Full text of "History of Sangamon County, Illinois; together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships ... portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens. History of Illinois .."

L 1 B HARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY

or ILLINOIS

lUjI^'^iv LIBRARY

AT l!i1JP<^ Champaign

ILL HIST. SURVEY

Kliiiott Histiriui Siinq

a^/"

'Xo2<-'^->--c<^-t^^

HISTORY

SANGAMON COUNTY,

iLLinsrois;

TOGETHER WITH SKETCHES OF ITS CITIES, VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS, EDUCATIONAL,

RELIGIOUS, CIVIL, MILITARY, AND POLITICAL HISTORY ; PORTRAITS

OF PROMINENT PERSONS, AND BIOGRAPHIES OF

REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

History of Illinois,

EMBRACING ACCOUNTS OF THE PREHISTORIC RACES, ABORIGINES, WINNEBAGO AND
BLACK HAWK WARS, AND A BRIEF REVIEW OF ITS CIVIL,
POLITICAL AND MILITARY HISTORY.

ILIliTJSTi^/.A.TElD.

CHICAGO :
INTER-STATE PUBLISHING COMPANY.

1881.

81'KlNGHEI.li JOtKSAT. CO.,

PRINTERS,

BI'RISISFlEr.ll ir.i..

To THE Pioneers

Sangamon County

THIS VOLUME IS

RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,

With the Hope that Your Virtues may be Emtji-ated,

AND Your Toils and Sacrifices duly appbe-

ciATED BY Coming Generations.

PREFACE

The importance of local history is appreciated more to-day than ever before. A general
desire is being manifested by the people to preserve the records made by the pioneers, in
every community. In obedience to this universal demand, historical firms have sprung into
xistence, and county, city and town histories have appeared in great numbers in the past
■decade. Knowing that Sangamon County afforded an abundance of material for an interesting
and profitable history, the InterStatk Publishing Co., in the Spring of 1881, placed in the
field a corps of experienced historians, with instructions to prepare a faithful and reliable his-
tory of the County.

As preliminary to the work, they secured the co-operation of the officers of the Old Set-
; tlere' Society, who appointed a committee to read and revise the manuscript of the general
^ history, and a like committee in each township, to examine and correct the history of the re-
spective townships. With but one or two exceptions, every man thus appointed served to the
bet^t of his ability, and the wisdom of the choice of the committees is shown in the work per-
formed. We feel confident that we here present to our patrons and the citizens of the County,
a history that is as correct as can be made at this day. Special care was taken in its com-
pilation, hundreds of men and women being interviewed, and every source of information can-
vassed, that facts alone should be incorporated in it. The manuscript was then read to the
^'■^littees, and time given to make such corrections as they deemed necessary, and each
™^.ber was urged to exercise care, and not to be backward in making such corrections or
^^^ suggestions as might be deemed necessaiy to insure correctness and add to the value of
^work. Our thanks are certainly due to these men, a number of whom spent much time,
^^\ no thought of other reward than in the consciousness of a duty well performed. It
^*^ld be utterly impossible to mention all who thus labored, and who did all in their power
*^ nake the History of Sangamon County a model county history. But we must not forget
"S. John T. Stuart, Chairman of the General Committee, on whose advice we greatly relied,
^'^' who never once refused to aid us in our work, treating us with a kindness that will ever
"^ appreciated, furnishing much valuable information for the history, and speaking a good
^°d for us upon every occasion. Hon. William H. Herndon also deserves great credit. On
™'-:e than one occasion lie walked seven miles to meet with the committee in the examination
Jie manuscript, and few errors escaped his notice, especially in relation to facts that trans-
P"";d at an early day. Of Hon. Charles H. Lanphier, we can say that few men are better
P*''ted in the affairs of the county, especially in political matters, since 1840. He was a close
"^^'der, his experience in newspaper work and proof-reading aiding him here, and he did not

FKEFACE.

fail us when asked to pass judgment upon the manuscript. If not present when the iommit-
tee was in session, he would take the manuscript and read it carefully, noting such corections
as he believed it right and proper to make. Zimri A. Enos and John DeCamp, though
active as those mentioned, yet we believe it can be said of them ?■; of the woman
Scriptures, that they "done what they could." Of the members of the township com littees,
thanks are especially due M. G. Wadsworth, editor of the Auburn Citizen, who fwi ' i
much valuable information.

rot as
in the.

R. W. Diller, President of the Old Settlers' Society, was indeed a friend to the
prise. He entered into the work with his whole soul, and it appeared that he could a ' ■
too much for us. Through his influence much valuable information was obtained, and vnuai ■
aid was rendered by him to us, in other ways. We shall always kindly remember hiir an >
ever be grateful for the many favors shown to us. James H. Matheny, too, we can nevi
get. It mattered not how busy he was, he always found time to render us all the aid ;l. ins
power. We confess that we have at times felt ashamed that we were compelled to call' ui'. »i
him so often for information ; but if he ever felt provoked at us, he never showed it i
action. L. H. Tichnor, County Clerk, with his deputy, Mr. Cleverly, placed us under man)
obligations. No men could be more accommodating. The same can be said of all the countv
officers, not one of whom showed any disposition to avoid aiding us in our work. The State
officers were also as accommodating to us as one could desire.

J. C. Power, author of the "History of the Early Settlers of Sangamon County," took
great pains to aid us in our work, and having gone over much of the ground that we were
compelled to travel, his advice and counsel was valuable. Never did he show, by word or
action, that he believed us to be intruding upon his rights, but seemed at all times to raari-
fest great interest in our welfare, and expressed an ardent desire for our success. Thf '^'■■•
tory of the Early Settlers of Sangamon County we regard as the best work of its kind k
to us.

The press of the county is also entitled to our special gratitude. Without an exce
we have received the kindest treatment from each, their tiles being placed at our disposa
from which we gathered much of the information contained in this volume. The edit(
the various papers we now number among our friends, and trust that the kind feeling;
always be retained.

In conclusion, we will say that our work is now done ; the History of Sangamon C
you have placed in your hands. We trust that you will be well pleased with it. It has
in a measure, to us, a labor of love, aud the pleasant hours that we have, spent wit
pioneers of old Sangamon, will often be recalled, and the remembrance will be one (
alloyed pleasure.

Ixtee-State Publishing Compait

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

rRODUCTORT 17

The Monnil Builders 17

Other Races 18

Itidiaoa— UliDois CoDfederaey — Sterved Rock 21

Early Discoveries— First Seltlementa 22

"angii-.h Rale 23

ienoral Clark'.s Exploits— County of Illinois 24

N'orthwestern Territory — Ortlioance of 1787 25

lllinoi.s Territory— State Organization— First Constitu-

I tion— The Winneha-^o War 26

1 Black Hawk War— Internal Improvements 27

Stupendous System of Improvements Inaugurated — Illi-
nois and Michigan Canal— Panic— Repudiation Advocated

Mormon War

The Battle of Nauvoo.

Mexican War ..

The War for the Union .".. ^

Governors of Illinois

Lieutenant Governors — Other State Officers...-,

United Stales Senators ,

ReproHentatives in Congress

Then and Now ,

HISTOKY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

CHAPTER I.

THE BEGINNING 45

TheGarden Spot 45

First White Men in Sangamon County 46

-First Settlement 4ri

Other Early Settlers 47

Area and Posititin of the County 47

y Organization of the County 47

Acts of the County Commissioners -^ 48

County Coraniirtsioners from 1S21 to 1849 50

. Board of Jngtices 50

'——Township Orjianization 50

Rivers and Creeks 51

Kavigation of the Sangamon River 51

Creeks 54

CHAPTER II

GEOLOGY 55

CHAPTER III.

PIONEER LIFE 60

Early Manners and Customs 60

Character of the Pioneers 62

■—Clothing 62

Weddings 65

Shakes 66

Wolf Hunting 67

Bee Hunting 67

Snakes 67

Agriculture 67

V — Religion 68

CHAPTER IV.

JUDICIAL 70

Probate and County Courts 74

CHAPTER V.

THE BAR OF SANGAMON COUNTY 76

First Decade 77

James Adams 77

Jonathan H Pugh 77

Thomas M Neale 77

James M. Strode 77

Williams. Hamilton 78

Thomas Mofi'ett 78

William Menilel 78

Samuel McRoberts 78

Alfred W, Cavarly , 79

Benjaniio Mills 79

■John Reynolds I 80

fames Turney ' ] 80

Henry Starr

^George Forquer

Second Decade

Edward J. Phillips

Edward Jones

Henry E. Dammer

Stephen T. Logan

David Prickett.

"-William L. May

Dan Stone

Josephus Hewett

—David B. Campbell

Antrim Campliell

A. T. Bledsoe

Charles R. Wells

Schuyler Strong

^Niuian W. Edwards

Cyrus Walker

- Abiaham Lincoln and Stephen A. Dougla.

-Jesse B. Thomas, Jr

-E. D Baker

John D. Urquhart

John C. Doremus

Thikd Dec ade

General Shields

Silas AV. Robbins

Justin Buttertield

" U. F. Linder

Josiah Lambom

Levi Davis

A. K. Smede

David Logan

William 1. Ferguson

Archibald Williams

<). H Browning

William A. Miuahall

Benjamin West

Isriiel Crosby

William Walker

Elliott B. Herndon

Foritrn Decade

Thomas Lewis

J. France

D. McWilliams

A. McWilliams

C. M. Morrison

William Prescott

L. F. McCrillis

H G. Krynolds

A W. Hayes

S. S Wbitehurst

PiKT}i Decade

Sixth DEcahe . —

88
:88
88
»S
1.-8
i89
89
i90
190
•;90
190
190
590
)90
190
190
590
190
38191
29191
30192
i9a
,!92
i99
399
;!99
4S 399
» ;)99
399
;i99
401
401
80 Ml
80 401

91
91
91
M
92
92
92
9S
93

96
. 98
- »»"

, 98
98

.102
103
104
104
105
UU
lOS
105
105
iC."
106
106
186

. 1C6
IDS
107
108
108
108
109
108
108
10^
1'

402
403
403

403

4tl4

404

41)4

404

40,5

405

407

40^

408
408
409
'09
4 "!
41'.;
419
413
413
413
414
414
414
414
415
415
4Ui
416

431

4 31

43J

43-4

, .13','

440

. 441

. 44-.;

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER YI.

HE BAR OF SANGAMON COUNTY (continued) 110

Seventh Decade 110

John T. Stuait 110

Samuel H. Treat 114

Beujamm S. Edwarda 115

James C Conkling 115

James H. Matheuy 116

William H. Herntlon llti

Norman M Brc^dwell 119

William J. Conkling 11!)

John E. Rosette 1*20

_'iiarle3 S. Zaue 1-2U

John Alexander McClernand -. 121

Charles A. Keyea l-'U

Christopher C. Brown \-22

Eugene L Gross I2\i

Milton Hay 12;(

U'llliam M Springer 124

William E. Shutt 1_'5

Robert L. Mdiuire 125

Leouidas H Bradley 125

Isaac K. Bradley 125

Thomas G. Prickett 125

^4»»'i mail L. Freeman. , 12(j

Richiuoud Wnloott. 126

Thomas C. Mather 126

Clio ton L. Coiikhng 126

Llo.vd F. Hamilton 127

James W. Patton 127

Samuel D. Scholes, 127

Alfred d'endorff. 12?

Henry A. Greene 128

A. iV. J.Crook 12a

J;-mes C. Kubinson 12!i

Barnes A. Jveniedy 1211

Charles Philo Kane 129

John C. Lanpliier 129

Henry H.Rogers 130

John C. Snigg 130

Robert H. Hazlttt 130

William L. ( ; ross 1^(0

John M. Palmer 130

John Mayo Palmer 132

George W. Murray 133

Robert W Maxwell 133

George A. Sanders , 133

James H. Matheny, Jr 133

Henry A. Stevens 133

James E. Dowling 133

James A. Creighton 134

John M. Creighton 134

George A. Wood 134

Thomas Sterling 134

Joseph M Grout 134

AVilliam Henry Colby 134

^William F. Herndon 137

Henry B. Kane 137

Frank fl. Jones 137

John A. Chestnut 137

Thomas J. Thompson 137

Winfield S. Collins 13d

William A.Vincent 135

Larue Vredenburgh 138

Alexander H Robertson 138

William T. Houston ^ 138

Albert Sal'/enstein 138

Frank R. Williams 138

,— ??tiah H. Turner 139

Edwin C. Haynie 139

Waiter B. Wines 139

CHAPTER Vn.
HE FISHER MURDER CASE 140

i
<

c
a
f
t
t

f
tl
a

Tji CHAPTER Vin.

*^ RAILROADS 144

o] Wabash, St. Louis S: Pacific 114

First Locomotive in Springfield 145

Chicago, Alton & St. Louis 146

Ohio it Mississippi 147

lUiuoi.s Central 147

Springfield A: Northwestern 147

Contemplated Roads 148

-V CHAPTER IX.
WARft.^... ......,_ 149

List of Soldiers in Black Hawk AVar 162

Reminiscence of the Black Hawk War ."'. 165

The Mexican War 157

Roster of Mexican War Soldiers 168

CHAPTER X.

REMINISCENCES no

Cotton Picking 179

By George Brunk .'.'.. 173

Auburn and Viuciniiy Forty Tears Ago, by M. G. Wads-
worth 174

By S. C. Hampton 179

By R. W. Diller !..*.',!! !'.'.'. 180

By James J. Megredy i^i

By E. H. Beach ll"l"[[[ 182

By Johns. Condell. Sr i83

By John H. Hanison 185

By W. T. Bennett .".'.'"*.'.'. 185

By George P. Weber '_ igg

Pioneer Women 157

By Mrs. James Parkinson and Mrs. Sarah King I8T

By Mrs. Charlotte Jacobs. 188

By Elizabeth Harbour lei

By Eliza Headley ", 191

By Mrs. John Lock , 193

By Mrs. Robert Burns ] 193

By Mrs. Sarah P. Husband 193

By Mrs. Ann H. McCormack 191

Old Settlers of Sangamon, by John T. Stuart 194

By Dr. Alexander bhields .., 201

PioLcers and Pioneering, by W. H. Herndon 206

CHAPTER XI.

THE PRESS 213

U-— Ri.iNois State Journal 214

Simeon Francis 21G

Josiah Francis 217

Allen Francis ., 217

W. H. Bailhache 218

Edward L. Baker. ..', 218

David L. Phillips 219

Paul Seiby 220

Horace Chapin 223

Milton F. Simmons 223

The Daily Journal 224

The Illinois Refuhlican 224

George R. AVeber 225

Illinois State REiiisTER 225

George Walker 226

Charles H. Lanphier 227

John W Merritt 228

Edward L. Merritt 229

George W andJ. R.Weber 229

George Smith 230

H W. Clendenin 230

Thomas Rees 230

Daily Illinois State Re(;ister 232

Sangamo Momtok 232

Saxoasio Daily Monitor. 235

Thomas W. S. Kidd 236

The Si'iaNOKiELD Times 237

S. S Brooks 237

The Masonic Trowel 237

- H. G. Reynolds . -237

Illinois State Democrat 237

The tsuxiiAY Mail. 237

Illi.sois Fueie Press 237

Fredeiick Gebriog 238

Staats Wochenulait 238

H. Schlanee 238

AiiiuUN Citizen 238

A. B. Stover 238

Moses G Wads worth 239

The Evenim; Post .-, 239

F. 11. B. McDowell 239

S. P. v. Arnold 2411

Campaign Paieks 240

CHAPTER XIL

THE REED AND DONNER PARTY 241

CHAPTER XIII.

POLITICAL 241>

Official Vote of Every General Election 272

CHAPTER XIV.
NATIONAL. STATE AND COUNTY REPRESENTATION 27fl

Na riojJA I. Rei'uesemation

Prenid-^n t <il' the United States

United Sittitcd Consuia *.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

United States Assessor 278

CiuiLii-essioual 278

Sheibv il. Culloai 27J

Si ATE KEI'ItESENTATlON 280

Governor 280

Secretary of State 280

State Auditors "iSO

State Treasurers 280

Superintendents of Public Instruction 280

Attorney Geneials 280

State Geologists 280

Adjutant Generals 280

Senatorial and Representative 280

County Oi-ficehs 282

County Clerks ', 282

Circuit Clerks 282

Recorders 282

Probate Judges 282

County Judges 282

Sherifta 282

Coroners 283

Surveyors 283

School Commissioners 283

Superintendents of Schools 28 i

Prosecuting Attorneys 282

Treasurers 283

CHAPTER XV.

REMOVAL OF THE STATE CAPITAL 284

Building of a new State House 287

Law providing for building a new Capitol 288

Efibrts to nullify the law and their failure 28;i

Laying the corner stone 289

Description of the new State House 2t'9

Work completed 292

Epitome of the legislation for the new State House 292

CHAPTER XVI.

TEMPERAXCE 29«

'.^-.Earlv Temperance movements 298

,. The Washingtonians 298

Constitution of the Springfield Washington Temperance

• Society 299

Washington Song 300

Sons of Temperance 300

A Grand Jury's Certificate 300

Temple of Honor 303

The Maine Law 303

Good Templars 303

Wood en's Temperance Crusade 303

Red and Blue Ribbon Movement 304

CHAPTER XVIL

THE WAR FOR THE UNION 30.=)

Departure of Mr. Lincoln 306

Maior GeneralJohu A McClernand 318

The Beginning of the End, 3.=i2

L- Assassination of President Lincoln 353

The End 360

CHAPTER XVm.

THE WAR FOR THE UNION, Continued 362

Seventh Infantry 362

Ninth Infantry 367

Tenth Infantry 367

Eleventh Infantry 371

Twelfth Infantry 371

Fourteenth In fan try 372

Eighteenth Infantry 374

Niueteenth Infantry 374

Twentieth Infantry 374

Twenty-first Infantry 374

Twenty second Infantry 375

Twenty third Infantry , 375

Twenty fourth lufantrj' 375

Twenty-seventh Infantry 378

Twenty -eighth Infantry 378

Twenty ninth Infantry 378

Thirtieth Infantry j, 382

Thirty-second Infantry 382

ThirtVthird Infantry 383

Thirty-fourth Infantry 384

Tbirty-tlftb Infantry 384

Thirty sixth Infantry 384

Thirt.y- eighth Infantry ' 384

Thirty-ninth Infantry 387

Forty-first Infantry 387

Forty-fourth Infantry 387

9—

Forty-sixth Infantry 387

Forty-eighth I nfanlry 387

Forty -ninth Infantry 387

Fiftieth Infantry 387

Fifty-first In fan try 387

Fifty -second Infantry 387

Fifty-third In fantry , 387

Fifty-fourth Infantry 387

Fifty-seventh Intantry 387

Fifty-eighth Infantry 387

Sixtieth Infantry 388

Sixty-second Infantry 388

Sixty-third Infantry 388

Sixty fourth lu fan try 388

Sixty-eighth Infantry 3c3

Seventy -second Infantry , 389

Seventy .third Infantry , 389

Seven ty -.vi xth Infantry ' 390

Soventy -seventh Infantry 390

Seventy eighth Infantry .' 390

Eighty-fourlh Infantry 390

Ninetieth In fantry 390

Ninety-first Infantry 390

Ninety-second Infantry 390

Ninety-fourth Infantry 390

Ninety-fifth Infantry 390

Ninety-seventh Infantry 390

One Iluudred and First Infantry 390

One Hundred and Sixth Infantry 391

One Hundred and Seventh Infantry 391

One Hundred and Eighth Infantry 392

One Hundred and Thirteenth Infauti'y 392

One Hundred and Fourteenth Infantry 392

One Hundred and Filteenth Infantry 399

One Hundred and Sixteenth Infantry 399

One Hundred and Seventeenth Infantry 399

One Hundred and Twentieth Infantry 399

One Hundred and Twenty-second Infantry 399

One Hnnrtred and Twenty-thiid Infantry 399

One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Infantry 399

One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Infantry 401

One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Infantry 401

One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Infantry 401

One Hundred and Thirtieth Infantry 401

One Hundred and Thirty-third Infantry 402

One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Infantry 403

One Hundred and Forty-fourth Infantry 403

One Hundred and Forty-fifth iufantiy 403

One Hundied and Fiftieth Infantry 404

One Hundred .and Fifty-second Infantry 404

One Hundred and Fifty- fonith Infantry 404

One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Infantry 404

First Cavalry 404

Second Cavalry 40.:)

Third Gavalrv 405

Fourth Cavalry 407

Fifth Cavalry 407

Sixth Cavalry. 408

Seventh Cavalry •103

Eighth Cavalry 408

Ninth Cavalry 409

Tenth Cavalry "09

Eleventh Cavalry 4 2

Twelfth Cavalry ■'I'-'

Thirteenth Cavalry 4 12

Fifteenth Cavalry 4 J^

Sixteenth Cavalry ''13

First Artillery '•'3

Second Artillery ""<

Chicago Board of Trade Battery 414

Chicago Mercantile Battery 414

Springfield Light Artillery 414

Twenty ninth Colored Infantry 415

Recruits for Regular zVrniy 415

Nineteenth United States Infantry 416

Roll of Honor «6

Transfer of Battle Flags 422

CHAPTEE XIX.

OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETT 431

Constitution of Old Settlers' Society 431

First Annual Celebiation 433

Address of James H. Matheny 432

Re-organization of the Society 439

First Annual Meeting ^*0

Second Annual Meeting j'jj

Members of the Society j"*!

Third Annual Meeting *'^-

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Address of Samuel 'Williams 442

Fonrth Anuiuil Meeting 448

Address of Governor Palmer 451

T'ifth Annual Meeting 4.^1

Sixth Annual Meeting 452

Addiessot' (jovernor Palmer 452

AddressofD. L Phillips 453

Seventh Annual Aleetiog 454

Eighth Annual ileeting 454

^'inth Annual Meetipg 455

Address of William H. Herndon 455

Tenth Annual ileoting 457

Present to iuhn Carroll Power 457

Eleventh Annual Meeting 458

Address of Rev. John Slater 459

Address of Rev. W. H. Milhurn 459

Address ot Rev. Mr. Short 459

Twelfth Annnal Meeting 4til

AddressofHon Milton Hay 462

Thirteenth Annua' Meeting 465

Address of Judge Vandever 466

Remarks by Hon. James C. Robinson 467

Fouileenlh Annual Meeiing.. 467

Address of Welcome by John B. Miller 468

Response by Mr. Diller 468

Address by Governor S. M. Cnllom 468

CHAPTER X5.

EBUCATIONAL 474

Educational Convpntion 4'-4

Bioaraiihical sketch of James P. Slade 4*7

Commou Schools 479

Illinois State University 479

Rev. Francis M. Springer 481

German Evangelical Lutheran Concordia Seminary 482

Rev. Mr. Wyueken 482

Prof. H. C. Wvneken 483

Prof G. Kroening 483

Bettie Stuart Institute 383

St. Agatha's School 484

CHAPTER XXI.

ILLUSTRIOUS A>'D PROMINENT DEAD 487

Abraham Lincoln 487

Stejiben A. Douglas 501

William n Bissell 505

Governor Uaiteson 506

Richard Yates : bil

James D. Henry 508

Andrew McCormack 509

Robert L. Wilson 509

William F. Elkiu 510

John Calhoun 511

General E. B. Harlan 512

General I. N. Haynie 512

Thomas H. Campbell 513

Erastus AVright 514

Rev. John G. Bergen, D. D 515

Orlin H. Miner 519

ArcherG Herndon 519

William Butler 520

Dr. Gershom Jayne 521

Reuben F.Ruth 521

Charles R. Hurst 522

Dr. John Todd 522

J-K. Dubois 522

CHAPTER XXII.

DARK DEEDS 624

Murder of Mrs. Van Nov 524

Xi'.Iingof Dr. Early 525

Fatal affray 525

Murder of "George Anderson 525

Murder at Mechanicshurg 525

Murder of an Infant Child 525

Homicide in Chatham 526

Tragedy near Camp Butler 526

Fatal Affray 526

Shocking Murder 526

Tra^redy at Camp Butler 526

KiUing'of Wesley Pileher 526

Soldier Shot 526

Robberv and Murder at Pawnee 627

Found Dead 527

Killinu of Joseph Wsird 528

Murdtrof William Mortar 528

Doings of a Desperado 528

Murder of Sharon Tyndale 528

Killing of William Kelley 529

Murder of Henry Stay 529

Riot at Illiopolis I 529

Murder and Suicide 530

Uxoricide and Suicide 5oO

CHAPTER XXIII.

AUTHORS AND ARTISTS 531

John Carroll Power 531

Joseph Wallace 533

E. L. Gross 533

W.L.Gros^ 533

Alexander Davidson 533

Dennis Williams 533

CHAPTER XXIV.

MISCELLANEOUS 535

The Mormons : 535

Shoolit g Stars 535

Count V Jail , 535

Poetry 536

California Emigrants 536

How Mill Privileges were secured 536

The Weather... ."_ 537

Mild Winter 537

The Sudden Change 537

Snow Blockade 538

Almost a Tornado 538

Rain Storm 538

Heavy Storm of Wind and Rain 538

Storm at William sviUe - 539

Tornado on Sugar Creek 539^

Cholera 539

Shoemaking 539

Matrimonial 540

Rendition of a Fugitive Slave 541

First Entries of Land 541

Death of a Cetenarian 542

Sangamon County Bible Society 542

CHAPTER XXV.

AGRICULTURE A^D AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES... . 543

Agricultural Socieiies 545

The First County Fair 544

Sangamon County Agricultural and Mechanical Aesccia-

tion 545

Sangamon County Agricultural Board 545

State Fairs 5fO

The Ameiiian Berkshire Association 550

CHAPTER XXVI.

VARIOUS THINGS 551

The Deep Snow 551

Railroad Villages 552

Hard Times 55J

The First Court House 554

The Second Court House 5o5

The Third Court House 555

The Fourth Court House 555

The Fifth Court House 556

Villages and Stations in the County 556

Table of Distances 5f6

Railroad Accident 556

Tenible Accident 557

Feaiful Railroad Accident 557

Steam Boiler ExpU'Sion 557

Census Reports 557

Our Legislators 558

Assessments for 1881 - 55&

Distressing Accident S58

Two Children Killed by Lightning 55»

Terr i tic Explosion 561

Withey A: I'ro.'s Carriage and Wagon Manufactory 576

Sash Manufactory 576

Globe Spice Mills 576

Springfield Paper Company 57ft

Wagons and Carriages. -'-•• 576

Machine Works 57ft

Elevator Mil. ing Company 576

Excelsior Mills 577

Home Mills. 577

PiiLting and Binding 577

Boiler and Sheet Iron Works 578

Springtield Trunk Manufactory 578

Spriugtield Woolen Mills 578

The Port nguese 578

Reminifceuce of EUjah lies 5^

Springtield Home for the Friendless 583

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

.. 587
. . 5B1
.. 562

Western Union Telegraph ^°j

United States Express Company 3C<

American Express Cempany =°i

Schools

Public Schools

A Retrospect

Sangamon County of To-day

CHAPTER XXVII.

CITY OF SPRINGFIELD '^}

lucoi'poration -gt^

TownOdicers kgg

City Charter S„,

CityOllicers i'jo

Removal of the Capital ^°°

Speculation and Hard Times =°"

570

Healthlulness of Springfield

Springfield to a Stranger ' ' ^

-Change of Name ,,.

Growth of the C'*" ■"

The Post Ollice

Growth of the City ^''

nniQ Pnut nn'icR, _ ^LL

Spriugfleld as

I Manufacturing Point .

Illinois W.-itch Company ^^j

.Etna Iron Winks „.

St. Joseph's Church 600

English I,uther.in »"''

German LutliAran Trinity "'"

First I'ortuguese Presbyterian """

Second Portuguese Presbyterian

German Methodist

Colored Methodist -.„

Plymouth Brethren °{[J

Stl Paul's Episcopal "J."

Congregational ^J,

Hebre w Temple ° ,

Young Men's Christian Association »"

T.. U^..,,.. «+• the n.iarl "14

610
BIO

610

57
575
575
894

Ide's Machine Works.

The Excelsior Foundry - - - ■ ■ ■ ■ •;• • ; ■ - ■ • - ■

Uooth & McCoskei's Carriage and -Wagon Manufactory...

Teachers' Institutes ..-.. -„-

Gr.aduates of the High School =»^

Rev..T..hn F.Brooks i;^^

Ursuline Convent J.| q

Religious .■■; ■ ,,gg

First Methodist Episcopal """

Second Methodist Episcopal ^T'^

First Presbyterian „g^

Second Presbyterian ^^^

Third Presbyterian jdU

Central Baptist ' g^

German Baptist pgj,

C'dored Baptist pjg

Christian -• :.■ " * cno

Church of the Immaculate Conception o^p

German Catholic

613

614

623
623
624
624
624

In Honor of the Dead
First Decoration of Graves

Decoration Day, 1881 .^^

AddressofKev T.A.Parker °^^

Masonic f^qn

Odd.Fellow.ship "„

Hebrew Societies ""

Knights of Honor

Uniti^d 'Workmen

Royal Arcanum

Anierican Legion of Honor

Other Societies , '^^^

Newspapers ^.n-r

TheCapital Railway "tl

Spriugfleld City Railway °%-i

Citizen's Street Railway --

Spriugfleld Library Association °-"

Illlnnia State Libiary ^^^

Banks (.07

Ridgelv National Bank - • "*'

Sprrngtiold Maiine and Fire Insurance Company o^'

FirsI.'National Bank „"_

State National Bank g.^g

Board of Trade g„g

Fires and Fire Department "„

The City of the Dead "^?

Springfield Waterworks "jj

Artesian Well ggjj

Amusenifuts ^^'5

Riogra])hic;il ' ,011

The Coloied People

TOWNSHU* HISTOKIES.

. , 745

Anburn .jg^

Ball goa

Buft'alo Hart gj3

Cartwright g27

Chatham gg-^

Clear Lake g73

Cotton Hill ggo

Cooper r gS3

Curran gg.^

Fancy Creek gj3

Gardner ,,19

lUiopolis

ILLUSTKATIONS

931

Island Grove ygg

Loami 9^,3

UechanicabTiTg g'g^

New Berlin 9^4

Pawnee ttg-y

Koehesler jqjj^

Salisbury jqc^q

Sprin-^field ^q^q

Talkin^ton jq^q

Whea t field ^^045

■Williams - 2051)

Wooflside

Bettie Stnart Institnte.

435

Sang.amon County Fair Gronnds =^^

State Capitol ,--

Map of Illinois "''

POKTK.MTS

Starved Rock 'iVkii'ii

Map of Sangamon County lo auu

National Lincoln Monument

19
16
630

Breckenridge, Preston - ',

Buck, Dr. H. B fli,

Bergen, Rev. Geo ...

Carpenter. WiUiam ^'

Cartwright, Peter ■_■•;; ^-^

Constant.J. 1 ^n.

Caldwell, Ben. F =■;

Davis, Dr. W.H •■"

Diller n. W g^:]

Tontch, Thos. gj,

FuUinwider, J.N .j,,,

Irwin, Alex. B ^j^

lies, Eli.iah 31, ,

Irwin. Robert j25

Keyes, J. W ^t,.,

Loose, J. G...^ :;. 10i)5

Lowder, Geo. W crAniiKni^re

i^incoln, Abraham frontibpiece

Logan, Stephen T

207
233
319

Lamb, James

Lanphier, Chas. H

McClernand, Gener.al J. A ^;^^

McCoy, M. D 7'„

McC.mnell. E. F gj.

North, Robert ^49

Power, George (|g

Powtr, William D gjg

Robinson, Henson jg,

Rnth, R. F .• ijgg

Shepherd, Thomas C ' .jjj

Saunders, J. R.- ^gg

Shields. Alexander g.jy

Tracy, Frank W..-.. "; gjj

■Van Deren, Cy rns W ^.,

■Williams, Colonel .John ^.j,

■Williams, Samuel ,,;.j

Wohlgemuth, Dr. Henry

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J»^C OUPI N

JtCOJk' T O O M E ~-t Y

History of Illinois

INTRODUCTORY.

Illinois, the luurlli State in the- I'nion in
weallli, population anil political power, lies in the
very heart of the up[)er valley of the Mississii)pi.
Stretching over Kve degrees of latitude, from
:!T^ to 4-2i=, it has considerable diversity, both of
soil and climate. The !)oun<lary line of the State
is about twelve hundred miles. From the point
where it joins the Wisconsin line on the north-
east. Lake Michigan Itounds it on the east for
tlfly miles to the tiortheast corner of Indiana;
1 hence a line is drawn due south one hundred
and sixty-eight miles to the Wabash river.
The >Vabasli and the Ohio rivers constitute the
remainder ol' tlie eastern and southern boundary,
while tin/ lordly Mississippi washes its entire
western border. The e.xtreme length of the
State is three hundretl and seventy-eight miles;
the extreme breadth, in the latitude of Danville
and Kushville, is two hundred and ten miles,
and the average breadth is about one hundred
anil tilty miles.

Illinois contains .j.5,-H»5 square miles, or more
than 35,00(1,(10(1 acres of laud. Fully two-thirds
of this is prairie, and nearly all of it is suscepti-
ble of pro|ier cultivation. The State has ten
thousand more sijuare miles than New York or
Oliio, and is larger than Pennsylvania and New
Jersey ciunbined, and is almost as large as all
the New England States taken together.

THE MOUNI>BtILDEUS.

That Illinois was inhabited by a race of men
]irior to the jiresent Indian race that yet inhabit
a portion of the I'nion hardly admits of a doubt.
It is clearly demonstrated by the well authenti-
cated acco((nts of discoveries made that a civil-
ized jieople, and one highly cultivated, once
occupied (he great prairie State and vario((s parts
of the oo[[ntcy now constit((ting the American
KiiioK, but the date of their rule in the western

world i> so re(note that all traces of this history,
progress and decay, lie buried in the deepest
obscurity. This pre-historic race is known as
the Mouud-liuilders, from the numero([s large
mouudsof earth-works left by them. Their char-
acter can be but partially gleaned from the inter-
nal evide([ces and ])ect[liarities of all that remains
of them — the mo((nds. Remains of what were
apparently villages, altars, ten()iles, idols, cen[e-
teries, moindnents, camps, fortifications, and
pleasiu'e grounds, have been fouiid, b((t nothing
showing of what material were their habitations.

'i'he ipieslion as to the origin of the Mindul-
Ibdlders is an interesting one. If they were
not the ancestors of tlie Indians, who were they';'
Those who do not believe in the common |)arent-
age of mankind contend that they were an
indigenous race of the western hemisphere ;
others think they came from the East, and
inuigine they are coincident with the religion
of the Hindoos and Southern 'J'artars and the
supposed theology of the ^lound-IJuilders.
They were, no doubt, idolaters, and it has been
coujectttred that the sun was the object of their
adoration. The mo(tnds were generally b((ilt in
a sitt(ation affording a view <>i the rising s([n;
when encloseil in walls their gateways were
toward the east; the ca\ es in which their dearl
were occasionally buried always opened in the
same direction ; whenever a mound was par-
tially enclosed by a semi-circular pa\ement, it
was on the east side; when bodies were buried
in graves, as was freijuently the case, they were
laid in a direction east and west; and, tinally,
medals have been fou(nl re]iresenting the sun
and his rays of light.

At what perioil they can[e to this connti_\ , i.-
likewise a matter of spectdalion. l''rom the
comparatively ruiie state of the arts among
them, it has been inferred that the time was

niSTOK^' <)[■ TLLTXOTS.

very remote. Their axes were of stone. Tlieir
raiment, judging from fragments which Iku e
been (lisco\ ered, consisted of the bark of trees,
interwoven with featliers; and their military
works Were sueh as a people would erect who
had just j)asscd to the pastoral state of society
from that dei)eudent alone upon hunting and
Hshing.

Tlic uujunds and other ancient earth-works
constniclcd by this people are far more abund-
ant tlian generally supposed, from the fad that
while some are quite large, the greater part of
them arc small and inconspicuims. Along
nearly all our water courses that are large
enough Ic) be navigated with a canoe, the
mounds are almost invariably found, covering
the base points and headlands of the blutt's
which Ixniler the narrower valleys; so that when
one tinds himself in such positions as to com-
mand the grandest views for river scenery, he
may almost always discover that he is standing
upon, or in close yiro.vimity to, some one or
more of these traces of the labors of an ancient
people.

One of the most singular earth-works in the
tState was found on the top of a ridge near the
east bank of the Sinsiuawa creek in the lead
region. It resembled some huge animal, tlie
head, ears, nose, legs and tail, and general out-
line of which being as perfect as if made by
men versed in modern art. The ridge on Mhich
it was situated stands on the prairie, 30U yards
wide, 100 feet in height, and rounded on the
top by a deep deposit of clay. Centrally, along
the line of its summit, and thrown up in the
form of an embankment three feet high, ex-
tended the outline of a ipiadrupcd measuring
•J.")() feet from the tip of the nose to the end of
the tail, and having a witith of 18 feet at the
center of the body. The head was 3.5 feet in
length, the ears lo'feet, legs 60 and tail 7.5. The
curvature in both the fore and hind legs was
natural to an animal lying on its side. The
general outline of the Hgure niost nearly resem-
bled the extinct animal known to geologists as
the Megatherium. The question naturally
arises, by whom and for what purpose was this
earth figure raiseir:* Some haye conjectured
that inimbers of this now extinct animal lived
and roamed over tiic )ir.tiries of Illinois when
the MoundlSnihlers first made their appearanee
on the iq)per part of the ^Iississip])i ^'alley, ami
that tlie wonder and admiration, excited by
the colossal dimensions of these huge creatures,
found some expression in the erection of this
tigure. The bones of some similar gigantic

animals were exhumed on this stream about
t'lree miles from the same place.

Mr. iSrcckenridgc, who examined the anti(|ui-
ties of the Western country in 1817, speaking
of the mounds in the American Bottom, says:
"The great numlier and extremely large size of
some of them may l)e regarded as turnishing,
with other circumstances, evidences of their
antiquity. I have sometimes been induced to
think that at the period when they were con-
structed there was a popidation here as numer-
ous as that which once animated the borders of
the Nile or Euphrates, or of Mexico. The nnist
numerous, as well as considerable, of these
remains are found in precisely those i>arts of
the country wliere the traces of a numerous
population mii^ht be looked for, namely, from
the mouth of the Oiiio on the east side of the
]Mississipi>i, to the Illinois river, and on tlie west
from the St. Francis to the Missouri. I am
perfectly satisfied that cities similar to those of
aiu'ient Mexico, of several hundrid thousand
souls, have existed in this country."

OTiiEi! i;aces.

Following the Mound-Huilders as inhabitants
of North America, were as it is sujiposed, the
people who reared the magnificent cities the
ruins of which are found in Central America.
This people was far nmre civili/.ed and advanced
in the arts than were the Mound-Builders. The
cities built by them, judging from the ruins of
broken columns, fallen arches and crumbling
w-alls of temples, palaces and jjyramids, wliich
in some places for miles bestrew the ground,
must have been of great extent, magnificent ami
vtry populous. "When we consider the vast
period of time necessary to erect such colossal
structures, and, again, the time reijuired to
reduce them to their jiresent ruined state, we
can conceive something of their antiquity.
These cities must have been old when many of
the ancient cities of the Orient were being built.

The third race iuhal)iting North America dis-
tinct from the former two in every particular,
is the present Indians. They were, when visite<l
bv the earlv iliscoverers, without cultivation,
refinement or literattire, and far Viehind the
Mound-Builders in the knowledge of the arts.
The question of their origin has long interested
archaeologists, aad is the most ditticult they have
been called \ipon to answer. Of their prede-
(^essors the Indian tribes knew nothing: they
even had no traditions respecting them. It is

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:!iilili!i!ii!i!'ii!:'ij^aTiiiiiiM»'£a:^^ _;._:_ _:iKi^.

IIISToin OK ILLINOIS.

• |nilc certain tliat they were the successors of a
i-ace whicli had entirely passed away ages before
tile discovery of tlie New World. <)iie hypo-
thesis is tiiat the Atiierican Indians are an origi-
nal race indigenous to the Western hemisphere.
'I'hdse who entertain this view think their pecu-
liai-ities of jihysical strtictiire preclude the possi-
liiiil\ (if a conuuon parentage with the rest of
mankind. Proniiiient among those distinctive
traits is the hair, which in the red man is round,
ill the wliite man oval, and in the black man flat.
A mure common supposition, however, is that
thtv are a derivative race, and sprang from one
or more of the ancient peoples of Asia. This
last is dmilitless the true theory.

INDIANS.

When Christopher Columbus had tinallv suc-
ceeded in demonstrating the truth of his theory
that li\' sailing westward from Kurope land
would he discovered, landing on the Island of
IJermudahe supposed that he had reached the
East Indies. This was an error, but it led to
the adoption of tiie name of "Indians" i'ov the
iiiliabilants of the newlv discovered country, by
wiiich name the reil men of America liave ever
since been known .

At the time of tlu' discovery of Amei'ica the
Algompiins, one of the most powerftd tribes of
Inilians, occupied the seaboard, while the Iro-
quois, another great tribe, inhabited the country
almost surrounded by them. The Algonquins
spread over vast territory, and various tribes of
Algoiupiiii lineage sprung up over the couiitr)',
in time adopting distinct tribal customs and
laws. An almost continuous warfare was car-
ried oil between tribes, but when tlie white men
came a confederacy nf Indian tribes were
funneil and every foot of tei'ritory was fiercely
ilispiited. The Algonquins formed tlie most
extensive alliance to resist the encroachment of
the whites, especially the English. Such was
the nature of King Pliilip's war. This King,
with his Algouqnin braves, sprea<l terror anti
desolation throughout New England. With tlie
Algonquins as the controlling s])irit, a confed-
eracy of continental })roportions was the result,
embracing in its alliance the tribes of every
name and lineage i'rom the northern lakes to the
gulf, I'ontiac, ha\iiig breatlieil into tliem his
implacable hate of the English intruders,
ordere<l the conflict to commence, and all the
iJritish colonies trembled before the desolating
fury of Indian vengeance.

ILLINOIS I'ONFKDKRACV.

The Illinois confederacy, the various ti'ibes of
which comprised most of the Indians of Illinois
at one time, was composed of five tribes: the
Tamaroas, Michigan.s, Kaskaskias, Cahokas, and
Peorias. The Illinois, Miamis and Delawares
were of the same stock. As early as I(i7(l, the
priest, Father MaiMpiette, mentions fre(|uent
visits made by individuals of this confederacy
to the missionary station at St Esprit, near the
western extremit}' of Lake Siqierior. At that
time they lived west of the Mississippi, in eight
villages, whither they lia<l been driven from the
shores of Lake Michigan by the Iroquois.
Shortly afterward they began to return to
their old hunting ground, and most of them
finally settled in Illinois. Joliet and Maniuelte,
in 1673, met with a Ijaiul of them on their
famous voyage of discovery down the Missis-
sippi. They were treated with the greatest
hospitality by the principal chief. On their
return voyage up the Illinois river they stopped
at tlie principal town of the confederacy, situ-
ated on the banks of the river seven miles below
the present town of Ottawa. It was tlien (tailed
Kaskaskia. Marijuette returned to the village in
1075 and established the mission of the Immac-
ulate Conceptriini, the oldest in Illinois. When,
in 1679, LaSalle visited tlie town, it had greatly
increased, numbering 4(i(l lodges, and at the an-
nual assembly of the dift^erent tribes, from (j,000
to 8,000 souls. In common witli other western
tribes, they became involved in the conspiracy
of Pqntiac, altliough displaying no very great
warlike spirit. Poutiac lost his life by the
hands of one of the braves of the Illinois tribe,
which so enraged the nations that had followed
him as their leader that they fell upon th(' Illi-
nois to avenge his death, and almost annihilated
them.

STAliVKII liol'K.

Trailition states that a band of this tribe, in
order to escape the general slaughter, took
refuge upon the high rock on the Illinois river
known as Starved Rock. Nature has made this
one of the most formidable military fortresses
in the world. From the watm's which wash its
liase it rises to .in altitude of one hundred and
twenty-five feet. Three of its sides it is iin])os-
sible to scale, while the other may be climbed
with difliciilty. From its summit, almost as
inaccessible as an eagle's nest, the valley of the
Illinois is seen as a landscape of exquisite
beauty. The river near by struggles between a

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

number of \\()ii(le<l islands, while further below
it, cjuietlv meanders through vast meadows till it
disappears like a thread of light in the dim
distance. On the summit of this rock the Illi-
nois were besieged bj- a superior force of the
Pottawattomies whom the great strength of
their natural fortress enabled them to keep at l)ay.
Hunger an<l thirst, however, soon accomplished
what the array was unable to effect. Surrounded
by a relentless foe, without food or water, they
took a last look at their beautiful hunting
grounds, and with true Indian fortitude laid
down and di<'d from starvation. Years after-
wards their bones were seen whitening in that
place.

At the beginning of the present century the
remnants of this once powerful confederacy
were forced into a smaller compass around Kas-
kaskia. A few years later they emigrated to
the southwest, and in 18.50 they were in the
Indian Territory, and numbered but eighty-four
persons.

KAUI.Y DISCOVEKIKS.

Nicholas Perrot, a Frenchman, was the first
white man to visit the present great State of
Illinois. In the year 1071 he was sent to Chi-
cago l)y M. Talon, Intendant of Caiia<la, for the
purpose of inviting the Indians to a ]>eaee con-
vention, to he hehl at Green 15ay. 'I'he object
of this convention was the formation of a |ilan
for the exploration of the Mississijipi Ki\er.
De Soto, the S]ianish explorer, had discovered
the river nearly one hundred and fifty years
jireviously, but did not eit'ect a settlement oi'
explore tile country any further. It remained
as it was until the French determined to visit
it, for which purpose it was deemed a wise ]>ol-
iey, as far as possible, to secure the friendship
and co-o])eration of the Indians before ventur-
ing upon an enterprise which their hostility
might render disastrous. A ]ilan was accord-
ingly arranged, and Louis .loliet joined Father
.laccpies Maripiette, at the .Tesuit Mission, on
liie Strait of Mackinaw, and, with five otiier
Fi-enchmen and a simple outfit, the daring
exploiters on the ITIli of May, 1 (n^'., set out on
liieir ])frilous voyage to discover, the Missis-
sippi. Coasting along the northern shore of
Lake jMichigan, they <'ntered Green IJay, and
jiassed thence up Fox River and Lake ^Vin-
nel)ago to a village of the Muscatines and
Miamis, where great interest was taken in the
expedition by the natives. With gui<les they
proceeded down the river. Arriving at the
portage, they soou carried their light canoes

and scanty baggage to the Wisconsin, about
three miles distant. Their guides now refused
to accomi)any them further, and endeavored, by
reciting the dangers incident to the voyage, to
induce them to return. They stated that huge
<lemons <lwelt in the great river, whose voices
could be heard a long distance, and wlie
engulfed in the raging waters all who came
within their reach. They also represented that
if any of them should escai)e the dangers of
the river, fierce tribes of Indians dwelt upon its
banks ready to complete the work of destruc-
tion. They proceeded on their journey, how-
ever, and on the I7th of .lune pnshetl their
frail barks on the bosom of the stately JNIissis-
sippi, down which they smoothly glided for
nearly a liundred miles. Here .Joliet and Mar-
(puHte, leaving their canoes in charge of their
)nen,went on^he western shore, wliere they dis-
covered an Indian village, and were kindly
treated. Tliey journeyed on down the un-
known river, passing the mouth of the Illi-
nois, then running into the current of the
mn(bly Missouri, and afterwards the waters of
the Ohio joined with them on their journey
southward. Near the mouth of the Arkansas,
tbev discovered Indians who showed signs of
hostility; but when Manpiette's mission of
peace was made known to them, they were
kindly received. After jtroceeding u]i the
Arkansas a short distance, at the advice of the
natives they turned their faces northward to
retrace their steps. After sevei-.ul weeks of hard
toil they reached the Illinois, up which stream
they proceeded to Lake Michigan. Following
the western shore of the lake, tlK'\- entered
Green ]>ay the latter part of Se]itrud)i'r, hax ing
traveled a distance of 2,.")()0 miles.

FIRST SETTLKMICNTS.

On his way up the Illinois, .Manpiette visited
the Kaskaskias, near what is nf)w Utica, in
LaSalle county. The following year he
returned, and established among them the mis-
sion of the Immaculate Conce]ition. This was
the last act of his life. He died in Michigan,
May IS, 1075. The town was named Kaskas-
kia by Manpiette.

The first military occu]iation of tlu- (-(Uintrx
was at Fort CrevecoMir, elected in lOSli; but
there is no evidence that a settlement was com-
menced there, i>r at I'eoria, on the lake abo\ e,
at that early date. The first settlement of
which there is any authentic .account was com-
menced with the building of Fort St. Louis, on
the Illinois river, in 1082 ; but this was soon

HI STORY OK ILLINOIS.

•2-:i

al>aii(li)iUMl. The (il<lrst |H'i-inaiK'iit scUk'nuMit,
licit iiiily in Illinois, lint in tlie valley of the
A[ississii>|)i, is at Kaskaskia, siluateil six miles
aliove the inoiitii of the Kaskaskia river. This
was settled in lO'.Ml by the removal of the mis-
sion from old Kaskaskia, or Ft. St. Louis, on
(he Illinois river. Cahokia was settle<l about
I he same time. The reason for tlie removal of
ihe old Kaskaskia settlement and mission was
lirohalily because tlie dangerous and dirticult
loiitt! by Lake Michigan and the Chicago port-
age had been almost abandoned, and travelers
ami traders traveleil down and up the Missis-
si[ipi by the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. It was
renio\eil to the vicinity of the Mississipjii in
order to be in the line of travel from t'anada to
Louisiana, that is, the lower part of it, for it
was all Louisiana then south of the lakes.
Illinois came into possession of the French in
lUSij, and was a dependency of Canada and a
]i:irl of Louisiana. During tlie ]ieriod of
French rule in Louisiana, the population prob-
ably never exceeded ten thousand To the year
I7:til the following five distinct settlements
were made in the territorj- of Illinois, number-
ing, in population, 140 French families, about
liiMi "(•( inverted" Indians, and many traders;
Cahokia, near tlie mouth of Cahokia creek, and
about five miles bebiw the present city of St.
Louis; St. Philip, about forty-five miles ))elow
('ahokia; Fort Chai'tres, twelve miles above
Kaskaskia; Kasl<askia, situated on the Kaskas-
kia river six miles above its confluence with the
.^[ississi|)pi, ami Prairie dii Roclier, near F^ort
Cliartres. Fort Chartres was built under the
direction of the Mississi])pi ('ompanviii 1718,
and was for a time the headipiarters of llie mil-
itary conuiiandants of the district of liiinois,
ami the most imiiregnable fortress in North
America. It was also the center of wealth and
fashion in the West. For about eighty years
the French retained peaceable possession of
Illinois. Their amiable dis]iosition and t.act of
ingratiating themselves with the Imlians ena-
bled them to escajie almost entirely the broils
which weakened and destroyed other colonies
Whether exploring remote rivers or traversing
hunting grounds in ]iursuit of game, in the
social circle or as ])articipants in the religious
exer(^ises of the church, the reil men became
their associates, and were treated with the kind-
ness and consideration of brothers. F^or more
than a hundred years peace between the white
man and the red was tinbroken, and when at
last this reign of harmony terminated it was
not caused by the conciliatory Frenchman, but

by the blunt and stui'dy Anglo-Saxon. During
this century, or until the country was occupied
bv the English, no regular court was ever iicld.
When, in 170.5, the country passed into the
bauds of the F^nglish, many of the French,
rather than submit to a change in their institu-
tions, preferred to leave their homes and seek a
new abode. There are, however, at the ]ireseiit
time, a few remnants of the old French stock
in the State, who still retain to a great extent
the .ancient habits and customs of their fathers.

KNIiLISIl KILE.

Ill 17.50 France claimed the whole v;illey i>f
the Mississip])i, and England the light to cxteinl
her possessions westward as far .as she iiiiglil
desire. Through colonial controversies, the two
mother countries were ]irecii)itated into a bloody
war within the Northwestern Territory, (4eorge
Washington firing the first gun of the militarv
struggle which resulted in the overthrow of the
l*'reiicli not only in Illiiifiis. but in North jViner-
ica. The French evinced a determin,iti(jn tn
retain control of the territory bordering tlie
Ohio and Mississippi from Canada to the (iiiil,
and so long as the English colonies were cmi-
tined to the sea-coast there was little reason for
controversy. As the English, however, became
acipiaimed with this lieautiful .and fertile ])or-
tioii of our country, they not only learned the
value of the vast territory, but also r. solved to
set u]> a counter claim to the soil. The French
establisheil numerous military and tra<ling posts
from the frontiers of Canada to New Orleans.
and in order to establish also their claims to
jurisdiction over the country, they carved the
lilies of France on the forest trees, or sunk
plates of metal in the ground. These measures
did not, however, deter the English from going
on with their explorations; and though neither
party resorted to arms, yet the conflict was
gathering, and it was only a (juestioii of time
when the storm should burst upon the frontier
settlement. The French liased their claims ujion
discoveries, the English on grants of territory
extending from ocean to ocean, but neither
party jiaid the least attention to the ]irior claims
of tlie Indians. From this position of affairs, it
was evident that actual collision between the
contending jiarties woulil not much longer be
deferred. The English Government, in antici-
pation of a war, urged tiie (lovernor of \''irginia
to lose no time in building two forts, which were
equipped by arms from England. The I"'reiich
anticipated the Knglish, and gathered a consid-
erable force to defend their possessions. The

■2i

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

(■roveriior (It'teriniiuMl to sfiid a messenger to
the nearest French post and demand an explana-
tion. This resolution of the Governor brought
into tlie liistory of our country for the first time
the man of all othei's whom America most loves
to honor, namely, George Washington. He was
chosen, although not yet twenty-one years of
age, as the one to perform this delicate and
difficult mission. With five companions, he set
out on November 10, 17.5:i, and after a perilous
journey returned January 6,17.54. The strug-
gle commenced, and continued long, and was
liloody and fierce; l)ut on the lOtli of October,
I7(i"), the ensign of France was replaced on the
ramparts of Fort C'hartres by the Hag of Great
iJritain. This fort was the depot of supplies
and the place of rendezvous for the united forces
of the French. At this time the colonies of the
Atlantic seaboard were assembled in prelimin-
ary congress at New York, dreaming of liberty
and independence for the continent; and Wash-
ington, who led the expedition against the
Fi'ench foi' the English king, in less than ten
years was coniman<ling the forces opposed to
the Knglish tyrant. Illinois, besides heing con-
>trMctivelv a part of Floiida for over one hun-
dr<'d years, during which time no Spaniard set
foot upon her soil or rested his eyes upon her
lieaiitiful plains, for nearly ninety years had
liecn in the actual occupation of the French,
Ihcii- puny settlements slumbering (piietly in
colonial dependence on the distant waters of the
Kaskaskia, Illinois and Wabash.

<;kx. i'lark's exploits.

The Northwest 'IV'rritorv was now entirelv
under English rule, and on the breaking out of
the Revolutionarv war the ISritish held everv
post of importance in the West. While the
i-olonists of the East were maintaining a tierce
struggle with the armies of England, their west-
ern frontiers were ravaged by merciless butch-
eries of Indian warfare. The jealousy of the
savage was aroused to action by the rapid exten-
sion of American settlement westward and the
improper influeiu-e exerted by a number of mili-
tary posts garrisoned by British troo])s. To
prevent indiscriminate slaughter arising from
the.se causes, Illim)is became the theater of some
of' the most daring exploits connected with
American history. The hero of the achieve-
ments l)y which this bcautiftd land was snatched
as a gem from the British crown, was George
Rogers Clark, of \'irgiiiia. He had closely
Watched the movements of the Britisli through-
out the Northwest, and understood their whole

plan; he also knew the Indians were not unani-
mously in accord with the English, and there-
fore was convinced that if the British couhl be
defeated and expelled fi-om the Noi-thwest, the
natives might be easily awed into neutrality.
Having convinced himself that the enterjirise
against the Illinois settlement might. easily suc-
ceed, he repaired to the capital of \'irgiiii.i.
arriving No\ember 5, 1777. While he was on
his way, fortunately, Burgoyne was <lefcatcil
(October 17), and the spirits of the colonists
were thereby greatly encouraged. Patrick
Henry was Governor of Virginia, and at once
entered heartily into Clark's plans. After satis-
tVing the \ irginia leaders of the feasibility of
his jiroject, he received two sets of instructions,
— one secret, the other open. The latter author-
ized him to enlist seven companies to go to Ken-
tucky, and serve tliree months after their arriv.il
in the West. The secret order authorized him
to arm these troops, to procure his ))owder and
lead of General Hand, at Pittsburg, and to pro-
ceed at once to subjugate the country.

Witli these instructions General Clark repaired
to Pittsl)urg, choosing rather to raise his men
west of the mountains, .as he well knew all were
needed in the colonies for the conflict there.
Enlisting bis men, he at once ])roceeded to carry
out his instructions. His plan was to go bv
water as far as Fort ^lassac, and thence marcli
direct to Kaskaskia. Here he intended to sur-
](rise the garrison, and after its capture go to
Cahokia, then to A'incennes, and lastly to
Detroit. Each of these posts were in imii cap-
tured.

The services of Clark proved of essential
advantage to his countrymen. They discon-
certed the plans of Hamilton, the (Tovernor of
Detroit, who was intending to m.ike a vigorous
and concerted attack upon the frontier, and not
only saved the western frontier from depreda-
tions by thf savages, but also greatly cooled the
ardor of the Indians for carrying on a contest
in which they were not likely to be the gainers.
Had it not been for this small army, a union of
all the tribes from Maine to Georgia against the
colonies might have been effected, and the whole
current of (jur history clianged.

t'OUNTV OF Il,I.INOIS.

Ill October, 1778, after the successful campaign
of Colonel t'lark, the assembly of Virginia
erected the conquered country, embracing all
the territory northwest of the Ohio river, into
the county of Illinois, which was doubtless the

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

largest idinily in the world, exceetliug in its
dimensions lliu whole oi' Great Britian and Ire-
land. Tu speak more definitely, it contained
the territory now enihraced in the great States
of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wiseonsin and JMic-li-
isan. On the iL'th of Decenilier, ITTS, .lohn
Todd was ai)iiuinted Lieutenant Commandant of
this connlv liy Patrick Henry, then Governor of
Virginia, and accordingly, also, the first of Illi-
nois county.

NORTH \\'ESTKI«M TEUKITOUY.

Illinois continued to form a part of Virginia
until March 1, 17S4, when that State ceded all
the territory noi'th o( the Ohio to the United
States. Immediately the general government
proceeded to establish a form of government for
the settlers in the territories thus ceded. This
form continued until the passage of the ordi-
nance of f7sT, for the government of the North-
western Territory. No man can study the secret
history of this ordinance and not feel that Prov-
idence was guiding with sleei)less eye the des-
tinies of these unhorn Slates. American legis-
lation has never achieved anything more admir-
aVile, as an internal goxcriimeiit, than this com-
prehensive ordinance. Its provisions concern-
ing the distribution of ]iroperty, the principles
of civil and religious liberty which it laid at the
foundation of the communities since established,
and the efficient and simple organization by
which it created the first machinery of civil so-
ciety, are worthy of all the praise that has ever
been given them.

OKUINANC'E OK 1787.

For some years Thomas Jett'erson had \:iinly
tried to secure a system of government for the
Northwestern Territory. He was an emancipa-
tionist and favored the exclusion of slavery from
the territory, and m this he was opi)osed by al-
most the entire south. In .July, 1787, Manasseh
Cutler ap|)eared in New Y'ork to lobby on the
question of organization of the Northwestern
Territory. He was a courtlygentleman of the old
style, a man of commanding presence and of in-
viting face. He came re]>resenting a Massachu-
setts coin]iany that desire<l to purchase a tract of
land, now included in Ohio, for the purpose of
planting a colony. This c.om|)any, togetliei- with
certain speculators in New Y'ork, enabled him to
represent a demand for 5,.jii(i,UU0 acres. The
amount thus received from the sale of this land
would applv towards reducing the National
debt, which .left'erson was anxious should be j)aid
as soon as possible.

Massachusetts then owned the territory of
^Laine, which she was crowding on the market.
She was opposed to opening the northwestern
region. This tired the zeal of Virginia. The
South caught the inspiration, and all exalted
Dr. Cutler. The entire South rallied around
him. ]Massachusetts could not vote against him,
because many of the constituents of her mem-
bers were interested [)ersonally in the Western
speculation. Thus Culler, making friends in
the South, and doubtless using all the arts of the
lobby, was enabled to command the situation.
True to deeper convictions, he dictated one of
the most compact and finished documents of
wise statesmanship that has ever adoi-ned any
human law book. He borrowed from Jefferson
the term '-Articles of Compact," which, pre-
ceding the federal constitution, rose into the
most sacred character. He then followed very
closely tlie constitution of Massachusetts,
adopted three years before. Its most prominent
points were :

1. The exclusiiin of slavery from the terri-
tory forever.

■2. Provision for public schools, giving one
township for a seminary and every section
numberetl 10 in each township; that is, one
thirty-sixth of all the land for public schools.

:i. A ])rovision prohibiting the adoption of
any constitution or the enactment of any law
thai shoidd nullify pre-existing contracts.

Beit forever remembered that this compacl
declared that ''religion, morality, and kiioNvl-
edge being necessary to good governnnMii and
the happiness of mankind, schools and the
means of education shall always be encour-
aged." Dr. Cutler [ilanted himself on this ])l!tt-
form and wcudd not yield. (Tiving his umpiali-
tied declaralion that it was that or nothing, —
that unless they could make the lanil desiralile
they did not want it, — he took his horse and
buggy and started for the constitutional conven-
tion at Philadelphia, On July l^i, 17s7, the bill
was put upon its jtassage, and was unanimously
adopted. Thus tlie great States of Ohio, In-
diana, Illinois, Mii'higan, and Wisconsin, a vast
empire, were ct)nsecrated to freeiloni. inlelli-
gen<-e, and morality. Thus the great heart of
the nation was pre|iared to save the Union of
States, for it was this act that was the salvation
of the republic and the destruction of slavery.
Soon the South saw theii' great blunder and
tried to have the compact repealed. In ISO",
Congress referred it to a committee, of which
.lohn Randolph was chairman. He reporle(l
that this ordimtnce was a compact and opposed

IIIST0[;Y (»F- ILLINOIS.

i-fpual. Thus it xiuuc], a rock in llit- wav of the
on-ni.shiny st-a uf slavery.

Gen. Arthur St. Clair was, Ijy Coiij^rcss,
eleoted (-JoNernor of this vast terrilo'rv.

ILLINOIS TEKRrrOEY.

After llie division of the Northwestern Terri-
tory, Illinois became one of the countie.s of the
Territory (jf Indiana, from wliieh it was sepa-
rated by an aet of Congress February :J, ISOO,
forming the Territory of IHinois, with' a popula-
tion estimated at i),UUO, and then ineluded the
Ijre.sent State of Wisconsin. It was di\ ided, at
the time, into two counties — St. Clair and Ran-
dolph. Jolin IJoyle, of Kentuckv, was appointed
(Tovernoi-, by tlie President, James Madison,
but declininy, Niniaii Edwards, of the same
Slate, was then appointed and served with dis-
tinction ; and aftei; the organization of Illinois
as a State he served in the same cajiacity, liein"
its third Governor.

During Governor Edwards' administration
the wav of 1812 commenced, and the few whites
in the State had to contend against a savage foe
incited on to deeds of violence by the British
ollicers sent out for that purpose. The mas.sacre
at Fon Oearborn, of heljdess prisoners, by the
infuriated Indians, forms a black jiage in the
history of Illinois. Several expeditions were
put on foot by Governor Edwards against the
luilians, and in the various campaigns the Gov-
eiaiur l)ore an honoraljle and heroic part. Peace
c;inie at^ last, the Indian depredations ceased,
and the Territory of Illinois was again on the
road to prosperity.

.STATK OltCAXIZAIION.

In Janiuiry of Isis the Territorial Legislature
forwarded to Nathaniel Pope, delegate in Con-
gress from Illinois, a petition praying for admis-
sion into the National I'nion as" a State. On
April isth of the same year Congress passe<l
the enabling act, and December 3, after the
State government had been organized and Gov-
ernor JJoud had signed the Constitution, Con-
gress by a resolution declared Illinois to be
'■one of the United States of America, and
admitted into the Union on an e<pial foolin"-
with the original States in all respects." "^

KIKST rOXSTITUTIOX.

In .luly and August of 1S18 a convention was
held at Kaskaskia for the pnr|)ose of drafting
a constitution. This constitution was not sub^
mitted to a voiiMd' the peoi)le for their aj.pn.val
or ri'jection, ii being well known that they
would approve it. It was about the first or-

ganic law of any State in the Union to abolish
imprisonment for debt. The first election under
the constitution was held on the third Thursday
and the two succeeding days in September, 1818.
Shadraeh Bond was elected" Governor, and Pierre
Menard Lieutenant Governor. Their term of
ofWce extended four years. At this time the
State was divided into" fifteen counties, the pop-
ulation being about 4(),UU0. Of this number l)y
far the larger portion were from the Soutlierii
States. The salary of the Governor was ;^l,00(i,
while that of the Treasurer was >i.300. The
legislature re-enacted, verbatim, the Territorial
Code, the penalties of wliich were unnecessarily
severe. Whipping, stocks and pillory wer'e
used for minor offenses, and for arson", rai)e,
horse stealing, etc., death by hanging was the
jienalty. These laws, however, were" modified
in 1S:.'1.

The legislature first convened at Kaskaskia,
the ancient seat of empire for more than one
hundred and fifty years, both for the French
and Americans. Provisions Avere made, how-
ever, for the removal of the seat of government
by this legislature. A ])laee in the wilderness
on the Kaskaskia river was selected and named
\ aiidalia. From \'anilalia it was removed to
Springfield in the year fs:;;i.

THE \VlNNEIiA(;0 IVAK.

The Indians, who for some years were on
peaceful terms with the whites, became troulik-
some in 182 7. The Winnebagoes, Sacs and
Foxes and other tribes had been at war more
than a hundred years. In the summer of 1n27 a
war party of the Winneliagoes surprised a i)arty
of Chip2)ewas and killed eTght of them. Fou"r
of the murderers were arrested and delivered to
the Chii)])ewas, by whom they were immediateh'
shot. This was the first irri"tation of the Wiii-
nebagoes. lied Bird, a chief of this tribe, in
order to avenge the execution of the four war-
riors of his own people, attacked the Chippewas,
but was defeated ; and being determined to sat-
isfy his thirst for revenge by some means sur-
prised and killed severarwhite men. Upon re-
ceiving intelligence of these murders, the whites
who were working the lead mines in the vicinity
of Gakna formed a body of volunteers, ami,
re-inforced by a company of United Stales
troops, marched into the country of the ^^■ill-
nebagoes. To save their nation from the mis-
eries of war, Red Hird and six other men of his
nation voluntarily surrendered themsehes.
Some of the numln'r were executed, some of
thciii imjirisoiird and destined, like Ked Bird,

HISTORY f)F ILLINOIS.

inn-liii-iously to jiiiii' away wilhiii the iiaiTow foii-
HiK's of a jail, wlioii formerly the \ast foi'ests
liail proven loo limited for them.

I!I,A('K HAWK W'Ml.

Ill the year of 1 ^iU4 a treaty was coiieliulecl
between tlie liiiiteil States and the eliiefs of the
Sac and Vox rations. Ouu nhl chief of thi'
S.aes, howevei'. called IJlack Hawk, who hail
fouLfht with ureat bravery in the service of (ireal
JSi'ilain diirinii' the war of 181:.', had always taken
exceptions to this treaty, pronoiincinj;- il void.
Ill ls:ll he established liimself, with a chosen
hand of warriors, upon tlu' disputed territory,
ordering the whites to leave the country at once.
The settlers coin])laining. Governor Reynolds
ilispalclied General Gaines, with a company of
rcLjuhirs and l,.>Oii volunteers, to the scene of
action. Taklnsf the Indians by surprise, the
lroo|is liurnt their villau'es and forced them to
eonclitde a treaty, by which they ceded all lands
east of the ilississipjii, and agreed to remain on
the western side of the river. Necessity forced
the proud s])irit of JJlack Hawk into submission,
which made him more than ever determined to
be avenged ujion his enemies. Having rallied
around him the warlike braves of the Sac and
Fo.\ nations, he crossed the Mississippi in the
sprini; of lX'-'r2. I'lioii learning of this invasion.
Governor Reynolds hastily collected a body of
1,800 volunteers, placing them under command
of IJrigadier General Whiteside. The army
marched to the Mississippi, and having reduced
to ashes the Indian village known as "'Proiihet's
Town," proceeded several miles up the river to
Dixon to join the i-egiilar forces under General
Atkinson. They found at Dixon two companies
of volunteers, who, sighing for glory, were dis-
patched to reconnoitre the enemy. They ad-
vanced under com'inand of Major Stillnian to a
small creek, afterwards known as "Stillmaii's
Run," and while there encamped saw a party of
mounted Indians at a distance of a mile. Sev-
eral of Stillman's party mounted their liorsesand
charged tlie Indians, killing three of them, but
being attacked by the main body, under IJlack
Hawk, they were routed, and by their precipi-
tated flight spread such a jianic through tlie
camp that the whole company ran off to Dixon
as fast as [lossilile. On their arrival it was found
that eleven of their number were killed.

In June, 1832, IJIack Hawk, with a liaiid of
one hundred and fifty warriors, attacked Apjile
River Fort, near Galena, defended liy twenty-
live men. This fort, a mere palisade of logs,
was erected to -ifford jirotection to the miners.

1 —

Foi- tifteen consecuti\e hours the garrison bad
to sustain the assault of the savage eneiny; but
knowing very well that no (|uarter wouhl be
given them, they fought with such fury aiul des-
peration that tiie Indians, after losing many of
their best wari'iors, were compelled to retreat.

New forces being sworn into the service. Gen-
erals Atkinson and Henry determined to i<ursue
the retreating foe. They followed them inlo
Wisconsin, and hearing that iJlack Hawk was
encamped at Rock river, at the Maniton village,
issued orders to continue the pursuit. The offi-
cers of General Henry handed to liim a written
)irotest; but he, a man equal to any emergency,
ordered the officers to be arrested and escorted
to General Atkinson. Wltliin a few minutes
after the order was given the officers all collect-
ed around the General's quarteri", pledged them-
selves that if forgiven they would return to duty
and never do the like again.

The battle of J5ad Axe immediately followed,
resulting in a loss to the Indians of three hun-
dred, besides fifty prisoners. The whites had
but seventeen killed and twelve wounded.
Black Hawk, with twenty of his braves, es-
caped, retreating up the Wisconsin river. The
W^innebagoes, desiring to secure the friendship
of the whites, went in pursuit and captured and
delivered them to General Street, the irnited
States Indian Agent. Among the prisoners
were the son of Black Hawk and the projihet of
the tribe. These, with Black Hawk, were taken
to Washington, D. C, and were soon confined
as prisoners at Fortress Monroe, 'i'hus ended
the Black Hawk war

INTERNAL I.MCi;o\ UMJiNTS.

At the general election in IS.U Joseph Duncan
was chosen Governor by a handsome majority.
A reckless and uncontrollable desire for internal
public improvements seized the minds vi' the
peojjle. In his message to the legislature, in
1835, Governor Duncan said: " When we loc>k
abroad and see the extensive lines of inter-com-
munication penetrating almost I'veiy section of
our sister States; when we see tlu' c:iral-boat
and the locomotive bearing with seeming
triumph the rich productions of the interior to
the rivers, lakes and ocean, almost .■uinihilating
time, burthen ami s]iace, what jiatriotic bosom
does not beat high with a laudable ambition to
give Illinois her full share of those advantages
which are adorning her sister States, and which
a magnificent Providence seems to iinite by a
wondf'rful adaptation of our Avhole country to
such improvements V'

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

STUrKN'DDUS SYSTEM OF rurPROVEMENTS l.NAUCU-
BATEI).

The leLcislatuve res]«)nfled to the ai'dfiit words
of the Governor, and enacted a system of inter-
nal imjjroveinents witliout a parallel in the ijran-
denr of its conception. They ordered the eon-
struction of 1,300 miles of railroad, crossinji; the
State in all directions. This was surpassed by
the river and canal improvements. Tliere were
a few counties not touched by the railroad,
river or canal, and they were to be comforted
and com)iensated by the free distribution of
ftL'Ot), 0(1(1 among them. To inflate this baUoon
beyond credence, it was ordered that work
shoulil c(>n\mence on both ends"of each of these
railroads and rivers, and at each river crossing,
all at the same time. This provision, which has
been (;alled the crowning folly of the entire sys-
tem, was the result of those jealous combina-
tions emanating from the fear that advantages
might accrue to one section over another in the
commencement and completion of the works.
We can apjireciate better, perhaps, the magni-
tude of this grand system by reviewing a few
tigiires. The debt autlu)rized for these improve-
ments in the first instance was ■'Sl(i,2:'.0,()(t(t. Itut
this, as it was soon foimd, was based upon esti-
mates at least too low by half. This, as we
readily see, committed the Stale to a liabilitv of
over ^20,0(1(1,000, ecpiivalent to -S200,ooii,oo6 at
the i)resent time, with over ten times the popu-
lation and more than ten times the wealth.

S(U'li stupendous undertakings by the State
naturally engendered the fever of speculation
among individuals. That particular form known
as the town-lot fever assumed the malignant
type at first in Chicago, from whence it spread
over the entire State and adjoining States. It
was an epidemic. It cut up men's farms with-
out regard to locality, and cut up the purses of
the ])urchasers without regard to conse((uenccs.
It was estimati'd that building lots enough were
sold in Indiana alone to accommodate e\ei3'
citizen then in the United States.

Chicago, which in 18:10 was a small trading-
post, had within a few years grown into a city.
This was the starting point of the wonderful
and marvelous career of that city. Improve-
ments, unsur))assed by individual "efforts in the
annals of the world, were then begun and have
been maintained to this day. Though visited
by the terril)le tire ficmd and the accumulation of
years swejit away in a night, yet she has arisen,
and to-day is the best built city in the world.
Reports of the rapid advivnce of property in

Chicago sjiread to the east, and thousands poured
into her borders, bi-inging money, enterprise
and industry. Every shiji that left her i)ort car-
ried with it maps of splendidly situated towns
and additions, and every vessel that returne<l
was laden with immigrants. It was said at the
time that the staple articles of Illinois export
were town plats, and that there was danger of
crowding the State with towns to the exclusion
of land for agriculture.

ILLINOIS AXIl .MK'HIilAN (_'ANAL.

The Illinois and Michigan canal again re-
ceived attention. This enterprise is one of the
most important in the early development of
Illinois, on account of its magnitude and cost,
and forming as it does the connecting link be-
tween the great chain of lakes and the Illinois
and Mississippi rivers. (4overnor l>ond, the
first Governor, recommended in his first mes-
sage the building of the canal. In J<s2f the
legislature appropriated $f 0,000 for surveying
the route. This work was perfoiined l>y two
voung men, who estimated the cost at *(H)0,o(io
or ^700,00(1. It cost, however, when compleleil,
i^8,000,0oo. In 182.5 a law was passed to incor-
porate the Canal Company, liut no stock was
sold. In fs2(i, upon the solicilaliou of Daniel
P. Cook, Congressman from this State, Congress
gave 800,001) acres of land on the line of the
work. In 1828 commissioners were aj>pointed,
and work commenced with a new survey and
new estimates. In 18.34-.5 the work was again
pushed forward, and continued until 1848, when
it was completed.

TANIC: BEPlTDIArloN ADVOCATED.

Bonds of the State were recklessly disposed
of l)oth in the East and in Euro])e. Work was
commenced on various lines of railroad, but
none were ever comjileted. On the Northern
Cross Railroad, from Mercdosia east eight milc<.
the first locomotive that ever turned a wheel in
the great valley of the ^Mississippi was run
The d.ate of this remarkable e\ cut was Novein-
lier s, I8:is. Large sums of money were being
ex)iended with no assurance of a revenue, ami
consei)uently, in 1840, the legislature repealed
the improvement laws passed three years pre-
viously, not, however, initil the State had accu-
mulated a debt of nearly -tlo,000,ooo. Thus
fell the most stupendous, extravagant and almost
ruinous folly of a grand system of internal im-
provements that any civil community, ]ierhaps,
ever engaged in. The State banks failed, specie
was scarce, an enormous debt was accumulated,

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

•JO

llie inltTcst of which cniihl nol \tv [laid, [)(_'(i|iK'
wove ilisa|i|)oiiiteil in the accuimdatidii of wealtli,
and real estate was worthluss. All this had a
tendency to create a desire to throw off the
lieavy Imrden of State debt by repudiation.
This was Ixildly advocated by some leading
men. The lair tame and name, liowever, of the
Slate was not tarnished by rej)udiati()n. Men,
true, honest and able, were |ilaced at the head of
affairs; and though ihe hours were dark and
gloomy, and tlie times most trying, yet our
grand State was lirought through and prospered,
until to-day, after the expenditure of millions
for jiublic inipr()V(:ments aiul lor carrying on
the late war, it has, at present, no juiblic debt
whatever.

MOIIMON WAi:.

In April, IWJO, the " Laltcr-Day Saints," or
MoruKuis, came in large iiiiinbers to Illinois,
and purchased a tract of laud on the east .side
of the .Mississip|)i ri\er, about ten miles above
Kciikuk llcie thcv coniinenced building tbe
c,ii\- (if \uii\(io. A ni(M'c [licturesque or eligi-
ble site for a city could not lia\e been selected.

The origin, rapid development, and prosper-
ity of this religious sect are the most remark-
able ami instructive historical events of the
present century. That an obscure individual,
without nionev, education, m- res]jectaV)ility,
should persuade hundreds of thousands of peo-
ple to believe him inspired of (-rod, and cause a
book, contemptible as a literary production, to
be received as a continuation of the sacred rev-
elation, appears almost incredible ; yet in less
than half a century, the discijiles of this ob-
scure imlividual have increased to hundreds of
thousands; have foumled a Slate iii the distant
wilderness, and compelled the government of
the United States to practically re<-ognize them
as an indej)endent people.

The fouiuler of Mormonism was Joseph
Smith, a native of Vermont, wlm emigrated
while (|uite young with his father's family to
western New York, Here his youth was spent
in idle, vagabond life, roaming the woods,
dreaming of l)uried treasures, and in endeavor-
ing to learn the art of finding them by the
twisting of a forked stick in his hands or Ijy
looking through enchanted stones. Both he
and his father became famous as "water wiz-
ards," always ready to point out the sjiot where
wells might be dug and water found. Such was
the character of the young ])roHigate when he
made the acipiaintance of Sidney Kigdon, a per-
ao.i of considerable talent and Lnfuruiatiou, who

had conceived the design >>( founding a new
religion. A religious romance, written by JNIr.
Spaidding, a Presliyterian })reacher of Ohio,
then dead, suggested the idea, ami tinding in
Smith the reipiisite duplicity and cunning to re-
duce it to practice, it was agreed that he should
act as pro])het; an<l the two devised a story
that gold ])lates had been found buried in the
earth containing a record inscribed on them in
unknown characters, which, when deciphered
by the power of inspiration, gave tlie history of
the ten lost tribes of Israel.

After their settlement in and altout Nauvoo,
in Hancock county, great depredations were
committed by them on the "(icntiles." The
Mormons had been received from Missouri vvith
great kindness bj- the people of this State, and
every possible aid granted them. The depreda-
ti(uis committed, however, soon made them odi-
ous, when the question of getting rid of them
was agitated. In the fall of 1841, the Governor
of Missouri made a demand on Governor Carlin
for the arrest and delivery of Joe Smith as a
fugitive of justice. Smith was subsequently
arrested, but was released by .rudge Douglas,
upon the ground that the writ had once been re-
turned before it had been e.Kecuted. In 1842,
he was again arrested, and again escaped. Em-
boldened by success, tlie Mormons became
more arrogant and overbearing. Many people
began to believe they were about to set up a
government for themselves in defiance of the
laws of the State. Owners of property stolen
in other counties made pursuit into Nauvoo,
and were lined by the Mormon courts for dar-
ing to seek their property in the holy city.
About this time they petitioned Congress to es-
tablish a territorial government for them in
Nauvoo.

Smith soon began to play the t\ rant over his
peoi>le. Among the tirst acts of this sort was
an attempt to take the wife of William Law,
one of his most talented disciples, and make
her his spiritual wife. He established, without
authority, a recoi'der's office, and an office to
issue marriage licenses. He proclaimed that
none could deal in real estate or sell liquor bi>t
himself. He ordered a printing office demol-
ished, and in many ways controlled the free-
dom and l»usiness of the Mormons. Not onlj'
did he stir up some of the Mormons, but bj' his
reckless disregard for the laws of the land
raised uj) opposition on every hand. It was be-
lieved that he instructed the Dauite band,
which he had chosen as the ministers of his
vengeance, that no blood, except that of the

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

ciiiirch, was til Uo rcgardtMl ;is sacreil, it' it coii-
travciiL'd llu' uccDiniilishment of his object. It
was asserted that lie inculcated the legality of
jfcrjury and other crimes, if committed to ad-
vance the cause of true lieliever.s; that (lod had
given the woi-l<l .and all it contained to his
saints, and since they were ke})t out of tlieir
rightful inhei'itauce liy force, it was no moral
offense to get ])ossession of it by stealing. It
was re|iorled tliat an establishment existed in
Naiivoo for the manufacture of counterfeit
money, and tliat a set of outlaws was main-
taiinnl for the purpose of putting it in circula-
tion. Statements were circulated to the effect
that a reward was offered for the destruction of
the Warsaw Signal, an auti-Mormon ])aper,
and that Mormons dispersed over the countrj'
tlireatened all jiersons who offered to assist the
eonstahle in the execution of the law, with the
ileslruction ol' iheir ]iroperty and the murder of
tiu'ir families. There were rumors also .afloat
that an alliance had been formed with the
western Indians, and in case of war they wouhl
be used in murdering their enemies. In short,
if oidy one-half of these reports were true, the
Mormons must have been the most infamous
people tiiat ever e\ist<'d.

AVilliam Law. one of the ])roprietors of the
l)rinting office <lestroyed by Smith, went to Car-
tilage and procure<l a writ for the arrest of Smitli
and others in the deed. The prophet, liis
brother J Fyruui. and others, surrendered them-
selves ,at Carttiage .Tune 24, 1844, on a charge of
riot, and all entered into recognizance before a
justice of tlie ])eace for tlieir appearance at
court. They were again arrested and thrown
into jirison at C'artliagc. The citizens of Han-
cock, McDonough an<l Schuyler counties had
assembled, arnieil and ready to avenge the out-
r.ages that had been committed l)y the Mormons,
(ireat excitement ))revailed. All were anxious
to march into Nanvoo. The 27th of June was
a|)p<iinted lor tlie march, but Governor F'ord,
wlio at the time was in Carthage, apjirehended
trouble if the militia should attempt to invade
Nauvoo, disl)anded the troops, retaining only a
guard for the jail.

(lovernin- Ford weut to Nauvoo on the 27th.
'I'hc same morning about t\vo hundred men from
Warsaw, many being disguised, hasteiieil to
Carthage. On learning that one of the coni-
j)anies left as a guard had disbanded, and the
other stationed one hundred and fifty yards from'
the jail while eight men were left to guard the
prisoners, a communication was soon e.stab-
lislied between the Warsaw troops and the

guard; and it was arranged that the guard
sliould have their guns charged with blank c.irt
ridges and fire at the assailants when tliey
attempted to enter the jail. The conspir.ators
came uji, jumped the fence around the jail, were
fired upon by the guard, whicli, according to
arrangement, was over])Owered, and the assail-
ants entered the prison to the door of the room
where the two prisoners were confined. An
attempt was made to break o])eu the door; but
.loe Smith, being armed with a ])istol, fired he\-
eral times as the dooi' was luirsted o])en, and
three of the ass.ailants were wounded. At the
same time several shots were tireil into the room
b_v some of which John Taylor, a friend of the
Smiths, received four wounds, and liyruni Smith
was instantly killed. Joe Smith, severely
wounded, attempted to escape by jumping out
of a second-.story window, but was ^o stunne(l
liy the fall that he was unable 1" rise. In this
position he was dispatched bybalK slmt through
ins body. Thus fell Joe Smith, the most suc-
cessful iinpo.ster of modern times. Totally
ignorant of almost every fact in science, as well
as in law, he made up in constrnctiveness anil
natural cunning whatever in him was wanting
of instruction.

Manv feared the Mormons would assemhle
in force and attack Carthage for the pur]M)se nf
avenging the death of the jjrojjhet. Ibit this
was never done. In the fall of 1^4.') a cimven-
tion, consisting of delegates from eight of tin
adjoining counties assembled to concert meas-
ures for the expulsion of the Mormons fnmi the
State. The Mormons seriously contemplated
emigration westward, believing the times fore-
bode evil for them. Accordingly, iluring the
winter of 1.'^4.5-'4(;, the most stu])endous prepara-
tions were made by the Mornnins for rejnoval.
All the princi])al dwellings, and e\cn the tem-
ple, were converted into work-shops, ami licfiue
spring, 12,0(10 wagons were in readiness; and
by the middle of February the leaders, with
2,"ooo of their followers, had crossed the Missis-
sip]ii on the ice.

I'.efore the spring of 1S4(; the majority of
Mormons had left Nauvoo. liut still a large
number remaini'd.

rUE liATTI.E OF -XAUVliO.

In Septeml)er a writ was issued against sev-
eral prominent Mormons, and placed in the
hands of John Carlin, of Cartli.age, for execu-
tion. Carlin called out a posse to help inaki' the
arrest, which brought together ipiite a lai'ge
lorce in the lu'inhborliood ol Nauvoo. Carliu,

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

not bi'iiiy a inilitar\' man, |)laceil in I'oinnuunl cif
tlie jjosse, tirst., l-roncral Singleton, and after-
ward Colonel JJrockinan, who j)roceedi'd to in-
vest tlie city, erecting breastworks, and taking
other means for defensive as well as olfensive
operations. What was then termed a battle
next took place, resulting in the death of one
^[orinon and the wounding of several others,
and loss to the anti-JNIormons of tliree killed and
four wounded. At last, through the interven-
tion of an anti-iVrormon committee of one hun-
ilred, froui (^uiney, the Mormons and their allies
were induced to submit to such terms as the
posse chose to dictate, which were that tlie ]\Ior-
mons should immediately give up tlii'ir arms to
the (.^uincy committee, and remove from the
State. The trustees of the church and live of
their elerks were permitted to remain for tlie
sale of Mormon property, ami the posse were to
march in unmolested, and leave a sutiieient force
to guarantee the performance of their stipula-
tions. Accordingl}', the constable's posse
mar(Oied in with liroekman at their head. It
consisted of about SOU armed men and (Kin or
Ton unarmed, wlio had assembled from all the
country around, through motives of enriosity, to
see the once proud city of Xauvoo humbled and
delivered u]) to its enemies The}' proceeded
into the city slowlj' and carefully, examining the
way for fear of the explosion of a mine, many of
which bad been made by the Mormons, by bnr-
rying kegs of powder in the ground, with a man
stationed at a distance to pull a string commu-
nicating with the trigger of a percussion lock
afhxed to the keg. This kind of a contrivance
was called by the Mormons "hell's half-acre."
When the posse arrived in the city the leaders
of it elected themselves into a tribunal to decide
who should lie force<l away and who remain.
Parties were dispatched to hunt for fire-arms,
and for Mormons, and to bring them to judg-
ment. When brought, they received their doom
from the mouth of IJrockman, Avho sat a grim
and iinawed tyrant for the time. As a general
rule, the Mormons were ordered to leM\e within
ail hour or two, and by rare grace sonic of them
were allowed until next day, and in a few cases
longer time was granted.

MKXKAN WAi;.

in 18-H;, when tiie war with Mexico eom-
nu'iiced, Illinois sent her tpiota of six I'eginients
to the tented field. More men were offered, but
only the six regiments could be accepted. These
six shed imperishable honors, not onlv upon the
State, but iip(iii the .\iiiericaii Fuinu. N'elerans

never fought more nobly and elfectively than
did the volunteers from Illinois. At the lialtle
of IJuena Vista, by the coolness and bravery of
the gallant Second regiment, under Colonel l>is-
scll, the day was saved. The conflict began
early on the morning of February liii, is (7, and
was continued till nightfall of the next (hiy.
The solid columns of the enemy were hurled
against our forces all day hing, but were met
and held in check by tlie unerring tire of our mus-
ketiy and artillerv. A |iortion of (Tcnei'al Lane's
division was driven back by the enemy, \\lio a](-
])eared in such formidable numbers as to be
almost irresistible. At tliis time the Second
Illinois, under Colonel JJissell, with a si|uadron
of cavalry and a few pieces of artillery, came
handsomely into action and gallantly I'eceix ed
tlu^ concentrated tire of the enemy, which they
returned with ileliberate aim and terrible effect;
every discharge of the artillery seemed to tear a
bloody jiath through the heavy columns of the
enemy. -Says a writer: "The rajiid musketry
of the gallant troojis from Illinois poured :i
storm of lead into their serried ranks, which lit
erally strewed the ground with the dead ami
dying." J>ut, notwithstanding his losses, the
enemy steadily advanced until oui' gallant regi-
ment received tire from three sides. Still tliey
maintained their position for a time with nn-
tlin(Oiing firmness against that immense iiost.
At length, perceiving the danger of being en-
tirely surrounded, it was determined to fall
back to a ravine. Colonel Uissell, with the cool-
ness of ordinary drill, ordered the signal "cease
firing" to be made; he then, with the same de-
liberation, gave the command, "Face to the
rear, battalion about face; forward march,"
whicli was executed with the regularity of vet-
erans to a point lieyond the peril of being out-
flanked. Again, in obedience to eonimaml,
these brave men halted, faced about, and under
a murderous tempest of bullets from the foe, re-
sumed their well-directed tire. The conduct of
no troops could have l)eeii more admirable; and,
too, until that day they had never been under
tire, wlicn, within less than half an hour eighty
of their comra<les dropjied by their sides.

From Colton's History of tlie battle of Uiieiia
Vista the following extract is taken: " As the
enemy on our left was moving in retreat along
the head of the plateau, our artillery was ad-
vanced until within range, and o|ieiied a liea\y
tire ujion him, while Colonels Hardin, Uissell,
and McKee, with tlieir Illinois ami Iventiicky
troops, dashed gallantly forward in hot pursuit.
A powerful reserve of the Mexican arni\ w a^

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

ilit'ii just t'lnerging from the ravine, wliere it
had hi'eii organized, and advanced on the
phiteau, oi)i)osite the head of the soutliernmost
goroe. Those wlio were giving way rallied
(liiickly upon it; when the whole force, thus in-
creased to over 12,000 men, came forward in a
perfect blaze of tire. It was a single column,
(•<pmi)osed of the l)est soldiers of the republic,
luiviiig for its advanccil battalions the veteran
reginieiits. The Kentucky and Illinois troojis
were soon obliged to give ground before it and
seek the shelter of the second gorge. The
enemy pressed on, arriving opposite the head of
tlie second gorge. One-lialf of the column sud-
denly enveloped it, while the other half pressed
on across the plateau, having for the moment
nothing to resist tbem but the three guns in
their front. The portion that was immediately
opposed to the Kentucky and Illinois troops,
i-an down along each side of the gorge, in which
they had sought shelter, and also circled around
its head, leaving no i)Ossible way of escape for
them except by its mouth, which opened upon
the ro.ad. Its sides, which were steep, — at least
an angle of forty-five degrees, — were covered
with loose pebbles and stones, and converged to
a |ioint at the bottom. Down there were our
])oor fellows, nearlv three regiments of them
(First and Secon<l Illinois and Second Ken-
tucky), with l)nt little opportunity to load or lire
a gun, being hardly able to keep their feet.
Above the whole edge of the gorge, all the way
around, was darkened by the serried masses of
the enemy, and was bristling with muskets di-
rected on the crowd beneath. It was no time to
pause. Those who were not immediately shot
diiwii rushed oti toward the road, their number
growing less and less as thcv went, Kentuckians
and lUinoisans, otficers and men, all mixed up
in confusion, and all ])ressing on over tlie loose
pelililes aii<l r(dling st(Hies of those shelving,
precipit(Uis b.inks, and having lines and lines of
the enemy liring down from each side and rear
as they went. Just then the enemy's cavalry,
which iiad gone to the left of the reserve, had
come over the spur that divides the mouth of
the second gorge fmm that of the third, and
were now closing up tin- only door through
wiiich there was the least shadow of a chance
for their lives. Manv of those ahead endeavored
to force their way out, but few succeeded. Tin;
lancers were fully six to one, and their long
weapons were already reeking with blood. It
was at this time that those who were still back
in that dreadful gorge heard, above the din of
the musketry and the shouts of the euemv

around them, the roar of Washington's Battery.
No music could have been more grateful to
their ears. A moment only, and the whole
opening, where the lancers were busy, rang with
the repeated explosions of s](herical-case shot.
They gave wav. The gate, as it were, was clear,
andoutupon the road a stream of ourpoor fellows
issued. They ran ])antingdown toward the bat-
tery, and directly un<ler the flight of iron then
passing over their heads, into the I'eti'eating
caxalry. Hardin, Clay, McKee, Willis, Zabris-
kie, Houghton, — but why go on"::' It would be ;i
sad task indeed to name over all who fell during
thi.s twenty minutes' slaughter. The ulidie
gorge, from the plateau to its mouth, was
strewed with our dead. All dead! No wounded
there — not a man; for the infantry had rushed
down the .sides and completed llie work with the
bayonet."

After a hard tight at night both armies hiid
down upon their arms in much the same posi-
tion as in the morning. However, early on the
following morning, the glad ti<linijs were heard
amidst our army that the enemy ha<l retreate(l,
thus again crowning the American lianners with
victory.

In adilition to Colonel Hissel, other names
that shine as stars in this war are Shields, Maker,
Harris, Hardin, Coffee — all from Illinois. Such
indeed were the intrepid valor and daring cour-
age exhibited by Illinois volunteers during the
Mexican war that their deeds should live m the
memory of their countrvmen while time sh:ill
l.ast.

TIIK WAR FOR THE UNION.

In the war for the Union n« State can show a
more glorious record than that of Illinois. Suiup-
ter was tireil u|)on A|)r!l 12, ls(Ji. Two days af-
ter President Lincoln issued his lirst call for vol-
unteers — ('/■J,0(i() in numbers. On the l.'Jth (-ioi-
ernor Yates issued his i>roclamatiiin convening
the leglislature, and ordering the enlistmcTit of
six regiments, the (piota assigned the State. The
call \<'as no sooner ma<le than tilled. Patriotism
filled every heart. The farm, the work.shop, the
office, the pul|)it, the bar, the bench, every voca-
tion in life ottered its best men. On a.ssembling,
the legislature authorized the raising of ten ad-
ditional regiments, anticijiating another call.
At the close of 1801, Illinois hail sent to the
tield nearly .id, 000 men, and had IT, odd in camp
awaiting marching orders, thus exceeding its lull
(|Uota by l."),(i(iO.

In .Iu"ly and August of 1802, the Presi.leul
called for 600, out) men — the i|Uota of Illinois
being 52,29t5— and gave until August ISth as the

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

limits in wliicli t lie number might be vaiscd by
voliinti'criiin', Ml'tcr which a a'rat't. wouhl be or-
(lereil. The State had ali-eady furnished l'7,l)(io
in excess ot her ijuota, ami it was first thought
this number would be deducted from the jiresent
requisition, but that could not lie done. Hut
thirteen days were granted to eidist this vast
army, which had to come from the farmers an<l
mechanics. The former were in the midst of
harvest, but, ins|)ired l)y love of country, ovei-
.50,(100 of them left their harvest ungathered.
their tools aiitl theii' benches, the j)lows in their
furrows, turning their bac-ks on their homes,
anil before eleven days had expired the demands
of the Government were met anil both ijuotas
tilled.

The war went on, and call followed call, until
it began l,o look as if there would not be men
enough in all the Free States to crush out and
subdue the monstrous war ti'aitors had inaugtu'a-
ted. But to every call for either men or money
there was a willing and ready response. And it
is a boast of tlie people that, had the supply of
men fallen short, there were women brave
enough, daring enough, patriotic enough, to have
offered themselves as sacrifices on their country's
altar. On the 21st of December, 18(!4, the last
call for ti-oops was made. It was for •jO0,00O.
In conseiiuence of an imperfect enrollment of
the men subject to military duty, it became evi-
dent, ere this call was made, that Illinois was
furnishing thousands of men more than what her
quota would have been, had it been correct. So
iflaring had this disproportion become, that un-
der this call the quota of some districts e.\ceed-
ed the number of able-bodied men in them.

No troo])s ever fought more heroically, stub-
bornly, and with better effect, than did the boys
from the "Prairie State." At Pea liidge, T)on-
elson, Pittsburg Landing, luka, Corinth, Stone
River. Holly Springs, .(ackson, Vicksburg, Chic-
aniauga. Lookout Mountain, Murfreesboro, At-
lanta, Fraiddin, Nashville, Chattanooga, and on
every other Held where the clash of arms was
heard, her sons were foremost.

The people were liberal as well as i)alriotic;
and while the men were busy enlisting, organi/.-
ing, and equij)ping companies, the ladies w(M'e
no less active, and the noble, generous work
performed by their tender, loving hands de-
serves mention along with the bravery, devo-
tion, and i)atriotism of their brothers upon the
southern fields of carnage.

The continued need of money to obtain the
comforts an*l necessaries for the sick and
wounded of our armv suggested to the loyal

women of the North many and various devices
for the raising of funds. Every city, town, and
village had its fair, festival, ]iicnic, excursion,
concert, which netted more or less to the cause
of hos])ital relief, according to the jiopulalion
of the place and the amount of energy and ])al-
riotism displayed on such occasions. Ks-
])ecially was this characteristic of nurnwu fair
State, and scarcely a hamlet within its borders
w hich did not send something from its stores
to hosjjital or battlefield, anil in the larger
towns and cities were well oiganized soldiers'
aid societies, working systematically and contin-
uouslv fron) the beginning of the war till its
close. The great State Fair held in Chicago in
May, ISOS, netted -tiloCOOO. Homes for travel-
ing soldiers were established all over the State,
in which were furnished lodging for (JOO.OOO
men, and meals valued at. *2,."ii)0,ooO. Food,
clothing, medicine, hospital di'licacit's, reading
matter, and thousands of other articles, were
sent to the boys at the front.

The rebellion ended with the surrender of
Lee and Johnson, in Aj>ril, IStJo, and as soon as
possible the troops were di.sbanded. The fol-
lowing is a summary of troojis furnished by the
State:"

Infanlrv l.S.-),lUt

t'avalrv :«,0M2

Arlillciy 7,27;

Total a:in,:i()o

i;OVEKN0RS OF ILLINOIS.

Shadrach Bond — Was the first Governor- of
Hliuois He whs a native of Maryland ai.d
born in 177:!; was raised on a fai'm; receivi'd a
common English education, and came to Illinois
in 17'.t4. He served as a delegate in C'ougress
from l.Sll to 1S15, where he procured the right
of jire-emption of ptd)lic land. He was elected
Governor in 1818; was beaten for Congress in
1.S24 by Daniel P. Cook. He died at Kaskas-
kia, April 11, 1830.

Eihntrd CoUf. — Was born December 15, 1786,
in ^'irginia. His father was a slave-holder; gave
his son a collegiate education, and left to him a
large number of slaves. These he lihcr^ilid,
giving each head of a family 160 acres ol' laud
and a considerable sum of money. He was
President Madison's |)rivate secretary. He
came to Illinois in 1819, was elected (-Jovernor
in 18iiL', on the anti-slavery ticket; moved to
Philadelphia in 18:1:3, and died in 1808.

Ni.nian Edwards. — In 1809, on the formation
of the Territory of Illinois, ]\Ir. Edwards was

TTTSTORY OF TTJJXOIS.

;i|i|i<iiMU'il GoviTiior, which jiositioii he retuiiu'il
HMlH llic (irLi;aiiiz:it,i()ii oi' the State, when lie was
^elll li> ihc I'liited States Senate. He was
olecud (iciNiTiior in ISi'G. He was a native of
^Maryland anil horn in ITTo; recei\eil a eolle-
H'iate eihieation; was Chief Justice of Kentucky,
• uiil a Re|>uhliean in politics.

./'(/(/( Iivi/)tol<k — Wa*i born in Pennsylvania
in 17S8, an(l came with his parents to Illinois in
isiio, anil in \x'-W was elected (-Jovernor on the
Di'iuocratic lie ket, anil afterwards served three
terms in Conurcss. He recei\ed a classical edu-
ralioii. yet was not pnlished. He was an \dtra
Democrat; attended the Charleston Conxention
in I Slid, and urired the seizure of United States
arsi'nals li\- the South. He ilied in 186.5 at
iJelievillc. "childless.

JiiM'jih Dmioin. — In 1834 Joseph Duncan was
elected Governor hy the Whiys, althoug'h for-
merly a Democrat. He had previously served
four terms in C'ongress. He was born in Ken-
lucky in 17!)4; had but a limited education;
served with distinction in the war of 1812; con-
ducted ihe campaign of 1832 against lilack
Hawk, lie came to Illinois when quite young.

Tlii'iiKis < 'arlm — Was elected as a Democrat
in )s:;s. He had but a meagre education; held
many minor offices, and was active both in the
war of 181i! and the IJlack Hawk war. He was
born in Kentucky in I'iSO; came to Illinois in
isii', .ind died at Carrollton, February 14, 18.52.

'I'liiiiiiiia Ford — Was born in Pennsylvania in
the year IsoO; was brought by his widowed
mother III Missouri in 18U4, and shortly after-
wards to Illinois. He received a good educa-
tion, studied law; was elected four times Judge,
twice ;is Circuit Judge, Judge of Chicago and
Judge of Sui)reme Court. He was elected Gov-
ernor by tlic Dcmoeratic party in 1842; wrote
his histor\- of Illinois in 1^47, and died in
|S.5().

AiiijuMiis C. French — Was born in New
Hampsliire in 1808; was admitted to the bar in
is:', 1, and shortly afterwards moved to Illinois,
when in is4ti he was elected Go\ernor. On the
.■ido|itioii of the C'onstitution of 1848 he was
again I'hosen, serving until 1853. He was a
Dcnuicral in polities.

■/lie/ A. M<(tl('!<(iii — Was born in Jetfelson
county, New York, in isos. His fatiier was a
farmer, and gave his son oidy a common school
cdncalion. He first entered upon active life as
ii small tradesman, but suliseipiently became a
large contractor and manufacturer. He was a

hea\ y contractor in building the canal. He was
elected Governor in 1^52 u|ion the Democrtitii'
ticket.

William H. JBissell — \Vas elected liy the Re-
publican party in 1850. He had jireviouslv
served two terms in Congress; was colonel in
the Mexican war, and has held minor otticial
jjositions. He was born in New York State in
1811; received a common education: c.imr to
Illinois early in life and engaged in tlie nndical
profession. This he changed for the law, and
became a noted orator, and the standard-bearer
of the Republican party in Illinois. He died
in 18t)U, while Governor.

liichard Yules — "'The Mar Governor of Illi-
nois," was born in Warsaw, Kentucky, in Isis;
came to Illinois in 1831; served two terms in
Congress; in 1800 was elected Governor, and in
1805 United States Seiiatm-. He was a college
graduate, and read law under J. J. Hardin. He
rapidly rose in his chosen profession and clianned
the people with oratory He tilled the gubern:i-
torial chair during the trying days of the Re-
bellion, and by his energy and devotion won
the title of " War Governor." He died in St.
Louis after the expiration of his term as Senator.

Jiickiird J. Oylesbji — Was born in 1824, in
Kentucky; an orphan at the age of eight, came
to Illinois when oidy twelve years old. He was
apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade:
worked some at farming, and read law occasion-
ally. He enlisted in the Mexican war and was
chosen First Lieutenant. After his return he
again took up the law, but during the gold fever
of 184!) went to California; soon returned, ami,
in 1852, entered upon his illustrimis political
career. He raised the second regiment in tlie
State, to suppress the Reliellion, and for gal-
lantry was ])roinoted to Major-General. In 1.804
he was elected Governor, and re-elected in 1872,
and resigned for a seat in the United States
Senate. He is a staunch Re]iubliean. and re-
sides at Decatur.

JoIdi M. I'(dincr — Was born in Kentucky in
1817, and came to Illinois in 1831. Hi- was ad-
mitted to the bar in 183'.». He was elected to
the utlice of Probate Judge of ^Macoupin county,
in 1S43; was a member of the Constitutional
Convention in 1847, County Judge in is til; eli'<--
ted to the State Semite in 1851 ; member of the
i'eaee Conference in 1861. He was Colonel of
the 14th Illinois Infantry, and rose by successive
promotions to Major General, commander of the
1 4th Army Corps, and afterwards of the l)e])art-
ment of Kentucky. Was Governor Ifoiii De-
cember 1808 to Januarv, 1873,

c
3

-r.i(^^'f ..it^H^T-j

»7;';;;'a ; ;■

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

Slit'lh;/ Jf. CiiHom — Was born in Kentucky in
IS-iS; studied law, was admitted to the bar, and
commenced the practice oi' his profession in
ists; was elected to the State Legislature in
1856, and again in 1860. Served on the war
commission at Cairo, 1862, and was a member
of tiie 3iJth, 40th and 41st Congress, in all of
whicii he served with credit to his State. He
was again elected to the State Legislature in
IsTl', and re-elected in 1874, and was elected
<4o\ernor of Illinois in 1876, and re-elected in
ls«0, whicli office he still holds, and has admin-
istered with marked ability.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS.

Pierre Menard — Was the first Lieutenant Gov-
ernor of Illinois. He vfas born in Quebec, Cana-
da, in 1767. He came to Illinois in 1790, where
he engaged in the Indian trade and bscanie
wealthy. He died in 1844. Menard county was
named in his honor.

Addlphus F. Hubbard — Was elected Lieuten-
ant Governor in 18-32. Four years later he ran
for Governor against Edwards, but was beaten.
__ William Kinney — Was elected in 1826. He
was a Baptist clergyman ; was l)orn in Kentucky
in 17S1, find came to Illinois in 1798.

Zadock Case]! — Althciugh on the opposition
ticket to Governor Reynolds, the successful
Gubernatorial candidate, yet Casey was elected
Lieutenant Governor in 1830. He subsequently
served several terms in Congress.

Ale,r.ander M. Jenkhis — Was elected on ticket
with Governor Duncan, in 1834, by a handsome
majority.

S. II. Anderson — Lieutenant Governor under
Governor Carlin, w^as chosen in 1838. . He was
a native of Tennessee.

John Moore — Was born in England in 1793;
_came to Illinois in 1830 ; was elected Lieuten-
ant Governor in 1842. He won the name of
"Honest John Moore."

Joseph B. Wells — Was chosen with Governor
French, at his first election in 1846.

William McMiirtry — In 1848, when Governor
French was again chosen Governor, William
McMurtry, of Knox county, was elected Lieuten-
ant Governor.

Gustainis P. Juerner — Was elected in 1852.
He was born in Germany in 1809. At the age
of 22 came to Illinois. 1872 he was a candidate
for Governor on Liberal ticket, but was defeated.

John Wood — Was elected in 1856, and on the
death of (rovernor ISissell liecaiiie Governor.

Francis A. Ho'ffman — Was chosen with Gov-

■—5

ernor Yates, in 1860. He was born in Prussia
in 1822, and came to Illinois in 1840.

William Bross — Was born in New Jersey,
came to Illinois in 1848, was elected to office in
18S4.

John. DoMjherty — Was elected in 186S.

John L. Beoeridye — Was chosen Lieutenant-
Governor in 1872. In 1873 Oglesby was elected
to the U. S. Senate, when Beveridge became
Govenor.

Audreir Shnnian — Was elected November 7,
ISUi.

John M. Hamilton — Was elected in 1880, and
is the present incumbent.

SUPERINTENDENT OF I'UBLIC INSTRUCTION.

Ninian W. Ethvards 18o4-.56

W. H. Powell 1857-58

Newton Batemaa 1859-75

Samuel iM. Etter 1876-80

.lames P. Shulc 1880

ATTORNEY GENERALS.

Daniel P. Cook 1819

William Hears 1820

Samuel D. Lockwood 1821-32

.Tamos Turney 1823-28

Get>rge Foi-quer 1829-32

James Semple 1833-34

Niuiau W. Edwards 18.34-35

.Jesse B. Thomas, Jr 1835

Walter B. Scales ' 1836

Asher F. Liiider 1837

George AV. Olney 1838

Wiekliffe Kitchell 1839

.Tosiah Lamborn 1841-43

James A. McDoucall 1843-46

David B. Campbell 1846

[Office abolished aud re-created in 1867.]

UobertCInaersnll 1867-68

Washinctou'Bushncll 1869-72

James K. Edsall 1872-80

James McCartney 1880

TREASURERS.

John Thomas 1818-19

R. K. MrLaui^hliu 1819-22

Ebner Field.' 1823-36

James Hall ,, 1827-30

John Dement 1831-36

Charles Gregory 1836

John D. Whiteside 1837-40

M. Cari)enter 1841-48

.lohn Moore 1848-56

James Miller 1857-60

William Butler 1861-62

Aleiander Slarne 1863-64

James H. Beveridge 186.5-66

George W. Smith' 1867-68

Erastus N. Bates 1869-78

Edward Uutz 1873-75

Thomas S. Bidgeway 1876-77

Edward I{utz..' 1878-79

John C. Smith 1879-81

Edward Rutz 1881

HISTOllY OF ILLINOIS.

SECRETARIES OF STATE.

EliasK Kane 1818-23

Samuel I"). Lock wood 1823-33

David Blackwi'll ISiii-,'!

Morris BirkliucU 1834

George Farqucr 1835-28

Alexander P. Field 1829-40

Stephen A. Douijla.s 1840

Lyuian Trumbull 1841-42

Thompson Campbell 184:3-40

Horace S. Coolev 1846-45)

David L. Gresj; ". 1850-52

Alexander Starne 1853-56

Ozias il . Hatch 1857-00

Sharon Tvndale 1865-08

Edward Knmmel 180!)-73

George H Harlow 18T3-7!)

Henry D. Dement ISSl

AUDITORS.

Elijah V. Berry 1818-31

I. T. B Stapp 1831-35

Levi Davis 1835-4J

James Shields 1841-43

W L. D. Ewing 1843-45

Thompson Campbell 1840

.Tesse K. Dii bois 1857-04

Orlin H.Miner 1805-08

Charles E. Lippincott 1809-76

Thomas B. Needles 1877-79

Charles P. Swigert 1881

UNITED STATES SENATORS.

Ninian Edwards — On the organization of the
State in 1818, Edwards, the popular Territorial
Governor, was chosen Senator for tlie sliort term
and in 1819 re-elected for full term.

Jes.se li. T/tot)i(fs — One of the Federal Judges
during the entire Territoral existence was chosen
Senator on organization of the State, and re-
elected in 1S23, and served till 1829.

Jo/m McLean — In 1824 Edwards resigned,
and McLean was elected to till his unexpired
term. He was born in North Carolina in 1791,
and came to Illinois in 1815 ; served one term in
Congress, and in 1839 was elected to the LTuited
Stales Senate, but the following year died. He
is said to have been the most gifted man of his
j)eriod in Illinois.

Elias Kent Kane — Was elected November
30, 1834, for the term beginning March 4, 1S35.
In 1830 he was re-electe"d, but'died before the
expiration of his term. He was a native of
New York, and in 1814 came to Illinois. He
was tirst Secretary of State, and afterward State
Senator.

David Jetoett ]}aler—\\'B.n appointed to till
the unexpired term of John jNIcLean, in 1830,
November 13, but the legislature refused to
endorse the choice. BakerVas a native of Con-
necticut, born in 1793, and died in Alton in
1869.

John 31. liobinson. — Instead of Baker, the
(irovernor's appointee, the legislature chose
Robinson, and in 1834 he was re-elected. In
1843 was elected Supreme Judge of the Slate,
but within two months died. He was a native
of Kentucky, and came to Illinois while ijuite
young.

William L. D. Einn(j — "Was elected in 1835,
to till the vacancy occasioned by the death of
Kane. He was a Iventuckiau.

Richard M. Young — Was elected in 1836,
and held his seat from March 4, 1837, to March
4, 1S43, a full term. He was a native of ]\en-
tucky; was a Circuit Judge before his election
to the Senate, and Supreme Judge in 1842. He
died in an insane asylum at Washington.

Samuel Mc Roberts — The first native Illinois-
ian ever elevated to the high office of U. S.
Senator from this State was born in 1799, and
died in 1843 on his return home from Washing-
ton. He was elected Circuit Judge in 1834, and
March 4, 1841, took his seat in the \J. S. Senate.

Sidney Breese — Was elected to the U. S. Sen-
ate, Dec. 17, 1842, and served a full term. He
was born in Oneida county, N. Y. He was
Major in the Black Hawk war; Circuit Judge,
and in 1841 was elected Supreme Judge. He
served a full term in the U. S. Senate, begin-
ning March 4, 1843, after which he was elected
to the legislature, again Circuit Judge, and, in
1857, to the Supreme Court, which ]>osition he
held until his death in 187s.

James Semple — Was the successor of Samuel
McRoberts, and was appointed by Gov. Ford in
1843. He was afterwards elected Judge of the
Supreme Court.

Stephen A. Douglas — Was elected Uec. 14,
1846. He had jireviously served three terms as
Congressman. He became his own successor in
1853, and again in 1859. From his first entrance
in the Senate he was acknowledged the peer of
Clay, Webster and Calhoun, with whom he
served his first term. His famous contest with
Abraham Lincoln for the Senate in 1858 is the
most memorable in the annals of our ct>untry.
It was called the battle of the giants, and re-
sulted in Douglas' election to the Senate, and
liincoln to tlie Presidency. lie was born in
Brandon, Vermont, April 23, 1813, and came to
Illinois in 1833, and died in 1861. He was ap-
pointed Secretary of State by Gov. Carlin in
1840, and shortly afterward to the Supreme
Bench.

James Shields — Was elected and assumed his
seat in the U. iS. Senate in 1849, March 4. He

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

was liiii-ii ill Irelniid in ISIO, and raiiic \i> tlic
Unileil Slales in 1S:27. He served in llie Mexi-
can arm}', was elected Senator from Wisconsin,
and in IsTft from Missouri for a short term.

Jyi/m<in I'rmnhiill — Took his seat in the V . S.
Senate ALandi 4, ISoT), and became his own suc-
cessor in 1S()]. He liad previously served one
term in the Lower House of Congress, and
served on the Supreme Bench. He was born in
Connecticut; studied law, and carae to Illinois
early in life, where for years he was actively en-
gaged in politics. He resides in Chicago.

Orri/f II. lirownhui — Was appointed LT. S.
Senator in 1801, to fill the seat made vacant by
the death of Stephen A. Douglas, until a Sena-
tor could be regularly elected. Mr. Browning
was born in Harrison county, Kentucky; was
admitted to the bar in ISyi, and settled in
Quincy, Illinois, where he engaged in the prac-
tice of law, and was instrumental, with liis
friend, Abraham Lincoln, in forming the Re-
publican i)arty of Illinois at the Bloomington
Convention. He entered Johnson's cabinet as
Secretary of the Interior, and in March, 1868,
was designated by the President to perform the
duties oif Attorney (-Jeneral, in addition to his
own as Secretary of the Interior Department.

Wnikini A. Itlchardsoii — Was elected to the
U. S. Senate in ISO:), to fill the unexpired term
of his friend, Stephen A. Douglas. He was
born in Fayette county, Ky., about 1810, studied
law, and settled in Illinois; served as captain in
the Mexican war, and, on the battle-field of
Buena Vista, was promoted for bravery, by a
unanimous vote of his regiment. He served in
the Lower House of Congress from 1847 to
18.50, continually.

liiehard Y<(tes — Was elected to the U. S.
Senate in 1865, serving a full term of six years.
He died in St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 27, 1873.

.John A. Lor](in — Was elected to the U. S.
Senate in 1871. He w^as born in Jackson
county, 111., Feb. 9, 1826, received a common
school education, aiid enlisted as a private in
the Mexican war, where he rose to the rank of
Regimental (.Quartermaster. On returning home
he studied law, and came to the bar in 1852;
was elected in 1858 a Representative to the
36th Congress and re-elected to the 37th Con-
gress, resigning in 1861 to take part in the sup-
pression of the Rebellion; served as Colonel
and subse(|uently as a Major General, and com-
manded, with distinctiiui, the armies of the
Tennessee. He was again elected to the U. S.
Senate in 1879 for six vears.

Ddi'id Ddi'h — Was elected to the U. S. Sen-
ate in 18'7'7 for a term of six years. He was
born in Cecil county, Md., Afarch i), 1815, grad-
uated at Kenyon (^oUege, Ohio, studied law,
and removed to Illinois in 1835; was admitted
to the bar and settled in Bloomington, where he
has since resided and amassed a large fortune.
He was for many years the intimate friend and
associate of Abraham Lincoln, rode the circuit
with him each year, and after Lincoln's election
to the Presidency was .appointed by him to till
the position of Judge of the Supreme Court of
the United States.

REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS.

.lohn McLean 1818

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS.

Daniel P. Cook 1819-20

SEVENTEENTH CONfiRESS.

Daniel P. Cook 1831-23

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS.

Daniel P. Cook 1833-24

NINETEENTH CONGRESS.

D.iniel P. Cook 1825-26

TWENTIETH CONGRESS.

.losepli Duncan 1837-28

TWENTY-FIRST CONGRESS.

Joseph Duncan 1829-30

TWENTY-SECOND CONGRESS.

.ToKeph Duncan 1831-33

TWENTT-THIED CONGRESS.

.Jose])!! Duncan 1833-34

Ziidock Casey 1833-34

TWENTY-FOURTH CONGRESS

Zadoek Casey 1835-36

.lohn Revnolds 1835-36

Willi.inrL. May 1835-36

TWENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.

Ziulock Casey 1837-38

.lohn Revuokls 1837-38

William'L. May 1837-38

TWENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.

Ziuloek Casey 1839-40

.lohn Kevnolds 1839-40

.lohn T. Stuart 1839-40

TWENTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.

Zadoek Casey 1841-43

.lohn Reynolds 1841-42

.lohn T. Stuart 1841-42

TWENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.

Robert Smith 1843-44

Orlando B. Ficklin 1843-44

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

Stetihen A. Doui?las 1843-44

John A . McClernand 1843-44

Joseph P. Hoge 1843-44

John J. Hardin 1843-44

John Wentvvorth 1843^4

TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS.

Robert Smith 1845-4G

Stephen A. Douglas 1845-46

Urhindo B. FicUliu 184o-4(!

John J. Hardin 1845

Joseph P. Hos;e 1845-4G

John A. McClernand 1845-40

John Wentworth 1845-40

THIRTIETH CONORESS.

.Tohn Wentworth 1847-48

Thomas J. Turner 1847

Abraham Lincoln 1847-48

John A. McClernand 1847-48

Orlando B. Ficklin 1847-48

Robert Smith 1847-48

William A. Richardson 1847-48

THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.

John A. McClernand 1849-50

John Wentworth 18411-50

Timothy R. Young 1849-50

William A. Richardson 1849-50

Edward D. Baker , 1849-50

William H. Bissell 1849-50

Thomas L. Harris 1849

THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.

William A. Richardson 1851-52

Thompson CMniiibell 1851-52

Orlando B. Firklin 1851-52

John Wentwortli 1851-52

Richard Yates 1851-52

Richard S. .^laloney 1851-52

Willis 1851-52

AVilliam H. Hissell 1851-52

THIRTY-THIKI) CONGRESS.

William H. Bissell 1853-54

John C. Allen 1853-54

Willis 1853-54

Elihu B. Washburne 1853-54

Richard Yates 1853-54

Thompson Campbell 1853-54

.James Kno.x 1853-.54

Jesse O. Norton 1853-54

William A. Richardson 1853-54

THIRTY-KOUKTH CONGRESS.

Elilui p. Washburn 1855-50

Lyman Tiiimbvdl 1855-50

James H . Woodworth 1 S55-50

James Knox 1855-50

Thompson Campbell ]855-5(i

Samuel S. Marshall 18.55-5(i

J. L. D. Morrison 1855-50

John V. Allen 1855-50

Jesse O. Norton 1855-50

William A. Richardson 1855-50

THIRTY-FIFTH C0N(;EESS.

Elihu B. Washburne 1857-58

Charles D. Hodges 1857-58

William Kellogg 1857-58

Thompson Campbell 1857-58

.Tohn F. Farnsworth 1857-58

Owen Love joy 1857-58

Samuel S. Marshall 1857-58

Isaac N. Morris 1857-58

Aaron Shaw 1857-58

Robert Smith 1857-58

Thomas L. Harris 1857-58

THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.

Elihu B. Washburne 1859-60

Jolm A. Logan 1859-00

( )\vcn Lovejo)' 1859-60

John A. McClernand 1859-60

Isaac N. Morris 1859-60

John F. Farnsworth 1859-60

Philip B. Fouke 1859-60

Thomas L. Harris 1859-00

William Kellogg 18.59-00

Jajiies C. Robertson 1859-00

THIRTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.

Elihu B. Washburne 1801-62

James C. Robinson 1861-62

John A. Logan 1861-62

Owen Loveioy 1861-63

John A. McClernand 1861-02

Isaac N. Arnold 1861-62

Philip B. Fouke 1861-62

William Kellogg 1861-62

Anthony L. Knapp 1861-62

Willinni A . Richardson 1861-02

THIRTY-EIGHTH CONGEKSS.

Elihu B. Washburn 1863-64

Jesse O. Norton 1863-64

James C Robinson 1803-64

William J. Allen 1803-64

Isaac N Arnold 1863-64

John R. Eden 1863-64

Lewis W. Ross 1863-04

John T. Stuart 1803-64

(jwen Lovejoy 1863-64

William R. Morrison 1863-04

John (^ Allen 1803-04

John F. Farnsworth 1803-64

Charles W. Morris 1803-04

Eben C. IngersoU 1803-64

Anthony L. Knapp 1863-64

THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS.

Elihu B. Washburne 18(!5-6(I

Anthony B. Thornton 1865-06

John Wentworth 1865-66

Abner C. Hardin 186.5-00

Eben C. Ingcrsoll 1865-00

Bar! on C. Cook 1865-60

Shelby M. Cullom 186.5-66

John F. Farnsworth 18<!5-66

J<hu Baker 186.5-66

Henry P. H. Bromwell 186.5-66

Andrew Z. Kuvkendall. . 1865-66

Samuel S. Marshall ^. 1865-66

S.amuel W. Moulton 1865-66

Lewis W. Ross 186.5-66

FORTIETH CONGRESS.

Elihu B. Washburne 1807-08

Abner C. Hardin 1867-68

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

Eben C. Ingersoll 18C.7-6S

Normnn B. Judd 18f>7-08

Albert (4. Burr 18G7-68

Barton V. Cook 1807-08

Shelliv M C'ulloiii 1807-08

John P. F:u-u9\vortli 1807-08

Jehu Balvei- 1807-08

Henry P. H. Bromwell 1807-68

John A. Loiian 1807-08

Saimicl S. Marshall 18()~-08

Greeu B. Raum 1807-68

Lewis W. Ross 1807-68

FORTY-FIEST CONGRESS.

N'ornian B. Judd 180!)-70

John F. Farnsworth lS0!)-7()

H. C. Burchard 1809-70

John B. Hawley 18flS)-70

Eben C. Ingersoll 1800-70

Barton C. Cook ]8(i!l-70

Jesse II. Mo,)re l80!)-70

Shelby .\I. C'uUoni 180'.)-7O

Thomas \V. McNeely 1801)- 70

Albert O. Burr ]80!)-7O

Samuel S. Mai'shall .. 1800-70

John B. Hay 1800-70

John M. Crebs 1800-70

John A. Ijogan lH(iO-70

KORiV-SECOND COXCRESS.

Charles B, Farwell 1871-73

John F. Farnsworth 1871-72

Horatio ('. liurehard , 1871-72

John I!. Iliiwley 1871-72

B I ad ton 1 N. Stevens 1871-72

Henry Snapi) 1871-72

Jesse H. Moore 1871-72

James C. Robinson 187.-72

Thomas W. MoNeelv 1871-72

Edward Y. Riee " 1871-72

Samuel S. Marshall 1871-72

John B H;iv 1871-72

John iM Crebs 1871-72

John S. Beveridgc 1871-72

FORTV-TIIIRD CONGRESS.

John n. Rice 1873-74

Jasi)er I) . Ward 187;:i-74

Charles B. Farwell 1873-74

Siejihen A. Hurlbiit 1873-74

Horatio ('. Burchard 1873-74

John B. Hawley 1873-74

Fraidilin Corwin 1873-74

Robert M. Knapp 1873-74

James C. Robinson 1873-74

John B. McNulta 1873-74

Joseph G. Cannon _ 1873-74

John R. Eden 1873-74

James S, Martin 1873-74

William R. Morrison ' 1873-74

Creeubury L. Fort 1873-74

Granville Barrere 1873-74

William 11. Ray 1873-74

Isaac Clements 1873-74

Samuel S. Marshall 1873-74

FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.

Bernard G. Caullield 187.V70

Carter H. Harrison l87.")-70

Charles B. Farwell 1875-70

Stephen A. Hiirlbut 1875-70

Horatio C. Burchard 1875-70

Thomas J. Henderson 1875-70

Alexander Campbell 1875-70

Greenbury L . Fort ] 875-76

Richard H. Whiting 1875-70

John C. Bagby. . . T 1875-70

Scott AVike 1875-70

William M. Springer 1875-76

.Vdlai E. Stevenson 1875-70

Joseph G. Cannon 1875-70

John R. Eden 1875-76

\V. A. J. Sparks 1875-76

William R. Morrison 1875-7<i

William Hartzell 1875-7(!

William B. Anderson 1875-70

FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.

William Aldrieh 1877-78

Carter II Hari'ison 1877-78

Lorenzo Breutano 1877-78

William Ijathrop 1877-78

Horatio C. Burchard 1877-78

Thomas .1. Henderson 877-78

Philip C.Hayes 1877-78

Gi eenbury L. Fort 1877-78

Thomas A. Boyd 18r7-78

Benjamin F. Marsh 1877-78

Robert M. Knapp 1877-78

William JI. S])ringer 1877-78

Thomas F. Tipton 1877-78

Jose|ih G. Cannon 1877-78

.lohn R. Eden 1877-78

W. A. J. Sparks 1877-78

William R. Morrison 1877-78

William Hartzell 1877-78

Richard W. Townshend 1877-78

FORTY'-SIXTH CONGRESS.

William Aldrieh 1870-80

(.Jeorge R. Davis 1870-80

1 linim Barber 1879-80

JohnC. Sherwiu 1879-80

R. M. A. Hawk 1879-80

Thonuis J. Henderson 1879-80

Philip C. Hayes 1870-80

Greenbury L. Fort 1870-80

Thomas A. Boyd 1879-80

Benjamin F. Marsh 1870-80

.lames W. Singleton 1879-80

William M. Springer 1870-80

A. E. Stevenson 1879-80

Joseph G. Cannon 1879-80

Albert P. Forsythe 1879-80

W. A. J. Sparks 1870-80

William R. Morrison 1879-80

John R. Thomas 1879-80

R . W Townshend 1879-80

.FORTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.

William Aldrieh 1881-83

Georuc R. Oavis 1881-82

Charles B Farwell 1881-83

John C. SluTwin 1881-83

Robert M. A. Hawk 1881-83

Thomas J. Henderson 1881-83

William CuUen 1881-83

Lewis E. Payson 1881-83

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

John H. Lewis 1HS1-83

Bciij.imiu 1'". Maisli 1S81-82

James W. Siun-Ieton 1881-83

William M. S)iriii'''er 1881-82

Dieliicli C. Smith 1881-83

Joseiili G Caiimm 1881-83

Samuel \V. Moulton 1881-83

William A.J. Sparks 1881-83

William H , Jlonison 1881-83

John R. Thomas : . . . .1881-83

R. W . Town.shend , . 1881-82

THEN AXD XOW.

Less than three-fourths of a centtiry ago the
Territory of Illinois was organized, with a ])op-
ulation estimated at 9,00(i; to-day it numbers
not less than three ami one-half millions — a
greater number than in all the colonies during
the Revolution. When organized, steainboats
had never traversed its waters; railroads, tele-
graphs and telephones were unknown; to-day
every navigable stream is alive with vessels car-
rying her products to other lands; while rail-
roads traverse every county and almost every
township in the State; while the number of
miles of telegrai>h wire would probably encircle
the globe, and the tele])hoiie is placed in thous-
ands of homes, enabling their inmates to con-
verse intelligiblv with parties at a distance of

several miles. Then the liuiit that shone out
of darkness was only the tallow-dip, or that
furnished from blazing h\gs in the old-fashioned
tire-places; to-day, after having displaced the
tallow-dip, the candle and the common house-
lamp, the darkness of night is penetrated by
the glare of gas and the bright rays of the elec-
tric light, rivaling the light of day. Then agri-
culture was in its infancy, it being possible with
the machinery then used only to raise sufHcieiit
crops to s>t]iply the wants of those living within
its boundary; to-day, with the improved plows,
the stU-binding reaper, the steam thresher, and
other improved machinery, Illinois can feed a
nation of 50,000,000 of people. Then the
newspaper was a rare visitor in the household;
to-day the humblest citizen can hartlly exist
without his daily and weekly paper. Then
knowledge was possessed by few; to-day, by
means of free schools, well endowed colleges
and other influences, there is no excuse for
being ignorant. But time would fail to com-
]>are the advantages of to-day over that of the
first decade of the present century, and the stu-
dent of history, as he reads of the progress
7nade, can oidy wonder what the future will
reveal.

"tZ/ZoyrTLk/

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Chapter I.

IN THE ISEGINNING.

When the Tenitoiy of Illinoi.-^ was organized
that part now comprising the county of Sanga-
mon was an unknown wilderness inhabited only
by the wild beasts of the forest, wild birds of
tlie air, and no less wild red men, who roamed
at will over the broad prairies and through the
heavy forests; fishing in the Sangamo, or hunt-
ing the game that everywhere abounded, seem-
ingly caring nothing for the morrow, and only
living in the ever present. The thought of the
"pale-faces" penetrating this beautiful country
had not yet disturbed them, and so they contin-
ued on in their daily life of hunting and fishing,
with occasionally a'short war between tribes to
relieve the monotony of their lives. But the
lime was soon to come when they were to sur-
render up the lands and move on toward the
setting sun. 'J'he time was soon to come when
all nature must be changed. The fair prairies
with their beautiful flowers, painted only by the
hand of God, must be broken up l)y the husband-
man, and grain lit for the use of civilized man
sown therein; forests were to be felled and clear-
ings made that the art of man could be exercised
inthe building and adornment of homes. Thus
it was in 1817 when Robert Pulliatn erected his
cabin upon section ^J:^— , in the present town-
ship of Ball. Previous to this time the soil had
been unve.xed by the plow and the woodman's
axe had never been heard. The cabin of the
settler, with its smoke curling heavenward, and
with an air inviting the weary traveler to come
and rest, was not to be seen, nor even the faint-
est trace of civilization ; but instead, boundless
emerald seas and luxuriant grasses.

These the gardens of the deserts — these

The unshorn fields, boundless and heauiiful.

And fresh as the young earth, ere man hud sinned.

Lo ! they stretch
In :iiry uiulidntions far away
As if the ocean in the gentlest swell
Stood still, with all his rounded billows fixed,
And motionless forever.

TUE GARDEN SPOT.

That it was a beautiful country is the testi-
mony of every one who visited it at an early
day. In proof of this a local paper on one oc-
casion inserted the following:

"Some sixty years ago, before the first mile of
railroad was made, while the Indian still lin-
o-ered in Central Illinois — when the turnpike
road from Baltimore and Washington, o\er the
mountains to the Ohio river, was the great nation-
al highway from the Eastern to the infant West-
ern States, and when four-horse stage-coaches for
carrving the United States mails and passengers
were the best facilities afforded for travel, was
the time the facts we record occurred.

"Mercantile agents, or drummers, at thatearly
day were unknown. Twice a year Western
merchants went East to replenish their stock of
goods. The stage-coaches were run night and
day.travelingal)out one hundred miles in twenty-
four hours. About the time we speak of one of
these elegant stages left Baltimore crowded with
Western passengers, mostly merchants, for
Wheeling, on the Ohio river. Having traveled
one day and night, they were crossing the mount-
ains slowly, tired and sleepy. Discussions on
various topics were often encouraged to enliven
the otherwise tedious hours. On this occasion
three of the passengers Avere discussing the
claims of several of tlie States to the'(4arden
Spot of America,' while others listened or slept.
" One of the three presented the claim of Lan-
caster county, Pennsylvania, in its then highly
cultivated condition; its rich limestone soil, its
beautiful rolling surface, its never failing har-
vests, its immense barns, etc.

"The second, in elegant terms, ))ortrayed the
region round about Frankfort, Kentucky, for
beauty and climate, and for fertility of soil and
elegatit imjirovements, as the '(harden S|)ot.'

"Aiul the tliird gentleman presented and ui'ged
tUeclaiuiof the Shenandoah Valley, of Virginia,

4(i

HISTORY OF SANGAMON (^OUNTY.

surrouiulecl liy tlie mountains and watered by ten
thousand never failing springs gushing from the
mountains; its golden harvests of grains and
luscious fruits, and its blooded Hocks upon a
thousand hills.

"This interesting discussion was suddenly
stojiped by a roughly dressed passenger, in a
jeans hunting suit, fringed, who had been sleep-
ing and snoring for an hour or more. With an
expression of terror in his face, he declared that
something serious was going to happen the stage.
I've had a remarkable dream, and with a serious
earnestness eoiumenced telling his dream to the
anxious passengers:

'"I dreamed that the ^lorses became unman-
ageable and plunged over one of these mountain
precipices, and we fell and rolled several hun-
dred feet. 1 found myself struggling in a very
cold stream of water, but gained the opposite
shore. I looked, and behold, I seemed to be in
a paradise— the pi-ecincts of Heaven — the trees,
and flowers and birds, were exceedingly beautiful,
and at a little distance there was a high wall, as
if built of precious stones or rocks, and a golden
door in the wall. The knob of the door seemed
to be a very large diamond, glittering as a star.
I concluded I was in the spirit world, and that
the golden door was the entrance to Heaven.
Whife thus bewildered this gentleman (jiointing
to one of the trio disputants) appeared and walked
to the golden door. He knocked. The door open-
ed, and a glorious personage appeared, whom I
was im))ressed to think was St. Peter. ' Whence
comest thou?' he said to this gentleman; and you
answered ' from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania,
and he said, 'enter.' Then came this othergentle-
man and km)cked, St. Peter opened and inijuired
from whence he came. He replied, ' f roTu Frank-
fort, Kentucky.' He was invited to enter. And,
after a long while, this gentleman (pointing to
the third of the trio) hastened to the door and
)-ap)ied. The door was ojiened again, and St.
Peler appeared for the third time, and in(]uired
from what part of the earth he came. He said:
'From the Valley of Virginia.' And he was per-
mitted to enter.

'"The more I looked about me the more I
became enchanted. I heard the sweetest music
that ever fell on mortal ears, sounding as if from
over the wall, and I passed on to the door and
rapped with a small silver mallet, that seemed
there for the purpose. St. Peter appeared.
When he saw me, he said, in sweetest tones:
'Whence comest thou?' I said, 'from the Sau-
garao country, Illinois. I shall never forget the
candid and "kind manner St. Peter said: 'My

friend, I advise you to go back, as there is no such
beautiful land in Heaven as the valley drained by
the Sangamo river. By nature it is the Garden
Spot of America, and by the art of man is des-
tined to become the Paradise of the New World
— a land of corn and wine, and though the first
several generations of settlers may have to toil,
yet before the tenth genei-ation shall apjiear, this
wilderness will be made to blossom as the rose.'
"The early settler of Sangamo was so in-
genious in presenting the claim of Illinois as
containing the 'Garden Spot,' that it was unani-
mously avvarded to it. And at the next stoi)ping
place the trio treated to the wine."

I'IKST WHITE MEN IN SANGAMON COVNTY.

History and tradition are both silent as to
who was the first white man to visit this country.
The early French explorers came within a few
miles of its border, but it is doubtful if they
set foot within it. Following only the courses
of the great rivers, and penetrating inland but
a shortdistance, the beautiful Sangamo country
was unperceived by them. From the time of
their visit to the Mississi])pi in 167:3, a century
and a half passed before Robert Pulliam in his
wanderings came upon the scene, followed
closely by Henry Funderburk, William Dren-
nan, Joseph Dodds, James McCoy and others.

FIRST SETTIiEMENT.

In 1858, on the organization of the Old Set-
tlers' Society, it was determined to have the
first annual celebration on or near the site of
the first cabin erected in the county. To this
end, a committee was appointed to investigate
the claims of all i)arties to the honor of being
the first settler. After much investigation that
committee decided, on the evidence of the fam-
ily and some others, that Robert Pulliam
erected a cabin in the fall of 181U, which, with-
out doubt, was the first built in the county.
Accordingly, the celebration was here held. So
far as is known, no one at that time disputed
the claim.

It is now claimed by the descendants of
Henry Funderburk that he was the first settler
in the county; that he arrived in the spring of
1817, and raised that year a small <piantity of
corn, and that Pulliam was not then here.
Their claim is supported by Jacob Ilinkle, of
Pawnee, who says that he was six years old
when his father arrived in the county in the
spring of 1818; that he well remembers seeing
shocks of corn on Mr. Funderburk's place which
must have been raised the year previous.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Sixty-four years have now passed since the
first settlement was made, and there is not liv-
ing in all Sangamon county one who came dur-
ing the years 1817 or 1818 who was a man or
woman grown at that time. Evidence must
now be taken second-hand, or from those who
were very small when brought by their parents
to this county. It cannot, then, be wondered
at that there is a disagreement ujjon this and
many other points. In the history of the town-
ship of Ball will be found all the evidence now
attainable with reference to the claims of Pul-
liam, and in the history of Cotton Hill town-
ship the Funderburk claim is set forth. The
attention of the reader is called to these chap-
ters.

OTHER EARLY SETTLERS.

In the spring of 1818, William Drennan, Jo-
seph Drennan, Joseph Dodds, Mr. Vancil and
George Cox settled in township 14, north of
range 5, west, in what is now Ball township.

James McCoy and Levi W. Goodin, in the
fall of 1818, settled in township 14, range 4,
but moved to township 15, range 4, what is now
known as Rochester township. Mr. McCoy and
Mr. Goodin brought their wives, who were the
first white women to come to the county for the
purpose of making it their home. It is said
that but six women came that year, the other
four being wives of William and Joseph Dren-
nan, Mr. Vancil and Joseph Dodds.

In what is now Auburn township, Jacob Ellis,
James Black, Samuel Vancil, and John Wallace
settled in 1818. In other parts of the county
were Zachariah Peter, Justice Hinkle, William
Nelson, Mason Fowler, Joseph Dixon, Joseph
Neeley, and others.

AREA AND POSITION OF THE COUNTY.

Sangamon county is centrally situated, north
and south, in the State and is bounded on the
north by Menard and Logan counties, on the
south by Macoupin, Montgomery and Christian
counties, on the east by Macon county and on
the west by Morgan county. It contains an
area of 87.5 square miles, or 550,000 acres of
land.

ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.

Sangamon county was created by an act of
the legislature, approved January 30, 1821. The
following is the act in question:

Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the
State of Illinois, represented in. the General Assembly,
That all that tract of country within the follow-
ing boundariesi, towit; Beginning at the north-

6—

east corner of township twelve north, on the
third principal meridian, thence north with said
meridian to the Illinois river, thcnci' down the middle
of said river to the mouth of Balance or Negro creek,
thence up said crock to its licad, thence through the
middJc of the prairie which divides the waters of the
Sangamon and Mauvcs Torre to the northwest corner
of township twelve north, range seven west, of the
tliird priueijuil meridian, tlienee tast along the north
boundary of township twelve to the place of begin-
ning, shall constitute a sei)arate county to be called
Sangamon.

siiCTioN 2. Be it further enacted. That so soon
as the county commissioners of said county shall
be elected and duly (pialitied into oflice, they shall meet
at some convenient place in said county as circum-
stances will admit, and such place where selected by
said county commissioners, shall be the temporary seat
of justice for said county, until otherwise provided
by law; Provided, however, that it any settler or set-
tlers, owner or owners, of the place so selected as afore-
said, shall refuse to have llie temporary seat of justiee
lixed on his or her or their imiirovements, then the
said commissioners may determine on such other place
contiguous thereto as they may deem proper.

Section 3. Be it further enacted, That said county
commissioners shall be allowed the same compensa-
tion for the time necessarily employed in fixing the
temporary seat of justiee as in other cases.

Section 4. Be it further enacted. That the citizens
of Sangamon county are hereby declared in all res-
pects entitled to the same rights and privileges as are
allowed in general to other counties in this State.

Provided, always, That in all cases where freehold-
ers only arc capable of performing any duty, or are en-
titled to any privilege ; housekeepers shall for all such
purposes, be considered as freeholders in the said San-
gamon county, and shall and may do all duties ap-
pertaining to the difi'erent offices in the county.

Sections. Be it further enacted. That the county
of Sangamon shall compose a part of the first judicial
circuit of the State.

The following is the original boundary of the
county as thus created : Commencing at the
northeast corner of Locust tow'nshij), in Christ-
ian county, thence north to a ])oint on the Illi-
nois river about two miles west of the city of
Peru, thence down the middle of said river to
what is now the boundary line \,l)etween Cass
and Morgan counties, thence west to the north-
east corner of Morgan county, thence south
on the line between Morgan and Sangamon
counties to the northwest corner of Otter town-
ship in Macoupin county; thence east to th6
])lace of beginning. It will be seen that the
boundaries between this county and Morgan,
Macoupin and Montgomery, are unchanged.
The original metes and bounds of Sangamon
county, as given, embraced the following coun-
ties and parts of counties as at present constitu-
ted : Part of Christian, a small jiart of Macon
all of Logan part of McLean, all of Tazewell, part
of Woodford, part of Marshall, ]iart of Putnam,
all of Mason, all of Menard aiid all of Casi.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY,

The territorj- then constituting the county was
thus set apart by law. An election for county
officers was held Monday, April 2, 18lM. At
this election William Drennan, Zachariah Peter
and Rivers Cormack were elected County Com-
missioners, met the next day and took the oath
of office.

ACTS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

The tirst meeting of the County Commission-
er's Court waslield at the liouse of John Kelley,
on Tuesday, April :!, 1821 ; there being present
all the members elect — William Drennan, Zach-
ariah Peter and Eivers Cormack. After taking
the oath of office prescribed by law, the tirst
business was the appointment of a clerk, Cliarles
R. Matheny being honored with the position.
Mr. Malheny took the oath of office and entered
into bond with James Latham as security for
the faithful performance of his duties. No
further business was transacted at this time and
the court adjourned.

The second special term was held at the same
place, on the Kith day of April, 1821, Zachariah
Peter and William Drennan being present

John SiiiUers was allowed tlie sum of ten dol-
lars for carrying the election returns to Vanda-
lia. then the cai)ital of the State.

J(jhn Linsey, Stephen Stillman and John
Robinson were nominated to the Governor as
proper persons to till the office of Justices of the
Peace.

James Siwms was appointed County Treas-
urer.

The Commissioners wlio were appointed by
the act creating the county to select a temjiorary
county-seat, reported as follows :

"Whereas, The act of the General Assembly, en-
titled, 'un act establishing the County of iSangamo'
requires of the t'ounty Commissioners when elected
anil qualitied into oftlee, to fix a temporary seat of jus-
tice for said county ; tlierefore, we, the undersigned,
County Commissioners of said county, do certify that
we, after full examination of the situation of the jiopu-
lation of said county, have ti.xed and designated a cer-
tain point in tlie prairie near .Tohn Kelley 's tield on
the waters of Spring creek, at a sialic marked Z. D., as
the temporary seal of justice for said county, and do
further agiee thai llie said county-seat be called and
known by the name of Springfield.

■' Given under oiu- hand tins lOtli day of April, 1821 .

ZACHAliI.\H PeTKH.

William Dkennan."
The ne.xt meeting of the board of County
Commissioners was held at the court house in
Springfield, June 4, 1821, all the members being
present, with Charles R. Matheay, Clerk, au'd
John Taj^lor, Siieriflf.

From the records the following is extracted:

"The court, pursuant to public notice given,
procee<led to let out the building of a jail to the
lowest bidder, which was cryed off to Robert
Ilambleton, at $84.75, who thereupon entered
into an agreement with the aforesaid Commis-
sioners to have the same completed by the first
Monday in September next.

'• Ordered, that W'illiam Drennan be appointed
guardian for George Cox, an infant under the
age of fourteen years, and that he enter into
bond in one hundred dollars, with Rivers Cor-
mack as security."

Several public roads were ordered laid out at
this session, and John llamblin and David
Black were appointed constables.

James Simms refusing to qualify for the office
of treasurer, George llaworth was a))]iointed,
and was duly (jualified, presenting Zachariah
Peter and Robert PuUiam as security.

In order to defray the necessary expenses of
the county, it was ordered by the County Com-
missioners that "the Assessor, in assessing the
taxable property, assess the following property,
to-wit : Horses, neat cattle, wheel-carriages,
stock in trade and distillery.

The county was divided into two battalion
districts of four com])auies each, and an elec-
tion ordered for militia officers in each district.

A special term was next held July 16, 1821,
the members of the court all being present.
The only l)usiness transacted l)eing the levying
of one-half of one per cent, upon all taxable
])roperty "for the jturpose of procuring public
buildings and other necessary expenses for the
year 1821."

On the first Monday in September, 1821, the
Commissioners again met for the transaction of
business.

Jacob Ellis was allowed the sum of ^4.50 for
a judge's seat and bar in the court-house.

Andrew Orr, Matthew Higgins, Norris A.
Thomas, Jacob A. Millet and Robert Hamilton
were appointed constables, each of whom rjuali-
tied in open court.

Jolm Taylor was allowed ^.'50. V.") for book and
stationery furnished the clerk of the court.

At a term held December 3, 1821, Robert
Hamilton was allowed the sum of $84.75 for the
jail built by him for the use of the county.
J, hn Taylor, sheriff of the county, protested
against receiving the jail as not suitable; but his
protest was not heeded.

Charles R. Matheny was allowed 187.50 for
salary as clerk o' the Circuit Court, and for sta-
tionery furnished for the year 1821; Rivers Cor-

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

lu.-ick was ;illci\vc'd f^o for services as t'oiiiuiis-
sioiier; William Drennan and Zacliariali Peter
each ^Si) for services as Commissioners; John
Taylor was allowed *50 as salary for tlie year
1821.

The first tavern license granted by the Ixiard
was at this term, Robert Pi il Ham being ]iermitted
to engage in the business for the sum of ^:i per
year. He was permitted to cliarge the following
rates :

Mfal victu.als 2.5 cents.

Bed. per iiisilit 124

Feed for liorse 12i

Keepins horse over uight 3Ti "

Whisky, per half-pint Vil "

On the first Monday in March, 1822, the court
licensed Elijah Slater to " keep a tavern or pub-
lic liouse of entertainment in the town of Spring-
field." Whether provisions were scarce, or
whatever the cause, he was permitted to charge
a higher rate than Mr. Pulliam, the court fixing
the following prices:

Meal victuals ;-J7i cents.

Lodging 12i

Biandv, per half-pint 35 "

Wiue," " " , 2.5

Hum, " •■ 25

Giu. " '■ 18i "

Horse, per night 50 "

Horse feed 12 J "

Whisky, per half-pint 12i "

Tuesday, March 5, 1822, the board was .again
in session, at which time it was "ordered by the
court that the treasurer, in assessing the prop-
erty for ta.xation for the year 1822, take and
include all personal pro{)erty, goods and chattels
of whatsoever kind or nature the same may be,
including all the personal estate, in addition to
the real estate made taxable by law."

Charles R. M.atheny was instructed to con-
tract for county seals, weights and measures for
the use of tlie county.

Erastus Wright was authorized to keep a ferry
on the Illinois river at Fort Clark (Peoria), and
was permitted to charare the following rates:

For man and horse, or single person or horse, 25 cents.

For man or oilier person 12^ "

For each ox. bull, cow, steer or heifer 12.} "

For each calf, sheep or hog (ii "

Forearli w.igon cart, sleigh, sled or vehicle

drawn by two horses or two oxen .50 "

For eaith additional span or yoke of horses or

oxen 2.5 "

All other less or greater number of persons or yokes
or parts thereof, in the same proportion as above
allowed.

Thomas Price was authorized to keep tavern
with rates as already given.

Robert Hamilton was appointed treasurer and

entered into bond with .lohn Scott and (reorge
TIayworth as securities, which bond was ap-
l)roved.

At the June term, 1822, Aaron and Gideon
Uawley were authorized to keep a ferry across
the south fork of the Sangamo river, at what
was known as Jarvis' Ford. The following-
rates were established:

Each man or other person 6i cents.

For man and horse 12i "'

Lead horse or gelding 6J "

Bull, cow or steer 6J

Calf, sheep or hog OJ-

Wagon and two horses or oxen 37+

Vehicle drawn by one horse 25

Extra teams charged in projiortion to the foregoing
rates.

The sum of $12 was allowed Thomas Smith
for a stray found in Springfield, for the use of
the county, and Andrew Orr was api)ointed to
take charge of the same.

Jn July the Commissioners were again in
session.

The treasurer was authorized and ordered to
extend a tax of Hlh cents on the *100 on .all
taxable property.

At the annual election held in 1822, William
Morgan and Samuel Lee were elected members
of the board vice William Drennan and Rivers
Cormack.

The first session of the new board was held
on the second day of September, 1822. No
business of any special importance was tran-
sacted, and the court adjourned till court in
course.

The next meeting of the court was held in
December, at which time Charles R. Matheny
was allowed |!94 for stationery furnished the
county.

Jacob Ellis was allowed ll for hinges and
hanging the court house door.

At the March term, 1824, the first allowance
for paupers was made. John Orendorff was
allowed $51.50 for keeping two paupers for six
months, and Nathan Hussey $20 for keeping one
pauper six months.

In 1825, specie must have been scarce, judg-
ing from the fact that at the June term of that
year all allowances were made "in specie or its
equivalent."

At the July term, 1825, the board met to let
the building of a new brick court house, but the
records are silent as to any action on the sub-
ject.

At the September terra, same year, Thomas
Clark was appointed to su])erintend the 0])ening
arul improvment of the navigation of the San-

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

gamoii river, a subsci'iptioii l)eing raised for that
purpose. Subscribers to the fund were allowed
to pay their subscription in labor at the rate of
II per day.

The last meeting of the County Commis-
sioners' Court was held November 5, 1849. But
little business was transacted. Their term of
office was about at an end, being succeeded by
the board of justices.

The following named served as County Com-
missioners for the years named, and is a com-
plete list from the organization of the county:

COCNTT COMMISSIONERS.

1821 — William Drennan, Zachariah Peter and Rivers
Cormack.

1822 — William Morgan, Zachariah Peter and Samuel
Lee.

1823— Same as above.

1824 — William Morgan, Harry Riggin and Zachariah
Peter.

1825— Same.

1826 — Samuel Lee, William Strawbridge and Bowlinii;
Green.

1827— Same.

1828— Asa 8. Shaw, Zachariah Peter and Josiah B.
Smith.

1829— Same.

1830 — Same. Asa A. Shaw resigning. Garret Elkin
was elected to fill vacancy.

1831— Same

1832— Josiah B. Smith. Thomas Moflett and Reuben
Harrison.

1833— Same.

1834— Thomas Moffett, Bartlett Haley and Samuel
Berry.

183.5— Thomas Jloftett, Samuel Berry and William
G. Cantrall.

1836— Zachariah Peter, William G. Cantrall and
William Hickman.

1837— Same.

1838 — John Cooper, Thomas Sackett and Thomas
Simpson.

1839— Same.

1840 — Thomas Simpson, Jolin Cooper and Zachariah
Peter.

1841 — John Cooper. Zachariah Peter and Samuel
Wyckotr.

1842 — Zachariah Peter, Samuel Wyckotf and Willis
H. Groves.

1843 — Same.

1844 — Zachariah Peter, Abram Foutch and John
Dawson.

184.^— Same.

1 46 — .\bram Foutch, Thomas Shepherd and John
Dawson .

1847— Same.

1848— William F. Elkin, Thomas Shepherd and
Abram Foutch.

1849— Same.

BOARD OF JUSTICES.

In 1849, the county government was vested
in a Board of Justices, consisting of a county
judge and two asssociate justices, all the powers
previously lield by the County Commissioners

being transferred to them. The first meeting of
the Board of Justices was held at the court house
in Springfield, Monday, December 3, 1849.
There were present, Thomas Moffett, county
judge; Cyrus W. Yanderen and William F. El-
kin, associate justices. The unfinished business
of the County Commissioners' court was first
taken up, and then the new board proceeded to
the transaction of all business brought before
them.

In 1861 the county adopted the township or-
ganization law, and the last meeting of the
Board of Justices was held Thursday, March
14, 1861.

The following named composed the Board of
Justices, each serving the term of four years.

1849— Thomas Moflett, County Judge; William F.
Elkin, Cvrus W. Vanderen, Associate Justices.

18r33— John W. Taylor, County Judge; Samuel K.
Swinglcy, William Armstrong, Associate Justices.

1857— William D. Power, County Judge ; Moses K.
Anderson, J. A. Bell, Associate Justices.

TOWNSHIP OBGANIZATIOX.

A petition was presented to the Board of Jus-
tices June 5, 1860, praying the board to submit
the question to a vote of the people for the
adoption of township organization. The prayer
of the petitioners was granted, and the subject
was ordered submitted to the people at the
ne.xt general election, held Tuesday, November
0, 1800. The vote was canvassed by the board
in December following, when it was ascertained
there was a majority of 859 votes in its favor,
out of a total vote of 7,241. The board there-
upon appointed John S. Bradford, Joini Gard-
ner, Sen., and Joseph Campbell, commissioners
to divide the county into towns, in accordance
with the general law relating to township organ-
izations. At a meeting of the Board, lieid
March 1, 1861, the commissioners submitted
their report, by which the county was divided
into twenty-two townships under the following
I names:
Auburn, Island Grove,

Ball, Loami,

Buffalo Ilart, Mechanicsburg,

Campbell, Power,

Cartwright, Pawnee,

Clear Lake, Rochester,

Cooper, Sackett,

Cotton Hill, Springfield,

Curran, Talkington,

Gardner, Williams,

Illiopolis, Woodside.

New Berlin has since been formed from part
of Island Grove, Wheatfield from part of Illiop-

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

olis, and Capital from part of Springfield, mak-
ing a total of twenty-tive towns, as follows:

Auburn, embracing all of township 13, north
of range 6 west of the third principal meridian,
and part of township l.i, north of range 5 west.

Ball, all of township 14, north of range 5
west.

Bttjf'alo Hurt, all of township 17, liorlh of
range 3 west.

Chatham, a\\ oi townshi|i 14, north of range

6 west, and a small poition of township 14,
north of range 5 west.

Cartirriijht, all of township 16, north of range

7 west, and fractional parts of township 16 and
17, range 8 west.

Clear Lake, all of township 16 north of range
4 west.

Cooper, parts of township 14 and 15, range 3
west.

Cotton Hill, all of township 14 north of range
4 west.

Curran, all of township 1.5 north of range 6
west.

Gardner, all of township 16 north of range 6
west.

Illiopolis, parts of townships 16 and 17, range
1 and 2 west.

Island Grore, part of township 15, and pans
of ranges of 7 and 8 west.

Loanii, part of township 14 north, and parts
of ranges 7 and 8 west.

Mechanicsburg, all of township 16, north of
range 3 west.

Fancy Creek, parts of townships 17 and 18,
north of range .5 west

Pavmee, township 13 north, and parts of
ranges 4 and 5 west.

Rochester, township 15, north of range 4 west.

Salisbury, a part of township 17, north of
range 6 west.

Springfield, township 16 north of range 5
west, except the territory comprising the city of
the same name, which is made a town under
the name of Capital.

Talki»gto)i,, township 18 north, and parts of
ranges 7 and 8 west.

Williams, parts of townships 17 and 18, north
of range 4 west.

Woodside, township 15, north of range 5
west.

Wheatfield, parts of townships 15, 16 and 17,
north of range 2 west.

New Berlin, townships 14 and 15, and parts
of ranges 7 and 8.

Capital, all the territory lying within the city
of Springfield.

RIVEK AND CREEKS.

Sangamon county is well supplied with
streams of living water, the most important of
which is the Sangamon river, the north fork of
which takes its rise in McLean county, and pur-
suing a tortuous course, forms the southern
boundary line of Sangamon along Illiopohs
and part of Cooper township, enteiing the
county on section 15 of the last named town-
ship, passing through it and Rochester into
Clear Lake township, wiiere it is joined, on sec-
tion 27, with the south fork, which heads in
Shelby county, entering Sangamon on section
12, Cotton Hill townshij), and passing through
Rochester into Clear Lake. The two forks
uniting as stated, pass into and through Spring-
field, Gardner and Salisbury townships, from
which it enters Menard county from section 22.

For many years the river retained its old In-
dian name of the Sangamo, but it was finally
dropped, and the modern name adojited.

NAVIGATION OF THE SANOAiNIO EIVIOR.

The boys that play upon the banks of the
Sangamo river in this year of our Lord one
thousand, eight hundred and eighty-one little
dream that it was ever thought by anyone that
the river was a navigable stream, much less that
an attempt was ever made to run a steamer on
its sluggisii waters. But such was the case.

Before the days of the iron horse, when rail-
roads were comparatively unknown, many at-
tempts were made at the navigation of insig-
nifieent streams, in order to cheapen transporta-
tion. Especially was this true in new countries.

The Sangamo .Journal, January 1ft, 1832, after
speaking of the signs of an early spring and
the preparation for ini|)rovement going on, says:

"And last, not least, it is seriously ])rojected
by our fellow-citizen, V. A. Bogue, to introdiu'e
to the good people of S])ringtield, within a
month or so, by way of the Sangamo rivei-, a
steamboat, which will be laden with goods for
our merchants. We have strong confidence that
the undertaking will succeed. We will not
now undertake to state the results that would
benefit to this village and county from the com-
plete success of this experiment. It would be
worth more to us than a dozen railroads — in the
newspa])ers. Wasn't our inimitable baid pro-
phetic when he said: —

"Anil I will make our Siinganio
Outshine in verse, the famous PoV"

In the Journal of the 26th of January, 1832,
appears a letter from Mr. Bogue in reference to

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

the proposed trip of the steamer up tlie San-
gamo. He says: —

"I am well aware tliat the undertaking is dan-
gerous, difficult and expensive — still I am will-
ing to risk ray all upon it. All I ask is the
cheerful and hearty concurrence of those gen-
tlemen who must be more interested in the suc-
cess than I am or can be.~^ If I am unfortunate,
I will cheerfully bear the loss; if I am success-
ful, which, God willing, I have little doubt every
individual in that fine section of /country must
feel the beneficial effects of it. \,The concur-
rence I allude to is to advise me immediatelv on
receipt, and keep me advised of the state of the
river — what probable rise may be expected
alcove low-water mark — that I should be met at
the mouth of the river by ten or twelve men,
having axes witii long handles, under the direc-
tion of some exjierienced man, and that one of
the men should be one of those who has most
often descended the river with tlatboats (to show
the course of the stream). I shall deliver freight
from St. Louis at the landing on Sangamo river,
opposite the town of Springfield, for thirty-
.seven-and-a-half cents per hundred pounds

The Journal was an enthusiastic friend of the
project of the navigation of the river, but tem-
pers its enthusiasm by saying: "It would be
folly, perhaps, ever to anticipate for our village
advantages from steamboat navigation equal to
those which St. Louis has derived from that
source; yet such anticipation cannot be more
chimerical than was. the project of running
steamboats from, the moutb of the Ohio to St.
Louis in 1817."

lu the Journal of February 16, 1832, appears
the following paragraph:

"We find the following advertisement in the
Cincinnati Gazette of the 10th ult. We hope
such notices will soon cease to be such novelties.
We seriously believe that the Sangamo river can
be made navigable for steamboats for several
months in the year. Here is the advertisement:

UOR SANGAMO KIVER. ILLINOIS— The splendi.l upper-
-*- uabiii Hteamer, TALISM.\N. J M. POLLOCK. Master, will
leave for Portland, Sprio^lield, od the Sangamo river, and all inter-
mediate ports anil laBdiTi<;8, say Beardstown. Xaples. St. Louis,
Louisville, on Thursday. Febni.ir.v *2. For freight or passage
apply to Captain Vincent A. Bogue, at the Broadway Hotel, or to
Allison Owt-n.

After the foregoing notices appeared in the
Journal, a pul)lic meeting of citizens of Spring-
tield was held February 14, 1832, to take into
consideration what measures should be adopted
to assist Mr. Bogue in his enterprise. Elijah
lies was elected chairman, and William Porter
secretary. On motion of Dr. Todd, the follow-
ing preamble and resolution was adopted:

Whereas. We havp learned with great pleasure that
our lonusman, Mr. Bogue, is about lo navigate the
Sangamo river in a steamboat.

Resolred, That a committee of three citizens be
appointed to meet him, with a suitable number of
hands, and render him all the assistance we are capa-
ble of, or on the failurf of Mr. Bogue, that assistance
be atlorded to any other boat wishing to engage in the
enterprise.

E. D. Taylor, Washington lies and T. M.
Neale were appointed that committee. T. Moff
ett, G. Jayne, and D. Dickerson were apjjointed
a committee to solicit funds to carry out the
foregoing resolution.

According to announcement the Talisman
started on its journey from Cincinnati, and after
various trials succeeded in accomplishing its
object. The Journal of March 8, announces the
arrival of the steamer at Meredosia, when its
further progress was obstructed by ice. In its
issue of March 29th, it says :

"On Saturday last the citizens of this place
(Springfield) were gratified by the arrival of the
steamboat Talisman, J. W. Pollock, master, of
150 tons burthens, at the Portland landing,
opposite this town. (Portland was at the south
side of the Sangamon river, between where the
bridges of the Chicago & Alton and the Gilmau,
Clinton & Springfield railroads now stand). The
safe arrival of a boat the size of the Talisman,
on a liver never before navigated by steam, had
created much solicitude, and the shores for miles
were crowded by our citizens. Her arrival at
her destined port was hailed with loud acclama-
tions and full demonstrations of pleasure. When
Capt. Bogue located his steam mill on Sanga-
mo river, twelve months ago, and asserted his
determination to land a steamboat there within
a year, the idea was considered chimerical by
some, and utterly impracticaljle by others. The
experiment has been made, and the result has
been as successful as the most enthusiastic could
expect ; and this county owes a deep debt of
gratitude to Captain Bogue for getting up the
expedition, and his never tiring and unceasing
efforts until the end was accomplished. Capt.
Pollock, who is nattirally warm and enthusiastic,
entered fully into the feeling of our citizens,
who visited the mouth of the river to render
any and everj- assistance in their power: and
much credit is due him for his perseverance and
success. The boat experienced some difficulty
from drifts, and leaning timber on shore, which
made her trip somewhat tedious. The result
has clearly demonstrated the practicability of
navigating the river by steamboats of proper
size ; and by the e.\penditure of ^2,000 in remuv-

HISTORY (JF SANGAMON COUNTY.

ing logs and drifts and standing timber, a steam
boat of 80 tons burthen will make a trip in two
days from Beardstown to this place. The citi-
zens of Beardstown manifested great interest
for the success of the enterprise, and some of
them accompanied the boat until the result was
no longer doubtful. Tliey proposed the cutting
of a communication or canal from the bluffs
to their landing — about five miles — whereby
seventy-five miles of navigation may be saved,
and offered one thousand dollars to assist in
completing it. It is to be hoped that the next
legislature will afford some aid in making the
river safe and pleasant in its navigation. Spring-
field can no longer be considered an inland
town. We have no doubt but within a few
months a boat will be constructed for the special
purpose of navigating the Sangamo river. The
result which must follow the suceesful tei;mina-
tion of this enterprise to our county, and tf»
those counties lying i« its neighliorhood, it
would be impossilile to calculate. Here is now
open a most promising field for the exercise of
every branch of honest industry. We congratu-
late our farmers, our mechanics, our merchants
and professional men, for the rich harvest in
prospect, and we cordially invite emigrating citi-
zens from other states, whether rich or poor, if
so be they are industrious and honest, to come
hither and partake of the good things of San-
gamo."

The poets of the day immortalized the occa-
sion in verse, while the ladies gave a grand ball
in honor of the occasion. The .Journal's poet,
in speaking of the appearance of the steamer,
says :

Say ye, boki Spriugfiekl nion. the sight —

Did it not give you vast deliglitv

And you, fair dames, your comments on it,

It ahiiost equalled a new bonnet.

Could anything be so bewitching —

Lord, Lord, to think on't sets me itching —

That is in rhy'ine, my iiretty dears,

As some one says some other wheres.

Both town and county went 1o see

What this strange animal could be ;

But cautious first, and by degrees.

The suckers peeped behind the trees,

'Till more familiar grown, they chase

And boldly stare her in the face.

One thought it might be Noah's ark —

No, no, another did remark,

'Tis only Bngue's, his luck to try.

Nor need he here a dove let fly ;

He only fears it should be dry!

The news to Springfield quickly flew,

And all the folks went out to view

So strange a sight, to them .so new ;

Some thought the world was at an end,

And Heaveri iu mercy did this send

To save the chosen people in,

Who never yet committed sin.

Or only now and then got frisky

When broached au extra tub of whisky.

In speaking of the general rejoicing and the
ball in the evening, the bard continues:

Heigh, sirs, but I forgot to tell

That great rejoiciu.gs here befell.

Such stuffing — all the eggs in town

I do believe were there crammed down,

And the next morn old Ned (|uite high,

Had risen in price, antl m)ne to buy.

There was a ball at night, I guess.

For th' ladle's sakes it couldn't be less —

And twenty bachelors they say,

Were strung on Hymen's noose that dav.

Notwithstanding all this general rejoicing
the navigation of the Sangamon was a failure.
The Talisman, on account of low water, was
unable to turn around, and was compelled to
back out of the stream. Her first trip was her
last. She was burned to the water's edge oppo-
site St. Louis, in the latter part of April, 1832.

Even as late as 18.53 a small steamer came up
the river to Peter.sbiirg, which caused Simeon
Francis, who felt bound to make the Sangamon
river navigable, write as follows, under date of
April 2.5, 1853:

"It lias long been a conceded fact by those
who have the best knowledge on the subject,
th.at the Sangamon river can be made navigable
for a small class of steamers five or six months
in the year. Some days ago the steamer Wave,
Captain Monroe, arrived at Petersburg. He
found no difficulty in navigating the river for
want of water. There was a depth of four feet,
but there were obstructions fnmi drifts and nar-
row turns that could readily be obviated. He
suii])oses the distance by the Sangamon river to
the Illinois from Petersburg is about ninety
miles, thirty miles of which will need improve-
ment. This improvement should be done, if not
by the State, by a company, who should be au-
thorized to receive tolls for boats. We believe
tiie legislature has authorized a company to
improve the Kaskaskia river,and tocharge tolls.
('aptain Moore has navigated the last mentioned
river, and he expresses himself decidedly of the
opinion that the Sangamon is a better river for
navigation than the Kaskaskia.

"We learn that so thoroughly satisfied are the
property liolders and business men of Petersburg
of the feasibility of navigating the Sangamon by
steamboats, and the great benefit that would re-
sult to that section of country from a steam-
boat connection with other navigable streams,
that a subscription of some five thousand dollars
has already been raised to build and equip a

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COVNTY.

steamboat for the especial navigation of the
Sangaiuon. The attempts made years ago for
the same purpose were not made in a way to se-
cure success. The company will be able to avoid
the obstacles which defeated the project on a
former occasion. As one of the means for de-
veloping the rich resources of the country on the
Sangamon, we most fervently desire that the
enterprise may be successful."

This was the last attempt at the navigation
of the river, and a look at the stream in

this year, 1881, will convince one that it was
wise.

CREEKS.

Sangamon county is well watered by many
living streams, after the Sangamon river the
most important being Sugar creek. Lick creek.
Horse creek, Brush creek, Clear creek. Fancy
creek, Cantrall creek, Prairie creek, Richland
creek. Wolf creek, and Spring creek, an account
of each being found in the township history of
the townships through which the flow.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Chapter II.

GEOLOGY. — BY A. H. WOETHBN.

The Sangamon river traverses the entire ex-
tent of the county from east to west, and with
its tributaries furnishes a reasonable supply of
water in ordinary seasons.

This stream, as well as its main afHuents, are
skirted with belts of excellent timber, which
make this one of the best/ timbered counties in
the central portion of the State.! About one-
. third of the county was originally covered with
timber,\but inuch of the timbered land has been
cleared up and brought under cultivation.)

The principal varieties of tiinber observed in
this county are the following; and it will be
seen that the list embrace.s nearly every variety
of forest tree that is to be found in the central
portion of the State:\ sug;ir and white maple,
buckeye, shellbark hickory, swamp hickory,
mocher nut and thick shellbark hickory, horn-
beam, serviceberry, backberry, red bud, dog-
wood, red thorn, black thorn, persimmon,
waahoo, white, blue and black ash, coffee nut,
white and black walnut, mulberry, sycamore,
Cottonwood, wild plum, wild cherry, crab apple,
white oak, scarlet oak, chestnut oak, laurel oak,
red oak, pin oak, swamp white oak, bur oak,
sumac, elder, sassafras, linden, willow, Ameri-
can elm, slippery elm, prickly ash, pawpaw, red
birch, hazel, spiceberry, and honey locust. '■

The superficial deposits in this county com-
prise the three principal divisions of the Quat-
truary: alluvium, leoss and drift. Narrow belts
of alluvial bottom skirt the Sangamon through
a large part of its course in this county, but
they are subject to be annually overflowed by
the river floods, and are most valuable for the
heavy growth of timber they sustain.

The leoss covers a large part of the uplands
to the dej)th of from six to twenty feet, and is
composed of the usual marly beds of buff and
gray sands and sandy clays. Underneath the

surface soil at Springfield we usually meet the
following successions of beds: —

No. 1, soil, 1 to 2 feet

No. 2, buff colored silicious clay, 2-^ to 3 feet

No. 3, very fine gray marlj^ sand, 3 to 4 feet
No. 4, brown drift clays, usually

extending down to the bed rock, 30 to 40 feet

Nos. 2 and 3 of the above section may prop-
erly be referred to the leoss, and at several
points, in the vicinity of the city, it has been
found to contain the characteristic shells usually
found in it.

We are indebted to Mr. .Joseph Mitchell, who
has dug many wells in the northwest part of
Sangamon county and in the adjoining portions
of Menard, for the following section -i of the
beds usually passed through by him:

No. 1, soil, 1 to 2jt feet

No. 2, yellow clay, 3 feet

No. 3, whitish (gray) jointed

clay with shells, 5 to 8 feet

No. 4, black muck, with frag-
ments of wood, 3 to 8 feet

No. 5, bluish colored boulder

clay, 8 to 10 feet

No. 6, gray hard-pan|(very hard), 2 feet

No. 7, soft blue clay, without

boulders, 20 to 40 feet

No. 3 of this section is undoubtedly leoss,
and he affirms th.at this order of succession was
invariably <>bserved| at many different localities
in that portion of the county, the black mucky
soil always appearing immediately below the
leoss, and varying from three to eight feet in
thickness, and always overlaying the true drift
or boulder clay. This old soil is probably the
equivalent of a chocolate-colored band a foot
or more in thickness, which lies at the base of
the leoss in the bluffs at Quincy.

HISTORY OF SANGA]V[ON COUNTY.

In my report on Adams county, published in
Vol. IV, page 45, I sugge.sted that the layers of
chocolate colored soil at the base of the leoss
might be the equivalent of the old post ter-
tiary soil penetrated in the shaft at Coatsburg,
and in consequence of the absence of true drift
deposits at Quincy, it was difficult to fix the
relation which this chocolate-colored soil might
hold to the boulder clays, but the occurrence of
a similar deposit at so many different localities
in this county, and at the base of the leoss and
always al)0ve the boulder clays seem to indicate
pretty conclusively that the stratum of Qiiiucy
also belongs above the true drift and to a more
recent period than that penetrated at Coatsburg.

These two ancient soils, the one at the base
of the leoss, and the other below the boulder
clay, belong to distinct and widely separated
periods aiul indicates two distinct emergencies
of the surfaces during tbe Quarternary period
and the lu-evalence of conditions suitable for
the growth of an arboreal vegetation.

The boulder clays, or true drift, consists for
the most part of brown, gravelly clay with small
boulders. Occasionally a boulder, two feet or
more in diameter, is met with in the beds of the
ravines, but they are not common. In the vicin-
ity of Springfield, this division of the quarter-
nary ranges from twenty to forty feet in thick-
ness, and this is probably not far from its average
thickness throughout the county; but at some
localities there is a blue clay or hard pan below
the brown clays, which attains about the same
thickness as the former, making the aggregate
thickness of the drift wliei'e fully developed from
fifty to eighty feet. No fossils have as yet been
obtained from the drift in this county, so far as
I am aware, though the tooth of a mammoth was
found some years ago in the bluffs of the Sanga-
mon, and near the surface, and probably came
from beds not older than leoss.

The discovery of the Niantic mastodon, some
three years since, between Illiopolis and Nian-
tic, and just over the Macon county line, excited
considerable interest when the discovery was
first announceil, and I visited the locality, and
was present wlien a part of the bones were taken
out. The discovery was made on the farm of
William P. Correl!,in sinking a stock well in a
wet, spongy piece of ground, located in a swale
or depression of tlif surface that had evidently
once been a pond oi water, and had been tilled
up by the wash from the surrounding highland,
until it formed a morass or quagmire in dry
weather.

The bones were about four feet below the
surface and partly imbedded in a light, gray
quicksand filled with fresh water shells, J'lass-
07-bis, Cyd((s, Physu, etc. Above this quicksand
there was four feet of black, peaty soil, so soft
that a common fence rail could be easily pushed
down through it. The quicksand had evidently
once formed the bottom of a fresh water pond,
fed probably by springs and was the resort of
the animals whose bones were found here. The
first bone met with in sinking the well was one
of the tusks, and supposing it to be a small tree
it was cut in two with an axe before its true char-
acter was suspected. The other tusk was taken
out whole, and measured nine feet in length
around the curve, and about two feet in circum-
ference where it was inserted in the skull.
The lower jaw, with the teeth in place, and the
teeth of the upper jaw and some of the smaller
bones were also found in a good state of preser-
vation.

A line pair of antlers of the elk, with some
other bones of the same animal, and bones of
the buffalo and deer were found in the ])osition
as the bones of the mastodon, but the bones of
the smaller animals, although im1>edded at the
same depth, were lighter colored, less decayed,
.and appeared to have been buried at a more re-
cent perioil.

The depth of the (juicksand was not fully as-
certained, but it was probed to the depth of two
feet or more without reaching a solid bottom.

STRATIFIED EOCKS.

The stratified rocks, outcropping at the sur-
face in tliis county, all belong to the upper coal
measures, and overline all the main coal seams
worked in the State. The lowest beds exposed
in the county, arc found on the Sangamon river,
near the Menard line, and on Richland creek,
one of the southern affluents of the Sangamon,
in the western part of the county.

They consist mainly of sandstones and shales,
including the horizon of the Rock creek lime-
stone, although we have not, as yet, seen any
out-crop of this limestone in Sangamon county.
A vertical section of all the beds exposed on
the Sangamon and its tributaries, in the central
and western portions of the county, would show
the following relative position and thickness of
strata: —

No. 1 , sandy shales and soft sand-
stone, 1 5^ feet

No. -i, hard gray limestone, part-
ly bleached, 10 to 12 feet

No. 3, black, slaty shale, 2 to 3 feet

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

No. -I, uluy bliale, -1 to teet

No. 5, brown, calcareous sand-
stone, passing into ferrugin-
ous limestt)ne, 4 to 5 feet

No. 0, clay shales, partly bitu-
minous, i to feet

No. 7, hard gray limestone (Car-

linville limestone), G to 8 feet

No. 8, sandy shales and soft sand-
stone, 30 to 40 feet

No. 9, argillaceous limestone

and calcareous shales, 2 to 3 feet

No 1 0, bituminous shales, 1 foot

No. 1 1, coal No. 8, 1 to 2 feet

No. 1-2, lire clay, 2 to 3 feet

No. 13, impure limestone, 2 to 3 feet

No. 14, sandy shale and soft sand-
stones, with local bands of ar-
gillaceousandbiuiniinoussliale, 50 to GO feet

No. 15, hard gray limestone, .. . 2 to G feet

No. IG, shales — sandj', argillace-
ous and bituminous, with thin
seam of coal, 30 to GO feet

The beds numbered from one to seven, inclus-
ive, of the above section, are well exposed on
Sugar creek, two miles north of Virden, and
thence down the creek to the crossing of the
St. Louis, Alton & Chicago Railroad, between
which points all the beds included in these num-
bers outcrop in succession, the eastward dip of
the strata being somewhat less than the fall of
the stream.

The upper limestone No. 2, of the above sec-
tion is well exposed near the bridge on the
main road north of Virden, and has been quar-
ried both for lime and building stone. The
U])per part of the bed is a nodular, unevenly-
bedded rock, partly brecciated, while the lower
portion is more evenly bedded, affording a tol-
erably good building stone, in layers from four
inches to a foot or more in thickness.

A little fartiier up the creek the whole mass
becomes brecciated and fragmentary, and quar-
ries in pebbly fragments suitable for m.acadam-
izing material.

The brown ferruginous bed. No. 5, of the fore-
going section is a hard, massive rock, reseni-
biing the limestone at Crow's mill, on Sugar
creek, six miles south of Springfield, of which
it is probalily the equivalent.

It contains numerous fossils, amongwhich are
Productus costatus, P. JVebrascensis, -P' Fratten-
ioMus, Spirifer cameratus, Athyris subtili.Ui,
Yerebratula boviileus, Pintia jjer-acutn, and 31;/-
alina mnplu.'

The limestone No. 7, of the foregoing section
is not fully ex])Osed, but the upper layers out-
crop in the bed of the creek just above the rail-
road bridge, in pebbly layers not unlike the
upper layers of No. 2; as they appear above the
bridge on the main road north of Virden. This
outcrop is very similar in appearance to the
upper layers of the Carlinville limestone, just
below Carr's mill on Macoupiu creek, northeast
of Carlinville, and I have iio doubt but this
limestone on Sugar creek is the equivalent of
that. Below the railroad bridge the shale un-
derlying these limestones are the only beds
exposed for some distance, but east of Auburn the
limestones are again met with, and are found in
outcrops from this point to Crow's mill, seven
miles south of Springfield, where the rock for
the old State House was obtained. At Pedde-
cord's quarries, on Sugar creek, the State House
rock is well exposed, affording the following
section:

No. 1. Thin bedded ferruginous

limestone, 2 to 3 feet.

No. 2. Massive, coarse-grained

limestone, 4 feet.

No. 3. Clay shale, partly bitumi-
nous, '. G feet.

No. 4. Thin bedded limestone, . 3 to 4 feet.
No. 5. Sandy shale, 10 to 12 feet.

The material for the old State House was ob-
tained mainly from No. 2 of the foregoing sec-
tion, and there is a nearly continuous outcrop of
these beds from this point to Crow's mill, two
miles below, where the old State House quarries
were located.

This rock is a coarse-grained, brownish-gray,
crinoidal limestone, almost entirely composed of
crinoidal joints and the calcareous remains of
marine mollusca, cemented together by calca-
reous and ferruginous sediment.

In addition to the fossils already enumerated
as occurring in this liniestone .at the locality
north of Virden, the quarries here afford numer-
ous specimens of Hijrimpporu mulUithcimatu,
which seem to belong in the clay shale under the
limestone No. 2 of the foregoing section, and, so
far as I aiu aware, has been found nowhere else
but in this shale in Sangamon and Macoupin
counties.

Some of the masses obtained on Sugar creek
are nearly a foot in diameter. This limestone
has also afforded fine specimens of (Jladodus
mortifer, Petalodus destructor, and Ci/athocri-
tius Snnrjamonensis. This rock possesses the
same lithological characters, and att'ords exactly

HISTORY OF SANOAMON COUNTY.

the same group oi fossils as the upper division of
the main limestone at La Salle, and I have no
doubt they are stratigraphical equivalents. Be-
low Crow's mill to the outlet of Sugar creek
into the Sangamon river, the sandy shales and
sandstones intervening between this limestone
and the coal outcroppings at Hewlett, are the
only beds to be seen. This coal seam, numbered
11, in the general section, given on a jireceding
page, ranges in thickness from eighteen inches
to two feet, and is coal No. 8, of our general sec-
tion of the Coal Measures, given in Vol. Ill,
page 5, of these reports. It outcrops in the
bank of the Sangamon river at Howlett, and on
Spring creek and its branches north and west of
Springfield ; and previous to the discovery of
the heavy beds below this, it was extensively
worked in strip banks, and by tunnels along its
line of t)utcrop. It is overlaid by a calcareous
shale, and argillaceous limestone, which are
wonderfully rich in fossils, and have afforded
more than si.xty species of shells, corals and
crinoidia characteristic of the upper coal meas-
ures. The coal is underlaid with a dark bluish-
gray fire-clay two or three feet in depth, below
which an impure nodular limestone is some-
times found, but more frequently the fire-clay
rests directly upon the sandy shales and sand-
stones below.

At Howlett, the argillaceous limestone over-
laying this coal seam, is succeeded by sandy
shales, passing upward into soft jnucacous sand-
stones, which outcrop along the railroad grades
just beyond Camp Butler, and contain an inter-
calaled seam of poor coal only a few inches
thick.

The limestones of Sugar creek, which prop-
erly overlay this sandstone, are not found in the
vicinity of Howlett, Laving been probably re-
moved in the erasion of the Sangamon valley.

Below this coal, where it out-crops west of
the city, we find a bed of sandy shale and sand-
stone, from thirty to forty feet thick, that lo-
cally furnishes some building stone of fair
quality, the thickly bedded portions being partly
concretionary in structure, the concretions often
attaining a diameter of five or six feet or more.
They are exceedingly hard, but may be split
into blocks of suitable size, and made a very
durable building stone.

At Carpenter's mill, five miles north of
Springfield, a fine exposure of the sandstone
underlaying this coal may be seen on the north
bank of the Sangamon, where it forms a perpen-
dicular cliff more than fifty feet in height. The
upper and lower portions of the formations are

thin bedded and shaly, but the middle portions,
nearly twenty-five feet in thickness, is in tol-
erably heavy and evenly stratified beds, ranging
from six inches to two feet or more in thick-
ness. These layers seem to harden on expos-
ure, and afford a very good building stone.

In a ravine, a little to the west of the mill,
on the north side of the road, the coal No. 11,
of the foregoing section, and overlaying argil-
laceous limestone, were found well up towards
the top of the hill, and apparently above the
sandstone exposure at the bridge. The lime-
stone here contains the same species of fossils
so abundant in the roof of this coal in the vi-
cinity of Springfield.

The coal was not well exposed, but does not
appear to be more than a few inches in thick-
ness, and this exposure is probably on or near
the most westerly outcrop of the seam on the
north side of the river. Among the fossils com-
mon in the limestone and shales over this coal,
the Lopho2)hyllum proUfermn is very abundant,
and is associated with Astartella vera, Pleauro-
tomaria spharnlata, P. Grayvillensis P. carbon-
aria, Bellerojihon carbonaria, B. 3Iontfortianus,
B. percarinatus, B. Stevensianus, Leda bella-ru-
ffosa, Niicida ventricoHo, Polyphenropsis pe)--
acuta, P. nitidula, Soleniscus typicus, Loxo-
nema rugosa, L. cerithifonnis, 3Iacrocheihis
inhahilis, 31. ponderosus, M. medialis, M. inter-
adaris, M. pidchella, M. ventricosus,Enonip}ialus
ri/gosiis, Productiis longispinus, P. Nebruscensis,
P. PraUetiiamts, Spirifer cajneratvi<, /S. Ken-
titckensis, Athyris, subtilita, etc.

The Rock creek limestone of Menard county,
if it extends this far to the eastward, should out-
crop on the Sangamon not very far below Car-
penter's mill, as its place in the vertical section
is between coals Nos. 1 and 8; but all these coal
measure limestones are somewhat local in their
development, and this bed has not been met with,
so far as I know, in any of the coal shafts sunk
in this vicinity.

The main coal No. 5, of the general section of
the coal measures in the central and western
portions of the State, lies about one hundred
and seventy-five feet below coal No. 8, in the
vicinity of Springfield, and two hundred to two
huiulred and ten below the general surface level.
A boring for artesian water was made at Spring-
field in 1858, and was carried down to the depth
of nearly twelve hundred feet without finding
water that would rise to the surface, and the
parties having the work in charge reported no
coal l)elow the small seam thirty or forty feet
below the surface, though it was evident, from

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNT V.

the character of the material Lrought up with
the sand-pump, that they must have passed
througli from four or five hundred feet of coal
measure strata. Subsequently, in a boring at
Hewlett, a six-foot seam of coal was found, at a
depth of about two hundred feet. A shaft was
immediately sunk, and extensive mining opera-
tions have been carried on there to the present
time. The boring at Springfield not only passed
through this seam, but all those underlaying it,
of which two or three will probably be found of
workable thickness, the men in charge of the

work being apparently entirely ui;conscious of
the true character of the strata through which
their drill passed. If this woik had been i)laced
in the hands of competent men, and an accurate
journal of the boring kept, we should now know
exactly what our coal resources are, whereas
nothing was known in regard to the develop-
ment of the lower coals, except from the exami-
nations of their outcrops along the Illinois river
bluffs, until borings at Jacksonville and Chapin
showed the existence of a seam at those points
between three and four feet in thickness.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Chapter III,

PIONEER LIFE.

One of the most interesting phases of national
or local history is that of the settlement of a
new country. What was the original state in
which the pioneer found the country, and how
was it made to blossom as the rose ?

Pioneer life in Sangamon county finds its
parallel in almost every comity in the State, and
throughout the entire West. When Robert Pul-
liam and others of that noble band of pioneers
settled here, they found an unbroken wilderness.
Wild beasts and but little less wild savages,
roamed at will over the prairies, through the for-
ests, and along the waters of the "Sain-quee-
mon" and its numerous tributaries. Forests
wei-e to be felled, cabins erected, mills built, and
the river and creeks made to labor for the bene-
fit of mankind. Tiie beautiful prairies were to
be robbed of their natural ornaments and the
hand of art was to assist in their decoration.
Who was to undertake this work ? Are they
qualified for the fask V What will be the effect
of their labors upon future generations?

The Sangamon county pioneers had many dif-
ficulties to contend with, not the least of which
was the journey from civilization to their forest
homes. The route lay for the most part through
a rough countiy ; swamps and mai-shes were
crossed with great exertion and fatigue ; rivers
were forded with difficulty and danger ; nights
were passed on open prairies, with the sod for a
couch and the heavens for a shelter; long, weary
days and weeks of travel were endured, b\it
finally " the promised land" was reached.

EABlLY MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

The young men and women of to-day have
little conception of the mode of life among the
early settlers of the country. One can hardly
conceive how great a change has taken place in
so short a time. In no respects are the habits
and manners of the people similar to those of
sixty years ago. The clothing, the dwellings,
the diet, the social customs, have undergone a

total revolution, as though a new race had taken
possession of the land.

In a new country, far removed from the con-
veniences of civilization, where all are com-
pelled to build their own houses, make their
own clothing and procure for themselves the
means of subsistence, it is to be expected that
their dwellings and garments will be rude.
These were matters controlled by surrounding
circumstances and the means at their disposal.
Tlie earliest settlers constructed what were
termed "three-faced camps," or, in other words,
three walls, leaving one side open. They are
described as follows: The walls were built
about seven feet high, when poles were laid
across at a distance of about three feet apart,
and on these a roof of clapboards was laid,
which were kept in place by weight poles placed
on them. The clapboards were about four feet
in length and from eight inches to twelve inches
in width, split out of white oak timber. No
floor was laid in the "camp." The structure re-
quired neither door, window, or chimney. The
one side left out of the cabin answered all these
purposes. In front of the open side was built a
large log heap, which served for warmth in cold
v/eather and for cooking purposes in all seasons.
Of course there was an abundance of light, and.
on either side of the fire. s]iace to enter in and
out. These "three-faced camps" were proba-
bly more easily constructed than the ordinary
cabin, and was not the usual style of dwelling
house.

The cabin was considei-ed a material advance
for comfort and home life. This was, in almost
every case, built of logs, the spaces between the
logs being filled in with split sticks of wood,
called " chinks," and then daubed over, both
inside and outside, with mortar made of cl.ay.
The floor, sometimes, was nothing Hiore than
earth tramped hard and smooth, but commonly
made of "puncheons," or split logs, with the

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

lil

split side turned upward. The roof was made
by gradually drawing in the top to the ridge-
pole, and, on cross pieces, laying the "claji-
boards," which, being several feet in length, in-
stead of being nailed, were held in place by
poles laid on them, called ''weight poles,"
reaching tlie length of tlie cabin. For a fire-
place, a space was cut out of the logs on one
side of the room, usually about six feet in
leiigtli, and three sides were built up of logs,
making an offset in the wall. This was lined
witli stone, if convenient; if not, then earth.
The Hue, or upper part of the chimney, was
built of small split sticks, two and a half or
three feet in length, carried a little space above
the roof, and plastered over with clay, and
when finished was called a "cat-and-clay " chim-
ney. The door space was also made by cutting
an aperture in one side of the room of the re-
quired size, the door itself being made of clap-
boards secured by wooden pins to two cross-
pieces. The hinges were also of wood, while
the fastening consisted of a wooden latch catch-
ing on a hook of the same material. To open
the door from the outside, a strip of buckskin
was tied to the latch and drawn through a
hole a few inches above the latch-bar, so tliat
on pulling the string the latch was lifted
from the catcli or hook, and tlie door was
opened without further trouble. To lock the
door, it was only necessary to pull the string
through the hole to the inside. Here the family
lived, and here the guest and wayfarer were made
welcome. The living room was of good size,
but to a large extent it was all — kitchen, bed-
room, parlor and arsenal, with flitches of bacon
and rings of dried pumpkin suspended from the
rafters. In one corner were the loom and other
implements used in the manufacture of cloth-
ing, and around the ample fireplace were col-
lected the kitchen furniture. The clothing lined
one side of the sleeping apartment, suspended
from jtegs driven in the logs. Hemp and flax
were generally raised, and a few sheep kept.
Out of these the clothing for the family and
the sheets and coverlets were made by the
females of the house. Over the door was placed
the trusty rifle, and just back of it hung the
powder horn and hunting pouch. In the well-
to-do families, or when crowded on the
ground floor, a loft was sometimes made to
the cabin for a sleeping place and the storage
of "traps" and articles not in common use.
The loft was reached by a ladder secured to
the wall. Generally the bedrooms were sep-
arated from the living-room by sheets and

coverlets suspended from the rafters, but
until the means of making these partition walls
were ample, they lived and slept in the same
room.

Familiarity with this mode of living did away
with much of the discomfort, but as soon as the
improvement could be made, there was added to
the cabin an additional room, or a "double log
cabin" being sul)staiitialh- a "three-faced camp,"
with a log room on eacli end and containing a
loft. The furniture in the cabin corresuonded
with the house itself. The articles used in the
kitchen were as few and simple as can be imag-
ined A 'Dutch oven" or skillet, a long-handled
frying pan, an iron pot or kettle, and sometimes
a coffee-pot, constituted the utensils of the best
furnished kitchen. A little later, wlien a stone
wall formed the base of the chimney, a long
iron '"crane" swung in the chimney place, wliich
on its "pot-hook" carried the boiling kettle or
heavy iron pot. The cooking was all done on
the fire-place and at the fire, and the style of
cooking was as simple as the utensils. Indian,
or corn meal, was the common flour, which was
made into "pone" or "corn-dodger," or "hoe-
cake," as the occasion or variety demanded.
The "pone" and the "dodger" was baked in
the Dutch oven, which was first set on a bed of
glowing coals. When the oven was filled with
the dough, the lid, already heated on the fire,
was placed on the oven and covered with hot
embers and ashes. When tlie bread was done
it was taken from the oven and placed near the
fire to keep warm while some other food was
being prepared in the same oven for the foi-lh-
comiiig meal. The "hoe-cake" was prepared
in the same way as the dodger — that is, a still
dough was made of the meal and water, and,
taking as much as could conveniently be held
in both hands, it was molded into the desired
shape by being tossed from hand to hand, then
laid on a board or flat stone placed at an angle
before the fire and patted down to the required
thickness. In the fall and early winter, cooked
pumpkin was added to the meal dough, giving
a flavor and richness to the bread not attained
by the modern methods. In the oven from
which the bread was taken, the venison or ham
was then fried, and, in the winter, lye liominy,
made from the unbroken grains of corn, added
to the frugal meal. The woods abounded in
honey, and of this the early settlers had an
aVumdaiice the year round. For some years
a('t(!r settlements were made, the corn meal
l'<jrnierl the staple commodity for bread.

These simple cabins were inhabited by a kind

HISTORY OF SANGAIMOX COUNTY

and truc-liearted people. They were strangers
to niock-niodesty, and the traveler seeking lodg-
ings for the night, or desirous of spending a
few days in the comnuinity, if willing to accept
the rude offering, was always welcome, although
how they were disposed of at night the reader
may not easily imagine; for, as described, often
a single room would be made to serve the pur-
pose of kitchen, dining-room, sitting-room and
parlor, and many families consisted of six or
eight persons.

CHAKACTEK OF THE PIONEERS.

The character of the pioneers of Sangamon
county falls properly within the range of the
historian. They lived in a region of exuberance
and fertility, where Nature had scattered her
blessings with a liberal hand. The Sangamon
river, with its numerous tributaries, the inex-
haustible forest su))ply, the fertile prairie, and
the many improvements constantly going for-
ward, with the bright prospect for a glorious
future in everything that renders life pleasant,
combined to deeply impress their character, to
give them a spirit of enterprise, an independence
of feeling, and a joyousness of hope. Tliey were
a thorough admixture of many nations, charac-
ters, languages, conditions and opinions. There
was scarcely a State in the Union that was not
represented among the early settlers. All the
various religious sects had their advocates. All
now form one society. Says an early writer :
"Men must cleave to their kind, and must be
dependent ujion each other. Pride and jealousy
give way to the natural yearnings of the human
heart for society. They begin to rub off the
neutral i)rejudices ; one takes a step and then
the other ; they meet half way and embrace ;
and the society thus newly organized and con-
stituted is more lil)eral, enlarged, unprejudiced,
and of course more affectionate, than a society
of people of like birth and character, who bring
all their early prejudices as a common stock, to
be transmitted as an inheritance to posterity."

CLOTHING.

The clothing of the early pioneers was as
plain and simple as their houses. Necessity com-
pelled it to be in conformity to the strictest
economy. The clothing taken to the new coun-
try was made to render a vast deal of service
until a crop of flax or hemp could be grown, out
of which to make the household apparel. The
prairie wolves made it difficult to take sheej)
into the settlements, but after the sheep had

been introduced and f!ax and hemp raised in
sufficient quantities, it still remained an arduous
task to spin, weave and make the wearing
ai>parel for an entire family. In summer, nearly
all iiersons, both male and female, went bare-
footed. Buckskin moccasins were much worn.
Boys of twelve and fifteen years of age never
thought of wearing anything on their feet, ex-
cept during three or four months of the coldest
weather in winter. Boots were unknown until
a later generation. After flax was raised in suf-
ficient quantities, and sheep could be protected
from the wolves, a better and more comfortable
style of clothing prevailed. Manuel and linsey
were woven and made into garments for the
women and children, and jeans for the men.
The wool for the jeans was colored from the
bark of the walnut, and from this came the term
"butternut," still common throughout the West.
The black and white wool mixed, varied the
color, and gave the name "pepper-and-salt."
As a matter of course every family did its own
spinning, weaving and sewing, and for years all
the wool had to be carded by hand on cards
from four inches broad to eight and ten inches
long. The picking of the wool and carding was
work to which the little folks could help, and at
the proper season all the little hands were en-
listed in the business. Every household had its
big and little spinning-wheels, winding-blades,
reel, warping-bars and loom. The articles were
indispensible in every family. In many of the
households of Sangamon county, stowed away
in empty garrets and out-of-the-way places, may
still be found some of these almost forgotten
relics.

The preparations for the family clothing usu-
ally began in the early fall, and the work was
continued on into the winter months, when the
whirr of the wheels and the regular stroke of
the loom could be heard until a late hour of the
night. No scene can well be imagined so
abounding in contentment and domestic happi-
ness. Strips of bark, of the shell-bark hickory,
thrown fror time to time in the ample tire-
place, cast a ruddy, flickering light over the
room. In one corner, within range of the re-
flected light, the father is cobbling a well-worn
pair of shoes, or trying his skill at making new
ones. Hard by, the young ones are shellingcorn
for the next grist. The oldest daughter whirls
the large spinning-wheel, and with its hum and
whirr trips to the far side of the room, drawing
out the thread, while the mother, with the click
of the shuttle and the measured thump of the
loom, tills up the hours — the whole a scene of

»-fe^ m»f^.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

iloiiin.slic industry and happiness rarely elsewhere
to lie iiiiiid.

It is well for '• Voung America" to look hack on
those early days. It involved a life of toil, hard-
ship, and the lack of many comforts, but it was
the life that made men of character. Sangamon
county to-day has no better men than the imme-
diate descendants of those who built their cabins
in t e forest, and by patient endurance « rough t
out of the wilderness the landmarks for a pros-
perous commonwealth. One of these writes that
"the V)oys were required to do their share of the
haril labor of clearing uj> the farm, for much of
the country now under the plow was at one time
heavily timbered, or was covered with a dense
thicket of hazel and young timber. Our visits
were made with ox teams, and we walked, or
rode on horseback, or in wagons to 'meeting.'
The boys 'pulled,' ' broke' and 'hackled' fla.x,
wore tow shirts, and imlulged aristocratic feel-
ings in fringed 'hunting-shirts' and 'coon-skin
caps, 'picked' and 'carded' wool by hand, and
'spooled' and '(piilled' yarn for the weaving till
the back ached.'"

Industry such as this, supported by an econ-
omy and frugality from which there was then no
escape, necessarily brought its own reward. The
hard toil made men old before their time, but
beneath their sturdy bio as they saw not only
the forest pass away, but the fields white with
the grain. Change and alterations were to be
expected, but the reality has distanced the wild-
est conjecture; and, stranger still, multitudes
are still living who witnessed not only the face
of nature undergoing a change about them, but
the manners, customs and industries of a whole
people almost wholly changed. Many an old
pioneer sets by his fireside in his easy chair,
with closed eyes, dreams of the scenes of the
long ago.

"The voice of Nature's very self drops low,

As though she whispered of the long ago,

When down the wandering stream the rude canoe

Of some loue trap])er glided into view.

And loitered down thi' watery pat that led

Thro' forest depths, that only knew the tread

Of savage beasts, and wild barbarians.

That skulked about with blood upon their hands

And murder in their hearts. The light of day

Might barely pierce the gloominess that lay

Like some dark pall across the water's face.

And folded all the land in its embrace;

The panther's screaming, and the bear's low growl,

The snake's sharp rattle, and the wolf's wild howl,

The owl's grim chuckle, as it rose and fell

In alternation with the Indian's 3'ell,

Made tittiiig prelude for the gory plays

That were enacted in the earlv days,

8—

" Now, o'er the vision, like a mirage, falls

The old log cabin with its dingy walls,

.Vnd erippfed chimney, with the crulclelike prop

Beneath, a sagging shoulder at the top.

The 'coon-skin, battened faston either side,

The wisps of leaf tobacco, cut and dried;

The yellow strands of quartered a|)ples hung

In rich festoons that tangle in among

The morning-glory vines that clamber o'er

The little clapboard roof above the door ; .

-Vgain, thro' mists of memory arise

The simple scenes of home before the eyes ;

The h.ippy mother luimmiug with her wheel,

'I'iie dear "old melodies that used to steal

So drowsily upon the summer air.

The house'doghid his bone, forgot his care,

.\nd nestled at her feet, to dream, perchance,

.Some cooling dream of wintertime romance.

The square of sunshine through the open door

That notched its edge across the puncheon tloor.

And made a golden coverlet whereon

The god of sTumber had a picture drawn

Of haliyhood, in all the loveliness

Of dimpled cheek, and limli, and linscy dress.

The bough-tilled fireplace and the mantle wide.

Its lire-scorched ankles stretched on either side,

Where, perchance upon its shoulders 'neath the joists,

The old clock hiccoughed, harsh and husky-voiced;

Tomatoes, red and yellow, in a row,

Preserved not then for diet but for show ;

The jars of jelly, with their dainty tops ;

Bunches of pennyroyal and cordial drops,

The tlask of camphor and vial of squills,

The box of buttons, garden seeds and pills.

And thus the pioneer and helpsome aged wife

Reflectively reviews the scenes of early life."

\VEDl)IN(iS.

The wedding was an attractive feature of
pioneer life. There was no distinction of life
and very little of fortune. On these accounts
the first impressions of love generally resulted
in marriage. The family establishment cost but
little labor — nothing more. The marriage was
always celebrated at the house of the bride, and
she was generally left to coose the officiating
clergyman. A wedding, however, engaged the
attention of the whole neighborhood. It was
anticipated by both old and young with eager
expectation. In the morning of the wedding
day the groom and his intimate friends assem-
bled at the house of his father, and after due
preparation, departed, en masse, for the " man-
.sion"of his bride. The journey was some-
times made on horseback, sometimes oti foot,
and sometimes in farm wagons and carts. It
was always a merry journey; and to insure mer-
riment, the bottle was always taken along. On
reaching the house of the 'bride, the marriage
ceremony took place, and then dinner or snp|ier
was served. After the meal the dancing com-
menced, and generally lasted until the follow-
ing morning. The figures of the dances were

6(5

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

three aiul fonr-liaiuled reels, or square sets and
jigs. The commenceiuent was always a square
Your, which was followed by what pioneers
called "jigging;" ihat is, two of the four would
single out for a jig, and were followed by the
remaining couple. The jigs were often accom-
panied wkh what was called "cutting out," that
is, when either of the parties be ame tired of
the dance, on intimation, the place was sup-
pi ie<l by some one of the company, without in-
terruption of the dance. In this way the reel
was oftcTi continued until the musician was ex-
hausted. About nine or ten o'clock in the even-
ing a deputation of young ladies stole off the
bride and put her to bed. In doing this, they
had to ascend a ladder from the kitchen to the
upper Hi)or, which was composed of loose
boards. Here, in the pioneer bridal chamber,
the young, simple-hearted girl was put to bed
by her enthusiastic friends. This done, a dep-
utation of voung men escorted the groom to the
same department, and placed him snugly by the
side of liis bride. The dance still continued,
and if the seats were scarce, which was gener-
ally the case, says a local witness, every young
man, when not engaged in the dance, was
obliged to offer his lap as a seat for one of the
girls; and the offer was sure to be accepted.
During the night's festivities spirits were freely
used, but schlom to excess. The infair was held
on the following evening, where the same order
of exercises was observed.

SUAliES.

Another feature of pioneer life which every
old settler will vividly recall was the "chills and
fever," •' fever and ague," or " shakes," as it was
variously called. It was a terror to new-comers,
for in the fall of the year almost everybody was
afflicted with it. It was no respector of per-
sons ; everybody looked pale and sallow as
though frost-l)itten. It was not contagious, but
derived from impure water and air, which was
always devcUn)ed in the opening up of a new
country of rank soil like that of Sangamon
county. The impurities continued to absorb
from day to day, and from week to week, until
the whole corporate body becomes saturated
with it as with electricity, and then the shock
came ; and the shock was a regular shake, with
a fixed beginning and ending, coming on in
some cases each day, but generally on alternate
days, with a regularity that was surprising.
After the shakes came the fever, and this " last
estate was worse than first ;" it was a burning
hot fever anc] lasted for hours. When you had

the chill you couldn't get warm, and when you
had the fever you couldn't get cool. It was
exceedingly awkward in this respect — indeed
it was. Nor would it stop for any contin-
gency — not even a wedding in the family would
stop it. It was imperative and tyranical. When
the iippointed time came around, everything
else had to be stopped to attend to its demands.
It didn't even have any Sundays or holidays.
After the fever went down you still didn't feel
much better, you felt as though you had gone
thrdugh some sort of a collision, threshing
machine, or jarring machine, and came out not
killed, but next thing to it. You felt weak, as
though you had run too far aftei' something,
and then didn't catch it. You felt languid,
stujiid and sore, and was down in the mouth
ami heel and partially raveled out. Your back
was out of fix, your head ached and your appe-
tite crazy. Your eyes had too much white in
them; your ears, especially after taking quinine,
had too mueh roar in them, and your whole
body and soul \\ere entirely woe-begone, discon-
solate, sad, poor and good for nothing. You
didn't think much of yourself and didn't Ijelieve
that other people did either; and you didn't
care. You didn't quite make up your mind to
commit suicide, but sometimes wished some
accident would happen to knock either the mal-
ady or yourself out of existence. You imag-
ined even the dogs looked at jou with a sort of
self-complacency. You thought the sun had a
sort of sickly shine about it. About this time
you came to the conclusion that you would not
take the whole State as a gift; and if you had
the strength and means you would pick up Han-
nah and the baby, and your traps, and go back
"yaiider" to "Old Virginny," the "Jarseys,"
Maryland, or "Pennsylvany."

"And to-day, the swallows Hitting
Round my cabin, sec me sittins
Moodily within the sunshine,

.Just inside my silent door,
Waiting for the ' ager," seemiug
Like a man forever dreaming ;
And the sunlight on me streaming

Throws no shadow on the tioor ;
For 1 am too thin and sallow
To make shadows on the tioor —

Nary shadow any more ! "

The foregoing is not a mere picture of the
imagination. It is simply recounting in (piaint
phrase what actually occurred in hundreds' of
cases. Whole families would sometimes be
sick at one time, and not one member scarcely
able to wait upon another. Labor or exercise
always aggravated the malady, and it took Gen-

HISTOHY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

eral Laziness a long time to thrash the enemy
out. These were the daj^s for swaHowing all
sorts of roots and "yarbs" and whisky straight,
with some faint hope of relief. Finally, when
the case wore out, the last remedy got the credit
of the cure.

WOLF HUNTING.

In early days more mischief was done by
wolves than b}' any other wild animal, and no
small part ot their mischief consisted in their
almost constant barking at night, which always
seemed menacing and frightful to the settlers.
Like mosquitos, the noise they made appeared
to be about as dreadful as the real depredations
they committed. The most effectual, as well as
the most e.xciting, method of ridding the coun-
try of these hateful pests, was tliat known as
the "circular wolf hunt," by which all the men
and boys would turn out on an appointed day,
in a kind of circle comprising many square
miles of territory, with Jiorses and dogs, and
then close up toward the center field of opera-
tion, gathering, not only wolves, but also deer
and many smaller "varmint." Five, ten, or
more wolves, by this means, would be killed in
a single day. The men would be organized
with as much system as a small army, everyone
being posted in the meaning of every signal
and the application of every rule. f-Juns were
scarcely ever allowed to be brought on such
occasions, as their use would be unavoidably
dangerous. The dogs wei'e depended upon for
the final slaughter. The dogs, by the way, had
all to he held in check by a cord in the hands
of their keepers until the Hual signal was given
to let them loose, when away they W'ould all go
to the center of battle, and a more exciting
scene would followthan can easily be described.

BEE HUNTING.

This wild recreation was a ]>ecidiar one, and
many sturdy backwoodsmen gloried in excelling
in this art. He would carefully watch a bee as
it filled itself with the product of some sweet
flower or leaf bud, and notice particularly the
direction taken by it as it struck a "bee-line"
for its home, which, when found, would gener-
ally be high up in the hollow of some tree. The
tree would be marked, and in the fall a party
would go and cut down the tree and capture the
honey as quick as i\iey could l)efore it wasted
away through the broken walls i^i which it had
been so carefullv stowed by the busy little bee.
Several a;aIlons would often be taken from a

single tree, and by a very little work, and pleas-
ant at iliat, the early settlers could keep them-
selves in honey the year round. Ky the time
the honey was a year old it would turn white
and granulate, yet be as good and healthful as
when fresh. This was called by some "can-
died" honey.

SNAKES.

In pioneer times snakes were numerous, such
as the rattlesnake, viper, adder, bloodsnake, and
many varieties of large blue and green snakes,
milksnake, garter and watersnakes, and others.
If, on meeting one of these, you would retreat,
they would chase you very fiercely; but if you
would turn and give them battle, they would
imnu'diately turn and eraw'l away with all possi-
ble speed, hide in the grass and weeds and wait
for a "greener" customer. These really harm-
less snakes served to put people on their guard
against the more dangerous and venomous kind.
It was a common practice, in order to extermi-
nate them, for the men to turn out in companies,
with spades, mattocks and crowbars, attack the
principal snake dens and slay large numbers of
them. In early spring the snakes were some-
what torpid, and easily captured. Scores of
rattlesnakes were sometimes frightened out of a
single den, which, as soon as they showed their
heads through the crevices of tlic rocks, were
dispatche<l, and left to lie devoured by the nu-
merous wild hogs of that day. Some of the
fattest of these snakes were taken to the hou.se
and oil extracted from them, and their glitter-
ing skins were saved as sjiecific for rheumatism.
Another method for the destruction was to fix a
heavy stick over the door of their dens, with a
long grapevine attached, so that one at a dis-
tance could plug the entrance to the den when
the snakes were all out sunning themselves.
Then a large company of citizens, on hand by
appointment, could kill scores of the reptiles in
a few minutes.

AGRICULTURE.

In the earlier settlements of this section,
ponds, marshes and swamps abounded where
to-day are found cultivated and fertile fields.
The low and flat places were avoided for the
higher grounds, not only on account of the wet-
ness, but for sanitary reasons. Agricultural
implements were necessarily rude, and the agri-
culture of a corresponding character. The plow
used was called a "bavshare" plow, the iron
point of which consisted of a bar of iron about

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

two feet long, and a broad share of iron welded
to it. At the extreme point was a coulter that
passed through abeam six or seven feet long, to
which was attached handles of corresponding
length. The mold-board was a wooden one split
out of winding timber, or hewed into a winding
shape, in order to turn the soil over. In the
spring time, wlien the ground was to be prepared
for the seed, the father would take his post at
the plow, an<l the daughter possession of the
reins. This is a grand scene — one full of grace
and beauty. The {)ioneer girl thinks but little
of tine dress; knows less of the fashions; has
probably heard of the opera, but does not under-
stand its meaning; has been told of the piano,
but has never seen one; wears a dress " buttoned
up behind ;" has on " leather boots,"' and " drives
plow " for father. In the planting of corn, which
was always done by hand, the girls always took
a part, usually dropping the corn, but many of
them covering it with the hand-hoe.

In the cultivation of wheat, the land was
plowed the same as for corn, and harrowed with
a wooden toothed harrow, or smoothed by drag-
ging over the ground a heavy brush, weighed
down, if necessary, with a stick of timber. It
was then sown broadcast by hand at the rate of
about a bushel and a quarter to the acre, and har-
rowed in with the brush. The implement used
to cut the wheat was either the sickle or the
cradle. The sickle was almost identical with
the " grass hook " in use, and the cradle was a
scythe fastened to a frame of wood with long,
bending teeth or strips of wood, for cutting and
laying the grain in swaths. There were few
farmers who did not know how to swing the
scythe or cradle, and there was no more pleasant
picture on a farm than a gang of workmen in the
harvest field, nor a more hilarious crowd. Three
cradlers would cut about ten acres a day. One
binder was expected to keep up with the cradle.
Barns for the storage of the unthreshed grain
are comparatively a " modein invention," and as
soon as the shock was supposed to be sufficiently
cured, it was hauled to some place on the farm
convenient for threshing, and there put in stack.
The threshing was performed in one of two ways,
by flail or tramping with horses, generally the
latter. 'J'he flail was used in stormy weather, on
the sheltered floor, or when the farm work was
not pressing; the threshing by tramping com-
monly in clear weather, on a level and well
tramped clay floor. The bundles were piled in a
circle of about fifteen to twenty feet in diameter,
and four to six horses ridden over the straw.
One or two hands turned over and kept the straw

in ])lace. When sufficiently trampled, the straw
was thrown into a rick or stack, and the wheat
cleared by a "fanniiig-mill," or sometimes, be-
fore fanning-mills were introduced, by letting it
fall from the height of ten or twelve feet, sub-
jected to the action of the wind, when it was
supiiosed to be ready for the mill or market.

KELIGION.

The religious element in the life of the pio-
neer was such as to attract the attention of
tliose living in more favored places. The pioneer
was no hypocrite. If he believed in horse-rac-
ing, whisky-drinking, card-playing, or anything
of like character, he practiced them openly and
above board. If he was of a religious turn of
mind he was not ashamed to own it. He could
truthfully sing

" I'm not ashumed to own my Lord,
Or bhish to speak bis name."

But the pioneer clung to the faith of his
fathers, for a time, at least. If he was a Pres-
byterian he was not ashamed of it, but rather
prided himself on being one of the elect. If a
Methodist, he was one to the fullest extent. He
prayed long and loud if the spirit moved him,
and cared nothing for the empty forms of re-
ligion.

A traveling Presbyterian minister, visiting
this region of country at a very earlj^ day, thus
sjieaks of the sectarian feeling which then ex-
isted :

"In these new religions, too, of the most
absolute independence, you see all the wander-
ings of human thought, every shade of faith,
every degree of the most persevering attach-
ments to preconceived opinions. You see, too,
all degrees of pretension in religion, followed by
unhappy manifestations of the hollowness of
such pretensions You meet, it is true, with
more cheering circumstances, and we sometimes
are able to see that which westrongly wish tosee.
At one point you meet with a respectable Meth-
odist and begin to feel an attachment to the
profession. He next meets you with harmony
and co-operation on his lips, and the next thing
which you hear is you are being charged of
being a fierce Calvinist, and that you have
preached that "hell is paved with infants'
skulls." While, perhaps, the society with which
you are connected hear from an opposite quar-
ter, and from a pretended friend, that in such a
sermon 30U departed from the dicta of the Great
Master and ai'e leading the people to the gulf of
Armenianism. The Baptists are as exclusive as

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

in the older regions. Even among our own
brethren, it is well known, that there is some
feeling of a (juestionable nature, some rivalry
between the pupils, the doctors and schools of
Andoverand Princeton. The Cumberland I'res-
bj'terians, with all the freshness of a new sect,
are not found lacking in this order of things.
Lastly, there are the Catholics, abundantly more
united in faith, in spirit, and in purpdse than we
are — who claim a kind of proscriptive right to
the ground, on the pretext of prior possession.
Add to these the followers of Elias Smith, and
the midtitudes of men who would be founders
of new sects, and vou will have some idea of

the sectarian feelings that you will have to
encounter."

But these sectarian feelings were not to last.
Separated from the religious influences of the
land of their birth, and seldom hearing the gos-
pel message, they were literally starving for the
"bread of life," and tie worthy minister of
whatever denomination that chanced to call re-
ceived a cordial welcome. The best the early
pioneers had to give was at their service.
All they required was that the ministers
be a true and faithful follower of Christ,
and preach to them of a common salva-
tion.

HISTOKY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Chapter IV,

JUDICIAL.

When the Lord placed Adam and Eve in the
garden of Eden he gave unto them a law, requir-
ing implicit obedience, on pain of punishment
for transgression. As the human race increased,
other laws in addition to those given in the
beginning became necessary. The formation of
laws implies there shall be a judge and a place
where justice shall be administered. In accord-
ance with this fact our legislators, on the forma-
tion of the State (Tovernment, enacted certain
laws, and ordained means by which those laws
should be executed.

The first Constitution of the State declared
that the judicial powers of the State should be
vested in one Supreme Court, and such inferior
courts as the General Assembly should from time
to time ordain and establish. This Supreme
Court consisted of a chief justice and three
associates. They were appointed by joint ballot
in both branches of the General Assembly, and
commissioned by thi; Governor, and held their
offices during good behavior, until the ii»8t
session of the legislature in 1824. They were
recjuired to hold tlie circuit courts in the several
counties in each month, and at such times as the
General Assembly should by law prescribe. The
State was accordingly divided into four districts,
and by an act approved February II, 1821, San-
gamon County, together with St. Clair, Madison,
Greene, Pike and Montgomery were constituted
the First .ludicial Circuit, and John Reynolds,
Associate .Fustice. assigned to it.

The first term of the Sangamon County Cir-
cuit Court was held at the house of John Kelly,
on Monday, JNIay 7, 1821. There were present
John Reynolds, judge; Charles R. JMatheny,
clerk; .Tohn Taylor, sheriff; Henry Starr, prose-
cuting attorney, yro tein.

The following list of grand jurors were era-
panneled and sworn: Daniel Parkinson, foreman;
Claybourn .Tames, Henry iSrown, .John Darneille,
Archibald Turner, William Davis, Abraham

Ritchey, Abraham Carloek, Levi Harbour,
George Hayworth, William Eads, Thomas
Knotts, .lames McCoy, James Tweddel, Aaron
Hawley, Field James, Mason Fowler, Isaac
Keyes and Elias Williams.

Charles R. Matheny presented his bond and
security as clerk, which was approved by the
court.

.John Taylor presented his bond as sheriff,
with security, which was approved by the court.

Suit was commenced by Samuel L. Irwin
against Roland Shepherd, for trespass, and <lis-
missed at plaintiff's cost.

Three indictments were found by the grand
jury, two for assault and batter}' and one for
riot, trials of which were deferred until the ne.xt
term of court.

This completed the business of this term of
court, and judge, lawyers and spectators all ad-
journed.

.John Reynolds, who presided at this term of
court, and who was chief justice of the State at
the time, was afterwards Governor of the State,
and is familiarly known as the "Old Ranger."
He was a man of strong mind and strong will
power, altliough inclined to yield somewhat to
make himself popular with the people. In the
history of the bar is given an anecdote showing
to what e.xtent he would go to keep the good
will of another. Judge Reynolds was a scliol-
arly man, understanding the Latin and Greek
languages (lerfectly. He is the author of a his-
tory of Illinois.

An act of the legislature was passed and ap-
proved by the Governor February 17, 1823, by
which Montgomery was detached from, and
Morgan and Fulton added to, the First Judicial
Circuit, and this was further changed December
2it, 1824, by which the district was formed of
Sangamon, Pike, Fulton, Morgan, (Greene and
Montgomery counties. At this time the State
was divided' into live circuits. John Vork Saw-

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

yer was appointed to the first circuit composed
of the counties named.

.John York Sawyer was a remarkable man, re-
markable at least for weight, David Davis being
a common sized man by iiis side. He was an
ill-tempered man, too, notwithstanding his size.
While he was on the circuit the law provided
for whipping men for petit larceny. Sawyer,
says Liiuier, was a terror to all such offenders,
and was fond of snapping up the lawyers who
defended theTu. A fellow was once tried before
him for petit larceny and convicted. He was
defended by Alfred W. Cavarly, who moved an
arrest of judgment aud a new trial, and begged
his honor to allow him to go over to his office
and get some authorities which he wished to read
in support of his motion.

" Oh, certainly, certainly," said Sawyer to iiini,
assuming one of the blandest looks possible,
"The court will wait with the greatest pleasure
on you, Mr. Cavarly."

Cavarly made one of his profoundest bows
and retired. Scarcely had he left the court
house when Sawyer said to the sheriff: 1

"Mr. Sheriff, take the prisoner out to yonder
white oak tree -(pointing to one through a win-
dow which was back of him, and about fifty
yards oft), strip him to the skin, and give him
thirty-nine lashes on his back, well laid on."

The shei iff' executed the sentence of the court
with great speed. Sawyer turned around and
looked out of the window while it was being ex-
ecuted, and in a loud voice, while the l)lood was
streaming down tlie culprit's back, counted the
number of strokes on liis fingers — one, two, three,
and so on up to thirty-nine. The sheriff' washed
the back of the prisoner, reclothed him, and
brought him into court.

He was scarcely seated wlien Cavarly made
his appearance wi h his arm full of law books,
and with great confidence said to the court:

" May it please your Honor, I am now pre-
pared to show beyond a doubt that my client
has been wrongfully convicted, and is entitled
to a new trial."

"Very well, Mr. Cavarly, go on; the ct>urt
will hear you with great pleasure."

Sawyer had the malice to let Cavarly proceed
and read authorities for some time, but at last
interposed ami said:

"Mr. Cavarly, yon have satisfied the court,
and if you desire it I shall grant you a new
trial."

But at this point his client whispered in his
car:

"Don't take it, Mr. Cavarly, or they will whip
me again."

The court went on to finish liis reniaiks:

"But I will inform you that your client has
been whipped, and received thirty-nine lashes
on his ba'e back, well laid on, for I saw and
counted them."

Cavarly exclaimed witli great indignalion:

"This is an outrage, and I ))rotest against
such conduct on the part of a court."

"Oh, Mr. Cavarly, you have a right to pro-
test. Clerk, enter Mr. Cavarly's protest on the
record;" and turning to Mr. Cavarly, said:
"Now, Mr. Cavarly, fjring on your corn mer-
cliant (meaning a client of Cavarly's, who was
charged with stealing corn), and we will dispose
of him as we have with your hog merchant" —
the man who had been whipped.

Judge Sawyer has long since been dead.

A change was again made in the circuit by
an act approved .January 12, 1827, it now em-
bracing Peoria, t^ilton, Schuyler, Adams, Pike,
Calhoun, Greene, Morgan and Sangamon; Sam-
uel 1). Lockwood being Judge of the Circuit.

In January, 1S20, Sangamon county still
formed part of the first circuit, together with
the counties of Pike, Calhoun, Greene, Macou-
pin, Morgan, Macon, and Tazewell. Two years
later McLean was added to the circuit. No fur-
ther change was then made until IKHr,, when
there was a general reorganization, this disti'ict
remaining the same, with the exception that
Pike county was taken from it. Stephen T.
Logan was elected this year, and served with
great credit to himself and the disti'ict for two
years. On the 20th day of March, l.S:J7, Wil-
liam Brown was commissioned, an<l served four
months, when Jesse B. Thomas, Jr., was duly
commissioned. Judge Thomas, of whom men-
tion is made in the history of the Bar, resigned
in 18:39.

In 18.39, a new Judicial Circuit, numbered the
eighth, was formed, comprising the counties of
Sangamon, McLean, Macon, Tazewell, Menard,
Logan, Dane (now Christian) and Livingston.
This circuit wa< formed by act of the legisla-
ture approved February 2.S, 1839. Stephen T.
Logan, a few days sulisequently, received a com-
mission as judge of the circuit, but resigned
the office in about three months, and Samuel IT.
Treat was commissioned to fill the vacancy.
Judge Treat was elected and recoinmissioned
January .30, 1840, and held the office up to the
time of the adoption of the new constitution in
1848. A sketch of Judge Treat will be found
in connection with the bar historv.

HISTORY OF SANGAjNIOX COT'NTY.

By the constitution of 1848, the State was di-
vided into nine judicial circuits, in each of
whicli a judge was elected September, 1848.
The legislature was authorized to increase the
number of circuits as might be required. No
change was made in the Eighth Circuit, of which
Sangamon county was a part.

David Davis was the first judge elected in
this circuit under the new constitution. Judge
Davis is a native of Maryland. After graduat-
ing at a New England college, and having
stu<lied law with a noted barrister, he came to
Illinois when quite a young man and settled in
Pekin, where he remained about one year and
then moved to Bloomington. Here he opened
a law office, and by his sagacity, economy and
industry, he soon won his way to respectable in-
dependence. In his Reminiscences of the Bar,
General Linder has this to say of Judge Davis:

"For his promotion to the circuit judgeship,
Mr. Davis was largely indebted to his old and
tried friend, Abraham Lincoln, and to the eter-
nal credit of Judge Davis, be it said, he never
forgot it. Wiien a member of the convention
in ISliU, that noniiiiated the Republican candi-
date for President, Judge Davis had as large, if
not a larger share in bringing about the nomi-
nation of j\Ir Lincoln than any other member
of that convention, and when Mr. Lincoln was
elected, Davis was invited to accompany him to
Washington as one of his suite. Mr. Davis is
a large man — about six feet high, very corpulent,
and weighing some three hundred and fifty
pounds. He accepted Mr. Lincoln's invitation,
and being somewhat conspicuous for his size,
and for wearing a white silk hat, the aspirants
for office perceived by the attentions paid him
by Mr. Lincoln that he had no small influence
with the President-elect, and they paid about as
much court to the man w ith the white hat as
to Mr. Lincoln himself.

"But I wish to go back to the time when he
was circuit judge of the State of Illinois, and
Mr. Lincoln and myself both practiced in his
circuit — ]Mr. Lincoln in the whole of it, and I
in the counties of Vermilion, Edgar and Shelbj',
and occasionally in Champaign. Judge Davis
was a very impartial judge, and though not in-
tending to show a preference for one of his
lawyers over another, such was the marked dif-
ference he showed to Mr. Lincoln, tiiat Lincoln
threw the rest of us in tlie shade. But as Mr.
Linc<iln could not take both sides of a case, An-
thony Thornton, myself and other prominent
lawyers, were employed on the opposite side of
cases in whicli Mr. Lincoln was engaged on one

side or the other. Judge Davis always treated
me with great kindness and consideration, and
I wish to state here, before going further, le.st
the reader should think that my practice was
confined to cases in which I was opposed to Mr.
Lincoln, that in weighty and hotly contested
cases we were often associated together, so that
I cannot say tliat I was at all damaged by the
friendship shown for him tjv his Honor, Judge
Davis. I think it quite likely that had I been
]ilaced in the same relation to Mr. Lincoln that
Judge Davis was, I should have shown to him
the same consideratiim as was showTi him by his
Honor, Judge Davis.

" Lincoln and myself generally put up at the
same hotel, and frequently slept in tiie same
room, and not unfrequently Lincoln and I
occupied the same bed. Judge Davis was too
large to take either of us for a bed-fellow.

"Among the most pleasant days of my life I
recall those when we three traveled together
from Danville to Paris, and from there to
Shelbyville. The courts of those three places
lasting on an average from two to three weeks
each. Ah I what glorious fun we had some-
times!

"I will give a little incident here to show
the eccentricity of Judge Davis, which occurred
at the Paris Circuit Court. Judge Harlan,
who was then judge on the circuit south of
here, came up to Paris on some special busi-
ness of his, and Judge Davis, observing him
in the court house, invited him to come up
and take a seat on the bench beside him,
which Judge Harlan did; and while there a
little appeal came up, in which there was only
about three dollars in controversy, in which I
was engaged. I read a decision of the Supreme
Court which I thought, and which was decis-
ive of the case. Judge Davis turned to Harlan
and whispered in his ear, as I afterwards
learned from Judge Harlan, 'Great Godl'
said he, ' for a lawyer of Linder's age and
standing to read a decision of the Supreme
Court in a little appeal case where there are
only three dollars in dispute!' He neverthe-
less gave a decision in favor of my client.

"Another little circumstance I will relate,
going further to show his eccentricity and his
friendship for me. Some time in the year, I
think of 1850,1 went up to Springfield, either
on a visit or on some business or other, when
Judge Davis was holding his court there; and
I had landed but about an hour when the
prosecuting attorney, hearing that I was in
town, came and employed me to assist him in

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

the prosecution of a woman and her paramour
for the murder of her husband by the admin-
istration of jioison. As I entered the court
room, Judge Davis being on the bench, and
perceiving me to enter the room with my pipe
in my mouth, said in an audible voice:

'Mr. Sheriff, you will permit no one to
smoke in this room while court is in session
except General Linder.'

'• It created quite a laugh over the house, and
you may rest assured I was not so modest or
self-denying as to refuse to take advantage of
the permission thus given me to smoke my
pipe during the progress of the trial.

"I have already stated that Davis, by invita-
tion of Mr. Lincoln, went with him to Wash-
ington, and was present at his inauguration,
and I was informed remained there for some
considerable time. And although he held no
cabinet office under Mr. Lincoln, yet it was
pretty well known that Mr. Lincoln had great
confidence in Judge Davis, and consulted him
on public affairs fre<|uently during those dark
and perilous days just before and after the
war commenced. I am inclined to think that
Mr. Lincoln tendered him a place in his cabi-
net, but Judge Davis waited for a safer and
more permanent jjlace. His ambition was to
reach the Su]>reme Bench of the United States,
and after a while, a vacancy occurring, Judge
Davis was ajipointed to fill the place, over the
heads of such men as Salmon P. Chase and
other formidable aspirants. His nomination
was confirmed by the Senate of the United
States. He has made a most excellent judge,
and has delivered some opinions on constitu-
tional questions which have given him a national
reputation.

In 1877, Judge Davis was elected to the
United States Senate for the term of six years.
In the Senate he has occupied an independent
position, though generally acting with the Demo-
cratic members of that body.

By an act approved February 3, 1853, the
Eighth Circuit was composed of the following
counties: Sangamon, Logan, McLean, Wood-
fordj'Tazewell, DeWitt, Champaign and Vermil-
ion. As thus constituted it remained unchanged
until 1857. By an act approved February 11,
1857, Sangamon county was made part of the
Eighteenth Circuit, together with the counties of
Macoupin, Montgomery and Christian.

On the organization of this new circuit, Ed-
ward Y. Rice was elected and served as judge of
the circuit until 1870. Judge Rice was elected
to this office from Montgonierv county, and

9—

served acceptably during the continuance of the
circuit. He is a man of clear mind, a good judge
of law, his judgment rarely being reversed. He
was appreciated by the entii'e bar, not only of
Sangamon county, but of the circuit.

In 1869, Sangamon county, together, with Ma-
coupin, embraced the Thirtieth Judicial Circuit.
Benjamin S. Edwards was commissioned judge
of the circuit, and held the office about fifteen
months and then resigned. While on the bench
he was quite pojmlar with bar and people. (See
sketch in connection with the history of the
bar.)

John A. McClernand was elected to fill the
vacancy, and was commissioned July 12,1870.
He remained in the office until the expiration of
the term. A sketch of Judge McClernand ap-
jsears in connection with the bar history.

The General Assembly, by an act approved
March 28, 1873, divided the State into twenty-
six judicial circuits, Sangamon county, together
with the counties oi Macoupin, Shellty, Chris-
tian, Fayette and Montgomery, com]irising the
nineteenth. Charles S. Zane, of Springfield,
was the first elected judge of this new circuit.

In 1877, the State was divided into thirteen
judicial circuits, with three judges in each cir-
cuit. Horatio M. Vandeveer, of Taylorville,
Charles S. Zane, of Springfield, and William R.
Welch, of Carlinviile, were the three elected for
the Fifth Judicial Circuit, embracing the coun-
ties of Sangamon, Christian, Macoupin, Shelby,
Montgomery.

Horatio M. Vandeveer was raised in Sangamon
county, but removed to Christian county when
a young man, and there studied law and was
admitted to the bar. He was elected judge of
the Twentieth Judicial Circuit in 1873, and re-
tained as one of the three judges of the newly
organized Fifth Circuit. Judge Vandeveer was
highly esteemed by the bar, and made an excel-
lent judge. Before being elected to this oflice
he served a term in the legislature very accept-
ably. He declined a re-election on the expira-
tion of his term, and is now engaged in banking
and in the practice of law in Taylorville.

William R. Welch is from Carlinviile, and is
recognized by the bar and people as above the
average ability as a judge.

Jesse J. Phillips was elected in 1879, and is a
citizen of Ilillsboro. He has had but a short
experience as judge, but has served very accept-
ably. During the war he was recognized as a
brave and gallant officer, the Colonel in com-
mand of one of our Illinois regiments, and was
wounded two or three times during the service.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COl'KTY.

PROBATE AND COUNTY COUETS.

Agreeable to an act of the legislature, ap-
proved February 10, 1821, aCourtof Probate was
established in this county and James Latliam
was duly commissioned Probate Judge, and held
the first term of court June 4, 1881. The only
business transacted this day was to issue letters
of administration to Randolph Wills on the
estate of Daniel Martin, deceased.

Court met and adjourned three times, after
its first meeting, without transacting any busi-
ness, until August 2G, 1821, when the filing and
recording the will of Peter Lanterman occupied
the attention of the court one entire day. The
following is a copy of the first will given in the
records of the court:

"Before the witnesses now present, Louis Bennett,
in perfect memory, does give to tlie daughters of
Kiikunciqui, .Josett Kakauoqui, and Lizett Kalvanoqui,
two thousand livres each, and six hundred livres for
praj'es for his father; also, six hundred livres for him,
if for prayes, and thirty dollars for prayes promised,
and one liundred doUais for Kakanoqui, the rest of his
money to be given to his brothers and sisters of Louis
Bennett. After duly hearing read over before the wit-
nesses now present, and signing the same will, he does
voluntarily ai)point .Joseph D. Portecheron and Louis
Pencoune.iu, Sr., as exacquators of his will.

his

Lovis X Bennett.
mark
Joseph D. PouTEcnERON, 1
Joseph Dutti.e, j

his I' Witnesses."

Francois X Bakbonais,
mark

James Latham, the first Probate Judge of
Sangamon county, was born in Lotidon county,
Virginia, October 25, 1768. He emigrated when
a young man to Kentucky, and was there mar-
ried to Mary Briggs in 1792. In 1819, with his
family, he removed to Illinois, and settled at
Elkhart Grove, then a part of Sangamon, but
now of Logan county. As already intimated,
on the organization of the county he was ap-
pointed Prol)ate Judge. He held the office but
a few months and then resigned, having" received
the appointment of Superintendent of the In-
-dians around Fort Clark. Soon after receiving
this appointment he removed his family to that
place, and died there December 4, 1826.

Zachariah Peter was appointed to fill the
vacancy occasioned by Judge Latham's resigna-
tion, and .served about one year. Zachariah
Peter was a Virginian by birth, but was raised
in Kentticky, where he was married to Nancy
Spaulding. In September, 1818, Mr. Peter ar-
rived in Sangamon county, and finding an emjjty
f.abin in what is now Ball township, he moved

his family into it, remaining there until tlie fol-
lowing spring, when he erected a cabin for him-
self about three miles north. Mr. Peter was one
of the three commissioners appointed to locate
the temporary seat of justice for Sangamon
county, and filled several important county
offices, serving for several years as one of the
board of County Commissioners. He died in
Springfield, August 5. 1864.

Charles R. Matheny succeeded to the office of
Probate Judge in 1822, and held the office for
three years. Charles R. Matheny was br«rn in
Loudon county, Virginia, March 6, 1786. Wiien
a young man he went on a visit to a brotlier in
Kentucky, and was there licensed to preach by
the jiroper authorities in the Methodist Ejusco-
pal Church. In 18U5 he was appointed by that
body as missionary to a portion of the Illinois,
but then known as the Indiana Territory. He
settled in what is now St. Clair county, and
continued for some years to preach the gospel.
While engaged in ministerial duties, he read
law and was admitted to the bar. In 1817 he
was appointed Prosecuting Attorney for the Ter-
ritory. In 1821, he was induced by the tender
of the office of County Clerk, County Auditor and
Circuit Clerk, and other prospective advantages,
to eouie to Sangamon county, arriving at S))ring-
field in the spring of 1821. In Springfield and
throughout the county he was very popular, and
received many favors from the people. He was
for several years president of the Board of Trus-
tees of the village of Springfield, and held the
office of County Clerk until his death, which oc-
curred October 10, 18.39.

James Adams, of whom mention is made iti
the history of the bar, was the next to fill the
office of Probate Judge, his commission bearing-
date August, 1825. Judge Adams held the
office until 1843.

Thomas Moffett was elected in 1843, and
served until 1849.

By the Constitution of 1848, counties not or-
ganized under the Township Organization Law
were governed by a Board of Justices, consist-
ing of a County Judge and two associates. The
County Judge performed under this law all the
duties formerly devolving upon the Probate
Judge. Lender this act, Thomas Moffett was
elected to the office of County Judge, and served
four years. (See sketch of Judge Moffett in bar
history.)

John Wickliffe Taylor was elected to succeed
Judge Moifett, and commenced his official life
in December, 1853. Judge Taylor was a native
of Kentucky, and after his marriage, in 1833, he

U1S'1-()11V or SAXGA.MOX COUNTY.

moved to Springtield, Illinois, where he re-
mained one year, and then settled on a farm in
Cartwright township, where he was livingatthe"
time of ills eleciion.

William I). I'ower was elected as the successor
of Judge Taylur, in 1857. Judge Power was
born in Bath county, Kentucky, May 2, 1821,
and was brought by his parents to Sangamon
county the same year. Here he grew to man-
hood, and 80 lived as to merit the esteem of all
who knew him. In 1861 he was re-elected
County Judge, and died in office March 2, 1863.

Not man M. Broadwell was elected to fill the
vacancy caused by the death of Judge Power.
He served out the term. (See sketch in bar
history.)

William Prescott was the successor of Judge
Broadwell, and served from 1865 to 1869. (See
sketch in bar history.)

A. N. J. Crook was the next to fill the office of
County Judge. He was elected in 1869, and

served four years. He is a member of the bar
of Sangamon county, and a further notice of him
appears in that connection.

James H. Matheny was first elected county
judge in 1873, and re-elected in 1877. He has
made an extremely pojmlar judge. (See
sketch in connection with the history of the
bar.)

When the county adopted the township or-
ganization law the office of Associate Justice was
abolished, and the legislative duties performed
by the County Judge and associates were vested
in a Board of Supervisors. The County Judge
W'as still retained in office as Judge of Probate.

By the Constitution of 1870 county courts
were created having original jurisdiction in all
matters of probate, and made a court of record.
By an act of the legislature it has been given
common law jurisdiction to the amount of
$1,000. A. N. J. Crook was the first County
Judc^e under the new law.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Chapter V.

THE BAR OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

The Bar of Sangamon county has ever been a
subject of pride among her citizens. Some of
the liest legal minds, fairest logicians and tinest
orators of the age have practiced before her
courts, many of whom have claimed a residence
in the county. In reviewing the history of the
Bar, it must be born, in mind that as the pros-
perity and well-being of ever}' community de-
pends upon the wise interpretation, as well as
upon the judicious framing of its laws, it must
follow that a record of the members of the Bar
must form no unimportant part in the county's
history. Upon a few principles of natural jus-
tice is erected the whole superstructure of civil
law, tending to relieve the wants and meet the
desires of all alike. The business of the lawyer
is not to make the laws, but to apply them to
the daily affairs of men. But the interests of
men are diversified, and where so many inter-
ests and counter interests are to be protected
and adjusted, to the lawyer and the judge are
presented many interesting and complex prob-
lems.

Change is everywhere imminent The la\\s
of yesterday do not meet the wants and neces-
sities of the people of to-day, for the old rela-
tions do not exist. New and satisfactory laws
must be established. The discoveries in the
arts and sciences, the invention of new contri-
vances for labor, the enlargement of industrial
jjursuits, and the increase and development of
commerce are without precedence, and the science
of law must keep pace with them all, nay,
it must even forecast the event, and so frame its
laws as will most adequately subserve the wants
and provide for the necessities of the new con-
ditions. Hence the lawyer is a man of to-day.
The exigencies he must meet are those of his
own time. His capital is his ability and indi-
viduality. He cannot bequeath to his successors
the characteristics that distinguished him, and at
his going, as a general thing, the very evidences
of his work disappears. Anthony Thornton,

Presidentof the State Bar Association, in 1878, in
an address before the association, thus speaks of
the lawyer: "In the American State the great
and good lawyer must always be prominent, for
he is one of the forces which move and control
society. Public confidence has generally been
reposed in the legal profession. It has ever
been the defender of popular rights, the cham-
pion of freedom, regulated by law, the firm sup-
port of good government. In times of danger
it has stood like a rock and breasted the mad
passions of the hour, and firmly resisted tumult
and faction. No political preferment — no
mere place — can add to the power or increase
the honor which belong to the pure and edu-
cated lawyer. The fame of Mansfield and Mar-
shall and Story can never die. 'Time's iron
feet can print no )-uin-trace' upon their charac-
ter. Their learning and luminous exposition of
our jurisprudence will always light our path-
way. It is our duty to preserve the prestige of
the profession. The past, at least, is secure; the
present and future summon us to action. With
the progress of society, and tt e increase of
population, wealth and trade, varied interests
arise, and novel questions, requiring more
thought, confront us. A disregard of the law
has been developed, crime meets us unabashed,
and corruption stands unmasked in the high
places of the land. It is no fancy picture that
the law has, to some extent, lost its authority,
and it is only the shade of that which once was
great. Hence, new duties are imi)osed, and a
firmer courage is required. * * * The exal-
tation of the profession is a duty enjoined upon
us. It is a debt which only death can discharge.
Lord Bacon has said, 'every man is a debtor to
his profession; from the which, as men of
course do seek to receive countenance and
])rofit, so ought they of duty to endeavor, them-
selves, by way of amends, to be a help and
ornament thereto.' Every lawyer is a debtor to
his profession. If worthy, it gives him an hon-

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

orable character and high position. The lawyer
should prize and love his profession. He should
value its past renown, and cherish the memory
of great men whose gigantic shadows walk by
us still. He should love it for the intrinsic
worth and innate truth of the fundamental
truths which adorn it."

In compiling a history of the Bar one is as-
tonished at the small amount of material for a
memoir of those « ho have been so intimately
connected with and exerted such influence upon
the country's welfare and progress. Aside from
the few who have become great, whose names
are emblazoned on history's page, but little is
known of many who at one time were ver)'
prominent in the legal profession in the county.
But the names of Lincoln, Douglas, Shields,
Baker, Logan, Trumbull, Hardin, Breese, Lock-
wood, Linder and scores of others mentioned in
these pages will always find a place in their
country's history, and Sangamon county has
reason to be proud, not only of so many distin-
guished sons, but of the many others who have
practiced in her courts.

I'lEST DECADE.

Sangamon county was organized in 1S21, and
in the decade following, the names of Henry
Starr. John Reynolds, Sidney' McRoberts. Al-
fred Cavarly, William Thomas, Benjamin Mills,
William A. Hamilton, William Mendel, James
Adams, Thomas M. Neale, James M. Strode,
Jonathan H. Pugh, Thomas Moffett, John T.
Stuart, S. D. Lockwood, Judge Smith, Alfred
Coles, Mr. Rogers, James Turney, John L.
Bogardus, David Prickett and George Forquer
appeared upon the dockets of the court — an
array of distinguished names which would be
an honor even to the Bar of to-day, many of
whom have since become distinguislied, and few
of whom are now living.

James Adams is the pioneer attorney of San-
gamon county, having settled in Springfield in
18'21, shortly after the county was organized.
Mr. Adams was born in Hartford, Connecticut,
January 26, l.sos, from which ])lace he removed
to Oswego county. New York, in ISOO, and from
thence to Sangamon county as already stated.
For several years he had (|uite an extensive
practice, being careful and painstaking in work-
ing up his cases and in his clients' interests. In
182.3 he was appointed justice of the peace, and
was elected successively for many years. He
took part in the Winnebago and Black Hawk
wars. After an exciting personal canvass, he

was elected Probate Judge in l»4l, and died iu
oflice on August 11, 184-3.

Jonathan H. Pugh was the second attorney
to make Sangamon county his home. He ar-
rived in Spring-field early in the year 1823, and
at once secured a good practice for that day.
In the first decade of the Bar of this county,
his name probaljly appears oftener on the
docket than any other attorney. Mr. Pugh was
from Bath county, Kentucky, and was a man of
brilliant talents, a good lawyer for that time,
and one whose wit never failed him on any
occasion. Before a jury he was almost invinci-
ble. In society he was a prime favorite, having
remarkably tine conversational powers. Before
coming to Sangamon he located for a time in
Bond county, and was there elected to the legis-
lature, lie also served Sangamon county in
tlie Assembly after his removal here. In 1831
he was nominated for Congress, and made the
race in o)>posilion to ex-Governor Duncan. At
this time the question of internal improvements
was being agitated, especially the building of a
canal from Lake Michigan to the Illinois river.
Governor Duncan was a strong advocate of the
canal, while Mr. Pugh advocated the building
of a railroad, and was probably the first man iu
the State to advocate this measure. His views
upon this question were doubtless one cause of
his defeat. In 1833, while in the prime of life,
Mr. Pugh "laid down life's burden and passed
over to the other side."

Thomas M. Neale was born in Fauquier
county, Virginia, in 1*796. When a mere child,
he was taken by his parents to Bowling Green,
Kentucky. On the breaking out of the war of
1812, he enlisted and served his country faith-
fully as a common soldier. He studied law and
was admitted to the bar in Bowling Green. In
the fall of 1824 Mr. Neale arrived in Spring-
field, and at once commenced the practice of
law. For some three or four years his practice
was good. In the campaign against the Winne-
bago Indians in 1827, he was the colonel in com-
mand of all the infantry companies. After the
Black Hawk war. Col. Neale was elected sur-
veyor of the county, and one of his first acts
was the appointment of Abraham Lincoln his
deputy. He was also a justice of the peace for
many years, and as such uniting many coujile in
marriage, some times receiving as his fee only a
saddle of venison. Mr. Nrale died August 7,
1840.

Jamrs M. Strode was from Kentucky, ami
made his first appearance before tlie Sangamon
County Courts in 1823. He was then a young

HISTORY OF SANGAJMON COUNT V

man of fair talents, rather showy in dress and
manners, a good story teller, and for many years
was quite prominent in the courts of the
State. Leaving Springfield he settled in Galena,
where he died.

William S. Hamilton was a son of the noted
Alexander Hamilton, of New York. He first
ggured in the courts of this county in 1825,
though he was probaljly here the previous year.
He was a man of great intellectual powers, but
was unsteady in his habits. He served the
county one year in the legislature.

Thomas Moifett was from Bath county, Ken-
tucky, and came to Springfield in 1826, where
he engaged in teaching school and devoting his
leisure hours to the study of law. He was
admitted to the Bar in 1828, and was the first in
the county to receive a license to practice. Mr.
Mofl:'ett was orderly sergeant of a company in
the Winnebago war, and captain of a company
in the Black Hawk war. He served two years
as County Commissioner, and from 1843 served
as Judge of the Probate Court. Under the
constitution of 1848 he was elected County Judge
for four years. While not taking high rank as
a lawyer, Mr. Moffett was a man of excellent
judgment, and made an excellent justice of
the peace. Probate Judge and County Judge.
He died in 1877, at a very advanced age. He
was many years a ruling elder in the Second
Presbyterian Church.

William Mendel was a queer genius, not much
of a lawyer, and good for little else, unless it
should be for being very witty. He occasion-
ally failed to behave himself in court with that
decorum demanded of the profession, and con-
sequently was punished therefor by the presid-
ing judge. He once appeared before Judge
Sawyer and behaved himself in an unbecoming
manner. The judge sentenced him to jail for
the night. The next morning on going to the
court house a calf was discovered in the judge's
stand and a lot of geese in the jury-box, with
Mendall addressing them in an impassioned
manner. The judge took no notice of the indig-
nity.

Samuel McRoberts was one of the best law-
yers that followed the circuitand making Sj)ring-
field a point. He was afterwards Circuit Judge,
and also U. S. Senator from this State. He
died before the expiration of his term. He was
an excellent man to be with on the circuit, serv-
ing to beguile the weary hours in travelingfrom
place to place. U. F.Linder, whose reminiscen-
ces are often quoted in this work, says he could
give the heartiest laugh when amused, of any man

,he ever saw. He relates the following incident
that transpired on one occasion: "Nearly all the
lawyers of Judge Harlan's circuit met at the Ed-
gar County Circuit Court, among the rest, Judge
McRoberts and myself. In those days we nearly
all roomed together. There was a man by the
name of Lodge, who was a bricklayer by trade,
but who had arisen to be superintendent of a
large farm. Lodge was in the habit of seeking
every ojjportunity to talk with the judge and
lawyers, and would generally seize and run away
with the conversation. One day he came in
where we were all talking, and with great pom-
posity and egotism told us that he had a water-
melon-patch adjoining the road from Danville to
Paris; that he was one day sitting on his piazza,
which overlooked this melon-patch. While sit-
ting there he saw a gentleman coming along in
his buggy, and when he got opposite the melon-
patch he jumped out, got over the fence, pulled
one of his finest melons, of which he had several
thousand, and deliberately commenced eating it.
He said he concluded he would go down and
have a talk with the gentleman. He edified and
regaled us with a fine moral lecture which he
delivered to the stranger, and said he told him
that if he had come and asked for the melon he
would have given it to him; and said that he
ended by walking up to him and deliberately
knocking the melon out of his hand. He said
the man seemed greatly mortified, aud said to
him: 'Sir, I am a gentleman; my name is
Bishop, a commission merchant at Evansville,
Indiana. In my native State, where we raise
vast quantities of melons, it is not thought to be
a serious matter or a crime for a man to help
himself to a melon by the wayside, and if you
feel very much concerned about it here is the
payfor it,' pulling out his purse. Lodge refused,
as he told us, and went on to deliver a lecture
to Mr. Bishop on the rights of equality of men,
saying that he did not consider that it conferred
an honor on bim, that a commission merchant
or anyone else should take one of his melons
without leave. Here McRoberts burst out in
one of his great ' horse laughs,' which, to ap-
preciate, should be heard:

"'Hal ha ! ha ! ' says he, ' that reminds me of
a story I once heard of William the Fourth, when
he was Prince of Wales. He was traveling in
cog. through Canada, and at Montreal he strayed
into a tailor shop, where the tailor and his wife
were both sitting on the counter at work ; the
tailor with crossed legs pressing a seam with
his hot goose, and his wife sewing away at some
garment with nimble fingers. Neither seemed

HISTORY OK SANGAMON OOUNTY.

to pay much attention to the disguised royal
stranger, when William, stepping up to where
the woman was sitting, turning bis head, asked
the tailor if that was his wife. ' She is a very
pretty woman,' said the Prince, and pulling her
head down toward him, he deliberately kissed
her, and turning to the tailor very patronizingly
said, 'Now, sir, you will have the honor of tell-
ing your children that your wife was kissed by
the King of England. I am William, the Prince
of Wales, and heir-aj)parent to the throne.' The
tailor laid down his goose, put on his slippers,
jumped off the counter, and catching William
by the shoulders pushed him to the door and
gave him two or three lusty kicks on the seat of
honor, and said, 'Now, sir, you will have the
honor of telling your subjects that in one of
your Majesty's Provinces you had your posterior
kicked by a tailor.'' Lodge looked like ho
could have crawled through an auger hole, and
said : ' Judge McEoberts, I hope you don't
mean to say there is the same disparity between
Bishop and myself as existed between the
Prince and the tailor!' Whereupon we all
burst into a most uproarious tit of laughter,
when Lodge left, and never visited us again."

Alfred W. Cavarly is a man well known by
the elder members of the Bar. He lived in
Greene county and rode the circuit or which
Sangamon formed a part for many years. He
was considered a good lawyer, though a little
egotistic. He always rode a good horse in his
travels. On one occasion he interposed a gen-
eral demurrer to one of Mills' pleadings, and
sought thus to take advantage of some matter
which could only be reached by special demur-
rer. When Cavarly discovered that he could
only reach the defect by special demurrer, he
insisted that his was a special demurrer be-
cause he had underscored part of it. Judge
Lockwood decided against him. At dinner the
same day at which the Judge and members of
the Bar were present, Cavarly sent his plate to
Mills to be furnished with what he thought was
a cut of venison. Mills sent him a piece which
Cavarly discovered was beef, and he remarked,
"Brother Mills, I wanted venison, and you sent
me beef." "Oh," said Mills, "underscore it,
Brother Cavarly, and that will make it venison."

Benjamin Mills was one of the ablest, most
learned and accomplished lawyers of the early
Bar of this State. He was from Massachusetts,
highly educated, and a man of a rare style of
oratory, through which there ran a rich vein of
wit and irony. It was a talent he often indulged
in in conversation. He rode the circuit in com-

pany with several others who have since become
prominent, and had few equals to contend with.
As illustrative of his wit it is related that one
day when he was in his cups at his hotel, he was
sitting about half asleep, when Cavarly stepped
up to where he was sitting and laid his hand on
Mills' bald head and remarked: "Friend Mills,
you have quite a prairie on your head." "Yes,
Cavarly," he said, " and do you know the differ-
ence between you and meV" "By no means,
Brother Mills," said he, in quite a patronizing
manner. " Well, I'll tell you," said Mills, " my
prairie is on my head, but yours is inside your
head."

Mills was the son of a New England Presby-
terian minister, and came to Illinois at an early
day, when tliere was a law authorizing a justice
of the peace, if he heard a man swear, even
upon the streets, to go to his office and enter up
a tine of one dollar against him. Ben was a
justice of the peace, and was one day taking
his glass with another justice of the peace at his
hotel in Greenville, Illinois, when he happened
to let slip about a half dozen oaths. His
brother justice said nothing about it at the time.
This was in the morning. They met again at
the same place in the evening and were taking
another social glass together, when his friend
I'emarked :

" Brother Mills, you swore sereral oaths this
morning, and you know the law makes it my
duty to enter a fine against you of a dollar for
each oath."

" I know it, my brother," said Mills, " and
thought of it as I went to my office, and being
a justice of the peace myself, I entered upon
my docket a tine of one dollar for each oath I
swore."

"Oh, w^l," said his" friend, " that will do.
Come, Brother Mills, let us have another glass."
And when they were about to drink it. Mills
remarked: "But you know, my brother, that
the policy of the law is reformation and not
vengeance, and feeling that object has been
thoroughly accomplished in my case, by the fine,
I am now considering the question of remitting
it." After their glass and a hearty laugh they
parted.

Mr. Mills was a powerful prosecutor. At
Edwardsville, a lawyer named Winchester, killed
a man named Smith, or at least was charged
with the crime. Mills was his prosecutor. Felix
Grundy, of Tennessee, then one of the greatest
criminal lawyers in the southwest, was sent for
to defend Winchester. The prosecution is said
to have been one of the ablest, most fearful and

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

terrible ever heard, and it required all the talent
and oratory of Grundy, assisted by the presence
and countenance of many of the leading attor-
neys and men of the place to prevent a con-
viction.

Mr. Mills died about 1S50.

John Reynolds is well known to every student
of the history of Illinois, having been Governor
of the State, member of Congress, and Judge of
the Supreme Court of Illinois. He was a ripe
scholar, a man of great natural ability, yet withal
modest, seeming more disposed to conceal than
to blazon forth his accomplishments to the world.
An amusing story is told of the Governor which
occurred while holding a term of the circuit
court at Edwardsville. At that term a man
named Green was tried before him on the charge
of murder, and was convicted. Reynolds, who
was always seeking popularity, desired the ill
will of no one, even of a murderer, and after the
verdict of guilty had been read by the clerk in
open court, turned to Green, his face all beam-
ing with sympathy, said:

" Mr. Green, I am truly sorry for you; the jury
have found you guilty of murder, and I suppose
you know you have got to be hung."

" Yes, your Honor," said Green.

"Mr. Green, I want you to understand that
this is none of my work, but of a jury of your
own selection. I would take it as a favor of you
if you would communicate this fact to your
friends and relatives. The law makes it mv
duty to pass sentence upon you and carry out
the verdict of the jury. It is a mere matter of
form, Mr. Green, so far as I am concerned, and
your death can in no way be imputed to me.
Mr. Green, when would you like to be hung?"

"Your Honor," said Green, "if I had any
choice in the matter, I should not like to be
hung at all; but as it seems I have not, I have
no preference of one time over another."

Reynolds then turned to the clerk and said:

•' Mr. Conway, look at the almanac and see if
the fourth Friday in December comes on Sun-
day."

Conway, being a man of considerable humor,
gravely turned to the almanac, and then looking
up, said:

" I find, your Honor, to my utter astonish-
ment, that that day comes upon Friday I"

"Soil does, so it does," said Reynolds. Turn-
ing to Green, he said:

"Mr. Green, the sentence of the court is that
on the fourth Friday in December, between the
hours of ten o'clock in the forenoon and four

o'clock in the afternoon, the sheriff of Madison
county will take you from the jail to the place of
execution, and there, Mr. Green, I am sorry to
say, he will hang you till you are dead, dead,
dead, and may the Lord have mercy upon your
soul. And don't you forget it, Mr. Green, that
it is not my work, but that of the jury which
tried you."

James Turney's name appears upon the rec-
ords of the Sangamon Circuit Court for several
years, beginning iu 1824. He was aTennessean
by birth, but at this time lived in Carrollton.
lie was a man of fine personal appearance, of
great natural, Avith but little acquired ability.
When Attorney-General of the State, it is said,
that such was the reputation which had preceded
him when traveling the circuits, that many men
indicted, came into court and confessed guilty
rather than stand a trial with him as prosecutor.
He was a natural orator, and always commanded
the most profound attention. No one could fail
to recognize in a moment, when hearing him
speak, that he was a man of considerable genius
and talent. He served the State as Attorney-
General and as Commissioner of the Illinois and
Michigan Canal. He was also State Senator
from Greene county.

Henry Starr, at a very early day, left his na-
tive State of New Hampshire and settled in Ken-
tuck)', where he taught school and studied law.
After lieing admitted to the Bar, he removed to
Edwardsville, Illinois, from which place he made
his semi-annual trips around the circuit, his name
appearing on the docket of Sangamon Circuit
Court in 1822. He remained in the State but a
few years when he removed to Cincinnati, and
soon was recognized as a leading lawyer of that
metropolis.

George Forquer,a half-brother of ex-Governor
Ford, was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in
179-t. With his mother and half-brother he
moved to Monroe county, Illinois, at an early
day, from which place he was elected a member
of a legislature. In 1825 he was appointed by
Governor Coles, Secretary of State, and went to
Vandalia in the discharge of the duties of that
office. In December, 1828, he resigned the posi-
tion, and in January following was appointed
Attorney-General by Governor Edwards. Re-
signing this latter office the same year, he re-
moved to Springfield. He afterwards repre-
sented Sangamon county in the State Senate,
and was at one time register of the land office in
Springfield. He was considered by his contem-
])oraries a fair lawyer and had a good business.
He (lied September 12, 18:38.

oJZ^C/^ iT oC^<^'C

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

A sketch of John T. Stuart, who hail his first
casein the April term, 1829, of the Circuit Court,
and who is at present actively engaged in busi-
ness in Springfield, appears m connection with
the seventh decade.

As illustrative of the way the lawyers followed
the circuit, the following reminiscence by Judge
William Thomas, of Jacksonville, is here given:

"My Kentucky law license is dated July 5,
1823 (granted before I was twenty-one). My
Illinois license is dated October, 1820. The
lirst court that I attended in Illinois was held in
this place, November, 1826; John York Sawyer
was Circuit Judge. The attorneys i,n attend-
ance were, John Reynolds, BellevilTe^; James
Turney, Attorney General, and Alfred W. Cav-
arly, of CarroUton; William H. Brown, Benja-
min JNIills and George Forquer, of Vandalia;
David Prickett, Edwardsville; Murray McCon-
nell, John Turney and Benjamin Cox, of this
place; Jonathan H. Pugh, Thomas M. Neale
and James M. Strode, of Springfield. The bus-
iness of the court was finished in less than a
week, and the next and last court held by Judge
Sawyer was in Sj)ringfield in the same month.
With two exceptions, McConnell and Cox, the
same attorneys were in attendance at Spring-
field, with the addition of William S. Ilamil-
ton, General James Adams, Thomas Mofl:'ett, of
Springfield, and John L. Bogardus, of Peoria.

"The First Judicial Circuit at that time was
composed of the counties of Greene, Morgan,
Sangamon, Peoria, Fulton, Schuyler, Adams,
Pike and Calhoun. A week was allowed to each
term of the court in Greene, Morgan and San-
gamon, and half a week in each of the other
counties. From December, 1826, to March,
1827, I was employed as village schoolmaster in
this place. In the spring of 1827, I attended
all the courts in this circuit. S. J. Lockwood,
of the Supreme Court, was required to hold the
courts in this circuit — Greene, Morgan and San-
gamon, with the resident attorneys — Reynolds,
Turney, Pugh, Strode and Cavarly from other
counties being in attendance. From Sangamon
we went to Peoria, Bogardus resided there and
kept the tavern. There was another attorney
there who resided on the lake some distance
above Peoria, his name I have forgotten. The
Attorney General being absent, I was appointed
to represent the people. Jacob Funk and one
Ogee, having been indicted for an affray, to the
"terror of the people," confessed guilty, were
fined a small sum, and each paid my fee of $.5,
with which I paid my traveling expenses around
the circuit. The attorneys present at this court

10—

from other counties were, John Turney, James
M. Strode, Jonathan II. Pugh and General
James Adams.

" From Peoria the court went to Fulton
county, Pugh, Turney, Adams and myself being
tlie oidy attorneys, besides a resident attorney
whose name I have forgotton. Judge Phelps
entertained the judge and Bar, and refused pay.
Here I was employed in an appeal case, which I
gained, and received -So for ray fee. John Tur-
ney was appointed to represent the people.
There was no criminal case for trial. From
there we went to Schuyler county, our horses
swimming Spoon river, and we crossed in a
canoe. There we found at the county seat but
two f.amilies — Hart Fellows, clerk, and Terry,
recorder. Pugh was appointed to prosecute,
but there was no criminal case on tlie docket —
the grand jury found no bills — and after the
trial of a few appeal cases the court adjourned
on the second day.

"From that county we went to Quincy, trav-
eling through the prairie in a day, distance
sixty miles, with no roads. I think there was
no resident attorney at Quincy. We met there
General Hanson, J. W. Whitney and J. I. Ross,
of Atlas, Pike county. Here I was appointed
to prosecute. There was but one crinnnal case
tried, the pai-ty was convicted, and paid my fee
of $5. From that county we went to Pike.
There we met the Attorney General and Mr.
Cavarly from CarroUton, and Colonel Jenkins
from Calhoun county. Captain Leonard Ross,
then sheriff of the county, entertained the court
and Bar, refusing pay. He was one of nature's
noblemen, from Massachusetts.

"Three days were occupied with the business
of the court, and then we went to Gilead,
county seat of Calhoun county, where I was era-
ployed to defend a doctor, indicted for raurder
— a case of supposed malpractice, but, in fact, a
case of ignorance and malice. In employing
me he said that 1*20 was all he had, that he was
in feeble health, had a sick family, and was in
destitute circumstances. I agreed to defend
him for the $20, being satisfied of his inno-
cence and of his extreme poverty. Upon the
trial of the case and the charge of tlie court,
the jury found him not guilty. More than
twenty years after I met this doctor at Spring-
field, a member of the legislature. He was still
in feeble health, remembered and recognized
me, but I did not him, until he made himself
known. There the circuit ended.

"The resident and non-resident attorneys
who practiced in this circiiit, say in May, 1827,

HISTORY OK SANGAMON COUNTY

were, John Reynolds, Belleville; James Turney
and Alfred W. Cavarly, CarroUton; Benjamin
Mills, Vandalia; Samuel McRoberts, Edwards-
ville; Murray MeConnell, John Turney, Benja-
min Cox and William Thomas, Jacksonville;
Jonathan H. Pugh, William S. Hamilton, James
M. Strode. Thomas M. Neale, General James
Adams and Thomas Moffett, Springfield; John
L. Bogardus, Peoria; General N. Hanson, James
W. Whitney and John I Ross, Pike county;
Colonel Jenkins, of Calhoun, brother of Lieu-
tenant Governor Jenkins. Of all these attor-
neys I am the sole survivor."

SECOND DECADE.

In the second decade, from IS.'il to 1841, an
arra}' of names appear, some of whom have
made a reputation that is world-wide. For char-
acter, learning and ability the Bar during this
decade has never been surpassed either in San-
gamon county or in any county in the State, and
perhaps not in the Union. At what Bar will be
found the superior, or even the equal of Abra-
ham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, James
Shields, Stephen T. Logan, John T. Stuart, Ed-
ward Jones, Dan Stone, Samuel H. Treat
Ninian W. Edwards, E. D. Baker, Cyrus Walker,
Jesse B Thomas, and A. T. Bledsoe, all of
whom engaged in practice and often appeared
before the courts of Sangamon county during
this time? Not alone as attorneys, but as states-
men, the greater number of the foregoing were
prominent in after years. James C. Conkling,
who was cotemporary with those named says
this of law and lawyers at that time:

'■ Forty years ago, business was not so great
in extent as to occupy the full time of the law-
yer. Suits were not so numerous, or so impor-
tant, as to afford a support for himself and fam-
ily. He engaged in political life as an employ-
ment, and solicited office to improve his slender
income. A much larger number of the promi-
nent members of the legal profession then
became members of the State Legislature or of
Congress than at present. The people demanded
their political services, and they were happy
and anxious to accommodate the people. A
political contest gave them notoriety among the
masses, and afforded them an opportunity to
display their abilities. A reputation for elo-
■quence and skill in debate was a recommenda-
tion as lawyers in the practice of their profes-
sion. Hence we find the names of Reynolds,
Edwards, Cook, Casey, Breese, Browning, Har-
din, Baker, Williams, Shields, Douglas, Trum-
bull, Lincoln, McClernand and numerous others

almost as frequently, in the political annals of
our State, as upon the records of our courts.
As lawyers they were eminent: as statesmen
many of them became illustrious."

In addition to those named, the records of the
courts show the following named as practicing
here between the years 18.31 to 1841: Edward
J. Phillips, Henry E. Dummer, William L.
May, Josephus Hewitt, Charles Emerson, David
Prickett, Jesse B. Thomas, D. B. Campbell,
Justin Butterfield, Antrim Campbell, John D.
Urquhart, John C. Doremus, James C. Conkling,
Charles R. Wells, Schuyler Strong, B. S. Ed-
wards, and W. J. Gatewood, a list of which the
Bar of any county might be proud.

During the latter part of this decade, the
United States Circuit Court and the Supreme
Court of Illinois were removed from Vandalia
to Springfield. Isaac N. Arnold, in an address
delivered before the Illinois State Bar Associa-
tion, at Springfield, January 7, 1881, says:

" I wish, with the graphic power, of Sir Walter
Scott, I could call up a picture of the United States
Circuit Court and the Supreme Court of Illinois,
and the lawyers then practicing before them, as
they were in 1839, and on during the following
years. If we could, in fancy, enter the United
States Circuit Court room in this city, in June,
18.39, we should be impressed with the majestic
figure, imposing presence and dignified bearing
of the presiding judge, John McLean, a Justice
of the Supreme Court of the United States. His
person and face were often compared to Wash-
ington's — whom he is said to have strikingly re-
sembled."

" Nathaniel Pope, the District Judge, was
shorter and stouter in person, more blunt and
sturdy in manner, and not so familiar with the
law books, the cases, and literature of the law,
but of a most clear, vigorous and logical mind.
If we enter their court, then held, if I am not
mistaken, in one of the churches in this city, we
should find Ferris Foreman, then United States
District Attorney, prosecuting the case of " 77/«
United States vs. Gratiot" then a historic name
in Missouri and the Northwest, in a case arising
under a lease, by the Government, of a portion
of the lead mines of Galena. We should hear
the late Judge Breese making a very learned
argument for the defense. If we lingered until
the next case was called, we should hear the
sharp, clear, ringing voice of Stephen T. Logan
opening his case. If we remained until the trial
ended, we should concur in the remark that tliis
small, red-haired man, inferior in person, but
with an eye whose keenness indicated his sharp

niSTORY OF SANOAMON COUNTY.

and incisive intellect; this little man, take him
all in all, was then the best nisi^^rhis lawyer in
the State, and it would be difficult to find his
superior anywhere. Among the leading practi-
tioners in the court in Springfield in 1839, were
Logan, liincoln, Baker, Trumbull, Buttertield &
Cotlins, Spring & Goodrich, Cowles & Kvuni,
Davis, Ilardin, Browning, and Archy W'illiams."
"To a contemporary of those early members of
the Bar, the roll of attorneys admitted in those
days bring up sad and pleasant memories. On
that roll, in 18-36, you iind the name of Thomas
Drummond, now a venerable .Judge of the North-
ern District of our State; David Davis, late
Judge, and now Senator; Archy Williams and
Anthony Thornton. In 1837 I find the names
of Abraham Lincoln, William A. Richardson,
Lyman Trumbull, Mahlon D. Ogden, Joseph
Gillespie; and in 1838, .Justin Butterfield, James
A. McDougall, Hugh T. Dickey, Schuyler Strong,
John J. Ilardin, Judge E. Peck, J. Young Scam-
mon, and others, and from that time on, the
names become more numerous."

Continuing his reminiscenses, Mr. Arnold said:
" In those early days it was my habit, and that,
also, of those practicing in the LTnited States
Court, to come to Springfield twice each year, to
attend the semi-annual terms of court held in
June and December. We made our trips in
Frink & Walker's coaches, and I have known
the December trip to take five days and nights,
dragging drearily through the mud and sleet,
and there was an amount of discomfort, vexa-
tion and annoyance about it sufficient to exhaust
the patience of the most amiable. I think I
have noticed that some of my impulsive brethren
of the Chicago Bar have become less profane
since the rail-cars have been substituted for the
stage-coaches. But the June journey was as
agreeable as the December trip was repulsive.
A four-in-hand with splendid horses, the best of
Troy coaches, good company, the exhilaration of
great speed over an elastic road, much of it a
turf of grass, often crushing under our wheels
the most beautiful wild flowers, every grove
fragrant with blossoms, framed in the richest
green, our roads not fenced in by narrow lanes,
but with freedom to choose our route; here ami
there a picturesque log-cabin, covered with
vines; the boys and girls on their way to the
log-schools, and the lusty farmer digging his
fortune out of the rich earth. Everything fresh
and new, full of young life and enthusiasm,
these June trips to Springfield would, I think,
compare favorably even with those we made
to-day in a luxurious Pullman car. But there

were exceptions to these enjoyments; sometimes
a torrent of rain would in a few hours so swell
the streams that the log bridges and banks
would be entirely submerged, and a stream which
a few hours before was nearly dry, became a
foaming torrent. F'ording, at such times, was
never agreeable, and sometimes a little dan-
gerous.

FORDIXe SALT CREEK.

"I recall a ludicrous incident on our way to
Springfield, I think, in June, 1842. We had a
coach, crowded with passengers, most of us
lawyers, on our way to the United States Court.
In passing from Peoria to Springfield, we
attempted to ford one of these streams which
had been lately raised so that its banks were
nearly a quarter of a mile apart. When we had
driven half across the horses left the track, got
into a bad slough, and were stalled. All efforts
to extricate the coach failed, and, at length, the
driver gave up the attempt in despair; said he
must take ofE the horses and go to the next sta-
tion for help; those who chose might mount a
horse and ride ashore; or, if they preferred,
might wade ashore or stay in the coach until he
returned, or wait until another coach, which was
behind, should come up; we might wait for it,
provided we were not carried down the stream
by the current. Some decided to try their for-
tunes on a stage horse; others stripped off
trousers, boots ond stockings, and taking their
coat-tails under ther arms, started to wade ashore.
Old Dr. Maxwell was of our party, a very stout
gentleman, with short legs, and weighing near
three hundred pounds. The doctor sat by the
window of the coach, grimly watching the
various groups, and turning his eyes now to the
equestrians, and now to those buffeting the cur-
rent on foot, and envying some of the long-
legged gentlemen who were struggling towards
the shore. Seeing the doctor unusually grave, a
friend called to him:

" What ig the matter, doctor? " " Why don't
you come on? '"

"I don't like the aspect," said he. "The
diagnosis is threatening. My legs are too short
to wade, and there is not a horse in the team that
can carry my weight through this current. Sink
or swim; survive or perish; I shall stick to the
ship."

" Well," replied an irreverent and saucy young
lawyer, " if you are washed away and cast ashore
by the current, I should like to have the opinion
of Judge Dickey (not the present Chief Justice)
whether you would not be flotsam and Jetsum,

IIISTOKY OF SANCiAMON COUNl'V.

and belong, medicine and all, to the sovereign
people of Illinois?"

"Fortunately, our driver soon returned and res-
cued our genial doctor.

"I must not omit to mention the old-fashioned,
generous hospitality of Springfield — hospitality
proverbial to this day throughout the Stale.
Among others, I recall, with a sad pleasure, the
dinners and evening parties given by Mrs. Lin-
coln. In her modest and simple home, everything
orderly and refined, there was always, on the part
of bothhostand hostess, a cordial and hearty Wes
tern welcome, which )iut every guest perfectly
at ease. Mrs. Lincoln's table was famed for the
excellence of many rare Kentucky dishes, and in
season, it was loaded with venison, wild turkeys,
prairie chickens, quail and other game, which
was then abundant. Yet it was her genial man-
ners and ever-kind welcome, and Mr. Lincoln's
wit and humor, anecdote and unrivalled conver-
sation, which formed the chief attraction. We
read much of " merrie England," but I doubt if
tliere was ever anything more "merrie" than
Springfield in those days. As, to-day, I walk your
streets, and visit the capital, and your court
rooms, as I enter the old home of Lincoln, for
the first time since 1860, memories of the past
come thronging back; I see his tall form, his
merry laugh breaks upon my ear; I seem to hear
the voice of Douglas, of Baker, of Hardin, and
of Logan!

" How are we startled in the wind's low tones
B^- voices that are gone."

"Nor, in recalling the past, must I forget the
hospitable home of Judge Treat, who, to-day, as
then, in his ample library, may well say:

" That place that does contain,
Mj books, the best companions, is to me
A glorious court, where hourly I converse
With the old sages and philosophers."

At this time I he Supreme Court of the State
was composed of four judges, three of whom
were Whigs, and the fourth a Democrat. When
(Governor Carlin came into office in 1838, he
claimed the right to appoint a new secretary
before any vacancy e.visted. He nominated
John A. McClcrnand; l)iit the Senate, by a vote
of twenty-two to eighteen, declared that the ex-
ecutive did not possess the power to nominate a
secretary, except in case of vacancy, and they
therefore rejected the nomination. After the
adjournment of the legislature he undertook to
appoint McClernand as secretary, who thereupon
demanded possession of the office, but was re-
fused. McClernand then filed an information,

in the nature of a quo warranto, before Judge
Kreese, in the Circuit Court of Fayette county,
who decided in his favor. Field took an appeal
to the Supreme Court, where the decision was
reversed. Aside from the political questions
involved, the case was of considerable import-
ance. Able counsel appeared on each side.
For the appellant, were Cyrus Walker, Justin
Buttertield and Levi Davis. For the ap])ellee,
Stephen A. Douglas, James Shields and Wick-
liffe Kitchell, the Attorney-General. Wilson
and LiH-kwood, the Whig judges, concurred,
and Smith dissented. Brown being connected
with the relator, declined to sit in the cause.
The court decided that the Governor did not
possess the power to remove the Secretary of
State at his pleasure; that when that officer was
once appointed, he continued in office during
good behavior, or until the legislature limited
the term or authorized some public functionary
to remove him. The decision caused great ex-
citement in political circles against the "Whig
Court," because it prevented the Democrats
from occupying one of the principal offices of
the government; and it had a considerable influ-
ence in causing the reorganization of that tri-
bunal.

Edward J. Phillips, one of the first to com-
mence here the practice of law in the second
decade, was a man of fine personal appearance,
above the average in scholarship, and a fine
business man. He continued the practice of his
profession but a short time, and then secured a
position in the State bank, and as an officer of
that institution was exceedingly popular as he
was also in social life.

Edward Jones commenced the practice of law
in Springfield as a partner of George Forqner.
Edward Jones was born at Georgetown, D. C,
May 8, 1811. He commenced his education at
a classical academy in his native town, and made
good ])rogress in his studies, but having a strong
predilection for military life, he entered a select
military school at the seat of the National Gov-
ernment. After completing his academic studies,
he commenced reading law in the office of John
Marbury, and afterwards attended tlie Virginia
Law School at Winchester. He was admitted to
practice at the Bar in March, 1830, just two
months before he was nineteen years of age.
Being of an active and energetic temperament,
he turned his face to the great West, and, in the
following May, settled in Illinois, fixing his
residence at Springfield.

During the troubles of the frontier growing
out of the Black Hawk war, he exhibited his

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

naturnl I'oiulness for military life, b}' serving in
the campaigns of 1831 and 1832.

In the spring of 1834, Judge Lockwood ten-
dered liini the appointment of Clerk of the Cir-
cuit Court of Tazewell county, ^nd he removed
to Pekin, the county seat of that county. After
holding the office about three years and a half,
he resigned and resumed the practice of law.
This he continued to do honorably and success-
fully until the call for volunteers in the Mexi-
can war in June, 1840, aroused his patriotic feel-
ings. He at once raised a company, which
became Company F, of Colonel Baker's regi-
ment. He first served with his regiment under
General Taylor and then under General Scott.
He was engaged in the storming of Vera Cruz
and the memorable battle of Cerro Gordo. The
term of service of his regiment having expired,
he was reluctantly comjielled to return home.
' The remaining volunteers of that regiment have
a vivid recollection of his bravery, fortitude, gen-
erosity and kindness, as well as military skill.

For some years after his return from Mexico,
and until his health failed him, he was a success-
ful practitioner. Mr. Jones had the reputation,
which he richly deserved, as one of the finest
men in his profession. He had a purely legal
mind, and this natural aptitude he had diligently
improved by his professional studies. His
knowledge of tlie principals and practice of law
was so intimate and thorough that he could give
an extemporaneous opinion upon any case sub-
mitted to him, and it was very seldom that an
after consultation of authorities made a change
of opinion necessary. His fame as a special
pleader was wide-spre.id. He was considered a
Fabius in defense — being remarkably successful
in delaying the contest till the m^ost propitious
m^onient.

Edward Jones was eminently social in his na-
ture, and was surrounded by hosts of friends
who prized his society to the 'last. Even after
his health had so far failed him as to render him
Tintit for his professional duties, his friends still
crowded their business upon him. His attach-
ment to the community in which he lived was
ardent and unchanging. Whoever traduced it
might expect to meet him as its defender.

Edward Jones died December 20,1857, and
was buried in Pekin, Tazewell county. Tiie
estimation in which he was held by the Bar in
that place was embodied in a series of resolu-
tions, one of which said : "We have found him
a noble and jiowerful advocate, scorning to
do anything unprofessional — eloquent, profound
in argument, unanswerable in reasoning, and

ever successful in the fierce conflict of intellect
with intellect."

Henry E. Dummer was a man of superior
talents, a tine lawyer and scholar, and exceed-
ingly refined in manner. He was a native of
Maine, and had drifted West in 1832. In the
spring of this year he was in Cincinnati, and
noticing the advertisement of a boat going
up the Sangamon river, determined to take
passage to the new country. Arriving here in
due time, he soon formed a partnership with
John T. Stuart, this relation continuing but a
short time. After dissolution of the co-partner-
ship, Mr. Dummer went to Jacksonville, where
he remained a short time, and then drifted on to
Beardstown. In this latter city he married, set-
tled down and became eminently successful in
the practice of his profession. From Beards-
town he returned to Jacksonville and became
a member of the firm of Dummer, Brown &
Kirby. He died about 1877.

Stephen T. Logan. — This celebrated lawyer
and jurist, who long stood at the head of the
Illinois Bar, was born in Franklin county, Ken-
tucky, on February 24, 1800, and was descended
from a good family of Scotch-Irish origin. He
was the eldest, and, we believe, the only son of
David Logan — a man of strong sense and ster-
ling integrity, who died about the year 1821.
His grandfather. Colonel John Logan, was one
of the leading pioneers of Kentucky, who fig-
ured prominently in the Indian wars of the
period, was a member of the Constitutional
Convention of 1799, and held, during several
years, the important office of State Treasurer.
His mother, Mary Trigg, was the daughter of
Colonel Stephen Trigg (a native of Virginia),
who was killed at the memorable battle of the
Blue Licks, in August, 1782.

When Stephen Trigg Logan was two years
old, his parents removed to Lincoln county,
where his mother died a few years later, leaving
him a half orphan at a tender age. He received
his early education in Frankfort, Kentucky,
where he was also employed as a clerk in the
office of the Secretary of that Commonwealth,
under Martin D. Hardin, father to Colonel John
.J. Hardin, of Illinois. In 1817 young Logan
went to Crlasgow, the seat of justice of Barren
county, and studied law under the tuition of
his uncle, Judge Christopher Tompkins. About
two years afterward, and before attaining his
majority, he was admitted to the Bar, but did
not immediately commence practice.

On June 25, 1823, Mr. Logan was married to
America T. Bush, daughter of William Bush,

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Esq., of Glasgow, by whom he had eight chil-
dren — four sons and four daughters — only two
of whom survive, namely: Sarah (Mrs. Lamon),
and Jennie (JNIrs. Coleman). About the time of
bis marriage he was appointed Commonwealth's
Attorney for the Glasgow Circuit, and discharged
the responsible duties of his position with
marked fidelity and ability.

In May, 1832, he removed with his family to
Illinois, and settled at Springlield, where he
ever afterward resided. Here he first formed a
co-partnership with the Hon. William S. 3Iay,
and resumed the active practice of his profes-
sion in the spring of 1833. Subsequently, at
different times, he was associated with E. 1).
Bakei, Abraham Lincoln, and Milton Hay.

In 18o5 Logan was elected to the office of Cir-
cuit Judge, and remained on the bench two
years, when he resigned and resumed legal prac-
tice. In 1839 he was again elected judge, but
declined to serve. In 1842 he was elected a
representative from Sangamon county in the
Illinois Legislature, and re elected in 1844 and
184G, serving throughout with great credit and
success. In 1847 he was a leading member of
the convention which formed the State Consti-
tution, popularly known as the Constitution of
1848. During the latter year he became a can-
didate for Congress in the Springfield district,
in opposition to the late Hon. T. L. Harris. In
1854 Judge Logan was again returned to the
legislature; and in 18C0 he \\as a delegate from
the State at large to the Chicago Republican
Convention, which nominated Mr. Lincoln for
the Presidency. In February 1861, he was one
of the five Commissioners from Illinois to the
National Peace Congress at Washington city,
and distinguished himself by his eloquence and
patriotism in that historic assembly.

Sulisequent to 1861, Judge Logan, having
acquired both fame and fortune, withdrew from
political and professional life, and passed the
evening of his days in dignified retirement.
His death occurred after a brief illness, at his
residence in Springfield, on July IT, 1880. in the
81st year of his age. His obsequies were appro-
propriately celebrated (the religious services
being conducted by the Eeverend J. B. Allen
of the Christian Church ), and his mortal re-
mains were followed to their last resting place
in Oak Ridge Cemeter)-, by a large concourse of
sorrowing friends and legal associates, including
many of the most distinguished men of the
State.

hrom a number of able and eloquent memor-
ial addresses, delivered by representative mem-

bers of the Bar and judiciary on the occasion of
his decease, we have selected that of Joseph
Wallace, Esq., made before the Common Coun-
cil of Springfield, which presents, perhaps, the
most elaborate and comprehensive analysis of
Logan's character:

Mr. W. said: — " Sir, an old and eminent citi-
zen, a great lawyer, one whose name fills a large
space in the earlier judicial and legislative
annals of our State, has gone from the Sanga-
mon County Bar to the Bar of God. This re-
gretful event was not wholly unexpected by his
family and most intimate friends, and yet it is
difficult to realize that he is indeed no more. -In
the language of the lamented E. D. Baker, 'It
is not fit that such a man should pass unher-
alded to the tomb ; it is not fit that such a life
should steal unnoticed to its close; it is not fit
that such a death should call forth no public
lamentation.' Nor is it so. The public press of
our own and other cities have already published
eloquent and appreciative notices of the distin-
guished dead; the members of our Bar have met
in solemn conclave and placed upon record their
high estimate of his public and private worth,
and now we, the members of this Council, rep-
resenting the Capital City of Illinois, wherein he
made his home for nearly fifty years, and with
whose liistory and growth he was prominently
identified, would add our brief yet sincere tribute
to his memory.

" I shall not enter here upon any recital of the
events of Stephen T. Logan's long and honorable
life, which opened February 24, 1800, and closed
July 17, 1880; but I may be permitted to offer a
hasty review of his personal and professional
character, and to cast a flower on his bier, even
though it has to-day been borne in sad array
through the portals of the tomb.

" Whenever called upon to serve his fellow
citizens in any public capacity, he responded to
that call in a manner well calculated to reflect
honor upon himself and conserve the public
weal; but at no time in his history was he a pro-
fessed politician or office seeker. He never
wrote out his speeches for publication, and in-
terspersed them at intervals with the words
' cheers ' and ' ajiplause.' He never ac([uired the
modern art of manipulating ' primaries ' and ' cau-
cuses.' He had ' no hired retainers, no paid letter-
writers, no array of college companions to quote,
commend and herald his fame to the world.'
He had little taste and less aptitude for the ' out
of doors management, the electioneering leger-
demain, and the wearisome correspondence with
local great men' — all of which, at this day, are

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

deemed requisite to political preferment and
success. Nevertheless, his name and his deeds
are inscribed in legible characters upon the offi-
cial records of two States, and the inscriptions
will not altogether fade.

" The controlling attachment of Judge Logan,
however, was centered in the law; his mind was
pre-eminently a legal one, and his political ambi-
tion was rendered subordinate to his love for this
science. His active forensic career extended
over a period of nearly half a century, the larger
part of which was passed in the State of Illinois,
and in this city. But those who saw him only
as ' an old man broken by the storms of state,'
can form no just idea of his appearance when, in
the plenitude of his physical and intellectual
powers, he stood forth the facile prmceps, the
acknowledged leader of the Illinois Bar.

"A celebrated English critic (Hazlitt) has
said, that ' great natural advantages are seldom
combined with great acquired ones, because they
render the labor requisite to attain the last, super-
fluous and irksome.' This remark is not inappli-
cable to Logan, since he made no pretensions to
scholarship in any pedantic sense of the term.
He never collected a library worthy of the name,
and garnished it with rare and costly works.
His reading was neither very varied nor classical;
his researches were chiefly in the line of his pro-
fession, ' but therein they were thorough.' His
superior mental endowments enabled him to
comprehend on a cursory examination what
would require ordinary minds protracted labor
to master. His intellect was not only capacious
and vigorous, but it was emphatically quick,
keen and subtle, and having been early accus-
tomed to habits of close investigation, he could
seize upon the knottiest problems of law and un-
ravel them with the greatest facility. Under
his magic touch ' all doubt and difficulty were
at once dispelled; and the naked truth stood forth
plainly and palp.ably defined.'

"In a court of justice, and especially a nisi
prius court, Logan seemed most at home. In-
deed, there was something exhilarating to him
in the very atmosphere of the place. Here his
exceptional talents were displayed in their best
light, and here he might be studied to the best
advantage. Entertaining and instructive it was
to observe him before a jury engaged in the
argument of some important cause. Resting
one foot upon a chair, be begins with a fewcora-
monplace remarks, uttered in a clear and con-
versational tone. He then takes up the leading
facts and strong points of his case, states them
with singular perspicuity and force, dwells on

tbem at length, and presents them fi-um every
standpoint favorable to his client. As he pro-
gresses he warms to his work. His small frame
insensibly assumes a more erect and impressive
attitude; his gestures become more frequent; his
shrill voice is pitched to a higher key; his gray
eyes glow with animation; every muscle is at
jilay and every energy of his nature is aroused,
while words, arguments, illustrations, appeals
flow in torrents from his lips. At the conclu-
sion of his speech he sinks into his seat in a pro-
fuse perspiration and well nigh exhausted. He
leaves little else to be said on his side of the
case, for he has covered the whole ground.

" Some French writer has observed that ' noth-
ing is beautiful but what is natural.' This may
well ajiply to Logan's style of speaking, which
was formed after no model except his own, yet
was beautiful because it was natural. He was
accounted an eloquent speaker, though his elo-
quence was of a peculiar kind and difficidt to
describe. He seemed to have adopted Chief
.Justice Marshall's maxim, and 'always aimed at
strength.' His forte was reassuring, but it was
reason imbued with intense animation; and he
drove his juries to conviction as much by the
resistless energy of his style as by the lucidity
and compactness of his logic. His temperament
was strongly emotional; and in the defense of
persons arraigned for high crimes and misde-
meanors, he sometimes touched with a master-
hand those secret springs of feeling and passion
that lie in the recesses of every human breast.
Whenever he addressed the court upon any ques-
tions of law, pleading or practice, he was heard
with eager attention by his brethren of the Bar,
because he threw a flood of light upon every
legal principle he discussed.

"It might be objected to Logan's forensic
eiforts, particularly his jury efforts, that they
were too replete with iteration, though this is a
fault common to most lawyers, and arises partly
from the nature of the calling itself. More-
over, juries, as a rule, are not composed of a
trained order of intellects, and hence it seems
necessary for the skillful advocate to repeat
over and re-combine the same facts and sirgu-
ments in a variety of forms, so as to impress
them indelibly upon the minds of those ad-
dressed, and thus secure the desired verdict.
One secret of his uniform success as a practi-
tioner was due to the fact that, like Choate, he
exerted himself to the utmost in almost every
suit in which he was employed. No matter
what the tribunal, the party or the fee, he put
forth his whole strength, summoning to his aid

HISTORY OF SAN(iA3J()N COLXTY.

the resources of his legal learning, his logic, his
wit and knowledge of men, and struggled as for
life for the mastery.

"It is a quality of superior and dominating
minds to rely upon themselves, and to take the
lead in whatsoever enterprise they may engage.
Such was true of Logan. It mattered not what
■was the character and standing of the counsel
associated with him in a given lawsuit, he occu-
pied the foreground, and on him rested the
chief burden of the controversy. To his clients
he was faithful to a degree that knew no
bounds, except the bounds of honor. He iden-
tified himself for the time with them, made
their i ause his cause, and their interests his
own. It would be hard to determine in what
particular branch of jurisprudence he was most
proficient — whether as a criminal, a common
law, or a chancery lawyer — for he seemed alike
at home in all, and in all he shone without a
peer. But few men in this country have ever
brought to the profession of the Bar so many
qualifications to ensure success as he. 'Logan
is the best natural lawyer I ever knew,' said the
late Judge McLean, of the JJ. S. Circuit Court,
himself a jurist of the soundest judgment and
ripest experience; and such is the concurring
testimony of all his immediate contemporaries.

''His demeanor at the Bar was neither opin-
ionative nor arrogant, but was characterized by
a proper respect for the rulings of the court,
and by an otjliging disposition toward his pro-
fessional associates. Still, his temper was nat-
urally choleric, and quick to resent invidious re-
marks and unprofessional conduct on the part
of opposing counsel. At such times they were
certain to feel the sting of his retorts, keen and
j)ungent as the rapier's thrust.

" The life of the lawyer in full practice is any-
thing but a life of ease. It is rather one of
excitement and anxiety, of patient investigation
and unremitting toil, spent in the perusal of
authorities, the preparation of pleas and briefs,
and in the trial or adjustment of vexatious and
complicated causes. Hence, in time he becomes
worn out with the corroding cases of his clients;
and when the silver thread of life is at last sun-
dered forever, only a scanty and fragmentary
record remains of his history. 'Probably in no
department of life,' says an able writer, ' is there
displayed so much talent which leaves no lasting
record. The shrewd management and ready
wit, the keen retort, the deep learning, and the
impassioned eloquence of the accomplished law-
yer, all come in play and tell strongly on the
result, bnt they do their work and are seen no

more; felt and admired at the time, they go to
make up the contemporaneous estimate living at
the jilace, but not to be reproduced for other
times and other admirers.' How next to impos-
sible, then, in a mere skeleton sketch like the
present, to recall and portray those ' nice shades
of character and talent, of thought and feeling,
of look and gesture, of wit and pathos, that went
to form the sum total of Stephen Trigg Logan's
greatness and fame as a lawyer.

"During the first year of the troubled admin-
istration ot the late President Lincoln, a vacancy
occurred on the Supreme Bench of the L^nited
States, to be filled b7 a Western jurist. Where-
upon, the special friends of Judge Logan recom-
mended him as eminently qualified for the place;
but the President, for reasons satisfactory to
himself, ignored the claims of his old-time friend
and law paitner, and appointed another to the
judgeship. Some have thought that Logan
would not have accepted the office if it had been
tendered him, but this is improbable. Conscious
of the possession of superior abilities, it was but
natural for him to be ambitious, and to aspire to
some commanding height, whence he could
make his influence felt and his power known to
tie whole country. Had he been raised to a
seat in that august tribunal, he would doubtless
have shone as a star of the first magnitude in
our judicial constellation, and his recorded opin-
ions have enriched the judicial literature of the
land. But the sister Fates decreed for him a
less conspicuous, though scarcely less useful
destiny.

"In private life Logan was one of the most
exemplary of men. Simple in his tastes, regu-
lar in his habits, unpretentious in his manners,
and careless of his attire, he lived, moved and
acted as if he were one of the least influential
and observed of mankind. He was punctual
and exact in all his business iransactions. His
maxim was to 'owe no man anything,' and to
pay as he went — a most excellent Scriptural
rule, but one more honored in the breach than
the observance. He was also a man of unusually
strong local and domestic attachments, and,
while given to hospitality, preferred the quiet
of his own fireside, and the society of his own
family to that of all others; and, as a corrollary
to this, he was one of the kindest of husbands
and most indulgent of fathers.

"In conclusion it may be proper to say, that
in his riper and declining years he experienced
many severe afliictions. He outlived the major
portion of his immediate family and kindred.
He lost, in succession, all four of his sons,

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

whom ho hail douhtless hoped wouhi have per-
petuated his name and fame to other genera-
tions. He saw his loved companion, the mother
of his children, borne from his house of mourn-
ing 'to the house appointed for all living;' he
followed two of his amiable daughters in sor-
row to the tomb; but amid all these domestic
trials, Logan was Logan still; and, at length,
worn out by the trials and cares and conflicts of
this sublunary life, he bowed his withered head
in submission to the will of his Creator, and
slept with his fathers. No more shall we see
his sliglit form and sharply chiseled features on
the busy thoroughfares; no more shall we meet
him in the bustling courts of law, so long the
theatre of his intellectual struggles and tri-
umphs; and nevermore shall the temples of jus-
tice reverberate with the tones of his shrill,
clear voice; for that heart once so fiery, and
that tongue once so impassioned, now lie pulse-
less and still in death.

"Thus one after another these relics of the
past, these tottering monuments of a former and
perhaps better generation, are going home to
the silent land — 'to that shore from whose
sands is never heard the echo of retreating foot-
steps.' 'Thus,' says Irving, 'man passes away;
his name gradually perishes from record and
recollection; his history is a tale that is told,
and his very monument becomes a ruin.' But,
sir, I will

'No farther seek his merils to disclose,
Nor draw his frailties from their dread abode;

There Ihey alilve in trembling hopes repose.
The bosom of his Father and his God.' "

Hon. David Prickett, prominently identified
with the early history of Illinois and Sangamon
county, was born in Franklin county, Georgia,
September 21, 1800. In early childhood he went
with his parents to Kentucky, and a few years
later to Edwardsville, Illinois, then a prominent
town of this State. He graduated from the law
department of Transylvania University, in Lex-
ington, Kentucky, and was admitted to practice
at Edwardsville, Illinois, November 1.5, 1821.
Mr. Prickett served as the first Supreme Court
Reporter of Illinois, was for a time Judge of
Probate Court of Madison county; was elected
a member of the State Legislature in 1826, when
the Capitol was at Vandalia. He served as aide-
de-camp to General John D. Whiteside in the
Black Hawk war in 1831; was elected State At-
torney in 1837 for the First Judicial Circuit of
Illinois, composed of Pike, Calhoun, Greene,
Morgan, Sangamon, Tazewell, McLean, Macon
11—

and Macoupin counties. He served as Treasurer
of the Board of Canal Commissioners during the
construction of the Michigan and LaSalle canal
in 1840; in 1842 was appointed Director, in be-
half of the State, of the Slate Bank of Illinois;
was Clerk of the House of Representatives ten
sessions; and was serving as Assistant Clerk o''
the House of Representatives at the time of his
death, March 1, 1847. He dealt considerably in
real estate, especially city property, and was
joint proprietor in haying out additions to sev-
eral cities in Illinois. Mr. Prickett married
Charlotte, daughter of Thomas and Christiana
Griffith, of Tazewell county, on January 24, 1834.
She was born March 9, 180G. Their marital
union resulted in five children, Christiana G.,
Thomas G., Gibson R., Hannah O., living, and
Susan, deceased. Mrs Prickett died November
2, 1876. Her father. Dr. Thomas Griffith, was
one of the original proprietors of Pekin, Taze-
well county.

William L. May is a Kentuckian by birth, re-
moving from that State to Edwardsville, Illinois,
from thence to Jacksonville, and from there to
Springfield, in 1829, having received the ap-
pointment of Receiver of the Land Office in the
latter place. Here in 1833 he formed a partner-
ship with Stephen T. Logan. Mr. May was
much more of a politician than a lawyi^r, and
was a man of good address and a capital stump-
speaker. In 1834 he was elected to Congress,
and again in 1836. In 1838 he failed of receiv-
ing the nomination, which went to Stephen A.
Douglas. In the course of time Mr. May re-
moved to Peoria, and from thence to California,
where he died.

Dan. Stone became a member of the Bar of
Sangamon county in 1833. He was a native of
Vermont and a graduate of Middlebury College,
in his native State. He afterwards went to Cin-
cinnati, studied law with his uncle, Ethan Stone,
and practiced in that city for several years, and
during that time was a member of the legisla-
ture, and also a member of the city council.
On his removal to Springfield he at once took
rank with the best lawyers. He was elected a
member of the legislature in 1836, and was one
of the fainous " long nine " members of that body
from this county. While a member of the legis-
lature he received the appointment of Judge of
the Circuit Court, and was assigned to duty in
the northern part of the State and moved to
Galena. In 1838 he rendered a decision with
reference to the vote of an alien, which so dis-
pleased the party in power that the courts were
reorganized by the legislature, and Judge Stone

HISTORY OF SANGAiMON COU^■TY.

legislated out of office. He soou after left the
State, and a fewyears later died in Essex county,
New Jersey.

Josepbus Ilewett came to Springfield about
1830, at wbicb time be was a Cbristian preacber,
an eloquent "defender of the faitb once deliv-
ered to tbe Saints." He read law witb Judge
Logan, and was admitted to tbe Bar about 183+.
In 1835 he formed a partnership witb Cyrus
Walker, of Macomb, Mr. Hewett remaining in
Springfield and Mr. Walker in Macomb, but
practicing together in the various courts of tbe
State. Mr. Hewett became one of the most
noted lawyers of that day, and is spoken of by
the older members of the profession as a man of
strong mind and very eloquent in his pleadings.
He removed from Springfield to Mississippi,
where he died since tbe war.

David B. Campbell came to Springfield in
1838, from New Jersey, his native State. He
was a fair lawyer and a good prosecutor, serving
as Prosecuting Attorney from 1848 to 1856, dy-
ing in ofiice in the latter year. He was a fair-
minded man, and while Prosecuting Attorney
would never prosecute one charged with crime
unless thoroughly convinced of his guilt.

Dave Campbell was quite a joker, and a good
story is told of hira and one Benedict, of which
he is responsible, it appearing in his "Reminis-
cences" as follows:

The hotels, in those days, I remember, being
scarce of beds, used frequently to put two of us
lawyers in one bed; and it frequently fell to the
lot of Campbell and Benedict to occtipy the bed
between them. One day I heard Campbell say
to Benedict, with a smirk on his face:

" Benedict, you must get the landlord to fur-
nish you a bed to yourself."

"Well, suppose he hasn't got one," said
Benedict.

" Then you must sleep on the floor, or get the
landlord to furnish you a berth up in his hay-
mow."

" What is your objections to sleeping with
me. General David Campbell?"

" Confound you," replied Campbell, " I never
did sleep with you, Ijut I have lain with you. To
sleep with you would be impossible. You snore
like a cyclops, and your breath smells so of mean
whisky that I would as soon breathe the air of a
charnel house and live in reach of its eternal
stench "

"Well," said Benedict, "General Campbell, I
■will show you that you shall sleep with me, and
if either of us has to sleep on the floor or go to
the hay-mow, it will be you and not me."

"Well, well," responded Campbell, with a
sinister smile on his face, "we will see about it."

So that night Dave Campbell went to bed
earlier than usual, and so about twelve o'clock at
night along comes Benedict, pretty much " how-
come-you-so." Addressing himself to Campbell,
who feigned to be half asleep, he said:

"Hello, therel Dave, lay over to the back of
the bed, and give me room in front."

Before going to bed that evening Dave had
armed his heel by buckling on it one of his
spurs. When Benedict got undressed, even to
the taking off of his drawers, he jumped into
bed and began to fondle on Campbell. Dave
quietly drew up his heel that had the spur on
and planted it about six inches above Benedict's
knee, and gave it a turn downwards, crying,
" Get up there! get up therel " as though he was
speaking to his horse. Benedict gave a sudden
leap and landed about the middle of the floor,
crying out in great agony:

"JesusI the fellow has got the nightmare or
delirium tremens, and has taken me for his
blamed old horse."

Judge Davis and Lincoln, who were sleeping
in the same room, could stand this no longer.
They burst out into the most uproarious laughter.

Antrim Campbell, a brother of David, was
l>orn in New Jersey in 1814. He came to
Springfie'd in 1838, and entered upon the prac-
tice of his profession. In 1849, he was appointed
Master in Chancery for the Circuit Court of
Sangamon county, and resigned the same in
1861, when he received the appointment of Mas-
ter in Chancery for the United States Circuit
Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
While never taking high rank as an attorney,
he was recognized as a good Master in Chan-
cery and an excellent business man. lie died
August 11, 1868.

A. T. Bledsoe was a worthy member of the
Sangamon County Bar during the last year of
its Second Decade and extending nearly through
the third. He came to Springfield from Greene
county in 1840. While a young man he grad-
uated from West Point, and shortly after re-
signed his position in the army, studied for the
ministry, was ordained a minister in the Episco-
palian Church. Becoming disatisfied, he resigned
his charge, studied law and was admitted to the
Bar before coming to S]iringfield. On his ar-
rival here he formed a partnership with Jesse
B. Thomas, which continued about a year, when
he became a partner of E. D. Baker. Major
Stuart says that for real logic he was tbe strong-
est man at this Bar at that time. But content-

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COITNTY.

ment was not » ilh him a cardinal virtue. He
could remain in one position but a short time.
He was an author of several scientific works,
which were well received by the learned. Mr.
Bledsoe about 1850 drifted Soutli, was President
of a college in Mississippi for a time, and at the
breaking out of the war was professor of mathe-
matics in a college at Charlotteville, Virginia.
Espousing the Southern side, he was made
Assistant Secretary of War, but becoming con-
vinced that the Southern Confederacy was about
to collapse, shortly before the close of the war,
it is said that he applied to his old friend Abra-
ham Lincoln, President of the United States,
for a pass through the lines, receiving which he
came within the Union lines and soon embarked
for Europe, where he remained until the close
of the war. Returning, he visited his old friends
in Springfield, then again went South, and has
since died.

Charles R. Willis was from Connecticut, was
well educated, but done little business in law.
Soon after coming to Springfield he engaged in
the real estate business, in which he accumulated
a large fortune. He died many years ago.

Schuyler Strong was from New York, and
well advanced in years before coming to Spring-
field. In his native State he was regarded as
no ordinary lawyer, and was recognized as the
peer of any when he arrived here. If it had
not been for one grevious fault, so common, suc-
cess would have crowned his every effort. He
died about 1845.

Niuian W. Edwards is the son of Ninian
Edwards, the first and only Territorial Gover-
nor of Illinois. He was born April 15, 1809,
near Frankfort, Kentucky. His father at that
time was Chief Justice of the Court of Ap-
peals of Kentucky, but, receiving the appoint-
ment of Governor of the Territory of Illinois,
he removed with his family in June following,
to Kaskaskia, its capital. When the proper age,
Ninian W. was sent to Transylvania University,
and graduated in the law department of that
institution in 1833. Previous to his graduation,
and in 1832, he was married to Miss Elizabeth
P. Todd, in Lexington, Kentucky. Returning
home after his graduation, he commenced the
practice of law. In 1834, he was appointed by
Governor Reynolds, Attorney General of the
State, and was shortly afterwards elected by the
legislature. The law requiring the Attorney
General to reside at the capital, and Mr. Ed-
wards not liking a residence in Vandalia, he
resigned the office in February, 1835, and
shortly afterwards removed to Springfield. In

1836, Mr. Edwards was elected one of the Rep-
resentatives in the legislature, and was also one
of the "Long Nine," and is now, in 1881,theonly
one living of the number. From 1836 to 1852,
iNIr. Edwards served in the legislature, either in
the Senate or House of Representatives, being
a very efficient member, lie was also a mem-
ber of the Constitutional Convention which
formed the constitution of 1848. In 1852 he
was appointed Attorney before the Board of
Commissioners to investigate the claims of
canal contractors against the State, amounting
to over $1,500,000. In 1854 he received the ap-
pointment of State Superintendent of Public
Instruction by Governor Matteson, and was the
first incumbent of that office. He was retained
in this office by the legislature until 1857. Mr.
Edwards has always been a champion of free
schools, and drafted the law in regard to them
which was first adopted in the State. In 1862,
he was appointed by President Lincoln, LTnited
States Commissary. Aside from his official
duties, Mr. Edwards has found time to prepare
a history of the State of Illinois, including the
Life and Times of Governor Edwards, written
on tile invitation of the Illinois State Histori-
cal Society. It is a valuable work, and is re-
garded as a standard on the subject on which it
treats. As a lawyer, Mr. Edwards ranked high
while an active member of the Bar, and even at
this day on some subjects his views are often
sought by the fraternity.

Cyrus Walker was a Kentuckian by birth;
studied law and was admitted to the Bar in his
native State, where he became very prominent,
especially as a criminal lawyer. On account of
his defense of a murderer, and his acquittal,
whom the people generally thought should have
been hung, Kentucky became uncomfortably
warm for him, so that he came to Illinois and
settled in Macomb, in 1833. He was a man of
strong mind, an excellent lawyer, and withal
very conscientious. In 1835 he was a partner of
Jose])hu8 Hewitt, and in 1839 with James C.
Conkling. His business was very extensive for
many years in the various courts of Illinois. He
died near Macomb, in 1876.
' In 1837, Abraham Lincoln was admitted to
the Bar, and for the first time wrote in connec-
tion with his name, "Attorney and Counselor-
at-Law." While living in Salem, he had bor-
rowed books from the law library of John T.
Stuart, which he read and returned as the
opportunity occurred. When convinced that he
could stand an examination, he presented him-
self for that purpose, and was duly licensed to

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

practice his profession. He immediately I'oimed
a partnership with Mr. Stuart, which relation
continued about two years. During this same
year, Stephen A. Douglas became a citizen of
Springfield, having received the appointment of
Register in the Land Office. He soon afterwards
formed a partnership with John D. Urquhart
for the practice of law, and here commenced the
rivalry of these two great men — Abraham Lin-
coln and Stephen A. Douglas — men whom the
world delights to honor. In the address already
quoted, by Isaac N. Arnold, he says:

"When, forty years ago, the Bar used to meet
here at the capitol, in the Supreme and Ll^nited
States Courts, and ride the circuit in our differ-
ent sections of the State, Lincoln and Douglas
did not occupy a position of such overshadowing
importance as they do to-day. They did not
beat us in our cases when law and justice were
with us, and we did not realize that they were so
greatly our superiors. But these two men have
passed into history, and justly, as our great rep-
resentative men. These are the two most promi-
nent figures, not only in the history of Illinois,
but of the Mississippi Valley, and their promi-
nence, certainly that of Mr. Lincoln, will be in-
creased as time passes on. I will, therefore, en-
deavor to give such rough and imperfect outlines
of them as lawyers, and advocates, and public
speakers, as I can. We, who knew them person-
ally, who tried causes with them and against
them, ought, I think, to aid those who shall come
after us, to understand them, and to determine
what manner of men they were. In the first
place, no two men could be found more unlike,
physically and intellectually, in manners and in
appearance, than they.

" Lincoln was a very tall, spare man, six feet
four inches in height, and would be instantly
recognized as belonging to that type of tall,
large-boned men produced in the northern part
of the Mississippi Valley, and exhibiting its
peculiar characteristics in the most marked de-
gree in Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois.

" In any court room in the United States he
would have been instantly picked out as a West-
ern man. His stature, figure, dress, manner,
voice and accent indicated that he was of the
Northwest.

"In manner he was always cordial and frank,
and although not without dignity, he made
every person feel quite at his ease. I think the
first impression a stranger would get of him,
whether in conversation or bv hearing him speak,
was, that this is a kind, frank, sincere, genuine
man, of transparent truthfulness and integrity;

and before Lincoln had uttered many words, he
would be impressed with his clear good sense,
his remarkably simple, homely, but expressive
Saxon language, and next his wonderful wit and
humor. Lincoln was more familiar with the
Bible than with any other book in the language,
and this was apparent, both from his style and
illustrations, so often taken from that Book. He
verified the maxim, that it is better to know
thoroughly a few good books than to read many.

"Douglas was little more than five feet high,
with a strong, broad chest, and strongly marked
features; his manners, also, were cordial, frank
and hearty. The poorest and hninblost found
him friendly. He was, in his earlier years, hale
fellow well met with the rudest and jioorest
man in the court room.

"Those of you who practiced law with liim,
or ti'ied causes before him when on the bench,
will remember that it was not unusual to see
him come off the bench, or leave his chair at
the Bar, and take a seat on the knee of a fiiend,
and with one arm thrown familiarly around his
friend's neck, have a friendly talk, or a legal or
political consultation. Such familiarity would
have shocked our English cousins, and disgusted
our Boston brothers, and it has, I think, disap-
peared. In contrast with this familiariiy of
Douglas, I remember an anecdote illustrating
Colonel Benton's ideas of his own personal dig-
nity. A distinguished member of Congress,
who was a great admirer of Benton, one day
approached and slapped him familiarly and
rudely on the shoulder. The Senator haughtily
drew himself up, and said, 'That is a familiar-
ity, sir, I never permit my fnends, much less a
comparative stranger. Sir, it must not be re-
peated.'

"Lincoln and Douglas were, as we know,
both self-educated, aud each the builder of his
own fortune. Each became, very early, the
recognized leader of the political (larty to which
he belonged. Douglas was bold, unfiinching,
impetuous, denunciatory and determined. He
possessed, in an eminent degree, the qualities
which create personal popularity, and he was
the idol of his friends. Both Lincoln and
Douglas were strong jury-lawyers. Lincoln, on
the whole, was the strongest jury-lawyer we
ever had in Illinois. Both were distinguished
for their ability in seizing and bringing out,
distinctly and clearly, the real points in a case.
Both were very happy in the examination of
witnesses; I think Lincoln the stronger of the
two in cross-examination. lie could compel a
witness to tell thi' truth when he meant to lie.

HISTORY OP SANGAMON COUNTY.

He could make a jury laugh, and, generally,
weep, at liis pleasure. Lincoln on the right
side, and especially when injustice or fraud
were to be exposed, was the strongest advocate.
On the wrong side, or on the defense, where
the accused was really guilty, the client with
Douglas for his advocate would be more fortu-
nate than with Lincoln.

"Lincoln studied his cases thoroughly and
exhaustively. Douglas had a wonderful faculty
of extracting from his associates, from experts
and others, by conversation, all they knew of a
subject he was to discuss, and then making it so
thoroughly his that all seemed to have origi-
nated with himself. He so perfectly assimi-
lated the ideas and knowledge of others that all
seemed to be his own, and all that went into his
mind came out improved.

" The ablest argument I ever heard him make
was in the case of Daniel Brainar vs. The Canal
Trustees, argued at Ottawa, June, 1850, reported
in 12 111. Reports, 488. The question involved
the extent of the right of pre-emption by set-
tlers ujion canal lands, within the city of Chi-
cago. The judges were Treat, Trumbull and
Caton. .Judges Treat and Trumbull concurred
in deciding the case against Douglas, Judge
Caton dissenting. He made, in this case, one
of the ablest arguments I ever heard at any
Bar.

"In 1841, Mr. Douglas, being then not quite
twenty-eight years old, was elected one of the
Judges of the Supreme Court. He was not a
profound lawyer, but with his clear common
sense and incisive mind, alter a case was well
argued, he always knew how to decide it. He
held the position of Judge for about two years,
and was then, after a very active canv.as, elected
to Congress by a small majority over O. H.
Browning. From this time until his death, in
the early summer of 1861, he remained in Con-
gress, serving in the House until 1840, when he
was elected to the Senate, of which he continued
a member to the time of his death. His ablest
speech in the House was made on the 7th of
January, 1 844, on a bill to refund to General
Jackson the fine imposed upon him by Judge
Hall, during the defense of New Orleans. In
this masterly argument he took the then bold
and novel ground that the fine was imposed in
violation of law. It is a curious fact that, in this
speech, Douglas claimed for General Jackson
many of the war-powers exercised by President
Lincoln and his generals during the rebellion,
and for which tlie President was so bitterly de-
nounced by his political opponents. This speech

gave him a national reputation. After the death
of the hero of New Orleans a pamphlet copy of
this speech was found among Ins papers, with
an endorsement in Jackson's hand-writing, and
signed by him, in these words: "■This speech
constitutes my defense. Hay it aside as an in-
heritance for tny grand-children." .

"Mr. Lincoln remained in active practice at the
Bar until his nomination for the Presidency in
1860. His reputation as a lawyer and advocate
was rising higher and higher. He had a large
practice on the circuit all over the central part
of this State, and he was employed in most of
the important cases in the Federal and Supreme
Courts. He went on special retainers all over
Illinois, and occasionally to St. Louis, Cincin-
nati, and Indiana. His law arguments ad-
dressed to the judges were always clear, vigor-
ous, and logical; seeking to convince rather by
the application of principle than by the cita-
tion of authorities and cases. On the whole, I
always thought him relatively stronger before a
jury than whh the court. He was a quick and
accurate reader of character, and understood,
almost intuitively, the jury, witnesses, parties,
and judges, and how best to address, con-
vince, and influence them. He had a power
of conciliating and impressing everyone in his
favor. A stranger coming into court, not know-
ing him, or anything about his case, listening
to Lincoln a few moments, would find himself
involuntarily on his side, and wishing him suc-
cess. His manner was so candid, so direct, the
spectator was impressed that he was seeking
only truth and justice. He excelled all I ever
heard in the statement of his case. However
complicated, he woidd disentangle it, and pre-
sent the turning point in a way so simple and
clear that all could understand. Indeed, his
statement often rendered argument unnecessary,
and often the court would stop him and say, "If
that is the case, we will hear tlie other side."
He had in the highest possible degree the art of
persuasion and the power ot conviction. His
illustrations were often ijuaint and homely, but
always clear and apt, and generally conclusive.
He never misstated evidence, but stated clearly,
and met fairly and squarely his opponent's case.
His wit and humor and inexhaustible stores of
anecdote, always to the point, added immensely
to his power as a jury advocate.

The last case Mr. Lincoln ever tried was that
of Jones vs. Johnson, tried in April and May,
1860, in the United States Circuit Court, at
C'hicago. The case involved the title to land of
very great value, the accretion on the shores of

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Lake Michigan. During the trial, Judge Drum-
mond and all the counsel on both sides, including
Mr. Lincoln, dined together at my house. Doug-
las and Lincoln were at the time both candi-
dates for the nomination for President. There
were active and ardept political friends of each
at the table, and when the sentiment was pro-
posed, " May Illinois furnish the next Presi-
dent," it was, as you imagine, drank with en-
thusiasm by the friends of both Lincoln and
Douglas./

Jesse B. Thomas, Jr., was a nephew of the
eminent statesman of that name, a former United
States Senator, and well known in the early
day. He was an attorney of more than ordinary
ability, and succeeded Ninian W. Edwards as
Attorney General of the State in 1885. In 18.37
he was appointed Circuit Judge, but resigned
after the expiration of two years. He was at
one time a partner of David Prickett, in Spring-
field, and afterwards of William L May. He
finally went to Chicago and died there.

E. D. Baker came to Springfield in 1835, from
Greene county, Illinois. He was born in London,
England, February 24, 1811, and emigrated with
his parents to America shortly after the close of
our late war with England, and after remaining
for a time in Philadelphia he came west and
settled in Indiana, and from thence to Illinois.
He early manifested a strong passion for books,
reading with avidity everything on which he
could lay his hands, particularly history, biogra-
phy and poetry. Possessing a rare aptitude for
acquiring information, a ready and highly reten-
tive memory, his mind soon became stored with
the rich treasures of literary lore, from which,
in after years, he drew copiously as from a per-
ennial fount. At Carrollton, Greene county, Mr.
Baker studied law in the oiSce of A. W. Cavarly,
serving at the same time as deputy in the office of
the County Clerk. As soon as he gained a super-
ficial knowledge of the science of law, spurred
on by necessity, he procured a license and com-
menced practice. Owing, however, to his youth,
limited legal attainments and the absence of in-
fluential friends, during the first years of bis
professional life, he met with indifferent success.

While in Carrollton, Mr. Baker was married
to Mrs. Mary A. Lee. Soon after marriage he
united with the Christian Church, and being
naturally of an impulsive and enthusiastic tem-
perament, he was very zealous in the discharge
of his religious duties, became an able exhorter,
and began to entertain serious thoughts of en-
gaging in regular ministerial work. As time
passed, his mind becoming occupied with poli-

tics, he finally ceased his connection with the
religious body. While an active member of the
church, he first discovered that boldness of
thought, that opulence of expression, that grace-
ful and persuasive manner of speaking, for which
he became so justly celebrated in after life.

Shortly' after coming to Springfield, Mr. Baker
associated himself in the practice of law with
Josephus Hewett. Subsequently, he entered
into partnership with Stephen T. Logan, and
for a short time with Albert T. Bledsoe. It was
here that Baker first applied himself seriously
to the duties of his profession, and here he won
his first laurels as an advocate. Surrounded by
the great men already mentioned as comprising
the Sangamon County Bar during this Decade,
Baker was compelled to struggle for that emi-
nence in his profession which he rapidly at-
tained. Although disinclined to close, continu-
ous study, and often negligent in the preparation
of his cases, he had sufficiently mastered the
principles and intricacies of the law, as to meet
the ordinary requirements of practice, and his
native genius supplied any deficiency. His con-
fident, self-possessed air amidst the bustle of a
court of law, his quickness of perception, ready
wit, fertility in resources and ardent eloquence,
enabled him to achieve the victory in spite of
the most determined opposition from older or
more experienced antagonists. In jury cases he
was especially successful, for in these he was less
fettered by the legal forms and technicalities
which ordinarily curb the reins of youthful im-
agination. Indeed, a jury to him was but|a mini-
ature popular assembly, before which he could
pour out his argument and invective at will, or
indulge in those exquisite touches of pathos,
which failed not to awaken the sympatby and
move the hearts of his auditors. Enterprising
and ambitious, Mr. Baker early directed his
attention to politics as opening the shortest road
to preferment. In 1837 he was elected to the
General Assembly from Sangamon county to fill
the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of
Dan Stone. In the following year he was
re-elected. In the campaign of 1840 he
took an active part in the support of General
Harrison. In 1844 he was elected to Congress,
and was a member of that body when the war
with Mexico broke out. Returning home from
Washington, he raised a regiment and was com-
missioned colonel. In this war he earned a
re])utation as a brave and gallant commander.

On his return from Mexico he removed to
Galena and was there re-elected to Congress.
He took his seat the second time in December,

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

1849. He bore an active if not a conspicuous
part in the debates upon those grave National
issues, which formed so prominent a feature in
the first session of the 3lst Congress. He
favored some, but not all the compromise meas-
ures passed at that session. The annexed para-
graph, taken from a speech made by him on
these historic questions, was prophetic of his
future fate:

"I have only to say that if the time should
come when dissension rules the hour, and dis-
cord reigns supreme, I shall be ready to give the
best blooil in my veins to my country's cause.
I shall be prepared to meet all antagonists, with
lance in rest, to do battle in every land, in de-
fense of the constitution of the country, which
Lhave sworn to support to the last extremity,
against disunionists and all its enemies, whether
North or South — to meet them everywhere, at
all times, with speech or hand, with word or
blow, until thought or being shall be mine no
longer."

In 18.52 Colonel Baker emigrated with his
family to California Establishing himself in
San Francisco, he once more commenced the
practice of law. His fame as an advocate and
orator had preceded him, so that he soon found
himself in the midst of an extensive business.
Almost at one bound, and with apparently little
effort, he rose to the summit of his profession,
and to a share in the best practice of the courts
of that youthful commercial metropolis. Here
it was that he achieved his highest reputation
as a lawyer, and perhaps his most brilliant
renown as an orator.

While living in California, he early identified
himself with the Free Soil movement. When
Senator Broderick, the chief of the Douglas
Democracy in that State was killed in a duel
with Judge Terry, it was Colonel Baker that
was called upon to deliver the funeral oration,
and right royally did he perform that sad duty.
The oration has seldom, if ever, been surpassed.
Space forbids even a quotation in this place.

Shortly after the unhappy death of Broder-
ick, Colonel Baker removed to Oregon. Here
he was soon after elected to the United States
Senate. Returning to San Francisco, on his
way to the East, he was the recipient of a public
ovation. In his speech upon the occasion, he
said:

"As for me, I dare not, will not, be false to
freedom. Where the feet of my youth were
planted, there by freedom my feet shall ever
stand. I will walk beneath her banner. I will
glory in her strength. I have seen her in his-

tory struck down on a hundred fields of battle.
I have seen her friends Hy from her, her foes
gather around her. I have seen her bound to a
stake. I have seen them give her ashes to the
winds. But when they turned to exult, I have
seen her again meet them face to face, resplend-
ent in comp ete steel, brandishing in her strong,
right hand a flaming sword, red with insuff-
erable light. I take courage. The people
gather around her. The genius of America
will yet lead her sons to freedom."

In December, 1860, while en route to Wash-
ington, Colonel Baker paid a hasty visit to
Springfield, where he was honored with a public
reception. On behalf of the citizens, J. C.
Conkling, in a neat and tasty speech, formally
welcomed him to the scenes of his early labors
and triumphs. The Senator elect responded in
characteristic style. He expressed the liviliest
gratitude at the heartiness and enthusiasm with
which he had been received by his old friends,
without distinction of party; referring in touch-
ing language to his previous history; alluded to
the wonderful growth and prosperity of Illinois,
and of the great West; and spoke with solici-
tude of our National difficulties and the impend-
ing civil war.

On taking his seat in the Senate, Colonel
Baker entered industriously upon the discharge
of the responsible duties of his station, and
ranked from the outset among the foremost
orators and debaters in that dignified body.
His addresses on the 2d and :3d days of January,
1801, in reply to Judali P. Benjamin, of Louisi-
ana, was one of the most eloquent delivered
during that storm period.

On the 20th day of April, a few days after
the fall of Fort Sumter, Colonel Baker spoke in
New York City to one of the largest assem-
blages ever enchained by the eloquence of a sin-
gle man. In closing his address, he dedicated
himself anew to the service of his country
in these grandly eloquent words, which were
greeted with tremendous applause:

"And if, from the far Pacific, a voice feebler
than the feeblest murmur on its shores, may be
heard to give you courage and hope in this con-
test, that voice is yours to-day. And if a man
whose hair is gray, who is well nigh worn out
in the battle and toil of life, may pledge him-
self on such an occasion, and to such an audience,
let me say, as my last word, that as when amid
sheeted tire and flame, I saw and led the hosts
of New York, as they charged in contest upon
a foreign soil for the honor of your flag, so,
again, tf Providence shall will it, this feeble

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

hand shall draw a sword never yet dishonored —
not to tight for distant honor in a foreign land —
but to tight for country, for government, for
Constitution, for law, for right, for freedom, for
humanity; and in the hope that the banner of
our country may advance, and wheresoever that
banner waves, there may glory pursue and free-
dom be established."

Colonel Baker at once raised a regiment,
known as the California regiment, and entered
the service. At Ball's BlulJ, on the 20th day of
October, 1861, he fell in battle, pierced by eight
leaden messengers freighted with death, from
the guns of the advancing foe. Thus heroically
the grand and gifted Baker fell.

John D. Urquhartwas from Virginia, and came
to Springfield about 1832. lie was well read in
the law and in the general literature of the day.
He was a gentleman of the old school, with too
much retinement to adapt himself to Western
methods, and ttjerefore achieved no success as a
lawyer at the Bar of Sangamon county.

John C. Doremus was from New Jersey, and
first practiced in the courts of this county in
1838. In 1840 he formed a partnership with
Schuyler Strong, which continued but a few
moutiis. He never attained any distinction as a
lawyer, and early in 1840 went South, studied
theology, and became minister in the Presby-
terian Church and received the degree of D.D.
He died some years ago.

THIRD DECADE.

The Third Decade shows in addition to the
greater number of those of the Second, the
names of Silas VV. Robbins, Charles R. Welles,
Benjamin West, James Shields, William A.
Minshall, Justice Buttertield, Justice Butterfield,
Jr., Levi Davis, A. K.Smede, James H.Matheny,
David Logan, E. B Herndon, A. Parker, Wil-
liam I. Ferguson, William Walker. William H.
Herndon, Vincent Ridgely, U. F. Linder, Josiah
Lamborn, Archibald Williams, O. H. Browning,
Israel Crosby, Lyman 'rrumbull.

What Bar in all the Union can show a greater
array of distinguished names than the foregoing,
in addition to the best of the Second Decade
who still continued to practice before the courts
of the county. For great learning, for oratorical
ability, and for unsurpassed statesmanship, the
Bar during this Decade has never been surpassed.
From its ranks were furnished a President of
the Lhiited States, a distinguished candidate for
the Presidency whose memory will always be
kept green by lovers of the L^nion, several
United States Senators, one Cabinet Officer,
several members of Congress, several disting-

uished officers in the United States Army — all
of whom were honorable men reflecting great
credit upon the profession of law and upon the
Bar of Sangamon county.

A large and interesting volume could be writ-
ten of the Bar of this Decade, but in this volume
space forbids more than such individual mention
as will show the character of those composing it.

CTeneral Shields.* — Among the men who have
conferred lasting celebrity upon the Capital
City of Illinois, by making it the place of their
temporary or permanent abode, one of the most
remarkable and distinguished was the late Gen-
eral Shields — the man of two nationalities, the
\ eteran of two wars, and the Senator from
three States.

James Shields was born at a place called Dun-
ganou, county of Tyrone, Ireland, in the year
1819. Of his family and early domestic history,
little or nothing is certainly known; though he
appears to have enjoyed fair educational advan-
tages. With that inbred and irrepressible spirit
of adventure, which formed the ruling charac-
teristic of his life, he emigrated to tlie United
States while still in his minority, and, propably,
first landed at New Orleans. This was in 1826,
or thereabouts; antl in no long time afterward,
we find him located in Randolph coiinty, Illi-
nois, engaged in the vocation of teaching. Sub-
sequentty, he read law, was admittted to the Bar
in 1832, and began the practice of that profes-
sion in Kaskaskia — the ancient "seat of empire"
of Illinois under the B'rench Dominion.

Gifted from the outset with a talent for pub-
lic speaking, and all the elements of personal
popularity, we next find our young adventurer
at Vandalia (then the State Capital), represent-
ing the county of Randolph in the lower branch
of the General Assembly. Here, during the
memorable session of 1836-37, he first met Lin-
coln, Douglas, Hardin, and other rising politi-
cians of the period, with whom he was after-
wards to become so prominently associated.

In March, 1841, Mr. Shields" was made Au-
ditor of the State of Illinois, and took up his
residence in Springfield, to which place the seat
of government had been removed from Vanda-
lia by act of the legislature. This was the era
of general financial depression, of depreciated
paper money, and of slow recovery from panic;
and Shields'is said to have run the Auditor's
office almost entirely on scrip. It was during
his incumbency of this office that he became in-
volved in the personal difficulty with Abraham

* Prepared by Joseph Wullace.

J^^a^M^f

^1^-6^

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

101

Lincoln, which led to'liis challenging the latter
to mortal combat. Lincoln accepted the chal-
lenge, and under the advice of his friend and
second. Dr. Merriman, selected cavalry broad
swords as the weapons with which to light.
Such a choice necessarily gave to Lincoln, who
was mucli the tallest and longest armed man of
the two, greatly the advantage. But our chiv-
alrous son of the Emerald Isle was not disposed
to shrink from tbe encounter, whatever might
be the advantage of his antagonist in point of
stature, or in the choice of weapons. The i)ar-
ties accordingly repaired to Alton, accompanied
by their respective seconds, intending to light
tlie duel on the narrow tongue of land between
the confluence of the Mississippi and the Mis-
souri rivers. But through the timely interven-
tion of common friends, the difficulty was at
last amicably adjusted, without the shedding of
human gore.

On August 16, 1843, Shields was commis-
sioned by Governor Ford one of the associated
justices of the Supreme Court of Illinois, but
did not long retain his seat upon the bench;
and, in April, 1845, the ermine for the office of
Commissioner of the General Land Office,
which post he held for nearly two years.

The outbreak of hostilities with Mexico, in
1846, afforded the long-wished-for opportunity
of gratifying his martial tastes and ambition,
and constituted the turning point, so to speak,
in his checkered career. Having announced his
intention of taking part in the war, he was, upon
the recommendation of the Illinois delegation in
Congress, commissioned Brigadier General by
President Polk. Taking the field under General
Scott, Shields led the Illinois brigade in the vic-
torious rnarch on the City of Mexico. In the
battle ot Cerro Gordo, on April 18, 1847, he was
seriously wounded by a ball which passed
through one of his lungs. For a while, it was
doubtful if he could survive; but he did recover
so as to resume his former command, and served
till the end of tbe campaign. At the sanguinary
battle of Cherubusco, fought on the 20th of
August, in the vicinity of the City of Mexico,
General Shields led the Illinois and New Eng-
land brigades, and the Palmetto regiment, in the
attack upon the Mexican reserve, and drove the
enemy from their entrenched position back into
the capital. lie also fought at the storming of
Chapultepec, where he is said to have been again
wounded. For his gallantry in these several
engagements, he was brevetted a Major-General.
Upon the conclusion of the war, he was honor-
■ ably mustered out of service, and returned home

12—

to receive the plaudits and rewards of his country-
men for his valorous and patriotic services.

Declining the appointment of Governor for
the Territory of Oregon, General Shields, daring
the wintei of 1848-49, was elected liy the Illinois
Legislature to a seat in the United States Senate,
which he held for the full term of six years from
the 4th of March, 1849. His career in the Sen-
ate, though not so brilliant as it had been on the
" tented field," was creditable to himself and to
the party that elected him. During this term,
he voted for the Compromise measures of 1850,
and also for the Nebraska Bill.

In 1855, he was a candidate for re-election,
but his Democratic friends in the legislature
found it necessary to concentrate their strength
upon Governor Matteson, in order to defeat the
candidacy of Mr. Lincoln, and the latter, seeing
th.at he could not succeed, finally withdrew in
favor of Lyman Trumbull, who was thereupon
elected by the fusion majority.

Soon after this defeat (about the first he had
sustained). General Shields transferred his resi-
dence to the State of Minnesota, by the legisla-
ture of which he was sent to the United States
Senate to fill a vacancy, and occupied his seat
from May V2, 1858, to March .3, 1859. He then
went to California, where he remained for a year
or two. What were his motives in going to the
Pacific coast, or his occupation while there, do
not clearly appear.

When the long threatened civil war broke
out, General Shields' martial spirit was again
fully aroused, and having tendered his services
to President Lincoln they were accepted, and he
was made a Brigadier, his commission dating
August 19, 1861. Early in 1862, he was assigned
to the command of a division of General Bank's
army, operating in the Shenandoah Valley, Va.,
and commanded at the battles of Port Republic
and Winchester. Some time in 1863, General
Shields, owing in part to disability consequent
upon the wounds he had received in former
campaigns, and partly to his having been over-
looked in the matter of promotion by the mili-
tary authorities at Washington, resigned his
commission in the army, and settled upon a
small farm in Carroll county, Missouri. About
this tinie, he appears to have married a woman
of Irish parentage; but the union was not pro-
ductive of any addition to his slender fortune.
His experience as a tiller of the soil was not
particularly encouraging. In the course of a
public lecture in one of our eastern cities, he
referred to himself as one of the " poorest farm-

102

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

ei"s in Carroll county," and he doubtless told the
simple truth.

During the stormy administration of Presi-
dent Johnson, Shields was elected to Congress
from one of the Missouri districts, but was not
allowed to take his seat by the party then domi-
nant in the House of Representatives. In 1877,
he was elected a member of the Missouri Legis-
lature, and about the same time was appointed
Adjutant General of that State.

In 1878 he was brought forward in connection
with the office of doorkeeper of the National
House of Representatives; and the Democratic
majority of that body (as a mark of respect for
his distinguished services, and to relieve his ne-
cessities) voted to increase his pension to one
hundred dollars per month.

During the winter of 1878-79, General Shields
was elected by the Missouri Legislature to com-
plete the unexpired portion of the late Senator
Bogy's term in the United States Senate. The
term was quite short, (not exceeding six weeks),
but it conferred upon him tlie rare honor of hav-
ing been a Senator from three States; an lionor
such as, perhaps, was never before vouchsafed to
any citizen of our republic. In these latter years
of his life, he traveled more or less extensively
through the country, lecturing on his "Reminis-
cences of the Mexican war," and also upon his
"recollections" of the eminent statesmen with
whom he had associated in the Senate in ante-
bellum days.

At length, however, after a singularly event-
ful and romantic career of nearly three score
and ten years. General Shields was called to
meet his last enemy — death. On the night of
the lirst of June, 1879, he died suddenly and
peacefully in Ottumwa, Iowa, while on a visit
to relatives in that city. It was the opinion of
those best qualified to judge, that his old wound
in the chest, received in the Mexican war, was
the primary cause of his unexpected decease.
His remains were subsequently removed to his
home at Carrollton, Missouri, where they were
interred with appropriate civic and military
honors.

James Shields, strictly speaking, was neither
a great nor a learned man, yet his abilities were
far above the average, and no one ever made a
better display than himself, of those talents
with which the Creator had endowed him. He
Avas, in a certain sense, his own ancestor, and
not for him was intended the Latin maxims,
avito viret honora.

In stature he was of the middle size, trim
built, raw-boned, and dark complected, with

black hairand eyes, and prominent, yet regular,
features. His carriage was at all times erect
and soldier-like, while his manners were pleas-
ing and "taking" in the extreme. As a speaker,
he was graceful, fluent, witty and eloquent, and
his tine voice had just enough of the Irish
brogue to give it flavor and richness of tone.
No more captivating speaker, for the masses,
ever mounted the stump in Illinois, unless it
may have been the lamented Colonel Baker.

Shields was also a vain man — especially of
his martial record — Ijut his vanity was of the
innocent and amiable kind, and never took the
form of offensive and overbearing egotism. He
could hardly be called a man of business (being
as improvident as Oliver Goldsmith), and was
not unfrequently indebted to his personal or
political friends for pecuniary aid. Careless of
his private aft"airs, he went up and down the
land, like a knight errant of old, seeking re-
nown, and finding it, in diverse ways, and in
widely dissimilar spheres of human endeavor.

In party politics, he was a life-long Democrat,
but he ever so bore himself, amid the fiercest
partisan contests, as to command the respect, if
not admiration, of his political foes. His amor
patriae was unbounded, and no truer patriot
ever raised his voice in the American Senate, or
unsheathed his sword upon the blood-stained
field of battle. His influence over his fellow-
citizens of Celtic h'wth was great and durable,
and was always wielded for good, since in all
matters of public policy he was discreet in
council, and never permitted his feelings or im-
agination to transcend his judgment.

As a politician, jurist, warrior, orator, and
Senator, he possessed many useful, many noble,
and many brilliant qualities; and, despite the
transitory nature of that which we call fame,
his name and exploits will not soon be forgotten
by his admiring countrymen. But the valiant
and generous hearted Shields is in his grave;
after life's fitful fever, "he sleeps well." He
has "passed into that still country where the
heaviest-laden wayfarer at length laj's down his
load."

"Long shall wc seek his likeness — long in vain —
And turn to all of him which may remain,
Sighing that Nature formed but one such man,
And broke the die in moulding — "

Silas W.Robbins immigrated from Massachu-
setts to Kentucky as early as 1825, and succeeded
admirably as an attorney in that commonwealth,
serving some years as a Judge of one of the
courts. There being a strong prejudice in that
State against Yankees, he left about 1841 and

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

103

came to Illinois ami settled in Springfield, form-
ing one of that strong force of attorneys com-
posing the Bar of that period. He was an ex-
cellent lawyer, and soon sticceeded in obtaining
a lucrative practice, which continued until his
retirement in 1852. Judge Robbins was a man
of high temper and of a very beligeront disposi-
tion, never seeming happy or contented without
a "wee bit of a row" on his hands. He could
brook no restraints, and would be imposed on
by no one, large or small. In 1855 he removed
to a farm a short distance from Springfield, and
there died about 1870.

Justin Buttertield was a citizen of Chicago,
and often appeared in the Springfield courts. He
was one of the most learned, talented and distin-
guished members of the Bar duiingthis Decade.
A case in which Mr. Butterfield participated is
thus described by Isaac N. Arnold:

"In December, 1842, Governor Ford, on the
application of the Executive of Missouri, issued
a warrant for the arrest of Joseph Smith, the
Apostle of Mormonism, then residing at Nauvoo,
in this State, as a fugitive from justice. He was
charged with having instigated the attemjit, by
some Mormons, to assassinate Governor Bogg, of
Missouri. Mr. 15ntterfield, in behalf of Smith,
sued out, from Judge Pope, a writ of habeas
corpus, und Smith was brought before the United
States District Court. On the hearing it clearly
appeared that he had not been in Missouri, nor
out of Illinois, within the time in which the
crime had been committed, and if he had any
connection with the oti'ense the acts were done
in Illinois. Was he, then, a fugitive from jus-
tice? It was pretty clear that, if allowed to be
taken into Missouri, moans would have been
found to condemn and execute him. The Attor-
ney-General of Illinois, Mr. Lamborn, appeared
to sustain the warrant. Mr. Butterfield, aided
by B. S. Edwards, appeared for Smith, and
moved for his discharge. The Prophet (so-
called) was attended by his twelve Apostles and
a large number of his followers, and the case at-
tracted great interest. The court-room was
thronged with prominent members of the Bar
and public men. Judge Pope was agallantgen-
tleman of the old school, and loved nothing
better than to be in the midst of youth and
beauty. Seats were crowded on the Judge's
platform, on both sides and behind the Judge,
and an array of brilliant and beautiful ladies al-
most encircled the court. Mr. Butterfield,
dressed a la Webster, in blue dress-coat and
metal buttons, with buff vest, rose with dignity
and amidst the most profound silence. Pausing,

and running his eyes admiringly from the cen-
tral figure of Judge Pope, along the rows of
lovely women on each side of him, he said:

"May it please the Court:

"I appear before you to-day under circum-
stances most novel and peculiar. I am to ad-
dress the 'Pope' (bowing to the Judge) sur-
rounded by angels (bowing still lower to the
ladies), in the presence of the Holy Apostles, in
behalf of the Prophet of the Lord."

"Among the most lovely and attractive of
these 'angels' were the daughters of Judge
Pope, a daughter of Mr. Butterfield, Mrs. Lin-
coln, Miss Dunlap, afterwards Mrs. General John
A. McClernand, and others, some of whom still
live, and the tradition of their youthful beauty
is verified by their lovely daughters and grand-
children.

" But the chief actors in that drama, on the
issue of which hung, not only the life of Smith,
the Prophet, but of his followers, and perhaps the
peace of two States, the dramatis persoa: have all,
or nearly all passed away. The genial and learned
Judge, the prisoner and his able counselor, so
full of wit and humor, the elociuent Attorney-
General, the Governors of both States, the Mar-
shal and Clerk, and nearly all of the distin-
guished lawyers and public men — have each paid
the debt of nature."

Mr. Butterfield was a native of the State of
New York, and at the breaking out of the war
of 1812, he was in some oftice in that State, and
opposing the war it destroyed his popularity.
When the war broke out between this country
and Mexico, some person asked him if he was
opposed to it. "No," said he, "I oppose no wars.
I opposed one war and it ruined me, and hence-
forth I am for vxir, j^estilence and famine.^''

During the contest between Harrison and Van
Buren in 1840, some Federal office-holder met
Butterfield in debate. The latter ciiarged the
hard times that then afliieted the country to the
course pursued by the Administration. The
office-holder replied, denying that there was
hard times, and declared that he never saw bet-
ter times in his life. Butterfield, in his rejoinder,
used the following language: "Fellow-citizens,
I believe, in my soul, that if it rained fire and
brimstone, as it did at Sodom and Gomorrah,
these locofocos would exclaim, 'What a refresh-
ing shower 1'"

Mr. Butterfield was perfectly familiar with the
Scriptures and used Scriptural (piotations and
illustrations with great effect. While he was
District Attorney, Ben Bond was United States
Marshal, and as two of his brothers were depu-

104

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

ties, and were quite annoying to hhn, his patience
at one time being tried beyond endurance. He
remarked to some one: "I would to God that
not only Thou, but also all that hear me this day,
were both almost and altogether, such as I am,
except these Jionds.'"

David A. Smith, of Jacksonville, who had in
some way incurred the displeasure of Butterfield,
was sitting one (hxy in the United States Court
room, sleeping, the sun shining upon his bald,
slick head. Some one directed Butterfield's at-
tention to him, when he instantly exclaimed, in
his grutf voice: "The light shineth upon dark-
ness, but the darkness comprehended it not."

The best Scriptural illustration made by But-
terfield was when he was defending the consti-
tutionality of tlie Shawneetown Bank. The
Constitution of Hlinois of ]818, provided that
there should be no bank except the State Bank
and its branches, and also the banks that were
then in existence. The Shawneetown Bank was
chartered before that time, but in 18:3.5 its char-
ter was extended. A writ of quo warranto was
sued out against the bank, and in the argument
it was contended by counsel who sued out the
writ, that the extension of the charter was in fact
the creation of a new bank. Butterfield was
restive while this line of argument was being
pursued, and he arose to reply with aii expres-
sion of contempt upon his face. He said he
would like to be informed by the gentlemen, if
they had met with it in their reading, which he
very much doubted, however, whether when the
Lord lengthened out the life of Hezekiah fifteen
years he had made a new man, or was he the
same old Hezekiah !

Of Justin Butterfield, Jr., but little can be
said. He came to Springfield in 1842, a young
man of great promise, formed a partnership with
B. S. Edwards, which continued about one year.
He returned to Chicago on the dissolution of the
co-partnership, and soon afterwards died.

U. F. Binder was a native of Kentucky, and
born within ten miles of the place where Abra-
ham Lincoln first saw the light of day. He
came to Illinois in 1835, and settled in Coles
oounty, but, like all other lawyers of that day,
traveled the circuit. He was one of the most
eminent lawyers of this Decade, and the party
securing his legal services was fortunate indeed.
As an orator he had few equals. He was quick
iu repartee, and few cared to encounter him in
debate. He was withal a trifle vain, but just
enough to spur him on to action.

Josiah Lamborn was one of the best lawyers
that figured in the courts of Sangamon county.

Linder says of him: " Intellectually, I know no
man of his day who was his superior. He was
considered by all the lawyers who knew him as
a man of the tersest logic. He couid see the
point in a case as clear as any man I ever knew,
and could elucidate it as ably, never using a word
too much or one too few. He was exceedingly
happy in his conceptions, and always traveled
the shortest route to reach his conclusions. He
was a terror to his legal opponents, especially to
those diffusive, wordy lawyers who had more
words than arguments. I heard Judge Smith,
of the Supreme Court, say that he knew of no
lawyer who was his equal in strength and force
of argument." Lamborn was a native of Ken-
tucky, and received a liberal education. He
possessed high social qualities, and his conversa-
tional powers were of the very highest order.
As a prosecutor he was a terror to criminals.
He was inclined to be vindictive, and very resent-
ful of any slight offered him by an opposing
attorney. On one occasion he was prosecuting
a man for murder in Christian county. E. D.
Baker was defending. In the course of the
trial Lamborn asked Baker tc yield some point.
Baker refusing, he turned to him .and said,
"Baker, I'll hang your man." In his speech at
the close of the testimony, Baker made one of
his most powerful pleas, exciting the jury, spec-
tators, and even the judge to tears. He closed
with a brilliant peroration, such as he only could
make. When he sat down it was about time to
adjourn for supper, and Lamborn asked an ad-
journment until after supper, before beginning
his closing speech for the prosecution. His re-
quest was granted. After supper he went to the
sheriff and told him he only desired one candle
to be placed in the court room, and that in a
position that would place the jury in the shade.
If the Judge said anything about the matter, the
sheriff was to inform him that all was done at
Lamborn's request. At the hour for court to
convene the court room was filled to hear the
prosecutor's speech. Lamborn, who was slightly
lame, hobbled into the room, slowly and pain-
fully, coughing meanwhile as if half gone with
consumption, thus exciting the pity of both the
jury and spectators. On the call to order he
passed in front of the jury, who could but dimly
witness his movements, and, placing his lame
foot upon a chair, in a hollow sepulchre tone of
voice said: " Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by
man shall his blood be shed." He then stopped
for some moments, while a cold chill passed over
every individual in the audience. Slowly and
painfully, apparently, he resumed his speech.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

105

taking up and reviewing the points in the case,
aud with so much effect that at its close the
jurj-, after being out but a few inomeins, brought
in a verdict of guilty, and the man was con-
demned to be hung.

Lamborn was once prosecuting an old and
gray-haired man for stealing hogs. Stephen T.
Logan was defending liim, and made a powerful
plea in his behalf, describing the accused as a
man with hair blossoming for the eternal world,
with one foot in the grave and the other totter-
ing upon the brink. The illustration was so apt
that it had a wonderful effect upon the jury
which was quickly dispelled when Lamborn rose
to reply. "Yes, gentlemen of the jury," said
he, "his hair is whitening for that place which
burns with liquid fire; one foot is in the grave,
and the other is in his neighbor's hog pen."

Levi Davis came to Springfield in 1839 as
Auditor of the State and served until 1841, when
he commenced the practice of law, liaving been
admitted to the Bar before his appointment as
Auditor. He was a good lawyer, a fine business
man, courteous and affable to all whom he met.
He removed from here to Alton, where he now
resides.

A. K. Smede was a young but highly educated
man from Mississippi who jjracticed law here
between 1843 and 1S4.5. He never met with
much success and returned to his native State.

David Logan, while a youth, came with his
father to Springfield, here studied law and was
admitted to the Bar in 1843. He was the son of
Judge Logan and inherited many of the bril-
liant qualities of his father. Ife was a man of
very superior talents. He practiced law in this
circuit tmtil 1847, when he went to Oregon
where he took high rank as a criminal lawyer,
ol)taining a large and lucrative practice. It is
related that after he had become well estab-
lished in Oregon his father was desirous of his
returning home, and as an inducement wrote
him that if he would come he would take him
into partnership. The young man answered the
letter, thanking his father very kindly for his
generous offer, and closed by inviting him to
Oregon, and as an inducement offered to take
him into partnership. In 1800 on the election
of United States Sen,^tor, he secured the major-
ity of the Republican members of the legisla-
ture in his interest, but the party not having a
majority, the Republicans united with the Doug-
las Dentocrats and elected E. D. Baker, the
Democrats of tliat wing feeling favorably dis-
posed to Colonel Baker for his gallant defense

of Broderick. Mr. Logan died in Oregon in
1874.

William I. Ferguson was a Pennsylvanian by
birth, and came to Springfield when a mere
child, afterwards studied law and was admitted
to the Bar in 1843. He was a very brilliant
young man, and a first-class forensic lawyer.
After his admission to the Bar, he soon secured
a good practice, and for some time held the oftice
of attorney for the city of Springfield. About
the year 1850 he went to Memphis, Tennessee,
where he remained one year, and then returned
to Springfield and resumed the practice of law.
Becoming dissatisfied he emigrated to Texas in
1853, from which place he drifted on to Cali-
fornia. In politics Mr. Ferguson was originally
a Whig, and afterwards became a Democrat. In
California he took an active part in politics and
was elected to the State Senate, and was a candi-
date for the LTnited States Senate in 1855, but
failed of an election. In the exciting canvass
growing out of the differences between the Ad-
ministration and Stephen A. Douglas in 1858,
Senator Broderick was the leader of the Douglas
faction, and Mr. Ferguson was a staunch adher-
ent and defender of Broderick and Douglas. In
his defense of the latter he incurred the dis-
pleasure of a man named Johnson, who chal-
lenged him to fight a duel. The challenge was
accepted and Ferguson was slain. Colonel
Baker delivered a funeral oration over his dead
body, which was only equalled, a few months
later, by delivering the oration on the death of
Senator Broderick, who fell in the same cow-
ardly and disgraceful manner.

Archibald Williams, of Quincy, was fre-
quently in attendance on the Springfield courts
at this time, and his honest, homely features
once seen were never forgotten. He was one of
the most profound lawyers that ever practiced
in the courts of the State. Linder, in his " Re-
miniscences of the Bar," has this to say of
Williams:

" He was a member of the Illinois Legislature
in 1836 and 1837, and of the same House with
Lincoln, Douglas and myself. He was over six
feet high, and as angular and ungainly in his
form as Mr. Lincoln himself; aud for homeliness
of face and feature surpassed Mr. Lincoln. I
think I never saw but one man uglier than
Archie, and that was Patrick 11. Darbey, of
Kentucky, also a very great lawyer, who once
had a brace of pistols presented to him by a
traveler he met upon the road, both being on
horseback, who suddenley stopped, and asked
Darbey to stop also, and said to the latter gen-

106

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

tleman: "Here is a brace of pistols which be-
long to you." " How do you make that out? "
said Darbey. " They were given to me a long
time ago by a stranger, who requested me to
keep them until I met an uglier man than myself,
and I have carried them for over twenty years ;
and I had begun to think they would go to my
heirs when I died, but you are the rightful
owner of the pistols. I give them to you as
they were given to me, to be kept until you meet
an uglier man than you are, and then you will
present them to him; but you will die the owner
of the property, for I am confident there is not
an uglier man than you in the world, and the
Lord did his everlasting best when he created
you."

"Darbey accepted the pistols, and I never
heard of them passing out of his hands. I
know not what might have occurred had he and
Archie Williams ever met. If there had been
a jury trial of the right of property between
them, I think it altogether likely it might have
resulted in a 'hung jury.'

"Archie Williams sat near Mr. Lincoln in the
southeast corner of the old State House in Van-
dalia, on his left, and I remember one day of a
friend of mine asking me 'who in the world
those two ugly men were.' Archie and Mr.
Lincoln were great friends. I recollect Mr. Lin-
coln asking me on one occasion if I didn't think
Archie Williams was one of the strongest-
minded, clearest headed men in Illinois. I
don't know what reply I made at the time, but
I know Mr. Lincoln said that he thought him
the strongest-minded and clearest headed man
he ever saw."

Archie Williams has long since passed to his
reward, but he has left a noble record, and one
of which his descendants will always be proud.
He made the race for Congress in 1854 as a Free
Soil candidate, but failed of election. When
Lincoln was elected, he appointed him one of
the Federal Judges of Kansas.

O. H. Browning is another Quincy lawj-er
that was often seen before the courts of Sanga-
mon County. He came to this State from Ken-
tucky. As a lawyer and a statesman he ob-
tained a high and enviable distinction. He was
often employed in the largest cases before the
Supreme Court of the State and the United
States Courts. He was appointed to fill the va-
cancy in the United States Senate, caused by the
death of Senator Douglas, and sensed as Secre-
tary of the Interior under President Johnson.

William A. Minshall, of Schuyler county,
first figures in this Bar in 1841. He was a very

able lawyer and at one time was Judge of the
Circuit of which Schuyler county formed a part.
Linder says of him:

" Minshall, I believe, was a native of Ohio,
and studied law with Judge McLean. In his
early days he was given to dissipation. He
courted a most beautiful woman, and on propos-
ing marriage to her, she promptly rejected him,
on the strength of which he got most gloriously
drunk, and in his crazy mood put on seven clean
shirts, and in that condition went over to see
her again, letting her know that it was impossi-
ble for him to live without her. The young
lady, being far from indifl'erent to the suit of
Minshall, finally concluded that she would try
and make a man of him, so she said to him:
'Mr. Minshall, I will never marry a drunkard,
and if I had a husband and he should become
one, I would leave him on the instant, if I loved
him as I loved my life, but I have come
to the conclusion I will marry you on one
condition: If you will reform your habits, and
give me satisfactory proof of the same, and
make a solemn vow that you will never drink
again. So, now, you go home and divest your-
self of all those shirts but one, and come back
in a month from now, and we will consummate
this agreement.' Minshall gladly took her at
her word, and after a month's probation he re-
turned, took the vow, and they were married,
and he religiously lived up to his pledge to the
day of his death; and I know of no happier
couple than they were in the whole circle of my
acquaintance. He had a reputation of being
one of the kindest."

Benjamin West came to Sangamon county in
1841, and settled in the village of Rochester.
He was a man of fair talents, and was a good
lawyer. In 1846 he was elected to the legisla-
ture, and died before the expiration of his term.

Israel Crosby figured here during this Decade,
but did more in the real estate business than in
law.

William Walker studied law, and was here
admitted to the Bar. He soon afterwards went
to Camden, and from thence to Havana, Mason
county. From the latter place he emigrated
to Missouri, where he was afterwards elected
Circuit Judge. He was regarded as above the
average in ability.

Elliott B. Herndon was born on Silver creek,
Madison county, Illinois, in 1820. In company
with his parents, he came to Sangamon county
in the spring of 1821. His j^arents first settled
about four miles northeast of Springfield, and
in 1823 erected a cabin on the lot where Mr.

IIISTOKY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

107

Herndon now resides, where they lived the re-
mainder of their lives. Elliott fi. read law in
Springfield, and was admitted to the Bar in the
"winter of 1S42-3, and was one of the three first
young men admitted in the county. He at
once commenced an active practice, which con-
tinued until 1808, when he retired, but resumed
practice in 1873, continuing until 1878, when he
permanently retired. Joseph Wallace, in a local
jjaper issued February, 1880, thus speaks of Mr.
Ilerndon:

"At present he belongs to the retired list of
our barristers, and enjoys his otiuin cum digni-
tale; but still appear.s in court in special cases,
and his opinion is often sought upon difficult
and abstruse questions of law. He has always
been recognized as the possessor of one of the
soundest legal minds at our Bar, and if he had
been prompted more by the spur of necessity,
would have risen to yet fiigherrank as a lawyer.

"Tliough not a classical scholar, Mr. Herndon
is a person of wide reading and multifarious
knowledge. He is fond of philosophizing, that
is, of penetrating beneath the surface of things
to ascertain their hidden origin and bearing.
To illustrate, he tells us that he read through
Don (Juixote three times; first, for the storj- or
stories; secondly, for the humor and pathos;
and, thirdly, for the deep philosophy and in-
sight into human nature contained in that in-
comparable production. He is also an earnest
admirer of Shakespeare's inimitable creations,
but does not approve of the lengths to which
some ingenious commentators go in searching
after new and far-fetched interpretations to the
text of that author, such as the great bard him-
self never di-camed of. Among his other ac-
quirements, Mr. Herndon is no bad judge of
horses and dogs, and he is (or at least affects to
be) skilled in gardening and horticulture."

Politically, Mr. Herndon is a Democrat "of
the strictest sect of our religion." For many
years he was engaged in the promulgation of
Democratic doctrines, both from the stump and
through the press. From 1857 to 1860 he edited
the Illinois State Democrat, J. J. Clarkson, pro-
prietor, a paper started to contend for Demo-
cratic doctrine, " pure and undetiled," in opposi-
tion to what he regarded as heresies in the
Douglas wing of that party.

Mr. Herndon has held several very important
offices, both elective and appointed. He has
served as City and County Attorney, United
States Attorney for the Southern District of
Illinois. In 1858 he was appointed Disbursing
Agent by the General Government for Illinois.

In 1876 Mr. Herndon was married to Jerusha
Palmer, in Springfield, Illinois. In the same
article already quoted Mr. Wallace further
speaks of Mr. Ilerndon:

" Physically and intellectually he is quite un-
like his brother, William H. — the one inheriting
the characteristics of the mother, while the other
more nearly resembles the father. In person,
Elliot B. is of medium height, broad shouldered
and heavy set, with a tendency, of late years, to
obesity. His cranium is massive and finely de-
veloped, and his face square rather than oval.
His style of speaking is deliberate and senten-
tious, his jestures few, and his voice keen and
penetrating rather than ore rotundo.

"In manner or demeanor, he is not always the
same, being subject to moods. Sometimes he is
taciturn and morose; at other times talkative,
jovial and full of anecdote, yet always more or
less sarcastic. Upon the whole, he is a man of
marked ability, of striking individuality, of pro-
nounced likes and dislikes, and of sterling integ-
rity — in a word, he is one whose place at the Bar
and in general society, if once made vacant,
could hardly be supplied."

FOURTH DECADE.

As Springfield and Sangamon county increased
in population, and as the business before the
Supreme Court of the State and the United
States District Courts increased, the resident
members of the Bar became more numerous. It
will therefore be seen that between the years of
1851 and 1861, the distinctive local Bar was
quite large. Many who had been following the
Circuit had ceased their attendance, and only
appeared before the courts here on special occa-
sions. The greater number of those heretofore
mentioned as making a residence in Springfield,
yet remained at the beginning of this Decade,
and few left during the time. The Bar was
therefore a strong one. Among those who fig-
ured during this time whose names have not
already been given are John A. McClernand, L.
B. Adams, N. M. Broadwell, D. A. Brown, W.
J. Black, W. J. Conkling, Primm & Gibson, J.
E. Rosette, J. B. White, G. W. Shutt, Thomas
Lewis, J. France, D. Mc Williams, Charles W.
Keyes, Shelby M. Cullom, L. Rosette, A. Mc-
VVilliams, J. R. Thompson, Charles S. Zane,
William Campbell, J. D. Bail, G. W. Besore,
t!hristo)iher C. Brown, John E. Denny, Milton
Hay, L. F. McCrillis, J. W. Moffett, Cliarles B.
Brown, S. C. Gibson, T. S. Mather, J.R.Mather,
II. G. Reynolds, E. L. Gross, L. C. Boynton, A.
B. Ives, C. M. Morrison, Joseph Wallace, Speed
Butler, E. F. Leonard, William Prescott.

108

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Among the number comprising the Bar of this
Decade will be noticed the names of some who
have since become distinguished as statesmen
and others whose names have become so famil-
iar to every reader of history as among the brave
men who responded to their country's call when
traitors sought to destroy the Union, and who
became as adept in the art of war as in the
intricacies of the law. Sangamon County fur-
nished the Commander-in-Chief of all the armies,
one of whom the Bar of the county may well be
proud, one of its brightest ornaments, the great
and noble Abraham Lincoln. P>om the Bar of
Sangamon County went General John A. Mc-
Clernand, a brave and skillful General who rose
to the rank of a Division Commander, Colonel
James H. Matheny, Colonel L. F. McCrillis and
others. Of the Bar of this period much can be
said and only that which is good.

Thomas Lewis, — everybody that lived in
Springfield during this Decade knew Tom, — was
a character in his way. Originally a shoe-
maker by trade, lie accummulated some money,
engaged in banking, and then studied law; was
admitted to the Bar, and practiced for a time,
though he secured but little business. To crown
all he became a newspaper man and was editor
and publisher of the Illinois Atlas until its in-
corporation with the Political Crisis, in 18V1.
He now resides in Cairo.

J. France was a man well advanced in years
when he came to Springfield. He was a fair
lawyer and had a good practice for a time.

D. McWilliams was a young man and had
been admitted to the Bar but a short time when
he came here. He succeeded in securing a fair
practice, but after a time he left and is now re-
siding in Piatt, and is one of the leading mem-
bers of the Bar of that county.

A. McWilliams, came here from Bloomington
where he was regarded as a very talented law-
yer, and had fine success in all his professional
engagements. The same success attended him
here, and had it not been for an unfortunate
temper he would have left a highly honorable
and proud record. He was States Attorney one
term. He died in 1862, near St. Louis.

C. M. Morrison was one of the most talented
young men that have practiced in the court of
Sangamon County. He was from Kentucky and
came to Springfield about 1856. He very soon
secured a lucrative practice and was for several
years Prosecuting Attorney for this district. As
a prosecutor he had few superiors. He had a
frail body but a strong mind. He died in the
prime of life.

William Prescott was from Wales, read law
in Springfield and was admitted to the Bar
about 1800. When the war broke out he laid
down his law books and took up the sword. He
served as Captain in one of the companies of
the 130th regiment. While in the service, he
was captured and held a prisoner of war for
fourteen months. On his return to this county
he was elected County Judge and was the im-
mediate predecessor of Judge Matheny. He re-
moved to Chicago about 1879.

L. F. McCrillis came to this county from Cal-
houn. While a resident of the latter county he
served a term in the legislature. He was re-
garded as a good lawyer. On the breaking out
of the war he offered his services to the Gov-
ernor and was commissioned Colonel of one of
the Illinois regiments, and served with credit in
the defense of his country. After the war closed
he returned to Springfield and shortly after
made a business trip to Washington, and while
in that city he died very suddenly.

H. G. Reynolds was better known as a Mason
than an attorney. He was for some years pub-
lisher of the Masonic Trowel, an account of which
is given under the head of "The Press."

A. W. Hayes was here but a short time, and
obtained no special standing as an attorney. He
now resides in Kansas.

S. S. Whitehurst was a fair lawyer and a good
business man. He was clerk of the Circuit Court
for some years. He is now dead.

Lawrence Weldon was a good lawyer, and was
from Bloomington.

L. M. Phillips came from Southern Illinois,
and remained but a few years, and then returned
to his old home. He was a fair lawyer, and
secured a good practice while here.

C. D. Harvey was a good bankrupt lawyer,
and had a good practice in the bankrupt courts.
He only remained a short time, when he re-
moved to California, and now resides there.

Primm & Gibson were young and vigorous
men, who turned their attention principally to
the land business. They are both now dead.

William Campbell was Irish by birth, inherit-
ing the social qualities of that fun-loving race.
He was strong before a jury, having the natural
eloquence of the Irish. He died some years ago.

J. D. Bail was more of a poet than a lawyer,
and in the profession was scarcely known.

riFTH DECADE.

^ Whatever may be said of the Bar of Sanga-
mon county, it cannot be said that it has ever
deteriorated. It has always maintained a high

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

109

standard of excellence. While it may be true
that through political influence some of those of
one Decade may have become more noted, yet
as regards standing before the courts, it will be
seen no comparison can be made that would de-
tract from the good name of either. The Fifth
Decade, embracing the years 1801 to 18V1, shows
a list of names alike creditable to the jieriod and
to the excellent standing of the Sangamon
County Bar.

Some of the familiar names of the pre-
vious Decade have disappeared, of wliicli it
might be said that some bearing them have re-
moved to other points, some have retired from
active practice, while others .still are now prac-
ticing before a higher court and before the Bar
of Almighty God. Among the new members of
the ]5ar of Sangamon county during this Decade
were William M. Springer, J. K. W. Bradley,
W. P. Olden, A. N. J. Crook, James E. Dow-
ling, A. W. Hayes, Richard Wolcott, L. H.

Bradley, J. A. Chesnut, J. C. Crowley, Willi.am
Fowler, James M. Mason, James W. Palton,
Lawrence Weldon, L. M. Phillips, George C.
Marcy, William E. Shutt, A. Orendorff.

■ SIXTH DECADE.

During this Decade the Bar of Sangamon
County was increased in number by the follow-
ing named: D. T. Littler, J. A. Kennedy, L. F.
Hamilton, James C. Robinson, A. L. Knapp,
Bernard Stuve, Bluford Wilson, Loren Hasson,
Robert Allen, Thomas C. Austin, John F. Bar-
row, S. D. Scholes, W. P. Emery, Charles H.
Rice, Charles D. Harvey, Robert H. Hazlett,
Robert L. McGuire, John M. Palmer, John
Mayo Palmer, Alonzo W. Wood, Charles
W. Brown, Clinton L. Conkling, Enoch Har-
pole, W. L. Gross, E. D. Matheny, J. C.
Lanphier, Henry H. Rogers, George A. Sanders,
J. C. Snigg, Ezra W. White, Charles P. Kane,
Henry Kane.

13—

110

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUN TV.

Chapter VI

THE BAR OF SANGAMON COUNTY— Continued.

SEVENTH DECADE.

The year 1881 is the beginning of the Seventh
Decade, and only of this year can anything be
said as a matter of , history, of the Bar of San-
gamon. The following named tirms now con-
stitute the resident Bar of the county: L. B.
Adams, John F. liarrow, Bradley & Bradley,
N. M. Broadwell, Frank W. Ikirnett, James C.
Conkliiig, ^V. J. Conkling, Collins & Sprague,
A. N. J. Crook, J. E. DoWling, Ninian W. ^Ed-
wards, W. P. Emery, Joseph A. Gill, II. S.
Greene, Gross cfc Conkling, John H. Gunn. Mil-
ton Hay, Ralph W. Havnes, Hazlett & Kane,
Herndoii & Colby, W. F. Houston, Frank H
Jones, James A. Kennedy, J. R. H. King, David
T. Littler, Webber E. Loomis, Jas. H. Matheny,
Jas. H Matheny, Jr., McClernand & Keyes, Mc-
Giiire, Hamilton & Saltzenstein, Murray & Tur-
ner, Orendorff & Creighton, Palmers, Robinson
&Shutt, Patton & Lanjihier, Rice & Trapp, Rob-
ertson & Maxwell, John E. Rosette, Louis
Rosette, Sanders «& Williams, Scholes & Mather,
J. B, Scott, I- red E. Smith, John C. Snigg, Ster-
ling & Grout, H. A. Stevens, Stuart, Edwards ifc
Brown, T. J. Thompson, William A. Vincent,
La Rue Vredenburg, Joseph Wallace, E. \V.
White, Bluford Wilson, Wines & Wickersham,
Richmond Wolcott, Rogers & Kane.

In reviewing the history of the Bar of to-day,
it must be born in mind that the historian is
speaking of those who are yet living and in
active practice, and therefore he labors under
an embarrassment that does not exist when
writing of parties that have passed away.
Words of praise, by envious ones, are apt to be
construed into words of Hattery, for which
reason many things are left unsaid which are
rightfully due the parties of whom the historian
is writing. In the following sketches care has
been taken against such use of terms as will
lead to even a thought of flattery, or stating an
untruth, with the idea that it will please the one

of whom it is written, even if it does not offend
others. But whatever is written is the ojjinion
of the historian, who reserves the right to speak
as he may think best of each individual. The
members are introduced in chronological order,
as they appeared at the courts, so far as it is
really known.

John T. Stuart, the senior member of the
firm of Stuart. Edwards & Brown, was born
Noveinber 10, 1807, in Fayette county, about
seven miles east of Lexington. Kentucky. He
comes of good old Scotch-Irish stock and has
inherited many of the peculiarities and fine
qualities of that hardy race. Robert Stuart, the
father of the subject of this sketch was born in
Rockbridge county, Virginia, and eaily in life
adopted the profession of the Christian minis-
try. He removed from Virginia to Lexington,
Kentucky, and became a professor of languages
in Transylvania L'niversity. While a professor
in this institution, he was there married to Han-
nah Todd, daughter of General Levi Todd.

During the earlier years of his life John T.
Stuart I'emained with his parents upon a farm,
attending the common schools in winter and
assisting his parents in the summer in cultivat-
ing the soil. While yet young he entered Cen-
tre College, at Danville, Kentucky, pursuing a
regular classical course, and graduating from
that institution when but nineteen years of age.
Immediately upon 'graduating, Mr. Stuait en-
tered the law office of Judge Breck, in Rich-
mond, Kentucky, and for two years pursued his
studies under that eminent barrister. Having
heard much of the "beautiful country of the
Sangamo," and having relatives living in that
favored regior, he determined to emigrate there.
Starting on horseback, he first made his way to
Frankfort, Kentucky, and by the Supreme Court
of that State was licensed as an "Attorney and
Counselor at Law." In ten days he arrived in
Springfield, weary and worn. A heavy rain had

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Ill

fallen the moniiiig of hisari'ival which had given
to the lionses of the village, which wore gener-
ally of logs (laul)ed with mud, a dreary look,
making liini feel a little blue. Uis mind reverted
to the pleasant home which he had left, sur-
rounded by all the comforts of a civilized life,
and he could liut wonder what the future would
have in store for hini, and whether the joys of
the future would compensate for the pleasures
left behind.

At this time Mr. Stuart had barely attained
his majority, and in looks and actions had re-
tained much of the boy about him. He was
kindly received by the generous, open-hearted
people, then living in Springtield, but he tells a
good story upon himself which goes to show
man's judgment is not always infallible, iiilly
Fagin, a shrewd, witty Irishman, as all Irishmen
are, met liini a few days after his arrival, and as
common in that day, began to question liim as
to his past and future. He was asked where he
was from, what he was here for, and what were
his expectations. The questions were all an-
swered as well as ])0S8ible, considering the sur-
prise manifested at being thus quizzed by an
entire stranger. "Now," says Mr. Fagin, "would
you like to know my opinion of you?" Mr.
Stuart replied that he would not object to know-
ing it. " Well," says he, "it is my opinion you
may be a pretty tine man, but you stand a
mighty poor show of meeting with success as a
lawyer." Mr. Stuart lauglied, but said nothing
in reply.

The attorneys Mr. Stuart found at the I>ar on
his arrival, were James Adams, Thomas M.
Neale, James Strode, Thomas Moffett and Jona-
than II. Pugh, men of mark then, but all of
whom have since died and have almost been for-
gotten, they being overshadowed by that bril-
liant galaxy of lawyers that came a few years
after.

Hon. Jose]>h Gillespie was asked to give his
opinion of Mr. Stuart as an attorney. The fol-
lowing was his reply;

" Colonel John T. Stuart may be emphatically
denominated the Nestor of the Bar of Spring-
field, Illinois, a body of men without superiors,
if equals, in any State in the Union. We be-
lieve there is but one man now living in Illinois,
who ante-dates him as a practitioner, and that
man is William Thomas, of Jacksonville. John
T. Stuart is a native of Kentucky, from whence
he emigrated to Illinois in 1828, and located in
the future capital. After the manner of the
Kentucky school, he was thoroughly grounded
in the history and elementary principles of the

law, whereby he was enabled to elucidate and
apply it to the cases which miglit arise on the
circuit, with the aid of such authorities as one
could carry in his head and saddle-bags. John
T. Stuart is pre-eminently a man of reason, and
if he be tried by the maxim, ' IJy their works
shall ye know them,' he will come out all rigiit.
He was the tutor of one of the greatest men who
ever lived, Abraham Lincoln, who imbibed his
precepts, principles and methods. An important
part of Lincoln's great character was the work of
John T. Stuart. The leading traits of the sub-
ject may be summed up in the attributes of ster-
ling integrity, great forecast, and strong will.
In the management of jirofessional business, he
seeks first to understand his own side of the case,
and next to penetrate the designs of his adver-
sary, in which he never fails. He keeps his own
batteries effectually masked, while those of the
opposite side are closely scrutinized. He knows
their calibre and position completely. It was
this quality which made him so eminently suc-
cessful as a politician. Such was his adroitness
and sagacity that his adversaries could never
comprehend how he could obtain a knowledge
of their plans; therefore they dubbed him "Jerry
Sly." No one, however, ever suspected him of
even the slightest breach of faith or dishonor-
able dealing. He was fastidiously sincere in all
his professions and engagements. There was
no trouble in discerning the attitude of John T.
Stuart, but in regard to his plans, either political
or professional, he was perfectly inscrutable.
Whatever you had a right to know he would
communicate with the greatest cheerfulness; but
whatever he had a right to conceal, no man could
find out. Stuart always believed in the efficacy
of labor, and worked his cases well. He was
eminently conscientious with his clients, and
never allowed them, if he could prevent it, to go
to law for a profitable wrong or an unprofitable
right. He has done more than any other man
in the State to discourage frivolous litigation.
He has always taken a great interest in assisting
young men, aiding them by his counsel in the
management of their cases, and by inspiring
them with confidence and laudable ambition.
His veneration for the profession of the law is
very great, and anything like unworthy conduct,
tending to lower it in the estimation of honor-
able men, calls out his prompt and decided ani-
madversion. There is not a particle of envy in
his composition. He deals out equal and im-
partial justice to all men. He scorns everything
like ostentation or display, and desires to gain
his cases upon their merits, and not otherwise.

112

HISTORY UF SANGAMON COUNTV.

His character for honesty and fair dealing gave
him a power few hold upon courts and juries,
and made him almost invincible. He has i>assed
now into the sere and yellow leaf, and, of course,
seldom engages in the active duties of the ))ro-
fession; but his old clients and friends cannot
be induced to dispense with his counsel and
advice, and he has not yet been permitted to doff
the harness he has so long and honorablv worn.
It would, perhaps, be enough to establish the
fame of John T. Stuart upon a solid and endur-
ing basis, to say, as can be truthfully said of
him, that throughout all those long years he
practiced with and was the recognized peer of
such men as Stephen T. Logan, Abraham Lin-
coln, Milton Hay, John M. Palmer, and a host of
others whose lives will adorn the pages of our
judicial history so long as talent and worth shall
be appreciated."

In politics, Mr. Stuart is a disciple of Henry
Clay, and therefore a Whig of the old school.
He loved the old Whig party as he loved his
life, and has scarcely yet realized that the party
is dead. In 1832, when but twenty-five years
of age, he was elected for the first time a mem-
ber of the legislature, and re-elected in }SSi.
In the House he made a useful member, ever
at his post, and ever looking forward to advance
the interests of his constituents. In those days
the question of internal imjirovements was the
leading issue before tJie people, and ]\[r. Stuart
strongly advocated every measure, that in his
opinion, would tend to develop the indus-
tries of the country. It may be well to remark
here, that in these views Mr. Stuart has always
been consis'ent, there hardly being a measure
proposed for the advancement of public inter-
ests but what has found in him a strong advo-
cate. More enterprises of a public character will
be found in which he has figured than any other
man in the county.

In 18-36, Mr. Stuart was nominated by his
party for Representative in Congress, and made
the race against William L. May, of Springfield.
In this race Mr. Stuart was beaten, as he really
expected to be, he making the race with a view
of solidifying his party, which was in a large
minority in the district, and doubtless with the
hope that it would benefit him in future cam-
l)aigns. In 183s, lie was again nominated in op-
position to Stephen A. Douglas, who was even
then developing the powers which afterwards
made him so famous, and the leader of a great
party. In this campaign ]Mr. Stuartwas success-
ful, and therefore became a member of the
Twenty-fifth Congress. In 1840, he was again

a candidate, and again elected. In Congress,
Mr. Stuart made no special effort to become
prominent, being content to be recognized as
one of the working members of that body, Init
that he was not without infiuence is illustrated
in the fact that he secured the passage of an
appi'opriation for a harbor at Chicago, the first
apiiro]jriation, it is thought, ever passed for that
jnirjiose. The member from Detroit, Michigan,
and Mr. Stuart were the only western members
securing an appropriation that session^

In 1842, Mr. Stuart declined a re-election to
Congress and again resumed the active practice
of law; but in 1848, he was prevailed upon to
accejjt the nomination for State Senator in the
district composed of the counties of Sangamon,
Mason and Menard. He served the term of
four years for which he was elected, with
marked ability, Imt from that time until 1802 he
was virtually out of i)olitics, though a firm sup-
porter of Millard Fillmore, in 1856, and John
Bell, in 1860, for the Presidency. Fillmore and
Bell were both old Whigs, and while represent-
ing other parties and running upon other issues,
he yet believed them to be sufficiently imbued
with the Whig leaven as to merit his earnest
support.

Mr. Stuart is by nature a conservative man
and a believer in the Constitution of our fathers.
While being progressive in matters affecting
business interests, in political affairs he has been
favorable to no change that would violently
affect the convictions of a lifetime. During the
dark days of the war, it was always his earnest
hope that President Lincoln would pursue a
conservative course. He believed in subduing
the rebellion, and in a vigorous prosecution of
the war, but desired nothing should be done by
the L^nion authorities that would disarrange the
existing order of things — the war must be car-
ried on in a Constitutional way; that institution
must be kept inviolate by all A'ho had swoi-n to
protect it. In 1862, Mr. Stuart announced him-
self a candidate for Congress in a circular ad-
dressed '• To the Voters of the Eighth Congres-
sional District," in the following terms:

" Fellow Citizens: I announce myself a can-
didate to represent you in the next Congress. If
any apology is needed for my mode of doing so,
I oft'er it in the following facts: My political life
dates back to a time anterior to])arty conventions,
to a time when it was the practice of myself and
others to come before you for your suffrages
self-nominated. I am only doing now what I
have repeatedly done before, when I announced
myself a candidate for your suffrages, three

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

113

times for Congress and as often for the legisla-
ture. Again, I ever, during its existence, he-
longed to the Whig party. Since the dissolu-
tion of that party, I h.ave attached myself to no
other; I, therefore, can appeal to no party con-
vention, and nothing is left to me but to declare
myself a candidate independent of any party
organization, and free to serve my country in sucli
manner as duty to her interests may dictate.
Frankness further requires me to say, that I Ite-
come a candidate not because any friends have
pressed me to do so, but because my own incli-
nations have so prompted, stimulated by the
hope that the contingency has now arisen, or
soon will arise, when I may be of service to our
beloved country in her hour of trial, and aid in
preserving that glorious Union which our fathers
formed. I aim thus to discharge the obligations
which I owe to the country, in the circumstan-
ces in which it is placed. Whether you will
consider it to be your duty to vote for or against
me, is a question for you to decide. Your confi-
dence would be a source of great gratification
to me.

"I am for 'the Union, the Constitution and
the enforcement of the laws.' This creed ex-
presses my views in the briefest manner. It is
appropriate to the circumstances of the country.
I believe in it as a whole, and in every part,
without qualification or condition, and to it I
pledge myself with every faculty of my nature.
I believe the Union which our fathers formed
was designed by them to be perpetual. It owes
its origin to a patriotism, statesmanship and
wise forecast, of which the world furnishes few,
if any, parallels; it has been most benificient in
its results; it has secured to us, as a nation, in a
most remarkable degree, the blessings of civil
liberty, domestic tranquility and safety from
foreign aggression. In that Union has been our
strength. The advantages flowing from that
Union, coujjled with our great natural gifts, has
secured to us a growth, as a nation, without a
parallel in the history of the world. VV^ith this
Union preserved we might hope to transmit all
these blessings and continued prosperity, to the
remotest generations of our posterity. With
the Union dissevered our hopes can linger on no
such glorious vision. After so sad a catastro-
phe the future presents our once united and
happy country, divided into two, perhaps many
parts, discordant, warring, drenched in fraternal
blood, and finally seeking the strong arm of the
despot to save her from anarchy. Such has been
the fate of other republics. God grant that
such may not be ours, or that of our children.

Need I add that I regard it to be my duty, as it
is that of every other citizen, to maintain and
preserve it. Ilow is that Union to be maintained
and preserved? I answer, by the use, if neces-
sary, of all the ample powers vested by the Con-
stitution in the General Government. Our
Union is based upon a written Constitution,
embodying the contract by which the people
formed a perpetual Union and erected a govern-
ment limited in power as to the subject matter
for its exercise, but supreme wherever given.
It is only by virtue of that Constitution th.at the
General Government can claim and enforce the
obedience of all the parts and sections of the
Union, to such laws and acts as are made and
done in pursuance of that Constitution. These
powers are ample, if wisely used. Indeed, we
have a strong government. Tliat Constitution
provides no mode of dissolving the Union. It
has no sanction for secession. Wiien, therefore,
the people of the South m.ake the effort, by
force, to free themselves from the obligations
which they owe under the Constitution to the
Union, they become rebels and traitors, seeking
by revolution to destroy the Unioti, and it is the
right and becomes the duty of the General Gov-
ernment, to put down that rebellion and stay
that revolution by the use, for that purpose, of
all its constitutional powers. Were it to resort
to any other powers, or to means outside of the
Constitution, the Government would itself inau-
gurate a revolution. The Southern revolution
threatens us with anarchy; such a revolution by
the Government, would lead to a military des-
potism. I refrain from the discussion of past
(juestions, the tendency of which would be to
irritate, and shed no light upon any future duty.

" Whatever may have been our differences of
opinion upon such past questions, the one great
question which now presses upon us ought to
admit of no differences of opinion. In the
deadly struggle now existing between the Gov-
ernment and armed rebellion there can be no
other alternative left to all such as would pre-
serve the Union, maintain the Constitution, and
enforce the laws, but to fight it out to the bitter
end — fight, not to gratify a long pent-up hatred
and desire for revenge — fight, not as a means of
accouiplishing some object which cannot be
done under the Constitution, but fight to
conquer a peace — such a pe.ice as will jjreserve
the integrity of the Union and the majesty of
the Constitution and the law — such a peace as
will degrade no section of the Union.

"In conclusion, therefore, if I should become
your representative, I would feel it to be my

114

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

duty, so far as that position would give me the
power, to place at tlie disposal of the Executive,
all the resources of the Government, required to
enable him to exercise his constitutional powers
and perform his duty under the Constitution, or
to add to the comfort or efficiency of our gallant
soldiers while fighting the battles of the Union.

"One thing further I would add, not neces-
sary, perhaps, in this connection, but I wish to
say it, and the occasion is at least not unfit.
Mr. Lincoln and myself, as most of you know,
have been closely connected for more than a
quarter of a century, by manj- ties, the recollec-
tion of which is very dear to me. Diiference
in political opinion since 1856, has in no wise
diminished my respect for the man, or the un-
bounded confidence I have ever bad in his per-
sonal integrity. I believe he entertains an
ardent desire^ and is struggling to preserve the
Union and Constitution as our fathers made
them; and, as a matter of feeling, as well as
duty, I would rather aid than embarrass him in
all such efforts. If my voice could now reach
his ear, I vi^ould be glad to say to him: Follow
the dictates of your own clear head and pat-
riotic heart, and preserve the Union by the
ample powers conferred upon you by the Con-
stitution, and repulse from you any faction, if
such there be, which would goad you into a
resort to revolutionarj- means; and for a Union
and a Constitution so preserved, history will
erect monuments for you by the side of Wash-
ington. Your obedient servant,

" John T. Stu^et.

"August 30, 1862."

Mr. Stuart was triumphantly elected, receiv-
ing the entire Democratic vote, and that of hun-
dreds of Republicans. In Sangamon county,
where he was personally known by every voter,
he ran far ahead of his ticket. Tlie people be-
lieved in him, trusted in him. In Congress he
endeavored to act faithfully to his convictions.
The Emancipation Proclamation of President
Lincoln he opposed, for the reason he believed it
unnecessary, and the objects for which it was
issued could more readily be attained in other
ways. It is due to him to say that he now be-
lieves that "all was for the best."

In 1864, Mr Stuart received the Democratic
nomination for Congress, but was defeated by
Shelby M. Cullom. From that time he has
ceased to take an active part in political life.

It may truly be said of him that he never was
a politician in the commonly accepted definition
of the term. Politics with him is the science of
government, and in his entire political career he

has endeavored to act for the interests of the
people rather than that of party.

As already stated, Mr. Stuart has always taken
an active part in all mattei'S of public interest.
No man in Sangamon county is entitled to more
credit for the excellent railroad system of this
county. lie has been i>rominently identified
with each, and has served as President of one or
more, Director and Attorney of several of them.
In ISGtJ, he was elected President of the Spring-
field City Railway Company, President of the
Springfield Watch Company and President of
the Jjettie Stuart Board of Trustees. He was
one of the three Commissioners for building of
the new State House. As Chairman of the Ex-
ecutive Committee of the National Lincoln
Monument Association, it devolved upon him to
do more than any other one man in superintend-
ing the erection of that monument to the mem-
ory of his life-long friend, Abraham Lincoln.

In educational matters Mr. Stuart has likewise
been prominently identified. The old Illinois
State University, the predecessor of the German
Lutheran Concordia College, took much of his
time, and in the Bettie Stuart Institute he has
ever felt great interest.

John T. Stuart and Marj- V. Nash, a daughter
of General Frank Nash, and niece of Judge
Lockwood, were united in marriage at .Jackson-
ville, Illinois, October 25, 1887. The union has
been a happy one. Six children were born unto
them — Bettie, afterwards the wife of C. C.
Brown, and for whom the Bettie Stuart Insti-
tute is named, since deceased; John T., Frank
N., Virginia L., Hannah and Robert.

Socially, there is nothing to be said of Mr.
Stuart but what is good. As a husband and
father, he is kind and affectionate; as a neigh-
bor, he is friendly and accommodating; as a
citizen, he is public spirited and helpful. The
poor in him have always found a friend, the cry
of distress from the unfortunate always touches
his heart, and he is ever ready to hearken unto
their cry and minister to their wants. The
young love him; the middle aged trust him;
the old lean upon him as a friend; and all trust
him. The golden rule has always been the rule
of his life. He has shown his love to God by
his love of his fellow-man. John T. Stuart is a
grand, good man, and when called upon by the
Judge of the Universe to a higher court, his
place here will remain vacant; it cannot be filled
and he will not be forgotten.

Samuel II. Treat, Judge of the United States
Court for the Southern District of Illinois, is a
native of Otsego county, New York, and was

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

]15

born in 1812. lie read law and was admitted to
practice in his native State; came to Illinois and
settled in Springfield in 1834, and has been a
resident of the city ever since. In 18.38 he was
appointed Circuit Judge, and filled the office
until 1841. lie was then elected Judge of the
Supreme Court of Illinois, serving till 18.55,
when he was chosen to the Bench of the United
States District Court, which position he has tilled
with distinguished ability for more than a quar-
ter of a century. Judge Treat is admirably
adapted, both by nature and education, for the
bench, and has few equals in the judiciary of
this country.

Benjamin S. Edwards, for forty jears an hon-
ored member of the Sangamon County Bar, is
the youngest son of Hon. Ninian Edwards, the
first Governor of the Territory of Illinois, after-
wards United States Senator and Governor of
the State, was born June 3, 1818, in Edwards-
ville, Madison county, Illinois. He graduated
from Yale t-ollege in the cla.ss of 1838, studied
law at the law school connected with that college,
in 1839, completed his prei)aratory studies for
the profession with Hon. Stephen T. Logan, de-
ceased, of Springfield, and began practicing in
March, 1840, with such competitor.s as Abraham
Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, S. T. Logan, E. D.
Baker, Jesse B. Thomas, Mr. McDougal, Mr.
Lamborn, and other legal lights. In 1843, Mr.
Edwards entered into partnership with Hon.
John T. Stuart, in Springfield, which still exists,
having continued thirty-eight years. He has
studiously and zealously applied himself to the
jjrofession, paying little attention to politics.
He was chosen a member of the Constitutional
Convention in 1862, representing Sangamon
county. He was, without his knowledge or con-
sent, nominated for Congress on the Democratic
ticket, in 1808, and greatly reduced the ordinary
Republican majority, thougli opposed to Gover-
nor Cullom in the conte.st. At the solicitation
of the Bar and the jteople, Mr. Edwards became
a candidate for Judge of the Circuit Court, in
1869; w.as elected, and discharged the judicial
duties with satisfaction to lawyers and litigants.
When the circuit was enlarged. Judge Edwards
retired from the bench, and has since devoted
himself entirely to legal labors. Judge Edwards
honors the profession he has faithfully repre-
sented, for more than forty years, and has won an
enviable reputation, both as a superior lawyer
and a thorough gentleman.

James C. Conkling was born in New York
City, October 13, 1816. At the age of thirteen,
he entered the academy at Morristown, New

Jersey, and prepared for college. He entered
Princeton in 1833, and graduated in 1835. He
then entered the law office of Henry A. Ford,
and read law for three years. In the fall of 1838,
he came to Springfield, Illinois, was licensed by
the Supreme Court of the State the following
winter, and at once commenced the practice of
law. Soon thereafter he formed a partnership
with Cyrus A. Walker, then one of the leading
attorneys of the State, and who, though living
at Macomb, in McDonough county, practiced in
the courts of Springfield. This arrangement
continued for about two years, when he formed
a partnership with General James A. Shields, of
Mexican war fame, and who subsequently, at
intervals, represented three States in the United
States Senate.

In 1845 Mr. Conkling was elected Mayor of
Springfield and served one term. In 1851 he
was elected a member of the House of Repre-
sentatives of the General Assembly of the State,
and again in 1866. His object in accepting the
nomination was forthe purpose of securing an ap-
propriation for the building of anew State House,
and by that means forever to secure Si)ringfield as
the permanent seat of government of the State.
It will be remembered that at this time the ques-
tion of removal was being agitated by the press
and people throughout the St.ate. Peoria, Bloom-
ington, Decatur, Chicago and other places were
anxious to secure its location. A new State
House had become an absolute necessity, the
old having become too small for the projjer
transaction of business of the State. At the ses-
sion of the legislature, in the winter of 1866-67,
Mr. Conkling was made a member of the com-
mittee on puidic buildings, and also chairman
of the Judiciary committee. As a member of
the former he drew a bill for an appropriation,
which after considerable delay was reported to
the House. Here the fight raged furiously be-
tween friends and opponents of the measure.
Several days were spent in discussion, and while
one of the opponents of the measure, who had
been selected to close the debate, was making
his speech, Mr. Conkling learned the bill had no
enacting clause, the engrossing clerk having left
it off the bill as presented. Calling Isaac Keys.
Mr. Conkling proceeded to the office of the en-
grossing clerk and com})elled him to restore the
enacting clause, and supply words that had been
omitted or changed from the original bill. Re-
turning to the House with the true copy, it was
given to the clerk and the vote taken. A major-
ity of two votes was obtained for the bill. Mr.
Conkling deserves great credit for his efforts in

116

HISTORY OF SANiiAMOX COUNTY.

this connection. He had to tight against great
odds. Leading men in Springfield who had
been working for montlis to the same end, be-
fore the bill was pnt upon its passage, became
discouraged and abandoned the field.

In 1863 Mr. Conkling was appointed by Gov-
ernor Y'ates, State Agent to settle the claims of
the State against the general government for
eqtiipments furnished volunteers. The duty was
performed to the satisfaction of the State.

As a lawyer, 31r. Conkling ranks among the
ablest. He is regarded by many as the most
eloquent member of the Bar at the present time,
and some of his oratical efforts are considered
equal to any of the productions of Edward
Everett.

James C. Conkling and Mercy A. Lovering
were united in marriage September 21, 1841, in
Baltimore, Maryland. Five children were born
unto them — Clinton L., Charles, James, Annie
v., and Alice.

James C. Conkling is a man of great enter-
prise and business activity. He has used much
of his wealth in building enterprises and for the
encouragement of manufactures. He is a mem-
ber of the Second Presbyterian Church of
Springfield, and for inany years has been a rul-
ing elder in that body.

James H. Matheny, the present County Judge
was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, October
•30, 1818. In the spring of 1821 he was brought
by his parents, Charles R., and Jemima Ma-
theny, to Springfield, where he has since contin-
ued to reside. He now lays claim to be the old-
est living resident of the city. Judge Mathe-
ny 's life has been an active one. At fifteen years
of age he was employed as clerk in the Post-
office and the Recorder's oftice, transacting the
entire business of each, and probably having a
little leisure to engage in such sports as were
common to the youths of that age. It is well
known that he enjoyed a little fun when a boy,
and now that time has sprinkled his hair with
gray he still enjoys a good joke. In 1839 he
was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Supreme
Court and served for a time. In 1841 he en-
tered the ofiice of Baker & Bledsoe as a law
student, and for two years pursued his studies,
being admitted to the Bar in 1843. Instead of
seeking a country where he was not known, he
"hung out his shingle'' in Springfield, where he
was raised and where he was known by almost
every one. He soon secured a good practice,
and from that time to the present, he has never
lacked for clients. As a jury-lawyer, he ranks
high, and has been retained in many of the most

prominent cases before the courts of Sangamon
and adjoining counties. He is an effective
speaker, with power to move a jury at will.
His perceptive faculties are large, and he can
quickly grasp a point or penetrate the aims of
an adversary.

In 1845 he was united in marriage with Maria
L. Lee, and by her had seven children — Lee,
Edward Dow, Lucy, Nora, James H., Jr., Ralph
C, and Robert W.

Judge Matheny has held many important
public positions, and has always discharged his
trusts in a faithful manner. In addition to
those already mentioned, he was a memlier of
the Constitutional Convention of 1848, and was
elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, in 1852, and
served one term of four years. During the war
he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the
loOth Regiment Illinois Infantry. After the
capture of Vieksburg he was on detached duty,
holding military courts until 1864, when his reg-
iment was consolidated with another, and he
resigned. In November, 1873, he was elected
Judge of the County Court of Sangamon
County, and re-elected in 1ST 7, without opposi-
tion.

In the "good old days of the Whig party"
Judge Matheny was an earnest defender of its
principles, his first Presidential vote being given
for William Henry Harrison in the campaign
of 1840. During that campaign, in company
with nine other young men, he made a trip to
Nashville, Tennessee, to hear Henry Clay speak.
This journey required about five weeks, as the
party went in their own private conveyance and
camped out of nights. On the dissolution of
the Whig party. Judge Matheny acted for a
short time with the American and Republican
parties, but on account of the conservative ten-
dency of his mind, he finally drifted into the
Democratic ranks, and usually voles that ticket.
He is not a modern politician by any means, and
never has antagonized the better element of
opposing parties. When running for office, he
invariably leads his ticket, in consequence of
personal popularity, and for the reason he does
not antagonize.

In the meetings of the Old Settlers' Society
he has always taken a deep interest, and was
selected to make the first annual address. This
address will be found elsewhere in this work.
For several years he has held the position of
Secretary of the Society, and no man would be
missed more in its meetings.

William H. Herndon was born in Greensburg,
Kentucky, December 25, 1818, and came to Illi-

''■*%

'S ^t<

L-'^>^>. ■^0'

\f'm

QLicJ' c//eo

lIISTOIiY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

119

iiois in 1820, and Sangamon County in 1821, in
company with liis parents. . The schools of
Springfield he attended, as the opportunity of-
fered, tmtil 1830, when he entered Illinois Col-
lege, at Jacksonville, but only attended one
year, being removed by his father in conse-
quence of the ^\.bolition excitement then pend-
ing, and wiiich resulted in the death of Lovejoy,
at Alton. The elder Herndon was inclined to
be pro-slavery in his views, and did not care to
have his son have Abolition sentiments instilled
in his mind by the professors in the Jackson-
ville institution. It is probable, judging from
later events, that the removal was accomplished
when it was too late. After his removal from
the college, lie clerked in a store for several
years, and in 1842 entered the law office of Lin-
coln & Logan, where he read two years and was
admitted to the IJar in 1844. The partnership
of Lincoln & Logan now being dissolved, Mr.
Lincoln and Mr. Ilerndon became partners, a
relation which was never formally dissolved,
and which existed until the death of Mr. Lin-
coln, though other temporary arrangements
were effected by !Mr. Ilerndon after Mr. Lincoln
entered upon the duties of the Presidency. The
tirst arrangement was a partnership with L has. S.
Zane, which continued until Mr. Zane's eleva-
tion to the Bench, when a partnership was en-
tered into with A. Orendorff, which continued
until Mr. Herndon's removal to the country in
March, 1867. Before he left the city, he wrote
and delivered four lectures on the character and
life of Abraham Lincoln.

Mr. Herndon has always been a great reader,
and the questions of political economy and the
science of mind have ever been with him fa-
vorite studies. The science of law has also
been an interesting study to him. He always
desires to go to the bottom of every subject,
and wishes to reach it the quickest way possi-
ble. The little quibbles of the shyster disgusts
him, and the red tajjeism of the law affords him
no pleasure.

In the days of the old Whig party, Mr. Ilern-
don was an advocate of its principles, and the
"hard cider campaign" of 1840, was the first in
which he participated, lie was always an op-
ponent of slavery, and on the organization of
the Republican party he became one of its
strongest advocates.

Mr. Ilerndon has never been an office-seeker,
and the public positions that he has held have
come to him unsought. He has held the offices
of City Attorney, Mayor of Springfield, Bank
Commissioner for the State, under Governors

14—

Bissell, Yates and Oglesby, besides other minor
offices.

William H. Herndon and Mary J. Maxcy was
married in Sangamon County March 26, 1840.
They have had six children. Mrs. Herndon
died August 18, 1860, and Mr. Herndon was
married July 31, 1861, to Anna Miles, by whom
he has had two children.

Personally, Mr. Herndon has the good will of
everyone with whom he is acquainted In his
life he endeavors to follow the golden rule.

Norman M. Broadwell, attorney-at-law, was
born in Morgan county, Illinois, in 1S25. Bax-
ter Broadwell, his father, and Mary Lindley,
both New Jersey people by birth, married near
Cincinnati, Ohio, and were among the first set-
tlers in Morgan county, where they died a num-
ber of years ago. Judge Broadwell received his
chief literary education in his native county;
came to Springfield and commenced reading law
with Abraham Lincoln and William II. Herndon,
in 1851, and was admitted near the close of the
same year. He had begun the study of medi-
cine and continued it some months previously,
but not liking it, abandoned the idea. Upon
being admitted to the Bar, Mr. Broadwell at once
entered upon practice, which he has zealously
and successfully prosecuted, with but slight
interruptions, nearly a third of a century. He
has had several law partners during these years,
among them such eminent attorneys as Gov-
ernor S. M. Cullom, General John A. McClernand
and Hon. William M. Springer. The first cause
be ever tried in a court of record, Abraham Lin-
coln was opposed to him as counsel, and the last
cause Mr. Lincoln ever tried in the Springfield
courts, Mr. Broadwell was his associate counsel.
Judge Broadwell has ever been an ardent de-
votee of his profession, which he honors, and
paid little attention to politics. He. was, how-
ever, elected to the State Legislature in the fall
of 1860, from the Sangamon county district, on
the Democratic ticket, being the only successful
candidate. of his party in the county that year.
In 18G2 he was elected County Judge, served
three years, and was chosen Mayor of Spring-
field in 1867, and re-elected in 1869. Judge
Broadwell was united in marriage to Virginia
lies, in Springfield, in 18.56. She is a native of
Sangamon county, Illinois, and is the mother of
four daughters and one son. Judge Broadwell
is a Past Master in the Masonic Order.

William J. Conkling was born in New York
City in 1826; emigrated to Ohio in 1831 and to
McLean countj', Illinois, in 1839. Attended
Olierlin College for a time, but left in his junior

120

HISTORY OF SANGAMOX COL'NTV.

year. Came to Springfield in 1853, read law for
two years and was admitted to the Bar. For
some years he had a lucrative practice, but of
late years he has devoted himself more to the
real estate business.

John E. Rosette, lawyer, is a native of Dela-
ware, Ohio, born in 1823. He was educated in
that city, and read law there with Hon. Charles
Sweetzer, an ex-meraber of the United States
Congress: was admitted to the Bar in Columbus,
Ohio, in 1850, and located in practice in Find-
lay, Hancock county. Ohio. During the several
years of professional life in that place he was
twice elected Prosecuting Attorney of the
county. From thence he returned to Delaware;
lived there nearly three years, was appointed
Probate Judge of the county, and served the un-
expired term of Judge Fuller, deceased. In
1 855. upon the invitation of Abraham Lincoln,
Mr. Rosette removed to Springfield, Illinois, and
has been an active and jirorainent member of
Sangamon County Bar for twenty-six years. He
came to this count}" a Democrat in politics ; l>ut
from 1856 has been identified with the Republi-
can party.

Mr. Rosette was united in marriage with Miss
Mary Taylor, in Findlay, Ohio. She was born
in Salem that State, and educated there in a
convent. They have four daughters; two mar
ried to Captains in the United States regular
army ; the eldest, the wife of Captain L. H.
Rucker; the second the wife of Captain F. T.
Bennett, from Toledo, Ohio, who has also been
Indian Agent at Fort Defiance, for several years,
the only instance of a regular army officer hold-
ing that office at the same time.

Charles S. Zanc, Judge of the Nineteenth Ju-
dicial Circuit of Illinois, is a native of Cumber-
land county. New Jersey, born March 2,1831.
Andrew Zane, fiis father, was a farmer, and mar-
rie<l Mai-y Franklin, whose father was a relative
of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. Mr. Zane's paternal
grandfather, with two brothers, etiiigrated from
England in early life. Mr. Zane's boyhood
and youth were passed on his father's farm,
the time being divided between labor and attend-
ance at the district school. In April, 1850, he
came to Sangamon County, Illinois, and in the
employ of Rev. Peter Cartwright, engaged in
liriekmaking and farming, at $13 a month. In
the winter of 1852 he rode to Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, on horseback; returned the fol-
lowing s]iring, purchased a team, and spent the
summer in breaking prairie. In the autumn of
1852 he entered McKendree College, and jiur-
sued a course of study for three years, passing

the vacations in teaching, which he continued
after leaving college while reading law. Mr.
Zane entered the law office of Hon. J. C. Conk-
ling in July, 1856; completed the course and
was admitted to the Bar in the spring of 1857,
and opened an office. He was elected City At-
torney in the spring of 1858, and reelected in
1860 and 1865, each term being one year. In
the spring of 1861 Mr. Zane formed a partner-
ship with William H. Herndon, former law part-
ner of Aliraham Lincoln, and did a successful
business until ISijSi, when the firm was dissolved
and he associated himself with Hon. Shelby M.
Cullom and George O. ^larcy. This relation
was continued until Mr. Zane was elected Circuit
Judge in 1873, since which time he has worn
the judicial ermine with distinguished ability.
He rendered a famous decision in May, 1874, in
the cause of The Ptople vs. The Chicago
and Alton Railroad Company, in which it
was sought to recover certain penalties in-
curred by a breach of the law of the State au-
thorizing Railroad and Warehouse Commission-
ers to fix maximum rates of freight and jtassenger
tariffs, in which the attornevs for the defense
made an effort to transferthe case to the L'nited
StatesCourt, claiming lack of jurisdiction in the
State courts, and in which he ruled that it was
not the province of the Federal Courts to inter-
fere with the inherent judicial rights of the
State, and that in assuming to take control of
such causes it transcended its constitutional ati-
thority, and held that the rights and powers of
the States and the people, not transferred by
the Constitution to the United States, are just as
sovereign and sacred as are those of the United
States. Judge Zane refused to order the papers
certified to the Federal court, and proceeded to
try the cause, by jury, who rendered a verdict
of >!400 against the defendant.

Judge Zane's religious views are liberal and
tolerant, nearly identical with the doctrines of
the Unitarian Society. He is a great admirer
of the school of philosophy of which Herbert
Spencer and Mr. Tyndall are able exponents.
Politically, the Judge favors a bi-metalic money
standard, a free banking system, and a tariff
upon the luxuries for revenue.

Judge Zane married Miss 3Iargaret Maxcy in
the spring of 1 859. She is of Kentucky parent-
age, born in Springfield in 1835. They are the
parents of eight children, six living. The eldest
daughter, ]\Iary Farnetta, is the wife of William
Hinkle, chief clerk in the State Auditor's office.
The eldest of their four sons, Charles W., is
preparing for the legal profession, as is also the

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

121

second son, John Maxcy Zane, now in Micbigan
University.

John Alexander McClernand is the only child
of Dr. John and Fatima McClernand, and was
born in Breckenridge county, Kentucky, in is 1-2.
Four years later his father died, and young Mc-
Clernand, being made of that stern stuff that
overcomes difficulties and surmounts obstacles,
had succeeded in placing himself in a respect-
able position and practice in the legal profession,
at the early age of twenty. Meantime, in 1S30,
he had moved with the family to Shawneetown,
Illinois. In 1832, before attaining his majority,
he volunteered as a private in the Black Hawk
war, and served honorably to its close. This
service kindled a taste for, and gave him a knowl-
edge of military tactics, and of the character of
men, which proved important factors in his later
career.

In 183.5 Mr. McClernand established the first
Democratic journal ever ])ublished in Shawnee-
town; and the same year re-commenced the
practice of law, which continued with success
until he was elected to U. S Congress in 1843.
In 1836 he was elected to the Illinois Legislature
from Gallatin county. During this session he
successfully vindicated President Jackson from
charges brought against him by Governor Dun-
can; and also advocated that mode of con-
structing the Illinois & Michigan Canal known
as the "Deep Cut" plan, which was finally
adopted. Mr. ^McClernand was chosen, by the
legislature as commissioner and treasurer, which
duties he so faithfully discharged that compli-
mentary resolutions respecting his services were
passed in a number of pubic meetings held at
different points. In 1838 he was urged to be-
come a nominee for Lieutenant Governor, but
declined because under the Constitutional age —
thirty years. At the same Democratic conven-
tion which offered him the nomination Mr. Mc-
Clernand prepared and offered the following
resolutions:

^^Hesolved, That the Democratic principle is
founded on an imperishable basis of truth and
justice, and perpetually striving to sustain soci-
ety in the exercise of every power which can
promote human happiness and elevate our con-
dition; that, instead of warring against order
and encroaching on the privileges of others, the
spirit of Democracy maintains an active prin-
ciple of hope and virtue.

^'■Resolved, That we recognize no power but
that which yields to the restraints of duty and
is guided by mind; that we only seek to obtain
influence by means of free conviction; that wc

condemn all appeals to brute force and the ex-
ercise of violence; and that our only means of
persuasion are reason and truth.

'■' Jiesolved, That our just claim is to connect
our parly with the cause of intelligence and
morality; to seek the protection of every richt
consistent with the genius of our Constitution
and the spirit of tlie age. We desire to extend
moral culture, and to remove, as far as possible,
all ineiiualities in our human conditions by em-
bracing all improvements which can ameliorate
our moral and polilic.'^l state."

In 18-40 Mr. McClernand was again returned'
to the legislature from Gallatin county; was re-
elected in 1842; and as Chairman of the Com-
mittee on Finance introduced several measures
to alleviate the existing financial troubles of
the State, which he attributed to the defect-
ive banking system. These measures were all
adopted. In 1843, while still a member of the
legislature, he was chosen Representative to the
Twenty-eighth Congress. The first speech he
made in that body was on the bill to refund the
fine imposed upon Gen. Jackson by Judge Hall.
During the same session he delivered a speech
on the Rock Island controversy, which was ex-
tensively published. In the second session of
the same Congress, as a member of the Com-
mittee on Public Lands, he brought forward a
comprehensive report, accompanied with a bill
for a grant of land to aid in the completion of
the Illinois and Michigan Canal.

By an act of the legislature, the time for hold-
ing elections had been changed, and Mr. McCler-
nand was re-elected to Congress in 1844. He
was one of the members who insisted with vehe-
mence on the maintenance of the claim to fifty-
four degrees, forty minutes in the Oregon con-
troversy with Great Hritain. He voted to
sustain the President in the prosecution of the
Mexican war, by granting the requisite men and
means; and portrayed the beneficial results of
that war in a speech delivered in Congress in
June, 1846. In the first session of the Twenty-
ninth Congress he prepared with great labor and
introduced a bill to reduce and regulate the price
of public lands. In the ensuing session, as
chairman of the same committee, he introduced
a bill, which became a law, to bring into market
the mineral lands, lying around Lake Superior.
During the same session he was called upon by
the Jackson Monuiaent committee to present
their memorial, which he did, and his eulogium
upon Jackson was highly esteemed. In 1848
Mr. McClernand was again elected to Congress,
but not without opposition. In 1849, as a mem-

HISTORY OF SAX(;A.M()N COUNTY

ber of a select committee on certain ciiargcs
preferred against President Polk, for having
established a tariff of duties in the ports of
the Mexican Republic, Mr. McClernand de-
fended the President in an able argument.
In 1850, at the instance of other leading men,
he prepared and offered the first draft of the
famous Compromise measures of that year. But
the same subject being taken up in the Senate
by the committee of which Mr. Clay was chair-
man, he prepared the bill which passed both
houses, Mr. McClernand being chairman ol the
committee of the whole during its passage
through the House. He delivered an elaborate
speech on the subject during that session. He
also during that session drafted the bill granting
a quantity of land in aid of the construction of
the Illinois Central Railroad and its Chicago
branch. His colleague, Senator Douglas, being
furnished a copy, introduced it in the Senate,
and, with amendments, it passed both houses
and became a law. During the same session he,
as chairman of the Committee on Foreign Af-
fairs, introduced a paper for the regulation of
the State Department. In 1851, declining re-
election, he retired from Congress, after a flat-
tering career of eight years, and moved to Jack-
sonville, Illinois. The following year he was
chosen Presidential Elector for the second time
in his life, and supported Pierce and King. In
1856 he made a powerful speech at Alton, de-
precating the repeal of the Missouri Compromise,
and predicting danger to the country as the con-
sequence. In 1850 he removed to Springfield,
Illinois, where he soon gained a prominent po-
sition as a lawyer in the State and Federal Courts.
In 1869 he was elected Representative to Con-
gres.s, to till the vacancy caused by the death of
Major T. L. Harris. In 1860 he introduced a
bill repealing the law organizing the Territory of
Utah and merging that Territory into others.
This being his plan for overcoming the ascend",
ancy of the Mormons, and the evils of polygamy-
On the 14th of January, 1861, Mr. McCler-
nand delivered a speech in the House, on the
Union and the phantom, "Xo Coercion," that
for historical research, comprehensiveness and
•exhaustive argument, has few equals in the
annals of parliamentary literature.

In 1843, after his first election to Congress,
and before taking his seat, Mr. ilcClernand
married Miss Sarah, daughter of Colonel Dun-
lap, of Jacksonville, Illinois.

A sketch of the emminent services lendered
the Government by General McClernand during

the war for the Union will appear in the military
chapter.

Charles A. Keyes, Attorney and Counselor-at-
Law, of the tirm of McClernand ifc Keyes, South-
west corner Fifth and ^Yafhington streets, is a
native of Springfield, Illinois, born in 183l' His
parents, James \V. and Lydia (Spickard) Keyes,
were natives of Virginia, and came to Sangamon
County, Illinois, in 1831, and are both living on
their farm, four miles northwest of the Ci'ty of
S]iringtieliL Charles attended the city schools,
and graduated from Illinois College, Jackson-
ville, in the class of 1854 ; read law with Elliott
B. Herndon, and was admitted to the Bar in

1856. They were partners at one time for two
years. With that exception ]Mr. Keyes jii-acticed
alone until the present co-partnei'slii)i was form-
ed al)Out eight years ago. In the spring of 1856
he was elected City Attorney and re-elected in

1857. In 1862-3 he served as Representative in
the legislature, from Sangamon and Logan
counties. He was appointed Master in Chan-
cery by Judge E. Y. Rice, in 1807, and was
twice re-appuinted by Judge B. S. Edwards and
Judge J. A. McClernand, serving in all seven
years He was a delegate to the National Dem-
ocratic Convention that nominated Seymour for
President, in 1868. Mr. Keyes was united in
marriage with Elizabeth Lauman, of Xenia,
Ohio, in 1868. Her parents were early settlers
in that city. The fruit of this union is two
daughters and one son.

Christo]jher C. Brown, Attorney-at-Law, of
the tirm of Stuart, Edwards & Brown, the oldest
law tirm in Illinois, was born in Sangamon
county, now a part of Menard county, Illinois,
on the 21st of October, 1884. His father, Wil-
liam B. Brown, came from Kentucky and set-
tled in Sangamon county in 1832. He died in
1850. C. C. Brown attended the Springtield
schools, and at Greensburg, and the Lutheran
College at Hillsboro. He read law with his
brother, David A. Brown, in Springfield, then
attended the Transylvania Law School in Lex-
ington, Kentucky, was admitted to the Bar in

1858. and in January, 1860, became a paitner in
the present tirm, having been active in the pro-
fession until now. While-he has been an earn-
est worker in the Democratic party, he has been
a candidate for no political favor. Mr. Brown
was united in marriage with Miss Bettie, daugh-
ter of Major J. T. Stuart, of Springtield, in Octo-
ber, 1859. She died in March, 186"9, having been
the mother of three children, one deceased. Mr.
Brown married Carrie, daughter of John E
Owsley, of Chicago, in 1872, by whom he has a

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

123

son and daughter. His eldest son, Stuart Brown,
was graduated from Princeton College, in June,

1881.

Eugene L. Gross was born December 25, 1836,
in Starkville, Herkimer coimty, New York, and
came to Illinois with his parents in 1844. He
received an academical education, and subse-
quently read law in the office of H. G. Reynolds,
in Knoxville, Illinois, and was admitted to the
Bar in 1857. In that year he formed a partner-
ship with Mr. Reynolds, which contimied but a
a few months. In 1858 he came to Springfield
and opened an office, and here practiced his j^ro-
fession until his death. As a lawyer, he was
regarded by both the members of the Bar and
the pulilic, as one of more than ordinary al^ility.
His legal attainments were quite diversified,
and whether pleading before a jury, or present-
ing his case for the consideration of the learned
judge, he alike usually convinced both that liis
position was right. He was logical in his rea-
sonings and drove home his ideas with great
force.

In 1865 he revised the City Ordinances of the
city of Springfield, by direction of the Common
Council. This was his first literary work. In
1868, in connection with his brother. Colonel
William L. Gross, with whom he had formed a
law partnershii), he compiled and puljlished the
General Statutes of the State, then in force. In
January, 1868, they compiled and published a
Digest of the Criminal Laws of the State. In
1869 a new edition of the General Statutes, in-
cluding the laws of 1869, were published. Dur-
ing this year they also compiled and published
an index to the Private and Special Laws of
Illinois. In 1872 they compiled and published
the second volume of Gross' Statutes. This
ended the literary labors of Mr. Gross.

Eugene L. Gross and Susan L. Zimmerman
were united in marriage April 17,1860. Four
children were born to them — Leighla, F^red,
Susie, and Bessie.

In June, 1873, finding his health impaired,
Mr. Gross started on horseback from Springfield
and traveled through the Indian Nation, thence
to New Mexico and Texas, and returned by
railroad in December of the same year. The
trip failed to be of that benefit it was hoped.
That relentless destroyer, consumj)tion, had
fixed its hold upon him, and on the 4th day of
June, 1874, lie breathed his last.

Mr. Gross was never an aspirant to public of-
fice, l)eiug contented to follow the profession he
had selected for a life work. In politics he was

always a thorough-going Republican, and an
earnest advocate of the principles of that party.

Milton Hay was born in Fayette county, Ken-
tucky, July 3, 1817, and emigrated with his
father's family to Springfield, Illinois, in the
year 1832. Until arriving at age, he labored at
different avocations for his father, attending the
common schools at intervals, and receiving such
education as such schools aft'orded at that day.
He was fond of reading, and devoted the inter-
vals of time when not at school or at labor, to
the reading of such books as the scanty liliraries
of the time afforded. With James H. Matheny
(now Judge Matheny) and others, he aided in
forming the first society of a literary charac-
ter ever formed in Springfield, the Springfield
Lyceum, which was devoted to debating dis-
puted questions and the reading of original
essays. He studied law in the office of Stuart
& Lincoln, and was licensed to practice in 1840.
He begun practice at Pittsfield, Pike ocunty,
Illinois, and there practiced his profession until
the year 1858, when he returned to Springfield,
continuing the practice of liis ]m)fession until
January, 1881, when he retired fioni tlie active
practice of his profession.

He was twice married. His first wife, Cath-
erine, the daughter of James Forbes, of Pitts-
field, died in 1857, leaving two children, both
of whom died in infancy. In 1861, he married
Mary Logan, eldest daughter of Judge Stephen
T. Logan. She died in 1874. Two children
survive, born of this marriage, Kate and Logan
Hay.

He was elected to the Constitutional Conven-
tion of 1872, from the district composed of the
counties of Logan and Sangamon, and, altliough
not of the dominant parly in the Convention,
was made Chairman of the Committee on Rev-
enue, and served on the Judiciary Committee.
He actively participated in all the proceedings
of that body, and in forming the new Constitu-
tion, which was subsequently adopted by the
l)eople. In 1874 he was elected as a Represent-
ative of Sangamon county to the legislature,
and acted (after the death of Mr. ]5ushnell) both
as Chairman of the Judiciary and Revenue
Committees of that body. He was one of the
committee of five appointed by the legislature,
to revise, in conjunction with I\Ir. Hurd, the laws
of the State, and this work was adopted at an
adjourned session of the legislature. Other
than as here stated he has never held office, pre-
ferring the practice of his profession to the
pursuit of office. In politics he is a Republi-
can.

124

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Hon. William M. Springer, present member
of Congress from the Twelfth District of Illi-
nois, was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, SOtli
of May, 1836. When twelve years old he moved
with his parents to Jacksonville, Illinois. There
William prepared for college under the instruc-
tions of Dr. Newton Bateman, then teaching in
the West District school of that city. He en-
tered Illinois College, but owing to some diffi-
culty with the faculty was dismissed from the
institution, and went thence in the spring of
185(3, to the State University of Indiana. In
1858 Mr. Springer returned to Illinois, and after
studying law nearly three years in Lincoln, was
admitted to the J>ar in 1860. The same year he
was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for
Representative in the State Legislature, for the
district composed of Logan and Mason counties,
but was defeated by Colonel Robert B. Latham.
In 1861 he settled in Springfield, and soon
formed a law partnership with Hon. N. M.
Broadwell, and Gen. John A. McClernand, the
latter of whom retiring some years after, the
firm continued as Broadwell & Springer. Re-
turning home in 1870 at the close of a two-year's
tour in Europe, tor pleasure and the improve-
ment of his wife's feeble health, Mr. Springer
was elected to represent Sangamon County in
the legislature. That being the first after the
formation of a new Constitution. Several ses-
sions were held during 18'70-'71 and 1871-72,
and a complete revision of the Statutes of Illi-
nois was made while he served in that body.

In 1374, Mr. Springer was elected Represent-
ative to Congress for the Twelfth District, com-
posed of the counties of Cass, Christian, Menard,
Morgan, Sangamon and Scott, and re-elected in
1876, 1878 and 1880, being nominated the first
time on the first ballot, and each subsequent
time by acclamation, the delegations from each
county being instructed to support him. This,
in the face of the fact that Sangamon county has
furnished the Representative from this district
for tweftty years consecutively, speaks well for
the popularity of the present incumbent. In the
Forty-fourth Congress, Mr. Springer was a mem-
ber of several important committees. When the
bill was introduced, in that session, to grant a
million and a half dollars by the Government
to the Centennial Commissioners, Mr. Springer
offered an amendment, that upon the close of
the Exposition and the sale of the property, the
Government should be reimbursed by that
amount from the proceeds before any dividend
could be made to the stockholders. The bill
became a law, as amecded. The Centennial

Board attempted to evade the payment of the
money into the LTnited States Treasury, through
a supposed defect in Mr. Springer's amendment
clause, but he, being selected by the Attorney-
General to prosecute the cause, fought it through
the United States Supreme Court, and obtained
a verdict sustaining the act, and recovering to
the Government fifteen hundred thousand dol-
lars. For this valuable labor he has not, as yet,
received a dollar compensation, though he has
asked Congress to allow him to go before the
Court of Claims and prove the value of his ser-
vices.

In the Forty-fifth Congress Mr. Springer
served on several prominent committees, among
them the Potter Election Committee and the
committee to investigate Mr. Seward's official
records while Minister to China, and which re-
ported twelve articles of impeachment against
him. In the same Congress Mr. Springer bolted
the caucus nomination of his party and supported
General Shields against Mr. Field, the party
nominee.

He was the only Democratic member from the
Northwest who voted against the Birchard and
Hardridge resolutions, declaring that neither the
courts nor Congress possessed the power to dis-
turb Mr. Hayes' Presidential title, his action
creating great excitement at the time. Mr.
Springer believed that a wrong had been done
in giving Mr. Hayes the Presidency, while he
opposed all revolutionary measures, thought the
Government had the power to right that wrong.
Mr. Springer was the Chairman of the Commit-
tee on Elections in the Forty-sixth Congress,
and opposed the majority of his party in their
effort to unseat Representative W. D. Wash
burne, of Minnesota, and substitute Ignatius
Donnelly in his stead. He thought the claim of
Mr. Donnelly unjust and the proceedings dis-
honest; and although great pressure was brought
to bear, through threats and slanderous charges
of bril)ery, from which he was triumphantly vin-
dicated, to coerce him to support the measure,
he persistently opposed it, and was conspicuous
in its defeat. The object of the movement was
to secure a Democratic majority in the Iloiise,
so that the party could elect the President in
1880, in case it should be thrown into the House
of Representatives.

Mr. Springer married the daughter of Rev.
Calvin W. Ruter, a prominent Methodist clergy-
man of Indiana. Theyhave but one child, Wil-
liam Ruter Springer, aged eighteen years, who
was graduated from a private military academy
in Virginia in 1880. Notwithstanding her deli-

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

1-25

cate health, Mrs. Springer is an author of recog-
nized ability. The most noted productions of
her pen are "Beecli Wood," which appeared
several years ago, and "Self," published in 1881,
both from the press of Lippincott, of Philadel-
phia. She has also contributed a number of
poems to the columns of current magazines.

William E. Shutt, Attorney, of the law firm of
Palmers, Robinson & Shutt, was born in Water-
ford, Louden county, Virginia, May 5, 1840.
His parents, Jacob and Caroline (Leslie) Shutt,
moved to the city of Springfield in November,
184'2. They were' natives of Louden county,
Virginia. Father died here in 1866, mother in
in 1805. Mr. Shutt was educated in the city
schools, and read law with Judge James H. Ma-
theny, and was admitted to the Bar in 1862,
commencing practice immediately. In 1864 he
was elected City Attorney on the Democratic
ticket; was chosen Mayor of the city in 1868, by
the same party In 1874 he was elected to the
State Senate, for four years ; and was re-elected
in 1818, his oflicial term expiring in 1882. The
law firm of Robinson, Knapp & Shutt was formed
July 1, 1869, composi^d of Hon. James C. Rob-
inson, Anthony L. Knapp and Mr. Shutt; and has
e.xisted until the death of Mr. Knapj), in May,
1881, after which Robinson & Shutt formed a part-
nership with J. M. and J. Mayo Palmer, under
the firm name of Palmers, Robinson & Shutt.

Robert L McGuire of the firm of McGuire,
Hamilton & Salzenstein, is a native of Missouri,
and was born in 1833. He graduated from the
Missouri University at Columbia, in the class of
1857. Subsequently he followed the calling of
a teacher. In 1861 he came to Springfield, read
law and was admitted to the Bar in 1862. He
formed a partnership with James H. Matheny
in 1866, previous to which time, he practiced
law alone. This partnership continued until
1874. In May, 1878, he formed a partnership
with L. F. Hamilton, and later Mr. Salzenstein
was admitted, forming the present firm.

Leonidas H. Bradley, of the firm of Bradley
& Bradley, Lawyers, 1174- South Fifth street,
was born in Galia count}', Ohio, July 23, 1841.
He is one of a family of four sons and a daugh-
ter, of Lewis and Nancy C. Bradley ?«t;c Kno.Y, of
New York, and the State of Delaware, respec-
tively. In 1852 they moved to Clark county,
Illinois, where the senior Bradley died in March,
1880, and where the widow and several of the
family now reside. Leonidas was educated at
Marshall, Illinois, and Ohio Wesleyan LTniver-
sity, in Delaware, from which he was graduated
in the classical course in 1861, being less than

twenty years of age. He at once commenced the
study of law with Judge Charles H. Constable,
in Marshall, Illinois; in August, 1862, enlisted as
a private in the 130th Illinois Infantry. Upon
the consolidation with the 77th regiment he was
made Quartermaster Sergeant and filled that
office till discharged after the close of the war.
In October, 1865, Mr. Bradley married Miss Abi-
gal L., daughter of Hon. Uri Mauley, an early
settler and prominent lawyer of Marshall. Soon
after retiring from the army Mr. Bradley was ad-
mitted to the Bar, settled in Springfield and
formed a partnership with W. P. Olden, which
continued till June, 1872, when Mr. Olden retired
and Isaac K. Bradley took his place. Mr. Bradley
has been ardently devoted to his profession,
paying little attention to politics, but was elected
a member of the Board of Supervisors in 1871,
and in 1872 chosen to the City Council; was
a candidate, against his wish, for County Judge
on the Republican, ticket, but the county being
stronglj' Democratic, was beaten. He was ap-
pointed Assistant United States District Attor-
ney in 1869, did efficient service in prosecuting
fraudulent distillers in this district; resigned in
1871. He enjoys an extensive practice in the
Chancery and United States Courts. His mar-
riage with Miss Manley has resulted in a family
of three sons and thi-ee daughters, one of the
latter deceased.

Isaac K. Bradley was also born in Galia county,
Ohio, and is a little more than thirty-two years
old. He attended school at Marshall and at Leb-
anon, Illinois, completing the classical course in
1869; read law with Messrs. liradley & Olden,
in Springfield; was admitted in May, 1870; be-
gan practice as a member of the law firm of
Bradley, Olden & Bradley, in 1871. Since Mr.
Olden's retirement, the following year, the
brothers have continued under the present firm
title, and have a large law business in the several
courts.

Thomas G. Prickett, lawyer, is the second of
five children of Hon. David and Charlotte G.
Prickett, and was born in Springfield, December
23, 1837. He was educated at Charlottsville
Seminary, from which he graduated in 1858;
entered the army with the rank of Captain, in
1862; served about two and one-half years on
General McClernand's staff; read law under the
preceptorship of General John A. McClernand;
graduated with the title of Bachelor of Laws,
from the law department of Michigan State L^ni-
versity, in 1865; was admitted to the Bar in
March, 1K65; was elected City Attorney in 1866,
and again in 1868. Mr. Prickett was elected

126

HISTORY OF SA^'GAMON COUNTY.

Alderman from the Third ward in 1874, and
again in 1876, serving four yeais in all.

The two brothers and two sisters own and re-
side in the old homestead, opposite the State
Capitol, erected by Hon. George Forquer over
fifty years ago. The premises include three acres
of land, beautifully situated on the corner of
Capitol avenue and Second street.

Norman L. Freeman is the present Reporter
of the Supreme Court of Illinois, which office
he has held, by appointment from that court,
since April, 1863.

He is a native of Livingston county. New
Y'ork, and was born May 9, 1823. His parents,
Truman Freeman and Hannah Down, were na-
tives of New Hampshire, and prior to their re-
moval to the State of New York, had for many
years been residents of the city of Concord.
After the death of the father, in 1824, the
mother, with the younger members of her
family, moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where
she resided many years. While a mere boy,
young Norman entered the store of David
Cooper, a leading merchant of Detroit, where he
remained about three years. Leaving Detroit,
he spent a few months in Cleveland, as a clerk,
and then entered an academy near that city,
from which he passed to Ohio University, at
Athens, at which institution he completed his
literary education. L^pon leaving the university,
he went to Kentucky, and for several years
taught school in the vicinity of Lexington.
While still a teacher he pursued his law studies,
and in the winter of 1845-6 entered the law
office of Kirtland & Seymour, at Waterford,
New York, and in the spring of 1846 returned
to Kentucky, was admitted to the Bar at Lex-
ington, and began practicing his profession in
Morganfield, Union county, in that State. In
1849 he was married to Miss Tranquilla Riche-
son, daughter of Alfred Richeson and Elizabeth
Dabney Williamson. To them were born five
children, four of whom survive, three daughters
and one son. In 1851 we find him practicing
his profession at Shawneetown, Illinois, where
he remained until his removal to Springfield in
1864. In 1855 he published his Digest of the
Illinois Reports, in two volumes, a work which
went far to establish his reputation as a lawyer
and law writer. During the time he has held
his present office, he has issued sixty-six volumes
of reports — a greater number, it is believed, than
has been issued by any other American reporter.

Until the disorganization of that party, Mr.
Freeman was a Henry Clay Whig, but since that
time his political affiliations have been with the

Democracy. Modest, genial, erudite— a good
lawyer, an excellent Court Reporter, and a wor-
thy citizen.

Richmond Wolcott is a native of Illinois, and
Avas born in Morgan county, January 10, 1840.
He was educated at Jacksonville, where his par-
ents moved at an early day, and graduated from
Illinois College in the Class of 1859. In 1861,
he enlisted as a private in the Tenth Illinois
Infantry; was promoted to First Lieutenant, and
then Captain. He served until September, 1864,
when he resigned and returned to Jacksonville,
and resumed the study of law, which he com-
menced before he entered the army. In June,
1865, he was admitted to practice, and at once
located in Springfield, since which time he has
actively engaged in the practice of his profession.
He married Jennie Salter, July ll, 1865, by
whom he has had two daughters. In politics,
Mr. Wolcott is a Republican.

Thomas C. Mather, of Scholes & Mather, has
been practicing law in Springfield since the
spring of 1865, and has been a member of the
present firm since 1871. He first read law with
Hay, CuUom & Campbell, and then attended the
law department of Michigan State University,
where he completed the course of studies in that
institution, in the spring of 1864. He then en-
tered the office of a law firm in Chicago, where
he remained until the spring of 1865, when he
was admitted to practice in the courts of this
State, and at once returned to Springfield. Mr.
Mather received his literary education in the
schools of Springfield, and a partial course in
Illinois College, at Jacksonville. His parents
dying in his infancy, he was reared by Colonel
Mather, since deceased. He is now thirty-nine
years of age, and since infancy his home has
been in Sangamon county.

Clinton L. Conkling, Attorney and Counselor
at law, is a native of Springfield, Illinois, born
October 16, 1843. He was educated in Yale
College, from which he was graduated in the
class of 1864. Clinton studied law in the office
of his father, Hon. James C. Conkling, of
Springfield, and was licensed to practice in the
courts of Illinois, November 23, 1866, and the
United States in January, 1867. After practic-
ing a few years he turned his attention to the
manufacturing business, but in 1877 resumed
the duties of his profession to which he now
gives his whole time, devoting special attention
to chancery and real estate law, and to the set-
tlement of estates. For some years Mr. Conk-
ling was secretary of the Lincoln Monument
Association, and has been an active member of

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

127

the fraternity of Odd Fellows in Central Illi-
nois, besides being idei'.titied with other and
similar benevolent societies. He has also been
a member of the Board of Supervisors of the
county, two terms. In his real estate practice he
represents large land interests in this and other
States.

In 1867 Mr. Conkling united in marriage with
j\Iiss Georgie Barrell, and they now have a
family of two daughters, Georgie B. Conkling,
and Kate Conkling, aged eight and six years re-
spectively.

Lloyd F. Hamilton, of the firm of McGuire,
Hamilton & Salzenstein, is a Kentuckian by
birth, but was raised in Tazewell county, Illi-
nois, his mother having emigrated to tliat count}^
while he was yet an infant. His father died
before they came to this State. He began to
study law in 1864, with .Judge Schofield,of Mar-
shall, Illinois, and the following year entered
the Law Department of Michigan University,
where he remained one year. He then entered
the Law Department of the Chicago University,
where he graduated in 1866. During the same
year he passed a successful examination before
the Supreme Court of Illinois and was admitted
to practice. Selecting Springfield as a home, he
moved to that city and opened an otliee
and has since continued to practice here. In
1872 he was elected States' Attorney and served
four years, and was highly successful as a pros-
ecutor. Previous to this, during the municipal
year of 1809-70, he was City Attorney of Spring-
field. Mr. Hamilton has studiously devoted
himself to the pract^e of his profession and
stands well with the Bar.

James W. Patton was born February 15, 1840,
near Auburn, Sangamon county, Illinois. When
but eight years ohl his father died, leaving his
mother with two other children younger than
himself. His mother's maiden name was Eliza-
beth A. Moore, and she now resides upon the
family homestead near the place of his birth.
His grandfather, .James Patton, was among the
first settlers of Sangamon county, having emi-
grated from Christian county, Kentucky, in the
spring of 1820.

Mr. Patton remained with his mother on the
farm until he was sixteen, when he spent two or
three years away from home at school. Upon
his return he was engaged in teaching for a
while. In 18(iO he entered the law firm of
Messrs. Hay it Cullora, of Springfield, with
whom he studied until admitted to the Bar.
After that he was engaged with his brother,
Matthew Patton in merchandising at Auburn.

15—

At the Presidential election of 18G4, he was
elected one ol the Kepresentativcs of Sangamon
and Logan counties to the legislature. In April
1866, he located in Springfield, and commenced
the praciice of his profession.

December ft, 1869, he was married to Francinc
E. daughter of Hon. Charles II. Lanphier, of
Springfield. Mr. Pattou has devoted himself to
the practice of his chosen profession, in which
he has been successful.

Samuel D. Scholes, of the firm of Scholes &
Mather, is a native of Peoria county, Illinois,
and was born in 1841. He was educated in
Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, and
began reading law with Johnson & Hopkins, of
Peoria. When the war commenced he enlisted
and served as Orderly Sergeant in the three
months' service, and afterwards as First Lieu-
tenant in the three years' service, in the 14 th
Illinois Infantry. At the close of the war, in
186.5, he again returned to his law books, and in
January, 1866, was admitted to the Bar, and
commenced practice in Springfield. In 1875 he
received the appointment of Master in CHian-
cery, which office he continues to hokl. Since
1871 the present law firm has been in existence.
Politically, Mr. Scholes is a liepublican, but he
has never been actively engaged in politics.

Alfred Orendorff, Altorney-at-law, was born
in Logan county, Illinois, 29th July, 1845.
Joseph Orendorft', his father, was a North Caro-
linian by birth, but came to Illinois with his
parents about 1819. Christopher Orendorff, his
father, settled on- Sugar creek, north of Spring-
field, in what was then Sangamon, now Logan
county, and liuilt the first water-power grist-
mill in that part of the country, making the
burrs of boulders obtained in the vicinity of
the mill. Joseph Orendorff married Elizabeth
Stevens, a native of Henderson county, Ken-
tucky. He died when the subject of this biog-
raphy was a lad of ten summers, and his widow
removed to Lincoln, Logan county. Alfred
enjoyed the common schools, and subsoipiently
attended the Wesleyan L^niversity atJjincoln, a
year, and the military school at Fulton, Illinois,
a short time. In the spring of 1866 he gradu-
ated from the Albany Law School, and spent
the succeeding winter in Texas. Returning to
Springfield in the autumn of 1867, he engaged
in the practice of law in the office of Herndon
& Zane; and upon the retirement of Judge
Zane from the firm, the law partnership of
Herndon & Orendorff was formed, and con-
tinued for a number of years. June 22, 1870,
Mr. Orendorff united in marriage with Miss

128

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Julia, daughter of Colonel Joliu Williams, an
early settler and prominent business man of
Springfield. In 1870 Mr. Orendorff was nomi-
nated by the Republicans for the State Senate,
but tbe Democrats being largely in the majority,
he was beaten by their candidate, Hon. Alexan-
der Starne. In iB'ZS, he was a delegate to the
National Democratic Convention, and supported
Hon. Lyman Trumbull for the Presidency. In
1873 he was chosen by tlie Liberals as candidate
for Representative to the General Assembly of
Illinois. The choice being ratified by the Dem-
ocrats, he was elected, and was made a member
of the .Judiciary Committee in that body, and
took an active part in framing the Revised Stat-
utes, made necessary by the adoption of the
new Constitution. I^ Orendorff joined the
Odd Fellows in 1874; has filled the various
offices in the subordinate lodge; was cliosen Rep
resentative of No. 465 to the Grand Lodge, held
in Peoria in 1S75; was elected Grand Master of
the State in 1878, and is now Representative to
tlie Sovereign Grand Lodge I. O. O. F. of the
World.

The la\p firm of Orendorff & Creighton was
formed in 1879. It lias an extensive business,
and its members are recognized as aniong the
most successful practitioners at the Sjiringfield
Bar.

Henry S. Greene, Attorney for the Wabash,
St Louis and Pacific Railway Conipanj', and
member of the late prominent law firm of Hay,
Greene & Littler, was born in Ireland in 1833.
At six years of age he crossed the Atlantic, and
grew to manhood on the shore of Lake Ontario
in the Dominion of Canada. In 1857 he came
to Illinois, read law in the office of Lawrence
Weldon, at Clinton, and was admitted to the
Bar in .January, 1860. Having previously ar-
ranged to become a law partner with Hon. C .H.
Moore, of Clinton, Mr. Greene entered into and
remained in that relation six years. Three
years after his admission he was appointed At-
torney for the Chicago and Alton Railroad Com-
panj- for the counties of Logan and McLean,
which position he resigned upon moving to
Springfield in 1868, since which time, his law
firm has been counsel for the company in San-
gamon county, he still retaining that relation.
In 1860 Mr. Greene associated himself with Mr.
D. T. Littler in the practice of law, and upon
the dissolution of the firm of llay & Palmer by
the election of the latter to be Governor, Hon.
Milton Hay became a partner, the firm title
changing to Hay, Greene & Littler. This part-
nership ceased by dissolution January 1, 1881.

For a number of years this firm has had charge
of the legal business of the Wabash Railway
Company in this part of the State. Some time
previously, and since their separation, Mr. Greene
has been the General Counselor for the Wabash,
St. Louis and Pacific Railway Company for Illi-
nois, where it owns and controls by lease 1,300
miles of railroad lines, and Consulting Counsel
for the outside business of the companv, con-
trolling in all 3,000 miles of road.

During the last two years of its existence, he
was retained as counsel for the American Union
Telegraph Company in its extensive litigation
with the W^estern Union Company, previous to
their consolidation. In none of the large legal
business which Mr. Greene has done for corpora-
tions, has he received a stated salary, but simply
a fee for the professional labor performed. In
view of the great demand upon his time and en-
ergies in attending to the legal matters of these
companies, he h.is withdrawn almost entirely, of
late years, from general court practice at the Bar.
The rapid growth of the Wabash, St. Louis &
Pacific Company's, by absorption and construc-
tion, in the last few years, has created a large
volume of legal business, and extended his duties
until they are larger outside of the State than
in it.

In 1863, Mr. Greene was appointed District
Attorney, by Governor Yates, for the Eighth
Judicial District, composed of the counties of
DeWitt, Logan and McLean, and was subse-
quently elected to the same position, but re-
signed to take his seat in the legislature, in 1867,
in which he served one regulai and two special
sessions; and upon moving from the district, re-
signed before the close of his term of office.

In the fall of I 85 4, before leaving Canada, Mr.
Greene married Miss Elizabeth Hogle, born in
that country, of New Hampshire parentage.
Their family consists of one daughter and one
son. In politics, Mr. Greene has always been a
firm and active, but not radical. Republican.

A. N. J. Crook is a native of Tennessee, but
was reared in Indiana, his parents removing to
that State in his childhood. In 1856 he came
to Peoria county, Illinois, and from there to
Sangamon county in 1S62. He spent two years
in Pike's Peak, Colorado. After reading law
for a time with Herndon & Zane, he was admit-
ted to the Bar and commenced practice in
Springfield. In 1869 he was elected County
Judge and served four years. He also served
as a member of the 32d General Assembly from
Sangamon county. He is a staunch Democrat
and an active worker in its interests.

HISTORY OF SANGAMO^' COUNTY.

1'29

James C Kobinson, of the tirm of Palmers,
Robinson & Shutt is a native of Edgar county
Illinois, where he was born in 1824. 1^1 is father,
Richard Robinson was a North Carolinian, and
married Sally Dixon, and moved to Clark
county, Illinois, in 1820, but removed to Edgar
county shortly after. Subsequently he returned
to Clark county where .lames was brought up
and educated. Mr. Rol)inson read law' in Clark
county, and was admitted to practice about ISfiO,
and followed his chosen profession in that
county until 18G9, when he settled in Spring-
field.

Like many other lawyers, of a past Decade,
Mr. Robinson became somewhat of a politician,
and in 1858 was elected from the Clark county
District, a member of Congress. He was re-
elected in 1S60 and 1862. In 1868, he was
placed in nomination by his party, the Demo-
cratic, for the office of Governor, in opposition
to his present law partner — John M. Palmer,
but was defeated. In ]S7i) he was nominated
for Congress from the Springfield District and
triumphantly elected, and re-elected in 1872.

Soon after his settlement in Springfield, Mr.
Robinson formed a partnership with A. L.
Knapp, and subsequently William L. Shutt was
admitted a member of the firm. The firm con-
tinued in existence until the death of Mr.
Knapp in the summer of 1881. Soon after this
a partnership was effected with John M. and
John Mayo Palmer, under the firm name of
Palmers, Robinson & Shutt, the firm being one
of the strongest in the State. The new firm
now enjoys, as the old one did for many years,
an extensive practice, especially in the upper
courts. Mr. Robinson is recognized as an excel-
lent jury-lawyer, and as a stump speaker has
few equals.

James A. Kennedy, attorney at law, is a na-
tive of Huntingdon — now Blair — county, Penn-
sylvania; was born in 18-33. David Kennedy
and Mary A. Miller, his parents, were also of
that State. They came to Illinois about 1840,
and settled in Calhoun county, where Mr. Ken-
nedy died soon after. They had three children,
of whom James is the only one alive. Soon
after his father's death, the family moved to St
Louis, Missouri, and he was there reared and
educated, completing a course in the St. Louis
University in 18.52. He then went south and
engaged in teaching school in New Orleans and
interior Louisiana, until 1857. Returning, he
remained in St. Louis till the following year,
then located in Waterloo, Monroe county, Illi-
nois; read law with Hon. William R. Morrison,

and was admitted to practice in 1859. He was
elected (.'ounty Superintendent of schools in
1860, and tilled the office by successive elections,
eight years. He was appointed Master in Chan-
cery about the same time, and held that positioii
till he niiived to Sangamon county in 1.S70.
Here he taught the first year as assistant in the
city high school, at the close of which he opened
a law office; was elected city attorney on the
Democratic ticket in 1874; the following year
was chosen Justice of the Peace to fill a va-
cancy, W'as re-elected in 1877, and served till
May, 1881. LIpon retiring he resumed the prac-
tice of law. Mr. Kennedy is now serving his
second term as supervisor from Capitol town-
ship; was chairman of the Judiciary Com-
mittee, first term, is now at the head of Com-
mittee on Pauper and Poor Accounts. In Jan-
uary, is79, he, with several others, printers, is-
sued the "Catholic News," a weekly publication,
which was suspended about six months later,
from lack of proper sup])ort. In 1858 he mar-
ried Miss Clara Vanderburgt, a native of Bel-
gium, Europe, but came to America at ten years
of age. They have two adult daughters' Mary
E. and Emma. Mr. Kennedy is a member, and
for several years was successively President
and Secretary of the LTnion of the Irish Catho-
lic ]?enevolent Societies, of Springfield.

Charles Philo Kane, late of the tirm of Haz-
lett & Kane, is the son of Rev. Andrew J. Kane,
who came to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1830,
and Caroline M. Beers, whose parents, Philo
Beers and Martha Stillman, settled in this
county in 1820, and are believed to have been
the second couple married in Sangamon county.
Charles was born in Springtield, December 25,
] 850, graduated from the city high school in

1868, commenced the study of law in August,

1869, with Messrs. Hay, Greene & Littler, and
was admitted to the Bar, June 13, 1871. May 1,
187^, he opened a law office in company with
his liite partner, Rol)ert H. Ilazlett. In the
spring of 1878, Mr. Kane was elected to the
office of Citj- Attorney, and re-elected in 1879
and I SSO, retiring from the oflice May 1, 1881.
He is a Mason, a Past Master in St. Paul's lodge.
No. 500, is a memlierof Springfield Chapter No.
1, Royal Arch Masons, and has been two years
Recorder of ElwoodCommandery No. C, Knights
Templar.

His ))arents reside in Springtield; father was
born in 1818, mother in 1827.

John C. Lanphier, second son of Hon. Charles
H. Lanphier. Born October 19, 1850, in Spring-
tield, Illinois; graduate of class of 1866, of

loO

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Springlield High School. Studied law with
Robinson, Knapp & Shutt and with Morrison &
Patton. Admitted to the Bar July 4, 1871.
Practit-ed in Chicago three years. Went into
partnership with James W. Patton in January,
1875, firm of Patton & Lanphier. Married
April 11, 1877, to Miss Susie C. Young, at St.
Louis, Missouri.

Henry H. Rogers is a native of Ohio. He
came to Illinois in 18C9, and settled in Lawrence
county. In 1872 he was admitted to the Bar,
and commenced practice. In 1875 he caffe to
Springfield and opened an office. For about
two jears he was a partner of Henry B Kane,
the partnership being dissolved on the election
of Mr. Kane to the office of Justice of the Peace
in the spring of 1881 .

John C. Snigg, lawyer, 220 South Si-xth street,
was born in New Hampshire in November, 1849;
came to Springfield, Illinois, in the fall of ISSii.
His parents were Edward Snigg and Margaret
Murphy. Ilis education was chiefly attained in
the printing office, he having never attended
school more than six months in his life. Mr.
Snigg entered the office of the Springfield Reg-
ister as an apprentice boy in 1802, and worked
in that and the Journal office until 1871. He
began reading law in May of that year, in the
office of Robinson, Knapp & Shutt, and carried
newspapers meantime to defray current expenses.
Passed his first examination in Michigan, in
1873, and received license to practice law;
passed another examination before the Supreme
Court of Illinois in June of the same year, and
commenced practice in Springfield. He was
elected City Attorney in 1875, and re-elected in
1876 and 1877. During the last term he revised
the city ordinances, after thirteen years without
revision. In the fall of 1878, Mr. Snigg was
elected Representative to the legislature on the
Democratic ticket, for its thirty -first session.

Robert H. Ha/.lett, State's Attorney for San-
gamon county, Illinois, late senior member of the
law firm of flazlett & Kane, is the second child
and eldest son of a family of six children —
three of each sex — of William P. and Zerelda
Hazlett, nee Haggard, and was born in Christian
county, Illinois. His grandfather Hazlett came
from Western Virginia, and settled in Spring-
field in 1828, his father being then but seven
years of age. Some years later the family
removed to Christian county. There his parents
raariied and remained until 1860, when they
returned to Sangamon county an<l settled where
they now reside, four niiles west of Springfield.
Robert labored on the farm until twenty years

old, enjoying the educational advantages of the
city schools and two years attendance at the State
Industrial L'niversity at Champaign, Illinois.
He read law in the ofliee of Herndon & Oren-
doi'ff in Springfield, and was admitted to the
Bar, March 6, 1873. He served as Deputy Clerk
in the office of the Supreme Court for a time;
and in May, 1874, he formed a law partnership
with Charles P. Kane, and opened an office for
practice. In 1876, Mr. Hazlett was elected
State's Attorney for Sangamon county, and re-
elected in 1880. In polities he is Democratic,
and was elected on that ticket.

William L. Gross is an Attorney-at Law,in the
active practice of his profession in the city of
Springfield, Illinois, in conjunction with Clinton
L. Conkling, under the firm of Gross &
Conkling. Mr. (Jross is a native of the State of
New York, and was born in Fairfield, Herkimer
count)', on the 21st of February, 1839. His fa-
ther, Rev. Allia Gross, a minister in the Baptist
Church, and his mother Alathea Smith Gross,
were boru in Courtland county. New York.
Ti e family came to Illinois in the spring of
1844, making the journey in a movers' covered
wagon. They first settled in Canton, Fulton
county, and afterwards, in ls48, moved upon a
farm in Knox county.

At the age of seventeen years, William, the
subject of this sketch, having passed through the
public schools and the Academy, engaged in
teaching, and whi'e so engaged he prosecuted
his law studies. He was admitted to the Bar in
Springfield on June 27, 1862, and at once enter-
ed into pratice in that city in co-partnership with
his brtither, Eugene L. Gross, Esq.

In August, 1862, Mr. Gross entered the ser-
vice of the Government, and in September,
1863, was appointed Superintendent of ililitary
Telegraphs in the Department of the Ohio. Im-
mediately following this appointment, on Octo-
ber 27, 1863, he was appointed by President
Lincoln, a Captain and Assistant (Quartermaster
of Volunteers, and, under command of General
Anson Stager, was assigned to duty in the De-
partment of the Ohio, as ^Military Superintend-
ent Telegraphs. In the discharge of this duty
he was engaged till Johnston's surrender in
the spring of 186.5, when he was transferred to
the Department of the Gulf, relieving Colonel
W. G. Fuller, and took control of Military Tele-
graphs in that entire department. While in
this latter department he was a member of Gen-
eral Phil H. Sheridan's military family, and a
member of his staff. He was twice breveted,
once as major and afterwards as lieutenant colo-

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

i:n

nel, and was honorably discharged in August,
1866.

From that time till February, 1868, he was
engaged in the civil telegraphic service, succes-
ively as Auditor of the Southwestern Telegraph
Oonipany, at Louisville, Kentucky, as financial
agent of the Western Union Telegraph Com-
pany for the district west of the Missouri, and
as Su])erintendent of the Tariff Bureau of that
compat>y in New York City.

Resigning that position in February, 1S68, he
returned to. Springfield, and, resuming his busi-
ness relations with his Ijrolher, E. L. Gross,
became an active member of the Law and Law
Publishing firm of E. L. & W. L. Gross, so well
known throughout 'his State. In 1868 the firm
issued the first volume of Gross' Statutes of
Illinois, a work accepted by the courts and Bar
as authority, and specially legalized by an act of
the legislature. The following year a second
■edition was issued, including the laws of 1869;
and the firm also issued an Index to all the Laws
of Illinois, a work of great research, minute
detail and merit. In 1872 the second volume of
Gross' Statutes apjjeared, and the following year
the firm was dissolved by the retirement of the
elder brother on account of ill health. The
publications of the firm were continued by the
fiubject of this sketch, and in 1874 appeared the
third volume of Gross' Statutes. Of these pub-
lications it is not too much to say that they
were acceptable alike to the courts, the Bar, and
the people, and will long remain models of their
kind.

Since 1874 Mr. Gross has been actively en-
gaged in the practice of his profession in this
city.

lie was elected Representative from Sanga-
mon county to the Thirty-First General Assem-
bly, upon the Republican ticket, and served dur-
ing that session.

In January 1881 he formed the law partner-
ship now existing, with Mr. Clinton L. Conk-
ling, one of the leading law firms of Sangamon
connty.

Upon the organization, in January 1877, of
the Illinois State Bar Association, Mr. Gross was
elected its Secretary, and by successive elections
still holds that important position.

In 1864 Mr. Gross was married to Miss Althea
Livingstone, of Poughkeepsie, New York, and
to tliem have been born two children, Edgar S.
and Louise.

John McAuley Palmer was born in Scott
county, Kentucky, September 13, 1H17. While
yet in his infancy, he was taken by his parents

to Christian county, Kentucky, where he re-
mained until 1831, when, in company with his
parents, he came to Illinois and settled in Madi-
son county. At this time he was in his four-
teenth year, with but little education, and only
such as was derived from the common country
schools of that day. About two years after, his
mother died and the family was broken up. The
old college at Alton, commenced on the manual
labor plan, was started at this time, and he de-
termined to avail himself of its privileges. For
one year he arose at daylight, built the tires,
swept the floors, and did other chores until
school hours, when he prosecuted his studies.

Some four years after (in 1838), while travel-
ing as a clock peddler, he stopped all night at a
hotel in Carthage, Hancock county. A friend
accompanied him to the hotel, and the two were
assigned a room with two beds. Late in the
night they were aroused by the landlord, who
ushered in two strangers. "Sorry to waken
you, gentlemen," said he, "but here are two
strangers who want a bed. You two must sleep
together, or share your beds with them." Palmer
turned over, rubbed his eyes, and saw before
him a short, spare man, with broad, expansive
forehead, and large, luminous eyes. The other
was taller, tine-looking, and had the appearance
of being a college professor. The tali man in-
quired about their politics. "Well," replied
Palmer, " My friend's a Whig, and I am a Demo-
crat." "You take the Whig, and I'll take the
Democrat," said the short man. They got into
bed, and all were soon sound asleep. The next
morning Palmer inquired the name of his bed-
fellow. It was Stephen A. Douglas, the Little
Giant of the West. His fellow-traveler was
John T. Stuart.

In 1839, Mr. Palmer went to Carlinville, and
entered the law oflice of John S. Greathouse,
and commenced the study of law. In Decem-
ber of the same year he went to Springfield to
apply for license to practice. The court appoint-
ed Judge Douglas and J. Young Soammon to
examine him. His examination was satisfac-
tory, Mr. Douglas remarking, "You may not
now be able to take charge of important law
cases, but from the cut of your features and set
of your clothes, you soon will be." In the even-
ing Mr. Palmer took a stroll around town, and
into a church used as a State House, where a tall,
long, bony man was entertaining a crowd with a
speech that was full of anecdote, logic and com-
mon sense. He inquired his name, and was in-
formed that it was Abe I^incoln. The next day
he was introduced to Mr. Lincoln, and from that

132

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

day to the death of Lincoln they were warm
personal friends.

Returning to Carlinville, he at once com-
menced the practice of law, and, although he
was not a good speaker, he soon commanded a
lucrative practice. In 1840 he supported Van
Buren for the Presidency, taking an active part
in the canvass.

On the 20th of December, 1842, he was united
in marriage to MelindaAnn Neeley. Two weeks
after marriage the couple went to housekeeping.
The whole cost of furniture and everything nec-
essary to go to housekeeping, was less than tifty
dollars.

While a strong Democrat, Mr. Palmer was
always an anti-slavery man, and when the Kan-
sas-Nebraska act of 1854 became the issue, he
sided with the Anti-Nebraska Democrats. He
was elected to the State Senate this year, which
contained four Anti-Nebraska Democrats. A
United States Senator was to be elected in place
of General Shields. The Anti-Nebraska Demo-
crats held the balance of power. Palmer ottered
to go into the Democraticcaucus, provided fealty
to the Kansas-Nebraska act was withdrawn.
His otter was refused. Shields was nominated
by the Democrats, Lincoln by the Whigs, and
Palmer ))Ut Lyman Trumbull in nomination as
the representative of the Anti-Nebraska Demo-
crats. Trumbull was elected. Douglas labored
hard with Palmer to get him to vote for Shields,
and both in the wordy contest lost control of
their temper. Doug'as taunted him with going-
over to the Aljolitionists, and said he could till
his place with plenty of good Whigs. Palmer
grew hot and retorted, "So help me God, I'll
never vote for Shields. You know how warmly
I have supported you. You now tell me you are
willing to part with me, and that you can fill my
place with your life-long enemies. You demand
that I shall surrender my personal independence
and manhood, and threaten me if I refuse. From
this time forward I will tight you, and will never
speak to you until you are beaten, and lose your
power to make and unmake men." The friend-
ship was severed and not renewed until 1861,
when the Governor of Illinois sent Palmer to
Washington as a member of the Peace Confer-
ence. The morning after his arrival Douglas
sent a card to his room requesting an interview.
The great statesman came in, and, offering his
hand, said: "Well, Palmer, the time has come
when, by your own limitation, we are to be
friends. I beat you a long time ago, but it has
taken you a long time to beat me. I'm glad to
.see you." "Yes, Judge," said Palmer, "You

were a thundering hard man to beat." Douglas
then said: "You have always misunderstood me.
Years ago I saw that Davis and others meant
disunion. I sought to force the issue upon them
in the Lecompton controversy, aiid would have
done so if Buchanan had not proven false.
Then, there was Union feeling enough even in the
South to crush them. They have since had two
years to educate the South into secession."
Then rising, and, in a solemn, prophetic voice,
he said: "And now you will see millions of men
in arms before the question is settled."

The campaign of 1856 was the first in which
figured the newly organized Ivepublican party.
Palmer gave his adhesion to that party. In
1 860 he did much service in the election of
Lincoln to the Presidency. When the war broke
out. Palmer raised the 14th Illinois Infantry, and
by brave and gallant deeds was promoted to
Major General, given command of a corps, and
afterwards a department.

After the close of the war he returned to the
practice of law, and in 1868 was elected Gov-
ernor of the State, serving four years with
marked ability. On the expiration of his term
of ottice, he located permanently in Springfield,
and is now an active, honorable member of the
Sangamon County Bar.

John Mayo Palmer, of the firm of Palmers,
Robinson <t Shutt, was born in Carlinville, Illi-
nois, March 10, 1848. He is the son of John
M. and Melinda A. (Neeley) Palmer. Young
Palmer, preparatory to his collegiate course, at-
tended the public schools of his native city. He
then entered Blackburn LTniversity, and subse-
quently ShurtJeff College, Upper Alton, Illinois,
where he retnained four years. Desiring to be
with his father during the war, he left college
before graduating, and never returned. After
the close of the war he read law with his father,
and was admitted to the Bar in the summer of
1867. He then entered the law department of
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts,
and in June, 1868, graduated with the degree of
LL B. He next returned home and commenced
the practice of law in Carlinville, where he re-
mained until September, 1872, when he moved
to Springfield and formed a partnership with
his father, and has since been an active member
of the Sangamon County Bar. During his legal
practice in Carlinville he served as City Attor-
ney one year. After his removal to Springfield
he served as a member of the City Council, from
1874 to 1877. At the general election in 1876,
he was elected a member of the Illinois Legis-
lature by the Democratic party, with which he

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

133

affiliates. Jnhn Mayo Palmer and Ellen Kob-
ortson, daughter of Dr. W. A. and Nannette
(Ilolliday) Robertson, were united in marriage
in Carlinville, Illinois, July 7, 1869. Three
children have resulted from this union — John
McAuley, born in Carlinville, April 23, 1870;
Robertson, born in Carlinville, July 5, 1872;
George Thomas, born in Springfield, March 5,
187.5. Mrs. Palmer completed her education at
Monticello Seminary, Godfrey, Illinois. She is
an active member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.

George W. Murray, attorne^'-at-law, was born
at Covington, Miami county, Ohio, July 7, 1839.
David Murray, his father, was a farmer, residing
near Dayton. George was educated in the city,
and taught school four years before beginning
the pursuit of law. He read law in the office of
General Moses B.Walker, in Dayton, in 1859
and I860; was admitted in June, 1861, and com-
menced practice in that city. Was several years
a member of the City Council while there. In
1874 Mr. Murray moved to Springfield, Illinoi.s,
and has since been an active member of the
Sangamon County Bar. In April, ls8l-, he en-
tered into co-partnership with Noah II. Turner,
which relation still exists. At the age of twenty-
one, in October, 1860, he married Miss Emma
Neisbert, of Dayton, Ohio.

Robert W. Maxwell was born in Springfield,
Illinois, December 13, 1845. He read law and
graduated from the law department of Michi-
gan University, in March, 1874. In June fol-
lowing he was licensed to practice in the courts
uf Illinois. In 1875 he went to Decatur and
remained over three years in the practice of his
profession. Returning to Springfield, he opened
an office, and in June, 18V9, formed a partner-
ship with Judge Robertson. He affiliates with
the Democratic party, and has been somewhat
active in local politics, but was never a candi-
date for office save that of City Attorney in issi,
but was beaten by a combination of Republicans
and citizens.

George A. Sanders, Attorney-at-law, of the
firm of Sanders & Williams, National Bank
building, was born in Berkshire county, Mass.,
July 4, 18-!6; graduated from Williams College
in 1861; can^e to Illinois; read law with Messrs.
Sweet & Orme in Bloomington, and was ad-
mitted to the Bar in 1864. He jiracticed his
profession five years in Centralia, Illinois. In
1868 he was chosen one of the Electors
for General Grant for the Presidency. In the
winter of 1869-70 Mr. Sanders became Assistant
State Treasurer, which position he filled six

years; and since retiring from that department,
he has been in active law practice in Spring-
field. He entered into co-j)artnership witti
Frank P. Williams, January 1, 1881. Mr. San-
ders has always affiiliated with the Republican
party and been an active worker in its interests.

James H. Matheny, Jr., is a "native to the
manor born." He was born in Si)ringfield, Illi-
nois, in 1856, and is the third son of James H.
Matheny, the present County Judge of Sanga-
mon county. He was educated in the city; read
law from 1874 to 1876, and was then admitted
to the Bar. In 1877 he opened an office in
Springfield, and has since devoted himself
closely to his profession.

Henry A. Stevens, Lawyer, office 110 North
Sixth street ; was born in Sheft'ord county, in the
Dominion of Canada, July 17, 1847. John M.
Stevens was a native of New Brunswick, and
married Sibyl Goddard, a Canadian lady The
subject of this sketch is one of their family of
ten living children, five of each sex. Three of
the sons are lawyers, and one a physician by
profession. Henry was educated in Canada ami
Vermont. Came to the United States in 186.5,
to Logansport, Indiana, in 1868, and to Spring-
field in 1869. The next four years he spent in
teaching .school and reading law. From the fall
of 1873 till 1877, he practiced law in Monona
county, Iowa, and since that time has been an
active member of the Springfield Bar. In the
spring of 1870, Mr. Stevens was made a Mason,
in Williamsville, Sangamon county, and is now
a member of that fraternity. He married Miss
Laura Southwick, m Springfield, in the spring
of 1873. Her parents, William and Louvioy
Southwick, settled in Sangamon county, in lsl9,
and still live on the old homestead, entered by
his father, Jessie, in Woodside township, about
seven miles southeast of the city. Mr. and iMrs.
Stevens have one daughter, aged seven years, and
a son five years old. Mr. Stevens' parens immi-
grated to Illinois in 1866, and now reside in
Shelby county.

James E. Dowling, Attorney at Law, was
born in Pine Grove near Carlisle, Pennsylvania,
in April, 1844, and is the only living son of a
family of three boys and five girls, of Patrick
J., and Ann Dowling, who were born and married
in Ireland, and crossed the Atlantic when Mr.
Dowling was twenty-three years of age. When
James was thirteen years old, the family moved
to Freeport, Stephenson county, Illinois, where
he was chiefly educated, graduating from the
high school in that place in 1860. After reading
law with Thomas J. Turner, of Freeport,

134

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

two years, he attended the Albany Law
School, New York, from which he was graduated
May '20, 18(i4. He located in practice in Peters-
burg, Illinois, was chosen Secretary of the State
Senate for the session of 1865-6, at the close of
which he moved to Athens, Menard, county, and
there practiced law eleven years, in 1877 here-
moved to Springfield where he has been active in
the profession since. In politics Mr. Dowling is
Republican, and \\as quite active in the canvass
in 5lenard county, previous to General Grant's
last election to the Presidency. He married
Miss Savilia, daughter of James G. Davis, one
of the early settlers of Menard county, in Octo-
ber, 1865. They have a family of three sons
and six daughters. Mr. Dowling is a member
of Capital City Lodge No. 38, of Ancient Order
of United Workmen.

James A. Creighton, lawyer, of Orendorjf &
Creighton, northeast corner Washington and
Fifth streets, was born in White county, Illinois,
and is thirty-five years of age. He was graduated
from Southern Illinois College, at Salem, in June,
1868; read law with C. A. Beecher, in Fairfield,
Illinois, and was admitted to the Bar in March,
1870. After practicing law in Fairfield until
April, 1877, he located in Springfield, forming a
co-partnership with Mr. A. Orendorff, which
still exists. The firm has a fine legal business.
John M. Creighton, Mr. C.'s father, was also
a native of White county, Illinois, born in 1821;
passed his whole life in this State, and died in
1869. His mother was born in Illinois in 1824,
and is still living. His paternal ancestors were
North Carolinians, and his maternal ancestors
from Virginia.

George A. Wood, lawyer, office corner Wash-
ington and Sixth streets, is the youngest of a
family of six children, three of each sex, of
Adolphus Wood and Catharine Carpenter, and
was burn in January, 185S, in Springfield, San-
gamon county, Illinois. Adolphus Wood was a
native of York State, came to Sangamon county
in an early day, married Miss Carpenter, who
was born in Sangamon county in 1820 — her
parents, William and Margaret Carpenter having
settled here that year. Mr. Wood died January
12, 1861. His widow still survives and resides
in Springfield. Tlie subject of this article hav-
ing completed a course in the city schools, at-
tended the law department of Michigan State
University, from which he graduated in 1877,
and was admitted to practice in that State the
.same year. Speiit a year in Chicago, was ad-
mitted to the Bar of Illinois in 187s, and at
once opened a law office in Springfield where he

has since been actively engaged in his pro-
fession.

Thomas Sterling, City Attorney, and member
of the law firm of Sterling & Grout, was born
in Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio, February
21, 1851; is the son of Charles and Anna (Kes-
lar) Sterling, natives of Ohio. They moved to
McLean county, Illinois, in 1855, which is still
their home Thomas was graduated from Wes-
leyan University in Bloomington, Illinois, in
June, 1875. While teaching as Principal of the
schools of Bement, Illinois, in J875-G, he read
law in the office of Judge W. G. Cloyd; came
to Springfield, June 1, 1877, and entered the law
office of Hay, Greene tfe Littler; was admitted
June 11, 1878, and commenced practice of his
profession in company with his present partner,
J. M. Grout. In April, 1881, Mr. Sterling was
elected City Attorney on the Republican and
Citizens' tickets. He married Miss Anna Dunn,
of Bement, Illinois, in October, 1877. He is a
Master Mason in St. Paul's Lodge No. 500.

Joseph M. Grout, Attorney and Counselor at
Law, corner Washington and Sixth streets, is
one of two sons of Joseph M. Grout, a native of
Massachusetts, and Priscilla Thompson of Ken-
tucky, and was born near Mechanicsburg, San-
gamon county, Illinois, in 1855. Joseph M.
Grout, Sr., was one of the pioneer Presbyterian
clergymen in Sangamon county, and died of the
cholera in 1855, before the subject of this sketch
was born, and his mother died when he was but
ten weeks old. He was taken by an uncle to
Massachusetts, where the first eight years of his
life were passed. Returning to Illinois, he was
graduated from Illinois College, in Jacksonville,
in the class of 1876; came immediately to
Springfield and commenced the study of law in
the office of Hay, Green & Littler; was admitted
to the Bar in 1878, and in the fall of that ye.ar
entered into co-partnership with Thomas Ster-
ling, his present partner, with whom he read
law, and was admitted in the same c'ass. INlr.
Grout is Republican in politics, but has never
been a candidate for any office. He was united
in matrimony with Miss Flora Grubb, of Spring-
field, in 1879.

William IJenry Colby, Lawyer, of the firm of
Ilerndon & Colby, was born in Orange county.
New York, September 14, 1849. James Colby,
his father, moved his family to Illinois and
settled near Chicago the same year of William's
l)irth. His father died there in 1858, and his
mother in 1863. William came to Springfield
in March, 1863, with a single suit of clothes and
twenty-five cents in his pocket, which he paid

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

137

for his night's lodging, retiring supperless. He
sought and obtained employment with George
JJergen, a farmer near the city, for whom he
worked nine years, the first eiglit months at $(5
per month, which was increased in after years to
§25 per month. Prior to beginning the practice
of law, he leased and earned on a part of Mr.
Bergen's farm. At the age of twenty-five years, he
married Henrietta Gantrall, of Sangamon county.
He commenced reading law in the ofiice of Pat-
ton & Lanphier in January, 1876, and was
admitted in January, 1S78, in the class with his
]>resent partner, William F. Herndon. They
were schoolmates and law students together.
Mr. and Mrs. Colby have two children, Charles
P., five years of as,"e, and Henrietta, three years
old.

William F. Herndon was born in DeWitt
county, Illinois, in 18-18; is the eldest of three
sons and five daughters of Archer G. Herndon;
was educated chiefiy in Springfield; taught
school about ten years; read law in the office of
CuUom.Scholes ifc Mather in 187.5and 187(5; was
admitted to the Bar in January, 1878, and has
since been in practice in Springfield.

In September, 1871, he married Mary H.
Bryant, of Sangamon county, who has borne him
one son, Edgar B. Mr. Uerndon's parents have
resided in Rochester township, Sangamon
county, many years.

Henry B. Kane was born in Springfield, Illi-
nois, January 17, 1855. His father. Elder A.
J. Kane, is one of the oldest ministers of the
Christian Church, in this county. His mother is
the daughter of Philo and Martha (Stillman)
Beers, supposed to be the first couple married in
the county. Mr. Kane graduated in the Spring-
field High Sciiool, in 1872. In 1873, he was ap-
pointed one of the -mail carriers in the city, and
served three and a half years, and on account of
ill-health resigned. He read law during that
time, utilizing his spare hours for that purpose,
and in January, 1878, was admitted to the Bar.
He then entered the office of N. W. Branson,
Register in Bankruptcy, as his deputy, and re-
mained with him until the law was repealed,
about a year after. Subsequently he formed a
partnership with II. H. Rogers, in the practii'o
of law. which continued until he was elected
Justice of the Peace, in 1881.

Frank H. Jones was born in Pike county, Illi-
nois, in 1854, and is the son of George M.Jones,
Clerk of the A))pellate Court, in Springfield. He
entered Yale College in 1871 and graduated in
the class of 1875. Returning to Pike county, be
read law one year in Pittsfield, then spent a

16—

year in the Law Department of Columbia Col-
lege, and a year in liie Chicago Law School. He
was admitted to the Bar in the spring of 1878,
and immediately opened an office in Pittsfield,
where he remained one year, and then came to
Springfield.

John A. Chestnut, attorney and Justice of the
Peace, was born in Kentucky, in January, 1816.
James Chestnut, his father, was a native of
South Carolina, of Irish descent, and married
Elizabeth Stevenson, a North Carolina lady.
They settled near \Vaverly, Morgan county,
Illinois, in 1826, where Mr. Chestnut died in

1849, and his widow in 1833. John was princi-
pally educated in the common schools of Ken-
tucky; read law in the office of P. H. W^inchester,
Carlinville, Illinois, and was admitted in Decem-
ber, 1837, to practice in the Illinois Supreme
Court, and in 1841, to the LTnited States Courts.
He practiced in Carlinville from 1837 till 1855,
Governor John M. Palmer being his chief cim-
petitor. He then abandoned the law, and en-
gaged in the real estate and banking business in
that place, which proved so successful that he
retired in a few years with a comfortable com-
petence, and came to Springfield. Here Mr.
Chestnut made some investments in real estate
that proved unprofitable, and he lost consider-
able. In 1867, he was made cashier of the
Springfield Savings Bank, holding the position
till May, 1872. After spending a year in the
office of Stuart, Edwards & Brown, he opened a
law office and resumed practice in 1879. In the
spring of 18-^1, he was elected Justice on the
Republican and Reform tickets. From 1838 to

1850, he filled the office of County Clerk in Ma-
coupin county; was three times nominated on
the old Whig ticket for the legislature, but the
party being in the minority, failed to elect their
candidate. He declined the nomination for Con-
gress in 1860. Mr. Chestnut has been twice
married, first to Sarah A. Blair, of Greene county,
Illinois, in 1844, who died; and in 1854 he mar-
ried Kate N. Corbett, of Jersey county. He has
one daughter, Leonora, by the first marriage,
now Mrs. Tingley S. W^ood, of Leadville, Colo-
rado. Mr. C. is a member of the M. E. Church.

Thomas J. Thompson, Justice of the Peace
and Attorney-at-law, is the son of John and
Margaret Thompson, nee Coleman, of Irish
nativity, and was liorn in Philadeljihia, Penn-
sylvania, in 1853. During his childhood they
moved to Dayton, Ohio, where Thomas at-
tended the public school, after which he took a
course in Williams C!ollege, Massachusetts, grad-
uating in the class of 1874. He taught as Prin-

138

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

cipal of llic U illiainstown Academy out' year;
then returning to Ohio, read law in the office of
Samuel A. Brown, of Springfield. He came to
Springfield, Illinois, in December 1878, and was
admitted to the Bar in the spring of 1879, since
wliich time he has divided his attention between
professional practice and stenographic reporting
of court proceedings, until elected Justice in the
spring of lssi,on the combined vote of tlie Citi-
zen's and Democratic tickets. Mr. Thomj)son
served as Secretary of the Democratic State
Central Committee during the political cam-
paign of 1880. Wlien a lad in school, young
Thompson received an injury through the rough
conduct of a fellow pu))il, which rendered him
a permanent cripple, resulting in the shortening
of the right leg some three inches. He posseses
adaptation both by nature and culture for the
legal profession, and gives promise of a success-
ful career at the B ar.

Winfield S. Collins, lawyer, is the son of
Horace W. Collins, a native of Champaign
county, Obio, and .Julia E. Sattley, born in San-
gamon county, Illinois. Her father, Robert H.
Sattley, settled in the county in a very early day.
The subject of this sketch was born in Cham-
paign county, Ohio, March 30, 1848. In 1855
his parents moved to Johnson county, Iowa,
where he labored on the farm till twenty one
years of age, then set about earning means with
■which to obtain a more complete education.
He taught school twelve terms; took a course in
Iowa Agricultural College, from which he was
graduated in civil engineering in theclassof 1876,
with distinguished honors as a draughtsman,
having won the prize for the finest piece of me-
chanical drawing at a State exhibition. In the
spring of 1877, Mr. Collins came to Springfield,
Illinois, read law with Robert L. McGuire and
was admitted to practice in the courts, in May,
1879. He immediately opened an office in the
city, and began the business of his profession.
June 1, 1881, he formed a partnership with
Martin Sprague, wliich still continues.

William A. Vincent is a native of West Vir-
ginia, and came to Sangamon county with his
parents in 1868. He received a literary educa-
tion in the Ohio Wesleyan University, and grad-
uated from the Law Department of Columbia
College, New Jersey, in May, 1879. Returning
to Springfield the same month, he passed an ex-
amination before the Supreme Court of this
State, and at once commenced the practice of
his profession in S|iringfield.

Larue Vredenburgh was born in Springfield
in 1855, graduated from Rutger's College, New

Jersey, in 1877; read law in Chicago, and was
admitted to the Bar in the fall of 1879, and has
since been in active practice in Springfield.

Alexander H. Robertson is a native of Ken-
tucky and a graduate in both the Literary and
Law De]iartments of Transylvania University,
in that State. His father was George Robert-
son, for many years Chief Justice of the Su-
preme Court of Kentucky, and Professor in the
Law Department of Transylvania University,
and acknowledged as one of the ablest lawyers
of his time in that State. In 1853 Alexander
came to Illinois and located in Jacksonville, in
the practice of his profession. Subsequently he
returned to Kentucky, where he remained until
1862, during that time serving as Judge of the
Court of Common Pleas, of Lexington, to which
office he was elected shortly after his return.
Coming back to Illinois, he remained for a time
and again returned to Kentucky to look after
his interests in that State. In 1879 he came to
Springfield, and at once became an active mem-
ber of the Sangamon County Bar. Judge Rob-
ertson, during the civil war, was a decided
Union man, and incurred many of the perils and
disadvantages without any of its benefits. His
father was also outspoken, with tongue and pen,
in defense of the LTnion .against secession. On
coming to Springfield, Judge Robertson formed
a partnershij) with R. W. Maxwell, which still
continues.

William T. Houston was born in Sangamon
county, his parents moving here in 1828. He
read law with John B. Jones, Taylorville, Chris-
tian county, and was admitted to the Bar in
1878. In the fall of 1680, he came to Springfield
and opened an office. He served in the army as
a member of the 114th Illinois Infantry.

Albert Salzenstein, of the firm of McGuire,
Hamilton & Salzenstein, is a native of Sanga-
mon county. After graduating in the Spring-
field High School in 1876, he was Assistant Clerk
of the Supreme Court about eighteen months,
at the same time pursuing the reading of law.
He then entered the office of L. F. Hamilton,
and continued his studies. He passed examina-
tion before the Supreme Court in July, ISSO, but
being a minor, he could not be admitted. In
September following, he attained his majority,
and opened an office in Springfield. In April,
1881, he was admitted a member of the present
firm.

Frank R. Williams, of the firm of Sanders &
Williams, is a native of New York, and was
educated in Cazinovia Seminary, in that State.
He afterwards entered the law department of

1I1ST(3IIY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

139

Michigan University, and graduated in 1880.
He was admitted to the Bar the previous Janu-
ary, and came to Springfiel<l and commenced
practice. The firm was formed .January 1, 1881.

Noah II. Turner comes of good old Irish an-
cestry and a long-lived race, and was born in
Sangamon county. He read law with L. F.
Hamilton, and was admitted to the Bar in 1880.
He formed his present partnership with George
W. Murray in A])ril, 1S81.

Edwin C. Ilaynie, son of the late Adjutant-
General Haynie and Elizabeth (Cooper) Haynie,
was born in Salem, Marion county, Illinois, June
27, 1856. He is a graduate of the Springfield
High School, of the class of 1873; Phillips'
Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, with the
class of 187.5; Yale College, New Haven, Con-
necticut, in the class of 1879; Yale Law School,
in 1881. On graduating, he secured a license to
practice, and is now a member of the Bar of
Sangamon county. Mr. Haynie was married in
New Haven, Connecticut, September 14, 1881,
to Minnie Pierpont Hall, daughter of Lucius W.
Hall, a prominent merchant of that city, and
Elizabeth (Shepherd) Hall, both natives of Con-
necticut. Mrs. Haynie is a graduate of a class-
ical institute of Philadelphia, in the class of
1877.

Walter B. Wines was bopn in Boston, Massa-
chusetts, October 10, 1848. He is the son of
Enoch C. and Emma S. Wines, natives of New
Jersey and New York respectively. He entered
Williston Seminary, East Hampton, Massachu-
setts, at an early age, pre[iaratory to a course in
Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont, in
which institution he graduated in the classical
course. After graduating at Middlebury Col-
lege, he entered the Law Department of Colum-
bia College, in New York, and graduated in the
class of 1871. In March, 1871, he was admitted
to the Bar, and commenced practice in New York
city, wliere he continued until March, 1879,
when he moved to Springfield and became iden-
tified with the Bar of Sangamon county. At
present he is the Special Agent of the United
States Census Ofiice.

Walter B. Wines and Annie E. Thornton, of
New York, were married March 16, 1869. Mrs.
Wines is the daughter of Isaac and Bridget
(Harrington) Thornton, the former a native of
England and the latter of Ireland. Three
children have been born unto them — Annie Ger-
trude, Walter Enoch and Edith Mary. Mrs.
Wines was educated in the convent in Burling-
ton, Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Wines are mem-
bers of the Catholic Church.

140

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Chapter VII

THE FISHER MURDER CASE.

It has become a proverb that "truth is stran-
ger than fiction." This was never more fully
verified than in the events here related, concern-
ing three brothers, who became victims to one
of the most remarkable cases of circumstantial
evidence on record. William, Henry and Archi-
bald Trayler, were each born in Greene county,
Kentucky, and who came to Illinois about the
year IS-ld. William settled near Greenbush,
Warren county, about one hundred miles north-
west of Springfield. Henry settled at Clary's
Grove, Menard county, but which was then a
part of Sangamon county. Archibald settled in
Springfield, and engaged in business as a car
penter and builder. He owned a lot on the cor-
ner of Adams and Third streets, and built thereon
a dwelling house. Being a bachelor, he rented
the house to his partner, Mr. Myers, and boarded
with him. The three brothers were each sober,
industrious and retiring men, there being noth-
ing in their actions that would give rise to any
remarks, or a suspicion that they would be guilty
of any wrong-doing.

Archibald Fisher, a man about fifty years of
age; taught school in Monmouth, ^Varren county,
and vicinity. When not regularly employed in
teaching, he worked at odd jobs, living in the
families of those who employed him. He was
unmarried, economical, and had saved up a few
hundred dollars, and, at the beginning of the
.events here related, he was boarding at the house
of William Trayler.

Desiring to enter some land, Mr. Fisher, in
company with Mr. Trayler, started together for
Springfield, arriving at the house of Henry
Trayler on Sunday evening. The next morning,
all three came to Springfield, arriving there
about noon, Monday, June 1, 1841, and stopped
at the house where Archibald Trayler boarded.
After dinner the three brothers and Fisher left
the boarding house, in company, lor the purpose
of looking about the town. At supper time the

three brothers returned, but Fisher, having step-
ped aside as they were passing along a foot-path
among the trees in the northwestern part of the
city, did not appear. After supper, all the oth-
ers went in search of him. One b}- one they
returned as night approached, but with no
tidings of Fisher. The next morning the search
was continued, but up to noon was still unsuc-
cessful.

William and Henry, having expected to leave
early that morning, expressed their intention
of abandoning the search and returning home.
This was objected to by Archibald and those
boarding with him at Mrs. Myers', as it would
leave Fisher without any means of conveyance.
They, therefore, continued the search the re-
mainder of the day; but at night, William, who
evidently was greatly disappointed at being de-
tained so long, unknown to Archibald, hitched
up his buggy and started home. Missing him,
and learning what had been done, Archibald
followed him on foot, and overtook him just as
he was entering the water at Hickox's mill, on
Spring creek, near where the Ohio & Mississippi
railroad now crosses. Remonstrating with him
against going home before the mystery was
cleared up, William turned 'round in the water,
and they both returned to Springfield. Notwith-
standing all this, William and Henry started
home the next day.

Up to this time, the mysterious disappearance
had attracted but little attention. Three or four
days later, Henry returned to Springfield for the
purpose of continuing the search, and with his
brother Archibald, and some of the boarders,
another day was spent in the search, but with-
out avail, when Henry concluded to cease fur-
ther efforts.

On Friday, June 12, James W. Keyes, the
Postmaster at Springfield, received a letter from
Mr. Tice, postmaster at Greenbush, Warren
county, stating that William Trayler had re-

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

141

turned home, and was circulating the report that
Fisher was dead, and l)oasting that he had
willed his money to him, and that he had gained
about fifteen hundred dollars by it — a much
larger sum than Fisher was supposed to possess.
Mr. Tice requested the Springtield postmaster
to give him all the information on the subject
that he could. The contents of that letter were
made public, and the excitement became wide-
spread and intense. Springfield had now a pop-
ulation of about two thousand, and had the year
previous adopted a city charter. William L.
May was Mayor, and together with Josiah Lam-
born, Attorney-General of the State, headed
the movement to ferret out the mystery. A
large company was raised and formed into
squads and marched about in every direction, so
as to leave no spot unsearched. Examinations
■were made of wells and every conceivable place
where a body might be concealed.

In the search, a club was found with some hair
attached to it. and it was confidently believed
that the murder had been committed with that
weapon, but it was afterwards demonstrated
that the hair was from a cow. This search was
continued until Saturday afternoon, when it was
determined to arrest William and Henry Tray-
ler, and officers started for them on Sunday
morning. Henry, being nearest, was brought
to Springfield on Monday. The Mayor and
Attorney-General took him in hand, and used
every device to elicit information of the sup-
posed murder, but he protested his innocence of
any knowledge on the subject. He was re-
minded that the circumstantial evidence was so
strong that he, with his two brothers, would
certainly all be hung, and th.at the only chance
to save his own life was for him to become a
witness on the part of the State. He withstood
all the pressure until Wednesday, the seven-
teenth of the month, when, protesting his own
innocence, he stated that his brothers, William
and Archibald, without bis knowledge at the
time, had murdered Fisher, bv hanging him to
a tree; that they had temporarily concealed the
body; that immediately [ireceding the departure
of himself and William from Springfield, on
the second or third of June, William and Archie
communicated the fact to him, and engaged his
assistance in making a permanent concealment
of the bod)'; that at the time he and William
left, ostensibly for home, they did not take the
direct road, but, wending their way through the
streets, entered the woods at the northwest of
the city, and that on ajjproaching, where the
body was concealed, he was placed as a sentinel.

He then entered into a minute description of
the murder, going into the smallest details.
He said that his brothers entered a thicket
of underbrush, where the body was concealed,
pl.aced it in the buggy, moved oiT with it in the
direction of Hickox mill-pond on Spring creek,
and soon after returned, saying they had put it
in a safe place; that Archibald went back to
town, and that William and himself found their
way to the road, and proceeded to their homes.

Until that disclosure was made, the character
of Archibald was such as to repel all suspicion
of his com]ilicity in the matter, but he was at
once arrested and hurried to jail, which was
probably the best thing that could have been
done for him, for he was in great personal
danger from the infuriated populace. Search
then commenced anew for the body. The thicket
was found, and indications of a struggle under
a small tree, bent over as though the hanging
might have been done there. A trail was also
visible, as though a body had been dragged to
where the tracks of a buggy were to be seen,
tending in the direction of the mill pond, pre-
viously spoken of, but could not be traced all
the way. At the pond, however, it was found
that a buggy had been down into the water and
came out again. Hundreds of men were en-
gaged in dragging and fishing for the body.
Ijecoming impatient, the dam was cut down on
Thursday morning, the eighteenth of June, and
the water drawn off, but no body found.

About noon that day the officers, who had
gone to arrest William Trayler, returned with
hira in custody, acc()m])anied by a gentleman
who called himself Dr. Gilmore. Then it was
ascertained that William Trayler had been ar-
rested at his own house, on Thursday the six-
teenth of the month, and started for Springfield,
stopping at Lewiston, Fulton county, for the
night. Late in the night Dr. Gilmore arrived
there and told the officers that Fisher was alive
and at his hf)use; that he had followed them to
give the information so that the prisoner might
be released without further trouble. The deputy
sheriff — James Maxcy — very properly refusetl
to release him on the word of an entire stranger,
and they continued tlieir journey to Springfield.

Dr. Gilmore told the officers that when he
heard of the arrest of William Trayler for the
murder of Fisher, he was a few miles from
home; that when he returned to his own house
he found lisherthere; thathe would have taken
Fisher with him in pursuit of the officers with
the prisoner, but that the state of Fisher's
health would not admit of it. The doctor fur-

142

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

ther said thai he had known Fisher for several
years, and that he was subject to fits of tempo-
I'ary derangement of mind, in consequence of
an injury to his head, received in early life.
The doctor still further stated that Fisher told
him that the first he knew after visiting Spring-
field, he found himself in the vicinity of Peoria.
Being nearer to his home than to Springfield, he
proceeded at once to Warren county, without
the slightest thought of his acts leading to the
injury of any other person.

On their arrival at Springfield, Dr. Gilmore's
statement was made public, and at first the peo-
ple seemed to be struck dumb with astonish-
ment. When tlie news was communicated to
Henry Trayler, in the jail, he, without faltering,
re-aflirmed his own story about the murder of
Fisher. The idea was at once taken up by the
crowd that Dr. Gil more was in collusion with
the murderers, and that he had invented that
story as a ruse to secure their release and escape.
While the doctor was permitted to remain at
liberty, he was regarded with strong suspicion.
About 3 o'clock that afternoon, Mr. Myers, the
partner of Archibald Trayler, started with a
two-horse carriage, accompanied by Egbert M.
Mailory, to ascertain whether Fisher was alive
or not, and if so, to bring him back to Spring-
field.

Without waiting for the return of Myers and
Mallor}', the Traylers were brought before the
proper officers for preliminary examination, on
the charge of the murder of Archibald Fisher.
Henry Trayler was introduced on the part of
the State, and on oath testified that his brothers,
William and Arichibald, had murdered Archi-
bald Fisher, re-affirming all the minutia of his
former statements, and at the close bore a rigid
cross-examination without faltering or exposure.
It was also proven by a respectable lady, who
was well actjuainted with Archibald, that on
the Monday afternoon of Fisher's disappear-
ance, she saw Archibald Trayler and another
man, who she identified as ^^'illiam Trayler, —
then present — and still another, answering the
description of Fisher, all enter the timber ax the
northwest of town, and an hour or two lat^r,
saw the two former return alone. Many other
witnesses were examined, giving a combination
of testimony that seemed to weave a net-work
of circumstances about the prisoners, from
which it would appear to any other than a legal
mind, to be utterly impossible to extricate them.
It was also proven that Archibald Trayler had
passed an unusual number of pieces of gold
coin. The buggy tracks in the mill pond were

unexplained, as the prisoners were the only jjer-
sons who could give any light upon that subject.
The evidence of a struggle in the thicket, under
the bending tree, where the hanging was sup-
posed to have taken place, was unexjilained,
although it was afterwards proven that school
children had been using the tree as a support to
a swing. These and many other points of evi-
dence, the intricacies of which space forbids
that I should follow out, were before the courts.

When the prosecution had introduced all
their evidence and rested the case, one of the
attorneys for the defense, Hon. Stephen T.
Logan, arose, and with every eye turned toward
him, said that on the part of the defendants, he
would introduce a single witness only.

Archibald Fisher, in full life and proper per-
son, was then conducted slowl)' into the jjresence
of the court. Messrs. Myers and Mailory had
returned late in the evening before — June 21st
— with Fisher, and the friends of the prisoners
kept him secreted until the proper time. The
effect may be imagined, but can not be describ-
ed. A gentleman who was cognizant of the
proceedings from beginning to end, and who is
now a Judge of one of the courts of Illinois, de-
scribing the appearance of one of the prisoners
in the court room, says: "Archibald Trayler
was as fine looking a man as I ever saw. When
his own brother was testifying that he was a
murderer, he stared at him with a look of aston-
ishment, settling into an appearance of stoical
indifference, that seemed to say, 'there is no hope
of relief, therefore I must calmly endure the
worst;' but when the man he was accused of hav-
ing murdered, was lead into his presence, he
broke down and gave vent to his feelings in a
flood of tears, followed by uncontrollable fits of
sobbing anrt moaning."

By this time it began to dawn on the minds of
the people that the threats of death to all three
of the brotliers had so wrought on the mind of
Henry Trayler as to destroy his competency as
a witness. A feeling of indignation immediately
sprang up against May and Lamborn, who had
led in the prosecution, and it only lacked a bold
leader to mob and hang them. The feeling was
so intense that Judge Logan, who had defended
the prisoners, felt it his duty to come to the res-
cue of their prosecutors. He made a pacific
speech, in which he exhorted all to abide by the
laws. It had the desired eft'ect, and all dispersed
without violence.

A public meeting of the citizens of Springfield
was held on the evening of June 22, 1841, to ex-
press sympathy with the brothers, who had

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

143

passed through that liery ordeal, and particuhir-
ly with their fellow citizen, Archibald Trayler,
whose character had never been tarnished with
the slightest shadow of reproach. That sympa-
thy was of little avail. His fine, manly counte-
nance was never again lighted ui* with a smile.
'He made some feeble attempt at business, but
generally wandered about, avoiding all society,
pined away, and died in less than two years.
One who knew him well said: "If ever a man
died of a broken heart it was Archibald Tray-
ler." William Trayler died in less than a year
after the trial. Henry Trayler lived several
years after the death of his brother, but was
never known to speak of the mournful event af-
ter his departure from Springfield at the close of
the trial. He died in Menard county. It is said
that the three brothers never met after they
passed out of the court room.

If the unhappy and afflicted being who was
the innocent cause of all the trouble, had wan-
dered away and died on the open prairie, much
of which had not then been trod by the foot of
man, William and Archibald Taylor would, be-
yond a reasonable doubt, have been executed as
his murderers, and that upon the force of sur-
rounding circumstances and the testimony of
their own brother, who would doubtlessly have
become hopelessly insane, caused by threats to
make him confess a crime never committed, and
afterwards by the appalling effects of his own
testimony. The world would probably have
looked on and called it retributive justice. Such
may, and doubtless has been, the effect of cir-
cumstantial evidence in cases where the truth
was never known.

Thus ended one of the most remarkable affairs
of its kind on record.

,«^'.

144

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Chapter VIII

RAILROADS.

Sangamon county is traversed by one hundred
and tifty-four miles of railroad, represented by
six lines. The citizens of no county in the State
have manifested more interest in the subject,
from the beginning of the agitation to the pres-
ent time. The news of a successful construction
of a road in the East had no sooner become
known in this section of country, before it was
boldly advocated by Jonathan H. Pugh and
others, as the only means of solving the trans-
portation problem. Of course the advocates of
such a scbeme were regarded by some, as pos-
sessing an uuba'aiiced mind, still they did not
waver, and as the opportunity presented itself, it
was forced upon the attention of the people.

As early as 1833, the subject of railroad build-
ing was introduced into the General Assembly,
but no laws were enacted at that time. In the
winter of 1835-(j acts were passed incorporating
a large number of railroads, as well as for the
building of canals and other internal improve-
ments. Capital stock amounting to §1 2,450,000
was authorized, chietly to railroad companies.
The internal improvement act of 1837, appropri-
ated $10,:200,000 directly from the State Treas-
ury. More than $9,000,000 of this sum was for
railroads. At this same session, private laws
were enacted, chartering joint stock companies
with authorized capital stock to the amount of
nearly §S,000,000, making an aggregate of about
$30,000,000, involved in efforts to legislate rail-
roads into existence in the State of Illinois at
that early day. This gigantic system of inter-
nal improvement was inaugurated when the
country was but sparsely settled, and before it
was in a condition to export anything that would
command money. The people imagined them-
selves rich, because the whole United States,
east, west, north and south, wastlooded with irre-
deemable paper currency. It was thought there
would be no difficulty in negotiating loans to
carry forward the public works.

Soon after the law was enacted, certificates of
internal improvement stock was readily taken,
contracts let, and work commenced at various
points in all parts of the State. Millions of dol-
lars were squandered in this way before the au-
tumn of 1837, when the great financial crash,
which commenced in the eastern cities, swept
over the whole United States, and the internal
improvement system of Illinois went down, leav-
ing the State in what was thought at the time, to
be hopeless bankruptcy.

WABASH, ST. LOtnS & PACIFIC KAILROAD.

Among the first lines upon which work was
commenced under the internal improvement
system, was the Northern Cross Railroad. The
first ground was broken between Jacksonville
and Meredosia, on what was called Wolf Run.
It was about six miles east of the Illinois river.
This was early in the spring of 1S3/. James
Dunlap and T. T. January were the contractors.
In the spring of 1838, the first locomotive ever
brought to the State, came up the Illinois river
on a steamboat, and was landed at Meredosia.
It was used for running construction trains from
that time forward. This engine was built by
Rogers, Ketchum ifc Grosvenor, of Patterson,
New Jersey, and was called the "Superior."
The road was so far advanced that the loco-
motive run into Jacksonville in the latter part
of 1838, or early in 1839.

The work on the Northern Cross Railroad
struggled along, after the internal improvement
system had ceased in nearly every other part of
the State. After it was put in running order
from Meredosia to Jacksonville, some work was
done between the latter place and Springfield,
but for a year or two it moved slowly. In some
way the canal fund became indebted to the in-
ternal improvement fund. On the 26th day of
February, 1841, an act of the General Assembly
was approved, providing for the completion of

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

145

the Northern Cross Railroad from Springfield to
Jacksonville. To liquidate ihe indebledness of
the canal fund to the internal improvement fund,
1 1 00,000 of canal bonds were appropriated to
defray the expense of completing that part of
tlie road. The Fund Commissioner was author-
ized and instructed to enter into contracts for
the work, to be paid for with the canal bonds,
and to be completed in one year. On the day
following — February 27, 1841 — a law was enact-
ed requiring the Fund Commissioner to advertise
for proposals to do the work. He was, by the
same law, directed to take charge of all the work
between Springfield and the Illinois river.

FIRST LOCOMOTIVE IN SPRINGFIELD.

Before the road was completed to Springfield,
another locomotive was brought on, from the
works of M. W. Baldwin, of Philadelphia. It
was called the "Illinois." The track was so far
completed that on the 15th of February, 1842, it
entered Springfield, being the first one to arrive
in the city. George G regory was the engineer,
and T. M. Avei-Ut the fireinan. The track was
laid along Tenth street to the crossing of Adams.
The last half or three-fouiths of a mile of the
track was only the wooden stringers, the iron
not yet having been spiked. The newspapers
were not very enterprising, with reference to the
latest news, especially when it is considered how
wild they were on the subject of railroads only
two or three years before.

Ten days after the event, February 25, the
following item appeared in the Sangamo Jour-
nal:

"The railroiul is so far finished tbat the locomotive
occasioually runs vipoQ it, and has drawn at least one
heavy load of produce to the river. Under the circum-
stances of the times, the contractors, Messrs. Dull',
Calhoun &- Company liave done well to complete it thus
early. We aulicipule that much business will be done
on this road in the spring."

Again, from the Journal of March 11:

'• Northern Cross Railroad. — We have neglected to
notice that the railroad from this plaice to Meredosia,
on the Illinois river, has been completed for a couple
of weeks so far as to permit the passage of trains of
cars through the whole line. The locomotive lias now
commenced triiis between this city and the Illinois
river; and, for the present, we understand it is arranged
that the locomotive will leave this city every Monday,
Weduesda)' and Friday, and jMercdosia every Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday. We also learn that the
steamer "Mungo Park" will run reg'ularly between
Meredosia and St. Louis, going and returning three
times a week, so as to connect regularlj' with the train
of cars. This arrangement will be of immense utility
to our citizens and the traveling community, and will
furnish the easy means of conveying to market the

17—

produce of a large and most productive region of
country."

A contrast in the rate of speed then and
now will be shown from the following item
from Journal, March 18, 1842:

"On Saturday lust, March 11, the cars ran from
.Jacksonville, thirty tliree and a-half miles, in two
hours and eight; minutes, including stoppages. It is
believed that the distance can be passe<l uVer in one
hour and a half. Trips continue to be made three
times per week."

On the 25th of March, the following appeared
in the Journal:

" Pleasure trip. — On Monday, March 21, a large party
left this city for Jacksonville, tilling two passenger
cars and another tilted up temporarily for the band of
music. They speak in high terms of Ihe hospitality
and kindness of the citizens of .Jacksonville, of the
party ihere, and the pleasure of the trip."

In that paper of the same date is found the
following item:

" During the few days the Springfield and Meredosia
railroad has been in operation, and before the public
generally were aware of the running of the cars, the
receipts from passengers alone have amounted to about
seven hundred dollars."

This road was all made by laying long pieces
of timber lengthwise with the track — cross
pieces were placed six or eight feet apart, to
keep the stringers from spreading — fiat iron
rails were spiked on to the pieces of timber, and
then it was ready to receive the locomotive and
cars.

After running awhile the engines needed re-
pairing, and the track became uneven, so that
the cars ceased to be run by steam. The road
was then leased, and mule teams took the place
of the locomotives. William D. Baxter & C!o.
were the lessees.

In May, 1844, in the Springfield papers ap-
peared the following advertisement of the road:
NORTHERN CROSS RAILROAD.

FROM MEREDOSIA TO JACKSONVILLE AND SPHIN6FIELD.

The subscribers, having leased the
Illinois Northern Cross Railway, are
- n''IL | prepared to transiiort produce, mer-
w w chandise, furniture, etc., to and from

the above mentioned places, on terms as reasonable as
can be desired, and by the employment of faithful and
experienced agents, and the occupancy of safe and com-
modious depots, can insure all requisite care and atten-
tion to whatever mav be entrusted to their commission.
"\VM. D BAXTER it CO.,

Receiving, Forwarding and Commission Merchants.

Meredosia, May 10, 1844.

Refer to S. M. iMnsley ■S: Co., Mr. .1. Bunu, Spring-
field ; Mr. .J. G. Lamb, Alton ; Collier & Morrison, Mr,
J. Simonds, St. J.ouis, Mo ; Small i McGill, New
Orleans.

146

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

After becoming quite dilapidated, a law was
enacted authorizing tlie sale of the entire road.
The sale was effected for a mere trifle, with the
stipulation that the parties coming in possession
of it, sliould put it in running order, for the ac-
commodation of the public. The road was sold
in 1847, and was afterwards known as the San-
gamon & Morgan Railroad. Other changes fol-
lowed until it became part of the Toledo, Wabash
& Western Railroad, and as such, many im-
provements were made by the company in the
operation of the road. In 1858 the company
located their repair shops in Springfield, thus
giving employment to a large number of em-
ployes, who made here their home, and conse-
quently added much to the trade of the city.
In 1869 new buildings were erected for their
rapidly increasing machine works, at a cost of
$75,000.

In 1870 a fine passenger depot was erected in
Springfield, at a cost of 636,000. In this build-
ing are the otBces of the Division Superintend-
ent and other officers of the road located here.
A freight house was also erected the same year.

In 1879, the Toledo, Wabash & Western, the
Toledo, Peoria ct Warsaw and severai other
roads were consolidated under the name of the
Wabash, St. Louis «t Pacific Railway Company.
Although the details of the consolidation were
agreed upon by the stockholders in November,
1879, the business of the new company did not
begin until January 1, 1880. The company now
own, in 1881, 3,000 miles of railway, and expect
to secure other roads, having entered into con-
tracts by which they will soon come into their
possession.

CIlICArtO, ALTON" & ST. LOUIS.

The present Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Rail-
road was built from Alton to Springfield under
an act of the legislature, passed in 1847. By
this act, and an amendment to it, the line of the
road was intended to run by way of Waverlv,
in Morgan county, and New Berlin, in Sanga-
mon county. John T. Stuart, while a member
of tlie State Senate, feeling it for the best in-
terest of the road, as well as for the general
public, introduced an amendment, which be-
came a law January -29, 1851, by which the
company was authorized to build direct from
■Carliuville to Springfield.

During the session of the legislature in 1848
and 1849, Mr. Stuart introduced the first bill to
build a road from Springfield to Chicago, and
which passed ihe Senate and was then sent to
the House. The morning after its passage, Mr.
Smith, representing Macon in the Senate, moved

to recall the bill from the House, assigning as a
reason that it was passed in his absence and was
interfering with the building of the Great
Western and the proposed Illinois Central
Railroad. The motion of Mr Smith prevailed
and the bill was recalled and laid upon the
table.

At the ne.xt session of the Senate in 1850-51,
it was thought prudent to pass the measure, not
as a whole, but in sections, owing to the oppo-
sition manifested the previous session; there-
fore, Mr. Stuart introduced "An act to extend
the Alton & Sangamon Railroad Company, in-
corporated February 27, 1847, which was passed
and became a law February 11, 1851, and bv
which, authority was given to extend the road
from S|)ringfield to Bloomington, and under
which that part of the road was built.

At the session of the Senate in 1852, Mr.
Gridley, representing McLean county in that
body, introduced a liill, the object of which was
to further extend the road from Bloomington to
Joliet, and which became a law on the 19th of
June, 1852, and under which that part of the
road was built. By further legislation it was
afterwards extended from Joliet to Chicago. By
still another act, authority was given to extend
the road from Alton to East St. Louis, which, in
due time, was built, and which different sec-
tions now compose the Chicago, Alton & St.
Louis Railroad.

The Chicago, Alton <fc St. Louis, or the Alton
& Sangamon Railroad, by which it was then
known, was completed to Springfield in 1853,
and an entertainment was given in that city by
the railroad company, to a party of excursionists
from St. Louis and Alton. The steamboat Cor-
nelia left St. Louis for Alton with the excur-
sionists from that city, at six o'clock on the
morning of Thursday, October G, and being
joined by the Alton people, proceeded by rail to
Springfield, arriving at two o'clock p. m., where
a sumptuous dinner awaited them, in a building
erected for a machine shop. Benjamin Godfrey,
of Alton, was introduced by Virgil IIickox,as
one through whose exertions the road was
chiefly built. After a brief address from Mr.
Godfrey, and speeches from some others of the
party, and dinner had been partaken of by all,
the train moved awav with its four hundred pas-
sengers on the return trip. This was an import-
ant event in the history of Springfield, as it
opened direct communications with Springfield
and the South.

On the 18th of October, 1853, the road was
completed to Normal, forming a junction with

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

tlie Illinois Central, by which passengers could
go to I-a Salle, and from there to Chicago by
the Chicago & Rock Island Road. This opened
lip the first communication from New York city
to the ^Mississippi river. On the 4th of August,
1854, the present road was completed through
to Joliet.

15y an act of the General Assembly, approved
Februaiy 14, 1855, the name of the company
was changed to Chicago, Alton & St. Louis, and
on the 21st of January, 1857, another act was
passed, changing it to the St. Louis, Alton &
Chicago Railroad Company. February I'J, 1859,
the name was changed from St. Louis, Alton &
Chicago, to Alton, Chicago & St. Louis. On the
ISth of February, 1861, it was again changed,
making it the Cliicago & Alton.

Coming from Chicago to St. Louis, the road
enters Sangamon cuunty on section 34, townshij)
18, range 4 west, Williams township, and taking
nearly a southwestern course, passing through
the townships of Williams, Springfield, Wood-
side, Ball, Chatham, and Auburn, passes into
Macoupin county from section .34, the latter
townsliip. The company have seven stations in
this county — Williamsville, Sherman, Spring-
field, lies Junction, Woodside, Chatham, and
Auburn.

OHIO & MISSISSIPPI.

A charter was granted to the Springfield and
Pana Railroad Company, February 16, 1857, but
no road was ever built under that charter. The
hard times, beginning in 1867, followed closely
by the war, prevented the prosecution of the
work. On the 16th of February, 1805, another
charter was granted to cover the same ground,
but extending further, under the title of the
Pana, Springfield and Northwestern Railroad
Company. Forty miles of this road — from
Springfield to Pana — was completed and opened
for business in March, 1870. During the sum-
mer of 1870, it was put under contract to Beards-
town, with the intention of extending it to
Keokuk, Iowa. The extension was never under-
taken.

By an act of the General Assembly, approved
March 5, 1867, a charter was granted to the Illi-
nois and Southeastern Railroad Company. This
company became possessed of the Pana, Spring-
field and Northwestern Railroad, giving it a line
from Shawneetown, on the Ohio, to Beardstown,
on the Illinois river. On the 28th day of Maicli,
1872, through trains commenced running fiora
Shawneetown to Beardstown. Subsequently, the
road came into possession of the Ohio and Miss-

issippi Railroad Company, as the Springfield
Division of the Ohio and Mississippi, by which it
is now operated. The headquarters of the com-
pany are at Cincinnati, but having a Division
office at Springfield, with C. M. Stanton, Division
Superintendent.

The Ohio and Mississippi enters Sangamon
county on section 4, township f i, north of range
•3 west, Cooper township, and passes through the
townships of Cooper, Rochester, Springfield,
Gardner and Cartwright, passing into Cass
county from section 27, township 17, range 8
west, Cartwright township. The road has eight
stations in the county — Breckenridge, lierry,
Rochester, Springfield, Bradford, Farmingdale,
Richland, and Pleasant Plains.

ILT.INOIS CKNTIiAI..

The Gilman, Clinton & Springfield Railroad
Company was incorporated by an act of the Gen-
eral Assembly, March 4, 1807. An organization
was effected at Clinton, April 21, 1869. Grad-
ing was commenced near Clinton, July 4, 1870,
and from that time until the close of the work-
ing season, from fifteen to eighteen hundred
men were employed along the line. Track lay-
ing was commenced at Gilman, February 19,
1871. The entire line was completed, and an
excursion train, extemporized at Springfield, vis-
ited the ruins of Chicago, starting from Spring-
field, Saturday evening, October 21, but the road
was not regularly opened for business until De-
cember .3, 1871. Subsequently the road passed
into the hands of the Illinois Central Railroad
Company, and is now operated by them under
the name of the Springfield Division of the Illi-
nois Central.

Entering the county on section fifteen, Buffalo
Hart township, the road runs southwest through
the townships of Buffalo Hart, Williams, Clear
Lake and Springfield. It has but two stations in
the county outside of Springfield, in Buffalo
Ilart township and Barclay.

SPEINGFIELD & NORTHWESTERN.

In 1809 a charter was secured for a new road,
under the name of the Springfield cfc North-
western, running from Springfield to Rijck
Island. A contract was let early in the year
J 871 from Havana to Springfield, and work was
immediately commenced, and continued until
some time duringthe following year, completing
a track from Havana to Petersburg, Menard
county, a distance of twenty-five miles. The
contractors then failed, and other parties entered
into contract to continue and c<miplete the work
to Springfield. This last party, in conse(|m'nee

148

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

of the hard times, also failed in the fall of IS13,
having completed the road to Cantrall. John
Williams, of Springfield, then took charge of
the road, and in 1«74 had the cars running into
the city of Springfield. In 1875 the road was
placed in the hands of a Receiver and subse-
quently sold under mortgage, and purchased by
Colonel Williams for the benefit of the bond-
holders. In 1878 a new company was formed
which purchased the road from Williams and
electing new officers, undertook its management.
John Williams was the first President of the
new company and was succeeded by John T.
Stuart. Subsequently Charles Ridgely became
the owner of the principal part of the stock, and
in August, 1881, he sold to the Wabash Com-
pany, and it is now a part of that system.

CONTESrPLATED EOAD.S.

The Peoria & Springfield railroad was char-
tered in 1871, and the entire line was let under
contract for grading of the road, in 1872. Grad-
ing was commenced at the Peoria end of the
road and it was completed to Pekin in 1873.
The hard times of that year caused the suspen-
sion of all work, and it has since been entirely

abandoned. George N. Black, John Williams,
John T. Stuart and James C. Conkling, were
among the directors on its organization.

The Springfield & St. Louis Railroad was
projected about the same time of the Peoria &
Springfield road. The same cause is given for
the failure of both enterprises — hard times.

The Springfield, Carrollton & St. Louis Rail-
road Comjiany, and the St. Louis, Jerseyville &
Springfield Railroad Company were each organ-
ized March 1, 1872. Before work was com-
menced on either road the hard times of 1873
set in, and all efforts to build the road were
abandoned. In 1880 a new company was organ-
ized, taking the old name of St. Louis, Jersey-
ville & Springfield Railroad Company, and began
the construction of a line upon the old route.
In 1881 the road fell into the hands of the
Wabash Company, and was made a part of their
system.

The Springfield Southern Railroad Company
was organized March 25, 1872, and the Spring-
field, Macon & Wabash Railroad Company,
March 1, to take effect April 4, 1872. No effort
was made to build the roads in consequence of
the depression in money matters.

HISTORY OB^ SANGAMON COUNTY.

149

Chapter IX

WARS.

Since the organization of the county, its citi-
zens have been called upon, and promptly re-
sponded, in two Indian wars, the Mormon and
Mexican wars, and the war for the Union.

THE WINNEBAGO WAR.

When lead was discovered in the region of
Galena, and it was found profitable to mine it,
the white people flocked there in large numbers.
For some years previous, the diiierent Indian
tribes inhabiting the northern part of Illinois
and Wisconsin had been at war among them-
selves, and in the spring of 1827, a small party of
Winiiebagoes surprised a party of twenty-four
Chippewas, and killed eight of them. The
United States commander at Fort Snelling caused
four of the offending Winnebagoes to be arrested,
and delivered to the Chippewas, by whom they
were punished. Red Bird, the Chief of the
iSioux, while acting with the Winnebagoes, in an
attempt to obtain revenge for the killing of the
four members of their tribe, was defeated by the
Chippewas. He then determined to wreak his
vengeance on the white people, who had assisted
his enemies and invaded his country. On the
27th of June, 1827, two white men were killed
near Prairie DuChien, and on the 30th of July,
two keel boats, carrying supplies to Fort Snell-
ing, were attacked, and two of the crew killed.
The news soon spread among the settlers, and
upon a call from Governor Edwards, four com-
panies of infantry and one of cavalry were made
up in Sangamon county. The cavalry company
was commanded by Edward Mitchell, and the
four infantry companies by Captains Thomas
Constant, Reuben Brown, Achilles Morris and
Bowling Green. The whole, under command
of Colonel Thomas M. Neale, with James
D. Henry, as Adjutant, marched to Peoria,
where the regiment was more fully organized,
and continued on to Galena. Before their ar-

rival in the Indian country, Red Bird, with six
of his warriors, voluntarily gave themselves up
to the United States forces, under General Atkin-
son, to save their tribe from the miseries of war.
Thus ended the campaign, and the troops from
Sangamon county were ordered home.

THE BLACK HAWK WAR.

In 1804, a treaty was made with certain of the
Sac and Fox Indians by General Harrison, at
St. Louis, by which they ceded to the United
States all their lands on Rock river, and much
more elsewhere. This treaty was confirmed by a
part of the tribe, in a treaty with Governor
Edwards and Augustus Chouteau, in September,
1815, and by another part, in a treaty with the
same commissioners, in May, 1810. These treat-
ies were never considered binding by Black
Hawk and other chiefs of his tribe In this con-
nection it will be well to give an account of
Black Hawk, and what he says of the treaty of
1804. From a work published by J. B. Patter-
son, of Oquawka, on the Black llawk war the
following extract is taken:

" Black Hawk, whose Indian name was Muck-
a-tan-wish-e-ke-ack-ke-ak (meaning ablack liawk)
was born at the Sac village ( the site of this vil-
lage was at the present village of Camden, at
the Rock river crossing of the Peoria and Rock
Island Railroad), on Rock river, in Illinois, in
the year of 1707. His father's name was Py-esa.
His great-grandfather, Na-na-ma-kee (Thunder)
was born near Montreal, Canada, and was placed
at the head of the Sac nation by a Frenchman
who claimed to be the son of the King of
France.

"He gave them many presents, such as guns,
powder, lead, spears, and lances, and showed
them how to use them in peace and war; and
also cooking utensils, and many other presents
of different kinds. He afterwards sailed for

i.-o

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

France, promising to return at the end of the
twelfth moon.

" They continued to trade with the French for
a long lime, and until the latter were overpow-
ered by the LJritish. After that event several
tribes united and drove the Sacs from Montreal
to Mackinac, and thence to Green Bay, where
they formed an alliance with the Fox nation,
and then retreated to the Wisconsin, and tinally
to Rock river, from which they drove the Kas-
kaskias and commenced the erection of their
village.

" Py-c-sa succeeded Na-nama-kee as war
chief, and was killed in an engagement with the
Cherokees, who largely out-numbered the Sacs
and Foxes. On seeing him fall. Black Hawk
assumed command and fought desperately until
the enemy retreated. In this battle, he killed
three men and wounded several with his own
hand, the enemies loss being twenty-eight and
Black Hawk's being only seven. After this en-
gagement, he fell heir to the grtat medicine bag
of his tribe, and, after a season of live years
mourning, with blackened faces, they deter-
mined on avenging the death of Py-e-sa, by the
annihilation if possible of the whole Cherokee
tribe, and took out a strong army for that pur-
pose.

"Black Hawk succeeded in killing many of
them and in finally driving them to their own
country.

"His next movement w as against the Chippe-
was, Kaskaskias and Osages, with whom he had
seven regular engagements, with a loss of two or
three hundred. The enemy retired and Black
Hawk and his band returned to their village.

"Sjiain was then in possession of St. Louis and
all the country south and west. The Indians
congregated at St. Louis every spring for many
years to do their trading. After the Louisiana
purchase, the Spanish withdrew from St. Louis
and the Americans took possession. Soon after
Lieutenant (subsecjuently Geneial) Zebulon M.
Pike, with an escort of soldiers, went up the Mis-
sissippi river, calling on the chiefs of the various
tribes that dwelt along the banks of the Father
of Waters, and made them many presents in the
name of their Great Father, the President of the
United Stales, who he told them would always
treat them well if they would listen to his ad-
vice. A few moons later a Sac Indian killed an
American, for which offence he wasarrested and
confined in the pi'ison at St Louis. As soon as
intelligence of the murderer's arrest and impris-
onment reached IjlackHawk, be called a council
of the head men of his tribe at the Sac village

to talk the matter over and consider what was
best to be done.

"They resolved to send four of their braves to
St. Louis to compromise with the authorities by
paying the relatives for the man killed — the only
way with them for saving one person who had
killed another. Quash-qua-me and three other
men of the tribe were chosen to go on this mis-
sion, the result of which was thus related by
Black Hawk.

"Quash-qua-me and his party remained along
time absent. They finally returned dressed in
fine coats and wearing medals and encaniiied
near the village.

'■Early the next morning the council was con-
vened and Quash-qua-me and party came in and
reported the result of their mission.

'"On their arrival at St.Louis, they reported to
the American chief and urged the release of
their friend. The American chief said his gov-
ernment wanted more land, and if the Sacs and
Foxes would give him some in Illinois, opposite
Jefferson (barracks), they would release the im-
prisoned Sac.

"Qnash-quame and his party assented to this,
and signed a paper by making their marks.
When they were ready to leave, their friend was
released, but as he was let out of the prison he
was shot dead. This was the treaty ot 1804, in
which all iheir country in Illinois was ceded to
the United States, for one thousand dollars a
year, and was the cause of the Black Hawk war,
as the chiefs claimed that no one but themselves
and head men had authority to make a treaty."

Under this treaty, it was agreed that the In-
dians should retain possession of the country
until it was wanted for white occupancy.

Black Hawk and his people remained in
peaceful possession of the country along Rock
river, unlil 1830, when they w^ere notified that
they must move across the Mississippi river.
They complied with the " notice to quit," and
crossed over the Father of Waters and took up
their abode on the eastern slope of Iowa, in what
came in after years to be known as the Black
Hawk ]>urchase, or forty-mile strip.

Rankling under what Black Hawk believed
to be a wrongful dispossession of their homes
along Rock river, and hunger and want coming
to his people in their new homes, they re-crossed
the Mississippi in the spring of 1831, and took
possession of the site of their old village and
corn fields. This movement of Black Hawk ex-
cited alarm among the white peoj)le who had
settled in that part of Illinois, and complaint
was made to Governor Eevnolds, of Illinois,

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY..

151

against their presence. The coraplaiuts lepre-
senteil that the Indians were insolent, and had
comniitted many acts of violence. Governor
Ford says the Indians ordered the white settlers
away, threw down their fences, unrooted their
houses, cut up their grain, drove oif and killed
their cattle, and threatened the people with
death if they remained. These acts of the In-
dians were considered by Governor Reynolds to
bean invasion of the State. He immediately
addressed letters to General Gaines, of the
United States army, and to General Clark, the
Superintendent of Indian Affairs, calling upon
them to use the influence of the Government to
procure the peaceful removal of the Indians, if
possible: at all events, to protect the American
citizens who had purchased those lands from
the United Stales, and were now about to be
ejected by the Indians. General Gaines repaired
to Rock Island, and btcoming convinced the
Indians were intent upon war, he called upon
Governor Reynolds for seven hundred mounted
volunteers. The Governor obeyed the requisi-
tion, and issued a call upon the northern and
central counties, in obedience to which fifteen
hundred volunteers rushed to his standard at
Beardstown, and about the lOth of June were
organized and ready to be marched to the seat
of war. The whole force was divided into two
regiments, an odd battalion, and a spy battalion.
The First Regiment was commanded by Colonel
James D. Henry, of Si^ringtield.

Black Hawk, becoming convinced tliat he
could do nothing against the force sent against
him, retreated across the river, and fearing pur-
suit from General Gaines, returned with his
chiefs and braves to Fort Armstrong, and sued
for peace. A treaty was here formed witli them,
by which they agreed forever to remain on the
west side of the river, and never to re-cross it
witliout the permission of the President or the
Governor of the State. The treaty of 1804 was
thus at last ratified by these Indians. Notwith-
stan<ling this treaty, early in the spring of 1832,
Black Hawk and the disaffected Indians pre-
pared to re-assert their right to the disputed
territory.

Governor Reynolds, as soon as informed of
the action of Black Hawk, issued another call
for volunteers. General Thomas M. Neale, of
the State militia, received the following order:

To General T. M. Neale: — You are hereby
commanded to cause six hundred men of your
command to meet at Beardstown, on the 2'Jd
inst., without fail. I have ordered the Colonels

of your brigade to furnish their proportion of
men out of their respective regiments, for fear
you might not be at home. You will call on
the militia nearest the rendezvous. Each com-
])any to be composed of fifty men and to elect
its own ofiicers. Mounted volunteers are pre-
ferred. If none such will offer their services,
then )-ou are to draft, which I hope will not be
the case. John Reynolds,

Commander in Chief.

April 16, 18:32.

The Sangamo Journal of this period contained
many articles recounting the atrocities commit-
ted by the Indians. The excitement ran high
and every able-bodied man was ready to volun-
teer. The quota of this county was easily
raised. As a specimen of the war poetry of the
period we quote the following, appearing as
original in the Journal:

SONG

For the Seion.d Expedition against Black Hawk.

Brave Saiigamon hath armed,
All to defend her right —
Arouse, ye bold Kentucky boj'S,
The foremost in the fitrlil!

Away! away! away!

The flames of war are burning red,
The naked frontier needs your aid!
Huzza for okl Kentiiek!

Away! away! away!

Virginia and fair Tennessee,
From danger never known to flee,
Show Sangamo your pluck!

Away! away! away!

Now old Virginia's hearts of fire,
Who in the battle never tire,
Remember Washington, your sire!
Away! away! away!

Ye Yankee boys of courage true,
Now show the world what ye can do!
And make the Black Hawk tremble, too!
Away! away! away!

Our answer is the rolling drum —
\^e come! we come! we come!
Forward! our course is to the West —
The warpath is no place of rest!
Away! away! away!

The Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and the
few "Yankee boys" then living here, nobly re-
sponded, causing grief to some loving wives,
whose husbands were thus to be taken from
them, probably never to return. Some one
whose wife was thus grieving, relates his experi-
ence through the columns of his weekly paper,
as follows:

152

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Have e're you seen, when you've been called

To scenes of arms and strife,
The tear stand trembling in the eyes

Of your beloved wife?

Have you seen this, then heard her say

With faltering voice — "My dear,
(Then pausing and embracing you)

" My dear — don't go — I fear!"

Ah, have you seen and have you heard

Her urge her moving plea —
'■ I tear you'll ne'er come back, my love.

To these sweet babes and me."

Then you have felt what I have felt,

My resolution tried —
But bracing up my nerves, I said,

" Dear wife don't be afraid.

''We've heard of fearful massacres

Of fathers — mothers slain —
And little babes — as small as ours

All mangled on the plain!

" Then ought I not, with sword in hand.

Go quickly to defend
Those little babes and women, who

May meet such direful end?"

She nothing said — but while I spoke

She gentlj- pressed my hand,
And ever since her actions say

Go now — defend our land.

Speaking of the Black Hawk war, Ford, in
his " History of Illinois, " says:

"Tlie united Sacs and Fox nations were di-
vided into two parties. Black Hawk commanded
the warlike band, and Keokuk, another chief,
headed the band which was in favor of peace.

"Keokuk was a bold, sagacions leader of his
people; was gifted with a wald and stirring elo-
quence, sure to be found, even among Indians,
by means of which he retained a greater part of
his nation in amity with the white people.

"But nearly all the bold, ttirbulent spirits,
who delighted in mischief, arranged themselves
under the banner of his rival. Black Hawk had
with him the chivalry of his nation, with which
he re-crossed the Mississippi in the spring of
1832.

"He directed his march to Rock river in the
spring of 1832.

'"He directed his march to the Rock country,
and this time aimed, by marching up the river
into the countries of the Pottawottomies and
Winnebagoes, to make them his allies. Gover-
nor Reynolds, upon being informed of the facts,
made another call for volunteers. In a few days
eighteen hundred men rallied under his banner
at Beardstown. This force was organized into
four regiments and a spy battalion. Colonel

Dewit commanded the First Regiment, Colonel
Fry the Second, Colonel Thompson the Fourth,
and Colonel James D. Henry commanded the
spy battalion. The whole brigade was put
under the command of Brigadier General Sam-
uel Whiteside, of the State militia, who had
commanded the spy battalion in the first cam-
paign.

"On the 2'7th of April, General Whiteside,
accompanied by Governor Reynolds, took up
his line of march. The army proceeded by the
way of Oquawka, on the Mississippi, to the mouth
of Rock river, and here it was agreed between
General Whiteside and General Atkinson, of
the regidarg, that the volunteers should march
up Rock river about tifty miles, to the Prophet's
town, and there encamp, to feed and rest their
horses, and await the arrival of the regular
troops in keel boats, with their provisions.
Judge William Thomas, who again act^rd as
quartermaster to the volunteers, made an esti-
mate of the amount of provisions required until
the boats could arrive, which were supplied, and
then General Whiteside took up his line of
march.

"But when he arrived at the Prophet's town,
instead of remaining there, his men set fire to
the village, which was entirely consumed, and
the brigade marched on in the direction of
Dixon, forty miles higher up the river.

"When the volunteers had arrived within a
short distance of Dixon, orders were given to
leave the baggage w.agonsbehind, so as to reach
there by a forced march. And for the relief of
the horses, the men left large cjuantities of pro-
visions behind with the wagons.

"At Dixon,|General Whiteside came to a halt,
to await a junction with General Atkinson, with
provisions and the regular forces; and from here
parties were sent out to reconnoitre .the enemy
and ascertain his position. The army here
found upon its arrival, two battalions of

mounted volunteers, consisting of

'.ir> men,

from the counties of McLean, Tazewell, Peoria,
and Fulton, under the command of Majors Still-
man and Bailey. 'J he officers of this force
begged to be put forward upon some dangerous
service in which they could distinguish them-
selves.

"To gratify them they were ordered up Rock
river to spy out the Indians. Major Stillman
began his march on the 12th of May, and pur-
suing his w-ay on the sotitheast side, he came to
"Old Man's" creek, since called "Stillman's
Run," a small stream which rises in White Rock
Grove, in Ogle county, and falls into the river

^^^.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

155

near Bloomingville. Here he eucamped just
before night; and in a short time a party of In-
dians on horseback were discovered on a rising
ground about a mile distant from the encamp-
ment. A party of Stillman's men mounted
their horses without orders or commander, an<l
were soon followed by others, stringing along
for a (juarter of a mile, to pursue the Indians
and attack them.

'•The Indians retreated after displaying a red
flag, the emblem of defiance and war, but were
overtaken and three of them slain.

"Here Major Ilackelton, being dismounted in
the engagement, distinguished himself by a com-
bat with one of the Indians in which the Indian
was killed, and Major Hackelton afterwards
made his way on foot to the camp of General
Whiteside.

'Black Hawk was nearby with his main force,
and being prompt to repel an assault, soon ral-
lied his men, amounting then to about seven hun-
dred warriors, and moved down upon Major
Stillman's camp, driving the disorderly rabble,
the recent pursuers before him. These valorous
gentlemen, lately so hot in pursuit, when the
enemy were few, were no less hasty in their re-
treat, when coming in contact with superior
numbers. They came with their horses in a full
run, and in this manner broke through the cam])
of Major Stillman, spreading dismay and terror
among the rest of his men, who immediately
began to join in the flight, so that no efliort to
rally them could possibly have succeeded. Major
Stillman, now too late to remedy the evils of in-
subordination and disorder in his command, did
all that was practicable, by ordering his men to
fall back in order, and form on higher ground ;
but as the prairie rose behind them for more
than a mile, the ground for a rally was never
discovered ; and besides this, when the men once
got their backs to the enemy, they commenced a
retreat, without one thought of making a further
stand.

"Aretreatof undisciplined militiafrom the at-
tack of a superior, is apt to bo a disorderly and
inglorious flight ; and so it was here, each man
sought his own individual safety, and in the
twinkling of an eye the whole detachment was
in utter confusion. They were pursued in their
flight by thirty or forty Indians, for ten or
twelve miles, the fugitives in the rear keeping
up a flying fire as they ran, until the Indians
ceased pursuing.

" But there were some good soldiers and brave
men in Stillman's detachment, whose individual
efforts succeeded in checking the career of the

18—

Indians, whereby many escaped that night who
would otherwise have been easy victims of the
enemy.

"Among these wereMajorPerkins and Captain
Adams, who fell in the rear, bravely fighting to
cover tlie retreat of their fugitive friends.

"But Major Stillman and his men pursued
their flight without looking to the right or left
until they were safely landed at Dixon.

"The party came straggling into camp all night
long, four or five at a time, each fresh arrival
confident that all who had lieen left behind had
been massacred by the Indians.

"The enemy was stated to be just l)ehind in
full pursuit, and their arrival was looked for
every moment. Eleven of Stillman's men were
killed, and it is only astonishing that the num-
ber was so few.

" It is said that a big, tall Kentuckian, with a
loud voice, who was a colonel of the militia, but
a private with. Stillman, upon his arrival in
oamp, gave to General Whiteside and the won-
der struck multitude, the following glowing and
bombastic account of the battle: 'Sirs,' said
he, ' our detachment was encamped among some
scattering timber on the north side of Old Man's
creek, with the prairie from the north gently
sloping down toward our encampment. It was
just after twilight, in the gloaming of the even-
ing, when we discovered Black Hawk's army
coming down upon us in solid column; they
displayed in the form of a crescent upon the
brow of the prairie, and such accuracy and pre-
cision of military movements were never wit-
nessed by man; they were equal to the best
troops of Wellington, in Spain. I have said that
the Indians came down in solid columns, and
displayed in the form of a crescent; and what
was most wonderful, there were large squares of
cavalry resting upon the points of the curve,
which squares were supported agpin by other
columns fifteen deep, extending back through
the woods and over a swamp three-quarters of
a mile, which again rested on the main body of
Black Hawk's army, bivouacked upon the banks
of the Kishwakee. It was a terrible and a
glorious sight to see the tawny warriors as they
rode along our flanks attempting to outflank us,
with the glittering moonbeams glistening from
their polished blades and burnished spears. It
was a sight well calculated to strike consterna-
tion in the stoutest and boldest heart; and ac-
cordingly our men soon began to break in small
scjuads, for tall timber. In a very little time the
rout becume general, the Indians were soon
upon our flanks and threatened the destruction

156

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

of our eiuire detachiueut. About this time,
Major Stillman, Colonel Stepbenson, Major
Perkins, Captain Adams, Mr. Hackleton, and
myself, with some others, threw ourselves into
the rear to rally the fugitives and protect the
retreat. But in a short time all my companions
fell bravely, fighting hand-to-hand with the sav-
age enemy, and I alone was left upon the field
of battle. About this time I discovei'ed not far
to the left, a corps of horsemen which seemed
to be in tolerable order. I immediately deployed
to the left, when, leaning down and placing my
body in a recumbent posture upon the mane of
mv horse, so as to bring the heads of the horse-
men between my eye and the horizon, I discov-
ered by the light, of the moon that they were
gentlemen who did not wear hats, by which
token I knew they were no friends of mine. I
therefore made a retrograde movement and
recovered my positlonj where I remained some
time meditating what further I could do in the
service of my countrv, when a random ball came
whistling by my ear and plainly whispered to
me. ' Stranger, you have no further btisiness
here.' Upon hearing this I followed the exam-
ple of my companion in arms, and broke for the
tall timber, and the way I ran was not a lit'le'."

On the arrival of Major Stillman's command,
at Dixon, a council of war was held, in which it
was agreed to march early the next morning to
the fata) field of that evening's disaster. For
some time the soldiers had been living without
any regular supplies, but Quartermaster Thomas,
anticipating the action of the council, went out
in search of cattle and hogs, and before daylight
the next morning the army was supplied with
some fresh beef, which thej' ate without bread.
When the volunteers arrived upon the battle
field they found the Indians gone, a party of
seventy of them soon being heard of as having
made a descent upon a small settlement on Indian
creek, a tributary of Fox river, and within
fifteen mile^i of Ottawa, they massacred fifteen
persons, taking two young ladies — Sylvia and
Rachel Hall — prisoners. The young prisoners
were hurried by forced marches, beyond the reach
of pursuit. They were afterwards purchased
from their captors.

Returning to Dixon, General Whiteside, the
next day, was joined by General Atkinson, but
the time of many of the volunteers having ex-
pired, no further advance could then be made.
The Governor had previously issued orders for
raising two thousand additional volunteers, to
rendezvous at Beardstown and Hennepin. A
volunteer regiment of those just discharged, was

organized to remain in defense of the country
until the new troops arrived.

On the 15th of June, the new levies had ar-
rived at the place of rendezvous, and were
formed into three brigades — General Alexander
Posey commanding the first. General Milton K.
Alexander the second, and General James D.
Henry the third. On the march each brigade
was preceded l)y a battalion of spies, commanded
by a major. The whole volunteer force at this
time amounted to three thousand two hundred
men, besides three companies of rangers, under
the command of Major Bogart, left behind to
guard the frontier settlements. The object in
calling out so large a force was to overawe the
Pottawatamie and Winnebago Indians, who
were hostile in their feelings towards the whites,
and much disposed to join Black Hawk's party.

Before the new army could be brought into
the field the Indians had committed several mur-
ders. One man was killed on Bureau creek,
some seven or eight miles above Princeton; one
in Buffalo Grove; one between the Fox river
and the Illinois; two about six miles northwest
of Ottawa. On the 22d of May, General At-
water had dispatched Mr. St. Vrain, the Indian
agent for the Sacs and Foxes, at Rock Island,
with a few men as an express, to Fort Armstrong,
On their way thither, they fell in with a party of
Indians, led by a chief well known to the agent.
This chief was called "The Little Bear." He
had been a particular friend of the agent, and
had adopted him as a brother. Mr. St. Train
felt no fear of one who was his friend, and who
had been an inmate of his house, and who had
adopted him as a brother, and therefore ap-
proached the Indian with the greatest confi-
dence and security. The treacherous Indian,
untrue in war to the claims of gratitude, friend-
ship and brotherhood, no sooner got him in his
power than be murdered and scalped him and
all his party, with as little compassion as though
he had never known him or professed to be his
friend.

Not long after the new forces were organized
on the Illinois river. Black Hawk, with a hund-
red and fifty warriors, made an attack on Apple
River Fort, within twelve miles of Galena, and
defended by about twenty-five men, under com-
mand of Captain Stone. This fort was a stock-
ade of logs stuck in the ground, with block-
houses at the corners of the square, by way of
towers and bastions. It was made for the pro-
tection of a scattering village of miners, who
lived in their houses in the vicinity during the
day, and retired into the fort for protection at

IIIS!()i;V OK SAXGA^LON COUNTY.

151

night. The women and children, as usual in
the day-time, wore abroad in the village, when
three men, on an express from (Galena to Dixon,
were tired iiiion by the Indians, lurking in
ambush within half a mile of the village, and
retreated into the fort. One of them was wound-
ed, but his companions stood by him nobly, re-
treating behind him, and keeping the Indians at
bay by pointing their guns first at one and then
at another of those who were readiest to advance.
The alarm was heard at the fort in time to rally
the scattered inhabitants.

The Indians soon came up within firing dis-
tance, and then commenced a fearful struggle
between the small party in the fort, against six
times .their number of the enemy. The Indians
took possession of the log houses, knocked holes
in the walls, through which to fire at the fort
with greater security to themselves; and while
some were firing at the fort, others broke the
furniture, destroyed the provisions, and cut open
the beds and scattered the feathers found in the
houses. The men in the fort were excited to
the highest pitch of desperation. They believed
that they were contending with an enemy who
never made a prisoner, and that the result of the
contest must be victory or death to them and
their families. The women and children mould-
ed the bullets and loaded the guns for the men,
who fought with a fury caused by desperation
itself. The loss in the fort was one man killed
and one wounded. One of the men who first
retreated to the fort, immediately passed on to
Galena, and there gave the alarm. Colonel
Strode, who commanded in Galena, lost no time
in marching to the assistance of the fort, but be-
fore his arrival the Indians had raised the siege
and departed.

About the time of the siege of the fort, a
party of Indians made an attack on three men
near Fort Hamilton, in the lead mines. Two of
the men were killed, while the other escaped.
General Dodge, of Wisconsin, who happened
to arrive at the fort soon after with twenty men
under his command, made quick pursuit after
these Indians, who were chased to the Pekaton-
ica, and there took shelter under the high bank
of the river. General Dodge and his parly
charged upon them in their place of conceal-
ment, and killed the whole party, eleven in num-
ber, with the loss of three of his own men,
mortally wounded, and one who afterwards re-
covered.

The Indians had now shown themselves to be
a courageous, active, and enterprising enemy.
They had scattered their war jiarties all over the

Nortli, from Chicago to Galena, and from the
Illinois river into the Territory of Wisconsin.
They occujiied every grove, waylaid every road,
hung around every settlement, and attacked
every party of white men that attempted to
penetrate the country. Their sujiremacy in the
field, however, was of short duration, for on the
20th, 21st, and 22d of June, the new forces as-
sembled on the Illinois river, were put in motion
l)y General Atkinson, of the regular army, who
now assumed command of the whole.

(xeneral Atkinson, having heard that Black
Hawk had concentrated his forces at the four
lakes in Wisconsin, and fortified his position,
with the intention of deciding the fate of war
by a general battle, marched with as much haste
as ])rudence would warrant, when invading a
hostile and wilderness country with undisci-
plined forces, where there was no means of pro-
curing intelligence of the numbers or where-
ai)outs of the enemy.

Eight weeks were now spent in a fruit-
search of the enemy, by which time the volun-
teer force through one cause or another, had
been reduced nearly one-half, aiul such was the
wastefulness of the volunteers, that they were
frequently one or two days short of provisions
before new supplies could be obtained. At this
time there were not more than four days' ra-
tions in the hands of the commissary; the enemy
might be weeks in advance; the volunteers were
fast melting away; and General Atkinson found
it necessary to disperse his command for the
purpose of procuring supplies. Colonel Ewing's
regiment was sent back to Dixon; General Po-
sey marched to Fort Hamilton as a guard to the
frontier country; Henry, Alexanderand Dodge,
with their commands were sent to Fort Winne-
bago; while (-ieneral Atkinson himself fell back
with the regular forces to Lake Koshkenong,
where he proposed to remain until the volunteer
generals could return with supplies. Henry and
Alexander made Fort Winnebago in three days,
Major Dodge having preceded them a few hours
bv a forced march, which so crippled his horses
that many of them were unable to continue the
campaign.

Two days were occupied at the fort in getting
provisions, on the last of which the Winnebago
cliiefs there i-eported that Black Hawk and his
forces were encamped at the Manitou village,
thirty-five miles above General Atkinson, on the
Rock river. In a council held between Henry,
Alexander and Dodge, it was determined to vio-
late orders by marching directly to the enemy,
with the hope of taking him by surjtrise.

158

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Twelve o'clock, on the 15th of July, was ap-
pointed as the hour to march. General Henry
proceeded at once to re-organize his brigade,
with a view to dis-encumber himself of his sick
and dismounted men, that he might have as lit-
tle as possible to impede the celerity of his
march. General Alexander soon announced
that his men were unwilling and had refused to
follow, while Major Dodge reported his horses
so much disabled by their late march that he
could not muster a force worth taking along.
General Henry was justly indignant at the in-
subordination and defection of his com-
panions in arms, and announced his pur-
pose of marching in pursuit of the enemy alone,
if he could prevail upon but fifty men to follow
him. Directly after this a company of mounted
volunteers, with fresh horses arrived to^ join
Major Dodge, then making his force of men and
horses one hundred and twenty in number.
General Henry's brigade, exclusive of Dodge's
battalion, numbered between five and si.x hun-
dred, but not more than four hundred and fifty
had horses fit for service. On returning to his
own brigade. General Henry discovered that his
own men, infected by association with those of
General Alexander, were on the point of open
mutiny.

Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, of Fry's regiment,
presented to General Henry a written protest,
signed by all the officers of the regiment, except
the Colonel, against the intended expedition;
but these officers had to deal with an officer of
rare abilities as a commander of militia. Gen-
eral Henry was a complete soldier; he was gifted
with uncommon talent of commanding with
sternness, without giving offense; of forcing
men to obey without degrading them in their
own estimation. He was brave without rash-
ness, and gave his orders with firmness and
authority, without any appearance of bluster.
In his mere person he looked the commander.
In a word, he was one of those very rare men
who are gifted by nature with the power to
command militia — to be at the same time loved
and feared, and with the capacity of inspiring
the soldiery with the ardor, impetuosity, and
honorable impulses of their commander. Gen-
eral Henry made no other reply to this protest
than to order the officers under arrest for mutiny,
appointing at the same time Collins' regiment as
a guard to escort them to General Atkinson
Colonel Smith, in great trepidation, protested
that he did not know what the paper contained
when he signed it, and implored the (Teneral's
permission to consult a few moments with the

officers before further steps were taken. This
being accorded, in less than ten minutes they
were all collected at the General's quarters, mani-
festing the utmost contrition, and pledging
themselves, if forgiven, to return to their duty,
and never be guilty of the like offense again.
The General, than whom none better understood
human nature, made them a few remarks, tem-
pered with dignity and kindness. The officers
returned to their duty, and it is but just to say,
that from that hour no men ever behaved better.

General Henry took up his line of march on
the 1.5th of July, accompanied by Poquette, a
half-breed, and the "White PaTnee," a Winne-
bago chief, as guides, in hunt of the Indians.
After three days' hard marching, the troops
reached the Rock river, and on the morning of
the 19th, everything was placed in readiness for
a forced march. The fresh trail of the enemy
had been struck, and the men now felt in better
spirits, and were inspired with a lively hope of
bringing the war to a speedy close. In the after-
noon. of the 19th, the command was overtaken
with one of those storms common on the prai-
ries, which lasted until two o'clock the next
morning. The men, exhausted with fatigue,
threw themselves, supperless, upon the muddy
earth, covered with water, for a little rest. The
rain made it impossible to kindle a fire or to
cook, so that both officers and men contented
themselves with eating some raw meat and some
wet flour, which was converted into a soft dough
by the drenching rain.

All were on the march by daylight on the
morning of the 20th, and after a hard march,
encamped at night upon one of the banks of the
four lakes, near where the Indians had encamped
the |)revious night. At this place the men were
able to make fires and cook their suppers, and
this they did with a hearty good will, having
traveled about one hundred miles without tasting
anything but raw food, and without having seen
a spark of tire. That night they lay upon the
ground, many of them with nothing but the sky
for a covering, and slept soundly and sweetly.
All were in tine spirits and high expectations of
overtaking the enemy the next day, and putting
an end to the war by a general battle. The
march was continued on the morning of the 21st.
Major William Lee D. Ewing commanded the
spy battalion, and with him was joined the bat-
talion of Major Dodge, of Wisconsin. These
two officers, with their commands, were in ad-
vance, but with all their ardor, were never able
to get out of sight of the main body. About
noon of this day the advance guard was close

HISTORY OF SANGAMON CODNTY.

159

upon the rear guard of the retreating enemy.
For man}' miles before they were overtaken their
broad trail was strewn with camp kettles and
baggage of various kinds, which they had
thrown away in the hurry of their flight. By
faint attacks the Indians kept their pursuers in
check until they reached the broken grounds on
the bluffs of the Wisconsin river.

About four o'clock on the afternoon of the
2l8t, while the advance guard was passing over
some uneven ground, through the high grass
and low timber, they were suddenly fired upon
by a body of Indians, who had here secreted
themselves. In an instant Major Ewing's bat-
talion dismounted and formed in front, their
horses being removed to the rear. The Indians
kept up a fire from behind fallen trees, and none
of them could be discovered except by the flash
and report of their guns. In a few minutes
General Henry arrived with the main body,
when the order of battle was formed. Colonel
Jones' regiment was placed on the right, Colonel
Collins' on the left, and Colonel Fry's in the
rear, to acta s a reserve. Major Ewing's battal-
ion was placed in front of the line, and Major
Dodge on the extreme right. In this order the
forces marched into battle. An order was given
to charge upon the enemy, which was promptly
obeyed by Ewing's battalion and by Jones' and
Collins' regiments.

The Indians retreated before this charge ob-
liquely to the right, and concentrated their main
force in front of Dodge's battalion, showing a
design to turn his flank. General Henry sent
an order by Major McConnell to J\[ajor Dodge,
to advance to the charge; but this officer being
of the opinion that the foe was too strong. for
him, requested a reinforcement. Colonel Fry's
regiment was ordered to his aid, and formed on
his right, when a vigorous charge was made
from one end of the line to the other.

Colonel Fry's regiment made a charge into
the bush and high grass, where the Indians were
concealed, and received the fire of the whole
body. This fire veas briskly returned by the
forces under Fry and Dodge, who continued to
advance, the Indians standing their ground until
the men came within reach of them, then fell
back to the west, along the high, broken bluffs
of the Wisconsin, only to take a new position
amongst the thickest timber and tall grass in
the head of a hollow, leading to the Wisconsin
river bottom. Here it seemed they were deter-
mined to make a firm stand; but, being charged
upon in their new position, by Ewing's bat-
talion, and by Collins' and Jones' regiments.

they were driven out of it, some of them being
pursued down the hollow, and others again to
the west, along the Wisconsin heights, until
they descended the bluffs to the Wisconsin
bottom, which was here about a mile wide and
very swampy, covered with a thick, tall grass,
above the men on horseback. It now being
dark, further pursuit was stopped, and General
Henry and bis forces lay upon the field of
battle.

Early next morning. General Henry advanced
to the Wisconsin river, and ascertained that the
Indian^ had all crossed it, and made their escape
into the mountains between that and the Missis-
sippi. The Indian loss in this battle of the
Wisconsin, as it is known in history, was sixty-
eight left dead on the field, aixl a large number
wounded, of whom twenty-five were afterwards
found dead along the Indian trail leading to the
Mississippi. General Henry lost one man killed
and eigiit wounded. The small loss of General
Henry is accounted for from the fact that the
Indians had been trained to fire at an elevation
to hit men on horseback, but as General Henry
had dismounted his forces, the Indians overshot
them.

In the various histories of this campaign.
Major Dodge is given all credit for the success
attained, being spoken of as General Dodge,
when it is well known that he only comm.anded
a battalion, and was ranked by several oflicers,
the whole force being under command of Gen-
eral Henrj'. The reason of this is that all the
war news was first published in the Galenian,
then the only newspaper published north of
Springfield, either in Illinois or Wisconsin, the
editor of which. Dr. Philleo, was a member of
Dodge's battalion. When he wrote home the
news to be published in his paper, he never men-
tioned Henry, except as a subordinate, or any
other oflicer except Dodge. His letters chroni-
cled the deeds of Major Dodge only, and by
calling him General Dodge it was made to
appear that he was the commander of the whole
brigade, instead of a single battalion attached
to it. These letters were copied into every
newspaper throughout the Union, and have
formed the basis of all the histories of the war,
the people abroad being thus deluded into the
belief that Dodge was the great hero of the
war. Henry was lost sight of, and now in some
histories. Dodge is spoken of as the commander
in that war, thus throwing out of sight both
General Henry and Atkinson, as well as General
Zachary Taylor, who, as Colonel, commanded
the regular forces.

160

HISTORY OF .SANGAMON COUNTY.

The day after the battle of the Wisconsin,
for want of pr9visions, it was determined to fall
back to the Blue Mounds. Here General Henry
was joined by General Atkinson and tLe regu-
lars, and General Alexander's and Posey's bri-
gades.

After spending two days in preparation the
whole force, now under command of General
Atkinson, was again on the march in pursuit of
the Indians. About ten o'clock the morning of
the fourth day after crossing the Wisconsin,
General Atkinson's advance reached the b uft's
on the east side of the Mississippi. The Indians
. had reached the bank of the river some time
before. Some had crossed, and others were
making preparations to cross it. The steamboat
Warrior, Captain Throckmorton, descended to
the place the day before. As the steamboat
neared the camp of the Indians, they raised a
white flag, but Captain Thr<>ukmorton, believing
this to be treacherously intended, ordered them
to send a boat on board, which they declined
doing. Allowing them fifteen minutes time in
which to remove their squaws and children, he
fired upon them with a six-pounder, and contin-
ued the " fight " about one hour, with a loss to
the Indians of twenty-three killed and a large
number wounded. Tlie boat then fell down the
river to Prairie DuChien, and before it could
return the next morning, the land forces, under
General Atkinson, had come up and commenced
a general battle.

The Indians were encamped on the banks of
the INIississippi, some distance below the mouth
of Bad-Axe river. Being aware that General
Atkinson was in close pursuit, and to gain time
for crossing into the Indian country, west of the
Mississippi, they sent back about twenty men to
meet him, with instructions to commence an at-
tack, and then to retreat to the river, three miles
above this camii. Accordingly, when General
Atkinson came within three or four miles of the
river, he was suddenly tired upon from behind
trees and logs, the very tall grass aiding the con-
cealment of the attacking party. General At-
kinson rode immediately to the scene of action,
and in person formed his lines and directed a
charge. The Indians gave way, and were pur-
sued by General Atkinson and all the army, ex-
cept Henry's brigade, which was in the rear,
and in the hurry of pursuit left without orders.
When Henry came up to the place where the
attack had been made, he saw clearly that the
wily stratagem of the untutored savage had tri-
umphed o\ er tlie science of a veteran General.
The main trail of the Indians was plainly to be

seen leading to the river lower down. He called
a hasty council of his principal officers, and by
tbeir advice, marched right forward upon the
main ti-ail. At the foot of the high bluff bor-
dering the river valley, on the edge of a swamp,
densely covered with timber, driftwood and un-
derbrush, through which the trail led fresh and
broad, he halted his command and left liis horses.
The men were formed on foot and thus advanc-
ed to the attack. They were preceded by an ad-
vance guard of eight men, who were sent for-
ward as a forlorn hope, and were intended to
draw the first fire of the Indians, and to disclose
thereby to the main body where the enemy was
to be found, preparatory to a general charge.
These eight men boldly advanced some distance,
rrntil they came within sight of the river, where
they were fired upon by about fifty Indians, and
five of the eight instantly fell dead or wounded.
The other three, protected behind trees, stood
their ground until the arrival of the main body
under General Henry, which deployed to the
right and left from the centre. Immediately the
bugle sounded a charge, every man rushed for-
ward, and the battle became general along the
whole line. These fifty Indians had retreated
upon the main body, amounting to about three
hundred warriors, a force equal, if not superior,
to those contending against them. It was soon
apparent that they had been taken by surprise.
They fought bra\-ely and desperately, but seem-
ed without any plan or concert of action. The
bugle again sounded a charge. The Indians
were driven from tree to tree, and from one hid-
ing place to another. In this manner they
receded step by step, driven by the advancing
foe, until they reached the bank of the river.
Here a desperate struggle ensued, but it was of
short duration. The bloody bayonet, in the
hands of excited and daring men, drove them
into the river, some of them trying to swim it,
while others took shelter on a small willow
island near the shore.

About this time General Atkinson, with the
regulars, and Dodge's battalion, arrived, followed
by Posey's and Alexander's men, but the main
work had been accomplished before they came
up. It had been determined that Henry's men
should have no share in this day's glory, but the
fates taking advantage of a blunder of General
Atkinson, had otherwise directed. After the
Indians had retreated into the river and on the
island, Henry dispatched Maj' r McConnell to
give intelligence of his movements to his com-
mander, who, while pursuing twenty Indians in
another direction, had heard the tiring where

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

161

Henry was eugaged. General Aikin.-tou lel't the
pursuit of the twenty Indians, and hastened to
share in the engagement. lie was met by
Henry's messenger near the scene of action, in
passing through which, the dead and dying In-
dians lying around bore frightful evidence of
the stern work which had been done before his
arrival. However, he lost no time in forming
his regulars and Dodge's battalion for a descent
upon the island. These forces, together with
Ewing's battalion and Fry's regiment, made a
charge through the water up to their arm-pits on
to tlie island, where most of the Indians had
taken their last refuge. All the Indians who
atterai)ted to swim the river were picked off
with rifle«, or found a watery grave before they
reached the opposite shore. Those upon the
island kept up a severe iire from behind logs and
driftwood upon the men, as they advanced to
the charge, but most of them there secreted
were either killed, captured or driven into the
water, where they perished miserably, either by
drovvning, or the still more fatal rifle. The In-
dian loss in this battle, known as the battle of
Bad-A.\;e, is estimated at one hundred and fifty
killed, as many more drowned in the river, and
fifty prisoners taken, mostly squaws and chil-
dren. The loss of the whites were seventeen
killed and twelve wounded

The twenty men who led General Atkinson
astray, were led by Black Hawk in person, and
as soon as Atkinson ceased his pursuit, they re-
treated to the Dells on the Wisconsin river. A
number of Sioux and Winnebagoes went in
pursuit of him, headed by Decorah, a Winne-
Ijago chief, and captured them on the upper Wis-
consin river. The prisoners were brought down
to Prairie DuChien and delivered up to General
Street, the United States Indian Agent. Aicong
the number captured was a son of Black Hawk,
and also the Prophet, a noted chief, who form-
erly resided at Prophet's town, in Whiteside
county, and wlio was one of the principal insti-
gators of the war. Thus ended the Black Hawk
war. The militia were sent to Dixon and dis-
charged. Black Hawk and the Prophet were
taken east and confined in F'ortress Monroe for
a time. On the 4th day of .June they were set
free. Before leaving the fort, Black Ilawk de-
livered the following farewell speech to the
commander:

" Brother, I have come on my own part, and
in behalf of my companions, to bid you fare-
well. Our great father has at length been
pleased to permit us to return to our hunting
grounds. We have buried the tomahawk, and the

sound of the rifle liereafler will uiily bring dealli
to the deer and the buffalo. Brothers, you have
treated the red man very kindly. Your squaws
have made them presents; you have given them
jjlenty to eat and drink The memory of your
friendship will remain till the Gieat Spirit says
it is time for Black Hawk to sing his death
song. Brother, your houses are as numerous as
the leaves on the trees, and your young warriors
like the san<ls upon the shore of the big lake
that rolls before us. The red man has but few
houses and few warriors, but tlie red man has a
heart which throbs as warmly as the heart of
his white brother. The Great Spirit has given
us our hunting grounds, and the skin of the
deer which we kill there is his favorite, for its
color is while, and this is the emblem of peace.
This hunting dress and these feathers of the
eagle are white. Accept them, my brother. I
have given one like this to the White (Xter.
Accept it as a memorial of Black Hawk. When
he is far away this will serve to remind you of
him. May the Great Spirit bless you and your
children. Farewell."

After their release from prison they were con-
ducted, in charge of Major Garland, through
some of the principal cities, that they might
witness the poAver of the United States and
learn their own inability to cope with them in
war. Great multitudes flocked to see them
wherever they were taken, and the attention
paid them rendered their progress through the
country a triumphal procession, instead of the
transportation of prisoners by an officer. At
Rock Island the prisoners were given their lib-
erty, amid great and impressive ceremony. In
1838 Black Hawk built him a dwelling near Des
Moines, Iowa, and furnished it after the manner
of the whites, and eng.iged in agricultural pur-
suits and hunting and fishing. Here, with liis
wife, to wliom he was greatly attached, he passed
the few remaining days of his life. To his
credit, it may be said, that Black Hawk re-
mained true to his wife, and served her with a
devotion uncommon among Indians, living with
her more than forty years.

Black Hawk died October .3, 1838.

After the close of the Black Hawk war Con-
gress voted the munificent sura of twenty-one
cents a day to the volunteers. The Sangamo
.Journal protested vigorously against such injus-
tice, urging that a Congress that voted each
member of that body ^8 ]>ev day for their serv-
ices, could afford to be a little more liberal with
those who periled their lives in a contest with
the savage Indians.

162

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Forty-nine years have now passed since the
events of the Black Hawk war, and yet justice
has never been done the brave men who partici-
pated in it, by the United States Congress. A
few of the men participating in the war yet
live — a very few. Some of them are in need of
the necessaries of life, and yet nothing is done
for them by representatives who annually squan-
der millions of the people's money. Surely, the
time has come when something should be done.

Upon the return of the Sangamon county
soldiers, a ball was given in Miller's hotel in
Springfield, "in honor of General James I).
Jlenry and the brave soldiers lately under his
command." The local papers chronicle it as "a
pleasant affair."

The following are the names, compiled from
official sources, of Sangamon county men serv-
ing in this war:

CAPTAIN CLAYWELl's COMPANY.

Ninety Days Men.

CAPTAIN.

Jesst. Claywell.

FIRST LIEUTENANT.

.John H. Wilcoxen.

SECOND LIEUTENANT,

Rcziu H. Constant.

SERGEANTS.

Archib'ild Cass, Valentine R. Mallory,

Andrew Moore, Williimi S. Hussey,

CORPORALS.

Robert L Gott, James C. Hagan,

William B. Hagan, John McLemoor.

PRIVATES.

Anderson, Alexander,
Anderson, Lewis C,
Anderson, James,
Anderson. Washington,
Burns, John R.,
Barnet, William I.,
Brewer, John, Jr.,
Barnet, ^Villiam,
Barnet, Hugh,
Cass, Anderson B ,
Constant, Nathan E ,
Constant, Isaac
Crocker, Harvey,
Copelaud, John,
Currey, George,
Dement, William,
Elliot, Haddon,
Elliot, Richard,
-Glenn, David A ,

Green, George,
Helm, Guy,
Hagan, Samuel C,
Hide, John,
Kclley, Jeremiah,
Langston, James,
Lucas, Thomas,
Martin, Joseph,
Neueane, William T.,
Prim. Abraham,
Powell, John,
Powell, Hiram,
Rogers, William F.,
Riddle, James,
Snelson, John W.,
Shearley, James,
Smith, Joseph I.,
Smith, Philip,
Stone, William A.

PRIVATES.

The foregoing received paj^ for services ren-
dered. The following named received no pay:

FIRST LIEUTENANT.

Sowyel Cox.

CORPORALS.

Nathan Hussey, Harrison McGary.

Brewer, John, Sr.,
Dooley, Jeremiah,
McGaiy, Hugh,
Pickrell, Benjamin F.,
Stone, Caleb,'

Smith, Elicphas,
Turner, William,
Waldr<in, James,
Wilcox, Ei)hraim,
Young, Joseph R.

CAPTAIN ALEXANDER WHITE S COMPANY.

Twenty Bays Men.

CAPT.\IN.

Alexander White.

FIRST LIEUTENANT.

Tolben Shipley.

SERGEANTS.

Ebenezer Higgins, Enl. Perkins,

John Waggoner, John O. Smith.

CORPORALS.

Hugh Wilson, Amzi Doolittle,

William Wallace,

PRIV

Thomas Willis,
George Middleton,
James Marfett,
Elisha Hickerson,
Andrew Turner,
Abraham Moore,
Nathan Kenedy,
William G. Gerkius,
Andrew H. Perkins,
William Cash,
George Bui'hanan,
Hezekiah Spillman.
Riley Driskell,
Isaac Stephens,
"-John R. Atherton,
Benjamin Slitchler,
Thomas Wilson,
Thomas H. Owens,
John M. Forrest,

ATES.

John Moflett,
Davidson Hibbert,
Hugh White,
Daniel Thompson,
William D. Hickerson,
Thomas Brewer,
Abraham Lincoln,
AVilliam E. Franklin,
William Sailors,
William Higgins,
Johnson Clark, Sr.,
John McKee,
Samuel Goodwin,
Edward White,
James Wilson,
Joshua Owens,
Jacob Compton,
Hezekiah P. Bradley,
Johnson Clark, Jr.

CAPTAIN L. W. GOODAN S COMPANY.

Enlisted April 2, 1832, and mustered out of
the service May 28, 1832:

C-APTAIN.

L. W. Goodan.

FIRST LIEUTENANT.

John Reed.

SECOND LIEUTENANT.

William Cantrall.

SERCE-4NTS.

Alford Wood, Hiram Watson,

John Ridge, Milton Humes,

CORPORALS.

John Kline, William Smith,

James B. Jones, George E. Cobenness,

Moses Brunts.

PRIVATES.

John Baker,
William McCollister,
William Crow,
William Davenport,
Beniamin Sims,
M. C. Kindle,
Jesse Darrow,
John Hurst,

Asa Easters,
Moses Brumfield,
Richard Queenston,
Jefferson Welch,
George Robison,
Jesse Said,
Jacob M . Erby,
Robert Brassel,

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

163

James Q. Wills,

Samuel McKinsey,

SECOND lif.utenant;

David M. Brink,

William E. Wells,

John Hamback.

Uriah Maim,

Reuben King,

SERGEANTS .

William Steele,

Noah Jcjnes,

Corbin C. Judd,

Harrison McGary,

James Jones,

Noah Mason,

John Brewer,

John Retherf ord .

Samuel Malug.ni,

Zaehariah Malugon,

Simeon Bunts,

Charles Dawson,

CORPORALS .

Aclialis ^I<jnis,

Samuel Rainer,

Thomas I. Knox.

.John Wright,

Jolin B. Brown,

Reuben Bradford,

Seymour R. Van Meter,

Hugh McGary.

John B. liullege,

Joseph JlcCoy,

PRIVATES.

Simeon Ditson,

Harden Thomas,

Jlichael Kilyon,

Jeremiah Kelly,

Daniel Goode,

Jack Kirk,

James Brown,

John Bracken,

Nathaniel Foster,

Thomas Sherill,

John Scroggins,

John Roger,

William Carpenter,

James Taylor,

Samuel AVade,

Adam Venus.

Daniel Kichardson,

Edward Jones,

Joseph Black,

William Clark,

James Baker,

Elijah lies.

Jacob Williams,

John jMartin,

Jesse Dotson,

L. D. Matheny,

Joseph Wages,

Archelaus Demon,

Joseph Uolston,

James F. Reed,

Zachariah Mouland,

Joel Miner,

Samuel Hamilton,

P. A. Saunders,

Jacob Hilgou,

William White,

John Calhoun,

D. Dickisou,

John Rentop,

Jesse Iloruback,

William Constant,

John Keys,

John Bridges,

William Kelly,

T. M. Neale,

Joseph Garrett,

John C. Strader,

Benjamin Burck,

Robert Riehardson,

E. P. Olesshart,

Benjamin Clurry,

Jacob Martin,

BO. Rusk,

John T. Stuart,

Lewis Churchill,

Clemans Strickland,

Miehael Arehey,

George Glasscock,

James Smith,

John Ward,

Vineon Arehey,

William Patls,

Jacob G . Warwick,

Lewis Barney,

Matildas Chilton,

James D. Henry,

George B. Lucas,

Alfred Powell,

Samuel 0. Neale,

James Sherell.

Joseph Rayborn,

Solomon Brundage,

William Lobb,

Jesse M. Harrison,

CAPTAItf J. M.

barley's COMPANY.

.John Ridgway,

Squire Foster,

William Crane,

Robert Hughs,

Thirty Days Men.

John Musick,

Samuel Evans,

( AI'TAIN,

Jacob M. Earley.

Montgomery Warwick,
George Green,
Hugh Burnett,

Calahill Stone,
James M. Reed,
Jefferson Martin,

FIRST

LIEUTENANT,

Charles Turly,

Jonathan H. Pugh,

G. W

. Glasscock.

William B. Short,

Zadock Martin,

SECOND LIEUTENANT,

Edward Jones,

George W. Glasscock,

B. Rusk.

Joseph F. Ganard,

Jamc-s Taylor,

JohnT. Stuart,

Ethelbert J. Oliphant,

SERUEAHTS.

Lorenzo D. Matheny,

William L. Potts.

Zachariah Malugiu,

JNoah Mason,

James F. Reed,

P. A. Saunders,

Jacob Eby,

W. M. Neale.

David Dickerson,

John ICeys,

CORPORALS.

Elijah lies.

W. II. Brents,

William Crow.

PRIVATES.

CAPTAIN JAPHET A.

ball's company.

James D. Henry,
Achilles Morris,
James F. Reed,

Samuel 0. Neale;
A. Lincoln,
John Paul,

This company was mustered into the United
States' service April 21, 1832, and mustered out

William S. Piekrel

John T. Stuart,

May 28, 1832.

William L. Potts,

John Ij. Stephenson,

CAPTAIN.

Jesse Danon,

L. D. Matheny,

Japhet A

. Ball.

Joseph 3IcCoy,

Adam Smith,

FIRST LIEUTENANT.

Hugh McGary.

Harrison McGary,

Alexander

D. Cox,

Montgomery Warrick, John C. Warrick,

B. F. Pickrell,

John Baker,

SECOND LIEUTENANT.

George Harrison,

George Stout,

John MeC

onnack.

John Brewer,

JR. Loveless,

SERGEANTS. •

J. Gilbert.

.Joseph W. Duncan,

William F. Cox,

James McConuack,

Charles Day.

CAPTAIN JOHN

DAWSON'.S COMPANY.

CORPORALS.

This company served from April 21, 1832, to

Harvey Graham,
Thomas .T. Claik,

John M. Barnes,
Richard Cox.

May 28, 1882.

PRIVATES.

CAPTALN,

Thomas McKinney,

Elder Massec,

Job '

n Dawson.

Thomas Gatton,

Abram Jjanterman,

FIRST

LIEUTENANT,

.Jonathan Coleman,

Henry Averill,

William Pickrell.

Lewis C. Jones,

Daniel Ketehum,

19—

164

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

William Mills.
John Brunstield,
William Gatliii,
Barnabas M. Blue,
Solomon W. Hawcs,
Morris R. Moorick,
Charles Smith,
John Ball,
Robert B. Sexton,
John Terry,
John Kendall,
John Gately,
Abram Howard,
Robert Patton,

Thomas

Joseph Hazlett,
William Downer,
John Hutton,
Nathan H. Spears,
William JlcConnack,
Jesse Mitts,
Garrett Tempe,
James Ward,
Samuel C. Hampton,
Moses Wright,
John D. Bagby,
Thomas Cook,
Daniel Waters,
.John Vincent,
Swearingen.

CAPTAIN KEUBEN BROWJj's COMPANY.

This company was mustered into the United
States service June 20, 1832, and mustered out
August 1(5, 1832.

CAPTAIN.

Reuben Brown .

FIRST LIEUTENANT.

William Baker.

SECOND LIEUTENANT.

Delos Brown .

SERGEANTa.

Thomas .Jones, Samuel E. McKenzey,

Evan Morgan, Nathaniel Said.

CORPORALS .

Jessie Said, Rezin Brown,

John Fagan, James B. Jones.

PRIV

Archer, Winston,
Baker, James,
Baker, Thomas,
BroWD, Jerry,
Cartwright, Peter,
Delay, Stephen,
Donaldson, Dudley,
Durbin, Edward,
Douglass, Thomas,
Haggard, James,
Kendrick, Samuel,
Lucas, Allen B.,

ATES.

Larkin, Young,
Martin, Ralley,
McKinzey, Henry,
Poor, James H.,
Porter, William,
Pulliam, James,
Piker, John,
Spillars, AVilliamH.,
Staflbrd, Daniel S.,
St. John, Joseph,
Trotter, George,
Williams, Isaiah B.

CAPTAIN THOMAS MOFFETT .S COMPANY.

This company served from June 4, 1832, to
August IG, 1832.

CAPTAIN.

Thomas Moffett.

FIRST LIEUTENANT.

Shadrach J. Campbell.

SECOND LIEUTENANT.

James Watson.

CORNET.

Gershom Dovience.

SERGEANTS.

John Oldfield, Franklin Williams,

George Lindsey, William C. Stephenson.

CORPORALS .
John Humphreys, Nathan Ralston,

James Campbell, Jarrett McKlnney.

PRIVATES .

John Ridgeway, Saddler, Hill, John P.,
Jesse H. Sleat, Farrier, Latham, John,
David Duncan, Trumpeter, Lowe, Richard,

/.rmstrong, Hugh M.
Atkinson, Bushrod,
Brazzle. William,
Ball, Smith,
Cooper, W.,
Cannon, Walter,
Cabanass, Zalialon P.,
Durham, Walter,
Duncan, .Joseph W.,
Drcnnan. A. P.,
Elkin, Garret,
Epperson, Thomas,
Enix, .James,
Forbes, R. A.,
Golsondiner, John L.,
Glasscock, Gregory,

Watson,

Levi, John,
Lane, Jacob,
Langley, Robert,
McAlister, William,
Moore, .Joseph,
Milts, William,
Norris, Joseph,
Paine, Barzilla,
Pulliam. Martin G.,
Pierce, Philetus G.,
Peter, Samuel,
Saunders, Pressly,
Smith, Tillman,
Smith, John,
Smith, Adam,
Stout, George,
Hiram.

PROMOTED .
John Warnsing.

RESIGNATIONS.

David Black, First Lieut., T. Epperson, 2d Serg't.

DISCUARCiED.

Joseph Inslee, Abler Armisted,

Thomas Crom.

CAPTAIN J. EBKy's COMPANY.

Captain J. Ebey's company served from the
21st day of April, 1832, to the 28th day of May,
1832.

CAPTAIN.

Jacob Ebey .

FIRST LIEUTENANT.

Edward Shaw.

SECOND LIEUTEN.ANT.

Winslow M. Neale.

SERGEANTS .

Thomas J. Marshall, Davis Meredith,

James B. Gable, David S. Collins,

CORPORALS.

Reese Williams, James E. Hawes,

Harmon Renshaw, Wiley Blunt,

PRIVATES .

Joseph Drennan,
Frederick A. Hamilton,
Daiiiel Hatan,
Jackulin Bashaw,
Thomas Sherill,
JaOob Ilinkle,
St(^ilien Hedrick,
.James E. Byers,
Thomas Stout,
James Carver,
John G. Newhouse,
Joseph Brown,
Philip Clark,
Lawrence McMenus,
Granbury B. Jones,
George Catha,
William D. Russett,
Jesse Byer,
Obadiah Rittenhouse,

James Harper,
Samuel Graham,
John llillis,
William_ Hazlett,
Adam Vancil,
Henry Dickson,
George Milton,
William C. Atwood,
Daniel McClies,
William Martin,
John Boyd,
Urich Wolverton,
John Whitmore,
Milton Torrill,
Isaac Clark,
John Collins,
James Rutlegc,
George W . Foster,
James Taylor,

HISTORY OF SANOAMON COUNTY.

KiS

John Davis,
Felix Herncion,
Alfred Hash,

Samuel B. Scoole,
John Gnift,
John H. Wi-isht.

CAPTAIN ABRAHAM LINCOLN S COMPANY.

The compauy commanded by Abraham Lin-
coln, afterwards President of the United States,
was mustered into service April 21, 1832, and
mustered out May 27, 1832.

CAPTAIN,

Abraham Lincoln.

FIRST LIECTEX.\NT,

Samuel M. Thompson.

SECOND LIEUTENANT,

John Branuan.

SERGEANTS,

John Armstrong, TavinerB. Anderson,

George W. Foster, Obadiah Morgan.

CORPORALS.

Thomas Comb,
William F. BeiTy,

John Plaster,
Alexander Trent.

PRIVATES .

John Erwin,
Thomas Pierce,
Henry Hadley,
Calvin Pierce,
William Kirkpalrick,
Elijah Pierce,
Bordry Mathews,
Valentine Crete,
James Simmons,
Allen King,
David Kankin,
~Henry Cox,
Royal Potter,
Joseph Holmier,
Evan T. Lamb,
John M. Rutlege,
Usil Meeker,
Charles Pierce,
John Y. Lane,
Royal Clary,
James Yarilley,
Michael Plaster,
William Hobiner,
William Marshall,
John Jones,

William

John H. Houghton,
Samuel Lebb,
Samuel Diitten,
Joseph Lebb,
Cyrus Elmore,
Lewis W. Farmer,
E. Sullivan,
Charles Sullivan,
Hugh Armstrong,
.Joseph Dobson,
Urbin Alexander,
Merritt M. Carman,
David M. Pantier,
George Warburton,
Clardy Barnette,
_5Villiam Cox,
Richard Jones,
James Clement,
Richard Lane,
Pleasant Armstrong,
David Rutlege,
John Mounce,
Isaac Anderson,
William Cummins,
Travis Elmore,
Foster.

CAPTAIN ILES COMPANY.
CAPTAIN.

Elijah lies.

FLRST LIEUTENANT.

Jesse H. Harrison.

SERGEANTS.

George W. Glasscock, Zachariah Milligent.
Benjamin Burch.

CORPORALS.

Alexander Trent, G. W. Foster.

Jesse Darrows.

PRIVATES .

Pressley A. Saunders, A, Lincoln,

John T. Stuart, Joseph T. Garrett,

Asa Estes,
Jacob M. Earley,
John J. (iatcly,
,Iohn Letcher,
John Kendall,
William McAllister,
Jertersou Welch,
Noah JIason,
Samuel O'Xeal,
David Dickinson.
William Kirkpatrick
Samuel Milligent,
Achilles Morris,
James F . Reid,
E. P. Oliphant,
Lewis Churchill,
Joseph McCoy,

John

James D. Henry,
Michael Arclier,
John Kirkpatrick.
James M. Ward,
Winston M. Nea'e,
Jrhn B. Rutledge,
John Keys,
Thomas Long,
Moses Bieutz,
Lorenzo D. Matheny,

, Thomas Pierce,

William Crow,
William L. Potts,
Benjamin Rusk,
Wil'liain S. Pickrell,
John Brannan,
Jacob Eby,

McAllister.

MISCELLANEOUS.

William Cummings, Daniel King,

John L Gately, Usel Meeker,

REMINISCENCE OF THE BLACK HAWK WAR.

In the fall of 1881, the Sangamon Monitor
published the names of the company commanded
by Captain lies, which drew out the following
from the pen of Major John T.Stuart, and which
was written for and printed in the Monitor :

"Having published a list of the names of Ma-
jor lies' company in the Black Hawk war of
1832, you would, doubtless, be pleased to
know something of the history of that company.
The volunteer force assembled in the spring of
that year, under the orders of Governor Rey-
nolds, and commanded by General Whitesides ;
marched to Rock Island, and tinding that the
Indians had crossed the Mississippi and gone up
Rock river, followed them up that stream with-
out any incident worthy of note, until they ar-
rived at Dixon's ferry, (now Dixon).

"Captain Snyder's company had been detached
across Rock river, to protect Galena and its
neighborhood, but no news had reached the
camp at Ottawa of his movements, or of the con-
dition of things in the neighborhood of Galena.
The commanding officers at Ottawa were very
uneasy and anxious to communicate with Gale-
na. While in camp at Dixon, at midnight the
army was aroused by the news of the defeat at
Stillman, brought lirst by one and then another
flying from the battle ground. The army of
General Whitesides in the early morning, took
up the line of march for the battle ground, and
arrived there in the early afternoon and found
that the Indians had marched up Rock river,
leaving their dead on the ground, as well as the
killed of the whites, and many slaughtered
horses, making a sad sight to behold. White-
sides' army buried the dead and marched back
to Dixon.

166

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY,

"The term of service of the volunteers of that
army was about to expire and tliey were anxious
to return home. A council of war was held at
Dixon, in which it was debated whether to pur-
sue the enemy or march to the Illinois, disband
the army and wait tor the new levies. After an
angry debate, it was decided to march to Otta-
wa, on the Illinois river, and disband the army.
Whitesides' army was then marched to Ottawa
and disbanded, burying on the route Mr. Katty
and others, murdered by the Indians on Fox
river.

"At Ottawa a call was made for volunteers to
form a regiment for twenty days, to protect the
northern frontier of the 8tate from the Indians
during the time that would elapse before the as-
sembling of the new forces. Among those who
volunteered were the men whose names you pub-
lished as composing lies' company, and who, by
common consent, elected Elijah lies captain — a
man then in the prime of life, and pojjular as a
man and a soldier.

"Afterthe disbandment of the army of General
Whitesides, the condition of the scattered set-
tlements in northern Illinois was sad indeed.
Universal terror prevailed. The Indians, victo-
rious over Stillman, and elated by their victory,
had fallen upon the settlements on Fox river,
and at other places, and had murdered and
scalped some and carried others into captivity.
It was understood they were scattered in small
parties from the neighborhood of Chicago to the
Mississippi river, along the entire line of fron-
tier. Where would they strike next ? Would
they attack Chicago, or fall upon the defenceless
settlers on the borders of the Illinois river and
the military tract '? Would they aim to cut off
Galena from support and attempt to capture it?
These questions may seem idle now. They W'ere
momentous then.

"It soon became known that a large force of
Indians, under the command of Black Hawk,
were between Rock river and Galena, and
threatening that town, then having about four
hundred inhabitants.

" It was believed to be an expedition of much
danger and hazard, and therefore it was deter-
mined to call for volunteers. Major lies' compa-
ny volunteered and was accepted. After due
preparation, that company began its march, the
bearer of important dispatches. It camped the
first night at a grove south of Dixon, believed
to be Chalong's. The next day it swam Rock
river at Dixon, thirsted for adventure and was
ready, anxious for the fight. They had confi-
dence in each other, and in their modest, but

brave, prudent captain. They were accom-
panied by General James D. Henry, going
as a private, but also acting as aid to the
Captain, then believed and afterwards proved
to be.

"It was splendidly armed; it was composed of
first-class material of men, who, if not brave,
dare not be cowards. My Captain was one of
the best Captains of his time. They were also
accompanied, as a volunteer, by a Captain in the
regular army, whose name the writer has forgot-
ten, and thus armed, composed, and officered, it
is believed no better company of volunteer mili-
tia ever marched to what it l)elieved a post of
danger and jiatriotic duty.

" It camped the second night at Buffalo grove.
During that night the company expected an at-
tack from the Indians. There were many signs
that they were around and about them, and once
an alarm was given, and the company mustered
under arms. The next morning the company
marched towards Galena, and entered the tim-
bers of Apple creek about noon. Here an In-
dian pony was seen running at large, and some
of the boys thought to capture it; but the Cap-
tain, believing that it had been let loose as a
decoy to induce the breaking of ranks, and to
give the enemy an opportunity to make an at-
tack, sternly forbade the effort, and commanded
to close the ranks and be ready.

"The company pursued its march, and en-
camped for the night in the timbers of Apple
creek, about twelve or fifteen miles from Ga-
lena, and there were many signs that they were
watched and followed, but the company was
ever ready for an attack. They camped that
night near where a fight had taken place between
the Indians and Sneyder's company that day or
the preceding night. During that night not a
man doubted but that the Indians would make
an attack before morning. The company was
kept under arras all night, and constantly drilled
by Henry and others, and picket guards placed
all around the encampment. That the Indians
were all around the encampment was very mani-
fest, and the writer of this, who stood on picket
guard during most of that night, did not doubt
but that he heard them more than once; but
they made no attack, because the company was
too well prepared to receive them. Next morn-
ing the company marched into Galena, delivered
its dispatches, procured all desired information,
and then, in the same good order, marched back
to Ottawa, and was disbanded. Most of its
members enlisted in the new army, and in
Early's spy company.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

iGi

"That the Indians wore in Apple creuk tim-
bers, during the march of the company to and
from Galena, admits of no doubt. They at-
tacked, and came very near defeating Sneyder's
company, or part of it, a short time before the
company marched through to Galena. They at-
tacked Stephenson's company a short time after
its return from Galena, and not long after at-
tacked Dement. These attacks were made when
these commands were at a disadvantage. Why
did they not attack lies' company? No one of
that company doubted but that they were
watched and followed by Indians, from the time
the company crossed Rock river until its arrival
at Galena, and on its return, seeking an oppor-
tunity to make an attack. The answer is that
tlie company was handled, armed, and kept such
perfect order and readiness for an attack that
the Indians were afraid to make it.

"The publication of the muster roll of lies'
comjiany has induced this hurried notice of one
of the almost forgotten incidents in the early
history of Illinois. Most of lies' company,
after well si>ent lives, have gone to the grave,
and a few still linger on its brink. They were
a part of the hardy, brave and adventurous
early settlers of Illinois, who fought and drove
off the Indians, relieved it of wolves and wild
beasts, built its first bridges, school houses and
churches, and prepared it for that higher civiliza-
tion it now enjoys."

TUE MEXICAN WAK.

Texas, under Spanish rule, was a nearly unin-
habited part of Mexico, lying between Louis-
iana and the Rio Grande river. It was a fertile
region, with a fine climate. The Spanish posses-
sors of Mexico, in the bigoted and bitter spirit
that was traditional with the Spaniards toward
Protestants, and deeply hostile in feeling from
the rather high-handed and vigorous proceed-
ings of General Jackson before and after the
cession of Florida, did not encourage the settle-
ment of Texas, preferring to be separated by a
wilderness from the United States. In 1821,
the Mexicans finally threw off the Spanish yoke,
and established an independent government.

About this time the Americans, and especially
those of the South, foreseeing the probable
spread of the northern part of the Rejiublic to
the Pacific, began to look with covetous eyes
upon the fine savannas of Texas, as an excellent
field for land speculations, and also for extend-
ing the southern area, so as to keep its balance
in the numljer of slave States, equal to the free
States of the North. It was believed to be the

plan of Mr. Calhoun, an able and far-seeing
statesman, thoroughly in earnest in the mainte-
nance of slavery, and the political equality of the
slave with the free States. Settlements were made
by people from the United States. Ina few years
they grew to be numerous, and came in contact
with the rigid Spanish laws, still maintained by
tlie Mexicans. The United States Government
made advances toward purchasing Texas, but
the JNIexicans were resolute in their purpose to
hold it, and bring its people under the dominion
of strict Mexican law. The Americans resisted
this with the settled determination of ultimate
separation from Mexico, and probable annexa-
tion to the United States.

The Mexicans undertook to reduce them to
submission. The Texans, supported by bold
and fearless adventurers from the southern
States, resisted. The war commenced October
2, 1835, by a battle at Gonzalez, followed by
various others. On the 2d of March, ISoO, the
Texans formally declared independence, which
they maintained by force of arms. On the 3d
of March, 1837, the United States Government
recognized the independence of Texas. Eng-
land did the same in 1842. Propositions of an-
nexation had been made to Presidents Jackson,
Van Buren, and Tyler, successively, l)y the
Texas government, but as often rejected by
them, as tending necessarily to a war with
Mexico, that power having distinctly and repeat-
edly declared that she should regard such a step
as a declaration of war.

The Democratic party regaining the ascen-
dency in the election of 1844, made this annexa-
tion one of the issues of the Presidential cam-
paign. A majority of the people were in favor
of it. The Southern view, however, was not
alone in its influence on this decision. Indig-
nities and injuries had been inflicted by the
Mexicans on American citizens in that country ;
its haughty, exclusive and unfriendly spirit
awakened strong indignation; and the Pacific
coast of California, with the mining regions of
the northern interior of Mexico, both nearly un-
inhabited, were objects of desire to the Amei'i-
can people. Thus a wish to extend the bounds
of the Republic, and to chastise an insolent
neighbor, comlnned with the ardent wishes of
the pro-slavery interest, to lead the nation to
determine on a war, somewhat ungenerously,
with a neighbor, notoriously too weak and disor-
ganized for effectual resistance to the whole
strength of the United States.

On the 12th day of May, 1846, Congress
ordered the raising of 50,000 men and voted

3 68

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

§10,000,000, to cany on the war. A requisition
being made upon the Governor of this State for
three thousand men, a call was issued by Gov-
ernor Ford upon the militia of the State, to
volunteer for the war. John J. Hardin, com-
mander of the Third Brigade of the Third
Division of Illinois Militia, also issued an
address to those who had served under him, urg-
ing them to respond to the call. He closed his
address by saying "The General asks no one to
go where he is not willing to lead. Let volun-
teers respond by enrolling their names in the
service of their coimtry."

On Saturday, May :^9, 184G, a public meeting
was held in Springfield addressed by Governor
Ford, Dr. Merrynian, D. L. Gregg, T. Campbell
and Abraham Lincoln, on the condition of the
country, and the necessity of prompt and united
action of her citizen soldiery to sustain her na-
tional character, secure our national lights, as
Avell as an everlasting peace. The speeches
were in the right spirit — warm, thrilling and
effective. Some seventy men responded to the
call and volunteered for the war. A glance at
the names of those from this county will reveal
some who greatly distinguished themselves and
reflected honor upon that county in which they
resided.

A treaty of peace was signed between repre-
sentatives of the two governments, February 2,
1848, and formally ratified by the United States
government, March lOtli, and the Mexican gov-
ernment, March 20th. The Mexicans relin-
quished all claims to Texas and ceded Upper
California and New Mexico to the United
States. In return the United States gave them
?! 18,500,000, of which $3,500,000 was due by a
former treaty to citizens of this country, and
paid them by our government.

Colonel E. D. Baker, who wielded the pen
equally as well as the sword, and who com-
manded the regiment, largely made up from
Sangamon cottnty, contributed to the press of
thatday, the following poem:

TO THE MEMOKV OF THE DEAD OF THE FOVRTH
ILLINOIS REGIMENT.

Where rolls the rushing Rio Grande,

Here peacefully Ihey sleep;
Far from their native ^Northern land,

Far from the fiiends who weep.
Ko rolling drum disturbs iheir rest,

Beneath the sandy sod —
The mould lies heavy on each breast.

The spirit is with God.

They heard their country's call and came.

To battle for the right;
Each bosom tilled with martial flame.

And kindling for the fight,
liight was their measured footstep, when

They moved to seek the foe,
Alas that hearts so tiery, then.

Should soon be cold and low.

They did not die in eager strife,

Upon a well fought field;
Not from the red wound poured their life.

Where cowering foemen yield.
Death's ghastlj' shade was slowly cast

Upon each manh' lirow;
But calm and fearless to the last,

They sleep in silence now.

Yet shall a grateful country give

Her honors to their name,
In kindred hearts their memories live,

And history guard their fame.
Nor unremembered do they sleep

Ujion a foreign strand,
Though near their graves the wild waves sweep.

Thou rushing Rio Grande.

The following is a copy of the roster as fur-
nished by the War Department, to the Governor
of this State, of those participating in the war
from Sangamon county:

COLONEL E. D. BAKEr's REGIMENT.
FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS.

Colonel — Edward D. Baker.

Adjutant— William B. Fondey.

Sergeant Major — James H. Merryman.

Quartermaster General — Richard F. Barrett.

Commissary — John S. Bradford.

COMPANY A.

CAPTAIN .

Horatio E. Roberts.

FIRST LIEUTENANT.

William P. Barrett.

.SECOXD LIEUTENANT.

William B. Foudey.

SERGEANTS.

Dudley Wickersham,
Argyle W . Farr.

CORPORALS.

Thomas Hessey, Shelton Ransdell,

Edward Conner, Lawson Thomas.

MTSICL^N.

William C. B. Lewis.

PRIVATES.

Addison, Grandison, House, Erasmus D.,
Ballard, Christopher A., James, George,

Balantine, John J., Keeling, Singleton,

Barrett, James A., Marsin, Joseph,

Brown, William W. , Millington, AugustusO.,

Butler. Joslma, Murray, Matthew,

Buel, Abel M , Peter, Peter 0. ,

Cabanis, ZebulonP., Ransdall, James B.,

Capoot, John, Rape Henry,

Chapman, John, Ryan, Jackson.

Crowl, Upton, Spottswood, James H.,

Darnell. Harvey, Smith, Joseph H.,

Feriill, William C, Wickersham, Wesley H.

Walter Davis,
David Logan,

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

169

Foster, John E.,
Funk, George W. .
Frink, .John""S.,
Gideon, Alfred L.,
Garrett. Ezra L.
Haines, Fletclier,
Harwortli, George,

Wilkinson, Keulieu,
Wilcox, Eiiliriaru,
Watson, Charles F.
Walls, Levi P , •
Whitehurst, Thomi'S,
Weber, George R.,
Yeakles, Joseph,

RESIGNED.

Second Lieutenant — .John S. Bradford.

DISCH.\HGED

Before expiration of term of service.

Joseph B. Perkins, Samuel Cole,

George W. Hall, Alexander J. Seehorn,

George C. Whitlock, Samuel O. White.

Nicholas Algaire, John C. Butler,

John Dupuy, Silas Dowdall,

Benjamin F. McDonald, Marion P. JIatthews,

Wiliiam R. Goodell, Isaac Davis,

Preslf J' Ransdell, James A. AVaugh,

Hem-}- Westbrook, Jacob Wise,

Vincent Ridgely, William W. Pease,

Joseph H. Fultz, Levi Gorlej-.

tr.^nsperhed.

James H. Merriman, Richard F. Barrett.

DE.\D.

Henry .1. Moore, James Connelly,

Joseph Sfipp, Daniel Hokey,

William Hardin, Joseph Newman.

Killed at battle of Cerre Gordo.
James McCabe.

COMPANY B.

SECOND LIEUTENANT.

William L. Duncan.

SERGE.\NTS.

B. M. Wyatt, .John D. Lawder,

E. D. Dtikshier, Sanborn Gilmore,

CORPORALS.

Samuel Ogden, John G. Cranmer,

E. W. Nantz, A. J. Mason.

PRIVATES.

Baldwin, William F., Jenkins, .James M.,

Baker, Mason, Johnston, Thomas P.,

Brumfield, William, Lash, William,

Burnett, William, Lanier, William,

Brown, Isaac, McCarroll, Justus,

Dodson, lehabod, Mclutyre, R. N.,

Depew, James, j\[itcliell, Wilson,

Elliott, Edward, Newton, Ander.son,

Good, John, Owen, Thomas J. V.,

Gwinn, AVilliam, Palmer, Allen,

Graham, Levi. Rule, Alexander,

Glimpse, .Joseph, Series, Julius H.,

Graham, Joseph, Seaman, S3ivanus,

Guy, R. B. R.. Stout. .James,

Harbard, William, Smock, Fulcard,

Harris, A. J., Tennis. John F.,

Hampton, Felix T., Vanhoru, William M.,

Harris, J. C, Walker, J. E.,

H.all, .John, Walker, John,

Jones, John, Williams, David,
Williams, Peter.

RESIGNED.

Captain Garrett Elkin, Sec. Lt. J. M. Withers.

DISCHARGED.

Eskew, James W. or John Reamer. E. C.

H., Parks, James E.,

Savage, Nicholas, Haines, Thomas H.,

Fling, Charles H., Hall, Samuel,

Moor.Thiimas,
Mahew, David,
Davis, Wm. S.,
Lash, Henry,
Miller, James M.,
Little, William I.,

D.iponte. Durant,
Johnson, John S. W.,
Crumbaugh, .John F.,
Toppas, William A.,
Poindexter, Clinton,
Palmer, Leroj' G.,

Gwinn, Alexander

DEATHS.

Lieut. Andrew J. Wallace, Andrew .T. Hodge,
.John Jlisncr. George Perry.

E. B. Young, JLirion Wallace,

George Ruth.

WOUNDED.

John D. Lander, James Depew,

John Walker.

COMPANY D.
FIRST LIEUTENANT.

Alfred C. Campbell.

SECOND LIEUTENANT.

John D. Foster.

SERGE.'i.NTS.

Henry M. Spotswood, David Meigs,

John"Davis, Jonathan Morris.

CORPORALS.

William Campbell, Thomas Higgins,

Chris. C. Holyer, Hugh Paul.

PRIVATES .

Alsbury, Edward R.,, Jones, T. B.,

Bloyd, James B , Kent, Alexander,

Cast, Ai'chibald, ICing. John W.,

Cutter, William, Morris, Hamilton R.,

Duulap, James T., Morris, Randall G ,

Daly, John, Meigs, Scverell,

Darneille. Harvey, Odell, John,

Dodd, John C, " Philps, Joshua,

Dillman, David, Rhodes, William G.,

Duncan, Jerome, Shoemaker, Thomas C,

Edwards, David, Short, James F.,

Emmett, Robert S., Shelton, John,

Foster. Peyton, Smith, AlonzoH.,

Foster, William, Skinner. John H.,

Henwood, William, Tinker, William,

Hillyard, James P., Thompson, Samuel M.,

Howey, Willi>tm, Terpin, James,

Huckelbury, .John, Williams, .John R.,

Hutt'master, Edward, Wilcox, I)aniel,

Huti'master, William, Workman, Benjamin,

Hoskins, John S., Brauuan, Josiah .

DISCHARGED.

Joseph Bridges, 'Samuel Drennan,

Newton Dodds, William Penix,

Levi Campbell, Riley Cross,

Asa L. Morris, Logan C Snyder,

Benjamin Henwood, Jett'erson Finger,

Daniel Cross, William Terpin,

William Sampson, William Vermillion,

David Lind.say, Ashley Walker,

LaFayette McCrillis, Joel JI Walker,

Christoiiher R Pierce, Rowan I. Short,

Calvay Sexton, James Morris,

Benjamin Sullivan, Wilson Robbins.

DEAD.

Captain Achilles Morris, William F, Nation,
.Jacob Morris, John Hillyard,

Henry B. Reed, John Allison,

William Morris, .James Jones,

James Harralson. Morris Shelton

Samuel JlcICee.

IVO

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Chapter X

REMINISCENCES.

lu the followingtchapter is presented a few
pioneer reminiscences, in most cases written by
pioneers or their descendants. In no case has
the compiler of this work attempted to change
the diction of the writers, thus giving variety to
the style of the reminiscences given.

COTTON PICKING.

Previous to the winter of the deep snow, cot-
ton Avas raised to some extent in Sangamon
county, and it was once thouglit that it would
be a profitable article to raise in the State. Ex-
Governor John Reynolds, the " Old Ranger," as
he was familiarly known, contributed the fol-
lowing to the State Journal, in 1867, as part of a
series of articles on " Pioneer Times."

"Cotton, at as early a day as 1800, and for
many years after, was cultivated to a considera-
ble extent in Illinois. My father had resided in
Tennessee previous to his emigration to Illi-
nois, in the year above named, and we were
tolerably well acquainted with the culture of cot-
ton in that State. At that time I had often heard
it computed, that an acre of good cotton land in
Illinois, would yield in the seeds, ten or twelve
hundred pounds. This was then considered
such a crop as would justify cultivation. We
cultivated the crop in Randolph county, where
the climate is more congenial to its growth than
the north of the State.

"At that early day, more than half a century
back, the disadvantages in the article of cotton
was the labor in picking the seeds from it so as
to prepare the cotton for the spinning wheels.
There were then no improved spinning jennies
invented, and the old fashioned wheels were the
only means of preparing the threads for the
looms. Two classes of wheels were used at that
day; the little wheel, so called, was turned by
the spinner, with a crank on an axle running

through the centre of the wheel. The other was
known as the big wheel. The person spinning
on this wheel was always on foot and in motion.
The thread was drawn out as the motion was
given to the wheel. The operator on the little
wheel sat still, and produced the motion with
their feet. The big wheel gave opportunity for
the display of elegant and graceful motions,
which I have often seen performed, even to the
steps of the dance, by the modest and pretty
pioneer lasses of the olden time.

" The cotton cloth was at that day wove in the
country, or at least so far as Illinois was con-
cerned, in looms worked by either men or
women. It was rather an art or trade to weave,
and people thus accomplished traveled frequently
over the country fof work. The invention of a
cotton jenny, made with wood or iron rollers,
was subsequently perfected, which aided much
in extracting the seeds from the cotton, but the
great invention of Whitney, of the iron saws,
piopelled by horse power, laid all previous dis-
coveries in the shade and immortalized the in-
ventor. That illustrious man has accomplished
as much for the benefit of mankind as the inven-
tor of the steam engine, and has acquired a fame
which will hand his name down to posterity as
one of the great benefactors of the human race.
It will be borne in mind that probably two-
thirds or more of the human race are clothed in
cotton, and that before this invention, cotton
fabrics were almost as costly as silk.

"In the pioneer times of which I have spoken,
much amusement and innocent mirth were en-
joyed at the "cotton pickings," as these parties
were called. The whole neighborhood would
assemble on these occasions, and the log cabins,
in the evening of a winter's night, would be
brushed uj) to perfect neatness, and made still
more attractive by the large fire in the wooden

"Tii0>

\ <

^^^— / 'li^^^

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

173

chimney, with rocks under the fore sticks in
place of andirons. A large pile of cotton wa.s
spread out to dry, so it could be picked the
easier. Generally, two sprightly young ladies
were elected to divide the heap of cotton, and
then the hands began to pick it; so that a con-
test for victory would excite the two contending
parties, by which the more cotton would be
picked, and with additional merriment. The
last, indeed, was the main object of the young-
folks. The lady leaders chose their side to pick
alternately, and then a general tornado of ex-
citement began — picking, talking, and hiding
the cotton, and all sorts of frolicking in the
sphere of a backwoods cotton picking. A per-
fect equality and the best good feeling pervaded
the whole company, and each one enjoyed as
much innocent merriment as is generally allotted
to man. Art or improper education had not
spoiled either the morals or the symmetry and
beauty of their persons; but the)' exhibited tlie
superior woikmanship of Nature over the foolish
fashions of wealth, without sense, and spurious
refinement without taste. The words of Nature's
poet involuntarily forces itself upon us:

" ' Yes, let the rich deride and the proud disdain
The simple blessings of the lowly train;
To me more dear, congenial to my heart,
One native charm than all the gloss of art.' "

"Frequently, at these gatherings, the young-
sters presented masterly models of symmetry
and beauty, and such that neither wealth nor
fashion can ever surpass But as the pen cannot
describe the beauty and brilliancy of human ex-
cellence, the comeliness of the figures of the
early pioneers of Illinois must pass away and
be forgotten.

"At these 'cotton pickings' love always be-
came the ruling theme, as this passion always
will occupy the virtuous and elevate the heart:
and many a pioneer courtship and marriage re-
ceived their date from some such gathering.
But those happy times have passed away, and
tlie race has now well nigh passed away with
thein."

BY GEOKGE BRtlNIC*

"I emigrated from the State of Ohio, leaving
Fort Harrison and arriving in the, 'St. Gamee
country' in the fall of 1821, making the first
track that could be followed to the forks of the
'St. Gamee' to the head of the Okaw.

"The first cabin I saw was where the village of
Rochester now stands. There were no settlers

♦Written in 18.")9, as a contribution to the Old Set-
tlers' Association.

20—

on the north fork of the St. Gamee, except a
few in and about Mechanicsburg. But above
that point, there were none except where Decatur
now stands, a man bj- the name of Stepliens
having made a settlement there. I found Elijah
lies and Charles R. Matheny where is now the
city of Springfield. The Kickapoos were here
then, and I have had many a social hunt with
Bassena and Joe JNluney, the chiefs of that na-
tion.

"In the spring of 1822, myself and the Ddlons
raised a cabin, broke the prairie and planted
corn in Tazewell county, where stands the town
of Dillon. There were no settlers on the east
side of the Illinois river from thence to the lake,
except Mr. Kinzie's, where the city of Chicago
now stands.

"On my return I crossed the Illinois river by
putting my wagon in two Indian canoes and
swimming my horses alongside. On the west
bank I found Abner Eads and another settler.
During that fall the land in Sangamon county
came into market. The first entry was made by
Israel Archer, being the west half of the north-
west quarter of section eight, township fourteen
north, range four west, and the tract of land on
which now stands the present Cotton Hill Meth-
odist Church.

" It is well known now that Robert Pulliam
built the first cabin in Sangamon county. The
first barn was built by Mr. Rogers, near Athens,
in what is now Menard county.

"In the spring of 1826, J. Miller and myself,
left Sangamon county for the lead mines on
Fever river. We fitted out in Peoria, and
started in a northwest direction, carrying our
provisions on our horses. In consequence of
being unacquainted with the route we missed
our course, and suffered almost starvation
for three days — so much so that all the nour-
ishment we had was a fish about as long as
my hand, and coffee made from the boiling of a
coffee sack. With hard travel, and greatly
fatigued, we reached Fever river in seven days,
where we found a few miners. I believe we
were the first from Sangamon county. In a few
days we heard of Lake Phelps being there also.
I am not able to say whether he landed previous
to us or not.

"Much has been said about the origin of the
word ' Sucker,' in its application to the people
of Illinois. Late in the fall of that year I was
standing on the levee, in what is now Galena,
watching a number of our Illinois boys go on
board a boat bound down the river, when a man

IV-I

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

by the name of Walker, a Missourian, stepped
lip and said:

"'Boys, where are you all going?'

The ready reply was.

"'We are going home.'

"'Well,' said he, "you put me in mind of the
'suckers' — up in the spring, and down in tlie
fall.'

"Those who stayed over received the humble
name of ' Badgers.' That was the first time I
ever heard the term 'sucker' applied to the
people of Illinois. After that, all lUinoisans
were considered suckers, and when Judge Saw-
yer came to the mines, he was called 'King of
the Suckers.'

"That same fall, Van Nov was hungiu Spring-
field, the first in the county.

" In the spring of 1827, a great number of Mis-
sourians came to the mines. The Illinois boys
returned the compliment of the Missourians by
saying that 'Missouri has taken a, puke,'' and
after that all the people from that State were
called ' Pukes.'

'"At this time, we had a scrimmage with the
Winnebago Indians, which has been made the
subject of history. I returned to Sangamon
countv in the fall of 182^^, from lay northern
tour.

"The winter of 1830-31 was the winter of the
deep snow. It was with the greatest difficulty
we could find our shocks of fodder, they were
so enveloped in the snow. My father-in-law lost
his life in the snow-drifts on the prairies of
Sangamon. Game, which had heretofore been
always plenty, was nearly destroyed by the cold.
Then was the time to try men's metal. The
men of our day think that they see hard times.
They forget the want of conveniences and pri-
vations encountered by the pioneers — oftentimes
compelled to wade through the streams up to
the arm-pi's and break ice to get the teams
across, and, to cap all, to ride through perfect
fields of tire, caused liy the burning grass of the
prairies, in the fall and winter, and lie out all
night wrapped in a blanket on the cold, bleak
prairies. And yet, freed as is the present gen-
eration from such privations, we hear more
grumbling from them than from men who had
in reality to earn their bread by the sweat of
their brow.

"I am now in my fifty-fifth year, and claim to
be the father of eleven children, and can say
with certainty that I have never been intoxi-
cated, have never used tobacco in any shape or
form, or any narcotic, and never was sued for
debt of mv own contracting."

AUBURN AND VICINITY FOETV YEARS AGO BY

M. G. WADSWORTH.

"The young people of the present day can have
but inadequate conception of the ajipearance of
this country forty years ago. The prairies were
generalh' a trackless waste, save the Indian trails
that were still \isible, and an occasional, and
rarely used wagon track. The settlements, with
very rare exceptions, were confined to the timber
line. When the writer first knew this region,
there were but two fields fenced between Old
Auburn and the farms along Lick Creek. One
of them belonged to George Eastman, on the
west side of Panther Creek, (now a part of John
L. Mason's farm), and the other was owned bv
Piatt S. Carter, now of Loami township, and is
included iu J. M. Locliridge's farm. No one re-
sided on either of these jjlaces, though Mr.
Carter had a barn built and an unfinished house,
into which he moved the following winter. The
first settlers, who were almost exclusively from
Virginia and Kentucky, nniversally selected their
land with a view to its contiguity to the forests,
and embracing a good proportion of the same,
not seeming to think it probable that the vast
prairies would ever be occupied. Indeed, any
man who bought and improved land out in mid-
prairie, at that day, was laughed at for his folly.
He labored under several disadvantages, it is
true. The wild prairie grass growing to a height
of five to seven feet, was the nursery of myriads
of horse flies, that, in hot weather, tortured the
stock fearfully. Then, in the winter, stock
owned by prairie farmers, suffered terribly from
the bleak winds, as hardly any one had anj- bet-
ter shelter for his animals than a rail fence, and,
during severe weather, if not kept u]i, they would
find their way to the woods for comfort.

"The first houses were all unhewn log cabins.
In 1840, a few of the most pi'osperous had begun
to 'put on style,' and there were a number of
story and a half mansions of hewed logs. Some
people even were so extravagant as to have their
houses clapboarded, and there were in Southern
Sangamon a number of small frame houses, and
an occasional small brick building. The lumber
used at that day was all hard oak. walnut, cherry,
ash, sycamore. Pine lumber had not been intro-
duced here, there being no railroads, and to haul
it in wagons from St. Louis or Alton, would make
it an expensive luxury.

" Could the farmers of the present day have the
privilege of comparing the stock of horses, cattle
and swine of this country, of forty years ago,
with that of the present day, they would almost

HISTORY OF SAN(;A^!(JX COUNTY.

175

be led to swallow the theory of evolution, so re-
markable has been the change and improvement.
But in uo direction, perhaps, has there been so
marked a progress as in the methods of farming
and implements. My recollection extends back
to the time when plows with wooden mould
boards were used altogether. These would be
considered very inefficient implements now, but
were looked upon then as the best that could be
devised. But few of them would ' scour,' and
the plowman was compelled to keep a paddle
hanging to one of the handles, to clean his
plow oft' at each end, or ofteuer. The average
depth of plowing was from two to three inches,
and the slovenly habit of ' cutting and cover-
ing' (taking several inches more 'land' than the
plow could turn) prevailed with most farmers.

"As maikers and corn planters at that time
were unknown, this was the common modus op-
erandi of planting corn: A man with a pair of
horses and a breaking plow 'laid oft'' the
rows, running below the breaking, in order to
make his plow 'scour' (the cross rows having
previously been made with a single corn plow).
The dropper followed along behind with the
seed in a basket or bucket, and another man
with one horse and a shovel plow, or ' bull
tongue,' which, run in the side of the furrow,
left a small ridge upon the seed. By this slow
process, seven to ten acres could be planted in a
day. It being before the day of double corn
planters and of cultivators, either a one-horse
'turning plow' or a shovel plow was used to
'tend' the crop. Twenty to twenty-five acres
was all that one hand could take care of, and
the rule was to plow it three times. Thirty
bushels per acre was considered a fair crop,
though hard workers made their land produce
forty and even fifty bushels.

" For a crop of oats, as the previous year's corn
stalks were usually plowed under, rendering the
use of a harrow, to cover the seed and smooth
the ground, impracticable, the top of a tree was
hitched to and dragged over the ground . Wheat
was managed the same way, and, of course,
failed as often as it succeeded.

" At the time here spoken of, a field of timothy
grass or clover was a rare sight. The prairies
yielded innumerable tons of wild hay, and any
man could have all he wanted for tlie cutting.
There was no mowing machinery — the good old
fashioned scythe, with muscle to propel it, suf-
ficed to lay from one to two acres per day, and
as reapers and headers were as yet uninventcd,
the cradle was the only dependence to fell the
grain. Threshing, except among the largest

farmers, was done upon the barn floor, two, three,
or four horses walking in a circle over the grain
until it was separated from the straw, after
which it was cleaned with a fanning machine.
If a man had no barn of his own he borrowed
one for the purpose.

"Mules had not come into use at that time.
Many thought it wicked, and a violation of the
laws of nature to raise them. Mule colts, occas-
ionally, might be seen, but they were sold to
some buyer for southern use, and taken away
generally in the fall after foaling.

"Much of the breaking was done by oxen,
nearly every farmer owning one or more yoke of
these slow but sure beasts. Raw prairie was
always broken, at that day, with teams of three
or four yoke, which would turn over two or
three acres per day.

" Forty years ago, cooking stoves, save an occas-
ional one in the towns, had not come into use.
Everything was cooked by the fireplaces, which
every house contained, and were built to receive
wood three or four feet in length. Nearly every-
thing was cooked in a skillet or a Dutch oven,
both being supplied with a lid with a raised rim,
upon which coals were piled. It was hot and
laborious work for the women to cook by a fire-
place, but the meals thus prepared were not to
be excelled.

"Although the red man's camp-fire at the time
of which I write, no longer threw its ruddy glare
over the trunks of the forest monarch, he having
some years previous abandoned this for more
successful hunting ground, much wild game still
lingered. Deer abounded in the broad prairies
between Apple creek and the east of Sugar
creek, and I have frequently seen them within a
mile of Old Auburn, and have seen wolves within
the limits of the town. Wild turkeys still
abounded in the woods, in their season, ftocks of
prairie chickens, vast enough to darken the air
as they flew, might be seen any hour in the day.
Every winter the sharp shooters of this commu-
nity, would make up parties of four or five men,
and each with its wagon and team, bedding, pro-
visions, cooking utensils, rifles and amunition,
would drive to the wilds of Christian county,
remain five or six days, generally returning home
with six or eight deer. The rifle was almost
universally used, and the old hunters looked
with Bujirenie contempt upon any man or boy
who could content himself with a shot-gun.
Even s<iuirrels, prairie chickens, geese and ducks
were hunted with the rifle.

"The clothing of the early resident was fash-
ioned exclusively of homespun. Every farmer

176

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

kept sheep, every home had its spinning wheel,
and every wife and daugliter could extract music
of a practical nature from this instrument.
Looms were convenient too. The men and boys
all wore jeans, either yellow, brown or blue, and
the mothers, wives and daughters were arrayed
in linsey, visually striped or checked. At the
date of which I write, calico had begun to be
worn, but was laid aside, for woolen, in cold
weather. The sturdy pioneers of westei'n or
southern origin, looked upon the eastern men
w ho occasionally found their way out here,
dressed in broadcloth or cassimere, as Yankee
upstarts. Indeed, the New England and New
York emigrants were regarded with susijicion.
Some of the first comers were clock peddlers
fiom Connecticut, who fleeced the people, and a
prejudice was engendered that did not entirely
die out with that generation. Besides this un-
favorable imroduction, inany of the eastern set-
tlers came hither, full of conceit about methods
of farming, and undertook to give their new
neighbors the benefit of their experience, not
realizing that the Illinois prairies required quite
different treatment from New England hills. I
am glad to say that the feeling thus engendered
has almost entirely passed away, but it was
quite a formidable and disagreeable element in
society, forty years ago.

"Apropos of the above, the western people of
the early days, entertained a supreme contempt
for a man who attended to the milking. The
women here did all the milking. No matter if
there v)ere three or four men about the house,
and but one hard worked woman, the former
couldn't degrade themselves by adopting this
Yankee innovation. I have frequently known
young men, when contracting to work by the
month on farms, to ask if they were expected
to milk. If this was required, either negotia-
tions were broken off, or several dollars were
added to the price.

"The young i)eople of the present day, at-
tending school in nicely painted and ornamented
comfortable structures, furnished with all the
modern educational appliances, woxdd gaze with
astonishment at the rude and crude accommoda-
tions of two score years agone. At that time,
there were four schools (taught only in the
winter,) within a radius of a few miles of this
place. One of these was taught in the Old
Cumberland church, a log building, four miles
norti east; there was one in Auburn, a rude
frame house of about fourteen by sixteen feet;
a small brick building near A. S. Orr's, and an-
other two miles further up the timber. Both of

these were used, when necessary, for religious
services on Sur.day, as there were no meeting
houses on the timber above the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, above mentioned.

"The scholars sat upon bare benches, made
usually of slabs, with four legs. Many of the
scholars had never seen or heard of such a thing
as a desk. Reading, spelling and writing, with
geography, grammar and arithmetic, for the
'advanced' scholars, constituted the studies.
The rod, and a great deal of it, was an indis-
pensable reliance as an educator.

"Singing classes were sometimes taught, Mr.
John Baker, of Lick Creek, being the onlv
teacher within reach. lie taught vocal music,
by the 'jiatent' or 'buck-wheat' notes, the
Old 'Missouri Harmony' being the work gen-
erally used, the major pai't of whose tunes were
in the minor strain, and as the young folks
flocked in for miles around, crowding the bouses
where they were held, old 'Consolation,'
'Ninety-Fifth,' 'Jefferson' and 'Russia' would
waken the echoes.

"At that day, very few buggies or carriages
were seen. Nearly everybody went to meeting
on horseback; the wives frequenth^ riding be-
hind their liege lords. Often a young ladv Mas
taken on the horse behind her lover, though
each girl had generally a steed of her own. A
horse, sadille and l)ridle was the goal of every
young man's or woman's desires, when growing
up.

" Springfield was only a limited market. There
being no means of transportation from there,
there was no demand, save a local one, for grain,
pork and other productions, which was soon
supplied. I have known corn hauled to Spring-
field, from this vicinity, fourteen or fifteen
miles, and sold for five cents a bushel. Of
course, none but a renter sorely needing monev,
would undertake to haul corn to Springfield at
such a price.

"Alton was, at that day, the princijial market
for the farmers of Central Illinois. It wouldn't
do to haul corn so far, at ten or fifteen, or even
twenty cents a bushel, so the corn was fed to
cattle and hogs, mainly to the latter, large droves
of which were driven down in the early winter,
a number of neighbors combining together. A
wagon was driven by one of the men, in which
to deposit the swine that might, perchance,
'breakdown.' The hog drivers walked. These
droves were sometimes so extensive as to fill the
road for half a mile or more.

"Oneof the pleasantest episodes of the writer's
boyish life, was a trip to St. Louis, with a com-

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

177

pany of wagons, during the Indian sunnner sea-
son of 1841. Tliere were some ten or a dozen
wagon.s, all laden with wheat. Provisions, cook-
ing utensils, bedding and a supply of horse feed
were taken, the weather being so tine as to allow
the company to spread their couches beneath the
wagons. It was customary to take bread and
pies ready baked; with sometimes a boiled ham,
but coffee was made and meat fried by the tire,
improvised on the ground. There was no lack
of dry fuel along the road in the woods, and no
objection to its being picked up. After the men
had supped, the evening, until bedtime, was
spent in smoking and telling yarns, the flicker-
ing flames throwing a ruddy light over the merry
group. Thecampingground was always selected,
if possible, in the woods. These trips, going and
coming, usually occupied about a week. The
teamsters brought back groceries, clothing and
other family necessities for themselves, and often
loads of goods for the Springfleld merchants,
receiving so much for each hundred pounds.

" Forty years ago, the people of this vicinity
were just beginning to taste the sweets of a post-
ofBce close at home. The new Springfield and
St. Louis stage-road, running through Chatham
and Auburn, had recently been established. The
old route lay through Sugar Creek timber, some
two or three miles east of this. The "Sugar
Creek Postoflice" had been kept, until this
change, at John L. Drennan's, which was a
'stage stand,' as the place was called where the
four stage horses were changed on each trip for
fresh ones. By this arrangement, Auburn peo-
ple were five miles from the postofRce, and the
residents up towards the head of the timber,
eight to ten miles.

'•At that time, the question of cheap postage
and pre-payment had not yet engaged the atten-
tion of our wise men. Letter postage was all
the way from six to twenty-five cents, dependent
upon distance. The family of the writer had
twenty-five cents to pay on many a letter from
eastern friends, during the early forties. The
mailing business was much more complicated
then than now, for all letters had to be way
billed, and each letter's destination, rates, etc.,
recorded carefully in a book kept for the pur-
pose, which contained a column for paid, another
for unpaid, and another for free letters.

" Forty years ago there was but one steam grist
mill in the county, south ©f Springfield. This
stood just about where the Chicago & Alton
road crosses the branch, near what is now known
as Anderson pond, north of town. The engine
and works in the mill had been removed from

Waverly, by Asa and George Eastman. This
mill was only run here two or three years, I be-
lieve, and the works were transferred to Spring-
field. The building was occupied for several
years afterwards by David Eastman for finishing
leather, he having a tanyard on the premises.

"At the time of which I write, there were two
watermiils in this township, both of which
ground corn and wheat, and each had a saw mill
connected with it. One of these was owned by
Jacob Ranch, the father of the Ranch boys, and
stood on the south side of the creek, nearly op-
posite the present Ranch's mill. The other mill
was owned by E. & W. D. Crow, and was
located due west of Old Auburn, on a site now
owned by John Garber, just northeast of his
dwelling, on the west bank of the creek.
'Crow's mill pond' was a favorite resort by
crowds of men and boys, on summer Saturday
afternoons, for swimming exercises. The swim-
mers frequently rode their horses into the pond,
and the steeds, swimming with their nude riders,
drew out great applause from the multitude on
the banks.

" The currency of the country, forty years since,
was quite a different matter from that of the
present day. 'Wild-cat money ' from hundreds
of banks, scattered over the country, was in cir-
culation. Our own 'State bank paper' was
largely used, but there was a discount upon it.
Money of the Missouri bank was always relia-
ble, and generally preferred to gold. In silver,
the old Spanish coins prevailed, and the 12-^ and
6-^ cent pieces possessed no higher value than
the dimes and half dimes. They were distin-
guished as 'long bits' and 'short bits' — 'long
picayunes' and 'short picayunes.' Copper
coins were not used, and a picayune was the
lowest sum recognized. If an article wasn't
worth a picayune, it wasn't worth anything. I
well recollect how indignant some of the old
residents were when asked to pay postage on
newspapers — two, three or four cents. At that
time the privilege of franking the letters was
about all the compensation the Auburn post-
master received for getting up to ' change the
mail' once or twice in the night, every night in
the year, and performing the duties of postmas-
ter; yet it was difficult to convince some of these
worthies that if the postmaster didn't collect all
the moneys due the department, he must suffer
loss.

" In ] 840, a large amount of land in the country
was as yet unentered. Thousands of acres in
the broad prairie to the west and east of Sugar
creek timber were open to settlers, at $1.25 an

IIS

HISTORY OV SAN(^AMON COUNTY.

acre. Most of the land aloDg Panther creek,
however, liad been entered by speculators. John
Griggs, of Philadelphia, owned immense tracts,
and his agent, David B. Ayres, at Jacksonville,
sold it to settlers at §3 to $5 per acre. Many of
the farms along Panther creek, between Irwin's
(then known as Harlan's) grove and the head,
were made of the Griggs land.

"The pioneers supposed that the value of lim-
ber land would increase indetinitely. Hedges
for the prairie had not been thought of, and
there was no knowledge of the vast fields of coal
underlying this whole expanse of country. Con-
setjuently, believing that the demand for wood
for fuel, and rails for fences, must constantly in-
crease as the prairies became settled, they held
on to their forest acres with an iron grasp. The
discovery of coal in this region, and the utiliza-
tion of the Bois D'Arc tree for hedges on the
Western prairies, may certainly be counted
among the notable events of the nineteenth cen-
tury. Could our fathers have been told that
farms of whole sections could so easily be fenced,
splendid houses huilt and provided with fuel,
without the aid of wood land, they would have
thought it incredible.

"Pulmonary consumption, so prevalent now,
was almost unknown among the early residents.
Living in log houses, generally unplastered, with
open fireplaces, they breathed pure air, and hav-
ing regular sleep, and dressing healthfully, they
were afflicted with but few physical ailments,
save malarial ones.

"There were but few holidays in the early
days. But little notice was taken of the Fourth
of July. Frequently the riflemen ot the neigli-
borhood would gather together on Christmas
and indulge in shooting matches. The grandest
day in the year to both men and boys was elec-
tion day. The State and county elections of
that day were held in August. This being be-
fore the day of township organization, this elec-
tion precinct (Sugar.Creek precinct), comprised
a large scope of country — indeed, if I recollect
rightly, some three or four townshijis. Forty
years ago, the voting place for this precinct was
John L. Drennan's, (the place now occupied by
Benjamin F. Drennan.) Afterwards it was
transferred to a house just this side of the C. P.
Church. Nearly every boy in the precinct, old
enough to ride a horse, accompanied the fathers
or brother, and all sjient the day. Liquor was
usually available, and drunken men and fights
were often witnessed. Horse racing was a com-
mon pastime at elections. Voting was a slow
and tedious process. The clerks recorded the

name of the voter, and after it the name of each
candidate voted for, which W'ere called out by
the voter in rotation.

"At the time to which this sketch refers —
only about twenty-two years after the first white
man's cabin was erected in 'the San-^aw2-ma
country,' as the early comers called it, most of
the pioneers were yet living here, mainly, people
in the prime of life. They were an honest,
friendly, unassuming, industrious class of peo-
ple, generally, who were content to make a fair
living and keep out of debt. The mania for
accumulating illimitable acres had not yet been
developed. No man felt envious of another's
prosperity. There was no desire evinced to
overreach a neighbor in a trade; to live in a finer
house, or to dress better than anyone else. The
milk of human kindness permeated society.
The people were hospitable to a fault. A jjerson
in distress, or needing help in any form, had but
to signify it and it was invariably forthcoming.

"The first comers — principally from the hilly
regions of Virginia and Kentucky, were enrap-
tured with the beautiful country spread out be-
fore them. The boundless prairies coated with
luxuriant grass, affording faithful indications of
the marvellous possibilities of crops concealed
beneath, and the facility with which they could
be developed; the herds of deer and other game
that roamed the plains — sights so dear to the
hunter's heart — led the pioneers to send back
enthusiastic accounts of the country to the
friends they had left behind. Their attractive
representations brought others, and 'the San-
gam-ma country' came to be known as the
farmers' paradise.

"I will conclude this sketch by detailing a
case of

EARLY RASCALITY.

"In the winterof 1842 (I think it was), a trunk
belonging to a mail agent, of Springfield, named
Brown, was cut from the rear ])art of the stage,
while it was crossing the bridge over Panther
creek, between Maynard's and llarland's Grove.
The coach was making its down trip, in the
night, as usual, and that place was doubtless
selected for the deed on account of the speed of
the team being checked while crossing.

"Crime was so rare a thing in country places,
at that day, that the affair created great excite-
ment throughout the country. It was difficult,
at first, to obtain a clue to the perpetrator,
though the impression prevailed that the mis-
chief had been done by some one living in the
neighborhood. The trunk contained clothing,

HISTORY OF SANGAIMON COUNTY.

179

some specie, some counterl'eit iiniiiey (carrieil
for detective purposes), a stock of tine cigars for
Mr. Brown's own smoking, tfcc. It was partly
through the cigars that the guilty one was de-
tected. Jolin Kennedy, a young man of about
eighteen, living with his parents on the Harlan
place, was very liberal with a lot of fragrant
Havanas at the Cumberland Church, the next
Sunday, dividing them around among the irrev-
erent boys who made a practice of going punc-
tually to meeting, and remaining out of doors,
to discuss horseflesh during service. The writer
had the pleasure of puffing one of them, and
the memory thereof is still fragrant — as was the
cigar.

•'The trunk, after being partly rifled, was con-
cealed in a corn shock in the field, just east of
the bridge. Several more little things shortly
leaked out, that, combined, directed suspicion
to the riglit i|uarter. One of them was this:
The very afternoon of the robbery, Kennedy
was at the postoffice in Auburn, and asked Mr.
Wadsworth, the postmaster, what time the stage
came doivn, and being informed, rode off
towards the north.

"Evidence being deemed suflicient, a warrant
was issued and served by Arny R. Robinson, of
Springfield, then an officer. Mr. Brown and
another man accompanied. Kennedy denied the
theft at first, but being confronted by the testi-
mony, soon confessed the deed, produced the
money, and led his captors to where the trunk
was hidden.

" Kennedy was consigned to jail, and before
the day fixed for the trial, contrived, witli two
fellow prisoners (one confined for horse-stealing,
the other for Ijreach of trust), to escape. They
fled west, and on Spring creek two of them stole
a horse apiece, and made their way to St Louis,
A description of two of the fugitives was adver-
tised, but for some unaccountable reason, a
description of Kennedy was omitted. A detec-
tive saw Kennedy and his companion in a bar-
ber's shop, recognized the latter by the descrip-
tion, and took him. Kennedy lost no time in
getting out, aboard a boat, and down the river.
He found means to communicate with his
family, his father soon followed, and in a few
months afterward, the remainder of the family.
They settled at Natchitoches, Louisiana.

" Kennedy was never captured for the above
crime."

BY S. C. HAMPTON.

"My father, Samuel Hampton, settled in Sanga-
mon county in the fall of 1830, near Mechanics-

burg, and removed to the village of Sj)riiigfield,
next year. We lived in the lower rooms of a
two-story log house, and Sullivan Conant occu-
pied the upper rooms with his family, having
cume from Massachusetts in 18-31. Father Con-
ant says his wife thought she could scrub her
floor as they did in their native home, and in the
attempt almost drowned us out of house and
home. Mother Conant used to tell that one of
her earliest recollections of Springfield was a
little urchin, with a black, curly head, full of
mischievous pranks. That curly headed boj' and
her little black eyed daughter, in their manhood
and womanhood, became man and wife, and
under the blessing of a kind Providence, have
become father and mother of a large family of
children, and been blessed with a liberal share
of worldly prosperity. Five of our children still
live, two are dead. Mother Conant lived and
died a christian, many years ago. Father
Conant still lives, four score and one years of
age, a well preserved man, honored and blessed
by eight living children and many grand-children,
and by all who know him. One of the earliest
things I recollect was, we lived in a log cabin
near the old cemetery. We slept on one feather
bed and covered with another in winter. When
we had a drifting snow-storm, we would have an
extra job in the morning of shoveling the snow
out of the house, but the children enjoyed better
health then than many who arc confined in air-
tight houses, heated with air-tight stoves. On
one occasion, Mr. Erastus Wright gathered all
the boys in town and had them clean up the
court house yard, and after the job was done,
took us down to old Father Dickey's and treated
us to beer and cakes, and we all felt happy over
it. I well remember the immense political gath-
ering of 1840, with its log cabin on wheels, its
hard cider barrels, its coonskins and live coons
grinning over the dead roosters cari-ied in pro-
cession. I well remember the sad day in 1844,
when, in attempting to raise an ash pole, it fell,
killing Mr. Brodie, and maiming for life the
brother of my wife. To show you how we had
to work and how we were paid, I will relate a
little of mj^ experience. I, with a younger
brother, worked on a brickyard for old Mr. Hay,
who long ago passed away to his rest. It took
both of us to do the work of one boy, and for
this we got twenty-five cents a day and boarded
ourselves. Maiiy a day have I worked with a
chill on, and then lay down until the fever
abated, but we had some good com])any. Judge
Milton Hay and his brothers, J. Addison and
Theodore, moulded the brick, while we ofl-bore

180

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

them. Money was scarce then. We boys hardly
ever saw any, except once in a while we would
get twenty-live cents to go to a show. They
would make us take orders on the stores. I
recollect one show that came, and I had to have
a decent cap to go with, for in those days we boys
wore seal skins, not the seal of to-day, but which
looked more like hog skin with the hair cut
short. Well, I went up to the store before
breakfast and picked out a cap for one dollar;
went back for my order, and when I returned
the proprietor asked one dollar and twenty cents
as soon as he saw the order. I told him he had
offered it to me for a dollar. He said, before
breakfast it looked like rain, and that they would
have a dull day, but it had cleared off, and they
could not sell so cheap. So after that I prayed
for dull days for that store."

HONTIXG BXPERIENCE OF R. W. DILLER.

"In regard to my hunting experience, I would
say, a very few days after my arrival, November,
1844, my brother-in-law, Mr. R. F. Ruth, took
me in his buggy just south of where the Junc-
tion coal shaft now is, to try my hand in shoot-
ing prairie chickens. The birds were feeding in
a corii field, and as it was near sundown, they
commenced their flight for roosting in the prai-
rie. You have heard of 'buck ager;' well, I
had the 'chicken ager,' and for the life of me !
could not get a shot, or did not shoot at all. Mr.
Ruth until to-day often amuses the friends by
describing my effort — pointing here, then there,
mimicing my performances. There were thous-
ands of them flying within shot, but they were
bigger game than I was used to, so I was scared;
but I got bravely over that, as my friends can
testify. He killed several of them as they lit
on the trees, while I found a flock of quail, and
peppered them, as I was used to in the East.
He laughed at me for wasting ammunition on
such small fry, for 'we net them,' he said; and I
afterward found such was the case, and had
much sport in doing so, in company with Robert
Irwin, Caleb Eurchall, John C. Spring, Bella
Webster, S. 13. Opdyck, George L. Huntington,
Captain Diller, Henry Coon, and others, and
many funny incidents could be related happen-
ing on our hunts.

"The shotgun was little used in those days;
the long- barreled Kentucky rifle was the old
settler's trusted weapon, with which many
were very expert. Uncle Andy Elliott and
William Lockridge, I was told, could tumble a
deer at full speed of a horse and deer, nearly
every time. I saw Uncle Andy do it once, the

ball entering the head just below the horns. I
asked him if he aimed for that. 'Yes, always,'
was his answer; still, I thought it rather acci-
dental. The useful bird dog was little used
then, Mr. H. N. Ridgely and J. C. Spring being
the only possessors, in 1S44-4.5, of one each.
Mr. R. used to tell very amusing stories of the
astonishment the farmers would express when
he would drive up and put his dog in the field,
and See him knock chickens right and left on
the wing, when they had not observed any birds
before. The farmers shot them only in the win-
ter, from trees and fences. The winter of 1844-
45, I saw prairie chickens shot from the trees
where the Governor's house now stands. As
late as 1850, a friend of mine was fined for
shooting wild pigeons from trees where Dr.
Vincent's house now stands. In 1846, Mr. John
Ives got a pointer dog, and in 1847, I brought
from the East my black setter, 'Jack,' with which
I killed hundreds of chickens. I seldom went
further than the machine shop and Butler's farm
to get all we wanted for ourselves and neighbors.
On one occasion, as I was riding on horseback,
with my gun and dog, hunting (where General
John Cook's house, on Soutii Fourth street,
stands), in company with two young farmers,
'Old Jack' found a covey of chickens. I told
them if they would hold the horse, 1 would give
them a mess of birds to take home. They
looked around to see them. I walked up to
where the dog was standing, and as the birds
got up, I killed eight or nine before they all got
away. You ought to have seen the men's eyes
buck out. I gave them two apiece. After
thanking me, one said: 'By Jingo, Tom, I mean
to have a dog and scattering gun right away.'

"The first deer hunt I was on, was on the 4th
day of July, 1840, when a large party gathered
early in the morning at Uncle Andy Elliott's,
now First street and North Grand Avenue. The
old house and gate posts were decorated with
antlers of deer, skins of wolves, foxes, coon and
other varmint — a regular hunter's home — while
the hounds lay lazily around, waiting patiently
for the old hunter to mount his horse, and when
he tooted his horn tbey bounded and howled
like wild. The party consisted of Colonel James
Barrett, R. F. Ruth, Robert Allen, Charlie Cliat-
terton, P. C. Johnson old man Pe.ak (the baker),
Harrison Hammond, Wm. H. Herndon, Wes.
and Harrison Elliott, and others whose names I
have forgotten. The rendezvous was near old
Sangamon Town, where a wagon with cooking
utensils and Mr. Elliott Herndon, the orator of
the day, had preceded us. We diil not carry

HISTORY OK SAN(4AMON COUNTV.

181

meat in those days, as we were sure of getting
enuugb t)u the hunt. We started through the
briisli due northwest, and the hazel come up to
Elliott's bouse. We had gone about one-halt'
hour when one of the dogs 'give tongue,' and
then the whole ]jack burst forth in one grand
harmony, making the welkin ring, enthusing
men and liorses alike. They put us green ones
on stands, and I for one wished most heartily the
deer would not come by me, for should I miss it
(and the way I felt I knew I would), Barrett
and Elliott would have worn my hat off. But
luck would have it, that old fox, Mr. Peak — who
could beat any horse in the timber and knew
every run-way — got the first crack at it, wound-
ing and making the deer take water a few miles
west of the ' cut-off,' and he was soon our meat.
He was carried to camp and dressed, and by
twelve o'clock we were enjoying the feast. It
was a wonderful day's sport forme — a greenhorn.
Wm. Herndon used to be called 'Injin Bill' aixl
' Turkey Bill,' for the reason, if he ever got
after a deer or turkey he was always sure to cap-
ture it, if it took him two days. He was so
called in order to distinguish him from another
Wm. Herndon, a brick mason. Deer and turkey
were quite plenty in any of the timber within
three miles of town, and with hounds, hunters
could have a chase any day. But the big hunts
of two weeks — when they would kill twenty to
fifty deer — were made on Flat Branch, Bear
Creek and away out on the Okaw, in which Mr.
O. Lewis, Joshua Amos, X. Divelbiss and others,
were prominent actors.

"I will relate one more little incident and
quit, for when you get an old hunter started, he
will think -of enough to till a whole volume, if
you would let him — interesting enough to him,
but may be to no one else. In the winter of
1849, Messrs. Peak and Herndon proposed a
hunt on Sugar creek, starting in at what is now
the Model Farm. Harry Myers, I. G. Ives, Cap-
tain I. R. Diller, and myself were to meet them
at Newcomer's Mill. We started early on foot,
and when we got to the bridge heard the dogs
running through Scattering Point, but the deer-
dogs and men crossed far above, and the dogs
took the deer up to Hickory Grove, in Christian
county. Our party ate our lunch, drank up our
'snake bite cure,' shot the bottles to pieces, and
started home on the east side of the creek,
hoping to find a flock of turkeys. As we scat-
tered through the brush, it was not very long
when I heard my brother — who had never seen
a wild deer before — hallooing for dear life. He
had started two deer with immense horns. We

21—

all run for a clearing to get a shot. I happened
to strike a clear place, and saw the two deer
bounding along about forty yards from me. I
had a small double-barreled shotgun. I let go
on the leader, and dropped him in his track,
then let the other have it, and down he came.
My! but mj^ heart burned with pride as I run
and cut their throats. I thought my brother
would go wild. He said they looked as big as
elephants, and was so frightened he forgot he
had a gun. Two of us packed them on poles
about two miles to Mother Siiort's, where we got
a team to bring us to town. W^hen the old lady
saw the little gun, and was informed it done the
work, she said: 'Young man, somebody will
have to set up with you to-night, sure! ' So they
did; those two deer cost me a heap that night, I
tell you."

BY JAMES J. MEGREDY.

" My father, Enoch Megredy, with his family,
left Port Deposit, Cecil county, Maryland, April
1.5tli, isy?, and after a very interesting trip by
land, water and mud, landed in Cass county,
Illinois, near Virginia, at the home of his
cousin, Archibald Job, June 16th, 1837. In the
spring of this year the building of the old State
House was commenced. The continuous rainy
weather, and the imperfect arrangements for
quarrying the stone had brought the work to a
close for the time being. Mr. Job was one of
the State House Commissioners, and my father
having been engaged in quarrying granite at
Port Deposit, was placed at once in charge of
the State House quarries, near Crow's Mill, and
moved his family, consisting of twelve persons,
to a cabin on the land now owned and occupied
by Mr, Hexter, six miles south of Springfield.
The cabin was about fourteen feet square, witli
a clapboard addition eight by twelve. Cranes
were erected for raising the rock from the
quarry and loading the wagons. Of this year's
work the basement of the old State House was
built. He then purchased the Z. Peter's farm,
on the south side of Lick Creek, six miles south
of Springfield, February 2, 1838, and where part
of the family still reside. My father was a lo-
cal preacher of the M. E. Church, his license
dating from 1828; he was ordained a deacon in
183.5, by Bishop Emory, at Philadelphia, and
ordained an elder in 1840, l)y Bishop Waugh, at
Springfield, Illinois; he died in the fifty-seventh
year of his age. In 1839, Old Harmony Church
(near the present Woodside) was built of tim-
ber, hewed, framed and weather-boarded with
nicely shaved clapboards; it had seven windows.

182

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

of eight by lea glass, twelve panes of glass in
each window; the pulpit was made of walnut,
substantial and plain. This appointment was
styled by Rev. James Leaton, the Athens of the
circuit. * * * In those days, to minister to
the wants or comfort of new-comers was a pecu-
liar trait in western character. On the tirst day
after moving into the cabin, an old gentleman,
a genuine type of the pioneer class, called, say-
ing that he heard that we had just come in and
were strangers, and he bad come over to see if
we did not want a cow for the summer, as he
had more than he needed, and if we would send
over we should be welcome to one. We thanked
the old gentleman and accepted the cow. He
said she was the best cow he had, and 'Chance'
proved ecpial to any cow we have had since. It
was a fixed fact, that when one or more of the
community would be sick with chills or jaun-
dice, or something else, his neighbors would
meet and take care of his harvest, or get up
wood, or repair his cabin, or plant his corn, or
whatever was necessary to be done for the com-
fort of his family or himself. In this, those
grand old men who are now with us, and those
who have passed away, were prompted by the
noble, self-sacriticing women, who endured
without mourning the hardships of pioneer life,
and encouraged those toil-worn men with the
prospect of a happy future for their children.
When we take an imaginary inside view of one
of the cabins and its fixtures, and remember
that it was sleeping room, dining room, parlor
and kitchen, and the cooking utensils a Dutch
oven and a skillet; the never-failing pile of bed
quilts on a chair in one corner; the loom in one
end of the porch, with a piece of blue jeans
partly woven; the lots of dresses hanging up
against the wall; the snow white pillows on the
bed, and the floor so white; such an air of com-
fort and satisfaction, in spite of all the inconve-
nience, we wonder, mixed with much fear, if any
of their fair daughters could duplicate the cabin
comfort. There was some courting then among
the young folks, but Ijeing of a very modest and
retiring disposition ourself, we were ever kept
at a distance by the favored ones. We think
the facilities for courting were circumscribed — •
top buggies and long hedged-in-lanes and senti-
mental, sombre evenings for airings and health
exercise, were unknown. Girls rode to church
or town in the big wagon with their parents
generally, but those that could afford a fine sad-
dle and tine blood horse, were as proud of the
display as those of the present day are of a
gold watch, half hidden in the net work of a

side pocket. The only good place for courting
was the singing school, with a Missouri Har-
mony under your arm as a passport, you could
ride up to the fence and tie your horse and call
at the door with some assurance and ask the
young lady to accompany you, which was gen-
erally followed by the question: ' Will your
horse carry double'?' Which was answered in
the affirmative, of course, which we are sure
was not always strictly true. Unless the young
lady would hold on mightily, which they always
did, you never heard of one being thrown off,
and would get to the log school house safe
enough, and back again all right, if some fellow
didn't cut you out and the girl give you the
sack. This made a fearful experience, and some-
times a fight, but notwithstanding the absence
of a private room, top buggy and long, quiet,
sombre lanes and all modern appliances, there
was scarcely a bachelor to be found in the coun-
try — ^Villiam Vigal, Esq., was the only excep-
tion we think of just now. The boys and girls
got married, and remained married. We had
no divorces, and considered it far better to fight
it out on the old plan than be disgraced by a
divorce, and we recommend the old plan to our
friends who enjoy the benefits of refinement
and social culture, and the teaching of the po-
lite literature of the present day."

BY R. n. BEACH.

"When I landed in Springfield, in the fall of
1835, the centre of our present square was graced
with a commodious brick court house of very
fair dimensions. The court houses were almost
invariably put in the center of the public
squares, and every town that was theii laid out
would not be considered complete if it had not
a i)ublic square. This grew out of what then
was supposed to be a fact — that every town in
the State, great or small, was supposed to be a
candidate in the near future for the county seat.
After Springfield had acquired the distinction
sought, viz, the county seat, it aspired still
higher, and put out its feelers for the State
Caj)itol, which we all know she succeeded in
getting. The lower story of our court house
was devoted to the dispensation of justice,
while the upper one was let out for offices. Our
present State Journal was at that time printed
there. The Bar was not as numerous then as it
is at present, but what it lacked in number, it
made up in qualitv. Among the shining lights
of that day were such men as Lincoln, Baker,
Douglas, Forquer, and others, and last, but not
least, Logan. I had been in Sangamon county

HISTOIIY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

18:i

but a short time, when a brother-in-law from the
city of New York came to visit me. The Rev.
J. G. Bergen, whom we all know as a genial,
pleasant gentleman, was showing us round
the then small village, 'doing up the sights.'
Among other places, we sauntered into the court
house. The court was in session, and a ease was
then in ])rogre8S. Judge Logan was on the
bench, and Mr. Douglas (the 'Little Giant,' as
he was afterwards called) on the floor. To us,
just from the city of New York, with the sleek
lawyers and the prim and dignified judges, and
audiences to correspond, there was a contrast so
great, that it was almost impossible to repress a
burst of laughter. Upon the bench was seated
the judge, with his chair tilted back and his heel
as high as his head, and in his mouth a veritable
corn cob pipe; his hair standing nine ways for
Sunday, while his clothing was more like that
worn by a woodchopjier than anybody else.
There was a railing that divided the audience;
outside of which smoking and spitting and
chewing of tobacco seemed to be the princijial
employment. I remarked to Mr. Bergen, who
sat beside me: 'That is a strange scene, and
not like the courts we have been in the habit of
seeing, and, as for the judge, he did not seem to
have much knowledge or be of much force.'
'Ah, my dear sir,' replied Mr. Bergen, with that
peculiar smile and comical cast of countenance
that all who knew him, will instantly recollect,
'He is a singed cat,' and we passed out into the
open air. 'A singed cat,' said I to myself, 'I
wonder what that can mean.' The expression,
coupled with the comical look Mr. Bergen gave
as he said it, led me to think that there was more
in it than met the ears. After walking a few
steps, I said: 'Mr. Bergen, what did you mean
by saying that that judge on the bench, with
that old overcoat not fit hardly for anyone to
wear, was "a singed cat?"' His reply, with
another of those comical looks, his brow drawn
down, and his chin nearly on his breast, was:
'I mean he is better than he looks.' In a short
time I became fully convinced that it was not
clothes that makes the man, but brains. Judge
Logan, for many years in the Springfield Bar,
was a giant among giants in the legal profes-
sion."

BY JOHN S. CONDELL, SR.

"In the summer of 18.3-3, being then fifteen
years old, I left the paternal home, in Philadul-
phia, and in company with my oldest brother
( Tliomas Condell), started for Illinois, which
was then called ' The Far West.' As it was be-

fore the days of railroads, we traveled all the
way over the mountains to Pittsburg, and thence
to Cincinnati, in the old fashioned stage coaches.
The cholera was then prevailing all through the
West. When passing through Columbus, Ohio,
and other towns we saw yellow flags suspended
from dwellings, denoting the presence of that
dreadful scourge.

" At Cincinnati we embarked on a steamboat
for St. Louis. Below Louisville there were but
few towns or improvements on the river. I
can never forget, neither can I describe, how
strangely I was impressed by the wildness and
grandeur of the scenery on the river, before it
had been molested bj' the touch of man. The
primeval forests crowded and covered the
banks, and the surface of the stream was
the home of wild fowl of every description.
A peculiar stillness brooded over the scene,
broken only by the splashing of the steamer's
wheel and the jolly song of the firemen. Seldom
w as there any occasion for our boat to stop, ex-
cept to 'wood up.' Then we would take a ram-
ble through the wild woods, gathering nuts,
grapes, plums, paw-paws and flowers.

"After reaching St. Louis, we again took stage
to Carrollton, Greene county, where we began
our mercantile career in Illinois. There I
became acquainted with Colonel E. D. Baker,
(who was killed at Ball's Bluff, during the late
war). He was then a resident of that place.
There I heard some of his first efforts in elo-
quence, both at the bar and in the Christian
church, of which I believe he was then a mem-
ber, lie also manifested a military spirit at that
early day, being captain of a company of militia,
which he was fond of training and parading.
His brother. Dr. Alfred C. Baker, also residing
there, was a man having as high sense of
honor and as much of the milk of human kind-
ness in his nature as any man I ever met. There
I first saw Stephen A Douglas, when he was
quite a young man, as he traveled around the
circuit practicing law. His dress and habits
corresponding to the surroundings of the pioneer
times. I often saw him sitting upon the ground
in the court house square eating watermelons
with the 'boys' and entertaining them with hi.s
versatile conversation. There I first saw and
found an early friend in Dr. .John Hardtner and
his family, who have since become residents of
this cit}'. There I first met my present partner
in business, Mr. C. M. Smith; at that early day
we 'were boys together,' and little did, or could
we then anticipate, that after the lapse of almost
half a century we would be associated together

1S4

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

in business in this city, under the firm name of
C. M. Smitli & Co.

"In the fall of 1840, my brother Thomas and
myself left CarroUton in a buggy, with a view
of looking for a better location for business.
We started north, visiting Jacksonville, Spring-
field, Decatur and Bloomington. Finally, we
decided to make Springfield our permanent
home, and try to do business on the cash princi-
ple, under the firm name of Condell, Jones &
Co. We moved to Springfield in August, 1841.
We had difficulty in finding a house to do busi-
ness in, but finally rented one of the stores in
'Hoffman's row,' North Fifth street, and soon
after we purchased of Mr. Blankinship the build-
ing still standing on the northwest corner of the
north side of the square, and continued doing
business in it twenty-one years. It was the first
brick building on the north side; all the rest
were mostly one-story frame structures, and
known in those days as 'Chicken row.' It then
required six or more weeks to get goods trans-
ported from the East. They had to be wagoned
over the mountains to Pittsburg; thence by
steamboats to St. Louis and Beardstown, and
from thence to this city by transient teams. As
but little manufacturing was then in existence
in the United States, we were dependent upon
foreign markets for most of our goods; hence,
nearly all the dry goods we first sold here were
of English manufacture. Muslins and calicoes,
which we are now selling at six and eight cents
per yard, were then sold at 25 to 31^ cents per
yard. Most of the woolen goods then used here
were spun and woven by the women of Sanga-
mon and adjoining counties. Jeans, flannels,
linseys, socks, mittens, rag carpets, tow linen,
men's straw hats, etc., were brought to the stores
in abundance, and exchanged for groceries and
other goods.

"Peter Cartwright, the old pioneer preacher,
who was a life-long customer of ours, never
wanted anything out of a store but a black silk
cravat and a bandana silk pocket handkerchief;
all the rest of his wardrobe was the product of
the labor and skill of the pioneer women of San-
gamon county.

"The ladies' bonnets first brought out were
somewhat similar in size and shape to an invert-
ed coal scuttle, and were sold at eix to ten dol-
lars each. Parasols were a novelty, and not
much needed in the days of large sun-bonnets.
However, to suit the times, the parasols we first
brought out were mostly of cotton material, on
rattan and whalebone frames. We sold them to
the mothers of some who are now the wealthy

and fashionable of Sangamon county, and at that
time they seemed to think they could hardly
afford the luxury of a cotton parasol. In those
days money was indeed scarce; what little there
was, mostly found its way to the land office, to
pay for more land. Business was mostly done
on a credit of twelve months; settlements made
once a year, either at Christmas or 'hog killing
time '

"Soon after commencing business in Spring-
field, we established a branch store in Decatur,
managed by a younger brother (Wm. J. Con-
dell), who is still living there. As there was
very little money in cireulaticn, and no outlet,
whatever, for produce, as a matter of necessity
as well as to accommodate the farmers of Macon
county, we exchanged goods with tliem for their
fall wheat, at twenty-five cents per bushel, had
it wagoned to Springfield at five cents perlnishel,
and sold it to J. L. Lamb at thirty cents per
bushel, and were glad in that way to get out even
on our speculation in wheat. Mr. Lamb was then
proprietor of the old City Mill, on South Seventh
street, on the Town Branch as it then was, but
both the mill and branch have long since disap-
peared. In connection with this I would ask the
farmers in this and other sections of the State to
make a note of this wheat transaction, occurring
in tlie centre of the most fertile portion of Illi-
nois, and learn therefrom how much they are in-
debted to railroads for present prices of produce
and the general prosjjerity. While I do not own
a dollar of railroad stock or hold a pass over any
road, I am free to say that we owe an immense
debt of gratitude to the men who projected and
built our railroads, as well as the larger class who
are engaged day and night operating them. Let
us remember that as they have been in the past,
they will ever remain, our greatest benefactors.

" Wliile waiting for first stock of goods to ar-
rive, I went to the first camp-meeting I ever at-
tended, then being held on the 'Old Salem camp
ground,' six miles west of this city. The first
day I went there I found I was a stranger among
strangers, and as niglit came on, having made no
ac<juaintance, and being somewhat timid and
backward, I got no supper and had no place to
sleep. After the night services closed, I thought
I would make my bed on the straw about the
preaching stand ; but while sauntering around I
found an old empty log school house, which
formed a part of the inclosure, and into it I went
to pass the night alone. On one of the puncheon
benches I found a soft hat, and lying down upon
the bench I placed the hat under my head for a
pillow and went to sleep with the intention of

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

185

rising before any one else would be stirring
around, and see wlicre I ha<l made my resting
place; but being tired, I slept so soundly, that
when I awoke the sun was two hours high, and
I discovered a boy sitting upon the doorstep
patiently waiting for his hat, which was under
my head.

"Tnatdayl formed my first acquaintance with
some of the early settlers of Sangamon county —
the Megredys, Shepherds, Swingleys, Lyons,
Hiekmans, Tomlins, Lightfoots and others in
the country ; and from the city. Dr. McNeil, Rev.
W. T. Bennett, Geo. R. Weber, Enos M. Henkle,
Edmund Roberts, Noah and Charles W. Ma-
theny, Arny Robinson, Wra. Dickey, Thomas
Lee, Sr., and Jas. V. Reed, among whom I was
cordially received and entertained. ■

"There was a young lady from Williamsport,
State of Maryland, at that meeting, with the
family of Judge Swingley, to whom three years
after I was married, although at that time I had
not the remotest idea of what the future had in
store for me. I had no thought of matrimony
then, and was only interested in the progress of
the meeting. In those days there was more
weeping and rejoicing at camp meeting than we
see now. I wept with those who wept, and re-
joiced with those who rejoiced, and wished the
meeting would last all summer.

"The Spring and summer of 1844 will be re-
membered by many, as one of the most gloomy
and disastrous seasons that Sangamon county
ever passed through. It rained almost incess-
antly all through the spring, until some time in
June. The whole country was flooded with
water. What little corn had been planted was
mostly drowned out, and vegetation wore a
sickly hue. It was a year of short crops, long
faces and general depression. Dullness pre-
vailed, and business men had more leisure than
they knew what to do with. However, I turned
it to good account, improving the leisure and
enlivening the dullness by a courtship, resulting
in securing a partner for life.

"In the face of all the discouraging prospects,
all the shaking of heads and forebodings of
evil, I was married on the 27th day of June,
1S44, to Miss Bell Rice, at the residence of her
brother-in-law. Judge Samuel K. Swingley, six
miles south of Springfield. In going to and re-
turning from the wedding, we found all the
prairie from town to Lick creek timber, covered
•vith a sheet of water, and much of the way it
was hub deep. That event proved to be the
wisest proceeding of my life, and I close these

recollections of the past by advising young men
to go and do likewise."

.JOHN H. HARRISON, SON OF REUBEN HARRISON,
SALISBURY.

" I was born in the county of Rockingham,
State of Virginia, April C, 181.5. My father
moved to Kentucky in 1818, living there four
years, and then moved to Sangamon county Illi-
nois, settling on the farm on which I have ever
since lived, on the 4th of November, 1822.
Everybody was poor, as is the case in every new
country, but we enjoyed life as much then as
now. We had time to visit our friends, work
our little farms, hunt game, which was plenty,
and to go to meeting on a week day. We did
not use buggies and carriages then. All travel-
ing was done on horseback. It was not uncom-
mon for a man and his wife and three children
to get on one horse and ride three or four miles
to visit a neighbor. The first school I attended
was taught in a house built of round logs and
without any windows. All the light we had
came down the chimney. The next spring they
cut out a log for a window and made a writing
pesk of a slit slab, which they placed under it.
The first lot of hogs we raised, father sold in
Beardstown, for Si. 25 per hundred. But several
hogs paid for four acres each of land, on which
I now live. About the 10th of March, 1826,
father and W. B. Renshaw started from the
mouth of Richland creek, for New Orleans,
with the second fiat boat load of corn ever
floated down the Sangamon — Abraham Sinnards
took the first one. There are few of the priva-
tions now felt in settling a new country, which
we felt in settling this. I can remember when
we had to raise and prepare everything we had
to eat, make everything we had to wear;
and every kind of vessel we had to use. The
first saw mill was built on Richland creek,
below the mouth of Prairie creek, by Reuben
Fielding and Robert Harrison, in 1825. Wil-
liam and T. Kirkpatrick built a horse mill in
1822, half a mile southeast of Salisbury. That
was the only place we could get flour and meal.
It took two-thirds of a bushel of wheat or five
or six bushels of corn to pay the postage on a
letter."

BY W. T. BENNETT.

"I was born near Shepherdstown, Jelferson
county, Virginia, on the 30th of November,
1805. In 1834 emigrated to the west, and, in
company with my brother. Van S. Bennett,
reached Springfield on the Oih day of Decern

186

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

ber, and registered at Captain Whorton Rans-
dell's Hotel, an old gentleman full of life and
gay spirits, and, as I thought, the most attentive
and accommodating landlord I had met in my
travels.

I was not favorably impressed with the
appearance of Springfield at that time, and did
not think of remaining there very long, but I
was induced to commence business, and re-
ceived a reasonable share of patronage from the
citizens. As I became acquainted with the
people, I found them sociable and kind. Every-
body seemed to be in good spirits and prosper-
ing. I became attached to the people and the
place, and made it my home till the year 1850,
when I entered the itinerant ministry.

The first Sabbath I spent in Springfield I attend-
ed the Methodist church, and was most agreeably
disappointed in the appearance of the congrega-
tion, and in the eloquent sermon by Rev Joseph
Edmonson, of precious memory. There was a
flourishing Sabbath school, under the superin-
tendence, of a very good brother, and if I am
not mistaken, James H , now Judge Matheny,
when but a boy, was reported as having com-
mitted to memor3- the largest number of verses
in the New Testament of any of the scholars
belonging to the school. The memory of the
warm friends with whom I first formed an ac-
quaintance, I still cherish with feelings of pleas-
ure and sadness — Dr. J. M. Early, Charles H.
Matheny, Esq., Nicholas Garland, Edward Phil-
lips, Edmond Roberts, Asbury and Cyrus San-
ders and others. These have all passed into the
silent city of the dead. I am still here, in the
seventy-seventh year of my age, and since the
death of my cousin, William A. Bennett, whom
I loved as a brother, I begin to feel lonely.

In 1835,1 was introduced by Rev. Mr. Edmond-
son to Miss Rebecca J. Roberts, who was then vis-
iting Springfield, whom I afterwards courted and
married, 'i'he most of our courtship, however,
took place on paper, for soon after our acquaint-
ance I learned of the death of my brother-in-
law, George W. Shutt, in Shepardstown, and re-
turned to see my widowed sister. I returned to
Springfield in the spring of 1836, and was mar-
ried to Miss Roberts the following June, in the
town of Ottawa, Illinois. The fruit of our mar-
riage has been two sons and five daughters. We
have buried one son and three daughters. The
remaining two daughters and son reside in
and near Mechanicsburg. My wife and self,
and youngest daughter, a widow, live to-
gether."

BY GEOKGE P. WEISEB.

" I am not an early settler, according to the
ruling of the association of that name in the
county, as my days on the earth are not of suf-
ficient number to entitle me to that hoiuir.
However, am a descendant of one. Was born
on what is now South Sixth street, Springfield,
111., about two score years ago. And, while we
know nothing of our ancestry of which we feel
ashamed, modesty forbids the mention of what
we do know. Suffice it to say that, whatever
claims we may have to the succession of Euro-
pean or other thrones, or rights to great wealthy
estates, by rules of descent, are dismissed.
Have lived here long enough to witness many
important changes. Remember when I knew
the face and name of every man, woman, boy
and girl in Springfield; also most of the ' country
Jakes' who did their trading there. The free
school system has grown up in my time, and if
there is a man or woman in the county, thirty
years of age, or under, who cannot read and
write, some one is greatly at fault, and should
be held criminally responsible, except in case of
idiocy or j)hysical disability. Even mutes are
not excusable. My first school teacher was old
Mr. Parks, but do not remember him so dis-
tinctly as good Mrs. Dean, who, shame to say it,
I kicked on the nose with the first boot heel I
ever wore, while she was plying her slijper
where, no doubt, it was needed. Recollect quite
well when the first railroad locomotive came
into Springfield. * * * I was a little fellow,
but do not forget when the troops left for the
Mexican war, nor when Tom Hessey, an ac-
quaintance of my folks, returned, having been
wounded by a grape shot, which he brought
home with him. I thought Tom was a hero
and a martyr. Wondered if we should ever
have another war that would afford me an
opportunity to wear the dazzling blue with
brass buttons. True, that grape shot and Tom
Hessey's game leg would come up sometimes,
and dampen my ardor. It came. I was there.
Saw enough. Came home without glory, be-
cause I had the good fortune to bring my body
intact. The public demand an arm, a leg, a
hand; or there is no reward, no compliment, no
cheer. But so it has always been, perhaps
always will be. The sacrifice, not the service,
is what we applaud. One of the really big
things in the way of advancement was the
scouring plows made by old John TJhler, on the
corner east of where the town clock is now
located. I never used a wooden mould-board

HISTOllY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

187

plow, but in my tliirty years practical experi-
ence, have used many different kinds. Plows of
recent date have many advant.ages, but I have
never seen a plow that would do the work as
well as the old Uhler used to do it.

"The improvements in the way of farm imple-
ments is a matter of astonishment; but of all the
improvements, nothing is more noticeable or im-
portant to an agricultural county like ours than
that of farm animals. While all kinds have been
greatly improved, the most marked improvement
is among cattle, hogs and sheep. Horses have
been by no means neglected, but there were
some good horses about here more than thirty
years ago. Do I forget Uncle Peter Van Berg-
en's 2:40 steppers? Not much. You never saw
me sitting in Uncle Peter's sleigh, behind the
first string team ever driven in Springfield to a
cutter? Bells, little and big! I would have
guessed more than a million in number! Talk
about the wind. Our backs to it, a half second
the start, and ' stand from under!' I was a very
common boy, but a very enthusiastic one about
that time on the trotting question. My father
laughs now about a question, or rather a series
of them, that amused him, but I am still of the
same opinion. Said I, ' Father, if our horse was
the biggest horse in the world, and was the best
looking horse in the world, and could outrun
any other horse, and could trot faster than any
other horse; would he be the greatest horse in
the world — if we had one?'

"In poultry also, the improvement is very
marked. * * * But what does it all amount
to? Is the condition of the human family really
bettered by it? Do not all these improvements
bring with them additional demands that must
be complied with? Do they not excite a spirit
of unrest, jealousy and selfishness? For all time
man has been about the same. The physical,
social and moral culture of man brings corres-
pondingly increased necessities and responsibili-
ties. After all, much of the labor-saving ma-
chinery in use, and many of the so-called con-
veniences are over-estimated. We pay for all
our luxuries, sometimes dearly."

riONEER WOMEN.

At the annual meeting of the Pioneers' So-
ciety, held in 1879, R. W. Diller read a number
of letters received from pioneer women of the
county. The following were among the number :

MRS. JAMES PARKINSON AND MRS. SAEAII KINfi,
OF C0RRAN.

" Friend Dillkr — In response to your request
that you would like to hear from the women por-

tion of the old setllei's of Sangamon county, we
will give you some of our experience. Our father
moved from Kentucky to St. Clair county, Illi-
nois, in the year 1816 or 1817 — lived there till
the fall of 1819; then moved to what was then
called the Sangamo country, and settled on Spring
creek, ten miles west of where Springdeld was
afterwards located. Our father built a camp,
which we lived in until winter, — and consider-
able snow and very cold, — then built a cabin;
had to thaw the snow and ice off the boards to
lay the roof; then put poles on to hold the boards
down. That done, they made puncheons and laid
part of the floor, and put up bedsteads of some
kind; then had to make beds under the bed-
steads for us children to sleep on, there being
nine children and three grown persons. The
caliin where there was no floor, we used for
hearth and fire-place, leaving a hole in the roof
for the smoke to go out at. This way we lived
the first winter. After that we done a little bet-
ter ; built a pen at one end of the house for the
sheep, to keep the wolves from killing them, and
the wolves serenaded us nearly every night. The
principal part of the provender for our stock was
elm and lin brush. Our men would cut down
trees for the stock to eat the branches and bark
off'. Our breadstuffs had to be brought from
near St. Louis, about one hundred miles. It was
principally corn bread made up with cold water
and baked in a skillet or oven — was commonly
called corn-dodger. Our meat was in abundance,
we had pork, venison, turkey and prairie chicken
and wild honey for all that was out. Had coffee
about once a week, generally of a Sunday morn-
ing, the bilance of the time, milk and water
mixed. This was for the first season, after that
we had enough milk without mixing it with
water. As for our clothes, we had to raise, pick,
spin and weave cotton to make clothes for
winter and summer; we also made linsey. The
first indigo we had, we raised; used that, shumach
berries, white walnut bark and other barks for
coloring.

"Now for the cotton picking. Mother would
every night fill a pint cup full of cotton in the
seed for each one of us, and lay it down before
the tire and tell us when we picked it we could
go to bed, and we had it to do. Then we pitched
in and warmed our cotton, and the warmer we
made it, the better it picked, so we would take a
good sweat. The next day that had to be carded
and spun, so we would soap the cotton some
card and some spin, and when we would get
enough spun and colored to make a dress apiece,
we would put it in the loom and weave it. It

188

HISTOUY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

did not take fifteen or twenty yards to make a
dress, uor tliirty or forty days to make one,
altbougbt tliey were made by hand. Now, to
give you a more perfect idea of the cloth and
fashion of our dresses at that time, we will here
show you a sample of one of our mother's
dresses, which she wore about fifty-five years
ago — not only mother, but some of the rest of
us young ladies. This is tlie only one we have
saved, it being our mother's. V\ e have often
thought and talked of exhibiting this dress
before to old settlers' meetings, but have failed
to do it, but when our friend Dlller gave us such
a pressing invitation to take a part in contribut-
ing to the entertainment, we could resist no
longer, so we thought we would give a little
sketch of our doings for the first two or three
years in this count)'. Now for our calico dresses.
We cannot show you a sample, as we have not
saved one for posterity, but it would be some-
thing similar to the cotton, one in number of
years and make. Before we could get one we
had to make jeans and swap for calico, or else
dig ginseng and sniat. ^Ve had a neighbor
woman who had a small baby, and had no cradle,
and she conceived the idea of substituting her
apron for a cradle; tie the babj- in it, then the
aj)ron around her neck, and spun on the big
wheel in order to make clothing for her family.
As for schooling, that was not very much. Our
first school we went to after we came here was
four miles, taught by a man named Andrew.
Four or live of us went by turns. The youngest
was nine years old. Went on foot, and the road
was a path through the high grass and woods,
and the stars were often shining when we got
home, and there were wolves and panthers
plenty. They were frequently seen, and you can
well imagine how we felt when the stars began
to shine. The oldest ones would form a front
and rear guaid, and put the smallest in the mid-
dle, and hurry them along, all scared nearly to
death. Our school house was a log cabin; the
windows were big cracks, with paper pasted over
and greased to give light. Our seats were split
logs, with legs put in to sit on. Our church was
built of logs, and about four miles from us. It
was a Methodist church, and when we had com-
pany we went on foot, one behind the other in
the path. Mks. James Paekixson,

Mks. Sarah King."

MES. CHAKLOTTE JACOBS.

LoAMi, III., August 3, 1879.
" Ladies and Gentlemex: — I was born April
19, 1797, in Winchester, Clark county, Kentucky.

My maiden name was Charlotte Webb, daughter
of Adin and Mary Webb. I was married to
Daniel Jacobs in tlie year of our Lord 1818.
We lived in Kentucky until the fall of 1825.
We then started to Illinois, and on the 7th of
November arrived at Lick creek, and settled on
the farm that we have ever since occupied.
When we moved to Illinois our neighbors were
scarce. Mr. Lindley, Mr. Darneille, Myers
Campbell and my husband, with their families,
moved into a little log cabin, fifteen by si.xteen,
with a puncheon floor and a clapboard door.
The chimney had no back, or jams, or hearth.
How friendly the people were in those days.
They would go miles to sec one another, and to
take and return the hearty shake of the hand.
As I look back on those days, I think of them as
some of my happiest days. You must know that
it took stout, hearty and resolute woman to set-
tle a wilderness country like this was, and to
buffet with the storms of life, but God's hand
was over all, and he brought us safely through.
I raised a large family, nine daughters and two
sons, to be grown and married. They are all
living and doing well. My children, grand-
children and great grand-chikiren living, are one
hundred and fourteen. If all were living there
would be one hundred and thirty-six. 1 am
now in my eighty-third year, and can walk with-
out fatigue, to my daughter's, Mrs. Frank Dar-
neille, about two miles, and I feel thankful for
my good health. We brought only one chair
with us, so my brother made one for himself and
my husband, with a gimlet and a draw-knife as
the only tools. I have the gimlet yet. I brought
with me three cows, and my husband bought
five hounds. The first hogs we had I bought
twelve shoats, and paid for them with linsey and
jeans, of my own make. We had to raise flax
and cotton to make our clothing. I made every-
thing that we wore. I even made my towels
and table cloths, sheets and everything in the
clothing line. I have some of my towels and
table cloths yet, and one sheet of my last flax
spinning. We had a pretty hard time for a
while, but we worried through. Our nearest
trading place was St. Louis, and we had not
much money to buy with. We had to go to '^he
American bottom to get our bread stuff, and we
paid one dollar per bushel for corn, until we
raised some. Our meat was principally wild
meat, such as deers, turkeys and prairie chickens.
We put up with anything. What we could not
make we did without. I made a churn by taking
a keg and knocking one end out; made a dasher to
fit, and presume made just as sweet butter then

^■^9^

..-:y.

/^A^o^^c/a^ .^^/^^c4f/^>(2^>,

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

i5i

as our women do now. This is only a short
sketch of my early life, and perha])s some of the
young people will doubt its trutn. iiut if you
don't believe it, I can refer you to any of my old
neighbors. Yours respectfully,

Charlotte Jacobs."

ELIZABETH HARBOUR, DAUGHTER OF SIMOK LIND-
LET.

"I was born September 4, 1803, in Christian
county, Kentucky. I came to Illinois Territory
in 1S07, and wintered on Wood river, in what is
now known as Madison county. I then moved
to Shoal creek, which is now Bond county.
Remained there until the beginning of the
war of 1812, when my father, with about
forty other families, went into the fort called
Hill's Station, where we remained until peace
was declared. Hill's Station was near where
Greenville, Bond county, now is. A guard, con-
sisting of the militia and the rangers, was kept
to guard the fort, on account of the numerous
Indians. The Indians attacked the fort four
different times. The fourth time the Indians
nearly succeeded in their attempt, most of the
militia being out on a skirmish. Thirteen men
went out in the morning, and only thirteen men
remained in the fort. While the thirteen were
going away, they were attacked by the Indians,
who were lying in ambush, and the Indians
killed four and wounded one — Thomas Hisijins.
When he was wounded, he attempted to reach
the fort, but he was overtaken by two Indians.
One he knocked senseless with the breech of
his gun, and with the other he had a fist light,
but men from the fort came to his relief, and he
reached the fort, where my father took from
him seven balls. During the battle, one of the
women, Lydia Persley, took her musket and
started out to kill an Indian, but she was stopped
at the gate by the guard. She thought her hus-
band had been killed, and she wanted to seek
revenge, but her husband was not killed. Tliis
attack was made the 27th of August, 1813. The
tirst murder was committed about two and a half
miles from my father's house, at one of our
neighbors', Mr. Cox, he himself being killed by
the Indians. Rebecca, his sister, killed six out
of the seven, while they attempted to enter the
house. When we first came to Shoal Creek,
game was abundant. My brother, John Lindley,
and another man killed twenty-tive deer one
morning before nine o'clock. They took only
the hams and hides, which they took to St.
Louis.

22—

"We next moved to what is now known as
Madison county, on Silver creek, near what is
now Lebanon, where we remained until 1820,
when we came to Lick creek, what is now San-
gamon county, which then consisted of Mason,
Menard, Cass, Logan, Tazewell and part of
(Jhristian, a small part of Macon, part of Mc-
Lean, part of Woodford, part of Marshall, and
part of Putnam. When we came there were
but six families near us — John Darnielle, Bar-
ton Darneille, John Campbell, John Wycoff,
Henry Brown and Levi Harbour. Our mill was
near by — we had to go only about eighty or
ninety miles, but shortly after there was a horse
mill built on Sugar creek. The Indians were
still here when we came, but they were some-
what friendly and not very numerous. I was
married to Samuel Harbour July 28, 182G; have
lived in the same place ever since, and raised
nine cliildren to be men and women. During
the time I had many hardships, I had to weave
and spin. It only took eight yards of calico to
make a dress, and not twenty-eight, as at pres-
ent. We had to make our clothing from cotton,
flax and wool. During the winter of the deep
snow when we got out of meal, we had to use
pounded meal and live on hominy until we
could break a road to the horse-mill. When we
got out of groceries we had to resort to the
woods for sassafras tea. I forgot to mention
about the ranger who was wounded on what is
now supposed to be Spring creek, and was
brought to Sulphur Spring on Lick creek, where
he died and was buried, at what is now Sulphur
Spring Cemetery, he being the first man buried
there. I am nearly seventy-six years old, and
have a very sick daughter at present; my mind
being flustrated I cannot say near as much as
I could otherwise. This being a very, fiery short
sketch of the troubles I have witnessed. I sin-
cerely hope no other person will ever have to
pass through the many hardships which I have
experienced. Yours respectfully,

E. Lindley."

JAMES AND ELIZA IIEADLEY.

Chatham, 111., August 14, 1879.

" R. W. Diller Esq. : — We were not pioneers of
Sangamon county, but were pioneers of Vigo
county, Indiana, and as my wife cannot write, I
thought I would write a few lines for her and
myself. Now if you think these lines will add
any to the occasion, all right; if not, throw them
into the waste basket. We settled sixteen miles
north of Terre Haute, in the fall of 1819, on

192

HISTORY OF SANGAMOX COUNTY.

the outskirts of civilization. The Indians were
quite numerous for years after, and quite
troublesome, being terrible beggars. We located
on up-land, where there was not a tree cut, and
the nettles and pea-vines were so thick that we
could scarcely see the ground, so we took a
horse and brush and dragged them down tor a
considerable space around, went to work and
put up a camp, moved into it, and in four weeks
moved into a hewed log house, nineteen feet
square, iu which we lived the next winter with-
out a chimney. The place for the chimney was
cut out and the tire just outside, but we were
well smoked that winter. , While this work was
going on, we had to grate all the meal for quite
a large family. After corn became too liard we
used the hominy mortar and pestle. There was
no mill nearer than thirty- miles, and then of a
dry season it could not grind. A miller told us
once to live on faith and dumplings, but we had
nothing to make dumplings of. For clothing,
many of the boys and some of the men had to
wear dressed buckskin. In fact, I have seen
Randolph Wedding, of Terre Haute, dressed in
buckskin from head to foot. He became after-
wards County Judge."

"And now a word about Miss Brown, who is
now Mrs. Headley. She came a few years later
from old Spencer county, Indiana, a poor girl,
working about from place to place. She spent
four months with two families, and received
about two dollars. She often washed for fami-
lies, and scrubbed the floor, for twenty -five
cents. After she became older and more experi-
enced, never received to exceed seventy-five
cents per week. In those days many families
made their own cotton. She states, when she
went to school she had to take cotton in the seed
with her, and pick it during play time. When
she carded and spun cotton, six cuts were a day's
work; spinning flax or wool, twelve cuts were
required for a day's work. In those days our
girls dressed very plainly. I never knew them
to train their silks and satins in the dust. Their
every-day dresses were homespun, but on Sunday
they managed 'to have something nicer. She
states, when she went to meeting she has often,
in warm weather, carried her shoes and stock-
ings, and when near the place, she would put
them on. One other incident I will mention. I
was invited by an uncle of mine, where she was
staying, to assist him to bring in a deer he had
killed. So we brought home the deer, quite
tired and hungry. Miss Brown stepped around
quite lively, and soon had a good dinner on the
table. I then and there fell in love with her.

and have loved her from that day to this. She
was dressed in brown linsey on that eventful
occasion.

" And now all honor and God's blessing be on
the old pioneer fathers and mothers, who,
through great difficulties, sickness, poverty and
privations, laid the foundation for the prosperity
we now enjoy.

James and Eliza Headley."

EXPEEIESCE OF MRS. JOHN LOCK, WRITTEN BY A
FEIEXD.

"Rochester. Ill , July .30, 1879.
" Friend Diller: — At your request, I will try
and give you a brief synopsis of my experience
during the primitive times of Illinois, when San-
gamon county was in its infancy. I will com-
mence with an item of chronology. The place
of my nativity was Fassenburg, Addison county,
Vermont, August 31, 1802. That of my hus-
band the same, January 10, 1799. In the spring
of 1832, 1 and my husband first made our advent
on these broad savannas. Oh I what changes
have swept over these people in the swift flight
of time since that day. My first experience upon
landing was not calculated to enliven or to cheer,
for immediately upon our arrival, ere we had
time to unburden our 'prairie steamer' of our
little effects, my husband had to stand the con-
scription for the Black Hawk war. That was
indeed a sad and gloomy beginning. What my
feelings were under those trying circumstances,
none can know. The mental anguish that I
suffered, tongue cannot tell or jien describe.
But I presume that it was a necessity to expel
from this beautiful land the original possessor,
who, by his numerous and cruel outrages had
rendered himself obnoxious to the march of in-
tellect and the vanguard of civilization. Ye of
Sangamon of 1879, who prate of hard times,
what, prithee, would you think, if you had to
remain at home alone, a stranger, in this vast.
Vt'ilderness, while your husband went to St. Louis
in a two-horse wagon to piurchase corn to make
meal of, to satisfy the craving of nature? There
were days and weeks of agony, of fear and sus-
pense — not knowing at what moment the aborig-
ines, who were still in contiguous proximity to
us, might descend and desolate our homes.
Those, indeed, were days of action and of vigi-
lance, for at that time I had five little children
to guard, and the hoarse cry of the wolf was the
only musical instrument Sangamon furnished to
lull them to sleep. But those days are num-
bered with the years beyond the flood. Great
and important changes have taken place since

HISTORY OF SANfiAirOX COUNTY.

19S

that period, and we are now no longer necessi-
tated to array ourselves in habiliments of our
own handicraft, but in that day all that adorned
our persons were the fabrics wrought by our own
industry on the loom. Mothers of the Sanga-
mon of to-day, who bedeck your little ones in
costly fabrics that outvie the floral landscape,
think not that our little ones were less near and
dear to us, who, fifty years ago, clothed them in
the homespun of our own manufacture. There
may be in this assembly, some fair exotics, that
will smile in derision at this humble picture of
past experiences of one whose sands are running
low — whose fastidiousness may be horrified to
think that the hardy pioneers of Sangamon had
to do as I have many a time — go to the field,
gather corn and grate it, then wait till the cows
come up at night, to make food of it. And we
pronounced it good; not only good, but very
good. At that time ray husband plied his trade
to get corn to live on while he raised his crop;
and the first and most important order that he
had was of one Roliert Bell, for a pair of boots,
for which he received the magnificent compensa-
tion of three pecks of copn meal. Thus did the
early settlers of Sangamon learn habits of econ-
omy and frugality, and by patient industry their
efforts have been crowned with success; for now,
verily, the wilderness doth blossom as a rose.
We have taken the bitter with the sweet, for
adversity is a stern but wholesome teacher. We
have suffered greatly at times from the malari-
ous diseases incident to this latitude, and at that
time our scientific resources were limited. The
fell destroyer of mankind has visited us, and
stolen from us several flowers of the group
which we had gathered around us. Thus have
we struggled on, looking forward and upward.
We have seen old Sangamon in her infant wilder-
ness; we now behold her in all her pride and
grandeur, with her star of destiny still in the
ascendant, and ranking with those of the first
magnitude. What the next turn of the kaleido-
scope will bring forth for us, or for Sangamon,
naught but the future will reveal."

Yours truly, Mrs. John Lock."

MKS. EOBEET BURNS.

Buffalo Hart, III., Aug. 19, 1879.
"Mr. Diller: I have been too sick since re-
ceiving your request, to give my experience as
an early settler of Sangamon county. However,
I will give j'ou a few incidents, and you can use
them as you think best. We have been living
here on this farm for fifty-four years next

October. I picked cotton out of the boll, then
the seed out of it, carded and spun and wove the
cloth in dresses ; also made shirts from it for Mr.
Burns, and he wore them several years. The
first dishes I purchased in Illinois, rode to
Springfield on horseback, taking my cloth to ex-
change for dishes. When returning home the
prairie was discovered burning. Mr. Burns left
me to put the fire out. My horse became fright-
ened, threw me, and broke all my dearly bought
dishes. There was not a fence or stump to get
on, and I had to walk several miles. At last I
came to a gopher hill and mounted again, re-
joicing that I had escaped without seeing a wolf.
We were here during the deep snow. Our house
was so open that the snow blew in so much that
we could track a rabbit across the floor. The bed
would be almost covered in the morning. Prai-
rie chickens were very plenty when we came.
Mr. Burns made me a trap, and I amused myself
during the day by catching and dressing the
dainty game. The first table in the Grove was
made of clapboards, given me by 'Squire Moore,
about six months after we came ; until then we
ate off of a box. We had no chairs.

"Mrs. Robert Burns."
"P. S.— The dishes I bought of Major lies."

MRS. SARAH P. HUSBAND, OF AUBURN.

"Was born November 12, 1790, in South Caro-
lina. Her parents moved in 1797 to Kentucky,
passing by way of Crab Orchard Fort, stopping
there a day or two for provisions, protection
from Indians, etc., and going thence through
Lexington to Christian county, where the family
located. The journey from South Carolina to
Kentucky was made on pack-horses, several per-
sons riding on one horse. Sarah and another
child rode with their mother on an old sorrel
horse named 'Jack.' In 1811 she was married
to liarman Husband (who died near Auburn,
Illinois, February 15, 1848). The family moved
to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in Octo-
ber, 1820. Numerous interesting incidents oc-
curred on the journey, but only one will be men-
tioned, viz: While crossing the Ohio river a
young calf jumped from the flat-boat; my hus-
band seized the calf by one ear and held it until
the boat reached the shore. The calf was brought
on to Illinois and did its part in stocking the
new county of Sangamon. Arriving in Sanga-
mon county the family settled three miles east
of Auburn, where the old lady still resides, aged
eighty-nine years, and still active and anxious
to live to be one hundred years old. Among

194

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

early incidents it may be related that the Indians
erected on the homestead, their bark wigwams,
etc., and hunted over the farm. The subject of
this sketch frequently gave them corn bread,
having no wheat bread in those days. While
encamped on the farm, an Indian child died, and
the Indians made a box of bark in which they
put the corpse and suspended it from the top of
a tall tree, thus keeping it until the tribe was
ready to return to the burying grounds. Many
other incidents occurred, but similar ones are
familiar to all early settlers. Corn cakes were
baked on a board before the fire, and 'hoe cakes '
were so called because they were cooked on an
ordinary hoe, properly cleaned and greased, of
course. Mrs. Harman Husband."

MRS. ANN H. m'CORMICK

Springfield, 111., August 5, 1879.
" Mr. Diller, Bear Sir:—1 came from Green
county, Kentucky, arriving in Springfield May
5, 1822, and have resided in Sangamon county ever
since, making fifty-seven years last May. The
second summer we lived here the corn was killed
by frost, and during the summer of 1823 we
lived mostly on green corn, potatoes and bread
once a day. I remember well the deep snow,
and how we walked over stake and rider fences
on the snow. At that time I lived three and a
half miles southeast of Springfield, with my
father, James Short. I was married to Andrew
McCormick, and resided in Springfield since that
time. I have attended several Old Settlers'
meetings, and enjoyed them very much, and I
intend meeting my old friends once more if the
weather will permit.

Respectfully yours,

Ann S. McCormick."

OLD SETTLERS OF SANGAMON.*

"In the fall of the year 1828, in the midst of
the soft and mellow Indian summer, the speaker
left his native county of Fayette, Kentucky, emi-
grating to Springfield Illinois, and traveling on
horseback, in two days arrived at Louisville, and
crossing the Ohio river struck the great highway
to the West, running from Louisville to Vin-
cennes and St. Louis, and at Maysville, Illinois,
branching to Central Illinois, known then as the
Sangamon country.

" Having entered this great road, he was united
to that mighty stream of emigrants moving west-

*An address delivered by Major John T. Stuart at
the Old Settlers' Reunion, September 4, 1877.

ward, whose mission was to subdue the wilder-
ness, to found States, to carry forward the ban-
ner of civilization, and whose sons were to re-
turn, at no very distant day, in arms under the
gallant Sherman, to save the LTnion irom disrup-
tion, as under Hardin and Bissell they saved the
field of Buena Yista — a race never yet defeated
in battle, or if defeated, who never knew it.

"That moving mass was composed of every
specimen of humanity, men, women, children,
black and white, old and young, some highly
cultivated and refined, others at the very lowest
round of the ladder of intellect and cultivation,
and of every intermediate grade. There was the
man of middle age, who had filled a high social
position in his native State, accompanied by a
family cultivated and refined, on the way to the
West, to retrieve his fallen fortunes.

" There were young girls, then obscure, un-
known, and poorly clad, but destined to till
princely mansions, and to become mothers of a
race of fair daughters and gallant sons. Young
men and boys were there who in their new
homes would fill high offices of State, make and
enforce laws, and impress their names and
genius on the history of States then springing
into existence; or whose destiny would be to fell
the forest, to reduce the prairie to cultivation,
to subdue the wilderness, and make it feed its
millions of happy human beings; or would
become lawyers, doctors, preachers, teachers and
statesmen.

"All kinds of domestic animals, and of every
age, were there, intermingled with men, women
and children, following the family wagon or car-
riage. Every conceivable mode of conveyance;
some were on horseback, or in carriages; others
in wagons of every variety, and many on foot.
Onward this varied mass moved by day, shout-
ing, singing, laughing, jesting, cursing, cracking
their whi|)s, hallooing to their animals to press
them forward. Merry they go, save here and
there might be seen some serious faces of those
who were thinking of their native homes and ■
the friends they had left behind them.

"And to the traveler on horseback, belated in
reaching his rest for the night, how enchanting
the scene as he rides along. The camp-fires blaz-
ing everywhere, along the road, down every
brook and every valley; the groups around the
camp-tires, and at the evening meal; the cattle
and horses being fed at the wagon trough, or
tethered, or wandering about browsing on grass
or shrubs; the whistle,"the song, the merry laugh,
the bustle, the salutation to the passer-by,
'Where are you going, stranger'?' All is anima-

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

195

tion and joyous life; while over all shines the
silver moon struggling to shed her silver light
through the hazy Indian summer atmosphere.
These road scenes, altogether made a spectacle
never to be forgotten, and the like of which will
never more be seen east of the Mississippi, and
j)erhaps never again on this continent. ^

"Near Maysville, Illinois, the road separated,
and the emigrant train divided, part taking the
road for St. Louis, and part for Central Illinois.
And now the Grand Prairie is reached. Pen
cannot describe a large prairie; it must have
been seen to be appreciated ; it was grand and
peculiar; its nakedness of everything except long
grass and weeds, seared by the autumn frosts,
or feeding yon long line of fires, or waving in
the breeze; its silence disturbed only by the
Boise of small insects, the whirr of the prai-
rie chickens, or the sighing of the breeze;
its boundless extent, appealing to the im-
agination; you fancied it like the ocean; its
undulating surface resembled the waves; the
wavering grass is the water, agitated by the
wind; yon emigrant wagon, rising the distant
hill, is the ship upon the crest of the wave; yon
outline of timbers is the rock-bound coast; but
the herd of deer, which, frightened at the ap-
proach of man, bounds gracefully away to yon-
der hill, and stands, with head and tail erect,
gazing at you with large, bright eyes, dispels the
dream.

"As I am trying to make a picture of things
as I saw them, I would recall to the memory of
old settlers some of the scenes they witnessed
when first crossing this same Grand Prairie, if
not on this, on some other ro.ad.

"Riding along the gently rolling prairie, now
you descend into a valley, and your vision is
limited to a narrow circle. Tliat herd of deer
has taken fright at your coming, quits its graz-
ing on the tender grass of the valley, and, fol-
lowing that old buck as leader, runs off with
heads erect, horns thrown back, their white tails
waving in the air, has circled around until
yonder hillock is reached, when, turning towards
you, they gaze with their dark, bright eyes, as if
inquiring why you have invaded their free pas-
tures. As you ride along, the rattlesnake is
stretched across the road, sunning itself, and the
prairie wolf takes to his heels and gallops off
much like a dog, but slowly, as if to show you
that he is not much f i ightened. That flock of
prairie chickens has taken wings, and with a
whirr flies away, and now has alighted yonder.

" And now you have reached this ridge,
checking your horse you turn in your saddle

and gaze around. As far as the eye can reach,
and bounded only by the horizon, stretches the
undulating prairie, covered with grass and resin
weed. How grand, how beautiful the view!
IIow like the sea with its rolling waves!

"And now .again you have been overtaken by
night; you reach that other hillock, and check-
ing your horse, you again gaze around you.
The prairie grass is on fire, here, there, every-
where, all around the horizon, and lighting up
tlie whole heavens. The scene now, how unlike
that other, but still how grandly beautiful! A
vision of wondrous enchantment, the like of
which is now gone foi'ever. Few scenes on
earth surpass such a prairie, either in the bright
sunshine of day, or when in the night blazing
with such flres.

"I have since stood at the foot of one of the
Rocky Mountains, lifting its lofty head amid
the clouds, its sides massive, rugged, treeless,
without insect or fowl, silent as the grave. The
scene of the mountains and of the prairie are
widely difi^erent. The one grand and full of
life, but impressing the first beholder with a
sense of beauty; the other silent, grand, sub-
lime, and impressing its first beholder with a
sense of wonder and awe, but alike suggestive
of the thought that none but God, One, Al-
mighty, Allwise, could make them, and with
wonder that anyone could doubt it, or believe
that they came into existence by chance, by evo-
lution or the aggregation of sentient particles
of matter.

"The night of the tenth day of his journey
the speaker passed at the house of Mr. Hus-
bands, on Sugar creek, in Sangamon county,
and early next morning was passing along the
road through the S2>ringfield prairie, and about
where the junction now is. What a difference
between 'now' and 'then!' Now may be seen
by one, passing by the Junction, long lines of
freiglit and passenger cars on the two roads
crossing at that point from North to South, and
from East to West.

"There is the coal shaft, the noise and smoke
of its engine, and the huts of the miners; there
are in view the spires and curling smoke of the
Capital City; all around are well cultivated
farms, well stocked with fine cattle, and every-
where around are life, activity, and progress.

"Then all around was unbroken ))rairie, the
home of the wolf, the deer, and the prairie
fowl; unmarked by civilization or cultivation,
except the scattering farms and houses along the
timber. The dwellers in those houses, if then
asked, would have informed you that the.se

ine

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

prairie lands would never be purchased of the
General Government, that they were not worth
the taxes and would ever remain pasture
grounds for those owning the lands near the
timber.

"Traveling thence north, nothing yet met the
eye, except the wild prairie, and its boundary of
timber, and on that boundary on the ea.st, the
farms of Washington lies and of Mason and
Plank, and on the west, of Little and Lindsay.
At the distance of one mile the high ground was
reached, the rim of the valley in which Spring-
field was situated, where now runs the South
Avenue. Thence descending into the valley, the
only additional improvements to be seen were
the faims of Lanterman and LanswcU on the
west, and of Charles R. Matheny on the east,
where ]\[rs. Robert Irwin now lives, and of Mas-
ters, in front of the traveler.

"Passing the Masters farm on the left (now
Moran's addition), and the house of the Masters,
near the residence of Mrs. Humphrey, and cross-
ing the open prairie, the road running nearly
where are now the residences of Mrs. Chestnut
and N. W. Edwards, to the grove afterwards
known as Mather's grove, where the new Slate
House is being built, and following the road
west of Mather's grove, with the grove on the
right, and on the left the corn-field of Major
lies (now Edwards <fc Mather's addition), to the
eminence, where now stands the residence of the
late Mr. Tyndale, the little village until then hid
by the timber and brushwood along the town
branch, first burst upon the view.

"Reining in the horse, pausing on that emi-
nence, to take a survey, the eye rested upon a
dense grove of Black Jack, and undergrowth,
east and west, all along the town branch, cover-
ing the entire hill on which Mr. Lamb's house is
situated, while in front lay the little village of
Springfield, made up of a string of small houses,
mainly extending three blocks, along Jefferson
street, from First to Fourth streets, with some
few scattered elsewhere.

"The houses were generally small, unpainted,
and some daubed with mud; the rain of the
morning had given to all a dreary and cheerless
look, bringing a fit of blues to one who remem-
bered the pleasant home of his boyhood, and
then surveying for the first time, the home of
his manhood, which then promised so little and
has jiroved so full of happiness.

"The village of Springfield was built in a ^•al-
ley about two miles wide; it was drained by a
stream, since known as the Town Branch, which
heads in the southeast corner of the city, and

runs west-northwest, and empties into Spring
creek. Into the Town Branch on either side, in
flood time, at intervals of three or four hundred
yards, the water had washed deep gullies, or
ruts, which drained the entire valley into the
Town Branch, one of these wet weather drains
ran from the northeast corner of the square to
the southwest corner, ard thence to the Town
Branch, near the railroad bridge.

"This surface drainage has entirely disap-
peared, being displaced by the admirable under-
ground drainage adopted by the city. On both
sides of the Town Branch as high as Sixth
street, was a dense forest of small trees and
undergrowth, the harbor of deer and wolves.
The remains of this forest may be seen in the
yards of Mrs. Goodell, of the Governor's Man-
sion, and of Mr. Eastman. Parallel with the
Town Branch are two ridges, the rims of the
valley, at an elevation of from twenty to thirty
feet aijove the branch. The North and South
Avenues run very nearly upon the summit of
these ridges.

"The central points of intercourse, at that
day, in the Northwest, were St. Louis on the
south, and the lead mines near Galena on the
north; and the leading road of the Northwest
was between these two points. The road from
Vincennes b)' the way of Yandalia, united vith
this road at Macoupin point, and entered Spring-
field as above described, over the hill where the
new State House is building, and running on
First street, to Jefferson, and passing the
Abrams Hotel, the principal hotel of the city,
on the corner of First and Jefferson, continued
on Jefferson to Fourth street, where the St.
Nicholas now stands, there turning to the north,
in a nearly straight line, to the present residence
of Mr. Converse, thence to the Sangamon river,
very nearly on the line of the present road, and
thence north by Music's Bridge andPeoiia to
Galena. This was then called the Fort Clark
road. The next road in importance was the
road to Beardstown, which running west on •
Jefferson street and crossing the Town Branch
at the tan-yard and old mill, followed very
near the present line of road to Beardstown.
The east and west road from Jacksonville, very
near its jsresent line, united with the Beardstown
road at the Town Bianch and passed thii ugh
Springfield on Jefferson street to the scjuare, and
thence east through an open prairie, and ciossed
Sugar creek, near Major lies' farm.

"In 1818,Elisha Kelly visited the present site
of^Springfield, there then being no white inhabi-
tants north of Edwardsville. He was phased

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

197

with the situation because it abounded with
ii-amo and was a good hunting ground. He re-
turned to North Carolina and induced his fainily
connection to move, and in the year 1,819 John
Kelly built a cabin north of the Town Branch,
near where it is crossed by Jefferson street, the
present site of the residence of General Ander-
son. With John lived his father and several
unmarried brothers. William Kelly built a
cabin north of John, on a tract owned after-
wards by Archer G. Herndon, now the residence-
of C. A. Gehrman, the merchant. Andrew
Elliot built still further north at the place
where he died, now Elliot's addition; all these
cabins were near the timber of the Town
Branch. These were the first settlers of Spring-
field, if not of Sangamon county. It may well
be wondered why those primitive settlers, hav-
ing the choice of the whole country, should
select these inferior sites for cultivation, rather
than the higher and better lands in the vicinity.
The answer is found in the wants, and opinions
of that early day. They needed water and fuel,
these were found on the Town Branch. They
needed shelter from the wind, they found it in
the timber of Town Branch; above all other
things, they wanted a good hunting ground;
that they also found on the Town Branch and
Spring creek, one of the very best of hunting
grounds, and moreover in the opinion of the
early settlers, they who occupied the land bord-
ering on the timber, would become practically,
the owners of the outside prairie, as their pasture
ground forever.

On the 28th day of October, 1828, he entered
Springfield by First to Jefferson street. At the
crossing of First and Jefferson, looking west, on
the margin of the timber and Town Branch,
stood the old horse-mill of John Taylor, then
abandoned, and the tan-yard of William Proc-
ter, now living at Lewiston. Both of these
buildings were on the north of Jefferson street,
and intermediate between them and First street
was a corn field. On the south side of Jeffer-
son, and west of First street, stood the houses of
John Sherril, a shoemaker, and John Moor, who
had married Mrs. Ilawley, the estimable mother
of E. B. Hawley and Isaac Hawley; and west
of Moor were the cabins of Uncle Billy Fagan
and of William Baker. Going thence east on
Jefferson street, first stood the hotel of Mr.
Abrams, on the south side, and adjoining was
the dwelling and store of John Taylor, next the
Buck Tavern, kept by Andrew Elliot, next the
grocery and adjoining dwelling of William Car-
penter. On the opposite side of Jefferson was

first what was once the old tavern, but then the
dwelling of Colonel Cox and family. Next east
were five or six small two-room frame buildings,
with ends to the street: the first occupied by
Jessie Cormack in the front room as a tinner's
shop, while Asa S. Shaw occupied the rear room
as a justice's office; next was the store house of
Mordecai Mobley; next the grocery of Ebenezer
Capps, and the two next on the corner were
occupied as the store of General James D.
Henry, with Philip C. Latham as clerk. Follow-
ing east on Jefferson and across Second street,
at the corner, on the right, stood the store where
Elijah lies sold goods, and .John Williams per-
formed well the duties of clerk. The family of
Major lies resided in the same house. Next was
a two-story log house, in the lower room of
which Jabez Capps had a shoemaker's shop, the
upper room being the residence of his family.
Opposite, on the north side of .Jefferson, and on
its corner with Second street, stood a small log
house, occupied as a store and dwelling by
Archer G. Herndon; next east was a two-room
frame house, with end to the street, the front
room occupied by Hooper Warren as a printing
ottice, and the rear room as the dwelling of his
family; next, and on an eighty-foot lot, stood a
two-story house, with two rooms below, with a
hall between, occupied as a residence by Paschal
P. Enos and his family, except the east lower
room, which was used as a land office. Contin-
uing east on Jefferson, and crossing Third street,
and as you looked south on Third, not far from
t'ne south end of the Chicago & Alton Depot,
stood another two-room frame building, with
end to Third street, occupied by a carpenter
named Fowler as a residence; next was Levi
Goodin in a cabin on the south side of Jefferson,
while on the corner of Fourth and .Jefferson, on
the south side, stood the residence of General
.James Adams. On the north side of Jeffer-
son, between Third and Fourth streets, stoo<l a
double log building, the residence of Gorden
Abrams. Next, on the corner of Fourth and
.Jefferson, stood the residence and shop of Dr.
Jayne. This house still stands, and is occupied
by Mr. Baum as a stone and marble establish-
ment. Still going east on Jefferson, and cross-
ing Fourth street to the right, on the eightj'-foot
lot on which the St. Nicholas now stands, was a
two-story double log house, the residence of
Charles Boyd, a tailor. On the north side of
Jefferson, and opposite to Jioyd, was the resi-
dence of Thomas Strawbridge and his sister,
Mrs. Anderson. Jacob Plank resided in a two-
room frame house, on the corner of Sixth and

198

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Jefi'ersou, and crossing Sixth street, on the
corner lot of Jefferson and Fifth streets stood
the blacksmith shop of John White, and his
residence adjoining. On the opposite side
was the cabin of the Tuckers, and these
were the last houses on East Jefferson.
Crossing to Washington street, and beginning
again on First street and moving east be-
tween First and Second and on the block
south and on the site of the present residence
of Major Orendorff, stood a two-story frame
house, the best in the village, the then residence
of Dr. John Todd. This frame house was after-
wards removed and still stands nearly opposite,
aei'oss the street. Going still east on Washing-
ton near the corner of Washington and Third
and near the present site of I he flouring mill,
stood a log cabin, the residence of Polly, a col-
ored woman, and her family. Still east, on the
corner of Washington and Fourth, stood a double
frame house then occupied as a residence by Joe
Thomas, afterwards purchased by and made the
residence of Dr. John G. Bergen, while on the
same block, and near the corner of Washington
and Fifth, stood the residence of Asa S. Shaw.
On the opposite block, and on the corner where
now stands the Chenery House, there stood the
cabin of a colored woman, called familiarly
Aunt Creecy, and these were the only houses on
Washington street. There were but two houses
of Adams street, the blacksmith shop of Aleck
Humphreys, and his residence adjoining, situ-
ated on the corner of Adams and Third, on the
north side, opposite to the Episcopal Church,
and the residence of Dr. Garrett Elkin, on the
two lots on the south side of Adams, where it
corners with Sixth street, now occupied by the
magnificent stores of C. M. Smith and others,
the very centre of business. Washington lies
and family live in a two-room frame house on
the corner of Monroe and Fourth streets, the
present site of the Second Presbyterian Church.
Rivers McCormack, a Methodist circuit rider,
had built and lived in a cabin on Monroe, on
part of the Tyndale hill, but he had ceased to
occupy it. Fronting the public square, on the
corner of Sixth and Adams, stood a two-story
frame building, the lower rooms of which were
nsed as a court room, while the upper was used
by Charles R. JVIatheny as a clerk's office. Front-
ing the public sipiare on the west, and on the
lotfnow occupied by Joel L>rown as a book and
drug store, stood another two-room frame house,
with end to the street, then occupied by Dr.
Darling as a family residence. On the east
side of the public square was the whipping-post.

I saw two men punished at the whipping post.
The last was named Watson, who was sentenced
to receive eighty lashes for an attempt to rob
Mr. Bouge. General Henry, the sheriff', inflicted
the jjunishment, and it was doubted by those
who saw it, whether Heniy or Watson suffered
most. Henrj- was very pale, and I hope never
to see another such a sight. I believe I have
enumerated all the buildings in the village of
Springfield; all north of Jefferson, all east of
Sixth street, and south of Adams, except as
above mentioned, was unbroken prairie, except
that Charles R. Matheny and family lived on
the corner of Sixth and Cook streets, now the
residence of Mrs. Irwin, and there cultivated
about forty acres; and Edward Mitchell resided
with his family northeast of the public scjuare,
on a small farm, which afterwards was laid out
into Mitchell's addition.

"The town of Springfield then had not exceed-
ing five hundred inhabitants, and they were
from every section and State in the Union, gen-
erally young people, except where the father or
grandfather had come out with some younger
branch of his family. They were, as a rule,
poor, and had moved West to better their for-
tunes. It required some courage and nerve then
to emigrate to the West, and therefore they
were generally energetic and enterprising. They
were persons who had come from good families
East; had seen good society, and were as well
educated, cultivated and refined as were the in-
habitants of towns of the same size East or
West. All had traveled more or less to reach
Illinois, and some had come from the remote
States. This gave them an advantage over citi-
zens of the old States, in the knowledge of men
and things which travel brings along with it.
All were on ecpiality, the only distinction arising
from superior intelligence or bettor moral char-
acter. This equality rendered them social, hos-
pitable and kind to each other, and ready to
receive strangers with open arms. Their social
intercourse was free from forms and restraint,
which wealth and more extended social circles
bring along with them. They met together on
the street, in the offices, or around the family
circle, and were happy in their intercourse with
each other. The young lady who wished to
have company in the evening did not send out
elegant cards, but placed a lighted candle in her
window; the young men, collected around the
four corners at the crossings of Second and
Jeff'erson, would see the light, accept the invita-
tion, and assemble for social enjoyment. I re-
member well the first time this occurred after

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

199

my arrival. Miss Clarissa Benjamin, now Van
Bergen, placed her candle in the window of the
parlor room, above the store of Major lies. I'liil.
Latham gave notice by exclaiming: ' Boys, Clar-
issa's candle is in the window; let us go over.'
The young men assembled there, and found
Miss Clarissa Benjamin, Misses Hannah and
Margaret Taylor, the Misses Dryers, and Miss
Jane Bergen. It was a pleasant, social evening,
and these ladies were as handsome, refined, and
entertained as well and gracefully, as the young
ladies of the present day.

The people then in Springfield were moral
and honest; there was little stealing or cheating.
There was no occasion then to lock up the doors
and bar the windows at night; they had no fear
of sleeping with all open. The use of ardent
spirits was perhaps more general then than now,
but there was less drunkenness. To drink was
then fashionable, and the wonder is that all did
not become drunkards. I have remarked that
all the early settlers of the town who habitually
used ardent spirits, and especially those who
used them to excess, have made no mark in the
world, but died young, and are forgotten; while
the sober men, as a rule, have become heads of
large and respectable families, lived respectably,
and contributed to the building up of the city
and the advancement of all its social interests.

" Grouping the business men of that day, the
lawyers were Gen. James Adams, Gen. Thos. M.
Neale, Col. James Strode, Thomas Mottitt and
Jonathan II. Pugh, men of mark then, but now
all dead and forgotten, overshadowed by that
brilliant galaxy of lawyers, their successors,
which adorned the Sangamon Bar between the
years 1830 and 1840. The physicians were Dr.
John Todd, Dr. Gershom Jayne, Dr. Garret
Elkin, Dr. Epliram Darling. They were good
physicians in any country, were men of intelli-
gence, estimable in all their social relations ; be-
sides they were men of splendid physique, and
able to endure the ai'duous labor of the practice
of the day which required them to ride night
and day, on horseback or in the sulky, for fifty
miles around. The merchants were Elijah lies,
Gen. Henry, Mordecai Mobley, John Taylor,
Archer G. Herndon, while Ebenezer Capp kept
the grocery; they were all good men then, and
enjoyed the confidence of the community
Charles R. Matheny was clerk of the Circuit and
County courts, and in fact filled all the offices of
the county. He emigrated from Virginia, was
a lawyer by education and a Methodist preacher
by practice. He had been Clerk of the House of
Representatives, and a member of that body.

23—

He was a good and useful man, had a jjleasant,
smiling countenance, beaming with benevolence
as if the light of Heaven was shining on him, sing-
ling him out from the others. Jonathan H. Pugh
was born in Bath county, Kentucky; a lawyer by
profession. Emigrating to the West, he settled
in Bond county, Illinois ; removed to Springfield,
Illinois, about the year 1824, where he lived un-
til his death in 18-34. He was possessed of a
remarkably pleasant address, and was, in the fall
of 182S, the most prominent and popular man in
Northern Illinois. He had a good and showy
intellect, was brilliant in his wit, and sparkling
repartee, and for his social qualities was beloved
by his friends. He was ambitious, and was
elected three times as a Representative in the
legislature. He was a candidate for Congress
in 1832, and defeated by Gov. Duncan. His
mortification was so great that he surrendered
t(j a habit which became his fatal enemy, died
about the age of thirty-five years, and fills an
unknown grave.

" General James D. Henry was a shoemaker by
trade, which he followed at Edwardsville; re-
moved to Springfield, and became a merchant;
was sheriff of the county two or three terms;
was first a Colonel and then a Brigadier General
in the Black Hawk war, and at the battle of
Wisconsin proved himself the hero of that war.
He was a man of good understanding, of fine
person, brave and generous, of wonderful mag-
netic influence and power to attach men to him.
He went to New Orleans in the spring of 1834
for bis health, and died and was buried there.
At the time of his death he could have been
elected to any office in the gift of the people of
Illinois, and the only question he debated, was
whether in the election of 1834, he would be a
member of Congress or Governor. He died aged
about forty years, possessed of a good constitu-
tion and a bright future before him, the victim
of the same bad habit. Asa S. Shaw was from
the State of New York, where he had been a
merchant and failed; settling at Springfield he
became emphatically the Justice of the Peace,
possessed of a very strong intellect, good judg-
ment, and superior business qualifications, and
capable of great usefulness; but he, too, suc-
cumbed in the meridian of life to the same fatal
enemy.

"I have singled out these three men because
they were my friends, to whom I was fdncerely
attached, and whose memory to-day, after ihe
lapse of more than forty years, is still green and
fragrant, and I mean no wrong to them when I
would use this occasion to impress upon all, and

200

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

especially upon the young, that ardent spirits,
habitually used, will soon become the master of
the man; will undermine the strongest constitu-
tion; it will quench the brightest genius; blight
the fairest prospects, and will dig for him an
early, if not a dishonorable grave.

"No attempted picture of Springfield would
be complete in which Major Elijah lies had not
a prominent place. Emigrating from Bath
county, Kentucky, to Missouri in ISIS, and to
Springfield, Illinois, in 1821, where he yet lives,
at the age of eighty-seven years, when the site
of Spriiigtield was a prairie, with the exception
of the cabins of the Kellys and of Elliott. He
became a boarder in the cabin of John Kelly,
and then repeatedly saw Elliott and one of the
Kelly's return in the morning from hunting up
the town branch, with a deer which had been
shot near where the Governor's house now stands,
and off which he breakfasted. He opened a
store and sold goods for many years; was a Major
in the Winnebago war, and a captain of a spy
company in the Black Hawk war. He served
the county of Sangamon two terras in the State
Senate, and could have served longer had he not
preferred to retire. He was one of the original
proprietors of the town, and at that early day
contributed largely to its growth, while his
home, presided over by his estimable wife, as-
sisted Ijy her graceful sister. Miss Benjamin, was
the pleasant resort of the young people. By his
sagacity and industry he has acquired a large
fortune, without wrong or suspicion of wrong to
any one. His name was without a stain — modest
and unassuming, through his long life, he has
had the love and respect of his friends, and now,
amid the sorrows of his old age, has the respect
and sympathy of the entire community.

"Sangamon county was settled originally,
with some exceptions, by a class of men known
on the frontiers as bee-hunters; men who were
the advance guard of emigration, following fast
upon the flight of the bees. These were a hardy
and honest race of men, who loved adventure,
the freedom and independence of frontier life,
and did not love to be crowded by close neigh-
bors, or offended by the accompaniments of civi-
lization. This class would emigrate to a new
country, establish a claim of some sort to a piece
of land, build a cabin, raise corn enough to feed
their horses and hogs, and for bread, and si)end
the leisure time hunting and fishing, and when a
sec(^nd and better class of emigration flowed in,
would sell out their claims and move still further
west to the still advancing frontier. That
change, to a great extent, had taken place in

Sangamon in the fall of lS2S,and was then going
on. The bee-hunters were going west to Brown,
Adams and Pike counties, Illinois; then to Iowa
and Missouri, and are doubtless still hunting the
frontier, if indeed there is now any frontier.
Their place had been supplied, and was being
supplied by emigrants of a difierent class, from
almost every State in the Union, but principally
from Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia and the New
England States.

"Those caine mostly from the middle classes
of society, which embraces the bone and sinew
of every country. They were generally from
the mountainous sections, and were large in per-
son, moral, honest, and hospitable; the latch-
string of their door was always out. They were
manlj', brave, generous, frank; when, with a
warm smile on their face, they clasped their
hands in yours, you instinctively felt the heart
went with it. These early settlers of Sangamon
were a race of good and noble men, worthy to
be the fathers of our great country, and their
sons should remember their ancestry, and never
disgrace them.

"As the result of their labors, early toils and
hardships, we have the great county of Sanga-
mon, with its wealthy, thriving, peaceful and
happy neighljorliood. I say peaceful, and in
proof, I would mention the fact that the law
docket of Sangamon has always shown less liti-
gation than other counties. It is sometimes said
that the <locket of a county is a very true index
of its wealth and business; not so with Sanga-
mon. In wealth and business, and traffic, it will
compare favorably with any other county in the
State.

"It may be invidious to single out any of these
early settlers, as all cannot be mentioned here,
but as representatives of the wholt^, I would
mention the Darnells, the Wycoffs, the Mc-
Gwins, the Morris's, the Kinneys, the Cloyds, of
Lick creek; the Pattons, the Husbands, the
Crows, the Fletchers, the Drennans, the Dodds,
and Isaac Keys, of Sugar creek ; the Elkius, the
Constants, the McDaniels. the Pickrells, and the
Dawsons, of the North Fork ; the Casses, the .
Burns, the Lawsons and St. Clairs, of Buffalo
Hart ; the Cantralls, the Councils, the Powers,
of Fancy Creek ; the Irwins, the Cartwrights,
the Carsons, the Purviances, the Andersons and
the Harrisons, of Richland ; the Sims, the Mc-
Coys, the Morgans, and the Earnests, of Spring
creek; and the Beekenridges, the Bakers, the
Neals, and the Staffords and Sattlys, of Fork
Prairie ; Samuel Williams, the Fouches, the El-
lises, the Yates, the Wilcoxes, of Island Grove ;

IIlSTOliY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

201

the lies, Charles R. jVIatheriy, Drs. Todd, Jayne
and Elkin, Pascal P. Enos, John Taylor, Archer
G. Herndon, Philip C. Latham, John Williams,
Gen. Henry and Jonathan H. Pugh, and Peter
VanBergen, of Springiield.

"Further singling out, I would present to your
memory as a fair sample of the whole. Captain
John Durneil, a man about six feet in height,
handsome and well-foimed, easy in his manner,
because by nature a gentleman, frank, generous
and true; you felt in his presence as witli one
who was every inch a man.

"These early settlers, I owe them much, when
almost a boy and a stranger they received me
with open arms, and have, in a thousand ways,
showered upon me favors beyond my deserts; I
owe them a large debt of gratitude, and would
do all I might to honor their memories. Most
of them are dead and gone, and I hope have
settled for all time, in a better country, around
the throne of God, and along the banks of the
'lieautiful river.' Some few of us old settlers
still linger on these coasts of Time; one by one
they are passing away, and those of us who
remain are fas>t liecoming strangers amid the
new generations around us.

"We are t.anght in the story of the Cross, and
we believe that a great scheme of redemption
has been provided for our race by the Great
Father, and if we do our duty here to our coun-
try, our fellow men, and to our God, that some-
where in His great universe a heaven has been
provided as our happy, eternal home, and the
thought is a consoling one, that although fast
becoming strangers here, yet, when we cross the
great river of Time which divides that happy
land from ours, we will meet more friends than
we leave behind us; that we will know them,
and they us; and that then the reunion of old
settlers will be jovous, complete, and without
end."

BY DR. ALEXANDER SHIELDS.

"It is said that I first breathed the atmosphere
in the year of 1797, in Franklin county, Penn-
sylvania. Although I was there at the time,
and took an active part in the affair, I have no
recollection of the transaction, and have to de-
pend on the declaration of others for the truth
of my statement.

" I was brought up on a farm until al)out
eighteen years of age; went to a common school
in the winter; did all kinds of work that is done
on a farm, and that, I believe, gave me a strength
and vigor of constitution that has enabled me to
resist the physical elements with which we are

surrounded, and are at constant war against the
functions of life. At eighteen, I became im-
pressed with an ardent desire to acquire knowl-
edge; went nine months to a Latin school;
pursued my studies with a resolution that knew
no failure, and at the expiration of seven years,
graduated at the University of Pittsburg, Penn-
sylvania. In my literary pursuits, I read a motto
that was placed over the door of a heathen tem-
ple — 'Genosko se auto' (Know thyselt) — that
made a strong impression on my mind. I be-
came fascinated with the idea of knowing my-
self. Anatomy and physiology appeared to be
the proper branches for that purpose, conse-
quently I devoted myself to the study of medi-
cal science, and after the lapse of seven years,
graduated at the University of Pennsylvania, in
Philadelphia, in 183.3.

"During all these years I never thought of
the 'mighty dollar,' only when necessity forced
it upon me. It will appear from these state-
ments that I did not creep in at the back door
and foist myself on the profession, without, at
least, making an effort to acquire a knowledge
of the high and responsible duties pertaining to
it. I devoted myself two years to my profes-
sion in Pennsj'lvania, and then directed my des-
tiny toward the setting sun, in the Far A¥est.
IJefore bidding a long farewell to good old
Pennsylvania, I will state a couple of incidents
that occurred during my stay in Pittsburg. In
1S24, General Lafayette and son visited Pitts-
burg, and the city became wild with enthusiasm.
Of course he was tendered the hosjiitality of the
city. The reception was grand and imposing.
At least one hundred thousand people gave him
an enthusiastic welcome. I, in conjunction with
thousands of others, had the pleasure of shaking
his hand. It is human nature to f'pel ])leasure
in shaking hands with a patriot like Lafayette.

"The other incident was a visit of Uenry
Clay, Secretary of State, under John Q. Adams.
His reception was cold, and forbidding; in fact
the people were bitterly opposed to him in con-
sequence of his vote in favor of Adams against
General Jackson. A few friends called to see
him at his hotel, and being enlisted in his favor,
induced others to call, until it became general;
strange to say, he 'swallowed' all that called to
see him. He remained four or five days, and
visited our manufacturing establishments, and
the tables were turned so much in his favor that
a yiulilic dinner must be tendered. There were
no jiublic buildings suitable, and Henry Ilold-
shi]) was requested to give the use of his pa])er
mill, one day for the purpose. Rapp, the he.ad

202

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

of a colony, eighteen miles below Pittsburg,
sent up two or three barrels of wine for the oc-
casion. The building was crowded to its utmost
capacity. We had a feast worthy the city, and
worthy the man to whom it was given. JVIany
toasts were given and drank; finally, a toast was
given in honor of Henry Clay, and his respond-
ing closed the feast. The toast was as follows,
as near as I can recollect: ' Here's to Henry
Clay, of Kentucky, who on his way home from
Washington, stopped at Pittsburg, and had the
power to stop Henry lloldship's paper mill one
entire day, which never stopped before on any
occasion.'

"He (Clay), boldly went over his ])olitical
actions, in relation to Adams, and declared he
would do so again under the same circumstan-
ces. Such eloquence I never heard; such en-
thusiasm I never saw; perhaps the wine helped
to increase it.

"Early in April, lS:i5, I got on board a steam-
boat for St. Louis; remained there a few days;
wandered about seeing the country, and at last
wound up my travels at Springfield, Illinois, on
the loth of May, 1835. The next day it com-
menced raining and rained about forty days and
nights, until the prairie east of town was about
a foot deep with water, and no outlet; the water
disappeared by evaporation and sinking in the
soil. The sidewalks were composed of mud
about three inches deep, and when crossing the
streets, we rolled our pantaloons above our boots
and waded through. Disgusted with the mud,
I went up north to a place called Tremont, a
town of stakes and grass. A colony from the
east had purchased of the Federal Government
a quantity of land about three months before,
laid out a town, and called it Tremont. A part
of the colony were living in their stables whicli
they buili first, and carpenters were busy fram-
ing their houses. They received me very kindly
and expressed a desire for me to locate there, to
examine the location of their town, and pick
out a lot anywhere not already taken. I com-
menced taking a view of the place, and every
few minutes a rattlesnake gave me warning to
keep off, and I abandoned the examination.
They declared that their object was to settle the
country and develope the resources of the soil;
that speculation with them was out of the ques-
tion. I made choice of a lot, perhaps the one-
eighth part of an acre, on the northeast corner
of the square. I a])})lied to the agent for his
terms for the lot. He proposed to let me have
the lot for $200, twenty cash, give note tor §180,
drawing twelve per cent, interest, and bind my-

self to put a house on worth -^li.OOO. I de-
nounced them as a setof speculators and gougers;
mounted my horse; hastened to Springfield, re-
gardless of the mud.

"When I returned to Springfield greatchanges
had taken place ; the sidewalks and streets ■« ere
dry and pleasant. The waters had subsided
within the banks of the streams, and sickness to
a great extent set in, in consequence of decaying
vegetable matter; intermittent, remittents and
typhoid fevers prevailed, and for a number of
years that summer was known by the name of
the 'sickly season.' I hung out my 'shingle,'
and was called upon to see a sick family near
Clear Lake, and had to cross the river at Den-
ma's ferry, about a quarter of a mile above
Riverton ; after being ferried over three or four
days, I concluded to ford the stream. I had a
very spirited 'nag,' and strange as it may apyiear,
I rode with a spur on my heel. When I reached
the river a large drove of cattle were entering
the water, and a man was mounted on a very
large ox in front. I went into the water about
twenty yards above. The water rose to the sides
of my 'nag,' and I raised my feet to avoid get-
ting wet ; sunk the spur into her flank : she made
a sudden spring forward, and pitched me over
her head into the stream. I requested the man
on the ox to come and take me on behind him ;
he, with a grin and squeaking voice, informed
me that his horse wouldn't carry double. Tliere
I was baptized a citizen of Sangamon county,
and, by some superior power, have remained so
to this time.

"In the summer of 1835, the State Bank and
branches went into operation. We had State
banks, local banks, and 'wild cat banks,' and
paper money was as plenty as blackberries.
Times were prosperous, and the people entered
the public lands to a great extent with paper
money, causing serious loss to the Government.
In 1836, General Jackson issued a specie circu-
lar, requiring the lands to be paid for in specie.
This caused a run on the banks, and in a little
while all the banks in the country burst up and
went to 'pot.' Our currency became worthless;
distress and hard times came upon us; business
of all kinds was depressed, and I bought corn in
Springfield, delivered at five cents per bushel.
The State also commenced building railroads.
Every road must be completed at the same lime;
consequently, in a little while she became bank-
rupt in the sum of seventeen millions, and no
roads. Another question enlisted the public mind.
The temporary seat of government at Vandalia
was about expiring, and the permanent location

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

203

was agitated with a great deal of zeal by differ-
ent parties. We had the celebrated ' long nine'
to engineer our claims. They finally accom-
plished the end by Springfield giving a bribe, in
the name of a bonus, of fifty thousand dollars to
the State. The County Commissioners donated
to the State the public square, and the building
of a State House commenced. The legislature
met in the churches and passed laws for the
good of the people. Springfield numbered at
that time perhaps six or seven hundred people,
and being simply a corporation, it must be ele-
vated to the name of a city. A charter is framed,
and presented to the legislature for its sanction.

"The Framers of the Charter found that there
would be considerable opposition to it, when
submitted to a vote of the people, inserted a
clause excluding all unnaturalized citizens from
voting for or against its adoption, when, at that
time, persons that were here six months were
entitled to vote, even for President of the United
States. Colonel Baker was a member of the
legislature, and, as I understood, voted for it,
with this objectionable clause in it. That gave
rise to a difficulty between him and me that has
never been understood. He, being an English-
man, from the same country where two of my
brothers-in-law came from, excluded them from
voting. I, boiling over with indignation at the
idea of his excluding his own countrymen from
voting, declared that I would challenge his vote.
He, being aware of the fact, came on the day of
election prepared with his father's naturalized
papers, which naturalized him, he being a minor
at the time. When he came to vote, I chal-
lenged it, and that gave rise to a good deal of
insulting language. At length, he used an ex-
pression that was not true, and I called him a
liar. That ended the war of words. Ho then
requested me to go out on the street, and he
would Mick' me as soon as he polled his vote.
I went out and waited for him. When he came,
he quietly asked what I said at the polls. I said
he was a liar. Expecting him to strike with his
right, he gave me a lick with his left fist, on the
side of my head, that knocked me wild; then
the 'ball' opened. I tried for some time to hit
him, but he fended off so well that I was unable
to touch him.

" His fist was soft; my head was hard, and by
the time he raised some five or six knots, his fist
was useless. Unable to hit him with my fist, I
changed my tactics, and commenced kicking.
After two or three kicks he caught mv foot and
hoisted me over; while falling I caught him and
drew him down upon me, and then reached to

get him by the throat, and my thumb landed in
his eye. I concluded to let it remain there.
The Democr.ats thought I might 'tight it out on
this line if it took all summer,' but the Whigs
thought differently, and pulled \is apart, and
that pulled my thumb out of his eye. This
affair closed up by each of us paying fifteen dol-
lars for fracturing the law. I can justly say that
Colonel Baker was a most eloquent and for-
midable political opponent, and three or four
months after, when our passions cooled down, we
shook hands and made friends, and then I came
to the conclusion we had both been a pair of
great fools.

"The charter was adopted, and William May
was elected Mayor of the city. Josiah Lamborn
was States Attorney. At that time a man by
the name of Archibald Trayler, as upright and
good a citizen as can be found anywhere, lived
there. William Trayler and his Ijrother, with
them a man named Fisher, came on a visit to
their brother, Archibald Trayler, who lived
near Captain Ransdell's Hotel. The captain had
a niece living with him, and William Trayler
had an inkling towards her, and the captain was
bitterly opposed to him, and set spies to watch
their movements. Their movements were mys-
terious, as usual when a woman is mixed up in
the affair.

" Two of the Traylers and Fisher were seen
going northwest into the timber and remained
there some time; at length two returned, and
Fisher was not with them; the next day the
Traylers started for home, and took the same
route through the timber, and, according to the
spies, wound round in by-roads until finally they
came into the Beardstown road. F'our or five
days after, the Traylers came back in search of
Fisher. This gave rise to the suspicion that
Fisher had been foully dealtwith, and caused the
greatest excitement among the people, William
May and Lamborn engineered the matter; seized
the Traylers, and had the timber searched for
four or five days, in order to find Fisher. They
soon found the place, where it was supposed
Fisher was killed, and search was continued in
order to find the body. In the afternoon of the
third day, I went down in the timber, and met
two men, who inquired if I had seen the place
where Fisher had been killed, I replied that I
had not; they then led me into the brush about
fifty yards, where there was a circular spot, per-
h.'i])s twelve or fifteen feet in diameter, cleared
off, and near the center was a stump with a num-
ber of sprouts growing round it, and close by
the stump there was an impression in the soil,

204

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

resemblins^ exactly what the back of a man's
head would make in falling with considerable
force. Directly after, Dr. Merriman and six or
eight others came into the circle opposite; some
one wondered if there was any hair or blood
about the stump; Dr. Merriman examined it
critically on his hands and knees; no hair or
blood was found, the nest day quantities of hair,
even the man's whiskers, were found about the
stump.

"In the evening I went down town, and the
street opposite the Mayor's oflBce was crowded
with people, and Lamborn among them. Being
well acquainted with him, he took me to one
side, and informed me that he had told William
Trayler that he had testimony to hang the whole
three of them, and the only way of escape was
to turn State's evidence; he became so alarmed
that he was willing to give testimony to the kill-
ing of Fisher. The next morning, I and five or
six others went to the lower road to see Hickox's
mill pond opened, in order to find Fisher. When
opposite the spot where Fisher should have been
killed, a young man came running down, shout-
ing 'they found plenty of hair, even the man's
whiskers.' I informed him that game would
not work, as Dr. Merriman had examined the
spot the evening before, and no hair could be
found. This circumstance led to the suspicion
that a conspiracy had been formed to encompass
the death of Archibald Trayler. Five or six
hundred people met at the mill. William May
mounted a log and made a speech, urging the
necessity of drawing off the water, in order to
find the body. It was a dry season, and water
was valuable to Hickox. I opposed it, without
first paying a just compensation. He then ap-
pointed a committee of five, Morris Lindsay,
chairman, to wait on Hickox and ascertain the
damage. Two hundred dollars were demanded.
The committee reported, and May thought it
too high, and sent them back with instructions
to offer fifty dollars or nothing; so Hickox was
compelled to submit.

"When the water was reduced about four
feet, we went up to where the Beardstown road
crossed the sti'eam, and a number went into the
water in search of the body; the crowd on the
bank and Archibald Trayler, under bonds, stood
off about forty yards from the crowd, a forlorn
spectator of the scenes. I went to him, with
the desire to find out what grudge May and
Lamborn had against him; but he appeared so
depressed that I gave it up and went back to the
crowd on the bank. It so happened that I had
lost an axe at that point, in getting ice, and I

proposed to give a dollar to the man that would
find it, and that they would be more likely to
find the axe t han Fisher. They looked ' daggers '
at me, and a low miirmur went through the
crowd, and I discovered my imprudence when
it was too late. About sundown we left without
Fisher. When we arrived at Springfield, a
doctor in the vicinity of Wm. Trayler's home,
hearing of the excitement, was there declaring
that Fisher w^as at home and well. They seized
the doctor, declared him an accomplice, and de-
manded that Fisher must be presented in per-
son. Archibald Trayler's partner and Mr. John
Maxcy, I was informed, went for Fisher. They
returned late in the evening, and the next day
the trial came on. After an elaborate train of
circumstantial evidence, together with Wm.
Trayler's positive testimony, were given, .Tudge
Logan, Archibald Trayler's attorney, stated that
he would introduce just one witness. He made
a sign, and introduced Fisher, to the consterna-
tion of all present.

"The result was that Archibald Trayler's use-
fulness was destroyed, and he wandered about
like a person in a dream. About two years
after, a messenger came for me at twelve o'clock
at night, to see Trayler, who was very sick; when
I saw him he was exhausted, and in a few hours
departed this life. The plain, natural and just
solution of this mysterious affair appears to be
simply this. Wm". Trayler had a great fancy for
Capt.'Ransdell's niece, and she had a fancy for
him, and the Captain was intensely opposed to
it. Trayler was determined to steal the girl,
and she was willing to be stolen, and in order to
be prepared for the theft, the three men went
down into the timber to find if there were any
by-roads that would lead into the Beardstown
road ; then Fisher is sent home on foot, and ar-
rangements made with the girl to meet him in
thetimber. When he departed for home he took
that direction, and the girl being unable to es-
cape the vigilance of the Captain and his spies,
did not appear ; after waiting a reasonable time,
he then went to the Beardstown road on his way
home.

"This unfortunate affair bad a good deal
of truth and falsehood mixed up together, and
demonstrates that when people become greatly
excited they lose all their reasoning powers;
that mobs and strikes and factions are developed
in like manner ; that they contain more or less
fanatics, and cannot possibly exist without lead-
ers, and when political factions become strong
in numbers they are dangerous to civil govern-
ment.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

205

" From the fourth of March, 1837, to the fourth
of March, 18-tl, Van Buren was President. The
State was sunk to the lowest depths of embar-
rassment; she could not pay the interest on her
bonds; they depreciated to a mere nominal value;
emigration ceased, and repudiation appeared to
be inevitable. Governor Ford then made ar-
rangements to call a convention, to amend the
Constitution so as to provide for the payment of
the interest and principal of the State debt.
The convention provided that two mills on the
dollar (twenty cents on the hundred dollars) of
the State tax should be set apart for the express
purpose of paying the interest and principal of
the State debt. It was submitted to a vote of
the people and adopted. The people declared,
by their vote, we will pay the debt, to the last
dollar, let it cost what it will. That act of the
people fixed the destiny of the State; the bonds
began to rise; emigration flowed in, and wealth
increased to such an extent that Governor Mat-
teson, in his last message to the legislature, de-
clared that from the ratio of increasing popula-
tion and wealth, the State of Illinois would not
owe a dollar in 1868. The increase in popula-
tion and wealth was even greater than Matteson's
estimate. Notwithstanding, when 1868 came
around we were millions in debt. It is said the
State is now — 1881 — out of debt; but the people,
failing to profit by experience, and getting rail-
roads on the brain, have embarrassed counties
and towns to a great extent.

"In 1840, the Democratic party nominated
Van Buren a second term for President, and the
Whig party, General Harrison for the same
office. In that campaign, the leading principles
of the Whigs were 'coon-skins, log cabins, with
the string of the latch never pulled in, and hard
cider; two dollars a day and roast beef.' The
side issues were the extravagance of the White
House, with its gold spoons, and a high protect-
ive tariff on foreign importations. A member
of Congress, by the name of Evans, made a
speech in favor of protective tariff ; it was
printed in pamphlet form, and sent broadcast
over the country; the Whigs thought it a 'stun-
ner,' and exulted to a great extent over it. There
was a Democrat over the Illinois river, named
Bob Burton, who had a mill, and the Whigs
thought to convert him, if he would read the
speech; after reading it carefully he made a
new toll dish, according to the reasoning in the
speech, double the size of the one ho used, and
he called it Whig, the other he called Demo-
crat. He placed them side by side, and when a
Whig came he pointed out the two measures,

and informed him that he would toll his corn
with the Whig measure because it was ma'le ac-
cording to Evans' speech, and that is, the bigger
the toll the less you pay for grinding, and the
more meal you get. It was said that he, by this
practical illustration of the speech, converted a
number of Whigs to the Democratic party.
The speech appeared to be a tissue of sophistry,
and the gist of it was simply this, the higher
the prices, the more you paid for merchandise,
the less it cost you.

"In this campaign, great excitement prevailed
over the country. A man came to Springfield,
announced himself as 'General John Ewing,
from Vincennes, Indiana,' and challenged the
whole Democratic party on the issues of the
day, threatening to annihilate it by the power of
his eloquence. The leaders of the party, Ed-
wards, Stewart, Baker, Lincoln, and Logan, as
talented men as Indiana or any other State in
the Union could boast of, concluded to let this
boaster try his hand. We had Douglas and
Calhoun. We pitted Douglas against him. At
that time there was no 'red tape,' as it is now, in
our public meetings. The contesting parties
arranged and timed their speaking. In this
case, each one was to speak an hour alternately,*
and be timed by one from each party; to begin
at eight o'clock, adjourn at twelve; meet at two,
and continue to sundown each day, until the
contest would be ended. At the close of the
fifth day, 'General John Ewing, from Vincennes,
Indiana,' threw up the ' sponge,' and a vigorous
shout was given by the Democrats. On the
northwest corner of the public scjuare stood a
market-house. There we met, and each speaker,
mounted on a butcher-block, rolled out his elo-
quence. E. D. Baker, mortified at Ewing's
defeat, mounted a butcher-block, and began to
address us. We protested that that game of
'two pluck one' could not be tolerated. He
persisted, and immediately the cry was raised,
'Pull him down,' 'Pull him down.' At length
he yielded, otherwise it would have ended with
a number of broken heads. General Harrison
was elected; but the 'two dollars a day and
roast beef,' promised the laboring man, never
came.

"In 18-t-t I became impressed with a strong
desire to live in the country; I bought eighty
acres of land, eight miles southeast of Spring-
field, and in the spring of 184.5 moved on it, and
then commenced farming and the practice of
medicine; right here I made the great mistake
of my life, when I left Sjiringtield. It is thought
by many, that if a doctor locates in the country.

206

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

he loses all the brains and mental acquirements
he ever had, as if location determined a man's
ability, when, in fact, the most notorious 'quacks'
that disgrace the profession, congregate in cities
and towns.

"The National Democratic Convention nomi-
nated James K. Polk in 184-t, under the opera-
tion of the two-thirds rule, and many Democrats
were enquiring 'who's James K. Polk?' demon-
strating the fact that an obscure man was put in
nomination, and the prominent leading men of
the party cast aside. Having studied Thomas
Jefferson's doctrines of a Republican form of
government, his great fundamental principle,
that the fairly expressed will of a majority of
the people, expressed their sovereign v:ill, and
that the minority should yield implicit obedience
to the will of the majority, I opposed the two-
thirds rule as a direct violation of his principles,
and being a zealous and sincere friend of Stephen
A. Douglas, I came to the conclusion that he
never could be President under its operation.
The South, being in a large minority, dictated
terms to the North through its power, and the
North yielded for the sake of power and control
^of the Government.

"In 1S52, General Pierce was nominated, an-
other obscure candidate, and Douglas' political
head cut off. My zeal for Douglas carried me, a
'high private,' beyond the bounds of discretion,
and caused me to offer a series of resolutions, in
a county convention, denouncing the two-third
rule as anti-Republican, anti-Democratic; and,
to my utter astonishment, the friends of Douglas
voted them down, and denounced them 'another
firebrand.' The resolutions, seventeen, are re-
corded in the Sangamon Journal of October,
1852. I felt then that Douglas might justly
exclaim, in the language of Julius Ca3sar, 'May
the gods protect me from my friends, and I'll
take care of my enemies.' This action of mine
brought me in 'bad odor' with a number of
Democrats, and 'if I did not like the way
they conducted political affairs, I was po-
litely invited to leave the party.' I had, at that
time, great faith in the party, and did not feel
justified in leaving. In 1850, the National Demo-
cratic party nominated James Buchanan, one of
the prominent leaders, who afterwards turned
out to be a kind of a milk and water 'dough-
face,' butsuited the South, as it was preparing to
bring on a crisis. In 1860, it met at Charleston,
South Carolina, and it was said that Douglas re-
ceived a majority on the first ballot, but the two-
third rule defeated him in getting the nomina-
tion. The friends of Dousjlas clung to him with

great firmness, as it was the last chance, but
they were ten or twelve years Vjehind time.

"The South was preparing for rebellion, and
Douglas was too patriotic, too energetic, too firm
a man to be at the head of the Government. The
consequence was that the convention burst into
two factions, the South and the North ; they ad-
journed to meet again in Baltimore. When they
met there the friends of Douglas would not yield,
and they burst up again, and each faction nomi-
nated its candidate; the South, Breckenridge,
and the North, Douglas. It appeared to me, from
the aspect of affairs, that it was impossible to
elect Douglas, and when Lincoln was nominated,
I then placed my hope in his election to save the
Union, and bid a longfarewell to the Democratic
party. Some men boast that they never changed,
that is, they never split their ticket when a con-
vention told them who they should vote for, and
aspirants for office frequently use it as an argu-
ment in their favor. It is an old saying that
' wise men change, but fools and idiots never
change.'' If a man discovers that he is in error,
it is his right, it is his duty to change ; but if a
man changes through sordid, selfish motives, he
is dishonest and corrupt.

"The Republican party had a grand rally on
the eighth of August, 1860, in honor of Lincoln,
and a procession said to be eight miles long was
formed. Mr. Armstrong, a manufacturer, had a
platform on a wagon and a loom with a web in
it; in passing Lincoln's house, a tailor took his
measure ; cloth was woven, and a pair of panta-
loons made and presented to him on the return
of the procession. In that procession I carried
a banner with the motto: 'Free labor elevates,
Slave labor degrades ' "

PIONEERS AND PIONEERING.

The following is a portion of a lecture deliv-
ered by William II. Herndon, shortly after the
close of the rebellion. In the Life of Lincoln,
by Mr. Holland, the biographers used these
words: "When inefficient men become very
uncomfortable, they are quite likely to try emi-
gration as a remedy. A good deal of what is
called the pioneering spirit, is simply the spirit
of discontent." Mr. Herndon combats this idea
in this address, which was re-delivered at Sweet
Water, Menard county, Illinois, at the Old Set-
tlers' meeting, August 31, 1881:

"There have been four distinct and separate
waves — classes of men, who have followed each
other, on the soil we now daily tread. The first
is the Indian. The second is the bee and beaver
hunter, the embodied spirit of western and south

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i lx\\

-*(y^ '^

Cvfe/z^^v

^ . c?^ ^^^U-t^A

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

209

western pioneering; they roam with tlie first
class, nomads, wandering Gipsies of the forests
and the pains. The third class, with sub-classes
and varieties, is composed of three distinct varie-
ties of men, coming as a triple wave. The first
is the religious man, the John the Baptist,
preaching in the wilderness; the second is the
honest, hardy, thrifty, active and economical far-
mer, and the third class is composed of the wild,
hardy, honest, genial and social man — a mixture
of the gentleman, the rowdy and roysterer;
• they are a wild, rattling, brave, social and hos-
pitable class of men; they have no economy,
caring only for the hour, and yet thousands of
them grow rich; they give tone and caste and
character to the neighborhood in spite of all that
can be done; they are strong, shrewd, clever fel-
lows; it is impossible to hate them, and impossi-
ble to outwit or whip them. The fourth class,
with sub-classes and varieties, have come among
us seeking fortune, position, character, power,
fame, having ideas, philosophy, gearing the
forces of nature for human uses, wants and pur-
poses. They come from the east, the middle
states, from the south ; they come from every
quarter of the globe, full grown men. Here are
the English and the German, the Scotch and the
Irish, the French and the Scandinavian, the
Italian, the Portuguese, the Spaniard, Jew and
Gentile; and here and there and everywhere is
the universal, the eternal, indomitable and ine-
vitable "Yankee," victorious over all, and I as a
" Sucker," say welcome all. All, all, however,
have their divine purposes in the high, deep,
broad and wide extended, the sublime economy
of God.

"I am necessitated, as it were, in self-defense,
to speak some words of the second and third
class, with sub-classes and varieties. The
fourth class needs none. The original west-
ern and southwestern pioneer — -the type of
him is at times a somewhat open, candid,
sincere, energetic, spontaneous, trusting, tol-
erant, brave and generous man. He is hos-
pitable in his tent, thoroughly acquainted with
the stars in the heavens, by which he travels,
more or less; he is acquainted with all the dan-
gers of his route — horse iiesh and human flesh.
He trusts to his own native sagacity — a keen
shrewdness, and his physical power — his gun
and dog alone. This original man is a long,
tall, lean, lank man; he is a cadaverous, sallow,
sunburnt, shaggy-haired man, his face is very
sharp and exceedingly angular; his nose is long,
pointed, and keen, Roman or Greek as it may
be; and his eyes are small, grey or black, and

2i—

sunken, are keen, sharp and inquisitive, pierc-
ing, as if looking through the object seen, and
to the very background of things; he is sinewy
and tough, cahu or uneasy, according to circum-
stances; he is all bone and sinew, scarcely any
muscle; is wise and endless in his determina-
tions — obstinate. He wears a short linsey-wol-
sey hunting shirt, or one made from soft buck
or doeskin, fringed with the same; it is buckled
tightly about his body. His moccasins are
made of the very best heavy buck. His trusty
anil true rille is on his shoulder or stands by his
side, his chin gracefully resting on his hand,
which covers the muzzle of the gun. The gaunt,
strong, hungry cur, crossed with the bull dog,
and liis hound, lie crouched at his feet, their
noses resting on and between their fore jiaws,
thrown straight out in front, ready to bound,
seize master and defend. The lean, short, com-
pact, lough and hardy, crop-eared, shaved-niane
and bob-tailed pony browses around, living
where the hare, the deer, mule or hardy moun-
tain goat can live. It makes no difference where
night or storm overtakes him, his wife and
chddren sleep well and sound, knowing that the
husband, the father, protector and defender, is
safe from all harm. He sleeps on his rifie for
pillow, his right hand awake on the long, sharp,
keen hunting-knife in the girdle, carved over
and over with game and deer. The will in the
hand is avyike. Such is the conscious will on
the nerve and muscle of the hand, amid danger
of a night, placed there to watch and ward
while the general soul is asleep, that it springs
to defense long before the mind is fully con-
scious of the facts. How grand and mysterious
is mind! The family makes no wild outcry —
' He's shot or lost!' This man, his trusty long
rifle, his two dogs — one to fight and one to
scent the trail — the long, sharp and keen
butcher knife, that never holds fire or flashes in
the pan, are equal to all emergencies. As for
himself, his snore on the grass, or brush-pile,
cut to make his bed, testify to the soul's con-
scious security. Whether in a hollow tree or
log, or under and beneath the river's bank for
shelter — screen or fort — in night or daytime,
his heart beats calm; he is a fatalist, and says
'what is to be will be.' He never tires, is cjuick
and slirewd, is physically powerful, is cunning,
suspicious, brave and cautious alternately or all
combined, according to necessity. He is swifter
than the Indian, is stronger, is as long-winded,
and has more brains — much more brains. This
man is a bee-hunter, or trapper, or Indian
fighter. Ileis nervous, uneasy, and quite fidgety

210

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

in the village where he goes twice a year to ex-
change his furs for whisky, tobacco, powder,
Hints and lead. lie dreads, does not scorn our
civilization. Overtake the man, catch him, and
try to hold a conversation with him, if you can.
His eye and imagination are on the chase in the
forest, when you think you are attracting his
simple mind. He is restless in eye and motion
about towns and villages; his muscles and nerves
dance an uneasy, rapid, jerking dance when in
presence of our civilization. He is suspicious
here, and dangerous from his ignorance of the
social world. This man is a man of acts and
deeds, not of speech; he is at times stern, silent,
secretive and somewhat uncommunicable. His
words are words of one syllable, sharp nouns
and active verbs mostly. He scarcely ever uses
adjectives, and always replies to questions asked
Lira — 'yes,' ' no,' 'I will,' 'I won't.' Ask him
wliere be is from, and his answer is — 'Blue
Ridge,' ' Cumberland,' ' Bear creek.' Ask him
where he kills his game, or gets his furs, and
his answer ever is — 'Illinois,' 'Sangamon,'
'S.alt creek.' Ask him where he is going —
'Plains,' 'Forest,' 'Home,' is his unvarying
answer. See him in the wild.s, as I have seen
him, strike up with his left hand's forefinger the
loose rim of his old home-made or other hat.
that hangs like a rag over his eyes, impeding
his sight and perfect vision, peering keenly into
the distance for fur or game, Indian or deer.
See him look and gaze and determine what the
thing seen is — see him at that instant stop and
crouch and crawl toward the object like a
hungry tiger, measuring the distance between
twig and weed with his beard, so as to throw no
shadow of sensation on the distant eye of foe
or game — the thing to be crept on and inevita-
bly killed. See him watch even the grass and
brush beneath his feet, as he moves and treads,
that no rustle, or crack or snap, shall be made
by which the ear of foe or game shall be made
aware of his danger. See him wipe off and
raise his long and trtisty gun to shoulder and
to cheek — see him throw his eye lockward and
along the barrel — watch him, see first upcoil of
smoke, before the crack and ring and roll and
roar comes. The bullet has already done its
work of death. Caution makes this man stand
still and reload before moving a foot. Then lie
eyes the dead keenly. 'There's danger in the
a]>parent dead,' he whispers to himself, cocks
his gun and walks, keeping his finger on the
trigger.

"The third class which I am about to describe
— the brave, rollicking roysterer — is still among

us, though tamed by age into a moral man. He
is large, bony, muscular, strong almost as an ox.
He is strongly, physically developed. He is
naturally strong-minded, naturally gifted, brave,
daring to a fault. He is a hardy, rough-and-
tumble man. He has a strong, quick sagacity,
tine intuitions, with great good common sense.
He is hard to cheat, hard to whip, and still
harder to fool. These people are extremely
sociable and good natured — too much so for
their own good, as a general rule. They are
efficient, ready, practical men. and are always
ready for any revolution. I wish, I am anxious,
to defend these men, as well as the God-given
spirit of pioneering. One of the writers on Mr.
Lincoln's life says, in speaking of Thomas
Lincoln, 'When inefficient men become very
uncomfortable, they are quite likely to try emi-
gration as a remedy. A good deal of what is
called the pioneer spirit ;'^< simjihj the spirit of
shiftless discontent.^ But more of this hereafter,
not now and just here.

" These men, especially about New Salem, could
shave a horse's main and tail, paint, disfigure,
and offer for sale to the owner, in the very act
of inquiring for his own horse, that knew his
master, but his master recognizing him not.
They could hoop up in a hogshead a drunken
man, they being themselves drunk, put in and
nail down the head, and roll the man down New
Salem hill a hundred feet or more. They could
run down a lean, hungry wild pig, catch it. heal
a ten-plate stove furnace hot, and putting in the
pig, could cook it, they dancing the while a
merry jig. They could, they did, these -very
things occasionally; yet they could clear and
clean a forest of Indians and wolves in a short
time; they could shave off a forest as clean and
clear as a man's beard close cut to his face: they
could trench a pond, ditch a bog or lake, erect a
log house, pray and fight, make a village or cre-
ate a State. They would do all for sport or fun,
or from necessity — do it for a neighbor — and
they could do the reverse of all this for pure and
perfectly unalloyed deviltry's sake. They at-
tended church, heard the sermon, wept and
prayed, shouted, got up and fought an hour, and
then went back to prayer, just as the spirit
moved them. These men — I am speaking gen-
erally — were always true to women — their fast
and tried friends, protectors and defenders.
There are scarcely any such on the globe for
this virtue. They were one thing or the other
— praying or fighting, creating or destroying,
shooting Indians or getting shot by whisky, just
as they willed. Though these men were rude

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

211

and rough, though life's forces ran over the
edge of its bowl, foaming and sparkling in pure
and perfect deviltry for deviltry's sake, yet place
before them a poor, weak man, who needed their
aid, a sick man, a man of misfortune, a lame
man, a woman, a widow, a child, an orphaned
little one — then these men melted up into sym-
pathy and charity at once, quick as a flash, and
gave all they hatl, and willingly and honestly
toiled or played cards for more. If a minister
of religion preached the devil and his lire, they
would cry out, ' To your rifles, oh boys, and let's
clean out the devil, with his fire and all; they
are enemies to mankind.' If the good minister
preached Jesus, and him crucified, with his pre-
cious blood trinkling down the spear and cross,
they would melt down into honest prayer, pray-
ing honestly, and with deep feeling and humil-
ity, saying aloud, 'would to God we had been
there with our trusty rifles, amid those murder-
ous Jews.'

'•I wish to fjuote the author's sentence again.
It read.s: 'When inefficient men become very
uncomfortable, they are quite likely to try emi-
gration as a remedy. A good deal of what is
called the 'pioneer spirit,' is siinj^ly the spirit
of shiftless discontent.'' Here are two distinct
allegations, or assertions, rather charges: first,
that the inefficient men, through the spirit of dis-
content at home, emigrate as a remedy for that
uncomfortableness; and, second, that a good deal
of the spirit of pioneering comes from the spirit
of sldftless discontent. I wish to say a few
words on this sentence, first, as to tact, and
secondly, as to principle. It is not, I hope,
necessary for me to defend the particular man
spoken of — Thomas Lincoln, the father of Pres-
ident Lincoln. It is not necessary that I should
flatter the pioneer to defend him, yet I feel that
other men and women in New England, possibly
in Europe, may be grossly misled by such an as-
sertion, such an idea, as is contained in this sen-
tence. It is admitted bj' me that man's condi-
tion at home sometimes is exceedingly uncom-
fortable. To throw oft' that condition of un-
comfortableness, is the sole, only, and eternal
motive that prompts and drives men and women
to pioneering. Men of capacity, integrity, and
energy — for such are the generality of pioneers
in the West — emigrate to this new land from
their old homes, not because they are inefficient
men, men unable to grapple with the home con-
dition, but rather because they refuse to submit
to the bad conditions at home. Their manly
souls and indomitable spifits rise up against the
cold, frigid, despotic oaste crystalizations at

home — a glorious rebellion for the freedom of
man. All men emigrate from their liomes to
new lands in hope of bettering their conditions,
which at home are sometimes chafingly uncom-
fortable. The spirit of pioneering is not a spirit
of shiftless discontent, nor any part of it, but is
the creating spirit, a grand desire, wish, and will
to rise u]) in the scale of being. It lias moved
mankind — each man and woman — since God
created man and woman and placed them on the
globe, with genius in their heads and hope and
faith in their souls. God's intentions, purposes,
and laws, as written on the human soul, forever
interpret themselves thus: 'My child, my good
children, man, woman, and child, each and all —
hope, struggle; I am with you, and will forever
be; go on, go upward, go westward, go heaven-
ward, on and on forever.' Good men and
women do not, from the spirit of shiftless dis-
content, (piit the sacred ashes of the dead loved
ones, and wildly rush into a cold, damp, un-
cleared, gloomy, unsettled, wild wilderness,
where they know they must struggle with
disease, poverty, nature, the wild wolf and
wilder men, and the untamed and ungeared ele-
ments of nature, that sweep everywhere uncon-
fined. They do not go for game, nor sport, nor
daring adventure with wild beast, nor daring
sport with wilder men. They go or come at
God's command — 'Children, my good children,
and all, man, woman, and child, all, all — hope,
struggle, to better your condition — onward, for-
estward, upward — and on and on forever, or
miserably perish, and <juit the globe,- to be re-
peopled by better beings.' Men, tender and
lovely women, do not quit their homes, where
are comforts, luxuries, arts, science, general
knowledge, and ease, amid the civilized and civ-
ilizing influences at home, to go westward, from
a spirit of shiftless discontent. What! are these
brave men and women all through the West,
and such as these the world over,inefficient men,
inactive consumers, unenergetic inetflcients, lazy
and do-nothing people, bursting westward from
the spirit of sliiftless discontent, where they in-
voluntarily clap their hands to tlieir heads, and
spasmodically feel for their crowns, in order to
preserve their scalps, as the quick flash and flre-
steel gleam of the Indian's knife glints and
glistens against the western sky! What! are
Grant and Jackson, Douglas and Benton, Clay
and Lincoln inefficient men, coming v^est from
the spirit of shiftless discontent^'' Is tire effi-
ciently hot":' Is lightning efficiently active? Is
nature efficiently creative, massing and rolling
up all these visible worlds to heat and life and

212

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY,

light, and holding them suspended tliere by
God's will — called by men gravity — for a human
idea's sake? If these things are so, then these
men and women whom I have described, the
pioneers, with their brave hearts and their defi-
ant and enduring souls, are and were efficient
men and women — etticiently warm, for they con-
sumed and burnt the forest, and cleared and
cleaned it. They had and have energy and cre-
ative activity, with capacity, honesty, and valor.
They created States, and hold them to the
Union, to liberty, and to justice. They and
their children after them can and do jioint with
the highest pride and confidence, to the deep,
broad-laid, tolerant, generous, magnanimous
foundations of these mighty several Western
States, whereon our liljerty and civilization so
proudly and firmly stand, that they, the pioneers,
in the spirit of pioneering embodied in them,
made and created, and hold up to light and heat
and life, suspended there rolling, by the electro-
magnetic power of the intelligent popular will.
"My defense has ended. The wild animals
that [>receded the Indians are gone, the Indian
treading closely on their heels. The red man
has gone. The pioneer, the type of him, is
gone, gone with the Indian, the bear, and the
beav^er, the buffalo and the deer. They all go
with the same general wave, and are thrown
high on the beach of the wilderness, by the
deep, wide sea of our civilization. He that
trampled on the heels of the red man, with his
wife and children, pony and dog, are gone, leav-
ing no trace behind, lie is the master of the bee
and beaver, the Indian and the bear, the wolf
and buffalo. He and they are gone, never to
return. God speed them on their way, their
journey and destiny. As path-makers, blazers,
mappers, as fighters and destructives, they have
had and have their uses and purposes in divine
plan. Such are succeeded by the Armstrongs,
the Clarys, the Rutledges, the Greens, Spears,
and Lincolns, who too have had their uses and
purposes in the great idea, and are succeeded by
others, now among us, who are forces in the
same universal ])lan. And let us not complain,
for the great Planner knows and has decreed

what is best and wisest in his grand and sublime
economies. The animal is gone; the Indian is
gone. The trapper, bee and beaver hunter is
gone — all are gone. A few of the third class
still remain among us, standing or leaning like
grand, gray old towers, with lights on their
brow, quietly inclining, leaning, almost dipping
in the deep, the unknown, the unknowable and
unfathomable deeps of the future, that roll
through all time and space, and lash up against
the Throne. Tbey did not come here from the
spirit of shiftless discontent, nor shall they take
up their soul's greatest pioneer march on to God,
through the cowardly spirit of shiftless discon-
tent. They are fast going one by one. Respect
them while living, reverence them when dead,
and tread lightly on their sacred dust, ye all.
The children of such may be trusted to preserve
and hand down to all future time what they
created, wrought and planted in the forest. The
fourth class is ready to clasp hands with the
third, taking an oath of fidelity to liberty, sa-
cred as Heaven. We thus come and go, and in
the coming and going we have sliaded — risen
up, progressed — during these various and varied
waves of immigration, with their respective
civilizations, through force, cunning and the
rifle, to dollars, the steam engine, and the idea.
We have moved from wolf to mind. We have
grown outward, upward, higher and better, liv-
ing generally in more virtue, less vice, longer
and more civilized, freer and purer, and thus
man ever mounts ujiward. So are the records
of all time."

In concluding his address, Mr. Ilerndon gave
a description of Illinois, giving its geography,
length, breadth, its good people, etc. He de-
clared that. Illinois was the real Eden of the
world, and that the central portion of Illinois
was the best part of that Eden. He closed by
showing by facts and figures the extent of the
Union, its area in 1790 and its area in 1880;
said that its present population of fiftj'-one mil-
lions would be increased in 1901 to one hundred
millions of souls — the wisest, most intelligent,
richest, bravest and most patriotic people, as a
mass, on the face of the globe.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

213

Chapter XI

THE PRESS.

There is no instrumentality, not even except-
ing the Pulpit and the Bar, which exerts sucli an
influence upon society as the Press of the land.
It is th(; Archimedian lever that moves the world.
The talented minister of the gospel on the Sab-
bath day preaches to a few hundred people ; on
the following morning his thoughts are repro-
duced more than a thousand fold, and are read
and discussed throughout the length and breadth
of the land. The attorney at the bar, in thrill-
ing tones, pleads either for or against the crimi-
nal arraigned for trial, often causing the jury to
bring in a verdict against the law and the testi-
mony in the case. His words are reproduced
in every daily reached by the telegraphic wire,
and his arguments are calmly weighed by unpre-
judiced men and accepted for what they are
worth. The politician takes the stand and ad-
dresses a handful of men upon the political ques-
tions of the day ; his speech is reported and read
by a thousand men for every one that heard the
address. Suddenly the waters of one of our
mighty rivers rises, overflowing the land for
miles and miles, rendering thousands of people
homeless and without means to secure their daily
bread. The news is flashed over the wire, taken
lip by the Press, and known and read of all
men. No time is lost in sending to their relief
— the Press has made known their wants and
they are instantly supplied. "Chicago is on fire !
Two hundred millions worth of property de-
stroyed! Fifty thousand ]jeople rendered home-
less!" Such is the dread intelligence pro-
claimed by the Press. Food and clothing are
hastily gathered, trains are chartered, and the
immediate wants of the sufferers are in a measure
relieved.

The power for good or evil of the Press, is to-
day unlimited. The short comings of the poli-
tician are made known through its columns; the
dark deeds of the wicked are exposed ; and each

fear it alike. The controlling influences of a
Nation, State or county is its Press, and the Press
of Sangamon county is no exception to the rule.
Since Hooper Warren started the Sangamo
Spectator, in 1826, the Press of Sangamon county
has been an important factor in all things tend-
ing to the general welfare of the county. Not
only in the county, but throughout the State its
influence has been recognized and .acknowledged,
and even beyond the borders of the State has its
opinions been eagerly sought after, especially in
the political world.

The local Press is justly considered among the
most important institutions in every city, town
and village. The people of every community
regard their particular newspaper or newspapers
as of peculiar value, and this not merely on ac-
count of the fact alreadj' alluded to, but because
these papers are the repositories wherein are
stored the facts and the events, the deeds and
the sayings, the undertakings and achievements
that go to make up final history. One by one
these things are gathered and placed in type ;
one by one the papers are issued ; one by one
these papers are gathered together and bound,
and another volume of local and general, indi-
vidual and local history is laid away imperish-
able. The volumes thus collected are sifted by
the historian, and the book for the library is
ready. The people of any city or town naturally
have a pride in their home paper.

As already intimated, the Sangamo Spectator
was the first newspaper jirinted in Sangamon
county. Hooper Warren, who had been pub-
lishing a paper at Edwardsville, called the
Edwardsville Spectator, removed his oftice to
Springfield in the winter of 1S2G-7, and imme-
diately commenced issuing from that place. So
far as is known not a copy of the paper is now
in existence. Mr. Warren, in a letter to P. P.
Enos, Secretary of the Old Settlers' Society,

214

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

dated October 20, 1859, says of this paper: "It
■was Imt a .small affair, a medium sheet, worked
by myself alone most of the time, until I made
a transfer of it in the fall of 1828 to S. Mere-
dith." Mr. "Warren was considered a good
■writer, an intelligent man, but a not very suc-
cessful manager.

The Springfield Journal and Sangamo Gazette
■was built upon the ruins of the Spectator, the
first number bearing date February 16, 1829.
This number was chiefly occupied with the mes-
sage of Governor Ed^wards. It ■was a five col-
umn folio, •well edited, but never received sufli-
cient encouragement to make it a paying institu-
tion, and therefore after the expiration of a few
months it ceased to exist.

The Illinois Herald was the next attempt in
the newsiiaper line, and was commenced some
time in the year 1830. Samuel S. Brooks and
Mr. Fleming were the publishers, Mr. Brooks
being the editor. Like the previous attempt in
the business, the Herald was short-lived, going
out with the melting of the big snow.

ILLINOIS STATE JOURNAL.

On the 10th day of November, 1831, the first
number of the Sangamo Journal made its ap-
pearance, with S. & J. Francis, editors and pub-
lishers. The paper was a six-column folio, and
presented a neat appearance. The salutatory of
the editors was short, containing no special
promises easily broken. Says the editors: "We
know that it is usual on occasions like this to
eulogize the advantages of the Press — to make
promises that can never be realized. All we
have now to say is — give us a fair opportunity;
and we doubt not that the reasonable wishes and
expectations of our patrons will be gratified.
We have cheerfully embarked in the establish-
ment of the Journal, a good portion of the little
means at our command, with a firm determina-
tion to apply ourselves to the duties of our office
with unremitting industry, and it now rests with
others to say whether our hopes shall be blasted,
or our exertions rewarded with the cheering con-
fidence and patronage of the citizens of this part
of Illinois." In addition to the salutatory ap-
pears well written editorials on the "Missouri
Election," in which strong ground is taken in
favor of a national bank, ))rotective tariff and in-
ternal improvements; "TheEatonian Contro-
versy," a controversy that arose in regard to the
exclusion of Mrs. Eaton, the wife of a member
of President Jackson's cabinet, from Washing-
ton society; "Calhoun on Nullification," "Anti-
Tariff Convention," and several shorter articles.

A fair number of advertisements appeared,
among them being one of Mr. Wadley, in which
he proposed to show his mode of teaching Eng-
lish grammar; John Williams, II. F. Hill & Co.,
H. Yates, William P. Grimsley, Jabez C.apps,
Bell & Tinsley, Thomas D. Potts, general mer-
chandise; H. M. Armstrong & Co., hat manu-
factory; E. S. Phelps, watch repairing; John II.
Ebey, potter's ware; Bennett C. Johnson, gro-
ceries and liquors; Drs. Merryman & Rutledge,
physicians, Smith & Moffett, cabinet makers,
and several legal notices.

The first issue of the paper was creditable to
the proprietors. The types were good, the mis-
cellany well selected, the editorial vigorous and
to ihe point. The pledge modestly implied in
their salutatory was more than fulfilled, as the
early history of the paper proved. This paper,
thus founded in a new country, had many serious
obstacles to overcome; but its twenty-four col-
umns of reading matter went out among the
people every week, and by their excellence won
the favor of all readers. These men, who had
made Springfield their home, and had embarked
in this enterprise, were determined to succeed,
and they did. Their office was in a two-story
brick building, on the southwest corner of Wash-
ington and Fifth streets. Here they put up
their cases, fixed their primitive press, issued
their paper, and waited for the verdict of the
people. That verdict was not favorable at first,
but the decision was speedily reversed. It must
be remembered that the Sangamon county of
that time was not the Sangamon county of to-
day. It included the present counties of Logan,
Mason, Menard and Cass, with portions of Mor-
gan, Christian, McLean and Marshall. The in-
habitants were few and scattered, the population
of Springfield being only about six hundred.
Mail facilities were of the poorest description.
There were no railroads, and no telegraphs.
The wagon roads were unimproved, and con-
stantly liable to the damaging effects of wind
and water. The mails were brought in stages —
sometimes on horseback — from Vandalia, then
the capital of the State, and from Edwardsville,
Carrollton and Terre Haute. The people were
without news, and, from habit, were willing to
remain so. A newspaper was not a necessity
then, as now, and the new paper especially was
not acceptable. The inhabitants of Central
Illinois at that time were chiefiy from the South-
ern States. The new paper was edited by Con-
necticut "Yankees." That was enough. Even
in those days a Yankee was distasteful to people
from South of the Ohio. Certain persons at

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

215

once raised a cry against the paper, and went so
far as to say tliere some people in the county
who would not give the Francis brothers a place
to be buried in, if it was known where they
came from. Prejudice was tlius fed, and the
hundred and fifty names on their subscription
book did not receive speedy increase. But the
curiosity of the people was at last excited by the
reports about the paper and its proprietors, and
many new subscribers came in, who "wanted to
take the thing just to see what it was." The
result was natural. Each person for his two
dollars and a half received fifty-two papers filled
with good reading. They were pleased, sub-
scribed again, and told their friends to do like-
wise. The storm was thus weathered, and the
prosperous future of the Journal established.

It has already been stated, the first number of
the Journal was issued November 10, 1S.31. The
paper was full of news. The very latest from
Washington and New York was from two to
three weeks old; from St. Loui.s four days, and
the last from England was dated September 9.
The clippings were from papers published weeks
before, and just at hand, while the letters of
correspondents had been longer on the way from
different parts of the country than a letter now
is in going from New York to Omaha. Yet it
was news, the latest news, and relished as much
by tlie readers as the Washington, London or
St. Petersburg telegrams in our morning papers
of events happening the evening before.

In principles the Journal was from its com-
mencement the opposer of the Democratic party.
It was Whig throughout during the existence of
the party. In 1832 it mainly supported Henry
Clay for the Presidency, fought its battle to the
best of its ability, and submitted to defeat with
the expression, "The Presidential game is up and
the day is not ours." It opposed the spirit of
nullification with its might. It advocated all
needed reforms, supported all measures of public
improvement, and sought to promote the inter-
ests of all classes of society.

The partnership between S. & J. Francis con-
tinued until February 21, 1835, when J. Francis
retired. Simeon Francis continued as sole propri-
etor until April 28, 1838, when Allen and J. New-
ton Francis were admitted to the firm, which
took the name of S. Francis & Co. The young
men learned the printing trade in the Journal
office, and were therefore not strangers, at least
to the local patrons of the paper.

The manner of conducting a newspaper at
that early day was not such as it is at the present
time. The patronage of the office was neces-

sarily limited, and it became necessiry at times
for the proprietor to be editor, compositor, devil,
and man-of-all-work generally. Under the head
of " Editorial Comforts," Mr. Francis thus nar-
rates his experience for one day: " Editor at
the case. Enters A. 'I wish to get a handbill
printed immediately. I intend to give them
scoundrels their dues.' 'It is impossible, sir, we
have as much as we can do until Monday.'
'Confounded strange if I ain't allowed to defend
myself. Will you do it then? ' ' Yes, and sooner
if in our power.' Goes out in a huff. Click,
click, click, goes the type. A pause of ten min-
utes. Enters a lad. ' Pa wants the last hand-
bill printed to-day. [ It was during a political
campaign, and candidates were setting forth
their claims by means of handbills.] 'We have
printed no handbills to-day — we are sorry we
can't supply your father with a new handbill.'
Click, goes the type, and after a free breathing
of an hour, B. comes in in great flurtation. ' Sir,
I want you to keep my manuscript out of sight,
and not give a copy of my bill to any human
being until you deliver the same to myself.'
'Very w^ell, sir.' Exit last visitor. Again the
operation of setting type is resumed. 'Mr. F.'
says another visitor, 'have you any news of the
cholera? ' 'None in particular. We believe the
atmosphere is choleric' 'Have you any hand-
bills that I havn't seen?' 'We don't know; all
we have are on the line. Help yourself.' 'Gond
morning,' as C enters the office. 'I have pre-
])ared a communication for your columns, at the
request of several friends, and which I think is
perfectly unexceptionable. It reads:' — (Reads
part of the commtinication.) The writer then
states that the remainder of his article is made
up of an argument founded on divers considera-
tions, designed to show that ' Old Mac' should
be made Governor. We regretted to state to our
friend that we could not possibly publish his
communication — our columns were then filled,
corrected and ready for the press. 'Well, sir, it
will create a rumpus among Mac's friends.' 'We
do not see how we can avoid it.' ' Have you
done my bill?' 'No, sir.' ' There are six men
waiting for it. Can you have it done in two
hours?' 'It cannot be done before ten o'clock
at night.' Leaves grumbling. 'Well, you must
be making your fortunes.' 'Making our for-
tunes! Do you suppose that money is any con-
sideration for the mental torture we are com-
pelled to suffer?' 'Mr. F., I want to have added
a little to your account against me. I suppose
you v.-ould as lief print for me as anybody. I want
to have you get my bill done so I can start for

216

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Athens early iu the morning. Only two short
certificates, with a few remarks. ' We can't
possibly do your work until Monday.' ' Can't
you do it? ' 'It is impossible.' 'Well, then I
must wait until Monday.' Enters M. in great
haste. 'If there should be a handbill printed
against me I want you to give me a chance to
make an immediate reply.' 'You must wait
your turn.' 'What! do you intend to deny me
the use of your press?' 'No, sir; we only intend
to give every man his regular chance.' Such is
the epitome of our editorial history for one day.
We retire at ten o'clock — to sleep on a ' bed of
I'oses' which Guatemozin would have hardly en-
vied — but supported by the consideration that
amid all the conflicting views and passions of
the parties by which we are surrounded, we
have aimed to do right."

On the twenty-fourth day of October, 1835, the
Journal was enlarged to a seven column folio
and otherwise improved. No further change
was made in the paper until the death of J. New-
ton Francis, which occurred on the tenth day of
November, 1843. Mr. Francis had started out
on a business tour in the eastern part of the
State, and had taken his rifle with him to be-
guile the hours of his journey. While near
Monticello, he saw some game, and springing out
of the vehicle in which he was riding, he drew
the rifle toward him by the barrel, when it ac-
cidentally exploded, carrying the charge into the
neck, causing instant death. Simeon Francis,
the elder brother, had this to say of the deceased:
"We know it might well be left to another hand
to record his virtues. They are written in our
heart. Yet why should we not give expression
to thoughts common to all who knew him? He
was manly and generous and just; in his friend-
ship, firm ; in his duties, constant ; in his man-
ners, frank ; in his feelings, kind. No man was
more free from selfishness, and falsehood was
utterly foreign to his nature. He died young,
but he has left a void in society, which will not
be easily filled ; and in the circle of his friends
and kindred there is a grief which words cannot
describe. We have seen him grow from youth
to manhood and take his place in the business
and conflict of life. Together we have struggled
with misfortune, and rejoiced in prosperity. To-
gether we have formed jjlans for the future,
which death has dashed in pieces ; and now,
whatever of trial or disaster is in store for us,
must be sustained without the aid of his counsel,
or the consolations of his sympathy. But all
these words are vain. He is dead ! Already the
mould rests upon his bosom, and to-night the

wind sighs mournfully over his grave. When
the bitterness of grief is past, his friends will
feel a mournful pleasure in speaking of his
blameless life and upright character; and to
hearts that are quivering with anguish now, it
will be a consolation to feel that —

' The ashes of the just
Smell sweet, and blossom in the dust.'

The name of the firm as publishers of the
Journal rem.ained unchanged, it being continued
by S. and A. Francis, under the firm name of S.
Francis & Co. In September, 1847, the name of
the paper was changed from Sangomo to Illinois
Journal, and Albert T. Bledsoe became asso-
ciated with Simeon Francis as editor. This re-
lation was continued for some time.

In 1835, the Francis brothers erected a two-
story frame building, forty-four by twenty feet,
on the lot at the northeast corner of Washington
and Sixth streets. This was the first Journal
building, and was occupied for about eighteen
years, until the completion of a new and better
building erected on North Sixth, between Wash-
ington and Jefferson, and used until November,
1879.

On the twenty-third day of September, 1847,
the name of the paper was changed to the Illinois
Journal, and on the thirteenth of August, 1855,
to the Illinois State Jounal, its present name.

Simeon Francis was born in Wethersfield,
Connecticut, May 14, 1796. At an early age he
entered a printing office in New Haven, Con-
necticut, and served a regular apprenticeship;
after which, in company with Mr. Clapp, he
published a paper in New London, in the same
State. After his marriage in New London, he
sold his interest in the newspaper, and moved
to Buffalo, New York, where he formed a part-
nership under the firm name of Lazevell &
Francis, and published the Buffalo Emporium,
until it was forced to suspend in 1828, in conse-
quence of the excitement in reference to the ab-
duction of Morgan, charged against the Masonic
fraternity, of which Mr. Francis was a member.
In 1831, he came to Springfield, and soon after
engaged in the publication of the Journal. On
retiring from the Journal, Mr. Francis started
the Illinois Farmer, which he continued as pub-
lisher and then editor for some three years. In
1859, he closed his business in Springfield, and
moved to Portland, Oregon. Here he engaged
in the publication of the Oregon Farmer, and
was President of the Oregon State Agricultural
Society. In 1861, President Lincoln appointed
him Paymaster of the L^nited States Army, with

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

211

residence at Fort Vancouver, Washington Ter-
ritory. Tliis position lie held until IbTU, when
he was retired on half pay. Ue then returned
to Portland, Oregon, where he died October 25,
1S72.

Josiah Francis was born January 17, 1804, at
Weatherstield, Connecticut. After severing his
connection with the Journal, he was married to
Margaret Constant, near Athens, Illinois, and in
1836 engaged in taercantile pursuits in Athens.
While tiiere, he represented Sangamon county
in the State Legislature, in 1840. A few years
later, he returned to Springfield, and was elected
Sheriff of Sangamon county, and still later
Mayor of Springtield. He died in 1867.

Allen Francis, brother of Simeon, and asso-
ciate in the publication of the Journal, was born
in Wetherstield, Connecticut, April 12, 181.5,
and came to Springtield in 1834, and sub-
sequently entered into partnership with his
brothers. He remained in connection with the
office until its disposal to Baker & Bailhache.
He was married December 25, 1838, in Spring-
field, to Cecilia B. Duncan, by whom he had six
children. Mr. Francis was for several years a
member of the City Council of Springfield,
from the first ward. He erected the old Journal
buildings on Sixth street, north of the square.
In 1861, President Lincoln appointed him Consul
at Victoria, Vancouver's Island. He left for
that point February, 1862, and remained in
official connection until 1871, when he resigned,
and with his two sons engaged in the fur trade
with the Indians, on the Pacific coast.

In July, 1855, Messrs. Francis sold the estab-
lishment to Bailhache & Baker, who had formerly
been publishers of the Alton Telegraph. In
their valedictory the publishers say: "On an
occasion like this — on leaving a business and an
establishment in which we have been engaged
the best years of our lives — we might say much.
We indeed feel that it is our privilege to do so;
but we will only now say that we have labored
for what we conceived the best interests of our
town, our State and our common country, and
for the success of Whig principles, which we be-
lieved were connected with those interests. Our
work, our labors, are before the public. We will
not say that we have not erred, and that often.
We would not be mortals if we had not. If we
have injured, we ask to be forgiven. If, on the
whole, we have merited favor, we ask that our
labors be kindly considered."

On assuming control of the Journal the new
publishers said: " While we are well aware that
there .are few callings or professions so thank-

25—

less, so little appreciated or so little understood,
as that of the conductor of the public Press,
we believe there is no newspaper in the State
which has since its establishment sust.-iined itself
so uniformly, 'borne its faculties so meekly,' as
the Illinois .Journal, and the simple fact that it
has been in profitable existence for fully twenty-
four years, under the retiring proprietors, speaks
for them a volume of commendation. In taking
upon ourselves the ownership and management
of the Illinois Journal, we dare promise but little.
Our own experience tells us that it will be difti-
cult, if not impossible, to please or meet the
views of all; for in these days of political free-
dom, every man thinks independently and acts
for himself. We shall, however, give our undi-
vided attention to making the Journal an inter-
esting newspaper, which will not be exclusively
devoted to mere politics, but which will likewise
advocate and sustain all the great interests of
society, and lend its aid to the cause of virtue,
morality and education. In its politics, the
Journal will continue to wear much the same
general features which have distinguished it in
the past, but in its strictures upon the present
administration, or upon the tendency of the
measures of opposing parties, it will be found
occupying national conservative ground, in eveiy
emergency upholding the Constitution and the
Union, and opposed to fanaticism and extreme
views, 'vherever they may be found. The most
casual observer cannot fail to perceive that the
political cauldron is at the present time in a
state of violent commotion. Into what distinc-
tive forms the elements will eventually be re-
solved, cannot now be determined; but in every
event we shall do battle fearlessly and independ-
ently for the right, exposing error and falsehood
wherever they may show their heads, and ap-
proving and encouraging what is good and true
in all political organizations."

As stated in their salutatory, the political ele-
ments at this time were in a state of violent
commotion. The Whig party was in process of
disintegration; the American or Know-Nothing
party, which had been formed some years pre-
vious, was gaining strength, especially in the
South; the newly organized Republican or Anti-
Nebraska party was absorbing all the anti-
slavery elements in the Whig and Democratic
parties, and much ill-feeling was engendered in
consequence of the repeal of the Missouri Com-
promise. The Journal, under its new manage-
ment, was rather cautious in the expression of
its views. Its sympathies were doubtless with
the American party, and on the nomination of

■2is

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Millard Fillmore for the Presidency by that
party, it advocated his endorsement by all the
elements opposed to the Democracy. As the
canvass proceeded, the anti-slavery views of the
editors were strengthened, and when .John C
Fremont was nominated by the Republicans, it
instantly hoisted his name, and became an earn-
est and enthusiastic advocate of his election.
From that time to the present, the Journal has
never wavered in its advocacy of Republican
principles.

Baker & Bailhache continued in partnership
as publishers of the Journal until December,
1862, when Mr. Bailhache received a Govern-
ment appointment, and sold his interest to D. L.
Phillips, who continued its publication under
the firm name of Baker and Phillips.

W. H. Bailhache was born in Chilicothe, Ohio,
in 1825, and was brought by his parents to Alton,
Illinois, when quite a small boy. He received a
thorough English education in Shurtleff College,
at Alton, and when about eighteen years old
entered his father's office to learn the trade of
printer. Subsequently he became associated
with his father in the publication of the Alton
Telegraph. As alre.ady stated, he came to
Sprirgfield in 1S55, and purchased an interest in
the Journal. He served in the army as Assist-
ant Quartermaster, with rank of Captain, and
was with the Array of the Tennessee. After
his retirement from the Journal, he went to
Quincy, and engaged in the newspaper business
for a time, and finally received an appointment
in the (^)uartermaster's Department, and is now
at Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was mar-
ried in 1859, to a daughter of General M. Bray-
man.

Edward L. Baker was born in Kaskaskia, Illi-
nois, June 3, 1829. He was educated at Shurt-
leff College, Upper Alton, and graduated in
1847. After graduating, he read law two years
with his father, David J. Baker, after which he
attended Harvard Law School, graduated there-
from, and was admitted to the Bar in 1855, at
Springfield. After leaving he returned to Al-
ton, which had been his home for some years,
and in connection with W. H. Bailhache, he
published the Alton Telegr.aph for some five
years. In 1857, as already stated, he became
part owner and editor of the Illinois State Jour-
nal. In 1869 he was appointed United States
Assessor for the Eighth District of Illinois, re-
maining in that office until it was abolished. In
December, 1873, he was appointed United
States Consul at Buenos Ayres, Argentine Re-
public, S. A., which office he still retains.

When Mr. Phillips became connected with
the Journal, it was at a time when our army had
suffered several defeats and treason was ram-
pant. In his salutatory, he said:

" I am a cordial supporter of the jjresent ad-
ministration — as I would be of any other in its
hour of trial and peril — and in favor of em-
ploying all the means known to the Constitu-
tion and laws to suppress effectual ly and forever,
the existing rebellion against the Government.
In the prosecution of the war I recognize no
distinction between Democrats and Republicans
in arms against the assassins who are attempt-
ing to destroy the heritage bequeathed to us by
our fathers, and seal up in endless night all
hopes of human progress and human liberty.
The meed of praise will be alike given to men
of all parties who peril their lives for the pres-
ervation of that government which we hold as
a common trust for posterity. I am a Repub-
lican, yet I pledge myself to no stereoty])ed line
of politics. The future is too dark and uncer-
tain to define with any degree of certainty, a
political course to be pursued by any true lover
of his country, other than so far as I have al-
ready indicated. My best efforts will be em-
ployed in giving the public a paper free from the
taint of treason, corruption and immorality, and
unalterably devoted to the interests of our
brave Illinoisans who are shedding imperishable
lustre ujion our arms in all parts of the Repub-
lic, cursed with the views of secession and re-
bellion."

On the 28th of August, 18(35, W. H. Bail-
hache, having retired from the army, purchased
a share in the Journal, and again became identi-
fied with the paper. Previous to this, however,
the legislature of 1803 passed an act incorpor-
ating the .Journal Company, and in February of
that year the company was organized and some
twenty thousand dollars in stock issued. Baker
and Phillijis retained by far the larger portion
of this, and the paper as before was published
in their name, the entire management of the
concern being in their hands.

On the 7th of March, 1866, Mr. Phillips
retired from the Journal, disposing of his stock
to Mr. Bailhache. In his valedictory he said:
"While I have been connected with the Journal,
we have ])assed through a great civil war — a war
for the Union ruade by our fathers — a war in
defense of humanity, law, and order, and against
disunion, barbarism, and universal disorder.
The .Journal in the darkest hour of the past four
years has never faltered in its stern, unfiagging
support of the Government, the vigorous prose-

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

219

ciition of the war, and words of cheer to the
brav^ men who saved the Nation. It will be
my proud recollection that in those long, dreary
years of blood and carnage, not one disloyal
sentence eve*' found utterance in the columns of
the Journal, nor one discouraging word to the
heroic men who fought the great battles of the
Union."

Baker and Uailhache, as principal stock-
holders, continued the publication of the Jour-
nal until February, 1S73, when Mr. Eailhache
retired, and the stock was purchased by Edward
L. Baker, D. L. Phillips, Charles Edwards, and
J. D. Roper. Mr. Phillips was elected Presi-
dent, Mr. Baker Secretary, and jMr. Roper Treas-
urer. No further change was made in the man-
agement until September, 1878, when the stock
of the company was purchased l)y Paul Selby,
M. F. Simmons, and H. Chapin.

David L. Phillips, who so long held the posi-
tion of managing editor of the. Journal, was of
Welsh descent, his parents emigrating from that
country prior to the Revolutionary war. David
L. was born October 28, 1823, near the present
town of Marion, Illinois. In common with the
mass of young men of that time, he had only
those opportunities of education afforded by the
common schools of the period, which were none
of the best; but, gifted with an active mind and
a strong thirst for knowledge, he made such
good use of them by study during the winter,
while laboring on the farm cluring the summer,
that by the time he had attained to manhood, he
was fitted to teach, and acquitted himself with
credit in that profession for several years.
About that time the learned and able Dr. John
M. Peck, the distinguished pioneer teacher and
preacher of the I5aptist denomination, was in
the very prime of his manhood and usefulness,
and from the seminary which he founded at
Rock Spring was exerting a vast influence upon
the young men of the State, and even in other
States. It was no doubt due to the direct influ-
ence of this able and gifted man, that at the age
of eighteen years young Phillips was received
into the Baptist Church, and some two years
later entered the ministry of that denomination
with all the zeal and fervor peculiar to his youth
and sanguine temperament. He remained in
this profession probably eight years, teaching
and preaching at intervals in St. Clair, Wash-
ington, Union, and perhaps other counties in
Southern Illinois. In the early part of his
career as a minister, he was married to ]Miss
Charlotte Tate, of St. Clair county, who still
survives him, and the young couple began life

together at Elkton, in Washington county. Air.
Phillips possessed elements which made him a
popular pulpit orator, and it is not too mucli to
say that his zeal, earnestness, and enthusiasm
had attracted attention to him widely in that
section of the State. This flnally resulted in
his being called to take charge of the Baptist
Church at Jonesboro, where he acquitted himself
with his usual ability.

About_18.5-t, having withdrawn from the charge
of the church at Jonesboro, on account of a dis-
agreement on political questions, Mr. Phillips
became associated with the management of the
Jonesboro Gazette, then, as it is now, a Demo-
cratic paper. The excitement over the " Kansas-
Nebraska Bill," removing the restriction against
the introduction of slavery north of the parallel
of thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes — known
as the " Missouri Compromise," — was at its
height, and Mr. Phillips took strong ground
against it. Into this contest he entered with all
the fervor of an ardent, zealous nature. As a
result he soon found himself .arrayed against his
party as he had previously been against his
church. His partner withdrew and, for a time,
the Gazette dispensed to its readers the most
radical Republican doctrine, although the Re-
publican party had not then been organized.

One of the earliest acts of Mr. Lincoln, after
his accession to the Presidency, was to appoint
Mr. Phillips United States Marshal for the
Southern District of Illinois, to which position
he was re-appointed in 1865. He continued to
hold the office until removed by Andrew John-
son in 1806. The administration of this oflice
during the dark and troublous period of the war,
brought Mr. Phillips in close and intimate re-
lations with the most trusted and confidential
agents of the Government, and imposed upon
him many delicate and responsible duties, in the
discharge of which he was not found wanting,
in either ability, courage or integrity.

In the fall of 18Y5 Mr. Phillips made a visit
to California, spending seven months in that
region. He bore a commission as Special Agent
of the Treasury Department, onpowering him
to enquire into tlie management of custom
houses and internal revenue ofiices in that sec-
tion of the Union. During his stay on the
Pacific Coast, he wrote a series of letters to the
Journal, descriptive of ])laces visited, scenery,
climate, customs, and public works, which were
subse(|uently issued in book form, and which
impart a more vivid and comprehensive idea of
that interesting region than can be obtained
from almost any other source. The following

220

HISTORY OF SANGAM(JX CorX'I'Y

touching extract is from a letter bearing date
January 1, ISTG:

" Since my last letter was finished, another
year has been numbered with the unreturning
past. Its joys and sorrows, its successes and
failures, its lights and shadowFi, are all garnered
in the storehouse of Eternity. Each of my read-
ers, and the writer of these Pacific Coast letters,
stand another year nearer the portals of the Un-
known. But, through the infinite goodness,
mercy and wisdom of God, while our steps may
be sobered and our gray hairs increased, we are
permitted to look outward and onward to the
end, stimulated by hope and unawed by fear;
standing in the right as it is given us to see it,
and rejoicing in the evening glories of the nine-
teenth century. Renewing my faith in the
fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man,
from the shores of the Pacific I send to my read-
ers, and the tens of thousands of good friends
and loved ones of and about whom my thoughts
are busy to-day, my ardent, earnest wishes for a
happy New Year for them and theirs."

In the fall of 1876, Mr. Phillips received the
Republican nomination for Congress, but was
defeated, the district being overwhelmingly
Democratic. Ilis canvass was an able one, and
as a slight appreciation of his services, he was
appointed Postmaster of Springfield, by Presi-
dent Hayes.

Paul Selby, in a "Memorial Address on the
Life, Character and Public Services of David L.
Phillips," delivered before the Illinois State
Press Association, held at Springfield, February
16, 1881, pays him the following tribute:

•' With the exception of about two years,
between the early part of 1868, up to his retire-
ment from the Journal, in 1878, it was my for-
tune to be associated with Mr. Phillips almost
continuously. The opportunity I thus had of
knowing our brother journalist has, I think,
given me the right, as well as the ability, to
speak of him as a man, as a journalist, as a poli-
tician, and as a public officer. In all that period,
our friendly relations were never mterrupted for
a moment. It was necessary that, in such a re-
lation, there should be mutual trusts and confi-
dences; in these he was never found wanting.
AVhatever may have been his imperfections —
and he was a man, and no man is perfect — he
was as true in his journalistic relation to those
associated with him as he was patriotic in his
political relations, and honest and faithful in
the discharge of his official duties.

"Mr. Phillips was essentially a self-educated,
self-made man. While, with the majority of the

youth of his day, he possessed few advantages in
early life, he distanced the great mass of his
associates in the progress which he made and
the results he achieved. He was entitled to all
the more credit for what he accomplished,
though his achievements were necessarily un-
equal. He possessed natural qualities of intel-
lect which fitted him for wide and profound
research. Ilis official duties during most of the
period when he was associated with the public
Press, did not permit him to engage in general
journalism for any length of time. His tastes
led him rather into special fields. In these he
was full, comprehensive and exhaustive. In-
clined to the discursive and florid in style, a
strong and vivid imagination still enabled him
to clothe his thoughts in a garb which never
failed to command the attention of the reader,
whether the latter agreed with him or not. He
was never dull or prosaic — never wrote common-
place merely t6 till up the page, but his utter-
ances came from a mind overflowing with living
facts and arguments. Gifted with a memory
that surprised those who knew him by its
extraordinary sweep and tenacity, his mind was
the repository of an amount of knowledge of
men and things, gained from reading and ob-
servation, possessed by few men of his time."

Mr. Phillips died in Springfield, June 19,
ISSO.

Under the management of the present pro-
prietors, the Journal has been made a success in
every particular, and the office is well supplied
with material for any kind of work, from a visit-
ing card to a mammoth poster.

Paul Selby, editor-in-chief of the Illinois Slate
Journal, was born in Pickawav countv, Ohio,
July 20, 1825. His father, Dr. William H. Selby,
was a native of Anne Arundel county, Maryland,
while his mother, Mary (Young) Selby, was born
at Fairfield, Connecticut. The former grew to
manhood, when, having qualified himself for the
practice of medicine, he removed to Western
Pennsylvania, where he made the acquaintance
of, and married. Miss Young, whose parents had
emigrated to tlniontown, in the latter State,
while she was yet in her infancy. Soon after
marriage, the young couple removed to Eastern
Ohio, residing for a time at Zanesville, Marietta
and Mt. Vernon, in that State. During their
residence at the latter place. Dr. Selby engaged
for a time in the mercantile business. The war
of 1812-15, with England being then in progress,
he went as surgeon with a body of volunteers
raised for the relief of the scattered remnants of
General St. Clair's defeated army.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

221

Some years after the close of the war the
Selbys removed to Pickaway county, where the
subject of this sketcli was born, being the fifth
of a family of six children (tive sons and one
daughter), all of whom grew to manhood and
womanhood, but of whom he is now the only
survivor. In 18.3'7 the family moved West, set-
tling in the DesMoines Valley ( Van Buren
county), in what was then the Territory of Iowa.
Both in Ohio and Iowa, Dr. Selby pursued the
business of a farmer, and thus Paul grew ujj as
m.ost farmers' sons do — working upon the farm
in summer and going to school in the winter,
when opportunity offered — though his parents
being intelligent, reading people, his advantages
may have been somewhat better than the aver-
age. The common schools, especially in the lat-
ter State, were none of the best, but furnished
the only educational advantages then open to
him except those which he enjoyed at home or
hy means of independent study, until after he had
reached manhood.

In 1843, Paul's father died, and in the follow-
ing year, at the age of nineteen, h£ left home to
make his way in the world, and while contribut-
ing to the su]>port of his mother, determined to
acquire an education. The following winter and
sjsring were spent in teaching in Washington
county, Illinois, when, more liberal inducements
being offered him, he removed to Madison
county, where he engaged in the same occupa-
tion, lie spent about three years in Madison,
half of the time being at the same place, a few
miles above St. Louis, on the Alton road. In
1848, having acquired some means, he determined
to carry out his long cherished purpose of ac-
quiring a more liberal education, and then went
to JacKsonville, entering Illinois College for a
classical course. Here he remained three and a
half years, but before the expiration of his course
{in March, 18.52,) he formed a business connec-
tion for the publication of the "Morgan (now
Jacksonville) Journal," assuming editorial charge
as successor to Col. E. R. Roe, late Marshal of
the Southern District of Illinois. He then had
no intention of abandoning his studies, but find-
ing his time fully occupied, he reluctantly with-
drew from college in the middle of his junior
year, though subsequently honored by his Alma
3Iater with the honorary degree of A. M.

Mr. Selby's connection with the "Morgan
Journal " continued nearly seven years, covering
a period of great political excitement and agita-
tion, during which the Republican party came
into existence. Though a Whig in politics, his
tastes were rather literary than political, and he

preferred an independent position in journalism.
This was in part due to the fact that he foresaw
the breaking up of the organization of parties,
which occurred on the passage of the bill re-
moving the restriction against the admission of
slavery north of thirty-six degrees thirty min-
utes, introduced by Mr. Douglas. New ques-
tions having thus been brought to the surface, he
entered with zeal into their discussion, and, as was
inevitable, soon took a position on the side of
the Republican party — in fact, was among the
first to be identified with the new party organi-
zation in Central Illinois. In the fall of 185.5,
the paper with which Mr. Selby was connected,
suggested a meeting of the anti-Nebraska edi-
tors of the State, to be held at some central j)oint
in the State, for the purpose of giving form and
direction to the sentiment of the new party and
agreeing upon some general line of policy. The
suggestion was approved by others, and in the
next few months the proposition took form, the
convention being called at Decatur, February
22, 1850. When the convention met, in view of
his agency in securing it, Mr. Selby was, by
unanimous consent, chosen to preside over its
deliberations. lu an address delivered by him
before the Illinois Press Association, at its
winter meeting held at Springfield, February
0, 1879, under the title of "A Quarter of a Cen-
tury of Journalism," he made the following al-
lusion to this assemblage as an incident in the
political and journalistic history of the State:

"On the 22d day of February, 1856, an Edito-
rial Convention of a somewhat different charac-
ter was held at Decatur, in this State. The
number in attendance was small — not amount-
ing to over fifteen or twenty, all told — a sort of
"forlorn hope," so to speak — but they assisted
to set in motion agencies which have left their
impress on the political history of this State
and the Nation. The Convention was composed
of representatives of newspapers opposed to the
so-called Kansas-Nebraska Bill, which had
passed Congress in 1854, and which had pro-
duced a degree of popular excitement seldom
known in the previous history of the country,
proving a fore-runner of the war of the rebel-
lion which followed a few years later. It was
called for the purpose of outlining a policy for
the Anti-Nebraska party — as the opponents of
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise called
themselves — and was one of the first and most
effective steps towards the formal organization
and consolidation of the Republican party of
the State, which took place in May following.
The printed record does not show a full list of

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

the names of those present, but from the list of
committees and officers I am able to find the
following: V. Y. Ralston, Quincy Whig; Dr.
C. H. Eay, Chicago Tribune; O. P. Wharton,
Rock Island Advertiser; T. J. Pickett, Peoria
Republican; George Schneider, Chicago Staats
Zeitung; Charles Faxon, Princeton Post; A N.
Ford, Lacon Gazette; B. F. Shaw, Dixon Tele-
graph; W. J. Usrey, Decatur Chronicle; Paul
Selby, .Jacksonville Journal.

A pl.atform was adopted at this meeting which
would now be regarded as very conservative
Republicanism, but it was assailed by the oppo-
sition Press of the day as the wildest Radical-
ism — or ratber "abolitionism." Resolutions
were adopted recommending that a State Dele-
gate Convention be held at Bloomington, May
29th following, for the purpose of organization,
and a State Central Committee was appointed
to fix an apportionment of delegates and issue
the formal call. That Committee performed its
duty; the convention was held at the time and
place designated; General John M. Palmer,
then a rising young Lawyer and liberal politi-
cian of Carlinville, present proprietor ot the
Register in this city, presided; a ticket com-
posed of General W. H. Bissell, for Governor;
Francis Hoffman, (afterwards replaced by Hon.
John Wood, of Quincy,) for Lieutenant Gover-
nor; O. M. Hatch, for Secretary of State; Jesse
K. Dubois, for Auditor; James Miller, for Treas-
urer, and W. H. Powell, for Superintendent of
Public Instruction, was put in nomination and
was elected in November following. And thus
the Republican party sprang at once into polit-
ical ascendancy in this State — an ascendancy
which it has never since wiiolly lost."

In May, 1858, while still residing at Jackson-
ville, Mr. Selby was married to Miss Erra A.
Post, an amiable and worthy young lady who
had been a pupil, and for a time, a teacher in
the Female Seminary at that place. During the
following fall he severed his connection with
the Jacksonville Journal, and the next spring
removed to Springfield, where he spent the sum-
mer of 1859. Though not immediately connected
with the Press during this period, he did con-
siderable political writing for the State Journal,
and otherwise. One of his principal labors dur-
ing this summer was the jireparation of a pamph-
let giving the history ot the celebrated "Canal
Scrip Fraud" which was brought to the atten-
tion of the public soon after the retirement of
Joel A. Matteson from the Governorship of the
State. This pamphlet was widely distributed
throughout the State, and exerted no small in-

fluence upon the elections of the next few years.
In September, 1859, in compliance with the
urgent solicitation of friends already in the
South, Mr. Selby accepted an invitation to take
charge of a boys' school at Plaqucmine, Louisi-
ana, and removed there with his family. After
remaining here one year he was offered strong
inducement to take charge of an institution for
the education of young ladies and gentlemen, at
Amite City, in the same State, which he ac-
cepted. Before the close of this year, the war
between the North and South, which had been
gradually coming on, opened with all its bitter-
ness and fury. Perceiving tliat he could no
longer be of any service there in the profession
which he bad chosen, and that the safety ot
himself and family would be in peril by longer
remaining in the South, at the close of the term
of 1800-61, Mr. Selby determined to return to
the North, and disposing of what property he
could, and leaving his library, which, in the con-
dition of the country at that time, could not be
transported, and wliich was plundered and scat-
teicd during the war, on the evening of the 3d
of July, ISGi; he left Nfw Orleans for Illinois.
The journey was made by railroad, by way of
Columbus, Kentucky, and Cairo, though many
persons then seeking to reach the North were
meeting with serious trouble, and all communi-
cation was cut off between Columbus and Cairo,
by the seizure of the steamer running between
those two places, by the rebels, a few days after.
Almost immediately after his arrival in Spring-
field, leavinghisfamily here, Mr. Selby returned
to Cairo, to accept a position which had been
tendered him in the employment of the Govern-
ment.

After a stay at Cairo of about eight months,
and a short period spent in the Transportation
Department at Paducah, Kentucky, during which
the movement up the Tennessee river to Pitts-
burg Landing took j)lace, jMr. Selby returned to
Springfield, and in July following was offered
and accepted a position upon the editorial de-
partment of the State Journal, which continued
unbroken up to November, 1865. At this time
he was called to suffer a deep affliction in the
loss of his wife. His household having been
broken up, he severed his connection with the
Journal, and soon after went to New Orleans,
where he spent the winter. Returning north in
June, 1806, after a few weeks' rest, he was of-
fered and accepted a position on the editorial
staff of the Chicago Evening Journal, but soon
after taking a similar position on the Chicago
Republican now the Inter-Ocean.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

223

In 1868, Messrs. D. L. Phillips and William
H. Dailhacbe, of the State Journal, purchased the
Whig, at Quincy, Illinois, and Mr. Selby was in-
vited to take editorial charge of it. Subse-
quently he became the successor of Major Bail-
bache in proprietorship of the Whig, at the
same time retaining the position of managing
editor. At the close of the year 1873, the Whig
was sold to its present proprietors, when Hon.
E. L. Baker, editor of the State Journal, having
been appointed Consul to Buenos Ayers, Mr.
Selby was offered his old place upon the Journal.
He accepted, entering on his duties January 1,
1874, and his connection with the paper has re-
mained unbroken eversince. In September, 1878,
the Journal became the property of the "Spring-
field Journal Publishing Company," of which Mr.
Selby is a member, being a director and secretary
of the board. Mr. Selby was married a second
time in December, 1870, to Mrs. M. J. Hitchcock,
a gifted lady of Quincy, who still survives. Two
daughters born to him of his first wife still live;
but a daughter and a son born to him of his pres-
ent wife, died in December, 1878, within a few
days of each other.

In June, 1880, Mr. Selby received from Presi-
dent Hayes the appointment of Postmaster for
the city of Springfield, in place of Hon. D. L.
Phillips, deceased, entering upon the duties of
the office July 4, and on the assembling of Con-
gress, in December, was nominated, confirmed
and re-commissioned.

Horace Chapin, Treasurer and Business Mana-
ger of the Journal, was born in Springfield,
Massachusetts, December 27, 1827, and emi-
grated to Morgan county, Illinois, in 1851, and
settled near the present village of Chapin, the
junction of the Wabash and Chicago, Burling-
ton and Quincy Railroads. The early life of
Horace was spent on his father's farm, and in
attending the public schools and academy of
his native place. On coming to Morgan, he en-
gaged in farming in connection with his brother
Lyman, whicli occupation he continued until
August, 1861, when he enlisted as a private in
Company K., Twenty-Seventh Illinois Infantry.
On the election of officers of the company, Mr.
Chapin was elected First Lieutenant. The regi-
ment shortly after was ordered to Cairo, where
it Ijecame a part of General McClernand's
brigade. After the battle of Belmont, Lieuten-
ant Chapin was promoted to Captain of Company
D. During the three years of his service. Cap-
tain Chapin participated in many of the im-
portant battles of the war, including Island No.
10, Union City, Farmington, Corinth, Nashville,

Liverne, Franklin, Stone River and Chicamauga.
In the battle of Chicamauga, Captain Chapin lost
a leg, and was sent to the hospital at Nashville,
where he remained four months and then re-
ceived a furlough home. He was mustered out
of service on the twenty-seventh of September,
1864, his term of service having expired. In
1865 he moved to Jacksonville, and in April,
1867, received the appointment of Postmaster of
that city, which position he held for four years.
About the time of his appointment of Postmaster,
he jmrchased an interest in the Jacksonville
Journal, but was not actively engaged in its
management until his retirement from the post-
office. Captain Chapin severed his relationship
with the Journal in 1876. On the formation of
the present State Journal Company he was
elected Treasurer and Business Manager, which
position he yet retains.

Horace Chapin and Augusta Swazey, of
liucksport, Maine, were united in marriage
January 9, 1859, at St. Anthony, Minne-
sota.

Captain Chapin was originally a Whig, and
was afterwards identified with the Free Soil
movement. On the organization of the Repub-
lican party, he became an active worker in its
ranks, and no man has ever been a more enthus-
iastic one.

Milton F. Simmons, President of the State
Journal Company, was born in Schoharie county,
New York, December 21, 1842. He received
an academical and collegiate education in his
native State, and subsequently read law with
Lyman Tremaine, of New York City, and was
there admitted to the Bar. After receiving a
license as an attorney, he moved to Mexico,
Missouri, where he engaged in practice for some
six years, with success. In 1871, he ]iurc.hased
the office of the Mexico Messenger, which paper
he edited and published until his removal to
Jacksonville, Illinois, in 1876. While in Mexico
he was elected to the State Legislature, and
served one session. On his arrival in Jackson-
ville, he became associated in the publication
of the Jacksonville Journal, which relation
continued until 1878, when he came to
Springfield, and became one of the Journal
Company.

Milton F. Simmons and Philena Eliza
Humphrey were maiTied at Mexico, Missouri,
November 11, 1867. Four children have
resulted from this union — Ida Mabel, Anna
Maggie, Minnie Myrtle, and Katie Maud.

Mr. Simmons has always been a Republican
in politics.

224

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

THE DAILY JOURNAL.

The Journal first appeared as a daily Monday,
June 13, 1848, containing twelve columnt*,
twelve inches long. That paper printed the first
telegraphic dispatch ever received directly by
the Press in Springfield. Diminutive as was
the sheet, its advent marked a new era in the
history of the Press of that city. It seemed a
hazardous undertaking to establish a daily, but
the paper met with immediate support, and when
but eleven days old was enlarged to a sixteen
column sheet, of respectable size. Its news col-
umns were well filled, and in all respects it was
fully up to the demands of the times. It was
issued in the evening, as most of the mails left
early in the morning, and the clumsy hand press
could not have a morning paper ready in time.

The conduct of a daily at that time was widely
at variance with what it is to-day. Printing ap-
pliances were unwieldy; labor was scarce; ex-
penses heavy, and the people at large found a
weekly enough for their wants. Notwithstand-
ing these and other obstacles, the Journal suc-
ceeded well. On the first of January, 1850, the
daily was again enlarged, by increasing the
length of its columns and adding four to their
number. No change was made thereafter until
the 22d of December, 1853, when it was again
enlarged. It then became a twenty-four column
paper. These changes were made to meet the
demands of advertisers. Again about the begin-
ning of the war, first to a seven and then an eight-
column folio. This form was continued until
July, 1880, when it was changed to a six-column
quarto, its present form.

THE ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN.

The Republican was established May, 1835,
by John A. Roberts and George R. Weber, who
coniinued its publication until the summer of
1839. The Republican was a firm supporter of
the Jackson policy, and dealt some powerful
blows to the opposition. It was a fearless and
radical sheet in its utterances, and gave no un-
certain sound. Its enemies always knew where
to find it. In the spring of 1837, Stephen A.
Douglas was appointed by President Van Buren,
Register of the Land Office at Springfield, and
thus became a resident of the place. At this
time he was very boyish in appearance and man-
ner; was a ready wit, and a bold and fluent
speaker. He made politics his chief study, to
the neglect of his profession. He wrote much
for the columns of the Republican, which ap-
peared both as editorial and communicated. The
paper, in political circles, was therefore generally

regarded as the organ of young Douglas. Under
the nom de plume of an "Old Settler," a well
known citizen of Springfield contributed to a
local paper of the city, in 1871, the following
interesting reminiscence of the Republican, and
Stephen A. Douglas' connection with it:

"A law providing for the removal of the seat
of government from Vandalia to Springfield
had passed the legislature of 1835-36, and three
commissioners appointed to superintend the
building of a new State House at the latter
place. Dr. Henry was the acting commissioner.
He was an able political writer, and contributed
largely to the columns of the Sangamo Journal,
both editorially and otherwise; hence, the news-
paper fights of that day between the Journal
and Republican, were mainly between Douglas
and Dr. Henry, as the champion writers of their
respective parties.

"Douglas, in several anonymous communica-
tions, attacked Dr. Henry as acting State House
Commissioner, denouncing him, with much bit-
terness, as being unqualified for the position,
and burlesquing many of his official acts, advis-
ing the Governor to remove him for incompe-
tency, and to appoint a practical builder — -a
mechanic or architect, as doctors and lawyers
knew but little about building State houses.
Dr. Henry and many of his friends, believing
Douglas to be the author of the offensive arti-
cles, determined to demand the name of the
author by calling on the editor. A committee
was appointed for that purpose, which, armed
with cane and pistols, waited upon the editor
(until then supposed to be a meek man), and
made the demand. Douglas happened to be in
the printing office when the committee arrived.
The demand was made with threats and a flour-
ish of the cane, when the meek man of the press
planted his fist in the face of the chairman of
the committee, informing him that he was re-
sponsible for everything that appeared in his
paper. The committee was thus dispersed.
Douglas being an eye-witness of the disastrous
defeat of the committee, gave a highly colored
description of what had occurred in the next
paper, which, when the paper appeared, resulted
in a determination of certain aggrieved parties
to destroy the printing establishment of the Illi-
nois Republican.

"On the evening of June 27, 1837, while the
editor and hands were at supper, a mob appeared
before the office door which was locked. The
leader, being the Sheriff of the county on a
'spree,' picked up a stick of cord wood and
burst open the door, and ordering his men to

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

225

tlirow the printing materials into the street,
promising to pay all damages. By this time the
Weber brothers — three in number — Douglas,
Dr. Early (afterwards assassinated), and a few
others, rushed into the office, and kicked and
flung the mobocrats from the building. Several
other personal conflicts ensued. The next day
the mob rallied and made another attack, in
which the leader of the mob, the Sheriff, was
stabbed, and fainting fell, covered with blood,
he was carried home. Thus ended the mob.
These things gave notoriety to the paper. The
spicy and able articles of Douglas, like pure and
good Democratic seed sown in good ground,
resulted in his nomination for Congress by the
Democratic party of the Third Congressional
District."

George R. Weber was born in Baltimore,
Maryland, May 29, 1808. He was taken, when
an infant, to Shepherdstown, Virginia, by his
parents, and remained thereuntil after he reached
his majority. In 1832, he was married to Miss
Susan Shepherd, and soon after moved to New
York City, where his wife soon died. Mr.
Weber then returned to Shepherdstown, and
from there came to Springfield, Illinois, arriving
here April 15, 1835. He was married in Spring-
field to Catherine Welch, by whom he had eight
children. Mr. Weber learned the trade of a
printer before coming to Springfield, and has
worked at the case oflE and on for a period of
nearly sixty years. In 1839, he suspended the
Republican, and shortly after became a part-
ner in the Register, retaining his connection
therewith until 1846, when he sold out to Mr.
Walters, and enlisted in Company A, 4th Illi-
nois Infantry, under Colonel E. D. Baker.
While encamped on the Rio Grande, in
Mexico, news of Mr. Walter's death "reached
there, and Mr. Weber, being interested in the
State printing, it became necessary that he
should return. Accordingly he was detailed to
return home with those soldiers who were unfit
for duty, and was never recalled. After the
time expired for which he was elected Public
Printer, he severed his connection with the
office, and moved to his farm.

Mr. Weber served six months as State Com-
missary, in our late civil war, and was subse-
quently appointed as Commissary at Camp But-
ler, which position he retained until the close of
the rebellion.

i»LINOIS STATE REGISTER.

The Illinois State Register was started in
Vandalia, February, 1836, under the name of the

26—

Illinois State Register and Vandalia Republi-
can, by William Walters. Mr. Walters was a
native of Delaware, and for some years was a
journeyman printer in Washington City, and
foreman in the office of the old National Intel-
ligencer. While occupying this position he
contributed a number of articles to the Press of
that day, and thus attracted the notice of the
Democratic or Jackson members of Congress
from this State. Desiring a strong newspa])er
advocate of the Jaeksonian school at the capital
of the State, Mr. Walters was induced to make
the venture. He arrived in Vandalia in .Jan-
uary, 183G, and on the 10th of February, the first
number of the new paper appeared. At this
time Judge John York Sawyer was publishing
the Illinois Advocate at Vandalia, and was State
Printer. Judge Sawyer died during this year,
and the Advocate suspended publication.

The legislature, at its session of 1830-37,
elected Mr. Walters State Printer, and made
the Register the official paper of the State.
During this session the vote was taken on the
removal of the State capital to Springfield, and
carried.

In 1839, the ofiBces of the State Government
were removed to Springfield, and were followed
a few weeks later by the State Register, Mr.
Walters removing the office to this city. Here
the paper assumed the double name of Illinois
State Register and People's Advocate, with
William Walters and George R. Weber as edi-
tors and publishers. The name of the Advocate
w.is (juietly dropped out some monthii after-
wards, and the name of Illinois State Register
alone .ippeared as the name of the paper. The
first number of the Register printed in Spring-
field, dated August 10, 1839, made the following
announcement:

"To ouK Patrons: — We have the pleasure to
address the patrons of the State Register from
Springfield, the new seat of Government of the
State of Illinois. The most of our readers
are aware that, until within a few weeks past,
the Illinois Republican (the leading and spirited
Democratic paper) has been published in this
place for several successive years. The removal
of the seat of Government to Springfield made
it the duty of the public printer to remove with
it; and hence, as there was not a probable
demand for two Democratic papers in the same
place, Mr. Weber, the editor of the Republican,
discontinued that journal, and purchased an in-
terest in this paper. The change will, no doubt,
be advantageous to our subscribers. To the
subscribers of the Illinois Republican, this

•220

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

paper -will henceforth be sent, unless otherwise
instructed by them."

In 184.5, Mr. Weber sold his interest in the
Register to his partner, Mr. Walters, who con-
tinued it until 1846, when the war with Mexico
broke out, when he leased the office to diaries
H. Lanphier, and enlisted as a private soldier in
the Second Regiment, Illinois Volunteers. Mr.
Walters confidently expected the position of
Major of the regiment, but it was given to an-
other. Ills friends in Washington, learning this
fact, secured a commission as Commissary for
him, and mailed it to him at St. Louis. Mr.
Walters never lived to reach the front, but died
in St. Louis before the departure of the regi-
ment.

Mr. Walters was a very able political writer,
and was very popular with the people; and his
loss was deeply felt.

On the death of Mr. Walters, Charles H. Lan-
phier became proprietor of the office, and con-
tinued the publication of the paper one year,
when he associated with himself George Walker,
and the Register was published from 1846 to
January 1, 18.58, by Lanphier & Walker, when
Walker withdrew, as appears from the follow-
ing:

Dissolution op Partnership. — Notice is berebj'

given tluit the partnership under the style of Lanphier

& Walker, in the printing business and publication of

the Illinois State Kegister, is this day dissolved, by

■ mutual consent. * * *

Chas. H. Lakphier,
.Tan. 1, 18o8. Geo. Walker.

George Walker was born in Vermont, in 1821,
and in 1836 came with his parents to Belvidere,
Illinois, His father was the original proprietor
of that town. Mr. Walker came to Spvingfield
at an early day; studied law with Ebenezer Peck,
and was admitted to the bar. Subsequently, he
was appointed deputy by Mr. Peck, who received
the appointment of Clerk of the Supreme Court.
He acted as Deputy Clerk until 1847, when he
became connected with the Register, as editor
and publisher.

Mr. Walker was a fine scholar and a brilliant
writer. While he wrote or spoke in a manner
not to be misunderstood, he was choice of his
words, and every sentence showed the scholarly
man. After retiring from the Register, he en-
gaged in no active business, and died at the
house of Mr. Lanphier, in 1864.

On the breaking out of the war, in 1861, the
following article appeared in the Register, from
the pen of Charles II. Lanphier, on the duty of
the hour:

"The fratricidal blow has been struck! Civil
war is upon us. The rebels have opened their
batteries upon Fort Sumter, and the prospect of
a long and bloody strife is before us. It has
come as the consequence of causes so often and
emphatically deprecated by Democrats and other
conservative men — as the consequence of sec-
tional agitation by Northern and Southern ex-
tremists. But it is useless and unprofitable now
to discuss the causes which have placed the
country in its present unhappy condition. The
Government has been resisted in the perform-
ance of its legal functions. Rebels to the Na-
tional authorities have tired upon the flag of the
country, and assaulted one of its garrisons, when
an effort was being made to re-inforce and pro-
vision the noble Anderson and his gallant little
band. Most gallantly have they resisted; bravely
have they defended their country's flag and their
country's rights. But they have been overcome
by the superior force that has surrounded them.

"The news has been productive of the most
intense feeling and excitement here, as it will
be throughout the land, but whatever may be
men's opinions as to the causes which have
brought war upon us, there is but one feeling,
and that is in behalf of the Government and
the flag of the Union. This is as it should be.
With the true patriot, whatever may be his
opinions of the causes of war with his country's
enemies, he is for his country and his country's
flag; and his hearty support, morally, and physi-
cally if necessary, should be rendered to the
country's cause."

In an article on "The National Trouble," the
editor says:

"We are jn'oud to record that Douglas and
his counsels, now that blows have ensued, are
with the Government. Ever faithful, ever true,
the champion of popular rights is for the cause
of his country — of the Constitution and law.
Whatever may be our party leanings, our party
principles, our likes or dislikes, when the con-
test opens between tBe country, between the
Union, and its foes, and blows are struck, the
patriot's duty is plain — take sides with the stars
and stripes! As lUinoisans, let us rally to one
standard. There is but one standard for good
men and true. Let us be there. Through good
and through evil report, let us be there — tirst,
last, and all the time."

L^pon the retirement of Mr. Walker, Edward
Conner was associated with Mr. Lanphier in the
publication of the Register until June 10, 1859,
when the following announcement was made:

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

DissoIjDTION of Co-PARTNERSiirp. — Notice is Iicrcby
given that the partnership in the publication of the Illi-
nois State Register, heretofore existing under the name
of Lanphierifc Conner is dissolved b_v mutual consent.
The business will hereafter be conducted by Chas. II.
Lanphier. Ch.\s. 11. L.\ni'iiiek,

June 10, 185!). Edwahd Connek.

Mr. Lanpliier alone, continued the pul)lication
of the Ivegister until 180-1, when he sold out to
certain parties and the "Illinois State Register
Printing Company" was organized, with George
Judd, Esq., business manager, and I. N. Iliggius
editor. (Mr. I. N. Higgins is now editor of the
Morning Call, San Francisco.)

Charles H. Lanphier was born in Alexandria,
Virginia, April 14, 1820. His father, Robert
Goin Lanphier, was a native of the same place.
His grandfather, Goin Lanphier, was one of the
first settlers of that ancient town. He was of
Irish birth, coining to Virginia an infant, with
his father, Thomas Lanphier, in the year 17:12,
from County Cork, Ireland, where the family
(French Hugenots) had emigrated in 1050. At
the age of four years, the parents of Charles H.
Lanphier removed to Washington City, where
Mr. Lanphier received a plain, English educa-
tion, in the primary schools of the day. In
May, 1830, just turning his sixteenth year. Mr.
Lanphier came to Illinois with his brother-in-
law, William Walters, who, in January of that
year, had established the Illinois State Register
at Vandalia, then the seat of government of the
State. Mr. Lanphier entered that establishment
as an apprentice to the printing trade, and when
the paper was moved to Sjiringtield, he cnme
with it. Completing his apprenticeship, he con-
tinued in the concern as printer, clerk or re-
porter, until 1840. On the breaking out of the
Mexican war, Mr. Walters entered the vol-
.ixnteer army, leaving Mr. Lanphier in charge
of the paper as editor and manager. Mr. Wal-
ters died at St. Louis, soon after bis regiment
reached there, en route for Mexico. Mr. Lan-
phier then attained the proprietorship of the
paper. At the next session of the legislature
(1840-7) he was elected Public Printer, being
the last person to fill that office, which was there-
after abolished by constitutional provision. In
1847 he took into partnership, in the publication
of the Register, Mr. George Walker, one ol the
most accomplished scholars and jf)urnalists of
his day. This partnership continued until .Jan-
uary, 1858, when Mr. Walker withdrew, and
Mr. Lanphier continued the publication of the
paper, until the fall of 1803, when he sold out
the establishment, after a connection with it of
nearly twenty-eight years. In 1800, on the

breaking out of the Southern rebellion, Mr.
Lanphier was appointed by Governor Yates a
member of the "Board of Army Auditors," in
connection with Judge Willi?m Thomas, of
Jacksonville, and Hon. James H. Woodworth,
of Chicago. In 1804, Mr. Lanphier was elected
Clerk of the Circuit Court, of Sangamon county,
and in 1808, was re-elected. Before the expira-
tion of his last term, in 1873, Mr. Lan])hier was
nominated as the Democratic candidate for
State Treasurer, but with his whole party, was
defeated.

In February, 1840, Mr. Lanphier was mar-
ried to Margaret T. Crenshaw, daughter of
.John Hart Crenshaw, of Gallatin county, Illi-
nois, one of the early pioneers of the State, set-
tling witii his parents and family in that comity
in the year 1812, from North tiarolina. After
the adoption of the present city charter, Mr.
Lanphier was chosen a member of the City
Council for three terms, and as Chairman of the
Ordinance and School Committees, was largely
instrumental in shaping the city laws und( r the
new charter, and in organizing the present sys-
tem of city schools. During the ascendancy of
the Democr.atic party in the State, as the editor
of its leading exponent at the Capital, Mr. Lan-
phier bore a conspicuous part, and through the
Register, was influential in shaping the policies
of the State. Contemporary and intimate
friend of Judge Douglas during his whole pul
lie career, he was an earnest champion in nearly
all his public efforts, sharing his confidence and
possessing his highest respect and esteem. As
editor of the Register, while it was controlled
by him, he was bold and fearless in giving ex-
pression to his views of men and principles.
His quick perception enabled him to judge al-
most unerringly of the motives of the former,
and while respectful to his opponents, if he
thought them sincere, he was unsparing in his
criticism of those he believed tinprincipled and
corrupt. His integrity was unquestioned and in
these days, when venality so far pervades the
Press, however lamentable the contemplation, it
would not be time illy spent, to compare the
course of the Register under his management
with the latter day political journalism. As a
writer, Mr. Lanphier was terse and ])ointed in
style. He never indulged in fanciful phrases at
the expense of clear, lucid expression. When
he meant to say a thing he said it, and there
could be no misunderstanding his meaning. In
short, his entire editorial career was as able and
consistent as his private life has been upright
and honorable.

228

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY,

In December, 1864, J. W. Merritt & Sons pur-
chased the Register, and by them it was con-
tinued something less than two years, when J.
W. Merritt retired, and the paper was then run
by E. L. Merritt ifc Bro., as publishers, with J.
W. Merritt, editor, and E. L. Merritt, associate
editor. In 1873, on account of advanced age,
J. W. Merritt resigned editorial charge, and E.
L. Merritt became editor in-chief.

In June, 1877, E. L. Merritt & Bro., disposed
of their interest to a stock company composed
of John M. Palmer, E. L. Merritt, J.'M. Higgins
and John Mayo Palmer, forming the State Reg-
ister Printing Company.

John VV. Merritt was born in New York City
July 4, 1806, and died November 10, 1878. The
Register, with which he was so long connected
as editor, thus speaks of the man:

"John W. Merritt was born in New York City
in 1806, and had the benefit of a common school
education. Before arriving at manhood he
evinced a decided literary taste, and his contribu-
tions to the magazine and newspapers of the
time were greatly admired. He studied law and
built up a very lucrative practice in connection
with Hon. James T. Brady, the profits of which
were invested in real estate. He made himself
independent at a comparatively early period in
life, and was in a fair way to become wealthy
when the financial revulsion of 1837, in a short
time destroyed the value of bis earnings and in-
vestments. That he must have been greatly
disheartened by his misfortunes seems certain,
but it is true that none of his most intimate
friends ever heard him repine. With his wife
and a young dependent family he removed with
the remnant of his goods to St. Clair county, in
this State, in 1841. His culture and energy soon
gained him friends, and he purchased the Helle-
ville Advocate, which paper he conducted with
considerable success from 1848 to 1851. He also
carried on a farm, and wrote letters for New
York papers and contributed to eastern maga-
zines. During this period, also, he wrote and
published a novel called Shubel Darton. The
style of this work now seems antiquated, and its
construction more complicated than pleases
modern taste, but the plan of the story shows
considerable skill, and the composition is remark-
able for power in many passages. About this
time he formed a strong personal friendship for
Judge Breese, which continued to the close of
Breese's life.

" Some years later, Mr. Merritt moved to Salem
and established the Advocate, which paper he
conducted for many years, and where he had his

sons instructed in the art and mystery of print-
ing. In 1861, he was elected a member of the
Constitutional Convention, and in 1862, a mem-
ber of the legislature. In 1864, the State Regis-
ter, as the organ of the Democracy of the State,
suffered the fate of tlie party it had so long
represented. The efforts of powerful political
opponents, and the treachery of pretended ad-
herents, had reduced the party to what seemed a
hopeless minority, and upon the State Register
fell the stigma of copperheadism and disloyalty.
Mr. Merritt resolved to attempt the task of re-
establishing the paper, and supported by his son,
took editorial charge January 1, 1865. The en-
terprise was not a prudent one, but it was gal-
lantly undertaken, and, like most bold projects,
succeeded. By hard work, and by the aid of
business skill and editorial talent, the paper was
set upon its feet again.

"For some years Mr. Merritt conducted the
editorial columns of the Register with great
ability; and although it may be said that he was
not always temperate in his expressions, the
fault will be pardoned by those who know how
high the tide of political and personal feeling
swelled after the war was closed. For some
years, in addition to editorial duty on the Regis-
ter, Mr. Merritt supplied the St. Louis Republi-
can with its Springfield correspondence. But
years of great labor began at last to tell against
the veteran, and in lb 73, he retired from active
duty, and since then has spent his time in well
earned and honorable repose. His children are
Hon. Thomas E., who for several terms has rep-
resented his district in the House of Represent-
atives, and who was at the late election chosen a
State Senator; General Wesley, who graduated
at West Point in 1861, and who rose to distinc-
tion in the Union army, and who is Colonel of
the Fifth United States Cavalry; John II., who
at one time was editor of a Democratic paper at
Carlinville, and who is now one of the editors of
the Marion County Herald; Charles W., who, in
1873, was appointed a Second Lieutenant in the
Ninth United Slates Cavalry; Edward L., of this
city; Joi5eph D., clerk of the Southern Peniten-
tiary; and William W., conductor on the Ohio
and Mississippi Railroad, and two daughters.

"In politics, Mr. Merritt was a sound, uncom-
promising Democrat of the old school, and his
faith he never hesitated to declare or defend.^
He lived his allotted period in the fear of God,
and always acted with due regard to the rights
of man. He commanded the respect of his
fellow-men by adherence to principle, and he
won many friends through life. He was a de-

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

229

voted membar of the Episcopal Church, and he
died in its full communion, and in an abundant
faith in its doctrines. The world is better for
his life and actions, and those who survive him,
though not able to surpass him in ability, may
emulate his virtues, respect his integrity, and
learn an example by his industry. The Slate
Kegister casts its sprig of rue and myrtle on the
bier of one of its most able and brave of the
long succession of its editors."

The Salem Advocate, in its obituary notice of
Mr. Merritt, says: " John W. Merritt is dead,
but his amiable character and kind acts will long-
be cherished and remain green in the memory of
those wjio knew him best. He had hosts of
friends, whose hearts are saddened because he
has been called from the busy scenes of earth.
But all should rejoice that he has entered upon
a life beyond death's dark river, in the ever-
green shades of Heaven's rich domain. He was
pleasant, courteous and genial in manners, and
his friendship extended to men in all the walks
and stations of life."

Edward L. Merritt was born June 2.5, 18.36,
in New York City, and came with his parents
to this State in 1841. He receive(i but few
advantages in the way of an education in the
public or private schools, the whole time of
his attendance probably not exceeding twelve
months. But at a very early age he was placed
in the " Poor Man's College," a printing office,
to learn the trade of a printer. His lirst work
at the case was when about eleven years of age,
in the office of the Belleville Advocate. When
his father removed to Salem and commenced
the publication of the Salem Advocate he took
a position in that office, and soon became a
thorough, practical printer. Subsequently and
previous to 1 8.58, he served about four years as
Civil Engineer on the Ohio & Mississippi Rail-
road. In 1858, in connection with one of his
l)rothers, he became the proprietor of the Salem
Advocate, his father, J. W. Merritt resuming
\ editorial charge. In 1861, E. L. Merritt became
sole proprietor of the paper, continuing its pub-
lication until he became connected with the pub-
lication of the St.ate Register. As already stated,
as editor and publisher Mr. Merritt was identi-
fied with the Register for many years, and as
such became known not only throughout the
State but throughout the Union, the Register
always being the recognized organ of the party
of the State.

In 1866, President Johnson appointed Mr.
Merritt United States Pension Agent. Being
an avowed Democrat, it is thought his appoint-

ment had much to do witii hasiewiug the pass-
age of the tenure-of -office act, necessitating the
presentation of his name to the United States
Senate for confirmation. It was accordingly
sent in; and that body being strongly Repub-
lican, he was rejected. It was again sent in by
the President, and again rejected. The third
time did the President present the name of Mr.
Merritt for confirmation, and the third time was
it rejected. No other reason was assigned for
his rejection, but that he was not of the
political faith to suit the majority. His ability
to discharge the duties of the office was not
doubted.

In 1875, Mr. Merritt was appointed a member
of the School Board of Springfield ; was re-ap-
pointed in 1878, and again in 1881, for the term
of three years.

On December 13, 1879, the sale of the State
Register to Geo. W. Weber, J. R. Weber, 3. H.
Oberly and Chas. Edwards, was consummated.
Mr. Oberly did not remain in the new company,
which was organized January 5, 1880, with Geo.
W. Weber as president. The editorial chair
was temporarily filled; and finally, the permanent
editorial arrangement was announced, in the state-
ment that thereafter the paper would be " edited
by the proprietors." George W. Weber was the
acknowledged editor-in-chief, and succeeded in
making an interesting paper.

George W. and J. R. Weber are the sons of
George R. Weber, the founder of the Republi-
can, and one of the original proprietors of the
Register, on its removal from Vandalia. They
were both born in Springfield, and are both
practical printers. George W. has had much
experience in editorial life, having edited the
Taylorville Democrat for some time, and assist-
ed on other papers. He is a ready and graceful
writer.

The Illinois State Register has been owned
and published since June 18, 1881, by Messrs.
Smith, Clendenin & Rees, who purchased it of
Governor Palmer and the old State Register
Company.

The firm as above named is constituted of
George Smith, Henry W. Clendenin, and
Thomas Rees. These gentlemen are all old
newspaper men, having been engaged in edi-
torial and practical work in the States of Ohio,
Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri for from twenty to
thirty years. For the past five years, they have
been engaged in publishing the Keokuk (Iowa)
Daily and Weekly Constitution, whicli under
their management became the leading Demo-
cratic paper of Iowa. Mr. Clendenin acted as

230

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

editor-in-chief of the Constitution under his
firm's proprietorship.

George Smith was born in Newark, Oliio, Feb-
ruary 28, ISl'T. He began his career as a printer
and pnblislier early in life. He has followed it
without variation until the present time. Mr.
Smith has no superior as a journalist in his de-
partment. He brings to the Register the ex-
perience of thirty-five years and the natural
energy and acquired skill that always placed
him at the top in every newspaper enterprise
with which he has been connected. Mr. Smith
has general supervision of the practical depart-
ment of the Register.

H. W. Clendenin was born in Bedford county,
Pennsylvania, August 1, 1838. His father, Sam.
M. Clendenin, an old-line Jeffersonian Demo-
crat, removed to Iowa in 1839, and settled at
Burlington, where he occupied various offices of
trust and profit in the gift of the Democracy.
Mr. Clendenin received an academical educa-
tion at Burlington, and sei'ved his time as a
printer on the Burlington Hawkeye, which was
under the management, a portion of the time, of
James M. Broadwell, a brother of Judge Broad-
well, of Springfield. Mr. Clendenin has occu-
pied various practical and editorial positions in
this and other States. He had charge of the
Metamora (Illinois) Sentinel for one year, and
of the Burlington (Gazette for "about the same
length of time. He entered the armj- from
Philadelphia, enlisting in the Twentieth Penn-
svlvaiiia Infantry, serving a portion of his time
under General McClellan. Mr. Clendenin has
editorial charge of the Register as editor-in-
chief, the same position he occupied on the Con-
stitution. His articles attract attention, and are
widely quoted; and under his management the
Register is fast attaining the leading position
which it should occupy as the central organ of
the Illinois Democracy.

Thomas Rees comes of a family of journalists.
His father, the late Wm. Rees, Sr., was an editor
of many years standing, and several of his
brothers are at present following the "art pre-
servative of all arls" in different portions of the
West. Mr. Rees was born in Pittsburg, Penn-
sylvania, May 13, 1850, and came with his father
to the West when a small child. He served his
time as a practical printer in his brother's office
at Keokuk. Since his manhood he has ever oc-
cupied responsible positions in connection with
various newspapers in Missouri and Iowa. When
the firm of which he is a member, and which own
the Register, purchased the Keokuk Constitution,
he became business manager, and has gained

and deserves the reputation of being one of the
best business managers in the West. He occu-
pies the position of business manager of the
Register, and under his skillful and honorable
tactics the business department of tlie paper is
kept up to the highest and most successful
standard. The Begister, under its present pro-
prietors, has been improved in every department,
until it is one of the handsomest, ablest and best
conducted papers in the State. The daily has a
large and increasing circulation. The proprie-
tors have enlarged the weekly to an eight col-
umn quarto, each page being twenty by twenty-
six inches in size — eight pages, eight columns to
a page. A new dress has been put on. It is now
the largest paper in the State, not excepting the
Chicago papers; and will bear comparison in ap-
pearance, make-up and general character of its
contents with any paper in the country. No men
ever met with a warmer or more cordial reception
than they met from the people and Press. Every
Democratic paper in the State felt and expressed
satisfaction that the recognized organ of the
party at the State Capital had fallen into the
hands of men with capital, brains and backbone
to make the paper a true representative and
worthy exponent of Democratic views. The
Republican papers, while not wishing them any
success politically, wished them every pecuniary
success. In the "Proprietor's Announcement,"
the publishers said:

" In assuming control of the Illinois State
Register, its new proprietors take off their hats
to the citizens of Springfield and the peojile of
Illinois, in acknowledgment that they are the
obedient servants of a great constituency, en-
trusted with the guardianship of great interests.
We profoundly feel the importance of our new
position. We do not mean to be prolific in
promises, nor boastful of our ability; but we
desire with becoming modesty to take posses-
sion of a field of labor that has been enriched
and adorned by the culture, the talents and the
genius of the distinguished gentlemen who
have preceded us in conducting the paper during
the many years of its useful life. The responsi-
bilities of conducting the Register, in view of
its past history and the important possibilities of
the future, are manifold and great, and in
assuming them we shall endeavor to perform the
duties devolving upon us with earnestness, zeal,
industry and courage. In doing this we trust
too, and are confident we shall, receive the
cordial support and warm sympathy of the busi-
ness community and the citizens of Springfield
and the State of Illinois.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

231

" We have purchased the Register and paid
for it. It is our pi'operty so far as the material
is concerned; but in a broader, wider sense we
want the Register to be the people's paper. We
intend to be its defender of tlieirriglits andacon-
' server of their interests in every contest waged
against the people, either by monopolizing cor-
porations, corrupt political parties or selfish in-
dividuals. Above capital, above parties, above
the most conspicuous man or men, above the
Nation with a big N, tower the PEOPLE, every
letter big, every right belonging to them in-
violable. We are convinced that it is not only
important, but absolutely essential to the safety
of the republic and to the preservation of the
liberties of the people that pure Democratic
principles shall prevail. We shall maintain the
courage of our convictions. The Register will,
therefore, ever be found advocating those pure
and patriotic Democratic principles, handed
down through generations of freemen from the
founders of the republic. In doing this, it shall
respect those who honestly differ with it as to
methods. While waging an tmrelenting war-
fare upon every form of encroachment upon
popular liberty as a Democratic paper, it will
recognize that in every party there are good and
pure men, battling for what they conceive to
be the best interests of humanity, and will
deal courteously with its unerring opponents.
Strongly, intensely Democratic, the Register
will be the organ of no man or set of men.
With cliques and factions it will hold no fellow-
ship.

"The new proprietors of the Register have
come to Springfield to become citizens and to
identify themselves with the interests of the
city, the county and the State. The ' Springfield
idea' and the 'Illinois idea' will be the object
of our most earnest exertions. Our eft'orts will
be largely devoted to making the Register a
valuable local paper — an indispensable visitor
at every home in the city, and a most influential
factor in the growth and prosperity of the city
and State. We come among the people of this
section of the State comparative strangers, but
with such indorsements as but few newspaper
men have ever received at the hands of a gener-
ous Press throughout the states of Illinois, Iowa
and Missouri. We are confident we shall soon
feel at home, locally and socially. We shall
strive to prove worthy of the confidence and
esteem of the people.

"The business of the Register will be con-
ducted on business principles. Thomas Rees,
the junior member of the firm, becomes man-

ager, and will make his own aunouncemenls in
the local department of the [taper. Mr. George
W. Weber, who has filled the editorial chair for
a year and a half, retires, and H. W. Clendenin
becomes managing editor. Mr. Weber has our
best wishes for success in whatever field he may
select.

"No change is contemplated in the local
or mechanical departments, except that Mr.
George Smith, the senior proprietor, will have
general supervision of the mechanical work of
the establishment."

As soon as all necessary arrangements could
be completed, both the Daily and Weekly Reg-
ister appeared in new type, presenting a very
handsome appearance. The weekly was en-
larged to an eight column quarto, making it the
largest paper in the State.

As a printing office, the Illinois State Register
establishment is mammoth and complete. It
occupies a building erected especially for the
business, fronting on Monroe street, between
Fifth and Sixth, and extending back to the alley,
one hundred and fifty-seven feet. On the
ground floor are located the business office, sub-
scription department, job room, press room,
stock room, and boiler room; also a fire-proof
vault for the preservation of the files of the
paper. On the floor above are located the edi-
torial rooms, and back of same, the composing
room. The building is well lighted with win-
dows on both sides the entire length, and heated
by steam, conveyed in pipes throughout the
entire structure. In addition to the newspaper,
an extensive book and job business is carried on,
which gives employment to a large number of
persons.

The whole establishment is laid out on a scale
for carrying on a large business. The press
room is supplied with six; first-class presses, a
steam paper cutter, and other suitable conveni-
ences. Four of the presses are expensive cylin-
der machines, three being of the world-renowned
rioe pattern.

There are about forty hands employed in the
business, besides a corps of correspondents scat-
tered throughout the country. The pay-roll is
in proportion to the business carried on, and
amounts to thousands of dollars more, every
year, than the amount collected from the citi-
zens of Springfield; so, that the city is con-
stantly receiving a greater financial benefit from
the Register, than the Register receives from
all the people living in the city, — to say nothing
of the indirect benefit that a live paper is to any
community.

232

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

The Daily Register is issued every day in the
week, except Monday, and the Weekly is issued
every Wednesday.

Under the management of Smith, Clendenip.
& Rees, the daily has more than doubled its cir-
culation, and the already large list of the -weekly
has received many new names. The list will be
at least trebled the first year.

DAILY ILLINOIS STATB REGISTER.

The Daily Register was commenced in 1848,
and its history is substantially that of the weekly,
already given. The same editors and publishers
of the one have been publishers of the other.
It is now under the control of Smith, Clendenin
<& Rees; a large eight-column folio, printed on
new type, and filled each day with general and
local news. In every department it shows good
management and business tact.

SANGAWO MONITOR.

On the first day of May, 1873, the first num-
ber of the Sangamo Monitor appeared, with T.
W. S. Kidd, editor and proprietor. The Moni-
tor presented a very neat appearance, being an
eight-column folio, and filled well with readable
matter. The editor was well known to every
citizen of Springfield and Sangamon county,
and not altogether unknown throughout the
State, especially by those having had business in
the United States Court or the Supreme Court of
this State, having been Crier of the United
States District Court for many years. Being a
capital story-teller, of the Lincoln school, he
made many friends. Of course the people
looked for something spicy in the newspaper
line, nor were they disappointed. The saluta-
tory of the editor read as follows:

" We would rather the readers of the San-
gamo Monitor would watch the course pursued
for the first year of its existence and draw- their
own conclusions in reference to our position on
matters tf public interest, than to set ourselves
about defining the same. Custom has made the
practice of newspapers foreshadowing the course
pursued by them, obligatory upon us to intimate
where we may be found on the questions of the
day.

"We vi/l be independent — we ico»j'< occupy
a neutral position on any question, if we have
concluded as to the right course. We know the
truthfulness of the old adage, ' Wise men
change, fools never,' too well however to say
that we will not change front on matters of pub-
lic interest, when convinced of error.

" Our predilictions may, and as all well know

will, have much to do in forming our opinion on
public topics, and \ie are perfectly willing to
tiust them. American all over, in our National
pride — Democratic ( not in a partisan sense) to
the marrow-, in our sentiments and principles, —
educated by an honest w-oman, and naturally
disposed to take the golden rule as our guide,
and the side of the underdog in the fight, in the
relations of life, we will ask an indulgent public
to credit us in the outset with a reasonably good
basis, on which they can rest assured that the
chances for our being right in the main aie at
least good. ' No pent up Utica' shall confine
our power to wield what influence we have on
the side of the people. Springing ourselves
from the forge, used to the hard knocks of the
apprentice, then the jour, and lastly having
' bossed' ita little, we think we possess, in a rea-
sonable degree, such sympathies as will lead us
not to forget the 'pit from whence we have been
digged.'

"Politically, the honest man, when placed by
his party friends upon a ticket, or struggling in-
dependently for a place in the service of the
people, can fully expect justice at our hands,
while the manipulator of cliques and the cat's-
paw of rings, need expect no mercy, let him be
the nominee of any convention held by whatso-
ever party. We naturally detest deceit, whether
practiced by cliques or individuals, under the
cloak of religion, politics, law, or morals, and
we intend to w-age war against all such with all
the energy and vim of our nature, regardless of
greenbacks or relations, leaving consequences to
take care of themselves.

"In a word, the Monitor will aim to be jiist
what its name indicates, watching the acts and
doings of the world at large, and reporting the
same with impartial truthfulness to the readers
every week; the iron-clad and double-turreted
coaster, watching our National and State pros-
perity; ready with shot and shell to do battle
for the 'greatest good for the greatest number.'"

The Monitor from the beginning has made
war against monopolies, and in favor of the
rights of the people. Starting at "a time when
the people, especially the farming community,
had raised the standard of anti-monopoly, the
Monitor naturally sided with those battling for
this cause, and its columns will bear witness of
the many points made in defense of the doc-
trines advocated.

In the fall election, in 1873, the Monitor ad-
vocated the election of the Democratic nomi-
nees, and has since continued to support the
men of that party, though feeling and exercis-

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

285

iiig the liberty of criticising the acts of every
public officer.

The Monitor was started under what might be
termed very unfavorable circumstances. Pos-
sessed of but little capital, as regards dollars
aud cents, but with plenty of pluck and perse-
verance, its editor and publisher has triumphed
over every obstacle, and has made the Monitor
a success in every particular. Few daily or
weekly papers in tliis country have been estab-
lished without sinking a large amount of capi-
tal, but the Monitor can boast of no such expe-
rience. From the start, it lias had a living
patronage, and from its profits has been gath-
ered together the material of a complete news-
paper and job office. Both the daily and weekly
pay the publisher a fair profit, having each a
large circulation and a good advertising patron-
age.

SA.NGAMO DAILY MOMITOR.

The Sangamo Daily Monitor made its first
appearance Thursday, June '28, 1877. The fol-
lowing characteristic editorial appeared in the
first number:

"Shake — Fathers, Give Us a Grif — Sons,
Pass Us Your Paw — Mothers, Accept Our
Most Profound Bow — Sisters, We Embrace
You— R Delicate Duke — Bless and Believe
Us, FOR Wb Mean Business. — Like the gaily
bedecked merry-maker of the big show, we
bounce into the ring of daily journalism, hoping
to be able to hold our own for another ' thirty
days" trip into the sea of journalistic troubles,
and a daily change of programme. We have
grown tired of seeing and unfolding our bosom
and budget to you but once a week. We want
to talk to you daily, and tell you all we know of
war, of crops, of politics, of religion, of law, and
what we have heard in our rambles, about news
and matters transpiring during the fast-unfold-
ing events of twenty-four hours. We have
grown chafed and weary of seeing those whom
we hope to stir up to a little more evidence of
life, have six words to our one, when 'talk's
cheap,' and printers can be had for nothing;
when paper-makers and tj'pe foundries furnish
freely and gratis, and when close corporated
monopolistic champions of the freedom of the
Press are gaining such enviable notoriety by
furnishing news to the people at a penny a line.

"We are among you. You all know us, and
can trust us or not, as you like; of this we have
no fear. Our motto, ' Do your best, with cor-
rect motives; then let the consequences lake
care of themselves,' has seen us through so far,
and we hope will to the end. We propose to

27—

take a hand in ' posting the people,' not to preju-
dice them, but letting everybody know what
everybody else is doing who don't, won't or can't
behave themselves according to the old ten,
or new or eleventh commandment. Naughty
humanity, behave yourself, if you don't desire a
blast from the Monitor. ' Hold your horses,'
fast youth, or crooked beauty, unless notoriety
is more precious than the quiet calm of virtue's
peaceful abode, and the joy of domestic felicity
irksome to the speed of untamed nature, when
without the balance wheel of wisdom and the
pleasure-producing quality of proper motive.
Remember us editorially, bearing in mind the
fact that if you desire your hens to be emulated,
'lay your largest egg' on our editorial table.
We are ever ready to chronicle events; our jour-
nalism teaches us a broader and more general
definition than the style of making readitig only
to the few, 'personal' distinction to feicer, while
those upon whom the smile of total endorsement
is to be 'smolen' are fewest. If you want to
know a little bit of everything, dive into your
breeches pocket, get a three-cent piece, and stop
the cry of the newsboy by buying a Daily
Monitor.

" We ask and shall expect your encouragement,
not as a craven, but as an honest man who knows
he will give an equivalent in every respect. It
may seem a trifle; it is — but remember your ' lit-
tles' are our 'nickels,' and while you are many
and we few, a stoppage of your little for a week
or two, by enough of you, might make a hole big
enough to^ink even a Monitor. Much depends
upon trifles in this world; the ocean would cut
but a sorry figure swimming fellows like our
Grant or Tom Hendricks to England to show
our bully old relative how we have 'skipped out'
of our 'short frocks and things' since we swelled
up his left optic in 1812, if not for trifles; and a
great many big fellows around our own neighlior-
hood were onceverytriflinglittle trifles. 'Des|)ise
not the day of small things!' Small beginnings
make heavy endings, as the fellow said of the
avalanche; and it may be that the little Monitor
may yet be big enough to defy a torpedo. Give
us your hand; your helping hand is the one
asked for — we have several of another kind now
pressing close on our skirts — and it might be
while entertaining the Monitor you may be en-
tertaining several small angels in disguise, float-
ing around the homes and firesides of the boys
depending for their bread upon the success of
this enterprise.

" For ourselves, we are carrying a big load,
going up a steep hill, and each little fifteen cent

336

IIISTOKY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

drawback is ' tlie feather that breaks the camel's
back' of our success, and the welfare of our set
of printers. When we get to the level plain and
the load is not so burdensome, we will have lots
of time and take bushels of pleasure in returning
you our grip of satisfaction at your action bj' our
frequent notices of your 'style,' business, 'gait,'
etc., in an occasional send-off on business, pleas-
ure, when you marry, run for ofhce, trade horses,
swap dogs, or get into jail. We stand ready
with the Monitor to fight to the l)lue for the
honest in life matters, whether clothed in 'pur-
ple or line linen,' or the scanty wardrobe of a
tramp, while you live, and when dead will do
jusl as we would you should do with us, bury
our faults and foibles, and string together among
life's cherished ornaments the sparkling beads
of worth found in every nature. Shake!"

Thomas W. S. Kidd, editor and proprietor of
the Monitor, was born in New Castle, Delaware,
October 22, 1K28. His parents were John and
Ann (Smith) Kidd, both natives of Delaware,
but of Irish descent. His grandfather Kidd,
■was a farmer, and grandfather Smith, a Presby-
terian minister. Both families came across the
water on the same vessel; being four months on
the ocean. The mother of Thomas died about
three years after his birth, quite suddenly after
giving birth to his only brother; and his father,
about one year after, partly from a cold con-
tracted by exposure, and partly by grief from
the loss of his wife.

On the death of his father, young Kidd was
taken by a most estimable aunt, Mrs. M. J. Mc-
Pherson. Remaining in New Castle about one
year, the family moved to Quarryville, where
his aunt had taken the contract to board a large
number of hands who were employed by the
Government, in getting out stone for the Dela-
ware Breakwater, then being constructed by the
Government. Here they remained four years,
and where Thomas attended a school about six
weeks, which comprised the entire time spent in
the school room. Returning to New Castle
v\'hen he was about nine years old, he spent the
next four years in sucli labor as a boy could do,
in order to help the family to a comfortable ex-
istence. In 18+0. the family moved to Phila-
delphia, where Thomas engaged as an errand-
boy in a merchant-tailoring establishment, and
served about two years. At this establishment
T. S. Arthur and other literary celebrities were
wont to congregate, and young Kidd, in listen-
ing to their conversation, first conceived the
idea of learning something of books and of the
world. At the expiration of his two years' ser-

vice as an errand-boy, he entered the printing
office and stereotype foundry of John Fagin, to
learn the trade. At this time he could scarcely
read, and knew nothing at all about writing.
By patient endeavor he learned to read well and
write a fair hand, and before many months ex-
pired he was made one of the pi'oof-readers in
the establishment; but the life of a printer did
not suit him. He had for many years a desire
to learn the trade of a machinist, and when two
years had passed of his printer's life, he ran
away to Wilmington, Delaware, and applied
for a situation in the railroad and machine shops
of that city. He was told they could not give
any attention to his application without recom-
mendations. He then went on foot to New
Castle and asked old friends of his father, and
those who had known him when a small boy, to
recommend him. This they did ; and armed
with his recommendations he returned to Wil-
mington, to be told that he must wait three
weeks before an opening could be made. This
he could not do; he was away from home, with-
out money and without friends. Starvation was
staring him in the face; he must get work — and
at once, lie therefore bound himself to the firm
of Hollingsworth & Teas, to learn the trade of
blacksmith and machinist. IJefore the expira-
tion of his term of service the firm failed, and
he then engaged with Elliott & Huston, loco-
motive builders, of Wilmington. Here he re-
mained until 1849, when he received an invita-
tion from Mr. Hollingsworth, who had removed
to Chicago, to come to that city and take charge
of the iron-shops that he was about to establish.
He accepted the invitation and entered upon the
work, where he remained a short time, and then
received and accepted the appointment of trav-
eling agent of an agricultural firm. In this line
of business he continued with success until 1857
— save for a short period in 1853— t, when, his
health having failed him, he returned to his old
home in Delaware. While east he was married,
July 1854, to Charlotte, daugiiter of Jesse Jan-
ney, of Cecil county, Maryland. Six children
have been born unto them, two of whom are
now living — Lizzie G. and Presco Wright.

In February, 1856, Mr. Kidd brought his
family to Springfield, where they have since
continued to reside. In 1857, he served as
bailiff in the United States Marshal's office.
In 1858, he was elected Coroner and was also
appointed Deputy Sheriff. In the winter of
1858-9 and 1859-60, he served as Sheriff of the
Supreme Court of Illinois. In 1860, he was ap-
pointed by Judge Treat, Crier of the United

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

States District Court, which position lie contin-
ued to liold until the spring of 1877. In addi-
tion to the offices mentioned, Mr. Kidd served
as Assessor in Springfield for a period of fifteen
years, and Collector by election, two years.

While serving as Deputy Sheriff, Mr. Kidd
read law, and passing a successful examination
before Judge Walker, of the Supreme Court,
was licensed to practice. He never opened an
office and tells upon himself that he never had
but two cases, in the latter one he took offense
at the answers of a colored witness, and struck
him over the head with an iroii square, and was
fined by the Justice of the Peace three dollars
for contempt of court. He then retired from
active practice.

As a writer ]Mr. Kidd has a peculiar style of
his own. He follows the model of no man.
When he writes a sentence, no man can mistake
its meaning. It is plain and to the point, yet so
worded that it cannot be thought to be from the
pen of another.

THE SPRINGFIELD TIMES.

In 1844, the Democratic party in Sangamon
county was somewhat divided on purely local
issues. The Register espousing the side of one
faction, left the other without representation.
This necessitated the starting a second Demo-
cratic paper in Springfield, and S. S. Brooks,
who in 1829-30 published the Illinois Herald,
was induced to make the venture. The new
paper was called the Springfield Times. It was
a small folio sheet, but edited with the vim
characteristic of the Brooks family, who w'ere
born newspaper men. The Times only existed
about one year, the party not being able to sup-
port two organs, and the breaches in the party
being healed. Mr. Brooks, though an excellent
newspaper man, was no business manager, and
never succeeded in his chosen profession. An
old man, he wandered back to Springfield occa-
sionally, and worked at the case in the Register
and other offices, to secure a livelihood for him-
self and family.

THE MASONIC TROWEL.

Harmon 6. Reynolds, the founder and editor
of the Masonic Trowel, is one of the oldest
Masons in the State, having taken his degrees
in Warsaw Lodge, in 1843. He was Grand
Marshal of the Grand Lodge in 1848, and was
elected Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge
and Chapter, and continued as Grand Secretary
of the Lodge until 1851. In 1868, he was
elected Grand Master, and held this position for

two years. He remained Secretary of the Grand
Chapter until ISGf). He assisted in the initia-
tory work of forming the Grand Council of
Royal and Select Masters, and was the first
Recorder of that body. Mr. Reynolds has been
Master of three lodges, and High Priest of three
Chapters, and was first Commander of El wood
Comraandery No. 6, of this city. All of which
positions he tilled with credit to himself and
honor to the fraternity. He also received, in
1854, the thirty-second degree of the Ancient
Scottish Rites, and the thirty-third in Boston, in
1864. In 1858, he located in this city, and
established, in 1862, the Masonic Trowel, with
which paper he retained his connection until
1808. He has always had the editorial control
of its columns, and his labors therein h.ave re-
dounded to the general welfare and prosperity
of the craft at large. By the fire, on the jiight
of the 22d of February, by which the Trowel
was destroyed, he was stripped of every dollar
of his earthly possessions.

ILfclNOIS STATE DEMOCRAT.

In 1857 a paper under the above name was
started in Springfield by J. J. Clarkson, with
Elliott B. Herndon, editor. As its name implies
it was a Democratic paper, and was started to
combat the heresies supposed to exist in a por-
tion of the Democratic party, headed by Stephen
A. Douglas. It lived about three years.

THE SUNDAY MAIL.

This was a five column quarto, issued every
Sunday morning by The Mail Company, and
was well filled with local news. It was short-
lived.

ILLINOIS FREI PRESSB.

Many attempts have been made to publish a
German paper in Springfield, but until the Frei
Presse was started, all prior to that had proven
failures. On the eleventh day of January, 1872,
Edward Rummel, then Secretary of State, com-
menced the publication of the Frei Presse, an
eight column folio, in support of the Liberal
movement then being advocated by such men as
Horace Greeley, Charles Sumner, John M. Pal-
mer and others. Mr. Rummel only retained con-
nection about three months, and then sold to
Gehring it Hotze,two practical German printers.
Mr. Gehring assumed editorial control of the
paper, and has since continued to act as manag-
ing editor. The success of the paper was assured
from the start, the Germans largely supporting
the new movement. It has had a uniform, steady

i'3S

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

growth, and is not only regarded as the most
successful German paper, but is said to be the
most successful German or English paper in
Springfield. The office is well supplied with
type and presses, and does a general book and
job business in connection with the publication
of the paper. After a time, Mr. Hotze retired,
and Mr. Gehriug became sole editor and pro-
prietor.

Frederick Gehring was born in Baden, Ger-
many, March 4, 18+1. His early life was spent
in that country, in attendance upon the common
and high schools. Id 1856, he came to America,
and settled in Lafayette. Indiana, where he en-
tered a German newspaper office, to learn the
trade of a printer. Here he remained about
three years, and then went to Indianapolis and
worked as a journeyman printer. From Indian-
apolis he drifted on to St. Louis, where he was
when the war for the L^nion commenced. Re-
turning to Indianapolis, he enlisted as a private
in the Fifteenth Indiana Infantry, and served
three years, being wounded at the battle
of Stone river. On his recovery he was placed
on detached duty, where he remained until the
close of his term of enlistment, when he was dis-
charged. Returning to Indianapolis, he served
for some years as local editor of the Telegraph,
ci that city, and for about six months as po-
litical editor of a German paper. On the 19ih
day of October, 1805, he was united in marriage
to Miss Kathrina May, of Indianapolis. They
have had six children, three of whom are now
living — two boys and one girl. In April, 1872,
Mr. Gehring and his family came to Springfield,
and he purchased an interest in the Frei Presse.
In 1874 he was elected a member of the legis-
lature, by the combined Liberal and Democratic
vote, and was classed in the House, politically,
as a Democratic-Liberal. He now claims to be
a Liberal-Democrat, and the Frei Presse as a
Liberal-Democratic paper. lu the legislature,
he was placed on the committee on mines and
mining, the committee on printing, and also ou
education. The committee on mines and mining
framed the law that was passed regulating the
government of mines. Mr. Gehring is a mem-
ber of the A. O. U. W., and Turn-Verien. He
was the originator of the Building Associations
of Springfield, and has taken great interest in
their work. He is a good writer, and a prac-
tical business man.

STAATS WOCHENBI.ATT.

The Staats Wochenblatt is a large seven
column quarto, and was established in the fall

of 1878, its first number bearing date November
21. H. Schlange is the editor and proprietor.
The Wochenblatt has been a success from the
start, it now having a bona tide ciiculatiou of
fifteen hundred copies weekly. Mr. Schlange
was born November 16, 1844, at Hanover, Ger-
many. As soon as sufficiently advanced he
entered the Jacobson Institute, where he re-
mained until he was sixteen j'ears of age. He
then entered the army as a private, and passed
the various grades of promotion until he was
made Assistant Quartermaster. In 1865 he came
to America and landed at New York in the early
part of December, where he remained a few
days and proceeded to Springfield, Illinois, his
destination, arriving there January 2, 1866.
At Springfield, he learned the trade of cigar-
maker, and continued in that business until he
established the Wochenblatt, in 1878. At this
time there was no Republican German paper in
Springfield, and Mr. Schlange thought it to be a
good opportunitv to establish one. '1 he result has
more than exceeded his most sanguine expecta-
tions. Mr. Schlange and Anna Ahrtns were
married in Lincoln, Illinois, February 25, 1868.
Two children have been born unto them —
August and Lena.

AUBURN CITIZEN.

In 1873 Lowdermilk it Stover commenced the
publication of the Auburn Herald, a six column
folio. The paper was started mainly for the
purpose of affording the business men of Auburn
an advertising medium, but the citizens believed
it should be something more, and therefore the
experiment was tried of giving the community a
good local paper. Not having an office of their
own, the printing was done in Yirden at the
office of the Yirden News, and the paper circu-
lated from Auburn. After the expiration of
about five months, a stock company was formed
for the purchase of office material, and the outfit
was purchased of the Yirden News in August,
1874, M. G. Wadsworth, of Auburn, and W. F.
Thompson, of Yirden, becoming publishers, by
piirchase from the stock company.

A sketch of the senior proprietor of the Her-
ald — W. W. Lowdermilk— will be found in con-
nection with the History of Auburn. A. B.
Stover, the junior, came from Havana, Illinois.
He was at one time editor of the Mason County
Herald. When he came to Auburn he engaged
as a clerk in a dry goods store, retaining con-
nection after engaging in editorial work. He
was an easy and fluent writer. After the Herald
changed hands, he made a profession of religion

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

239

and conducted a series of meetings in Auburn
with great success. He was induced to go before
the Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and by that body was licensed to preacli
the Gosjjel. He is a good talker and is now
meeting with success in the ministry.

When Wadsworth c% Thompson became the
pro]irietors of the Herald they rented a room in
the bank building and continued its publication.
At the commencement of the second volume the
name was changed to the Auburn Citizen, and
tlie paper enlarged to a seven column folio. The
following spring the senior bougiit out the junior
partner's interest, and has since been sole pro-
prietor. The Citizen was enlarged to an eight
column folio April 22, 1880, and changed to a
five column quarto, December 9, 1S80. The
Citizen has no political bias, its special mission
being local news. It is at present the only paper
published in Sangamon county outstde of Spring-
field.

Moses G. Wadsworth was born in Hallowell,
Kennebec county, Maine, February .3, 1826, and
is the son of Daniel and Margaret F. Wads-
worth. His parents were of English and Welsh
origin, the father being descended, on the
father's side, from Peregrin White, the first
wliite child born in America. Moses G. came
to Illinois, in his fifteenth year with his parents,
settling in (old) Auburn, where the parents are
still living, the father in his eighty-third and
the mother in her eiglitieth year. They have
resided in the same house about thirty-eight
years. Moses G. Wadsworth was married in
September, 1849, to Elizabeth F. Wheeler, of
Macoupin county, who died in May, 1857, leav-
ing five children, four of whom are living. He
was married again in November, 18(52, to Mary
E. Day, of Chatham, who has borne him seven
cliildren, four of whom are living. Until after
the death of his first wife, Mr. Wadsworth fol-
lowed farming. After that he worked princi-
pally at carpenter work, until his connection
with the Auburn Herald (afterwards Citizen,) in
1879. He was clerk of his township three
years; assessor one year, and tax collector nine
years. He has been school trustee ten or more
years, and Secretary of Ark and Anchor Lodge
of Masons, eleven years.

THE EVENING POST.

The only evening paper at present published

vin Springfield, was established in January, 1880,

the first number being issued on the 3d. Its

publication was decided upon by a number of

printers and newspajier men of the city, who

were out of employment at tbe time, caused by
a strike in the composing room of tbe Register
oflice. There being no evening paper in the city,
they decided to occupy the field, and incorpo-
rated the Capital Co-operative Publishing Corn-
pan)-, with a capital of §1,000, which was subse-
quently increased to 12,000. Charles W. Bovard,
F. II. i>. McDowell, Andrew McWeeney, J. II.
Dnggan, W. H. Mursinna, William F. Aitken,
T. F. Harrington, J. M. Higgins, Louis Souther,
and Louis Schuckers, were the original stock-
holders. F. H. B. McDowell was elected editor-
in-chief, with J. M. Higgins and Louis Souther
as associates. During the first month, Messrs.
Souther and Higgins withdrew fiom the com-
pany. Mr. McDowell continued as editor-in-
chief until the latter part of May in that year,
when, owing to a dissatisfaction among the
stockholders and a desire on their part to sus-
tain the pi'inciples of the Greenback party, he
withdrew. At that time, the paper had become
well established, and its circulation was the
largest it attained during the year. Mr. J. K.
Magie was elected editor-in-chief, on Mr. Mc-
Dowell's withdrawal, and occupied that position
until August 1, when, the business of the paper
having been badly damaged by his administra-
tion, at the request of the Board of Directors,
Mr. McDowell again assumed its management,
and he now owns nearly all the stock of the
company. The paper is a handsome seven-
column folio, having been enlarged from a six-
column folio on the 16th of October, 1881. Its
political tone is of the stalwart Republican
order, and it exerts no little local influence. Its
circulation is largely among the working classes.
Its subscription price is $5 per year.

Among those who have contributed to the
success of the paper, a mournful tribute is due
to the late Henry 6. Fitzhugh,who died Novem-
ber 15, 1880, at the age of twenty-two years, at
the time of his death being its city editor. He
was one of the brightest young journalists the
city has ever produced, and his sad death, after
a short illness of pneumonia, was a shock to all
who knew him. His remains were interred at
Oak Ridge.

The present editorial staff of the paper is
composed of F. H. B. McDowell, S. P. V.
Arnold, and L. M. Snell.

Mr. McDowell was born at Freeport, Illinois,
January 7, 18-54. Compelled at the age of thir-
teen to leave the High School, by the necessity
of his earnings for the su])port of his father's
family, he entered the office of the Freeport
Bulletin, in March, 18G8, as an apprentice, and

240

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

acquired the printer's trade. In January, 1872,
he left his home for Chicago, where ho remained
until the fall of 1870, working at his trade in
the Chicago Tribune composing room. In No-
vember of that year he formed a partnership
with W. W. Lewis in the publication of the
Carroll County Gazette, at Lanark, Illinois. The
partnership continued until February, 1878,
when Mr. Lewis retired, and he continued its
publication until January, 1879, when he dis-
posed of the paper and removed to Chicago. In
September of that year he was elected Secretary
of the State Bureau of Labor Statistics, which
position he now holds. He was married to
Anna Magnusson Jewett,of Chicago, in Novem-
ber, 1876.

S. P. V. Arnold, associate editor and business
manager of the Post, was born in Steubenville,
Ohio, in 1854, where he resided until twelve
years of age, when he removed to Columbus,
Ohio. He was educated at Otterbein Univer-
sity, at Westerville, Ohio, and graduated at the
National Normal School, at Lebanon, Ohio, in
1875. Previous to and after graduating, he

taught school for seven years. In the fall of
1878, he went to St. Louis and established the
American Trade Journal, which he continued
until August, 1881, when he sold his interest in
the paper and came to Springfield, and became
connected with the Post as associate editor and
business manager.

CAMPAIGN PAPERS.

Many campaign papers have been issued in
Springfield; the most noted of which were the
'•Old Soldier," published in 1840, by the Whig
general committee; and the "Old Hickory,"
published by the Democratic general commit-
tee. Each of these papers had a circulation of
35,000 copies, and were very effective campaign
sheets, and will readily be called to mind by the
old settler.

The " Conservative " was a seven-column folio,
issued during the presidential campaign of 1856,
and supporting Millard Fillmore for the presi-
dency. It was edited by a committee of the
Springfield Fillmore Club, and was an interest-
ing political sheet.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

241

Chapter XII.

REED AND DONNER EMIGRANT PARTY.

Since the discovery of the New World by
Christopher Columbus, there has ever seemed
a disposition to push on toward the setting sun.
Like the story told children of the sack of gold
placed at the termination of the rainbow, which
creates an earnest desire in their hearts to secure
the treasure, so there appears before the eyes of
all men, in dazzling splendor, visions of untold
wealth and honors, to be secured in the great
West.

Early in the spring of 1846, a party was organ-
ized in this county for California and the Pacific
coast. Gold had not then been discovered, but
a knowledge of the beautiful Sacramento valley
had been obtained, and it was thought a home
could there be made which would be delightful
and pleasing to all. The party left Springfield
April 14, 1846, full of hope and spirit, looking
forward to the time when they should reach
their destinations and be at rest. Little did
they anticipate the trials and tribulations that
awaited them as they passed over the mountains
and across the great American Desert. When
they left Springfield, the party numbered thirty-
four persons. The following named were among
the number:

James K. Reed and Mrs. Margaret W. Reed,
his wife, with their four children, Virginia
E. B., Martha J., James P., Jan., and Thomas
K.; also Mrs. Sarah Keyes, the mother of Mrs.
Reed.

George Donner and Mrs. Tanisen Donner, his
wife, with their five children, Elitha C, Leanna
C, Francis E., Georgiana and Elizabeth P.

Jacob Donner and Mrs. Elizabeth Donner, his
wife, with their five children, Isaac, Lewis,
Samuel, George and Mary; also William and
Solomon Hook, children of Mrs. Donner by a
former marriage.

There were also Milford Elliott — often men-
tioned as Milton Elliott — James Smith, John

Denton, Eliza and Bayless Williams, Walter
Herron and Hiram O. Miller. There were some
others, but I have been unable to learn their
names.

Leaving Springfield, their first point of desti-
nation was Independence, Missouri, where they
were to m.ake the final preparation for crossing
the plains. They were joined at various points
by parties from other places, as follows:

From Lacon, Illinois: Jay Fansdick and
Mrs. Sarah Fausdick, his wife. Mr. and Mrs.
Graves, with their eight children, Frank, Mary,
William, Ellen, Lavina, Nancy, Jonathan and
Elizabeth. Mrs. Fausdick was a daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Graves.

From Iowa: Patrick Brien — spelled, in some
places, Brein and Breen — Margaret Brien, Mar-
garet J., John, Edw.ard, Patrick Jun., Simon,
James and Peter Brien, and Patrick Dolen.

From Belleville, Illinois: J. P. Eddy, Mrs.
Eddy and W. II. Eddy.

From St. Louis, Missouri: William Foster,
Mrs. Foster and George Foster; and from Ray
county, Missouri: William McCutchen, Mrs.
McTutchen and Harriet McCutchen.

From Tennessee: Lemuel Murphy, Mrs. Mur-
phy, Lander, Mary, William and Samuel Mur-
phy; William Pike, Cynthia Pike and N. Pike.

From Germany: Mr. and Mrs. Kiesberger,
or Keysburg, B. and L. S. Keysburg. Mrs.
VVolfinger, Mr. Rhinehart, Mr. Spitzger and
Carl Berger.

From Springfield, Ohio: Samuel Shoemaker.

From Chicago, Illinois: C. T. Stanton.

At Independence the party laid in their .sup-
plies for the long journey across the plains. At
that time it was absolutely necessary that emi-
grants should travel together in large bodies in
order to protect themselves from the Indians,
and it was never safe to start until the arrass had

242

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

sufficiently grown to afford subsistence for the
cattle.

Early in May the journey hegan from Inde-
pendence. No trouble was experienced until
they came to Big Blue river, four miles above
its mouth. They found the stream quite full,
and had to provide themselves with rafts before
crossing. Just before reaching this place, Mrs.
Keyes, the mother of Mrs. Reed, became ill, and
while here, on the morning of May 2fl, breathed
her last. All work was suspended and each per-
son vied with the other in rendering to her the
last tribute of respect. A neat coffin was con-
structed, the remains placed in it and buried on
a beautiful elevation, near a burr-oak tree. Re-
ligious services were conducted by a minister
present with the party. The grave was sodded
and the tree made to serve the purpose of a head-
board. On it was cut the following inscription:

"Sarah Keys, aged 70 years. Died 29th May, 1846.
From Springfield, Illinois."

At the foot, a coarse white stone, resembling
marble, was placed, containing the words:

"Mrs. S. Keys. Aged 70 years."

Flowers and young cedars were placed at the
head and foot of the grave.

Between Independence and Blue river the
Reed and Donner party fell in with Colonel W.
H. Russell and company, who had left Inde-
pendence a few days before them. Passing Blue
river, they all traveled together until they reach-
ed Little Sandy river, where a separation took
place, the majority of them going to Oregon;
Colonel Russell heading the latter. The day
after the separation the Reed and Donner party
elected George Donner, Captain, and from that
time it was known as the "Donner Company."
They continued their journey up the valley of
the Platte river, passing P'ori Laramie and cross-
ing the Rocky Mountains to Fort Bridger with-
out any serious mishap. This had occupied the
entire summer. They tarried at the Fort four
days. Letters had been left here for the party,
warning them against taking the Hasting's Cut-
Off, and advising them to go by the Foit Hall
route. The latter was an established and well
known route, but much longer than the former,
and required a detour to the northwest. The
Hasting's Cut-Off passed through Webber's
canyon to the south end of the great Salt Lake,
near where the city of Salt Lake has since been
built. This route being more direct and some
three hundred miles shorter, was an inducement
to emigrants to go that way. Unfortunately, the

letters were not delivered, and the Donner party
concluded to take the shorter route.

Approaching the mouth of the Webber can-
yon, they found a letter sticking in the top of a
sage bush from Hastings, the discoverer of the
new route. He was then piloting a company
through, and proposed to the Donner Company
that, if they would send messengers for him, he
would return and pilot them through a better
way than the one by which they were directed.
In response to the letter. Reed, Stanton and Mc-
Cutchen, of the Donner party, hastened on to
accpt the offer of Mr. Hastings. The latter then
came back part of the way and after piloting-the
three men a few miles, gave them directions, and
returned to the first party he was piloting
through. Reed, Stanton and McCutchen then
returned to their own party, and all went to work,
and by digging and cutting timber, made a road
passing to the south end of Salt Lake, crossing
the outlet of the lake, now called the river Jor-
dan. Passing to the northwest around the lake,
they were detained a few days by the death,
from consumption, of Mr. Halloran, one of the
company.

A few more days' travel brought them to the
springs where they were to provide water and
grass for crossing Hasting's Desert, an akaline
desert, destitute of water and vegetation. They
were led to believe it was less than fifty miles
across, but it proved to be nearer eighty. It was
understood that they must travel day and night,
stopping only long enough to feed and water
the cattle. When aboiit two-thirds of the way
across, the stock manifested signs of being ex-
hausted, and Mr. Reed vas requested to go for-
ward until he found water and then report.
After traveling about twenty miles he found
water, and returning, about eleven o'clock at
night, he met his teamsters driving the cattle,
having left their wagons. After directing them
how to proceed, he went on to meet his family
and the remainder of the company. Soon after
leaving his teamsters one of tiieir horses sunk
down in the road, and while they were endeav-
oring to raise it, the cattle scented the water,
scattered, and nine yoke of them were never
found. Oidy one ox and one cow remained.

About daylight tlie next morning, Mr. Reed
succeeded in reaching his family, and found
them alone, the remainder of the party having
continued their journey, none of them having
taken their teams from the wagons except Mr.
Reed's men. Not knowing that his cattle were
lost, Mr. Reed waited with his family all day,
expecting some of his men to return and haul

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

243

them to water. Not receiving any inforuiatioii,
and their supply of water being nearly gone, he
started with his family on foot, carrying his
youngest child in liis arms. In the course of the
night the children became exhausted, so they
spread a blanket on the ground and all lay down
on it, covering themselves with shawls. A cold
wind commenced blowing soon after they lay
down, and the children could only be kept warm
by having their four dogs lie down against them
outside the shawls.

About daylight they moved on, and soon came
to a wagon which belonged to Jacob Donner
and which contained his family, Mr. Donner
having gone forward for water. He soon after
returned and took his own and Mr. Reed's
family to the source of the supply, where they
remained in cami) for about one week, spending
the time in searching for the lost cattle. The
search was unavailing, it being believed the
Indians had secured all of them. Mr. Reed, as
soon as he became convinced his cattle could
not be found, divided among others his pro-
visions, except what he could haulin one wagon,
and leaving seven wagons on the plains, the
party again resumed their journey. Winter was
close upon them and the party was hundreds of
miles from any human habitation.

After proceeding some days on their journey
it was found that provisions were running short.
An estimate was made of the quantity it would
take for each family. It was now proposed by
Mr. Reed, that two of the number should hur-
riedly proceed forward to Captain Sutter's, in
California, and secure supplies, Mr. Reed becom-
ing personally responsible for the payment.
William McCutchen, of Missouri, and Mr. Stan-
ton, of Chicago, volunteered for this purpose.
They started upon their journey and weeks
passed without any tiding from them. It was
now suggested that Mr. Reed go in advance to
see what had become of them, and hurry up
supplies.

At this time the two Donner families were in
advance of the main body. Walter Herron was
with the Donner's and when Mr. Heed over-
took them, Herron volunteered to go with him,
which offer was accepted. Having but one
horse, they rode by turns. Their provisions giv-
ing out, they traveled for days without food,
except wild geese and other game which they
occasionally killed on Truckee river. When
they reached the Sierra Nevada mountains, Her-
ron wanted to kill the horse, and Mr. Reed per-
suaded him from it by agreeing to kill him
rather than perish with hunger. That afternoon

28—

Herron became delirious for want of food.
They found five beans. Herron ate three of
them, and Reed the other two. The next morn-
ing they came upon some abandoned wagons,
which they ransacked, but failed to find any
food. Taking the tar-bucket from one of the
wagons, and scraping the tar from tlie bottom,
Mr. Reed discovered a streak of rancid tallow
in the bottom, which lie made known to Herron,
who swallowed a piece about the size of a wal-
nut without giving it a smell. He swallowed a
second piece, and wanted more, which Mr. Reed
refused to give him, having himself eaten some
which made him deathly sick. They soon after
descended into Bear river valley, where they
found some emigrants in wagons, who gave
them food and relieved their sufferings. They
there met Mr. Stanton and two Indians sent by
Captain Sutter to aid in carrying provisions.
Mr. Reed was so emaciated that Mr. Stanton
did not recognize him until they had conversed
with each other several minutes. The next
morning, October 23, 18-46, each party continued
their journey. Mr. Reed went on to Captain
Sutter's, wliere he secured thirty horses, one
mule and two Indians to aid him in bringing out
the sufferers. He was joined by Mr. McCutchen,
who had been separated from Mr. Stanton by
sickness. With some flour and meat they
started to meet the suffering emigrants in the
mountains. After weeks spent in unavailing
efforts, they had to return, as men and horses
sank out of sight in the snow. It was evident
that nothing could be done until spring, the
mountaineers all being absent fightingMexicans,
the war with Mexico having commenced the
year before, and the natives of Spanish and
Indian blood having expressed a determination
to exterminate the Americans.

Snow commenced falling the latter part of
October, and caught the whole party, not in a
body, but scattered along some distance, the ex-
tremes being probably a day's journey apart.
The following journal, kept by one of the suf-
ferers, includes the time from October .31, IS-tO,
to March 1, 184*7, and is from the Illinois State
Journal, of September 16, 1847:

Tkuckee's Lake, November 20, 1846. — Came
to this place on the 31st of last month; went
into the Pass, the snow so deep we were unable
to find the road, and when within three miles
from the summit, turned back to this shanty, on
Truckee'sLalce. Stanton came up one day, after
we arrived here; we again took our teams and
wagons, and made another unsuccessful attempt
to cross the mountains, as it continued to snow

244

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

all the time. We now have killed most part of
our cattle, having to remain here until ne.xt
spring, and live on lean meat, without bread or
salt. It snowed during the space of eight days,
with little intermission, after our arrival, though
now clear and pleasant, freezing at night; the
snow nearly gone from the valleys.

JVov. 21 — Fine morning, wind northwest;
twenty-two of our company about starting to
cross the mountains this day, including Stanton
and his Indians.

JVov. 22 — Froze hard last night; fine and clear
to-day; no account from those on the mountains.

JVov. 23 — Same weather, wind west; the ex-
pedition across the mountains returned after an
unsuccessful attempt.

JVov. 2.5 — Cloudy; looks like the eve of a
snow storm; our mountaineers are to make an-
other trial to-morrow, if fair; froze hai'd last
night.

JVov. 26. — Began to snow last evening; now
rains or sleets; the party do not start to-day.

JVov. 29 — Still snowing; now about three feet
deep; wind west; killed my last oxen to-day;
gave another yoke to Foster; wood hard to be
got

iVb?j. SO^Snowing fast; looks as likely to con-
tinue as when it commenced; no living thing,
without wings, can get about.

Dec. Instill snowing; wind west; snow about
six or six and one-half feet deep; very difficult
to get wood, and we are completely housed up;
our cattle all killed but two or three, and these,
■with the horses and Stanton's mules, all sup-
posed to be lost in the snow; no hopes of find-
ing them alive.

Dec. 3 — Ceased snowing; cloudy all day; warm
enough to thaw.

Dec. 4 — Beautiful sunshine; thawing a little;
looks delightful, after the long storm; snow sev-
en or eight feet deep.

Dec. 5 — The morning fine and clear; Stanton
and Graves manufacturing snow-shoes for an-
other mountain scramble; no account of mules.

Dec. 8 — Fine weather; froze hard last night;
wind southwest; hard work to find wood suf-
ficient to keep us warm, or cook our beef.

Dec. 9 — Commenced snowing about eleven
o'clock; wind northwest; took in Spitzer yester-
day, so weak that he cannot rise without help,
caused by starvation. Some have a scant supply
of beef; Stanton trying to get some for himself
and Indians; not likely to get much.

Dec. 10 — Snowed fast all night, with heavy
squalls of wind; continues to snow; now about
seven feet in depth.

Dec. 14 — Snows faster than any previous day;
Stanton and Graves, with several others, making
preparations to cross the mountains on snow
shoes; snow eight feet on a level.

Dec. 16 — Fair and pleasant; froze hard last
night; the company started on snow shoes to
cross the mountains; wind southeast.

Dec. 11- — Pleasant; William Murphy returned
from the mountain party last evening; ]>avles8
Williams died night before last; Milton and
Noah started for Donner's eight days ago; not
returned yet; think they are lost in the snow.

Dec. 19 — Snowed last night; thawing to day;
wind northwest, a little singular for a thaw.

Dec. 20 — Clear and pleasant; Mrs. Reed here;
no account from Milton yet; Charles Berger set
out for Donner's; turned back, unable to pro-
ceed; tough times, but not discouraged; our
hopes are in God. Amen!

Dec. 21 — Milton got back last night from
Donner's camp; sad news; Jacob Donner, Sam-
uel Shoemaker, Rhinehart and Smith are dead;
the rest of tliem in a low situation; snowed all
night, with a strong southwest wind.

Dec. 23 — Clear to-day; Milton took some of
his meat away; all well at their camp. Began
this day to read the "thirty day's Prayers;" Al-
mighty God grant the requests of unworthy
sinners!

Dec. 24 — Rained all night and still continues;
poor prospect for any kind of comfort, spiritual
or temporal.

Dec. 25 — Began to snow yesterday; snowed
all niglit and snows yet, rapidly; extremely dif-
ficult to find wood; offered our prayers to God
this (Christmas) morning; the prospect is ap-
palling, but we trust in Him.

Dec. 27 — Cleared off yesterday; continues
clear; snow nine feet deep; wood growing
scarcer; a tree, when felled, sinks into the snow,
and is hard to be got at.

Dec. 30 — Fine clear morning; froze hard last
night; Charles Berger died last evening about
ten o'clock.

Dec. 31 — Last of the year; may we, with the
help of God, spend the coming year better than
we have the past, which we propose to do if it
be the will of the Almighty to deliver us from
our present dreadful situation; Amen. Morn-
ing fair, but cloudy; wind east-by-south; looks
like another snow^ storm; snow storms are dread-
ful to us; the snow at present is very deep.

i/rtM. 1, 1847 — We pray the God of mercy to
deliver us from our present calamity, if it be
His holy w'ill. Commenced snowing last night,
and snows a little yet; provisions getting scant;

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

245

dug up a hide from under the snow yesterday;
have not commenced on it yet.

Jan. •'! — Fair during the day; freezing at
niglit; Mrs. Reed talks of crossing the moun-
tains with her children.

Jan. 4 — Fine morning, looks like spring; Mrs.
Reed and Virginia, Milton Elliott and Eliza
Williams started a short time ago, with the liope
of crossing the mountain; left the children
here; it was difficult for Mrs. Reed to part with
them.

Jan. 6 — Eliza came back from the mountains
yesterday evening, not able to proceed; the
others kept ahead.

Jan. 8 — Very cold this morning; Mrs. Reed
and others came back, could not find their way,
ou the other side of the mountains; they have
nothing but hides to live on.

Jan. 10 — Began to snow last night; still con-
tinues; wind west-north-west.

Jan. 13 — Snowing fast; snow higher than the
shanty; it must be thirteen feet deep; cannot
get wood this morning; it is a dreadful sight
for us to look upon.

Jan. 14 — Cleared off yesterday; the sun shin-
ing brilliantly renovates our spirits; praise be
to the God of Heaven.

Jan. 15 — Clear day again; wind northwest;
Mrs. Murphy blind; Lanthron not able to get
wood; has but one axe between him and Kies-
burg; it looks like another storm; expecting
some account from Sutter's soon.

Jan. 17 — Lanthron became crazy last night;
provisions scarce; hides our main subsistence;
may the Almighty send us help.

Jan. 21 — Fine morning; John IJattise and
Mr. Denton came this morning with Eliza. She

will not eat hides; Mrs. sent her back to

live or die on them.

Jan. 22 — Began to snow after sunrise; likely
to continue; wind north.

Jan. 23 — Blew hard and snowed all night; the
most severe storm we have experienced this
winter; wind west.

Jan. 20 — Cleared up yesterday; to-day tine
and pleasant, wind south; in hopes we are done
with snow storms; those who went to Sutter's
not yet returned; provisions getting scant; peo-
ple growing weak; living on small allowance of
hides.

Jan. 28 — Commenced snowing yesterday —
still continues to-day. Lewis (Sutter's Indian,)
died three day's ago; food growing scarcer;
don't have tire enough to cook our hides.

Jan. 30 — F'air and pleasant; wind west; thaw-
ing in the sun; John and Edward Breen went to

Graves' this morning; the seized on Mrs.

goods until Ihej' would be paid; they

also took the hides which herself and family
subsisted upon; they retained two pieces only,
the balance they have taken. You may judge
from this what our fare is in camp; there is
nothing to be had by hunting yet, perhaps there
soon will be.

Jan. 31 — The sun does not shine out brilliant,
this morning; froze hard last night; wind north-
west. Lanthron Murphy died last night about
one o'clock; Mrs. Reed went to Graves' this
morning, to look after goods.

Feb. 5 — Snowed hard until twelve o'clock last
night; many uneasy for fear we shall all perish
with hunger; we have but little meat left, and
only three hides; Mrs. Reed has nothing but
one hide, and that is on Graves' house; Milton
lives there, and will likely keep that; Eddy's
child died last night.

Feb. 6 — It snowed faster last night and today
than it has done this winter before; still con-
tinues, without intermission; wind southwest;
Murphy's folks and Kiesburg say they cannot
eat hides; I wish we had enough of them; Mrs.
Eddy is very weak.

Feb. 7 — Ceased to snow at last; today it is
quite pleasant; McCutchen's child died on the
second of this month.

Feb. 8 — Fine, clear morning; Spitzer died last
night; we will bury him in the snow; Mrs. Eddy
died on the night of the seventh.

Feb. 9— Mr. Pike's child all but dead; Milton
is at Murphy's, not able to get out of bed; Kies-
burg gets up; he says he is not able; Mrs.

Eddy and child were buried to-day; wind south-
east.

Feb. 10 — Beautiful morning; thawing, in the
sun; Milton Elliott died last night, at Murphy's
shanty; Mrs. Reed went there this morning, to
see after his effects; J. Denton trying to borrow
meat for Graves; had none to give; they had
nothing but hides; all are entirely out of meat;
but a little we have; our hides are nearly all eat
up. With God's help, spring will soon smile
upon us.

Feb. 12 — Warm, thawy morning.

Feb. 14 — Fine morning, but cold; buried Mil-
ton in the snow. John Denton not well.

Feb. 15 — Morning cloudy until nine o'clock,

then cleared off warm. Mrs. refused to

give Mrs. any hides. Put Sutter's pack

hides on her shanty, and would not let her have
them.

Feb. 16 — Commenced to rain last evening, and
turned to Snow during the night, and continued

246

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

until morning; weather changeable — sunshine,
then light showers of hail, and wind at times.
We all feel very unwell; the snow is not getting
much less at present.

Feb. 19 — Froze hard last night. Seven men
arrived from California yesterday evening with
provisions, but left the greater part on the way.
To-day it is clear and warm for this region ; some
of the men have gone to Donner's camp; they
will start back on Monday.

Feb. 22 — The Californians started this morn-
ing, twenty-four in number, some in a very weak
state; Mrs. Kiesburg started with them, and left
Kiesburg here, unable to go; buried Pike's child
this morning in the snow; it died two days
ago.

Feb. 2.3 — Froze hard last night; to-d.ay pleas-
ant and thawy — has the appearance of spring,
all but the deep snow; wind south-southeast;
shot a dog to-day and dressed his flesh.

Feb. 2.5 — To-day Mrs. Murphy says the wolves
are about to dig up the dead bodies around her
shanty, and the nights are too cold to watch
them, but we hear them howl.

Feb. 26 — Hungry times in camp; plenty of
hides, but the folks won't eat them; we eat them
with tolerable good appetite, thanks be to the
Almighty God. Mrs. Murphy said here yester-
day that she thought she would commence on
Milton and eat him; I do not think she has done
so yet; it is distressing. The Donners told the
California folks, four days ago, that they would
commence on the dead people, if they did not
succeed that day or the next in finding their cat-
tle, then ten or twelve feet under the snow, and
did not know the spot or anywhere near it; they
have done it ere this.

Feb. 28 — One solitary Indian passed by yes-
terday; came from the lake; had a heavy pack
on his back; gave me five or six roots, resemb-
ling onions in shape; tasted some like a sweet
potato, full of tough little fibres.

Feb. 29 — Ten men arrived this morning from
Bear Valley, with provisions. We all leave in
two or three days, and cache our goods here.
They say the snow will remain until June.

The above mentioned ten men started for the
valley with seventeen of the sufferens; they trav-
eled fifteen miles and a severe snow storm came
on ; they left fourteen of the emigrants, the
writer of the above journal and his family, and
secceeded in getting in but three children. Lieu-
tenant Woodworth immediately went to their
assistance, but before he reached them they had
eaten three of their number, who had died fi-om
hunger and fatiarue; the remainder Lieutenant

Woodworth's party brought in. April, 1847, the
last member of the party was brought to Captain
Sutter's Fort. It is utterly Impossible to give
any description of the sufferings of the company.
Your readers can form some idea of them by
perusing the above diary. Yours, etc.,

George McKinstry, Jr.

Fort Sacramento, April 2*7, 1847.

The emigrants thus caught in the mountains
died, one by one, until thirty-six of the eighty-
one who left Independence in the spring with
such high hopes, literally starved to death. The
following are the names of those from Sangamon
county:

George Donner and his wife, IMrs. Tamsen
Donner; Jacob Donner and his wife, Mrs. Eliza-
beth Donner; her son, William Hook, sometimes
called William Donner; the three sons of Jacob
Donner and wife, Isaac, Lewis and Samuel;
four unmarried men, Bayless Williams, Mi) ford
Elliott, James Smith and John Denton, miihiny
a total of tinelve from Sangamon county who per-
ished from e.i'posiire and wmit of food.

J.acob Donner died among the first. He was
a tender-liearted, conscientious man, and it is at-
tested that his death was caused more by grief
at the present and prospective sufferings of his
family, than from disease or want of food.
George and Jacob Donner were members of the
Gern»an Prairie Christian Church. The five
surviving children of George Donner, and the
three surviving children of Jacob Donner and
wife, with their descendeuts. are among the
most respected citizens of California. It is
thought Mrs. George Donner was a native of
New England — Maine — and was a lady in the
highest sense of the word. Some of the citizens
of Sangamon county remember her especially on
account of her perfect self-control and power to
govern. She taught school in the vicinity of
Auburn when it was more unusual for a lady to
teach than it is now. Some almost full grown,
rough, uncouth young men were in her school,
and yet she would govern them as thoroughly as
if they were children. This self-control seems
never to have left her. According to the testi-
mony of Mr. Reed, who, after his own family
had been rescued, visited the two camps of the
Donners, to find Mrs. Jacob Donner and George
Donner helpless, and no means of removing
them. They were prepared to leave provisions,
and a man at each camp to care for the sick, and
used every argument to induce Mrs. George
Donner to go with them, but with the full
knowledge of the probabilities that she would
lose her own life, she utterly refused, prefering

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

247

to meet death in the discharge of her duty to her
husband ratlier than save her own life by seem-
ing to abandon him in his hour of peril; and so
she died, as truly a martyr as though she had
been burned at the stake.

Other acts of heroisms are too numerous to
mention, but the following will suffice:

Hiram O. Miller proved to be courageous and
efficient through all. Milford Elliott could have
saved his own life, and having neither wife,
children or any other blood relative among the
sufferers, no blame could have been laid to his
charge if he had saved himself by pushing
through, but he would not abandon helpless
women and children, and his life paid the for-
feit. The Eddy family, of Belleville, Illinois,
was totally obliterated.

All that is known of C T. Stanton is that he
was from Chicago, Illinois. History does not,
very probably, record the name of a greater
hero. It does not appear that he was in any
way related, or even acquainted, with one of the
sufferers previous to their departure from the
States. He aided many of them on their way,
and after their calamities came upon them
pushed his way through the mountains and
reached Sutter's fort, where he was absolutely
safe; but he knew there were men, women and
children perishing with cold and hunger, and
knowing this, there was no rest for him. He
secured supplies of food and mules, enlisted the
sympathies of two of the unlettered children
of the forest, and all pushed on, days and weeks,
through storms and snow-drifts, until even the
two savages, prompted by Mm, fell a fiacritice in
the cause of humanity. Savages, did I say?
I reverently withdraw the word. Their conduct
would put to shame thousands who have been
reared under the best of Christian influences.
There can be no more exalted evidence of
humanity than to give one life with the hope of
rescuing others from impending death. Mr.
Stanton was one of the party of fifteen who
attempted to pass out of the mountains, starting
December 16, 1846. He was weak and ema-
ciated, as all were, and on the twenty-first of
December became snow-blind, and that night
failed to reach the camp. The whole party lay
in camp the next day waiting for him, but he
never came. A party of men who went in the
mountains the next summer to bring out the
goods belonging to the Douner and Graves chil-
dren, found his bones at the very tree where
they left him on the twenty-first of December.
They were chewed and broken in small pieces.
The only way they could recognize them to be

Stanton's was by a letter from his sister in one
of his pockets, with some tobacco, the latter
having prevented the wild beast from destroy-
ing every evidence of identity. There was also
a instol that had been loaned to Stanton by Mr.
Fallen, the man who found his remains. No
one of those who perished was more sincerely
mourned by the survivors than Mr. Stanton.
Mr. Reed left this testimony to his worth:
"Poor Stanton, who had no relative in the cara-
van to draw him back, but from the noble dis-
position he had, and the kind feelings he
entertained for myself and family, and another
person who had befriended him, induced him to
return with provisions, and he lost his life as a
noble PHILANTHROPIST. * * * His kindness
saved my little ones from starvation."

As already stated, James F. Reed, after he had
been baffled in his attempt to reach the camp of
the suft'eririg emigrants, had returned to Captain
Sutter's, where he became satisfied that it would
be utterly impossible to do anything more for
them until spring. He was advised by Captain
Sutter to proceed to Yerba Bueno — now San
Francisco — and make his case known to the
naval officer in command. Arriving at San
Jose, he found the San Francisco side of the bay
occupied by Mexicans. Here he joined a com-
pany of volunteers, and took part in the battle
of Santa Clara; that opened the way to San
Francisco. There he was enabled to raise by
voluntary contributions, |1,000 in the town and
$:300 from the sailors in port, with which he
purchased supplies, which were placed on board
a schooner, in command of Midshipman Wood-
worth, who took all to the mouth of Feather
river, where men and horses were procured for
carrying relief to the emigrants. On their way
to the camp they met a party coming out with
women and children, among them Mr. Reed's
wife and two children, his other two children,
Martha and Thomas K., having been left in
camp in charge of a Mr. Glover of the rescuing
party, who volunteered to stay with and care for
them, assuring Mrs. Reed that he was a Free
Mason and knew her husband to be such, and
th.at he would rescue her children or die in the
attempt. He was as good as his word, protected
and cared for the children until they were
rescued by their father, and soon all the mem-
bers of the family were re-united and rejoicing
over their great deliverance. Mr. Reed's was
the only entire family who left Sangamon
county, all the members of which lived to reach
their destination, and they did it without any
one of them being driven to the necessity of

248

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

eating bnman flesh. It seems the more wonder- '
fill that they should all have lived through,
when their natural protector was separated from
them so much of the time.

The scene of the great suffering just described
began west of the Great Salt Lake, in a salt
desert, and extended hundreds of miles west-
ward, over a succession of mountain ranges,
running princiiJally north and south, known as
the Sierra Nevada mountains. Localities could
not then be descril>ed, except by natural boun-
daries, such as mountains and valleys. The
territory then belonged to Mexico, and the suf-
fering and destitution that met the emigrants
seemed only a realization of what might reason-
ably be expected in leaving the land of the
Stars and Stripes to come under the sway of the

benighted Mexican Hag. But the old adage
that " the darkest hour is just before the break
of day," has been fully realized in this case to
those who survived. The war they found in
the Sacramento valley, waged by Mexico for the
avowed purpose of exterminating the few scat-
tered Americans on the Pacific coast, termin-
ated in that whole region of country being ceded
to our government. Then followed the dis-
covery of gold, the influx of Americans, and the
organization of the States of California and
Oregon, and, a few years later, Nevada. The
locality of the closing scene, the camp where
the Donners died, is marked by a small body of
water among the mountains, now known as
Lake Donner, in the western part of the State
of Nevada.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

249

Chapter XLIL

POLITICAL.

Like all other intelligent communities in the
United States, the people of Sangamon county
Lave participated with earnestness in the various
political contests that have agitated the country
at large, and have had also their own local polit-
ical agitations. In the following pages the
attempt is made to briefly shovv the various
issues that have entered into the campaigns, fol-
lowing the whole with the official vote of every
general election, giving only the principal offi-
cers voted for, as showing the condition of the
various parties the time mentioned. A volume
could easily be written the size of this work,
upon the political history alone of Sangamon
county. Centrally situated, and for almost half
a century its chief city being the capital of the
State, the greater number of the political con-
ventions have been held here. From this point,
therefore radiate the great political measures
that agitate the people of the State, and their
influences are first felt in this county.

1824. — The first political question at issue this
year, was that of a Constitutional Convention.
This Convention was called for the purpose of
amending the Constitution, permitting slavery
in the State. In this county the friends ot a
free State were successful. The following is
the vote:

For Convention 15.3

Against Convention "722

569
There were four Presidential candidates this
year: Andrew Jackson, John Q. Adams, Wil-
liam H. Crawford, and Henry Clay. The can-
didates for county officers were numerous, there
being five for Sheriff, and four for Coroner.
John Taylor was the successful candidate for
the former office, and James McNabb for the
latter.

1826. — Local officers were elected this year.
Elijah lies was elected State Senator over Ed-
ward Robinson by a majority of 213.

1828. — Another presidential year, the candi-
dates being Andrew Jackson and John Quincy
Adams, the latter being a candidate for re-elec-
tion. The usual number of candidates for local
offices were before the people, and the canvass
was quite spirited. The total vote polled in
Sangamon county was 1,219, against 875 in
1824. James D. Henry was the successful can-
didate for Sheriff and Philip Fowler for Cor-
oner.

18:30. — Local officers alone were to be elected.
.James D. Henry was the successful candidate
for Sheriff', receiving a majority of 1,50:3 over
George Power.

18:32. — The parties this year were known as
the Jackson Republicans and the National Re-
j)ublicans. Andrew Jackson was the candidate
of the former for re-election to the Presidency,
and Henry Clay the latter. The issues were
those of national internal improvements, pro-
tection to domestic manufactures, the United
States bank and reform. The party supporting
Henry Clay favored a United States bank, a
protective tariff and a system of internal im-
provements by the general government. .Joseph
Duncan was the candidate of the Jackson party
for Congress, and Jonathan H. Pugh of the
Clay party. No county conventions were held,
but a large number of candidates were in the
field for the various offices to be filled. Hand-
bills were freely circulated setting forth the
claims of each to office, or showing the unfitness
of opposing candidates. The .Jackson party
was successful both in August and November.
During this year that portion of Sangamon,
afterwards stricken off as the county of Menard,
began to agitate the question of a separation,
ami presented Abraham Lincoln as their candi-
date for the Legislature. Mr. Lincoln was very
])i)palar, and obtained nearly the entire vote of
that section, but was defeated by the Jackson
men, who had a large m.ajority in the county,
and Mr. Lincoln being an ardent Clay man.

250

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

1834:. — State and county officers were to be
elected. For Governor there were four candi-
dates — Joseph Duncan, William Kinney, James
Adams and R. K. McLaughlin. For county
officers their name is legion. Abraham Lincoln
was a candidate for Representative in the legis-
lature, and was elected by a handsome majority,
receiving a larger vote than any of his colleagues
on the ticket. At his old home in Salem he
was called upon for a speech, and replied in the
following characteristic manner :

" Gentlemen, Fellow Citizens: — I presume you
all know who I am. I am humble Abraham
Lincoln. I have been solicited by many friends
to become a candidate for the legislature. My
jjolilics are short and sweet, like an old woman's
dance. I am in favor of a national bank. I am
in favor of the internal improvement system
and a high protective tariff. These are my
sentiments and political principles. If elected,
I will be thankful. If not, it will be all the
same."

The political issues were the same as in 1832.
The opposition to the Jackson men were called
Whigs in this campaign. State issues of im-
portance, were the construction of the Illinois
and Michigan canal and other internal improve-
ments. The canvass was quite spirited all over
the State, resulting in the election of Mr. Dun-
can as Governor. The question of the removal
of the State Capital from Vandalia was sub-
mitted to the people. In this county the vote
stood as follows:

For Springfield 2,261

For Alton 10

For Centre 21

For Vandalia 1

For Peoria 3

For Jacksonville 1

1835. — The year was remarkable for the ex-
citement which existed in relation to the local
election. At this time a re-organization of
parties was begun, looking to the Presidential
election the following year. A considerable
portion of the Clay or Whig party, represented
by George Forquer and Peter Cartwright, went
over to the opposition, while a portion of the
Jackson men, or Democrats, rejiresented by John
Dawson and others, coalesced with the Clay men,
which led to a very animated contest. E. D.
Taylor and George Forquer each resigned their
seats in the State Senate. Archer G. Herndon,
(anti-Van Buren), and John Calhoun, Democrat,
were nominated to fill the vacancy caused by
the resignation of the former, and Job Fletcher

and Peter Cartwright the latter. Regular
county officers were to be elected, and the usual
number of self-sacriticing individuals presented
their names for the suffrage of the people. The
political issues were unchanged, but Jackson
men were now known as Democrats and the ojj-
position as Whigs; though as the latter names
were not familiar to the people, the two parties
were frequently spoken of as Jackson or Van
Buren men, and White men. The names of
Martin Van Buren and Hugh L. W^hite being
presented by their respective parties for the
Presidency in 1836. The canvass in iSangamon
county was an exciting one, each party using its
utmost endeavor to be successful before the peo-
ple. John Calhoun and Peter Cartwright had
been sent as delegates to a State Convention at
Vandalia, which endorsed the candidacy of Van
Buren, and had there pledged, so far as they
were able, the vote of this county for that gen-
tleman. The opposition took up the challenge
thus offered, and therefore the intense excite-
ment. The Whigs were triumphant.

1836. — Party lines were now pretty strongly
drawn, for the first time in the history of the
country. Martin Van Buren was the nominee
of the Democracy for the Presidency, and Wil-
liam H. Harrison was the candidate of the
Whigs for the same office. John T. Stuart had
been nominated by the Whigs and William L.
May by the Democrats for Representative in
Congress, from the Third Congressional Dis-
trict, of which Sangamon county formed a part.
These gentlemen both resided in Springfield
and were representative men of their respective
parties. Mr. May was elected. The Whig can-
didates for State Senators and Representatives
were each elected. In the legislature they were
know as the "Long Nine," being nine in num-
ber, the aggregate height of all being fifty-four
feet. It is but just to say of these men that
they were giants in intellect as well as in stat-
ure. Several <>f the number made national
reputations. Every candidate on the Whig
ticket received a majority in this county.

1837. — The State bank question was the prin-
cipal political issue in 1837. The hard times so
severely felt by the peojale caused a great de-
sire for more currency as the remedy for all
financial ills. There being no National or State
ticket to be elected, there was but little political
excitement. Both parties had put forward rea-
sonably good men for the local offices to be
filled, it was not a canvass on which political
calculations could be based; therefore represen-
tatives of both parties were elected. The ques-

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

251

tion of slavery now began to be agitated, ami
judging from the following record of a public
meeting held at Springfield, it would appear the
Abolition leaven was working in old Sangamon:

"At a meeting of citizens of Springfield, con-
A'ened at the court room, on Monday, October
23, 1837, Judge Thomas C. Brown was called to
the chair and I. S. Britton appointed Secretary.
The following resolutions were adopted:

'■^ Hesoloed, That the efforts of the Abolition-
ists in this community are neither necessary nor
useful.

"Resolved, That as citizens of a free State
and a peaceful community, we deprecate any at-
tempt to sow discord among us, or to create an
excitement as to Abolition which can be pro-
ductive of no good result.

"Resolved, That in the opinion of this meet-
ing the doctrine of the immediate emancipation
of the slaves in this country (although promul-
gated by those who profess to be Christians) is
at variance with Christianity, and its tendency
is to breed contention, broils, and mobs; and the
leaders of those calling themselves Abolitionists
are designing, ambitious men, and dangerous
members of society, and should be shunned by
all good citizens."

In honor of the Whig victory in New York
this year, the Sangamo .Journal proposed a grand
illumination, by setting on fire the prairies of
the entire north part of the State. It had an
illustration of a vessel "bound for the deserts of
Arabia."

1838. — Cyrus Edwards was the Whig candi-
date, and Thomas Carlin the Democratic candi-
date, for Governor of the State. John T. Stuart
and Stephen A. Douglas were opposing candi-
dates