many of these facts, emigrated to Oregon in 1847.
In man}^ respects he was a remarkable man, a noble t\^3e of the
material out of which our early settlers were made. He was the father
of twenty-four children, all of whom he lived to see grown men and
women, and bought and gave to each of them a home. All of his chil-
dren living, but one, are now in Oregon. He died in Oregon, Septem-
ber 11, 1874, in his ninetieth year, and until a short time before his
death was as vigorous as most men at forty-five. Nearly all of the
Millers moved to Oregon about the same date. They were originally
from the State of Tennessee, Crab Orchard, on Doe river. Carter county.
They left there for Indiana in the fall of 1812, when the entire country
embraced within the limits of that state was occupied by the Indians,
and when pioneer life was one of constant danger. It 1834 they left
Montgomery county, Indiana, for Mercer county, Illinois, which brings
them to the time of our history. Of the four elder Millers \Vho
originally settled at Sugar Grove two were democrats in politics and
twc> whigs ; two were pro-slavery and two anti-slavery ; two were
Methodists and two old school predestinarian Ba])tists. The children
followed their fathers in both politics and religion. Coming from
302 HISTORY OF MERCEE AXD IIEXDERSOX COUNTIES.
Tennessee and pioneering in Indiana these early settlers were indepen-
dent of most of the aids of civilized society ; their clothing was mostly
home-made, from wool and flax ; a spring pole mortar pounded their
meal ; their axes built houses, fences and implements ; their rifles
repleted emjDty larders. Those who were the earliest settlers of the
ridge south of Camp creek were from Pennsylvania and other eastern
states, and being less practiced in the art of pioneering were subject to
more privations and experienced more difficulties in supplies of meat
and bread. Mr. Peny says that they were obliged to go to Kickapoo,
in Peoria county, for their milling in 1836, and to Henderson for black-
smithing ; yet there must have been mills near Henderson, for "William
Doak relates an experience in going there to mill in the winter of
1837-8, when with two neighbors he made the trip with a wagon and
three yoke of oxen. In order to pass two farms before a supply of
corn for a grist could be obtained they were obliged to make a wide
detour to the east, became lost in the night upon the trackless ])rairie,
were obliged to break ice and ford streams, and only near morning,
wet and frozen, they reached the second place, where they bought and
shelled the last of their grist.
Soon after the Millers settled at the Grove they made of a boulder
a small grist mill, and upon it they and their neighbors ground their
grain. About 1839 they built a saw mill on Edwards river, and the
year after a grist mill, and shortly after this a flour mill was built on
the "slough," where Milan now stands. The following description of
the first grist mill ever erected in Mercer county ^will no doubt prove
interesting to the readers of this history. It was built by the Millers
at Suo;ar Grove, and was used for several vears. Thev sawed ofl' an
oak log about three feet long, stood it on end and placed coals of fire
in the center of the top, burning out a hole in the shape of a basin,
which they dressed out nicely to receive the corn. They then took a
long pole and fastened the butt in or on the ground, set a forked stick
in the ground and laid the pole in it, about the middle, something after
the style of an old-fashioned well sweep. They then took another pole
and fastened to the top of this, like a rope to the top of a well sweep.
In the lower end of this j^ole was inserted an iron wedge, with the butt
down. Then a hole was bored through this pole, about eighteen inches
above the wedge, and a pm pu through it, which pin was seized with
both hands and the pole worked up and down. Afterward the Millers
found a stone of suitable grain, which they split open and made two
good mill stones, twenty-two inches in diameter, which was an improve-
ment on the first mill. Three of the Millers were blacksmiths and
they made all their own mill irons when later they built a better grist
mill and also a saw mill.
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I'KRRYITIX TOWNSHIP. 305
Previous to the settlement of Perryton there was a road hiid out by
Warren county, of which Mercer was then a part, from IMonmontli to
Chirk's Ferry, now Andahisia, on the Mississippi, which, like all tlie
earlier roads, was laid with reference to fords and ridges, regardless of
section lines. Probably but little of the original road is now a high-
way, excepting that from the bluffs of Camp creek to section 9.
Although this was the only laid out road, yet the nature of the prairie
turf and the opportunity of selection of route in an open country made
the trav^eliiig very good. Even the most spongy slouglis were covered
with a soil firm enough to bear a loaded wagon.
In a community where all were dependent upon labor that brought
food in abundance but no monev, all were equallv rich, or rather
equally poor. Fashion in fabric or style was unknown. Those who
were able to work their own wool and flax into garments were the
most independent, and the tow-cloth kersey and jeans of the house-
wives' loom sufficed for nearly all their wants. Dejjendent upon each
other, a warm heart and a ready hand were of vastly moitj value in a
neighbor than worldly possessions. Every liouse was a tavern where
the traveler found hospitality, and the rude log cabin never was so full
as to sliut out the belated wanderer. No caste of wealth or birth
interfered with the social relations of those who made up a community.
Illustration of the plainness of dress: A young man of this primitive
period, courting the daughter of one of our earliest settlers, proposed to
his sweetheart and her friend a walk of two miles across the prairie to
a neighbor's, and, like all young men in like circumstances, affected as
much style as possible. The neighbor described the girls as clad in
linsey dresses and sun-bonnets, each one hanging on the arm of the
young man. He was clad in very short tow pants, a white sliirt, with
a high and stiff collar, and a home-made straw hat, holding an umbrella
over his head, his big feet, brown and bare, a very \-isible means of
support.
With the pioneer settler comes the ])ioneer preacher, usually a
farmer. Knowing more of his Bible than any other book, he made up
in spirit and earnestness what he lacked in education. Preaching in
log cabins or groves, where the school-houses had not yet arisen, he
always found an audience in the entire community. Denominational
preferences, how^ever strong, never prevented the attendance of all, no
matter who preached. To show the plain style of one, a good old man,
who most frequently preached in this neighborhood, in illustrating the
doctrine of perseverance he said : " It is like the man who took a coon
skin to the store, ah, and says he you may have this coon skin for fifty
cents, ah, and the merchant said he did not want it for fifty cents, ah :
18
306 HISTORY OF MERCER AXD HENDERSON COVXTIES.
then, says he, you may have it tor twenty-tive cents, ah, and the mer-
chant said he did not want it for twenty-live cents, ah ; then the man
says, you may have it for a bit, ah, and the merchant said he did not
want it for a bit, ah ; then the man goes away and leaves it on the
counter, ah, and the merchant runs after him with the coon skin, ah.
So it is with religion ; when you have got it you can't sell it, nor give
it away, nor lose it, ah ! '' The first religious services held in Sugar
Grove was by a branch of the old-school Baptist church, of Henderson
Grove, extended to Sugar Grove, and held once each month, lasting-
two days. This denomination was more commonly known by the
name of hard-shell Baptists. Shortly afterward a church was regularly
constituted at Sugar Grove, called the Edwards river church, m corres-
pondence with the Spoon river association of old-school predestinarian
Baptists. Elder Joseph Jones was pastor of that church, and Abraham
Miller, Jr. , was ordained to a deaconship. There was no church build-
ing, and the meetings were generally held at private houses, or in a
log school-house, when one had been erected. At a more recent date
the Methodists established a class at the house of John Miller, in Sugar
Grove. They finally had a camp ground in the Grove, with yearly
attendance. One of the original settlers says that there never was a
temperance lecture delivered at the Grove from 1S34 to 1846 ; and says
further, that they had no habitual drunkards, idlers, fanatics or unneces-
sary babblers, and no earthly use for temperance lecturers.
In regard to postoflices I have not been able to ascertain, with any
certainty, what were the earlier mail facilities. Previous to 1845 a
post route had been established through this town, mth an office at
Millersburg. Letter postage cost twenty-five cents, just the price of a
bushel of wheat. But little corresiDondence was carried on. In 1847
our peojJe succeeded in getting an office at James Gingles', it being
the only office until the establishment of a route from Millersburg to
Eock Island, when, in 1854, an office was created at Hamlet, at the
house of Graham Lee, and removed in 1857 to its present locality, the
business place of Josiah Candor.
Lentil 1839 there had "been no school. In that year Miss Farwell
(afterward married to William Doak) taught a school in a little 10x14
house, built by Jackson Woods,- on the northwest of section 26. The
first school-house was obtained by moving an old frame tenement house
of J. Gingles, from near the center of section 27 to the center of section
28, in the year 1849, and it was not until some years later a school-
house was built on the north side of the town. Abraham Miller, Jr.,
claims to have taught the first school at the Grove, but is not positive.
He did, however, teach the first school ever had in Mercer county, at
or near New Bostoi^
PERRYTOX TOWNSHIP. 307
Reciimng to the scarcitj of money, which retarded the growth of
society and deprived the early settlers of many things, afterward con-
sidered necessities, I will explain that it took all that was" held, and
all that could be borrowed, to enter the land which they desired for
homes. While the absolute necessaries of living, not obtainable from
the farm, could be got from the few traders by barter, yet the prices
paid previous to 1840 were not such as to induce the farmer to indulge
in luxurious habits. Wheat at twenty-live cents ; corn, ten cents ; pork,
dressed, one and a, half to two cents ; good three year old stears and
cows, from six to ten dollars. As near as can be ascertained, the first
produce sent to market from our town was shipped by Abel Thompson,
in a flat-boat from Kew Boston, in the fall of 1840, our respected
fellow-townsman, AYilliam Doak, being one of the crew. Without
serious dithculty they reached Xew Orleans in three months, and dis-
posed of the cargo, consisting of wheat, potatoes, beans, sauer-kraut,
cabbage, etc., etc., to such good advantage that William Doak and Paul
Sherifl', in the fall of 1841, built at Keithsburg a flat-boat, on the bank
where Keithsburg now stands, and loading it mostly with their o\fa
produce, made a successftil and profltable trip to St. Louis. Their suc-
cess in this venture so encouraged them and others, that the next fall
they repeated the experiment, only to end disastrously, for being
caught by the very early winter of 1842-3, they, mth four other flat-
boats, and three steamboats, were frozen up at a ixAnt called Quiver
Island, fifteen miles above the mouth of the Illinois river. In order to
relieve themselves they were obliged to cut a channel through fifteen
miles of ice, in very cold weather, and such were the hardships endured,
that of the forty stalwart men who began this task, but three were left
to cut the last gorge and free the boats. The writer and the reader of
this chapter can but regret that our indomitable neighbor Doak, one of
the three iron-hearted men mentioned, should, even in front of St.
Louis, his destination, have been wrecked in a dense fog to lose nearly
all for which he had risked and endured so much. S])eaking of the
departure of the first flat-boat from Kew Boston, Mr. Doak relates that
it was watched with intense interest by the large crowd that lined the
shore, aild when the boat cut loose and swung out into the stream, three
rousing cheers were given in honor of the event, which was such an
important era in the history of Xew Boston. In the fall of 1842,
George and Isaac Miller, of Sugar Grove, built a boat at Keithsburg,
and loaded it with j)roduce with destination for New Orleans.
Before tlie time of the introduction of flat-boats as a means of civil-
ization, the first settlers depended upon their own resources for many of
the articles of food which we at this day regard as among the necesities.
308 HISTORY OF MERCER AND IIEXDERSOX COUNTIES.
The crops raised by the pioneers of Perryton were mainl}' corn, oats,
flax, and tlie most useful vegetables. Melons were raised in abundance.
Flour could be bought from off the boats, at Denison's landing in 1S34
at four dollars per barrel. But corn was principally used for bread,
and for meat they raised a feyv hogs, killed deer, turkeys, prairie
chickens, and caught fish. One of the early settlers says that what gro-
ceries they used were mostly obtained in exchange for deer and coon
skins, beesewax, etc. Coffee was made from parched corn, peas and
wheat. Red root leaves, swetted under a dutch oven, dried, and when
dra^vn and sweetened with honey, was called "Grub Hyson," and was
considered a fine substitute for tea. Pork and corn dodg'ers was the
princi])al food.
From the flat-boat to the steamboat the ti-ansition was rapid, so that
but few were built after the period mentioned here, and the increase in
steamboats, keeping pace with the increase of commerce, markets were
opened, and by 1845 business had its regular channels, and settlers
were able to sell ]:)roduce, although at the low price of: wheat, forty
cents ; corn, pure white for southern bread, ten to twelve and a half
cents ; pork, one and a half to two cents. The trade of Perryton was
almost exclusively with New Boston, until the building of the Chicago
& Rock Island railroad, when the superior inducements offered gradu-
ally withdrew the trade to Rock Island .
Previous to 1845, I can learn of no attempt to organize a church
within our limits, nor of public worship by regular appointment,
excepting that previously mentioned in tliis record, and pertaining to
the early settlement of Sugar Grove. The earliest carpentering was
done in building houses and barns for McIIard, Gingles and Burrall,
by Andrew Gingles, a son of Robert Gingles and nephew of James
Gingles. Philip Miller occasionally cut grindstones and gravestones,
to add to a living obtained by his rifle and the rental of a small juece
of land. The flrst blacksmith shop in town was kept by a man named
Jones, on section 25, in 1846-7, and perhaps a little later, but between
1850 and 1860 there was no shop in town of any kind. About the
latter date, a blacksmith shop was started on the northeast corner of
section 11. George J. Miller, son of Abraham Miller, Jr., should prop-
erly be entitled to the credit of first birth in this town, but shortly
before his birth, Mr. Miller had moved his family temporarily to New
Boston, where he was then teaching school. This was August 31,
1834. But the first birth at Sugar Grove was that of Eliza Miller,
daughter of George Miller, Sr., in 1835. Eliza Miller is now living at
Miller's Station, Linn county, Oregon, with her second husband, Philij)
V. Morris, and she is the mother of a large family of children.
I'KRU'i'KiX 'R>AVN.Sim'. . 'Sod
William Mitore was \he first man married ; he married Miss Mary
Miller, dauuhter of Isaac Miller, at Sugar Grove in 1835. The first
death was a child about one year old, named Philip Farlow, son of
John and Sarah Farlow ; died of croup.
The earliest settlers on the ridge all ]>lanted such trees as they
could get or raise, mostly seedlings. The first grafted fruit brought to
the town was peddled out by a Mr. Robinson, a nurseryman of Fulton
county, but there was no general planting of good fruit until Mr.
McWhorter established a nursery near Millersburg in 1S46. The
sauce depended upon by early settlers was mainly. obtained from the
crab-apple and plum thickets, which abounded in the vicinity of timber.
These tailing, the dish of ''those" or "them molasses,'' was the ever
present and onl}^ substitute foi> sauce. As common as the molasses
dish, was the custom of making it a plural. In one instance this
custom was broken by an uncourteous guest rei)lying to his landlady's
question: ''Will you have some of these?" by saying, "I will take a
few of her." One of our earlier settlers relates an account of the
manner then in vogue of acquiring seedlings. On the occasion of a
public parade, or muster day at Millersburg, at a time in the liistory of
that village when it had assumed metropolitan airs, a peddler brought
to town a lot of small and half green peaches, which he retailed out at
a bit a dozen. The boys eagerly demolished the fruit and threw the
seeds on the ground, while a certain economical settler gathered them
up for seed. Fearing that he would not obtain enough, our thrifty
farmer borrowed a bit for the purpose of investing in peaches, with the
view of obtaining the seed. Several years afterward he returned the
money thus borrowed. Wild grapes, blackberries and strawberries
were used by the settlers for nniking pies and preserves, and wild hops
answered the purpose of cultivated ones.
The first fence in the town was built in 1835, on the piece of land
broken by Abraham Miller, on the south side of section 33. This was
done by piling sod, previously turned by a plow, and making a small
ditch on the outside, the dirt from which was thrown inside the i)ile of
sod. In 1837 Mr. Burrall, and ]>erliaps Perry, made more sod fence,
and began the making of rails, which afterward constituted the sole
fencing material, until the unentered land was stripi)ed of everything
which would make a rail or jjole. About ls50 the building of board
fences commenced. The first ett'ort at hedging was made by planting
seed in 1848-9, and I -think the oldest hedge is that of James Gingles,
which was "set in" about 1S52, when the date of hedge fencing first
commenced. The Millers invented and nuuiufactured a machine for
fence ditchinu'. This was the first machine of the kind ever used in
310 HISTORY OF BUERGER ^\:XD HEXDERSON COUNTIES.
Mercer county. It was an improvement made o^i the original ditching
plow, and was done by adding a bar with a tlat underground lining or
share that cut off the tier of sod from the bottom. They used three
or four yoke of oxen, and thus a string of sod fence one hundred rods
long was cut in a very short time. A few abortive efforts at draining
by a machine cutting an open ditch, was made as early as 184S.
Mole ditching began in 1860, and was prosecuted for many years with
varying success, but was iirially abandoned. The aggregate result of
mole ditching has been advantageous. "With the exception of a few
rods to obtain water, and drain cellars, no tile has yet been laid.
With regard to agricultural implements so much has been said and
wi'itten that will go into history, that I forbear saying much more than
that steel plows appeared in the Diamond plow in 1844, followed ra}>
idly by the plow of the present model. Plows antedating the
Diamond were but little better in their working than though of unhewn
wood, our fi'iable soil never leaving a mold-board until removed by
hand. In 1850 the first reaper was introduced by Levi Cooper, and
shortly before the separating thresher appeared. The first plow used
for breaking prairie in Mercer county, was the old bar-share with a
wooden mold. The Miller's invented a lever power and hung the
plow on wheels, which they used at Sugar Grove. It could be set to
any depth, and be thrown out at will, and it would run without a
holder. This simple invention was almost universally adopted
throughout the county for breaking prairie. In this arrangement the
driver was also the plowman, thereby saving one hand, besides doing
much better work. For ground once broken, the early settlers had
what was called the Bull plow, with a short iron mold in front, a few
inches high, with the balance of the mold made of wood. Xext was
the Carey plow, an improvement on the Bull plow. For tending corn
when up, shovel plows, hoe harrows and one horse harrows were used.
The Bull tongue was simply a narrow shovel, resembling the pattern
after which it was named. The hoe-harrows were a number of small
shovels set in a forked stick, in the shape of the letter ''A." The
one-horse harrows were made in the same way, generally with wooden
teeth, and made narrow, so as to run between corn rows. Xext
followed the Scott Diamond plo\v. In early times it was peddled
through Mercer county. The Diamond plow was sim})ly a diamond
square, cut out of a steel or iron mold the required size ; the lower
square was sharpened out and served as the edge or share, and was
set up in the required ])itch, and served as share and mold-board, all
solid. It was bent hollowing without any t^dst, and then bolted fast
to a wooden upright, set in a beam like a shovel \>\o\\\ but the mold
PERRYTON TOWNSHIP. 311
did not set square like tlie shovel, but was set quartering so as to throw
the dirt to the side of the furrow. This plow would scour completely.
In the fall of 1835 John Black and taniily settled on section 30, and
so far as ascertained was actually the first settler within the limits of
the townshi]) proper. In ]\[arch, 1836, a child was born to Black,
which died at the age of five years. Perry says in 1830 Maj. Edward
Biirrall had twenty acres broken on the S.W. ^ of Sec. 28, now the
property of David Bhie, and that William Moore broke some land on
southwest of 30, and put uj) the body of a log house. Philip Miller also
built a log cabin and lived on the same section. In 1837 Ed. Bur-
rail. Jr., and Alfred Perry, living on the west side 6f Sugar Grove,
broke prairie for Maj. Burrall on S.W. ^^ 38, and for Dr. Perry on
E. ^ of 28. Linus and A. Wood came upon the northeast of 20 and
built a loo; house durins: the vear. A. Perry and E. Burrall did tlie first
farming on the ridge in Perryton, and during this year Dr. Perry came"
west and in the w^inter of 1837-8 built a log house near the timber on
the northeast of 28. The cro])s raised this year were sold to the Geneso
colony, at the price of one dollar for wheat and seventy-five cents for
corn and potatoes. In 1838 xVustin AVood moved his family to the
house built bv his son. Burrall built the first frame house on south-
west of 28, for Sheldon Wooden as tenent. Dr. Perry died this year.
There were no markets during this year, and the settlers went all the
way to KickajDOo for milling.
In 1839 James Gingles and AVilliam McIIard, with their families,
moved to Perryton, buying for 8500 the claim of Dr. Perry to the
west half of section 28. In this year Louisa Wood was married to
Lyman Tenney. During this year the land sale occurred, and those
who could raise the money entered a part or all of their claims. John
Harris and J. Gingles moved into the township, as did also William
Doak with his father and family. In 181:0 William McIIard and James
Gingles divided the Perry claim and each built a one and a half story
frame house, about 16x24 feet, with two rooms below. These were
regarded at the time as not only handsome and commodious but luxuri-
ous. Previous to this time there had been but a home market for
produce, which was conducted mainly by barter. Drury and Willetts,
of Xew Boston, traded for some wheat allowing twenty-five cents ]ier
bushel in store goods. In 1844 Ilandet Cooper stopped at Burrall's
with his wife and seven children, a voke of oxen and cart and cow and
a calf Out of mrmey, he was induced to look at the prairie on the
north side of Camp creek. It being a very bad season, with the
streams high, he camped on the banks of Camp creek, and swinnning
the creek, he examined the land and determined to make a claim
312 HISTORY OP^ MERCER AND HEXDERSON COUNTIES,
on section 0. Waiting two weeks for the water to fall so that he
could cross the creek, he in the last of June moved up and made
the first settlement on the north side of Camp creek. At that
time there were living on the south side of Cam]) creek the following
families, viz : John Black and Mr. Burroughs on section 36 ; Austin
Wood and W. A. Wood on section 26 ; Daniel Ebner and AVilliam
Doak on section 27; William McPIard and James Gingles on section
28 ; Edward Burrall and Robert Gingles on section 29 ; Philip Miller
and John Crooks on section 30 ; and Isaiah Lockhard on section 33.
In the fall of 1845 Graham Lee and Henry Lee settled on the east
side of section *J. Up to this time the settlements had been begun bv
claims, and but few had been able to enter the whole amount of their
claims, Edward Burrall and Philip Miller being the only known excep-
tions. From this to 1850. excepting the lands held by military title,
the best lands were taken up and entered, or bought at the land office,
and by 1855 no lands were held by claims. The dates of settlements
subsequent to 181:5 will be shown by the records, and therefore are
omitted from this history which is only intended to cover ground that
records will not reach. By general consent the year 181:5 is considered
by the present inhabitants to terminate the years of pioneer settlement.
The climate in the early history of Perryton was subject to very
severe changes from one extreme to another, with such suddenness as to
surprise every one, and thus often causing suffering, and even death,
when the settlers were caught unpi-epared away from home on the
boundless prairie. An early settler relates of a phenomenon in 1834,
in the fall from the clouds of a heavy body of frost, in veins and in all
manner of strange shapes. There would be a solid body of several
rods in extent that killed all kinds of vegetation, and leading out of
this body, in a zig-zag course, a narrow stri]) of the frost that left its
mark like the course of a prairie fire. The wind, in the fall season of
the year especially, would veer about from the south to the northwest,
piercing with the most intense cold, and the fine, dry snow almost
blindiiig and cutting like needles those exposed to its fury. A storm of
this kind is remembered by one of the earliest settlers at the Grove, in
which some persons were caught away from home and i)ei'ished by
being fro^zen. Abraham Miller, Jr., was once caught away from home
on the ])rairio in a stinging nor'wester, and so badly frozen that for a
time his life was despaired of. He was utterly hel|)less when found by
his neighbors, who had become alarmed for his safety and organized a
]tart3' of rescue; the skin all peeled off from his face and hands, and
the evil effects of this freezing followed him to the declining years of a
renuirkably vigorous manhood. An old settler, describing from niem-
I'EKRVTON TOWXSHIl'. 313
ory some of the disastrous effects of a tierce liurricane wliicli he wit-
nessed in the north end of Mercer county in ls44, says that the whole
neighborhood had scarcely a house left standing for several miles.
The main body of the hurricane was not more than three to live miles
wide ; it took Mercer in 15 north, and in range 1 or 2, where it did the
greatest damage. It came up hurriedly with a dark thunder cloud,
accomj)anied with a lierce dash of rain, with a dense fog or smoke.
Two deaths and a large number slightly injured were tlie results so far
as lieard in Mercer county. One Howard Trego was killed l)y his
house falling on hiii;. Ijut liis wife aiul children escaped with only
slight injuries.
Among our first settlers there was scarcely ever any thought of
going to law with each other. A certain code of honor reigned
supreme. If a neighbor did not pay his just debts as socm as able,
his neighbors shamed him into paying, and if that failed the case was
arbitrated, settled, and all hands went iKnne satisfied and jovial over
the result. If a man inclined to act dislionorable, social ostracism
brought him around to a sense of the magnitude of his offense, and he
was generally made to feel that the community would not receive on
an ecpiality any one tainted with the suspicion of dishonorable conduct.
In the settlement of personal difficulties, growing out of insults and
other indignities offered by one to another, a resort was generally had
to a test of prowess in a fair stand-u]) and knock-down fight, the
respective friends of the combatants seeing that fair ])lay was had
until one of the warriors cried, "Hold I enough I" If one of the
})arties was not considered able to combat a larger and more muscular
opponent, sometimes a friend and sometimes an entire stranger would
take his place in the i-ino;. In those davs a coward was reckoned
among the contemjitible things of earth, and if a man exhibited
cowardice by drawing a wea})on and threatening another, he was
lucky to escape the indignation of the bystanders with a whole body.
Although the standard of honor adopted by our early settlers would
hardly be regarded as just the thing at the present day, there was that
about it which challenges our admiration in sjjite of the condemnation
l)Ut u])on it by modern civilization.
The first justice of the ])eace in the Sugar (^rove jjrecincts was
Aljraham Miller, Jr. The first suit at law ever had was instituted by a
man named B. Lloyd. An excuse for a lawsuit was a sufficient ])rovo-
cation generally for a free ''pitch in." At the time of this first suit
there was but one copy of the Illinois statutes in Mercer county, and
that was in the hands of the county clerk at New Boston. William
Drury, and it could not be loaned. The justice begged time for
314 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
preparation, but the plaintitF was rampant for litigation and would not
listen to a proposition for postponement. So the justice was compelled
to ride some twelve miles to Rock Island county, where he borrowed
a statute of Daniel Edgington, Esq., which copy was reluctantl_y loaned
with the solemn stipulation that it was to be returned in three days.
During the time allowed him our justice pored over this book to
ascertain the statutory duties enjoined upon his office, and in taking
notes for future reference. The notes thus taken from the statutes
constituted the edition from which our justice dispensed the law, and
were used for a number of years by him, until he^ was fortunate enough
to secure a printed edition. AVhon copying from the borrowed book,
one night he went to sleep over his labor and upset the inkstand over
the sacred volume, which so terrified him that he licked away with
his tongue until he had saved the blotted pages from entire obliter-
ation.
Recurring once more to the wild animals and game found by the
earlier settlers of this region, as bearing upon the question of food, I
will enumerate such as are suggested to my memory and spoken of by
the pioneers. Deer were in great abundance, wild turkeys, prairie
chickens, squirrels (the gray and the large fox), pheasants, partridges
or quails, and the curlew and plover. There were plenty of wild
geese and ducks, pellicans, swans, coons, rabbits, large wolves, and
the prairie wolf or cayota. Tlie large wolf and the small frequently
crossed and the half breed made a very troublesome animal. AVildcats
or catamounts, a chance panther, mostly in the heavily timbered
bottoms, bears, though not plenty, raccoons, badgers, and opossums.
There were ground squirrels, owls, hawks, eagles, turkey buzzards,
parokeets, and large snow-white owls. Of fish there was an abundance
of all fresh-water varieties, such as the catfish, pike, pickerel, bass,
l^ercli, drum, buftalo, red-horse, sucker, dog-fish, flying fish, sunfish, and
salmon. Abraham Miller, Jr., says that he has killed with the gig
in the Edwards river pike weighing fifty pounds, and that he built
a fish-trap in the same river by which he secured barrels and barrels of
fish, some of which he took to Knoxville ibr sale. One method
adopted by the settlers for trap])ing deer was by what was called
fire-liunting, in a canoe.
Of the domestic animals raised by the first settlers, it is a difficult
matter to give anything like a pedigree. They were of various kinds
and grades, such as the old pioneers happened to have on hand when
they landed and settled down in tlieir Ijackwoods homes. At that
early date but very little attention had been paid to blooded stock, and
hogs and cattle were selected more on account of their qualities for
PERKYTttX TOWNSHIP. 315
])ickino; their own living in the woods and on the prairies. George
Miller, Sr., brought some fine brood mares with him to Sugar Grove,
from Montgomery countv, Indiana, in the fall of 1834. They were
originally the foal of a Goliah dam, by a McKinney roan sire, crossed
by a Smiling Call horse, then by a cross from a Koanoke sire, and
then next crossed with the Copper Bottom and the Flag. This stock
was large, wx'll i:)roportioned, docile, and of line spirit, and well suited
for the early settlers. One Joseph Tichnor, a young man from Ohio,
brought the lirst Berkshire hogs to Mercer county, and made quite a
speculation out of them in the Sugar Grove settlements. George
Miller, Sr., brought from Indiana with liim a lot of hogs that were a
cross between the large China and the large white Shaker hog; they
were long, large, heavy-boned, and thought to be as easily fattened as
the China. Abraham Miller killed one of this breed in the early
history C)f the Sugar Grove settlemicnt that weighed over live hundred
pounds, and thinks he could have been made to weigh seven hundred.
Later, a few pigs were introduced of the Byefield and Bedford stock.
The Berkshire was regarded as a failure. Tlie stock of cattle were a
mixed breed, between the old scrub and the Durham, Patton. etc.
They made tine, large work oxen, good milkers, and excellent beef.
The sheep were of the commonest stock, and no more were kept than
answered the purpose of making the necessary clothing. The little
flocks of sheep were highly esteemed by the pioneers, because of tlieir
usefulness in furnishing clothing, and they were carefully protected
from the depredations of the wolves, as they seemed to have a strong
hankering after mutton. This appetite resulted in the destruction of
the entire race of the large wolves, and almost all of the prairie wolves,
by the writer, whose serious loss in sheep compelled him to resort to
an extensive use of strychnine, used in bait to accomplish their destruc-
tion. After 1845 the wolves had become so thoroughly extinguislied
as to occasion no more losses or annoyance to owners of sheep.
Deer were quite plentiful in tlie early history of Perryton, so much
so as to furnish a large portion of the meat required for the table. Of
the deer and their habits, much could be wTitten which wouUl no doubt
prove an interesting part of this record, but I will desist with the sim-
ple rehititjn a tight between two buck deer, witnessed by a pioneer near
where the town of Millersburg now stands. When tirst noticed, they
were plunging and pushing at each other, with horns interlocked and in
a manner peculiar to these animals. Their horns could be heard rat-
tling against each other quite distinctly for a distance of three hundred
yar<ls. They were both large bucks, one of them a monster of his
species, and the struggle between them a tierce one. After watching
316 HISTORY OF MERCER AXD HEXDERSOX COUNTIES.
with deep interest for about one hour, our informant closed in to a dis-
tance of about forty yards and awaited an opportunity to get a good
square shot. From the extraordinary size, of the hirger buck he was
satisfied tliat it was the same one that had acquired the designation of
"The Town Buck" from the hunters in the settlement, because of his
great size, and because of frequent visits to the towiishij), and suc-
cessful efforts in always escaping. To capture such a prize would have
been regarded as a great honor among the hunters, so our relator was
watchfid and wary. The bucks kept continually lunging at each other
so that it was impossible to get a safe shot. Finally the smaller one
broke away and ran off pursued by the larger. Knowing their habits,
pursuit was given and the ' ' Town Buck " soon fell a victim to the
rapacity of the hunter. The fame of this affair spread for a great
distance, as the buck was one of the largest ever seen by hunters who
had grown gray in pioneer life.
The tribes of Indians roaming about Mercer county in its first set-
tlement were the Sacs and Foxes. The Fox tribe, about the time of
the Black Hawk war, formed a union with the Sacs, and became
a tribe known as the Fox and Sac. They were large, strong, active,
brave and warlike, and used all of the weapons of Indian warfare with
great skill. This tribe was formerly headed by the famous warrior
Black Hawk. After the war known as the Black Hawk war. he was
degraded from his chieftainship because of his counsel in favor of
peace. Abraham Miller relates that he saw Black Hawk, with his
twelve braves, who always accompanied him after his downfall, strike
their evening cam]) on the bank of the Mississippi, at the mouth of
Sturgeon Bay, near Xew Boston. They were on a last visit to the
grave of Black Hawk's daughter, who was buried there in a grove of
black oaks. For their evening meal they boiled a pole-cat which they
did not even trouble themselves to take the hair off, but the hair sim-
mered to tlie surface of the stew. When sufficiently cooked, Black
Hawk gave to each a share of the savory meal ; the first received the
head, and so on until all were served. Black Hawk then wore about
his neck a long string of silver medals, which had been presented to
him by the goveiTiment, and by English fur companies. Occasionally
some few Miamis and Potawottomies wandered through the county,
but not to remain. The headquarters of the Winnebagos for the
winter season was on the banks of the Mississippi, in Mercer county,
a short distance above New Boston. They could there winter their
ponies better than elsewhere, in consequence of the tall grass that grew
along the bays. Sugar Grove was a great camping-ground for the
Indians at one time, especially on the south side along Edwards river.
PERRYTON TOAVXSIIIP. 317
The Indian name of this was "Big Tuitle river." AVhen the Miller's
lirst settled at the Grove, the Indians had a large encampment there
for making sugar, witli quite a large wigwam made of poles and
covered with bark.
The early history of Perryton, thus hastily and briefly wi-itten at
moments of leisure, and under many adverse circumstances pertaining
to lack of data and conflict of facts, will, I hope, possess the certain
interest always attaching to the record of that which has passed away,
never to return. It is the reflection rather of a period of pioneer life
that long ago ceased to exist, the mirror of an irrevocable past, the gi'im
romance of the adventurous life of the early settler. None of us who
were living and moved in the scenes of pioneer settlement ever, in
brightest anticipation, contemplated the possibility of such changes as
have been brought by the advancing tide of cfvilization. Never in
fondest dreams did the pioneer picture the transition that has actually
taken place. The fields have been nuide to bloom and >deld most
bountifully of the products which make nations prosperous, thus con-
tributing to their happiness. Many of those who are now enjopng the
fruits of the labors of the early pioneers have but little conception of
what it cost in hardships and ])rivations to open up the wilderness, and
when they read of the trials encountered, the adventures endured, to
accomplish this result, they can only realize it in the light of a pleasant
romance. While the rising generation are amassing wealth in a life of
comparative luxury, we, the earlier settlers yet living, experierice a
lively sense of gratitude in the thought that our hands contributed so
materially to the building up of the j^resent condition of prosperity and
ha])])iness of those who are now occupying the beautiful homes and
magniflcent farms to be found in Perryton.
[To the foregoing, contributed by Mr. Lee, we append a few notes
relative to the organizations of the township. — En.]
HAMLET.
The village of Hamlet, located one mile south of the north line and
three miles west of the east line of the township, was laid out on the
land of Josiah and Capt. D. M. Candor, in 1S08, and was christened
Hamlet, in honor of Hamlet Cooper, now deceased, one of the very
first of the pioneers to locate in this section of the country. The prog-
ress of the village has been slow, owing to its proximity to Peynolds,
the nearest railroad town, but it is one of those quiet country villages
where the farmers in the community go for their mail and spend a
short time in social converse. The first store erected in the ])lace was
that of Josiah and Ca]jt. D. M. Candor, who dealt in general merchan-
318 HISTORY OF IVIEECEE AJSTD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
clise. The latter of the Candor brothers has at this writing withdrawn
from the firm ; the former yet continues in the business. Lloyd Girton
opened the second store. The first blacksmitli shop was opened here
by Thomas Lewis. The business houses of the village are one harness
shop, one store of general merchandise, by Josiah Candor, one drug
store, by Dr. Criswell, one wagon and blacksmith shop, by A. T.
Hooples and D. M. Dumbell and son. The village has a good local
trade, and has a population of about 125 persons. The postoffice now
kept at Hamlet was first established in this neighborhood in 1851-. The
oftice was first kept by Graham Lee, who held it till 1869, when it was
moved to Hamlet, and Josiah Condor appointed postmaster. He has
since continued to hold the ofiice without cessation.
The Presbyterian church of Hamlet was organized in 1870. Pre-
vious to the organization here the members of this faith held their
membership in the societies of the surrounding country, the greater
part at Millersburg. The first members that constituted the church
were thirty-two in number. The society was organized by Thomas M.
Wilson, W. S. Dool, and T. R. Johnson. Previous to the organization
they had preaching in the school-house one mile west of the village,
but not regularly. Those present at the organization were : F. A.
Sherer, moderator; William S. Dool, C. B. Bristol, Daniel Kelly,
T. R. Johnson, and William W. Morehead. The elders were : Thomas
Candor and J. M. Gilmore. Of the thirty-two members who consti-
tuted the organization in the beginning, fifteen were dismissed from
the society at Edgington Mills, Rock Island county ; thirteen from the
Millersburg society; the remaining four were not members of any
particular society here at that time. The first elders appointed were :
Cornelius Swartwout, J. S. Gilmore, and John Montgomery. The
present elders are : William H. Wlieaton, D. M. Candor, and John
Montgomery. The ])resent membership is eighty-five. The society
has a very neat frame church, 36x50, erected at a cost of $3,000.
Since its organization it has supported and kept in operation a live
Sunday school. The ministers who have labored here are T. M.Wilson
and H. W. Fisk, since the organization ; the former from 1870 to
1872; the latter from 1873, and is at this time pastor of this charge.
The membership of this society represents most of the first families in
this community. This is the only church organization in the village.
There is another Presbyterian society in the township, south of
Camp creek, known as the Perryton Presbyterian church s(X'iety. This
society was organized in 1871. The first meethig preliminary to the
organization was held February 18 of the same year. It is connected
I'EKRYTON TOWNSHIP. 319
with the society at Hamlet. At the above meeting a committee was
ai)itointed, consisting of J. Harris, "William Doak, and Cruser Gray,
for the puiix)se of erecting a church-house. This committee located
the church at Gingles' Corner, in conformity with the will of the mem-
bers. The church is a neat, frame edifice, erected at a cost of $2, 100,
It was dedicated in 1872, out of debt. The society at its organization
numbered thirty communicants ; but from •various causes, over which
the church has no control, it now numbers only twelve active members.
Its pastors are the same as those of the Hamlet society. Previous to
effecting the organization, the people of this faith held their meetings
at the school-house near bv, but like the members of the societv at
Hamlet, were members of the societies of the same faith at other
})laces. The first members who constituted the society were Samuel
and Frank McIIard, Mrs. Jane Martha McHard, Martha Blue, Sarah
Doak, Mary J. and J. Harris, Mary Guffy, Mary A. Bristow, and
AVilliam McIIard, Sr. The society supports a very good Sunday
school.
The only Baptist church in the township was located in 1871, near
where tlie Methodist Episcopal church now stands. It was organized
in 18()9. Almost fi'om the first settlement of the township the Baptist
people were represented, but built no church-house ; they held their
meetings in private houses and school-houses, and held their member-
ship principally at Edgington, in Bock Island county. Their first and
only church building in the township was a frame, erected in 1869, two
and a half miles east of Hamlet, wdiere it held its meetings till 1879,
when the society moved its building to Reynolds, Rock Island county,
where the members of the society now hold their membershi}). The
first minister of the society in Perryton township was John Tittering-
ton. The cost of the church as erected in Perryton township) was
83,000; size, 30x38. It always supported a live Sunday school in
connection with the church.
The Methodist Episcopal church, like the Presbyterian, came with
the first settlers. They held their meetings in the pioneer days at
private houses, and later at the school-house till 1869, when they built
their present church-house twx) miles east of Ilandet. It cost §2, 100,
and in size is 30x44. At the time it was erected the society numbered
thii'ty-six communicants, now numbers twelve. It has at various
times lost many valuable members by removals, but the greatest loss
was caused by the organizati(jn of a like society at Reynolds. The
building committee were H. Ketzel, S. Iloneycut and ILiliday. The
l»resent i>astor is Rev. J. Small ; class leader, Albion Nichols ; trustees,
320 mSTOEY OF SIERCER A^T) HEXDEESOX COUNTIES.
n. Ketzel, George Hauck. and Thomas Tannatta. Among its mem-
bers have been and are many influential and prosperous citi2ens (^f
Perr^'ton.
Among the organizations of Perrvton township, none are more
deserving of mention than the Librarv Association of Hamlet. It was
established in 1879, with a view of tiirnisliing reading matter at a small
cost to those who wished to invest in the enterprise. The lirst officers
were : President. Graham Lee ; Secret arv, Edward Hollister. Mr.
Lee still holds the office of president. AV. C. Tandalsem is present
active secretai-y. The first dii'ectors were : D. 31. Candor. H. "W. Fisk.
and P. ^'. Dumbell. The present directors are : P. W. Dumbell.
H. W. Pisk, Elisha Lee. D. M. Candor. Libranan. Dr. AT. Criswell.
The association reqnu-es an admission fee of one dollar to become a
member of the society, and alter that each member pays an annual
fee of fiftv cents, and has the use of anv book in the librarv without
further charge. The income, up to the present time, has been about
$205. much of which has been raised by entertainments. The
library now contains 213 volumes, all of which have been selected with
great care. It requires three of the directoi*s to place a volume on its
shelves. The association is in a prosperous condition.
The Mutual Fu-e and Lightning Insm-ance Company was organized
at Hamlet in 1878, under the insurance laws of Plinois. Josiah Can-
dor and Graham Lee were the principal leaders in efl:ecting the organ-
ization. The fii'st officers of the company were : Graham Lee.
president, and Josiah Candor, treasurer. The subscribed capital was
$62,016.65. The present board of directors is: Graham Lee (presi-
dent), H. Ketzel (secretaiy). W. TVilmerton, J. I. Everett, G. D. Miller,
David Mavhew. R. S. Montcfomerv. WilKam Wait, J. B. McConnell,
and G. Peate. The number of policies now out is 146. with an aggre-
gate capital of $3(>4,720. Tlie company, dui-ing its organization has
not met with a single loss, hence their insurance dining the time has
cost them nothing. This has proved the best system of insurance to
the farmer of Hamlet and vicinity ever adopted by them.
Townsliip organization was effected in 1855. Tlie first town-meet-
ing was held in 1S55. at Gingles' comers. Graham Lee was appointed
moderator, and S. D. Trego made clerk. In 1856 "Wm. McHard was
made moderator, and S. D. Trego clerk of the meeting. At this
meeting townshij) organization was adopted and officers elected. Tlie
following is a list of all the oflicers elected to the present.
The justices of the peace of Perr\'ton township, so far as we were
able to make up the list from the count}' records, are as follows :
Edward Burrall, elected April 30, 183S. and resigned April 6, 1839:
^
JACOB BEAR
I'EKK VTON TOWXSI 1 1 P.
323
AVilHiun ]\[oore, elected June, 1842 ; Joseph G. Gilmorc, 1847 ; Edwanl
Bunall, 1847 ; (\ G. Tjulor, ls40 ; J. G. Gilmore, 1858; Lee Jlolister,
1858; Lee llolistcr, 18«;2 ; J. G. Gilmore, 1862; J. G. Gilmore,
1870; Lee Holister, 1870; J. G. Gilmore, 1874; Lee Ilolister, l.s74;
John Ginijles, 1877; J. G. Gilmore, 1881,
c .-
1»J6
1&57
1858
]8;">9
IStlO
I8t;i
mv>
IS*;:!
INVt
isr.7
18«18
18C)'J
IKTfl
1S71
1872
187:;
1871
187.'i
1870
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
Supervisor.
Graham Lee...
Graham Lee...
J. C. (iilinore . .
,1. G. Gilmore ..
.1. C. (iilmure ..
.(. (t. (iihnore . .
.1. G. (iihnore . .
William Doak.
William Doak.
William Doak.
L. V. Willitts ..
Thomas Love .
Th(ima.s Love .
(i. 1). ('ral)S
William Doak.
William Doak.
William Doak.
William Doak.
(;.]). Miller ...
G. D. Miller ...
D. M. Candor. .
William Doak.
William Doak.
William Doak.
G. 1). >riller ...
G. D. Miller ...
G. D. MiUer ...
Clerk.
S. D. Trejjo
S. D. Tref-'o
S. D. Treijo
S. D. Trejro
S. D. Trego
.'<. D. Treiio
L. W. Haiies
L. W. Haiies
L. W. Hanes
n.. I. Walter
Theodf)re GuttV ..
J. M. Gaily ...'....
Frank Me Hard...
.John (iinples
John Gin}<les
C. C. Walters
G. D.Walter
H. .I.Walter
.John (iingles
L. (iirton
L. Girton
L. Girton
L. Girton
L. Girt(m
M. Griswell
.1. T. Hartman
G. F. Ilartman
A.SSESSOR.
William McHard .
William M<llard .
William .McHard .
William McHard .
William McHard .
.Varon Thompson.
.\aron Thompson.
William .McHard .
H. .I.Walter
( harles York
.losiah Candor. . ..
Meigs Wait
G. D. Crahs
.lohn Hall
Lee Holister
Charles York
David Bine
David Blue
Theodore <;utlV ..
D. Bine '....
D. Bine
D. Blue
D. Bine
.V.Kendall
.1. G. Gilmore
A. Kendall
A. Kendall
Collector.
J. C. Gilmore.
.1. G. (iilniore.
.1. G. (iihnore.
William Clark.
AVilliam Clark.
William Clark.
William Clark,
(i. D. Crat.s.
a. D. Crahs.
(i. D. Crahs.
William McHard.
(i. D. Crahs.
Davi<l Bine.
J. U. Ball.
C. Mclntire.
C. Mclntire.
C. B. Halstead.
C. B. Halstead.
David Bine.
A. .1. Birrkett.
L. (iirton.
.1. Hartman.
.1. Hartman.
.1. McDonald,
(ieorge Harness.
L. H. ( Viopcr.
J. G. Gilmore.
The census report of 1880 gives the population of Perryton town-
ship 987. The taxable property of 1881 was valued at $367,134; the
real estate at $281,248; and personal property at $85,886. In issi
there was collected taxes for general state j)urposes and schools,
$2,'091.60; county ta.x, $987.61; town, $191.61; road and bridge ta.x,
$396.66; bond tax, $987.61; distiict school tax, $2,250.28; dog tax,
$134.
Perryton township is located along the north line of the county,
and is bounded on the north bv Rock Island countv, on the east bv
Pre-emption, south by Mercer, and west by Duncan. It is divided
into two sections by Camp creek, which enters the townshi]> on the
south half of section 24, and flows west across and out (tf the town-
ship on section 19. The country for some distance on either side of
this creek is very broken ; but both north and south Perryton is a tine
farming country, hi the neighborhood of Hamlet, the country can-
not, for farming purjioses, be excelled by any locality in the county.
It is peopled by a well-t(j-<.lo class of farmers, who ])ride themselves in
having good improvements, and many of them have their fjirms so
19
324 HISTORY OF JSIERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
beautified by fine buildings, groves and lawns, as to attract the atten-
tion of lovers of the beautiful. The farm of Graham Lee is the most
beautiful farm in the township, and justly merits the title, ' ' The Ever-
gi-een Home." There are a number of farms both north and south of
Camp creek that need to be mentioned, but the owners names of most
of them will be found in the biographical department of the township.
Tlie stock of the township in every particular will compare with tliat
of everv other section of the countv.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Meigs Wait is a native of Switzerland county, Indiana, born in
1826. His parents were Hemy and Sophia (Wells) Wait, the former
a native of Grand Isle county, Vermont, and served as a soldier in the
war of 1812 at the battle of Plattsburg, and died February 9, 1882, at
the age of eighty-nine years. His father, Gardiner Wait, grandfather
of Meigs, was a native of Wales, and came to America at an early
date and settled in Grand Isle county, Vermont, and served in the
Contuiental army as a soldier, and died about the year 1788. Henry
Wait, by this marriage with Sophia AYells, raised a family of eight
children : William, Sarah, Ruth, Rhoda, Harriet, Jacob, Lucretia,
Lavina (deceased). Meigs Wait was married in Switzerland county,
Indiana, in 1856, to Caroline Robinson, of Indiana, daughter of
Thomas and Mary Robinson, and emigrated to Eflingham county,
Illinois, in 1864, where they both died. Mr. Wait has by this mar-
riage two children : Frank G. and Katie, whose mother died in 1862.
In 1863 Mr. Wait was married a second time, to Miss Edith Clark, ( )f
Pennsylvania, born in 1842, and daughter of William and Mary Clark,
both of Pennsylvania. They came to Mercer county in 1853, and
located near Kew Boston, where they remained oidy a few months,
when they moved to Perry ton township. There they both died, the
former in 1882, aged seventy-seven years ; the later in 1875, aged
sixty-sLx years, both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He
was a local preacher. By this marriage Mr. Wait has seven children :
Harry, Ernest, Daisy, Bertie, Marion, Guy, and ]\[ark. His wife is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has a beautiful and
well improved fiirin of 400 acres, located at the north line of Mercer
county, one mile west of Reynolds. He raises on his farm thorough-
bred cattle, and feeds cattle for the market. His hogs are of the best
breeds. He does the largest business in buying and shi])piiig stock,
es]>ecially cattle, of any man in Perryton townshij). The Wait family
came here as early settlers. They are all well-to-do and highly
respected citizens.
PERRYTOX TOWNSHIP. 325
Lee Holister is a native of Connecticut, born in Litchfield C(junty
in 1822, son of Horace and Sarali (Lee) Holister, both nati\'es of Con-
necticut. Ilis mother died in Connecticut in 1830, aged thirty-nine
years. His lather came to Macoupin county, Illinois, in 1864, where
he died in 1860, aged seventy-five j'ears. lie was by vocation a farmer.
He and M'ife were members of the Comj-reo-ational church. Mr. Lee
Holister was reared in Connecticut where he remained till he was
twenty -four years old. He then came to Illinois and located in Peoria
county where he remained till 1856, when he came to Mercer county
and located where he now resides. He was married in 1^47 to Esther
Barker, of Greene county, New York, daughter of Charles and Anniiui
(Smith) Barker, both of New York. They came to Peoria county,
Illinois, in 1846, where the}' are yet residing; the former is now
seventy-eight years old, the latter seventy-seven. Mr. Holister has by
this nuirriage four children : Minnie, Edward, Clara, and Alice. He
and wife and three children are members of the Presbyterian church at
Hamlet. He has a well impro\ed farm of eighty acres, one-fourth of
a mile west of the village of Ilandet, and keeps a good grade of farm
stock. He has held the otfice of justice for the past eighteen years.
George D. CrxVbs is a native of Jefi'erson county, Ohio, born
Decembei" 11, 1824, and is a son of Philip and Sarah (Dutfield) Crabs,
both of Pennsylvania ; his father of Westmoreland county, and mother
of Cumberland county. They emigrated to Ohio with their parents,
where they were married. The latter, Philip Crab's wife, died in Ohio
in 1836, at the age of fifty-five years ; the former came to Rock Island
county in 1858, and died there in 1878, at the age of seventy-five years.
He served as a soldier in the war of 1812, was wounded by the enemy
in an engagement near Lake Erie ; at another time by one of the guards
who accidentally hit him w hile shooting at a pig a negro was trying to
force across his beat. By trade he was a carpenter and joiner. His
lather was Abraham, born in 1767, and died February, 1836; his
mother, Thankful Crabs, was born in August, 1775, and died in Se})-
tember, 1814. G. D. Crabs received a fair educational training in his
boyhood. He was reared to the trade of carpenter and joiner, which
he followed for a livelihood till 1859 when he locatetl in Mercer county
where he now resides, and engaged in farming. He emigrated with
his family in 1844, from Ohio to liock Island county, where he resided
till he located in Perryton township. He was married July, 1850, to
Sarah B. Hazlitt, of Xew York, who was born in 1827, and is the
daughter of Alexander and Sarah (McKay) ILulitt, both of Xew Jersey.
Thev emii::rated to Illinois in 1838, and located iu Ilock Ishmd county
in 1839, where the father died in 1849, at the age of eighty-two ; t!ie
326 HISTORY OF ^rERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
mother in 1842, at the age of fifty-seven. Both were members of the
Presbyterian clmrch. Mr. and Mrs. Crabs have a family of seven
chikh-en: Armenia, Ichx, Ekla, Sarah J., Emerson, Amy T., and Fay.
He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He lias a well
improved farm of 120 acres, located one mile west of the village of
Hamlet. His stock, consisting of Norman and Morgan horses and
short horn cattle, is of the best grades.
AViLLiAM Brain, the subject of this life sketch, is a native of Eng-
land, born in 1807, son of John and Sarah Brain, who were born and
reared in their native country and there died. Our subject's father was
a boatman. William Brain came to America in 1832, stopped for a
time in Connecticut, then went to New York where he remained till
1834, when he returned to his native home. In 1843 he returned to
New York, remained five years, came to Illinois and located where he
now resides. By trade he is both wagonmaker and carpenter. He
has been married twice, first to Elizabeth Sproson, of England, in
1832, by whom he has three children: Sarah A., Anna, and Elizabeth.
The mother of these died in 1861. He was married ae:ain in 1862
to Mrs. Mary Hal stead, formerly Miss Mary Cooper, and daualiter of
Thomas and Ann Cooper. She is a native of England. Mr. Brain
has a fine farm of 240 acres, well improved and well stocked.
J. Ct. Gilmore's parents, Robert and Elizabeth Gilmore, came to
Illinois with the pioneers and located in Warren county, eight miles
northeast of Monmouth. The former was born in Chester county, the
latter in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. They emigrated to
Jefierson county, Ohio, with their parents, where they were married.
He was a tanner by trade, but followed farming exclusively in Illinois.
In 1820 he was a member of the Ohio legislature, and at one time was
colonel of the state militia, and held the office of captain in the war of
1812. He and wife were members of the Presbyterian church. J. G.
was born in 1819, in Jefierson county, Ohio, and came to Illinois with
his parents when two years old. His early educational training was
only such as the common schools of the pioneer districts of Illinois
could furnish. He was reared on the farm. In 1839 he moved from
Warren county to Mercer, where he has aince resided, with the excep-
tion of two years. In 1840 he moved to Iowa, where he remained one
year, when he moved to Missouri, and stayed one year and returned
in 1842 to Mercer county. He was married in December, 1843, to
Alletta A. Brady, native of Ohio, born in 1822, daughter of John and
Elizabeth Brady. By this marriage he has nine children : Elenor
(deceased), Mary, Elizabeth, Lydia, Ann E., Robert J^., Arabella,
Ephraim C, and Albert N. (deceased), lie held the otKce of justice
PKRRYTON TOWNSHIP. 327
for iiinc'teon years without ccssatioii, and was re-elected in IbSl
for another term, lie also tilled the otlice of supervisor for two
3'^ears, the office of collector two years, and assessor in 1S80. He and
wife are members of the Presbyterian church at Hamlet. He has a
farm of eighty-one acres, well improved and fairly stocked.
Daviu Bopes is a native of Columbia county, Pennsylvania, born
in 1825, son of Ge<H'ge and Sarah (Bauchard) Bo})es. Both were
natives of Pennsylvania. They were married in Pennsylvania and
came to Illinois in 1836 and located in Rock Island county, near
Edgington, when there were but few white settlers in that part of the
country. The former died in 1838, at a comparatively early age ; his
wife afterward moved to Mercer county, where she died in 1843.
She was a zealous christian and member of the Methodist Episcopal,
church. He was a man respected for his integrity and other good
qualities. David Bopes came with his parents to liock Island county
where he resided till 1858, when he located where he now resides.
His early educational training was that of the pioneer schools of his
neighborhood. lie has always been engaged in farming, the voca-
tion of his father. In 1854 he married Miss Sarah E. Titterington, a
native of Ross county, Ohio, born in 1836, daughter of James and
E. (Beal) Titterington, the former a native of England, and came to
America when he was ten years old ; the latter b( )rn in Ross county,
Ohio, and now a resident of Rock Island county, near Edgington.
The former died in 1876, at the age of sixty -nine years. They located
in Rock Island county in 183y. Mr. and Mrs. David Bopes have six
children living. He crossed the plains to California in ls4!», and
returned in 1851. Mr. Bopes has a farm of 480 acres of as line land
as can be found in Mercer county. It is well improved with substan-
tial buildings, and beautified by groves which he himself planted,
He deals in cattle, feeding them for the market, and has his farm well
stocked with good grades. He is a successful farmer.
Among the soldier citizens of Perryton township is C. B. Hai.stkad.
He was born in New York in 1843, and son of Lewis M. and Mary J.
(Cooper) Halstead. His lather was a native of New York, and his
mother of England. He first emigrated to JVIichigan in 1838, where
he married and returned to New York. In 1851 he came to Mercer
county and located where his son C. B. now resides. Here he died in
1854, at the age of forty-two. He served three years in the U. S.
dragoons. The date of his discharge is 1836. C. B. Halstead came
to Mercer county with his fatliei- when eight years old. His early
education was limited to the connnon school. In 18()1 he enlisted in
company H, 61st 111. Vol. Inf.. and served two years and live months.
328 HISTORY OF FIERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
He was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, and Yicksbiirg,
after which he was discharged on account of a wound received in the
battle of Pea Pidge. He then returned home to the farm. He was
married in 1870 to Elnora A. Xeely, of Illinois, born in 1851, in
Stark county, daughter of Joseph and Happy Xeely, both of Pennsyl-
vania. They came to Stark county with its early settlers and moved
to Mercer county. The father is now living in Hamlet, this township ;
the mother died in IS 79, at the age of 66. Mr. Halstead has four
children: Dallas B., Riley E., L. Benjamin. He is a member of
the masonic lodge at Edgington, Illinois. He has a farm of 120
acres, and keeps a good grade of farm stock.
Among the farmers and stock raisers of Perryton township is
•Michael Yetter, located on the north line of the township. He is of
German birth, born in Hesse Darmstadt in 1830, and is a son of Peter
and Mary Yetter. They lived out their lives in their native country.
The former died in 1862, aged sixty-four years ; the later in 1852, aged
fifty-three years. They were members of the Presbyterian church ; by
vocation they were farmers. Michael came to America and first located
in !New Jersey ; then moved to jSTew York ; then to Rock Island
county, where he remained till 1867, when he came to Mercer county,
where he has a fine farm of 292 acres fairly improved and well stocked
with good grades of cattle, sheep, hogs, and horses. He was married
in 1856 to Elizabeth Yetter, of Germany, daughter of Lewis and Mary
Yetter, both of Germany. The former died in Germany in 18-10, at
the age of forty-two ; the latter came to America in 1855 and located
in Rock Island county, now lives in Duncan township, and is in her
seventy-seventh year. By this marriage Michael has eight children :
Catharine, Barbara, Mary, Elizabeth, Lewis, Michael, John, and Willie.
He and wife are members of the German Presbyterian church.
Frederick Hartman is a native of Germany, born in 1838, and is
a son of Daniel and Barbary Hartman, both of Germany. They came
to America in 1810: li^'ed one vear in Muscatine: then moved to
Buifalo Prairie, Rock Island county, where they lived for thirty years,
when they moved to Perryton township, where their son Frederick now
lives. Thev were farmers, and members of the German Presbvterian
church. The father died in 1866, aged seventy-eight years ; the
mother in 1818. Frederick came to Mercer county in 1867, where he
now resides. He was reared to the business of farming. His literary
education was wholly German and taught him in his mother tongue.
He was married in 1861 to Barbary Schweobel, of Hesse Darmstadt,
Germany, daughter of George and ]\Iargaret Schweobel, both of Ger-
manv. Thev emigrated to Rock Island countv in 1819, and now live
PERRYTON TOWNSHIP. 329
with tlieir dtingliter, Mrs. Frederick ITartman. They are both mem-
bers of the German Presbyterian church. Mr. and Mrs. llartman
have six chikh-en : ]\[argaret, George, Thomas, John, Frederick, and
Edward. lie has a tine stock farm of 2-10 acres, well improved and
well stocked. He and wife, like their parents, are members of the
German Presbyterian church.
HiOiLET Cooper (deceased) was one of the pioneer settlers of Perry-
ton township. He located here in 1844. At that time there was but
little else here than wild grass and wild animals. He emigrated
from England, his native country, about 1832, to New York, and
then to Michigan, where he resided six years, and then came to
Perry ton township, where he died in 1847, at the age of forty-one
years. In 1829 he was married to Mary A. Clark, of England. They,
raised a family of eight children: Thomas, William H., Charlotte A.,
John H., Lester II., Philip, Enoch, and Eobert (deceased). The last
named enlisted in company A, 9th 111. cavalry ; he was mustered into
the service in 1801 and served one year, when he died at Keokuk,
Iowa. "William H. and Lester H. enlisted in 1862, in company C,
102d 111. Yol. Inf , and served till the close of the war. They were at
the battle of Peach Tree creek, with Sherman on his march to the sea.
Both were with the company all the time during their term of service.
They passed through Richmond, to Washington, then to Chicago,
where they were mustered out. William H. now resides in Kansas ;
Lester H. on the farm, three-fourths of a mile west of the village oi
Hamlet. Lester H. received onlv a moderate educational 'traininij;: for
several years he followed breaking prairie, when he took to the farm,
but at present is engaged in keeping line horses. He was married in
1876 to Mary J. Nichols, native of Illinois, daughter of Ephraim H.
and Diana Nichols, both of Ohio. They came to Illinois in 1854 and
located in Hancock county; they afterward came to Mercer county,
but returned to Hancock county, where both are living,
David II. Cooper was born in 1832, in the State of New York, and
is a son of Levi and Lucy Cooper. He emigrated with his parents
from New York when five vears old, and came with his father in 1S46
to Mercer county, where lie has since resided. His early educational
training was such as the pioneer schools of the west could furnish. He
was reared to the business of farming, which he has since followed.
He was married in 1855 to Sarah A. Brain, daughter of AVilliam and
Betsey Brain. He has by this marriage seven children : Clara, Lucy,
Lewis (deceased), AYillie J., Fanny E., Ella, and Levi. His wife is
a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church. He resides oil the farm
of his father. He keeps a good grade of farm stock. In politics he
is a republican.
330 HISTORY OF :jtERCEE AXD HEXDERSOX COUXTIES.
H. X. EosEBERRY is R native of Xew Jersev. born in 1S27, son of
Elijah and Xancy (Xoung) Eoseberrv, natives of Xew Jersey. The
mother died in IS'29 ; the father came to Perrvton township. Mercer
county, \yhere he died in 1S64. at tlie asre of sixty-three years. He
was a farmer and trader. H. X. came with his fatlier to Mercer
county in 1S4"J, and located where he now resides. He was married
in 1S59, to Ann EUllon. a native of England, born in 1S42. who came
to Amenca with her god-father, in 1849. Her parents were James and
and Marv E^lon, of whom the former died in 1869. the latter abi^ut
1842. Mr. and Mrs. Eoseberrv have seven children : Anna. Mary,
Eebecca, Catharine. Hilda H., Stanton (the youngest not named).
He has a fine farm of 190 acres located along the north line of the
county in Perrvton township. It is well improved and well stocked
with good grades. He and wife are members of the Methodist Epis-
copal church. Since he settled in Mercer county he has seen the sea
of tall, waving wild grass transformed into beautiful farms, ornamented
with the maple and elm trees, and fine spaci(jus barns and dwellings.
F. G. Wait, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Indiana, born
in 1857, son of Meigs and Caroline Wait. He was reared on the
fann, and received a common school education. Except one year,
which he spent in a store, he has followed the business of fanning.
He was married in 1881 to Lizzie Asquitt. of Illinois, born in I860,
daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Webster) Asquitt. both of English
birth, and emigi*ated to America about 1850. They are now residents
of Reynolds,' Rock Island county. Illinois. They are members of the
Methodist Episccjpal church. He is a retired farmer. F. G. Wait has
a well improved farm of eighty acres, located two and a half miles
east of Hamlet. He keeps a good grade of stock.
A. Kexdat.t. is a native of Chautauqua county, Xew York, born in
1836, son of Hazzard and Mary (Smith) Kendall, both of Connecticut.
Thev emicjrated to Pennsvlvania, then to Xew York, then to Kane
coimty, IlHnpis. then to Kendall county, Illinois, where the foiTuer
now lives, his wife having died in 1838 in Xew York at the age of
twentv-one years. Ebenezer Kendall, father of Hazzard Kendall,
was a native of Scotland. The family, consisting of four brothers,
came to America and settled, one in each of the following states (then
colonies) : Massachusetts, Xew Jersey, Yennont. and Connecticut.
Levi Smith, maternal grandfather of A. Kendall, was a native of Gen-
esee county, Xew York, and moved to Mercer county in 1840. locating
at ^[illersburg. A. Kendall was married in 1863 to Lucretia Wait, of
Switzerland county. Indiana, born in 1863, and daughter of Henry
and Sophia (Wells; Wait, both of Yermont. They came with their
PERRYTON TOWXSIilP. 331
parents to Xenia. Ohio, where they were married, then to Switzerland
county, wliere their daujrhter was born ; thev then moved to Rock
IsLind county, where the father died in 1SS2. at the age of eighty-nine.
He had served as a soklier in tlie war of 1^15. A. Kendall has four
children: Lettie, Ida, Viola, and Meigs AV. lie has a farm f»f '1\^\
acres of tine farming land, taii'ly improved and well stocked with good
grades of cattle, sheep and liogs.
OiRXELiLS SwABTwouT is a native of Saratoga county. Xew York,
born in 1809, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Swaitwout, both of Xew
York state. His father died in 1S39 at the age of Hfty-six. and his
mother in 1S14. Tliey were Baptist people. The advent of the family
into America, consisting of three brothers, was dui-ing the colonial
times. AU of them settled in Xew York. The Swartwout family is of
German descent. Cornelius received a common school education, such
as could be obtained in the then almost pioneer schools of his boyhood
days. He was taught the vocation of farming which he lias always fol-
lotred. He came to Illinois Avith his family in 1S55 and located in
Rock Island c< imity. where he remained until 1S60, when he came to
Mercer county, where he now resides, three-fourths of a mile east of
Hamlet, on his farm of 240 acres. He was mai'ried in 1S39 to Lucinda
Piatt, a native of X"^ew York and daughter of Epenitis and Eve Piatt,
both of Xew York and now livinif in their native state. Thev have six
children : James. Elizabeth. Sarah, John. "William, and Hem-y. Tlie
eldest enlisted in the ai-my in 1862. in company B. 126th 111. Vol.. and
died in 1861. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
Graha^l Lee. the subject of this sketch, was born January 22. 1821,
and is the son of Elisha and Almvra (^Scoville) Lee. His father is
number 18.191 of the sixth generation of the family. Graham is imm-
ber 18,219. Elisha Lee was born August 27. 1791. Tliis history is
recorded in the chronological history of the Strong family, volume II.
Tlie Lees trace their ancestry to John Lee, born in 1621, a native of
Ipswich, England, who came to America in 1831, in the ship Francis,
under the care of William "Westwood. He located in Cambridge,
Massachusetts, where he remained a slu:>rt time when he moved to
Hartford, Connecticut, where he married and became one of the per-
manent men of the settlement. Graham Lee was born on the same
farm as was his lather, and in the same house, where he was reared to
the age oi twelve, when his father moved to town and engaged in the
mercantile bushiess. Here Graham received a tair education and but
for indisix»sition of his eves would have beirun a collei^iate course. But
notwithstanding his failure to enter college, a loiig life of continuous
reading and careful observation has made him a well-posted man as to
332 HISTOKV OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
practical knowledge concerning business and national needs. At tlie
age of nineteen he went to ISTew York to suj^erintend the dairy farm of
his father where he remained till he arrived at the age of twenty-one.
In 1842 he went on a wlfaling voyage on the Pacific Coast with a view
to improve his health, and spent two years on the coast of Alaska. In
18-1:5 he, in company with his brother Henry, went to Ohio, purchased
a flock of sheep, which they drove to Mercer county, Illinois, the same
year, to what is now Perryton township. They laid a claim on section
9, which is now owned by him. He has made one of the most
beautiful farms in Mercer county. In 1853 he was m'arried to Mary A.
Candor, born 1834, and a native of Union county, Pennsylvania. She
came with her parents, Thomas and Margaret (Montgomery) Candor, to
Mercer county, Illinois, in 1837. They had nine children, two of
whom are living: Elisha, born in 1856, and Fanny, born September,
1865. Elisha was married December 18, 1881, to Lena Bopes, daughter
of David Bopes. He carries on the business of the farm for his father.
Mr. Lee was elected vice-president of the state board of agriculture in
1864, which position he held till 1870. At the organization of the
institute for the feeble-minded of Illinois, he was appointed a member
of the board, and with the exception of two years has held the position
of president of the board since its organization. His wife, Mary A.,
died January 30, 1874. He was married a second time, to Anna S.
Fisher, a native of Greene county, Pennsylvania, born March 1, 1847.
They have one child, Graham, born February 24, 1880. Mr. Lee was
raised a Congregationalist, but is now a member of the Presbyterian
church at Hamlet.
Among the many successful farmers of Mercer county whose first
capital to begin business with was muscle and will power is the subject
of our sketcli, Jouathan Gaunt. He is a native of Lancashire county,
England, and a son of James and Ann Gaunt. His father was a manu-
facturer of cotton, and died in 1845, at the age of fifty-six years. His
mother came to America with Jonathan in 1851, and settled in Rock
Island county, wliere she lived for ten years, when she moved to
Mercer county, where she died in 1879, at the age of eighty years. She
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, her husband of tlie
E])isco})al church. Jonathan partly learned the trade of his father.
He lived with his mother till lie arrived at the age of twenty, when he
went to work for himself He was married in 1862 to Emily Damp, a
native of New York, born in 1841, daughter of Michael and Eliza Damp.
They have five children : Fernando, Cicero, Lorenzo, Eliza, and Albert.
He lias a fine stock farm of 520 acres, well imj^roved and well stocked
PEREYTON TOWNSIirP. 333
with tlie best grades. lie makes a specialty of raising horses to sell.
In 1881 his sales of horses amounted to 81,912.
John Moxtgomeky is a descendant of one of the earliest i)ioneer
families to locate in this part of the state. Among the pioneer
preachers of northwestern Illinois is llev. John M(Hitgomery, his uncle.
John Montgomery, our subject, is a native of Rock Island county, born
in 1838. His parents were Daniel and Margaret S. Montgomery, both
of Montour county, Pennsylvania. They emigrated from their native
state to Edgington, Rock Island county, in 1830. They were of that
class of Pennsylvania people who carried their morals with them.
Both were devoted members of the Presbyterian church, and did much
to establish a high degree of morality in the community where they
resided. The father died in 18-1:9, when he was fifty years old. The
mother is now living in Milan, Pock Island county, and is in her
seventy-third year. John Montgomery received a fair common school
education, in addition to which he attended school at Dixon, Illinois, for
some time. He was reared on the farm, which business he lias always
followed. He was married September, 1868, to Sarah J. Morris, native
of Ohio, and daughter of William and Sarah Morris, both of Ohio, and
members of the Methodist Episcopal church. By this marriage he has
two children living: Maud M., born January 4, 1870, and Fanny L., •
September 6, 1871. His w^ife, Sarah J., died in is 74. He married
again in 1876, Elizabeth Swartwout, born in 1842, a native of Xew York
and a daughter of Cornelius and Lucinda Swartwout. Bv this second
marriage he has three children : Lucinda, bcfrn March 6, 1877 ; James S.,
Mav 17. 1878 : and William H., May 30, 1880. He and wife are mem-
bers of the Presbyterian church at Hamlet. He first came to Perrvton
township in 1868, then returned to his native county and remained till
1 882, when he again came to Perryton township, and located on the
old David Blue farm, where he owns 360 acres. He makes a specialty
of fat cattle, in addition to which he does a good business in buying
and shipping stock. He enlisted March, 1S6.5, in company K, 68th
111. Yol., and served one year.
The present practicing physician and druggist of Hamlet is Dr. M.
Criswell, a native of Pennsylvania; was born in 1847, and is a son of
Matliew and Sarah M. (Whitehill) Criswell, both of Pennsylvania.
They emigrated to Rock Island county, Illinois, in 1855, where they
remained till 1878, when they came to ]\Iercer county, where she died
in 1864, aged fifty-one years. The father and his son Mathew now
reside in the village of Hamlet. Dr. Criswell received a good common
school education. In the study of medicine he graduated at Jefferson
medical college, Philadel})hia, with the class of 1876. The same year
334 HISTOKY OF MERCER ^SJS'l) IIEXDEKSOX COUNTIES.
he located in Pre-emption township, where he remained till 1ST7, when
he came to Hamlet. He was married in 1870 to Anna C. Huvett, o
Illinois, native of Eock Island connty, daughter of Dr. Joseph and
Harriette L. Huvett, of Pennsvlvania. Thev located in Milan, Eock
Island county, about 1850, where he has since been engaged in the
practice of medicine. Dr. Criswell has by this marriage one child,
Edith. He has a paying practice.
The subject of this sketch Josiaii Candor is a native of Columbia
counts', Pennsvlvania, born in 1830, and is the son of Thomas and
Margaret (Montgomery) Candor. He came to Mercer county with his
parents. He was reared and educated on his father''s farm in Oliio
Grove township. In 1852 he went to Oregon and California, returned
in 1854 and engaged in the mercantile business in Edgington, Eock
Island county, where he remained till 1867, when he, in company with
his brother, Capt. D. M. Candor, opened a store of general mer-
chandise in Hamlet, in which business he continues. He has held the
office of postmaster in Hamlet since 1868. He was married in 1857
to Mary E. Xichols, a native of Searsport, Maine. She was born in
1838 and is a daughter of Woodburn and Olive (Sleeper) JS^ichols, both
of Maine, who came to Mercer county in 1859 and located in Perryton
township. The mother now lives ■s\'itli her son Albion, one mile south
of Hamlet. Mr. and Mrs. Candor have six children: Marv C, Mav,
Eobeit A., Edwin H., Yessie O., and Herbert J. He and wife are
members of the Presbyterian church. He has a farm of 175 acres well
improved, and adjoining Handet, on which he keeps a good grade c^f
stock. He and his brother formerly dealt in stock buying and ship-
ping. Previous to the building of the town of Eeynolds, in Eock
Island county, they carried on a trade in coal at Hamlet. He has
been the school treasurer of the township for the past six years.
Capt. Daniel M. Candor was born in Columbia county, Pennsyl-
vania, in 1836, and came with his parents, Thomas and Margaret
(Muntgomery) Candor, to Mercer county when he was one year old.
His early education was such as he could get in the pioneer schools ( )f
his neighborhood, with a two vears' course in the academv at Macomb,
Illinois. He remained on the farm with his parents till of age. He
went to Pike's Peak in 185I>, stayed two years, returned in 1860, and
enlisted in 1861, in company A, 30th 111, Vol., and served a few days
over four years. He lirst enlisted for three years, or during the war,
and afterward veteranized at Yicksburg. He was in the following
engagements: Belmont, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, the skirmishes
around Shiloli, Brittin's Lane, Port Gibson, Eayniond, Jackson, Mis-
sissippi, Champion Hills, siege of Yicksburg, Kennesaw Mountain, sieges
PERRYTON TOWNSHIP. 335
of Atlanta, Savannah, Charleston, Raleigh, Bentonville. and Golds-
borough, and then went to AVashington by way of Itichmond. He
was commissioned captain of his company October 27, ls«U, which
commission he held till the com])any was mustered out of the service.
Following the siege of Yicksburg he was promoted to the otKce of
orderly sergeant from the office of commissary sergeant. At the battle
of Atlanta he received a wound in the head. His parents located in
Ohio Grove township when they came to Mercer county, and continued
to reside there till 1850. His mother died in 1871, at the age of
seventy-five years. His father, Thomas Candor, was married a second
time, to Mary L. Boardman, and died in 187-1, aged seventy-five years.
Capt. Candor's parents, Margaret and Thomas, were both natives of
Pennsylvania. Capt. Candor was married in 1868 to Emma J. Girton,
a native of Pennsylvania, born in 18-12, and daughter of Baltis and
Anna E. Girton, both of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. They came to
Blinois in 1872, and now live in Hamlet. Mr. and Mrs. Candor have
three children: Graham L., born in 1868, Thomas G., 1870, and Edna,
in 1879. He has a well improved farm of 175 acres, adjoining Hamlet.
He keeps a good grade of all kinds of stock. He and his brother
Josiah were partners in the mercantile business in Hamlet from 1867
to 1881. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church at
Hamlet.
Of those who look to Mercer county as their birth place and home
is the subject of this sketch, W. C. Yandalsem. He was born in 1850.
His parents were John and Hannah M. Vandalsem, both of Ohio, and
came to Mercer county with the early settlers with their parents. They
were married here. His mother's family located as early as 1832 in
Warren county, and afterward came to Mercer county and settled near
Pope creek. AV. C.'s parents emigrated to Kansas in 1879, where
they yet remain. His father is now fifty-nine years old, his mother
fifty-seven years. They are both members of the Presbyterian church.
His father served in the army in company B, 83d 111. Vol., and was
out three years, lacking one month. He was in the second battle
fought at Fort Donelson. after which his com])anf was detailed to fight
bushwhackers and guerillas. AV. C. was educated in the common
school and reared on the farm. He was married in 1876 to Deborah
Dunn, native of Illinois, born in 1852, and daughter of John G. and
Lydia (AVinans) Dunn, the former of Ohio, the latter of Kentucky.
Her father died in 1857, at the age of thirty-five, her mother in 1S64.
aged about forty-four years, a devoted christian and member of the
Methodist Episcopal church. AV. C. has by this marriage three chil-
dren : Glenn, Charley, and Bessie. His wife's people came to Mercer
336 HISTORY OF JSIERCEK AKD IIENDEESOX COUNTIES.
county in 1S51, where tliej lived till tlieir deaths. Mr. Yandalsem
owns a fine farm of 128 acres, on which he keeps a high grade of
stock.
George Gray is a native of Switzerland county, Indiana, born in
1851, and is a son of Eobeit and Mary Gray, both of Indiana. His
father came to Illinois in 1867, then went to Iowa, and now resides in
Barton county, Missouri. His mother died in Indiana. George came
first to Eock Island county, Illinois, and lived with his uncle for some
time. His educational training was such as he could get in the
common school. He began life for himself with nature's capital,
energy and muscle. He now has a fann of 120 acres, located two
miles southeast of Hamlet, in Perryton township. He keeps a good
m-ade of stock. In 1879 he came to Mercer county and located. The
same year he was married to Arabella Yandalsem, daughter of John
and Hannah M. Yandalsem. They have one child, Grace.
Of those whom we may term old resident settlers of Perryton town-
ship is Mr. J. M. Dunn. He located here as early as 1851. He was
born in the state of Kentucky in 1824. His parents were James and
Sai-ah Dunn, both of whom were natives of the '"corn cracker state."
His father died in his native state in 1823, his mother emigrated with
her family in 1831, to Clermont county, Ohio, where she died in 1852,
at the age of sixty-two years. She was a member of the Wesleyan
Methodist church. J. M. received only a meager education, such as
the pioneer schools could give. He was reared a farmer, which busi-
ness he has always followed. He returned to Ohio in 1855, where he
was married to Elizabeth Huntington, born in 1826, and daughter of
Abner and Pebecca Huntington, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio
respectively. The former died in 1877 at the good old age of seventy-
seven years, the latter in 1876, aged seventy-one ; both were members
of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Dunn has by this marriage
seven children: James A., John IL, Benjamin F., George W., Emma
C, Thomas IL, Sarah (deceased), and Rebecca (deceased). He and
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has a farm
of 200 acres located ene mile southeast of Hamlet, fairly improved.
"VV. W. Bradford, the subject of this life sketch is a native of Swit-
zerland county, Indiana, born in 1830. His parents were Eli and
Mary A. Bradford ; the former of Canada, died March, 1876, at the age
of seventy years ; the latter of Pennsylvania, died in 1872, at the age of
sixty-two years and ten months. They were i)ioneer settlers of Indi-
ana, having located in Switzerland county while the Indians were yet
])lenty. They were people of high moral integrity and members of the
Baptist church. W. W. came to Mercer county in 1855, and located
PERRYTON TOWNSHIP. 337
east of Ilamlc't, where A. Kindall now resides. He returned t«j Indi-
ana the following year and was married, and again came to Illinois
where he lived till ISOO, when he went to Henry county, and there
remained till 1S77, when he came to Mercer where he yet resides. Ilis
wife was Miss Maria P. Stephens, a native of Indiana and daughter of
Reuben and Mary Stephens, both of whom are nati\es of Xew Yoi-k.
They were early settlers of Switzerland county, Indiana. Her m<jther
flied in 1881 at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Her father still
lives in Switzerland county, and is now ninety-three years old. Thej'
were both members of the Methodist Ei)iscopal church and well res-
pected by all with whom they dealt. By occupation they were farmers.
Mr. and Mrs. Bradford have by this marriage eight children : Bruce,
Perry (deceased), Eddy (deceased), Elijah (deceased), Ida, Guy S.,
and "William F. He and wife are members of the Free Methodist
church. He has a well improved stock farm of 320 acres.
Alfred II. Smith is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1828, son of
Charles and Margarette A. (Sungrain) Smith. His father was a native
of Pennsylvania, and served in Capt. Brady's United States volunteers
in the war of 1812. He died in 1828. His mother was a native of
Philadelphia, born in 1S04, and died in Mercer county in 1874. Her
parents were, one from Switzerland, the other from Holland, She
came to Mercer county in 1849. She was a member of the Presbyte-
rian church. Alfred II. came to Mercer county with his mother. He
was reared on the farm in w^hich business he has continued. He was
married in 1855 to Margaret Catchcart, a native of Pennsylvania,
daughter of John and Mary (Brown) Catchcart, who came to Rock
Island in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have ten children : Emma, Charles,
Arthur, Adella, Dora, Retta, Harvey, Frederick, Charles, and Uliner.
He has a well improved farm of 240 acres and good grades of stock.
He and wife are members of the Baptist church. His wife's father is a
native of Pennsylvania, her mother of Donegal county, Ireland.
Among the early settlers of Perryton township who have passed
from this seething and ever-changing world of mingled bliss and j<jy to
that more quiet home above is James Gorman. He located in Perry-
ton townshi}) in 1842, where he resided till his death, which occurred
in 1877 in the seventy-seventh year of his age. He was born in Ire-
land in 1800 and came to America in 1837, locating in Pennsylvania,
where he remained till 1842, when he emigrateil to Blinois. By trade
he was a linen weaver but farmed in America. He was married in
Ireland to Sarah McAdam, daughter of Sanuiel and Sarah McAdam,
James Gorman had by this marriage eight children : John (deceased),
William, and James were born in Ireland; Andrew, Sarah, and Sanuiel
338 HISTORY OF ^n-:RCER and hendersox counties.
(deceased), were born in the "Quaker state;" Elizabetli and Xancv
•svere born in Perryton townshi]). James and William enlisted in the
army, the former in company C, the latter in company G, 102d
111, Vol. ; both went out in 1862 and returned at the close of the war in
1868. James Gorman was a member of the Presbyterian church from
early life till his death. His widow is a member of the same church.
She now lives on the old homestead in the south half of Perryton
township where they located in 1812. Sarah and Andrew remain At
home to comfort her in her old age. She is now seventy-seven years
old.
Levi Cooper was born in Staffordshire, England, in 1810. His
parents were Thomas and Ann (Hashley) Cooper, both of England.
His father was born in Staffordshire, September 3, 1771:, and died at
Hamlet, October 10, 1857. His mother was born October 1, 1787,
and died October 20, 1838. Tliey were married in their native country
and emigrated to America in 1832, and located in Canada, where they
remained five years, when they moved to Lewis county, New York.
In 1810 they emigrated to Michigan, and came to Illinois in 1846 and
located in Perryton township, Mercer county, where they spent their
declining years. Thomas Cooper was a tailor by trade. He and wife
were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, both in England and
America. Levi Cooper came to America with his father, and made the
same removals. He was by trade a brick and tile maker, which busi-
ness he followed in England, and in America one year, after which he
engaged in the business of well-digging, till he located on the farm.
This last business he pursued till he retired from active life. He now
owns a farm of 320 acres second to none in location and quality in
Perryton township. He was married in 1839 to Lucy Sproston, of
England, who was born in 1807, and was the daughter of John and
Sarah Sproston. They came to America in 1832, located in Canada, and
emigrated to Perryton township, Mercer county, in 1866. Her father
died at Hamlet, April 21, 1864, aged eighty-five years, her mother in
England, about 1808. By this marriage Mr. Cooper has four children:
David H., Sarah, Betsy E., and Hiram L. His wife, Lucy Sproston,
died in 1876. He is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church ; his
wife was a member of the same. Since the death of his wife he has
left his farm and now lives with his son-in-law, C. Taylor. Llis two
sons live on his farm. Mr. Cooper is a man who is well respected by
all who know him.
H. W. FisK, the subject of this sketch, a native of Orange county,
New York, was born in 1833, and is the son of Jonathan and Susan
(AVilliams) Fisk, both of Massachusetts. His father was a mechanic
. ^^/J^
PERRYTON TONVNSnil\ 341
and died in ISo^ tit the age of sixty-three; his mother died in 1841 at
the age of tifty-oiie; both were iiiumbers of the Presbyterian church'.
His father vtA'S one of the ruling elders in the society of which he was
a nieinl>er. The Fisk family is of Saxon descent. They came to
America •soon after the MayHower brought the jnlgrims to the rockV
coast of Massachusetts. II. W. Fisk graduated at Waveland, Indiai\a.;
in the class of 1859. He then took up the profession of teacUilig,'
which he followed till 18(54, when he was licensed to preachy h}f the"-
Vincennes presbytery. In 1866 he was ordained a mini^t^i* of the"
gospel by the same presbytery. lie was appointed home iili^si^ary, «
in which position he labored till 1870, when he was called to the Eiicf-
lah charge in Rock Island county where he remained two years. In
1872 he was called to the Hamlet charge, where he has since labored,
j)reaching both at Hamlet and at the Perryton church four miles soutti.
lie was married in 1862 to Miss Marv Stevenson, a native of Pennsvl-
vania, who was born in 1834, and is a daughter of John and Susan (J. ■
(Myres) Stevenson. Iler father was a native of Ireland and her"
mother of Pennsylvania. Her mother died in 1857 at the agofvf torty--
seven. Her father is now liviiiii: and is in his seventv-second year-
Both were devoted members of the Presbyterian church. Pev. Fisk
has by this marriage three children : Charles E., Susan, and Emma.
Michael Damp, deceased, and subject of this sketch, was bom in
1814, in New York, and was a son of Philip and Susan Damp, both of
Germany. He came to Illinois about 1852, and first located at ]\rilan,
where he engaged in the milling business. In 1854 he went to Moline,
where he run a mill, and paid the farmers of Pock Island county the
first cash for wheat received in that section. Previous to his locating
there they received their pay in goods. In 1858 he sold his mill at
Moline and moved to Pope creek, where he again engaged in running
a mill for about four years, when he quit the milling business and came
to Perryton township and engaged in farming. This he followed till
his death, which occurred in 1865. He was married to Eliza Kemp, of
New York, who was born in 1818, and was a daughter of Michael and
Sarah Kemp. Her parents were reared, educated, married, raised a
family and died without emigi-ating from their native state. The Kemp
family came to America from (irermany, and located in New York in
the early settlement of the state. By this marriage he had eight chil-
dren : Edward C, Emily, Amos (deceased), Julia (deceased), Melonia
(deceased), Charlotta (deceased), and Cicero R. Of the three living
cliildren two are at home. Emily, now Islrs. (iaunt, lives in the east
part of Perryton township. Edward C. was married in 1875 to Eliza
Johnson, who died in 1879, leaving three children: Arthur, Elmer,
20
842 HISTORY OF SfERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
and Isaac F. Cicero R. was born in 1860, and was married in Decem-
ber, 1881, to Julia A. Howard, of Illinois, born in 1858, and daughter
•of John and Mary Howard. Mr. Damp left his family in good circum-
stances. His widow now resides about two miles south of Hamlet.
Few, if any farms in Perryton are better improved.
jAiiEs GiNGLES, dcccascd, is justly entitled to the honor of being
one of the pioneers of Perryton townshiji. He came at the same time
as did the McHards, in 1838, and settled south of Camp creek. He
was a native of Pennsylvania, born in the year 1801, in Columbia
county, where he was reared and educated to the business of farming.
He remained in his native state till 1838, the time of his emigration to
Perryton township. He resided here till his death, which occurred
when he was in his seventy-second year. He was married in 1822 to
Elizabeth Lackard, of Pennsylvania, born in 1805, and daughter of
Pobert and Jane Lackard, both of Pennsylvania. James Gingles, by
this marriage, raised a family of eight children : Martha, Jane, Eliza-
beth, AVashington, Margaret, Harriet (deceased), John, and Clinda,
all of whom are married except Washington, and he remains at home
with his mother, caring for her in her old age. She still resides on the
old homestead, where they located when they lii"st came to Perryton
township. To use the language of a friend of the family: "Mr. Gin-
gles was energetic and industrious. His character for sobriety, honesty,
and integrity, was above reproach. Coming to this country when it
was in its infancy, he endured every privation and hardship incident to
a new country in its early settlement ; these he bore with manly forti-
tude and Christian resignation. His well matured opinions and advice
were sought for and readily given to the more recent settler. In times
when money was scarce he often lent a helping hand to those who
were in need or distress, thus fuMlling the Christian maxim of doing
good while we have time. His door was ever open to the wayfarer and
traveler. N^o one in need was turned away without being recipients
of his hospitality. During the last hours of his earthly existence he
•had the sweetest solace and consolation of human existence by being
surrounded by the children of his love, whom he had nurtured in the
way of religion and truth, thus depriving death of more than half its
terror, and illustrating the truth of that beautiful stanza :
" Jesus can make a dying bed
As soft as downy i)illows are."
His preference in religion was that of the Presbyterian teaching. He
and his wife so impressed their earnestness and faith in Christianity
u]>()n tlieir children, that they are all following in the footsteps of their
parents.
PERRYTON TOWNSHIP. 343
Of the citizen soldiers now residents of Mercer county, whom the
county chiinis as her own by birth and education, is J. B. Felton. He
was born in Millersburg township, in 1842, and is a son of David and
Lucinda Felton. He has lived in Mercer county all his life except ten
years. He received most of his education in the schools of Mercer
county. In 1866 he was married to Charlotte A. Howe, daughter of
L. B. Howe. She was born in 1847 in Mercer county. They have
two children : Jenney F. and Clara E. He enlisted in the army in
1862, in Company g"^ 102d 111. Yol., and served till June, 1865. He
was in the battle at Resacca, where he was wounded. He was in the
hospital at Nashville from May, 1863, till November, 1864. During
the remainder of his term of service he was in numerous skirmishes.
He has not yet recovered from his wound and draws a pension. He
has a nicely improved farm of eighty acres.
Robert Dool, a native of Ohio, was born in 1850, and is the son
of Henry and Mary Dool, Ireland, who came to Ohio, where they
remained for some time, when they came to Mercer county and
located in Perryton township in 1853, where they resided till 1881,
when they moved to Aledo to live a retired life and enjoy their declin-
ing years. Both are members of the Presbyterian church. Robert
was reared on the farm and educated in the district school. He was
married in 1873 to Therssa Hayes, daughter of Henderson and Olive
Hayes, both of Pennsylvania, but afterward of Ohio, settling in that
state in 1848. His mother died in 1852. His father is now living
and a resident of Belmont county, Ohio. Mr. Dool has two children :
Gertrude B. and Henry C. H. His wife's parents were members ot
the Presbyterian church, as are he and wife, and hold their member-
shi}) at Millersburg. He has a fine farm of 234 acres, well improved,
and keeps a good class of farm stock, and feeds cattle for the market.
George Walter, the subject of this sketch, was a native of Penn-
sylvania and was born in 1812. He was a son of Henry and Elizabeth
Walter, both of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, who emigrated
to Columbia county, Pennsylvania, where they died. George was
married in his native state in 1836, where he remained till he emi-
gi'ated to Illinois and located in Perryton township in 1859, where he
died in 1872 on his farm, at the age of sixty-one. His widow now
resides on the old place. She is a member of the Presbyterian
church. They had ten children: Charles C, Henry J., David M.,
George D., Sarah E. (deceased), Mary E. (deceased), Martha R.,
^Villiani A., Hannah J., and Samuel W. (deceased). The homestead
farm consists of a quarter section, which is undivided between the
heirs. Henry J. was born in Montour county, Pennsylvania, in 1841,
344 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
and came to Illinois with liis parents and now lives with his mother on
the old homestead. lie enlisted in the army in 1801 and served till
November, 1862, when he was wounded at Brittin's Lane, and dis-
charged from the service. He belonged to company C, 30th 111. Vol.
Inf. He was in the battles of Belmont (Missoiu-i), Fort Henrv, and
Fort Donelson, the siege of Corinth and . Brittin's Lane. William A.
was born in 1852 and resides on the old homestead with his mother.
David M. enlisted in 1862 in company II, 84th 111. Yol. Inf , and
was transferred to the marine brigade, served three years, and now
lives in Ringgold county, Iowa. George D. enlisted in company H,
84tli 111. Yol. Inf, and was transferred to the 21st 111. Yol. Inf. He
now lives in Burlington, Iowa.
Warner Corns, a native of Ohio, born 1821, is the son of Henry
and Mary Corns, the former of Pennsylvania, the latter of Yirginia.
They emigrated to Ohio where they were married, and afterward came
to Illinois in 1842, located in Rock Island county, where they remained
one year. They came to Mercer county in 1843, and located where
their son Warner now resides. The ftither died in 1880, aged eighty-
three. The mother lives on the old homestead with her son Warner,
and is now in her eighty-seventh year. Warner came to Illinois with
his parents with whom he has always lived. He and his father
together laid a claim on the ftirm where he now resides, and both
improved the same. He enlisted in 1862 in company D, 33d 111. Yol.
Inf., and served three years. He was iu the second battle of Fort
Donelson and at Resacca. The remainder of his term of service the
company was detailed to fight bush-whackers and guerillas. He was
married in 1854 to Amelia Gingles, daughter of Robert and Catharine
(xingles. They came to Mercer county in 1839 and located in Perry-
ton township. The former died in 1875, at the age of seventy-six
years; the latter in 1880, aged seventy-nine years. Mr. Corns has
four children : Mary C. (now the widow of James Huffman), Ellen M.
and Thirza C. (twins). ' Ellen married Charles Fencedemancher and
Thirza married Charles Snow, and Amanda is at home with her
parents. Mr. C. has a farm of 120 acres and keeps a good grade of
stock.
Among the prominent farmers and stock-raisers of Perryton town-
ship is G. D. Miller. He was born in 1824 and is a native of
Kentucky, and son of William and Elizabeth Miller, of Kentucky.
His father died in his native state in 1832, at the ao-e of thirtv-two
years. In 1833 his mother emigrated to Crawford county, Ohio (now
Wyandot county), where G. D. was reared on the farm, receiving
such educational instruction as the ])ioneer schools could furnish. His
I'ERRYTOX TOWNSHIP. 345
mother died in 1870, at the age of sixty-five, on tlie old homestead in
Ohio. II is great-grandparents on his father's side came to America
from across the sea : one from Germany, the other from Ireland. Mr.
Miller came and located in Perry ton township in 1852 where he now
resides. Previous to his locating here he herded and fed cattle in the
neighborhood of DeWitt c<^inity, this state, for several years. In 1852
he returned to Oliio where he was mari-ied to Sophia Brady, born in
1827, and daughter of Samuel and Sarah Brady, the foi-mer of whom
died in Ohio in 1842, at the age of fifty-six years, and the latter in
1870, at the age of seventy years. Mr. Miller has ten children :
Helen S., Minor D., Dow (deceased), Olive L., Calista, Sue, Emma,
Iva M. (deceased). Clay, and Lonie. He has a fine stock farm of 700
acres located in the southeast quarter of Perryton township. lie feeds
and ships cattle and hogs. He raises shorthorns, draft horses, and
the best grades of hogs and sheep. He is a member of the masonic
lodge at Aledo.
Among the early settlers of Perryton township was Austin A\"ot)d,
the father of our subject (W. A. Wood) and his family. He located in
Perryton township as early as 1837, ha\ing come to Peoria county in
1836. AV. A. Wood was born in 1820, in the state of New York.
His parents, Austin and Louisa Wood, were natives of Connecticut.
His father died in 18(34, at the age of seventy-seven yeai's; his mother
in 1874, aged seventy-three years. They were both members of the
IMethodist Episcopal church, and highly respected by those who knew
them. W. A. was reared on the farm. His earlv education was
received at the common school. He has pursued the business of his
father all his life. He owns a fine stock farm of 290 acres, fairly
improved and well stocked. He was married in 1843 to Harriet S.
Smith, of Xew York, daughter of Jesse Smith, who came to Mercer
county in 1840. Mr. Wood has eight children: Saphrona, AValter,
Louis, Burdick, Emerson, Charles, Bell, and Lena. He and wife are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He lives in the south
half of Perryton township, four and a half miles southeast of Hamlet.
The veteran pioneer, Wilijam Doak, of Mercer county, was born in
Columbia county, Pennsylvania, October 15, 1816, and was brought up
on a farm. His education was received in the pioneer log cabin school-
house, with its slab seats and desks. In the fall of 1837 he emigrated
to Mercer county, Illinois, first settting in Greene township, where he
remained till the fall of 1839, when he removed to Perryton, where he
permanently located on section 27, and actively engaged in farming
and stock-raising, following the business successfully till the spring of
1882, when he gave up active labor and removed to Aledo, with a view
346 HISTORY OF :MERCER and HENDERSON COUNTIES.
of spending his declining years in quiet rest. He was married May
19, 1S46, to Sarali P., daughter of Dr. M. Farwelh She is a native of
!Xew Hampshire, and came with her parents to Mercer county in 1S42
and settled in Pre-emption township. They are the parents of three
childi'en : Kancy J., now Mrs. William McHard, "William E., now a
resident of Keithsburg township, and Alvah J., who now lives on the
old homestead farm in Perrji;on township. For many of the incidents
related of the earlv settlement of Perrvton township reference may be
had to the Perrvton township history. He and wife are pioneer mem-
bers of the Presbyterian church as well as pioneer settlers. His son,
Alvah A., was born in Perrvton township in 1S54. He was reared on
the farm. His educational training was that of the district school and
a few tenns in the academy at Aledo. He was married in ISSO to
Agnes Wallace, a native of Ohio, born in 1857, and a daughter of
Joseph and Mary Wallace, both of Ohio, and came to Mercer county
about 1860. A. J. Doak carries on the business of his father's farm.
He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
T. GuFFY is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in 1829.
He is the son of Alexander and Catharine Gufty, both of Penn-
sylvania. His father went to California in 1848. where he died
in 1857, at the ao-e of fiftv-six years. His mother now lives in
Pennsylvania and is in her seventy-ninth year. Both were members
of the Lutheran church, but his mother is at the present a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Guffv was reared a mechanic,
and came to Mercer county in 1855, where he engaged in farming,
in which pursuit he is still occupied. He was married in 1857 to
Margaret Gingles, daughter of James and Elizabeth Gingles. Mr.
Guffy has by this marriaace one child. Harriet C, who was married in
1881 to John C. Lanon, a native of Pennsylvania, and son of Daniel
and Sarah Lanon. He came to Mercer county from Michigan. !Mr.
Guffy has a well-improved farm of sixty acres. His son-in-law lives
with him and carries on the farm. He and vdfe are members of the
Presbyterian church.
The McHard family located in Perrvton township in 1839. At
that time there were but few settlers in this part of the country.
"\iMiere AVilliam McIIard located at the above-named date is now the
finest part of Perrvton township. In 1839 the surrounding country
was a wild wilderness, over whicli the deer and wolves gamboled ;
the coo of the prairie chicken and the quack of the vnM duck made the
music in the balmy spring morning air. Among the names of the
pioneers of Perrvton. townshi]> belongs the name of William McH.\JiD.
He was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1810, son of Joseph and
PERRYTON TOWNSHIP. 347
Sarah (Adams) McIIard, the former of Ireland, the latter of Scotland,
botli of whom died in Pennsylvania. William was brought up a
wagonmaker. lie was mariied in his native state in 1S32, and came
to Illinois seven years later, and located in Perry ton toAvnship, where
he engaged in farming, which pursuit he followed till his death, which
occurred in 1870, at the age of sixty-three years. His wife died in
1867, at the age of fifty-six years. They were both persons of high
moral integrity and members of the Presbyterian church. Ilis son,
"William McIIard, Jr., was born in 1842, and reared on the farm,
receiving such educational instruction as the schools of his neighbor-
hood could give. He was married in 1873 to Miss Xancy J. Doak, a
native of Perryton township, born in 1845, and a daughter of William
and Sarah P. Doak. By this marriage he has two children : Mary E.,
and Sarah. He has a fine stock farm of 330 acres, located in the south
half of the township, a part of which belonged to the old homestead of
his father. He keeps a good grade of stock, and makes a specialty of
feeding cattle. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
Samuel McIIard, son of William McIIard, was born in 1833, is a
natiye of Pennsylvania, and came to Perryton township with his father
when six vears old. He was reared on the farm and inured to all the
privations of pioneer life. In 1862 he enlisted in the army, in com-
pany G, 102d 111. Vol., served two years and nine months, one year of
which time he held the office of corporal. He was in the following
engagements : Pesacca, Burnt Hickory, Marietta, Peach Tree creek,
Atlanta, Savannah, and Raleigh, and numerous skirmishes. He was
married in 1866 to Mary Eiclunond, native of Ohio, and daughter of
Joseph and Susan Pichmond. They came to Mercer county in 1853,
and were members of the Methodist Episc()])al church. Samuel
McIIard has by this marriage six children: Franklin P., Susan L.,
Gertrude and Grace (twins). May, and William S. He and wife are
members of the Perryton Presbyterian church. He has a farm of 200
acres, well imjjroved and well stocked. He resides on the old home-
stead where his father settled in 1839.
EDUCATION.
Contributed by Miss Amanda Frazier.
The subject of education is so interwoven with the growth and
progress of all enlightened comiinmities that a full history of any
people at the present day would be incomplete which omitted some
mention of their public schools and other institutions of learning. It
is a matter of regret that many of the records of the earlier schools of
Mercer county have been lost by the carelessness or recklessness of a
348 HISTORY OF MERCEK A^T> HENDERSON COUNTIES.
former county superintendent, as we are tlius compelled to depend
upon tradition, or the memories of the older settlers, for material from
which to comjiile a sketch of our first school teachers and school-
houses.
The original settlers of Mercer county were men of sterling worth,
intelligent and enterprising, and when planting their homes on these
wild prairies more than fifty years ago were not unmindful of the needs
of their children ; and we find that as soon as three or four cabins were
erected in any given locality, some provision w^as at once made to fur-
nish the young people with some sort of school privileges. Sometimes
it was a small log cabin which furnished teacher and scholar shelter,
and sometimes a small room or addition to one of the prairie cabins
was all the room obtainable for school purposes.
It is no disparagement to the peoj^le of those early days to say that
in some instances the teachers were of an order quite in keeping with
the school-room, cheap and unsatisfactory. There were no profes-
sional teachers among the early pioneers ; but now and then a young
settler, or the older son in some famil}^, would undertake for small pay
to ''keep" school during the winter, while some pioneer's daughter
would fill the same otfice for the summer to half a dozen or half a score
of })upils. We have in mind the case of one young lady, a settler's
daughter, who taught one summer for fifty cents per week and boarded
around among the patrons. There wei-e but four families in the dis-
trict, and but eight pupils enrolled. The education of the young lady
spoken of was not at all complete, but then the requirements of that
school were limited as to qualifications and advancement.
The first school taught in Mercer county was held in a small log
cabin erected on the claim of Erastus Dennison, about two miles east
of the town of ISTew Boston, near the present home of Mr. C. E.ader.
The teacher was Abram Miller, and the time the summer of 1833.
Mrs. Ephraim Gilmore, now of Aledo, was one of the pupils in this
pioneer school for a few weeks. Mr. Miller was a prominent character
in the early settlement of the county, having been one of the principal
actors in the organization of the county and the first county clerk.
Abe, as he was familiarly called, had a strong dislike for the restraints
of close-fitting garments, and it was no unct)mmon thing to see him
marcliing to and from school in M'arm. weather barefoot, with loose
shirt and flowing pantaloons. This first school was attended by an
average of about ten scholars, the total enrollment for the season
reaching only about a dozen. The next year (1834), as near as we can
learn, the first regular school-house was erected in New Boston town-
ship, near the blufi', about three miles east of the present A-illage of
PKRRYTOX T<.)\\ NSIIII'. 310
Kew Boston, on tlie farm of William Willits. Abram Miller or
Joshua Willits tauulit here in the winter of 188-1-5. About the year
1835-6 George W. Julian, since a distinguished politician and member
of congress from Indiana, wielded the birch in this, Mercer county's
first regular school-house.
The territory now constituting the county (^f Mercer was stricken
oft" from Warren and organized into a separate county in 1835, and
soon after the organization was eft'ected we tind that John Long was
appointed, April 13, 1835, by the county commissioners' court to the
oftice of school commissioner. AVhile the county thus early in its
history proyided herself with tlie [)roper ofticial machinery for the
organization of a more perfect school system, yet we find but very
indift'erent progress in the character of teachers or the modes of
instruction for a number of years.
It appears that the school commissioner was also agent of the
school lands, and the most of the reports from several of the earlier
school commissioners pertained to the care and dis})Osal of the school
lands, and little or nothing relating to teachers or schools.
For nearly iifteen years after the a])pointment of Mr. Long, the
school commissioner did not assume the duties of examiner of teach-
ers. During these years the school board, consisting of the school
trustees of the various precincts, were the board of examiners. These
school trustees were not always elected on account of their educational
cjualifi cations, but rather for their sturdy business qualities, and for the
further ])urpose of having them properly distributed over the precinct.
As a matter of course the examination day, under such circum-
stances, was an event in the career of the board which exhibited its
digniiied and ludicrous character, according to the particular cjualiiica-
tions of the members of the given board.
An incident connected with one of these examinations is related by
a gentleman now living in the eastern portion of the county. Some
thirty-fiye years ago, this gentleman, then a young man, just home
from a medical college, was requested to be i)resent on a certain day to
hear the examination of a small class of teachers, and to assist in the
exercises. He attended punctually at the time and ])lace appointed,
and found three candidates for certificates, one young lady and two
young gentlemen. The three trustees, the regular school board, were
also present, but not in a well organized condition for the duties before
them.
After some preliminary conversations of a general character with
the candidates, the board retired to organize for the ccmtest, and after
a short caucus among themselves, they deputised erne of their numbei-
350 HISTORY OF :MERCER Ami HENDERSON COUNTIES.
to request the young doctor to join the caucus, which he readily con-
sented to do. The young gentleman found the board to be composed
of three sturdy and intelligent farmers, good, honest, capable men for
all ordinary transactions, but honestly confessing their inability to per-
form the duties required of them as examiners. They could "read,
write, and cipher," but then the law required the teacher to pass exam-
ination in geography and grammar, and these last branches of study were
as Choctaw to them. At the request of the board the young doctor con-
sented to conduct the examination, the board to hear the class and
decide upon their qualifications. Hastily arranging a set of questions
he began the examination, which was oral, except a few examples in
written arithmetic. The board listened carefully to all the exercises,
and when it was finished they again retired for consultation. After a
short secret session the young doctor was again summoned in counsel,
when one of the board acting as spokesman, said : "See here, we want
you to go right straight through with this here thing. They all show
a nice hand writin', and spell well enough and read and cipher fustrate,
but then that gography and grammar is all Injun to us. You see we
dont't pretend to know anything about it, so you jist give us your hon-
est opinion about the whole thing, and if you say they pass muster,
why we will give them all their papers and let them bang away."
To return to the main narrative, John Long ser\ed as school com-
missioner until December 5, 1835, when William I. Xevius was
appointed as his successor. Mr. Nevius was reappointed in 1837, and
again in 1838 and 1839, serving until June 6, 1840, when Ephraim
Gilmore received the appointment. In 1841 the office became elective,
and Ephraim Gilmore, was again selected to fill the position at an
election held in August, 1841, and was re-elected annually for five
years, his last election occurring on August 3, 1845. The next to till
the office was Thomas Candor, who was chosen at the annual election
on August 3, 1846. Mr. Candor served but one year when Benjamin
D. Ellett was chosen his successor, August 5, 1847. From 1847 to
1865 the election for school commissioner was held bi-ennially, thereby
giving the office a more permanent character. Mr. Ellett was suc-
ceeded by Tyler McAVliorter, who was elected November 6, 1849, and
again on jSTovember 4, 1851. Mr. McAVhorter was the first school
commissioner who undertook the examination of teachers in this
county, and to his administration, extending over a period of four
years, is due the first real advancement in the character of teachers, as
regards qualifications and modes of instruction. lie was careful and
l)ains-taking in all his official acts and was especially watchful and
thorough in his inquiries as to the fitness of candidates for certificates.
PERRYTON TOWNSHIP. 351
The scarcity of well-qualitied teachers at that time forced him to grant
certificates, in some instances, where the candidate got the benefit of a
"reasonable doubt" as to their entire fitness for the high office of
teacher, but many able educators were placed in charge of schools dur-
ing his term of office. Among these we will mention the names of
Simeon Smith, David Felton, liesin Kile and Harvey S. Senter,
After Mr. McWhorter comes Jolin Ramsey, who was elected
IS^ovember 8, 1853, followed by Xorman P. Bro\\Ti, who w^as elected
on Xovember 6, 1855. Mr. Brown was a practical and competent
teacher, but so far as we can learn, neitlier he nor Mr. Ramsey suc-
ceeded in advancing the character of the schools of the county beyond
the point attained by Mr. McAVhorter at the time of his retirement from
the office in 1853. The successor of N. P. Brown was J. E. Ilarroun,
who was elected Novembcn* 6, 1857. The law had now clothed the
commissioner with the full powers of superintendent and given liini
authority to visit schools. The personal visitation of schools gave to
the new superintendent great advantages over his predecessors, as it
enabled him to witness the everyday work of the teacher in the school-
room. It is not unfi'equently the case that a candidate for teacher will
pass with a high grade after a most thorough examination, and yet
prove unable to impart instruction, or unfit to govern in the school-
room. These faults or failures the visiting su])erintendent could detect
and remedy, provided the visitations were made in the right spirit and
conducted with })roper care for the good of the people. The truth of
history constrains us to say that the greatest good possible under the
new order of things was not attained during the administration of sev-
eral of the successors of Mr. Harroun. Too little practical instruction
was imparted by the superintendent in these visitations, too much time
was spent in the exhibitions of the proficiency of certain advanced
classes, and in the making of fine speeches by the visiting official. The
^^sitations, instead of securing the good to teachers and people as
designed by the law nuikers, degenerated in some instances into the
veriest routine, measured, we fear, more by the per diem allowed than
bv the benefits which should have accrued.
]\[r. Harroun filled the office for two years, and, by constant visita-
tions and courteous treatment of the teachers of the county, inspired
them, not only with the desire to excel in their calling, but with that
esprit de corps which should ever prevail among jirofessional educators
in our common scliools.
It was during ]\[r. Harroun's administration tliat teacher's institutes
were organized, and the central or county institute was first attempted.
He was also the first to attempt the introduction of any form of school
352 HISTORY OF FIERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
apparatus in the common schools of our county, and although not
always successful in convincing the patrons of their utility, he was
enabled to scatter here and there a goodly number of these helps to
stud}', giving an impulse to their use by explaining to teacher and
pupil, in the school-room, the manner in which they sliould be
employed.
Mr. Harroun was succeeded by Eev. James S. Poage, a prominent
and deservedly poj^ular Presbyterian minister, who was elected Novem-
ber 8, 1S59, and who served for two years. Mr. Poage was a highly
educated gentleman, a fluent speaker and a most exemplary gentleman,
but he was not a practical teacher, and while he made a creditable
superintendent he did not succeed in advancing the character of the
schools to that extent for which his learning and high character gave
promise at the time he was elected.
Amos T, Waterman was elected November 5, 1861, as the suc-
cessor of Mr. Poage, and served for two years. Mr. Waterman had
formerly been engaged in teaching, but was at the time of his service
a young practicing attorney of more than ordinary brilliancy. His
administration of the office was creditable to himself and serviceable
to the educational interests of the people. Ills examinations were
conducted with more than ordinary care, thus securing a better grade
of teachers, and giving a new impetus toward a higher excellence in
teaching.
Washington L. Campbell, the successor of Mr. Waterman, was
elected November 6, 1 863, and served for one term of two years, and
was followed by Sylvenus B. Atwater, who was chosen at the election
held November 7, 1865, being one of the first of a long line of county
officials who have claimed the suffrages of the people of Mercer on
account of their services in the late war. Mr. Atwater was a practical
teacher of fair reputation before he entered the military service, and
returning a few months before the election from his three years^ service
in the 2Tth reg. 111. Vol. Inf , after participating in all the battles,
marches and victories in which that gallant regiment was engaged, he
was promptly elected as county superintendent of schools for the term
of four years, the term of the office having just been extended from
two to four years. To Mr. Atwater the people of Mercer county owe
a debt of gratitude for his heroic, but then most unpopular treatment
of all school matters. He introduced a strict and searching sj'Stem of
examination of teachers, and insisted so strongly that his standard of
fitness should be met that a large number of lialf-qualified teachers
were either driven from the schools, or induced to re-enter school as
students themselves inv the purjiose of improving their education, and
PKRRYTOX TOWNSHIP. 353
their places were filled by a higher and better grade of teachers. He
was the first to attempt the task of expurging from the school-room
tlie antiquated text-books of the grandfathers, and introducing in their
stead a uniform system of books so graded as to meet the wants of the
several pupils, thus enabling the teacher to separate his pu])ils into
classes by grades of proficiency ; in fact, establishing grades in many
district schools, going so far in this direction that in several instances
where the patrons refused to buy or order the purchase of new books,
he furnished them out of his own private funds. Altliough partially
successful in his eff(jrts to secure a uniformity of text-books, there
remained much to be done in this direction after his four years' struorgcle
was ended by the expiration of his ofiice. Ho labored assiduously to
secure a black-board in every school-house, going so far as to carry his
brush and slating into the remoter districts and painting the desired
board with his own hands where the directors could not, or would
not, get it done themselves. While Mr. Atwater won the hearty
ill will of some would-be teachers and their friends by refusing certifi-
cates to persons who had tauglit under other superintendents, and
refusing like favors to new candidates who ftiiled to pass his examina-
tion, and while much discontent was engendered among the people in
some localities on account of the increased expenses caused by his
unceasing efforts to secure new books and apparatus, and advancement
of wages consequent upon the weeding out of poor and cheap teachers,
yet impartial history will compel the admission that Mr. Atwater did
more to advance the educational interest, and to place the common
schools upon a higher plane of excellence than any person who had
]ireceded him in that office.
The successor of Mr. Atwater was Frederick Livingston, a graduate
of Lombard college, of Galesburg, Illinois, and a teacher of some
years' experience, who was elected November 2, 1869, and served for
four years. His acknowledged learning, with a fair experience as a
teacher, and courteous address, gave promise that in Ids election the
schools of the county would be greatly benefited ; but his four years'
service was a great disappointment to Ids friends and a nusfortune to
himself Lacking in administrative ability, he soon lost his hold upon
the affections of the older teachers of the county, and the freedom with
which he granted certificates to any and all api)licants soon flooded the
county with a new croj) of teachers, many of whom were in no wise
qualified for tlie duties of the school-room, thereby greatly imi»aring
the standard of the schools generally throughout the county. During
his administration many of the books and vouchers belonging to the
office were lost or destroyed, including all the records of the school
354 HISTORY OF FLEECER AXD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
lands, and nearly all books and papers pertaining to county school
funds. His bondsmen made good such loss of the public funds as was
proven to have been lost or misused while in his charge. Mr. Living-
ston was the first and only defaulter in this ofiice in the history of the
county. Mr. LiHngston was the possessor of many qualities and
graces calculated to win the confidence of the people and endear him
to his friends, and we do not jjen this sketch without a regret that one
so liberally educated, so courteous and kind, and withal so well quali- '
fied for a useful life, should exhibit that lack of balance which caused
the unfortunate miscarriage in his official acts.
[The following sketch of Miss Frazier's career as a teacher and
county superintendent, is furnished us by a gentleman who is interested
in education, and who has been long familar with her work. — Ed.]
During the administration of Mr. Livingston, our legislature en-
acted a law making women eligible for all school offices, and at the
first election held after the passage of this law, to-wit, in November,
1873, Miss Amanda E. Frazier, of Mercer county, was one of the
eleven ladies who were elected to the position of county superintendent
of schools in Illinois. Miss Frazier was re-elected in November, 1877,
and at the expiration of her second term of office, was unanimously
appointed by the board of supervisors in December, 1881, to fill the
vacancy then existing by reason of the recent amendment to the stat-
utes changing the time of election for this and certain other county
offices, from 1881 to 1882, and quadrenially thereafter. She is there-
. fore filling the ninth year of her incumbency of tliat office, a fact
which speaks in no uncertain terms of the confidence and trust which
the people of the county continue to repose in her capacity and official
intem-itv.
Miss Frazier has long been identified with the schools and school
work of Mercer county, and deserves no small measure of praise for
the earnest and well directed eftbrts she has expended to elevate the
standard of public instruction in the county. Entering upon her career
as a teacher, in 1862, after completing the academic course in Mon-
mouth college, and while yet a mere girl, she developed a remarkable
capacity for the government of pupils and for imparting instruction,
and so complete* was her success as teacher thus early in life, that dur-
ing all the after years she gave to teaching she never was under the
necessity of applying for a })Osition, inasmuch as applications for
her services came to her unsought. After teaching a few terms Miss
Frazier concluded to more fully (juality herself for the profession which
she had determined to follow, and with this view spent two years at
the State Normal University at Bloomington, Illinois, and another
PERRYTON TOWNSHIP. 355
year at Lombard University, Galesburg, Illinois, when she resumed
her professional career as teacher in the capacity of assistant to the
principal of the graded schools of Aledo, where she remained four
years, and was tendered the position ibr another year, but an unsolic-
ited call from a lai-ger constituency constrained her to decline the posi-
tion of teacher for that of county superintendent, to which she was
chosen, as before stated, in November, 1873.
Miss Frazier entered upon her new work with a determination to
labor for the interest and advancement of the schools thus placed under
her charge, and her first steps in this direction consisted in the ado]>
tion of a rigid svstem of examination of her teachers. It at once became
ai)parent that to obtain a certificate to teach it was necessary for the
candidate to be well qualified in all the branches which the law requires
to be taught. Iso half-way work would fill the standard she had fixed
upon, and as a consequence many incompetent teachers were droj)ped
off the roll. To show something of her work in this department, the
records show that in a single year out of 388 applicants examined for
certificates, 219 were rejected, and but 151: accepted. To assist such
as were willing to work for the position of teacher, she re-organized
the Teachers' Institute of the county, whose sessions were held during
the school year at various points in the county, and earlv in her official
career organized a normal drill, holding the sessions annually during
the summer vacation and continuing four weeks. Securing two or three
prominent educators from abroad to co-operate with her in these nor-
mal schools, the large classes annually in attendance were submitted
to a thorough drill in all the branches required to be taught, and the
best modes of teaching and government, with pronounced advantages
to both the teachers and the schools. These teachers' meetings and
drills have been marked features in her administration, and of their
utility there can be no question.
Miss Frazier is a woman possessed of many qualities which are
peculiarly fitting for one in the position she occupied. Thoroughly
qualified for her duties by a liberal education and experience in teach-
ing, earnest, conscientious, and careful in her work, courteous and
patient in her intercourse with the young and inexperienced candidates
for teachers, though firm and unyielding when occasion required, and
withal possessed with a strong personal magnetism which attracts
while it does not repel, she has succeeded in impressing upon the
schools of the county during these eight and a half years of her official
life, much of her strong indi\iduality of character, and secured many
changes in the manner of examining and employing teachers, in the
methods of teaching and governing schools, and, in genei'al, a marked
356 HISTORY OF MERCER AXD HENDERSON COUNTIES. '
advancement toward a liiglier standard of education and instruction
throughout the county.
The school lands of Mercer county came through two general acts
of congress ; the first setting aside section 16 for school purposes in
each congi'essional township in all the states and territories containing
])ublic lands, and the second turning oyer certain low, wet, and par-
tially submerged lands for a like purpose. By the original act there
were tifteen sections, being one section in each of the fifteen townships,
in all about 10,600 acres of very good lands available for school pur-
poses. Some of these lands were among the best in the county for
agricultural purposes, and the entire body of them were equal in native
richness and availability for all agricultural and grazing purposes with
the average lands in the county ; and if it had been kept out of the
market and held a few years longer, until the ' ' congress lands "" were
disposed of, when the price of all wild lands advanced from $5 to $10
an acre, the several townships in the county might have realized suffi-
cient from the sales of their several school sections to have assured them
each a large and remunerative permanent fund. This, however, was
not done, and the consequence is that these township funds are a mere
skeleton of what they should and might have been, had a more far-
seeing 23olicy been adopted by the people and those having charge of
these trusts. In those days the people were poor ; there was then no
adequate state fund as now ; railroads, with their vitalizing influence,
had not yet approached our borders ; new settlers were dropping in
but slowly, thus leaving the country but thinly populated, and making
it a difficult matter, with the low price of all farm j^roducts, for those
scattered neighbors to raise the means (as they were then compelled to
do mainly from their own pockets) to defray the expense of a three-
months' school in winter and two or three months in summer. To
lighten their school expenses, and to secure for themselves some of the
benefits from the lands donated by congress, the settlers of thirty years
ago determined to dispose of these lands, and, in order to succeed, they
were compelled to fix the schedule of prices at, or below, the price of
congress land, and in some instances the price was very much below
that of the government land. At these give-away prices, about twelve
sections of this magnificent donation were disposed of during Mr.
McAVhorter's administration of the office of school commissioner from
1849 to 1851. To us of the present day the policy then pursued
regarding the scIdoI lands aj)pears short-sighted and wasteful, and
while no school officer is justly chargeable with blame for the part he
took in disposing of these lands at such low prices, it is a matter of
sincere regret that the public sentiment of that day compelled the
GEORGE Mc PH ERRE
N
PERRYTOX TOWNSHIP. 359
sacrilice of siicli a magnificent ])uljlic' trust, in order to secure for them-
selves tlie small proceeds obtained for that immediate present, when
we realize that the paltrv sums were obtained at the expense of a
magnificent fund for their descendants in all time to come, had they
but waited in patience a few years longer.
The swam]) lands belonging to ]\rercer county are situated in the
immediate vicinity of the Mississippi river, and embrace several thou-
sand acres. This land is loaded with great abundance in all the
elements of plant food, but being subject to overfiow, is valuable
mainly for grazing and meadows, and in seasons of very high waters
much of it is not even valuable for these purposes. We have been
unable to ascertain, even approximately, the acreage of these lands, as
the reports of surveys were not in the proper oflice when we were
there, but we find the people were in some hurry to get rid of these
lands also, and that as early as 1S5T the swamp land commissioner
reported sales to the amount of $8,194.75, and that up to 1865 the
sum total of $9,098.65 had been realized from the sales of these lands,
and properly distributed to the several townships of the county, since
which time there have been no further sales. There i-emain of these
swamp lands 480 acres, situated in Eliza township, M-hich have not
been sold, and which are not situated for enough above low-water
mark to make a promising investment.
The township funds vary in amount in the different towTishi})s, the
maximum being §2,910.90 in Keithsburg, and the minimum $1,186.26
in Green.- The total permanent township funds for the fifteen town-
ships is $29,918.70. The interest of these funds only is to be used
for the annual expenditure for schools in the t()wnshi})S where the-
funds belong. The permanent county fund is $2,168, which can never
be diminished, the interest being annually distributed to the township
treasurers together with the state fimd.
From the one small pioneer log cabin of 1833, with its ten or
twelve pupils and barefooted teacher, the school system of Mercer
county has grown until the last log cabin has been abandoned, and four
brick and 115 frame buildings, many of them stately and imposing
structures, are required to accommodate the wants of our schools.
During the last year 2,795 males and 2,587 females, in all 5,382'
pu])ils, were enrolled, while 71 males and 161 females, a total of 232,
were employed as teachers. Of the 119 school-houses nine are graded
schools, wdtli a total r)f thirty-five teachers.
When all the schools of the county are in session the least number
of teachers recpiired to carry on the work is 145 ; but the system, still
too much in vogue in the country, of employing one teacher for the
■<360 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES,
winter and another for the summer, increases the number of teachers
from 145 actually required to 232 actually employed. Dm-ing the past
fiscal year there was collected fi-om all sources for school puq30ses in
the county, $53,698.43, and during the same period there was ex-
pended in payment of teachers $34,219.11. Three new school-houses
were erected during the past year, at a total cost for buildings and
grounds of $5,179.04.
In point of excellence the schools of Mercer county will compare
favorably with those of the most favored counties in the state. In a
large number of the ungraded schools all the branches required for a
first grade certificate are taught with such a degree of thoroughness as
to enable many of our young men and women to step at once from the
condition of pupil to the position of teacher. Our graded schools are
in a prosperous condition, and are gradually, but surely, improving
in all that pertains to a thorough instruction in the common school
branches, while a few of these schools give instruction in some of the
higher branches belonging to an academical course. At the graded
schools of Aledo and Yiola, a well-chosen cCurse of study has been
adopted, and upon the completion of this course a certificate or diploma
is conferred upon such pupils as pass examination with sufiiciently high
grade in all the studies prescribed. At the recent close of these
schools, Aledo and Yiola each conferred diplomas upon eight gradu-
ates.
In addition to our public schools the people of Mercer county have
not been unmindful of a higher order of educational advantages, and
hence from time to time during the earlier portion of our history
attempts were made, most unsuccessful, to establish within our boi'ders
a collegiate institute. We find that as early as the year 1839 a charter
was procured from the legislature for the "Millersburg Seminary of
Learning." Millersburg was at that time the county seat, and we pre-
sume that the attempt to secure a college at that point was intended to
be a means of retaining the seat of justice at that place. Adequate
means for so large an undertaking were not within the reach of the
' projectors of this enterprize at so early a day, and the undertaking was
a failure.. Later, in 1857, coincident with the establishment of Aledo
as the county seat, two colleges were projected, and a charter for the
■ "Aledo Collegiate Institute" was procured February 16, 1857. One
of these colleges never rose above the foundation of the proposed build-
ing. Tlie other, acting under its charter, erected a rather imposing
building which, though enclosed, was never finished throughout. Rev.
Mr. AVilliams opened the fii'st high school in the old court-house build-
ing in 1802, and after rooms were finished in the new college he trans-
PERRYTON TOWNSHIP, 361
ferred his classes to tliat buildin<;- in the fall of 1863. After a struggle
for existence against many dithculties he was succeeded by Prof.
McKee in 1868. Prof. Mclvee after continuing the school for a couple
of years abandoned tlie undertaking, as the building was at that time
considered unsafe, and the Aledo collegiate building was torn down
and the building material sold.
After Prof McKee left. Prof Henderson took up the work for some
years, occupying the second story of the building known as Richey's
store, and in this building Prof. Henderson was succeeded, in 1873, by
Prof. J. R. Wylie, assisted by his brother, J. M. Wylie. After teach-
ing one year in this building the Wylie brothers determined to procure
better accommodations, and by the sale of scholarshijDS they were ena-
bled to purchase block 132 on Maple street, where they erected a two-
story academy building, 22x44 feet, exclusive of hall and staii*way.
This beautiful site and neat little building with the two young ener-
getic teachers, attracted 102 students the first year. In 1879, J. R.
Wylie became sole proprietor, J. M. Wylie having gone into the
ministry of the R. G. church. At the present time, June, 1882, the
academy under J. R. Wylie is quite prosperous. It contains a valu-
able cabinet of geological and mineralogical specimens, many of which
would do honor to any college, besides a good library and an abund-
ance of school apparatus. The course of study in this academy
embraces all the mathematics, including arithmetic, through plain and
spherical trigonometry ; an English course of one and a half years ;
drawing, book-keeping, physical geography. United States and ancient
history, physiology ; two terms in zoology, natural philosophy and
astronomy ; two years in latin or two years in German, elective.
The above course requires three years for its completion. Over 500
students, mostly from Mercer county, have received more or less
instruction in this institution. Some seventy teachers have been sent
out, and twenty diplomas have been granted since 1877.
In closing this sketch it seems aj^projjriate to make mention of a
lew of the old and tried teachers of the county, and such others as
have, after teaching for a time, been elevated to positions of honor,
profit or trust. Geo. W. Julian, who taught here in 1835-6, has since
served long and faithfully as a member of congress. Harvey S. Sen-
ter, who was a teacher as far back as 1843, was afterward successively
clerk of the circuit court, member of the state board of equalization and
state senator. WaiTen Shed was a colonel commanding the 30th reg.
Geo. P. Graham was a member of the legislature after serving suc-
cessfully as teacher. Prof. Joseph McChesncy, a teacher thirty-five
years ago, was for some time assistant state geologist, and was twice
362 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
appointed, under Abraham Lincoln, as consul to Glasgow, Scotland,
and was afterward chosen professor of national sciences in the Chicago
university. B. F. Brock, subsequently district attorney, is now one of
the leading lawyers of the county. J. K. Herbert, a teacher over
twenty-five years ago, is a prominent lawyer in Washington, District
of Columbia. N. P. Brown, J. E. Ilarroun, S. B, Atwater, and F.
W. Livingston, were each chosen to the office of county superintendent
of schools. C. S. Richey was for many years, and is at present, county
surveyor. Rev. Mr, Jamieson, long a teacher, was afterward mis-
sionary to Lidia. T. C. Swaford, a teacher of great success, was after-
ward elected city superintendent of the schools of Monmouth. A. U.
Barler, E. H. Jamieson, J. A. Goding, J. T. Johnston, and Alex.
Stevens were old and successful principals of graded schools. Besides
these, Simeon Smith, David Felton, Resin Kile, Cyrus A. Ballard,
William IST. Graham, G. L. F. Robinson, William Miller, and Warren
Biggart may be mentioned as old and successful teachers of a long and
continued service in the county.
From the long list of lady teachers who have served in tlie county,
it is a task of no small difficulty to select names for honorable mention
without making the list too long for the purpose of this history. There
are, however, a few who are pre-eminent, by reason of their long ser-
vice, excellent methods of instruction, and unquestioned fitness and
success.
Among those we will name Miss Hattie and Miss Emma Hunting-
ton, Miss Libbie Perkins, Miss Parney Harroun, Miss Mollie Walker,
Miss Emma Stevens, Mrs. A. M. B. Young, Mrs. Melissa Flemming,
Miss M. Jennie Marquis, Miss M. M. Burbank, Miss Maggie Clarke,
Miss Tillie S. Frazier, Miss Mantie Henry, Miss Mary E. Wolfe, Miss
Jo. H. Willits, Miss Abbie M. Burr, Miss Mattie M. Sloan, Miss Jen-
nie Henderson, and Mrs. Irene Willits. Besides these there are a
host of lady teachers of shorter experience, but abitndantly qualified
for their work and deserving the warmest commendation were this
chapter not already extended beyond the limits at first designed by the
author.
Simeon P. Smith. — Politically Mr. Smith was identified with the
old whig party, but was a radical abolitionist in sentiment. When
Fremont and Buchanan were the opposing candidates he was asked on
election day "to go and vote for Fremont electors," but declined,
saying, "No; I think I shall not vote to-day, but if I do it will be for
Buchanan, " giving as a reason that he was ' ' opposed to any compro-
mise with slavery," a thing the republican party seemed at that time
PKRRYTOX TOWNSHIP. 363
willing to do, and lie thought ' ' the people of this coimtiy need four
years more of democratic rule before they get their eyes opened."
Mr. S. was exceedingly diffident in public, and never knowingly
placed liimself where there was the remotest chance of his being called
upon for a speech. Happening in Chicago one time when there was a
meeting of the leading teachers of the state, he attended, but knowing
no one there he took a seat as far back as possible, "to see and not be
seen." Some one, however, seemed not only to know him, but to
know he was there, for upon the election of officers he was chosen as
one of the vice-presidents, all of whom were requested to "come
forward and take, a seat on the rostrum. " Mr. S. did not respond, and
it was found that he had quietly slipped out of the hall. The honors
were too much for him. AVhile none present were more interested in
the cause of education he could not bear the unsought honors thrust
upon him, and in self-defense was forced to retire.
EIGHTY-FOURTH REGIMENT ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
This S})lendid regiment was raised in the summer of 1862. Louis
H. Waters, of Macomb, formei'ly lieutenant colonel of the 28th Illinois,
was asked by Gov. Yates to enlist one of four regiments required of
Illinois under the president's call for 50,000 for a reserve force, and he
promptly responded, addressing public meetings in Mercer, Henderson,
Hancock, McDonough, Fulton, Schuyler, Brown and Adams counties,
and enrolling volunteers. Beginning about the middle of June recruits
were first sent to Camp Butler, Springfield, but in the latter part of
July the rendezvous was transferred to Quincy.
In Mercer county John C. Pepper and Luther T. Ball, of Keiths-
burg, began late in July to raise a company. They employed a band,
and in a short while had the men ready. On August 13th a mass
meeting was held at Sugar Grove and company H was organized,
Pepper being elected captain and Ball first lieutenant. The following
day the company, ha-^ang 105 men enrolled, assembled at Keithsburg,
where it embarked on a steamer for Quincy. When the organization
was completed Henry E. Abercrombie was chosen second lieutenant.
The company was mustered into the service with ninety-three enlisted
men.
Frederick Garternicht, of Oquawka, a German martinet, formerly
lieutenant in the 28th Illinois, raised company G for this regiment.
He began recruiting about the middle of June and was cordially
assisted by his townsmen generally and by the following persons par-
ticularly : AVilliam II. Fuller and liussell W. Caswell, of Oquawka, the
Rev. Dr. David McDill, of Biggsville, and Edward Ray, of Young
364 HISTORY OF SEERCEB AJS'D HENDERSON COUNTIES.
America (Kirk wood). As soon as enough were em-olled sqiiad drilling
was commenced at Oquawka. On Monday evening, July 28, the com-
pany was mustered in the court-house yard and briefly addressed by
the Kevs. Hanson, Eutledge, and McDill, the latter, after his remarks,
presenting each volunteer a copy of the New Testament. Capt. Garter-
nicht shortly after, having about fifty men, marched them to Sagetown,
and there taking the Cliicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad went to
Quincy, where he went into camp, and continued recruiting until he
brought the number of his company up to ninety. As long as the
command was at that city Capt. Garternicht was regimental drill-
master. He was commissioned captain of his company, and his
associate officers were W. H. Fuller, first lieutenant, and R. AY. Caswell,
second lieutenant. Lieut. Fuller was early detailed into the signal
corps, and honorably discharged in May, 186-i. Lieut. Caswell was
promoted to adjutant. AYlien the first lieutenancy became vacant by
the retirement of Fuller, in 1864. Charles Kaiser, who had been pro-
moted after the organization of the company to corporal and then ser-
geant, was commissioned to take that place.
Company K was raised at Biggsville with unusual despatch, only a
few days in the first part of August being required to secure over one
hundred men. J. B. McGaw left his harvest in the field un stacked,
and addressed himself with vigor to the work of raising the company,
when the urgent necessities of the government were made known by
the second call within little more than a month for 300,000 volunteers.
His example of personal sacrifice and instant aid was followed in
numerous cases. He was assisted at Biggsville by Dr. Alexander P.
Nelson and Joseph Brown, and at Stringtown by Myron ]Mills, who
brought from that place a squad of about twenty. On Tuesday, August
12, he started to Quincy with 104 men. The first three nights after
their arrival they slept under a tree in their summer clothing. At this
place the men balloted for officers, and elected McGaw captain, Nelson,
first lieutenant, and Mills, second lieutenant. The company was mus-
tered in with ninety enlisted soldiers.
About the middle of August the organization of the regiment was
completed. Thomas Ilamer was appointed lieutenant colonel, and
Charles II. Morton, major. It was mustered into the L^nited States
service on the first of September, and at this rendezvous was uni-
formed and armed with Enfield rifled muskets. One month's pay was
advanced and one-fourth of the §100 bounty paid. On September 23d
the regiment was put aboard the cars for Louisville, Kentuck}-, where
it arrived the 26th, and was assigned to the tentli brigade, fourth
division, the former commanded by Col. William Grose, and the lattei-
PERRYTON TOWNSHIP.* 365
by Gen. Nelson. The other regiments composing tlie brigade were
"old regiments," 36tli Indiana, 23d Kentucky, 6th and 24th Ohio.
Starting with the rest of the army in pursuit of Bragg, on October 1st,
it did vigorous service and suffered bitter hardships on that disheart-
ening campaign. It lay in hearing of the battle of Perrysville and
chafed under a criminal restraint while struggling comrades were being
slain in that unequal contest. Company G was detached at the time
and took part in the engagement. The regiment went to Danville aud
Ci'ab Orchard, and marched and counter-marched in that section,
enduring what were great trials to fresh soldiers, for lack of food and
I'est and protection fi'om snow and frosty and stormy weather. All the
time they were near the enemy (Buell), doing him the favor to follow
close enough to oblige his army to keep up in compact order while
retiring leisurely from the state with the immense stores he had
gathered. The 84th went to Mount Vernon and from there to Somer-
set. The marching was again hard and privation and suffering were
great ; cold rains and heavy snows occurred ; men almost barefoot left
bloody footprints; and scores went to the hospital. From Somerset
the march was continued to Columbia, thence to Glasgow, and crossing
into Tennessee moved to Gallatin and Silver Sp]"ings, and halted, at
last, for rest and recuperation, at the close of the month, three miles
southeast of Nashville. This campaign wrecked many a strong soldier.
The historian of the regiment, in depicting its severities, says: "It
deprived us of more men than any battle in which we were engaged, it
swept many into an early grave, it ruined the health of hundreds, but
those who did endure its hardships w^ere inured to the rough life of a
soldier, and were seldom afterward sick or sore from hard marching. "
The regiment now had 400 in line out of 951 sworn in at Quincy three
months before.
Gen. Rosecrans had relieved Buell of the command of the army,
and at once undertook the reorganization of the shattered forces. The
bi-igade with which the 84th was connected became the third brigade,
second division, twenty-first corps. The division was commanded by
Sooy Smith (who was relieved about the first of December by Gen.
John M. Palmer), and the corps by Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden. On
the 26th of December tlie army was put in motion, and soon struck the
enemy, who was gradually pushed back on Murfreesboro. Having
reached Stewart's creek on the 29th the command advanced in order of
battle with light skirmishing, and at night had borne down within two
miles of tlie town. The left of the 84th was on the pike. In front was
a cotton-field, at the southeast corner of which was the Cowan "Burnt
house." Next day there was nothing but skirmishing, and the front
366 HISTORY OF RiERCEK AifD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
line was occupied by other troops. Being relieved on Wednesday
morning, 31st, the brigade went a short distance to the rear. During
the night the rebels had outflanked the right of the army, and at day-
light they commenced a furious attack and drove the union troops in
great disorder down upon the center. About nine o'clock the fugitives
began straggling back to the turnpike with alarming stories of the
disaster to the right wing. The third brigade was promptly formed,
facing west, and one hundred yards in fi-ont of the pike. The 6th and
24tli Ohio were disposed on the first line in the thick cedar woods.
The roar of the nearing conflict grew louder. Stragglers, panic-
stricken, rushed back till their numbers swelled into a tide of retreat
that defied all efibrts to stop it. Nearer comes the sound, and all
know that the victorious foe is pushing his advantage with all his
strength. The storm is imminent ; then it bursts upon the first line,
and its fury is withstood briefly ; the men break in confusion, and the
entreaties and im^^recations of officers are unavailing to check the
retreat. Over the second line they pour and are formed again about forty
rods in the rear. Now comes the test of the S4th, the 23d Kentuck}^,
and the 36th Indiana. A ledge of rock behind which they lie gives
them partial protection. Parson's and CockerelFs batteries are thun-
dering behind them, throwing shell and grape shot over the men
directly into the cedars in front, which are swarming with the exidtant
enemy. Soon the rebels come out of the cedars in full view and in
point blank range, and instantly the line springs up with a wild shout
and pours a deadly volley into them. For an hour each side faces a
shower of bullets, and the air throbs with the detonations of the union
artillery. The rebels, repulsed, finally take cover in the woods. Dur-
ing the time a regiment came up the pike from the south and directed
a cross-fire upon the federal troops. Being temporarily relieved from
pressure the brigade changed front forward by a left half wheel, and
opened on some rebels lying in the cotton-field, probably those who
had been cross-firing, and on a heavy force approaching at this time
from the right. The regiments on the right of the 84th receive the
enemy's enfilading fire with surprising fortitude, but at length, unable
longer to endure it, fall back and leave this regiment exposed to the
raking volleys from the rebels in the woods, who promptly envelop its
flank. A desperate resistance was kept up in this place for an hour,
and the foe had crept up within sixty yards. The right was now
retired so as to face him squarely, but his steady advance in a semi-
circle beginning soon to timi the left, the regiment had to be with-
drawn to the ledge. Here the 84th maintained its ground ^vith the
utmost gallantry another hour, after all the other troops had retired
PERRYTON TOWNSHIP. 367
beyond the pike. At last the order was given and the left fell back ;
the right, not having hoard the command, remained, and some confu-
sion was the result. While in this last position, and during the time
it was falling back across the railroad, the regiment suffered heavy
loss, twenty-live being shot dead, besides a proportionately large num-
ber wounded. The rebels advanced, but were met by the troops
holding the line of the railroad, and their movement was checked.
The S4th then formed in front of the track, but were exposed in this
place to a rebel battery, and so the men were marched fi'om the tield
into the woods a mile away, and there stacked arms to give rest to tliis
bleeding battalion, after six long hours of heroic fighting and sacrifice.
New Year witnessed a comparative cessation of hostilities. On
the 2d, Van Cleve's division was thrown across the river, and the third
brigade went over as a support. A slight breastwork of logs was
nuide. A^an Cleve received a sudden and vehement attack from Breck-
enridge, and his division was driven back pell-mell. The rebels fol-
lowed in splendid style, confident of easy victory ; but the 84th and the
6tli Ohio, together w4th other troops, held their tii-c till they were
within three hundred yards, then rising with a deafening yell, poured
into them a destructive volley, after which each soldier loaded and fired
at will, kee})ing up a murderous fire which tliiimed their crowded col-
umns. The designs of the enemy had been antici})ated, and Oen.
Rosecrans had massed fifty-eight guns on the opposite side of the river,
and when the rebels reached the i-ight place these opened with a salvo
as if the universe had s])lit, shaking the troubled hills and devouring
the enemy with sickening destruction. The rebels faltered, and before
they could break into full retreat the S4th and the Oth Ohio were over
their works, charging with a slogan upon the reeling assailants. The
rest of the brigade. Van Cleve's division, and some other troops which
had been hurrying over, now came up in the same gallant fashion,
retaking all the artillery that liad been lost and one gun of the famous
Washington battery belonging to the enemy. Kosecrans reported:
"The firing was terrific and the havoc terrible." Bickham wrote:
" The commander-in-chief hurled his batteries and his battalions
together at the monstrous machines of Breckenridge, and destroyed
them in forty minutes. Two thousand men or more, who had marched
upon that field in haughty defiance, at tliree o'clock and forty minutes,
were dead f>r manoled at four o'clock and thirtv minutes." This
engagement was decisive of the protracted contest and gave the union
army Murfreesboro. Nothing could excel the patient fortitude and
heroic conduct of the 84th throughout this memoi-able struggle, and it
won merited encomiums from oliicers of high rank who were witnesses
368 HISTORY OF :MERCER AKD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
of -its splendid courage. Its whole loss was as follows : Killed, 33 ;
severely wounded, 114 ; prisoners, 8. Thirtv-one of the wounded died.
Many not counted were slightly wounded. The regiment suffered thus
terribly on that dreadful "Wednesday. The loss of the whole army of
43,400 was 12,378.
After the battle the 84th lay in the \icinity of Murfreesboro,
changing place occasionally, and doing the ordinary duty of scouting,
foraging, guarding pro\asion trains, and working on fortifications.
Early in February elections were held in the regiment to fill vacan-
cies caused by casualties and resignations. Lieuts. Ball and Aber-
crombie, of company H, had been slain in the forefront of the battle,
December 31, and now Private Peter McLain was voted first lieuten-
ant, and Corporal J. iST. "White, second lieutenant.
May 12 the brigade moved to Cripple creek and lay there till June
24, when the forward movement was taken up for the possession of
Tullahoma. ' ' Upon the morning of the advance the rain commenced,
and continued as if the very windows of heaven had been opened.
For seventeen consecutive days the rain fell in remarkable quantity.
No such stormy period had visited that countrv for twentv-six vears
past." So said the annalist of the army of the Cumberland. Critten-
den " had seventeen miles to march, over a road that had no bottom,
and it took him four days to get over it. The infantry waded through
mud for miles, that was from one to three feet in depth. They had to
dismount their pieces and take their batteries forward from higliland
to highland." So said Eosecrans recently (1882). The rebel army
having retreated to Chattanooga, on July 8 this command went into
regular camp near Manchester. Fatiguing work, toilsome marching,
a scalding sun, and short rations were other features of this brief, but
brilliant campaign, which might have been more complete in its results
but for unfavorable weather and roads.
The advance on Chattanooga began on the IGtli, and Crittenden's
corps took the route across the mountains direct for that place. On
the 2.5tli the brigade (Grose's) reached the Sequatchie valley and camped
near Dunlap, beneath the tall cliffs which look down from the west,
and remained there till September 1. The march was then resumed
down the valley, and during the evening and night of the 3d the divi-
sion effected the passage of the Tennessee, and encamped at Shell-
mound. On the 6th it had entered Lookout valley. On tlie 9th,
Gen. Wood having made a reconnoisance in force in the direction of
Chattanooga and reported the enemy giving up the gateway between
the river and Point Lookout, Grose's brigade climbed the mountain,
drove oft' the rebel outposts, moved forward to Summerville, thence
^
PERRYTON TOWNSHIP. 369
down the moiiritain on the other side, rejoining the division below,
whicli had now passed around the point, and moved out across Chatta-
nooga vallev toward Rossville, under orders to follow the enemy
closely and watch his movements.
Let us return to trace those maneuvers which secured the entrance
through this gateway and led to the battle in Chickamauga valley.
Having reached the foot of the Cumberland mountains, various causes
induced Gen. Rosecrans to delay a few days ; but when ready to con-
tinue the advance by a ruse cle guerre he caused Bragg to suppose that
he intended to make the passage of the Tennessee above Chattanooga,
and suddenly on the 29th began crossing the bulk of his army at
Bridgeport, Caperton's ferry ten miles below, and Shellmound eight
miles above. Thomas, w'ith his corps, marched across the mountain-
ous country, entering Lookout (^or Wills") valley, and proceeded up to
Cooper's and Stevens' gaps, occupied them on the 8th and 9th, and
passed over Lookout mountain. McCook's corps moved on a parallel
route to the right, going over Sand mountain, through Valleys"' Head,
and ascending Lookout at Winston's gap. All the cavalry, except
what was employed in the feint above Chattanooga, was sent to the
liead of the valley, with instructions to cross over to Alpine and make
a show of strong force in that neighborhood. McCook was to follow
it to the summit, display his troops to the best advantage, send a
brigade or division down the mountain to back up the cavalry while
threatening Rome, so as to give the appearance of a large force. Crit-
tenden had been reserved to cross the base of Lookout immediately
under the Point and next the river, as already described. The demon-
sti-ation on Bragg's rear forced him into the open field to fight the
decisive battle which Rosecrans and his lieutenants knew would inevit-
ably take place for the possession of Chattanooga. Discovering the
flank movement the rebel general hastily evacuated the city on the 9th,
and retreated to Lafayette, twenty-two miles south, covering his base,
and holding a position near enough to his antagonist to take any sud-
den advantage. On the 11th Crittenden was ordered to Ringgold to
feel forward for the enemy as far as Gordon's Mills. His report, as
well as other information, left no doubt of the concentration of the
rebel armv at Lafavette to await re-inforcements, and Rosecrans learned
with deep concern of Bragg's present attitude ; especially now that he
himself must despair of help from Burnside, who had been sent on a
cooperative expedition from Kentucky into East Tennessee wdth
instructicms to join him, Init who at this crises "was hunting with
22,000 men at his back for Gen. Sam Jones who. with less than 6,000,
was toling him ofl' up into western Virginia." Rosecrans' main army
370 HISTORY OF FIERCER AXD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
was dispersed from Einggold to Alpine, a distance of fifty-eight miles
by practicable wagon route, and sixty-five by that subsequently taken
by McCook (certainly a precarious situation), and the supreme en-
deavor should be to concentrate and cover Chattanooga. The isolation
of each corps was so perfect that the movement must necessarily be
from the south, keeping in view the hold on the city. Ci'ittenden
could not move up the valley to Thomas ^vith()ut exposing Chattanooga
and jeo])ardizing the army ; the latter could not march to the assist-
ance of McCook without leaving Crittenden at the mercy of Bragg ;
therefore all hope lay in the celerity of McCook, and the tardiness of
Bragg. Recently (1882), Gen. Bosecrans said ''this was the most anx-
ious period of the whole campaign. " He had indeed risked a staggering
responsibility. Crittenden was immediately ordered to march without
delay to Gordon's Mills and to communicate with Gen. Thomas. His
troops were there the next day. Bressing orders were dispatched to
McCook to come by the road along the top of the mountain with all
possible haste and join Thomas; but acting on what he believed was
reliable informati<m that this route was impracticable, he disregarded
that part of his orders, and starting at midnight retraced his way
tlirough Winston's gap. On the IJ-tli Gen. Crittenden was withdrawn
to the southern extremity of Missionary ridge to avoid being cut off,
and to communicate with Gen. Thomas, whose troops began to arrive
the follo^ving day. Xegley's division confronted two rebel divisions at
Dry gap in Bigeon mountain, but declined battle after a brisk skirmish.
Col. AYilder had encountered a large body at Binggold. The enemy's
activity and boldness portended early fighting. Would McCook come
before tlie blow would fall ( He was still far away, toiling over rugged
hills, rough roads, and through narrow passes, but making all the
while prodigious exertions and good progress. From Winstoi/s gap
he moved down to Stevens' gap, and then followed the road taken by
Thomas. Four and a half days were spent in this circuitous march of
forty-six miles. The sunnnit route of seventeen miles would have con-
sumed but a dav and a half. This unfortunate but natiu'al mistake cost
the commanding general the choice of the battle field ; and no doubt
the loss of his justly high military reputation, though not of his posi-
tion, for that was already fated by his unfortunate misunderstandings
with the war department, inflamed by his own rash correspondence,
invited by the weakness of Halleck, and welcomed by the vindictive-
ness of Stanton.
On the ITth the rebels attempted to cross the Chickamauga at
Gordon's mills, but were ]>revented by Ci'ittenden, who had returned
the same day from the foot of the ridge, McCook having just arrived
PEKRYTON TO%VNSHIP. 371
on tlie right. At evening on the 18th mutterings of conflict on the
left foretokl battle on the morrow. The rebel general was detected in
massing overwhelming numbers on that flank to turn or crush it, and
then to interpose his armv between Rosecrans and Chattanooga. To
check this maneuver the union general advanced his line t(j tlie left
during the night by moving Thomas' corps from the center, leaving its
place to be filled by McCook's. The alignment from left to right by
divisions was covered by Brannan, Baird, and Reynolds, of Thomas'
corps ; Palmer, Van Cleve, and Wood, of Crittenden's corps ; and
Davis and Sheridan, of McCook's corps, not yet established in position
when the battle began on Saturday morning, the 19th. Xegley's
division, belonging to Thomas's corps, formed a defensive crochet at
Owen's ford, farther to the right, and the cavalry was thrown forward
on this flank to defend ^lissionarj' ridge. Johnson's division of
McCook's corps was in reserve in rear of Thomas, and Crittenden's
right held Gordon's mills. The reserve corps under Gordon Granger
was lying at Bossville, four miles to the left and rear. Bosecrans'
front was parallel to Chickamauga creek, extending from northeast to
southwast, and lying diagonally across the Lafayette road leading to
Chattanooga, with the left reaching nearly to the Binggold road.
The night had been one of acti\"ity in the federal army in changing
positions and forming lines. About ten o'clock the dropping fire of
the skirmishers and the deep bass of the artillery announced the open-
ing of the battle. Gen. Thomas had ordered a recounoissance on the
exti'eme left by Brannan's division, and Ci'oxton's brigade encountered
a strong detachment of th-e iH?bel Gen. AValker's c*orps in front and
flank, and drove it in confusion over half a mile to a massed body
conceale^l in the forest. The rebels fjuglit savagely, and being
reinforced by Cheatham's division, fell on the union troops with heatl-
long weight. The whole division was at once engaged ; its double
Knes struggled heroically to keep their places, but finally crumbled
into disorder. The enemy, still advamiiig in deep columns, rolled u]»
against Baird like a huge wave ; and his deadly fire, though shattering
their front lines, had no visible eflect in checking the foe. Swept by
the remorseless tempest, this division was unable to stem its wrathful
course, and gave way. Johnson, advancing now from his reserve
position, struck the enemy in flank. Palmer's division came about
this time to succor the struggling left, and Brannan's and Baird's
divisions having been reformed, Gen. Thomas ordered the line to
advance. The movement was as unexpected to the rebels as it was
irresistible. They tried in vain to stand ; they poured desolating
showers of bullets, grape-shot, and canister into the daring columns,
372 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
but onward those invincible divisions went like a billow of the ocean.
With frantic exertions officers tried to restore order and establish new
lines, but as 'often as that was done the torrent of union victory swept
them away like driftwood. Thomas' battalions stopped only when
satisfied -with having driven the exultant and confident foe nearly a
mile over the ground they had lost, and taken cannons, caissons, and
eveiything else that the enemy in his flight had left. The account of
a rebel writer says this "fight was one of great desperation," that the
rebels "experienced fearful sacrifices," and that the union soldiers
"pushed close upon the battery of the gallant Capt. Carnes and slew
most of its horses and men," and the pieces "were therefore aban-
doned to the enemy." Opportunely for the rebels, Cleburn dashed
up to the rescue of their endangered right and engaged Palmer's
division with his usual impetuosity. Now the tumult drifts along the
quaking earth. Heavy flanking columns crowd the right ; Palmer
is overlapped, and his line is in danger of being doubled up, when
Yan Cleve marches in to arrest the peril, but the dense battalions
with which he grapples overcome him. Bragg is practicing his
favorite plan of attack in commencing on one flank and hurling for-
ward his divisions successively in search for a weak point, until the
whole line is engaged. The tide of battle rolled heavily to the right,
taking in Reynolds, who divided the pressure wdth Van Cleve, and
covered his fron' with a terrific lead-storm ; but his division was
shortly sundered in twain as if a hurricane had torn through his ranks.
Davis was ordered up at the critical moment; and though his men
struggled with raging energy, he could not long withstand the rebel
momentum of increasing numbers. He gave back slowly till Wood
arrived to swell the furious combat, when the enemy recoiled with
heavy loss. At three o'clock Sheridan was ordered to leave Lytle's
brigade to hold Gordon's mills, and with the rest of his division to
move to the assistance of Wood and Davis. He was on the ground
not too soon to save the former from disaster. The heavy sound
which moves toward the right, shaking the deep woods, tells that the
center has caught the storm. Gen. Negley, who has been lying at
Owen's ford all day, is ordered to march down to the Widow Glenn's to
be in momentary readiness for action. He reported with his division
at half-past four ; and as soon as it became certain that the battle was
going against the union arms in that quarter, his fresh veterans
rushed upon the foe with ardor and drove him back steadily till dark-
ness put an end to the fighting. Erannan had also been sent from the
left, and at night took a position t(^ the right of Reynolds.
The results of the day were substantial success. The federal armv
PERRYTON TOWNSUIP. 373
had held its ground, and the rebel general was foiled. The union
troops, outnumbered, luid all bci'n called into action except two brig-
ades. The rebel army was reinforced bv Ihickner, recently from
Knoxville; by a detachment from Johnson's army in Mississi])])i ; and
by another from Lee's army in Virginia. The battle-ground was
heavy timber, so undergrown as to be an immense cop])ice. This
was of great advantage to the rebels in nuissing and attacking, and of
proportionate disadvantage to the federal side, allowing but small
op})ortunity for the use of artillery. Everj^ incli of ground was con-
tested with obstinate valor. As often as one rebel line melted out of
sight a fresh one took its place ; but the union soldiers Ibught without
respite, without hope of aid, aware of the momentous character of the
struggle, and that if they won the stake it must be with a costly libation
of blood. So they received the surge of rebel strength and fury with
surly front, and when overwhelmed and forced to give ground did so
with dogged reluctance.
By midnight the ])lans of the union commander for the morrow had
been communicated to his corps commanders in a counsel at the Widow
Glenn's house. Thomas was to maintain his present line, assisted by the
divisions of Palmer and Johnson, with which he had been reinforced,
and to hold Brannan in reserve. McCook, with the two divisions left
him, was to close up to Thomas, with his right turned back to a strong
position on Missionary ridge ; while Crittenden, with his remaining
divisions, was to be posted in reserve at the junction of Thomas and
McCook. On the rebel side the army was divided into two wings ;
the right was given to Gen. Polk and the left to Gen. Longstreet, who
had arrived with the rest of his corps at eleven o'clock that niglit.
Polk was ordered to renew the battle at daylight, but owing to a dis-
arrangement of his line he was prevented from making the attack until
nearly nine o'clock. The morning opened sultry and oppressive. The
fiery sky, as if it might reflect the bloody field below, was seen through
a hazy, sulphurous canopy of battle-smoke, which enveloped hill, forest
and glen, and the giants of war that lay among them. The union
troops reposed on their anus, waiting for the first rude sound of con-
flict to disturb the glory of the Sabbath day. Between sun and sun
what onsets shall rock the earth I what valor amaze the world and
mark the bounds of human courage and endurance ! Every man in
those worn and battle-begrimed legions says nuitely with his chieftain,
this "day must be for the safety of the army and the possession of
Chattanooga." The first move of the enemy was to turn the left fiank
to secure Rosecrans' line of retreat. Palmer was in the front, near the
center, and Grose's brigade was ordered to the left to meet the enemy,
374 HISTORY OF mp:rcer axd iienderson counties.
who was crawling around on the flank. The S4th retired from their
barricade of logs and rails with a feeling of reluctance. Col. Waters
had been the first to recommend the building of such a protection, and
this regiment the first to begin the parapet. In moving to its new
position it was first apprized of the presence of the enemy bv a sharp
volley from an ambuscade, which killed and wounded several. This
was followed by rapid discharges, but in spite of the severe fire the
brigade formed in line. But being at once charged upon by a greatly
superior force, it was driven in such confusion that detachments were
separated and did not find their proper places during the day. Soon a
deafening shout rises along the rebel front, and the line dashes forward
in a thundering charge that envelopes Tliomas' position. The con-
tending sides grapple in the herculean energies of despairing battle.
An aid leaves Thomas' side and hurries off" to Gen. Rosecrans, to ask
that Xeglay may be sent speedily. Thomas had been promised the
return of this division early in the morning, and the order had been
given for its transfer, but from some cause had but just started to move
when the stafi" ofiicer galloped up. '• There it goes," said Eosecrans,
as at that instant it was seen in motion. In a few minutes another aid
came fi,)Tng from' the left, saying that Gen. Thomas was hotly pressed
and needed Brannan. '"Tell Gen. Thomas our line is closing toward
him, and to hold his ground at all hazards, and I will reinforce him, if
necessary, with the entire army. Tell Gen. Brannan to obey Gen.
Thomas' orders. " Gen. Yan Cleve, who has been lying behind AVood,
is despatched in the same direction. The battle is increasmg in fury.
jSTegley, with his veterans at a swinging pace, is hurrying to the relief
of the suffering left. Yan Qeve follows rapidly. A cloud of smoke
and perpetual fire roll from Thomas' solid front. lioaring batteries,
double-shotted, pour the desolating iron into the frenzied foe, who is
constantly re])laeing his dissolving ranks with fresh troops. Closer
and more stubbornly they press, and deadlier grows the union fire.
The line of conflict extends to the center. It is now eleven o'clock,
and Longstreet assails the right fiercely. The rebels on Thomas' front,
exhausted by their own tremendous exertions and frightful losses, fall
back, at length, demoralized, out of the reach of the field guns. Smart-
ing under this bloody and signal repulse, they close up their bleeding,
ghastly ranks, revise their lines, strengthen them with reinforcements,
and then the massive column is launched once more against the
weakened line. In the meantime Gen. Thomas has ridden along the
ranks, so that if it were necessary his presence should infuse new con-
fidence, and his troops catch some of his own steadiness of character
and loftv heroism. Maddened bv the memory of their defeat, and
/
l^»^
THOMAS CANDOR
foECBASED]
EiGHTv-Fouirnr kkgiment. 377
thirsting to avenge it, tliey advance witli remorseless vigor under cover
of a terrific cannonade from tlieir batteries. Tliev meet ag-ain the same
stern resistance and devouring fire whicli before .strewed tlie ground
with tlieir dead. Tiight up they come till foeman looks foeman in eye,
and the stormy lines interlock and and writhe in mortal embrace. The
union troops, according to rebel authority, "withstood as long as
human powers of endurance could bear up against such a pressure,
then yielded and fell back." But not till two hours of raging slaughter
told the story of their heroism. Ketiring a little way a stand would be
made till the courageous foe came and received full in his face that
relentless fire whicli shriveled his wasting ranks. Tlie batteries,
changing from place to place, were served with great animation and
accuracy. The enemy paused finally, and Gen. Thomas rested his
right on Missionary ridge, covering the gap, his left on the Lafayette
road, his center advanced, the line describing an arc of a circle, AVliile
tliis had been occurring, terrible work had been done on the right.
The commanding general had guarded carefully against a gap in his
front, but was notified that Brannan was out of line, leaving Reynolds'
right exposed. Tlie situation was not comprehended by Gen. Thomas'
aid who brought the information. Brannan was in echelon, that is, in
rear, with his right extending beyond Reynolds' right. Gen. Rose-
crans promptly sent an order to Wood to close up on Reynolds. As
Wood's left connected with Brannan he understood the order was for
him to support Reynolds by withdrawing from the line and marching
by the flank to liis rear. Acting on this fatal mistake, without report-
ing to the commanding general for further instructions, he moved to
the left, and so opened a wide breach. lie was savagely attacked
while executing this disastrous change, and his right brigade was
severely handled. It is like a break in a levee. There is a wild rush
of rebels into this gap. Then twelve cannon enter. Brannan's right
is hurled back. Van (yleve, at this juncture, marching to the left, i»
struck full and fair in flank ; two batteries at the same time moving
the same wav are driven throuo;h two of his brigades. Half of the
division instantly crumbles to atoms and goes like chaff to Rossville.
On the right of the gap are Davis and Sheridan. The division of the
former, taken in front, flank and rear, completely disintegrates. The
latter is overlapped on the right by Longstreet's mammoth line, now
sweeping forward in a grand onslaught. Laibold's brigade is carried
awa}^ with Davis. Scorning to fly, Sheridan, with his two remaining
brigades moving toward Reynolds, hurls a forlorn column with con-
vulsive desperation against the massive front of the shouting foe.
One trial is enough ; he is caught in flank ; then his troops hurry past
22
•B78 HISTORY OF MERCER A]SD HENDERSON COUNTfES,
the Dry vallej, and by a circuit arrive at Eossville, from whence, at
night, he leads them to the support of Thomas. Between the wreck-
ing of Davis' and Sheridan's divisions, Lytle's brigade was shivered ;
the brave leader fell dead in the arms of an aid, and his horse dashed
away with the straggling, panic-stricken throng. Generals McCook
and Ci'ittenden search in vain for the remnants of their commands,
which are scattered in twos and threes, scarcely the semblance of a
formation anywhere. Guns, caissons, horses, wagons, and a bewil-
dered, cursing multitude of fugitives obstruct the j^ass through Mission-
ary ridge. These brave officers sicken at the tumult, but cannot stay
the refluent tide, and are borne along by it till they arrive in Chatta-
nooga. The commanding general, ignorant of the extent of the dis-
aster, issued a few necessary orders, and despatched his chief-of-stafi,
Gen. Garfield, to Gen. Thomas, to ascertain the situation of his com-
mand, and to communicate with him by telegraph at Chattanooga.
Garfield performed the perilous journey over hills, through valleys and
wild forests, heedless of lurking dangers, reached Thomas, and sent
the grateful intelligence to his chief that the left wing was holding its
ground, and would do so to the last. Rosecrans in the meantime
returned to Chattanooga, ''to give orders for the security of the
])ontoon-brigade at Battle creek and Bridgeport, and to make prelimin-
ary dispositions either to foi-ward ammunition and supplies, should we
hold our ground, or to withdraw the troops into good position."
Having routed the right of the union army, the eager foe, elated
with that success, and confident of dashing the remainder in pieces,
about one o'clock fell upon Thomas with remarkable force. The divi-
sions of Baird, Johnson, Palmer, Reynolds, Brannan, and Wood, two
brigades oi Negley's division, and one of Van Cleve's were the troops
left to hold the rebel army in check. The devoted union army was
now assailed by more than three times its numbers. Kershaw assaulted
Missionary Bidge in front and was fearfully repulsed. Finding this
part of the line impregnable, heavy columns were projected against the
flanks. The fierceness of the onsets, combined with the overwhelming
weight of numbers, carried them back. Thomas' lines after that
described nearly a complete circle, and Longstreet was in control of the
main road to Chattanooga. An immense toil was closing around the
stalwart hero. A sheet of deadly flame and fiery sleet encircled this
last stronghold, while his own lines blazed with withering volleys that
bespoke, under the circumstances, the loftiest moral defiance and
grandeur. Undaunted, the union troops received the repeated and
staggerhig assaults of the exasperated foe. It was not dismay that
lilhMl their hearts, but calm desperation. They stood witli their backs
EIGHTY-FOURTH REGEMENT. 379
to the wall, and that wall was "the Rock of Chickamaiiga." The
enemy, determined upon destroying the army, at lialf-past three found
a low gap in the ridge, flanking Thomas' right and directly in his rear.
Sanguine of a swift and crushing factory, they hurried into it in great
numbers. "The moment was critical,'"' says Rosecrans. Twenty
minutes more, ^nd our right would have been turned, our position
taken in reverse, and, i)robably, the army routed. Struggling with
grim valor at all points to beat back the rami)ant foe, Thomas could
spare no troops for this new and appalling danger. For the first time
in his life his countenance and manner betray emotions of distressing
anxiety. lie knows that Granger is at Rossville, three miles away ;
no time to send word ; at best, three miles against twenty minutes.
Xothing but the providence of God can save the army. Nervously,
painfully liis eye sweeps the horizon. A cloud of dust is rising.
Doubtfiil whether it can be fiiend or foe, he exclains to Capt. Johnson,
of Negley's staff: "Find out what troops those are, moving upon
me.'' Bringing his glass to his eye, he watches intently the approach-
ing column. On that hangs the fate of the army. Who can tell how
hope and fear fluctuate in that heart that is almost still ( The seconds
throb with conscious importance. A small object comes into view.
His lips almost break out with thanksgiving; it is the battle-flag of
Granger. One more chance for hope. All day long Granger had
listened to the thunder on the left, and had marked its ebb and flow as
it grew
"Nearer, clearer, deadlier than before";
had paced up and down uneasily, wondering why orders to march did
not come, every minute straining his eye for the sight of a stafi" oflicer.
It was an heroic occasion, and a hero was there. Something said :
push for the front. ' ' The God of batttles held that forlorn hope of the
union army in his hand." "With the instinct of a true soldier and
general," he ordered his trained but mostly new soldiers to move
instantly. Two miles down the road he came upon a small body of
the enemy, but he "well knew that at that stage of the conflict the
battle was not there." Leaving Col. Dan. C. McCook's brigade to take
care of any force in that vicinity, he urged forward with i)ressing earn-
estness and reported to Gen. Thomas. ' ' The Rock of Chickamauga "
sim})ly pointed out the right. The soldierly eye of Granger took in
the i)erilous and astounding situation at a glance, "and quick as
thought he directed his advance brigade upon the enemy." Gen.
Steadman. inspired no less than Gi-anger, with an enthusiastic coy/p d"*
a'/7, and M-orth at that moment a thousand men, 'seized a regimental
color, and dashing to the head of the colunm, shouted the charge.
380 HISTORY OF HrERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Language fails to describe the onslaught. As well as the leaders,
every man is a giant. ' ' Right on into the desolating fire they pressed,
reckless of numbers and of death, with a loud and thrilling shout.
Over the batteries, over the astounded battalions of Hindman they
went in a wild wave. It was marvelous, the charge of those two
immortal brigades," and not less glorious than the charge of the light
brigade at Bahiklava. The trampled earth is strewed with the harvest
of war ; the enemy is routed with great slaughter, and the stars and
stripes are on the ridge. Renowned victory was wrung from the hands
of the rebels, and, stung with disappointment, Longstreefs veterans
returned in successive charges riglit up to the six guns planted in the
gorge, fighting with the ferocity of desjjair. This was borne with firm
courage by Granger's shouting soldiers, who sent them reeling back
each time, torn and bleeding, with a wild slogan that vied with the
sanguinary uproar. It was madness to lavish their superb battalions
in hopeless frenzy and onset, and in vain the rebel generals broke col-
umn after column to pieces on this granite front. As the sun went
down the last attempt was made on the invincible band. They had
exhausted all their ammunition, even all that could be gathered from
their fallen comrades, and it was with much solicitude that the prepara-
tions for the last vigorous assault were watched by these fearless men
who had stood in the deadly breach for hours. Should the triumphant
reward for all their bloody sacrifice be torn away at the last moment?
They are coming now, and are so near that their muffled tread
is plainly heard. The ringing command comes : ' ' Give them the
cold steel!" Springing forward "with fixed bayonets and a piercing
yell, they rush upon the heels of the foe, who, struck with conster-
nation, has broken and is fleeing in the wildest disorder. Weak-
ened by their desperate endeavors, the rebels give up this hope-
less point after frightful carnage, and thankful relief comes to
Granger's men, of whom a thousand, nearly a third of the number
that went into the fight, either dead or wounded, lie stretched upon the
field. Believing that the left had been weakened to reinforce the right,
Bragg sent a column to attack in that quarter. Being informed of its
approach. Gen. Thomas ordered Reynolds to move with his division to
meet it, and pointing out the rebels, bade him "go in there." Facing
about to save time, and moving by the rear rank, the battle-smoked
and blood-stained warriors were given the order to charge. With
bayonets lowered, they struck the double-quick, while a wild battle-
shout sprang from their hoarse throats, and they pushed on over the
enemy, taking more than a regiment prisoners. During the progress
of all these exciting and decisive struggles a continuous battle had
EIGHTY-FOURTH REGIMENT. 381
raged from Hank to flank, the enemy crowding with billowy front
against the union line, assailing Wood and-Breiman with scarcely less
vehemence than Granger, but remitting his fury somewhat toward the
left. Tlie pc^sition was girdled by two lines ; as often as one delivered
its Are it would step back a few paces, lie down and load, then rising,
step again to the front and Are. So ended the battle of Chickamauga.
The 20th of September had.given us a Wellington in Gen. Thomas.
In gratitude the people with one voice said of the modest warrior :
"This is the rock of Chickamauga.'' Henceforth he ranked among
the greatest generals of the war. It had been a day, too, when
heroes sprang from the ground. Let it ever be heroes' d<iy. Illus-
trious Granger ! Gallant Steadman ! JN^ames forever bright on the
scroll of their country's history.
The union loss in men was 15,851, one-third of the army; tliirty-
six guns, twenty caissons, 8,450 small arms, and 5,831 infantry accou-
terments. The loss in prisoners was about 5,500, of whom nearly
one-half were wounded ; against 2,003 captured. There were expended
in the battle 2,650,000 rounds of musket cartridges and 7,325 rounds
of cannon ammunition, being 12,675 rounds less of artillery, and
650,000 rounds more of musketry than at Stone River. Two divi-
sions were routed and left the battlefield ; seven held their ground
with the final assistance of Granger.
During the night of the 20th Gen. Thomas having been directed
by Gen. Kosecrans to act according to his judgment, withdrew to
Rossville, where he offered the enemy battle all the following day,
which was declined, and the next night he retired to Chattanooga.
We now allude briefly to the individual part of the 81th in this
battle. On Saturday morning Grose's brigade was ordered to make a
reconnoissance forward, but being outflanked, escaped capture by the
slightest chance. Very soon it went to the left, when Palmer's divi-
sion was transferred. There it fought that day, and the next morning
built breastworks, as i>reviously mentioned. When the brigade was
sent out to reconnoiter on the flank and ran ujjon the enemy in
ambush, the 81th, being driven into a heavy thicket, was separated
into three pieces which were lost from one another until night.
Capt. Ervin commanded one detachment and succeeded in joining
the brigade ; Capt. lliggins had another, and Col. AVaters the third.
Each bore its full share of the hard fighting. The loss was 11 killed,
77 severely wounded, and 12 missing. About fifty were slightly
wounded and remained with the regiment. Company G lost fourteen
out of thirty that went to battle.
The 81th continued its career of valiant service till the close of the
382 HISTORY OF FIERCER AKD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
war, but space will not permit more tlian a cm*sorj relation of its
subsequently brilliant record. The reigment was shut up with the
rest of the army in Chattanooga during the investment by Bragg.
When the army was re-organized there, the third brigade, second
division, twenty-first army corps, to which the 84th belonged,
became the third brigade, first division, fourth corps, and so con-
tinued during the remainder of its active service. Gen. Palmer was
soon called to the command of the 14th' corps, and was succeeded by
Gen. Cruft in command of the division.
On October 25th, just prior to the change of commanders, the
division was ordered to cross the Tennessee, and moving over the
mountains to Shellmound, re-ci'ossed the river, when the third brigade
was sent to "Wliiteside. On ISTovember 24th this division, with Geary's,
of the 12th corps, fresh fi-om the Army of the Potomac, and Oster-
hous', from the Army of the Tennessee, assaulted Lookout Mountain
and drove the enemy in handsome style from that eternal stronghold.
The 84th was on the extreme left of the line, and it was due to this
fact that its loss was only three wounded, all of whom recovered.
When the enemy's main line gave way the regiment swung rapidly
foi*ward, and in twenty minutes took more prisoners than there were
men in its ranks, and for this success received the thanks of Gen.
Hooker on the spot. Next day the stars and stripes floated from the
summit of the mountain which had been a blazing citadel for weeks.
The same day Hooker pushed across Chattanooga valley and ascended
Missionary ridge at Poss^nlle, striking the rebel left and rear, while
Sherman was battering their right, and at the same hour that Thomas
made the splendid assault on the center, and the entire rebel army
was routed with immense loss of men and munitions of war. Having
pursued to Pinggold, on the 29th the regiment, on its way back to
camp at Wliiteside, stopped on the battle-ground of Chickamauga
and assisted in the sad but christian work of burrying the remains of
the union dead, which the rebels, with characteristic inhumanity, had
left in large numbers to decompose above the soil.
A period of ordinary service followed until the Atlanta campaign.
On May 4, 1864, the 4th corps concentrated at Catoosa Springs and
awaited the arrival of the 23d corps, which formed on its left. On the
Tth the two marched south, when the right of the 4th connected with
the left of the 14th at Tunnell hill, from which the rebels had been
dislodged that morning. From this time till the 13th the regiment
was before Eocky Face ridge, an impregnable natural stronghold,
skirmishing most of the while, and once making a charge and driving
the rebels out of their rifle pits. The loss on the 9th was eleven killed
EIGHTY-FOURTH REGIlVrENT. 383
and woimded. The flank movement tlirougli Snake Creek gap, a
pass tlirongli tliis ridge fifteen miles south, compelled the rebel anny
to fall back. The 84th advanced through Buzzard Roost gap, and
passing Dalton, skirmished forward to Resacca, where it took part in
the fighting on the 14th and loth. On the 16tli, the rebel army having
retreated, the command went forward, skirmishing desultorily, some-
times severely, down as far as Cassville, which was reached on the
19th. The army rested till. the 23d, then moved on Dallas. On the
25th Thomas' army found the enemy in strong force at New Hope
Church ; the following day it was arrayed for steady work, and fi-om
this time the regiment was in constant fighting for ten days. From
the 7th to the 10th, the 84th was encamped three miles south of Ack-
worth ; on the latter date the army moved forward to confront
Johnson's intrenched line from Pine mountain to.Kenesaw, and until
the 18th the men were working their way up close to the enemy's
breastworks by building successive lines of their own, under heavy
fire, which did not relax day or night. After the 15th the contending
sides were so close that all the firing was done from the main parapets.
On the night of the 18th Johnson retired the fianks of his army, and
next day the brigade was in advance feeling for the enemy. A part
of the 84th was on the skirmish line and suffered severely, especially
company G, which had two men killed and seven wounded. On the
21st the regiment had another killed and several more wounded. The
rebel army retreated to the Chattahoocliee on the night of July 2d,
and the 84th followed in pursuit on the 3d, overtaking the enemy in
the neighborhood of Smyrna camp-ground, when ' ' they celebrated
their fourth of July by a noisy but not desperate battle." On the
10th the 4th corps crossed the Chattahoochee, and after throwing up
breastworks for use in case of need, rested till the 18th. Crossing
Peach Tree creek on the 20th, the regiment advanced on the skirmish
line, charged the rebel skirmishers and took all in their front pris-
oners. They moved their line forward 200 yards on the 21st, and
were engaged nearly all day in sharp fighting. On the 22d, while
the battle of Atlanta was in progress on the left, the 4th, 20th and
14tli corps swung in upon Atlanta, closely investing the city on the
north and northwest. On August 3d Capt. Dilworth, of company F,
with sixty-five men from the regiment, one-third belonging to com-
pany K, made a brilliant sortie and captured all the skirmish posts in
front of the brigade, including twenty-six prisoners, witliout the loss of
a man. On tlie 5th a simihir affair was planned by the brigade com-
mander, and the skirmish line made an attempt to advance, but with
ill success, and the 84th lost one killed and two severely wounded.
384 HISTOKY OF FIERCER AJND HENDERSON COUNTIES. '
On tlie niglit of the 25tli Gen. Sheraian began his movement with
the bulk of the army to strike and sever the West Point raih-oad south
of Athmta. This was reached on the 28th, and the next day was
spent in destroying several miles of it ; then on the 31st the Macon
railroad was seized all the way from Rough and Ready to Jonesboro.
At the last place Hardee's corps was fortified and made a sally against
the loth corps which was easily repulsed. The following day the
destruction of the railroad was continued, and in the afternoon the
14th corps stormed Hardee's defenses and carried them with slight
resistance, capturing a brigade and ten pieces. The setting in of
night prevented the 4th corps from reaching the enemy's reai-, which
would have compelled his surrender. As it was he escaped that
night, simultaneously with the evacuation of Atlanta by Hood. The
84th had one man killed and five wounded on this expedition ; and
from the beginning of the campaign twelve were killed and seventy
wounded. Six of the latter died in hospital. It was estimated that
the regiment built, ii'om the time it encountered the enemy at Tunnel
Hill, ten miles of breastworks.
The 84th encamped at the close of the campaign witli the rest of
the corps three miles southeast of Atlanta. When Hood started north
to invade Tennessee, all the army except the 20tli corps which was left
to garrison the city and guard the bridges on the Chattahoochee, started
in pursuit in the first week of October. The 4tli corps marched to
Chattanooga; from there it Was transported by raib'oad to Athens,
Alabama, where it awaited orders two days, and then marched north
to Pulaski, Tennnessee. Gen. Sherman, about this time, turned from
the pursuit of Hood back to Atlanta to set out on the march to the sea
coast, and Gen. Thomas was left to watch and oppose his old antagonist.
In the latter ])art of November the rebel army was in motion directly
for Kashville, and the" 4tli and 23d coq^s began immediately to fall
back, either not able or not designing to keep much in advance of the
enemy. On the 29tli Columbia was abandoned, and while three divis-
ions were moving toward Spring Hill, the rebels, by a forced march to
cut them off", attacked the place which was defended by one division,
but were repulsed. The heavy supply trains narrowly escaped capture.
On the 30th tlie retiring army was concentrated at Franklin, ])osted
behind hastily constructed breastworks on the south side of the town,
the line in the form of a crescent, the flanks resting on the Ilarpeth
river. About four o'clock in the afternoon Hood threw his army u})on
this position, the chief weight against the center, with terrific energy.
His men went over the first line of works in a furious charge, and
EIGHTY-FOURTH REGEVIKXT, 385
• pausing under a destructive fire long enough to organize for an assault
on the second line, they advanced with blind impetuosity; but the
reserves having been brought up they tailed to make a lodgment. At '
five o'clock the union troops advanced to retake the works, and now
occurred one of the most desperate encounters of the war. The
soldiers stood up within arm's length of one another and fought like
nuidnien with bayonets and clubbed muskets. This was continued till
darkness ended the frightful combat, when Hood, having failed of his
purpose to break the center, which would have been fatal to the whole,
withdrew. Union loss, 1,500; rebel loss, 6,250. The first division
was in a comparatively unexposed position, and not till the end of the
fighting was the 84th on the front line, then it was deployed as skirmish-
ers. Col. Waters and Adjutant Caswell were severely wounded, but
afterward recovered ; these were the only ])ersons serving with the
regiment who were injured. At night the march was continued toward
xsashville, and early next morning the head of the weary, bloody
column reached that city.
After two weeks of preparation Gen. Thomas was ready for the
ofiensive, and on December 15th, moved as^ainst the enemv, turn-
ing his left and forcing back his whole line. The battle was continued
next day, and the rebel army disastrously routed. Pursuit was made
by Wilson's cavalry and the 4th corps. The 23d corps also went as
far as Columbia. When the shattered and demoralized army was
across the Tennessee, the end of the campaign was announced, and the
troops went into winter quarters. This was the completest union vic-
tory of the war, not involving a surrender, for it practically destroyed
the rebel army. In all these O])erations the 84th was with the fore-
most actors, and sliared the honors of the striking achievements.
The 4th corps was cantoned near Iluntsville, and this regiment was
put on provost duty in the city. In March the corps was ordered to
Knoxville, and on the 13th the first division was transferred by rail,
the others following soon after. From there the command marched to
Bull's gap, and was stationed six miles beyond, lying there till April
18th. On that day the troops were put on board the cars and sent to
Nashville, where, on June 8, 1865, this war-worn regiment was mus-
tered out of the service with 346 men out of 932 who had gone to the
"greedy front of war" only thirty-two months before.
Company G had thirty men ; all but five of these had been
wounded. On the Uth the regiment started for Illinois, and arrived at
Camp Butler, on the 12th. On the 16th it was paid oft' and disbanded.
386 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
" 'Tis midnight in the camp,
The tired soldiers sleep, and dream, perchance
Of home, perchance of conflicts past, and others
Coming on the morrow. Braves, sleep on !
Let the cool night winds soothe yoiir slumbers deej).
That you may rise refreshed. Your country looks
To you, and such as you, to guard her honor
From traitors' foul contaminating touch.
Yet, one is vigilant ;
With measured tread he paces on his beat —
The midnight sentinel. The moonbeams play
Upon his burnished bayonet, and its rays
Fall gently on a calm, sweet, upturned face.
That smiles upon the soldier from its frame."
E. H. N. Patterson, 1862.
The war of the rebellion had been in progress something over a
year when recruiting for the 102d regiment began ; but as more men
enlisted from Mercer county in that organization than in any other, we
assign it the largest space.
Company C. — Frank Shedd commenced enlisting men on August
5, 1862, and on the 21st had eighty-nine enrolled. The company
assembled at Berlin (Swedona) on the 26th, and taking wagons,
went by the way of Oxford and Galesburg to Knoxville, and were
assigned quarters in Camp McMurtry on tlie fair grounds. Ninety-six
men went into camp, but ninety-two, including officers, were all that
were mustered in. Shedd was elected captain, Almond Shaw, first lieu-
tenant, and Watson C. Trego, second lieutenant. Alfred H. Trego was
appointed first or orderly sergeant, Byron Jordan, second sergeant,
George "W. Gregg, third sergeant, George W. Allen, fourth sergeant,
and Sampson M. Tenny, fifth sergeant. The corporals were Isaac N.
Roberts, S. F. Fleharty, Rodney C. Manning, Henry Bridgford, Jacob
Clause, Brainard Vance, Phoenix R. Briggs, and John Lippincott.
Company E. — On August 7 a meeting was held at Brown's school-
house in North Henderson township, at which Dan. W. Sedwick en-
listed eighteen men. Thomas Likely, of the same township (now of
Norwood), was present and stated that he had enrolled eight men,
and proposed to unite with Sedwick, which was done. By the 14th
they had eighty-four. On that day the men met at the same place and
organized by electing Likely captain, Sedwick, first lieutenant, and
T. G. Brown, second lieutenant. The following were the non-com-
missioned officers appointed : Sam])le B. Moore, first or orderly ser-
geant; John Allison, William J. Abdill, Jonathan E. Lafferty, and
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT. 387
Albert Bridger, sergeants; Thomas Simpson, Henry M. Carmicliael,
Jolm Tidball, Lyman Bryant, Allen Dunn, Henry W. Maiick, Robert
Godfrey, and John T. Morford, corporals. Some time in the last
week of August Lieut. Sedwick started from Bridger's corners (now
Suez) with thii'ty-two men, and going through Scott's grove, met Capt.
Likely one mile south of that place with about the same number, from
whence they proceeded in wagons through Galesburg to Knoxville,
arriving there in the evening, where the rest of the company joined
them.
Company G. — This company was raised by Joseph P. Wycoff,
assisted by Isaac McManus. David Lloyd had begun a com])any,
but as he did not make it up his i*ecruits, eight or ten in number, came
into Wycoffs. Enlistments for this company were commenced in
Keithsburg on the 6th of August; on the 15th over one hundred were
enrolled, and runners were sent out to notify the men to meet on the
ITth to organize. One hundred and twenty assembled at the 0])era
house and AYycoff was elected captain. On the 19tli the comi)any
embarked on a steamer for Burlington, where it arrived at midnight.
The hotels were full and the men slept that night in a livery stable.
Next day they took the cars and reached Knoxville, going into bar-
racks on the north side of the fair ground. The organization of the
company was next completed, the choice for first lieutenant falling on
Isaac McManus, and that of second lieutenant on William II. Bridg-
ford. The non-commissioned officers were also elected by the com-
pany, Caj^t. AVycotf promising to appoint whomsoever the men should
declare were their preference. They were Luke P. Blackburn, Aaron
G. Henry, John C. Reynolds, John McIIard, and Robert B. Seaton,
sergeants ; and Wesley Hunt, Lemuel S. Gruffy, Elislia J. Grandstaff,
Andrew J. Douglas, Richard H. Cabeen, Jolm G. Poague; George W.
Thomas, and Andrew J. Campbell, corporals. Company G went into
camp with 120, rank and file; but 101 was the maximum number
allowed, and the excess were distributed among other companies.
Company K. — James M. Mannon, Sanderson H. Rodgers, and
William A. Wilson raised this company in the month of August, and
it was composed of men from the north part of the county, and chiefly
from those residing in Eliza and Millersburg townships. It was
oi-ganizfed in Aledo by the election of Mannon, captain, Rodgers, first
lieutenant, and Wilson, second lieutenant. Late in the month the
company went across the country by private conveyances to Knoxville,
where the regiment was assembled and about ready to be organized.
The original non-commissioned officers were : James Y. Merritt,
orderly sergeant ; L. Volney Willits, second sergeant (names of the
388 HISTORY OF IMERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
other sergeants unknown) ; and the following coi'porals : Peter Griffith,
B. F. H. Reynolds, William Winders, J. E. Huston, Leander Officer,
Eli Gook, AValter Smethers, and Allen Wilson.
Other Companies. — The foregoing companies belonged exclusively
to Mercer county, if we except a very few in company C from Kock
Island county. Company A was enlisted in the corners of Knox, Mer-
cer, and Warren, and was credited to Knox, although of the eighty-
eight enlisted soldiers forty-three were ft'om j^orth Henderson and six
from Rivoli townships in this county. Capt. Roderick R. Harding, of
Galesburg, who had served in the 17th 111. reg. from Ma}', 1861, to
May, 1862, associated Levi F. Gentry, of Kortli Henderson, with
himself, and the two together raised the company. Harding became
captain on the organization of the company. Gentry, first lieutenant,
and Charles M. Barnett, of Korth Henderson, second lieutenant. The
non-commissioned officers were : Robert W. Callaghan, Theodore H.
Andrews, John Morrison, AVilliam Brown, and Adam jST. Tate, ser-
geants; and William H. Black, Hugh French, Daniel B. Randall,
Fielding E. Scott, John R. Holmes, Albert Talbot, Xealy Daggett,
and George W. Miller, corj^orals.
Company B was raised in Knox and Warren; two enlistments
were from Mercer.
Company D was raised and organized in Knox county, to which
one-half of the men belonged. Sixteen were from Fulton county,
fourteen from Warren, seven from Henry, six from Mercer, and a few
from other places.
Company F was made up of Knox county men, with two from
Mercer. Companies H and I belonged to the same county, but the
latter had eight men from Henry.
The Beyiinent. — The 102d regiment was raised by Col. William
McMurtry, of Knox county, and the companies, as fast as they arrived
at Knoxville, were rendezvoused on the fair grounds, where there
were ample and convenient barracks. This camp of organization was
named McMurtry in honor of the venerable and enthusiastic colonel.
The several companies assembled between the 20th of August and the
close of the month, and when the organization took place Franklin C.
Smith, captain of company I, was elected lieutenant-colonel, and
James M. Mannon, captain of company K, major. On the 2d of
September the regiment was mustered into the service of the United
States 931 strong. The men were uniformed, furnished with blankets,
and regularly drilled ; and the transition to camp life had all the
features of novelty until the rudiments of soldierly training were in
coin"se of easy mastery.
ONE IIUNDEED AND SECOND REGIMENT. 389
. On the 22d tlie riii;lit wing was tr<ansfeiTed by rail to Peoria, and
next day the left followed. The regiment remained one week en-
camped on the beautiful plateau overlooking Peoria lake from the
north, when orders came tr> move to the seat of war in Kentucky.
Buell's army was intrenched around Louisville and Bragg was knock-
ing at the gates of the city. Public apprehension was high, and the
raw levies from Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, were poured upon the
"Kentucky shore" in immense numbers. The 30th of September
dawned gloomily, but it found the regiment lively with hope and ardor,
and before the morning was hardly passed it was in motion through
the streets in a drizzling rain toward the depot of the Logansport,
Peoria A: Burlington railroad. AVindows and balconies were ci'owded
with old and young to get a view of the troops. Matronly women,
total strangers, wiped their dimmed eyes as they watched the flower of
the country's youth going to fields of blood and death. Next morning
the regiment was in Logansport ; in the course of the day it passed
through Lafayette, and toward evening reached Indianap<jlis, where
were seen the first warlike signs : artillery in park and paroled pris-
oners in squads. A night ride brought the command to Jefliersonville,
where it disembarked before the beams of morning streaked the east-
ern sky. Arms for the men, French rifled muskets, which had been
brought unboxed from Peoria, were distributed during the day, and
inferior as they were it cannot be said the soldiers were not as proud
of their guns as the traditional small boy of his new jacknife. Rumors
of fighting across the river were soon afloat, and this was the first
acquaintance with the "grapevine telegraph ""— camp reports.
At one o'clock on the morning of the 3d, the long roll aroused the
camp, and the men were ordered to prepare to march with three days'
cooked rations. Very early the Ohio was crossed on an immense
bridge 'constructed of flatboats^ and the regiment marched into Louis-
ville. Amidst the interested spectators on the street leading up from
the river stood a tottering old man, whose thin white locks were the
toys of the morning air. "With uncovered head, and bony arms up-
lifted to hea^•en, he appeared like a silent supernatural prophet of the
union. Without a spoken word, but in the most solemn and patri-
archal manner did this patriotic Elijah call down upon the men press-
ing forward to the defense of the government God's blessing and pro-
tection.
The regiment was brigaded with the 105th Illinois and the 79th
C)hio, and placed under the command of Brig. Gen. William T. AVard,
of Kentucky, and attached to Gen. Dumont's divisi(m. Not long
afterward the TOth Indiana and the 129tli Illinois were added.
390 HISTORY OF ifERCER iVND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
At four o'clock in the afternoon this new command began the march
to Frankfort, a march whose toils and pains will never fade from the
memories of the jaded and exhausted men who pei'formed it. Only
for the conditions was the distance great or the marching excessive.
The weather was hot, the soldiers were overloaded, the country was
suffering from extreme drouth, water was scarce, and parts of the pike
were covered with a fine limestone dust that enveloped the column in
a thick cloud. Haversacks were crowded with rations, cartridge boxes
carried forty rounds, knapsacks contained extra clothing and blankets
and other dispensable effects. Add to these a heavy musket, and the
weight borne was too much for the endurance of nine-tenths of the
soldiers in the field, old or new. To keep in ranks and march at a
brisk pace encumbered with an unusual, ill-fitting, fretful load, was no
ordinary hardship to raw recruits ; and long afterward when the men
had become enured to war-like service, they reviewed the trials of this
first march with a shudder. Inhalations of the finely-powdered dust
excited and greatly jiggravated thirst, and under the circumstances
these sufferings of the men were the most painfnl of the whole service,
and were the entering wedge to subsequent disabilities which sent
many a poor fellow home a miserable wreck and many another to his
long account.
About midnight a small remnant of the command filed off" into
a swarded field fifteen miles from Louisville, and were told to encamp.
The brigade was disorganized, and the soldiers, prostrated with fatigue,
were scattered along the line of march for a distance of ten miles.
The road was strewn with blankets and clothing thrown away with
indifference and relief. We believe it was never explained why our
commanders forged ahead with such folly ; but the boys often jokingly
charged it to that ever present factor, the double-barreled canteen.
Probably orders had been given in Louisville for the brigade to march
to a certain place that night. The 102d had not forgotten yet that Col.
McMurtry declared at Knoxville his intention to "march us to glory or
to death," and they could testify now that the promise was being relig-
iously fulfilled, with the chances very much in favor of the alternative.
About all the men had straggled into camp by eleven o'clock next
day, and then the march was renewed. Fifteen more tedious miles
were drawn out and we encamped late at night in the neighborhood of
Shelbyville, where we lay in a plowed fi^'ld under the burning sun
until the afternoon of the 6th. In ra[)id time we marched to a new
camp, two miles, east of Shelbyville. Ou the 8th we were again in
motion, and the day Avas marked with the petty annoyances of starting
and halting, and waiting in suspense, not knoAving whether to sit or lie
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGEMENT. 391
down by the roadside or to stand and hold our heavy kjads. Through
it all the sun poured down his blistering rays. This was the worst day
of any for dust ; fine as fiour, in places it was two inches deep, and
verily we had " a cloud by day,'' which veiled evei-y object from view a
few yards in front. To get drinking water the soldiers were glad to
brush away the heavy, green scum with which stagnant pools were
mantled, and thousands of canteens were supplied with filthier water,
but a little pennyroyal introduced through the nozzle overcame the
unfragrant odor ; and doubtless others were moved to the same thank-
fulness as the soldier who expressed his satisfaction with the water
hecause it was wet ! At nine at night, being suffered to bi^•ouac, we
gave ourselves up to the welcome embrace of mother earth, and
stretched our aching limbs upon the soft soil. The hour of midnight
made its hasty round, and brought with it orders to resume the
advance. A march of six miles, and then we were in Frankfort, at
the bridge across the Kentucky river, where our cavalry had a
skirmish and a few of the men were on guard. Toiling three-fourths
of a mile, perhaps a mile, up the long, weary ascent east of the town,
we at last reached the top- and threw ourselves u})on the naked sward
for rest, just as the gleams of dayspring began to gild the eastern
horizon. At nine o'clock orders came to prepare for a forced march of
forty-eight hours without knapsacks, and two days' rations were issued.
What more ''''forced^'' than the experience . of the last few days was
needed? Happily, the order that would have ])ut us in motion never
came.
With the end of this, our first march, we droj) the mass of details
lest our space should be taken up before we discover the spires of
Atlanta, or the music of tlie ocean falls upon our ears at Savannah.
At Frankfort the regiment was furnished with bell tents, drilling
was continued, and standing at arms an hour or two in the morning
before daybreak was practiced. On the evening of the 18th prepara-
tions were made for a forced march, and at midnight the brigade was
called out and started for Lawi-enceburg, sixteen miles distant. The
object was to intercept the partisan John Morgan, who was retreating
from Lexington before a federal force. The command halted by the
way an hour and did not reach the destination till daylight, when it
was found that the rebel chieftain had j^assed an liour and a half
before. Marching back leisurely the troops readied their old quarters
at seven in the evening, tired and foot-sore.
A painful incident of history followed. Dissatisfaction with Col.
Mc]\[urtiy was gaining ra[)i(lly, and the demand for his retirement was
strong. We remember the hollow square, the stiri'ing speech from
392 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Gen. Ward counseling liarmonj and subordination, t'le demand of the
colonel for a vote to ascertain the feeling of the regiment towards him,
and we see the large majority stej) out of ranks, whereupon he
announces his intention to resign. Whatever defects he may have
had they were those of old age. He had served in the Black Hawk war
and was familiar with the obsolete tactics. He did not address himself
with the alacrity of a young man to mastering the new, and this may
have detracted from his popularity. Perhaps he was regarded as
responsible for the hard marching that had been done ; if so, it was
unjust. He was honest and terribly in earnest. In his care for the
men and his intercourse with them he was less remote and more alive
to their welfare than any other who ever commanded them. His influ-
ence went lar in raising the regiment, and to this length, if no further,
he served his country well. Sickness obliged him to go to the hospital,
and from there he repaired to his home. The regiment saw no more
of him except when he paid it a brief visit at Gallatin in February.
On the 26th of October the brigade broke camp and began the
march to Bowling Green. The distance of 150 miles' was accomplished
in ten days. Toward the last the dust was veiy troublesome again,
scarcely less so than on the first march, and when the soldiers camped
at night they were unrecognizable. At Bacon Creek numbers were
sent back to Louisville sick, while others were left to come on by rail.
While at Bowling Green Lieut. -Col. Smith was elected by the
officers to the colonelcy, and Major Mannon rose to the next grade.
Gen. Kosecrans reviewed our division there, and on the 11th of
November the brigade left its camp at Lost river, and on the second
day arrived at Scottsville, county seat of Allen county. Continuing
southward on the 25tli the division marched in the direction of Gallatin,
Tennessee, and camped that night at the Rock House. Arriving there
the next evening a camp was laid out for the 102d west of the town.
On the 12th of December the regiment moved into winter quarters at
Fort Thomas, which was situated close to the depot, and which the
brigade, working in reliefs by regiments, had been throwing up since
its arrival. On the 13th companies I, K and G were detailed for
patrol and provost duty in the town, and the next day were cantoned
in brick buildings on the public square. Company C was put on duty
at Station creek, three miles below Gallatin, where they spent the
winter guarding the railroad bridge. On the 11th of February com-
panies D and F and a part of A were ordered into the town to increase
the provost force. About New Year a mounted squad, composed of
a detail of two men from each company, was organized, and placed
under the command of Sergeant Edward Courtney, of company I,
/
./0--
/.
CAPT. DAN, W. SEDWICK
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT. 395,
making twenty-one altogether. Tliis was kept scouting until spring,
and did much hard, etlicient service. On the 14th of March the
several companies were relieved by a detail from the 105th Illinois,
and were reunited in the old camp to finish and garrison Fort Thomas.
The rainy, gloomy winter was over, the darkest period of the war
passed. With the fresh breath of spring came new life and gladness^
Drilling was resumed with great energy, and most encouraging im-
provements were made in the health, and spirits, and skill, and tactical
knowledge of the men.
April 27 a detachment of 150 frcjm the regiment was embarked on
board the regular morning express train for Louisville, under the chief
command of Col. B. J. Sweet, seconded by Col. Smith. Rebels were
hovering near Franklin, twenty-seven miles above, and when that place
was reached fifty soldiers were put off there in the belief that a skir-
mish would ensue. The train proceeded three or four miles farther,
when it was stopped by a breach in the track, and a volley was received
from a lot of rebel horsemen. The fire was instantly returned with
deadly effect, and then the men sprang from the cars in pursuit, but the
assailants disappeared in hot haste. Theii* loss was five killed and six
wounded. Five of the 102d were wounded, two mortally. A little
drummer boy on the train was wounded in the leg, which had to be
amputated. This was the first baptism of fire.
June 1 the brigade left its encampment at Gallatin and was trans-
ported on the cars to Lavergne, fifteen miles south of Nashville ; and
next day the 102d marched to Stewart's creek, six miles farther
south, and nine miles north of Murf'reesboro. Companies E, K, and
G were posted on the creek at the railroad crossing ; company H was
stationed at OveralPs creek, adjacent to the Stone river battlefield ; and
comjiany B at Smyrna. The right wing was encamped at a small
earthwork surmounting an eminence on Stewart's creek and overlook-
ing the crossing of the Nashville and Murfi-eesboro turnpike. When
Gen. Rosecrans organized the Tullahoma camj^aign the dispersed
forces at Nashville and elsewhere in the rear were formed into the
reserve corps, under the command of Gen. Gordon Granger, who, at
an earlv dav, entrusted the protection of the railroad between Nash-
ville and Murfresboro exclusively to the 102d. Col. Smith was ordered
to Lavergne with four companies, and, on August 19, companies C, E,
G, and I marched to that place, while the other six were stationed at
stockades along the railroad. Thus disposed the regiment was required
to do mucli hai-d duty, and it could not have been more satisfactorily
performed. Li addition to furnishing patrols, and men for a great
variety of service besides, the comi)anies at Lavergne began in October
28
396 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
to press horses from tlie disloyal for the purpose of mounting them-
••selves. Companies G and E were first mounted and equipped, next I,
•and then C; all of which was accomplished by the first week in
Kovember. A great deal of scouting was done in actjoining counties,
and the service was fraught with just enough risk to make it fasci-
nating. Exj^loits of these commands when hunting and chasing gue-
rillas increased the zest and excitement, and furnished not a little
material for anecdote, and not a few thrilling personal adventures. By
Christmas company B was mounted ; aiid another was partly so, when
i-emoval of the regiment stopped the impressment of horses. Skillful
management on the part of Col. Smith procured 225 of the breech-
loading Spencer repeating rifles for these companies, and each man
was provided besides with a Colt's navy revolver.
The inclement winter of 1863-4 was hardly passed when final
orders came to march to the front. February 26 the 102d left its can-
tonements and fell in with the rest of the brigade which had moved
out from Nashville on the 2-itli. The weather was warm and balmy
until the evening of the third day, when it began to rain ; throligh the
fourth day it rained moderately, and was cold, and that night our camp
was established on the naked creek bottom at Tullahoma. The tem-
perature lowered, the stream rose and overspread a part of the ground;
blankets and equipments were submerged ; and the men were driven
out of their tents. About one o'clock in the morning the writer started
a fire, using a cracker box, and by the light was enabled to pick up the
tiniest parts of tree tops. Piling on these twigs the flames leaped up
and danced a cheering and grateful invitation to the men who flocked
from all parts of the brigade. It poured down the next forenoon, and
3,000 soldiers, wet, cold and hungry, stood shivering in the rainy-
camp. In the afternoon removal to high ground and timber was taken,
and by liight, with the aid of huge fires, reasonable comfort and good
feeling were restored. Trees groaned beneath the weight of ice and
the gi'ound froze hard. Long will the first brigade remember its
sojourn at Tullahoma. On the eighth day the column crossed the
Raccoon moimtains, a spur of the Cumberland range, from Cowan,
over the rockiest and roughest road in America, and camped on the
other side at a place on the Nashville & Chattanooga railroad called
Tantelon. The wagon train lay on the mountain all night and did not
finish the passage till noon the next day. Stevenson was passed and
Bridgeport reached March 7; the 8th we rested; the 9th we moved
again ; and the 10th, being the fourteenth day from Lavergne, the
command reached the Wauhatchie valley, at the foot of the frowning
western encampment of Lookout mountain.
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT. 397
Here was made the most pleasant and beautiful camp the regiment
ever had. Snugly concealed by an environment of towering eminences,
and washed in rear by Lookout creek, it hicked nothing in natural
scenery and surroundings to give it an air of the most quiet pictur-
esqueness. Its elaborate and tasteful decoration was due mainly to the
efforts of Lieut. A. IL Trego and Adjutant J. It. Snyder, gentlemen
of the highest aesthetic endowment and culture. Space does not admit
a description of the tall arches, elegant devices, military legends, the
ornamented speaker's stand, and the chapel for religious worship.
Camp life was not more agreeable anywhere than at this place ; but the
stay of the regiment was one of hardening activity and preparation for
the rigors of the approaching campaign ; re^^ews, inspections, company
and battalion drills, and evolutions by brigade and division.
April 10 the last horses held by the mounted companies were
turned over at Cliattanooga. The navy revolvers were surrendered,
and an order came on the 29tli to exchange the Spencer rifles for
Springfleld rifled muskets. This last order produced a gloomy shadow
on the men's faces ; but as the time was short the change was never
made. We anticipate a little to say that this arm gave the 102d great
reputation in the army. " Give way for the Spencer regiment," "Let
these Spencers up," and the like, were expressions often heard when the
regiment was going up to relieve some other in a hot place on the front
line. The rebels recognized the regiment by its fire, and often asked
what kind of anns it had ; several times it was jocosely inquired if the
boys "wound up their guns on Monday morning and fired all the
week." The slow fact never dawned upon the sleepy authorities that
this rifle was fit for anything but the mounted service, and the idea pre-
vailed that soldiers armed with it would become addicted to laxitv of
aim and waste ammunition. The 102d demonstrated the senility of
these fears.
After the 11th and 12th army corps had been transfeiTed from the
east, Ward's brigade was attached to the former and numbered the
first brigade of the first division. On the consolidation of those two
corps in March, to form the 20tli, it became the first brigade of the
third division, and ever after retained that designation.
On the 2d of May simultaneous movements of all parts of the aiTny
began. Ward's brigade camped that night at Gordon's mills. On the
4th it moved from there to the vicinity of Kinggold, and on the 6th to
Leed's farm, near Xickajack Trace. Next day Taylor's ridge was
crossed at Gordon's pass ; Gordon's Springs was left behind, and the
command encamped near Yillanow. On the 11th, following up the
movement through Snake Creek gap, begun by McPherson on the 9th,
398 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
we halted for the night in the narrow defile between two of the
immense ridges of the mountains. After cutting a new road
through the woods the brigade moved out the next day two miles
to Sugar Valley. The advance was resumed early on the morning of
the 13th, and tlie command had gone but a short distance when it
found itself in proximity to the enemy. During a brief halt here Gen.
Kilpatrick, commanding the cavalry, was brought to the rear wounded.
At intervals during the forenoon advances were made, and in the
afternoon the brigade was formed in line with a company from each
regiment deployed as skirmishers. Then moving forward a short dis-
tance the line halted, the skmnishers occupying the crest of a ridge in
open timber in full view of the operations beyond, including the
charge by the 15th corps and capture of the enemy's rifle pits, a
redoubt, and two cannon. Meantime, having moved some distance,
about eight in the evening our division took a position on the right of
the 14th corps and on the summit of the wooded ridge overlooking
Camp creek, on the other side of which about eighty rods was the
enemy, working with vigor to strengthen his position.
Company G was ordered out as skirmishers and posted at the base
of the hill. Early next morning company E was added, and then a
bold advance was made to the stream. An attempt to outflank the
line being discovered by Capt. Sedwick, he returned through great
exposure to the reserve, and, advancing to the left, drove the rebels
back. In the afternoon, while neighboring troops were engaged, our
line was ordered forward to the brow of the hill as a feint. The move-
ment unmasked the left of company I and a tremendous volley con-
centrated upon it killed one, wounded two severely, and two slightly.
The day was very hot. The skirmishers in their advanced position
could not move without fatal danger, and their sufferings from heat and
thirst were intense. The condition of the wounded, beyond the reach
of help until darkness, was more aggravated. The casualties in com-
pany G were : killed, John Gibson and Watson W. Hibbs ; wounded,
Frederick Friebele, John Burnett (mortally), Lemuel S. Gruffy,
William P. Ii-win (died in hospital), William S. Pearson, William M.
Bunting, John B. Felton,- John Dunn, and William T. Todd (died in
hospital). In company E the wounded were : Michael Oswalt (died
in hospital), Jonathan P. Morrison, and Gilbert Zend.
On the morning of Sunday, the 15tli, the division was relieved and
marched four miles to the left to join the rest of the corps, which had
been ordered round the day before. A fortified hill on the Dalton
road, north of Ilesacca, was selected for attack in the hope of piercing
the line at that point. The enemy's breastworks, nearly 5U0 yards
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGBIENT. 399
distant fi-om wliere our troops could be massed for assault without dis-
covery, stretched away in the form of an arc upon the crest of a long,
high hill covered with forest trees, hiding the position fi-om view. A
spur, lower than the main ridge, jutted out in front, and on this a
lunette had been constructed in which were planted four twelve-pound
brass cannon. The brigade was marched up under cover of the hea\y
and tangled woods to the crown of the loftv ridffe confrontinor this
formidable position, and there organized for the assault, with the 70th
Indiana in frout, the 102d next in order, followed by the 79th Ohio,,
and the 105th and 129th Illinois, closed en masse. At noon a low
command was given and the column moved down the hill without a
word, concealed by the timber and the heavy undergrowth, down
trees helping to obstruct the ground, and pushed its way through with
fixed bayonets. Debouching suddenly upon the open, plain, (len.
Ward gave the short, shrill command, "double quick," and with
a bound and a prolonged yell the brigade sprang to the assault.
At the same instant heavy skirmishing along the whole front and a
brisk cannonade were begun to confuse the enemy and cover the
charge. The rebels were taken by complete surprise, but responded
at once with a terrible fire from the battery and the infantry posted
behind. The smoke from the rebel "jjosition wrapped the hill in a
lurid mantle, and the refrain from the artillery on both sides thun-
dered above us. Men were dropping on every hand, but on and on
with a continuous shout, like a thunderbolt of war, went the brigade.
It seems but a minute and the broad valley is passed ; breath is short-
ened and speed slackened, but the column presses up the hillside.
Some stoop beneath while others push aside the boughs. The cheer
has died out and the men, unable to see the foe, clench their teeth for
deadly work. A moment more and the rebel guns, shotted with grape
and canister, vomit their red flame into the faces of the advancing
column. At the last discharge the men are so close that the hot
breath of the angry cannon sways the line for an instant. Then, on
our side is the first musket fired. A tremendous roar convulses the
earth. A few of the rebel gunners flee, but the rest remain, like the
heroes that they are, at their pieces, and with the obstinacy of despair
vainly endeavor 'to beat back our men with their sponge-stafis ! But
all save five are slaughtered ; these are taken pi-isoners by members
of companies E and I. Many impelled by the boldness of ardor dash
still deeper into the woods that cover the rebel intrenchments, and a
few go quite up to them.
At this juncture an unfortunate circumstance deprived us of a com-
plete triumph to this magnificent chai-ge. Gen. Ward being wounded
400 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
almost at tlie beginning of the action the command devolved upon
Col. Hari-ison of the 70th Indiana. He lost his coolness and ordered
a retreat. Through misunderstanding the second brigade, brought up
for support, fired into us from the rear. These evil occurrences caused
confusion, and some fell back while others remained. The rebels had
retired from their works, but rallied and returned. Had tlie situation
of the breastworks been known to the men, or could thev have been
seen bj most of them, the line would have been taken. But when the
lunette was captured, no other works being in sight, it was supposed
by the men generally that they were in possession of all the enemy
had, and that the rebel infantry had ingloriously fled. This was their
first battle, too, and they had no fixed and common idea as to what
might be found on the field, or what should be expected. With their
experience a month later they would have carried the entire parapet
in handsome style and completely broken through the enemy's line.
The rebels having come back, they opened with shar]D volleys, and
our men, lying down behind logs and ti'ees and under the redoubt,
grimly resolved to hold all they had gained. The lines were but a
few rods apart, and a galling fire was kept i^p by both sides during the
day and a part of the night ; but the foe was well protected, while our
men were greatly exposed to raking shots from the right and the left,
as well as from the front.
When at the early stage the disorder was created, a part of the
regiment was collected at the foot of the hill and marched to the left,
where they took a share in a fierce engagement with Hood's corps,
which charged our line and was disastrously repulsed.
At ten o'clock that night we were relieved and fell back a short
distance to the rear for rest. The casualties in the 102d were IS
killed, 76 wounded, and 1 missing. Six of the wounded soon after
died. In this action the gallantry of both ofticers and men received
flattering notice next day in orders from Gen. Buttei-field, and later,
complimentary credit from the general of the army. Acts of indi-
vidual heroism were numerous. Orderly sergeant John Morrison, of
company A, who had been commissioned lieutenant but not mustered,
and was wounded and afterward died, was much applauded for con-
spicuous bravery. Color-sergeant R. L. Carver displayed most cour-
ageous bearing and was seriously wounded. The banner-bearer,
Corporal P. F. Dillon, fell an instant later, pierced through the breast.
Adjutant J. H. Snyder caught up the banner and bore it with impetu-
ous gallantry into the earthwork and subsequently planted it on the
parapet. Fifty bulllets riddled its folds and two struck the stafl'. The
colors of the 102d were the first raised over the works. Persistent
ONE HUNDRED AMD SECOND REGIMENT. 401
valor shed luster on our flag. The des})erate courage which held the
position from noon until ten o'clock at night was not sui'passed by the
heroism which covered our arms with glory at Buena Vista or Cerro
Gordo.
That night Johnson withdrew his army across the Oostanaula, and
Sherman followed close behind the next day. Our brigade was left to
bury its dead. A long trench, embowered by soughing pines, was
dug, and the fifty-one slain of the brigade were given tender sepulture
in this common grave. A prayer was said, a few remarks were made
by a white-haired chaplain, the grave was filled, and the brigade, as
, night was nearing, hastened to overtake the main army.
" We marched on our wearisome way,
And we strewed the wild hills of Resacca —
God bless those who fell on that day."
On the morning of the 27th we crossed the Coosawattee river and
marched ten miles that day. The 18tli was hot and many straggled
along the route of fifteen miles. Toward the close of the afternoon
the enemy grew stubborn as he was closely pressed. Moving out very
early next morning, the 19th, the brigade was shortly tlirown into line
of battle, with companies B and G from the 102d in front as skir-
mishers. The enemy was in plain sight, and after taking a shelling
from a single field piece an hour and a half, and losing Samuel Har-
vey, of company G, the brigade moved two miles to the right. As
soon as this new ground was reached the rebels emerged from a dense
woods on the opposite side of an extensive field, and advanced toward
our line. AYith extreme energy a barricade of rails was made, while
a battery on our right played upon them so effectively as to send them
hurtling back whence they came. At 2 o'clock the order to advance
was given, and we debouched into the cleared sjiace and marched in
columns by company up the rising ground. Banners were unfurled
and fluttered proudly over the heads of the men, as with handsome
precision they executed the movement. As far as could be seen
in either direction nothing met the eye but this imposing pageant.
Gen. Hooker and his staff remained near our brigade during the
afternoon, and when the highest ground was reached we were halted
in that position for some time, our commander watching from this
favorable point the movements of the enemy. We were close on the
foe and there was expectation of a battle. Johnson had resolved to
risk a general engagement at Cassville, and had his ai-my strongly
posted and intrenched for that purpose, but later developments led
him to adopt a different plan. Our skirmishers were thrown forward
to a narrow strip of woods below us ; beyond this was another field
4:02 HISTORY OF MERGER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
into wliicli tlie rebels came. A battery in our immediate rear pitched
a few shells over the ti'ee tops where onr skirmishers were sheltered,
and as we had a view of the open ground on the other side, we pres-
ently saw the rebels raising the dust in retreat. They were followed
by the skirmishers who disappeared in the timber wliich hid the enemy
at the same time. At five o'clock we advanced over the same ground
to the edge of Cassville. After a brief halt the command fell back
and went into camp near the place from which it last moved up. AVe
slept that night under orders from the commanding general for the
whole army to close in upon Cassville at daylight, and "to attack the
enemy wherever found. " But he was in full retreat before that hour.
Pausing a few days till the railroad was repaired we moved again
at four o'clock on the morning of the 23d and crossed the Etowah. On
the 24th, continuing in the direction of Dallas, the command camped
at Burnt Hickory, and at four o'clock on the afternoon of the 25th was
brought up to support Geary's division, which had struck the enemy in
force at New Hope Church, and was under fire some hours. At dark
the brigade was ordered to march over the four lines of our troops
lying in front, and to attack the enemy vigorously. The 102d
instantly began the forward movement, which was soon arrested by a
member of Gen. Butterfield's staff till the 70th Indiana could make
connection with it. When this was • done Col. Smith renewed the
advance until we came upon the skirmishers belonging to the second
brigade (Col. Coburn), where he halted the regiment and ordered the
men to lie down while preparations were making for the attack. It
was discovered that we were separated from the YOth, and Col. Coburn
at the same moment gave information that the enemy was not more
than 200 yards in front, strongly posted and six lines deep. One of
Gen. Butterfield's staff appeared, and being notified of the situation
directed Col. Smith to remain in that position, and, if possible, to find
Col. Harrison. The latter was discovered some distance in the rear,
and being temporarily in command of the brigade ordered the 102d to
return, which it did, getting into position with the rest of the brigade
about ten o'clock. It had begun to rain, the night was very dark, and
the command was hopelessly mixed up in the forest. The bursting
rebel shells lighted up the woods with a grand and weird appearance.
Fatigued and rationless the men sank down upon the wet ground.
In his memoirs, speaking of this place, and events here. Gen. Sher-
man says: "The woods were so dense and the resistance so spirited
that Hooker could not carry the position, though the battle was noisy
and prolonged far into the night. This point, ' New Hope, ' . . .
was four miles northeast of Dallas, and from the bloody fighting there
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT. 403
for the next week was called by the soldiers 'Ilell-Hole.' The night
was pitch-dark, it rained hard, and the convergence of our columns
toward Dallas produced much confusion. I am sure similai- confusion
existed in the army opposed to us, for we were all mixed uj). I slept
on the ground, without cover, along side of a log, got little sleep,
resolved at daylight to renew the battle, and to nuike a lodgment on
the Dallas and Allatoona road, if possible, but the morning revealed a
strong line of intrenchnicnts facing us, with a heavy force of infantry
and guns. The battle was renewed, and without success." Descri]>
tive of the style of fighting, he continues : " All this time a continual
battle was in })rogress by strong skirmish-lines, taking advantage of
every species of cover, and both parties fortifying each night by rifie-
trenches, with head-logs, many of which grew to be as formidable as
first-class works of defense. Occasionally one party or the other would
make a dash in the nature of a sally, but usually it sustained a repulse
with great loss of life. I visited personally all parts of our lines nearly
every day, was constantly within musket-range, and though the fire of
musketry and cannon resounded day and night along the whole line,
varying from six to ten miles, I rarely saw a dozen of the enemy at
any one time, and these were always skirmishers, dodging from tree to
tree, or behind logs on the ground, or who occasionally showed their
heads above the. hastily-constructed, but remarkably strong, rifle-
trenches."
Companies A and F were detailed to build breastworks, and before
daylight the regiment was brought to the line and engaged with a will
in the same task. A thick fog obscured everything; still the enemy's
sharp-shooters were able to annoy severely the working parties, and
Capt. D. W. Sedwick was ordered forward with company E to drive
them away. He advanced to within a few yards- of the rebel breast-
works before discovering his proximity to them, and before he could
withdraw had several men wounded. Posting his company behind
trees and logs the rebel marksmen could not long endure the intense
and accurate fire of the Spencer rifles. Company E was relieved early
by company C, and this at one in the afternoon by company K. Capt.
Sedwick had seven men wounded that morning. Battery M, 1st New
York artillery, had been brought up to our line and kept in constant
activity two or three hours, and the rebels, to silence or check its fii-ing,
planted guns nearly opposite in their intrenchments. Information of
this, coming to Col. Smith, he strengthened the skirmish-line with eight
picked men, who were instructed to cover the guns, which could be
seen through the foliage, with a torrent of lead, to prevent their use or
removal. Gen. Hooker approved this and ordered that it be continued
404 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
with vigor, and at five o'clock tlie skirmisliers were reinforced by
twenty more marksmen* At eleven o'clock at night the rebels
attempted to remove them, but were frustrated by the terrible fire con-
centrated on them from the Spencer rifles. The guns were held by
occasional reliefs until the afternoon of the 2Tth, when the regiment
was relieved by the 111th Pennsylvania. When the Spencers were
gone the enemy got his battery off.
Moving to the right half a mile and joining the brigade on the
right of the coi-jjs, we waited till after dark for orders, and then were
placed behind breastworks, where we lay till the next morning, and
were relieved by the 73d Ohio. Company F had one man wounded
here just as the relief was taking place. The rebels opened on us
warmly as we retired, and we had not more than reached a location
300 yards in rear, for rest, when they showed awakened activity, and
' ' several rounds of grape shot were fired by them, and the little iron
crab apples barked the trees and rattled around so thickly it was mar-
velous no one was hurt. " Finally, dropping a little farther to the rear,
we camped for the night. Loss during the four days, 4 killed and 14
wounded.
At ten at niffht on the 29th the 102d was ordered half a mile to the
right to close a gap between the 15th and 20th corps, and on the morn-
ing of the 31st was relieved by the 129th Illinois, Cob Case. At noon
of the 1st of June, being relieved by troops from the 15th corps, we
moved with the brigade three miles to the left. Thus had passed a
week in the " Hell-Hole, " and thus ended our share in "the di*awn
battle of New Hope church," so-called by Gen. Sherman. '
At noon on the 2d a rainy period, which extended to the last days
of the month, began with a descending torrent. An hour later the
brigade again took up the movement to the left, and proceeding two
and a half miles was formed in order of battle in support of the 2d
brigade, before which the enemy fell back stubbornly. The other
regiments were more exposed and their loss was considerable. Brigade
Surgeon Potter, of the 105th Illinois, was killed by a shell. The 3d
was rainy ; the troops were out of rations ; another move was taken
three miles to the left. Next day another short move was made. Then
on the 6th a march of five miles brought us to the Wet Tortugas^ where
we raised a breastwork and lay in the rain till the 15th. Rations were
short, and ox-tail soup and damaged " hard tack" in request. At one
in the afternoon the brigade was thrown forward, with the 102d on the
skirmish-line, companies E, F, G and I deployed, the rest in reserve.
Crossing an ample field the rebel skirmishers were driven fi*om their
outposts in the edge of the woods. Retreating to strong posts on
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT. 405
higher ground thev hekl out a stubborn resistance, but our men pressed
up under a brisk fire to within fifty yards, and at tlie next advance
they drew off. The most important casualty was tlie wound received
by Capt. Isaac McManus.
This phice was known as Golgotha cliurch, and it was here that
Col. Smith received a flesh wound on the lOtli, which sent him to the
rear till the 10th of August, when he rejoined the regiment before
Atlanta. The loss in the 102d during the two days' operations was
thirteen wounded, including the officers named. Alluding to these
operations Gen. Sherman says : ' ' On the 1 5th we advanced our gen-
eral lines, intending to attack at any weak point discovered between
Kenesaw and Pine Mountain ; but Pine Mountain was found to be
abandoned, and Johnston had contracted his front somewhat, on a
direct line, connecting Kenesaw with Lost Mountain. ... On
the 16th the general movement was continued, when Lost Mountain
was abandoned by the enemy.""
We pause to give the general's description of how breastworks were
built: "The enemy and ourselves used the same form of rifle-trench,
varied according to the nature of the ground, viz : the trees and bushes
were cut away for a hundred yards or more in front, serving as an
abatis or entanglement ; the parapets varied from four to six feet high,
the dirt taken from a ditch outside and from a covered way inside, and
this parapet was surmounted by a ' head-log, ' composed of the trunk of
a tree from twelve to twenty inches at the butt, lying along the interior
crest of the parapet and resting in notches cut in other trunks, which
extended back, forming an inclined plane, in case the head-log should
be knocked inward by a cannon-shot. The men of both armies became
extremely skillful in the construction of these works, because each man
realized their value and importance to himself, so that it required no
orders for their construction. As soon as a regiment or brigade gained
a position within easy distance of a sally, it would set to work with a
will, and would construct such a parapet in a single night. "
On the 17th the right of the army, composed of the 20tli and 23d
corps, the latter slightly refused on the flank, swung forward in a kind
of grand left wheel in the direction of Marietta. It will not be for-
gotten how Butterfield's division hunted its way through the low
bushes and tangled timber to conceal its .own movement; for, as Gen.
Sherman explains, the enemy's "position gave him a perfect view over
our field, and we had to proceed with due caution." On reaching open
ground we formed our camp, and lay here till'the morning of the 10th,
when the bugle sounded the "general," to "pack up our kna])sacks
and get ready to go. " It was here that we witnessed the shelling of a deep
406 HISTORY OF IVfERCEK AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
forest by a number of onr batteries occupying two tiers npon a lofty
and extensive range, one holding the crest, the other halfway down the
side on a ledge or shelf For adaptability to the purpose and the occa-
sion the position was all that nature could have made it, and with so
many guns in oi^eration, all in fiill view, the effect heightened by the
exhibition beyond, the sharp explosions of shells, and the white puffs
of lurid smoke rising above the trees, whose tops were lower than our
feet, as we stood on the summit, was such an incident in war's realities
as is not often seen. The enemy was sullen, responding only occa-
sionally with his field-pieces, but his sharp-shooters were active and did
some execution.
On the 19th the enemy, holding on to Kenesaw mountain, con-
ti'acted his flanks to cover more completely Marietta and the railroad ;
and the right wing moved foi-ward in another grand swing eastwardly,
our own division, and perhaps others, executing a variety of pei'plex-
ing maneuvers through the dense pines, and under conflicting orders.
The 102d was refused on the extreme right of the coii^s, and company
C held the skirmish line this and the following day. The men worked
till midnight building breastworks. To work the whole night was a
common occurrence. Rains continued frequent and excessive.
On the night of the 20th the men had scarcely fallen to sleep
when they were roused up and ordered to move. This time it was but
a short distance and only to straighten the line. Again were the
soldiers building breastworks until midnight ; before they were finished
orders came to cease using the axes and to be ready to march at six
in the morning. The forenoon of the 21st was spent waiting in the
rain for the order to move ; finally Gen, Hooker directed that the
men be set to strengthening the works.
From eleven o'clock of the 22d the day was full of surprises and
lively operations, and tremulous throughout with impending battle,
which fell just at evening upon the first division (Williams'). At the
former hour tlie brigade was formed for the support of the third
brigade, Col. Wood, and we were under a chafing fire for several
hours ; and in the meantime double-quicking across a plowed field to
the timber, where we threw up a parapet of rails just behind Wood's
men. The afternoon was passed in moving short intervals to the
right and making barricades .and traverses each time. The last one
was finished at one o'clock next morning ; at four the command was
relieved and soon moved a mile to the right ; at noon it moved still
farther to the immediatevicinity of the Kulp house, some three miles
due west from Marietta. Casualties in the 102 on the 20th and the
22d were one killed and four wounded.
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIlvrENT. 407
We lay here a little retired from the main line until nightfall of
the 26th. At that time the brigade relieved the front line and held it
till the evening of the 29th, when it M^ithdrew to the third line for
rest, and its place was taken by Wood's brigade. Gen. Butterfield
was relieved this day and Gen. Ward succeeded to the command of
the division. Col. Harrison assumed command of the brigade.
We have reached the end of the month during which copious
rains have scarcely intermitted for twenty-four hours at a time.
At dark on the first of July we exchanged places with the second
brigade, which was on the second line.
The rebel chieftain having detected Gen. Sherman in the first
stage of a movement for the possession of Kenesaw mountain and
Marietta, similar to the one which gave him Atlanta, fell back sud-
denly during the night of the 2d of July within his defenses on the
north bank of the Chattahoochee. The commanding general had so
well calculated the effect of his strategy that he was expecting the
retreat and had issued orders, which were received that night, for the
troops to be ready to march at daylight. Starting out in the morning,
Capt. Sedwick in advance with companies E, F, G and B, as skirm-
ishers, we took the road leading to Marietta, and struck the enemy's
rear-guard of cavalry a mile from the town. Capt. S. directed the
movements of his command with his accustomed prudence, and kept
up a running attack until he had driven them through the town, which
he occupied an hour in advance of any other troops. From this time
till the 6th we moved leisurly toward the Chattahoochee. We stopped
that day within two miles of the river, and on the Sth began policing
our camp under orders from brigade headquarters. At this place we •
got first sight of the church spires in Atlanta. By climbing trees we
could see them plainly in the distance, and we strained our eyes for
the largest view.
The last of the enemy's forces crossed in the night of the 9th,
and thenceforward the contending pickets were on opposite banks of
the river. In front of our division the murderous fire between them
ceased by mutual agreement. The foes basked within a stone's throw
of one another ; occasionally they talked across, and always mani-
fested the best of feeling. Swimming across from one to the other got
to be a practice ; papers were exchanged, and traffic in coffee and
tobacco was carried on. The- "Yanks" had the coft'ee and the
"rebs" the "weed."" Gen. Ward, distrustful of this tamiliarity,
forbade it in a special order. But the boys, tired of the constant
strain, did not renew tlie firing.
On the evening of the ITtli we crossed the river at Paice's ferry
408 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
and camped three miles on the other side. Next day we went two
and a half miles farther south, and at three on the morning of the
19th threw up breastworks. Having orders to occupy the range of
hills south of Peach Tree creek, the brigade moved on the 20th, and
a little after noon it tiled along the northern base, the line of march
for some distance being swept by the severe fire of the rebel skir-
mishers. At length a halt was made, and the men threw themselves
on the side of the hill under the scorching sun for a rest, and the
cooks engaged in making colfee on the creek bottom.
This was our situation when, at half-past three, the order was
given to fall in. In a few minutes word came from those at the top
of the hill that the rebels were coming. At that instant a rider was
seen coming down from the right, in rear of the line, at full speed,'
brandishing his sword. It was discovered to be Col. Harrison, and
in a moment more was caught the command, "Forw'ard!" It was a
magnificent sight to those who saw the "Old Iron Brigade" go up
the hill that day in a counter onset.
The engagement was fought mainly by the 20th corps. The forma-
tion of the line on which the shock fell was in the following order
beginning on the left : Newton's division, 4-th corps ; Ward's, Geary's,
and Williams' divisions, 20tli coi-ps \ and one brigade of Johnson's
division, 14th corps. The 20th coi-jds met the enemy without protec-
tion of any kind ; the other commands fought behind light parapets.
The former also had not established its line, and was caught without a
premonition while in the act of change ; tlie second (Geary's) division
was but partly deployed, some of the regiments were closed cm masse,
drawing rations and cooking. The first (Harrison's) brigade was en-
tirely on open ground, the right and left flanks resting against wooded
eminences. It was on the right of the divison and was arranged with
the 102d on the right, and the 79th Ohio and the 129th Illinois in suc-
cession toward the left. The 105th Illinois and the 70th Indiana were
in the rear, but when the left of the brigade was hotly engaged they
advanced and took part in the hand-to-hand combat. On the right
of the 102d was a battery which opened the battle in our front as
soon as the enemy debouched from the woods, and before the main
line reached the summit. When the column halted on the ridge there
was a sudden and tumultuous roar as if it had been the crack of doom.
The open vista was swarming with the enemy advancing steadily with-
out skirmishers, in the Russian style, in deej) masses, and in easy
musket range. In front of the 102d was a clump of trees and a stream ;
the latter bent north across our line, forming a ravine having long slop-
ing sides. The brigade lay across this ravine with its flanks resting
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND KEGIMENT. 409
above and overlooking the center. The stream turned the rebels oif
from the immediate front of the 102d, and this regiment was free to
take an oblique and enfilading fire which was directed to the left u})on
the crowded columns pressing the brigade in that <juarter. The TOth
Ohio, on the left and the battery on the right, were obliged to concen-
trate theirs on the same ground. Tlie effect of this converging fire
was appalling. The rebels went down by scores. Ragged gaps were
torn through their ranks faster than the men could close up. They
fire as they come bending down to catch the least of the storm and
looking toward the torrent that comes from the Spencer rifles. Their
flag bearers crowd to the front and jjress forward, waving their colors
defiantly to encourage and animate men who move amidst rampant
slaughter as if they had come to die. As flags go down they are
picked up by new carriers who flaunt them and urge on with marvel-
ous fortitude. The battery, the 102d and the T9th have wrapped the
hill whereon they stand in lambent flame. With desperate energy the
whole brigade is gathering the lai'gest advantage on the first equal
field. But what can check that surging, resistless assault? The col-
umn has passed the line and the ordeal of our enfilading and plunging
fire rolls on wildly to dash itself against the unsupported ranks of the
TOth, the 105th, and the 129th. Tlie shock would have overborne
these regiments but for the terrible reduction of the enemy's numbers
before the commingled encounter. At length, forced to yield the field,
the bleeding, decimated remnant returns in precipitate disorder only
to run again the gauntlet of that withering fire which broke the rebels'
strength but could not daunt their corn-age.
While the events we have described were taking place on the left:,
a threatening situation was developed on our right. Geary's division
being unexpectedly assailed before it was well in position, the brigade
connecting with Ward's division was forced back, and the rebels came
upon our right flank, enfilading the line, momentarily capturing the
batteiy at the head of the 102d, and firing one or two ineffectual shots
down our ranks. They were evidently about to fall ujjon our rear
when an aid dashed up to Capt. Wilson who was commanding the regi-
ment (Lieut. Col. Mannon being sick but on the field), and told him
that if he remained in that position his connnand would be captured
in less than five minutes. But no heed was given to this, and in a few
minutes more the brigade that had given way was rallied and recovered
its ground. The battery at one time in the hands of the foe, was taken
down the hill under whip and spur, but was brought back to remain.
The heavy work of this battle was done in an hour. Hood's and
Hardee's corps were the assailing force. The carnage was frightful.
410 HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Taking into account the time and number engaged, and tlie number
authors de coimbat^ it was tlie most sanguinary battle of the cam|)aign.
The iield on our left front was covered with the slain, and it would
have been no trouble to walk over it without stepping upon the ground.
Gen. SheiTnan reported 500 rebels dead. In the hospital of the third
division were over 600 wounded rebels, and most of them bore more
than a single wound. The enemy's loss was estimated by Gen.
Hooker at 6,000; our own loss was 1,907. The favorable position of
the 102d shielded it from heavy loss. Two were killed and nine
wounded. But it had done unexampled execution; 5,000 rounds of
Spencer ammunition alone were estimated to have been used. The
brigade captured three stands of colors. As soon as the fighting was
over. Gen. Hooker sent word that the third division had saved the day,
and thanked the first brigade for its gallant behavior.
After the battle, when prisoners were taken and asked how many
were left in their army, their sad answer was : ' ' Enough for another
killing."
Hood ha\'ing fallen back to Atlanta, on the 22d our lines were
advanced and contracted around the devoted city, the first brigade
occupying a place three-fourths of a mile east of the railroad. The
102d was warmly shelled until the evening of the 25th, and had two
wounded. Advancing a hundred yards it was under fire twenty-four
hours and one severely wounded. It then moved to the rear and
right, taking a place in the second line, where it was shelled more
vigorously than ever. During the progress of the battle on the 28th
the division was ordered to the support of those engaged ; but this
was countermanded and the troops marched back, the first brigade
going into camp east of the railroad. On the following morning the
division marched to the extreme right of the army and formed a line
perpendicular to the rear to protect the flank. On the 2d of August,
being relieved, it marched back, and next day was assigned a position
on the left of the 14th corps and just west of the railroad. The line
was advanced a short distance on the 5th and the 13th. Col. Smith
rejoined the regiment on the 10th.
On the 25th orders looking to the placing of the main body of the
army south of Atlanta and directly upon Hood's communications were
received, the defense of the Chattahoochee being assigned to the 20th
corps. The signal for withdrawal, previously arranged, was for the
field-bands t(j begin |)laying, as usual, about twilight, and close the
evening ])ertormance with Yankee Doodle precisely at eight, when
the columns were to move noiselessly out of the intrechments. The
bugles sounded "retreat" at the customary hour, of eight, and half
[isft*?"'^.
'■y/^.
'1^.
ASA W. RANSOM
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT. 413
an lioui* later "tattoo.'" How iinjn-essive and tremulous those long
strains ! Our brigade moved a mile to the rear and lay there till half
past two in the mornino;. Tlie pickets remained at their posts till
near daylight. We reached the river just as day broke forth.
In the afternoon of the 27th our brigade crossed to the north side of
the river, and was separately disposed, the 102d being stationed behind
a light parapet which the rebels once threw up on the heights. On
the night of the 1st of Sejjtember we lie in our bunks listening to
the explosions in Atlanta. They tell their story. Xext day the city
is formally surrendered to Gen. Ward ; and ' 'Atlanta is ours and
fairly won.''
The following from Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, the ablest com-
mander in the confederacy, will be interesting to those who toiled and
fought so valiantly against his consummate generalship ; and none
who were aiTayed against his own men will doubt the justness of his
tribute to their military virtues. Alluding to the Atlanta campaign,
he is reported to have said : " There is nothing in the history of war
that can equal many of the maneuvers of that important campaign.
History does not record such marvelous ability to overcome obstacles
and prepare the pathway for any army as were exhibited on many
occasions by Gen. Sherman's engineers. It was just four days fi"om
the time they reached the Chattahoochee river and pointed out the
standing timber to the vigorous axmen, before they had ti*ains moving
across the river over a substantial bridge several hundred feet long
[and nearly a hundred feet high], but of unhewn timber. Again, in
Ko]"th Carolina, they marched nine miles a day and corduroyed every
foot of the road, a feat never before approached in the history of army
movements. Gen. Hampton came to me one day and said he had
obstructed a cut in the Xortli Carolina railroad in such a manner as to
prevent Sherman's advance some week's ; but we were never able to
discern that it any way intert'ered with his progress. I look upon the
ability of the army under my command with its meager resources of
everything to make successftil warfare, to resist Sherman's march as
well as it did, as an achievement worthy of their matchless valor and
endurance. Ko soldiers ever suft'ered and endured more for their
homes and country ; none ever fought harder or with greater
bravery. "
AVe have already exceeded the space allotted to this sketch, and
while aware that it is only an outline of the history of the regiment,
can barely skeletonize the remainder.
On the It! til of September the brigade marched to Atlanta and
camped one mile south of the city. From here Col. Harrison obtained
24
414 HISTORY OF 2VCERCEK A2fD HENDERSON COUNTIES.
leave of absence and Col. Smith succeeded to the command of the
brigade. Lieut. Col. Mannon having a short time before resigned on
account of disability, Capt. W. A. Wilson, being the ranking line
officer, assumed command of the regiment until he resigned in Octo-
ber. Capt. II. H. Clav, of company D, succeeded, and was finally
commissioned and mustered as major.
On the 1st of October the brigade marched back to the Chatta-
hoochee, where it lay cantoned until* the 14th of Xovember. The
railroad north of the river was destroyed on the 12th, and the next
day it was torn up on the south side. On the evening of the 13th and
the moi-ning of the 14th the brigade was pulled into the river. At
ten o'clock on the last day the command took up the march for
Atlanta to plunge, on the morrow, into the unknown destinies.
The soldiers felt that the destination was to be Savannah or
Mobile ; but when om' column pointed in the direction of Stone
mountain about noon of the 15tli, "Savannah" was the watchword ; .
though at this time the objective, owing to the contingencies of war,
was not certainly fixed in the mind of the commanding general.
There was a magical fascination in it, for all were sure that this expe-
dition would be one of the renowned achievements of the war.
We marched almost continuously until after dark on the 16tli, the
brigade being on detail the fii'st day and night as train-guard. The
102d was in advance of the division on the 17th, and moved at day-
light. Impressment of stock and pro\dsions began by regular foraging
parties. We marched on the 18th through the quiet, pleasant country
village of Social Circle, and the railroad hamlet called Rutledge, and
went into camp after dark. On the 19th Madison, county seat of
Morgan county, was passed; and on the 20th the command started
before daylight, the 102d in the advance. We camped at half-past three
o'clock tw<:) miles north of Eatonton. We marched through this place
next morning. It had rained the two previous nights, and rained all
this day; the roads were very heavy; still, no hardship in that; the
soldiers were living off* the country ! Every man is now a traveling
commissariat, carrying flour, meal, yams, preserves, molasses, fowls,
mutton, choice cuts of undressed pork, etc. The men dash into houses
hunting for soda, flour, meal, and choicer edibles. It would be an
error to suppose that all the troops ran helter-skelter ; but then there
were enough who went in this manner to get all the provisions that
were needed.
The 22d was a bleak, ehillv dav. Startino; at ten o'clock, our
column, at four in the afternoon, marched into the sleepy town of
Milledgeville. The whites had mostly left, and the capital was in the
ONE IILNDRKI) AND SECOND REGIMENT. 415
liands of the colored people. Sullen composure reigned. The army
rested here the 23d. Officers, for a i)rank, collected in the hall of
representatives, repealed the ordinance of secession, and solemnly
declared the "sovereign" State of Georgia back in the union. Cross-
ing the Oconee river on the morning of the 24th, we at once left the
high, rolling country for the level, sandy, swamjty region which stretclies
hence to the coast. Camj* was pitched at midnight. The di\-ision
guarded the wagon-train on the 25th. Roads were execrable ; teams'
stalled in tlie mire ; progress was very slow. A burned bridge caused the
train to park and the division to encamp only five miles foi-ward from
the bivouac of the night before. Skirmishing in front with "Wheeler's
cavalry. Some skirmishing on the 20th. The command halted early
at night at Sandersville. The following of contrabands was becoming
numerous. At sundown on the 27th the column was at Davisboro.
Some light skirmishing was done, and a part of the corps was engaged
in destroving the Georgia Central railroad. Soldiers in jubilant spirits.
The march was resumed at eleven on the 2Sth. and the troops went
into camp at night near the Ogeechee river. The 14th corps crossed
that night on our road. Lying in camp on the 29th till two in the
afternoon, the command crossed the river on a pontoon bridge ; march-
ing five mOes it bivouacked at the countv-town of Louisville. The
first and second divisions were tearing lip the railroad, and our division
was with the wagon-train. The 30th was passed in camp. December 1
tlie column moved .five or six miles. A party of foragers had a
runninff fiirht with the rebel cavalrv, and three of the 102d were taken
prisoners. On the 2d the first brigade was in the rear, and the troops
had a night march of several hours. Millen, one of the rebel starving-
pens for union ])risoners. was left to the right on the 3d. Tearing up
of the Savannah Sc Augusta railroad gave employment to a number of
brigades this dav. The famous cypress swamj)s are reached. The
4th passed without incident, the column marching ten miles and halting
after dark. The third division liad the advance on the 5th, moved
eight miles, and camped early in the afternoon. Tlie rebels amused
themselves felling trees across the road on the 6th. Full of the inspi-
ration of our great leader, we marched 'round them. Found camp just
as the bugle was blowing "retreat." On the 7th the column, with the
102d in advance, moved on Sj)ringfield. county seat of Effingham
county, which was reached without other opposition than the barricad-
ing of roads. The brigade halted in the town, where it lay over all
the next day. The forward movement was resumed after dark the 8th,
the brigade taking the rear. Tlie command was under motion during
the night and the next day until eight in the evening, and proceeded
416 HISTORY OF MERCER Als^D HENDERSON COUNTIES.
eighteen miles. On the 10th the 102d was again the advance. A
little after noon we came up against the defenses of Savannah, and
bivouacked on the line of investment four and a half miles from the
city. The line was corrected and permanently located on the 11th.
The two things to absorb thought and energy now were subsistence
and a passage for attack over the swamp in front. Yast quantities of
rice were stored on the liver. Mills were put in operation, the negroes
set to work, soldiers takhig a hand with them. Company I was sent
seven miles up the Savannah river to an island called Tied Knoll, where
several days were spent grinding corn and threshing rice. "Hard-
tack " was issued on the 20tli ; rice was almost the sole article of diet
for ten days.
The experiment of bridging the swamp was engaged in day and
night, with the water from two to four feet deep, full of every obstruc-
tion that could accumulate in a forest, and all underlain witli a black,
sticky mud. Working in the water at this season, and under the rebel
guns, which "went hunting " for the boys with exasperating diligence,
was hardly comfortable employment. It is scarcely worth the while
to say that this was a practical failure. Some members of the regiment
waded the swamp in the daytime and made an inspection of the rebel
breastworks.
On the morning of the 2l8t the 20tli corps hoisted the stars and
stripes over the city hall in Sa^'annah ; and the holidays were bright
and happy at loyal firesides when tidings of this ' ' Christmas gift "
thrilled the great heart of the north.
A short rest at Savannah, and our eagles point northward.
The first foothold gained in South Carolina was obtained by cross-
ing directly fr5m the city. The 102d accomplished the initial move-
ment on January 1, 1865. A halt was made at Clieves' plantation
five miles north of the river, until the 4th, when the brigade moved
forward a mile, establishing itself at the Hardee farm, known to some
as Black Mingo. The road ha^^ing been corduroyed out from the
river, on the ITth the command moved from Hardeeville, twelve
miles, and occupied a position on the Charleston & Savannah railroad.
On the 29th this place in turn was left behind, and on the following
day we arrived at Robertsville, twenty-five miles farther inland. At
this place on the 2d of February, as a part of the great army, we
severed our communication watli the outside world.
From this date to our arrival at Goldsboro', March 24th, there is
a hiatus in our own notes, and we depend exclusively on the reliable
history of the 102d by our old comrade, sergeant major S. F. Fleharty,
with what little aid our recollection can furnish.
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT. 417
On the departure from Eobertsville the first brigade had the
advance, the 105th 111. leading. On approaching Lawtonville in the
afternoon, and when within a mile of the town, the enemy, holding a
strip of timber, disputed our progress. The TOtli, the 102d, and the
105th were formed in line of battle, while the Y9th and the 129th were
sent on a detour to the left, when the rebels were shortly routed. The
102d lost one man killed and two wounded. Moving from this place
next day, we marched urgently until the morning of the 6tli, when we
crossed the Salkehatchie at Beaufort bride-e, which was defended bv a
strong earthwork, from which the enemy had retired when routed by
the 15th corps at Rivers' bridge below. The Charleston <k Augusta
railroad was the point of junction for the whole army, tlie two wings
having set out from different bases, and our column was urged forward
with spirit to make timely connection with the anny of the Tennessee.
The Ttli was cold, rainy, cheerless ; the troops corduroyed, crossed
swamps, built bridges, and late in the evening struck the railroad at
Graham. During the 8th, 9th, and 10th we were destroying the road,
and our brigade worked at different points from Graham to Williston,
fifteen miles apart, Blackville being intermediate, and the command
entering all three of the places.
The march was continued on the 11th ; the South Edisto was
crossed the same day ; and the pine barrens and level country were
succeeded by a bolder and more rugged surface. Camp that night
was made on a tributarv of the North Edisto. The weather was
cold, and next morning the air was frosty and biting. Just as the
sun was up the men plunged into the freezing current; it was not
wide, but for a hundred rods they had to splash through shallow
water before reaching the other side of the swamp. Oji the morn-
ing of the l.Stli the North Edisto was passed, the first brigade
hax-ing the advance. The TOth Ind., the head of the column, had
sharp skirmishing. Bivouac was made on the 14th at the junction
of the Lexington and the Columbia and Augusta wagon roads. The
leading division encountered heavy skirmishing on the 15th. Camp
was made two miles south of Lexington and nine west of Columbia,
Leaving the former to the right, the 16th brought us within two or
three miles of the city, and from our position on a range of high
bluffs which confine the Congaree, we had a bird's-eye view of the
famed capital.
At noon of the 17th we moved up to the Saluda river, and the
brigade was sent out to watch for Cheatham's force. No enemy
was seen, and moving again in the direction of the river, we camped
in proximity to a wagon train, which was crossing all night. By noon
418 HISTOKY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
of tlie IStli the last "white cover" was over and we had the right of
way, when we marched to within five miles of Broad river. On the
evening of the 19th camp was pitched on the hills overlooking that
stream. Orders were received here to cut down baggage, burn the
w^all tents, reserving only the "flies," and to prepare to continue the
campaign forty days. The brigade was again in the rear on the 20th,
waiting restlessly all day long for the immense wagon train to cross,
and all the troops to pass whose turn it was to go ahead. Night fell
before we went over ; a mile back from the jiver we dozed in the cold
air by blazing fires; "an hour and a half later the brigade refrain,
'Hail Columbia, Happy Land,' aroused us, and we continued on after
the slow-moving column." A night march. 'No intermission till the
night of the 21st. Winnsboro, in an elevated region, was reached at
noon ; the column marched in review before Gens. Sherman and
Slocum, and bivouacked two miles beyond the town. Arriving at
Rocky Mount on the 22d, camp was made on the south bank of the
Catawba ; but after many had rolled up cosily in their blankets
beneath the "dog tents," an order was received to cross the river.
Having got ready and waited some hours for other troops to make the
passage, our turn came at midnight, and we found a camping place a
mile the other side. Breakfast was omitted on the morning of the 23d
till the command had moved three miles to a place in the dense woods.
Heavy rains commenced falling and continued until the night of the
25th ; the pontoon bridge was swept away, leaving the 14th corps on
the south side of the Catawba, which rises ra])idly, and is a raging
stream when up. Nearly a week's detention of the army of Georgia
was the result. Gen. Sherman says: "The roads were infamous, so
I halted the 20th corps at Hanging Rock some days to allow time for
the 14th corps to get over." Advancing again on the 26th, and
corduro}dng, the brigade encamped before noon near Hanging Rock, a
place of natural curiosity as well as of revolutionary interest. Lying
there during the 2Tth, on the 28th the march was continued in the
direction of Cheraw, the soldiers corduroying two-thirds of the way.
This day the regimental foragers, under Capt. Wooley, captured
the bank of Camden, which was secreted in the woods. It was dis-
covered by Jesse McQuade, of company I, and Charles Hartsell, of
company E. They were fired upon by men guarding it, and McQuade
was severely wounded. Hartsell notified the detachment and the cap-
ture was made. There were four safes, and the treasure consisted of
$700 in specie, $2,. 500 in bullion, and $35,000 in confederate bonds,
besides the silver plate, jewelry, horses, mules, and wagons. The
property was delivered by Capt. Wooley at corps headquarters.
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT. 419
MeQuade died in 1879, and is buried at Hoopeston, Yermillion county,
Illinois. lie was one of the most daring spirits in the army.
Until March 3 the column was advancing on Chesterlield. It cor-
duroyed several miles of wretched road that day, and passed through
and camped a mile beyond the town. On the ith a diversion was
made on the Wadesboro road, and the third division crossed into
JS^ortli Carolina. No further move took place till the 6th ; then at noon
the division headed for Clieraw. Arrived there, it passed one of those
fatiguing, comfortless nights waiting to cross the river, and when its
turn had come it was nearlv morning.
Tliis day Lieut. T. G. Brown, of company E, went out from the
regiment before it broke camp in command of twenty men, and
secured a lot of forage near Wadesboro, but was furiously set upon by
150 rebels, whereupon his party "issued their hams and meal quicker
than any commissary could have done it." First a running, com-
mingled fight ; then a stand was made, and the Spencers won. The
" bummers" not only held the rebels at bay, but followed and drove
them. " We saw four of the poor devils that we had shot, one of
them was not quite dead," wrote the lieutenant. Brown's loss was
four captured and one very slightly wounded. They had an exciting
and romantic time getting back to our anny, as a rebel division had
cut oif their direct return ; but they found the 14th coq^s at one o'clock
in the morning, and overtook the 102d at eleven the next night.
The command marched eighteen miles from Cheraw and camped
at Laurel Hill. Tlie 8th was a rainy day, and the route lay through
the solitary pine barrens. Camp was made five miles south of Lumber
river. The bridge was burned, and the brigade, wet, cold, hungry,
spent all the next day in fruitless waiting near that stream. The 10th
was passed on the road from six in the morning till ten at night ; the
journey of seven miles was varied between wading swamps and toil-
ing through the mud in a crowded road. On the morning of the 11th
the men made three miles of corduroy ; in the afternoon they struck a
plank road and marched twenty miles by ten o'clock, and arrived at
Fayette^^lle.
Moving again on the 13th the column was re\aewed by Gen. Sher-
man and crossed the Cape Fear river. The 102d was sent forward on
a reconnoissance. Tlie foragers drove the rebels before the regiment,
and the latter j^itched camp five miles in advance. Reconnoitering
was continued the next day, two other regiments being added to the
force. The foragers, with their usual entei-prise and boldness, cleared
several barricades of the rebels ; but at Silver Run, on the Raleigh
road, the enemy defied their irregular, predatory attacks. Companies
420 HISTORY OF :mekc"EE and hexdekson counties.
A, I, C, and E, of the 102d, were deployed and had a lively skirmish.
A respectable force being developed, the party drew oiF at dark and
retumed to camp, a distance of nine miles.
On the loth the left wing (army of Georgia) advanced by this road,
encountering feeble resistance at Silver creek, just north of which the
brigade encamped, while the rain descended in torrents. There was
heavv' skirmishing in the evening by our cavahy. Indications prom-
ised fighting, which came on the 16th. "The troops moved early and
soon found the enemy. When about four miles south of Averysboro
heavy firing commenced in front. The first brigade, except the TOth
Indiana, which was th6 train-guard, was formed on the right of the
road in line of battle, and preparations were made for an advance.
Finally we moved by the left flank, crossed the road, and made a
detour of about three-fourths of a mile to the left. Then moved to the
front, the skii-mishers becoming quickly engaged. As we advanced
cautiously through the young pines to the edge of an open field, it was
perceived that the brigade had completely flanked the rebel position.
Not more than a hundred and twenty-five yards in advance they were
visible in great numbers, running forward to their front line of works
to re-inforce the rebels then- engaged. At that instant a number of
our men yelled out, ' Don't fii-e, they are om- own men.' For a mo-
ment our line was undecided. It was thought barely possible that we
had become bewildered and were about to charge our own troops.
Many months of active campaigning had rendered the uniform of the
opposing armies almost indistinguishable. Many of the rebels wore
blue, and many of the federals, having worn out then- blue, were
dressed in citizen's gray. The enemy in the meantime had kept up a
galling skirmish fire, and heavy artillery and infantry firing was going
on in the fi-ont, where the third brigade confronted their breastworks.
Soon aU doubts as to the identity of the rebels in our front were dis-
pelled. . The brigade raised a yell, and, as if by an intuitive percep-
tion of the duty required, rushed forward, the 102d on the right, the
79th on our left, the 129th and the 105th in the second line. The
rebels, completely surprised and outflanked, instantly broke. Yelling
like wild men, the brigade swept magnificently forward, directly in
rear of and parallel with the rebel line of works. Three pieces of
artillery fell into our hands and many prisoners, recumbent in a trench
behmd then- works, held up their hands and handkerchiefs begging for
mercy. But the main body of the charging column rushed by them
and continued on after the flying enemy, who abandoned blankets,
haversacks, canteens, guns, cartridge boxes, everything that could
impede their progress. Reacliing heavy timber the pursuing column
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT. 421
halted, reformed the line of battle, and rested for a time, 
