UNIVERSITY OF
LLINO/S LIBRARY
LI E) R.A FlY
OF THE
U N IVLRSITY
Of ILLINOIS
H62S
IllINOIS mmmi SURYET
HISTORY
OP
TAZEWELL C01IST\'
J
ILLINOIS;
TOGETHER WITH SKETCHES OF ITS CITIES. VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS; EDUCA-
TIONAL, RELIGIOUS, CIVIL, MILITARY, AND POLITICAL HISTORY; POR-
TRAITS OF PROMINENT PERSONS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF
REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
EMBRACING ACCOUNTS OF THE PKE-IIISTORIC RACES, ABORIGINES, FRENCH,
ENGLISH AND AMERICAN CONQUESTS, AND A GENERAL REVIEW
OF ITS CIVIL, POLITICAL AND MILITARY HISTORY.
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
ILLUSTRATED.
CHICAGO:
CHAS. C. CHAPMAN & CO,
1879.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1879, by
CHAS. C. CHAPMAN & CO.,
In the Office of the Libnirian of Congress, at Wasliington, D. C.
J. W. FRANKS .t SONS,
PKINTKRS AND BINDERS,
I'EORIA, ILI/.
PREFACE
• The earlj' historj' of Tazewell county is peculiarly interesting, and we
are enabled to give it from the very earliest occupancy of Illinois by the
whites. In point of time of its soil being disturbed by Europeans, it is
more remote than any other section of our great Prairie State. The second
centennial of its first settlement is at hand. In the county are places of
unusual historic interest, and to those who have located here we judge it
will be a source of no little gratification to inform themselves on the ante-
pioneer history of the county, which we detail at considerable length. In
the compilation of this work we pass over a period of two hundred years.
We have taken much care in recording the pioneer history, that future
generations, those who will not have the early settler to relate to them
the history incident to the settlement and development of this county,
may familiarize themselves with it through this medium; and that the
reader may see the county in all its various stages of progression. We do
not profess to have fully delineated the trials, suflTerings, and hardships
that were experience*! in converting even this fertile land from its virgin
wildness into the luxuriant and densely populate<l country it now is. No!
for human tongue or pen is far from being adequate to that task.
Different persons have given us honest and sincere, but nevertheless
conflicting accounts of the same events, and it has been both a difficult
and delicate task to harmonize them, and draw therefrom reasonable and
approximately correct conclusions. We had only one aim in view, one
plan to carry out, and that was, to record events impartially — to detail
them as they have actually occurred.
That we have completed our work, fulfilled all our promises to the
uttermost, we feel conscientiously assured, and we submit the result of
our labors to the charitable consideration of this intelligent an<l liberal
people. It must not be expected that, in the multiplicity of names, dates,
and events, no errors will be detected. We do not dare hope that, in the
numerous and varied details, this book is absolutely correct, nor is it ex-
PREFACE.
pected that it is beyoml (.riticisni, yet we believe it will be found to be
nieasurablj' correct and reliable. We have labored assiduously and with
studious care to make it a standard work of reference, as well as an
authoritative record for future historians to build upon.
Believing a work of this nature would be comparatively incomplete
without speaking of the history of the State, of which Tazewell county
forms no unimportant portion, we have carefully prepared a condensed,
yet very complete history of Illinois, which we incorporate in this volume.
And as a valuable aid in transacting every-day business, we append a
carefully compiled digest of Illinois State Laws, which both the l>;.isiness
man and farmer will find of great value. *-
Before laying aside our pen, we desire to express our warmest thanks
to the editors of the various newspapers pul)lished throughout the county;
to the county officials, and to the people in general for the assistance and
lil)eral patronage given us-
CHAS. C. CHAPMAN & CO.
Pekin, June, 1879.
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
MOUND-Bl'ILDERS 17
INDIANS 21
Illinois Confodcnicv 23
Starvfd Uock .". 2o
Sites iiiul Foxes 24
Miiiuiers and Cnslonis 27
Sinj.'le-lnin(kMl Conihat with Indians ... 2'.)
EAULY DISCOVEKIES ;!1
Nicholas I'errot :'.l
)liet anil Marquette :!1
LaSalle's Explorations ;!;5
(Jreat Hattle of the Illinois :il
Tonti safe at (irci'n liiiy ;. 11
LaSalle's Assa.ssination i:!
FKKNCH (Hcr I' ATION 44
First Settlements 44
Thi' .Mississii)i>i Coninanv 45
ENGLISH HILK ." 47
(!ei). (.'lark's Exploits 51
ILLINOIS 55
Coinitv of Illinois 55
NOKTHWESTEUN TEKIUTOHY 55
Onlinanee of 17s7 50
St. Clair <;overnorof N. \V. TeiTitor>' .. 59
ILLINOIS TEKIUTOKY 59
WAR OF 1M2-TIIE OL'TlUiEAK 59
Ma.ssiicre ()f Fort Dearborn till
Exi>editions up the Missis.sippi 71
ILLINOIS AS A STATE 74
Orpiniziition 74
Derivation of the name Illinois 77
State Hank 7.S
LaFayette's Visit
(iranimar luid Cook contrasted
HISTOKY OF
CHAPTER I.
Settlement and Orpinization 1,VJ
La.'^alle's Ex]>lorations 189
The War of 1.S12 u. 19(;
The I'ioneers 2()U
Oriranizalion of I ho County '2117
Fii-si Mill .". 2119
A leu First Things 210
The Di'e]) Snow '214
Suilileii Change 217
High Water 21.S
The lieantiful Prairies 2-20
CllAPTEK II.
Ini])ortant Labors of the County Comniis
sioner's Court ".
79
82
CHAPTER III.
Black Hiiwk War i'>('>
CHAPTER IV.
Geology 207
CHAPTER V.
Zoology and Rotjvny 272
CHAPTER VI.
Criminal Record 28S
CHAPTER VII.
Important Labors of the Board of Super-
vLsors :«)0
CHAPTER VIII.
Blooded Stock ;!0s
CHAPTER IX.
Under-ground Railroad 313
INDIAN TROUBLES
Winnebago War
BLACK HAWK WAR
Stillnian's Run
Battle of Bad Axe
Black Hawk Cajitured
Biographical Skelcii of Black Hawk
FROM l.s:;4 TO 1.S42
Internal lni]inivemeiits
Illinois and Michigan Canal
Martvr for Liberty.
PRAIRIE PIRATK?"
.MORMON WAR
MEXICAN WAR ■..'."
Battle (»f Ihiena Vista
THE WAR FOR THE UNION
States !<( 'ceiling
The Fall of Sumter '.
Call for Troops promptly answered
The War ended — The Union restored
Schedule of Regiment.s
DUELS
DKESS AND M.^NNERS
PHYSICAL FE.VTURES OF ILLINOIS
AGRICUKTUKE
GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS
Lieiitenant (iovernors
Stale Odieials
U. S. Senators
Representatives in Congress
CHICAGO
The (Jri'at Fire
Commerce of (.'hicago
STATES OF THE UNION
TAZKWKI.L COUNTY.
CHAPTER X.
Pioneer Life
CHAPTER XL
The Rebellion
Tazewell County Volunteers
CHAPTER XII.
Tazewell (.'ounty B:ir
CHAPTER XIII.
T0WN.SI111' IIi.sTiiKii:s:—
Boy n ton
Cincinnati
Deer Creek
iH'lavan
Dillon
I-:im (irovc
Fond du Lac
Groveland
Hitlle
Hopedale
Little Mackinaw
Malone
Morton
Mackinaw
Pekin
Sand Prairie
Spring I^ake
Treniont
Washington
CHAPTER XIV.
80
«3
84
87
90
91
92
95
95
97
98
102
104
lis
119
1-25
120
1'27
128
137
i:w
141
149
l.M
l.V)
l.")7
100
101
102
105
170
172
173
177
321
351
38-1
M
308
414
427
4-2;!
451
40<J
4rhS
475
480
491
51:;
5'2ti
5:u
.5-14
017
Vu'A)
lk")2
60-2
County Oflicials and Political Historj'.
Election Returns
706
711
COXTEXTS.
Pikin Times
Tiizewell County Repubii'(5^n.'
\Nti.shiiif,'ion Ilcnilii.f.
iK'hiviin AfivtriisLT
Delavaii Times
Miiiior News .
'nu;i.,velIIn.JependentV.'.r.;:; n'^
Ia-k».\ Tfiider
Frtie Presse
718
722
-■24
726
727
Starved Rrxk .
728
720
TM
ILLUSTKATIONS,
CHAPTKR XVI
Railroads:—
I-, B. <t w. Ry.
f: K & J. K. R.;;;
t;- A. 6, St. L. R. R ::::;;;:::;:
P-, L. A: D. Ry.
T„ P. ct w. R'y ..::::;
111. Midland R R
C, P. iV 8. \V. R.
R..
7;i2
7a3
TM
735
TJH
739
730
All Inxjiiois Chief •• ^'
<;i'n. Cn-o. K. (lark '*'
49
tieii. Artliur St. Clair
Old Fort Deurboni ^
Old Kiiizic House... ''^
Pontiuc bo
Scene on Fox River
Lineoln .Monuiiant ^-^
A.sylum furFeel.le Minded.""" HI
N..U hern Normal Iniver^ity }^
( entral In.sane Ilo.spital ''
Indu.sinal Lniversliy iii;; "?"
Black Hawk ...... ..'.'.'." G-* F:.\j)o.sitioii Building ^"^
'k '^- ^i iV ^ K- K. n^n:::::: .'S La«'>i,i« street Tunuei;;;;;.;;. ]^i
Lve and I-Jir Iidir.nurv ^. ,1? J.^^ ^nb - 1^2
louse ^^^
Tazeweucoiuity".'.'.";/;.;;";;;;;;;;;;;;j^2?
(
Evi a„u ijir iimr.nury .
Deaf and Dumb Institute
111
11.5
Allensworth, W P J'OKTRAIT.S,
Alfs. Ovrd. ^^
BiKon, E. H -l-l
Bemis, T. K. -^^
Iie<iueaith, Johii"'. tJ'-?
Be<iueaith, KlizabethV.V.V. „!?
Breniieman, Jacob .... ik^
< latoii, John... •^^'
Crabb, Daniel . ■^^'^
Cobleigh, G. R....; 322
Crawford, James .'^1
Darah, Robert... ■^^'
Frey, Rudolph ■'•'■♦'
Gaines, John .. •**-
(iolden, C. L.... -»-!
<jt».lden, Mrs. Kliz,i ii. ■;.■;; ^J')
Gnesemer, Adam Vii^
IIjuls, Kli ... 40/
IIa<i.s, Ann Catherine;;;:;:: SH
iraa.s, hdward **^-'
Hall. Ini B ftW
553
575
497
432
W4
315
Luuisey, Jean
Luppen, Luppe
McI)owell, Mrs. Kitty
McKinstry, John ...
Marshall, Horaces...'
Martin, James p
Minicr, Geo. W .
Minier, .Sarah ^^'^
Minicr, T.L... ^^^
Minier, Ellen ^^^
Nichols, Geo '^^^
Orendorfi; G. P *^-
R^mkjn, Daniel m"V ^
Rankin, John S ^-^
Reardon, John "'-^
bundle, wiiiiaui::;;;.;:; -^^
Shurtleir, Flavel ^^
Smith, D. c." 229
Smith, Fred ^'^
Smith, Ties ^"5
Hill, Xehemiah... ^'~ Stoehr, Geoitre ^'^
ilill, Einilv .^W Stoehr, Mar%- M -^-^
Jlippen. h! W ; o4S Studyviu, John •*-'•'
Hottinan, John ... ^"•''•' ^Vil.son, Dr R ii yi ■''■''
Ireland, Fraiicis;:." ^'•'^ Woods, Abraham " "^
of Courts
74::
74;j
Irwin, Joe B . 39
Larimore, TimoVhv'.V.'. fir
Lindsey, James A '^^
oo3
T„ DIGE.ST OF
Laws
Juris<iietion
C«junty
Com. o
Fences
Drainagi
Trespass of SU)Ck.'.'." J-*^
Kstravs im
Horses ;;;:;; 749
Marks and Brand.s "*
Articles of AgreemeiitV." iJj
Judgment N'ote...::: '^2
Interest . 7.J3
Wills ;"""'.v.'.v;;;;;;;;; i^
■-—•'', Abraham co^
\\oods, Harriet M ^l
^^ood, Dr. E F 636
Ziiiger, Louis.....::;;; ™i
•■ 599
•STATK LAWS.
Subscription.
'% *,v."!?' ;;.;;;;;;;;;;; ~fi ['y^^'^^-t for PereoiVara-nic^i ^,
1. of Highways if* ^ e" si w^rt Libel. '^"»'^es ^4
ees ^4-1 Lender "5
nage .'.".V "4C. Drunkcnnes.s ; - "^^
Dc.scent....
Deeds .;;;;;;;
Tr,T'rlf ^'^.""'^ '''"^"st Deedl':
1 rust Deeds
I-eiiis ..
Bill of Sale ;;:.'.'.'.'.";; '••-
Daysof (Jraoe "W
7t»,5
7(J5
706
755
7.V.(
7W)
761
7(52
niiess
Marriage Contract
School Months
Infants
Adoi.tion of ciiiidreVi v.:
Church Organizations...
Game
Millers ;.■.■.■.■.";
I'aupers
I'ublic and PrivaieConVeyancti'
^N ages and Suikeholdera. f
Sundav
Ie^o!l'iv'''VV^''"^''^"^i«''ToiT^s:...
jA'gal Weights! " "
Bees
Dogs '..;
• and Meiusures ..
777
. 778
. 7S0
. 780
. 781
. 781
. 782
785
785
786
787
7SS
7.SK
7S,S
789
Limitation of Action.'." ' ".'
Iteceipts
E.veiiipii,,„si^rom F\7rcedj^^^^^^^
Ijii)dl..r.ls and Tenants '^'
Criminal ]jiw.. '67
Taxes ! 770
cnieity toAiVimak;::;;;;;;; Zfj?
Names
f. S. Mail.*!.....""'
Itates of Postage
Rates of p
790
790
792
i^^-:t:?k.W!?ter' ^''-'•■^^"-Matte-r:::::: m
Mc.iey urriers .;: i^f
794
■■■■■■iir^'M
■4
w>«^^
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M
/
,c'ri*^' tr. :v.,,^
()i-^
3^7l';)yj';f.L €IIUNT¥
^Li.iNin'^
r
Scale ■/' Miles lo f/ir ineJi.
/Mm '/I /ari/,rI/isforxo/'7hznM'ff('oXl
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
FORMER OCCUPANTS.
MOUND-BUILDERS.
The numerous and well-authenticated accounts of antiquities
found in various parts of our country, clearlj' demonstrate that a
people civilized, and even highly cultivated, occupied the broad
surface of our continent before its possession by the present In-
dians; but the date of their rule of the Western World is so re-
mote that all traces of their history, their progress and decay, lie
buried in deepest obscurity. Nature, at the time the first Euro-
peans came, had asserted her original dominion over the earth; the
forests were all in their full luxuriance, the growth of many cen-
turies; and naught existed to point out who and what they were
who formerly lived, and loved, and labored, and died, on the conti-
nent of America. This pre-historic race is known as the Mound-
Builders, from the numerous large mounds of earth-works left by
them. The remains of the works of this people form the most in-
teresting class of antiquities discovered in the United States. Their
character can be but partially gleaned from the internal evidences
and the peculiarities of the only remains left, — the mounds. They
consist of remains of what were apparently villages, altars, temples,
idols, cemeteries, monuments, camps, fortifications, pleasure
grounds, etc., etc. Their habitations must have been tents, struc-
tures of wood, or other perishable material; otherwise their remains
would be numerous. If the Mound-Builders were not the ancestors
of the Indians, who were they'^ The oblivion which has closed over
them is so complete that only conjecture can be given in answer to
the question. Those who do not believe in the common parentage
of mankind contend that they were an indigenous race of the West-
ern hemisphere; others, with more plausibility, think they came
from the East, and imagine they can see coincidences in the religion
of the Hindoos and Southern Tartars and the supposed theology of
18 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
the Mound-Builders. They were, no doubt, idolators, and it has
been conjectured that the sun was the object of their adoration. The
mounds were generally built in a situation affording a view of the
rising Bun: when enclosed in walls their gateways were toward the
east; the caves in which their dead were occasionally buried always
opened in the same direction; whenever a mound was partially en-
closed by a semi-circular pavement, it was on the east side; when
bodies were buried in graves, as was frequently the case, they were
laid in a direction east and west; and, finally, medals have been
found representing the sun and his rays of light.
At what period they came to this countr}', is likewise a matter of
speculation. From the comparatively rude state of the arts among
them, it has been inferred that the time was very remote. Their
axes were of stone. Their raiment, judging from fragments which
have been discovered, consisted of the bark of trees, interwoven
with feathers; and their military works were such as a people
would erect who had just passed to che pastoral state of society
from that dependent alone upon hunting and fishing.
The mounds and other ancient earth-works constructed by this
people are far more abundant than generally supposed, from the fact
that while some are quite large, tlie greater part of them are small
and inconspicuous. Along nearly all our water courses that are
large enough to be navigated with a canoe, the mounds are almost
invariably found, covering the base points and headlands of the
bluffs which border the narrower valleys; so that when one finds him-
self in such positions as to command the grandest views for river
Bcenery, he may almost always discover that he is standing upon,
or in close proximity to, some one or more of these traces of the
labors of an ancient people.
GALENA MOUNDS.
On the top of the high bluffs that skirt the west bank of the Mis-
sissippi, about two and a half miles from Galena, are a number of
these silent monuments of a pre-historic age. The spot is one of
surpassing beauty. From that point may be obtained a view of a
portion of three States, — Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. A hundred
feet below, at the foot of the perpendicular cliffs, the trains of the
Illinois Central Railroad thunder around the curve, the portage is
in full yiew^ and the " Father of Waters," with its numerous bayous
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 19
and islands, sketches a grand paraoraina for miles above and below.
Here, probably tlioiisands of years ago, a race of men now extinct,
and unknown even in the traditions of the Indians who inhabited
that section for centuries before the discovery of America by Colum-
bus, built these strangely wonderful and enigmatical mounds. At
this point these mounds are circular and conical in form. The larg-
est one is at least forty feet in diameter at the b&. 9, and not less
than fifteen feet high, even yet, after it has been bt, ten by the
storms of many centuries. On its top stands the large stump of an
oak tree that was cut down about fifty years ago, and its annual
rings indicate a growth of at least 200 years.
One of the most singular earth-works in the State was found on
the top of a ridge near the east bank of the Sinsinawa creek in the
lead region. It resembled some huge animal, the head, ears, nose,
legs and tail, and general outline of which being as perfect as
if made bv men versed in modern art. The ridore on which it was
situated stands on the prairie, 300 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
embaiikment three feet high, extended the outline of a quadruped
measuring 250 feet from the tip of the nose to the end of the
tail, and having a width of IS feet at the center of the body. The
head was 35 feet in length, the ears 10 feet, legs 60 and tail 75. The
curvature in both the fore and hind legs was natural to an animal
lying on its side. The general outline of the figure most nearly
resembled the extinct animal known to geologists as the Megathe-
rium. The question naturally arises. By whom and for what pur-
pose was this earth figure raised? Some have conjectured that
numbers of this now extinct animal lived and roamed over the prai-
ries of Illinois when the Mound-Builders first made their appearance
on the upper part of the Mississippi Valley, and that their wonder
and admiration, excited by the colossal dimensions of these huge
creatures, found some expression in the erection of this figure.
The bones of some similar gigantic animals were exhumed on this
stream about three miles from the same place.
LARGE CITIES.
Mr. Breckenridge, who examined the antiquities of the Western
country in ISIT, speaking of the mounds in the American Bottom,
says: "The great number and extremely large size of some of
20 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
them may be regarded as furnishing, with other circumstances,
evidences of their antiquity. I have sometimes been induced to
think that at the period when they were constructed there was a
population here as numerous as that which once animated the
borders of the Nile or Euphrates, or of Mexico. The most num-
erous, as well as considerable, of these remains are found in pre-
cisely those parts of the country where the traces of a numerous
population might be looked for, namely, from the mouth of the
Ohio on the east side of the Mississippi, to the Illinois river, and
on the west from the St. Francis to the Missouri. I am perfectly
satisfied that cities similar to those of ancient Mexico, of several
hundred thousand souls, have existed in this country."
It must be admitted that whatever the uses of these mounds —
whether as dwellings or burial places — these silent monuments
were built, and the race who built them vanished from the face
of the earth, ages belbre the Indians occupied the land, but their
date must probably forever baffle human skill and ingenuity.
It is sometimes difficult to distinguish the places of sepulture
raised by the Mound-Builders from the more modern graves of the
Indians. The tombs of the former were in general larger than
those of the latter, and were used as receptacles for a greater number
of bodies, and contained relics of art, evincing a higher degree of civ-
ilization than that attained by the Indians. The ancient earth-
works of the Mound-Builders have occasionally been appropriated
as burial places by the Indians, but the skeletons of the latter may
be distinguished from the osteological remains of the former by
their greater stature.
What finally became of the Mound-Builders is another query
which has been extensively discussed. The fact that their works
extend into Mexico and Peru has induced the belief that it was
their posterity that dwelt in these countries when they were first
visited by the Spaniards. The Mexican and Peruvian works, with
the exception of their greater magnitude, are similar. Relics com-
mon to all of them have been occasionally found, and it is believed
that the religious uses whicii they subserved were the same. If,
indeed, the Mexicans and Peruvians were the progeny of the
more ancient Mound-Builders, Spanish rapacity for gold was the
cause of their overthrow and final extermination.
A thousand other queries naturally arise respecting these nations
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 21
which now repose under the ground, but the most searching investi-
gation can give us only vagae speculations for answers. No histo-
rian has preserved the names of their mighty chieftains, or given an
account of their exploits, and even tradition is silent respecting
them.
INDIANS.
Following the Mound-Builders as inhabitants of North America,
were, as it is supposed, the people who reared the magnificent
cities the rains of which are found in Central America. This peo-
ple was far more civilized 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 walls of temples,
palaces and pyramids, which in some places for miles bestrew the
ground, mast have been of great extent, magnificent and very pop-
ulous. When we consider the vast period of time necessary to erect
Buch colossal structures, and, again, the time required to reduce
them to their present 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 beino: bailt.
The third race inhabiting North America, distinct from the
former two in every particular, is the present Indians. They
were, when visited by the early discoverers, without cultivation,
refinement or literature, and far behind the Mound-Builders in
the knowledge of the arts. The question of their origin has long
interested archieologists, and is the most difficult they have been
called upon to answer. Of their predecessors the Indian tribes
knew nothing; they even had no traditions respecting them. It is
quite certain that they were the successors of a race which had
entirely passed away ages before the discovery of the New "World.
One hypothesis is that the American Indians are an original race
indigenous to the Western hemisphere. Those who entertain this
view think their peculiarities of physical structure preclude the
possibility of a common parentage with the rest of mankind.
Prominent among those distinctive traits is the hair, which in the
red man is round, in the white man oval, and in the black man flat.
A more common supposition, however, is that they are a derivative
race, and sprang from one or more of the ancient peoples of Asia.
In the absence of all authentic history, and when even tradition is
32 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
wanting, any attempt to point out the particular location of their
origin must prove unsatisfactory. Though the exact place of origin
may never be known, yet the striking coincidence of physical
organization between the Oriental type of mankind and the Indians
point unmistakably to some part of Asia as the place whence they
emigrated, which was originally peopled to a great extent by the
children of Shem. In this connection it has been claimed that the
meeting of the Europeans, Indians and Africans on the continent
of America, is the fulfillment of a prophecy as recorded in Gen-
esis ix. 27: "God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the
tents of Shem ; and Canaan shall be his servant." Assuming the
theory to be true that the Indian tribes are of Shemitic origin,
they were met on this continent in the fifteenth century by the
Japhetic race, after the two stocks had passed around the globe by
directly different routes. A few years afterward the Hamitic
branch of the human family were brought from the coast of Africa.
During the occupancy of the continent by the three distinct races,
the children of Japheth have grown and prospered, while the called
and not voluntary sons of Ham have endured a servitude in the
wider stretching valleys of the tents of Shem.
When Christopher Columbus had finally succeeded in demon-
strating the truth of his theory that by sailing westward from Eu-
rope land would be discovered, landing on the Island of Bermuda
he supposed he had reached the East Indies. This was an error,
but it led to the adoption of the name of " Indians " for the inhab-
itants of the Island and the main land of America, by which name
the red men of America have ever since been known.
Of the several great branches of Korth American Indians the
only ones entitled to consideration in Illinois history are the Algon-
quins and Iroquois. At the time of the discovery of America the
former occupied the Atlantic seaboard, while the home of the
Iroquois was as an island in this vast area of Algonquin popula-
tion. The latter great nation spread over a vast territory, and various
tribes of Algonquin lineage sprung up over the country, adopting,
in time, distinct tribal customs and laws. An almost continuous
warfare was carried on between tribes; but later, on the entrance of
the white man into their beloved homes, every foot of territory
was fiercely disputed by the confederacy of many neighboring tribes.
The Algonquins formed the most extensive alliance to resist the
encroachment of the whites, especially the English. Such was the
HISTOKY OF ILLINIOS. 23
nature of King Philip's war. This King, with his Algonquin
braves, spread terror and desolation throughout New England.With
the Algonquins as the controlling spirit, a confederacy of conti-
nental proportions was the result, embracing in its alliance the tribes
of every name and lineage from the Northern lakes to the gulf.
Pontiac, having breathed into them his implacable hate of the
English intruders, ordered the conflict to commence, and all the
British colonies trembled before the desolating fury of Indian
vengeance.
ILLINOIS CONFEDERACY.
The Illinois confederacy, the various tribes of which comprised
most of the Indians of Illinois at one time, was composed of five
tribes: the Tamaroas, Michigans, Kaskaskias, Cahokas, and Peorias.
The Illinois, Miamis and Delawares were of the same stock. As
early as 1670 the priest Father Marquette mentions frequent visits
made by individuals of this confederacy to the missionary station at
St. Esprit, near the western extremity of Lake Superior. At that
time they lived west of the Mississippi, in eight villages, whither
they had 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 Marquette, in 1673, met with a band of them on their
famous voyage of discovery down the Mississippi. They were
treated with the greatest hospitality by the principal chief. On their
return voyage up the Illinois river they stopped at the principal
town of the confederacy, situated on the banks of the river seven
miles below the present town of Ottawa. It was then called Kas-
kaskia. Marquette returned to the village in 1675 and established
the mission of tlie Immaculate Conception, the oldest in Illinois.
When, in 1679, LaSalle visited the town, it had greatly increased,
numbering 460 lodges, and at the annual assembly of the difierent
tribes, from 6,000 to 8,000 souls. In common with other western
tribes, they became involved in the conspiracy of Pontiac, although
displaying no very great warlike spirit. Pontiac 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
the Illinois to avenge his death, and almost annihilated them.
STARVED ROOK.
Tradition states that a band of this tribe, in order to escape the
general slaughter, took refuge upon the high rock on the Illinois
34 HISTOEY OF ILLINOIS.
river since known as Starved Rock. Nature has made this one of
the most formidable military fortresses in the world. From the
waters which wash its base it rises to an altitude of 125 feet. Three
of its sides it is impossible to scale, while the one next to the land
may be climbed with difficulty. From its summit, almost as inac-
cessible 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 number of wooded islands, while further below it quietly
meanders through vast meadows till it disappears like a thread of
light in the dim distance. On the summit of this rock the Illinois
were besieged by a superior force of the Pottawatomies whom the
great strength of their natural fortress enabled them to keep at bay.
Hunger and thirst, however, soon accomplished what the enemy
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 lay down and died from starvation.
Years afterward 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 small compass around
Kaskaskia. A few years later they emigrated to the Southwest,
and in 1850 they were in Indian Territory, and numbered but 84:
persons.
SACS AND FOXES.
The Sacs and Foxes, who figured most conspicuously in the later
history of Illinois, inhabited the northwestern portion of the State.
By long residence together and intermarriage they had substan-
tially become one people. Drake, in his "Life of Black Hawk,"
speaks of these tribes as follows : " The Sacs and Foxes fought their
way from the waters of the St. Lawrence to Green Bay, and after
reaching that place, not only sustained themselves against hostile
tribes, but were the most active and courageous in the subjugation,
or rather the extermination, of the numerous *and powerful Illinois
confederacy. They had many wars, ofiensive and defensive, with
the Sioux, the Pawnees, the Osages, and other tribes, some of which
are ranked among the most fierce and ferocious warriors of the
whole continent; and it does not appear that in these conflicts, run-
ning through a long period of years, they were found wanting in
this, the greatest of all savage virtues. In the late war with Great
Britain, a party of the Sacs and Foxes fought under the British
iLi.K';:liiiliiiiiiiJ!:;itlii^i'
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. ^7
Standard as a matter of choice; and in the recent contest between a
fragment of these tribes and the United States, although deteated
and literally cut to pieces by an overwhelming force, it is very
questionable whether their reputation as braves would sufler by a
comparison with that of their victors. It is believed that a caretul
review of their history, from the period when they lirst established
themselves on the waters of the Mississippi down to the present
time will lead the inquirer to the conclusion that the bacs and
Foxes were trulv a courageous people, shrewd, politic, and enter-
prising, with no" more ferocity and treachery of character than is
common among the tribes by whom they were surrounded." These
tribes at the time of the Black Hawk War were divided into twenty
families, twelve of which were Sacs and eight Foxes. The lollow-
ino- were other prominent tribes occupying Illinois: the Kickapoos,
Slilwuees, Eascoulins, Piaukishaws, Pottawatomies, Chippewas,
and Ottawas.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
The art of hunting not only supplied the Indian with food, but,
like that of war, was a means of gratifying his love of distinction
The male children, as soon as they acquired sufficient age and
strength, were furnished with a bow and arrow and taught to shoot
birds°and other small game. Success in killing large quadrupeds
required years of careful study and practice, and the art was as
sedulously inculcated iu the minds of the rising generation as are
the elements of reading, writing and arithmetic in the common
schools of civilized communities. The mazes of the forest and the
dense, tall grass of the prairies were the best fields for the exercise
of the hunter's skill. No feet could be impressed in the yielding
soil but that the tracks were the objects of the most searching
scrutiny, and revealed at a glance the animal that made them, the
direction it was pursuing, and the time that had elapsed since it
had passed. In a forest country he selected the valleys, because
they were most frequently the resort of game. The most easily
taken, perhaps, of all the animals of the chase was the deer. It is
endowed with a curiosity which prompts it to stop in its flight and
look back at the approaching hunter, who always avails himself of
this opportunity to let fly the fatal arrow.
Their general councils were composed of the chiefs and old men.
When in'' council, they usually sat in concentric circles around the
28 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
speaker, and each individual, notwithstanding the fiery passions
that rankled within, preserved an exterior as immovable as if cast
in bronze. Before commencing business a person appeared with
the sacred pipe, and another with fire to kindle it. After being
lighted, it was first presented to heaven, secondly to the earth,
thirdly to the presiding spirit, and lastly the several councilors,
each of whom took a wliift'. These formalities were observed with
as close exactness as state etiquette in civilized courts.
The dwellings of the Indians were of the simplest and rudest
character. On some pleasant spot by the bank of a river, or near
an ever-running spring, they raised their groups of wigwams, con-
structed of the bark of trees, and easily taken down and removed
to another spot. The dwelling-places of the chiefs were sometimes
more spacious, and constructed with greater care, but of the same
materials. Skins taken in the chase served them for repose.
Though principally dependent upon hunting and fishing, the
uncertain supply from those sources led them to cultivate small
patches of corn. Every family did everything necessary within
itself, commerce, or an interchange of articles, being almost unknown
to them. In cases of dispute and dissension, each Indian relied
upon himself for retaliation. Blood for blood was the rule, and
the relatives of the slain man were bound to obtain bloody revenge
for his death. This principle gave rise, as a matter of course, to
innumerable and bitter feuds, and wars of extermination where such
were possible. War, indeed, rather than peace, was the Indian's
glory and delight, — war, not conducted as civilization, but war
where individual skill, endurance, gallantry and cruelty were prime
requisites. For such a purpose as revenge the Indian would make
great sacrifices, and display a patience and perseverance truly heroic;
but when the excitement was over, he sank back into a listless, un-
occupied, well-nigh useless savage. During the intervals of his
more exciting pursuits, the Indian employed his time in decorating
his person with all the refinement of paint and feathers, and in the
manufacture of his arms and of canoes. These were constructed of
bark, and so light that they could easily be carried on the shoulder
from stream to stream. His amusements were the war-dance, ath-
letic games, the narration of his exploits, and listening to the ora-
tory of the chiefs; but during long periods of such existence he
remained in a state of torpor, gazing listlessly upon the trees of
the forests and the clouds that sailed above them; and this vacancy
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
29
imprinted an habitual gravity, and even melancholy, upon his gen-
eral deportment.
The main labor and drudgery of Indian communities fell upon
the women. The planting, tending and gathering of the crops,^
making mats and baskets, carrying burdens,— in fact, all things of
the kind were performed by them, thus making their condition but
little better than that of slaves. Marriage was merely a matter of
bargain and sale, the husband giving presents to the father of the
bride. In general they had but few children. They were sub-
jected to many and severe attacks of sickness, and at times famine
and pestilence swept away whole tribes.
SINGLE-HANDED COMBAT WITH INDIANS.
The most desperate single-handed combat with Indians ever
fought on the soil of Illinois was that of Tom Higgins, August 21,
1814. Higgins was 25 years old, of a muscular and compact
build, not tin, but strong and active. In danger he possessed a
quick and discerning judgment, and was without fear. He was a
member of Journey's rangers, consisting of eleven men, stationed
at Hill's Fort, eight miles southwest of the present Greenville, Put-
nam county. Discovering Indian signs near the fort, the company,
early the following morning, started on the trail. They had not
gone far before they were in an ambuscade of a larger party. At
the first fire their commander, Journey, and three men fell, and
six reti-eated to the fort; but Higgins stopped to "have another
pull at the red-skins," and, taking deliberate aim at a stragglmg
savage, shot him down. Higgins' horse had been wounded at the
first fire, as he supposed, mortally. Coming to, he was about to
efi'ect his escape, when the tamiliar voice of Burgess hailed him
from the long grass, " Tom, don't leave me." Higgins told him to
come along, but Burgess replied that his leg was smashed. Hig-
gins attempted to raise him on his horse, but the animal took fright
and ran away. Higgins then directed Burgess to limp off" as well
as he could; and by crawling through the grass he reached the fort,
\^diile the former loaded his gun and remained behind to protect
him- against the pursuing enemy. When Burgess was well out of
the way, Higgins took another route, which l6d by a small thicket,
to throw any wandering enemy off the trail. Here he was con-
fronted by three savages approaching. He ran to a little ravine
near for shelter, but in the efi'ort discovered for the first time that
80 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
he was badly wounded in the leg. He was closely pressed by the
largest, a powerful Indian, who lodged a ball in his thigh. He fell,
but instantly rose again, only, however, to draw the fire of the other
two, and again fell wounded. The Indians now advanced upon him
with their tomahawks and scalping knives; but as he presented his
gun first at one, then at another, from his place in the ravine, each
wavered in his purpose. Neither party had time to load, and the
large Indian, supposing finally that Higgins' gun was empty, rushed
forward with uplifted tomahawk and a yell; but as he came near
enough, was shot down. At this the others raised the war-whoop,
and rushed upon the wounded Higgins, and now a hand-to-hand
conflict ensued. They darted at him with their knives time and
again, inflicting many ghastly flesh-wounds, which bled profusely.
One of the assailants threw his tomahawk at him with such pre-
cision as to sever his ear and lay bare his skull, knocking him down.
They now rushed in on him, but he kicked them ofi^, and grasping
one of their spears thrust at him, was raised up by it. He quickly
seized his gun, and by a powerful blow crushed in the skull of one,
but broke his rifle. His remaining antagonist still kept up the con-
test, making thrusts with his knife at the bleeding and exhausted
Higgins, which he parried with his broken gun as well as he could.
Most of this desperate engagement was in plain view of the fort;
but the rangers, having been in one ambuscade, saw in this fight
only a ruse to draw out the balance of the garrison. But a Mrs.
Pursely, residing at the fort, no longer able to see so brave a man
contend for his life unaided, seized a gun, mounted a liorse, and
started to his rescue. At this the men took courage and hastened
along. The Indian, seeing aid coming, fled. Higgins, being near-
ly hacked to pieces, fainted from loss of blood. He was carried to
the fort. There being no surgeon, his comrades cut two balls from
his flesh; others remained in. For days his life was despaired of;
but by tender nursing he ultimately regained his liealth, although
badly crippled. He resided in Fayette county for many years after,
and died in 1829.
HISTOET OF ILLINOIS. 31
EARLY DISCOVERIES
NICHOLAS PERROT.
The first white man who ever set foot on the soil embraced within
the boundary of the present populous State of Illinois was Nich-
olas Perrot, a Frenchman. He was sent to Chicago in the year 1671
by M. Talon, Intendant of Canada, for the purpose of inviting the
Western Indians to a great peace convention to be held at Green
Bay. This convention had for its chief object the promulgation of
a plan for the discovery of the Mississippi river. This great river
had been discovered by De Soto, the Spanish explorer, nearly one
hundred and fifty years previously, but his nation left the country
a wilderness, without further exploration or settlement within its
borders, in which condition it remained until the river was dis-
covered by Joliet and Marquette in 1673. It was deemed a wise
policy to secure, as far as possible, the friendship and co-operation
of the Indians, far and near, before venturing upon an enterprise
which their hostility might render disastrous. Thus the great con-
vention was called.
JOLIET AND MARQUETTE.
Although Perrot was the first European to visit Illinois, he was
not the first to make any important discoveries. This was left for
Joliet and Marquette, which they accomplished two years thereafter.
The former, Louis Joliet, was born at Quebec in 1615. He was
educated for the clerical profession, but he abandoned it to
engage in the fur trade. His companion, Father Jacques Mar-
quette, was a native of France, born in 1637. He was a Jesuit
priest by education, and a man of simple faith and great zeal and
devotion in extending the Roman Catholic religion among the In-
dians. He was sent to America in 1666 as a missionary. To con-
vert the Indians he penetrated the wilderness a thousand miles
in advance of civilization, and by his kind attention in their afilic-
tions he won their affections and made them his lasting friends.
There were others, however, who visited Illinois even prior to the
famous exploration of Joliet and Marquette. In 1672 the Jesuit
32 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
missionaries, Fathers Claude Allouez and Claude Dablon, bore the
standard of the Cross from their mission at Green Bay through
western Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
According to the pre-arranged plan referred to above, at the Jes-
uit mission on the Strait of Mackinaw, Joliet joined Marquette,
and with five other Frenchmen and a simple outfit the daring ex-
plorers on the 17th of Maj^, 1673, set out on their perilous voyage
to discover the Mississippi. Coasting along the northern shore of
Lake Michigan, they entered Green Bay, and passed thence up Fox
river and Lake "Winnebago to a village of the Muscatines and
Miamis, where great interest was taken in the expedition by the
natives. With guides thej^ proceeded down the river. Arriving
at the portage, they soon carried their light canoes and scanty bag-
gage to the Wisconsin, about three miles distant. Their guides
now refused to accompany them further, and endeavored, by re-
citing the dangers incident to the voyage, to induce them to return.
They stated that huge demons dwelt in the great river, whose voices
could be heard a long distance, and who engulfed in the raging
waters all who came within their reach. They also represented that
if any of them should escape the dangers of the river, fierce tribes of
Indians dwelt upon its banks ready to complete the work of de-
struction. They proceeded on their journey, however, and on the
17th of June pushed their frail barks on the bosom of the stately
Mississippi, down which they smoothly glided for nearly a hundred
miles. Here Joliet and Marquette, leaving their canoes in charge
of their men, went on the western shore, where they discovered an
Indian village, and were kindly treated. They journeyed on down
the unknown river, passing the mouth of the Illinois, then run-
ning into the current of the muddy Missouri, and afterwaid the
waters of the Ohio joined with them on their journey southward.
Near the mouth of the Arkansas they discovered Indians who
showed signs of hostility; but when Marquette's mission of peace
was made known to them, they were kindly received. After pro-
ceeding up the Arkansas a short distance, at the advice of the
natives they turned their faces northward to retrace their steps. Af-
ter several weeks of hard toil they reached the Illinois, up which
stream they proceeded to Lake Michigan. Following the western
shore of the lake, they entered Green Bay the latter part of Sep-
tember, having traveled a distance of 2,500 miles.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 33
On his way np the Illinois, Marquette visited the Kaskaskias,
near what is now Utica, in LaSalle county. The following year
he returned and established among them the mission of the Im-
maculate Virgin Mary. This was the last act of his life. He died
in Michigan, May 18, 1675.
lasalle's explokations.
The first French occupation of Illinois was eifected by LaSalle,
in 16S0. Having constructed a vessel, the " Griffin," above the
falls of Niagara, he sailed to Green Bay, and passed thence in
canoe to the mouth of the St. Joseph river, by which and the Kan-
kakee he reached the Illinois in January, 1680; and on the 3d he
entered the expansion of the river now called Peoria lake. Here,
at the lower end of the lake, on its eastern bank, now in Tazewell
county, he erected Fort Crevecoeur. The place where this ancient
fort stood may still be seen just below the outlet of Peoria lake. It
had, however, but a temporary existence. From this point LaSalle
determined, at that time, to descend the Mississippi to its mouth.
This he did not do, however, until two years later. Returning to
Fort Frontenac for the purpose of getting material with which to
rig his vessel, he left the fort at Peoria in charge of his lieutenant,
Henri Tonti, an Italian, who had lost one of his hands by the
explosion of a grenade in the Sicilian wars. Tonti had with him
fifteen men, most of whom disliked LiiSalle, and were ripe for a
revolt the first opportunity. Two men who had, previous to LaSalle's
departure, been sent to look for the " Griffin " now returned and
reported that the vessel was lost and that Fort Frontenac was in
the hands of LaSalle's creditors. This disheartening intelligence
had the effect to enkindle a spirit of mutiny among the garrison.
Tonti had no sooner left the fort, with a few men, to fortify what
was afterward known as Starved Kock, than the garrison at the
fort refused longer to submit to authority. They destroyed the
fort, seized the ammunition, provisions, and other portables of value,
and fied. Only two of their number remained true. Tliese hast-
ened to apprise Tonti of what had occurred. He thereupon sent
four of the men with him to inform LaSalle. Tims was Tonti in
the midst of treacherous savages, with only five men, two of whom
were the friars Ribourde and Membre. With these he immediately
returned to the fort, collected what tools had not been destroyed,
and conveyed them to the great town of the Illinois Indians.
34 HISTOEY OF ILLINOIS.
By this voluntary display of confidence he hoped to remove the
jealousy created in the minds of the Illinois by the enemies of La-
Salle. Here he awaited, unmolested, the return of LaSalle.
GREAT BATTLE OF THE ILLINOIS.
Neither Tonti nor his wild associates suspected that hordes of Iro-
quois were gathering preparatory to rushing down upon their
country and reducing it to an uninhabited waste. Already these
hell-hounds of the wilderness had destroyed the Hurous, Eries, and
other natives on the lakes, and were now directing their attention
to the Illinois for new victims. Five hundred Iroquois warriors
set out for the home of the Illinois. All was fancied security and
idle repose in the great town of this tribe, as the enemy stealthily
approached. Suddenly as a clap of thunder from a cloudless sky
the listless inhabitants were awakened from their lethargy. A
Shawnee Indian, on his return home after a visit to the Illinois,
first discovered the invaders. To save his friends from the im-
pending danger, he hurriedly returned and apprised them of the
coming enemy. This intelligence spread with lightning rapidity
over the town, and each wigwam disgorged its boisterous and as-
tounded inmates. Women snatched their children, and in a delirium
of fright wandered aimlessly about, rending the air with their
screams. The men, more self-possessed, seized their arms ready
for the coming fray. Tonti, long an object of suspicion, was soon
surrounded by an angry crowd of warriors, who accused him of be-
ing an emissary of the enemy. His inability to defend himself
properly, in consequence of not fully understanding their language
left them still inclined to believe him guilty, and they seized his
effects from the fort and threw them into the river. The women
and children were sent down the river for safety, and the warriors,
not exceeding four hundred, as most of their young men were off
hunting, returned to the village. Along the shores of the river
they kindled huge bonfires, and spent the entire night in greasing
their bodies, painting their faces, and performing the war-dance,
to prepare for the approaching enemy. At early dawn the scouts
who had been sent out returned, closely followed by the Iroquois.
The scouts had seen a chief arrayed in French costume, and re-
ported their suspicions that LaSalle was in the camp of the enemy,
and Tonti again became an object of jealousy. A concourse of
wildly gesticulating savages immediately gathered about him, de-
HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 35
manding his life, and nothing s^ved him from their uplifted weap-
ons but a promise that he and his men would go with them to meet
the enemy. With their suspicions partly lulled, they hurriedly
crossed the river and met the foe, when both commenced firing.
Tonti, seeing that the Illinois were outnumbered and likely to
be defeated, determined, at the imminent risk of his life, to stay
the fight by an attempt at mediation. Presuming on the treaty of
peace then existing between the French and Iroquois, he exchanged
hia gun for a belt of wampum and advanced to meet the savage
multitude, attended by three companions, who, being unnecessarily
exposed to danger, were dismissed, and he proceeded alone. A
short walk brought him in the midst of a pack of yelping devils,
writhing and distorted with fiendish rage, and impatient to shed
his blood. As the result of his swarthy Italian complexion and
half-savage costume, he was at first taken for an Indian, and before
the mistake was discovered a young warrior approached and stabbed
at his heart. Fortunately the blade was turned aside by coming
in contact with a rib, yet a large flesh wound was inflicted, which
bled profusely. At this juncture a chief discovered his true char-
acter, and he was led to the rear and efforts were made to staunch
his wound. When sufiiciently recovered, he declared the Illinois
were under the protection of the French, and demanded, in consid-
eration of the treaty between the latter and the Iroquois, that they
should be suffered to remain without further molestation. During
this conference a young warrior snatched Tonti's hat, and, fleeing
with it to the front, held it aloft on the end of his gun in view of
the Illinois. The latter, judging that Tonti had been killed,
renewed the fight with great vigor. Simultaneously, intelligence
was brought to the Iroquois that Frenchmen were assisting their
enemies in the fight, when the contest over Tonti was renewed
with redoubled fury. Some declared that he should be immediately
put to death, while others, friendly to LaSalle, with equal earnest-
ness demanded that he should be set at liberty. During their
clamorous debate, his hair was several times lifted by a huge sav-
age who stood at his back with a scalping knife ready for execution.
Tonti at length turned the current of the angry controversy in his
favor, by stating that the Illinois were 1,200 strong, and that there
were 60 Frenchmen at the village ready to assist them. This state-
ment obtained at least a partial credence, and his tormentors now
36 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
determined to use him as an instrument to delude the Illinois with a
pretended truce. The old warriors, therefore, advanced to the front
and ordered the firing to cease, while Tonti, dizzy from the loss of
blood, was furnished with an emblem of peace and sent staggering
across the plain to rejoin the Illinois. The two friars who had just
returned from a distant hut, whither thej had repaired for prayer
and meditation, were the first to meet him and bless God for wliat
they regarded as a miraculous deliverance. With the assurance
brouo-ht by Tonti, the Illinois re-crossed the river to their lodges,
followed by the enemy as far as the opposite bank. Not long after,
large numbers of the latter, under the pretext of hunting, also crossed
the river and hung in threatening groups about the town. These
hostile indications, and the well-known disregard which the Iroquois
had always evinced for their pledges, soon convinced the Illinois
that their only safety was in flight. With this conviction they set
tire to their village, and while the vast volume of flames and smoke
diverted the attention of the enemy, they quietly dropped down the
river to join their women and children. As soon as the flames would
permit, the Iroquois entrenched themselves on the site of the vil-
lao-e. Tonti and his men were ordered by the suspicious savages
to leave their hut and take up their abode in the fort.
At first the Iroquois were much elated at the discomfiture of the
Illinois, but when two days afterward they discovered them recon-
noitering their intrenchments, their courage greatly subsided.
With fear they recalled the exaggerations of Tonti respecting their
numbers, and concluded to send him with a hostage to make over-
tures of peace. He and his hostage were received with delight by
the Illinois, who readily assented to the proposal which he brought,
and in turn sent back with him a hostage to the Iroquois. On his
return to the fort his life was again placed in jeopardy, and the
treaty was with great difficulty ratified. The young and inexpe-
rienced Illinois hostage betrayed to his crafty interviewers the nu-
merical weakness of his tribe, and the savages immediately rushed
upon Tonti, and charged him with having deprived them of the spoils
and honors of victory. It now required all the tact of which he was
master to escape. After much difficulty however, the treaty was con-
cluded, but the savages, to show their contempt for it, immediately
commenced constructing canoes in which to descend the river and
attack the Illinois.
;:^;as)^*
AN IROQUOIS CHIEF.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 39
FRENCHMEN DRIVEN AWAY.
Tonti managed to apprise the latter of their designs, and he and
Membre were soon after summoned to attend a council of the Iro-
quois, who still labored under a wholesome fear of Count Frontenac,
and disliking to attack the Illinois in the presence of the French,
thej thought to try to induce them to leave the country. At the
assembling of the council, six packages of beaver skins were intro-
duced, and the savage orator, presenting them separately to Tonti,
explained the nature of each. "The first two," said he, " were to de-
clare that the children of Count Frontenac, that is, the Illinois,
should not be eaten; the next was a plaster to heal the wounds of
Tonti; the next was oil wherewith to anoint him and Membre,
that they might not be fatigued in traveling; the next proclaimed
that the sun was bright; and the sixth and last required them to
decamp and go home."
At the mention of going home, Tonti demanded of them when
they intended to set the example by leaving the Illinois in the
peaceable possession of their country, which they had so unjustly in-
vaded. The council grew boisterous and angry at the idea that
they should be demanded to do what they required of the French,
and some of its members, forgetting their previous pledge, declared
that they would "eat Illinois flesh before they departed." Tonti, in
imitation of the Indians' manner of expressing scorn, indignantly
kicked away the presents of fur, saying, since they intended to de-
vour the children of Frontenac with cannibal ferocity, he would not
accept their gifts. This stern rebuke resulted in the expulsion of
Tonti and his companion from the council, and the next day the
chiefs ordered them to leave the country.
Tonti had now, at the great peril of his life, tried every expedient
to prevent the slaughter of the Illinois. There was little to be ac-
complished by longer remaining in the^country, and as longer delay
might imperil the lives of his own men, he determined to depart, not
knowing where or when he would be able to rejoin LaSalle. With
this object in view, the party, consisting of six persons, embarked in
canoes, which soon proved leaky, and they were compelled to land
for the purpose of making repairs. "While thus employed, Father Ri-
bourde, attracted by the beauty of the surrounding landscape, wan-
dered forth among the groves for meditation and prayer. Not return-
ing in due time, Tonti became alarmed, and started with a compan-
40 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
ion to ascertain the cause of the long delay. They soon discovered
tracks of Indians, by whom it was supposed he had been seized, and
guns were fired to direct his return, in case he was alive. Seeing
nothing of him during the day, at night they built fires along the
bank of the river and retired to the opposite side, to see who might
approach them. Near midnight a number of Indians were seen
flitting about the light, by whom, no doubt, had been made the tracks
Been the previous day. It was afterward learned that they were a
band of Kickapoos, who had for several days been hovering about
the camp of the Iroquois in quest of scalps. They had fell in
with the inofiensive old friar and scalped him. Thus, in the 65th
year of his age, the only heir to a wealthy Burgundian house per-
ished under the war-club of the savages for whose salvation he had
renounced ease and affluence.
INHUMAN BUTCHERY.
During this tragedy a far more revolting one was being enacted
in the great town of Illinois. The Iroquois were tearing open the
graves of the dead, and wreaking their vengeance upon the bodies
made hideous by putrefaction. At this desecration, it is said, they
even ate portions of the dead bodies, while subjecting them to every
indignity that brutal hate could inflict. Still unsated by their hell-
ish brutalities, and now unrestrained by the presence of the French,
they started in pursuit of the retreating Illinois. Day after day
they and the opposing forces moved in compact array down the
river, neither being able to gain any advantage over the other. At
length the Iroquois obtained by falsehood that which number and
prowess denied them. They gave out that their object was to pos-
sess the country, not by destroying, but by driving out its present
inhabitants. Deceived by this false statement, the Illinois separa-
ted, some descending the Mississippi and others crossing to the
western shore. The Tamaroas, more credulous than the rest, re-
mained near the mouth of the Illinois, and were suddenly attacked
by an overwhelming force of the enemy. The men fled in dismay,
and the women and children, to the number of 700, fell into the
hands of the ferocious enemy. Then followed the tortures, butch-
eries and burnings which only the infuriated and imbruted Iroquois
could perpetrate. LaSalle on his return discovered the half-charred
bodies of women and children still bound to the stakes where they
had suffered all the tornjents hellish hate could devise. In addition
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 41
to those who had been burnt, the mangled bodies of women and
children thickly covered the ground, many of which bore marks of
brutality too horrid for record.
After the ravenous horde had sufficiently glutted their greed for
carnage, they retired from the country. The Illinois returned and
rebuilt their town.
TONTI SAFE AT GREEN BAT.
After the death of Ribourde, Tonti and his men again resumed
their journey. Soon again their craft became disabled, when they
abandoned it and started on foot for Lake Michigan, Their
supply of provisions soon became exhausted, and they were
compelled to subsist in a great measure on roots and herbs.
One of their companions wandered off in search of game, and lost
his way, and several days elapsed before he rejoined them. In his
absence he was without flints and bullets, yet contrived to shoot
some turkeys by using slugs cut from a pewter porringer and afire-
brand to discharge his gun. Tonti fell sick of a fever and greatly
retarded the progress of the march. Nearing Green Bay, the cold
increased and the means of subsistence decreased and the party would
have perished had they not found a few ears of corn and some froz-
en squashes in the fields of a deserted village. Near the close of
November they had reached the Pottawatomies, who warmly greet-
ed them. Their chief was an ardent admirer of the French, and
was accustomed to say: " There were but three great captains in the
world, — himself, Tonti and LaSalle." For the above account of
Tonti's encounter with the Iroquois, we are indebted to Davidson
and Stuve's History of Illinois.
lasalle's return.
LaSalle returned to Peoria only to meet the hideous picture of
devastation. Tonti had escaped, but LaSalle knew not whither. Pass-
ins down the lake in search of him and his men, LaSalle discov-
ered that the fort had been destroyed; but the vessel which he had
partly constructed was still on the stocks, and but slightly injured.
After further fruitless search he fastened to a tree a painting repre-
senting himself and party sitting in a canoe and bearing a pipe of
peace, and to the painting attached a letter addressed to Tonti.
LaSalle was.born in France in 1643, of wealthy parentage, and edu-
cated in a college of the Jesuits, from which he separated and came
to Canada, a poor man, in 1666. He was a man of daring genius,
42 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS,
and outstripped all his competitors in exploits of travel and com-
merce with the Indians. He was granted a large tract of land at
LaChine, where he established himself in the fur trade. In 1669
he visited the headquarters of the great Iroquois confederacy, at
Onondaga, New York, and, obtaining guides, explored the Ohio
river to the falls at Louisville, For many years previous, it must
be remembered, missionaries and traders were obliged to make their
way to the Northwest through Canada on account of the fierce
hostility of the Iroquois along the lower lakes and Niagara river,
which entirely closed this latter route to the upper lakes. They
carried on their commerce chiefly by canoes, paddling them through
Ottawa river to Lake Nipissing, carrying them across the portage
to French river, and descending that to Lake Huron. This being
the route by which they reached the Northwest, we have an explana-
tion of the fact that all the earliest Jesuit missions were established
in the neighborhood of the upper lakes. LaSalle conceived the
grand idea of opening the route by Niagara river and the lower
lakes to Canada commerce. by sail vessels, connecting it with the
navigation of the Mississippi, and thus opening a magnificent water
communication from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mex-
ico, This truly grand and comprehensive purpose seems to have
animated him in his wonderful achievements, and the matchless
difliculties and hardships he surmounted. As the first step in the
accomplishment of this object he established himself on Lake
Ontario, and built and garrisoned Fort Frontenac, the site of the
present city of Kingston, Canada. Here he obtained a grant of
land from the French crown, and a body of troops, by which he
repulsed the Iroquois and opened passage to Niagara Falls, Hav-
ing by this masterly stroke made it safe to attempt a hitherto
untried expedition, his next step, as we have seen, was to build a
ship with which to sail the lakes. He was successful in this under-
taking, though his ultimate purpose was defeated by a strange com-
bination of untoward circumstances. The Jesuits evidently hated
LaSalle and plotted against him, because he had abandoned them
and united with a rival order. The fur traders were also jealous of
his success in opening new channels of commerce. While they were
plodding with their bark canoes through the Ottawa, he was con-
structing sailing vessels to command the trade of the lakes and the
Mississippi. These great plans excited the jealousy and envy of
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 43
small traders, introduced treason and revolt into the ranks of his
men, and finally led to the foul assassination by which his great
achievements were permanently ended.
lasalle's assassination.
Again visiting the Illinois in the year 1682, LaSalle de-
scended the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. He erected a
standard upon which he inscribed the arms of France, and took
formal possession of the whole valley of this mighty river in the
name of Louis XIY., then reigning, and in honor of whom he named
the country Louisiana. LaSalle then returned to France, was
appointed Governor, and returned with a fleet of immigrants for the
purpose of planting a colony in Illinois. They arrived in due time
in the Gulf of Mexico, but failing to find the mouth of the Missis-
sippi, up which they intended to sail, his supply ship, with the
immigrants, was driven ashore and wrecked on Matagorda Bay.
"With the fragments of the vessel he constructed rude huts and
stockades on the shore for the protection of his followers, calling
tiie post Fort St. Louis. He then made a trip into New Mexico
in search of silver mines, but, meeting with disappointment,
returned to find his colony reduced to forty souls. He then resolved
to travel on foot to Illinois. With some twenty of his men they
filed out of their fort on the 12th of January, 1GS7, and after the part-
ing,— which was one of sighs, of tears, and of embraces, all seeming
intuitively to know that they should see each other no more, — they
started on their disastrous journey. Two of the party, Du Haut
and Leotot, when on a hunting expedition in company with a
neohew of LaSalle, assassinated him while asleep. The long
absence of his nephew caused LaSalle to go in search of him. On
approaching the murderers of his nephew, they fired upon him, kill-
ing him instantly. They then despoiled the body of its clothing,
aiic left it to be devoured by the wild beasts of the forest. Thus,
at the age of 43, perished one whose exploits have so greatly
enriched the history of the New World. To estimate aright the
marvels of his patient fortitude, one must follow on his track
through the vast scene of his interminable journeyings, those thou-
sands of weary miles of forest, marsh and river, where, again and
again, in the bitterness of baffled striving, the untiring pilgrim
pushed onward toward the goal he never was to attain. America
owes him an enduring memory ; for in this masculine figure, cast
44 HISTORY OF lULINOlS.
in iron, she sees the heroic pioneer who guided her to the possession
of her richest heritage.
Tonti, who liad been stationed at the fort on the Illinois, learning
of LaSalle's unsuccessful voyage, immediately started down the
Mississippi to his relief. Reaching the Gulf, he found no traces of
the colony. He then returned, leaving some of his men at the
mouth of the Arkansas. These were discovered by the remnant of
LaSalle's followers, who guided them to the fort on the Illinois,
where they reported that LaSalle was in Mexico. The little band
left at Fort St. Louis were finally destroyed by the Indians, and the
murderers of LaSalle were shot. Thus ends the sad chapter of
"Robert Cavalier de LaSalle's exploration.
FRENCH OCCUPATION.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
The first mission in Illinois, as we have already seen, was com-
menced by Marquette in April, 1675. He called the religious
society which he established the " Mission of the Immaculate Con-
ception," and the town Kaskaskia. The first military occupation of
the country was at Fort Crevecoeur, erected in 1680; but there is no
evidence that a settlement was commenced there, or at Peoria, on
the lake above, at that early date. The first settlement of which there
is any authentic account was commenced with the building of Fort
St. Louis on the Illinois river in 1682; but this was soon abandoned.
The oldest permanent settlement, not only in Illinois, but in the val-
ley of the Mississippi, is at Kaskaskia, situated six miles above the
mouth of the Kaskaskia river. This was settled in 1690 by the
removal of the mission from old Kaskaskia, or Ft. St. Louis, on the
Illinois river. Cahokia was settled about the same time. Tlie
reason for the removal of the old Kaskaskia settlement and mission,
was probably because the dangerous and difficult route by Lake
Michigan and the Chicago portage had been almost abandoned, and
travelers and traders traveled down and up the Mississippi by the
Fox and Wisconsin rivers. It was removed to the vicinity of the
Mississippi in order to be in the line of travel from Canada to
Louisiana, that is, the lower part of it, for it was all Louisiana then
south of the lakes. Illinois came into possession of the French in
1682, and was a dependency of Canada and a part of Louisiana.
During the period of French rule in Louisiana, the population
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 4:5
probably never exceeded ten thousand. To the year 1730 the fol-
lowing five distinct settlements were made in the territory of
Illinois, numbering, in population, 140 French families, about 600
" converted " Indians, and many traders ; Cahokia, near the mouth
of Cahokia creek and about five miles below the present city of
St, Louis; St. Philip, about forty-five miles below Cahokia; Fort
Chartres, twelve miles above Kaskaskia; Kaskaskia, situated on the
Kaskaskia river six miles above its confluence with the Mississippi,
and Prairie du Kocher, near Fort Chartres. Fort Chartres was
built under the direction of the Mississippi Company in 1718, and
was for a time the headquarters of the military commandants of
the district of Illinois, and the most impregnable 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 disposition and tact of ingratiating them-
selves with the Indians enabled them to escape almost entirely the
broils which weakened and destroyed other colonies. Whether
exploring remote rivers or traversing hunting grounds in pursuit
of game, in the social circle or as participants in the religious exer-
cises of the church, the red men became their associates and were
treated with the kindness and consideration of brothers. For more
than a hundred years peace between the white man and the red was
unbroken, and when at last this reign of harmony terminated it
was not caused by the conciliatory Frenchman, but by the blunt
and sturdy Anglo-Saxon. During this century, or until the coun-
try was occupied by the English, no regular court was ever held.
When, in 1765, the country passed into the hands of the English,
many of the French, rather than submit to a change in their insti-
tutions, preferred to leave their homes and seek a new abode.
There are, however, at the present 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.
THE MISSISSIPPI COMPANY.
During the earliest period of French occupation of this country,
M. Tonti, LaSalle's attendant, was commander-in-chief of all the
territory embraced between Canada and the Gulf of Mexico, and
extending east and west of the Mississippi as far as his ambition or
imagination pleased to allow. He spent twenty-one years in estab-
lishing forts and organizing the first settlements of Illinois. Sep-
46 HISTOEY OF ILLINOIS.
tember 14, 1712, the Frencli government granted a monopoly of all
the trade aud commerce of the country to M. Crozat, a wealthy
merchant of Paris, who established a trading company in Illinois,
and it was by this means that the early settlements became perma-
nent and others established. Crozat surrendered his charter in
1717, and the Company of the West, better known as the Missis-
sippi Company, was organized, to aid and assist the banking system
of John Law, the most famous speculator of modern times, and
perhaps at one time the wealthiest private individual the world
has ever known; but his treasure was transitory. Under the
Company of the West a branch was organized called the Company
of St. Philip's, for the purpose of working the rich silver mines sup-
posed to be in Illinois, and Philip Kenault was appointed as its
agent. In 1719 he sailed from France with two hundred miners,
laborers and mechanics. During 1719 the Company of the West
was by royal order united with the Royal Company of the Indies,
and had the influence and support of the crown, who was deluded
by the belief that immense wealth would flow into the empty treas-
ury of France. This gigantic scheme, one of the most extensive
and wonderful bubbles ever blown up to astonish, deceive and ruin
thousands of people, was set in operation by the fertile brain of
John Law. Law was born in Scotland in 1671, and so rapid had
been his career that at the age of twenty-three he was a " bankrupt,
an adulterer, a murderer and an exiled outlaw." But he possessed
great financial ability, and by his agreeable and attractive manners,
and his enthusiastic advocacy of his schemes, he succeeded in
inflaming the imagination of the mercurial Frenchmen, whose greed
for gain led them to adopt any plans for obtaining wealth.
Law arrived in Paris with two and a half millions of francs,
which he had gained at the gambling table, just at the right time.
Louis XIY. had just died and left as a legacy empty cofiers and an
immense public debt. Every thing and everybody was taxed to
the last penny to pay even the interest. All the sources of in-
dustry were dried up; the very wind which wafted the barks of
commerce seemed to have died away under the pressure of the
time; trade stood still; the merchant, the trader, the artificer, once
flourishing in affluence, were transformed into clamorous beggars.
The life-blood that animated the kingdom was stagnated in all
its arteries, and the danger of an awful crisis became such that
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 47
the nation was on the verge of bankruptcy. At this critical junc-
ture John Law arrived and proposed his grand scheme of the
Mississippi Company; 200,000 shares of stock at 500 livres each were
at first issued. Tliis sold readily and great profits were realized.
More stock was issued, speculation became rife, the fever seized
everybody, and the wildest speculating frenzy pervaded the whole
nation. Illinois was thought to contain vast and rich mines of
minerals. Kaskaskia, then scarcely more than the settlement of a
few savages, was spoken of as an emporium of the most extensive
traffic, and as rivaling some of the cities of Europe in refinement,
fashion and religious culture. Law was in the zenith of his glory, and
the people in the zenith of their infatuation. The high and the low,
the rich and the poor, were at once filled with visions of untold
wealth, and every age, set, rank and condition were buying and selling
stocks. Law issued stock again and again, and readily sold until
2,235,000,000 livres were in circulation, equaling about $450,000,000.
While confidence lasted an impetus was given to trade never before
known. An illusory policy everywhere prevailed, and so dazzled
the eye that none could see in the horizon the dark cloud announc-
ing the approaching storm. Law at the time was the most influ-
ential man in Europe. His house was beset from morning till
night with eager applicants for stock. Dukes, marquises and
counts, with their wives and daughters, waited for hours in the
street below his door. Finding his residence too small, he changed
it for the Place Vendome, whither the crowd followed him, and the
spacious square had the appearance of a public market. The boule-
vards and public gardens were forsaken, and the Place Vendome
became the most fashionable place in Paris; and he was unable to
wait upon even one-tenth part of his applicants. The bubble burst
after a few years, scattering ruin and distress in every direction.
Law, a short time previous the most popular man in Europe, fled
to Brussels, and in 1729 died in Venice, in obscurity and poverty.
ENGLISH KULE.
As early as 1750 there could be perceived the first throes of the
revolution, which gave a new master and new institutions to Illi-
nois. France claimed the whole valley of the Mississippi, and Eng-
land the right to extend her possessions westward as far as she
might desire. Through colonial controversies the two mother
48 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
countries were precipitated into a bloody war within the North-
western Territory, George Washington firing the first gun of the
military struggle which resulted in the overthrow of the French
not only in Illinois but in North America. The French evinced a
determination to retain control of the territory bordering the Ohio
and Mississippi from Canada to the Gulf, and so long as the En-
glish colonies were confined to the sea-coast there was little reason
for controversy. As the English, however, became acquainted
with this beautiful and fertile portion of our country, they not only
learned the value of the vast territory, but also resolved to set up a
counter claim to the soil. The French established numerous mili-
tary and trading posts from the frontiers of Canada to New Or-
leans, 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 question of time when the storm
should burst upon the frontier settlement. The French based
their claims upon discoveries, the English on grants of territory
extending from ocean to ocean, but neither party paid the least
attention to the prior claims of the Indians. From this posi-
tion of affairs, it was evident that actual collision between the
contending parties would not much longer be deferred. The En-
glish Government, in anticipation of a war, urged the Governor
of Yirginia to lose no time in building two forts, which were
equipped by arms from England. The French anticipated the
English and gathered a considerable force ta defend their possessions.
The Governor determined to send a messenger to the nearest
French post and demand an explanation. This resolution of the
Governor brought into the history of our country for the first time
the man of all others whom America most loves to'Jionor, namely,
George Washington. He was chosen, although not yet twenty-one
years of age, as the one to perform this delicate and difiicult mission.
With five companions he set out on Nov. 10, 1753, and after a per-
ilous journey returned Jan. 6, 1754. The struggle commenced and
continued long, and was bloody and fierce; but on the 10th of Octo-
ber, 1765, the ensign of France was replaced on the ramparts of
Fort Chartres by tlie flag of Great Britain. This fort was the
GEN. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
51
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 preliminary congress at New York, dreaming of
liberty and independence for the continent; and Washington, who
led the expedition against the French for the English king, in less
than ten years was commanding the forces opposed to the English
tyrant. Illinois, besides being constructively a part of Florida for
over one hundred years, during which time no Spaniard set foot
upon her soil or rested his eyes upon her beautiful plains, for nearly
ninety years had been in the actual occupation of the French, their
puny settlements slumbering quietly in colonial dependence on the
distant waters of the Kaskaskia, Illinois and Wabash.
GEN. CLAKk's exploits.
The Northwest Territory was now entirely under English rule,
and on the breaking out of the Revolutionary war the British held
every post of importance in the West. While the colonists of the
East were maintaining a fierce struggle with the armies of England,
their western frontiers were ravaged by merciless butcheries of In-
dian warfare. The jealousy of the savage was aroused to action by
the rapid extension of American settlement westward and the im-
proper influence exerted by a number of military posts garrisoned by
British troops. To prevent indiscriminate slaughters arising from
these causes, Illinois became the theater of some of the most daring
exploits connected with American history. The hero of the achieve-
ments by which this beautiful land was snatclied as a gem from
the British Crown, was George Rogers Clark, of Yirginia. He had
closely watched the movements of the British throughout the
Northwest, and understood their whole plan; he also knew the
Indians were not unanimously in accord with the English, and
therefore was convinced that if the British could be defeated and
expelled from the Northwest, the natives might be easily awed into
neutrality. Having convinced himself that the enterprise against
the Illinois settlement might easily succeed, he repaired to the cap-
ital of Yirginia, arriving Nov. 5, 1777. Wliile he was on his way,
fortunately, Burgoyne was defeated (Oct. 17), and the spirits of the
colonists were thereby greatly encouraged. Patrick Henry was
Governor of Yirginia, and at once entered heartily into Clark's
plans. After satisfying the Yirginia leaders of the feasibility of
hie project, he received two sets of instructions, — one secret, the
U.OF^U.UB.
62 HISTOKT OF ILLINOIS.
other open. The latter authorized him to enlist seven companies
to go to Kentucky, and serve three months after their arrival in
the West. The secret order authorized him to arm these troops,
to procure his powder and lead of General Hand at Pittsburg, and
to proceed at once to subjugate the country.
HE TAKES KASKASKIA.
With these instructions Col. Clark repaired to Pittsburg, choos-
ing rather to raise his men west of the mountains, as he well knew
all were needed in the colonies in the conflict there. He sent Col.
"W. B. Smith to Holstein and Captains Helm and Bowman to
other localities to enlist men; but none of them succeeded in rais-
ing the required number. The settlers in these parts were afraid
to leave their own firesides exposed to a vigilant foe, and but few
could be induced to join the expedition. With these companies
and several private volunteers Clark commenced his descent of the
Ohio, which he navigated as far as the falls, where he took posses-
sion of and fortified Corn Island, a small island between the present
cities of Louisville, Ky., and New Albany, Ind. Here, after having
completed his arrangements and announced to the men their real
destination, he left a small garrison; and on the 24th of June, dur-
ing a total eclipse of the sun, which to them augured no good, they
floated down the river. His plan was to go by water as far as Fort
Massac, and thence march direct to Kaskaskia. Here he intended to
surprise the garrison, and after its capture go to Cahokia, then to
Yincennes, and lastly to Detroit. Should he fail, he intended to
march directly to the Mississippi river and cross it into the Spanish
country. Before his start he received good items of information:
one that an alliance had been formed between France and the United
States, and the other that the Indians throughout the Illinois
country and the inhabitants at the various frontier posts had been led
by the British to believe that the " Long Knives," or Virginians,
were the most fierce, bloodthirsty and cruel savages that ever scalped
a foe. With this impression on their minds, Clark saw that
proper management would cause them to submit at once from fear,
if surprised, and then from gratitude would become friendly, if
treated with unexpected lenity. The march to Kaskaskia was
made through a hot July sun, they arriving on the evening of the
4th of July, 1778. They captured the fort near tlie village and
soon after the village itself, by surprise, and without the loss of
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 53
a single man and without killing any of the enemy. After suffi-
ciently working on the fears of the natives, Clark told them they
were at perfect liberty to worship as they pleased, and to take
whichever side of the great conflict they would; also he would pro-
tect them against any barbarity from British or Indian foe. This
had the desired efiect; and the inhabitants, so unexpectedly and so
gratefully surprised by the unlooked-for turn of affairs, at once
swore allegiance to the American arms; and when Clark desired
to go to Cahokia on the 6th of July, they accompanied him, and
through their influence the inhabitants of the place surrendered
and gladly placed themselves under his protection.
In the person of JVI. Gibault, priest of Kaskaskia, Clark found a
powerful ally and generous friend. Clark saw that, to retain pos-
session of the iSTorthwest and treat successfullj- with the Indians, he
must establish a government for the colonies he had taken. St. Yin-
cent, the post next in importance to Detroit, remained yet to be
taken before the Mississippi valley was conquered. M. Gibault
told him that he would alone, by persuasion, lead Yincennes to
throw off its connection with England. Clark gladly accepted this
offer, and July lith, in company with a fellow-townsman, Gibault
started on his mission of peace. On the 1st of August he returned
with the cheerful intelligence that everything was peaceably ad-
justed at Yincennes in favor of the Americans. During the inter-
val. Col. Clark established his courts, placed garrisons at Kaskaskia
and Cahokia, successfully re-enlisted his men, and sent word to
have a fort (which proved the germ of Louisville) erected at the
falls of the Ohio.
While the American commander was thus negotiatinof with the
Indians, Hamilton, the British Governor of Detroit, heard of Clark's
invasion, and was greatly incensed because the country which he
had in charge should be wrested from him by a few ragged militia.
He therefore hurriedly collected a force, marched by way of the
Wabash, and appeared before the fort at Yincennes. The inhabi-
tants made an effort to defend the town, and when Hamilton's
forces arrived. Captain Helm and a man named Henry were the
only Americans in the fort. These men had been sent by Clark.
The latter charged a cannon and placed it in the open gateway, and
the Captain stood by it with a lighted match and cried out, as Ham-
ilton came in hailing distance, "Halt!" The British officer, not
54 niSTOEY OF ILLINOIS.
knowing the strength of the garrison, stopped, and demanded the
surrender of tlie fort. Helm exclaimed, " No man shall enter here
till I know the terms." Hamilton responded, " You shall have the
honors of war." The entire garrison consisted of one officer and one
private.
VINCENNES CAPTURED.
On taking Kaskaskia, Clark made a prisoner of Rocheblave,
commander of the place, and got possession of all his written
instructions for the conduct of the war. From these papers he
received important information respecting the plans of Col. Ham-
ilton, Governor at Detroit, who was intending to make a vigorous
and concerted attack upon the frontier. After arriving at Yin-
cennes, liowever, he gave up his intended campaign for the winter,
and trusting to his distance from danger and to the difficulty of
approaching him, sent off his Indian warriors to prevent troops from
coming down the Ohio, and to annoy the Americans in all ways. Thus
he sat quietly down to pass the winter with only about eighty soldiers,
but secure, as he thought, from molestation. But he evidently did
not realize the character of the men with whom he was contending.
Clark, although he could muster only one hundred and thirty men,
determined to take advantage of Hamilton's weakness and security,
and attack him as the only nieans of saving himself; for unless he
captured Hamilton, Hamilton would capture him. Accordingly,
about the beginning of February, 1779, he dispatched a small galley
which he had fitted out, mounted with two four-pounders and four
swivels and manned with a company of soldiers, and carrying stores
for his men, with orders to force her way up the Wabash, to take
her station a few miles below Yincennes, and to allow no person to
pass her. He himself marched with his little band, and spent six-
teen days in traversing the country from Kaskaskia to Yincennes,
passing with incredible fatigue through woods and marshes. He
was five days in crossing the bottom lands of the Wabash; and for
five miles was frequently up to the breast in water. After over-
coming difficulties which had been thought insurmountable, he
appeared before the place and completely surprised it. The inhab-
itants readily submitted, but Hamilton at first defended himself in
the fort. Next day, however, he surrendered himself and his gar-
rison prisoners-of-war. By his activity in encouraging the hostili-
ties of the Indians and by the revolting enormities perpetrated by
HI6T0KY OF ILLINOIS. 55
those savages, Hamilton had rendered himself so obnoxious that he
was thrown in prison and put in irons. During his command of
the British frontier posts he oifered prizes to the Indians for all the
scalps of the Americans thej would bring him, and earned in con-
sequence thereof the title, "Hair-Bujer General," by which he was
ever afterward known.
The services of Clark proved of essential advantage to his coun-
trymen. They disconcerted the plans of Hamilton, and not only saved
the western frontier from depredations by the 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 our history changed.
ILLINOIS.
COUNTY OF ILLINOIS.
In October, 1778, after the successful campaign of Col. Clark, the
assembly of Virginia erected the conquered country, embracing all
the territory northwest of the Ohio river, into the County of Illi-
nois, which was doubtless the largest county in the world, exceeding
in its dimensions the whole of Great Britian and Ireland. To speak
more definitely, it contained the territory now embraced in the great
States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. On the
12th of December, 1778, John Todd was appointed Lieutenant-
Commandant of this county by Patrick Henry, then Governor of
Yirginia, and accordingly, also, the first of Illinois County.
NOETHWESTERN TERRITORY.
Illinois continued to form a part of Yirginia until March 1, 1784,
when that State ceded all the territory north of 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 1787, for the government of the Northwestern Terri-
tory. No man can study the secret history of this ordinance and
not feel that Providence was guiding with sleepless eye the des-
56 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
tinies of these unborn States. American legislation has never
achieved anything more admirable, as an internal government,
than this comprehensive ordinance. Its provisions concerning the
distribution of property, 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 society, are worthy of all the praise that has
ever been given them.
OKDINANCE OF 1787.
This ordinance has a marvelous and interesting history. Con-
siderable controversy has been indulged in as to who is entitled to
the credit for framing it. This belongs, undoubtedly, to Nathan
Dane; and to Eufus King and Timothy Pickering belong the
credit for suggesting the proviso contained in it against slavery,
and also for aids to religion and knowledge, and for assuring for-
ever the common use, without charge, of the great national high-
ways of the Mississippi, the St. Lawrence and their tributaries to
all the citizens of the United States. To Thomas Jeflferson is also
due much credit, as some features of this ordinance were embraced
in his ordinance of 1784. But the part taken by each in the long,
laborious and eventful struggle which had so glorious a consum-
mation in the ordinance, consecrating forever, by one imprescript-
ible and unchangeable monument, the very heart of our country to
Freedom, Knowledge, and Union, will forever lionor the names of
those illustrious statesmen.
Mr. Jeiferson had vainly tried to secure a system of government
for the E"orthwestern Territory. He was an emancipationist and
favored the exclusion of slavery from the territory, but the South
voted him down every time he proposed a measure of this nature.
In 1787, as late as July 10, an organizing act without the anti-
slavery clause was pending. This concession to the South was
expected to carry it. Congress was in session in New York. On
July 5, Kev. Manasseh Cutler, of Massachusetts, came into New
York to lobby on the Northwestern Territory. Everything
seemed to fall into his hands. Events were ripe. The state of the
public credit, the growing of Southern prejudice, the basis of his
mission, his personal character, all combined to complete one of
those sudden and marvelous revolutions of public sentiment that
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 67
once in five or ten centuries are seen to sweep over a country like
the breath of the Ahnighty.
Cutler was a graduate of Yale. He had studied and taken de-
grees in the three learned professions, medicine, law, and divinity.
He had published a scientific examination of the plants of New
Eno-land, As a scientist in America liis name stood second only to
that of Franklin He was a courtly gentleman of the old style,
a man of commanding presence and of inviting face. The Southern
members said they had never seen such a gentleman in the North.
He came representing a Massachusetts company that desired to
purchase a tract of land, now included in Ohio, for the purpose of
planting a colony. It was a speculation. Government money was
worth eighteen cents on the dollar. This company had collected
enough to purchase 1,500,000 acres of land. Other speculators in
New York made Dr. Cutler their agent, which enabled him to
represent a demand for 5,500,000 acres. As this would reduce the
national debt, ai:d Jeiferson's policy was to provide for the public
credit, it presented a good opportunity to do something.
Massachusetts then owned the territory of Maine, which she was
crowding on the market. She was opposed to opening the North-
western region. This fired the zeal of Virginia. The South caught
the inspiration, and all exalted Dr. Cutler. The entire South ral-
lied around him, Massachusetts could not vote against him, be-
cause many of the constituents of her members were interested
personally in the Western speculation. Thus Cutler, making
friends in the South, and doubtless using all the arts of the lobby,
was enabled to command the situation. True to deeper convic-
tions, he dictated one of the most compact and finished documents
of wise statesmanship that has ever adorned any human law book.
He borrowed from Jefferson the term "Articles of Compact," which,
preceding the federal constitution, rose into the most sacred char-
acter. He then followed very closely the constitution of Massa-
chusetts, adopted three years before. Its most prominent points
were:
1. The exclusion of slavery from the territory forever.
2. Provision for public schools, giving one township for a semi-
nary and every section numbered 16 in each township; that is, one
thirty-sixth of all the land for public schools.
3. A provision prohibiting the adoption of any constitution or
58 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
the enactment of any law that should nullify pre-existing contracts.
Beit forever remembered that this compact declared that "re-
ligion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good govern-
ment and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of edu-
cation shall always be encouraged." Dr. Cutler planted himself
on this platform and would not yield. Giving his unqualified dec-
laration that it was that or nothing,— that unless they could make
the land desirable they did not want it,— he took his horse and buggy
and started for the constitutional convention at Philadelphia. On
July 13, 1787, the bill was put upon its passage, and was unani-
mously adopted. Thus the great States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan, and "Wisconsin, a vast empire, were consecrated to free-
dom, intelligence, and morality. Thus the great heart of the nation
was prepared 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 their great blunder and tried to have the compact
repealed. In 1803 Congress referred it to a committee, of which
John Kandolph was chairman. He reported that this ordinance
was a compact and opposed repeal. Thus it stood, a rock in the
way of the on-rushing sea of slavery.
SYMPATHY WITH SLAVERY.
With all this timely aid it was, however, a most desperate and
protracted struggle to keep the soil of Illinois sacred to freedom.
It was the natural battle-field for the irrepressible conflict. In the
southern end of the State slavery preceded the compact. It ex-
isted among the old French settlers, and was hard to eradicate.
That portion was also settled from the slave States, and this popu-
lation brought their laws, customs, and institutions with them. A
stream of population from the North poured into the northern part
of the State. These sections misunderstood and hated each other
perfectly. The Southerners regarded the Yankees as a skinning,
tricky, penurious race of peddlers, filling the country with tinware,
brass clocks, and wooden nutmegs. The Northerner thought of the
Southerner as a lean, lank, lazy creature, burrowing in a hut, and
rioting in whisky, dirt, and ignorance. These causes aided in
making the struggle long and bitter. So strong was the sympathy
with slavery that, in spite of the ordinance of 1787, and in spite of
the deed of cession, it was determined to allow the old French set-
tlers to retain their slaves. Planters from the slave States might
GEN. ARTHUR ST. CLAIR.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 69
bring their slaves if they would give them an opportunity to choose
freedom or years of service and bondage for their cliildren till they
should become thirty years of age. If they chose freedom they
must leave the State within sixty days, or be sold as fugitives.
Servants were whipped for offenses for which white men were fined.
Each lash paid forty cents of the fine. A negro ten miles from
home without a pass was whipped. These famous laws were im-
ported from the slave States, just as the laws for the inspection of
flax and wool were imported when there was neither in the State.
ST, CLAIR, GOVERNOR OF NORTHWESTERN TERRITORY.
On October 5, 17S7, Maj, Gen. Arthur St. Clair was, by Congress,
elected Governor of this vast territory. St. Clair was born in Scot-
land and emigrated to America in 1755. He served in the French
and English war, and was major general in the Revolution. In
1786 he was elected to Congress and chosen President of that body.
ILLINOIS TEREITORY.
After the division of the jSTorth western Territory Illinois became
one of the counties of the Territory of Indiana, from which it was
separated by an act of Congress Feb. 3, 1809, forming the Territory
of Illinois, with a population estimated at 9,000, and then included
the present State of "Wisconsin. It was divided, at the time, into
two counties, — St. Clair and Randolph. John Boyle, of Ken-
tucky, was appointed Governor, by the President, James Madison,
but declining, Ninian Edwards, of the same State, was then
appointed and served with distinction; and after the organization
of Illinois as a State he served in the same capacity, being its third
Governor.
WAR OF 1812. THE OUTBREAK.
For some years previous to the war between the United States
and England in 1812, considerable trouble was experienced with the
Indians. Marauding bands of savages would attack small settle-
ments and inhumanly butcher all the inhabitants, and mutilate
their dead bodies. To protect themselves, the settlers organized
companies of rangers, and erected block houses and stockades in
every settlement. The largest, strongest and best one of these was
Fort Russell, near the present village of Edwardsville. This stockade
60 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
was made the main rendezvous for troops and military stores, and
Gov. Edwards, who during the perilous times of 1812, when Indian
hostilities threatened on every hand, assumed command of the Illi-
nois forces, established his headquarters at this place. The Indians
were incited to many of these depredations by English emissaries,
who for years continued their dastardly work of " setting the red
men, like dogs, upon the whites."
In the summer of 1811 a peace convention was held with the
Pottawatomies at Peoria, when they promised that peace should
prevail; but their promises were soon broken. Tecumseh, the great
warrior, and fit successor of Pontiac, started in the spring of 1811,
to arouse the Southern Indians to war against the whites. The pur-
pose of this chieftain was well known to Gov. Harrison, of Indiana
Territory, who determined during Tecumseh's absence to strike and
disperse the hostile forces collected at Tippecanoe. This he success-
fully did on Nov. 7, winning the sobriquet of " Tippecanoe," by
which he was afterwards commonly known. Several peace councils
were held, at which the Indians promised good behavior, but only
to deceive the whites. Almost all the savages of the Northwest
were thoroughly stirred up and did not desire peace. The British
agents at various points, in anticipation of a war with the United
States, sought to enlist the favor of the savages by distributing to
them large supplies of arms, ammunition and other goods.
The English continued their insults to our flag upon the high
seas, and their government refusing to relinquish its offensive course,
all hopes of peace and safe commercial relations were abandoned,
and Congress, on the 19th of June, 1812, formally declared war
against Great Britain. In Illinois the threatened Indian troubles
had already caused a more thorough organization of the militia and
greater protection by the erection of forts. As intimated, the In-
dians took the war-path long before the declaration of hostilities
between the two civilized nations, committing great depredations,
the most atrocious of which was the
MASSACRE AT FOKT DEAKBOEN.
During the war of 1812 between the United States and England,
the greatest, as well as the most revolting, massacre of whites that
ever occurred in Illinois, was perpetrated by the Pottawatomie In-
dians, at Fort Dearborn. This fort was built by the Government,
in 1804, on the south side of the Chicago river, and was garrisoned
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
61
by 54 men under command of Capt. Nathan Heald, assisted by
Lieutenant Helm and Ensign Ronan; Dr. Voorhees, surgeon. The
residents at the post at that time were the wives of officers Heald
and Helm and a few of the soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his family, and
a few Canadians. The soldiers and Mr, Kinzie were on the most
friendly terms with the Pottawatomies and Winuebagoes, the prin-
cipal tribes around them.
On the 7th of August, 1812, arrived the order from Gen, Hull, at
Detroit, to evacuate Fort Dearborn, and distribute all United States
property to the Indians. Chicago was so deep in the wilderness
OLD FORT DEARBORN,
that this was the first intimation the garrison received of the dec-
laration of war made on the 19th of June. The Indian chief who
brought the dispatch advised Capt. Heald not to evacuate, and
that if he should decide to do so, it be done immediately, and by
forced marches elude the concentration of the savages before the
news could be circulated among them. To this most excellent ad-
vice the Captain gave no heed, but on the 12th held a council with
62 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
the Indians, apprising them of the orders received, and offering a
liberal reward for an escort of Pottawatomies to Fort Wayne. The
Indians, with many professions of friendship, assented to all he
proposed, and promised all he required. The remaining officers re-
fused to join in the council, for they had been informed that treach-
ery was designed, — that the Indians intended to murder those in
the council, and then destroy those in the fort. The port holes were
open, displaying cannons pointing directly upon the council. This
action, it is supposed, prevented a massacre at that time.
Mr. Kinzie, who knew the Indians well, begged Capt. Heald
not to confide in their promises, or distribute the arms and ammu-
nitions among them, for it would only put power in their hands to
destroy the whites. This argument, true and excellent in itself,
was now certainly inopportune, and would only incense the treach-
erous foe. But the Captain resolved to follow it, and accordingly on
the night of the 13tli, after the distribution of the other property, the
arms were broken, and the barrels of whisky, of which there was a
large quantity, were rolled quietly through the sally-port, their
heads knocked in and their contents emptied into the river. On that
night the lurking red-skins crept near the fort and discovered the
destruction of the promised booty going on within. The next morn-
ing the powder was seen floating on the surface of the river, and
the Indians asserted that such an abundance of " fire-water" had
been emptied into the river as to make it taste " groggy." Many
of them drank of it freely.
On the 14th the desponding garrison was somewhat cheered by
the arrival of Capt. Wells, with 15 friendly Miamis. Capt. Wells
heard at Fort Wayne of the order to evacuate Fort Dearborn, and
knowing the hostile intentions of the Indians, made a rapid march
through the wilderness to protect, if possible, his niece, Mrs. Heald,
and the officers and the garrison from certain destruction. But
he came too late. Every means for its defense had been destroyed
the night before, and arrangements were made for leaving the fort
on the following morning.
The fatal morning of the 16th at length dawned brightly on the
world. The sun shone in unclouded splendor upon the glassy waters
of Lake Michigan. At 9 a. m., the party moved out of the south-
ern gate of the fort, in military array. The band, feeling the solem-
nity of the occasion, struck up the Dead March in Saul. Capt.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 63
Wells, with his face blackened after the manner of the Indians, led
the advance guard at the head of his friendly Miamis, the garrison
with loaded arms, the baggage wagons with the sick, and the women
and children following, while the Pottawatomie Indians, about 500
in number, who had pledged their honor to escort the whites in
safety to Fort Wayne, brought up the rear. The party took the
road along the lake shore. On reaching the range of sand-hills
separating the beach from the prairie, about one mile and a half-
from the fort, the Indians defiled to the right into the prairie, bring
ing the sand-hills between them and the whites. This divergence
was scarcely effected when Capt. Wells, who had kept in advance
with his Indians, rode furiously back and exclaimed, "They are
about to attack us. Form instantly and charge upon them!"
These words were scarcely uttered before a volley of balls from
Indian muskets was poured in upon them. The troops were hastily
formed into line, and charged up the bank. One veteran of 70 fell
as they ascended. The Indians were driven back to the prairie, and
then the battle was waged by 54 soldiers, 12 civilians, and three or
four women — the cowardly JVFiamis having fled at the outset —
against 500 Indian warriors. The whites behaved gallantly, and
sold their lives dearly. They fought desperately until two-thirds
of their number were slain; the remaining 27 surrendered. And
now the most sickening and heart-rending butchery of this calam-
itous day was committed by a young savage, who assailed one of
the baggage wagons containing 12 children, every one of which fell
beneath his murderous tomahawk. When Capt. Wells, who with
the others had become prisoner, beheld this scene at a distance, he
exclaimed in a tone loud enough to be heard by the savages, " If
this be your game, I can kill too;" and turning his horse, started
for the place where the Indians had left their squaws and children.
The Indians hotly pursued, but he avoided their deadly bullets for
a time. Soon his horse was killed and he severely wounded. With
a yell the young braves rushed to make him their prisoner and re-
serve him for torture. But an enraged warrior stabbed him in the
back, and he fell dead. His heart was afterwards taken out, cut in
pieces and distributed among the tribes. Billy Caldwell, a half-
breed Wyandot, well-known in Chicago long afterward, buried his
remains the next day. Wells street in Chicago, perpetuates his
memory.
64 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
In this fearful combat women bore a conspicuous part. A wife
of one of the soldiers, who had frequently heard that the Indians
subjected their prisoners to tortures worse than death, resolved not
to be taken alive, and continued fighting until she was literally cut
to pieces. Mrs. Heald was an excellent equestrian, and an expert
in the use of the rifle. She fought bravely, receiving several wounds.
Though faint from loss of blood, she managed to keep in her saddle.
A savage raised his tomahawk to kill her, when she looked him full
in the face, and with a sweet smile and gentle voice said, in his
own language, " Surely you will not kill a squaw." The arm of
of the savage fell, and the life of this heroic woman was saved.
Mrs. Helm had an encounter with a stalwart Indian, who attempted
to tomahawk her. Springing to one side, she received the glancing
blow on her shoulder, and at the same time she seized the savage
round the neck and endeavored to get his seal ping-knife which
hung in a sheath at his breast. While she was thus struggling, she
was dragged from his grasp by another and an older Indian. The
latter bore her, struggling and resisting, to the lake and plunged
her in. She soon perceived it was not his intention to drown her,
because he held her in such a position as to keep her head out of
the water. She recognized him to be a celebrated chief called
Black Partridge. When the firing ceased she was conducted up
the sand-bank.
SLACGHTEE OF TRISONERS.
The prisoners were taken back to the Indian camp, when a new
scene of horror was enacted. The wounded not being included in
the terms of /the surrender, as it was interpreted by the Indians,
and the British general, Proctor, having offered a liberal bounty for
American scalps, nearly all the wounded were killed and scalped,
and the price of the trophies was afterwards paid by the British
general. In the stipulation of surrender, Capt. Heald had not
particularly mentioned the wounded. These helpless sufferers, on
reaching the Indian camp, were therefore regarded by the brutal
savages as fit subjects upon which to display their cruelty and satisfy
their desire for blood. Keferring to the terrible butchery of the
prisoners, in an account given by Mrs. Helm, she says: "An old
squaw, infuriated by the loss of friends or excited by the sanguin-
ary scenes around her, seemed possessed of demoniac fury. She
seized a stable-fork and assaulted one miserable victim, who lay
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
65
groaning and writhing in the agonies of his wounds, aggravated by
the scorching beams of the sun. With a delicacy of feeling, scarcely
to have been expected under such circumstances, Wan-bee-nee-wan
stretched a mat across two poles, between me and this dreadful scene.
I was thus spared, in some degree, a view of its horrors, although I
could not entirely close my ears to the cries of the sufferer. The
following night live more of the wounded prisoners were toma-
hawked."
KINZIE FAMILY SAVED.
That evening, about sundown, a council of chiefs was held to
decide the fate of the prisoners, and it was agreed to deliver them
OLD KINZIE HOUSE.
to the British commander at Detroit. After dark, many warriors
from a distance came into camp, who were thirsting for blood, and
were determined to murder the prisoners regardless of the terms of
surrender. Black Partridge, with a few of his friends, surrounded
Kinzie's house to protect the inmates from the tomahawks of the
bloodthirsty savages. Soon a band of hostile warriors rushed by
them into the house, and stood with tomahawks and scalping-knives,
awaiting the signal from their chief to commence the work of death.
66 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
Black Partridge said to Mrs. Kinzie: "We are doing everything
in our power to save you, but all is now lost; you and your friends,
together with all the prisoners of the camp, will now be slain," At
that moment a canoe was heard approaching the shore, when Black
Partridge ran down to the river, trying in the darkness to make out
the new comers, and at the same time shouted, "Who are you?"
In the bow of the approaching canoe stood a tall, manly personage,
with a rifle in his hand. He jumped ashore exclaiming, " I am
Sau-ga-nash." " Then make all speed to the house; our friends are
in danger, and you only can save them." It was Billy Caldwell,
the half-breed Wyandot. He hurried forward, entered the house
with a resolute step, deliberately removed his accouterments, placed
his rifle behind the door, and saluted the Indians: " How now, my
friends! a good day to you. I was told there were enemies here,
but am glad to find only friends." Diverted by the coolness of his
manner, they were ashamed to avow their murderous purpose, and
simply asked for some cotton goods to wrap their dead, for burial.
And thus, by his presence of mind, Caldwell averted the murder of
the Kinzie family and the prisoners. The latter, with their wives
and children, were dispersed among the Pottawatomie tribes along
the Illinois, Rock and Wabash rivers, and some to Milwaukee.
The most of them were ransomed at Detroit the following spring.
A part of them, however, remained in captivity another year.
EXPEDITION AGAINST THE INDIANS.
By the middle of August, through the disgraceful surrender of
Gen. Hull, at Detroit, and the evacuation of Fort Dearborn and
massacre of its garrison, the British and Indians were in possession of
the whole Northwest. The savages, emboldened by their successes,
penetrated deeper into the settlements, committing great depre-
dations. The activity and success of the enemy aroused the people
to a realization of the great danger their homes and families were
in. Gov. Edwards collected a force of 350 men at Camp Russell,
and Capt. Russell came from Yincennes with about 50 more. Being
oflicered and equipped, they proceeded about the middle of October
on horseback, carrying with them 20 days' rations, to Peoria. Capt.
Craig was sent with two boats up the Illinois, with provisions
and tools to build a fort. The little army proceeded to Peoria
Lake, where was located a Pottawatomie village. They arrived late
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 67
at night, within a few miles of the village, without their presence
being known to the Indians. Four men were sent out that night
to reconnoiter the position of the village. The four brave men who
volunteered for this perilous service were Thomas Carlin (after-
ward Governor), and Robert, Stephen and Davis Whiteside. Thej
proceeded to the village, and explored it and the approaches to it
thoroughly, without starting an Indian or provoking the bark of a
dog. The low lands between the Indian village and the troops were
covered with a rank growth of tall grass, eo highland dense as to
readily conceal an Indian on horseback, until within a few feet of
him. The ground had become still more yielding by recent rains,
rendering it almost impassable by mounted men. To prevent de-
tection, the soldiers had camped without lighting the usual camp-
fires. The men lay down in their cold and cheerless camp, with
many misgivings. They well remembered how the skulking sav-
ages fell upon Harrison's men at Tippecanoe during the night. To
add to their fears, a gun in the hands of a soldier was carelessly
discharged, raising great consternation in the camp.
AN INDIAN KILLED.
Through a dense fog which prevailed the following morning, the
army took up its line of march for the Indian town, Capt. Judy
with his corps of spies in advance. In the tall grass they came up
with an Indian and his squaw, both mounted. The Indian wanted
to surrender, but Judy observed that he "did not leave home to take
prisoners,^' and instantly shot one of them. With the blood
streaming from his mouth and nose, and in his agony " singing the
death song," the dying Indian raised his gun, shot and mortally
wounded a Mr. Wright, and in a few minutes expired. Many guns
were immediately discharged at the other Indian, not then known
to be a squaw, all of which missed her. Badly scared, and her hus-
band killed by her side, tlie agonizing wails of the squaw were
heart-rending. She was taken prisoner, and afterwards restored
to her nation.
TOWN BURNED.
On nearing the town a general charge was made, the Indians
fleeing to the interior wilderness. Some of their warriors made a
stand, when a sharp engagement occurred, but the Indians were
routed. In their flight they left behind all their winter's store of
68 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
provisions, which was tcaken, and their town burned. Some Indian
children were found wlio had been left in 1 he hurried flight, also
some disabled adults, one of whom was in a starving condition and
with a voracious appetite partook of the bread given him. He is
said to have been killed bj a cowardly trooper straggling behind,
after the main army had resumed its retrograde march, who wanted
to be able to boast that he had killed an Indian.
About the time Gov. Edwards started with his little band against
the Indians, Gen. Hopkins, with 2,000 Kentucky riflemen, left
Vincennes to cross the prairies of Illinois and destroy the Indian
villages along the Illinois river. Edwards, with his rangers, ex-
pected to act in concert with Gen. Hopkins' riflemen. After
marching 80 or 90 miles into the enemy's country. Gen. Hopkins'
men became dissatisfied, and on Oct. 20 the entire army turned
and retreated homeward before even a foe had been met. After the
victory of the Illinois rangers they heard nothing of Gen. Hopkins
and his 2,000 mounted Kentucky riflemen ; and apprehensive that a
laro-e force of warriors would be speedily collected, it was -deemed
prudent not to protract their stay, and accordingly the retrograde
march was commenced the very day of the attack.
PEOKIA BUENED.
The force of Capt. Craig, in charge of the provision boats, was
not idle during this time. They proceeded to Peoria, where they
were fired on by ten Indians during the night, who immediately
fled. Capt. Craig discovered, at daylight, their tracks leading up
into the French town. He inquired of the French their where-
abouts, who denied all knowledge of them, and said they " had
heard or seen nothing; " but he took the entire number prisoners,
burned and destroyed Peoria, and bore the captured inhabitants
away on his boats to a point below the present city of Alton, where
he landed and left them in the woods, — men, women, and children, —
in the inclement month of November, without shelter, and without
food other than the slender stores they had themselves gathered up
before their departure. They found their way to St. Louis in an
almost starving condition. The burning of Peoria and taking its
inhabitants prisoners, on the mere suspicion that they sympathized
with the Indians, was generally regarded as a needless, if not
wanton, act of military power.
PONTIAC. THE OTTAWA CHIEF.
mSTOEY OF ILLINOIS. 71
SECOND EXPEDITION AGAINST THE INDIANS.
In the early part of 1813, the country was put in as good defense
as the sparse population admitted. In spite of the precaution taken,
numerous depredations .and murders were committed by the In-
dians, which again aroused the whites, and another expedition was
sent against the foe, who had collected in large numbers in and
around Peoria. This army was composed of about 900 men, collect-
ed from both Illinois and Missouri, and under command of Gen.
Howard. They marched across the broad prairies of Illinois to
Peoria, where there was a small stockade in charge of United States
troops. Two days previously the Indians made an attack od the
fort, but were repulsed. Being in the enemy's country, knowing
their stealthy habits, and the troops at no time observing a high de-
gree of discipline, many unnecessary night alarms occurred, yet the
enemy were far away. The army marched up the lake to Chili-
cothe, burning on its way two deserted villages. At the present
site of Peoria the troops remained in camp several weeks. While
there they built a fort, which they named in honor of Gen, George
Rogers Clark, who with his brave Virginians wrested Illinois from
the English during the Revolutionary struggle. This fort was de-
stroyed by fire in 1818, It gave a name to Peoria which it wore for
several years. After the building of Fort Crevecoeur, in 1680, Peo-
ria lake was very familiar to Western travel and history; but there
is no authentic account of a permanent Eiu'opean settlement there
until 1778, when Laville de Meillet, named after its founder, was
started. Owing to the quality of the water and its greater salu-
brity, the location was changed to the present site of Peoria, and by
1796 the old had been entirely abandoned for the new village.
After its destruction in 1812 it was not settled again until 1819,
and then by American pioneers, though in 1813 Fort Clark was
built there.
EXPEDITION UP THE MISSISSIPPI.
The second campaign against the Indians at Peoria closed with-
out an engagement, or even a sight of the enemy, yet great was the
benefit derived from it. It showed to the Indians the power and
resources of his white foe. Still the calendar of the horrible deeds
of butchery of the following year is long and bloody. A joint ex-
pedition again moved against the Indians in 1814, under Gov.
7iJ HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
Clark of Missouri. This time tliej went up the Mississippi in
barges, Prairie du Cliien being the point of destination. There they
found a small garrison of British troops, which, however, soon fled,
as did the inhabitants, leaving Clark in full possession. He im-
mediately set to work and erected Fort Shelby. The Governor
returned to St. Louis, leaving his men in peaceable possession of
the place, but a large force of British and Indians came down upon
them, and the entire garrison surrendered. In the mean time Gen.
Howard sent 108 men to strengthen the garrison. Of this number
66 were Illinois rangers, under Capts. Rector and Riggs, who oc-
cupied two boats. The remainder were with Lieut. Campbell.
A DESPERATE FIGHT.
At Rock Island Campbell was warned to turn back, as an attack
was contemplated. The other boats passed on up the river and
were some two miles ahead when Campbell's barge was struck by a
strong gale which forced it against a small island near the Illinois
shore. Thinking it best to lie to till the wind abated, sentinels
were stationed while the men went ashore to cook breakfast. At
this time a large number of Indians on the ,.iain shore under
Black Hawk commenced an attack. The savages in canoes passed
rapidly to the island, and with a war-whoop rushed upon the men,
who retreated and sought refuge in the barge. A battle of brisk
musketry now ensued between the few regulars aboard the stranded
barge and the hordes of Indians under cover of trees on the island,
with severe loss to the former. Meanwhile Capt. Rector and Riggs,
ahead with their barges, seeing the smoke of battle, attempted to
return; but in the strong gale Riggs' boat became unmanageable
and was stranded on the rapids. Rector, to avoid a similar disaster,
let go his anchor. The rangers, however, opened with good aim
and telling effect upon the savages. The unequal combat having
raged for some time and about closing, the commander's barge,
with many wounded and several dead on board, — among the former
of whom, very badly, was Campbell himself, — was discovered to be
on fire. Now Rector and his brave Illinois rangers, comprehending
the horrid situation, performed, without delay, as cool and heroic a
deed — and did it well — as ever imperiled the life of mortal man.
In the howling gale, in full view of hundreds of infuriated savages,
and within range of their rifles, they deliberately raised anchor,
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. T3
lightened their barge by casting overboard quantities of provisions,
and guided it with the utmost labor down the swift current, to the
windward of the burning barge, and under the galling fire of the
enemy rescued all the survivors, and removed the wounded and
dying to their vessel. This was a deed of noble daring and as
heroic as any performed during the war in the "West. Rector hur-
ried with his over-crowded vessel to St. Louis.
It was now feared that Riggs and his company were captured
and sacrificed by the savages. His vessel, which was strong and well
armed, was for a time surrounded by the Indians, but the whites
on the inside were well sheltered. The wind becoming allayed in
the evening, the boat, under cover of the night, glided safely down
the river without the loss of a single man.
STILL ANOTHER EXPEDITION.
Notwithstanding the disastrous termination of the two expedi-
tions already sent out, during the year 1814, still another was pro-
jected. It was under Maj, Zachary Taylor, afterward President.
Rector and Whiteside, with the Illinoisan, were in command of
boats. The expedition passed Rock Island unmolested, when it
was learned the country was not only swarming with Indians, but
that the English were there in command with a detachment of regu-
lars and artillery. The advanced boats in command of Rector, White-
side and Hempstead, turned about and began to descend the rapids,
fighting with great gallantry the hordes of the enemy, who were
pouring their fire into them from the shore at every step.
Near the mouth of Rock river Maj. Taylor anchored his fleet out
in the Mississippi. During the nigjht the English planted a battery
of six pieces down at the water's edge, to sink or disable the boats,
and filled the islands with red-skins to butcher the whites, who
might, unarmed, seek refuge there. But in this scheme they were
frustrated. In the morning Taylor ordered all the force, except 20
boatmen on each vessel, to the upper island to dislodge the enemy.
The order was executed with great gallantry, the island scoured,
many of the savages killed, and the rest driven to the lower island.
In the meantime the British cannon told with effect upon the fleet.
The men rushed back and the boats were dropped down the stream
out of range of the cannon. Capt. Rector was now ordered with
his company to make a sortie on the lower island, which he did,
74 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
driving the Indians back among the willows ; but they being re-in-
forced, in turn hurled Rector back upon the sand-beach.
A council of officers called by Taylor had by this time decided
that their force was too small to contend with the enemy, who
outnumbered them three to one, and the boats were in full retreat
down the river. As Rector attempted to get under way bis boat
grounded, and the savages, with demoniac yells, surrounded it,
when a most desperate hand-to-hand conflict ensued. The gallant
ranger, Samuel Whiteside, observing the imminent peril of his
brave Illinois comrade, went immediately to his rescue, who but for
his timely aid would undoubtedly have been overpowered, with all
his force, and murdered.
Thus ended the last, like the two previous expeditions up the
Mississippi during the war of 1812, in defeat and disaster. The
enemy was in undisputed posession of all the country north of the
Illinois river, and the prospects respecting those territories boded
nothino- but gloom. With the approach of winter, however, Indian
depredations ceased to be committed, and the peace of Ghent, Dec.
24, 1814, closed the war.
ILLINOIS AS A STATE.
OKGANIZATION.
In January of 1818 the Territorial Legislature forwarded to
Nathaniel Pope, delegate in Congress from Illinois, a petition pray-
ing for admission into the national Union as a State. On April
18th of the same year Congress passed the enabling act, and Dec.
3, after the State government had been organized and Gov. Bond
had signed the Constitution, Congress by a resolution declared Illi-
nois to be "one of the United States of America, and admitted into
the Union on an equal footing with the original States in all
respects."
The ordinance of 1787 declared that there should be at least three
States carved out of the Northwestern Territory. The boundaries
of the three, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, were fixed by this law.
Congress reserved the power, however, of forming two other States
out of the territory which lies north of an east and west line drawn
through the southern boundary of Lake Michigan. It was generally
conceded that this line would be the northern boundary of Illinois ;
HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 75
but as this would give the State no coast on Lake Michigan; and
rob her of the port of Chicago and the northern terminus of the
Illinois & Michigan canal which was then contemplated, Judge
Pope had the northern boundary moved fifty miles further north.
BOUNDARY CHANGED.
Not only is Illinois indebted to Nathaniel Pope for the port where
now enter and depart more vessels during the year than in any
other port in the world, for the northern terminus of the Illinois
& Michigan canal, and for the lead mines at Galena, but the nation,
the undivided Union, is largely indebted to him for its perpetuity.
It was he, — his foresight, statesmanship and energy, — that bound
our confederated Union with bands of iron that can never be broken.
The geographical position of Illinois, with her hundreds of miles
of water-courses, is such as to make her the key to the grand arch
of Northern and Southern States. Extending from the great chain
of lakes on the north, with snow and ice of the arctic region, to the
cotton-fields of Tennessee ; peopled, as it is, by almost all races,
classes and conditions of the human family ; guided by the various
and diversified political, agricultural, religious and educational
teachings common to both North and South,— Illinois can control,
and has controlled, the destinies of our united and beloved republic.
Pope seemingly foresaw that a struggle to dissolve the Union would
be made. With a prophetic eye he looked down the stream of time
for a half century and saw the great conflict between the South and
North, caused by a determination to dissolve the confederation of
States; and to preserve the Union, he gave to Illinois a lake coast.
Gov. Ford, in his History of Illinois, written in 1847, while
speaking of this change of boundary and its iiifluence upon our
nation, says:
"What, then, was the duty of the national Government? Illinois
was certain to be a great State, with any boundaries which that
Government could give. Its great extent of territory, its unrivaled
fertility of soil and capacity for sustaining a dense population,
together with its commanding position, would in course of time
give the new State a very controlling influence with her sister
States situated upon the Western rivers, either in sustaining the
federal Union as it is, or in dissolving it and establishing new gov-
ernments. If left entirely upon the waters of these great rivers, it
76 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
was plain that, in case of threatened disruption, the interest of the
new State would be to join a Southern and Western confederacy;
but if a large portion of it could be made dependent upon the com-
merce and navigation of the great northern lakes, connected as they
are with the Eastern States, a rival interest would be created to
check the wish for a Western and Southern confederacy.
" It therefore became the duty of the national Government not
only to make Illinois strong, but to raise an interest inclining and
binding her to the Eastern and Northern portions of the Union.
This could be done only through an interest in the lakes. At that
time the commerce on the lakes was small, but its increase was con-
fidently expected, and, indeed, it has exceeded all anticipations,
and is yet only in its infancy. To accomplish this object effectually,
it was not only necessary to give to Illinois the port of Chicago and
a route for the canal, but a considerable coast on Lake Michigan,
with a country back of it sufficiently extensive to contain a popu-
lation caj)able of exerting a decided influence upon the councils of
the State.
" There would, therefore, be a large commerce of the north, west-
ern and central portion of the State afloat on the lakes, for it was
then foreseen that the canal would be made; and this alone would
be like turning one of the many mouths of the Mississippi into
Lake Michigan at Chicago. A very large commerce of the center
and south would be found both upon the lakes and rivers. Asso-
ciations in business, in interest, and of friendship would be formed,
both with the North and the Soutli. A State thus situated, having
such a decided interest in the commerce, and in the preservation of
the whole confederacy, can never consent to disunion; for the Union
cannot be dissolved without a division and disruption of the State
itself. These views, urged by Judge Pope, obtained the unquali-
fied assent of the statesmen of 1818.
" These facts and views are worthy to be recorded in history as
a standing and perpetual call upon lUinoisans of every age to
remember the great trust which has been reposed in them, as the
peculiar champions and guardians of the Union by the great men
and patriot sages who adorned and governed this country in the
earlier and better days of the Republic."
During the dark and trying days of the Rebellion, well did she
remember this sacred trust, to protect which two hundred thousand
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
77
of her sons went to the bloody field of battle, crowning their arms
with the laurels of war, and keeping inviolate the solemn obliga-
tions bequeathed to 'them by their fathers.
FIRST CONSTITUTION.
In July and August of 1818 a convention was held at Kaskaskia
for the purpose of drafting a constitution. This constitution was
not submitted to a vote of the people for their approval or rejection,
it being well known that they would approve it. It was about the
first organic 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.
Shadrach Bond was elected Governor, and Pierre Menard Lieuten-
ant Governor. Their term of office extended four years. At this
time che State was divided into fifteen counties, the population being
about 40,000. Of this number by far the larger portion were from
the Southern States. The salary of the Governor was $1,000, while
that of the Treasurer was $500. The Legislature re-enacted, ver-
batim, the Territorial Code, the penalties of which were unneces-
sarily severe. Whipping, stocks and pillory were used for minor
offenses, and for arson, rape, horse-stealing, etc., death by hanging
was the penalty. These laws, however, were modified in 1821.
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 were made, however, for the
removal of the seat of government by this Legislature. A place in the
wilderness on the Kaskaskia river was selected and named Yandalia.
From Yandalia it was removed to Springfield in the year 1837.
DERIVATION OF THE NAME ILLINOIS.
The name of this beautiful "Prairie State" is derived from
Illini, an Indian word signifying superior men. It has a French
termination, and is a symbol of the manner in which the two races,
the French and Indians, were intermixed during the early history
of the country. The appellation was no doubt well applied to the
primitive inhabitants of the soil, whose prowess in savage warfare
long withstood the combined attacks of the fierce Iroquois on the
one side, and the no less savao^e and relentless Sacs and Foxes on the
other. The Illinois were once a powerful confederacy, occupying
the most beautiful and fertile region in the great valley of the
78 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
Mississippi, which their enemies coveted and struggled long and
hard to wrest from them. Bj the fortunes of war they were dimin-
ished in number and finally destroyed. " Starved Rock," on the
Illinois river, according to tradition, commemorates their last trag-
edy, where, it is said, the entire tribe starved rather than surrender.
The low cognomen of " Sucker," as applied to lUinoisans, is said
to have had its origin at the Galena lead mines. In an early day,
when these extensive mines were being worked, men would run up
the Mississippi river in steamboats in the spring, work the lead
mines, and in the fall return, thus establishing, as was supposed, a sim-
ilitude between their migratory habits and those of the fishy tribe
called "Suckers." For this reason the Illinoisans have ever since
been distinguished by the epithet " Suckers." Those who stayed
at the mines over winter were mostly from Wisconsin, and were
called " Badgers." One spring the Missourians poured into the
mines in such numbers that the State was said to have taken a puke,
and the offensive appellation of " Pukes " was afterward applied to
all Missourians.
The southern part of the State, known as "Egypt," received this
appellation because, being older, better settled and cultivated, grain
was had in greater abundance than in the central and northern por-
tion, and the immigrants of this region, after the manner of the
children of Israel, went " thither to buy and to bring from thence
that they might live and not die."
STATE BANE.
The Legislature, during the latter years of territorial existence,
granted charters to several banks. The result was that paper money
became very abundant, times flush, and credit unlimited; and every-
body invested to the utmost limit of his credit, with confident
expectation of realizing a handsome advance before the expiration
of his credit, from the throng of immigrants then pouring into the
country. By 1819 it became apparent that a day of reckoning
would aj)proach before their dreams of fortune could be realized.
Banks everywhere began to waver, paper money became depreci-
ated, and gold and silver driven out of the country. The Legisla-
ture sought to bolster up the times by incorporating the " Bank
of Illinois," which, with several branches, was created by the ses-
sion of 1821. This bank, being wholly supported by the credit of
the State, was to issue one, two, three, five, ten and twenty-dollar
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 79
notes. It was the duty of the bank to advance, upon personal prop-
erty, money to the amount of $100, and a larger amount upon real
estate. All taxes and public salaries could be paid in such bills;
and if a creditor refused to take them, he had to wait three years
longer before he could collect his debt. The people imagined that
simply because the government had issued the notes, they would
remain at par; and altliough this evidently could not be the case,
they were yet so infatuated with their project as actually to request
the United States government to receive them in payment for their
public lands! Although there were not wanting men who, like
John McLean, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, fore-
saw the dangers and evils likely to arise from the creation of such
a bank, by far the greater part of the people were in favor of it.
The new bank was therefore started. The new issue of bills by the
bank of course only aggravated the evil, heretofore so grievously
felt, of the absence of specie, so that the people were soon com-
pelled to cut their bills in halves and quarters, in order to make
small change in trade. Finally the paper currency so rapidly depre-
ciated that three dollars in these bills were considered worth only
one in specie, and the State not only did not increase its revenue,
but lost full two-thirds of it, and expended three times the amount
required to pay the expenses of the State government.
Lafayette's visit.
In the spring of 1825 the brave and generous LaFayette visited
Illinois, accepting the earnest invitation of the General Assembly,
and an aifectionately written letter of Gov. Cole's, who had formed
his personal acquaintance in France in 1817. The General in reply
said: " It has been my eager desire, and it is now my earnest inten-
tion, to visit the Western States, and particularly the State of Illi-
nois. The feelings which your distant welcome could not fail to
excite have increased that patriotic eagerness to admire on that
blessed spot the happy and rapid results of republican institutions,
public and domestic virtues. I shall, after the 22d of February
(anniversary day), leave here for a journey to the Southern States,
and from New Orleans to the "Western States, so as to return to
Boston on the 14th of June, when the corner-stone of the Bunker
Hill monument is to be laid, — a ceremonv sacred to the whole Union
and in which I have been engaged to act a peculiar and honorable
part."
80 HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS.
General LaFajette and suite, attended by a large delegation of
prominent citizens of Missouri, made a visit by the steamer Natcb.
ez to the ancient town of Kaskaskia. No military parade was
attempted, but a multitude of patriotic citizens made him welcome.
A reception was held, Gov. Cole delivering a glowing address of
welcome. During the progress of a grand ball held that night, a
very interesting interview took place between the honored General
and an Indian squaw whose father had served under him in the
Eevolutionary war. The squaw, learning that the great white chief
was to be at Kaskaskia on that night, had ridden all day, from early
dawn till sometime in the night, from her distant home, to see
the man whose name had been so often on her father's tongue, and
with which she was so familiar. In identification of her claim to
his distinguished acquaintance, she brought with her an old, worn
letter which the General had written to her father, and which the
Indian chief had preserved with great care, and finally bequeathed
on his death-bed to his daughter as the most precious legacy he had
to leave her.
By 12 o'clock at night Gen. LaFayette returned to his boat and
started South. The boat was chartered by the State.
EA.ELT GOVERNORS.
In the year 1822 the term of ofiice of the first Governor, Shadrach
Bond, expired. Two parties sprung up at this time, — one favorable,
the other hostile, to the introduction of slaver}^, each proposing a
candidate of its own for Governor. Both parties worked hard to
secure the election of their respective candidates ; but the people at
large decided, as they ever have been at heart, in favor of a free
State. Edward Coles, an anti-slavery man, was elected, although a
majority of the Legislature were opposed to him. The subject of
principal interest during his administration was to make Illinois a
slave State. The greatest effort was made in 1S24, and the propo-
sition was defeated at the polls by a majority of 1,800. The aggre-
gate vote polled was 11,612, l)eing about 6,000 larger than at the
previous State election. African slaves were first introduced into
Illinois in 1Y20 by Renault, a Frenchman.
Senator Duncan, afterward Governor, presented to the Legisla-
ture of 1824-5 a bill for the support of schools by a public tax; and
WiUiam S. Hamilton presented another bill requiring a tax to be
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
81
nsed for the purpose of constructing and repairing the roads, — both
of which bills passed and became laws. But although these laws
conferred an incalculable benetit upon the public, the very name of
a tax was so odious to the people that, rather than pay a tax of the
smallest possible amount, they preferred working as they formerly
did, five days during the year on the roads, and would allow their
children to grow up without any instruction at all. Consequently
both laws were abolished in 1826.
In the year 1826 the office of Governor became again vacant.
Ninian Edwards, Adolphus F. Hubbard and Thomas C. Sloe were
candidates. Edwards, though the successful candidate, had made
himself many enemies by urging strict inquiries to be made into
the corruption of the State bank, so that had it not been for his
talents and noble personal appearance, he would most probably not
have been elected. Hubbard was a man of but little personal merit.
Of him tradition has preserved, among other curious sayings, a
speech on a bill granting a bounty on wolf-scalps. This speech,
delivered before the Legislature, is as follows: "Mr. Speaker, I rise
before the question is put on this bill, to say a word for my constit-
uents. Mr. Speaker, I have never seen a wolf. I cannot say that
I am very well acquainted with the nature and habits of wolves.
Mr. Speaker, I have said that I had never seen a wolf; but now I
remember that once on a time, as Judge Brown and I were riding
across the Bonpas prairie, we looked over the prairie about three
miles, and Judge Brown said, ' Hubbard, look! there goes a wolf; '
and I looked, and 1 looked, and I looked, and I said, 'Judge, where?'
and he said, 'There!' And I looked again, and this time in the
edge of a hazel thicket, about three miles across the prairie, I think
I saw the wolf's tail. Mr. Speaker, if I did not see a wolf that
time, I think I never saw one; but I have heard much, and read
more, about this animal. I have studied his natural history.
"By the bye, history is divided into two parts. There is first
the history of the fabulous; and secondly, of the non-fabulous, or
unknown age. Mr. Speaker, from all these sources of information
I learn that the wolf is a very noxious animal ; that he goes prowl-
ing about, seeking something to devour; that he rises up in the
dead and secret hours of night, when all nature reposes in silent
oblivion, and then commits the most terrible devastation upon the
rising generation of hogs and sheep.
82 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
" Mr, Speaker, I have done ; and I return my thanks to the house
for their kind attention to my remarks."
Gov. Edwards was a large and well-made man, with a noble,
princely appearance. Of him Gov. Ford says: "Ke never con-
descended to the common low art of electioneering. Whenever he
went out among the people he arrayed himself in the style of a
gentleman of the olden time, dressed in fine broadcloth, with short
breeches, long stockings, and high, fair- topped boots; was drawn in
a fine carriage driven by a negro; and for success he relied upon his
speeches, which were delivered in great pomp and in style of diffuse
and florid eloquence. When he was inaugurated in 1826, he
appeared before the General Assembly wearing a golden-laced cloak,
and with great pomp pronounced his first message to the houses
of the Legislature."
GRAMMAR AND COOK CONTRASTED.
Demagogism had an early development. One John Grammar,
who was elected to the Territorial Legislature in 1816, and held the
position for about twenty years, invented the policy of opposing
every new thing, saying, " If it succeeds, no one will ask who
voted against it: if it proves a failure, he could quote its record."
When first honored with a seat in the Assembly, it is said that
he lacked the apparel necessary for a member of the Legislature,
and in order to procure them he and his sons gathered a large
quantity of hazel-nuts, which were taken to the Ohio Saline and
sold for cloth to make a coat and pantaloons. The cloth was the
blue strouding commonly used by the Indians.
The neighboring women assembled to make up the garments; the
cloth was measured every way, — across, lengthwise, and from corner
to corner,— and still was found to be scant. It was at last con-
cluded to make a very short, bob-tailed coat and a long pair of leg-
gins, which being finished, Mr. Grammar started for the State
capital. In sharp contrast with Grammar was the character of D.
P. Cook, in honor of whom Cook county was named. Such was
his transparent integrity and remarkable ability that his will was
almost the law of the State. In Congress, a young man and from
a poor State, he was made Chairman of the Ways and Means Com-
mittee. He was pre-eminent for standing by his committee, regard-
less of consequences. It was his integrity that elected John Quincy
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 83
Adams to the Presidency. There were four candidates in 1824,
Jackson, Clay, Crawford and Adams. There being no choice by
the people, the election was thrown into the House. It was so bal-
anced that it turned on his vote, and that he cast for Adams, elect-
ing him. He then came home to face the wrath of the Jackson
party in Illinois.
The first mail route in the State was established in 1805. This
was from Vincennes to Cahokia. In 182-1 there was a direct mail
route from Yandalia to Springfield. The first route irom the central
part of the State to Chicago was established in 1832, from Shelby-
ville. The difliculties and dangers encountered by the early mail
carriers, in time of Indian troubles, were very serious. The bravery
and ingenious devices of Harry Milton are mentioned with special
commendation. When a boy, in 1812, he conveyed the mail on a
wild French pony from Shawneetown to St. Louis, over swollen
streams and through the enemy's country. So infrequent and
irregular were the communications by mail a great part of the time,
that to-day, even the remotest part of the United States is unable to
appreciate it by example.
The first newspaper published in Illinois was the Illinois Herald,
established at Kaskaskia by Mathew Duncan. There is some va-
riance as to the exact time of its establisliment. Gov. Reynolds
claimed it was started in 1809. Wm. H. Brown, afterwards its
editor, gives the date as 1814.
In 1831 the criminal code was first adapted to penitentiary pun-
ishment, ever since which time the old system of whipping and
pillory for the punishment of criminals has been disused.
There was no legal rate of interest till 1830. Previously the rate
often reached as high as 150 per cent., but was usually 50 per cent.
Then it was reduced to 12, then to 10, and lastly to 8 per cent.
INDIAN TEOUBLES.
WINNEBAGO WAR.
The Indians, who for some years were on peaceful terras with
the whites, became troublesome in 1827. The Winnebagoes, Sacs
and Foxes and other tribes had been at war for more than a hun-
dred years. In the summer of 1827 a war party of the "Winnebagoes
surprised a party of Chippewas and killed eight of them. Four
84: HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
of the murderers were arrested and delivered to the Chippewas,
by whom they were immediately shot. This was the first irritation
of the Winnebagoes. Red Bird, a chief of this tribe, in order to
avenge the execution of the four warriors of his own people, attacked
the Chippewas, but was defeated; and being determined to satisfy
his thirst for revenge by some means, surprised and killed several
white men. Upon receiving intelligence of these murders, the
whites who were working the lead mines in the vicinity of Galena
formed a body of volunteers, and, re-inforced by a company of United
States troops, marched into the country of the Winnebagoes. To
save their nation from the miseries of war, E,ed Bird and six other
men of his nation voluntarily surrendered themselves. Some of
the number were executed, some of them imprisoned and destined,
like Red Bird, ingloriously to pine away within the narrow confines
of a jail, when formerly the vast forests had proven too limited for
them.
JOHN REYNOLDS ELECTED GOVERNOR.
In August, 1S30, another gubernatorial election was held. The
candidates were William Kinney, then Lieutenant Governor, and
John Reynolds, formerly an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court,
both Jackson Democrats. The opposition brought forward no can-
didate, as they were in a helpless minority. Reynolds was the
successful candidate, and under his administration was the famous
BLACK HAWK WAR.
In the year of 1804 a treaty was concluded between the United
States and the chiefs of the Sac and Fox nations. One old chief of
the Sacs, however, called Black Hawk, who had fought with great
bravery in the service of Great Britain during the war of 1812, had
always taken exceptions to this treaty, pronouncing it void. In 1831
he established himself, with a chosen band of warriors, upon the dis-
puted territory, ordering the whites to leave the country at once. The
settlers complaining, Gov. Reynolds dispatched Gen. Gaines, with a
company of regulars and 1,500 volunteers, to the scene of action.
Taking the Indians by surprise, the troops burnt their villages and
forced them to conclude a treaty, by which they ceded all lands east
of the Mississippi, and agreed to remain on the western side of the
river. Necessity forced the proud spirit of Black Hawk into
submission, which made him more than ever determined to be
BLACK HAWK, THE SAC CHIEF.
HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 87
avenged upoi: his enemies. Having rallied around him the warlike
braves of the Sac, and Fox nations, he crossed the Mississippi in the
spring of lo32. Upon hearing of the invasion, Gov. Reynolds
hastily collect.- ' a body of 1,800 volunteers, placing them under the
command >i iJiig-Gen. Samuel Whiteside.
stillman's run.
The army marched to the Mississippi, and having reduced to
ashes the Indian village known as ''Prophet's Town,'' proceeded
for several miles up the river to Dixon, to join the regular forces
under Gen. Atkinson. They found at Dixon two companies of
volunteers, who, sigliing for glory, were dispatched to reconnoiter
the enemy. They advanced under command of Maj. Stillman, to a
creek afterwards called "Stillman's run;" and while encamping
there saw a party of mounted Indians at the distance of a mile.
Several of Silllman's party mounted their horses and charged the
Indians, killing three of them; but, attacked by the main body
under Black Ilawk, they were routed, and by their precipitate
flight spread such a panic through the camp that the whole company
ran off to Dixon as fast as their legs could carry them. On their
arrival it was found that there had been eleven killed. The party
came s':;iggling into camp all night long, four or five at a time,
each sqiM i positive that all who were left behind were massacred.
It is fa.ii 1 that a big, tall Kentuckian, with a loud voice, who
was a coloirji !;f the militia but a private with Stillman, upon. his
arrival in ca.r.'- gave to Gen. Whiteside and the wondering multi-
tude the foil'/.. ins: o-lowins: and bombastic account of the battle:
"Sirs," sai'l lie, "our detachment was encamped among some scat-
tering timber on the north side of Old Man's creek, with the prairie
from the north gently sloping down to our encampment. It was
just after twiliglit, in the gloaming of the evening, when we dis-
covered Black Hawk's army coming down upon us in solid column;
they displayed in the form of a crescent upon the brow of the prai-
rie, and such accuracy and precision of military movements were
never witnessed by tnan; they were equal to the best troops of
Wellington in Spain. . have said that the Indians came down in
solid columns, and dis;>layed 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 again by
88 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
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 con-
sternation in the stoutest and boldest heart; and accordingly our
men soon began to break in small squads, for tall timber. In a
very little time the rout became general, the Indians were soon
upon our flanks and threatened the destruction of our entire detach-
ment. About this time Maj. Stillman, Col. Stephenson, Maj.
Perkins, Capt. Adams, Mr. Hackelton, and myself, with some
others, threw ourselves into the rear to rally the fugitives and pro-
tect the retreat. But in a short time all my companions fell
bravely fighting hand-to-hand with the savage enemy, and I alone
was left upon the field of battle. About this time I discovered 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 my
horse so as to bring the heads of the horsemen between my eye
and the horizon, I discovered 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 retrogade movement
and recovered my position, where I remained some time meditating
what further I could do in the service of my country, when a ran-
dom ball came whistling by my ear and plainly whispered to me,
' Stranger, you have no further business here.' Upon hearing this I
followed the example of my companions in arras, and broke for
tall timber, and the way I ran was not a little."
For a long time afterward Maj. Stillnan and his men were sub-
jects of ridicule and merriment, which was as undeserving as their
expedition was disastrous. Stillman's defeat spread consternation
throughout the State and nation. The number of Indians was
greatly exaggerated, and the name of Black Hawk carried with it
associations of great military talent, savage cunning and cruelty.
ASSAULT ON APPLE RIVER FORT.
A regiment sent to spy out the country between Galena and Eock
Island was surprised by a party of seventy Indians, and was on the
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 89
point of being thrown into disorder when Gen. Whiteside, then
serving as a private, shouted out that he would shoot the first man
who should turn his back to the enemy. Order being restored, the
battle began. At its very outset Gen. Whiteside shot the leader of
the Indians, who thereupon commenced a hasty retreat.
In June, 1832, Black Hawk, with a band of 150 warriors, attack-
ed the Apple River Fort, near Galena, defended by 25 men. This
fort, a mere palisade of logs, was erected to afford protection to the
miners. For fifteen consecutive hours the garrison had to sustain
the assault of the savage enemy ; but knowing very well that no
quarter would be given them, they fought with such fury and des-
peration that the Indians, after losing many of their best warriors,
were compelled to retreat.
Another party of eleven Indians murdered two men near Fort
Hamilton. They were afterwards overtaken by a company of
twenty men and every one of them was killed.
KOCK RIVEK EXPEDITION.
A new regiment, under the command of Gen. Atkinson, assem-
bled on the banks of the Illinois in the latter part of June. Maj.
Dement, with a small party, was sent out to reconnoittr the move-
ments of a large body of Indians, whose endeavors to surround him
made it advisable for him to retire. Upon hearing of this engage-
ment, Gen. Atkinson sent a detachment to intercept the Indians,
while he with the main body of his army, moved north to meet the
Indians under Black Hawk. They moved slowly and cautiously
through the country, passed through Turtle village, and marched
up along Bock river. On their arrival news was brought of the
discovery of the main trail of the Indians. Considerable search
was made, but they were unable to discover any vestige of Indians
save two who had shot two soldiers the day previous.
Hearing that Black Hawk was encamped on Bock river, at the
Manitou village, they resolved at once to advance upon the enemy;
but in the execution of their design they met with opposition from
their officers and men. The officers of Gen. Henry handed to him
a written protest; but he, a man equal to any emergency, ordered
the officers to be arrested and escorted to Gen. Atkinson. Within
a few minutes after the stern order was given, the officers all collected
around the General's quarters, many of them with tears in their
90 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
eyes, pledging themselves that if forgiven they would return to duty
and never do the like again. The General rescinded the order, and
they at once resumed duty.
THE BATTLE OF BAD-AXE.
Gen. Henry marched on the 15th of July in pursuit of the
Indians, reaching Rock river after three days' journey, where he
learned Black Hawk was encamped further up the river. On July
19th the troops were ordered to commence their march. After
having made fifty miles, they were overtaken by a terrible thunder-
storm which lasted all night. Notliing cooled, however, in their
courage and zeal, they marched again fifty miles the next dav,
encamping near the place where the Indians had encamped the
night before. Hurrying along as fast as they could, the infantry
keeping up an equal pace with the mounted force, the troops on the
morning of the 21st crossed the river connecting two of the four
lakes, by which the Indians had been endeavoring to escape. They
found, on their way, the ground strewn with kettles and articles of
baggage, which the haste of their retreat had obliged the Indians
to throw away. The troops, inspired with new ardor, advanced so
rapidly that at noon they fell in with the rear guard of the Indians.
Those who closely pursued them were saluted with a sudden
fire of musketry by a body of Indians who had concealed them-
selves in the high grass of the prairie. A most desperate charge
was made upon the Indians, who, unable to resist, retreated
obliquely, in order to out-flank the volunteers on the right; but the
latter charged the Indians in their ambush, and expelled them
from their thickets at the point of the bayonet, and dispersed them.
Night set in and the battle ended, having cost the Indians 6S of
their bravest men, while the loss of the Illiuoisans amounted to but
one killed and 8 wounded.
Soon after this battle Gens. Atkinson and Henry joined their
forces and pursued the Indians. Gen. Henry struck the main trail,
left his horses behind, formed an advance guard of eight men,
and marched forward upon their trail. When these eio-ht men
came within sight of .the river, they were suddenly fired upon and
five of them killed, the remaining three maintaining their ground
till Gen. Henry came up. Then the Indians, charged upon with
the bayonet, fell back upon their main force. The battle now
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 91
became general; the Indians fought with desperate valor, but were
furiously assailed by the volunteers with their bayonets, cutting
many of the Indians to pieces and driving the rest into the river.
Those who escaped from being drowned took refuge on an island. On
hearing the frequent discharge of musketry, indicating a general
engagement, Gen. Atkinson abandoned the pursuit of the twenty
Indians under Black Hawk himself, and hurried to the scene of
action, where he arrived too late to take part in the battle. He
immediately forded the river with his troops, the water reaching
up to their necks, and landed on the island where the Indians had
secreted themselves. The soldiers rushed upon the Indians, killed
several 'of them, took others prisoner, and chased the rest into
the river, where they were either drowned or shot before reaching
the opposite shore. Thus ended the battle, the Indians losing 300
besides 50 prisoners; the whites but 17 killed and 12 wounded.
INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE.
Many painful incidents occurred during this battle. A Sac
woman, the sister of a warrior of some notoriety, found herself in
the thickest of the fight, but at length succeeded in reaching the
river, when, keeping her infant child safe in its blankets by means
of her teeth, she plunged into the water, seized the tail of a horse
with her hands whose rider was swimming the stream, and was
drawn safely across. A young squaw during the battle was stand-
ing in the grass a short distance from the American line, holding
her child — a little girl of four years — in her arms. In this posi-
tion a ball struck the right arm of the child, shattering the bone,
and passed into the breast of the young mother, instantly killing
her. She fell upon the child and confined it to the ground till the
Indians were driven from that part of the field. Gen. Anderson,
of the United States army, hearing its cries, went to the spot, took
it from under the dead body and carried it to the surgeon to have
its wound dressed. The arm was amputated, and during the oper-
ation the half-starved child did not cry, but sat quietly eating a
hard piece of biscuit. It was sent to Prairie du Chien, where it
entirely recovered.
BLACK HAWK CAPTURED.
Black Hawk, with his twenty braves, retreated up the Wisconsin.
river. The Winnebagoes, desirous of securing the friendship of
92 HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS.
the whites, went in pursuit and captured and delivered them to
Gen. Street, the United States Indian agent. Among the prisoners
were the son of Black Hawk and the prophet of the tribe. These
with Black Hawk were taken to Washington, D. C, and soon con-
signed as prisoners at Fortress Monroe.
At the interview Black Hawk had with the President, he closed
his speech delivered on the occasion in the following words: " We
did not expect to conquer the whites. They have too many houses,
too many men. I took up the hatchet, for my part, to revenge
injuries which my people could no longer endure. Had I borne
them longer without striking, my people would have said, ' Black
Hawk is a woman; he is too old to be a chief; he is no Sac' These
reflections caused me to raise the war-whoop. I say no more. It
is known to you. Keokuk once was here; you took him by the
hand, and when he wished to return to his home, you were willing.
Black Hawk expects, like Keokuk, he shall be permitted to return
too."
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF BLACK HAWK.
Black Hawk, or Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiah, was born in the prin-
cipal Sac village, near the junction of Eock river with tlie Missis-
sippi, in the year 1767. His father's name was Py-e-sa. Black
Hawk early distinguished himself as a warrior, and at the age of
fifteen was permitted to paint, and was ranked among the braves.
About the year 1783 he went on an expedition against the enemies
of his nation, the Osages, one of whom he killed and scalped; and
for this deed of Indian bravery he was permitted to join in the
scalp dance. Three or four years afterward he, at the head of two
hundred braves, went on another expedition against the Osages, to
avenge the murder of some women and children belonging to his
own tribe. Meeting an equal number of Osage warriors, a fierce
battle ensued in which the latter tribe lost one-half their number.
The Sacs lost only about nineteen warriors. He next attacked the
Cherokees for a similar cause. In a severe battle with them near
the present city of St. Louis his father was slain, and Black Hawk,
taking possession of the " Medicine Bag," at once announced him-
self chief of the Sac nation. He had now conquered the Cherokees,
and about the year 1800, at the head of five hundred Sacs and
Foxes and a hundred lowas, he waged war against the Osage
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 93
nation, and subdued it. For two years he battled successfully with
Other Indian tribes, all of which he conquered.
The year following the treaty at St. Louis, in 1804, the United
States Government erected a fort near the head of Des Moines
Kapids, called Fort Edwards. This seemed to enrage Black Hawk,
who at once determined to capture Fort Madison, standing on the
west side of the Mississippi, above the mouth of the Des Moines.
The fort was garrisoned by about fifty men. Here he was defeated.
The difliculties with the British Government arose about this time,
and the war of 1812 followed. That government, extending aid to
the Western Indians, induced them to remain hostile to the Ameri-
cans. In August, 1812, Black Hawk, at the head of about five
hundred braves, started to join the British forces at Detroit, passing
on his way the site of Chicago, where the famous Fort Dearborn
massacre had a few days before been perpetrated. Of his con-
nection with the British but little is known.
In the early part of 1815, the Indians west of the Mississippi
were notified that peace had been declared between the United
States and England, and nearly all hostilities had ceased. Black
Hawk did not sign any treaty, however, until May of the following
year. From the time of signing this treaty, in 1816, until the
breaking out of the Black Hawk war, he and his band passed their
time in the common pursuits of Indian life.
Ten years before the commencement of this war, the Sac and
Fox Indians were urged to move to the west of the Mississippi.
All were agreed, save the band known as the Britisli Band, of which
Black Hawk was leader. He strongly objected to the removal, and
was induced to comply only after being threatened by the Govern-
ment. This action, and various others on the part of the white
settlers, provoked Black Hawk and his band to attempt the capture
of his native village, now occupied by the whites. The war fol-
lowed. He and his actions were undoubtedly misunderstood, and
had his wishes been complied with at tlie beginning of the struggle,
much bloodshed would have been prevented.
BLACK HAAVK SET AT LIBERTY.
By order of the President, Black Hawk and his companions,
who were in confinement at Fortress Monroe, were set free on the
4th day of June, 1833. Before leaving the fort Black Hawk
94 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
made the following farewell speecli to the commander, which is not
only eloquent but shows that within his chest of steel there beat a
heart keenly alive to the emotions of gratitude:
" Brother, I have come on my own part, and in behalf of my
companions, to bid you farewell. 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 hereafter will
only bring death to the deer and the buffalo. Brothers, you have
treated the red man very kindly. Your squaws have made them
presents, and you have given them plenty to eat and drink. The
memory of your friendship will remain till the Great 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 ycur young
warriors like the sands upon the shore of the big lake that rolls
before us. The red man has but few houses and few warriors, but
the 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 white, 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 Otter. 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 conducted, in charge
of Major Garland, through some of the principal cities, that
they might witness the power 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 Eock Island the prisoners were given their liberty, amid great
and impressive ceremony. In 1S38 Black Hawk built him a
dwellino- near Des Moines, Iowa, and furnished it after the manner
of the whites, and engaged in agricultural pursuits and hunting and
fishing. Here, with his wife, to whom he was greatly attached, he
passed the few remaining days of his life. To his credit, it may be
said, that Black Hawk remained true to his wife, and served her
HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 95
with a devotion uncommon among Indians, living with her up-
ward of forty years.
BLACK hawk's DEATH AND BimiAL.
At all times when Black Hawk visited the whites he was
received with marked attention. He was an honored guest at the
old settlers' re- union in Lee county, Illinois, at some of their
meetings and received many tokens of esteem. In September,
1838, while on his way to Kock Island to receive his annuity from
the Government, he contracted a severe cold which resulted in a
fatal attack of bilious fever, and terminated his life October 3.
After his death, he was dressed in the uniform presented to him by
the President while in Washington. He was buried in a grave six
feet in depth, situated upon a beautiful eminence. The body was
placed in the middle of the grave, in a sitting posture upon a seat
constructed for the purpose. On his left side the cane given him
by Henry Clay was placed upright, with his right hand resting
upon it. Thus, after a long, adventurous and shifting life, Black
Hawk was gathered to his fathers.
FROM 1834 TO 1842.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
'No sooner was the Black Hawk war concluded than settlers
began rapidly to pour into the northern part of Illinois, now free
from Indian depredations. Chicago, from a trading post, had
grown into a commercial center, and was rapidly coming into
prominence.
At the general election in 1834 Joseph Duncan was chosen
Governor, by a handsome majority. His principal opponent was
ex-Lieutenant Governor Kinney. A reckless and uncontrollable
desire for internal public improvements seized the minds of the
people. In his message to the Legislature, in 1835, Gov. Duncan
said: " "When we look abroad and see the extensive lines of inter-
communication penetrating almost every section of our sister States;
when we see the canal boat and the locomotive bearing with seem-
ing triumph the rich productions of the interior to the rivers, lakes
and ocean, almost annihilating time, burthen and space, what
patriot bosom does not beat high with a laudable ambition to give
Illinois her full share of those advantages which are adorning her
96 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
sister States, and which a magnificent Providence seems to invite
bj a wonderful adaptation of our whole country to such improve-
ments ? "
STUPENDOUS SYSTEM OF IMPROVEMENTS INAUGURATED.
The Legislature responded to the ardent words of the Governor,
and enacted a system of internal improvements without a parallel
in the grandeur of its conception. They ordered the construction
of 1,300 miles of railroad, crossing the State in all directions.
This was surpassed by the river and canal improvements. There
were a few counties not touched by railroad, or river or canal, and
they were to be comforted and compensated by the free distribution
of $200,000 among them. To inflate this balloon bej'ond credence, it
was ordered that work should commence 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 called the crowning folly of the
entire system, was the result of those jealous combinations ema-
nating from the fear that advantages might accrue to one section
over another in the commencement and completion of the works.
We can appreciate better, perhaps, the magnitude of this grand
system by reviewing a few figures. The debt authorized for these
improvements in the first instance was $10,230,000. But this, as
it was soon found, was based upon estimates at least too low by
half. This, as we readily see, committed the State to a liability of
over $20,000,000, equivalent to $200,000,000, at the present time,
with over ten times the population and more than ten times the
wealth.
Such 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 spead over the entire State and adjoining
States, It was an epidemic. It cut up men's farms without regard
to locality, and cut up the purses of the purchasers without regard
to consequences. It was estimated that building lots enough were
sold in Indiana alone to accommodate every citizen then in the
United States.
Chicago, which in 1830 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. Improvements,
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 97
unsurpassed by individual efforts in tlie annals of the world, were
then begun and have been maintained to this daj. Though visited
by the terrible fire fiend and the accumulations of years swept
away in a night, yet she has arisen, and to-day is the best built city
in the world. Eeports of the rapid advance of property in Chicago
spread to the East, and thousands poured into her borders, bringing
money, enterprise and industry. Every ship that left her port
carried with it maps of splendidly situated towns and additions,
and every vessel that returned was laden with immigrants. It was
said at the time that the staple articles of Illinois export were town
pleats, and that there was danger of crowding the State with towns
to the exclusion of land for agriculture.
ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL.
The Illinois and Michigan canal again received 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 connectina: link between the great chain of lakes and
the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. Gov. Bond, the first Governor,
recommended in his first message the building of the canal. In
1821 the Legislature appropriated $10,000 for surveying the route.
This work was performed by two young men, who estimated the
cost at $600,000 or $700,000. It cost, however, when completed,
$8,000,000. In 1825 a law was passed to incorporate the Canal
Company, but no stock was sold. In 1826, upon the solicitation of
Daniel P. Cook, Congressman from this State, Congress gave
800,000 acres of land on the line of the work. In 1828 commis-
sioners were appointed, and work commenced with a new survey
and new estimates. In 1834-5 the work was again pushed forward,
and continued until 1818, when it was completed.
PANIC — REPUDIATION ADVOCATED.
Bonds of the State were recklessly disposed of both in the East
and in Europe. Work was commenced on various lines of railroad,
but none were ever completed. On the Northern Cross Railroad,
from Meredosia east eight miles, the first locomotive that ever
turned a wheel in the great valley of the Mississippi, W'as run.
The date of this remarkable event was Nov. 8, 1838. Large sums
of money were being expended with no assurance of a revenue,
98 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
and consequently, in 1840, the Legislature repealed the improve-
ment laws passed three years previously, not, however, until the
State had accumulated a debt of nearly $15,000,000. Thus fell,
after a short but eventful life, by the hands of its creator, the most
stupendous, extravagant and almost ruinous folly of a grand sys-
tem of internal improvements that any civil community, perhaps,
ever engaged in. The State banks failed, specie was scarce, an
enormous debt was accumulated, the interest of which could not
be paid, people were disappointed in the accumulation of wealth,
and real estate was worthless. All this had a tendency to create a
desire to throw off the heavy burden of State debt by repudiation.
This was boldly advocated by some leading men. The fair fame
and name, however, of the State was not tarnished by repudiation.
Men, true, honest, and able, were placed at the head of affairs; and
though the hours were dark and gloomy, and the times most try-
ing, yet our grand old State was brought through and prospered,
until to-day, after the expenditure of millions for public improve-
ments and for carrying on the late war, she has, at present, a debt
of only about $300,000.
MAETTR FOR LIBERTY.
The year 1837 is memorable for the death of the first martyr for
liberty, and the abolishment of American slavery, in the State.
Elijah P. Lovejoy was shot by a mob in Alton, on the night of the
Yth of November of that year. He was at the time editor of the
Alton Ohaerver, and advocated anti-slavery principles in its
columns. For this practice three of his presses had been destroyed.
On the arrival of the fourth the tragedy occurred which cost him
his life. In anticipation of its arrival a series of meetings were
held in which the friends of freedom and of slavery were represented.
The object was to effect a compromise, but it was one in which
liberty was to make concessions to oppression. In a speech made
at one of these meetings, Lovejoy said: "Mr. Chairman, what
have I to compromise? If freely to forgive those who have so greatly
injured me; if to pray for their temporal and eternal happiness; if
still to wish for the prosperity of your city and State, notwith-
standing the indignities I have suffered in them, — if this be the
compromise intended, then do I willingly make it, I do not admit
that it is the business of any body of men to say whether I shall
X
HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 101
or shall not publish a paper in this city. That right was given to
me by my Creator, and is solemnly guaranteed by the Constitution
of the United States and of this State. But if by compromise is
meant that 1 shall cease from that which duty requires of me, I
cannot make it, and the reason is, that I fear God more than man.
It is also a very different question, whether I shall, voluntarily or
at the request of my frieuds, yield up my position, or whether
I shall forsake it at the hands of a mob. The former I am readv at
all times to do when circumstances require it, as I will never put
my personal wishes or interests in competition with the cause of
that Master whose minister I am. But the latter, be assured I
never will do. You have, as lawyers say, made a false issue. There
are no two parties between whom there can be a compromise. I
plant myself down on my unquestionable rights, and the ques-
tion to be decided is, whether I shall be protected in those rights.
You may hang me, as the mob hung the individuals at Vicksburg;
you may burn me at the stake, as they did old Mcintosh at St.
Louis; or, you may tar and feather me, or throw me into the Mis-
sissippi as you have threatened to do; but you cannot disgrace me.
I, and I alone, can disgrace myself, and the deepest of all disgrace
would be at a time like this to deny my Maker by forsaking his
cause. He died for me, and I were most unworthy to bear his
name should I refuse, if need be, to die for him.'''' Not long
afterward Mr. Lovejoy was shot. His brother Owen, being pres-
ent on the occasion, kneeled down on the spot beside the corpse,
and sent up to God, in the hearing of that very mob, one of the
most eloquent prayers ever listened to by mortal ear. He was bold
enough to pra}'- to God to take signal vengeance on the infernal
institution of slavery, and he then and there dedicated his life to
the work of overthrowing it, and hoped to see the day when slavery
existed no more in this nation. He died, March 24, 1864, nearly
three months after the Emancipation Proclamation of President
Lincoln took effect. Thus he lived to see his most earnest and
devout prayer answered. But few men in the nation rendered bet-
ter service in overthrowing the institution of slavery than Elijah
P. and Owen Lovejoy.
CARLIN ELECTED GOVERNOR.
Thomas Carlin, Democrat, was elected Governor in 1838, over
Cyrus Edwards, Whig. In 1842 Adam W. Snyder was nominated
102 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
for Governor on the Democratic ticket, but died before election,
Thomas Ford was placed in nomination, and was elected, ex-Gov-
ernor Duncan being his opponent.
PKAIKIE PIKATES.
The northern part of the State also had its mob experiences, but
of an entirely different nature from the one just recounted. There
has always hovered around the frontier of civilization bold, desper-
ate men, who prey upon the unprotected settlers rather than gain
a livelihood by honest toil. Theft, robbery and murder were car-
ried on by regularly organized bands in Ogle, Lee, Winnebago and
DeKalb counties. The leaders of these gangs of cut-throats were
among the first settlers of that portion of the State, and conse-
quent! v had the choice of location. Among the most prominent of
the leaders were John Driscoll, "William and David, his sons; John
Brodie and three of his sons; Samuel Aikens and three of his sons;
William K. Bridge and Norton B. Boyce.
These were the representative characters, those who planned
and controlled the movements of the combination, concealed them
when danger threatened, nursed them when sick, rested them when
worn by fatigue and forced marches, furnished hiding places for
their stolen booty, shared in the spoils, and, under cover of darkness
and intricate and devious ways of travel, known only to themselves
and subordinates, transferred stolen horses from station to station;
for it came to be known as a well-established fact that they had
stations, and agents, and watchmen scattered throughout the coun-
try at convenient distances, and signals and pass-words to assist
and p-overn them in all their nefarious transactions.
Ogle county, particularly, seemed to be a favorite and chosen
field for the operations of these outlaws, who could not be convicted
for their crimes. By getting some of their number on the juries,
by producing hosts of witnesses to sustain their defense by per-
jured evidence, and by changing the venue from one county to
another, and by continuances from term to term, they nearly always
managed to be acquitted. At last these depredations became too
common for longer endurance; patience ceased to be a virtue, and
determined desperation seized the minds of honest men, and they
resolved that if there were no statute laws that could protect them
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 103
against the ravages of thieves, robbers and counterfeiters, they
would protect themselves. It was a desperate resolve, and desper-
ately and bloodily executed.
BURNING- OF OGLE COUNTY COURT-IIOUSE.
At the Spring term of court, 1841, seven of the "Pirates of the
Prairie," as they were called, were confined in the Ogle county jail
to await trial. Preparatory to holding court, the judge and lawyers
assembled at Oregon in their new , court-house, which had just
been completed. Near it stood the county jail in which were the
prisoners. The " Pirates " assembled Sunday night and set the
court-house on fire, in the hope that as the prisoners would have to
be removed from the jail, they might, in the hurry and confusion
of the people in attending to the fire, make their escape. The
whole population were awakened that dark and stormy night, to
see their new court edifice enwrapped in flames. Although the
building was entirely consumed, none of the prisoners escaped.
Three of them were tried, convicted and sent to the penitentiary
for a year. They had, however, contrived to get one of their num-
ber on the jury, who would not agree to a verdict until threatened
to be lynched. The others obtained a change of venue and were
not convicted, and finally they all broke jail and escaped.
Thus it was that the law was inadequate to the protection of the
people. The best citizens held a meeting and entered into a solemn
compact with each other to rid the country of the desperadoes that
infested it. They were regularly organized and known as " Regu-
lators." They resolved to notify all suspected parties to leave the
country within a given time; if they did not comply, they would
be severely dealt with. Their first victim was a man named Hurl,
who was suspected of having stolen his neighbor's horse. He was
ordered to strip, his hands were tied, when thirty-six lashes of a
raw-hide were applied to his bare back. The next was a man
named Daggett, formerly a Baptist preacher. He was sentenced
to receive five hundred lashes on his bare back. He was stripped,
and all was ready, when his beautiful daughter rushed into the
midst of the men, begging for mercy for her father. Her appeals,
with Daggett's promise to leave the country immediately, secured
his release. That night, new crimes having been discovered, he
was taken out and whipped, after which he left the country, never
again to be heard from.
104 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
The friends and comrades of the men who had been whipped
were fearfull}' enraged, and swore eternal and bloodj vengeance.
Eighty of them assembled one night soon after, and laid plans to
visit White Rock and murder every man, woman and child in that
hamlet. They started on this bloody mission, but were prevailed
upon by one of their number to disband. Their coming, however,
had been anticipated, and every man and boy in the town was
armed to protect himself and his family.
CAMPBELL KILLED THE MDRDEKEKS SHOT.
John Campbell, Captain of the '• Kegulators," received a letter
from William Driscoll, filled with most direful threats, — not only
threatening Campbell's life, but the life of any one who should
oppose their murderous, thieving operations. Soon after the re-
ceipt of this letter, two hundred of the "Regulators" marched to
Driscoll's and ordered him to leave the county within twenty days,
but he refused to comply with the order. One Sunday evening,
just after this, Campbell was shot down in his own door-yard by
David Driscoll. He fell in the arms of his wife, at which time
Taylor Driscoll raised his rifle and pointed it toward her, but low-
ered it without firing.
News of this terrible crime spread like wild-fire. The very air
was filled with threats and vengeance, and nothing but the lives of
the murderous gang would pay the penalty. Old John Driscoll
was arrested, was told to bid his family good-bye, and then with
his son went out to his death. The "Regulators," numbering 111,
formed a large circle, and gave the Driscolls a fair hearing. They
were found guilty, and the " Regulators" divided into two "death
divisions," — one, consisting of fifty-six, with rifles dispatched the
father, the other fifty -five riddled and shattered the body of the
son with balls from as many guns. The measures thus inaugu-
rated to free the countrv from the dominion of outlaws was a last
desperate resort, and proved eflectual.
MORMON WAR.
In April, 1840, the "Latter-Day Saints," or Mormons, came in
large numbers to Illinois and purchased a tract of land on the east
side of the Mississippi river, about ten miles above Keokuk. Here
they commenced building the city of Nauvoo. A more picturesque
or eligible site for a city could not have been selected.
HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 105
The origin, rapid development and prosperity of this religious
sect are the most remarkable and instructive historical events of
the present century. That an obscure individual, without money,
education, or respectability, should persuade hundreds of thousands
of people to believe him inspired of God, and cause a book, con-
temptible as a literary production, to be received as a continuation
of the sacred revelation, appears almost incredible; yet in less than
half a century, the disciples of this obscure individual have in-
creased to hundreds of thousands; have founded a State in the dis-
tant wilderness, and compelled the Government of the United
States to practically recognize them as an independent people.
THE FOUNDER OF MORMONISM.
The founder of Mormonism was Joseph Smith, a native of Yer-
mont, who emigrated while quite young with his father's family to
western New York. Here his youth was spent in idle, vagabond
life, roaming the woods, dreaming of buried treasures, and in en-
deavoring to learn the art of finding them by the twisting of a
forked stick in his hands, or by looking through enchanted stones.
Both he and his father became famous as " water wizards," always
ready to point out the spot where wells might be dug and water
found. Such was the character of the young profligate when he
made the acquaintance of Sidney Rigdon, a person of considerable
talent and information, who had conceived the design of foundinsr
a new religion. A religious romance, written by Mr. Spaulding, a
Presbyterian preacher of Ohio, then dead, suggested the idea, and
finding in Smith the requisite duplicity and cunning to reduce it
to practice, it was agreed that he should act as prophet; and the
two devised a story that gold plates 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 the his-
tory of the ten lost tribes of Israel.
ATTEMPT TO ARREST JOE SMITH.
After their settlement in and about Nauvoo, in Hancock county,
great depredations were committed by them on the " Gentiles."
The Mormons had been received from Missouri with great kind-
ness by the people of this State, and every possible aid granted
them. The depredations committed, however, soon made them
106 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
odious, when the question of getting rid of them was agitated. In
the fall of 1841, the Governor of Missouri made a demand on Gov.
Carlin for the arrest and delivery of Joe Smith as a fugitive from
justice. An executive warrant issued for that purpose was placed
in the hands of an agent to be executed, but was returned without
being complied with. Soon afterward the Governor handed the
same writ to his agent, who this time succeeded in arresting Joe
Smith. He was, however, discharged by Judge Douglas, upon the
grounds that the writ upon which he had been arrested had been
once returned before it was executed, and was functus officio. In
184:2 Gov. Carlin again issued his writ, Joe Smith was arrested
again, and again escaped. Thus it will be seen it was impossible
to reach and punish the leader of this people, who had been driven
from Missouri because of their stealing, murdering and unjust
dealing, and came to Illinois but to continue their depredations.
Emboldened by success, the Mormons became more arrogant and
overbearing. Many people began to believe that they were about
to set up a separate government for themselves in defiance of the
laws of the State. Owners of property stolen in other counties
made pursuit into Kauvoo, and were fined by the Mormon courts
for daring to seek their property in the holy city. But that which
made it more certain than anything else that the Mormons con-
templated a separate government, was that about this time they
petitioned Congress to establish a territorial government for them
in Nauvoo.
ORIGIN OF POLYGAMY.
To crown the whole folly of the Mormons, in the Spring of 1844
Joe Smith announced himself as a candidate for President of the
United States, and many of his followers were confident he would
be elected. He next caused himself to be anointed king and
priest, and to give character to his pretensions, he declared his
lineage in an unbroken line from Joseph, the son of Jacob, and
that of his wife from some other important personage of the ancient
Hebrews. To strengthen his political power he also instituted a
body of police styled the " Danite band," who were sworn to pro-
tect his person and obey his orders as the commands of God. A
female order previously existing in the church, called " Spiritual
wives," was modified so as to suit the licentiousness of the prophet,
A doctrine was revealed that it was impossible for a woman to get
HISTOKT OF ILLINOIS. 107
to heaven except as the wife of a Mormon elder; that each elder
might marry as many women as he could maintain, and that any
female might be sealed to eternal life by becoming their concubine.
This licentiousness, the origin of polygamy in that church, they
endeavored to justify by an appeal to Abraham, Jacob and other
favorites of God in former ages of the world.
JOE SMITH AS A TYRANT.
Smith soon began to play the tyrant over his people. Among
the first acts of this sort was an attempt to take the wife of Wil-
liam Law, one of his most talented disciples, and make her his
spiritual wife. He established, without authority, a recorder's
office, and an office to issue marriage licenses. He proclaimed that
none could deal in real estate or sell liquor but himself. He
ordered a printing office demolished, and in many ways controlled
the freedom and business of the Mormons. Not only did he stir up
some of the Mormons, but by his reckless disregard for the laws of
the land raised up opposition on every hand. It was believed that
he instructed the Danite band, which he had chosen as the ministers
of his vengeance, that no blood, except that of the church, was to
be regarded as sacred, if it contravened the accomplishment of his
object. It was asserted that he inculcated the legality of perjury
and other crimes, if committed to advance the cause of true believ-
ers; that Grod had given the world and all it contained to his saints,
and since they were kept out of their rightful inheritance by force,
it was no moral offense to get possession of it by stealing. It was
reported that an establishment existed in Nauvoo for the manufac-
ture of counterfeit money, and that a set of outlaws was maintained
for the purpose of putting it in circulation. Statements were cir-
culated to the effect that a reward was offered for the destruction of
the Warsaw Signal, an anti-Mormon paper, and that Mormons dis-
persed over the country threatened all persons who offered to assist
the constable in the execution of the law, with the destruction of
their property and the murder of their families. There were rumors
also afloat that an alliance had been formed with the Western
Indians, and in case of war they would be used in murdering their
enemies. In short, if only one-half of these reports were true the
Mormons must have been the most infamous people that ever ex-
isted.
108 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
MILITARY FORCES ASSEMBLING.
William Law, one of the proprietors of the printing-press
destroyed by Smith, went to Carthage, the county-seat, and
obtained warrants for the arrest of Smith and the members of the
City Council, and others connected with the destruction of the
press. Some of the parties having been arrested, but discharged
by the authorities in Nauvoo, a convention of citizens assembled at
Carthage and appointed a committee to wait upon the Governor for
the purpose of procuring military assistance to enforce the law.
The Governor visited Carthage in person. Previous to his arrival
the militia had been called out and armed forces commenced assem-
bling in Carthage and Warsaw to enforce the service of civil process.
All of them, however, signified a willingness to co-operate with the
Governor in preserving order. A constable and ten men were then
sent to make the arrest. In the meantime, Smith declared martial
law; his followers residing in the country were summoned to his
assistance; the Legion was assembled and under arms, and the
entire city was one great military encampment.
THE SMITHS ARRESTED.
The prophet, his brother Hiram, the members of the City Coun-
cil and others, surrendered themselves at Carthage June 24, 1845,
on the charge of riot. All entered into recognizance before a Jus-
tice of the Peace to appear at court, and were discharged. A new
writ, however, was immediately issued and served on the two
Smiths, and both were arrested and thrown into prison. The
citizens had assembled from Hancock, Schujder and McDonough
counties, armed and ready to avenge the outrages that had been
committed by the Mormons. Great excitement prevailed at Car-
thage. The force assembled at that place amounted to 1,200 men,
and about 600 assembled at Warsaw. Nearly all were anxious to
march into Nauvoo. This measure was supposed to be necessary
to search for counterfeit money and the apparatus to make it, and
also to strike a salutary terror into the Mormon people by an exhi-
bition of the force of the State, and thereby prevent future out-
rages, murders, robberies, burnings, and the like. The 27tli of
June was appointed for the march ; but Gov. Ford, who at the
time was in Carthage, apprehended trouble if the militia should
attempt to invade Nauvoo, disbanded the troops, retaining only a
guard to the jail.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 109
JOE SMITH AND HIS BROTHER KILLED.
Gov. Ford went to Nauvoo on the 27th. The same morning
about 200 men from Warsaw, many being disguised, hastened to
Carthage. On learning that one of the companies left as a guard
had disbanded, and the other stationed 150 yards from the jail while
eight men were left to guard the prisoners, a communication was
soon established between the Warsaw troops and the guard; and it
was arranged that the guard should have their guns charged with
blank cartridges and lire at the assailants when they attempted to
enter the jail. The conspirators came up, jumped the fence around
the jail, were fired upon by the guard, which, according to arrange-
ment, was overpowered, and the assailants entered the prison, to
the door of the room where the two prisoners were confined. An
attempt ,was made to break open the door; but Joe Smith, being
armed with a pistol, fired several times as the door was bursted
open, and three of the assailants were wounded. At the same time
several shots were fired into the room, by some of which John
Taylor, a friend of the Smiths, received four wounds, and Hiram
Smith was instantly killed. Joe Smith, severely wounded, attempt-
ed to escape by jumping out of a second-story window, but was so
stunned by the fall that he was unable to rise. In this position he
was dispatched by' balls shot through his body. Thus fell Joe
Smith, the most successful impostor of modern times. Totally ignor-
ant of almost every fact in science, as well as in law, he made up in
constructiveness and natural cunning whatever in him was want-
ing of instruction.
CONSTERNATION AT QUINCY.
Great consternation prevailed among the anti-Mormons at
Carthage, after the killing of the Smiths. They expected the Mor-
mons would be so enraged on hearing of the death of their leaders
that they would come down in a body, armed and equipped, to
seek revenge upon the populace at Carthage. Messengers were
dispatched to various places for help in case of an attack. The
women and children were moved across the river for safety. A
committee was sent to Quincy and early the following morning,
at the ringing of the bells, a large concourse of people assembled
to devise means of defense. At this meeting, it was reported that
the Mormons attempted to rescue the Smiths; that a party of Mis-
sourians and others had killed them to prevent their escape; that
110 HISTOEY OF ILLINOIS.
the Governor and his party were at Kauvoo at the time when intel-
ligence of the fact was brought there; that they had been attacked
by the Nauvoo Legion, and had retreated to a house where they
were closely besieged; that the Governor had sent out word that
he could maintain his position for two days, and would be certain
to be massacred if assistance did not arrive by that time. It is
unnecessary to say that this entire story was fabricated. It was
put in circulation, as were many other stories, by the an ti- Mormons,
to influence the public mind and create a hatred for the Mormons.
The effect of it, however, was that by 10 o'clock on the 28th,
between two and three hundred men from Quincy, under command
of Maj. Flood, went on board a steamboat for Nauvoo, to assist in
raising the siege, as they honestly believed.
VARIOUS DEPREDATIONS.
It was thought by many, and indeed the circumstances seem to war-
rant the conclusion, that the assassins of Smith had arranged that the
murder should occur while the Governor was in Nauvoo; that the
Mormons would naturally suppose he planned it, and in the first out-
pouring of their indignation put him to death, as a means of retalia-
tion. They thought that if they could have the Governor of the State
assassinated by Mormons, the public excitement would be greatly
increased against that people, and would cause their extermination,
or at least their expulsion from the State. That it was a brutal and
premeditated murder cannot be and is not denied at this day; but
the desired eifect of the murder was not attained, as the Mormons
did not evacuate ISTauvoo for two years afterward. In the meantime,
the excitement and prejudice against this people were not allowed
to die out. Horse-stealing was quite common, and every case that
occurred was charged to the Mormons. That they were guilty of
such thefts cannot be denied, but a great deal of this work done at
that time was by organized bands of thieves, who knew they could
carry on their nefarious business with more safety, as long as sus-
picion could be placed upon the Mormons. In the summer and
fall of 1845 were several occurrences of a nature to increase the
irritation existing between the Mormons and their neighbors. A
suit was instituted in the United States Circuit Court against one
of the apostles, to recover a note, and a marshal sent to summons
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.. 113
the defendant, who refused to be served with the process. Indig-
nation meetings were held bj the saints, and the marshal threat-
ened for attempting to serve the writ. About this time, General
Denning, sheriff, was assaulted bj an anti-Mormon, whom he killed.
Denning was friendly to the Mormons, and a great outburst of
passion was occasioned among the friends of the dead man.
INCENDIARISM.
It was also discovered, in trying the rights of property at Lima,
Adams county, that the Mormons had an institution connected
with their church to secure their effects from execution. Incensed
at this and other actions, the anti-Mormons of Lima and Green
Plains, held a meeting to devise means for the expulsion of the
Mormons from tliat part of the country. It was arranged that a
number of their own party should fire on the building in which
they were assembled, in such a manner as not to injure anyone,
and then report that the Mormons had commenced the work of
plunder and death. This plot was duly executed, and the startling
intelligence soon called together a mob, which threatened the Mor-
mons with fire and sword if they did not immediately leave. The
Mormons refusing to depart, the mob at once executed their threats
by burning 125 houses and forcing the inmates to flee for their
lives. The sheriff of Hancock county, a prominent Mormon
armed several hundred Mormons and scoured the country, in search
of the incendiaries, but they had fled to neighboring counties, and
he was unable either to bring them to battle or make any arrests.
One man, however, was killed without provocation; another
attempting to escape was shot and afterwards hacked and muti-
lated ; and Franklin A. "Worrell, who had charge of the jail when
the Smiths were killed, was shot by some unknown person con-
cealed in a thicket. The anti-Mormons committed one murder.
A party of them set fire to a pile of straw, near the barn of an old
Mormon, nearly ninety years of age, and when he appeared to ex-
tinguish the flames, he was shot and killed.
The anti-Mormons left their property exposed in their hurried
retreat, after having burned the houses of the Mormons. Those
who had been burned out sallied forth from Nauvoo and plundered
the whole country, taking whatever they could carry or drive
away. By order of the Governor, Gen. Hardin raised a force of
350 men, checked the Mormon ravages, and recalled the fugitive
anti-Mormons home.
114 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
MAKING PREPAKATION TO LEAVE.
At this time a convention, consisting of delegates from eight of
the adjoining counties, assembled to concert measures for the expul-
sion of the Mormons from the State. The Mormons seriously con-
templated emmigration westward, believing the times forboded
evil for them. Accordingly, during the winter of 1845-'46, the
most stupendous preparations were made by the Mormons for
removal. All the principal dwellings, and even the temple, were
converted into work-shops, and before spring, 12,000 wagons were
in readiness; and hy the middle of February the leaders, with 2,000
of their followers, had crossed the Mississippi on the ice.
Before the spring of 1846 the majority of the Mormons had left
Nauvoo, but still a large number remained.
THE BATTLE OF NATTVOO.
In September a writ was issued against several prominent Mor-
mons, and placed in the hands of John Carlin, of Carthage, for
execution. Carlin called out a posse to help make the arrest, which
brought together quite a large force in the neighborhood of Nauvoo.
Carlin, not being a military man, placed in command of the posse,
first, Gen. Singleton, and afterward Col. Brockman, who proceeded
to invest the city, erecting breastworks, and taking other means for
defensive as well as offensive operations. What was then termed a
battle next took place, resulting in the death of one Mormon and
the wounding of several others, and loss to the anti-Mormons of
three killed and four wounded. At last, through the intervention
of an anti-Mormon committee of one hundred, from Quincy, the
Mormons and their allies were induced to submit to such terms as
the posse chose to dictate, which were that the Mormons should
immediately give up their arms to the Quincy committee, and re-
move from the State. The trustees of the church and five of their
clerks were permitted to remain for the sale of Mormon propert}'^,
and the posse were to march in unmolested, and leave a sufiicient
force to guarantee the performance of their stipulations. Accord-
ingly, the constable's posse marched in with Brockman at their
head. It consisted of about 800 armed men and 600 or TOO
imarmed, who had assembled from all the country around, through
motives of curiosity, to see the once proud city of Nauvoo hum-
bled and delivered up to its enemies. They proceeded into the
HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 117
citj slowly and carefully, examinin,^ the way for fear of the explo-
sion of a mine, many of which had been made by the Mormons,
by burying kegs of powder in the ground, with a man stationed at
a distance to pull a string communicating with the trigger of a
percussion lock affixed 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 erected themselves into a tri-
bunal to decide who should be forced away and who remain.
Parties were dispatched to hunt for fire-arms, and for Mormons, and
to bring them to judgment. When brought, they received their
doom from the mouth of Brockman, who sat a grim and unawed
tyrant for the time. As a general rule, the Mormons were ordered
to leave within an hour or two; and by rare grace some of them
were allowed until next day, and in a few cases longer time was
granted.
MALTRExVTMENT OF NEW CITIZENS.
Nothing was said in the treaty in regard to the new citizens, who
had with the Mormons defended the city; but the posse no sooner
had obtained possession than they commenced expelling them.
Some of them were ducked in the river, and were in one or two
instances actually baptized in the name of some of the leaders
of the mob; others were forcibly driven into the ferry-boats to be
taken over the river before the bayonets of armed ruffians. Many
of these new settlers were strangers in the country from various
parts of the United States, who were attracted there by the low
price of property; and they knew but little of previous difficulties
or the merits of the quarrel. They saw with tlieir own eyes that
the Mormons were industriously preparing to go away, and they
knew "of their own knowledge " that any effiirt to expel them by
force was gratuitous and unnecessary cruelty. They had been trained,
by the States whence they came, to abhor mobs and to obey the law,
and they volunteered their services under executive authority to
defend their town and their property against mob violence, and, as
they honestly believed, from destruction; but in tliis they were partly
mistaken; for although the mob leaders in the exercise of unbridled
power were guilty of many injuries to the persons of individuals,
although much personal property was stolen, yet they abstained
from materially injuring houses and buildings.
118 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
THE MORMONS REACH SALT LAKE.
The fugitives proceeded westward, taking the road through Mis-
souri, but were forcibly ejected from that State and compelled to
move indirectly through Iowa. After innumerable hardships the
advance guard reached the Missouri river at Council Bluflfs, when
a United States officer presented a requisition for 500 men to
serve in the war with Mexico. Compliance with this order so di-
minished their number of effective men, that the expedition was
again delayed and the remainder, consisting mostly of old men,
women and children, hastily prepared habitations for winter.
Their rudely constructed tents were hardly completed before winter
set in with great severity, the bleak prairies being incessantly swept
by piercing winds. While here cholera, fever and other diseases,
aggravated by the previous hardships, the want of comfortable
quarters and medical treatment, hurried many of them to prema-
ture graves, yet, under the influence of religious fervor and fanati-
cism, they looked death in the face with resignation and cheerful-
ness, and even exhibited a gayety which manifested itself in music
and dancing during the saddest hours of this sad winter.
At length welcome spring made its appearance, and by April
they were again organized for the journey; a pioneer party, con-
sisting of Brigham Young and 140 others, was sent in advance to
locate a home for the colonists. On the 21 of July, 1847, a day
memorable in Mormon annals, the vanguard reached the valley of
the Great Salt Lake, having been directed thither, according to
their accounts, by the hand of the Almighty. Here in a distant wil-
derness, midway between the settlements of the East and the Pacific,
and at that time a thousand miles from the utmost verge of civili-
zation, they commenced preparations for founding a colony, which
has since grown into a mighty empire.
MEXICAN WAR
During the month of May, 1846, the President called for four
regiments of volunteers from Illinois for the Mexican war. This
was no sooner known in the State than nine regiments, numbering
8,370 men, answered the call, though only four of them, amounting
to 3,720 men, could be taken. These regiments, as well as their
officers, were everywhere foremost in the American ranks, and dis-
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 119
tinguished themselves by their matchless valor in the bloodiest
battles of the war. Yeterans never fought more nobly and effect-
ively than did the volunteers from Illinois. At the bloody battle of
Buena Vista they crowned their lives — many their death — with the
laurels of war. Kever did armies contend more bravely, determinedly
and stubbornly than the American and Mexican forces at this famous
battle; and as Illinois troops were ever in the van and on the blood-
iest portions of the field, we believe a short sketch of the part they
took in the fierce contest is due them, and will be read with no lit-
tle interest.
BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA.
General Santa Anna, with his army of 20,000, poured into the
valley of Aqua Nueva early on the morning of the 22d of February,
hoping to surprise our army, consisting of about 5,000 men, under
Gen. Taylor and which had retreated to the " Narrows." They
were hotly pursued by the Mexicans who, before attacking, sent
Gen. Taylor a flag of truce demanding a surrender, and assuring
him that if he refused he would be cut to pieces; but the demand
was promptly refused. At this the enemy opened fire, and the con-
flict began. In honor of the day the watchword with our soldiers
was, " The memory of Washington." An irregular fire was kept up
all day, and at night both armies bivouacked on the field, resting on
their arms. Santa Anna that night made a spirited address to his
men, and the stirring strains of his own band till late in the night
were distinctly heard by our troops; but at last silence fell over the
hosts that were to contend unto death in that narrow pass on the
morrow.
Early on the following morning the battle was resumed, and con-
tinued without intermission until nightfall. The solid columns of
the enemy were hurled against our forces all day long, but were
met and held in check b}' the unerring fire of our musketry and ar-
tillery. A portion of Gen. Lane's division was driven back by the
enemy under Gen. Lombardini, who, joined by Gen. Pacheco's divis-
ion, poured upon the main plateau in so formidable numbers as
to appear irresistible.
BRAVERY OF THE SECOND ILLINOIS.
At this time the 2d Illinois, under Col. Bissell, with a squadron
of cavalry and a few pieces of artillery came handsomely into action
120 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
and gallantly received the concentrated fire of the enemy, which
they returned with deliberate aim and terrible effect; every dis-
charge of the artillery seemed to tear a bloody path through the
heavy columns of enemy. Says a writer: "The rapid mus-
ketry of the gallant troops from Illinois poured a storm of lead
into their serried ranks, which literally strewed the ground with
the dead and dying." But, notwithstanding his losses, the enemy
steadily advanced until our gallant regiment received fire from
three sides. Still they maintained their position for a time with
unflinching firmness against that immense host. At length, per-
ceiving the danger of being entirely surrounded, it was determined
to fall back to a ravine. Col. Bissel, with the coolness of ordinary
drill, ordered the signal "cease firing" to be made; he then with
the same deliberation gave the command, "Face to the rear, Bat-
talion, about face; forward march," which was executed witli the
regularity of veterans to a point beyond the peril of being out-
fianked. Again, in obedience to command these brave men halted-
faced about, and under a murderous tempest of bullets from the foe,
resumed their well-directed fire. The conduct of no troops could
have been more admirable; and, too, until that day they had never
been under fire, when, within less than half an hour eighty of their
comrades dropped by their sides. How different from the Arkansas
regiment, which were ordered to the plateau, but after delivering
their first volley gave way and dispersed.
SADDEST EVENT OF THE BATTLE.
But now we have to relate the saddest, and, for Illinois, the most
mournful, event of that battle-worn day. "We take the account
from Colton's History of the battle of Buena Yista. "As the enemy
on our left was moving in retreat along the head of the Plateau,
our artillery was advanced until within range, and opened a heavy
fire upon him, while Cols. Hardin, Bissell and McKee, with their
Illinois and Kentucky troops, dashed gallantly forward in hot pur-
suit. A powerful reserve of the Mexican army was then just
emerging from the ravine, where it had been organized, and
advanced on the plateau, opposite the head of the southernmost
gorge. Those who were giving way rallied quickly upon it; when
the whole force, thus increased to over 12,000 men, came forward
in a perfect blaze of fire. It was a single column, composed of the
best soldiers of the republic, having for its advanced battalions the
SCENE ON FOX EIVER.
HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 123
veteran regiments. The Kentucky and Illinois troops 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 the
second gorge. One-half of the column suddenly enveloped it, while
the other half pressed on across the plateau, having for the moment
nothing to resist them but the three guns in their front. The por-
tion that was immediately opposed to the Kentucky and Illinois
troops, ran down along each side of the gorge, in which they had
sought shelter, and also circled around its head, leaving no possible
way of escape for them except by its mouth, which opened
upon the road. Its sides, which were steep, — at least an angle of
45 degrees, — were covered with loose pebbles and stones, and con-
verged to a point at the bottom. Down there were our poor fel-
lows, nearly three regiments of them (1st and 2d Illinois and 2d
Kentucky), with but little opportunity to load or fire 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 directed on the crowd
beneath. It was no time to pause. Those who were not immedi-
ately shot down rushed on toward the road, their number growing
less and less as they went, Kentuckians and Illinoisans, officers and
men, all mixed up in confusion, and all pressing on over the loose
pebbles and rolling stones of those shelving, precipitous banks,
and having lines and lines of the enemy firing down from each
side and rear as they went. Just then the enemy's cavaliy, which
had gone to the left of the reserve, had come over the spur that
divides the mouth of the second gorge from that of the third, and
were now closing up the only door through which there was the
least shadow of a chance for their lives. Many of those ahead
endeavored to force their way out, but few succeeded. The 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 enemy around them, the roar of Washington's Bat-
tery. 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 splierical-case shot. They
gave way. The gate, as it were, was clear, and out upon the road
a stream of our poor fellows issued. They ran panting down
124 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
toward the battery, and directly under the flght of iron then pas-
sing over their heads, into the retreatingj cavah-y. Hardin, McKee,
Clay, Willis, Zabriskie, Houghton — but why go on? It would be
a sad task indeed to name over all who fell during this twenty
minutes' slaughter. The whole 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 com-
pleted the work with the bayonet."
VICTORY FOR OUR ARMY.
The artillery on the plateau stubbornly maintained its position
The remnants of the 1st and 2d Illinois regiments, after issuing
from the fated gorge, were formed and again brought into action,
the former, after the fall of the noble Hardin, under Lieut. Col.
Weatherford, the latter under Bissell. The enemy brought forth
reinforcements and a brisk artillery duel was kept up; but gradually,
as the shades of night began to cover the earth, the rattle of mus-
ketry slackened, and when the pall of night was thrown over that
bloody field it ceased altogether. Each army, after the fierce and
long struggle, occupied much the same position as it did in the
morning. However, early on the following morning, the glad
tidings were heralded amidst our army that the enemy had retreated,
thus again crowning the American banners with victory.
OTHER HONORED NAMES OF THIS WAR.
Other bright names from Illinois that shine as stars in this
war are those of Shields, Baker, Harris and Coffee, which are
indissolubly connected with the glorious capture of Yera Cruz
and the not less famous storming of Cerro Gordo. In this latter
action, when, after the valiant Gen. Shields had been placed hoi's
de combat, the command of his force, consisting of three regiments,
devoled upon Col. Baker. This officer, with his men, stormed with
unheard-of prowess the last stronghold of the Mexicans, sweeping
everything before them. Such indeed were the intrepid valor and
daring courage exhibited by Illinois volunteers during the Mexican
war that their deeds should live in the memory of their countrymen
until those latest times when the very name of America shall have
been forgotten.
125
THE WAR FOE THE UNIOK.
On the fourth day of March, 1861, after the most exciting and
momentous political campaign known in the history of this country,
Abraham Lincoln — America's martyred President — was inaugu-
rated Chief Magistrate of the United States. This fierce contest
was principally sectional, and as the announcement was flashed over
the telegraph wires that the Republican Presidential candidate had
been elected, it was hailed by the South as a justifiable pretext for
dissolving the Union. Said Jefferson Davis in a speech at Jackson,
Miss., prior to the election, "If an abolitionist be chosen Presi-
dent of the United States you will have presented to you the
question whether you will permit the government to pass into
the hands of your avowed and implacable enemies. Without
pausing for an answer, I will state my own position to be that
such a result would be a species of revolution by which the
purpose of the Government would be destroyed, and the obser-
vances of its mere forms entitled to no respect. In that event,
in such manner as should be most expedient, I should deem it
your duty to provide for your safety outside of the Union." Said
another Southern politician, when speaking on the same sub-
ject, ".We shall fire the Southern heart, instruct the Southern
mind, give courage to each, and at the proper moment, by one
organized, concerted action, we can precipitate the Cotton States
into a revolution." To disrupt the Union and form a government
which recognized the absolute supremacy of the white population
and the perpetual bondage of the black was what they deemed
freedom from the galling yoke of a Republican administration.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN DID NOT SEEK THE PKESIDENCT.
Hon. R. W. Miles, of Knox county, sat on the floor by the side
of Abraham Lincoln in the Library-room of the Capitol, in Spring-
field, at the secret caucus meeting, held in Janur.ry, 1859, when
Mr. Lincoln's name was first spoken of in caucus as candidate for
President. When a gentleman, in making a short speech, said,
" We are going to bring Abraham Lincoln out as a candidate for
President," Mr. Lincoln at once arose to his feet, and exclaimed,
"For God's sake, let me alone! I have suffered enough!" This
was soon after he had been defeated in tlie Legislature for United
States Senate by Stephen A. Douglas, and only those who are
126 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
intimate with that important and unparalleled contest can appre-
ciate the full force and meaning of these expressive words of the
martyred President. They were spontaneous, and prove beyond a
shadow of doubt that Abraham Lincoln did not seek the high posi-
tion of President. Nor did he use any trickery or chicanery to
obtain it. But his expressed wish was not to be complied with;
our beloved country needed a savior and a martyr, and Fate had
decreed that he should be the victim. After Mr. Lincoln was
elected President, Mr. Miles sent him an eagle's quill, with which
the chief magistrate wrote his first inaugural address. The letter
written by Mr. Miles to the President, and sent with the quill,
which was two feet in length, is such a jewel of eloquence and
prophecy that it should be given a place in history:
Peiisiper, December 21, 1860.
Hon. a. Lincoln :
Dear Sir : — Please accept the eagle quill I promised you, by the hand of our
Representative, A. A. Smith. The bird from whose wing the quill was taken, was
shot by John F. Dillon, in Persifer township, Knox Co., Ills., in Feb., 1857 Hav-
ing heard that James Buchanan was furnished with an eagle quill to write his
Inaugural with, and believing that in 18G0, a Republican would be elected to take
his place, I determined to save this quill and present it to the fortunate man, who-
ever he might be. Reports tell us that the bird which furnished Buchanan's quill
was a captured bird, — fit emblem of the man that used it ; but the bird from
which this quill was taken, yielded the quill only with his life,— fit emblem of the
man who is expected to use it, for true Republicans believe that you would not
think lite worth the keeping after the surrender of principle. Great difficulties
surround you ; traitors to their country have threatened your life ; and should
you be called upon to surrender it at the post of duty, your memory will live for-
ever in the heart of every freeman ; and that is a grander monument than can be
built of brick or marble.
"For if hearts may not our memories keep,
Oblivion liastc each vestige sweep,
And let our memories eud."
Yours Truly,
R. W. Miles.
STATES SECEDING.
At the time of President Lincoln's accession to power, several
members of the Union claimed they had withdrawn from it, and
styling themselves the " Confederate States of America," organ-
ized a separate government. The house was indeed divided
against itself, but it should not fall, nor should it long continue
divided, was the hearty, determined response of every loyal heart
in the nation. The accursed institution of human slavery was
the primary cause for this dissolution of the American Union.
Doubtless other agencies served to intensify the hostile feel-
ings which existed between the Northern and Southern portions
IIISTOKY OF ILLINOIS, 127
of oar country, but tlieir remote origin could be traced to this great
national evil. Had Lincoln's predecessor put forth a timely, ener-
getic effort, he might have prevented tlie bloody war our nation
was called to pass through. On the other hand every aid was given
the rebels; every advantage and all the power of the Government
was placed at their disposal, and when Illinois' honest son took the
reins of the Republic he found Buchanan had been a traitor to his
trust, and given over to the South all available means of war.
THE FALL OF SUMTER.
On the 12th day of April, 1861, the rebels, who for weeks had
been erecting their batteries upon the shore, after demanding of
Major Anderson a surrender, opened fire upon Fort Sumter. For
thirty-four hours an incessant cannonading was continued; the fort
was being seriously injured; provisions were almost gone, and Major
Anderson was compelled to haul down the stars and stripes. Tliat
dear old flag which had seldom been lowered to a foreign foe by
rebel hands was now trailed in the dust. The first blow of the
terrible conflict which summoned vast armies into the field, and
moistened the soil of a nation in fraternal blood and tears, had.
been struck. The gauntlet thus thrown down by the attack on
Sumter by the traitors of the South was accepted — not, however,
in the spirit with which insolence meets insolence — but with a firm,
determined spirit of patriotism and love of country. The duty of
the President was plain under the constitution and the laws, and
above and beyond all, the people from whom all political power is
derived, demanded the suppression of the Rebellion, and stood ready
to sustain the authority of their representative and executive
officers. Promptly did the new President issue a proclamation
calling for his countrymen to join with him to defend their homes
and their country, and vindicate her honor. This call was made
April 14, two days after Sumter was first fired upon, and was for
75,000 men. On the 15th, the same day he was notified. Gov.
Yates issued his proclamation convening the Legislature. lie also
ordered the organization of six regiments. Troops were in abund-
ance, and the call was no sooner made than filled. Patriotism
thrilled and vibrated and pulsated through every heart. The farm,
the workshop, the office, the pulpit, the bar, the bench, the college,
the school-house, — every calling ofi'ered its best men, their lives and
their fortunes, in defense of the Government's honor and unity.
128 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
Bitter words spoken in moments of political heat were forgotten
and forgiven, and joining hands in a common cause, they repeated
the oath of America's soldier-statesman : " By the Great Eternal^
the Union must and shall he preserved.^^ The honor, the very
life and glory of the nation was committed to the stern arbitrament
of the sword, and soon the tramp of armed men, the clash of
musketry and the heavy boom of artillery reverberated throughout
the continent; rivers of blood saddened by tears of mothers, wives,
sisters, daughters and sweethearts flowed from the lakes to the
gulf, but a nation was saved. The sacrifice was great, but the
Dnion was preserved.
CALL FOR TROOPS PROMPTLY ANSWERED.
Simultaneously with the call for troops by the President, enlist-
ments commenced in this State, and within ten days 10,000
volunteers offered service, and the sum of $1,000,000 was tendered
by patriotic citizens. Of the volunteers who offered their services,
only six regiments could be accepted under the quota of the State.
But the time soon came when there was a place and a musket for
every man. The six regiments raised were designated by numbers
commencing with seven, as a mark of respect for the six regiments
which had served in the Mexican war. Another call was antici-
pated, and the Legislature authorized ten additional regiments to
be organized. Over two hundred companies were immediately
raised from which were selected the required number. No sooner
was this done than the President made another call for troops, six
regiments were again our proportion, although by earnest solicita-
tion the remaining four were accepted. There were a large number
of men with a patriotic desire to enter the service who were denied
this privilege. Many of them wept, while others joined regiments
from other States. In May, June and July seventeen regiments
of infantry and live of cavalry were raised, and in the latter month,
when the President issued his first call for 500,000 volunteers,
Illinois tendered thirteen regiments of infantry and three of cavalry,
and so anxious were her sons to have the Hebellion crushed that
the number could have been increased by thousands. At the
close of 1S61 Illinois had sent to the field nearly 50,000 men, and
had 17,000 in camp awaiting marching orders, thus exceeding her
full quota by 15,000.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 129
A VAST ARMY RAISED IN ELEVEN DAYS.
In July and August of 1862 the President called for 600,000
men — our quota of which was 52,296 — and gave until August 18 as
the limits in which the number might be raised by volunteering,
after which a draft would be ordered. The State had already fur-
nished 17,000 in excess of her quota, and it was first thought this
number would be deducted from the present requisition, but that
could not be done. But thirteen davs were granted to enlist this
ft/ CD
vast army, which had to come from tlie farmers and mechanics.
The former were in the midst of harvest, but, inspired by love of
country, over 50,000 of them left their harvests ungathered, their
tools and their benches, the plows in their furrows, turning their
backs on their homes, and before eleven days had expired the
demands of the Government were met and both quotas filled.
The war went on, and call followed call, until it began to look as
if there would not be men enough in all the Free States to crush
out and subdue the monstrous war traitors had inaugurated. But
to every call for either men or money there was a willing and ready
response. And it is a boast of the 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, 1861, the last call for
troops was made. It was for 300,000. In consequence of an im-
perfect enrollment of the men subject to military duty, it became
evident, ere this call was made, that Illinois was furnishing thous-
ands of men more than what her quota would have been, had it
been correct. So glaring had this disproportion become, that
under this call the quota of some districts exceeded the number of
able-bodied men in them.
A GENERAL SUMMARY.
Following this sketch we give a schedule of all the volunteer
troops organized from this State, from the commencement to the
close of the war. It is taken from the Adjutant General's report.
The number of the regiment, name of original Colonel, call under
which recruited, date of organization and muster into the United
States' service, place of muster, and aggregate strength of each
organization, from which we find that Illinois put into her one hun-
dred and eighty regiments 256,000 men, and into the United States
130 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
army, through other States, enough to swell the number to 290,000.
This far exceeds all the soldiers of the Federal Government in all
the war of the Revolution. Her total years of service were over
600,000. She enrolled men from eighteen to forty-five years of age,
when the law of Congress in ISG-i — the test time — only asked for
those from twenty to forty-five. Her enrollments were otberwise
excessive. Her people wanted to go, and did not take the pains to
correct the enrollment; thus the basis of fixing the quota was too
great, and the rjuota itself, at least in the trying time, was far above
any other State. The demand on some counties, as Monroe, for
example, took every able-bodied man in the county, and then did
not have enough to fill the quota. Moreover, Illinois sent 20,844
men for one hundred days, for whom no credit was asked. She
gave to the country 73,000 years of service above all calls. "With
one-thirteenth of the population of the loyal States, she sent regu-
larly one-tenth of all the soldiers, and in the perils of the closing
calls, when patriots were few and weary, she sent one-eighth of all
that were called for by her loved and honored son in the White
House. Of the brave boys Illinois sent to the front, there were
killed in action, 5,888; died of wounds, 3,032; of disease, 19,496;
in prison, 967; lost at sea, 205; aggregate, 29,588. As upon every
field and upon every page of the history of this war, Illinois bore
her part of the suffering in tlie prison-pens of the South. Mere
than 800 names make up the awful column of Illinois' brave sons
who died in the rebel prison of Andersonville, Ga. "Who can
measure or imagine the atrocities which would be laid before the
world were the panorama of sufterings and terrible trials of these
gallant men but half unfolded to view? But this can never be
done until new words of horror are invented, and new arts dis-
covered by which demoniacal fiendishness can be portrayed, and
the intensest anguish of the human soul in ten thousand forms be
painted. ^
No troops ever fought more heroically, stubbornly, and with bet-
ter effect, than did the boys from the "Prairie State." At Pea
Eidge, Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, luka, Corinth, Stone River,
Holly Springs, Jackson, Yicksburg, Chicamauga, Lookout Moun-
tain, Murfreesboro, Atlanta, Franklin, JSTashville, Chattanooga, and
on every other field where the clash of arms was heard, her sons
were foremost.
HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 131
CAPTURE OF THE ST. LOUIS ARSENAL.
Illinois was almost destitute of firearms at the beffiniiino; of the
conflict, and none could be procured in the East. The traitorous
Flojd had turned over to the South 300,000 arms, leaving most
arsenals in the North einptj. Gov. Yates, however, received an
order on the St. Louis arsenal for 10,000 muskets, which he put in
the hands of Captain Stokes, of Chicago. Several unsuccessful
attemjjts were made by the Captain to pass through the large crowd
of rebels which had gathered around the arsenal, suspecting an
attempt to move the arms would be made. He at last succeeded
in gaining admission to the arsenal, but was informed by the com-
mander that the slightest attempt to move the arms would be dis-
covered and bring an infuriated mob upon the garrison. This fear
was well founded, for the following day Gov. Jackson ordered 2,000
armed men from Jefferson City down to capture the arsenal. Capt.
Stokes telegraphed to Alton for a steamer to descend the river, and
about midnight land opposite the arsenal, and proceeding to the
same place with 700 men of the 7th Illinois, commenced loading
the vessel. To divert attention from his real purpose, he had 500
guns placed upon a different boat. As designed, this movement
was discovered by the rabble, and the shouts and excitement upon
their seizure drew most of the crowd from the arsenal. Capt.
Stokes not only took all the guns his requisition called for, but
emptied the arsenal. When all was ready, and the signal given to
Btart, it was found that the immense weight had bound the bow of
the boat to a rock, but after a few moments' delay the boat fell awaj
from the shore and floated into deep water.
"Which way?" said Capt. Mitchell, of the steamer. "Straight
in the regular channel to Alton," replied Capt, Stokes. "What if
we are attacked?" said Capt. Mitchell. " Then we will fight," was
the reply of Capt. Stokes. "What if we are overpowered?" said
Mitchell. " Run the boat to the deepest part of the river and sink
her," replied Stokes. "I'll do it," was the heroic answer of
Mitchell, and away they went past the secession battery, past the
St. Louis levee, and in the regular channel on to Alton. When
they touched the landing, Capt. Stokes, fearing pursuit, ran to the
market house and rang the fire bell. The citizens came flocking
pell-mell to the river, and soon men, women and children were
tugging away at that vessel load of arms, which they soon had
deposited in freight cars and off to Springfield.
132 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
LIBERALITY AS WELL AS PATRIOTISM.
The people were liberal as well as patriotic; and while the men
were busy enlisting, organizing and equipping companies, the ladies
were no less active, and the noble, generous work performed by
their tender, loving hands deserves mention along with the bravery,
devotion and patriotism of their brothers upon the Southern fields
of carnage.
The continued need of money to obtain the comforts and neces-
saries for the sick and wounded of our army 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, picnic,
excursion, concert, which netted more or less to the cause of
hospital relief, according to the population of the place and the
amount of energy and patriotism displayed on such occasions.
Especially was this characteristic of our own fair State, and scarcely
a hamlet within its borders which did not send something from its
stores to hospital or battlefield, and in the larger towns and cities
were well-organized soldiers' aid societies, working systematically
and continuously from the beginning of the war till its close. The
great State Fair held in Chicago in May, 1865, netted $250,000.
Homes for traveling soldiers were established all over the State, in
which were furnished lodging for 600,000 men, and meals valued
at $2,500,000. Food, clothing, medicine, hospital delicacies,
readino- matter, and thousands of other articles, were sent to the
boys at the front.
MESSAGES OF LOVE AND ENCOTTKAGEMENT.
Letters, messages of love and encouragement, were sent by
noble women from many counties of the State to encourage the
brave sons and brothers in the South. Below we give a copy of a
printed letter sent from Knox county to the "boys in blue," as
showing the feelings of the women of the North. It was headed,
" From the Women of Knox County to Their Brothers in the
Field." It was a noble, soul-inspiring message, and kindled anew
the intensest love for home, country, and a determination to crown
the stars and stripes with victory :
"You have gone out from our homes, but not from our hearts.
Never for one moment are you forgotten. Through weary march
and deadly conflict our prayers have ever followed you; your
sufferings are our sufferings, your victories our great joy.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 133
" If there be one of you who knows not the dear home ties, for
whom no mother prays, no sister watches, to him especially we
speak. Let him feel that though he may not have one mother he
has many; he is the adopted child and brother of all our hearts.
Kot one of you is beyond the reach of our sympathies; no picket-
station so lonely that it is not enveloped in the halo of our
prayers.
" During all the long, dark months since our country called you
from us, your courage, your patient endurance, your fidelity, have
awakened our keenest interest, and we have longed to give you an
expression of that interest.
"By the alacrity with which you sprang to arms, by the valor
with which those arms have been wielded, you have placed our
State in the front ranks; you have made her worthy to be the home
of our noble President. For thus sustaining the honor of our
State, dear to us as life, we thank you.
" Of your courage we need not speak. Fort Donelson, Pea
Ridge, Shiloh, Stone River, Vicksburg, speak with blood- bathed
lips of your heroism. The Army of the Southwest fights beneath
no defeat-shadowed banner; to it, under God, the nation looks for
deliverance.
"But we, as women, have other cause for thanks. "We will not
speak of the debt we owe the defenders of our Government; that
blood-sealed bond no words can cancel. But we are your debtors
in a way not often recognized. You have aroused us from the
aimlessness into which too many of our lives had drifted, and have
infused into those lives a noble pathos. We could not dream our
time away while our brothers were dying for us. Even your suffer-
ings have worked together for our good, by inciting us to labor for
their alleviation, thus giving us a work worthy of our womanhood.
Everything that we have been permitted to do for your comfort
has filled our lives so much the fuller of all that makes life valua-
ble. You have thus been the means of developing in us a nobler
tj'pe of womanhood than without the example of your heroism we
could ever have attained. For this our whole lives, made purer
and nobler by the discipline, will thank you.
"This war will leave none of us as it found us. "We cannot
buflfet the raging wave and escape all trace of the salt sea's foam.
Toward better or toward worse we are hurried with fearful
134 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
haste. If we at home feel this, what must it be to you! Our
hearts throb with agony when we think of you wounded, suffering,
d3nng; but the thought of no physical pain touches us half so
deeply as the thought of the temptations which surround you.
We could better give you up to die on the battle-field, true to your
God and to your country, than to have you return to us with
blasted, blackened souls. When temptations assail fiercely, you
must let the tliought that your mothers are praying for strength
enable you to overcome them. But figliting for a worthy cause
worthily ennobles one; herein is our confidence that you will
return better men than you went away.
"By all that is noble in your manhood; by all that is true in
our womanhood; by all that is grand in patriotism; by all that is
sacred in religion, we adjure you to be faithful to yourselves, to us,
to your country, and to your God. ISTever were men permitted to
fight in a cause more worthy of their blood. Were you fighting
for mere conquest, or glory, we could not give you up; but to sus-
tain a principle, the greatest to which human lips have ever given
utterance, even your dear lives are not too costly a sacrifice. Let
that principle, the corner-stone of our independence, be crushed,
and we are all slaves. Like the Suliote mothers, we might well
clasp our children in our arms and leap down to death.
"To the stern arbitrament of the sword is now committed the
honor, the very life of this nation. You fight not for yourselves
alone; the eyes of the whole world are on you; and if you fail our
Nation's death-wail will echo through all coming ages, moaning a
requiem over the lost hopes of oppressed humanity. But you will
not fail, so sure as there is a God in Heaven. He never meant
this richest argosy of the nations, freighted with the fears of all
the world's tyrants, with the hopes of all its oppressed ones, to
flounder in darkness and death. Disasters may come, as they have
come, but they will only be, as they have been, ministers of good.
Each one has led the nation upw^ard to a higher plane, from whence
it has seen with a clearer eye. Success could not attend us at the
West so long as we scorned the help of the black hand, which
alone had power to open the gate of redemption; the God of
battles would not vouchsafe a victory at the East till the very foot-
prints of a McClellan were washed out in blood.
"But now all things seem ready; we have accepted the aid of
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS, 135
tliatliand; those footsteps are obliterated. In liis own good time
we feel that God will give us the victory. Till that hour comes we
bid you fight on. Though we have not attained that heroism, or
decision, which enables us to give you up without a struggle, which
can prevent our giving tears for 3'our hlood^ though many of us
must own our hearts desolate till you return, still we bid you stay
and fight for our country, till from this fierce baptism of blood she
shall be raised complete,' the dust shaken from her garments puri-
fied, a new Memnon singing in the great Godlight."
Sherman's march to the sea.
On the 15th of November, 1864, after the destruction of Atlanta,
and the railroads behind him, Sherman, with his army, began his
march to the sea-coast. The almost breathless anxiety with which
his progress was watched by the loyal hearts of the nation, and the
trembling apprehension with which it was regarded by all who
hoped for rebel success, indicated this as one of the most remark-
able events of the war; and so it proved. Of Sherman's army, 45
regiments of infantry, three companies of artillery, and one of
cavalry were from this State. Lincoln answered all rumors of
Sherman's defeat with, " It is impossible; there is a mighty sight
of fight in 100,000 "Western men." Illinois soldiers brought home
300 battle fiags. The first United States flag that floated over
Kichmond was an Illinois flag. She sent messengers and nurses to
every field and hospital to care for her sick and wounded sons.
Illinois gave the country the great general of the war, U. S.
Grant.
character of ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
One other name from Illinois comes up in all minds, embalmed
in all hearts, that must have the supreme place in this sketch of
our glory and of our nation's [honor: that name is Abraham
Lincoln. The analysis of Mr. Lincoln's character is difiicult on
account of its symmetry. In this age we look with admiration at
his uncompromising honesty; and well we may, for this saved us.
Thousands throughout the length and breadth of our country, who
knew him only as "Honest Old Abe," voted for him on that
account; and wisely did they choose, for no other man could have
carried us through the fearful night of war. When his plans were
too vast for our comprehension, and his faith in the cause too sub-
136 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
lime for our participation ; when it was all night about us, and all
dread before us, and all sad and desolate behind us; when not one
ray shone upon our cause; when traitors were haughty and exult-
ant at the South, and fierce and blasphemous at the North; when
the loyal men seemed almost in the minority; when the stoutest
heart quailed, the bravest cheek paled ; when generals were defeat-
ing each other for place, and contractois were leeching out the very
heart's blood of the republic; when everything else had failed us,
we looked at this calm, patient man standing like a rock in the
storm, and said, " Mr. Lincoln is honest, and we can trust him still."
Holding to this single point with the energy of faith and despair,
we held together, and under God he brought us through to victory.
His practical wisdom made him the wonder of all lands. With
such certainty did Mr. Lincoln follow causes to their ultimate
effects, that his foresight of contingencies seemed almost prophetic.
He is radiant with all the great virtues, and his memory will shed
a glory upon this age that will fill the eyes of men as they look
into history. Other men have excelled him in some points; but,
taken at all points, he stands head and shoulders above every other
man of 6,000 years. An administrator, he saved the nation in the
perils of unparalleled civil war; a statesman, he justified his
measures by their success; a philanthropist, he gave liberty to one
race and salvation to another; a moralist, he bowed from the sum-
mit of human power to the foot of the cross; a mediator, he exer-
cised mercy under the most absolute obedience to law; a leader,
he was no partisan ; a commander, he was untainted with blood ; a
ruler in desperate times, he was unsullied with crime; a man, he
has left no word of passion, no thought of malice, no trick of craft,
no act of jealousy, no purpose of selfish ambition. Thus perfected,
without a model and without a peer, he was dropped into these
troubled years to adorn and embellish all that is good and all that
is great in our humanity, and to present to all coming time the
representative of the divine idea of free government. It is not
too much to say that away down in the future, when the republic
has fallen from its niche in the wall of time; when the great war
itself shall have faded out in the distance like a mist on the
horizon; when the Anglo-Saxon shall be spoken only by the tongue
of the stranger, then the generations looking this way shall see
the great President as the supreme figure in this vortex of history.
UISTORY OF ILLIXOIS.
1 "7
lol
THE "WAK ENDED — THE UNION RESTORED.
The rebellion was ended witli tlie surrender of Lee and his army,
and Johnson and his command in April, 1805. Our armies at the
time were up to their maximum strength, never so formidable,
never so invincible; and, until recruiting ceased by order of Sec-
retary Stanton, were daily strengthening. The necessity, however,
LINCOLN MONUMENT AT SPRINGFIELD.
for SO vast and formidable numbers ceased with the disbanding of
the rebel forces, which had for more than four years disputed the
supremacy of the Government over its domain. And now the
joyful and welcome news was to be borne to the victorious legions
that their work was ended in triumph, and they were to be per-
mitted "to see homes and friends once more."
138
HISTOEY OF ILLINOIS.
Schedule — Showiug statement of volunteer troops organized within the State, and sent to the
field, commeuciuf? April, 18iJl, aud eudiug Decembur 3t, 186j, \vith number of regiment, name
of original commanding officer, date of organization and muster into United States' service,
place of muster, and the aggregate strength^ of each organization.
INFANTRY.
Commanding officer at organiza
tion.
Col. John Cook
" Richard J. Oglesby.
" Eleazer A. Paine. . .
" Jas. D. Morgan
" W. H. L. Wallace...
" John McArthur
" John B. Wyman
" John M. Palmer
" Thos. J. Turner
" Robert F. Smith....
" Leonard F. Ross
" Michael K. Lawler...
" John B. Turchin. . . .
" Chas. C. Marsh
" Ulysses S. Grant
" Henry Dougherty —
" Jas. A. Mulligan
" Frederick Hecker. . .
" Wm. N. Coler
" JohnM.Loomis
" Nap. B. Buford
;. " A. K. Johnson
" Jas. S. Rearden
'• Philip B. Fouke
" John A. Logan
" John Logan
" Chas. E.IIovev
" Edward N. Kirk
" Gus. A. Smith
" Nich. Greiisel
" Julius White
" Wm. P. Carlin
" Austin Light
" Steph. G. Hicks
" Isaac C. Pugh
" Wm.A. Webb
" Julius Raith. .....
" Chas. Noblesdorflf .. .
" John E. Smith .
" John A. Davis
" John Bryuer
" Isham N. Haynie —
" Wm. R.Morrison...
" Moses M. Bane
'• G. W. Camming
" Isaac G. Wilson
" W. H. W. Cushman.
" Thos. W.Harris
" David Stuart
" Robert Kirkham
" Silas D. Baldwin....
" Wm. F. Lvnch
" P. Sidney'Poat
" Silas C. Toler.
" Jacob Fry .
" James M. True
" Francis Mora
Lt. Col. D. D. Williams . .
Col. Daniel Cameron . . . .
" Patrick E. Burke....
" Rosell M. Hough... .
" Elias Stuart
" Jos. H. Tucker
" O.T.Reeves
" Othniel Gilbert
June 13, 1861.
June 15, 1861.
June as, 1861.
June 18, 1861.
July 8, 1861.
Date of organization and Place where mustered
muster iuio the Unitedl into the United States
States service. service.
July 2.5, 1861.
May 21,
May 25,
May 24,
1861.
1861.
1861.
May 28, 1861
Oct. 31, 1861.
\ug. 3, 1861 . .
July 27, 1861.
Sept. 30, 1861.
Sept. 8,1861..
Dec. 31,1861.
Aug. 15.1861.
Sept. 7, 1861.
Sept. 23, 1861
Sept. 18,1361
Aug. 1.5, 1881. ..
December, 1861..
Aug. 10, 18G1
Aug, 9, 1861
Sept. 17, 1861
Dec. 16,1861
Sept. 13, 1861....
Dec. 26, 1S61. ...
Dec. 28. 1861
Oct. 1, 1861
Nov. 18,1861
Dec. 31, 1861
Sept. 12, 1861 ....
Dec. '61, Feb. '62.
Nov. 19, 1861
March. 1862
Feb. 18. 1862
Oct. 31, 1861
Feb. 27,1862
Doc. 26, 1861
Dec. 24, 1861 ,
August, 1861 ■,
Feb. 17, 18H2
March 7, 1862....
April 10,1862
Dec. 31, 1862
May 15, 1862
April, 1862
Juno 13, 1862
June 20, 1862
June 14, 1862
July 4, 1862
July 26, 1862
Cairo, Illinois.
Dixon.
Jacksonville
Freeport
Quincy
Peoria
Anna
Joliet. . . .
Mattoon...
Belleville.
Chicago. . .
Chicago. . .
Camp Butler.
Camp Butler.
Camp Butler.
Camp Butler.
Camp Butler.
Camp Butler.
Camp Butler.
Camp Butler.
Aurora
Chicago
Camp Butler.. .
Chicago
Salem
Decatur
Chicago
Camp Butler.. .
Chicago
Galena
Camp Butler...
Peoria
Camp Butler.. .
Camp Butler. .
Quincy
Camp "Douglas.
Geneva
Ottawa
Anna
Camp Douglas
Shawneetowu ..
Camp Douglas.
Camp Douglas
St. Louis, Mo..
Anna
Carrollton
Anna
Anna
Camp Butler...
Camp Douglas.
St. Lonio, Mo. .
Camp Douglas.
Camp Butler.. .
Camp Douglas.
Camp Butler.. .
Camp Douglas.
r- ~ -I
^•O *
£ " 1
' £ T
To"
1747
1853
1265
1759
1384
1675
1112
2015
2028
1833
1259
2043
1095
1817
1266
1164
1982
989
1082
1602
1193
19.39
1547
1878
1973
1711
1660
1558
1012
1593
1157
1388
1807
1277
1211
1824
1902
1.512
1716
2015
2051
1874
1482
1761
1550
1519
14S4
1720
1287
1180
1754
2202
1762
1647
1385
1730
1228
1624
1684
1694
979
889
912
1006
940
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
139
ScH-EDULE — Showing statement of volunteer troops organized within tho State, and sent to the
field, commencing April, 1861, and ending December 31, 18(1."), with uumlier of regiment, name
of original commanding officer, date of organization and muster into United States' service,
place of muster, and the aggregate strength of each organization.
INFANTRY.
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
83
86
87
Commanding officer at organiza-
tion.
Col. Frederick A. Starring..
" Jas. F. Jaquess
" Jason Marsh
" George Ryan
" Alonzo W. Mack
>' David P. Grier
" W. II. Beuuison
'• Lvman Guiunip
" Thos. G. \llen
" Jas. J. Dollins
" Frederick Hecker
" Aimer C. Harding
•' Louis H. Waters
" Robert S. Moore
" David D. Irons
" John R. Whiting
88 " F. T.Sherman
89 •' John Christopher
90 " Timothv O'ih'ra
91 " Henry M. Day
92 " Smith D. Atkins
93 " Ilolden Putnam
94 *• Wm. W. Orme
95 '■ Lawr'n S. Church
96 " Thos. E. Champion. ...
97 " F.S.Rutherford
98 " J. J. Funkhouscr
99 '' G. W. K. Bailey
100 '■ Fred. A. Bartleson
101 " Chas. II. Fox
102 " Wm. McMurtry
10.3 " Amos C. Babcock
104 " Absalom B. Moore
105 " Daniel Dustin
lOfi " Robert B. Latham
IO7 " Thomas Snell
10s " John Warner
lOo " Alex. J. Nimmo
lib '■ Thos. S. Casey
111 " James S. Martin
112 " T. J. Henderson
113 '• Geo. B. Hoge
114 ■' James W. Judy
115 " Jesse H. Moore
116 " Nathan H.Tupper
117 " Risden M. Moore
llH ■' John G. Fonda.. .
II9 '• Thos. J. Keuney
12(1 " George W. McKeaig —
l2i .Vever organized
122 Col. John I. Rinaker
12:^ " James Moore
124 " Thomas J. Sloan
125 " Oscar F. Harmon
126 " Jonathan Richmond
127 " John VanArman
12s " Robert M. Hudley
12!) " George P. Smith
130 " Nathaniel Nilcs
131 " George W. Neeley
132 " Thomas C. Pickett
133 " Thad. Phillips
134 " W. W McCheeney
135 " Johns. Wolfe
Date of organization and'Place where mustered
muster into the United
States service
Aug. 21,1862.,
Sept. 4, 1862...
Sept. 2. 1862..
.\ug, 22, 1862.
*Sept. 3, 1862.
Sept. 1, 1862...
Aug. 28, 1862..
Aug. 2.5, 1862...
Aug. 26, 1862..
Aug. 21, 1862..
Sept. 1. 1862..
Aug. 27, 1862.
Sept. 22. 1862. .
Aug. 27, 1862...
*Aug 25, 186^..
Nov. 22, 1862..
Sept. 8, 1862...
Sept. 4, 1862....
Oct. 13,1862....
Aug. 20, 1862...
Sept. 4,1862...
Sept. 6, 1S62...
Sept. 8, 18(32..
Sept. 3. 1^6i ..
Aug. 26, 1862. .
Aug. 30, 1802.
Sept. 2, 1862...
Oct, 2, 1862. . .
■Vug. 27. 1862.
Sept. 2, 186^.
Sept. 17, 1862.
Sept. 4.1862..
.\ug. 28, 1862.
Sept. 11, 18G1.
Sept. 18, 1862.
Sept. 12,1862..,
Oct. 1.1862
Sept. 18, 1S62. . .
Sept. 13, 1862...
Sept. 30 18(12...
Sept. 19, 1862. . .
Nov 29. 1S62. .
Oct. 7, 1862...
Oct. 29, 1862....
Sept.
Sept.
Sept.
Sept.
4,1862..
6 1862 .
10 18G2.
4, 1862..
*Sept. 5, 1862.
Dec 18, 1862..
Sept. 8, 1862..
Oct. 25. ]8()5..
Nov. 13,1862..
June 1, 1864..
May 31,1864..
into tho
service.
United States
June 6, 1864.
Camp Douglas
Camp Butler
Rockford
Dixon
Kankakee
Peoria. .,
tiuincy
Danville
Ceutralia
Anna
Camp Butler . . .
Monmouth
t^uiucy
Peoria
Peoria
Shawueetown
Camp Douglas
Camp Douglas
Camp Douglas
Camp Butler
Rockford
Princeton and Chicago. .
Bloomington,
Rockford
Rockford
Camp Butler
Centralia
Florence, Pike Co.,
Joliet
Jacksonville
Knoxville
peoria
Ottawa
Chicago
Lincoln
Camp Butler
Peoria
Anna
Anna
Salem. ..
Peoria
Camp Douglas
CainpBuller
Camp Butler
Decatur
Camp Butler
Camp Butler
(Juiucv
Camp Butler
Carlinville..,..
Mattoon
Camp Butler...
Danville
Chicago
Camp Douglas.
Camp Butler...
Poutiac
Camp But'er. ..
Camp ^lassac. .
Camp Fry
Camp Biiller.
Cam]) Fry
Mattoon
>
a — Ijq
S " ™
0 CD
• ovt
(R a
1471
908
989
987
1110
1051
1028
974
928
1187
961
128ti
956
95!*
993
994
;)07
l-.:85
958
1041
1265
1036
1091
1427
12t)6
1082
1078
936
921
911
998
917
977
10(-)1
1097
944
927
967
873
994
1095
1258
990
960
952
995
1101
952
844
'934
1050
11 :»
033
998
957
866
1011
932
8S0
8.5;}
851
878
8,52
uo
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
Schedule— Showing statement of volunteer troops organized within the State, and sent to the
field, commencing April, 1861, and ending December 31, 1865, with number of regiment, name
of original commanding; officer, date of organization and muster into United States' service,
place of muster, and the aggregate strength of each organization.
" ~ IN FANTR Y.
c
13t)
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
UO
151
152
153
154
155
156
Commanding officer at organiza-
tion.
Col. Fred. A. Johns.
John Wood.
" J.W.Goodwin
" Peter Davidson
'• L.H.Whitney
" Stephen Bronson
" RoUin V. Ankney.. .
" Dudley C. Smith
'• Cyrus Hall
" George W. Lackey. .
" Henry II. Dean
•' Hiram F. Sickles
" Horace H. Wilsie
" Wm. C. Kueffner
" George W. Keener.. . .
" French B. Woodall. . .
" F. D. Stephenson
" Stephen Bronson
" McLean F.Wood.. ..
" Gustavus A. Smith. .
" Alfred F. Smith
" J. W. Wilson
" John A. Bross
Capt. John Curtis
'• Simon J. Stookey
«' James Steele
Date of organization and Place
muster into the United '"'
States service.
:une 1, 1864...
June 5. 1864...
June 21, 18W..
June 1. 1864...
June 18, 1864..
June 16, 1864..
June 18, 1864..
June 11,1864..
Oct. 21,1864...
Junes, 1864...
Sept. 20,1864..
Feb. 18, 1865...
Feb. 11,
Feb. 14,
Feb. 25,
Feb. 1«,
Feb. 27,
Feb. 22,
Feb. 28,
March 9.
1865..
1865 .
1865. .
1865..
1865. .
1865
1865 .
1865.
Dec. 1, 1861.
where mustered
into the United States
service.
June 21, 1864.
June 15, 1864.
Centralia
Quincy
Quincy
Peoria
Camp Butler..
Elgin
Camp Butler. .
Mattoon
A'ton, Ills
Camp Butler..
Camp Butler..
Chicago
Quincy
Camp Butler. ,
Camp Butler..
Quincy
Camp "Butler. ,
Chicago
Camp Butler.
Camp Butler.
Chicago
Chicago
Quincy
CampButler.
Camp Butler.
Chicago
J-.. O ■
o a>
a CO
■ S ^
842
849
835
878
871
842
851
865
1159
880
1056
1047
917
983
933
970
945
1076
994
929
975
985
903
91
90
86
CAVALRY.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Col. Thomas A. Marshall
" Silas Noble ...
" Eugene A . Carr
" T.Lyle Dickey
" John J. Updegraff
" Thomas H. Cavanaugh.
" Wm. Pitt Kellogg
" John F. Faruswortli. . . .
" Al bert G. Brackett
" James A. Barrett
" Roberto. IngersoU
" ArnoVoss
" Joseph W.Bell
" Horace Capron
" Warren Stewart
■' Christian Thielman
" John L. Beveridge
June, 1861
Aug. 24, "
Sept. 21, "
Sept. 30, "
December "
Nov., '61, Jan. ,'62.
August, "61
Sept. 18, '61
Oct. 26, '61
Nov. 2.5, "61
Dec. 20, '61
Dec, '61, Feb.. '62..
Jan. 7, '63
Organized Dec. 25, '63.
Jan. and April, '63. .. .
Jan. 28, '64
Bloomington...
Camp Butler...
Camp Butler...
Ottawa
Camp Butler...
Camp Butler...
Camp Butler...
St. t harles.. ..
Camp Douglas.
Camp Butler...
Peoria
Camp Butler. .
Camp Douglas.
Peoria ... . . .
Camp Butler.. .
Camp Butler...
St. Charles
1206
1861
2183
1656
1609
2248
2282
2412
2619
1934
2362
2174
1759
1.565
t473
1463
1247
FIRST REGIMENT— ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Co
A
B
O
D
E
F
G
H
I
K
L
M
Field and Staff.
Capt. C. M. Willard
" Ezra Taylor
" C. Haughtaling
'• Edward Mc.Mlister.
" A. C. Waterhouse..
" John T. Cheney ...
" Artliur O'Leary
" A.xel Silversparr
" Edward Bouton
'• A. Franklin
" John Rourke
" John B. Miller
Recruits
Oct. .31,1861.
Jan. 14, '62...
Dec. 19, 'HI...
Feb. 25, "62..
Feb. 28, '62.
Feb. 20, '62..
Feb. 15, '62...
Jan. 9, '62....
Feb. 22, '62..
Aug. 12, '62
Chicago
Chicago
Ottawa
Ptaiufield
Chicago
Camp Butler..
Cairo
Chicago
Chicago
Shawneetown
Chicago
Chicago
7
168
204
175
141
148
159
113
147
169
96
153
154
883
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
141
ScETEDtrLE— Showing ptatement of volunteer troops organized within the State, and sent to the
field commencing April, 1861, and ending December 31, 1865, with number of regiment, name
of original commanding officer, date of organization and muster into United States service,
place of muster, and the aggregate strength of each organization.
LIGHT ARTILLERY.
o
p
Commanding officer at organiza-
tion.
Date of organization and
muster into the L'nited
States service.
Place where mustered
into the United States
service.
Aggr. Btrength
since organi-
zation.
SECOND REGIMENT— ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Capt. Peter Davidson Aug. i;
Riley Madison June 20
" Caleb Hopkins Aug. 5, '61
" Jasper M. Dresser Dec. 17, '61
" Adolph Schwartz Feb. 1. '62..
" John W. Powell Dec. 11, '61.
" Charles J. Stolbrand Dec. 31, '61
" Andrew Steinbeck
" Charles W. Keith
" Benjamin F.Rogers
" William H. Bolton Feb. 28.
" John C. Pliillips June 6,
Field and Staff '
Recruits '
1861 Peoria
'61 , Springfield .
Cairo
Cairo
'62.
'62.
Cairo
Cape Girardeau, Mo.,
Camp Butler
Camp Butler
Camp Butler.
Camp Butler
Chicago
Chicago
INDEPENDENT BATTERIES.
116
127
IM
117
136
190
108
115
107
108
145
100
10
1171
Board of Trade
Springfield. . . .
Mercantile
Elgin
Coggswell's...
Henshaw's —
Bridges'
Colvin's
Busteed's
Capt. James S. Stokes
'* Thomas F. Vaughn
"■ Charles G. Cooley
" George W. Renwick...
" William Coggswell...
" Ed. C, Henshaw
" Lyman Bridges
" JohnH.Colvin
July 31, 1862.
Aug. 21, '62..
Aug. 29. '62 . .
Nov. 15, '62..
Sept 2:}, '61..
Oct. 15. '62. . .
Jan. 1, '62....
Oct. 10, '63. . .
Chicago
Camp Butler...
Chicago
Elgin
Camp Douglas.
Ottawa
Chicago
Chicago
Chicago
258
199
270
242
221
196
252
91
127
RECAPITULATION.
Infantry 185.941
Cavalrv 32.082
ArtilleVv 7,277
DUELS.
The code of chivalry so common among Southern gentlemen
and so frequently brought into use in settling personal differences
has also been called to settle the " affairs of honor " in our own
State, however, but few times, and those in the earlier days.
Several attempts at duels have occurred; before the disputants met
in mortal combat the differences were amicably and satisfactorily
settled; honor was maintained without the sacrifice of life. In
1810 a law was adopted to suppress the practice of dueling. This
law held the fatal result of dueling to be murder, and, as it was
intended, had the effect of making it odious and dishonorable.
Prior to the constitution of 18-18, parties would evade the law by
142 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
going beyond the jurisdiction of the State to engage in their con-
tests of honor. At that time they incorporated in the Constitution
an oath of office, which was so broad as to cover the whole world.
Any person who had ever fought a duel, ever sent or accepted a
challenge or acted the part of second was disfranchised from holding
office, even of minor importance. After this M^ent into effect, no
other duel or attempt at a duel has been engaged in within the
State of Illinois, save those fought by parties living outside of
the State, who came here to settle their personal differences.
THE FIKST DUEL.
The first duel fought within the boundaries of this great State
was between two young military officers, one of the French and
the other of the English army, in the year 1765. It was at the
time the British troops came to take possession of Fort Chartres,
and a woman was the cause of it. The affair occurred early
Sunday morning, near the old fort. They fought with swords, and
in the combat one sacrificed his life.
BOND AND JONES.
In 1809 the next duel occurred and was bloodless of itself, but out
of it grew a quarrel which resulted in the assassination of one of
the contestants. The principals were Shadrach Bond, the first
Governor, and Rice Jones, a bright young lawyer, who became quite
a politician and the leader of his party. A personal difference arose
between the two, which to settle, the parties met for mortal combat
on an island in the Mississippi. The weapons selected were hair-
trigger pistols. After taking their position Jones' weapon was
prematurely discharged. Bond's second, Dunlap, now claimed that
according to the code Bond had the right to the next fire. But
Bond would not take so great advantage of his opponent, and said
it was an accident and would not fire. Such noble conduct
touched the generous nature of Jones, and the difficulty was at
once amicably settled. Dunlap, however, bore a deadly hatred for
Jones, and one day while he was standing in the street in Ivaskaskia,
conversing with a lady, lie crept up behind him and shot him dead
in his tracks. Dunlap successfully escaped to Texas.
RECTOR AND BARTON.
In 1812 the bloody code again brought two young men to the
field of honor. They were Thomas Rector, a son of Capt. Stephen
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 145
Rector who bore such a noble part in the war of 1812, ana Joshua
Barton. Tlicy liad espoused the quarrel of older brothers. The
affair occurred on Bloody Island, in the Mississippi, but in the
limits of Illinois. This place was frequented so often by Missou-
rians to settle personal difficulties, that it received the name of
Bloody Island. Barton fell in this conflict.
STEWART AND BENNETT.
In 1819 occurred the first duel fought after the admission of the
State into the Union. This took place in St. Clair county between
Alphonso Stewart and William Bennett. It was intended to be a
sham duel, to turn ridicule against Bennett, the challenging party-
Stewart was in the secret but Bennett was left to believe it a
reality. Their guns were loaded with blank cartridges. Bennett,
suspecting a trick, put a ball into his gun without the knowledge
of his seconds. The word "fire" was given, and Stewart fell
mortally wounded. Bennett made his escape but was subsequently
captured, convicted of murder and suffered the penalty of the law
by hanging.
PEARSON AND BAKER.
In 1840 a personal difference arose between two State Senators,
Judo-e Pearson and E. D. Baker. The latter, smarting under the
epithet of "lalsehoud," threatened to chastise Pearson in the public
streets, bv a " fist fight." Pearson declined making a "blackguard''
of himself but intimated a readiness to fight as gentlemen, accord-
ing to the code of honor. The affair, however, was carried no
further.
HARDIN AND DODGE.
The exciting debates in the Legislature in 1840-'41 were often
bitter in personal "slings," and threats of combats were not
infrequent. During these debates, in one of the speeclies by the
Hon. J. J. Hardin, Hon. A. R. Dodge thought he discovered a
personal insult, took exceptions, and an " affair" seemed imminent.
The controversy was referred to friends, however, and amicably
settled.
m'cLERNAND AND SMITH.
Hon. John A. McClernand, a member of the House, in a speech
delivered during the same session made charges against the Whig
Judges of the Supreme Court. This brought a note from Judge
146 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
T. W. Smith, by the hands of liis " friend " Dr. Merriman, to
McClernand. This was construed as a challenge, and promptly
accepted, naming the place of meeting to be Missouri; time, early;
the weapons, rifles; and distance, 40 paces. At this critical junc-
ture, the Attorney General had a warrant issued against the Judge,
whereupon he was arrested and placed under bonds to keep the
peace. Thus ended this attempt to vindicate injured honor.
LINCOLN AND SHIELDS.
During the hard times subsequent to the failure of the State and
other banks, in 1842, specie became scarce while State money was
plentiful, but worthless. The State officers thereupon demanded
specie payment for taxes. This was bitterly opposed, and so fiercely
contested that the collection of taxes was suspended.
During the period of the greatest indignation toward the State
ofiicials, under the nom de plume of " Rebecca," Abraham Lincoln
had an article published in the Sangamo Journal^ entitled " Lost
Township." In this article, written in the form of a dialogue, the
officers of the State were roughly handled, and especially Auditor
Shields. The name of the author was demaded from the editor by
Mr. Shields, who was very indignant over the manner in which he
was treated. The name of Abraham Lincoln was given as the
author. It is claimed by some of his biographers, however, that
the article was prepared by a lady, and that when the name of the
author was demanded, in a spirit of gallantry, Mr. Lincoln gave
his name. In company with Gen. Whiteside, Gen. Shields pur-
sued Lincoln to Tremont, Tazewell county, where he was in attend-
ance upon the court, and immediately sent him a note "requiring
a full, positive and absolute retraction of all offensive allusions "
made to him in relation to his "private character and standing as
a man, or an apology for the insult conveyed." Lincoln had been
forewarned, however, for William Butler and Dr. Merriman, of
Springfield, had become acquainted with Shields' intentions and by
riding all night arrived at Tremont ahead of Shields and informed
Lincoln what he might expect. Lincoln answered Shields' note,
refusing to offer any explanation, on the grounds that Shields' note
assumed the fact of his (Lincoln's) authorship of the article, and
not pointing out what the offensive part was, and accompanying the
same with threats as to consequences, Mr. Shields answered this,
disavowing all intention to menace ; inquired if he was the author,
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 147
asked a retraction of that portion relating to his private character.
Mr. Lincohi, still technical, returned this note with the verbal
statement " that there could be no further negotiations until the
first note was withdrawn." At this Shields named Gen. White-
side as his " friend," when Lincoln reported Dr. Merriman as his
"friend," These gentlemen secretly pledged themselves to agree
upon some amicable terms, and compel their principals to accept
them. The four went to Springfield, when Lincoln left for Jack-
sonville, leaving the following instructions to guide his friend. Dr.
Merriman:
" In case "Whiteside shall signify a wish to adjust this affair with-
out further difficulty, let him know that if the present papers be
withdrawn and a note from Mr. Shields, asking to know if I am the
author of the articles of which he complains, and asking that I shall
make him gentlemanly satisfaction, if I am the author, and this
without menace or dictation as to what that satisfaction shall be, a
pledge is made that the following answer shall be given:
I did write the "Lost Township " letter which appeared in the Journal of the
2d inst., but had no participation, in any form, in any other article alluding to
you. I wrote that wholly for political effect. I had no intention of injuring
your personal or private character or standing, as a man or gentleman ; and I did
not then think, and do not now think, that that article could produce or has pro-
duced that effect against you ; and, had I anticipated such an effect, would have
foreborne to write it. And I will add that your conduct toward me, so far as I
know, had always been gentlemanly, and that I had no personal pique against
you, and no cause for any.
" If this should be done, I leave it to you to manage what shall
and what shall not be published. If nothing like this is done, the
preliminaries of the fight are to be:
" 1st. Weapons. — Cavalry broad swords of the largest size, pre-
cisely equal in all respects, and such as are now used l)y the cavalry
company at Jacksonville.
" 2d. Position. — A plank ten feet long and from nine to twelve
inches broad, to be firmly fixed on edge, on the ground, as a line
between us which neither is to pass his foot over on forfeit of his
life. Next a line drawn on the ground on either side of said plank,
and parallel with it, each at the distance of the whole length of the
sword, and three feet additional from the plank; and the passing of
his own such line by either party during the fight, shall be deemed
a surrender of the contest.
148 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
"3d. Time. — On Thursday evening at 5 o'clock, if you can get
it so; l»ut in no case to be at a greater distance of time than Friday
evening at 5 o'clock.
"4:th. Place. — Within three miles of Alton, on the opposite
side of the river, the particular spot to be agreed on by you.
" Any preliminary details coming within the aboverules, you are
at liberty to make at your discretion, but you are in no case to
swerve from these rules, or pass beyond their limits."
The position of the contestants, as prescribed by Lincoln, seems
to have been such as both would have been free from coming in
contact with the sword of the other, and the first impression is that
it is nothing more than one of Lincoln's jokes. He possessed very
lono" arms, however, and could reach his adversary at the stipulated
distance.
I^ot being amicably arranged, all parties repaired to the field of
combat in Missouri. Gen. Hardin and .Dr. English, as mutual
friends of both Lincoln and Shields, arrived in the meantime, and
after much correspondence at their earnest solicitation the affair
was satisfactorily arranged, Lincoln making a statement similar to
the one above referred to.
SHIELDS AND BUTLEE.
William Butler, one of Lincoln's seconds, was dissatisfied with
the bloodless termination of the Lincoln-Shields affair, and wrote an
account of it for the Sangamo Journal. This article reflected dis-
creditably upon both the principals engaged in that controversy.
Shields replied by the hands of his friend Gen. Whiteside, in a
curt, menacing note, which was promptly accepted as a challenge
by Butler, and the inevitable Dr. Merriman named as his friend,
who submitted the following as preliminaries of the fight:
Time. — Sunrise on the following morning.
Place. — Col. Allen's farm (about one mile north of State House.)
Weapons. — Rifles.
Distance. — One hundred yards.
The parties to stand with their right sides toward each other —
the rifles to be held in both hands horizontally and cocked, arms
extended downwards. Neither party to move his person or his
rifle after being placed, before the word fire. The signal to be:
"Are you ready? Fire! one — two — three!" about a second of
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 149
time intervening between each word. JSTeitlier party to fire before
the word '' fire," nor after the word " three."
Gen. Wliiteside, in language cnrt and abrupt, addressed a note to
Dr. Merriman declining to accept the terms. Gen. Shields, how-
ever, addressed another note to Butler, explaining the feelings of
his second, and offering to go out to a lonely place on the prairie to
figlit, where there would be no danger of being interrupted; or, if
that did not suit, he M'ould meet him on his own conditions, when
and where he pleased. Butler claimed the affair was closed and
declined the proposition.
WHITESIDE AND MEEEIMAN.
Now Gen. "Whiteside and Dr. Merriman, who several times had
acted in the capacity of friends or seconds, were to handle the
deadly weapons as principals. While second in the Shields-Butler
^^5(7(9, Whiteside declined the terms proposed by Butler, in curt
and abrupt language, stating that tlie place of combat could not be
dictated to him, for it was as much his right as Merriman's, who,
if he was a gentleman, would recognize and concede it. To this
Merriman replied by the hands of Capt. Lincoln. It will be
remembered that Merriman had acted in the same capacity for Lin-
coln. Whiteside then wrote to Merriman, asking to meet him at
St. Louis, when he would hear from him further. To this Merri-
man replied, denying his right to name place, but offered to meet
in Louisiana, Mo. This Whiteside would not agree to, but later
signified his desire to meet him there, but the aff'air being closed,
the doctor declined to re-open it,
PRATT AND CAMPBELL.
These two gentlemen were members of the Constitutional Con-
vention of 1847, and both from Jo Davies county. A dispute arose
which ended in a challenge to meet on the field of honor. They
both repaired to St. Louis, but the authorities gaining knowledge
of their bloody intentions, had both parties arrested, which ended
this " aff'air."
DEESS AND MANNERS.
The dress, habits, etc., of a people throw so much light upon their
conditions and limitations that in order better to show the circum-
stances surrounding the people of the State, we will give a short
150 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
exposition of the manner of life of our Illinois people at different
epochs. The Indians themselves are credited by Charlevoix with
being "very laborious," — raising poultry, spinning the wool of the
buffalo and manufacturing garments therefrom. These must have
been, however, more than usually favorable representatives of their
race.
" The working and voyaging dress of the French masses," says
Keynolds, "was simple and primitive. The French were like the
lilies of the valley (the Old Ranger was not always exact in his
quotations), — they neither spun nor wove any of their clothing, but
purchased it from the merchants. The white blanket coat, known
as the capot, was the universal and eternal coat for the winter with
the masses. A cape was made of it that could be raised over the
head in cold weather.
" In the house, and in good weather, it hung behind, a cape to
the blanket coat. The reason that I know these coats so well is,
that I have worn many in my youth, and a working man never wore
a better garment. Dressed deer-skins and blue cloth were worn
commonly in the winter for pantaloons. The blue handkerchief
and the deer-skin moccasins covered the head and feet generally of
the French Creoles. In 1800, scarcely a man thought himself clothed
unless he had a belt tied around his blanket coat, and on one side
was hung the dressed skin of a pole-cat, filled with tobacco, pipe,
flint and steel. On the other side was fastened, under the belt, the
the butcher-knife. A Creole in this dress felt like Tarn O'Shanter
filled with usquebaugh; he could face the devil. Checked calico
shirts were then common, but in winter flannel was frequently
worn. In the summer the laboring men and the voyagers often
took their shirts off in hard work and hot weather, and turned out
the naked back to the air and sun."
" Among the Americans," he adds, "home-made wool hats were
the common wear. Fur hats were not common, and scarcely a boot
was seen. The covering of the feet in winter was chiefly moccasins
made of deer-skins, and shoe packs of tanned leather. Some wore
shoes, but not common in very early times. In the summer the
greater portion of the young people, male and female, and many of
the old, went barefoot. The substantial and universal outside wear
was the blue linsey hunting-shirt. This is an excellent garment,
and I have never felt so happy and healthy since I laid it off. It is
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 153
made of wide sleeves, open before, with ample size so as to envelop
the body almost twice around. Sometimes it had a large cape,
which answers well to save the shoulders from the rain. A belt is
mostly used to keep the garment close around the person, and,
nevertheless, there is nothing tight about it to hamper the body.
It is often fringed, and at times the fringe is composed of red, and
other gay colors. The belt, frequently, is sewed to the hunting-shirt.
The vest was mostly made of striped linsey. The colors were made
often with alum, copperas and madder, boiled with the bark of trees,
in such a manner and proportions as the old ladies prescribed. The
pantaloons of the masses were generally made of deer-skin and
linsey. Course blue cloth was sometimes made into pantaloons.
" Linsey, neat and fine, manufactured at home, composed generally
the outside garments of the females as well as the males. The
ladies had linsey colored and woven to suit their fancy. A bonnet,
composed of calico, or some gay goods, was worn on the head when
they were in the open air. Jewelry on the pioneer ladies was
uncommon; a gold ring was an ornament not often seen."
In 1820 a change of dress began to take place, and before 1830,
according to Ford, most of the pioneer costume had disappeared.
"The blue linsey hunting-shirt, with red or white fringe, had given
place to the cloth coat. [Jeans would be more like the fact.] The
raccoon cap, with the tail of the animal dangling down behind, had
been thrown aside for hats of wool or fur. Boots and shoes had
supplied the deer-skin moccasins; and the leather breeches, strapj^ed
tight around the ankle, had disappeared before unmentionables of a
more modern material. The female sex had made still greater pro.
gress in dress. The old sort of cotton or woolen frocks, spun, woven
and made with their own fair hands, and striped and cross- barred
with blue dye and turkey red, had given place to gowns of silk and
calico. The feet, before in a state of nudity, now charmed in shoes
of calf-skin or slippers of kid; and the head, formerly unbonneted,
but covered with a cotton handkerchief, now displayed the charms
of the female face under many forms of bonnets of straw, silk and
leghorn. The young ladies, instead of walking a mile or two to
church on Sunday, carrying their shoes and stockings in their hands
until within a hundred yards of the place of worship, as formerly,
now came forth arrayed complete in all the pride of dress, mounted
on fine horses and attended by their male admirers."
154: HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
The last half century has doubtless witnessed changes quite as
great as those set forth by our Illinois historian. The chronicler
of to-day, looking back to the golden days of 1830 to 1840, and
comparing them with the present, must be struck with the tendency
of an almost monotonous uniformity in dress and manners that
comes from the easy inter-communication afforded by steamer, rail-
way, telegraph and newspaper. Home manufacturers have been
driven from the household by the lower-priced fabrics of distant
mills. The Kentucky jeans, and the copperas-colored clothing of
home manufacture, so familiar a few years ago, have given place to
the cassiraeres and cloths of noted factories. The ready-made-
clothing stores, like a touch of nature, made the whole world kin-
and may drape the charcoal man in a dress-coat and a stove-pipe
hat. The prints and silks of England and France give a variety of
choice, and an assortment of colors and shades such as the pioneer
women could hardly have dreamed of. Godey, and Demorest, and
Harper's Bazar are found in our modern farm-houses, and the latest
fashions of Paris are not uncommon.
PHYSICAL FEATUKES OF ILLINOIS.
In area the State has 55,410 square miles of territory. It is
about 150 miles wide and 400 miles long, stretching in latitude
from Maine to North Carolina. The climate varies from Portland
to Richmond. It favors every product of the continent, including
the tropics, with less than half a dozen exceptions. It produces
every great food of the world except bananas and rice. It is hardly
too much to say that it is the most productive spot known to civil-
ization. With the soil full of bread and the earth full of minerals;
with an upper surface of food and an under layer of fuel; with per-
fect natural drainage, and abundant springs, and streams, and navi-
gable rivers; half way between the forests of the North and the
fruits of the South; within a day's ride of the great deposits of
iron, coal, copper, lead and zinc; and containing and controlling
the great grain, cattle, pork and lumber markets of the world, it is
not strange that Illinois has the advantage of position.
There are no mountains in Illinois; in the southern as well as in
the northern part of the State there are a few hills; near the banks
pf the Illinois, Mississippi, and several other rivers, the ground is
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. loj
elevated, forming the so-called bluffs, on which at the present day
may be found, uuetfaced by the hand of Time, the marks and traces
left by the water which was formerly much higher; whence it may
be safe to conclude that, where now the fertile prairies of Illinois
extend, and the rich soil of the country yields its golden harvests,
must have been a vast sheet of water, the mud deposited by which
formed the soil, thus accounting for the present great fertility of the
country.
Illinois is a garden 400 miles long and 150 miles wide. Its soil
is chiefly a black, sandy loam, from 6 inches to 60 feet thick. About
the old French towns it has yielded corn for a century and a half
without rest or help. She leads all other States in the number
of acres actually under plow. Her mineral wealth is scarcely
second to her agricultural power. She has coal, iron, lead, zinc,
copper, many varieties of building stone, marble, fire clay, cuma
clay, common brick clay, sand of all kinds, gravel, mineral paint, —
in fact, everything needed for a high civilization.
AGRICULTURE.
If any State of the Union is adapted for agriculture, and the other
branches of rural economy relating thereto, such as the raising of
cattle and the culture of fruit trees, it is pre-eminently Illinois.
Her extremely fertile prairies recompense the farmer at less
trouble and expense than he would be obliged to incur elsewhere, in
order to obtain the same results. Her rich soil, adapted by nature
for immediate culture, only awaits the plow and tiie seed in order
to mature, within a few mouths, a most bountiful harvest. A
review of statistics will be quite interesting to the reader, as well as
valuable, as showing the enormous quantities of the various cereals
produced in our prairie State:
In 1S76 there was raised in the State 130,000,000 of bushels of
corn, — twice as much as any other State, and one-sixth of all the corn
raised in the United States. It would take 375,000 cars to transport
this vast amount of corn 1o market, which would make 15,000 trains
of 25 cars each. She harvested 2,747.000 tons of hay, nearly one-
tenth of all the hay in the Republic. It is not generally appreciated,
but it is true, that the hay crop of the country is worth more than
the cotton crop. The hay of Illinois equals the cotton of Louisiana*
156
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
Go to Charleston, S. C, and see them peddling handfuls of hay or
grass, almost as a curiosity, as we regard Chinese gods or the cryo-
lite of Greenland; drink your coffee and condensed milk; and walk
back from the coast for many a league through the sand and burs
till you get up into the better atmosphere of the mountains, with-
out seeing a waving meadow or a grazing herd; then you will begin
to appreciate the meadows of the Prairie State.
The value of her farm implements was, in 1876, $211,000,000,
and the value of live stock was only second to New York. The
same year she had 25,000,000 hogs, and packed 2,113,845, about
one-half of all that were packed in the United States. She marketed
$57,000,000 worth of slaughtered animals, — more than any other
State, and a seventh of all tlie States.
Illinois excels all other States in miles of railroads and in miles
of postal service, and in money orders sold per annum, and in the
amount of lumber sold.
Illinois was only second in many important matters, taking the
reports of 1876. This sample list comprises a few of the more
important: Permanent school fund; total income for educational
purposes; number of publishers of books, maps, papers, etc.; value
of farm products and implements, and of live stock; in tons of coal
mined.
The shipping of Illinois was only second to New York. Out of
one port during the business hours of the season of navigation she
sent forth a vessel every nine minutes. This did not include canal-
boats, which went one every five minutes.
No wonder she was only second in number of bankers or in phy-
sicians and surgeons.
She was third in colleges, teachers and schools; also in cattle,
lead, hay, flax, sorghum and beeswax.
She was fourth in population, in children enrolled in public
schools, in law schools, in butter, potatoes and carriages.
She was fifth in value of real and personal property, in theologi-
cal seminaries, and colleges exclusively for women, in milk sold,
and in boots and shoes manufactured, and in book-binding.
She was only seventh in the production of wood, while she was
the twelfth in area. Surely that was well done for the Prairie State.
She then had, in 1876, much more wood and growing timber than
she had thirty years before.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. ^gj
A few leading industries will justify emphasis. She manufactured
$205,000,000 worth of goods, which phiced her well up toward
New York and Pennsylvania. The number of her manufacturing
establishments increased from 1860 to 1870, 300 per cent. ; capital
employed increased 350 per cent.; and the amount of product in-
creased 400 per cent. She issued 5,500,000 copies of commercial
and financial newspapers, being only second to New York. She had
6,759 miles of railroad, then leading all otlier States, worth $636,-
458,000, using 3,245 engines, and 67,712 cars, making a train long
enough to cover one-tenth of the entire roads of the State. Her
stations were only five miles apart. She carried, in 1876, 15,795,-
000 passengers an average of 36|- miles, or equal to taking her
entire ])opulation twice across the State. More than two-thirds of
her land was within five miles of a railroad, and less than two per
cent, was more than fifteen miles away
The State has a large financial interest in the Illinois Central
railroad. The road was incorporated m 1850, and the State gave
each alternate section for six miles on each side, and doubled the
price of the remaining land, so keeping herself good. The road
received 2,595,000 acres of land, and paid to the State one-seventh
of the gross receipts. The State received in 1877, $350,000, and
had received up to that year in all about $7,000,000. It was prac-
tically the people's road, and it had a most able and gentlemanly
management. Add to the above amount the annual receipts from
the canal, $111,000, and a large per cent, of the State tax was pro-
vided for-
GOYERNORSOF ILLINOIS.
Shadrach Bond — Was the first Governor of Illinois. He was a
native of Maryland and born in 1773; was raised on a farm; re-
ceived a common English education, and came to Illinois in 1794.
He served as a delegate in Congress from 1811 to 1815, where he
procured the right of pre-emption of public land. He was elected
Governor in 1818; was beaten for Congress in 1824 by Daniel P.
Cook He died at Kaskaskia, April 11, 1830.
Edward Coles — Was born Dec. 15, 1786, in Yirgiuia. His father
was a slave-holder; gave his son a collegiate education, and left to
him a large number of slaves. These he liberated, giving each
head of a family 160 acres of land and a considerable sum of money.
158
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
He was President Madison's private secretary. He came to Illinois
in 1819, was elected Governor in 1822, on the anti-slavery ticket;
moved to Philadelphia in 1833, and died in 1868.
Niiiian Edwards. — In 1809, on the formation of the Territory of
Illinois, Mr. Edwards was appointed Governor, which position he
retained until the organization of the State, when he was sent to
the United States Senate. He was elected Governor in 1826. He
was a native of Maryland and born in 1775; received a collegiate
education; was Chief Justice of Kentucky, and a Eepublican in
politics.
Joh7i Reynolds — Was born in Pennsylvania in 1788, and came
with his parents to Illinois in 1800, and in 1830 was elected Gov-
ernor on the Democratic ticket, and afterwards served three terms
in Congress. He received a classical education, yet was not polished.
He was an ultra Democrat; attended the Charleston Convention in
1860, and urged the seizure of United States arsenals by the
South. He died in 1865 at Belleville, childless.
Joseph Duncan. — In 1834 Joseph Duncan was elected Governor
by the Whigs, although formerly a Democrat. He had previously
served four terms in Congress. He was born in Kentucky in 1794;
had but a limited education; served with distinction in the war of
1812; conducted the campaign of 1832 against Black Hawk. He
came to Illinois when quite young.
Thomas Carlin — Was elected as a Democrat in 1838. He had
but a meager education ; held many minor offices, and was active
both in the war of 1812 and the Black Hawk war. He was born in
Kentucky in 1789; came to Illinois in 1812, and died at Carrollton,
Feb. 14, 1852.
Thomas Ford — Was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1800 ; was
brought by his widowed mother to Missouri in 1804, and shortly
afterwards to Illinois. He received a good education, studied law;
was elected four times Judge, twice as Circuit Judge, Judge of
Chicago and Judge of Supreme Court. He was elected Governor
by the Democratic party in 1842; wrote his history of Illinois in
1847 and died in 1850,
Augustus C. French — Was born in New Hampshire in 1808;
was admitted to the bar in 1831, and shortly afterwards moved to
Illinois when in 1846 he was elected Governor. On the adoption
of the Constitution of 1848 he was again chosen, serving until 1853.
He was a Democrat m iDolitics.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
159
Joel A. Matteson — Was born in Jefferson county, N". Y., in 1808.
His father was a farmer, and gave his son only a common school
education. He first entered upon active life as a small tradesman,
but subsequently became a large contractor and manufacturer. He
was a lieavy contractor in building the Canal. He was elected Gov-
ernor in 1852 upon the Democratic ticket.
William H. Blssell — Was elected by the liepublican party in
1856. He had previously served two terms in Congress; was
colonel in the Mexican war and has held minor official positions. He
was born in JS'ew York State in 1811; received a common educa-
tion; came to Illinois early in life and engaged in the medical pro-
fession. This he changed for the law and became a noted orator,
and the standard bearer of the Republican party in Illinois. He
died in 1860 while Governor.
Bichard Yates — "The war Governor of Illinois," was born in
Warsaw, Ky., in 1818; came to Illinois in 1831: served two terms
in Congress; in 1860 was elected Governor, and in 1865 United
States Senator. He was a college graduate, and read law under J. J.
Hardin. He rapidly rose m his chosen profession and charmed the
people with oratory. He filled the gubernatorial chair during the
trying days of the Rebellion, and by his energy and devotion won
the title of " War Governor." He became addicted to strona: drink,
and died a drunkard.
Richard J. Ogleshy — Was born in 1824, in Kentucky; an orphan
at the age of eight, came to Illinois when only 12 years old. He
was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade; worked some at
farming and read law occasionally. He enlisted in the Mexican
War and was chosen First Lieutenant. After his return he ao-ain
took up the law, but during the gold fever of 1849 went to Califor-
nia; soon returned, and, in 1852, entered upon his illustrious
political career. He raised the second regiment in the State, to
suppress the Rebellion, and for gallantry was promoted to Major
General. In 1864 he was elected Governor, and re-elected in 1872,
and resigned for a seat in the United States Senate. He is a staunch
Republican and resides at Decatur.
Shelby M. Cullom — Was born in Kentucky in 1828; studied
law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced the practice of his
profession in 1848; was elected to the State Legislature in 1856,
and again in 1860. Served on the war commission at Cairo, 1862,
160 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
and was a member of the 39th, 40th and 41st Congress, in all of which
he served with credit to his State. He was ao-ain elected to the
State Legislature in 1872, aad re-elected in 1874, and was elected
Governor of Illinois in 1876, which office he still holds, and has
administered with marked ability.
LIEUTENANT GOVEKNOES.
Pierre Menard — Was the first Lieut. Gov. of Illinois. He was
born in Quebec, Canada, in 1767. He came to Illinois in 1790
where he engaged in the Indian trade and became wealthy. He
died in 1844. Menard county was named in his honor.
Adolphus F. Hubbard — Was elected Lieut. Gov. in 1822. Four
years later he ran for Governor against Edwards, but was beaten.
William Kinney — Was elected in 1826. He was a Baptist
clergyman; was born in Kentucky in 1781 and came to Illinois in
1793.
Zadock Casey — Although on the opposition ticket to Governor
Reynolds, the successful Gubernatorial candidate, yet Casey was
elected Lieut. Gov. in 1830. He subsequently served several terms
in Congress.
Alexander M. Jenkins — Was elected on ticket with Gov. Duncan
in 1834 by a handsome majority.
8. H. Anderson — Lieut. Gov. under Gov. Cariin, was chosen in
1838. He was a native of Tennessee.
John Moore — Was born in England in 1793; came to Illinois in
1830; was elected Lieut. Gov. in 1842. He won the name of
" Honest John Moore."
Joseph B. Wells — Was chosen with Gov. French at his first
election m 18i6.
William McMurtry. — In 1848 when Gov. French was again
chosen Governor, William McMurtry of Knox county, was elected
Lieut. Governor.
Gustavus P. Koerner — Was elected in 1852. He was born in
Germany in 1809. At the age of 22 came to Illinois. In 1872 he
was a candidate for Governor on Liberal ticket, but was defeated,
John Wood — Was elected in 1856, and on the death of Gov.
Bissell became Governor.
Francis A. Hoffman — Was chosen with Gov. Yates in 1860.
He was born in Prussia in 1822, and came to Illinois in 1840.
CENTRAL HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE, JACKSONVILLE.
BAKER.-C6
ILLINOIS INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY, CHAMPAIGN-FOUNDED BY THE STATE,
ENDOWED BY CONGRESS.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
161
William Bross — Was born in New Jersey, came to Illinois in
1848, was elected to office in 1864.
John Dougherty — "Was elected in 1868.
John L. Beveredge — Was chosen Lieut. Gov. in 1872. In 1873
Oglesby was elected to the U. S. Senate when Beveridge became
Governor.
Andrew Shuman — Was elected Kov. 7, 1876, and is the present
incumbent.
SUPERINTENDENT OP PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
Ninian W. Edwards 1854-56
W. H. Powell 1857-58
Newton Baleman 1859-75
Samuel M. Etter 1876
ATTORNEY GENERALS.
Daniel P. Cook 1819
William Mears 1820
Samuel D. Lockwood 1821-22
James Turney 1823-28
George Forquer 1829-32
James Semple 1833-34
Nmian E. Edwards 1834-35
Jesse B. Thomas, Jr 1835
Walter B. Scates 1836
Asher F. Linder 1837
Geo. W. Olney 1838
Wickliffe Kitchell 1839
Josiah Lamborn 1841-42
James A. McDougall 1843-46
David B. Campbell 1846
[Office abolished and re-created in 1867]
Robert G. Ingersoll 1867-68
Washington Bushnell 1869-72
James K. Edsall 1873-79
TREASURERS.
John Thomas 1818-19
E. K. McLaughlin 1819-22
Ebner Field 1823-26
James Hall 1827-30
John Dement 1831-30
Charles Gregory 1836
John D. Whiteside 1837-40
M. Carpenter 1841-48
John Moore 1848-56
James Miller 1857-60
William Butler 1861-62
Alexander Starne 1863-64
James H. Beveridge 1865-66
George W. Smith 1867-68
Erastus N. Bates 1869-72
Edward Rutz 1873-75
Thomas S. Ridgeway 1876-77
Edward Rutz 1878-.79
SECRETARIES OF STATE.
Elias K. Kane 1818-22 Thompson Campbell 1843-46
Samuel D. Lockwood 1822-23
David Blackwell 1823-24
Morris Birkbeck 1824
George Forquer 1825-28
Alexander P. Field 1829-40
Stephen A. Douglas 1840
Lyman Trumbull 1841-42
Horace S. Cooley 1846-49
David L. Gregg 1850-52
Alexander Starne 1853-56
Ozias M. Hatch 1857-60
Sharon Tyndale 1865-68
Edward Rummel 1869-72
George H. Harlow 1873-79
162 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
AXJDITOKS.
Elijah C. Berry 1818-31 Thompson Campbell 1846
I. T. B. Stapp 1831-35 Jesse K. Dubois 1857-64
Levi Davis 1835-40 Orlin H. Miner 1865-68
James Shields 1841-42 Charles E. Lippencott 1809-76
W. L. D. Ewing 1843-45 Thompson B. Needles 1877-79
UNITED STATES SENATORS.
Ninian Edwards. — On the organization of the State in 1818,
Edwards, the popular Territorial Governor, was chosen Senator for
the short term, and in 1819 re-elected for full term.
Jesse B. Thomas — One of the federal judges during the entire
Territorial existence was chosen Senator on organization of the
State, and re-elected in 1S23, and served till 1829.
John McLean — In 1824 Edwards resigned, and McLean was
elected to fill his unexpired term. He was born in North Carolina
in 1791, and came to Illinois in 1815; served one term in Congress,
and in 1829 was elected to the U. S. Senate, but the following year
died. He is said to have been the most gifted man of his period in
Illinois.
Elias Kent Kane—W^iS elected Nov. 30, 1824, for the term be-
o-innino- March 4, 1825. In 1830 he W'as re-elected, but died before
too'
the expiration of his term. He was a native of New York, and in
1814 came to Illinois. He was first Secretary of State, and after-
wards State Senator.
David Jewett Baker— W&s appointed to fill the unexpired term
of John McLean, in 1830, Nov. 12, but the Legislature refused to
endorse the choice. Baker was a native of Connecticut, born in
1T92, and died in Alton in 1869.
JohnM. RoUnso7i. — Instead of Baker, the Governor's appointee,
the Legislature chose Robinson, and in 1834 he was re-elected. In
1843 was elected Supreme Judge of the State, but within two
months died. He was a native of Kentucky, and came to Illinois
while quite young.
William L. D. Ewing— Was elected in 1835, to fill the vacancy
occasioned by the death of Kane. He was a Kentuckian.
Richard M. Young— Was. elected in 1836, and held his seat
from March 4, 1837, to March 4, 1843, a full term. He was a
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 163
native of Kentucky; was Circuit Judge before his election to the
Senate, and Supreme Judge in 1842. He died in an insane asylum
at Washington.
Samuel McRoberts — The first native Illinoisian ever elevated to
the high office of U. S. Senator from this State, was born in 1T99,
and died in 18-i3 on his return home from Washington. lie was
elected Circuit Judge in 1824, and" March 4, 1841, took his seat in
the U. S. Senate.
Sidneij Breese—^'A% elected to the U. S. Senate, 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, beginning March 4, 1843, after which he was elected to the
Legislature, again Circuit Judge, and, in 1857, to the Supreme
Court, which position he held until his death in 1878.
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 Dec. 14, 1846. He had pre-
viously 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 Cal-
houn, with whom he served his first term. His famous contest
with Abraham Lincoln for the Senate in 1858 is the most memor-
able in the annals of our country. It was called the battle of the
giants, and resulted in Douglas' election to the Senate, and Lincoln
to the Presidency. He was born in Brandon, Vermont, April 23,
1813, and came to Illinois in 1833, and died in 1861. He was
appointed 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. S.
Senate in 1849, March 4. He was born in Ireland in 1810, came
to the United States in 1827. He served in the Mexican army, was
elected Senator from Wisconsin, and in 1879 from Missouri for a
short term.
Lyman Trumlull — Took his seat in the [J. S. Senate March 4,
1855, and became his own successor in 1861. He had previously
served one term in the Lower House of Congress, and served on
the Supreme Bench. He was born in Connecticut; studied law
164 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
and came to Illinois early in life, where for years he was actively
engaged in politics. He resides in Chicago.
Orvill H. Browning — Was appointed U. S. Senator in 1861, to
fill the seat made vacant by the death of Stephen A. Douglas, until
a Senator could be regularly elected. Mr. Browning was born in
Harrison county, Kentucky; was admitted to the bar in 1831, and
settled in Quincy, Illinois, where he engaged in the practice of law,
and was instrumental, with his friend, Abraham Lincoln, in form-
ing the Republican party of Illinois at the Bloomington Conven-
tion. He entered Johnson's cabinet as Secretary of the Interior,
and in March, 1868, was designated by the President to perform the
duties of Attorney General, in addition to his own, as Secretary of
the Interior Department.
William A. Richardson — Was elected to the U. S. Senate in
1863, 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 1856, continually.
Richard Yates — Was elected to the U. S. Senate in 1865, serv-
ing a full term of six years. He died in St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 2Y,
1873.
John A. Logan — Was elected to the U. S. Senate in 1871. He
was born in Jackson county. 111., Feb. 9, 1826, received a common
school education, and 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 Congress, resigning in 1861 to take part in the sup-
pression of the Rebellion; served as Colonel and subsequently as a
Major General, and commanded, with distinction, the armies of
the Tennessee. He was again elected to the U. S. Senate in 1879
for six years.
David Davis — Was elected to the U. S. Senate in 1877 for a term
of six years. He was born in Cecil county, Md., March 9, 1815,
graduated at Kenyon College, Ohio, studied law, and removed to
Illinois in 1835; was admitted to the bar and settled in Blooming-
ton, where he has since resided and amassed a large fortune. He
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 165
was for many years the intimate friend and associate of Abraham
Lincoln, rode the circuit with him each year, and after Lincohi's
election to the Presidency, was appointed by him to fill the position
of Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States.
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS. NINETEENTH CONGRESS.
Jolin McLean 1818 Daniel P. Cook 1825-26
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS. TWENTIETH CONGRESS.
Daniel P. Cook 1819-20 Joseph Duncan 1827-28
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS. TWENTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
Daniel P. Cook 1821-22 Joseph Duncan 1829-30
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS. TWENTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
Daniel P. Cook 1823-24 Joseph Duncan 1831-32
TWENTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
Joseph Duncan 1833-34 Zadock Casey 1833-34
TWENTY-FOTTRTH CONGRESS.
Zadock Casey 1835-36 William L. May 1835-36
John Reynolds 1835-36
TWENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
Zadock Casey 1837-38 William L. May 1837-38
John Reynolds 1837-38
TWENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
Zadock Casey.... 1839-iO John T. Stuart 1839-40
John Reynolds 1839-40
TWENTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.
Zadock Casey 1841^2 John T. Stuart 1841-42
John Reynolds 1841^2
TWENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
Robert Smith 1843-44 Joseph P. Hoge 1843-44
Orlando B. Finklin 1843^4 John J. Hardin 1843-44
Stephen A. Douglas 1843-44 John Wentworth 1843-44
John A. McClernand 1843^4
TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Robert Smith 1845-46 Joseph P. Hoge 1845-46
Stephen A. Douglas 1845^6 John A. McClernand 1845-46
Orlando B. Finklin 1845-46 John Wentworth 1845-46
John J. Hardin 1845
THIRTIETH CONGRESS.
John Wentworth 1847-48 Orlando B. Finklin 1847-48
Thomas J. Turner 1847 Robert Smith 1847-48
Abraham Lincoln 1847-48 William A. Richardson 1847-48
John A. McClernand 1847^8
166 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
TnillTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
John A. McClernand 1849-50 Edward D. Baker. 1849-50
John Wentworth 1849-50 William H. Bissell 1849-50
Timothy R. Young 1849-50 Thomas L. Harris 1849
William A. Richardson. 1849-50
THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
William A. Richardson. 1851-52 Richard Yates 1851-53
Thompson Campbell . .1851-53 Richard S. Maloney 1851-52
Orlando B. Finkliu 1851-53 AVillis 1851-52
John Wentworth 1851-52 William H. Bissell 1851-52
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
William H. Bissell 1853-54 Thompson Campbell 1853-54
John C. Allen 1853-54 James Knox 1853-54
Willis 1853-54 Jesse O. Norton 1853-54
Elihu B. Washburne 1853-54 William A. Richardson 1863-54
Richard Yates 1853-54
THIRTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Elihu B. Washburne 1855-56 Samuel S. Marshall 1855-56
Lyman Trumbull 1855-56 J. L. D. Morrison 1855-56
James H. Woodworth 1855-56 John C. Allen 1855-56
James Knox.. 1855-56 Jesse O. Norton 1855-56
Thompson Campbell 1855-56 William A. Richardson 1855-56
THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
Elihu B. Washburne .1857-58 Samuel 8. Marshall 1857-58
Charles D. Hodges 1857-58 Isaac N. Morris 1857-58
William Kellogg 1857-58 Aaron Shaw 1857-58
Thompson Campbell 1857-58 Robert Smith 1857-58
John F. Farnsworth 1857-58 Thomas L. Harris 1857-58
Owen Lovejoy 1857-58
THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
Elihu B. Washburne 1859-60 John F. Farnsworth 1859-60
John A. Logan 1859-60 Philip B. Fouke 1859-60
Owen Lovejoy 1859-60 Thomas L. Harris 1859-60
John A. McClernand 1859-60 William Kellogg 1859-60
Isaac N Morris 1859-60 James C. Robinson 1859-60
THIRTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.
Elihu B. Washburne 1861-68 Isaac N. Arnold 1861-62
James C. Robinson 1861-62 Philip B. Fouke 1861-62
John A. Logan 1861-63 William Kellogg 1861-62
Owen Lovejoy 1861-63 Anthony L. Knapp 1861-62
John A. McClernand 1861-62 William A. Richardson 1861-62
THIRTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
Elihu B. Washburne 1863-64 William J. Allen 1863-64
Jesse O. Norton 1863-64 Isaac N. Arnold 1863-64
James C. Robinson 1863-64 John R. Eden 1863-64
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
169
Lewis W. Ross 1863-64
John T. Stuart 1863-64
Owen Lovcjoy 1803-64
William R. Morrison 1863-64
John C. Allen 1863-64
John F. Farnsworth 1863-64
Charles W. Morris 1863-64
Eben C. Ingersoll 1863-64
Anthony L. Knapp 1863-64
THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Elihu B. Washburne 1865-66
Anthony B. Thornton 1865-60
John Wentworth 1865-60
Abner C. Hardin .1865-66
Eben C. Ingersoll 1865-66
Barton C. Cook 1865-00
Shelby M. Cullom 1865-66
FORTIETH CONGRESS
John F. Farnsworth 1865-66
Jehu Baker 1805-00
Heury P. H. Bromwcll 1805-00
Andrew Z. Kuykandall 1865-66
Samuel S. Marshall 1865-66
Samuel W. Moulton 1865-60
Lewis W. Ross 1865-00
Elihu B. Washburne 1867-68
Abner C. Hardin 1867-68
Eben C. Ingersoll 1807-68
Norman B. Judd 1807-68
Albert G. Burr 1867-68
Burton C. Cook 1867-68
Shelby M. Cullom 1867-68
John F. Farnsworth 1867-68
Jehu Baker 1867-68
Henry P. H. Bromwell 1867-68
John A. Logan 1867-08
Samuel S. Marshall 1867-68
Green B. Raum 1867-68
Lewis W. Ross 1867-68
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
Norman B. Judd 1809-70
John F. Farnsworth 1869-70
H. C. Burchard 1869-70
John B. Hawley 1869-70
Eben C Ingersoll 1869-70
Burton C. Cook 1869-70
Jesse H. Moore 1869-70
Shelby M. Cullom 1869-70
Thomas W. MeNeely 1869-70
Albert G. Burr 1869-70
Samuel S. Marshall 1869-70
John B. Hay 1869-70
John M. Crebs 1869-70
John A. Logan 1869-70
FORTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
Charles B. Farwell 1871-72
John F. Farnsworth 1871-72
Horatio C. Burchard 1871-72
John B. Hawley 1871-72
Bradford N. Stevens 1871-72
Henry Snapp 1871-72
Jesse H. Moore 1871-72
James C. Robinson 1871-72
Thomas W. McNeely 1871-72
Edward Y. Rice 1871-72
Samuel S. :Marshall 1871-72
John B. Hay .1871-72
John M. Crebs 1871-72
John S. Beveredgc 1871-72
FORTY-TUIRD CONGRESS.
John B. Rice 1873-74 Robert M. Knapp 1873-74
Jasper D. Ward 1873-74
Charles B. Farwell 1873-74
Stephen A. Hurlbut 1873-74
Horatio C. Burchard 1873-74
John B. Hawley 1873-74
Franklin Corwin 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
170
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
Greenbury L. Fort 1873-74
Granville Banere 1878-74
William H. Ray 1873-74
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS
Isaac Clements 1873-
Samuel S. Marshall 1873-
Bernard G. Caulfleld 1875-76
Carter H. Ilariison 1875-76
Charles B. Farwell 1875-76
Stephen A. Hurlbut 1875-76
Horatio C. Burchard 1875-76
Thomas J. Henderson 1875-76
Alexander Campbell 1875-76
Greenbury L. Fort 1875-76
Richard H. Whiting 1875-76
John C. Bagby 1875-76
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS,
William Aldrich 1877-78
Carter H. Harrison 1877-78
Lorenzo Brentano 1877-78
William Lathrop 1877-78
Horatio C. Burchard 1877-78
Thomas J. Henderson 1877-78
Philip C. Hayes 1877-78
Greenbury L. Fort 1877-78
Thomas A. Boyd 1877-78
Benjamin F. Marsh 1877-78
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS
Scott Wike 1875-
W^illiam M. Springer 1875-
Adlai E. Stevenson 1875-
Joseph G. Cannon 1875-
John R. Eden 1875-
W. A. J. Sparks 1875-
William R. Morrison 1875-
William Hartzell 1875-
William B. Anderson 1875-
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76
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Robert M. Rn^pp 1877
William M. Springer 1877
Thomas F. Tipton 1877
Joseph G. Cannon 1877
JohnR. Eden 1877
W. A. J. Sparks 1877-
William R. Morrison 1877
William Hartzell 1877
Richard W. Townshend 1877
William Aldrich 1879-80
George R.Davis 1879-80
Hiram Barber 1879-80
John C Sherwin 1879-80
R. M. A. Hawk 1879-80
Thomas J. Henderson 1879-80
Philip C. Hayes 1879-80
Greenbury L. Fort 1879-80
Thomas A. Boyd 1879-80
Benjamin F. Marsh 1879-80
James W. Singleton 1879
William M. Springer 1879
A. E. Stevenson 1879
Joseph G. Cannon 1879
Albert P. Forsythe 1879
W. A. J. Sparks 1879
William R. Morrison 1879^
John R. Thomas 1879
R. W. Townshend 1879-
-78
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CHICAGO.
"While we cannot, in the brief space we have, give more than a
meager sketch of such a city as Chicago, yet we feel the history of
the State would be incomplete without speaking of its metropolis,
the most wonderful city on the globe.
In comparing Chicago as it was a few years since with Chicago
of to-day, we behold a change whose veritable existence we should
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 171
be inclined to doubt were it not a stern, indisputable fact. Eapid
as is the customary development of places and things in the United
States-, the growth of Chicago and her trade stands without a parallel.
The city is situated on the west shore of Lake Michigan at the
mouth of the Chicago river. It lies 11 feet above the lake, having
been raised to that grade entirely by the energy of its citizens, its
site having originally been on a dead level with the water of the
lake.
The city extends north and south along the lake about ten miles,
and westward on the prairie from the lake five or six miles, embrac-
ino- an area of over 10 square miles. It is divided by the river
into three distinct parts, known as the Korth, West and South
Divisions, or "Sides," by which they are popularly and commonly
known. These are connected by 33 bridges and two tunnels.
The first settlement of Chicago was made in 1801, during which
year Fort Dearborn was built. At the close of 1830 Chicago con-
tained 12 houses, with a population of about 100. The town was
organized in 1833, and incorporated as a city in 1837. The first
frame building was erected in 1832, and the first brick house in
1833. The first vessel entered the harbor June 11, 1831; and at
the first oflicial census, taken July 1, 1837, the entire population
was found to be 4,170. In 1850 the population had increased to
29,963; in 1860, to 112,172; in 1870, 298,977; and, according to
the customary mode of reckoning from the number of names in
the City Directory, the population of 1879 is over 500,000.
Nicholas Perrot, a Frenchman, was the first white man to visit
the site of Chicago. This he did in 1671, at the instigation of M.
Toulon, Governor of Canada. He was sent to invite the Western
Indians to a convention at Green Bay. It has been often remarked
that the first white man who became a resident of Chicago was a
negro. His name was Jean Baptiste Pointe au Sable, a mulatto from
the West Indies. He settled there in 1796 and built a rude cabin on
the north bank of the main river, and laid claim to a tract of land
surrounding it. He disappeared from the scene, and his claim was
"jumped" by a Frenchman named Le Mai, who commenced trad-
ing with the Indians. A few years later he sold out to John Kin-
zie, who was then an Indian trader in the country about St.
Joseph, Mich., and agent for the American Fur Company, which
had traded at Chicago with the Indians for some time; and this
172 niSTOKY OF ILLINOIS.
fact liad, probably more tlian any other, to do with the determina-
tion of the Government to establish a fort there. The Indians
were growing numerous in that region, being attracted by the
facilities for selling their wares, as well as being pressed nortliward
by the tide of emigration setting in from the south. It was judged
necessary to have some force near that point to keep them in
check, as well as to protect the trading interests. Mr. Kinzie
moved his family there the same year Fort Dearborn was built^
and converted the Jean Baptiste cabin into a tasteful dwelling.
For about eight years things moved along smoothly. The garri-
son was quiet, and the traders prosperous. Then the United States
became involved in trouble with Great Britain. The Indians took
the war-path long before the declaration of hostilities between the
civilized nations, committing great depredations, the most atro-
cious of which was the massacre of Fort Dearborn, an account of
which may be found in this volume under the heading of " The
War of 1812."
THE GREAT FIKE.
From the year 1840 the onward march of the city of Chicago
to the date of the great fire is well known. To recount its marvel-
ous growth in population, wealth, internal resources and improve-
ments and everything else that goes to make up a mighty city,
would consume more space than we could devote, however interest-
ing it might be. Its progress astonished the world', and its citizens
stood almost appalled at the work of their own hands. She was
happy, prosperous and great when time brought that terrible Octo-
ber night (Oct. 9, 1871) and with it the great fire, memorable as
the greatest fire ever occurring on earth. The sensation conveyed
to the spectator of this unparalleled event, either through the eye,
the ear, or other senses or sympathies, cannot be adequately
described, and any attempt to do it but shows the poverty of lan-
guage. As a spectacle it was beyond doubt the grandest as well as
the most appalling ever oflfered to mortal eyes. From any
elevated standpoint the appearance was that of a vast ocean of
flame, sweeping in mile-long billows and breakers over the doomed
city.
Added to the spectacular elements of the conflagration — the
intense and lurid light, the sea of red and black, and the spires and
pyramids of flame shooting into the heavens — was its constant and
SECTIONAL VIEW OF LA SALLE STREET TUNNEL, CHICAGO.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
173
terrible roar, drowning even the voices of tlie shrieking multitude;
and ever and anon — for a while as often as every half-minute —
resounded far aiid wide the rapid detonations of explosions, or fall-
ino- walls. In short, all sights and sounds which terrify the weak
and unnerve the strong abounded. But they were only the accom-
paniment which the orchestra of nature were furnishing to the
terrible tragedy there being enacted.
The total area burned over, including streets, was three and a
third square miles. The number of buildings destroyed was
17,450 ; persons rendered homeless, 98,500 ; persons killed, about
200. Not including depreciation of real estate, or loss of business,
it is estimated that the total loss occasioned by the fire was
$190,000,000, of which but $44,000,000 was recovered on insur-
ance. The business of the city was interrupted but a short time;
and in a year after the fire a large part of the burned district was
rebuilt, and at present there is scarcely a trace of the terrible dis-
aster, save in the improved character of the new buildings over
those destroyed, and the general better appearance of the city —
now the finest, in an architectural sense, in the world.
One of the features of this great city worthy of mention is the
Exposition, held annually. The smouldering ruin's were yet smok-
ing when the Exposition Building was erected, only ninety days
being consumed in its construction. The accompanying engrav-
ing of the building, the main part of which is 1,000 feet long,
will give an idea of its magnitude.
COMMERCE OF CHICAGO.
The trade of Chicago is co-extensive with the world. Every-
where, in every country and in every port, the trade- marks of her
merchants are seen. Everywhere, Chicago stands prominently
identified with the commerce of the continent. A few years ago,
grain was carted to the place in wagons; now more than 10,000
miles of railroad, with thousands of trains heavily ladened with the
products of the land center there. The cash value of the produce
handled during the year 1S7S was $220,000,000, and its aggregate
weight was 7,000,000 tons, or would make 700,000 car loads.
Divided into trains, it would make 28,000 long, heavily ladened
freight trains, wending their way from all parts of the United States
toward our great metropolis. These trains, arranged in one con-
174 ^ HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
tinuons line, would stretch from London across tlie broad Atlantic
to New York and on across our continent to San Francisco.
In regard to the grain, lumber and stock trade, Chicago has sur-
passed all rivals, and, indeed, not only is without a peer but excels
any three or four cities in the world in these branches. Of grain,
the vast quantity of 134,851,193 bushels was received during the
year 1878. This was about two-fifths more than ever received
before in one year. It took 13,000 long freight trains to carry it
from the fields of the Northwest to Chicago. This would make a
continuous train that would reach across the continent from New
York to San Francisco. Speaking more in detail, we have of the
various cereals received during the year, 62,783,577 bushels of corn,
29,901,220 bushels of wheat, 18,251,529 bushels of oats, 133,981,104
pounds of seed. The last item alone would fill about 7,000 freight
cars.
The lumber received during the year 1878 was, 1,171,364,000 feet,
exceeded only in 1872, the year after the great fire. This vast
amount of lumber would require 195,000 freight cars to transport
it. It would build a fence, four boards high, four and one-lialf
times around the globe.
In the stock trade for the year 1878, the figures assume propor-
tions almost incredible. They are, however, from reliable and
trustworthy sources, and must be accepted as authentic. There
were received during the year, 6,339,656 hogs, being 2,000,000 more
than ever received before in one year. It required 129,916 stock
cars to transport this vast number of hogs from the farms of the
West and Northwest to the stock yards of Chicago, These hogs
arranged in single file, would form a connecting link between
Chicago and Pekin, China.
Of the large number of hogs received, five millions of them were
slaughtered in Chicago. The aggregate amount of product manu-
factured from these hogs was 918,000,000 pounds. The capacity of
the houses engaged in slaughtering operations in Chicago is 60,000
hogs daily. The number of liands employed in these houses is
from 6,000 to 8,000. Tlie number of packages required in which
to market the year's product is enormously large, aggregating 500,-
000 barrels, 800,000 tierces and 650,000 boxes.
There lias been within the stock yards of the city, during the
year 1878, 1,036,066 cattle. These were gathered from the plains
HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 175
of Oregon, Wyoming and Utah, and the grazing regions of Texas,
as well as from all the Southern, Western and Northwestern States
and Territories and from the East as far as Ohio. If these cattle
were driven from Chicago southward, in single file, through the
United States, Mexico, and the Central American States into South
America, the foremost could graze on the plains of Brazil, ere the
last one had passed the limits of the great city.
Not only does Chicago attract to its great market the products of
a continent, but from it is distributed throughout the world manu-
factured goods. Every vessel and every train headed toward that
city are heavily ladened with the crude products of the farm, of the
forests, or of the bowels of the earth, and every ship that leaves her
docks and every train that flies from her limits are filled with
manufactured articles. These goods not only find their way all
over our own country but into Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa,
South America, Mexico, and the Islands of the sea; indeed, every
nook and corner of the globe, where there is a demand for her
goods, her merchants are ready to supply.
The wholesale trade for the year 1ST8 reached enormous fiirures,
aggregating $280,000,000. Divided among the leading lines, we
find there were sold of dry goods, $95,000,000 worth. The trade in
groceries amounted to $66,000,000; hardware, $20,000,000; boots
and shoes, $24,000,000; clothing, $1T,000,000; carpets, $8,000,000;
millinery, $7,000,000; hats and caps, $6,000,000; leather, $8,000,-
000; drugs, $6,000,000; jewelry, $4,500,000; musical instruments,
$2,300,000. Chicago sold over $5,000,000 worth of fruit during
the year, and for the same time her fish trade amounted to $1,400,-
000, and her oyster trade $4,500,000. The candy and other con-
fectionery trade amounted to $1,534,900. This would fill all the
Christmas stockings in the United States.
In 1852, the commerce of the city reached the hopeful sum of
$20,000,000; since then, the annual sales of one firm amount to
that much. In 1870, it reached $400,000,000, and in 1878 it had
grown so i-apidh' that the trade of the city amounted during that
year to $650,000,000. Her manufacturing interests hav^e likewise
grown. In 1878, her manufactories employed in the neighborhood
of 75,000 operators. The products mannfactured during the 3^ear
were valued at $230,000,000. In reviewing the shi])ping interests of
Chicago, we find it ecpially enormous. So considerable, indeed, is the
176 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
commercial navy of Chicago, that in the seasons of navigation, one
vessel sails every nine minutes during the business hours; add to
this the canal-boats that leave, one every five minutes during the
same time, and you will see something of the magnitude of her
shipping. More vessels arrive and depart from this port during the
season than enter or leave any other port in the world.
In 1831, the mail system was condensed into a half-breed, who
went on foot to Niles, Mich., once in two weeks, and brought back
what papers and news he could find. As late as 1846, there was
often but one mail a week. A post-ofiice was established in
Chicago in 1833, and the postmaster nailed up old boot legs upon
one side of his shop to serve as boxes. It has since grown to be
the largest receiving office in the United States.
In lSl::t, the (puigmires in the streets were first pontooned by
plank roads. The wooden-block pavement appeared in 1857. In
1840, water was delivered by peddlers, in carts or by hand. Then
a twenty -five horse power engine pushed it through hollow or bored
logs along the streets till 1854, when it was introduced into the
houses by new works. The first fire-engine was used in 1835, and
the first steam fire-engine in 1859. Gas was utilized for lighting
the city in 1850. The Young Men's Christian Association was
oro-anized in 1858. Street cars commenced running in 1854. The
Museum was opened in 1863. The alarm telegraph adopted in
1864. The opera-house built in 1865. The telephone introduced
in 1878.
One of the most thoroughly interesting engineering exploits of
the city is the tunnels and water-works system, the grandest and
most unique of any in the world; and the closest analysis fails to
detect any impurities in the water furnished. The first tunnel is
five feet two inches in diameter and two miles long, and can deliver
50,000,000 gallons per day. The second tunnel is seven feet in
diameter and six miles long, running four miles under the city, and
can deliver 100,000,000 gallons per day. This water is distributed
through 410 miles of water mains.
Chicao-o river is tunneled for the passage of pedestrians and vehi-
cles from the South to the West and North divisions.
There is no grand scenery about Chicago except the two seas, one
of water, the other of prairie. Kevertheless, there is a spirit about
it, a push, a breadth, a power, that soon makes it a place never to
m-
a
o
s
f: //y^W^'
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 177
be forsaken. Chicago is in the field ahnost alone, to handle the
wealth of one-fourth of the territory of this great republic. The
Atlantic sea-coast divides its margins between Portland, Boston,
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Savannah, but Chicago has
a dozen empires casting their treasures into her lap. On a bed of
coal that can run all the macliinery of the world for 500 centuries;
in a garden that can feed the race by the thousand years; at the
head of the lakes tliat give lier a temperature as a summer resort
equaled by no great city in the land; with a climate that insures
the health of her citizens; surrounded by all the great deposits of
natural wealth in mines and forests and herds, Chicago is the
wonder of to-day, and will be the city of the future.
STATES OF THE UNION.
THEIR SETTLEMENT, ORIGIN OF NAME AND MEANING, COGNOMEN, MOT-
TOES, ADMISSION INTO THE UNION, POPULATION, AREA, NUMBER OF
SOLDIERS FURNISHED DURING THE REBELLION, NUMBER OF REPRE-
SENTATIVES IN CONGRESS, PRESENT GOVERNORS, ETC., ETC., ETC.
Alabama. — This State was first explored by LaSalle in 1684, and
settled by the French at Mobile in 1711, and admitted as a State in
1817. Its name is Indian, and means " Here we rest." Has no
motto. Population in 1860,964,201; in 1870,906,992. Furnished
2,576 soldiers for the Union army. Area 50,722 square miles.
Montgomery is the capital. Has 8 Representatives and 10 Presi-
dential electors. Rufus W. Cobb is Governor; salary, $3,000;
politics, Democratic. Length of term, 2 years.
Arkansas — Became a State in 1836. Population in 1860, 435,-
450; in 1870,484,471. Area 52,198 square miles. Little Rock,
capital. Its motto is Regnant Populi — " The people rule." It has
the Indian name of its principal river. Is called the "Bear State."
Furnished 8,289 soldiers. She is entitled to 4 members in Congress,
and 6 electoral votes. Governor, W. R. Miller, Democrat; salary,
$3,500 ; term, 2 years.
California — Has a Greek motto, E^ireJca, which means " I have
found it." It derived its name from the bay forming the peninsula
of Lower California, and was first applied by Cortez. It was first
visited by the Spaniards in 1542, and by the celebrated Enghsh
178 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
navigator, Sir Francis Drake, in 1578. In 1846 Fremont took
possession of it, defeating the Mexicans, in the name of the United
States, and it was admitted as a State in 1850. Its gold mines
from 1868 to 1878 produced over $800,000,000. Area 188,982 square
miles. Population in 1860, 379,994. In 1870, 560,247. She gave
to defend the Union 15,225 soldiers. Sacramento is the capital.
Has 4 Representatives in Congress. Is entitled to 6 Presidential
electors. Present Governor is William Irwin, a Democrat; term,
4 years ; salary, $6,000,
Colorado — Contains 106,475 square miles, and had a population
in 1860 of 34,277, and in 1870, 39,864. She furnished 4,903
soldiers. "Was admitted as a State in 1876. It has a Latin motto,
Nil sine JSfumine, which means, " Nothing can be done without
divine aid." It was named from its river. Denver is the capital.
lias 1 member in Congress, and 3 electors, T. W. Pitkin is Gov-
ernor; salary, $3,000; term, 2 years; politics, Pepublican.
Connecticut — Qui transtulit sustinet, " He who brought us over
sustains us," is her motto. It was named from the Indian Quon-
ch-ta-Cut, signifying "Long River." It is called the "Nutmeg
State." Area 4,674 square miles. Population 1860, 460,147; in
1870, 537,454. Gave to the Union army 55,755 soldiers, Hart-
ford is the capital. Has 4 Representatives in Congress, and is
entitled to 6 Presidential electors. Salary of Governor $2,000;
term, 2 years.
Delaware. — " Liberty and Independence," is the motto of this
State. It was named after Lord De La Ware, an English states-
man, and is called, " The Blue Hen," and the " Diamond State." It
was first settled by the Swedes in 1638. It was one of the original
thirteen States. Has an area of 2,120 square miles. Population in
1860, 112,216; in 1870, 125,015. She sent to the front to defend
the Union, 12,265 soldiers. Dover is the caj^ital. B[as but 1 mem-
ber in Congress; entitled to 3 Presidential electors. John W.
Hall, Democrat, is Governor; salary, $2,000; term, 2 years.
Florida — Was discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1512, on Easter
Sunday, called by the Spaniards, Pascua Florida, which, with the
variety and beauty of the flowers at this early season caused him to
name it Florida — which means in Spanish, flowery. Its motto is,
" In God we trust." It was admitted into the Union in 1845. It has
an area of 59,268 square miles. Population in 1860, 140,424; in
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 179
1870, 187,756. Its capital is Tallahassee. Has 2 members in Con-
gress. Has 4 Presidential electors. George F. Drew, Democrat,
Governor; term, 4 years; salary, $3,500.
Georgia — Owes its name to George II., of England, who first
established a colony there in 1732. Its motto is, " Wisdom, justice
and moderation." It was one of the original States. Population
in 1860, 1,057,286; 1870, 1,184,109. Capital, Atlanta. Area 58,-
000 square miles. Has 9 Eepresentatives in Congress, and 11
Presidential electors. Her Governor is A. H. Colquitt, Democrat;
term, 4 years; salary, $4,000.
Illinois — Motto, " State Sovereignty, National Union." Name
derived from the Indian word, Illini, meaning, superior men. It
is called the ''Prairie State," and its inhabitants, "Suckers."
Was first explored by the French in 1673, and admitted into the
Union in 1818. Area 55,410 square miles. Population, in 1860^
1,711,951; in 1870, 2,539,871. She sent to the front to defend the
Union, 258,162 soldiers. Capital, Springfield Has 19 members in
Congress, and 21 Presidential electors. Shelby M. Cullom, Kepnb.
lican, is Governor; elected for 4 years; salary, $6,000.
Indiana — Is called " Hoosier State." Was explored in 1682,
and admitted as a State in 1816. Its name was suggested by its
numerous Indian population. Area 33,809 square miles. Popu-
lation in 1860, 1,350,428; in 1870, 1,680,637. She put into the
Federal army, 194,363 men. Capital, Indianapolis. Has 13 mem-
bers in Congress, and 15 Presidential electors. J.D.Williams,
Governor, Democrat; salary, $3,000; term, 4 year.
Iowa — Is an Indian name and means "This is the land." Its
motto is, "Our liberties we prize, our rights we will maintain."
It is called the " Hawk Eye State." It was first visited by
Marquette and Joliet in 1673; settled by New Englanders in
1833, and admitted into the Union in 1846. Des Moines is the
capital. It has an area of 55,045, and a population in 1860 of 674.913,
and in 1870 of 1,191,802. She sent to defend the Government,
75,793 soldiers. Has 9 members in Congress; 11 Presidential
electors. John H. Gear, Kepublican, is Governor; salary, $2,500;
term, 2years.
Kansas — Was admitted into the Union in 1861, making the
thirty-fourth State. Its motto is Ad astra per aspera^ " To the
stars through difiiculties." Its name means, " Smoky water," and
180 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
is derived from one of her rivers. Area 78,841 square miles.
Population in 1860, 107,209; in 1870 was 362,812. She furnished
20,095 soldiers. Capital is Topeka. Has 3 Representatives in Con-
gress, and 5 Presidential electors. John P. St. John, Governor;
politics, Republican; salary, $3,000; terra, 2 years.
Kentucky — Is the Indian name for "At the head of the rivers."
Its motto is, " United we stand, divided we fall," The sobriquet
of "dark and bloody ground " is applied to this State. It was first
settled in 1769, and admitted in 1792 as the fifteenth State. Area
37,680. Population in 1860, 1,155,684; in 1870, 1,321,000. She
put into the Federal army 75,285 soldiers. Capital, Frankfort.
Has 10 members in Congress; 12 Electors. J. B. McCreary,
Democrat, is Governor; salary, $5,000 ; term, 4 years.
Louisiana — Was called after Louis XIY., who at one time
owned that section of the country. Its motto is " Union and Con-
fidence." It is called "The Creole State." It was visited by La
Salle in 1684, and admitted into the Union in 1812, making the
eighteenth State. Population in 1860,708,002; in 1870, 732,731.
Area 46,431 square miles. She put into the Federal army 5,224
soldiers. Capital, Kew Orleans. Has 6 Representatives and 8
Electors. F. T. Nichols, Governor, Democrat; salary, $8,000;
term, 4 years.
Maine. — This State was called after the province of Maine in
France, in compliment of Queen Henrietta of England, who owned
that province. Its motto is Dirigo^ meaning " I direct." It is
called "The Pine Tree State." It was settled by the English in
1625. It was admitted as a State in 1820. Area 31,766 square
miles. Population in 1860, 628,279; in 1870, 626,463; 69,738 sol-
diers v/ent from this State. Has 5 members in Congress, and 7
Electors. Selden Conner, Republican, Governor; term, 1 year;
salary, $2,500.
Maryland — Was named after Henrietta Maria, Queen of
Charles I. of England. It has a Latin motto, Crecite et Tnultiplica-
mini, meaning " Increase and Multiply." It was settled in 1634,
and was one of the original thirteen States. It has an area of 11,-
124 square miles. Population in 1860 was 687,049; in 1870, 780,-
806. This State furnished 46,053 soldiers. Capital, Annapolis.
Has 6 Representatives, and 8 Presidential electors. J. H. Carroll,
Democrat, Governor; salary, $4, 500 ; term, 4 years.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 181
Massachusetts — Is the Indian for " The country around the great
hills." It is called the "Bay State," from its numerous bays. Its
motto is E use petit placidam sub lihertatc quietem, " By the sword
she seeks placid rest in liberty." It was settled in 1620 at Plymouth
by English Puritans. It was one of the original thirteen States,
and was the first to take up arms against the English during the
Revolution. Area 7,800 square miles. Population in 1860, 1,231,-
066; in 18T0, 1,457,351. She gave to the Union army 146,467 sol-
diers. Boston is the capital. Has 11 Representatives in Con-
gress, and 13 Presidential electors. Thomas Talbot, Republican, is
Governor; salary, $5,000; terra, 1 year.
Michigan — Latin motto, Luehor, and Si qucEvis yeninsulariL
amainam circumspice, '-'■ 1 will defend" — " If you seek a pleasant
peninsula, look around you." The name is a contraction of two
Indian words meaning " Great Lake." It was early explored by
Jesuit missionaries, and in 1837 was admitted into the Union. It
is known as the " Wolverine State." It contains 56,243 square
miles. In 18G0 it had a population of 749,173; in 1870, 1,184,059.
She furnished 88,111 soldiers. Capital, Lansing. Has 9 Repre-
sentatives and 11 Presidential electors. C. M. Croswell is Gov-
ernor; politics, Republican; salary, $1,000; term, 2 years.
Minnesota — Is an Indian name, meaning " Cloudy Water." It
has a French motto, VE toils du Word — " The Star of the North."
It was visited in 1680 by La Salle, settled in 1846, and admitted
into the Union in 1858. It contains 83,531 square miles. In 1860
had a population of 172,023; in 1870, 439,511. She gave to the
Union army 24-,002 soldiers. St. Paul is the capital. Has 3 mem-
bers in Congress, 5 Presidential electors. Governor, J. S. Pills-
bury, Republican; salary, $3,000; term, 2 years.
Mississipjyi — Is an Indian name, meaning "Long River," and the
State is named from the " Father of Waters." The State was first
explored by De Sota in 1541; settled by the French at Natchez in
1716, and was admitted into the Union in 1817. It has an area of
47,156 square miles. Population in 1860, 791,305; in 1870,827,-
922. She gave to suppress the Rebellion 545 soldiers. Jackson is
the capital. lias 6 representatives in Congress, and 8 Presidential
electors. J. M. Stone is Governor, Democrat; salary, $4,000;
terra, 4 years.
Missouri — Is derived from the Indian word " muddy," which
182 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
more properly applies to the river that flows through it. Its motto
is Salus popull suprema lex esto, " Let the welfare of the people
be the supreme law." The State was first settled by the French
near JelFerson City in 1719, and in 1S21 was admitted into the
Union. It has an area of 67,380 square miles, equal to 43,123,200
acres. It had a population in 1860 of 1,182,012; in 1870, 1,721,-
000. She gave to defend the Union 108,162 soldiers. Capital,
Jefierson City. Its inhabitants are known by the offensive cogno-
man of ^' Pukes." Has 13 representatives in Congress, and 15
Presidential electors. J. S. Phelps is Governor; politics. Demo-
cratic; salary, $5,000; term, 4 years.
Nebraska— Rsi.^ f jr its motto, " Equality before the law." Its
name is derived from one of its rivers, meaning " broad and shal-
low, or low." It was admitted into the Union in 1367. Its capital
is Lincoln. It had a population in 1860 of 28,841, and in 1870,
123,993, and in 1875,246,280. It has an area of 75,995 square
miles. She furnished to defend the Union 3,157 soldiers. Has but
1 Kepresentative and 3 Presidential electors. A. Nance, Kepub-
lican, is Governor; salary, $2,500; term, 2 years.
Nevada — " The Snowy Land " derived its name from the Span-
ish. Its motto is Latin, Volens et potens, and means " willing
and able." It was settled in 1850, and admitted into the Union in
1864. Capital, Carson City. Its population in 1860 was 6,857;
in 1870 it was 42,491. It has an area of 112,000 square miles.
She furnished 1,080 soldiers to suppress the Eebellion. Has 1 Rep-
resentative and 3 Electors. Governor, J. H. Kinkhead, Eepublican;
salary, $6,000 ; term, 4 years.
Neio Hamjyshire — Was first settled at Dover by the English in
1623. Was one of the original States. Has no motto. It is
named from Hampshire county in England. It also bears the
name of " The Old Granite State." It has an area of 9,280 miles,
which equals 9,239,200 acres. It had a population in 1860 of 326,-
073, and in 1870 of 318,300. She increased the Union army with
33,913 soldiers. Concord is the capital. Has 3 Eepresentatives
and 5 Presidential electors. N. Head, Eepublican, Governor;
salary, $1,000; term, 1 year.
New Jersey — Was named in honor of the Island of Jersey in the
British channel. Its motto is " Liberty and Independence." It was
first settled at Bergen by the Swedes in 1624. It is one of the orig-
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 1S3
inal thirteen States. It has an area of 8,320 square miles, or 5,324,-
800 acres. Population in 1860 was 672,035 ; in 1870 it was 906,096.
She put into the Federal army 75,315 soldiers. Capital, Trenton.
Has 7 Representatives and 9 Presidential electors. Governor,
George B. McClelland, Democrat; salary, $5,000; term, 3 years.
New York. — The " Empire State " was named by the Duke of
York, afterward King James II. of England. It has a Latin motto,
Excelsior, which means " Still Higher." It was first settled by the
Dutch in 161-i at Manhattan. It has an area of 47,000 square
miles, or 30,080,000 acres. The population in 1860 was 3,880,735;
in 1870 it was 4,332,759. It is one of the original thirteen States.
Capital is Albany. It gave to defend our Government 445,959
men. Has 33 members in Congress, and 35 Presidential electors.
Governor, L. Robinson, Democrat; salary, $10,000; term, 3 years.
North Carolina — Was named after Charles IX., King of France.
It is called '' The Old North," or " The Turpentine State." It was
first visited in 1524 by a Florentine navigator, sent out by Francis
I., King of France. It was settled at Albemarle in 1663. It was
one of the original thirteen States. It has an area of 50,704 squai'e
miles, equal to 32,450,560 acres. It had in 1860 a population of
992,622, and In 1870, 1,071,361. Raleigh is the capital. She
furnished 3,156 soldiers to put down the Rebellion. Has 8 mem-
bers in Congress, and is entitled to 10 Presidential electors. Z. B.
Yance, Democrat, is Governor; salary, $5,000; term, 4 years.
Ohio — Took its name from the river on its Southern boundary,
and means " Beautiful." Its motto is 1 inperium in Iinperio —
''An Empire in an Empire." It was first permanently settled in
1788 at Marietta by New Englanders. It was admitted as a State
in 1803. Its capital is Columbus. It contains 39,964 square
miles, or 25,576,960 acres. Population in 1860, 2,339,511; in 1870
it had 2,665,260. She sent to the front during the Rebellion 310,-
654 soldiers. Has 20 Representatives, and 22 Presidential electors.
Governor, R. M. Bishop, Democrat; salary, $4,000; term, 2 years.
Oregon — Owes its Indian name to its principal river. Its motto
is Alis volat j)ropriis — " She flics with her own wings." It was
first visited by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century. It was set-
tled by the English in 1813, and admitted into the Union in 1859.
Its capital is Salem. It has an area of 95,274 square miles, equal
to 60,975,360 acres. It had in 1860 a population of 52,465; in
184: niSTOKY OF ILLINOIS,
1870, 90,922. She furnished 1,810 soldiers. She is entitled to 1
member in Congress, and 3 Presidential electors. W. W. Thayer,
Republican, is Governor; salary, $1,500 ; term, 4 years.
Pennsylvania. — This is the "Keystone State," and means "Penn's
Woods," and was so called after "William Penn, its original owner.
Its motto is, " Yirtue, liberty and independence." A colony was
established by Penn in 1682. The State was one of the original
thirteen. It has an area of 46,000 square miles, equaling 29,440,-
000 acres. It had in 1860 a population of 2,906,215; and in 1870,
3,515,993. She gave to suppress the Rebellion, 338,155. Harris-
burg is the capital. Has 27 Representatives and 29 electors. H.
M.Hoyt, is Governor; salary, $10,000; politics, Republican; term
of office, 3 years.
Rhode Island. — This, the smallest of the States, owes its name to
the Island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean, which domain it is said
to greatly resemble. Its motto is " Hope," and it is familiarly
called, "Little Rhody." It was settled by Roger Williams in 1636.
It was one of the original thirteen States. It has an area of 1,306
square miles, or 835,840 acres. Its population in 1860 numbered
174,620; in 1870, 217,356. She gave to defend the Union, 23,248.
Its capitals are Providence and Newport. Has 2 Representatives,
and 4 Presidential electors. C. Vanzandt is Governor; politics,
Republican; salary, $1,000; term, 1 year.
South Carolina. — The Palmetto State wears the Latin name of
Charles IX., of France (Carolus). Its motto is Latin, Animis
o^ih usque par ati, " Ready in will and deed." The first permanent
settlement was made at Port Royal in 1670, where the French
Huguenots had failed three-quarters of a century before to found a
settlement. It is one of the original thirteen States. Its capital is
Columbia. It has an area of 29,385 square miles, or 18,806,400
acres, with a population in 1860 of 703,708; in 1870, 728,000.
Has 5 Representatives in Congress, and is entitled to 7 Presidential
electors. Salary of Governor, $3,500; term, 2 years.
Tennessee— l^ the Indian name for the " River of the Bend," i. e,
the Mississippi, which forms its western boundary. She is called
"The Big Bend State." Her motto is, " Agriculture, Commerce."
It was settled in 1757, and admitted into the Union in 1796, mak-
ing the sixteenth State, or the third admitted after the Revolution-
ary War— Vermont being the first, and Kentucky the second. It
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 185
has an area of 45,600 sqiuue miles, or 29,184,000 acres. In 1860
its population numbered 1,109,801, and in 1870, 1,257,983 She
furnished 31,092 soldiers to suppress the Rebellion. Nashville is
the capital. Has 10 Representatives, and 12 Presidential electors.
Governor, A. S. Marks, Democrat; salary, $4,000; term, 2 years.
Texas — Is the American word for the Mexican name by which
all that section of the country was known before it was ceded to the
United States. It is known as " The Lone Star State." The first set-
tlement was made by LaSalle in 1685. After the independence of
Mexico in 1822, it remained a Mexican Province until 1836, when
it gained its independence, and in 1845 was admitted into the
Union. It has an area of 237,504 square miles, equal to 152,002,-
560 acres. Its population in 1860 was 604,215; in 1870, 818,579.
She gave to put down the Rebelion 1,965 soldiers. Capital, Austin.
Has 6 Representatives, and 8 Presidential electors. Governor, O.
M. Roberts, Democrat; salary, $5,000; term, 2 years.
Yermont — Bears the French name of her mountains Verde Mont
"Green Mountains." Its motto is "Freedom and Unity." It
was settled in 1731, and admitted into the Union in 1791. Area
10,212 square miles. Population in 1860, 315,098 ; in 1870, 330,551-
She gave to defend the Government, 33,272 soldiers. Capital, Mont-
pelier. Has 3 Representatives, and 5 electors. Governor, H. Fair-
banks, Republican; term, 2 years; salary, $1,000.
Virginia. — The Old Dominion, as this State is called, is the
oldest of the States. It was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth,
the " Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made his
first attempt to colonize that region. Its motto is Sic semper
tyrannis, " So always with tyrants." It was first settled at James-
town, in 1607, by the English, being the first settlement in the
United States. It is one of original thirteen States, and had before
its division in 1862, 61,352 square miles, but at present contains
but 38,352 square miles, equal to 24,545,280 acres. The population
in 1860 amounted to 1,596,318, and in 1870 it was 1,224,830. Rich-
mond is the capital. Has 9 Representatives, and 11 electors. Gov-
ernor, F. W. M. Halliday, Democrat; salary, $5,500; term, 4 years.
West Virginia. — Motto, 31 ojitani semper liberi, " Mountaineers
are always free." This is the only State ever formed, under the
Constitution, by the division of an organized State. This was done
in 1862, and in 1863 was admitted into the Union. It has an area of
186
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
23,000 square miles, or 14,720,000 acres. The population in 1860
was 376,000; in 1870 it numbered 445,616. She furnished 32,003.
Capital, Wheeling. Has 3 Representatives in Congress, and is
entitled to 5 Presidential electors. The Governor is H. M. Mathews,
Democrat; term, 4 years; salary, $2,700.
\Visco7isi7i — Is an Indian name, and means "Wild-rushing
channel." Its motto, Clvitatas successit barbarum^ " The civilized
man succeeds the barbarous." It is called " The Badger State."
The State was visited by the French explorers in 1665, and a settle-
ment was made in 1669 at Green Bay, It was admitted into the
Union in 1848. It has an area of 52,924 square miles, equal to
34,511,360 acres. In 1860 its population numbered 775,881; in
1870, 1,055,167. Madison is the capital. She furnished for the
Union army 91,021 soldiers. Has 8 members in Congress, and is
entitled to 10 Presidential electors. The Governor is W. E. Smith;
politics, Republican; salary, $5,000; term, 2 years.
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HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
LA SALLE's explorations. — FIRST ATTEMPT TO SETTLE ILLINOIS.
TO TAZEWELL county belongs the honor of having within
her boundary the soil first turned by white men in the great
State of Illinois. To it we must also look to find the scene of the
first attempt made by Europeans to settle our grand and noble State.
On the third day of next January (1880), it will have been just two
hundred vears since LaSalle with his little band of Frenchmen
stepped from their canoes, which rested upon the placid waters of
the Illinois, upon the shore now embraced within the limits of this
county. This little fleet of canoes contained in all thirty-three
daring, resolute explorers, and were led by the indomitable will,
genius and enthusiasm of the most noted of French explorers, Rob-
ert Cavalier de LaSalle. This famous explorer had conceived the
plan of opening water communication between the Gulf of St. Law-
rence and the Gulf of Mexico. It was this truly grand and com-
prehensive purpose that seems to have animated him in all his
wonderful achievements and the matchless difficulties and hardships
he encountered.
It was in the consummation of this idea of LaSalle's that brought
the little band down the beautiful stream named in honor of the
Illinois Indians who dwelt upon its banks, and landed them on its
eastern shore. Seven years previous Jolict and Marquette, the first
Europeans to discover the Illinois, had wended their way up to its
course on their return from their famous voyage down the Missis-
13
190 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
sippi. Being truly a leader, foremost in every enterprise, every
thought, every move, we do not doubt that the dauntless La-
Salle himself was the first to alight upon the shore, — was the first
white man to set foot upon the soil of Tazewell county. Thus it
will be seen that here is a spot truly historic, — a place noted for
being the first in one of the greatest States of the Union where
civilized man made his first attempt to establish himself.
FORT CREVECCEUR BUILT.
Through the difficulties encountered with the Indians, and the
machinations of his own men, LaSalle was greatly retarded on his
journey southward. Winter had overtaken him, and to protect him-
self and followers, and to provide for them comfortable quarters in
which to pass that dreary season, he resolved to erect a fort. His
good judgment led him to a spot upon the eastern bank of the Illi-
nois, the site of the present Wesley City, and upon the southeast
quarter of section one, Pekin township. Here upon the extremity
of a ridge, protected on either side by deep ravines, and extending
to within two huudred yards of the water's edge, he built a fort
which he christened Fort Crevecoeur. The moaning of the French
name is heart-breaker. Why LaSalle should have chosen so sad a
name we know not, unless, perchance, by a prophetic vision he
glanced into the future and foresaw the sad ending of his enterprise.
Or, it may have been thus named as indicative of the misfortunes
they suffered here, or from its having been the site of a bloody bat-
tle between the brutal Iroquois and Illinois Indians.
To fortify the bluff thus selected, the point of which at the time
was about one hundred yards further from the river than it now is,
his first move was to dig a ditch behind and connect the two ravines.
He thus severed the point upon which the fort was to be constructed,
which contains about eighty acres, from all connection with any land
of the same altitude. This bluif rises to the height of from 160 to
180 feet, and to increase the altitude of its different sides, which
nature has made steep and rugged, an embankment encircling its
outer line was thrown up. To make the fortress still more impregna-
ble a palisade of heavy oak timber, twenty-five feet in height, ex-
tending around the entire fortification, was constructed. This being
completed, buildings for the accommodation of the men were erected
within the enclosure, and the little band went into snug winter
quarters.
HISTORY OP TAZEWELL COUNTY. 191
The fort was admirably located, and commanded fnll view of the
river for miles above and below ; and its high, perpendicular sides,
heavily palisaded, could not be easily ascended by the foe. Thus
advanta^eouslv situated a small garrison could have defended it from
the combined attack of all the neighboring Indians, at least until
the supply of provisions failed.
THE JESUIT PRIESTS.
Fortunately, however, the fort was never used to protect the men
from Indian hostility, as they remained peaceable and friendly with
the garrison. Indeed, it was used more as a sanctuary than a fort-
ress of military power. Fathers Hennepin and Membre and old
Father Ribourde labored daily with the neighboring Indians. But
even the zeal and earnestness displayed by those early Jesuit mis-
sionaries in spiritual matters failed to make any perceptible impres-
sion upon the filthy savages. Hennepin preached twice every Sun-
day, chanted vespers, and regretted that the want of wine prevented
the celebration of mass.
A VESSEL COMMENCED.
The fort having been fully completed, LaSalle set about to build a
sailing vessel with Avhich to descend the Mississippi to the Gulf of
Mexico. Thus we see that the first timber felled by the axe of civ-
ilization, the first mechanical labor performed, and not only the
first fort built but the first vessel put upon the stocks in Illinois,
were all done in Tazewell county.
HENNEPIN SENT ON HIS FAMOUS VOYAGE.
In the mean time LaSalle sent Hennepin, with Accau and Du
Gay, on his famous voyage of the discovery of the upper Mississippi.
They left the fort on the last day of February. After a year's sojourn
among the Indians of that region Hennepin returned to Europe,
where the account of his exploits and the description of this beauti-
ful country was published in several languages. He subsequently,
however, attempted to rob LaSalle of his well-earned and deserved
honor by giving a false account of his discoveries, in consequence of
which much of his writings are discredited.
LEGENDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
LaSalle could not obtain any satisfactory information from the
Indians in regard to the Mississippi. All his inquiries had elicited
192 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
only the information that the Father of Waters was inhabited by huge
goblins, and an attempt to sail upon its boisterous waves w^as
destruction. These stories \vere of course discredited by LaSalle,
but many of his men were superstitious, and really feared to visit
that river, and deserted lest LaSalle should start an expedition in
search of it. Soon, however, an incident occurred Avhich enabled
him to disabuse their minds of such fabulous stories. AVhile hunt-
ing in the vicinity of the fort, he chanced to meet a young Indian
who had just returned from a distant war excursion. Finding him
almost famished with hunger LaSalle invited him to the fort, where
he refreshed him with a generous meal, and questioned him with
apparent indiflPerence respecting the Mississippi. Owing to his long
absence he knew nothing of Avhat had transpired between his breth-
ren and the French, and, with great subtlety, imparted all the in-
formation required. LaSalle now gave him presents not to mention
the interview. With a number of his men he then proceeded to the
camp of the Indians to expose their misrepresentations. Having
found the chiefs at a feast of bear meat he boldly accused them of
falsehood, and at once proceeded to substantiate his charges. The
Master of Light, he declared, was the friend of truth, and had re-
vealed to him the true character of the Mississippi. He then gave
such an accurate description of it that the astonished but credulous
savages believed he had derived his knowledge through supernatural
agency. They at once confessed their guilt, and gave, as the reason
for resorting to such artifice, the fact that they w^anted him to re-
main with them. This confession removed the principal cause of the
desertion of his men.
lasalle's departure.
On the 2d day of April, 1680, LaSalle bid adieu to his diminished
band, and left it in the wilderness inhabited only by the wild beasts
of the forests and the uncivilized, brutal natives, and hundreds of
miles in advance of any frontier post. He placed the garrison in
charge of his lieutenant, Henri Tonti, an Italian. For a fuller
account of the trials and difficulties encountered bv Tonti than we
can give here, we refer the reader to the History of Illinois con-
tained in this volume.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 193
THE FORT DESTROYED.
LaSalle had no sooner left than the dish:>yal men among tlie gar-
rison displayed a spirit of mutiny, which culminated in the almost
total destruction of the fort by them, and all save six, besides the
faithful Tonti, deserted. After the famous battle between the Iro-
quois and Illinois Tonti was driven away.
Soon LaSalle returned to find the fort destroyed, tools thrown into
the river, and the village of the Illinois, which numbered 8,000 in-
habitants, a desolate waste. The vessel, however, was still upon its
stocks uninjured. Thus disastrously terminated the first attempt to
settle the State of Illinois and the county of Tazewell.
FIRST SETTLEMENT AT PEORIA.
The next attempt to settle this section of Illinois was made at
the upper end of Peoria lake in 1778. The country in the vicinity
of this lake was called by the Indians Pim-i-te-wi, that is, a place
where there are many fat beasts. Here the town of Laville de
Meillet, named after its founder, was started. Within the next
twenty years, however, the town was moved down to the lower
end of the lake to the present site of Peoria. In 1812 the town
was destroyed and the inhabitants carried away by Captain Craig.
In 1813 Fort Clark was erected there by Illinois troops engaged in
the war of 1812. Five years later it was destroyed by fire.
FRENCH TRADING POST IN THIS COUNTY.
During the period from the time Laville de Meillet was founded
in 1778, or at least after it was moved to the lower extremity
of the lake, French traders had a regular established trading post
on the Illinois near the site of old Fort Crevecoeur. They carried
on an extensive commerce with the neighboring Indians, buying
their furs with notions. At this business they became quite wealthy.
The " old French trading post," by which name it was known, re-
mained at Wesley City for almost a quarter of a century after the
first settlers came to the county. A large log building, about 30 by
60 feet in size and 10 feet high, was their principal store-house. Mr.
B. F. Montgomery tells us that he visited the place in 1836, and
in this building found a very large stock of skins and furs, which
they told him were worth in their present state $2,000. The col-
lection contained the covering of almost every animal of any value
from the weasel to the buffalo.
194 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
The principal traders at this point during the early settlement of
the county were Tromly and Besau, both of whom were well known
by some of the pioneers. These French traders had lived, traded
and intermarried with the Indians until there were many half-breeds
throughout the neighborhood. They were quiet, peaceable people,
and treated the settlers with the neatest kindness. Besau died at the
old post many years ago. Tromly went to Kansas in 1844. The
former had married an Indian squaw and reared a large family. One
of his daughters, Mary Besau, who is said to have been quite beau-
tiful and her personal appearance and bearing graceful, was married
to a man by the name of Anderson. About the year 1845 he moved
to Kansas, where, near Leavenworth, he resided when last heard
from by any Tazewell county people.
These French traders cannot be classed as settlers, at least in the
light we wish to view the meaning of that term. They made no
improvements ; they cultivated no land ; they established none of
those bulwarks of civilization brought hither a half century ago by
the sturdy pioneer. On the other hand, however, they associated
with the natives ; they adopted their ways, habits and customs ; they
intermarried and in every way, almost, became as one of them.
A CENTURY AND A HALF OF PEACE.
Year after year rolled by until quite a centur>' and a half had
passed since LaSalle stepped ashore from his skiff, before the aborigi-
nes who occupied the territory embraced within the present boundary
of Tazewell county were molested by the encroachment of the white
man, save the French traders above referred to. Generation after
generation of natives appeared upon the wild scenes of savage life,
lived, roamed the forest and prairie, and glided over the beautiful,
placid Illinois in their log and bark canoes, and passed away. Still
the advance of civilization, the steady westward tread of the Anglo-
Saxon disturbed them not. The buffalo, deer, bear, and wolf roamed
the prairie and woodland, the Indian their only enemy. But nature
had destined better things for this fertile region. She had been too
lavish in the distribution of natural advantages to leave it longer in
the peaceable possession of those who had for centuries refused to de-
velop, even in the slightest degree, any of her great resources. She
accordingly directed hitherward the footsteps of the industrious,
enterprising pioneer. Before, however, proceeding to recount his
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 195
advent, we wish to speak of the diiferent tribes and families of the
Indians who dwelt in this portion of the State.
DIFFERENT INDIAN TRIBES.
At the time the earliest European explorers visited the State the
various tribes of the Illinois confederacy dwelt upon the banks of
the Illinois river. They were the Peorias, Michigans, Tamaroas,
Kaskaskias, and Cahokas. This once powerful confederacy was
almost exterminated by the wars with the Iroquois, the Foxes and
Sacs, and the Pottawatomies. During the latter part of the seven-
teenth century hard and desperate battles were fought upon the land
of this county between the different tribes. Hundreds of brave
warriors had fallen beneath the tomahawks of other tribes, until
acres of the land now possessed by the nobler race were strewn with
the dead and dying. After a famous contest in the year 1680,
between the different tribes of the Illinois confederacy and a chosen
band of brutal Iroquois, the latter, who were victorious, carved upon
the trunks of the largest trees upon the shore of the Illinois river
hieroglyphics, representing the chiefs, the braves, and different bat-
tle scenes.
From about the year 1780 to 1832, the time of the Black-Hawk
war, the Kickapoos dwelt in the western and southwestern part of
the county. Their principal village was in Logan county. The
Pottawatomies, however, were the chief occupants and immediate
predecessors of the whites.
For some years after the first settlers came wigwams were scat-
tered here and there over the county. The kind and generous
Shaubena, with his band of Pottawatomies, had his principal camp
and wigwams on the bank of the Illinois river near where the gas-
works of Pekin are now located. Another extensive camping
ground was on the Mackinaw river, near the present town of Mack-
inaw. Old Machina was the chief of this band. The Kickapoos
had made a treaty shortly previous to the coming of the first settler,
by which the whites acquired all their land. When the whites came,
however, to settle and occupy the land the Kickapoos were angry,
and some of them felt disposed to insult and annoy the settlers.
When John Hendrix came to Blooming Grove the Indians ordered
him to leave. Not long afterwards they frightened away a family
which settled on the Mackinaw. Old ]\Iachina ordered one family
196 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
away by throwing leaves in the air. This was to let the bootanas
(white men) know that they must not be found in the country when
the leaves of autumn should fall. In 1823, when the Orendorifs
came, Old Machina had learned to speak a little English. He came
to Thomas OrendorfP and with a majestic wave of his hand said :
"Too much come back, white man: t'other side Sangamon." The
Rhodes family were also ordered away. These families settled in the
eastern part of this and western part of McLean counties, but at
the time and for years afterwards was all Tazewell county. These
things appeared a little threatening, but the settlers refused to leave
and were not molested.
When the Black Hawk war broke out in 1832, the Indians liv-
ing here were very much like the whites in some particulars. The
pale-faces looked upon the neighboring red men with suspicion, and
feared they would be massacred by them, while at the same time the
Indians experienced a like timidity. They watched the whites
closely lest they should arise up some night and butcher their squaws
and papooses. Controlled by this feeling they began to emigrate.
Shaubena went north and located at Shaubena's Grove, DeKalb
county. In the early part of the decade between 1840 and 1850 he
returned and spent two winters at Pleasant Grove, in Elm Grove
township.
After the grand exit of 1832 the Indians, who had roamed at will
over the prairies and through the forests for centuries, returned only
as visitors. Devoted to the sweet memories of departed kindred,
one would occasionally return alone and with a melancholy spirit.
He would hunt the burial mound and silently and sadly commune
with the loved dead. You see the native red man no more. He is
only of the past so far as Tazewell county is concerned. Should
one pass through the principal thoroughfares of your cities robed
in his native costume he would excite the wonder and curiosity of
all, the old as well as the young.
THE WAR OF 1812.
During the war of 1812 Tazewell county was the scene of one of
the most effective engagements against the Indians waged in Illinois
during that war. Gov. Edwards had collected an army of about
400 men in the southern part of the State, and set out in the latter
part of October, 1812, for the seat of war. This was in the neigh-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 197
borhood of Peoria lake. At the same time Gen. Hopkins started
with 2,000 mounted Kentucky riflemen. His destination was the
same point, and Edwards expected to work in concert with the noted
General. However, when his men had marched about 90 miles
across Illinois prairie into the enemy's country they became wearied,
and regardless of the General's protestations, turned about without
even seeing the foot-prints of an Indian, and started on a hasty
homeward march.
COURSE OF THE ARMY.
Edwards with his brave and courageous Illinois rangers continued
on. It may be remarked that in this little band were three men,
all of whom subsequently became noted governors of Illinois.
Leaving Fort Russell they marched up through Sangamon and
Logan counties, striking Tazewell at the point in Hittle townshij)
where Sugar creek makes its exit. On this creek the troops found
an old deserted Kickapoo village. These tenantless bark wigwams
were painted up here and there with rude savage devices, mostly rep-
resenting the red-skins scalping whites. This provoked the warlike
indignation of the little army, and the village was assaulted, set on
fire and destroyed. After this, fearing that their nightly camp fires
would reveal their approach tat the Indians, whom they hoped to
surprise, the marches were continued till midnight. The course of
the army was now northward through Hittle, Little MackinaAV,
Mackinaw, bearing westward through Deer Creek, striking Morton,
and enterino; ^Yashin2;ton near the center of its southern line. From
this point they took a direct course for the Black Partridge village
of Pottawatomies, located at the upper end of the lake, on the bluffs
in Fond du Lac township. Before coming up to the town Lieut.
Peyton, with a small party, was sent to Peoria. He made no dis-
coveries. The army moved rapidly but cautiously forward, and late
in the night preceding the attack camped in the western part of
Washington township.
THE VILLAGE RECONNOITRED.
It was now desirable to reconnoitre the position of the Indian
town, that the army might know how, when and where to strike.
To perform this perilous duty four of the bravest of men stepped
forward and volunteered their services. All of them subsequently
won enviable reputations in public life. They were Thomas Carlin,
198 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
and Robert, Stephen, and Davis Whiteside. They proceeded to the
viHage and explored all the approaches to it thoroughly without dis-
turbing the wily savage. The town was found to be about five
miles from where the army was encamped, and situated on a bluif
separated in part from the high lands by a swamp through which ran
a small stream (Ten Mile creek). The low banks of this stream
were covered by a rank growth of tall grass and bunches of brush,
so tall and dense as readily to conceal an Indian on horseback until
within a few feet of him. Recent heavy rains had rendered the
ground additionally yielding, making it almost impassable to mount-
ed men.
A NIGHT ALARM.
That night within the fireless and cheerless camp of the rangers
all was as silent as the grave. A deep and solemn gloom settled
over the men. The long marches lost the charm they at first
possessed, and instead of being jovial and frolicsome as they were
then wont to be, they were fatigued and sulky. They were in the
enemy's country and feared an attack at any moment. They reposed
upon their arms, with their horses tethered near at hand, ready sad-
dled to be mounted in an instant.
During the night, when scarcely a whisper disturbed the air, a
gun was carelessly discharged by o^e of the men. This of course
caused the greatest consternation in the camp. The treacherous and
subtle foe was momentarily expected, and the men regarded that as
the signal for attack. All the horrors of the night attack at Tippe-
canoe, then fresh in the minds of every one, presented themselves to
the active imaginations of the rangers. Every white-coated soldier
at that battle, it was said, was singled out in the dusky morn-
ing and killed by the savages. Every soldier who happened to have
on a light-colored coat distinctly remembered this, and in an instant
not a white coat could be seen. Soon, however, the voice of the
Governor assured the men that the firing was merely accidental, and
all became quiet again.
FIRST INDIAN KILLED.
A heavy fog prevailed on the following morning; however,
the army took up its line of march for the Indian town. Capt. Judy
with his spies were in advance. They came up to an Indian and his
squaw, both mounted. The tall grass concealed them until within
a few paces. The Indian wanted to surrender, but Capt. Judy said
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 199
he " did not leave home to take prisoners," and instantly shot him.
AVith the blood streaming from his montli and nose, and in his agony
" singing the death song," the dying Indian raised his gun, shot and
mortally wounded one of the soldiers, and expired. The rest of the
spies, who had incautiously approached the wounded Indian, when
they saw him seize his gun, quickly dismounted on the far side of
their horses. Many guns were immediately discharged at the other
Indian, not then known to be a squaw, all of which missed her.
Badly scared, and her husband killed by her side, the agonizing
wails of the squaw were heart-rending. She was taken prisoner and
subsequently restored to her nation.
THE ATTACK.
Owing to the dense fog which prevailed the army was misled and
found itself in the spongy bottom just below the town, with the
miry creek to cross. This, of course, deranged the plan of attack,
and thus the village escaped a surprise. While a halt was made,
preparatory to crossing, the Indians were observed running from the
town. An attack from the Indians while crossing the treacherous
stream was momentarily expected. However, no attack was made
or attempted, but the Indians were fleeing from their village and
impending death. Pell-mell they went, men, women and children,
some on horseback, some on foot, into the swamp among the tall
grass, and toward a point of timber in which the Governor judged
they intended to make a stand for battle. " I immediately changed
my course," he writes, " ordered and led on a general charge upon
them ;" but owing to the unsoundness of the ground, the pursuers,
horses, riders, arms and baggage all shared in the common catastro-
phe alike, and were unhorsed and overwhelmed in the morass.
A pursuit on foot was ordered. Tliis was both difficult and dan-
gerous on account of the tall gra,ss in which the Indians were lurk-
ing. Several squads thus pursued the retreating foe for two or three
miles across the saturated bottom to the river, killing some of the
enemy while attempting to cross to the western shore. To such a
pitch of excitement Avere the men wrought that three of them, find-
ing some Indian canoes, in the fury of the chase crossed the river in
full view of the Indians, but without molestation.
CHEQUENEBOC BURNED.
The Indian village, called by Gov. Edwards Chequeneboc, after
200 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
a chief, was burned. The Indians who had not retreated over the
river, fled to the interior wilderness. Here some of them were pur-
sued, but the Indians, making a stand in considerable numbers,
forced the rangers to retreat. Being reinforced, they returned and
routed the savages. Some of the troops were wounded in this action,
but none killed.
During these engagements the place was pillaged and burned by
the main body of the troops. The Indians in their flight had left
behind all their winter's store of provision, which was destroyed or
taken away. Hiding about the burning embers of the ruins were
found some Indian children, forgotten by the frightened fugitives.
There were also found some disabled adults, one of whom was in a
starving condition, and with a voracious appetite partook of the
bread given him. He is said to have been killed by a cowardly
soldier straggling behind, after the main army had resumed its ret-
rograde march, who wanted to be able to boast that he had killed
an Indian.
To show the reckless daring of the Indian character, it is men-
tioned that a warrior walked calmly down the bluff some 200 yards
distant from the town, deliberately raised his gun and fired upon the
troops in the village, then turned and strode slowly away amid a
shower of bullets.
THE ARMY RETREATS.
Gov. Edwards failed to hear from the larger force under Gen.
Hopkins, and fearing the Indians would concentrate and make an
attack upon him, concluded to make a hasty retreat. This he began
the same day of the attack, and though a heavy and continuous rain
prevailed tlxe men were in such dread of a pursuit that they kept up
their march until overtaken by darkness, when, greatly exhausted
and wet, without fire to dry their clothing or food to nourish their
bodies, they sank into sleep upon the wet ground. Soon the little
army had passed the limits of this county on their homeward march,
where we will leave it.
THE PIONEERS.
Leaving the history of the French and Indians, having given all
of interest we have been able to gather, we come now to the time
the first pioneer erected his cabin liere and established for himself
and family a home in the wilderness. So fertile was the soil and
HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 201
beautiful the flowers, so sparkling were the streams and shady the
groves that, in advance of all the surrounding country, the pioneers
sought and settled the timber land and prairie of Tazewell county.
The thrilling scenes through which the pioneer settlers passed in
the settlement of this portion of Illinois must ever awaken emotions
of warmest regard for them. To pave the way for those who fol-
lowed after them, to make their settlement in the West a pleasure,
they bore the flood tide wave of civilization ; they endured all,
suffered all. But few of these spirits now survive ; they have passed
away full of years and honors, leaving their children, and children's
children and strangers to succeed them, and enjoy the fruits of the
toil, privations and savings of their long and eventful lives.
Life with them is o'er, their labors all are done,
And others now reap the harvest that they won.
Too great honor cannot be accorded them, and we regret that we
have not the data to speak more fully and definitely of them, their
personal experiences, their lives and characters.
THE FIRST SETTLER.
AVhen, in 1826-7, the Legislature formed Tazewell county it
extended over a vast region of country. Its boundaries then em-
braced many of the neighboring counties, and its jurisdiction extend-
ed as far north as Chicago. In giving the history of the settlement
of the county, however, we will speak only of the territory within
its present limits.
The first to cast his fortune here, — to "locate" in Tazewell coun-
ty,— was Nathan Dillon. He came in the year 182.3, and lived,
labored and died in the county of his adoption an honorable, hon-
ored citizen. Fortunately we have been able to obtain a very fiill
narrative of his coming from his own pen. We give it in his own
language just as he has left it to posterity.
. NATHAN Dillon's reminiscence.
It was in the year 1821 that we set our faces westward, with heavy
hearts at the thought of leaving near friends and relatives behind,
with a view of taking up our abode on the broad prairies of the
West, and among strangers and savages. At that early day, our
way was in a manner through a wilderness to our journey's end,
the destination of which was eight miles south of Springfield, on
Sugar creek.
202 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Although we were well outfitted with good horses and wagons,
many hardships awaited us of which we had not dreamed. We had
a terrible trip through Indiana through mud, over logs and brush,
often swamped down to the hubs of the wagon. We could procure
but little feed for our horses but new corn, and part of the time
could not obtain that ; and when at last we struck the Grand Prairie,
west of Clinton, on the AVabash, we found ourselves with broken-
down horses and only three days' provisions, our company consisting
of my brother Absalom's family and my own, with six horses and
seventy head of cattle and twenty sheep. The country before us
was wild, new, almost untrodden by man ; but our hearts were brave.
The second day out some were attacked with the chills and fever,
and as we advanced others were taken with the same disease. Then
did we wish ourselves back again to the home we had left in Ohio.
Not half way across the prairie and out of provisions, and not able
to drive our team, let alone our stock, what to do we did not
know ; but at this juncture we were overtaken by three young men,
who had set out on our trail with the hope of safely walking
through : but when thev overtook us were already out of provisions.
To remedy our scarcity we slaughtered one of our cows, thereby
obtainina: what would subsist us till we could reach the forks of the
Sangamon, where resided Jacob Scraggs, and where we rested. The
next day we reached our destination. We were among strangers,
but they were kind, generous and hospitable. AVinter was draAving
near, and we had no shelter of any kind in which to stay, no feed
for our stock, and my wife the only person among us who had not
been sick on the road, and yet we succeeded in passing our first
winter in Illinois, as best we could, and without losing much stock.
In passing, I will note that at the time of our arrival there was in
Springfield a very low, one-story court-house, twenty feet square ;
a jail, not so large, built of round logs ; a tavern, kept by a Mr.
Price, and a store, kept by John Taylor, who was also sheriff of
the county.
The summer following much sickness prevailed, and in the fall
we lost two children, which discouraged us veiy much, — made us
home-sick, and almost induced us to return to Ohio. Hearing, how-
ever, a good account of the Mackinaw country to the north of us,
we determined to visit it ; and accordingly, accompanied by my
brothers Jesse and AValter, and AVilliam Hays, we set out on a jour-
ney to explore it. We struck the stream at Mackinaw Town, and
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 203
after visiting Deer Creek, Walnut Grove, White Oak and Stout's
Groves, our provisions failed us, and we went over to Fort Clarke (as
Peoria was then called), but on arrival found neither provisions nor
people, except Abner Eads and Jesse Ogee. But we managed to
catch some iish, and on them, with some prairie chickens Ave killed,
we subsisted until we returned to Elkhart Grove.
On our return we passed through Pleasant Grove and Delavan
Prairie. We made selections for future homes near Dillon Creek,
and the next fall, having put up cabins, we prepared to remove to
our new home, got ready, and set out. On our journey, when a
short distance from where the village of Delavan noAv stands, we
were overtaken bv a heavv thunder storm. We hurried alono- as
fast as possible until sundown, when the wind changed to the north-
west, and in fifteen minutes' time our clothes were frozen hard, our
horses mired down, and my wife and children had to get out of the
wagon into the bleak wind. Then we unloaded the wagon and moved
it out of the slough by hand, the water half-leg deep, and reloading,
hitched up the horse and moved on about a quarter of a mile fur-
ther, when the same accident occurred again. It was now quite
dark, the wind blowing, the weather freezino; cold, -wolves howlino-
in every direction. We concluded to start for the timber, which
was about three miles off; so, packing wife and children on horse-
back, w^e started against the wind : it Avas to do that or freeze on the
prairie. We were in a truly desperate condition, — no fire, and all of
us wet, cold and hungry. AYe had to have fire or perish ; so on our
arrival at the timber it devolved on me to strike a fire, for my broth-
er was so near chilled through he could do nothing, as he had been
riding and driving a four-horse team. In those days we had no
matches, and were compelled to strike a fire by a flint-lock rifle,
which was a bad job, as the whole ground was flooded and nothing
could be found dry. I at length succeeded in getting a fire, and we
piled high the wood and stood around and thawed out and dried our
clothes ; and when my wife went to look for the provisions to get
some supper, the dogs had found where it lay, and eaten it all up ;
and we went supperless to our wet beds.
The next morning we started by sunrise for the wagon. It was
frozen fast, and we had to cut it out and take it back the way it
came in. We had left our cattle on the previous night, and they
had started ofl". I took their trail and followed them several miles
when the ground became so frozen that their hoofs made no impres-
204 HISTOKY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
sion ; so I gave them up as lost and returned to camp. By this time
I was very hungry ; and wife, with provisions brought from the
wagon, had prepared a good meal, and we all did it ample justice, as
we had not eaten anything for nearly two days.. At the beginning
of the second day we mustered all force, determined to reach our
destination that day. When we arrived at the MackinaAV the ice
was running in large quantities, and the stream hardly fordable ; but
with much labor and difficulty we got across, and that evening ar-
rived at our cabin. There was no door or chimney to it; not a
crack stopped, and situated so the north wind came through at a
sweeping rate ; but having plenty of bed-clothes, we kept ourselves
comfortable, and opened a place in the roof to let the smoke escape,
prepared a good suppar, slept in the cabin, and felt ourselves at
home. We went to work on the cabin, and in a few days had it
warm and comfortable.
Brother Walter returned to Sangamon county for a load of corn
and meal. While he was gone it rained a great deal, and he was
twelve days in coming from Springfield. Wm. Davis came with
him with a drove of hogs. When they arrived at Mackinaw the
water overflowed the banks, so they left the team on the other side,
and with the men with them, made a raft and crossed over, and ar-
rived at home late the same night. The next morning we started
for the teams, prepared to make a raft large enough to bring across
wagon, provisions and horses. The weather was extremely cold,
and the work occupied two days. We got our wagons and pro-
visions across, but were compelled to swim the horses. Brother
John was mounted on one of them, and in plunging round in the
mud and Avater he got dismounted and thrown in the water, and
when he got out had to ride near three miles with frozen clothes on,
and almost perished ; but a good fire and hearty supper made us all
feel comfortable. But the horses had a hard time of it, as they had
to stand out in a cold wind tied with a halter all through the cold
freezing night.
So passed the winter at our cabin with wife and children. Occa-
sionally my brother was with us, but my wife never saw a white
woman from the month of December to the following March ; but
there were plenty of Indians, and they were quite troublesome, and
could not be trusted. In the month of May following (1824) I
was compelled to go to the settlements after provisions, and John
Dillon accompanied me. The night we arrived it commenced rain-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 205
ing, and continued, so that on our return the streams had raised to
a fearful height. When we came to Salt Creek it was a sea of water
from hill to hill, and we were compelled to cross as best we could,
by ferrying our load in a small boat, and swimming our horses.
Kickapoo was in the same condition, and we crossed in a small ca-
noe, taking our wagons apart in order to get them over. The next
was Suffar Creek, where Robert Musick then lived. Here we were
one whole day in crossing. The night after we lay out on the big
prairie, without fire and but little to eat. If such toils and priva-
tions would not try men's souls, what Avould? We had no more
ferrying until we reached Mackinaw, but our team broke away, and
we had to follow them some eight miles before we overtook them.
On our return we foiuid Benj. Briggs, who was on his way to Peoria :
had been as far as Mackinaw and could not cross, and was returning.
We returned to that stream and spent a lonesome night on its banks,
and in the morning found an Indian canoe, and with its aid swam
our horses over and reached home. Brothers Walter, Absalom, and
others started for the stream and brought our wagons over.
In concluding this narrative I will speak of the other first settlers
that came to this section of country (Dillon Grove, Tazewell Co.).
In the month of March, 1824, brother Absalom moved here; soon
after John Summers, William Woodrow, and Peter Scott came and
made improvements. My brothers Jesse and Thomas came out the
fall following, and the year after my father and brother William
came, and from that time the country settled very fast with an
industrious population.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
In 1824 Nathan Dillon was followed by his brothers with their
families, who settled on the creek around him. Then came George
and Isham Wright to Hittle's Grove, Esau and William OrendorflF
to Sugar Creek, Isaac Perkins, Hugh Woodrow, William Woodrow,
Samuel Woodrow, John Summers, Jacob and Jonathan Tharp, Peter
Scott and others, came into Sand Prairie in 1824. In the northern
part of the county came William Blanchard, L. Andress, Elias
Avery, John Parker, Thomas Camlin, and William Holland. Mr.
Holland came from Peoria in the spring of 1825 and located on the
site of the present city of Washington, of which he was the founder.
He was formerly from North Carolina, and was employed by the
14
206 HISTORY OF TAZEM'ELL COUNTY.
United States Government as a blacksmith for the Indians who in-
habited this portion of our State at that time. For several years
after settlino; here Mr. Holland continued to work for the natives.
He was also a gunsmith, and as such his services were in great de-
mand by both the Avhite and red men. His was the only house, and
his the only family living in the vicinity of Washington until 1826.
At the time he came to Washington his nearest neighbor was Thos.
Camlin, who lived on Farm Creek, some three miles east of Peoria,
in Fond du Lac township. Camlin was a genial, clever pioneer, and
always ready to entertain his guests with spicy stories and thrilling
incidents of his personal adventures with the Indians, whom, he
would claim, he used to shoot at a distance of one-half to three-
quarters of a mile, — a second Daniel Boone.
Holland often visited at Camlin's, and passed many pleasant eve-
nings in his society. Had we a pioneer of this type in our midst
to-day, living as he then lived, with his experiences of frontier life,
what a curiosity he would be ! What a thrilling, blood-curdling
story would the simple narrative of his life make.
WILLIAM DAVIS.
One of the earliest settlers of the county was William Davis.
He came in the year 1823 with the Dillons. He brought his family
the following year, and located on section 27, Elm Grove toAvnship.
The widow of Mr. Davis lives at the old homestead, the laud never
having been transferred since first entered by her husband. Previ-
ous to his coming to this county Mr. Davis had been in the employ
of Major Langley, who had the contract from the United States
Government to survey the southern part of the State. Mr. Davis
was a noted hunter, and with his faithful and unerring rifle supplied
the surveying party with abundance of the choicest game the coun-
try afforded.
In this connection we will relate an incident in Mr, Davis' life
worthy of commemoration. To him belongs the honor of buying
the first article of merchandise ever sold in Springfield, the State
capital. It was under the following circumstances that the purchase
was made : When the surveying party reached the site of the city
of Springfield his shoes had completely given out, leaving him bare-
foot. Some parties by. the name of Isles were putting up a place
in which to open a stock of goods at that point. The building was
made of bark and was simply intended as temporary quarters. At
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 207
Mr. Davis' solicitation they opened a box of shoes and sold him a
pair, being the first sale they had made.
Thomas Davis, a son of William Davis, and who now resides in
Tremont township, has in his possession the rifle his father carried
while connected with the surveying ex})edition. This gun was also
the property of William Davis' father, and is over one hundred
years old.
OTHER SETTLERS.
The same year that Mr. Holland came to Holland's Grove, Amasa
Stout and Matthew Stout came to Stout's Grove, and Daniel Seward,
Benjamin Briggs, Alexander McKnight, and James Scott, to Plum
Grove. Jesse, Absalom and Jacob Funk, Jacob Wilson, Jacob
Hepperly, Morgan Buckingham, Horace Crocker, Abraham Brown
and Jeiferson Huscham came and settled on the river bottom above
and opposite Fort Clarke.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
Tazewell county was organized by an act of the Legislature Jan-
uarv 31st, 1827, with the following boundaries : Beginning at the
northeast corner of township twenty, north of the base line, axid
range three east of the third printnpal meridian, thence north on
said line to the north line of township twenty-eight north, thence
west to the middle of the Illinois river, thence down said river to
the north line of township twenty north, thence east to the place of
beginning.
In the act organizing the county January 31, 1827, an error oc-
curred in describing the boundaries. This error was corrected by an
act re-establishing the boundaries, passed January 22, 1829..
The territory comprising the county of Tazewell formed part of
the counties at the dates named in the several subdivisions of the
State prior to the organization of the county, as follows :
1809 — At this date Illinois Territory was organized, and was
subdivided into the counties of Randolph and St. Clair. Tazewell
was included in the county of St. Clair.
1812 — Tazewell formed part of the county of Madison.
1814 — Tazewell was included in the counties of Madison and
Edwards : west of the third principal meridian in Madison, east of
the meridian in Edwards.
1816 — Tazewell was included within the boundaries of Madison
208 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
and Crawford counties : east of the meridian in Cra^vford, west in
Madison.
1817 — Tazewell formed part of the eounties of Bond and Craw-
ford : west of the meridian in Bond, east in Crawford.
1819 — Tazewell was included in Clark and Bond counties: west
of the meridian in Bond, east in Clark.
1821 — Tazewell formed part of Fayette and Sangamon counties:
west of the meridian in Sangamon, east in Fayette.
1827 — Tazewell organized January 31st: boundary defective.
1829 — Tazewell boundaries defined, and error in law of 1827
corrected as above given. County originally created from territory
then comprising part of the counties of Sangamon and Fayette :
west of the third principal meridian taken from Sangamon, east of
the meridian, comprising 24 townships, taken from Fayette.
1830 — McLean county was formed by taking off the three ranges
east of the meridian and range one west of the meridian.
1839 — Logan county was created, taking off three townships on
the south.
1841 — The counties of Mason and Woodford were organized, and
Tazewell reduced to its present boundaries.
The commissioners to locate the couutv seat were Thos. M. Neale,
Wm. L. D. Ewing and Job Fletcher. They were by the act of or-
ganization required to meet on the third Monday of March, 1827,
or within five days thereafter, at the house of Wm. Orendorif, for
the purpose of locating the county seat, which, when located, was
to be called " Mackinaw." Until county buildings were erected the
courts were required to be held at the house of Wm. Orendorff.
Election for county officers at the house of said Wm. Orendorif on
the second Monday of April, 1827.
All that part of Fayette lying east and north of Tazewell was
attached to Tazewell for county purposes.
In the year 1825 the Legislature created Peoria county, and at-
tached to it for all county purposes all of the territory north of
town 20 and west of the third principal meridian, thus including all
the present county of Tazewell. Nathan Dillon, William Holland
and Joseph Smith were chosen County Commissioners for the new
county. The former two resided in this county. They held their
first meeting at Peoria March 8, 1825.
When the population of Tazewell was thought to be sufficiently
large to regularly organize, an election was held in April, 1827, and
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 209
Benjamin Briggs, George Hittle, and James Lotta were chosen
Countv Commissioners. The Commissioners at once proceeded to
hold a meeting and consummate the organization. This they did
at the house of William Orendorff, April 10, 1827. For an account
of the labors of the Commissioners we refer the reader to the follow-
ing chapter.
The county at this time was very large ; even in 1829, when a
new boundary was formed, it contained 79 townships. It has been
divided for the formation tif other counties so often that it has finally
been reduced to 19 townships.
The county was named in honor of Hon. John Tazewell, United
States Senator from the State of Virginia. There is a county in
that State which also bears the same name, these being the only two
in the United States.
THE FIRST MILL,
One of the greatest difficulties encountered by the early settlers
was in having their milling done. By a liberal application of enter-
prise and muscle they experienced but little trouble in producing an
abundance of the cereals, but having it converted into brcadstull
was a source of much hard labor. As to the establishment of the
first mill in the county we quote from the pen of Nathan Dillon :
" Now let me tell you how we got along about mills. There were
three or four horse-mills in Sangamon, at 40 or 45 miles distance.
Sometimes we went to them ; sometimes to Southwick's, situated at
a distance of 60 miles. We did not mind the journey much, unless
the streams were swollen with rains, in which case the task of going
to mill was severe, as there were no bridges and ferries in those
days. By and by, to remedy our wants, Samuel Tutter erected a
small horse-mill in the neighborhood of Peoria ; and a few years
after William Eads put one up at Elm Grove, a public improvement
which made us feel quite rich. In those early times we took only
corn to mill, paying one-sixth or one bit per bushel for grinding.
The meal obtained was of an inferior quality when compared with
what we now have. Our millers were good, honest fellows, and the
somewhat heavy tariffs they laid on their customers not at all wrong,
for their income was small. Times are changed. The reader who
now looks at the fertile prairies of Illinois, what does he behold?
Large cities and flourishing towns. Behold the prairies, then wild
and untrodden, now covered with fine farms and dwellings ; behold
210 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
the travel of our railroads and rivers, visit our county fairs and be-
come acquainted with our intelligent farmers, and the vast and val-
uable amount of products derived from the soil they till ; behold on
every hand our numerous churches and school-houses, our court-
houses and seats of justice, spread all over the wide territory which
French, Philips and myself early governed as humble justices, and
tell me, has not the changed improvement been both great and
remarkable."
A FEW FIRST THINGS.
As related above, the first cabin built in the county was by Nathan
Dillon, on Dillon creek, Dillon township, in 1823. He moved into
this rude structure before a door or window was put in. He built
a fire in one corner and tore up the clapboard roof to make an
opening for the smoke to escape. Here Aug. 2, 1824, was born
Hannah Dillon, daughter of Nathan Dillon, the first white child born
in the county. Stephen Woodrow was the first white male child
born in the county. The first improvement introduced in the county
aside from the cabins of the pioneers, was a grist-mill erected by
William Eads and William Davis. This mill was built in 1825, in
Elm Grove township. It wa^ generally run by four horses, and
would not crack over three bushels of corn in an hour. It was
what was called in those days a " band mill." Being geared to run
by horse or cattle power, the customers, on all occasions, had to fur-
nish their own power. About the asme time Elisha Perkins erected
another band mill in the neighborhood of Circleville. Previous to
the erection of these important improvements the nearest mill was
at Elkhardt, ten miles northeast of Springfield. Perkins' mill was
afterwards stockaded and used as a fort during the Black Hawk war.
The first water grist-mill built in the county was erected on Farm
creek, in 1827, by a man named Leak. It had one run of stones.
The bolting was done by hand.
The first water mill in the southern part of the county was built
in 1831 by Summers, on Lick creek west of the town of Groveland.
It was a common hand mill run by water. It was so constructed
that it would drop but one grain at a time in the mill, thus consum-
ing much time to grind a grist. The mill was built of logs roofed
with linden bark, and was about ten feet square.
The first cotton gin in the county was built by William Eads in
connection with his grist-mill.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 211
Theodorus Fisher built the first wooleu factory ever operated in
Tazewell county. It was built in 1832, on section 34, Elm Grove
township. It was run by ox power. An inclined wheel was used
upon which they trod to make the motion. This was an extensive
concern for the time, and settlers came from Knox, Peoria, and
Sangamon counties to get their wool carded.
The first school-house in the county was erected on section
27, Elm Grove township, in 1827. Samuel Bentley was the first
teacher.
The first camp-meeting held in Tazewell county was by Petei
Cartwright, in a grove on Dillon creek, Elm Grove township, in
1827.
The first postoffice of the county was kept by Thomas Dillon,
Dillon townshi]), in 1825.
Absalom Dillon kept the first store in the county, first at Dillon
in 1826, and then at Pekin in 1830.
The first marriage celebrated in the county was that of Daniel
Dillon to Martha Alexander. The ceremony took place in Elm
Grove township, the license having been procured at Peoria.
The first marriage that occurred after the county was organized,
and the first marriage license issued, were under the following ro-
mantic circumstances: Mordecai Mobley, the first County Clerk,
happened at old Father Stout's to stay all night. Mr. Stout lived
about five miles from Mackinaw. Mr. Mobley says he noticed a
boy and girl around but thought they were brother and sister. Soon
the " old gentleman " called him aside and told him that " that ar
boy had been comin' to see his darter for a long time, and they want
to o-et married. Now," continued Mr. Stout, " we are liviii in a new
country and we don't know what's to be done, and we thinks as
how you can tell us. They have to get some kind of a permit, don't
they ? " Mr. Mobley told him they did, and that he could not only
tell them how to get married, but that he was the man to issue the
permit. This i)leased Mr. Stout, and no doubt the young cou})le
were delighted to think that the great obstacles that prevented them
from being one — for they were both willing and so were the old
folk — were about to be removed. INIr. Stout wanted the license
immediately. Accordingly, Mr. Mobley told them if they would
get him pen and ink and some paper he would write the license.
Not a sheet of blank paper could be found in the cabin. At last,
Mr. Mobley asked them if they had a book. Mr. Stout thought
212 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
they had, "as they used to have one." Finally an old book was
found which happened to have one whole unmarked fly-leaf. Being
thus provided with paper they found they had no pen. A pen was
soon made, however. Mr. Mobley told them to go and catch the
biggest chicken they had. This was done and a large feather pulled
out of its Aving and a pen made of it. Again they found themselves
in a dilemma, but out of which the ingenuity of Mr. Mobley soon
brought them. After being provided with paper and pen they were
minus ink. He, however, took some water and gunpowder and
made some writing-fluid that answered the purpose. With this ink
and pen, and upon the fly-leaf of the old book, the first marriage
license issued in Tazewell county was written.
The couple for whom such seemingly insurmountable obstacles
were overcome were John Stout and Fanny Stout. They were mar-
ried on the 25th of June, 1827, by Rev. William Brown.
The marriage of the celebrated Peter Cartwright was among the
very first to take place in Tazewell county. He was married to
Temperance Kindle, Oct. 14, 1827, by George Hittle, County Com-
missioner. His was the sixth marriage license issued after the
county's organization.
The first death of a white man occurring in the county was that
of a Mr. Killum in the month of December, 1823. He left Sugar
creek, in Logan county, to go to Peoria. Being compelled to wade
the Mackinaw river at high water, and the weather turning suddenly
cold, he perished on the prairie not far from where he crossed.
In February, 1825, Ezekiel Turner was killed by lightning, being
the second death. Not a foot of sawed lumber being within reach,
the rites of sepulture were performed in true pioneer style. Wm.
Woodrow felled a straight walnut tree, cut a log the proper length,
split it, and hollowed one half and shaped it like a coflin. From
the other half of the log a slab was hewn for a lid, and in this rude
burial case the body was placed and consigned to mother earth ;
and no doubt that what was mortal of Ezekiel Turner mouldered
into its original element as peacefully as though it had been encased
in satin-lined rosewood or polished iron.
THE FIRST STEAMBOAT
to ascend the Illinois river landed at Pekin, which at that time
was known, from its fine location, as " Town Site," late in the fall
of 1828. A steamboat was a novelty, or rather a mystery, to many
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 213
of the early settlers. Coming up the river the boat passed Kings-
ton in the night. Hugh Barr, who lived near that point, heard it
coming, and being on rather unfriendly terms with the Indians, then
quite numerous in the vicinity, concluded that it was some infernal
contrivance of theirs to frighten or harm him. Seizing his gun and
setting his equally bewildered dog at it, he pursued the offending
mystery. The pilot, not being familiar with the channel, ran into
Clifton's lake, and finding no outlet, he had to back the boat out.
Barr, witnessing this, drew off his dog, and though still hugely
puzzled to know what manner of craft it was, gave up pursuit.
William Haines then lived about where Behrens' brick block, cor-
ner of Front and Court streets, now stands. Hearing the puff of
the escaping steam he hastily left his bed, and half dressed, crossed
the street to Thomas Snell's, now the Bemis House, called neighbor
Snell out of bed, and inquired as to what manner of creature was
coming up the river. Snell replied : " I don't know. Bill ; but if I
was on the Ohio river I would think it was a steamboat." Old
Father Tharp, hearing the noise of the paddles and the steam whistle,
thought it was Gabriel blowing his horn ; that sure enough the end
of the world had come in the night ; and calling up his family, en-
gaged in prayer as a fitting preparation fi)r the advent of a higher
and better life.
PIONEER LANDLORDS.
As amusingly illustrating the peculiar characteristics of the pio-
neer hotel keepers, we incorporate the following account of two hotels
in Pekin. It is taken from the " Pekin City Directory," published
in 1870 by Sellers & Bates:
"first-class" HOTELS.
The year 1848 witnessed the establishment of two "first-class"
hotels. The Eagle, which stood on the site now occupied by the
Bemis House, was kept by Seth Kinnian, who afterwards acquired
considerable celebrity as a hunter and trapper in the far AVest, and
by presenting buck-horn and bear-claw chairs, of his own make, to
Presidents Lincoln and Johnson.
The other, now the Mansion House, but then known as the " Tay-
lor House," was presided over by William A. Tinney. "Uncle
Bill" still resides here, good-natured and hearty, notwithstanding
the arduous duties of his offices of Justice of the Peace, Police
214 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Magistrate and Acting Coroner. He distinguished himself in his
old days by being the first white man in Pekin to lead a negro to
the polls to vote.
The manner of welcoming guests to these hotels was somewhat
peculiar, as the following instance will illustrate : A traveler came
off a boat one day, and went to the Eagle Hotel. There had been
a little western " scrimmage " at the " Eagle " the night before, and
though things had not yet been put in order, the proprietor, Seth
Kinman, was sitting in front of the door, playing his favorite tune,
the "Arkansas Traveler," with the greatest self-satisfaction. The
stranger stopped and asked Seth, "Are you the proprietor here ? "
Seth, without resting his bow, replied, "Wall, I reckon I be,
stranger." "Do you keep tavern?" "Of course I do; keep
tavern like h — 1," said Seth, fiddling away with all his might.
" Just pile in ; hang your freight up on the floor and make yourself
at home. The boys," continued Seth, " have been having a little
fun, but if there's a whole table or plate in the house I'll get you
some cold hash towards night." The stranger didn't like the place,
and took his departure, leaving the " proprietor " still enjoying his
violin. Late in the afternoon the traveler presented himself at the
" Taylor House." 'Squire Tinney met him outside with his nwst
austere expression and "Good morning — good morning, sir; walk
in, sir ; take a seat, sir ; shave you as soon as the water gets warm."
The stranger, not requiring the services of a barber, walked off in
haste and amazement, and the 'Squire swore audibly " that he was
some infernal Yankee come out West to steal honest people'smoney."
The next steamboat that came along found our discomfited traveler
on the beach, awaiting passage for anywhere out of Pekin.
THE DEEP SNOAV.
The big snow of 1830 will be vividly remembered by all the old
settlers. The snow began falling on the night of the 29th of De-
cember, and continued to fall fi^r three days and nights, until it
reached an average depth of about four feet, but drifting in places
as high as from eighteen to twenty feet. Great suffering was expe-
rienced in consequence. The settlers relied for their daily food up-
on the Indian corn which they were enabled to raise, together with
wild game, which was abundant at that time. Plenty of the former
was raised to supply the wants of all until the next season's crop ;
but when the snow fell very little had been gathered. Game could
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 215
not be had. The great depth of snow was a barrier to all travel,
and it may well be imagined the snfferings of the people were very
great indeed.
This was the heaviest snow that ever fell in Illinois within the
memory of the oldest settler of this part of the State. According
to the traditions of the Indians as related to the pioneers, a snow fell
from fifty to seventy-five years before the settlement by the white
people, which swept away the numerous herds of buffalo and elk
that roamed over the vast prairies at that time. This tradition was
verified by the large number of bones of these animals found in
different localities on the prairies when first visited by the whites.
The deep snow is one of the landmarks of the pioneer. He reck-
' ons, in giving dates of early occurrences, so many years before or so
many after the deep snow. He calculates the date of his coming,
his marriage and the birth of his children from it, and well might it
make a lasting impression upon their minds. Could we picture the
suffering of that winter; the dark forebodings that crept into every
cabin, starvation staring the inmates in the face ; the meagre meal
that for months was their only portion, we, too, would never forget
it. But human tongue or pen can never adequately picture the
trials endured by the pioneers who were here during that long and
eventful winter. For weeks the sun was not visible, and so intense
was the cold that not a particle of snow would melt uj)on the south
sides of the cabins. People were for weeks absolutely blockaded or
housed up, and remained so until starvation compelled them to go
forth in search of food.
Israel Shreves, who came to Tazewell county from Decatur county,
Indiana, located first in Elm Grove township, where he remained
two years, and then moved to section 28, Morton townshij), where
he passed the remainder of his days, dying there Aug. 26, 1861.
Here he reared a large family of children, eight of whom are still
living. His son Julius resides upon the old homestead. During
the deep snow Israel Shreves and Major R. N. CuUom (father of the
present Governor of Illinois), went to the mill at Pleasant Grove,
Elm Grove townshi}). This mill was some eight miles from Shreves'
farm, and still farther from Cullom's ; but necessity compelled them
to make an effort to obtain some meal. Each of them took a horse
to carry their sack of corn. The men traveled upon snow shoes and
led their horses. The snow was so deep that it was only with the
greatest difficulty that they could get along at all. On the elevated
216 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
places where the wind could strike, the snow would bear their horses
up ; but in the " swags " it was so soft that they would sink, and but
for their snow shoes the men would also have gone down. In places
the snow was so deep that it would strike the sacks on the horses
and brush them off. At such places the men were obliged to take
the sacks upon their shoulders and carry them on to a spot that
would bear their horses. They would then return to their horses
and lead them on. Ofttimes it was quite difficult, owing to the great
depth of the snow, to get the horses upon the hard snow. The cold
was so intense, and the wind so high, that persons were in great
danger of freezing to death ; but the two determined, sturdy pioneers
pushed ahead and at last arrived at the mill.
On the following day after their arrival at the mill Mr. Shreves
started for home, and after a long and painful journey reached his
destination in safety ; but so great was the physical exertion he
made that nothwithstanding the intense cold he wiped the streaming
perspiration from his brow.
Mr. Cullom remained another night at the mill before attempting
to leave for home, which he reached in safety after a tedious, dan-
gerous journey.
Mr. Shreves had seven large, fat hogs running in a ten-acre field.
Their bed was quite a distance from the house, and they could not
be reached very soon. When found they were all frozen to death.
Major R, X. Cullom, during this winter, carried corn on his back
from Mackinaw to his cabin, a distance of ten miles, to feed his
horses. He traveled on snow-shoes.
Rev. "Wm. Brown and his brother-in-law, Alfred Phillips, who
lived two and a half miles from Mr. Brown's, cut browse for their
cattle till they could shovel a path to Holland's Grove, now \yash-
ington, to drive them there. This was a hard task.
So much extra work was to be done in the building of homes that
in the fall the pioneers did not gather in and crib their corn. They
let it remain in the field until winter came before gathering. The
big snow therefore found many of the settlers without any prepara-
tion for a long siege. They would go out into the field, and where
they could see the top of a corn stalk sticking up through the snow
they would dig down until they came to the ear. To get wood they
would cut trees at the top of the snow, and when spring came and
the snow had disappeared, they often found the stump long enough
to cut into fence rails. The snow lay on the ground until about the
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 217
first of April ; and we have little doubt that many a weary one
durino: that long: winter sighed for the comforts of the " old home ;"
still, notwithstanding its great dreariness and the greater suiferings
of the people, none became disheartened, for we find them in the
spring of 1831 as determined as ever to carve out for themselves a
home in this truly beautiful country.
During this winter, from Dec. 29, 1830, till Feb. 13, 1831, it
snowed nineteen times. After the snow had melted we are told that
the bones of deer were so numerous in some })]aces that for one-
quarter of an acre one could step from bone to bone over the whole
surface, so many deer had perished there.
The season following the winter of the deep snow was a very late
one, and frost came every month in the year. The crops were poor,
as may well be supposed, and the corn did not ripen.
The longest winter ever experienced since this country was settled
by the whites was that of 1842-43. The cold weather set in No-
vember 4, and lasted until the following April.
SUDDEN CHANGE.
The most extraordinary atmospheric phenomenon occurring within
the knowledge of the oldest settler took place in January, 1836.
The intensest suffering was caused to man and beast by this sudden
change, (^uite a snow had fallen the day previous to the change,
and upon that day a slow, drizzling rain fell, making of the snow a
" slush." The storm came from the northwest, and the clouds, upon
its approach, assumed a threatening and extraordinary aspect, those
higher being dark, and those ])el()W of a white frosty appearance.
As fast as the storm advanced it instantaneously changed the tem-
perate atmosphere to that of frigid coldness. Incidents arc related
in connection with this sudden change which are indeed marvelous.
William Hodgson, who had just moved upon the farm he now occu-
pies, section 32, Groveland township, says he went into the timber
for a load of wood just before the change. While he was loading
his wagon the storm came upon him, and so sudden and terrible that
he could scarcely manage his team. Before he could get to his
house, which was only forty rods distant, the slush had frozen hard.
The next day the surface of the country was one vast sea of ice.
Two miles south of Hodgson's farm a drove of hogs out from
protection froze to death. Cattle that were in the fields were held
fast by the slush freezing about their feet, and it became necessary
218 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
to cut away the ice to liberate them. J. Roberts, of Morton town-
ship, speaks of this change in the following language : " In the
winter of 1836, when there was some four inches of snow upon the
ground, a warm rain fell which transformed the snow into slush. I
was some thirty rods from my house when it began to freeze. I
immediately started for it, and before I reached there it was frozen
sufficiently hard to bear me up."
HIGH WATER.
We have spoken of the deep snow and the sudden atmospheric
change ; we now wish to record the seasons that the greatest amount
of water fell. It is claimed that the greatest rain-fall that has ever
occurred in this country was in 1835. There was no record kept of
the amount of water that fell by any of the methods in use at the
present time, and all we have to judge by is the high water in the
streams. The Illinois and tributaries are said to have been higher
than at the breaking up of the big snow in the spring of 1831, or
at any time since. The rains commenced falling in the early spring
and continued throughout the early summer. There have been,
perhaps, other seasons just as wet, but the streams were never so
high at any other time. During this period there were many hard
rains. In the early part of July a storm of rain, thunder and light-
ning occurred, which for severity has scarcely ever been equaled. It
spread throughout the West. The great prairies, then uncultivated
and undrained, were a vast lake, and fish were plenty in almost
every locality. The large ponds found here and there over the
prairies in an early day contained fish large enough for domestic
purposes. Tliese ponds would dry up in the summer but in spring-
time were well filled with water, and how the finny tribe managed
to get there is a query the "old settler" cannot answer in a more
satisfactory way than " they rained down when small." During this
season but little in the way of crops was attempted to be raised.
Hogs were fattened in the fall upon the mast, and those that were
not killed for food had to subsist during the winter upon acorns ;
with them it was literally " root hog or die."
The years 1842, 1844, and 1858, are also notable as years of great
rain-fall. During the early history of the county, when there were
no bridges, great difficulty was experienced in getting from place to
place in the spring-time on account of the high waters. At such
times ferrymen were allowed to charge double fare for carrying
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 219
people or goods across th'e streams. It is remarkable that so few
lives were lost during these seasons of high water, but the pioneers
were all expert swimmers, and it was very seldom one was drowned
•
LAND SALES.
In regard to the first land sales of government land in this part
of the State, we cojiy from John W. Dougherty's " History of
Washington : "
" The first land sales for this district were held in Springfield in
1830 or 1831. Prior to that date no title could be acquired to any
land in this district. The settlers, however, recognized the justice
of securing to each of their number the benefit of their labor, and
gave effect to this idea by appointing one of their number. Col. Ben-
jamin Mitchell, agent or registrar of claims. By this arrangement,'
and the paying of twenty-five cents to the registrar, each applicant
secured the registration of his claim, and the right to buy the land
he had improved when it came into market. This gave the lands a
commercial value in the hands of the holder, and also enabled the
person making the claim to sell and transfer it if he so desired.
These claims soon became an impoi-ttint item in the limited com-
merce of these early times, — the other items of wliich were grain,
beef, and pork. The principal purchasers were immigrants, most of
whom had little if any money, but labor and good promises passed
current at par, the latter being secured by the' honor of the prom-
isor. They were usually religiously observed. Indeed, men usually
make much of their honor when it is their only stock in trade.
Still, we are inclined to think thepro rata of honesty was greater in
those days than now, and for the following reasons : These men
were not speculators or fortune hunters, but earnest men, seeking
homes in the virgin soil of the Great West, and actuated by these
generous impulses, honesty was the natural consequence."
MONEY.
Money was an article little known and seldom seen among the
earlier settlers. Indeed, they had but little use fi)r it, as all business
was transacted by bartering one article for another. Great ingenuity
was developed in the barter of their commodities, and when this
failed long credits contributed to their convenience. But for taxes
and postage neither the barter nor credit system would answer, and
220 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
often letters were suffered to remain a considerable time in the post-
office for want of twenty-five cents, which was then the postage on
all letters fVom any great distance ; nor Avere they carried on the
fast express or mail trains. It was only every week or so that a
lone horseman, with mail bag thrown astride, would ride into a set-
tlement or village. If, however, the village was on the line of a
stage route, the old stage-coach would make its appearance as often.
It was not common, then, for persons to get many letters ; indeed,
one or two a month was considered a large mail. Nor did three
cents pay the postage upon a letter at that day. It seldom took less
than twenty-five cents, or two " bits," as Kentuckians would say.
THE BEAUTIFUL PRAIRIES.
The large prairies of the county presented a most beautiful sight
before they were settled. The following very descriptive lines on
" The Prairies of Illinois," by Captain Basil Hall, graphically por-
trays their beauty in their wild and native state :
" The charm of prairie consists in its extension, its green, flowery
carpet, its undulating surface, and the skirt of forest whereby it is
surrounded ; the latter feature being of all others the most signifi-
cant and expressive, since it characterizes the landscape, and defines
the form and boundary of the plain. If the prairie is little, its great-
est beauty consists in the vicinity of the encompassing edge of
forests, which may be compared to the shores of a lake, being inter-
sected with many deep, inward bends, as so many inlets, and at
intervals projecting very far, not unlike a promontory or protruding
arm of land. These projections sometimes so closely approach each
other that the traveler passing through between them, may be said
to walk in the midst of an alley overshadowed by the forest, before
he enters again upon another broad prairie. Where the plain is ex-
tensive, the delineations of the forest in the distant background
appear as would a misty ocean beach afar off. The eye sometimes
surveys the green prairie without discovering on the illimitable plain
a tree or bush, or any other object save the wilderness of flowers
and grass, while on other occasions the view is enlivened by the
groves dispersed like islands over the plain, or by a solitary tree ris-
ing above the wilderness. The resemblance to the sea which some
of these prairies exhibit is really most striking. In the spring,
when the young grass has just clothed the soil with a soddy carpet of
the most delicate green, but especially when the sun, rising behind a
\
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 221
distant elevation of the ground, its rays are reflected by myriads of
dew-drops, a more pleasing and more eye-benefiting view cannot be
imagined.
" The delightful aspect of the prairie, its amenities, and the ab-
sence of that sombre awe inspired by forests, contributes to forcing
away that sentiment of loneliness which usually steals upon the
mind of the solitary wanderer in the wilderness ; for, although he
espies no habitation, and sees no human being, and knows himself to
be far off from every settlement of man, he can scarcely defend him-
self from believing th?^ he is traveling through a landscape embel-
lished by human art. Tne flowers are so delicate and elegant as
apparently to be distributed for mere ornament over the plain ; the
groves and groups of trees seem to be dispersed over the prairie to
enliven the landscape, and we can scarcely get rid of the impression
invading our imagination, of the whole scene being flung out and
created for the satisfaction of the sentiment of beauty in refined
men.
"In the summer the prairie is covered with tall grass, which is
coarse in appearance, and soon assumes a yellow color, waving in the
wina'like a ripe crop of corn. In the early stages of its growth it
resembles young wheat, and in this state furnishes such rich and
succulent food for cattle that the latter choose it often in preference
to wheat, it being no doubt a very congenial fodder to them, since
it is impossible to conceive of better butter than is made while the
grass is in this stage.
" In the early stages of its growth the grass is interspersed with
little flowers, — the violet, the strawberry-blossom, and others of the
most delicate structure. When the grass grows higher these disap-
pear, and taller flowers, displaying more lively colors, take their
place ; and still later a series of still higher but less delicately formed
flowers appears on the surface. While the grass is green these beau-
tiful plains are adorned with every imaginable variety of color. It
is impossible to conceive of a greater diversity, or discover a pre-
dominating color, save the green, which forms a beautiful dead color,
relieving the splendor of the others. In the summer the plants
grow taller, and the colors more lively ; in the autumn another gen-
eration of flowers arises which possesses less clearness and variety of
color and less fragrancy. In the winter the prairie presents a mel-
ancholy aspect. Often the fire, which the hunters annually send
over the prairies in order to dislodge the game, will destroy the
15
222 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
entire vegetation, giving to the soil a uniform black appearance, like
that of a vast plain of charcoal ; then the wind sweeping over the
prairie will find nothing which it might put in motion, no leaves
which it might disperse, no haulms which it might shake. No
sooner does the snow commence to fall than the animals, unless
already before frightened away by the fire, retire into the forests,
when the most dreary, oppressive solitude will reign on the burnt
prairies, which often occupy many square miles of territory."
PRAIRIE *FIRES.
Fires would visit the grassy plains every autumn. The settlers
who had pushed out from the timber took great precaution to
prevent their crops, houses and barns from being destroyed, yet
not always did they succeed. Many incidents are related of prairie
fires. Kezer Hancock, after assisting in cutting about twenty tons
of hay in 1838, most of which he mowed himself by hand, saw, to
his great sorrow, one of those devastating prairie fires in its onward
course toward it. On it came with great rapidity, and before any-
thing could be done to save his hay it was converted into a black-
ened mass.
The first winter J. M. Roberts came to this county, he, with his
father and brother, made 9,000 rails and laid them up around their
fields. A hunter set fire to the grass in November to find a wounded
deer. The fire spread and swept off all their fences ; their 9,000
rails, 16 acres of corn, their main crop, and only by great efforts
were their house, barn and hay saved.
The great conflagrations were caused either accidentally, or design-
edly from wantonness, or with a view of bewildering the game.
The fire often spread further than it was intended it should. Where-
ever were extensive prairie lands, one-half was burned in the spring
and the other half in the autumn, in order to produce a more rapid
growth of the naturally exuberant grass, destroying at the same time
the tall and thick weed stalks. Violent winds would often arise and
drive the flames with such rapidity that riders on the fleetest steeds
could scarcely escape. On the approach- of a prairie fire the farmer
would immediately set about "burning back," — that is, burning off
the grass close by the fences, that the larger fire upon arriving would
become extinguished for want of aliment. In order to be able, how-
ever, to make proper use of this measure of safety, it was very es-
sential that every farmer should encompass with a ditch those of his
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 223
fences adjoining the prairie. AVhen known that the conflagration
could cause no danger, the settler, though accustomed to them, could
not refrain from gazing with admiration upon the magnificent spec-
tacle. Language cannot convey, words cannot express, the faintest
idea of the splendor and grandeur of such a conflagration during the
night. It was as if the pale queen of night, disdaining to take her
accustomed place in the heavens, had despatched myriads upon my-
riads of messengers to light their torches at the altar of the setting
sun until all had flashed into one long and continuous blaze.
" O, fly to the prairies and in wonder gaze,
As o'er the grass sweeps the magnificent blaze:
The earth cannot boast so magnificent a sight, —
A continent blazing with oceans of light."
The following graphic description of prairie fires was written by
a traveler through this region in 1849 :
" Soon the fires began to kindle wider and rise higher from the
long grass ; the gentle breeze increased to stronger currents, and
soon fanned the small, flickering blaze into fierce torrent flames,
which curled up and leaped along in resistless splendor ; and like
quickly raising the dark curtain from the luminous stage, the scenes
before me were suddenly changed, as if by the magician's wand,
into one boundless amphitheater, blazing from earth to heaven and
sweeping the horizon round, — columns of lurid flames sportively
mounting up to the zenith, and dark clouds of crimson smoke curl-
ing away and aloft till they nearly obscured stars and moon, while
the rushing, crashing sounds, like roaring cataracts mingled with
distant thunders, were almost deafening; danger, death, glared all
around ; it screamed for victims ; yet, notwithstanding the imminent
peril of prairie fires, one is loth, irresolute, almost unable to with-
draw or seek refuge."
CHAPTER II.
IMPORTANT LABORS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSONERS' COURT.
FIRST MEETINGS.
THE FIRST meeting of the County Commissioners' Court of
Tazewell county was held at the house of William Orendorif,
April 10, 1827. Mr. OrendoriPs cabin stood in the edge of the timber
just south of the present village of Hopedale. Jas. Lotta, Benjamin
Briggs and George Hittle, the Commissioners, were all present.
They seemed to have had the county's interest solely at heart, and
their proceedings attest that they were judicious, honest and upright
officials. They were sworif in on the previous day by William Oren-
dorff. Justice of the Peace. Who it was that administered the oath
of office to him we are unable to learn, but all things must have a
beginning, and we surmise that after 'Squire Orendorif had admin-
istered the oath to them, he in turn was sworn to faithfully perform
the duties of his office by one of the Commissioners.
The records of this Court open with the simple statement that the
Court held a "special term April 10, 1827." It gives us no inform-
ation whatever concerning its organization or previous history, but,
like the Holy Scriptures, begins with unqualified statements and
records its acts with greatest simplicity.
The first order of the Court was, "that Mordecai Mobley be
appointed Clerk." Bonds for the faithful perfijrmance of the duties
of the office were immediately demanded, whereupon William Oren-
dorif and William H. Hodge stejjped forward as his surety. The
second order was to the effect that the Court be held at the house of
Ephraim Stout, in Stout's Grove, until public buildings could be
erected. This grove is located in the northern part of McLean
county, but at the time was a portion of Tazewell.
Another special term of the Court, being the second meeting, was
held Wednesday, April 25, 1827, with all the above named Com-
missioners present. John Benson was appointed Treasurer, William
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 225
Orendorif and Absalom Funk going on his bond. At a meeting
held the following day, William Orendorif was allowed $7 to replace
the money expended by him for advertising for the formation of
Tazewell county.
FIRST COUNTY-SEAT.
The commissioners appointed to locate the permanent seat of
justice made the following report:
"Be it remembered that we, the undersigned, Commissioners
appointed under the authority of the ' act creating Tazewell county,'
to locate the seat of justice for the aforesaid county of Tazewell,
agreeably to the provisions of said act, having satisfactorily explored
and examined the county with that view, do unanimously agree upon
and select the northwest quarter of section number seventeen,
township 24, north of range 2 west of the Third Principal Meridian,
as the seat of justice of said county, — the court-house to be situated
at or near the spot where the said Commissioners drove down a stake,
standing nine paces in a northeastern direction from a large white
oak blazed on the northeastern side.
"Given under our hands and seals this 22d day of March, 1827.
"Job Fletcher,
"AViLLiAM Lee D. Ewing,
"Tom M. Neale."
The site selected was that of the present village of Mackinaw.
It was christened with the Indian name of the river near which it was
located. Neale and Fletcher each received $13.50 for their labor of
locating the county-seat, while, for sqme cause unknown to us,
Ewing was paid more liberally, he receiN^ng $19.50.
FIRST TAX LEVY.
Thursday, April 26, 1827, the Commissioners again convened in
official capacity. A revenue to defray the expenses of the newly
organized county must be raised. Accordingly a tax of one-half of
one per cent, was "laid on the valuation of the following description
of property, to-wit : On slave or indentured negro or mulatto ser-
vants; on pleasure carriages, distilleries, stock in trade; on all
horses, etc., etc." There was not at that time any levy made upon
real estate.
226
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
MACKINAW LAID OFF.
William H. Hodge, County Surveyor, was ordered "to survey
and lay off the town of Mackinaw." This was to be completed by
May 20th. The Clerk was ordered to have an advertisement inserted
in the Sangamon Spectator for three weeks, to the effect that on the
second Monday in June, 1827, a public sale of lots in Mackinaw
would be had. He was also ordered to have 100 handbills of the
same nature printed. Thus we see the pioneer fathers appreciated
the good results of advertising.
FIRST SALE OF LOTS AT COUNTY-SEAT.
According to the time specified, June 11, the settlers gathered
from all parts of the county upon the site of their proposed
town and county-seat. No doubt they looked forward with fond
expectation for a bright and prosperous future for their capital.
This, however, they peacefully enjoyed but for a short season, for
soon the public buildings were removed elsewhere, and the flattering
prospects of Mackinaw were overshadowed. Lots were sold on a
credit of four, six and eight months, and we should judge at unu-
sually large figures.
Mathew Robb was appointed "cryer," — for which service he
received $1.50 — William Lee, clerk, and the great sale began. Abra-
ham Funk bid in the first lot, being lot 1 of block 1, for which he
gave the handsome sum of $51. The sale went on, evidently with
considerable animation, for good prices were obtained and ready sales
made. The following is a full and complete list of lots sold, with
name of purchaser and amount paid :
Name. Lot. Block. Price.
Abraham Funk 1 1 $51 00
Thomas Dillon 2 1 29 50
John Funk 3 1 15 25
William Gilston 4 1 9 00
RobertMcClure 35 00
Mathew Robb 4 6 15 25
Mordecai Mobley 2 6 45 00
Richard Latham 6 6 23 00
EH Redman 8 6 20 00
Abraham Dillon 1 7 85 00
Thomas Dillon 2 7 42 50
J. B. Harbert 3 7 30 00
Daniel Dillon 4 9 83 00
Name. Lot. Block. Price.
Hugh L. Welch 3 9 46 75
Isaac Funk 2 9 34 50
James Lurley 1 9 35 00
Joel Hiatt 4 10 35 00
William Council 3 10 23 00
Abraham Funk 6 11 44 25
Martin Porter 5 11 15 00
Jonas H. Hittle 8 7 25 00
Jacob Judv 7 7 20 50
Thomas Briggs 5 9 11 00
Henry Stillman 1 .... 6 85 00
Samuel Judy 6 9 15 00
The aggregate amount received for the twenty-five lots was
$858.50.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 227
PETITIONS FOR ROADS.
A meeting of the Court was held at Stout's Grove, Monday, June
4, 1827, Commissioners Hittle and Lotta being present. William
H. Hodge brought in his bill for surveying 93 lots in Mackinaw,
which, amounting to $35.50, was ordered paid, although we are at a
loss to know where the funds came from, as we have no record of
any being raised previously.
For several years the petitions for roads occupied a very large
proportion of the Court's time and attention, and consumed more
space to record than all other proceedings. They are similar in con-
struction and it would be useless, and worse, to speak of them as
often as they occur. We give, however, as a fair sample, the first
one presented, which was at this session. It was oftefed by George
Hittle, and was " for a road from Mackinaw, the county seat, the
nearest and best route to where Christopher Orendorif is building a
mill on Sugar creek, thence as near as practicable on a direct route
to the bridge over Kickapoo creek. Which was read and ordered
that said route be viewed, marked and staked, and that Robert
McClure, Mathew Robb and Mara Stout be appointed to view, mark
and stake the same." These gentlemen viewed the route and
returned a favorable report, and were allowed for the three days'
labor it took, $2.25 each. Rob't McClure was given 75 cts. extra
for " furnishing wagon to haul stakes in for three days."
<X>UNTY DIVIDED INTO PRECINCTS.
At the regular term in June, 1827, the Commissioners divided
the county into election precincts as follows : That part of the
county east of the third principal meridian and north of township
22 composed Blooming Grove precinct ; all south of township 23,
east of the third principal meridian and including also one range
west of the same line, to the southern boundary of the county,
comprised Kickapoo precinct ; all lying west of range 1 west of the
third meridian and south of township 23, composed Sugar Creek
precinct ; all west of the third meridian and north of township 22
and east of range 3 west, composed Mackinaw precinct ; all west of
range 2 west and south of the center of township 25, and north of
township 22, composed Sand Prairie precinct ; all west of range 2
west and north of the center of township 25 north, composed Ten
Mile precinct.
228 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
PLACES APPOINTED FOR HOLDING ELECTION.
Election was ordered to be held in Blooming Grove precinct at
the house of John Benson, and William Orendorif, Henry Vamickle
and Ebenezer Rhodes were appointed judges.
In Kickapoo precinct at Michael Dickeson's house, with George
Hand, James Burleson and Isaac Funk, judges.
In Sugar Creek precinct at the house of a Mr. Walters, with John
Judy, George Miles and Walker Miller, judges.
In Mackinaw precinct at M. Mobley's house at the county-seat,
with Eobert McClure, Abraham Stout and Paton Mitchell, judges.
In Sand Prairie precinct at the house of Samuel Woodrow;
judges, Isaac Perkins, Xathan Dillon and William Eades.
In Ten Milo- ' /u-ecinct at the house of Thomas Camlin. Austin
Crocker, Jacob Funk and Hezekiah Davis were appointed judges.
For many years there was a constant change going on in regard
to election precincts and road districts. At almost every meeting of
the Court some alteration was made.
FIRST COURT-HOUSE.
Tuesday, June 26, 1827, H. Warren, editor of the Sangamon
Spectator, brought in his bill for advertising the sale of lots at
Mackinaw, which, for six insertions, and 100 blank notes, 100 blank
bonds and 100 handbills, amounted to $16.62J. This the Court
deemed just, and directed the Clerk to draw an order on the Treas-
urer in favor of Mr. Warren for said amount.
On the same day the Court proceeded to let the contract for build-
ing the court-house. The following specifications of this structure
are spread upon the court records :
"The body of the house to be of hewn logs 24 feet long and 18
feet wide ; the logs to face at least one foot ; one story and a half
high, nine feet to the story. The roof to be of joint shingles well
nailed on ; two batten doors of black walnut plank, one inch thick,
to be hung with three-inch butts. The doors to be well cased with
good timber. Two twelve-light windows in the first story, and one
four-light window in the end of the house in the second story. The
window lights to be 8 by 10 inches ; the windows to be well cased,
glass put in and put in the house, A lower floor of puncheons well
hewed and jointed. A floor overhead of sawed plank one inch and
one-quarter thick. Ten joists to be put in the house, 5 by 7 inches,
A-%
A
County Clerk.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 231
to be sawed or hewed. The house to be well chinked and daubed,
and the corners sawed down. The gable ends to be weather-boarded
with shaved boards. Each window to have a shutter made of one-
inch plank, and the same to be hung with two and one-half inch
butts. A chimney place to be sawed out at one end of the house,
say the four lower logs seven feet wide. The whole to be completed
in a workmanlike manner on or before the first day of October next."
The bid for the construction of this building was " cried off to
Amasa Stout," he being the lowest bidder and agreeing to erect the
house for $125. Evidently the contract was let in the manner of
the present mode of selling goods at auction, save it was " knocked
down " to the lowest instead of highest bidder.
This court-house was rather an imposing structure for the time,
being a story and a half in height, with glass windows. True, the
architecture was not of ancient grandeur or elegance, nor of our
more modern style ; but we doubt not, when the building was com-
pleted, it was looked upon with as much pride as the people of
to-day view the showy structures built after the latest and most
improved plan. The site selected was lot 1 of block 11.
HOSPITABLE COMMISSIONERS.
George Hittle, one of the Commissioners, was allowed $1.50 for
helping lay off the town of Mackinaw. He was also allowed $1.25
for money expended for whisky on the day of the sale' of lots, — thus
evincing that the Commissioners were liberal and hospitable. They
would not invite the settlers to a wild, uninhabited place to attend
the sale without providing refreshments. John Benson, County
Treasurer, was given $24.50 for taking a list of the taxable property
and assessing the taxes for 1827.
FIRST GRAND JURY.
The following are the names of the gentlemen composing the first
grand jury. They were appointed in June, 1827, to serve at the
October term of the Circuit Court :
William Orendorff, John H. Rhodes, William Walker, Sandy
Hurst, Peter McCullough, William Gilston, Thomas Rutledge,
George Hand, Robert Guthrie, William Johnson, Robert Stubble-
field, John Judy, Walker Miller, INIathew Robb, Ephraim Stout,
Nathan Dillon, James B. Thomas, Thornton Dillon, James Scott,
Seth Williams, Jacob Funk, William Holland, and Horace Crocker.
232 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
CHANGE OF TREASUEER.
William H. Hodge returned into court, during the month of
August, 1827,«the amount of taxes he had succeeded in collecting,
which was $100.67. He was allowed for his services seven and one-
half per cent, of this sum. Thus we see the compensation for riding
over what is now five or six counties, and collecting the yearly tax,
was but a little over $7.50.
At the March term, 1828, the County Treasurer came into court
and settled his account with the county, handing over to the Com-
missioners county orders to the amount of $4.81J, and $15.00 in
money collected on fines. Mr. Benson then retired from the arduous
duties of a public official to the humbler sphere of private life.
Another Treasurer must be selected, and a very singular method
was adopted for choosing Benson's successor. The office was let to
the lowest bidder. The man who would agree to accept the position
for the least amount was the one selected. The record puts it in the
following terse language : " The Commissioners proceeded to let out
to the lowest bidder the office of County Treasurer for the present
year, 1828, which was purchased by Isaac Waters at $21. 87^."
There was evidently close figuring for the office, caused, perhaps, by
competition, for we see that Waters even divided a cent on his bid.
What remarkable changes half a century has wrought in the manner
of choosing public officials as well as in every thing else.
FUNK vs. BOGARDUS.
At this meeting Jacob Funk petitioned the Court to revoke the
ferry license of John L. Bogardus for non-attendance to his duties.
It appears that the fault-finding Jacob looked with covetous eyes
upon Bogardus, and by pure selfishness was prompted to thus peti-
tion the Court. Bogardus was contentedly ferrying the people with
their goods and chattels across the Illinois opposite Peoria, while
Funk sat upon the bank and sought to find fault that would rob
Bogardus of that right, which he would then himself seize. After
summoning Bogardus before the Court and a careful investigation of
the charges the petition was refused. Unable to gain his point in
this way Funk applied for a license at or near the same point where
Bogardus was engaged, but the Court desired no competition and so
refused the application.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 233
CHANGE OP CLERK.
At a meeting March 17, 1828, J. C. Morgan was appointed Clerk
in the place of Mordecai Mobley. Whether Mordecai resigned, un-
ceremoniously left, his term expired, or was removed, the records do
not say. We only know the change was made. We often wished,
as we feel confident all who may undertake the arduous, difficult
task of reading these records will also do, that the change had not
been made, for Morgan's chirography is not to be compared to
Mobley's for correctness or legibility, nor is his orthography nearly
so good, and as for punctuation, that is an art Morgan evidently
was entirely unaquainted with. We may add that Mr. Mobley has
not yet lost the art of writing a clean legible hand and of composing
well. After an elapse of just 52 years, lacking three days, from the
time he opened the first records of this county, he sends us a speci-
men of his handwriting in the shape of a letter. Though over a
half century of time — the destroyer of all things — has elapsed since
he first recorded his name in the Commissioner's Court records, yet
he writes quite as clearly and evenly to day as he did then.
FIRST SALOON.
The first "tavern" license was granted at this term of the Court.
A tavern in those days was a combination of an inn and a saloon.
The proprietor, however, did not expect to derive any great revenue
from the hotel, but looked to his liquors for an income. Many of
these " taverns " were the smallest of log cabins. Here and there all
over the country, sometimes miles from any other cabin, they might
be found. Some of them were indicated to be such by signs nailed
to a post, tree, or to the side of the cabin. These were of the
rudest make and design. Some simply had the word "entertain-
ment" scrawled upon them, while others, more explicit, read "enter-
tainment for man and beast." Some were still more definite, and
said simply, "whisky and oats." The storms of a half century, the
advancement of civilization, the culture of the age, have all combined
to transform these rudest of signs, scribbled by an uncultured pioneer
upon hewn boards, into gilded and glittering letters artistically traced
upon French-plate glass.
The name by which the place was known where liquor was vended
was shortly after this changed from "tavern" to "grocery" or
" groggery " and subsequently assumed the appellation of " saloon,"
234 HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
and finally, that coming into disrepute, many have adopted the more
modern title of " sample room," " halls," "gardens," etc.
On the 3rd day of March, 1828, Rufus North, Jacob Funk and
Jonas Hittle applied for tavern licenses, which, upon filing good and
sufficient bonds, and paying into the county treasury the sum of
$2.00, were granted. They were restricted by the following rates
established by the Court immediately thereafter granting said
licenses :
For each meal 18f cents.
Lodging each person 6^
For each horse fed all night on grain and forage 25
For each single feed 12^
For each half pint of whisky ]2|
For each half pint of brandy 25
For each half pint of rum and cordial. 25
For each half pint of wine 25
For each quart of cider or beer 12^
These as will be seen were moderate charges, and evidently the
tavern keepers thought the rate established for lodging was too mod-
erate, for we find it was soon raised to 12 J cents.
THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT.
It now appears that while Funk was providing entertainment for
man and beast, his neighbor Bogardus had his ferry license, which he
had obtained from Sangamon county, proved and spread upon the
records here. He also secured the passage of an act prohibiting any
one to establish a ferry within one mile of his own.
Bogardus was evidently an old and extensive operator in the ferry
business, for we find he held his license granted while Tazewell
county was under the jurisdiction of Sangamon, and further, we find
on Sept. 5, 1828, he made application to this Court for another ferry.
He selected, as the most remunerative place for his branch ferrj',
the Illinois at the mouth of Fox river. It must be remembered
that Tazewell county at that time spread over a vast extent of terri-
tory. The entire northeastern part of this great State was under
their control. Old settlers have told us they well remember when
Tazewell county constables were dispatched to Chicago to summon
men to appear at the courts of this county.
Yes, though unlearned in law and unacquainted with science and
literature, the Commissioners held jurisdiction over a large district,
and that they conducted the public affairs rightly, and built a firm
and solid foundation upon which the future prosperity and greatness
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 235
of this portion of our beloved State should rest, can not be gainsaid.
This is plainly evident from the unparalleled strides made in agricul-
tural and mechanical progress ; from the hundreds of thousands of
busy inhabitants now dwelling within this territory ; and from the
vast stores of wealth accumulated solely from resources within it.
Those great and unconcealed wonders reflect honor and credit each
day upon their founders ; and as days and years multiply, when the
same territory over which they presided shall be teeming with mil-
lions of earnest and energetic people, then will greater honors and
more exultant praise and adoration be expressed for the brave, sturdy
pioneers who explored and opened up a region so prolific, and founded
a community that for genius, enterprise and wealth will in the near
future out-rank many older settled countries, and indeed will vie
with many kingdoms of the earth. Then these vast prairies will be
cultivated as a garden. Every forest tree and woodland will be util-
ized, and populous cities with numerous factories and vast stores of
commerce may be numbered by the score. Then will the modes of
travel be superior to the remarkable railroad facilities of to-day, and
transport the increased products with greater facility. Indeed, every-
thing shall then be as different and as superior to what they are at
present as the things of to-day are as compared with those of fifty
years ago. Our readers may regard this as wild and unreasonable
speculation — as wholly visionary ; but they are only the conclusions
deduced from a careful study of history — of a comparison of what
has been accomplished, with certain advantages, with the results that
the superior advantages now enjoyed will as certainly accomplish.
FIRST COURT-HOUSE OCCUPIED.
The May term, 1828, was convened in the new court-house.
Whether or not the Commissioners were pleased with the work we
do not know. They spent no time in passing wordy resolutions
commending the architect's skill, or otherwise expressing their opin-
ion of the work, but immediately proceeded to their official business.
We fear, however, that at the present time, if a court was convened
in such a structure w^e might look for resolutions, emphatic and
strong, condemnatory of it. The building rested upon piling a few
feet from the ground, and beneath it many stray hogs found shelter.
From the continued wallowing quite a basin was formed, which was
often filled with water. From the burning rays of summer's sun
hogs Avould seek this cheerful spot and lazily roll around, enjoying
236 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
in fullest measure the refreshing bath. The floor, having been laid
of green oak, soon shrunk, leaving large cracks between puncheons.
Through these winter's chilling wind whistled, while in summer the
contented hogs grunted a melodious accompaniment to the eloquent
appeals and oratory of the pioneer lawyer.
FIRST JAIL.
Necessarily, as faithful historians, we are compelled to mar the
pleasant progress of this chapter by reference to prison bars. It
seems as the county advanced in wealth and population the evil
principle kept pace with it; and, as immaculate and good as the
pioneer fathers undoubtedly were, even among them there were
wicked and vicious characters. Accordingly, June 28, 1828, after
due notice, the contract for building a jail was " cried oif to Robert
McClure, he being the lowest bidder." It appears that Mathew
Robb was a partner of McClure' s in this contract.
Robb was a native Kentuckian, and came to Stout's Grove,
McLean county, in 1827. That place at the time was the county-
seat of this county, and Hon. Mathew Robb was the noted man
of the place. He was Justice of the Peace for many years. A
couple by the name of John Pore and a Miss Brown concluded
to live together for better or for worse, and accordingly Pore called
upon 'Squire Robb to perform the marriage rites. The former
crossed Sugar creek for the purj)ose of taking Robb over ; but as
the weather had been rainy, the creek was high and inconvenient to
cross. Pore crossed it on a log while the 'Squire sat on horseback
on his side of the stream. Mr. Pore brought his bride down to the
creek ; as it was now about eight o'clock at night torches were lit.
It was raining at the time, but they paid no attention to that.
'Squire Robb rode a little distance into the water in order to distin-
guish the bridegroom and bride on the opposite bank, and the inter-
esting ceremony was performed. McClure was born in Kentucky
in 1792 and came to Stout's Grove in 1827.
They agreed to erect the building for $325.75, almost three times
the amount paid for a court-house. It was to be completed before
the first Monday in September, 1829. It was a two-story structure,
16 feet square, made of solid hewn timber, and was one of the strong-
est and most costly jail buildings erected by the pioneers throughout
Central Illinois. Nevertheless, the very first prisoner incarcerated
within its heavy walls took flight the same night. This individual,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 237
whose name was William Cowhart^ is also noted for being the first
horse-thief in Tazewell county.
FIRST PRISONER.
It was a horse that belonged to James Willis that Cowhart pur-
loined. Of all bad characters horse-thieves were the most hated by
the pioneers, and as soon as it was noised around that a horse had
been stolen the settlers set about determined to bring speedy retri-
bution upon the head of the offender. He was soon found and
brought back to the settlement and turned over to the Sheriff. This
was before the completion of the jail. The prisoner was chained to
one of the men and sent into the field to work. At night he was
chained to the bedstead. In this manner he was kept for some two
weeks. The jail being completed he was carried thither and
ushered into the new prison, no doubt with much satisfaction on the
part of the injured settlers. The heavy hewn door swung to leav-
ing Cowhart the first and only inmate. What must have been their
chagrin when on the following morning they found their prisoner
had flown. With the aid of a helper he bid them adieu during
the night.
We subjoin the following interesting and detailed account of this
affair from the pen of the venerable Nathan Dillon, the first settler
of the county. It also very strongly illustrates some of the charac-
teristics of the pioneers. This reminiscence first appeared in the
Bloomington Pantagraph in 1853.
PURSUIT OF A HORSE-THIEF.
" James Willis and his brother were the first pioneers on Sandy,
in the neighborhood of where the flourishing village of Magnolia,
in Marshall county, now stands, they having located there as early
as 1827 or '28, their nearest neighbor at that time being William
Holland, who had already settled at Washington, Tazewell county,
where he still lives. One cold Friday in the winter James Willis,
who had been boarding at William Hall's, in Dillon settlement on
the Mackinaw, started on a trip with a young man calling himself
by the name of Cowhart, whom he had hired to go and work for
him at his new location. The distance was fifty miles and Hol-
land's the only family on the road. Willis was mounted on a fine
horse, well equipped. The day was very cold and when they got to
238 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Crow creek, eighteen miles north of Holland's, Willis dismounted
and let Cowhart have his horse, overcoat and equipage, and took the
gun belonging to Cowhart, supposing it to be loaded.
" Cowhart mounted, but instantly took the other end of the road.
Willis, thinking that a shot from the gun might bring the rogue to
a sense of duty, brought it to bear upon him, but upon trial found
that the touchhole had been plugged with a green stalk, and so the
man, money and equipage disappeared without any hindrance.
"Willis was quite unwell eighteen miles from any house and it
was snowing, but he beat his way back to Holland's. It happened
that Abraham Hiner, a neighbor of mine, was there, and Willis
made out a description of the robber and sent it by Hiner to me,
with the request that I should do what I could for him.
" We immediately called our neighbors together and it was agreed
that Daniel Hodson, my brothers Daniel, AValter and Joseph, and
myself Avould give him a chase, though it still remained cold and it
was thirty-six hours after the commission of the robbery, which
occurred forty miles away.
" The next morning (Sunday) we started out destitute of any
knowledge which way the rogue had taken, struck across the head
of the Mackinaw stream through a country all wilderness, and
stayed all night at Money creek. It blew up colder in the night,
and the next morning the weather was as sharp as it ever gets. We
were on the way again by sunrise ; went on to the head timber land
of the Mackinaw where we found a little settlement. The good
woman where we stopped assured us that the object of our pursuit
had eaten his dinner there just about that hour two days before.
The ground was bare in places and covered with drifted snow in
others ; we were good trackers and took the trail and followed him
to Cheney's Grove, where he had stayed over night. Remaining
with Cheney till morning we started early and pursued him to
Fielder's (near where Urbana now stands). There he had spent the
night forty-eight hours previous. The cold Monday, however, al-
ready spoken of he had traveled only ten miles, laid by the remain-
der of the day, disposed of the horse and plunder, and resumed his
journey on foot, being one day and ten miles' travel ahead of us. It
was in this part of the country that he struck out upon the great prai-
rie, without path or track of any kind. The snow was still deeper
and enabled us to keep his track to Georgetown, where he had passed
the night previous. We here procured a pilot and pursued him to
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 239
Newport on the Wabash. Arriving there at about one o'clock at
night Ave put up our horses. We had expected to take him in bed
here, but he was up and off. We renewed the pursuit on foot, it
snowing all the while ; we soon procured fresh men and horses, and
assisted by a good tracking snow, overtook him near Rockville, In-
diana. It seemed a hard turn for the poor wretch to right about
face, but with a sneaking smile on his countenance he returned with
us to the Wabash, where a fine-looking old man approached us with
a cup of whisky in his hand, and in a bold, open manner said :
' You have caught the villain.' He made some other remarks and
we passed on, Cowhart being betAveen my brother Joseph and my-
self We observed to him that such talk must be very disagreeable,
at which he burst into a loud cry, and the blood gushed from his
nose at a greater rate than I had ever seen it flow from the nose of
any man. It seemed as if he would bleed to death, but after apply-
ing snow pretty freely he recovered and became calm ; but instead
of that sneaking smile his face Avore a very solemn air. The first
AA'ords he said Avere : ' Had it not been for my old father I should
not ha\^e been in this fix ; said he had persuaded him about three
years before, and they had agreed to undertake the business, but this
AA^as the first time he had A^entured or been caught in such a fix.'
" When issuing out of the Wabash bottom we ascended a steep
point Avith deep raA'ines on each side. We noticed him slyly in-
specting the grounds. His countenance lighted up as if he Avas
about giving us the slip. We told him that if he made such an at-
tempt Ave Avould surely shoot him. He pretended to regard as
strange Avhat we said, but afterAvards confessed that he had intended
to run doAvn the steep, covered as it Avas with thick vines, and es-
cape by running along the trackless ice in the stream.
" When Ave arriA^ed at the taA'ern at NcAvport it Avas some time be-
fore sundown, and as Ave had slept none the prcA'^ious night we con-
cluded to rest the balance of the evening. The bar-room was full
of men gathered in to Avitness our movements. Brother Joseph and
myself obtained leave of the landlady to take the prisoner into her
room until Ave could dry our feet, AAdiich Avere excessively Avet from
AA'alking in the snoAV. After some time the landlord came into the
room and Avhispered to the prisoner, at Avhich the good lady of the
house took umbrage, saying that he had better speak aloud so that
we could hear. He then said there Avas a man in the other room
that Avished to see him, and I remained a moment to inquire of the
16
240 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
woman what was the prisoner's real name. When I repaired to the
bar-room I found a young man there writing. I ordered our friends
to get our horses, beginning to mistrust the house was no, place for
us. About the time we were ready to start the man at the writing-
desk proved to be a lawyer, and presented a petition to our prisoner
to sign, praying for a writ of habeas corpus. I snatched the peti-
tion from the prisoner's hand, saw what it was, gave it to the lawyer
and told him to keep it to himself or I would give him trouble ;
whereupon he grew saucy, but went back when I walked towards
him until he reached the end of the room ; told me, I believe, that
I was ' out of order ;' not to touch him. I told him plainly that if
I heard another word from him I certainly should slap his jaiv, then
left him pale as death and turned to the prisoner and took him by
the collar. He attempting to get away, some of the men took hold
of me to assist him, exclaiming that there should be no dragging
out. I gave him a stout jerk, at the same time Hodson and my
brothers Daniel, Joseph and Walter assisted him with a shove, and
he went out in short order. AVe set him astride of one of our
horses just as the landlord and another man approached, and said we
had no business to come there in such a way. The prisoner begged
for help. We told him that if he attempted to get off the horse, or
if any man attempted to assist him, we would ' blow him through.'
With that we left them and got into our own State the same night.
Next day we started for home, which we reached with our prisoner,
after being out nine days, some of which were as cold as I ever
experienced.
"Willis recovered all that Cowhart had robbed him of except
two dollars and fifty cents.
"It was the same winter that the jail at Mackinaw was being
built ; and the prisoner was guarded by old Jimmy Scott, Deputy
Sheriff, until it was deemed sufficiently strong to keep him safely.
Soon after he was put into it, however, somebody Mas friendly
enough to let him out, and he escaped trial and the penitentiary.
"Now I will just say to my friends: I have shown you in this
chapter the way to bring in the boys who steal your horses ; if they
are stolen imitate the grit of the deep-snow men, and never give
them up until you have them safe."
At the April term, 1829, the Commissioners offered a reward "of
$20 for the apprehension and delivery of William Cowhart who was
let out of jail, and also the person who let him out." Cowhart
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 241
proved to be an expensive settler to the county, for, we find the
Court gave James Scott $68 for keeping him. For guarding
Cowhart, John Hodgson, William Davis, John Ford, A. Wright,
William Sampson and F. Seward each received $2, Nathan Dillon
$33.68 ; Daniel Hodgson $5, and Martin Porter $1, making a total
of $119.68, Avithin $5.32 as much as the court-house cost, and it
would have paid the County Treasurer's salary for three years.
FIRST FINE,
At the December term, 1829, the first fine received for a violation
of the peace was recorded. This was a case wherein Isaac Storms
assaulted James Brown. For many years the only cases before the
justices of the peace were for assault and battery. The pioneers
enjoyed a "free fight" and entered into sport of a pugilistic nature
with great interest, seldom resorting to knives or pistols. But when
it came to administering law from the justice's bench it was con-
demned and a fine imposed, however, simply because the law read
thus and so.
ESTRAY PEN.
One of the curious provisions of the law in the times of which
we are now writing was, that stock was permitted to run at large.
The Supreme Court of the State reversed the common law idea
prevailing almost universally in regard to stock running at large.
In consequence of this every man was compelled to fence his entire
farm to protect his crops from wandering herds. The decision of
the Court required stock to be fenced out instead of in. It would
have been much less expensive for each man to have protected him-
self from his own stock.
Each settler had recorded in a book kept by the County Clerk,
certain ear-marks and brands adopted by him for marking his stock,
and by which he could identify his cattle and hogs. The vast prai-
ries were then in their native condition, free from fences, cultivation
or any sort of improvements. By many they were thought to be
worthless for all practical farming purposes, except to furnish graz-
ing for stock. Horses and cattle often wandered into adjoining
counties. There were, however, means by which such stock might
be recovered. In each county seat was an estray pen wherein all
unclaimed and unknown stock was confined. Notice was quite often
made of the number, kind and marks of the stock taken up. In
242 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
1829 a contract for building an estray pen at Mackinaw was award-
ed to J. C. Morgan and Jonah Hittle. The pen was 30 feet square
and cost the sum total of $13.
FEARLESS BUT FEARED COMMISSIONERS.
During the year 1829 the Commissioners pursued the even tenor
of their way, granting petitions for roads, ferries, tavern licenses and
election precincts ; appointing and removing officers with an inflexi-
bility of purpose that is really amusing. When they investigated a
matter there were no palliating circumstances to screen the delinquent.
But the judicial guillotine cut off official heads with a refreshing im-
partiality. Negligent officers feared the power of the " tripple C "
more than Damocles feared the hair-suspended sword. They simply
and plainly said " go," and the official hesitated not but went at once,
and that was the end of it.
The Commissioners commenced the year's labor by decapitating,
officially, all the road supervisors of the various districts. Then
Abraham Carlock was appointed Treasurer to succeed Isaac Walters,
and at a salary of $40, which shows an increase in the emoluments
of the office of nearly 100 per cent.
FIRST SALOON IN PEKIN.
In March, 1830, George W. Hinch applied for a saloon license
to retail liquors in Pekin. This was the first saloon in that city.
The petition requests that " George W. Hinch be allowed to sell all
kinds of spirituous liquors by the smaul. "
BOOT AND SHOE SHOP ESTABLISHED.
William Walter was desirous of contributing to the comfort of
his fellow settlers in the way of manufacturing boots and shoes. To
this end he desired the Court to give him lot 8 in block 8 in the
town of Mackinaw. The enterprising Commissioners granted the
request, providing he would improve and occupy said lot for at least
one year.
SAND PRAIRIE PRECINCT CHANGED.
The citizens of Sand Prairie election precinct petitioned the Court
to move the place of holding elections to Pekin, as the "present
place of holding elections is inconvenient and oppressive to many
citizens. "
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUXTV. 243
FIRST PAUPER.
Sarah Stout has the honor of being the first pauper in Tazewell
county. At the July term the Court gave her to the care of Nathan
Dillon for three months, after which time the Court again took her
in charge and let her out to the lowest bidder.
clerk's OFFICE.
In July, according to a previous notice, a clerk's office of the fol-
lowing description was cried ofi* to the lowest bidder : " Building
to be frame, 14 feet square, one story high, 9 feet between floors,
weather-boarded with planks or boards well shaved ; with one door
and two windows ; a plank floor laid down with green plank with-
out nails. Covered with shingles." On the records, but marked
over, are the words, " with brick chimney put in it." The judi-
cious Commissioners evidently concluded they could not aiford such
a luxury as a brick chimney, and repealed that clause of the speci-
fications. The contract was let to Jonas H. Hittle, for $100.
A CHANGE OF COMMISSIONERS.
In August, 1831, an election Avas held, when Nathan Dillon,
Timothy Hoblit and Isaac Blaken were chosen County Commissioners.
The Clerk, seemingly endeavoring to gain the good will of the newly
elected dignitaries, addressed them as the Honorable Nathan Dillon,
etc. They had scarcely received the reins of government into their
hands before they began a system of improvement truly enterpris-
ing. The Clerk was immediately ordered " to contract for the build-
ing of a good stick-and-clay chimney to the court-house on the most
advantageous terms." The next order was to Isaac Baker to procure
a good table for the use of the Court. On reconsidering, the whole
system of repair was placed exclusively in the hands of Jonas Hit-
tie. Contractor Hittle received the following specific instructions :
" On the first floor a bench to be erected in the west end, for the use
of the Judge, to be reached on either side by good steps. In front
of this bench [which was simply a platform] a bar to be raised con-
sisting of good banisters, and plank arranged for the witnesses'
seats. On either side of the Judge's bench to be good seats for the
jury, and two movable scats for the Clerk.
"A stairway to be built in the northeast corner reaching the sec-
ond story. The upper floor to be laid and divided into two rooms
by a partition, these rooms to be used as jury rooms. A good 14-
244 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
light window to be placed in the east end, and the chimney place to
be closed up. A cheap cast stove to be purchased and put up in the
northwest corner of the room. All the work to be completed by
April 10, 1831."
MOVED TO PEKIX.
The Court convened in the court-house at Mackinaw in March,
1831, when it transacted its usual routine business of granting
road petitions, liquidating pauper's bills, settling up with public of-
ficials and attending to various matters; after which the Court
packed up their bag and baggage, shook the dust of Mackinaw from
their judicial feet and turned their faces westward. They brought
up at Pekin, June 6, 1831, in the old school-house on the corner of
Elizabeth and Second streets, subsequently known as " the Doolittle
school." Just why the Court left their pleasant quarters at Macki-
naw, especially after so recently making such extensive improve-
ments in and around the court-house, the records do not state. But
from other sources we learn that by an act of the Legislature passed
Dec. 25, 1830, the county of Tazewell was divided and McLean
county formed therefrom. To further carry out the design of some
of the leading spirits in procuring this division, a committee con-
sisting of William Porter, John T. Stuart and Milton Chilton was
appointed by the same body to re-locate the county-seat. By the
same act appointing the committee, which was passed Feb. 16, 1831,
the courts of the county were moved to Pekin, where they should
remain until the seat of justice was permanently located.
Thus in obedience to the mandate of higher authority the Court
submits with becoming resignation, and not one word of growling
or grumbling does it utter so far as we glean from the records.
Considerable dissatisfaction was displayed, however, on the part of
the citizens of I^Iackinaw at this desertion. They had indulged
themselves in the fond hopes of making a great and prosperous city.
These hopes and expectations were based solely, almost, upon the
influence and advantages of being the county-seat.
The Clerk's office in Pekin was located " in the upper room of
William Haines' corner building, occupied by William M. Farns-
worth." The Court paid as rental for this room, where it also sub-
sequently convened, |2 per month. These quarters were retained
until Oct. 1, 1831, when the office was moved to Gideon Hawley's
room, where it remained for a month ; after which the Court was
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 245
held for a time, as far as we can learn, in D. H. Holcomb's tavern.
Thus we have a very striking and altogether significant contrast —
a court of justice and a groggery in the same cabin.
THE IRREPRESSIBLE FUNK.
If the Court thought to escape the importunities of their old
petitioner, Jacob Funk, on making the move to Pekin, they soon
found they were sadly mistaken. No sooner had they found a room
wherein to convene in official capacity than the indomitable Jacob
appeared and again importuned the Court to revoke Bogardus' ferry
license, A citation was immediately issued commanding the said
Bogardus to appear and show cause why his license should not be
taken from him. Promptly at the convening of the Court at the
September term. Funk was on hand and requested that attention be
given to the citation issued against Bogardus. The Court, however,
let other matters tak*e the precedence until Sept. 8, when Bogardus
appears before the Court and is confronted by Funk and Eads,
and, in the language of the record, the " trial is gon into." After
hearing the evidence pro and con the Court gravely decided " that the
ferry license issued to John Bogardus by the Sangamon county
Commissioners and confirmed by this Court is hereby revoked."
Thus Funk had at last gained a victory over his enemy, Bogar-
dus, and no doubt was content. Abner Eads, however, was not
satisfied with having Bogardus ousted, but applied for a ferry at the
same place ; but this the Court promptly refused. Bogardus again
petitioned for a ferry across the river at Fort Clark, but the Court
not wishing more trouble, refused to grant it.
FIRST PEDDLER, AND FIRST SLAVE EMANCIPATED.
In Sept., 1831, the Court granted to Laman Case a license to ped-
dle clocks. For this privilege for three months they assessed him
$25.00. To Case belongs the honor of being the first peddler in
Tazewell county.
At this time the Court was charging for yearly licenses to " vend
merchandise," ^9; for liquors, $3. The former price of saloon
license was $2 per year, while for selling clocks the Court charged
$100. They evidently regarded time-pieces as a luxury they could
easily do without, while they looked upon liquors as a necessity.
At the June term, 1832, one Morrison, "a man of coullor," pre-
sented his certificate of freedom from his owner, William N. Burnett,
246 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
J.
and had it confirmed by the Court. Thus Morrison was the first
slave to be emancipated in Tazewell county.
VETERAN PAUPERS.
In June, 1832, John Summers was allowed $78 for keeping old
man Miller. In the June previous Summers came into Court and
explained that a certain Nicholas Miller, a pauper, was living at
county expense while he had a well-to-do son named Joseph, who
should, both in equity of the law and from filial affection, support
his father. Thereupon the Sheriff was posted after the undutiful
Joseph. It appears, however, that Joseph was not found at the time,
nor until 1834, if we rely upon the records for imformation, for no
mention is made of him until that time. He then appears and gives
as his reason for not supporting his parent, " inability to do so."
At the same time appeared Hosea Stout and Benjamin Jones, rel-
atives of Sarah Stout, the first pauper, and gave the same reason for
not "taking charge of their poor relation,"
Thus the veteran and venerable paupers were thrown back upon
the county, whereupon the Court ordered " Nathan Dillon and Wm.
McClure to dispose of said paupers at public sale or private con-
tract. It seems that they were not regarded as valuable paupers and
not one bid was made for them. But all through the records for
years are bills allowed for their maintenance. In 1835 the Court,
being worried with the many claims for bills for supporting Miller,
lifted up its voice and peremptorily commanded the Sheriff to sell
him. The poor old man had outlived his years of usefulness and
even became a burden to the indulgent county.
ANNUAL STATEMENT.
A statement of the fiscal concerns of the county for the year 1832
was made as required by law. We give this in full, thus showing
the receipts and expenditures for the sixth year of the county's ex-
istence. It will be seen that the expenses for all purposes were
scarcely more than half a year's salary of the poorest paid official of
the present day.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
247
EXPENSES.
Commissioners' fees $71.00
Clerk's fees 60.00
Keeping poor 161.00
Cost of elections 72.00
Criminal charges 32.00
Sheriff's fees 72.75
Clerk's office rent 24.00
Viewing roads 55.00
Assessor's fees 40.00
Sundry account 31.75
Keeping estrays 70.00
Total expenses $689.50
INCOME.
Revenue from tax $463.12
Treasurer's receipts 122.62
State paper 9.00
Fines assessed in 1831 5.00
Fines assessed in 1832 24.00
Ferry tax 10.00
Tax on merchants' licenses 82.00
Tax on merchants' permits 5.00
Town tax 8.50
Total income $729.24
FIRST INQUEST.
The first inquest held in the county, according to these records,
was on the body of little Hamilton Porter, a widow's son, in 1833.
The boy, who was nine years old, was accidentally shot. Andrew
Tharp, Coroner, was allowed $18.75 for performing this duty.
COUNTY-SEAT RAMBLING.
We come now to a period wherein the county-seat again took
a move. The removal which we are about to refer to was in com-
pliance with the order of three Commissioners appointed by the Leg-
islature "to select a permanent location for the seat of justice of
Tazewell county. " Before proceeding further, however, on this
particular move we will give the history of all the county-seat
ramblings from the beginning, away back in the early part of the
year 1829.
On the 22d day of the first month of that year the Legislature
passed an act making and defining a new boundary for Tazewell
county. This act, no doubt, was procured by ambitious persons
dwelling in other parts of the county than Mackinaw and vicinity,
who desired to secure the county-seat. By this act the county was re-
duced in size very materially, yet it still extended over a vast region,
containing 79 townships and parts of townships. In 1830 the town
of Pekin was laid oif, and she being anxious to supplement her many
advantages by adding thereto the county-seat, which it was alleged
she desired done. We have no reason to doubt that such allegation
was true. Mackinaw, the county-seat, however, being so near the
center of the county, she had little hope of success unless she could
cut off a portion of the eastern part of the county, thus throwing
Mackinaw near the boundary line.
248 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
At the succeeding election for members of the Legislature,
William L. D. Ewing, of Vandalia, was chosen Senator, and
William Brown, of Pekin, Representative. Brown was easily
induced to consent to cut off from Tazewell county, for the county
of McLean, all that portion of Tazewell county embraced in ranges
1, 2 and 3 east, and 1 west of the third principal meridian, contain-
ing over 100,000 acres. On the 25th of December of the same
year (1830) McLean county was created by the Legislature. Two
months later John T. Stewart, Matthias Chilton and William
Porter were appointed by the General Assembly to select a
permanent county-seat for Tazewell county. In the meantime
courts and public offices should be at Pekin. These commissioners
failed to make any selection of a location. Indeed they neglected
to consider the matter at all so far as any records of their actions
are concerned. Year after year came and went until July 12,
1835, before anything further was done. At that date the Legisla-
ture appointed John C. Calhoun, of Sangamon county, James
Gaylord, of Putnam, and Isaac C. Pugh, of Macon, as a commis-
sion to permanently locate the county -seat, in lieu of the former,
which failed to act.
This able commission convened Sept. 17th, and gravitated toward
Tremont, where they met the generous and enterprising John
H. Harris. This gentleman, to secure the county-seat for
Tremont, offered to donate to the county 20 acres of land. This
tract was just south of the town of Tremont on the northwest
quarter of section 19, Tremont township. A further donation of
$2,000 in money, to aid in erecting public buildings, was proffered
by the citizens of Tremont. This was placed in the State bank, at
Springfield, to await the decision of the commission. They
were satisfied with the location and looked no further. Two
thousand dollars in money and 20 acres of rich prairie land were of
great consideration in the eyes of the worthy gentlemen, for at
the time the annual revenue of the county did not reach $1,400.
As might have been expected this selection was very unsatisfactory
to Pekin.
The commission made an elaborate report, which for smooth,
oily wording and rhetorical finish excels any other report, petition
or order spread upon the records of this Court. At the conclusion
of this well- written document the commissioners say : "The point
named was selected with a view to the convenience of the present
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 249
and future population of Tazewell county. It is a position as
nearly central to the present and probable future population of the
county as we could select and at the same time secure the other
advantages for the healthy and favorable site for the building
of a town."
The Court records and public offices were moved to Tremont in
1836, where the county-seat remained until 1850. In the mean-
time the county was greatly developed; Pekin became the me-
tropolis and the principal seat of commerce of the county. The
State, during the great internal improvement excitement, — from
1836 to 1840, — had began the construction of a railroad from
Pekin to Tremont, and the former town had increased rapidly.
About the year 1839 complaint was raised by the people at Pekin
against the county-seat being at Tremont, and thereupon began a
bitter warfare between the two places. It is alleged that in order
to hold the county-seat and cripple Pekin, the people of Tremont
conspired with parties desiring new counties and county-seats,
around Tazewell county, and in 1841 had an act passed by the
Legislature cutting oif the south half of township 21, range 2, to
DeWitt county, and all Tazewell county west of range 4, and south
of township 22 and west of range 5, and south of the middle of
town 23, to the county of Mason. A month scarcely elapsed
when, Feb. 27, another act was passed taking all that part of
Tazewell county, being the northeast quarter of township 25 north,
and of the east half of 26 north, range 2 east, and all of townships
27 and 28, westward to the Illinois river, and forming of it the
county of Woodford. After having these large slices taken off, for
the formation of the counties named, it seems that both the most
liberal and the most selfish should have been satisfied ; but it appears
they were not. Again, in February, 1843, it was proposed, and an
act so passed by the Legislature, to cut off for Woodford county
that part of this county east of section 29, township 26, range 4,
and all of townships 26, range 2, and 26, range 3. This was,
however, on the condition that the people should approve the
measure by ballot. At an election held in May, 1843, the proposi-
tion was rejected, and a stop made to this dividing up and cutting
off of Tazewell's territory. Had they continued it much longer
there would have been nothing left of the county but Pekin and
Tremont. Then, we doubt not, a division would have been made
and both towns have at last gained a county-seat.
250 HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
At the time the Legislature passed the last mentioned act it also
authorized the people of the county to vote at their regular August
election upon the proposition of the removal of the county-seat
from Tremont to Pekin. This they did and defeated the proposi-
tion. During the following winter Pekin and the western por-
tion of the county suffered seriously from a malignant scarlet fever,
which caused the death of over fifty of the inhabitants of Pekin.
This checked the progress of that city for a time and nothing
further was done toward moving the county-seat until 1849. On
the 2d day of February of that year the Legislature again passed
an act authorizing the people to vote upon the measure of removal
the first Saturday in April of the same year. At that election
Pekin at last triumphed and won the long-coveted county-seat,
which she has since retained.
The question having been finally and definitely decided the court-
house was immediately erected by the citizens of Pekin, in fulfill-
ment of their promise. The last meeting of the Board of Super-
visors, which had come in vogue in the mean time, that was held
at Tremont was Aug. 26, 1850, when it moved in a body to their new
and more commodious quarters, and on the same day dedicated
the edifice by holding therein their first meeting at Pekin.
During these twenty years of local war, of course the bitterness
of feeling was intense, and great injury was done to all parts of the
county. Many of the older citizens attribute very largely the
prosperity and commercial advantages attained by Peoria over
Pekin to the bitter feuds engendered during this long and
eventful strife.
DISCONTEXTED.
We will return to the immediate labors of the Commissioners'
Court and follow their proceedings during its last decade of service.
At the January term, 1836, the people, or tliat portion of them
who were dissatisfied with the location selected for the county-seat,
petitioned the Court in the following language :
"We, the undersigned, citizens of Tazewell county, respectfully
solicit the Commissioners to suspend proceedings in the county-seat
matter until better ground can be obtained, either by re-location or
a legal removal of the donation ; and we individually and collect-
ively pledge ourselves to support you in this matter."
The petition was signed by 115 persons. No action was taken
upon it.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 251
Messrs. Pugh and Gaylord, two of the State commissioners, pre-
sented their bills for locating the county-seat, which were as follows :
Gaylord, 35 days' work at $3 per day, $105 ; Pugh, 36 days' work
at $3 per day, $108, Owing to the ill feeling still so manifest in
regard to the location chosen by these gentlemen, the Court refused
to take any action on these bills at that time. At the March term,
however, they allowed the two gentlemen, — the third never having
sent in his bill, — the moderate sum of $27 a piece, or at the rate of
77|^ cents per day. It must have been rather humiliating to those
" $3-a-day " gentlemen to have had their services so lightly appre-
ciated. They do not molest the Court further, however, but are
resigned to its dictation.
clerk's office AT TREMONT.
December 11, 1835, a one-story frame building, 18 by 24 feet,
was ordered erected on a private lot in Tremont, for Clerk's office.
The contract was let to Theo. Fisher for $285. To secure the faith-
ful performance of the work he was compelled to give bonds in the
sum of $1,000.
Thomas P. Wilson, County Surveyor, in 1836 laid off" into lots
the twenty acres of land given by Harris at Tremont. The Clerk
was then ordered to advertise the sale of these lots in the following
papers : Sangamon Journal, Missouri Republican, Louisville Adver-
tiser, and Cincinnati National Republican.
The sale occurred in May, 1836. The aggregate amount received
from the sale of lots was $18,636. Of this $4,271.18 was paid in
cash, and $12,440.12 in notes secured by mortgages on the property.
The highest price paid for any lot was for lot 1 in block 5, bought
by James Wibrav for $620.
THE COURT MOVES TO TREMONT.
After settling up all their business and liquidating all their little
bills at Pekin, the Court bid farewell for once and forever to the old
Methodist church edifice which had sheltered their judicial heads for
half a dozen years. They filed out, closed and barred the door, and
turned their faces Tremont-ward, where, June 6, 1836, they assem-
bled in the Clerk's office.
They must have more imposing and commodious apartments,
however, and accordingly ordered the Clerk to advertise for bids for
building a temporary court-house. This was a two-story frame, 20
252 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
by 40 feet. The contract was let to William Dillon, June 25, for
$1,150. Of course the court-house could not entirely fulfill its
purpose without a jail near. Being very economical, and having
a jail at Mackinaw, the Court ordered it removed to Tremont. The
jail had not followed the Court on their travels but remained at its
original site. The contract for removing the prison was given to
John T. Bird, who was to receive $138 for the same. It was re-
moved and veneered with brick, and a brick addition was erected
as a residence for the Sheriff's family.
CHANGE OF CLERKS.
At the August term, 1836, John C. Morgan was ordered to con-
tract for plastering and building the chimney for the Clerk's office.
This was the last official act of the faithful Morgan. He had been
Clerk of the Court for eight long years, going with it as it moved
from place to place, and always discharging his duties with greatest
fidelity. He had seen Commissioner after Commissioner occupy the
Judge's bench, yet he still remained. At the September term he
tendered his resignation and J. H. Morrison succeeded him. It
appears that the newly elected Commissioners, Messrs. Railsback,
Hull, and Fisher inclined to be more favorable toward Morrison,
and to prevent an unmerited removal Morgan resigned.
COURT-HOUSE AT TREMONT.
In December a plan for a court-house was adopted and the con-
tract ordered to be let in January, 1 837. It was to be a brick build-
ing, two stories above basement in height; 60 feet long, including
portico of 10 feet, by 40 wide. The specifications conclude with
the following finishing touches for the structure : " The windows to
be closed with good blinds and painted four coats, two of French
green ; the outside doors to be fitted with best locks, and the entire
building to be fitted in full Grecian order of architecture. All
plates referred to are in Shaw's second edition of Architecture, 1832.
Said building is to be surmounted by a cupola, finished with octa-
gon blinds and containing a good bell deck, and the dome to be
surmounted with an iron rod supporting three gilt balls."
The contract for its erection was let to William F. Flagg, Jan.
13, 1837, for $14,450. The building was first occupied in Septem-
ber, 1839. Flagg was an extensive contractor and builder, and
withal a man of great mechanical skill and genius. He built a
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 253
court-house for Putnam county, and a court-house and jail for La-
Salle, and a court-house for this county within a period of four
years. In 1848 he commenced the manufacture of reapers, and was
sued for an infringement of patent by C H. McCormick, and dam-
ages laid at $20,000. Abraham Lincoln was employed to defend
him. The suit was carried on for two years in the United States
courts and finally McCormick was beaten. Shortly after this Mr.
Lincoln met Mr. Flagg on the street in Bloomington and sauntered
into his shop, who inquired of him how much his fee was for
gaining the case for him. Mr. Lincoln leaned on the counter,
rested his head upon his arms, and after a little consideration said :
" I think ten dollars will pay me for my trouble." Nor would he
accept more.
After the transaction of this business the Court "adjourned to
meet to-morrow at 9 o'clock a.m," which we see was a more fash-
ionable hour and in keeping with the modern spirit of the age.
The early Commissioners away back in 1827 and '28 met at 7
o'clock promptly ; but the customs of civilization began to make
themselves felt, and the honorable Commissioners would fain
indulge in a second morning nap and not don the ermine until the
" third hour of the day." A few years later we find 10 o'clock was
the stated time for opening court. The Circuit Court, when Stephen
T. Logan was judge, "adjourned to meet at 6 o'clock to-morrow
morning."
THE LAST OF POOR OLD NIC. MILLER.
During the years 1840 and '41 we find a remarkable increase in
the number and amount of bills allowed for keeping paupers.
Throughout the record during these two years are bills upon bills of
this nature. The increase seemed surprising to the Commissioners
themselves, and they made particular inquiry into the status of
aifairs before granting the bills. It seems the county was imposed
upf)n in several instances by the unnatural actions of those who
preferred that their relations should be kept at the county's expense
rather than their own. One Jane Morrill it was found had a hus-
band living able to provide for her.
Poor old Nic. Miller, the ancient pauper, was still on hand, but
his bill these years was curtailed to nearly one-half. Year after
year the customary bill for his support was handed in, until through
familiarity the name of "Nic. Miller" became a by-Avord. We
254 HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
doubt not that when the old veteran died, and no more bills for
his care were presented to the Court, the generous, kind-hearted
Commissioners dropped a tear, felt a pang of sorrow steal through
the tender cords of their heart, and softly muttered, " Poor old Nic.
Miller is no more !" Death, the poor man's best friend, called the
old gentleman away during the year 1845. The poor old man who
had been refused bread by his own son, and who had been buffeted
about by many adverse winds, now returned to trouble them no
more.
It appears that many of the paupers duringjth§ two years above
referred to rightly belonged to McLean ci)unty, for we find the
Court held a special session in June, 1841, to take some action in
regard to the exodus of paupers from that county into this.
CENSUS OF 1846.
The census of 1846 is the first spread upon the records. We find
every few years census-takers were appointed, but the enumeration
was never recorded in the Court records. Why they were thus
omitted we know not. We give the enumeration for 1846 :
Washington precinct, _____ 1,987
Tremont " _____ 1,967
Pekin «__--_- 2,354
Union " - - - - - - 771
Delevan «______ 508
Mackinaw «_____- 1,136
Sugar Creek «------ 384
Total population of the county - - 9,107
LAST LABORS OF THE COURT.
In September, 1847, the Commissioners bought land for a poor-
farm for which they gave $965.25. The laud is located near the
present county farm in Elm Grove township. William Woodrow
was given the contract for erecting a house on this farm, but the fol-
lowing Commissioners annulled the contract and re-let it to John
Brown.
In December, 1848, the Clerk was ordered to advertise for bids
for building a jail, costing $3,500, but in the early part of 1849 all
proceedings looking toward a new jail were postponed. No doubt
this was owing to the agitation of the removal of the county-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 255
seat to Pekin, for on the records we read, in speaking of the post-
ponement, " Circumstances having recently transpired rendering the
letting of said jail impolitic. "
At the April term, 1849, the usual large number of orders were
granted, — among them one to Abraham Lincoln for $10, being
his fees as the county's attorney in the case of the County vs.
Dehority.
Wednesday, Nov. 7, 1849, the last meeting of the County Com-
missioners' Court was held. After transacting such business as
properly came before them, the Commissioners adjourned never to
re-assemble, and so passed away the time-honored and economical
system of county management by a trio of commissioners.
17
CHAPTER III.
BLACK HAWK WAR.
BLACK HA"\VK CROSSES THE MISSISSIPPI.
IN 1831, Black Hawk and his band had crossed to their old
homes on Eock river, but had negotiated a treaty and returned to
the west side of the Mississippi, promising never to return. But
on April 6th, 1832, he again crossed the Mississippi Avith his entire
band. It was not on a war raid that brought him over in 1832^
but as there are diversity of opinions in regard to his motives we
will briefly give a few of those of most credibility. It is claimed
that he was invited by the Prophet to a tract of land about forty
miles up Rock river. Others say he crossed with no hostile inten-
tions but to accept an invitation of a friendly chief, Pit-ta-wak, to
spend the summer with him. Still others who agree that he did
not come to fight, sav when he retired to the west side of the
Mississippi the previous year he received a large quantity of corn
and other provision, but in the spring his provisions were gone, his
followers were starving and he came back expecting to negotiate
another treaty and get a new supply of provisions.
There is still another explanation that may enable the reader to
harmonize the preceding statements and to understand why Black
Hawk returned in 1832, It is well known that in nearly all the
treaties ever made with the Indians, the Indian traders dictated the
terms for their allies and customers, and, of course, received a
large share of the annuities, etc., in payment for debts due to them.
Each tribe had certain traders who supplied them. George
Davenport had a trading post at Fort Armstrong. His customers
were largely the Sacs and Foxes and he was held in high esteem by
them; in fact, his word was hnv. It is said that Black Hawk's
band became indebted to him for a large amount and were unable
to pay. They did not have good luck hunting during the winter
and he was likely to lose heavily. If Black Hawk, therefore,
could be induced to come to this side of the river again and the
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COrNTY. 257
people so greatly alarmed that a military force would be sent in
pursuit of him another treaty could be made ; he might assist in
making terms and get his pay out of the payments the Govern-
ment would make, and all would be well. Mr. Amos Farrar, who
was Davenport's partner for some years, and who died in Galena
during the war, is said to have declared while on his death-bed,
that the " Indians were not to be blamed, that if they had been let
alone there would have been no trouble — that the band was owing
Mr. Davenport and he M'anted to get his pay and would, if another
treaty had been made. "
Although Black Hawk's movement across the Mississippi was at
once construed as a hostile demonstration, and Davenport skillfully
cultivated the idea, he was accompanied by his old men, women and
children. No Indian Avarrior ever went on the war-path incum-
bered in that way. More than this, it does not appear, from the
6th of April until the battle of Stillman's Run on the 12th of
May, that a single settler was murdered, or suffered any material
injury at the hands of Black Hawk or his band. In truth, Hon.
H. S. Townsend, of Warren, Jo Daviess county, states that in one
instance, at least, when they took corn from a settler they paid him
for it. Capt. W. B. Green, of Chicago, writes : " I never heard
of Black Hawk's band, while passing up Rock river, committing
any depredations whatever, not even petty theft." Frederick
Stahl, Esq., of Galena, states that he was informed by the veteran
John Dixon that " when Black Hawk's band passed his post, before
the arrival of the troops, they were at his house. Ne-o-pope had
the young braves well in hand, and informed him that they
intended to commit no depredations, and should not fight unless
they were attacked. " W. S. Rankin, of Pekin, who was in the
northern part of the State at the breaking out of the war, and par-
ticipated in it, says he has no idea that Black Hawk Avould have
molested the whites had the military not attacked them ; that his
coming was purely peaceable.
We do not wish to uphold Black Hawk in the depredations he
committed upon the whites. We do, however, desire to record
events impartially. We believe Black Hawk's motives were
greatly misunderstood, and it is due him and due to posterity to
record the facts of this war as nearly impartial as it is in our power
to do. Whatever his motives might have been, it is the unanimous
testimony of the survivors now residing on the old battle-fields of
258 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
that day, that except the violation of treaty stipulations and an
arrogance of manner natural to the Indian who wanted to make a
new trade with the " Great Father, " the Sacs and Foxes at first
committed no serious acts of hostility, and intended none, until the
alternative of war or extermination was presented to them by the
whites.
FORTS BUILT.
In the meantime the settlers all along the frontier had been
making active preparations to defend themselves. Forts and
stockades were built in every settlement. At Pekin, around the
court-house, or the Snell school-house, in June, a picket fort was
built. This was called Fort Doolittle. A singular oversight in
the construction of this stockade, and one that caused a great deal
of merriment when the danger was over was, that Fort Doolittle
was so constructed that in case of a siege the occupants would
have been entirely destitute of water. A fort or rather a palisade
was constructed around Perkins' mill, near Circleville. A fort was
also constructed at Washington. Happily, however, none of these
were ever besieged by the Indians. Often the settlers would
receive a big scare and they would all seek protection yet no
depredations were committed here.
TROOPS RAISED.
No sooner had volunteers been called for than recruiting began
in Tazewell county. Capt. Adams began to muster his men
at Pekin and ere long was oiF to the seat of war with a company.
Capt. Adams was in command with Lieutenants B. Briggs and
Alexander McNaughton, and J. M. Roberts, musician. They were
accompanied by Col. Daniel Bailey and Major Isaac Perkins. Col.
Bailey induced men to go that the full quota might be raised, which
was 75, by promising those who had no horses to press into service
horses for them. One volunteer after being out a few days began
to grow timid, and soon became so badly scared at the prospects of
meeting the Indians that he went to Capt. Adams and told him he
must go home as he was so badly frightened that he could do
nothing but run if they got ii^to a battle. The Captain told him
he was glad he had thus informed him, for if they had got into
a fight he might have stampeded all his men. He got permission
to go home. He had a good horse and there was a volunteer who
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 259
had none, so the soldiers took his horse from him and gave it to the
other man, and sent the timid ranger home afoot, and it is said the
way he come was a caution. He came nearly running himself
to death, coming almost all the way back .to Tazewell county
on the run.
They soon joined companies from McLean, Peoria and Fulton
counties. There was a question now who should have command of
these battalions, Col. Bailey or Major kStillman. Col. Bailey
claimed it on the ground of seniority, but as they were old friends
this contention did not last long. It was agreed that both should
command, take turn about. On reaching Dixon Gen. Gaines found
them both jolly good fellows, and the men all liked them, so decided
that they should hold equal rank and both command.
Col. Bailey lived at Pekin and died several years ago in that
city. Major Isaiah Stillman, afterwards pi'omoted to General, died
at Kingston, Peoria county, Monday, April 15th, 1861, in about
the 67th year of his age. He was one of the early settlers of the
State and for a number of years resided in this county.
We have made the greatest endeavor to get the names of
Tazewell county volunteers but have failed. We have made
inquiries from everybody who was supposed to know and even
made a trip to Springfield, thinking to find them on the records in
the Adjutant-General's office, but all in vain.
stillman's defeat.
Dixon was the point where the regular and volunteer troops were
to meet. Major Stillman with his men reached Dixon, May 10th.
The steady, careful movements of the regulars made the volunteers
very impatient, and the latter were also exceedingly anxious to ob-
tain the laurels to be won. The men under command of Major
Stillman were particularly anxious to "ketch the Indians" before
the latter could get away. They said the regulars would come
crawling along stuffing themselves with beef, and the Indians would
never be "ketched." The officers yielded to the impatience and
jealousy of the men and requested Governor Reynolds to let them
go out and reconnoitre the country and find the Indians. Captain
Eads, from Peoria, insisted very strongly that they should be allowed
to go. The other captains all volunteered for they did not wish to
be termed cowards. The question Avith them was not whether the
matter was prudent and necessary, but whether they dared to go.
260 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Major Stillman consented to go against his better judgment. He
asked Mr. John Dixon's opinion, and the latter told him very de-
cidedly that the business of " ketching the Indians " would prove
very disastrous for a little force of less than three hundred men.
Major Stillman then said that as all of his officers and men were
determined to go, he must lead them if it cost him his life. Still-
man's force started, and just before night on the 12th of May, 1832,
they encamped at White Rock Grove, in the eastern part of Marion
township. Ogle county, near what is now called Stillman's creek.
He was in close proximity to Black Hawk's encampment, but did
not know it. Soon after becoming aware of the immediate presence
of an armed force Black Hawk sent a small party of his braves to
Stillman's camp with a flag of truce. On their approach they were
soon discovered by some of the men, who, without reporting to
their commander, and without orders, hastily mounted and dashed
down upon the approaching Indians. These not understanding this
sudden movement and apparently suspicious, all, save two who
claimed to be Pottawatomies, retreated toward the camp of their
chief. The whites killed two as they further pursued the retreating
Indians. The two Indians who refused to run were brought into
camp. They said : " Me good Pottawatomie," but pointed over the
hill and said, " Heap of Sac." John W. Caldwell claimed that they
were spies from the Sacs and Foxes. Mr. Caldwell and Joseph
Landes of Groveland township, J. M. Roberts of Morton and El-
more Shumaker of Washington, are the only Black Hawk M^ar
soldiers who went from this county now living. W. S. Rankin of
Pekin was in the war but he did not enlist from this county, al-
though his home was here. The two captured Indians proposed to
trade for a gun belonging to David Alexander, of Pekin. While
they were poking their fingers into the barrel, some of the men who
chased the retreating foe returned and said: "Parade, parade."
They declared the Indians were thick over the hill. When Black
Hawk and his war chief, Ne-o-pope, saw the volunteers dashing
down upon their camp, their flag of truce disregarded, and believing
their overtures for peace had been rejected, they raised the terri-
ble war-whoop and prepared for the fray.
At this juncture the volunteers formed and moved forward. Be-
fore going far an Indian prisoner was brought into the camp and
sent to the rear. The men moved on and made a halt near a slough.
Here the officers went ahead and some kind of a parley was held
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 261
with the Indians. The latter swung a red flag in defiance. Orders
were then given to march forward, when Capt. Eads of Peoria came
riding back, and said he was not easily fooled, and that there was
not less than a thousand Indians coming. The men were then
marched back in some confusion across the slough to high ground.
There they formed, or tried to form, but were in bad order. The
Indians then poured out of the timber, to the front, right and left,
and both parties commenced firing. But the whites were in such
bad order that those in the rear were in danger of shooting those in
front. The Indians came on whooping, yelling and firing, and en-
circled around on both sides. Major Stillman ordered his men to
mount and retreat and form a line across the creek, and also ordered
them to break the line of the Indians on the left. Here was confu-
sion, and one veteran says they did not go to the right or to the left
but right straight for home. When they arrived at the creek great
effort was made by the officers to halt their men and fight. The
brave Capt. Adams cried out to his men " Come back, you cowards,
and we will whip them." With eight men he made a stand and
repulsed a squad of Indians each time, who made eight separate and
distinct charges upon them. At last, seeing that with that little
force he could do nothing, he told his men they would have to look
out for themselves. Elmore Shumaker and Jonathan Haines were
with him at this time and soon saw him fall. He sold his life dearly
though. He had his horse shot from under him when the re-
treat began. He bore a deadly hatred towards the Indians as they
had killed many of his relations. Major Perkins was overtaken and
killed about a mile and a half from the creek, and his body terribly
mangled. The loss at this disastrous engagement fell most heavily
upon this county. Of thirteen sturdy pioneers who fell at this, the
battle of the Sycamore, nine were from Tazewell county.
The main force scampered off to Dixon as fast as they could.
David Wright, in speaking of the hardships incident to this retreat
would often say, he " was three days and nights in the howling wil-
derness with nothing to eat and nothing to cook it in."
HORRIBLE MASSACRE.
After the fatal engagement which has since been known as
" Stillman's defeat " or " Stillman's run," the Indians began to com-
mit great depredations upon the whites. Among other fiendish and
murderous raids was one made upon a little settlement on Indian
262 HISTOKY OF TAZEWELL. COUNTY.
creek. Three families by the names of Davis, Hall and Pettigrew
lived there. The Indians appeared in the day-time and massacred
them in cold blood, taking a savage delight in their infernal deeds.
Some of the inmates were immediately shot down, olhers were pierced
through with spears or dispatched with the tomahawk. The Indians
afterwards related with an infernal glee, how the women had squeaked
like geese when they were run through the body with spears, or felt
the tomahawk entering their heads. All the victims were carefully
scalped; the children were chopped to pieces with axes; and the
women were tied up by the heels to the walls of the house. There
were two young ladies, daughters of Mr. Hall who formerly lived in
this county, who tried to conceal themselves by crawling into bed.
They were discovered by two young braves who determined to have
them for wives. Their names were Rachel and Silvia Hall, aged
fifteen and seventeen. They were hurried by forced marches beyond
pursuit. After a long and fatiguing journey with their captors,
through a wilderness country, with but little to eat, and being sub-
jected to a variety of fortune, they were at last rescued, $2,000 being
given as a ransom. It is said that the Indians exacted by far the
largest ransom for the elder sister, as she was more quiet and gave
less trouble, but they let the younger sister go pretty cheap, as she
was so saucy and impudent that she made her captors much trouble.
The women are still living and have relations in this county. Mrs.
Ellen Studyvin, of Dillon township, whose husband was in the Black
Hawk war, tells us she very distinctly remembers this massacre.
Many of the troops as they were passing stopped at her house for
water. The Misses Hall just after their release took dinner with
her. They related very fully all the details of the horrible murder
of their father, mother and little sister, and their neighbors. They
said they could see the scalp of their little sister every day in the
wigwam. Each of these young ladies were given a section of land,
after their rescue from the Indians, by the United States. W. S.
Rankin, of Pekin, who was in the Black Hawk war, was well ac-
quainted with the two Indians that found these girls and took them
from their captors. They were White Crow and Little Priest, Win-
nebagoes ; both smart, well-behaved Indians. The former had great
love for Mr. Rankin, who lived at the Galena lead mines before the
war. White Crow heard that he had been killed and mourned
greatly, but when he saw him unharmed he threw his arms around
him and came near hugging him to death for joy.
i
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 263
The war went on resulting in the defeat of the Indians and the
capture of their leader. The rangers came home and were dismiss-
ed from service. They received therefor the remunerative sura of
86 cents per day for self and horse. Afterwards the General Gov-
renment was kind enough to give each participant 80 acres of land.
"old mike" and THE RACE FROM THE INDIANS.
Joseph Landes, of Groveland township, who was in the Black
Hawk war, participated in the engagement at Old Man's Creek, or
since known as Stillman's creek, and the battle is known as Still-
man's defeat. Mr. Landes said they made the Indians run at this
battle, but the whites led them in the race towards Dixon, most of
their company making the best time. The horse Mr. Landes rode
never forgot this race and the firing in the rear. Always afterward
when "hog-killing" time came and the first hog was shot, "Old
Mike" would start oif as though another race with the Indians was
to be had. Mr. Landes' boys often joke their father about making
the Indians run.
The war did not .extend to this county, but a man by the name of
Johnson was greatly frightened and fortified his house. He was
easily scared, and one of his neighbors who was fond of a good joke
told him one day that the Indians were coming. Johnson ran to
his cabin, bolted the door and stood ready with his gun for any
emergency, and not a hostile Indian withing fifty miles of him.
SHAUBENA.
We cannot close this sketch until we speak of that true and
generous hearted chief, Shaubena, and the part he took in the con-
flict. At the time the war broke out he, with his band of Pottawat-
omies, had their wigwams and camps on the Illinois within the pres-
ent limits of the city of Pekin. Shaubena was a friend of the white
man, and living in this county during those perilous times, and-
known by so many of the early settlers, that we think he deserves
more than a passing mention. Although not so conspicuous as
Tecumseh or Black Hawk, yet in point of merit he was superior to
either of them. Shaubena was born at an Indian village on the
Kankakee river, now in \Yill county, about the year 1775. While
young he was made chief of the band, and went to Shaubena Grove
(now in De Kalb county), where they were found in the early set-
tlement of that section. In the war of 1812 Shaubena, with his
264 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
warriors, joined Tecuraseh, was aid to that great chief, and stood by
his side when he fell at the battle of the Thames. At the time of
the Winnebago war, in 1827, he visited almost everj" village among
the Pottawatomies, and by his persuasive arguments prevented them
from taking part in the war. By request of the citizens of Chicago,
Shaubcna, accompanied by Billy Caldwell (Sauganash), visited Big
Foot's village at Geneva Lake, in order to pacify the warriors, as
fears were entertained that they were about to raise the tomahawk
against the whites. Here Shaubena was taken prisoner by Big
Foot, and his life threatened, but on the following day was set at
liberty. From that time the Indians (through reproach) styled him
the "white man's friend," and many times his life was endangered.
Before the Black Hawk war Shaubena met with his men in coun-
cil at two different times, and by his influence prevented his people
from taking part with the Sacs and Foxes. After the death of Black
Partridge and Senachwine, no chief among the Pottawatomies exert-
ed so much influence as Shaubena. Black Hawk, aware of this
influence, visited him at two difl^erent times, in order to enlist him
in his cause, but was unsuccessful. On one, of these occasions
when Black Hawk was trying to induce him and his band to join
them and together make war upon the whites, when with their
forces combined they would be an army that would outnumber the
trees in the forest, Shaubena wisely replied " Aye ; but the army of
the palefaces would outnumber the leaves upon the trees in the
forest," While Black Hawk was a prisoner at Jeiferson Barracks
he said, had it not been for Shaubena the whole Pottawatomie nation
would have joined his standard, and he could have continued the
war for years.
To Shaubena many of the early settlers of this county owe the
preservation of their lives, for he was ever on the alert to save the
whites.
Shaubena, by saving the lives of the whites endangered his own,
for the Sacs and Foxes threatened to kill him, and made two
attempts to execute their threats. They killed Pypeogee, his son,
and Pyps, his nephew, and hunted him down as though he was a
wild beast.
Shaubena had a reservation of two sections of land at his grove,
but by leaving it and going west for a short time the Government
declared the reservation forfeited, and sold it the same as other
vacant land. Shaubena finding on his return his possessions gone.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 265
was very sad and broken down in spirit, and left the grove for ever.
The citizens of Ottawa raised money and bought him a tract of
land on the Illinois river above Seneca, in Grundy county, on
which they built a house and supplied him with means to live on.
He lived here until his death, which occurred on the 17th of July,
1859, in the 84th year of his age. He was buried with great pomp
in the cemetery at Morris. His squaw Pokanoka was drowned in
Mazen creek, Grundy county, on the 30th of November, 1864,
and was buried by his side. In 1861 subscriptions were taken up
in many of the river towns to erect a monument over the remains
of Shaubena, but, the war breaking out, the enterprise was aban-
doned. Only a plain marble slab marks the resting-place of this
friend of the white man.
POTT AW ATOMIES.
The Pottawatomies who lived here were afterwards given a reser-
vation thirty miles square near Topeka, Kansas, where many of the
same families who lived here are living and tilling the soil. J. C.
Thompson and his brother William, who lived in Tazewell county
and were accounted fine, bright young men, went among these In-
dians in 1854, and each of them married a squaw. J. C. died there
three years ago, and in 1878, while Mr. W. S. Rankin was in Kan-
sas, he saw William who still had his Indian wife.
CHIEF WALKER AND HIS DAUGHTER.
Mr. Joshua Wagenseller tells us an amusing story connected with
the Indians who camped on Dillon creek. An Indian, familiar to
many of the early settlers, by name of Chief Walker, often came to
Pekin. On one occasion he offered a barrel full of dollars to any
young white man who would marry his daughter. Six young men,
from Pekin, thought they would go out and see the young Indian
and perchance could strike a bargain with Chief Walker, A barrel
of Nsilver dollars was an inducement to take most anything in the
shape of a woman for a wife. The boys all posted off to Chief
Walker's wigwam. On arriving the old chief met them and led
them into his cabin to see the daughter. The boys filed in, took
seats around the room and saw the object of their visit sitting
silently therein. The boys sat and gazed upon the maiden for a few
moments, not a word was spoken, supreme silence reigned. The
situation began to grow more embarrassing, the boys looked at one
266
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
another, at the Chief and then at the girl. Soon one of them
sneaked out, another followed, and one by one they all slipped away,
leaving the Chief and his loved daughter alone. Each one of the
wife hunters told the others, " any of you can have her and the dol-
lars, I don't want her." So Chief Walker failed to marry oif his
daughter, and none of the boys got the proffered barrel of dollars.
CHAPTER IV.
GEOLOGY.
TAZEWELL county comprises an area of about six hundred
and thirty-five square miles, and is bounded on the north by
Woodford county, on the east by McLean and Woodford, on the
south by Logan and Mason, and on the west by the Illinois river.
SURFACE GEOLOGY.
The surface of the country, over a large portion of this county,
is a high, undulating prairie, with here and there groves and belts
of timber. The soil is generally a rich brown mold, varying some-
what in different localities, in the proportion of clay, etc., which
it contains, some portions being more argillaceous than others. In
the timber, however, which occupies not more than one-fifth of the
entire surface, and in the broken country along the Illinois river,
the soil is of a somewhat different character, the lighter colored and
more argillaceous subsoil appearing at or near the surface.
The principal streams which drain this county are the Illinois
and Mackinaw rivers. Along the Illinois river we find, in some
places rather extensive sandy tracts of river formation, and the bald
bluffs of the Loess, are in some localities conspicuous features in the
general landscape.
The principal kind of timber found in the upland wooded tracts
of this county are, the several varieties of oak and hickory, black
walnut, butternut, maple, bass-wood, red-bud, sassafras, etc. On
the river bottoms, and in low damp lands generally, the sycamore,
buckeye, black ash, elm, etc., are abundant. The sandy ridges are
generally covered with a growth of scrubby oak, and black jack,
with a thin admixture of other species.
The geological formation appearing at the surface in this county,
consists almost entirely of the Drift, and later formations, the older
rocks outcropping only at a comparitively few localities. The
underlying rocks, however, as far as can be ascertained from these
outcrops, consists entirely of the Coal Measure series.
268 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
In the western portion of the county, in the ravines and broken
country along the Illinois river, we observe, in a number of places
at the base of the Drift, a bed of cemented gravel or conglomerate,
showing sometimes an irregular stratification, similar to that of
beach deposits. A ledge of this material 9 or 10 feet thick may be
seen in the north-western quarter of section 7, Groveland township,
up one of the side ravines which comes down through the Illinois
river bluffs, a little south of Wesley City, and other similar ledges
appear in various places in the vicinity of Fond du Lac and also on
the Mackinaw in the eastern part of the county. Another similar
bed of cemented gravel, of, however, a comparatively insignificant
thickness, may be seen about half way up the face of the bluff at
the steamboat landing in the city of Pekin, where it does not appear
to be more than a few inches thick.
COAL MEASURES.
All the stratified rocks which outcrop within the limits of this
county, as before stated, belong to the coal measures, and the actual
exposures are confined, for the most part, to a thickness of about 60
or 80 feet of the middle portion of the formation. In the whole
county there is but one boring which affords an artificial section of
the beds down to the base of this formation. This one is that made
by Voris & Co. on the bottom lands of the Illinois river directly
opposite the city of Peoria. The first bed of the coal measures
which is met with in the boring is about 40 feet below the lower
coal seam, which is worked in this section, No. 4 of the Illinois
river section as given by Prof. Worthcn. The following is a sec-
tion of the first 459 feet of the boring. Below that depth the
records kept by Messrs. Voris & Co. were not completed as to the
thickness and material of all the different beds :
Feet.
1. Alluvial soil of river bottom, - - - 4
2. Sand, ------- 4
3. Gravel (boulder drift), - - - - 20
4. Clav shale, ------ 59
5. Bituminous slate, ----- 3
6. Fire clay, ------ 15
7. Clay shale, - - - - - - 15
120
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 269
8.
Coal, -_----
-
4
9.
Clay shale, -----
-
34
10.
Sandy and argill shale (very hard).
-
34
11.
Sandstone, _ - - - -
-
4
12.
Nodular argill, limestone, - - -
-
6
13.
Compact, fine-grined sandstone,
-
5
14.
Hard, dark blue, sandy shale.
-
25
15.
Coal, ------
-
3
16.
Sandy and argill shale, - - -
-
25
17.
Bituminous shale, with bands of limestone.
57
18.
" Cherty rock," _ - - -
-
44
19.
Hard, silicious rock, mainly chert, -
-
33
20.
Fine-grained sandstone, - - -
-
65
235
459
As nearly as the limits of the formation can be made out from
this section it may be referred to the coal measure. The greatest
depth reached in boring was 774 feet, and the lowest rock was a
gray, porous limestone, the fragments of which, brought up by the
instruments, were exactly similar in appearance to some of the upper
limestones of the Niagara group, exposed in the northern part of the
State, with which formation this bed may doubtless be properly
identified.
Passing up a small branch which comes down through the bluffs
from the southward, just back of the village of Fond du Lac, we
observe a striking exposure, of about 25 feet of verticle thickness,
of concretionary sandstone, sandy shale and soft sand rock. The
more shaly beds contain numerous ironstone concretions, and the
more massive portions, indistinct vegetable impressions, but no other
fossils. Along the Illinois river bluffs, between Fond du Lac and
Wesley City, there are several points where coal is now or has been
worked. In the vicinity of Pekin there are but few natural expo-
sures of the underlying rocks, but the lower coal is mined at several
points in the neighborhood of the city. At Mr. Hawley's place,
about 5 miles southeast of Pekin, a shaft was sunk which passed
through both the upper and lower coals, affording a section of the
intermediate beds, which, as reported to us, was as follows :
270 HISTORY OF TAZEWEKL COUNTY.
Feet.
1. Argillaceous shale, _____ 4
2. Light-colored limestone, - _ _ _ - 2 '
3. Coal, -------- 4
4. Fine clay, - -.- - - __8
5. Sandstone, -------50
6. Bluish-black slate, ------ 4
7. Coal, ________ 4
8. Fire claj^, - - -.- - - -8
In the central and eastern portions of the county there are a few
localities where borings, etc., have been made, but satisfactory
records, in all cases, could not be obtained in regard to the varia-
tions in the strata. - At Ropp's mills, near the centre of the north
line of section 20, Elm Grove township, a shaft was sunk to the
depth of 85 feet, and, as it was reported to us, struck limestone at
that depth. The shaft, however, was abandoned before completion,
on account of keeping it free from water. At Delavan, in the
southeastern part of the county, a boring was made which was re-
ported to have passed through 60 feet of sandstone, and below that,
75 feet more of arenaceous and argillaceous shales. No coal was
reported in this boring.
We find by the boring opposite Peoria, by Voris & Co., two
seams of coal at the depths of 120 and 230 feet, and respectively 4
and 3 feet in thickness, which are most probably the equivalents of
Nos. 1 and 3 of the general sections referred to. Although we have
no positive data as to the existence of these or other beds under the
coal No. 4 in other portions of the county, yet, from their existence
at this point, and from our general knowledge of the coal measure
in this portion of the State, it seems quite probable that these seams
of coal might be found at the proper depth in other portions of this
and adjoining counties. A boring of from 200 to 250 feet below
the known horizon of No. 4, or from 500 to 700 feet below the sur-
face in different parts of the State, would probably penetrate all the
coal measures, and settle all the questions in regard to the existence
and development of the underlying coal seams.
BUILDING MATERIALS.
This county is not abundantly supplied with building stone;
Along the Illinois river, however, the sandstones of the Coal
Measures have been quarried to some extent to supply local demand.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 271
and in some localities appear to afford a stone suitable for founda-
tion, cellar walls, etc. The limestone beds which also occur in the
Coal Measure strata in this region, though generally of inconsider-
able thickness, may also furnish a limited supply for the same
purpose, as well as for the manufacture of lime. Dimension stone
etc. when used in this county are brought from beyond its limits, in
great measure from the quarries at Joliet.
Clay and loam suitable for the manufacture of a fair quality of red
brick, are found here and have been made use of in all the different
towns in the limits of the county. Sand for building purposes is
also sufficiently abundant.
MINEEAL SPRINGS. .
We may properly mention again under this head, the artesion
well sunk by Messrs. Voris & Co. on the edge of the bottom land
along the Illinois river opposite Peoria, in which a current of water,
holding in solution sulphuretted hydrogen, was struck at a depth
of 734 feet. When struck it was stated to have had a head of 60
or 70 feet, and the flow is said to be nearly as strong at the pres-
ent time. This water appears to be derived from the upper portion
of the Niagara group, but before the boring had reached its present
depth a strong current of saline water was met with, at a distance
from the surface of 317 feet.
Copperas and saline springs occur in various places in the county,
and occasionally give names to some of the minor streams. Such
names as Salt creek, and Lick creek, occur here, as in other por-
tions of the State. These springs, however, are few in number, and
can hardly be considered of any economic value.
18
CHAPTER Y.
ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY.
QUADRUPEDS.
MANY of the various species of animals that roamed the native
prairies of Tazewell county, or made their homes in the wild
forests within its borders, and lived undisturbed and free from the
haunt of the hound or the crack of the hunter's rifle, are gone from
this section forever. Not even a specimen is preserved in taxidermy.
The buffalo which grazed upon the verdant prairies has been driven
westward. With or before it went the beaver, elk, badger, panther,
black wolf and black bear. Some animals that were quite numerous
have become very rare, such as the gray fox, the catamount, otter,
lynx, and the beautiful Virginia deer.
There still remain many of the different species, mostly inhabiting
the country adjacent to the Illinois river and a few of the other larger
streams. These are, however, fast disappearing, and ere long will be
known only in history, as are the deer, the beaver, and the bison.
Among those still to be found here are the gray wolf, which is
numerous in some parts, the opossum, raccoon, mink, muskrat, the
common weasel, the small brown weasel, skunk, woodchuck, or
Maryland marmot, prairie mole, common shrew mole, meadow and
deer mouse, and the gray rabbit. Of squirrels there are the gray
timber squirrel, the fox, chipmunk, the large, gray prairie squirrel,
the striped and the spotted prairie squirrel, and the beautiful flying
squirrel. The dark brown and the reddish bat are common. Other
small animals have been found here which have strayed from other
localities.
BIRDS.
Of the 5,000 existing species of birds many have sojourned in this
county, some temporarily, and others for a considerable time. Many
migratory species come only at long intervals, and therefore but little
is known of them.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 273
There is not a more fascinating study than that aiforcled by our
feathered friends. Their free movements through seemingly bound-
less space, the joyous songs of many, and the characteristic tones of
all, their brilliant colors, their lively manners, and their wonderful
instincts, have from earliest ages made a strong impression on the
minds of men, and in the infancy of intellect gave rise to many pecu-
liar and mysterious associations. Hence the flight of birds was
made the foundation of a peculiar art of divination. Religion bor-
rowed many symbols from them and poetry many of its ornaments.
Birds avail themselves of their powers of wing to seek situations
adapted for them in respect to temperature and supply of food.
The arrival of summer birds is always a welcome sign of advancing
spring, and is associated with all that is cheerful and delightful.
Some birds come almost at the same date annually ; others are more
influenced by the character of the season, as mild or severe.
The following list is as nearly correct as can be compiled from the
available information upon the subject :
Perchers. — This order of birds is by far the most numerous, and
includes nearly all those which are attractive either in plumage or
in song. The ruby-throated humming-bird, with -its exquisite
plumage and almost ethereal existence, is at the head of the list.
This is the humming-bird which is always the delight of the
children, and is the only one found in Illinois. The chimney
swallow, easily known from other swallows by its very long wings
and forked tail, and which is a true swift, is quite numerous. Of
the whippoorwill family there are two representatives, — the
whippoorwill proper, whose note enlivens the forest at night, and
the night-hawk. The belted king-fisher, so well known to the
school boy, is the only member of its family in this region. At
the head of the fly-catchers is the king-bird, the crested fly-catcher
and the wood pewee.
Of the sub-order of singers there are the following : The robin,
the wood thrush, Wilson's thrush, the blue-bird, the ruby-crowned
and the golden-crested wren, tit-lark, the black and the white
creeper, blue yellow-backed warbler, yellow-breasted chat, worm-
eating warbler, blue-winged yellow warbler, Tennessee warbler,
and golden-crowned thrush. Shrike family. — This family is
represented by the great northern shrike, red-eyed fly-catcher,
white-eyed fly-catcher, the blue-headed and the yellow-throated
fly-catcher. Swallow family. — This family of birds are very
274 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL CXDUNTY.
numerous in Tazewell county. Among them are the barn swallow,
white-bellied swallow, bank swallow, clifF swallow, and purple
martin. Wax-wing family. — The cedar bird is the representative of
the wax-wing in America. Mocking-bird family. — The genera of
this family are the cat-bird, brown thrush, the house and winter
wren. Finch and Sparrow family. — The snow bunting and Smith's
bunting appear only in winter. The purple finch, the yellow bird
and the lark finch inhabit this county. Of the passerine genus of
this family are the Savannah sparrow, the field and the chipping
sparrow, the black snow-bird, the tree sparrow, the song sparrow,
the swamp and the fox-colored sparrow, the black-throated bunting,
the rose-breasted gros-beak and the ground robin. Titmome family
— are represented by the chickadee and the tufled titmouse. Creep-
er family. — There are two specimens of this family, — the white-
bellied nut-hatch and the American creeper. Skylark family. — This
melodious family is represented here by only the common skvlark
of the prairie. Black-bird family. — The rusty blackbird, the crow
blackbird, the cow-bird, the red-winged blackbird, the meadow lark,
the orchard and the Baltimore orioles of this family, are the most
beautiful and brilliant of birds that inhabit this region. Crow
family. — The blue-jay and the common crow comprise the species
of this family.
Birds of Prey. — This order of birds comprises all those, with few
exceptions, which pursue and capture birds and other animals for
food. They are mostly of large size, the females are larger than the
males, they live in pairs, and choose their mates for life. Most rap-
torial birds have disappeared. Among them are the golden eagle,
which was always rare but now no longer seen here ; the bald eagle,
or properly the white-headed eagle, once quite common, now scarce.
Some well preserved specimens of this genus are in the county.
This eagle enjoys the honor of standing as our national emblem.
Benjamin Franklin lamented the selection of this bird as emblemati-
cal of the Union, for its great cowardice. It has the ability of ascend-
ing in circular sweeps without any apparent motion of the wings or
the tail, and it often rises in this manner until it disappears from
view ; when at an immense height, and as if observing an object on
the ground, it sometimes closes its wings, and glides toward the
earth with such velocity that the eye can scarcely follow it, causing
a loud rustling sound like a violent gust of wind among the branches
of the forest. The Hawk family are eight or nine species, some but
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 275
seldom seen, others common. The turkey-buzzard has almost, if
not quite, disappeared. Of the owl genera are several species,
though all are but seldom seen because of their nocturnal habits.
Among them are the barn owl, the screech owl, the long and the
short-eared owl, the barred owl, and the snowy owl, the latter being
the rarest.
Climbers. — But few of this order remain in the county, the most
common of which are the woodpeckers. Of the various kinds are
the golden-winged, the pileated, the hairy, the downy, the yellow-
bellied, red-bellied and the red-headed. At an early day the Car-
olina parrot was often seen, but he has now entirely deserted this
section. The yellow and black-billed cuckoos are occasionally seen.
Scratchers. — This order contains but few genera in this county.
The wild turkey, the choicest of game, has almost entirely disap-
peared, and was the only one of its family that ever sojourned here.
In an early day they were in abundance. Grouse family. — The
chiefest among this family is the prairie chicken, which, if not care-
fully protected, must ere long follow the wild turkey, never to re-
turn. The ruffied grouse, wrongfully called " pheasant," has of late
made its appearance. It is quite fond of cultivated fields, and, if
properly protected and encouraged until it becomes fairly settled,
will make a fine addition to the game, and fill the place of the
prairie chicken. Partridge family. — The fate of that excellent bird,
the quail, is only a question of a short time. The Dove family. — The
wild pigeons continue to make their semi-annual visits, but not in
such vast numbers as years ago. Acres of forest were so often filled
at night with these birds that the breaking of boughs and the flying
of pigeons made a noise that could be heard for miles, and the shot
of a sportsman's gun could not be heard at a distance of ten feet.
Highly interesting is the description by Audubon of the enormous
flights which he observed on the Ohio in the fall of 1813; they
obscured the daylight and lasted three days without interruption.
According to a very moderate estimate of his, each flight contained
the stupendous number of one billion, one hundred and fifteen
thousand million, one hundred and thirty-six thousand pigeons.
These flights caused a general commotion among the entire rural
population. Desirous of booty and anxious lest their crops should
be spoiled, the farmers, arming themselves with rifles, clubs, poles,
torches and iron pots filled with sulphur, proceed to the resting-places
of the birds. The work of slaughter being accomplished, every-
276 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
body sat down among mountains of dead pigeons, plucking and salt-
ing the birds which they selected, abandoning the rest to the foxes,
wolves, raccoons, opossums and hogs, whole herds of which were
driven to the battle field. The plaintive notes of the Carolina dove,
commonly known as the turtle-dove, are still heard.
Swimmers. — This order of birds, which formerly frequented this
county in large numbers, have almost disappeared. They are mi-
gratory, and in their usual season would appear coming from the
north or south, as winter passes into summer or summer into winter.
Diver family. — The great northern diver or loon, sometimes visits
this section, but inhabits the frigid zone. Gull family. — Of this
family are Wilson's tern and the silvery gull. Pelican family, — The
rough-billed pelican was the only genus of this family that ever
stopped in Tazewell county, and it has now altogether ceased to
make its visits here. Cormorant family. — The double-crested cor-
morant, or sea raven, has been seen here. Duck family. — This
family of migratory birds visited the ponds and streams of this county
in large numbers before it became so thickly settled, both on their
northern and southern passage, but now mostly confine themselves to
the Illinois, where large numbers are found. This family furnishes
most game for sportsmen and for the table. There are the wood
duck, the big black-headed duck, the ring-necked duck, the red-
head, the canvas-back, the dipper, the sheldrake or goosander, the
fish duck, the red-breasted, and the hooded merganser, the mallard
and the pintail, the green-winged and the blue-winged teal, the
spoonbill and the gadwall, the baldpate, the American swan, the
trumpeter swan and the white-fronted goose.
Waders. — Probably less is known of this order of birds than of
any other, because of their slyness and solitary habits. They fre-
quented the marshes, but cultivation has drained their favorite
haunts. Crane family. — The whooping crane, always rare, is now
never seen. The sandhill cranes stop on their journeys north and
south. Heron family. — The great blue heron or crane, least bittern,
the green heron, night heron and the American bittern, compose
those of this family visiting this region. Ibis family. — The glossy
ibis has been seen here. Plover family. — The golden plover, the
killdeer and the king plover comprise this family known here.
Phalarope family. — The Wilson's and the red phalarope have fre-
quented the swamps of this county. Snipe family. — Various birds
of this family have been common in and around the swamps of this
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 277
county. Among them were Wilson's snipe, gray or red-breasted
snipe, the least and the semi-palmated sandpiper, the willett, the
tell-tale, the yellow-leg, the solitary sandpiper, the spotted sand-
piper, the field plover, long-billed curlew, the common rail, the
clapper rail or mud hen, and the coot.
Reptiles. — All of the species of this class that ever inhabited this
region are still to be found here except the poisonous snakes. The
rattlesnake, of the genus crotalus, is of a yellowish brown color, and
has a series of horny joints at the end of the tail, which make a rat-
tling sound. These were the most venomous of all snakes found
here, and were numerous in the early settlement. There are two
kinds, the bandy or striped and the prairie rattlesnake, the latter be-
ing still occasionally found. The copperhead was always rare.
Among the harmless snakes are the water-snake, the garter-snake,
the bull-snake, the milk snake, the black-snake, and the blue racer.
Many reptiles found here are erroneously called lizards, but are
salamanders and other like innocent creatures. Lizards are never
found in this county. Among the tortoises or turtles are found the
map turtle, the snapping and the soft-shelled turtle. Of the batra- .
chian, or naked reptiles, there are a few, and, though loathsome to
sight and touch, are harmless. The toad, the bull-frog, the leopard
frog, the tree toad, with some tailed batrachia, comprise the most of
this order.
FISHES.
Although fishes are the lowest class of vertebrates, their varied
forms and colors, which often rival those of precious stones and
burnished gold, the wonderful power and velocity of some, the
wholesome food furnished by many, and the exciting sport of their
capture, combine to render fishes subjects of great interest to the
casual observer, as well as to the amateur and professional naturalist.
The number of known species of fishes is about ten thousand. The
waters of this county are quite prolific of the finny tribe. The
commerce in fish has become quite extensive along the Illinois.
Sickle-backed family. — This family furnishes the game fish, and are
never caught larger than four pounds in weight. The various
genera found here are the black bass, goggle-eye, the croppy, or big
black sun-fish, and the two common sun-fish. Pilce family. — There
is but one species of this family, the pickerel, which is caught
weighing from five to twenty-five pounds. Sucker family. — Of this
278 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
tribe are the buffalo, red-horse, white sucker, two species of black-
suckers, mullet ranick. Fish of this family are found in all the
streams of the county. They abound wherever there is water.
Cat-fish family. — Of this voracious family the channel cat-fish, the
mud cat-fish and two species of the small cat-fish inhabit the waters
of this county, and are caught ranging in weight from one to thirty
pounds. Besides these varieties there are the chub, silver-sides and
fresh-water herring, and large numbers of other species denominated
minnows, which are found in the smallest spring branches, as well
as the larger streams.
BOTANY.
There are probably over 500 species of plants growing sponta-
neously within the bounds of Tazewell county, but we will not
attempt to give a complete list of the herbaceous plants, or indeed
name any of the mosses, mushrooms, etc.
TREES AND SHRUBS.
While Nature has not given a great quantity of these, she has
furnished a liberal variety. In this respect Tazewell county is in
advance of most of the Northern States. No one or two species of
tree monopolizes the ground in the forests, as they do in many
sections of the United States. Some of the less hardy shrubs, like
the wild prairie flowers, are slowly disappearing before the encroach-
ments of civilization, yet we shall endeavor to enumerate them all,
as well as the trees.
Oak Family. — The White Oak is king of the forest trees in this
country in respect to grandeur, strength and general utility, and in
early day afforded "mast," a first-class feed, for hogs running at
large. Those which wintered in the wild woods were often fat
enough for market in the spring, although not fed a grain by
human hand. The Burr Oak is a fine tree, with a rich and beauti-
fully cut foliage. The wood is valuable, and the acorns are sweet.
They are buried in deep, mossy cups, whence the tree is also called
" overcup oak." The Swamp White Oak is a tall tree and grows in
low grounds. The Yellow Chestnut Oak is a tree of medium
height and has leaves like those of the chestnut. The Laurel Oak
is a very common tree on gentle slopes of ground, having the leaves
undivided and somewhat like laural leaves in appearance : whence
the name. In the days before the railroads brought pine so plenti-
c^^^"^
PROP. BENilS HOUSE
<^
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COTTNTY. 281
fully into this prairie country, the people found this one of the best
trees for making shingles : whence it is also called " shingle oak."
Barren Oak, or " black jack," is found mostly in sandy barrens. It
seldom exceeds 25 feet in height. Leaves, wedge-shaped and three-
lobed. Black Oak, or "yellow oak," has the inner bark yellower
than the other oaks have, and is valuable for dyeing and tanning.
Externally the bark is very rough and almost black. The tree is
large and quite common. Red Oak is a tall, handsome tree on
northern hill-sides and in shady woods. The acorn cup is flat and
saucer-shaped. Swamp Spanish Oak, or " pin oak," is found, but
is scarce. The tree is much like red oak, but is not so tall. All
the white-barked oaks decay on the outside first, and all the black-
barked varieties decay first on the inside. Hence rails made of any
of the black oaks have a hard exterior and seem sound long after
all the inside is rotten, thus being very deceptive ; but white-oak
rails last many years longer in the fence. The up-land black oaks
make a hotter fire than any other kind of wood. The Hazel-nut
and two species of Iron-wood belong also to the oak family, botani-
cally speaking. The iron-wood, which is also called "American
hornbeam," "blue beech," and "water beech," is a beautiful tree,
but is scarce. The more common species have the seeds of the
appearance of hops.
Birch Family. — The Red Birch is the only member of this family
found in Tazewell county. The outer bark peels itself off horizon-
tally around the trunk and limbs, like that of the cherry.
Willow Family. — The Prairie Willow is small, and was very com-
mon before the white man's plow deprived it of its native home.
The Glaucous Willow grows 8 to 10 feet high, and is common. The
Black Willow grows 15 to 25 feet high, twigs brittle at the base,
bark of the trunk somewhat black, and the leaves pointed at each
end. Common. The Long-leaved Willow occurs, growing gener-
ally as a small shrub. The Shining Willow, and possibly one or
two other species, can be found. To the AVillow Family belong also
the Quaking Asp, or Aspen, the Cotton-wood, the Silverleaf Poplar,
Lombardy Poplar, and Balm-of-Gilead, all of which grow spontane-
ously in this county, although the last three have been introduced
by the settlers. Of the Aspen there are two kinds, — The American
and the Large-toothed. The poplars and the Balm-of-Gilead have
a great tendency to sprout from the roots. The Lombardy poplar
does not prosper well in this windy country. It grows too tall.
282 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
Walnut Family. — The Black Walnut is a large, noble and most
valuable tree, too well known to need description. It is yet "com-
mon " in this county. A few Butternuts, or " white walnut " are
also found. The wood is of a lighter color and more brittle than
that of black walnut. It is now being used for veneering. Of the
Shellbark Hickory there are two kinds, — one with a scaly bark and
furnishing most of our hickory-nuts in the market, and the other with
a smoother bark and lighter heart-wood, and bearing the largest kind
of hickory-nut. The Bitter-nut Hickory is very common.
Plane-tree Family. — The only representative in America is the
Button-wood, or " Sycamore, " a large, coarse, white-barked tree com-
mon in river " bottoms, " but is of little value.
Nettle Family. — At the head of this family stands the American
or White Elm. Although so common in the forest, it promises to
become one of the most popular ornamental or shade trees. The Red
Elm (" slippery-elm ") is scarce. Called " red " on account of having
red heart-wood, while the white elm has white heart-wood. The
Hackberry is a beautiful tree of full forest height, hardy and tough.
The Mulberry is very scarce.
Rose Family. — The Crab-apple, Wild Plum, Wild Black Cheery
and Red Haw (two species) are abundant, — the cherry on high land
and the rest along the streams. There are also found the Choke-
cherry, Nine-bark (a shrub), Black Raspberry, Blackberry, (and pos-
sibly the Dewberry), Chokeberry, two species of wild rose (Early
and Dwarf), and a very few June-berry. The Blackberry has been
very abundant, but its ground the farmer finds more valuable for corn.
The other berries are very scarce. The Dwarf Wild Rose used to
ornament the prairies, especially their margins, but there is scarcely
any room left now-a-days for the modest little thing by the rough
hand of agriculture.
Maple Family. — The White Maple, commonly called "soft maple,"
is by far the most abundant, especially as a shade-tree in the towns
and villages ; but is soft and brittle and the limbs are easily broken
off by the wind, so that it is now about to be abandoned as a shade
or ornamental tree. As an example of the adaptability of the prairie
to the growth of timber, we may refer to the fact that the first set-
tlers here 30 to 40 years ago planted the common locust ; and after it
grew up 20 to 35 feet high the worms and the winds made an un-
sightly tree of it, and the white maple (acer dasycarpum) was next
resorted to, which has already attained the height of 40 and 50 feet,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY. 283
with top and trunk in due proportion. Box Elder and Sugar Maple
(both members of this family) and white elm are now being substi-
tuted, thus making the third crop of good sized forest trees raised
on the prairies within the short space of civilized life here. The
Sugar, or "hard," Maple makes the most beautiful and durable
shade-tree, as well as ornamental tree, but it is of slow growth.
Indeed duribility and slowness of growth necessarily go together.
Box Elder is of a scrubby form, and the least esteemed of the
three most popular shade trees. As members of this family there
are also the Bladder-nut, a beautiful little bush, and the Buckeye, a
a tree of heavy foliage, soft wood, and large, poisonous nuts, and
growing only in the river bottoms. Like the currant, it sheds its
leaves in August,
Custard-Apple Family. — The Pawpaw is abundant along the Illi-
nois river.
Linden Familu. — Bass-wood evervbodv knows. It is also called
"white-wood," " linden," and " lime-tree," and in the Southern States
it is known by the name of " lin," from its old European name lind,
which gave the family name to the great Linnaeus, the father of botan-
ists.
Rue Family. — The Prickly Ash used to be a common bush or
shrub, but is now fast disappearing. It is characterized by a very
rank and pungent odor and taste, is covered with short briers or
thorns, and bears a small brown berry. The Hop-tree, or " wafer
ash," is a small tree sometimes met with.
Cashew Family, or Sumachs. — The Smooth Sumach is by far the
most abundant, growing even as weeds upon prairie farms. The
Fragrant Sumach and the Poison Ivy are also to be found in Taze-
well county.
Buck-thorn Family. — Red-root, or New Jersey tea, was abundant
in the margin of the uncultivated prairies, but is pretty well des-
troyed at the present day. A decoction of its leaves has been em-
ployed as a substitute for China tea. Possibly a species of common
Buck-thorn may be found in this county.
Staff-tree Family. — Burning-bush (" waahoo ") is a beautiful bush,
sometimes cultivated for the fine show of odd-shaped crimson ber-
ries it displays after the leaves have fallen off. The Climbing Bit-
tersweet is also to be found in this county ; but at the most is ex-
ingly rare.
Pulse Family. — Trees and plants of this family are characterized
284 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
by bearing pods of seeds like beans. The Red-bud is a shrubby
kind of tree, and, contrary to waahoo, displays a red top in early
spring, before leaves appear on it or any other tree. The color is a
beautiful crimson, and is made by the buds and flowers. The Honey
Locust is famous for its large thorns and long pods, the inner border
of the latter containing a large quantity of a sweet substance which
tastes something like honey. A species or variety is said to occur
which has but few thorns, if any. A few specimens of the Ken-
tucky Coffee-tree grow in this county. The seeds of this tree are
of the size of gum-drops, and have a hard, glossy, beautiful shell.
A small shrub often called "swamp locust '^ is probably False
Indigo.
Saxifrage Family. — The Gooseberry, and Wild and Black Currants
thrive in this section, though the latter are not abundant.
Dogwood Family. — Four species of Dogwood flourish here, the
most abundant of which is the Panijcled Cornel, bearing white ber-
ries about the size of peas.
Honeysuckle Family. — The most "extensive individual" of this
family is the common Elder, growing like weeds in gardens and
farms. The Yellow Honeysuckle and Sweet Viburnum, or " sheep-
berry," are found in this vicinity, but are exceedingly rare. The
Black Haw is a common bush, averaging 10 feet in height, and pro-
ducing very edible sweet fruit.
Madder Family. — The Button-bush flourishes on the borders of
ponds and streams.
Olive Family. — It would sound more natural to Westerners to call
this the Ash family, as the ash is the principal representative here.
The White Ash is the most prevalent kind, and is valuable on ac-
count of its strength, hardness, durability and freedom from warp-
ing, as well as its quality for making a blazing fire. The Blue Ash
is about as good. Distinguished from the White by having square
twigs. Perhaps two other species of ash can be found in the county,
— the Green and the Swamp.
Vine Family. — The Winter or Frost Grape is common, and the
Summer Grape rare. The Virginia Creeper is also common.
HERBACEOUS PLANTS.
We will name only about 200 of the most common, growing spon-
taneously, and give them, as nearly as we can conveniently estimate,
in the order of their abundance, the more common first :
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 285
Grmoing Wild. — Besides several species each of grass, sedge, ferns,
aster, golden-rod, wild sunflower, evening primrose, cone-flower,
fleabane, cinquefoil, tick trefoil, violet, crowfoot, milk-weed, cress,
loosestrife, and beggar's lice, there are the sneeze-weed, wood sorrel,
wild bergaraot, strawberry, wild cranesbill, boneset, spring beauty,
clear-weed, arrow-head, tick-seed, blue cardinal flower, May apple,
self-heal, scouring rush, spider-wort, ginseng, sweet William (two
species), meadow parsnip (two or three species), cow-bane, wild
onion, louse- wort, vetchling, ditch stone-crop, cardinal flower, milk-
vetch, three-seeded mercury, pepper root, wild-mint, spotted touch-
me-not, soft rush (and probably one or two other species of rush),
rue anemone, liver-leaf, marsh marigold, early meadow rue, blood-
root, Indian turnip, mitre-wort, white and purple trilliums, cat-tail
flag, cup-plant, everlasting, avens, bell-flower, ox-eye, blue-joint
grass, white lettuce, hawk-weed, lobelia (medical), gentian, yellow
adder's tongue, harbinger of spring, skull-cap, hare-bell, stone-root,
groundsel, catch-fly, false Solomon's seal, Gerardia (two species),
dodder, wild senna, wood sage, American pennyroyal, wood nettle,
black snake-root, water plantain, rattle-snake master, Dutchman's
breeches, button suake-root, Solomon's seal, blue cohosh, Seneca
snake-root, bastard toad-flax, arrow-leaved tear-thumb, iron-weed,
water star-grass, peppermint, Greek valerian, trumpet-weed, hop,
bell-wort, rosin-weed, prairie dock.
Growing in Cultivated and Waste Places. — Blue-grass, white clover,
dandelion, water smart- weed, hog- weed (" rag- weed"), plantain,
door-weed ("goose-grass," two species), sneeze-weed, wire-grass,
panic-grass (several species), fox-tail grass, hair-grass ("tickle-
grass"), spear-grass, shepherd's purse, green pig- weed, Spanish
needle (three species), chick-weed, purslane, common smart- weed.
May -weed, goose-foot ("lamb's-quarter"), ground ivy, blue vervain,
hedge mustard, yarrow, nightshade, cinquefoil (two species), mild
water-pepper, mallow, burdock, white pig-weed (" tumble-weed "),
wild sunfloAver (several species), mother-wort, black mustard, cheno-
podium urbicum and murale, Euphorbia maculata, orchard grass,
wood sorrel, polygonum Pennsylvanicum, clear-weed, wild pepper-
grass, black bindweed, barnyard grass, biennial wormwood, sow
thistle (?) (two species), scurvy grass, convolvulus bindweed (three
species?), catnip, cockle-bur, common thistle, three-seeded mercury,
toad-flax, false red-top (grass), fescue (grass), jimson-weed, red-top
(grass), red clover, bouncing Bet, curled dock (" yellow dock "),
286 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
mullein, great rag-weed ("horse-weed"), white vervain, timothy,
cirsiiim altissiraum, Indian mallow, ground cherry, hemp, fetid mari-
gold, cut-weed, bugle-weed, wire-grass (two species), swamp milk-
weed, horse-tail, green milk-weed, morning-glory, speedwell, silk-
weed, hop, scrophularia nodosa, verbena Aubletia hoary vervain,
climbing false buckwheat, wild balsam-apple, sida, hedge nettle,
fire-wood, tansy, chess, wild rye, buckwheat, white sweet clover,
asparagus, white mustard, poke, prince's feather (polygonum orien-
tal e).
All plants growing in cultivated and waste grounds, except four
or five repeated in each of the above lists, may be considered as
introduced by Anglo-Saxon civilization. While the wild plants in
the woods are supposed to be the same now as originally, the prairie
has changed its grassy clothing for cultivated crops and hundreds of
different weeds. Before settlement by the whites the prairie was
mostly covered by one kind of grass. Several other kinds could be
found, especially in places here and there, notably the blue-joint,
which grew the tallest of any. Along the sloughs and in other wet
places there was the slough grass and several species of golden rod,
aster and wild sunflower. All other kinds of weeds were scarce.
Here and there were patches of rosin weed. But the golden-rod,
aster, and sunflower made beautiful yellow stripes across the prairies
in low places, which were peculiarly charming. In the earliest
stages of the growth of prairie grass it was interspersed with little
flowers — the violet, strawberry -blossom and others of the most deli-
cate structure. Soon these disappeared, and taller flowers, display-
ing more lively colors, took their place, and still later, a series of
still higher, but less delicately formed flowers appeared. While the
grass was green the prairies were adorned with every imaginable
variety of color. In the summer the plants grew taller and the
colors more lively ; in autumn another generation of flowers came.
A poetess beautifully writes :
Where'er I turn my eyes
There springs a lily : here the wild pink vies
With clustering roses and the rich blue-bell,
The morning-glories and the daffodil,
And countless others. How and whence they came,
I leave for botanists, to tell and name.
The original prairie grass can scarcely be found anywhere now. It
cannot stand close pasturage. The blue or June grass bears pastur-
HISTOKY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY,
287
age the best of any ; but where live stock are kept oif this grass it
will be eradicated by other kinds of grass. A curious fact similar
to this, and of interest to botanists, is the eradication of the May-
weed along the road-sides by hog-weed, smart-weed, and Spanish-
needles. Possibly this has been aided by the greater amount of wet
weather for a few years past.
The most troublesome weeds which are on the increase at the
present time are the common and the tall thistle, Indian mallow,
toad-flax, wild lettuce or sow thistle, and jimson-weed. Clear-weed
and mercury are becoming abundant in the gardens and door-yards
where shade trees are plentiful, but they are not troublesome.
CHAPTER VI.
CRIMINAL RECORD.
John Wood.
THE first indictment for murder in this county was against John
Wood. It was made by the grand jury at the April term of the
Circuit Court, 1844. Wood had caused the death of his own child
by throwing it up against the ceiling. He was tried, found guilty
and sent to the penitentiary for four years.
Bulger.
Henry Berry, a young man, was stabbed at a house of ill-fame in
Pekin, Sept. 29, 1859, by a man named Bulger. Berry was an im-
portant witness against two men who were confined in jail for com-
mitting larceny.
MURDER OF A MOTHER AND HER TWO CHILDREN.
John Ott.
On Friday morning, Oct. 12, 1860, George W. OrendorfP, who
lived about four miles southeast of Delavan, left his family, consist-
ing of his wife and two little girls, Emma aged nine and Ada seven
years old. On his return in the evening he found his entire family
murdered. This is the most hellish, fiendish murder ever commit-
ted in the county and after a lapse of twenty years the feelings of
sympathy and indignation has not died out, nor will it as long as
the sad, sickening affair remains pictured in language.
When Mr. Orendorff reached home he found his wife lying upon
the floor lifeless, and by her side lay her elder daughter, and near them
lay little Ada moaning piteously in the agonies of death, which soon
relieved her of the pains of the mortal wound she had received on
the head. On the floor a few feet from where the mother was lying
was found an old rusty axe stained with human blood. It was with
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTYV ^'"' 289
this weapon that this triple murder was committed. Mrs. Orendorft*
had been engaged in washing in the back part of the house, and the
bodies were all found in the front room with the door closed. Mrs.
Orendorff had received upon the head eight distinct strokes with
this axe, either of which was sufficient to have produced death.
She was a most estimable woman, and the little girls were at such an
age as to make them peculiarly interesting to the bereaved father.
One of them had apparently been out getting flowers, as she had a
bunch of flowers in her hand when the assassin struck her down. It
was indeed one of the most heart-rending sights that could have been
witnessed, — to see a poor defenseless mother and her two unoffend-
ing little children lying in their own blood upon their own
threshold.
Diligent search was at once made for the perpetrators of this terri-
ble deed, which resulted in finding a young man named John Ott.
He was concealed in a shock of corn near Lincoln and brought back
to Delavan. Many of the best citizens were so infuriated that
strong feelings of lynching him were displayed, but at the urgent
solicitation of Mr. Orendorff*, the bereaved husband and father, Ott
was handed over to the civil authorities to await trial. A man
named Green, a cousin of Ott's, was also arrested.
The Board of Supervisors of the county offered a reward of $2,000
for the capture of the murderer, and requested the State to offer an
additional reward.
Wednesday, Feb. 6, 1861, John Ott was arraigned before the
Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to the murder of Mrs. Orendorff
and het" two daughters. He was then immediately sentenced to be
hung Friday, Mar. 1, 1861.
EXECUTION OF JOHN OTT.
At eleven o'clock, Friday morning. Mar. 1, 1861, John Ott was
publicly executed for the murder of Mrs. Mary Orendorff and her
two little children. When arraigned Ott obviated a protracted trial
by pleading guilty. An effort was immediately made to have him
executed in public, by applying to the Legislature for a special act,
but failed. Preparations were then made for executing him in ac-
cordance M'ith the existing law. A scaffold was erected in the yard on
the east side of the prison and enclosed with a wooden structure to
exclude the public gaze. As soon as this was determined on, rumors
began to circulate that a portion of the people of the county
19
290 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
would band together and demolish the structure. With this rumor
came also some of a more startling import, involving the safety of
the other prisoners confined in the jail. These rumors assumed such
an alarming shape by the Wednesday preceding that the Sheriif was
induced to apply for assistance from abroad, A request was sent
to Capt. Miles, of Washington, to secure the attendance of his rifle
company. The Peoria National Blues were also notified that their
services would be needed, and, after receiving orders from the Gov-
ernor, they held themselves in readiness to come. On Thursday
evening the Washington Rifles, accompanied by the Quarter-Mas-
ter General, arrived, and the men marched to the American house to
await further orders.
During the early part of Thursday night, the crowds which gath-
ered about the jail and along Court street, gave evidence that some
unusual excitement was anticipated. The impression prevailed that
a concerted attack would be made before sunrise upon the enclosure
at the scaffold. The arrival of the troops from Peoria was anxious-
ly looked for, but they did not reach Pekin until about three
o'clock. They consisted of three companies, the National Blues,
Emmett Guards and German Rifles, and were accompanied by the
Adjutant-General. They were marched to the court-room to await
orders.
At that time quiet prevailed throughout the city. But between the
hours of five and six o'clock a startling noise was heard in the vicin-
ity of the jail, and upon investigation it was found that the entire
structure surrounding the scaffold was leveled to the ground.
The actors in this affair had done the work completely and quickly,
and quietly dispersed. After the demolition of the temporary
structure the military were posted in position to protect the jail, but
no demonstration was attempted against the building.
At an early hour Friday morning, people came pouring in from
all parts of. the country, and by ten o'clock it was estimated that at
least five thousand had assembled in the city.
About ten o'clock preparations for the execution were commenced.
The number of persons indicated by the law, with a few others, were
invited to witness the proceedings in the jail. The prisoner, who
up to that time had been engaged in religious exercises, was brought
from his cell. Some time was occupied in removing the manacles
from his ankles. During this operation, and while the Sheriff" was
robing him for the grave, Ott exhibited considerable firmness, but
HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 291
he looked subdued and resigned. At a quarter before eleven he was
led forth to the place of execution. He was passive in the hands of
the Sheriff, and it seemed as though 'he had determined to meet his
fate without exhibiting any evidence of fear or trepidation. Besides
the officers the Revs. Messrs. Sawver, Rvbolt and AVindsor, with a
few others, ascended the scaffold with the prisoner. A dense crowd
filled the streets in the vicinity, and the tops and windows of many
neighboring houses were occupied with spectators. The military
were drawn up around the scaffold to prevent the crowd from pass-
ing the fence. At the close of the prayer offered by the Rev. Mr.
Rybolt, the prisoner stepped forward and addressed a few disjointed
remarks to the people. With much calmness he declared that he
alone was guilty of the crime for which he was about to die ; that
Green was innocent ; his doom was just ; and he hoped to be for-
given in heaven, where he hoped to meet those who were there to
witness his death.
As he closed he was placed upon the trap, the rope adjusted about
his neck, the cap drawn over his head, the trap fell, and with a mut-
tered prayer on his lips for mercy the spirit of John Ott passed into
eternity. His neck was broken by the fall and life was soon ex-
tinct. After hanging nineteen minutes the body was taken down,
placed in a coffin and removed to the jail yard. Soon the crowd
began to disperse and all was quiet. Thus terminated the first
and only legal execution for murder in Tazewell county.
BRIEF SKETCH OF JOHN OTT.
John Ott was born near Dayton, O., Nov. 6, 1839, and conse-
quently was not twenty-one years old when he committed the fearful
crime for which he suffered death. While quite young his parents
removed to Iowa, and soon to Indiana, where they were living when
their wayward son was hung, both old and feeble. John remained
at home until about sixteen years old, when he went to live with his
uncle. At school he learned to read, and obtained some knowledge
of arithmetic, but never learned to write.
Not long after he went to live with his uncle he began to sow the
seeds of his future ruin. His first theft was a three-cent piece.
From this he went on, from time to time stealing money and other
things. Finally he became enamored of a woman who must have
had a large amount of the demoniac in her nature, for she urged him
to set fire to barns, to rob and the like. These things, however, he
292 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
would not do. Still he wanted money to enable him to deck him-
self out. The desire for money grew to a blind maddening passion.
He stole some jewelry and fled to -Illinois^ where he brought up at
Delavan.
There he heard, as he said, people talk about Orendorif having
plenty of money, and that Miller, who worked for Orendorif, was
laying up money fast. Money he wanted, money he would have.
He thought and cared for nothing else. So in his own mind he
determined to get it, and said nothing to anyone about his intentions.
When asked if he went to Orendorif 's intending murder, he replied :
" No ; I did not expect to find anyone at home." When asked if he
did not think it might be necessary to commit murder to get the
money, he replied : " Yes ; I had taken that into account on going
there."
When he started out from his cousin's, where he lived, he went
west till he struck the road leading north. Down this he walked
some distance and then struck straight for Orendorff 's home. He
saw Mrs. Orendorif at the stable and inquired after Mr. Miller.
Then leaving her as if to go out to the east and west road he slipped
around the straw stack near the house, and remained there about half
an hour meditating murder. Having determined to do the deed, he
sallied out ; but as he approached the house he saw the innocent ones
and his heart failed him. He then requested Mrs. Orendorif to tell
Miller when he came home to come over to his cousin's. She
replied, " I will," and these are the last words she is known to have
spoken.
But no sooner had he left the house than his diabolical intent
began to gather strength in him once more. This time, he hid him-
self behind a straw stack, remaining there about half an hour.
Having fully determined to do the deed, he started toward the house,
picking up a club on the way. As he passed into the kitchen he
laid hold of Mrs. Orendorif and told her she must die. She sprang
away from him, and ran screaming into the front room. She was
not able to open the door before'her pursuer was upon her and felled
her with powerful blows with his club. Then he struck down one <
of the children, who followed and clung to her mother. The
the other little girl had run out of the house. He met her at the
corner of the house and beat her down also. Having done this he
next took the axe and finished his bloody work. The one he struck
out of doors, he carried in and laid beside her mother. He burned
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 293
the club in the stove. He then took what money he could find
and fled.
Joseph W. 3IcDowell.
Joseph W. McDowell, indicted for the murder of A. J. Finley,
was arraigned before the Circuit Court Thursday, Feb. 7, 1861.
Both sides were represented by able counsel. For the prosecution
appeared State's Attorney FuUerton, and Mr. Grove, assisted by
C. A. Roberts and J. M, Hanna, while the defendant was represented
by Messrs. Puterbaugh and James Roberts, of Pekin, and Julius
Manning, of Peoria. The jury returned into Court Sunday morn-
ing with the verdict of " guilty." A new trial was granted, and in
June, 1861, a change of venue to McLean county was taken, and
the prisoner tried and sentenced to one year in the penitentiary.
He never entered within the walls of that prison, however, as he
was met at the doorway with a pardon. McDowell now resides in
this county a respected citizen.
Edward McDoioell,
a brother of Joseph W., was indicted at the February term of the
Circuit Court as a party concerned in killing A. J. Finley. He
was arraigned before the Court Feb. 15, 1861, and granted a change
of venue to Mason county. He was tried at the March term of the
Circuit Court and acquitted.
Enoch Green
"Was indicted in February, 1861, for participation in the Orendorff
murder. At the June term, 1861, he was discharged.
Thomas Hougle.
Sunday evening. May 24, 1863, Thomas Hougle shot and killed
Abner H. Underbill. The tragedy was enacted upon the farm of
Underbill, about two miles east of Delavan. Hougle had lived
with Underbill for sometime, but left his employer and a quarrel
ensued between them concerning a woman, when Hougle with a
shot-gun committed the murder. Hougle was' immediately arrested
and had a speedy trial, which closed Saturday, June 13, 1863. He
was convicted of murder, and Judge Harriott sentenced him to be
hung July 9, 1863. Two days before the date of the execution,
Gov. Yates commuted the death sentence to a life sentence in the
penitentiary. He was taken from the Tazewell county jail July 9,
when not a prisoner was left within its heavy stone walls.
294 • HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
George Dunn.
Thursday, Feb. 9, 1865, the body of David Townsend was found
on the farm of Benjamin O'Brien, near Groveland. A jury was
called and a post-mortem examination made by Dr. F. Shurtleff.
The jury came to the conclusion that Townsend had been shot with
a pistol in the back of the head. He was killed on or about the
26th of December. The body was concealed under some logs, where
it remained undiscovered until the above date. Townsend and an-
other man named George Dunn, had been chopping wood for Mr.
O'Brien, and from the sudden and peculiar manner in which Town-
send's companion left the neighborhood, there seemed to be little
doubt of his being the murderer, although he was never found.
Unknown.
On Thursday, Oct. 19, 1865, the body of a man, at the time sup-
posed to be that of George Jackson, was found in the Illinois river
near Pekin. The head had been severed from the body, and to pre-
vent the body from floating a quantity of iron was fastened around
it. The body bore marks of five or six deadly wounds. The corpse
was not identified positively, but was thought to be that of George
Jackson, a well known resident of the county who had been mys-
teriously absent for some weeks. The mayor of Pekin offered a re-
ward of $500 for the apprehension of the murderer.
Nothing was heard from Jackson until in 1866, when his wife
went to England, and on arriving in Liverpool almost the first per-
son she met was her supposed murdered husband ! Who the mur-
dered man really was has never yet been discovered, or who com-
mitted the deed.
Thomas A. Williamson
Was arrested Monday, Aug. 27, 1866, for the murder of Charles
Koch, of Delavan township. Koch was last seen in the neighbor-
hood about July 18, but his body was not found until Saturday, Aug.
25, when it was found in the corn-field near his house. The fact
that Williamson was living with Koch at the time, and the contra-
dictory stories he told concerning the missing man, excited suspicion,
and led to an inquiry among the people of the neighborhood. Wil-
liamson left and suspicion became stronger then ever. A search was
made and Koch's body found. The murdered man was a German
and had no relatives in this country.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUIfTY. 295
At the February term of the Circuit Court, Williamson was tried
and found guilty of murder. Judge Harriott sentenced him to be
hung Friday, March 22, 1867. Just previous to the day of execu-
tion, however, a postponement was obtained until June 21. This
fact was not known to the Sheriff until Thursday night. Much dis-
satisfaction was manifested among the people at this delay of the ex-
ecution. On the loth of June Gov. Oglesby commuted the sentence
to twenty-one years in the penitentiary. He was discharged from
prison about April 1, 1879, and went to Kansas, where he says he
will live a good and peaceable life.
Enoch West.
A man named West was arrested by Deputy Sheriff Stone June
9, 1868, in Fulton county, for the killing of a German named
Henry Winninghaum. The Circuit Court was in session, but his
trial was postponed until the September term, when he was convict-
ed and sentenced to the penitentiary for nineteen years and six
months. ' A new trial was granted, however, and at the February
term, 1869, he was again tried, and sentenced to twenty years in the
penitentiary.
William Berry and others.
On Friday night, July 30, 1869, Deputy Sheriff Henry Pratt
was murdered near Circleville whilst endeavoring to arrest a band
of desperadoes, who had long held the community in terror.
Armed with the necessary legal papers, the Deputy Sheriff, accom-
panied by the jailor, George Hinman, assistant City Marshall
Kessler, and Constable W. F. Copes, proceeded to Circleville for
the purpose of making the arrests, when he was shot and killed by
Ike Berry, one of the parties named in the warrant. Jailor
Hinman was wounded, and Mr. Copes made a narrow escape.
The body of Sheriff Pratt was brought to Pekin Saturday morn-
ing, when the most indescribable excitement ensued. Hundreds of
armed men started to scour the country for the murderers, and by
Saturday afternoon five of the gang were captured and lodged in
jail. William Berry, who was said to be the leader of the band,
was arrested in the city early Saturday morning. The other
members of the gang were Emanuel Berry, Ike Berry, Matthew
McFarland, C. Daily and Robert Britton. The latter was arrested
at San Jose, Mason county, Saturday night, by Marshal Stone, and
Ike Berry was captured by M. M. Bassett, at Bath, Mason county,
some weeks after.
296 -j- HISTORY OF TAZEWELIy CQUNTY.
Late Saturday night, July 31, an organized body of men, mostly
from Delavan, where Berry had killed a young man some time
before, proceeded to the jail, overpowered the police, battered down
the iron doors of the prison, and after a desperate struggle took
William Berry from his cell and hung him to a tree in the jail yard.
During the struggle, Berry, who had by some means secured a knife,
severely wounded three of the lynchers.
The trial of the remaining desperadoes came off afterwards at
Jacksonville, Morgan county, it having been taken to that Court on
a change of venue. The jury found a verdict of guilty and sen-
tenced the prisoners to the penitentiary as follows : Ike Berry, for
life; Robert Britton, 20 years; Emanuel Berry, 15 years; Matthew
McFarland, 15 years; Cornelius Daily, 15 years. Simeon Berry
was found " not guilty," and is now living in Elm Grove township in
this county. McFarland was pardoned some three years ago, went
out West and was killed. Daily was also pardoned about the same
time, and has disappeared. Attorneys Bassett and Rodecker, and
Barnes for the defense. Brown, State's Attorney Morgan county,
Whitney, State's Attorney of this county, and C. A. Roberts, ex-
State's Attorney, for the prosecution. Thus, with the career of a
band of bad men, ended the first and only mob violence known in
the history of Tazewell county.
William Ashby.
Saturday, Aug. 13, 1870, the body of Alfred Carl, a lad of ten
years of age, was found concealed in the brush near the upper end
of Pekin lake. About noon the previous day he was sent out by
his step-father, William Ashby, a mulatto, after his horse. Not
returning Ashby went after him and returned without finding him.
The neighbors became suspicious and went in search of the lad, and
found the body, which to them showed evidences that he had been
murdered. The skull was crushed. Ashby was indicted for the
murder, tried and acquitted.
William Costly.
William Costly, alias Nigger Bill, was indicted for the murder of
Patrick Doyle, at Pekin, tried and acquitted.
Jehiel Stevens.
Was indicted Sept. 13, 1870 for the murder of a man by the
name of Crawl, at Pekin. Crawl was waylaid. o^e night near the
v.:
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 297
Wide-awake engine house on Court street, and pounded to death, for
which crime Stevens was arrested. A change of venue was taken
and he was tried at Lincoln and acquitted.
Samuel E. Willard.
Tuesday morning, June 8, 1875, Samuel E. Willard shot and
killed Charles Ziegenbien. Both of these men were farmers, living
on adjoining farms, on section 10, Spring Lake township. Willard
appeared before Esquire Tinney at Pekin, and on his own evidence
was placed in jail on the charge of murder. Willard was indicted
at the September term of the Circuit Court for murder, and tried at
the November term. The evidence showed that for two years
there had been trouble between Willard and Ziegenbien ; that each
had threatened to take the life of the other. The difficulty out of
which the murder grew arose from the trespass of Ziegenbien's
stock on Willard's premises on the previous Sunday. Willard took
up his horse and tied it in the brush not far from his barn, sending
word to Ziegenbien to come and get it and pay charges. He went
over after it, taking a boy with him. The boy went to see if
Willard was at home ; not finding him he went into the barn after
the horse. It was not there. Ziegenbien remained on his horse at
the gate. When the boy came out he heard the horse in the brush,
went and got it and proceeded to Manito. There the two men met
and quarreled. The next morning Ziegenbien started his cows
down the road by Willard's house, and as they passed Willard's
hired men set the dogs on them. Ziegenbien came out and went
down the road to Willard's barn-yard gate, went inside the yard and
was engaged in loud talk with the men for dogging his cows. Wil-
lard came out and demanded what he wanted, Ziegenbien replied,
" none of your damned business." Willard ordered him off the
premises, and went to his house for his gun, procured it and came
down to the front gate. Ziegenbien was then passing along the
road toward his house. Willard stopped him and gave him a talk-
ing; told him he had invaded his premises, abused his family, and
, interfered with his rights as a citizen. Ziegenbien went on toward
his house. Willard followed on the inside of the fence for some
distance, finally climbing over. Ziegenbien told him he was a
coward to bring out his gun. Willard told him he had come loaded
down with arms to kill him. Ziegenbien replied that he was. not
armed. Willard then laid down his gun and wanted to fight.
298 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Ziegenbien would not fight. Willard then picked up his gun when
Ziegenbien took hold of the barrel, Willard then fired twice, the
first shot striking Ziegenbien just below the ribs, killing him
instantly, the second shot passed over his head. Ziegenbien was a
constable and had a revolver as it was his custom to carry.
The trial of Willard occupied the greater part of the November
term of the Circuit Court of that year. Considerable interest was
felt in the case, as both the murderer and murdered were well
known. The trial lasted ten days, and is said to have been one of
the most closely contested criminal cases ever tried in this county.
The attorneys for the prosecution were, States Attorney Henry, Ro-
decker, Shoup & Dearborn; for the defence, Cohrs, Roberts &
Green, and Prettyman.
The jury found Willard guilty of murder and sentenced him to
the penitentiary for fourteen years.
George W. Johnson, Stephen D. Johnson and John Pruitt.
The above named persons were indicted for murder in the county
of Mason, but they took a change of venue to this county. They
were tried in May, 1875. The case was one of unusual importance,
on account of the length of time consumed in obtaining a jury and
trying it ; the enormity and brutality of the murder, the large
number of witnesses brought from Mason county, and the ability
and reputation of the attorneys engaged in the trial.
The scene was enacted at a dance, and while some of the parties
were under the influence of liquor. George W. Johnson and John
Pruitt were acquitted, and Stephen D. Johnson was sent to the
penitentiary for two years.
George Clinton.
George Clinton, a police officer, shot and killed William Thorpe
at Mackinaw, Friday, June 28, 1876. In the preliminary examina-
tion it was found the act was justifiable and no crime.
Mrs. Anna E. Weyhrich.
Peter Weyhrich, an old resident of Sand Prairie, died very sud-
denly Wednesday night, June 20, 1877. The sudden death and
incidents attending it caused grave suspicion of foul play. A jury
was impanelled and a post-mortem examination made of the de-
ceased, and the stomach sent to Chicago for examination, where it
was decided that he came to his death by poison. Mrs. Weyh-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 299
rich, wife of the deceased, was arrested and tried for the mur-
der. The case was taken from this to Logan county and tried
the last week in March, 1878. States Attorney Prettyman and J.
B. Cohrs prosecuted, and Messrs. Roberts & Green defended.
The trial was a long and tedious one, and the prisoner was found
guilty and sentenced to fourteen years in the penitentiary. A mo-
tion for a new trial was made and denied, when an a])peal to the
Supreme Court was taken. This tribunal reversed the decision and
remanded the case for a new trial, which took place in July, 1878,
and resulted in her acquittal.
Jacob and David Hudloic.
Rudolph Myers, of Sand Prairie township, left Pekin on the night
of Dec. 22, 1877, for his home. About 10 o'clock he returned to
the city and went to the Central House. There he told of his
assault about half a mile below the city, — how three men apprached
him in a threatening manner ; that one had a dirk, another proceeded
to gag him, and the third did the robbing ; that he told them to
take everything if they would not harm him ; that after robbing
him they brutally and violently kicked him and fearfully maltreated
him ; that his watch and chain and money were stolen, and then
how he made his way back to Pekin. Medical aid was summoned,
and it was discovered he was seriously injured internally. At one
o'clock, P.M., Sunday, he died.
Some time elapsed before any apprehension of the murderers was
made. On Wednesday, April 17, 1878, at the instigation of Chris-
topher Ropp, of Elm Grove, Jacob and David Hudlow were arrested
as being the offenders. They were clearing timber in Spring Lake
township at the time. They were tried at the May term of the
Circuit Court, found guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced to the
penitentiary for fourteen years.
CHAPTER VII.
IMPORTANT LABORS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
COUNTY COUET.
IN 1847 a State election was held for members of the Constitu-
tional Convention, which Convention prepared and submitted to
the people a new constitution, which was adopted by a large majority.
By this constitution, in place of the Commissioners' Court a County
Court was organized in each county. This Court consisted of a
County Judge, and, if the Legislature saw proper to so order it, two
Associate Justices. This the Legislature favorably acted upon.
The last meeting of the County Commissioners' Court was held
Nov. 7, 1849. After the transaction of such business as properly
came before them, they adjourned until court in course, but never
re-assembled.
On the 3d of December of the same year the first regular term of
the County Court was held. The duties of the Court in a legisla-
tive capacity were precisely the same as those of the County Com-
missioners' Court. In addition to the legislative power the members
of this Court were permitted to exercise judicial authority, having
all the rights and privileges of justices of the peace, together with
all probate business. This Court consisted of a County Judge and
two Associate Justices. The Judge and Associate Justices acted
together for the transaction of all county business, but none other.
The Justices had an equal vote with the Judge, and received the
same salary while holding court, which was §2 per day. Two of
the three constituted a quorum.
Benjamin F. James was chosen the first County Judge, being
elected Nov. 6, 1849, — the first November election held. The first
Associate Justices were Joseph Stewart and Lawson Holland.
During the existence of this Court the people were agitating the
question of township organization. Many counties of the State,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY. 301
since the new constitution, had adopted that mode of conducting
county affairs. The constitution gave counties the privilege of
adopting either the County Court or the Board of Supervisors.
At the fall election in 1849 a vote was taken "for" or "against
township organization," which resulted in favor of the new measure.
The County Court had but a short existence. The last meeting
was held Saturday, April 6, 1850. In the mean time, however, the
Court appointed B. S. Pretty man, Anson Gillon and J. M. Coons a
commission to divide the county into townships. This duty they
performed in due time. Generally they constituted each congres-
sional township a separate town. Beginning at Fond du Lac town-
ship they fixed the boundary as it now is, and named it " Fond du
Lac," according to the wish of the people. The first election under
the township organization was held at Farm creek school-house.
Washington township was laid off six miles square east and ad-
joining Fond du Lac. It was called Washington because the village
and post office bore that name. The east half of township 26 north,
and range 2 west, was attached to Washington at the request of the
citizens, as there were not sufficient • inhabitants to form a separate
town. The first election was held in the district school-building at
Washington.
Deer Creek had its boundaries fixed as they are at present. The
first election was held at the Monmouth school-house. The town-
ship was named by Major R. N. Cullom, taking the name of the
creek that flows through it.
Morton was laid off and named as it is at present. Harvey Camp-
bell proposed the name in honor of Gov. Morton of Massachusetts.
First election was held at W. W. Campbell's.
Groveland was constituted a township, and its boundaries fixed as
they now are. The first election was held at the Randolph house,
Groveland. The township took its name from the village.
Pekin township was at first one tier of sections less north and
south than it is at present. The northern tier of sections of Cin-
cinnati was taken from that township and added to Pekin. It was
named after the city of Pekin.
Cincinnati township was laid oflp by this commission one tier of
sections larger than it is at present. The first election was held at
the Cincinnati hotel, Pekin.
Elm Grove had its boundaries fixed as they now are. First elec-
tion held at Elm Grove school-house. -
302 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Tremont had its boundaries defined by including a Congressional
township. First election was held at the court-house at Tremont.
Mackinaw township had its boundaries permanently fixed. First
election was held at school-house in the town of Mackinaw.
Little Mackinaw has never had its boundary lines changed. First
election held at a school-house on Little Mackinaw creek.
Hopedale at first was christened Highland. The present bounda-
ries were fixed. A portion of Boynton township was attached to
Hopedale, there not being enough inhabitants to organize a town-
ship. First election '\\;as held at Mrs. Purviance's residence. The
name Highland was changed because there was another township
in the State wearing that name.
Dillon was constituted for a Congressional township. First elec-
tion was held at the school-house in Dillon.
Sand Prairie, formerly JeiFerson, had its boundaries described as
they are at present. First election held at John Hisle's. Malone
township was not organized, but the territory was attached to Sand
Prairie.
Spring Lake had its boundaries -described as they remain at pres-
ent. First election held at Charles Scewell's.
Delavan was constituted a township as it remains at present, and
had a portion of Boynton attached to it.
Hittle was first named Union, then changed to Waterford, and
finally to Hittle. It included its present territory and a portion of
Boynton. First election held at Hittle Grove church.
The last meeting of the County Court was held Saturday, April
6, 1850. It then adjourned sine die.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
This system of county government is so entirely different in origin
and management from the old mode by county commissioners, which
had such a long and favorable run, that we deem a brief synopsis of
the differences quite pertinent in this connection.
Elijah M. Haines, in his " Laws of Illinois Relative to Township
Organization," says the county system "originated with Virginia,
whose early settlers soon became large landed proprietors, aristo-
cratic in feeling, living alone in almost baronial magnificence on
their own estates, and owning the laboring part of the population.
Thus the materials for a town were not at hand, the voters being
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 303
thinly distributed over a great area. The county organization, where
a few influential men managed the whole business of the community,
retaining their places almost at their pleasure, scarcely responsible at
all except in name, and permitted to conduct the county concerns as
their ideas or wishes might direct, was, moreover, consonant with
their recollections or traditions of the judicial and social dignities of
the landed aristocracy of England, in descent from which the Virginia
gentlemen felt so much pride. In 1834 eight counties were organ-
ized in Virginia, and the system extending throughout the State,
spread into all the Southern States and some of the Northern States,
unless we except the nearly similar division into 'districts' in South
Carolina, and that into 'parishes' in Louisana from the French
laws.
" Illinois, which with its vast additional territory became a county
of Virginia on its conquest by Gen. George Rogers Clarke, retained
the county organization, which was formerly extended over the State
by the constitution of 1818, and continued in exclusive use until
the constitution of 1848. Under this system, as in other States
adopting it, most local business Avas transacted by three commission-
ers in each county, who constituted a county court, with quarterly
sessions. During the period ending with the Constitutional Conven-
tion of 1847, a large portion of the State had become filled up with
a population of New England birth or character, daily growing
more and more compact and dissatisfied with the comparatively arbi-
trary and inefficient county system." It was maintained by the
people that the heavily populated districts would always control the
election of the commissioners to the disadvantage of the more thinly
populated sections, — in short, that under the system, "equal and
exact justice" to all parts of the county could not be secured. The
township system had its origin in Massachusetts, and dates back to
1635.
De Tocqueville, in his work entitled " American Institutions, " in
speaking of our political system, very properly remarks that two
branches may be distinguished in the Anglo-American familv which
have grown up without entirely commingling, — the one in the South,
the other in the North. He discovers the causes which led to this
condition of things, which are apparent to the most casual observer.
" They arise, " he says, " not from design, but from the force of cir-
cumstances at the beginning. The planting of the original colony
of Virginia at Jamestown had for its design the single and naked
304'" '^ hist6"ey" OF tIzewell county."
object of pecuniary profit to the proprietors. Its mission involved
no principle for the benefit of mankind. It recognized the crown of
Great Britain, from whence it derived the charter of its existence, as
the source of political power. There was no recognition of the
principle of self-government.
"But the circumstances attending the first settlement of the Col-
onies of New England, so called, were of an entirely different char-
acter. The early colonists in this instance were non-conformists, or
dissenters from the Church of England. They came as exiles, flee-
ing from the wrath of ecclesiastical tyranny, whose displeasure they
had incurred, — cast out as public offenders, 'as profane out of the
mountain of God.' Whilst the colonists of Yirgina came with the
law, those of New England came against the law, or perhaps, more
properly speaking, without law. Thereupon arose on the part of the
latter a positive necessity for the establishment of law for their mu-
tual protection. The result was a written compact, — this being the
first written constitution extant, based upon the general good. It
was the first time since the 'morning stars sang together' that the
people themselves met in council and framed a government based
upon equal rights."
The supervisor is the chief officer and representative of the town-
ship, and it is his duty to prosecute and defend all suits in which
the township is interested. The township clerk keeps the records
of the towsnhip, and the treasurer takes charge of the funds. The
establishment, vacation and repair of the public roads is committed
to the three commissioners of highways. The supervisor, the two
justices of the peace whose terms of office soonest expire, and the
township clerk constitute a township board for examining and
auditing the accounts of the town.
The Board of Supervisors convened for the first time just one
month after the adjournment of the County Court. It assembled at
the court-house in Tremont May 6, 1850, the following members be-
ing present : R. W. Briggs, Tremont ; William S. Maus, Pekin ; W.
J. Thompson, Jefferson ; R. N. Cullom, Deer Creek ; B. F. Oren-
dorff. Little Mackinaw ; W. W. Grossman, Delavan ; Seth Talbot,
Elm Grove ; C. J. Gibson, Fond du Lac ; George L. Parker, Grove-
land ; Samuel P. Bailey, Cincinnati ; Nathan Dillon, Dillon ; Ly-
man Porter, Mackinaw ; Horace Clark, Morton ; Charles Holder,
Highland ; Hezekiah Armington, Union ; George H. Daniels, Spring
Lake. Hon. Richard N. Cullom was chosen chairman.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 305
The last meeting of the Board at Tremont, was held August 26,
1850, when the Board moved in a body to Pekin and held a meeting
on the same day in the new court-house, built by that city.
Since 1850 the business affairs of the county have been under
the guidance of a Board of Supervisors, at present composed of 24
members. It would be unprofitable, as unnecessary, to present in
detail the numerous orders, reports, resolutions, etc., of this body.
Their proceedings partake a great deal of the nature of a legislature.
Among so many men there are always some cool business heads, as
well as a good many glib tongues. Some of them are practical, in-
dustrious workers, others are of the buncombe order, always ready
to make a speech or a voluminous report. This has always been the
case with such assemblies, and we suppose always will be.
By an act of the Legislature, approved Feb. 2, 1849, in regard to
the disposal of the court-house at Tremont, it provided that in case
the countv-seat was moved to Pekin, a deed of trust of the court-
house, should be made to Joseph L. ShaAV, Wells Andrews, Lyman
Porter, Thomas P. Pogers and William A. Maus. The building was
to be used and occupied exclusively for the purpose of education
and for the use and benefit of the people of this county. Accord-
ingly when the vote was taken and it was decided to make the move,
and when the move was made, the above act was complied with, and
for several years a high school was conducted there.
THE FIRE-PROOF BUILDING.
This structure, which stands near the south-east corner of the
public square, was ordered erected by the Board in 1857. The
contract for its erection was awarded to J. P. Hall, and it was
completed in the spring of 1859. The building committee of the
Board consisted of R. B. Marley, David Hainline, James Mitchell,
G. H. Rupert and William S. Maus. The committee ajipointed
Dr. Maus superintendent. He was also authorized to provide for
furnishing the office with suitable furniture. The idea of introduc-
ing iron furniture was considered rather a novel one, but it was
urged that while the building might be rendered fire-proof as to the
exterior, the interior fixtures being constructed of wood, there
would really be no certainty that the records would be protected
from fire. It was believed that in nearly every case where
court-houses or other buildings containing records had been de-
20
306 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
stroyed by fire, the cause originated in the interior. In such a case
fire-proof walls alone would prove but a slight protection. The
good sense of the Supervisors convinced them that iron cases, shelv-
ing and furniture would prove the best kind of insurance they could
place upon the records of the county.
Acting under authority from the building committee. Dr. Maus
visited several establishments in the East where iron furniture was
manufactured. On his return he perfected a plan for the furniture
needed, the drawing of which was executed by Thomas King.
The building was first occupied the latter part of May, 1859, and
ever since has kept the public records, which are invaluable, in safe
custody.
At a meeting of the Board May 2, 1861, Supervisor Pratt intro-
duced a resolution that, whereas our forts, arsenals and government
stores had been seized and, "whereas many of our citizens have
volunteered in defence of our country, and have come forward with
the same spirit that actuated our sires in the days of ' 76, leaving
their wives and children, homes and firesides, with their lives in
their hands, periling their all at their country's call, and many of
them without money or means to pay a single day's board, and their
families entirely unprovided for, trusting to the God of mercies for
the means of their sustenance," — therefore resolved that the Board
pay their board and expenses while and before being mustered into
service ; also maintain their families during their absence. The
resolution was tabled and a substitute offered by Supervisor Maus,
and passed, to the effect that a committee be appointed to examine
all accounts and expenses incurred in raising volunteers, as well as
such relief as may be necessary for the support of the families of
such married men during their absence, and report the result to the
Board. Said committee was appointed, and at the next meeting
reported claims " for the support of women and children where hus-
bands and fathers have volunteered," to the amount of $1,100.
The whole matter was turned over to the Board, when $132.75 of
the amount was allowed.
Again Supervisor Pratt attempted to get aid for the volunteers
by making a motion that $2.50 per week be allowed on all bills for
boarding volunteers while being organized. This motion was also
rejected.
It seemed the majority of the people were in favor of the Board
contributing means for the support of volunteers. A petition to
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 307
that eifect was presented to the Board. The City Council of Pekin
also took cognizance of this refusal to aid troops. At a special
meeting held Thursday, May 23, 1861, seemingly for no other pur-
pose. Alderman Harlow offered the following :
"Whereas, the Supervisors of Tazewell county have been peti-
tioned to bear a portion of the expense of volunteers and have
refused, therefore, resolved, that we, the Board of Aldermen of the
city of Pekin, do utterly disapprove and condemn the action of said
Board of Supervisors, and, with all good and loyal citizens, feel that
old Tazewell has been disgraced by the action of said Supervisors."
While the Board was not as liberal in this respect as some would
have had it, yet it paid out considerable money for the support of
families of soldiers. In September, 1864, the Board decided to
give a bounty of $150. to each volunteer under the first call of that
year for 500,000 men. In January, 1865, a bounty of $300. was
offered. The sum of $128,000 was appropriated to pay said bounty.
This was based on the quota of the county being 400; but in
February it was found to exceed that number by 144, and a further
sum of $53,000 was appropriated. To raise this a tax of three
cents on the dollar was levied. A special assesment was made, and
the tax collected in short order. The levy was made upon the
property of soldiers, which was unavoidable, but the Board subse-
quently refunded such tax.
The Board have experienced much difficulty in regard to the
swamp lands of the county : indeed, we believe they have been
the source of the greatest trouble and expence to the Board. A
vast system of drainage was undertaken, which proved highly
beneficial although quite expensive, and for years more or less
controversy was had in regard to this matter. The present Board is
composed of the following gentlemen :
Chairman, Richard Holmes, Delavan ; John H. Anthony, Wash-
ington ; Peter Fifer, City of Washington ; John Eidman, Cincin-
nati ; Daniel Sapp, Spring Lake ; Matthias Mount, Dillon ; E. J.
Orendorff, Hopedale ; D. John Bennett, Elm Grove; Asa Hicks,
Little Mackinaw; James K. Pugh, Malone ; John Meyers, Sand
Prairie ; William Smith, Morton ; S. C. Hobart, Tremont ; Jacob
Brennamann, Boynton ; James Mitchell, Deer Creek ; C. S. Worth-
ington, Groveland; J. H. Porter, Mackinaw; John Q. Darnell,
Hittle ; Samuel R. Mooberry, Fond du Lac ; C. B. Cummings, J.
M. Gill, I. Lederer, City of Pekin ; Thomas Skelly, and E. Schur-
man, Pekin township.
CHAPTER YIII.
BLOODED STOCK.
AX interest paramount to every other in agricultural pursiiits
is that of stock-raising. Many of the farmers have realized
this and have turned their attention largely to this branch of agri-
culture ; and the result is that Tazewell county can boast of as fine
stock as any other county in Illinois. While this chapter is headed
as if to treat on stock indiscriminately, yet as cattle are receiving,
and have received, more attention than any other class of domestic
animals, we shall devote most of the space to cattle. As thorough-
bred stock was introduced into Tazewell county at a very early day,
as early indeed as in almost any part of the State, we will speak of
the first introduction of such stock into Illinois. The first, perhaps,
that were brought into the State were by James X. Brown, in 1834,
when he arrived in Sangamon county with the progenitors of his
afterwards famed herd of "Island Grove." Some grades of the
"Patton" stock are said to have been found in Madison and in some
other southern counties' even earlier. G. W. Fagg, of Perry county,
advertised a short -horn bull in the Union Agriculturist in 1841.
The Prairie Farmer notices the Devons of James McConnell, near
Springfield, in 1843. A letter of Gov. Lincoln, of Massachusetts,
to Gov. Reynolds, of Illinois, published in the Union Agriculturist
for 1841, shows that the former sent some crosses of Ayrshire and
short-horn cattle to a son in Alton that year, which was, perhaps,
the first introduction of Ayrshire blood even in a diluted state.
The Prairie Farmer, in 1844, chronicles the arrival at Chicago of
an imported short -horn for Bronson Murray, of La Salle county.
By the time of holding the first State Fair at Springfield, in 1851,
the short-horn appeared in very respectable numbers, and Devons,
although not much shown, were said bv the Prairie Farmer to be
already found in quantity in the northern part of the State. In
1857 the formation of the Illinois Stock Importing Association,
and their importations and sales, among other animals, of twenty-
seven short-horns, increased the interest in breeding.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY. 309
The first introduction of blooded stock into Tazewell county,
together with the history of the progress made in improving the
stock of the county, would be an interesting article to many. We
have not, however, been able to gather sufficient data of a reliable
nature to warrant an article of great lengtli. The first importation
into the county, and among the very first into the State, was made
by Col. Charles Oakley. The importation was made in 1840 from
England, and consisted of horses, cattle, hogs and sheep, of the
following stock and number: one full-blooded Durham roan bull;
two roan cows ; one full-blooded stallion of the celebrated Campbell
stock ; one full-blooded mare of the Bertram stock ; five Berkshire
pigs, and a number of long-wooled Cotswold sheep. Three years
later Col. Oakley again brought with him on his return from England
stock of the following kinds : white Durham cow and calf; a num-
ber of pigs of the Woburn stock, and the stallion Sampson. The
latter was not a direct importation of Col. Oakley's, but he was
brought from New York here. This horse did much in the way
of improving the farm horses of this section, and even now many
of the Sampson breed of horses are to be seen traveling the roads.
Had the people ap])reciated at that early day the value of this
stock imported by Col. Oakley, for many years past Tazewell
county might have been, in regard to fine stock, foremost in the
United States. The people, however, could not see any special
benefit to be derived from investing in animals costing so much,
and but little interest was taken in them. The Colonel's public
duties would not permit him to give his personal ■ attention to his
stock, and the consequence was that in a few years they were scat-
tered here and there, and but few persons ever derived any benefit
from them save from the horses.
We deem it fitting in this connection to speak personally of Col.
Charles Oakley, as he not only made the greatest effort ever made in
an early day to improve the domestic animals of Illinois, but he was
also prominently identified Avith great works of the State, and an
honored and respected citizen of Tazewell county. He w'as born in
AVest Chester county, N. Y., in 1792 ; came to this county with the
Tremont colony in 1834, and erected the first house in Tremont.
He was in the war of 1812, and in the Black Hawk war. In 1839,
during the great internal improvement system, he was appointed
State Fund Commissioner, and went to Europe to negotiate a loan.
It was on his return from this trip that he brought the first lot of
310 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
stock. In 1843 he, with Senator Michael Ryan, was by the Gov-
ernor appointed to negotiate a loan to carry on the building of the
Illinois and Michigan Canal. They went to Europe in the early
part of 1843, and returned in November. In 1844 Col. Oakley
again went to Europe, but came home still unsuccessful in borrow-
ing funds. Early in the winter of 1844-5 he again proceeded to
Europe, Ryan remaining at home, and finally succeeded in borrow-
ing $1,600,000. He came home to be appointed Canal Commis-
sioner, which position he held at his death. He again went to
England in company with Charles L. Butler (brother of Ben But-
ler), to secure funds for the completion of the Indiana and Wabash
Canal. For this service Butler was paid, after Col. Oakley's death,
the sum of $25,000, none of which, however, ever found its way to
the Colonel's family.
Col. Oakley was president of the first bank ever established at
Pekin. It was a branch of the Bank of Illinois, and was first
opened in that city in 1840. He was one of the most popular men
in Illinois, during his day, and was once looked upon by his party
as the proper person to succeed Gov. French as the chief executive
of the State. In the very prime of life, however, he was stricken
down. He died at his home in Tremont on the 31st of December,
1848. His widow still survives him, and at present resides at Peo-
ria. She is about eighty years old, and in very feeble health.
Oakley Avenue, a prominent thoroughfare in Chicago, perpetuates
his memory.
It has cost time, labor and money to introduce thoroughbred stock,
but the result of bringing imported stock and a scientific knowledge
of breeding has placed Tazewell in the very front rank of counties
in Illinois in the raising of fine cattle.
Among the foremost breeders of blooded stock in the county are :
John Trout of Elm Grove, who owns Florence, bred by D. E.
Davis, of Salem, N. J. For pedigree see page 561, Vol. 15 of the
American Herd Book. He also has Breastplate, bred by J. G.
Clark, Champaign county. 111.; pedigree number, 18,236; Elfrida,
red and white, bred by Clark; pedigree number, 11,341; Pearl,
also bred by the same man; pedigree number, 12,578. Mr. Trout
also has Elfrida the Seventh, bred by himself; pedigree number,
28,853, American Herd Book. Thomas Wibray, section 4, Tremont
township, has Duke of Herndoka; pedigree number, 19,485. Jos.
Ropp owns Red Duke, bred by J. G. Clark of Champaign county.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 311
This fine animal was got by Royal Airdrie, pedigree number, 18,236.
Isaac Miars, of Elm Grove, has four head of short-horns, — one of
them from AVyburn's herd, of Bloomington, the other three from
Waltmire's herd, of Tremont. Hon. James Robison has a fine
herd of short-horns, consisting of nine head from John Gillett's
herd, Elkhart, Logan county. 111. There are many others in the
county who are prominently identified with the improvement of the
cattle stock of the county. William Birkett, section 26, has a fine
herd of from 50 to 75 head of imported Jerseys and Durhams. He
runs a large dairy farm, manufacturing with horse-power an aver-
age of 200 pounds of butter per week.
We quote the following from a letter published in a recent num-
ber of the Tazewell Republican, Pekin :
" I find a very marked improvement in cattle in the neighborhood
of the breeders of short-horns in the early days of Illinois. The
average lots of steers in Morgan, Menard, Cass, Sangamon and
Logan average several hundred weight heavier at the same age than
they do in counties that more recently introduced short-horns, and,
besides, the quality in a good high-grade steer will command from
one to one and one-half cents per pound more than common stock.
This difference in price, at the low price of corn last winter, would
buy corn enough to fatten a steer. AVith this difference in size and
price in favor of the short-horns, it is apparent to every calculat-
ing farmer that they cannot afford to raise any but the best stock, and
those well cared for, on our high-priced land. Perhaps no neigh-
borhood is doing more to improve their cattle at the present time
than the farmers in the vicinity of Tremont. They have purchased
and brought to their farms within a few months ten young thorough-
bred short-horn bulls, and quite a number of heifers also. This
new introduction of short-horns will, in a few years, greatly im-
prove the cattle of that vicinity, and there are some lots of cattle
there now feeding that will weigh nearly two thousand pounds.
Tremont, April 17, 1879. Jas. W. Robison.
The improvement in the hog stock of the county is, perhaps,
more noticeable than that of any other class of domesticated ani-
mals. Since the arrival of the first settlers with their hogs, bred
and raised entirely in the timber, and almost altogether upon the
roots and acorns of the native forests, there has been a most wonder-
ful advance in securing better stock. For many years at first it
seems to have made no difference with the farmers in regard to the
312
HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
breed of hogs. They reasoned that a hog was a hog, and that one
was as good as another, and they therefore made no effort to better
their stock. Several years ago, however, the Poland Chinas, Berk-
shires and Chester Whites were introduced, and as a result the class
of hogs bred in Tazewell county are inferior to none. Among the
many who breed the best grades, is N. M. Saltonstall, who has the
pure Berkshire. He has about 25 head which are said to be the
finest lot of hogs in the county.
In aggregate value the horses of the county are worth more than
the combined aggregate value of all other domestic animals. Much
interest is now being taken to improve the farm-horse stock as mtII
as the roadsters. Among those who are especially interested in this
branch of stock raising, are E. D. Fuller & Bro., of Elm Grove
township. They have imported some of the finest horses brought
to the United States. They have two fine horses which they went
to France and purchased. The famous horse, Rob Roy, which they
own, and which has taken the premium at the State fair, is a perfect
model of a horse. Leon, which they also own, is a fine animal.
This firm has made two importations, two horses each time. They
have a fine herd of about 35 head of graded horses and colts. A. J.
Danforth, of Washington, has a large stable of fine roadsters, some
of which are among the best and fastest horses in the State.
The result of these importations, a scientific knowledge of breed-
ing, the expenditure of vast sums of money and close attention M-ill
be of as great benefit to the county as any other branch of com-
merce.
CHAPTER IX.
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
BLACK LAWS.
THE early settlers of this county, although mainly from the
Southern or slave States, entertained a deep-seated prejudice
against the negro, for which it is hard for us to account at the pres-
ent day. This prejudice, we may remark, was not held altogether
and only in this county, for by referring to the Revised Statutes of
this State, approved March 3, 1845, we find the following in chapter
54, under the head of " Negroes and Mulattoes : "
Section 8. Any person who shall hereafter bring into this State
any black or mulatto person, in order to free him or her from slavery,
or shall directly or indirectly bring into this State, or aid or assist
any person in bringing any such black and mulatto person to settle
and reside therein, shall be fined one hundred dollars on conviction
and indictment, before any justice of the peace in the county where
such offense shall be committed.
Section 9. If any slave or servant shall be found at a distance of
ten miles from the tenement of his or her master, or person with
whom he or she lives, without a pass or some letter of token whereby
it may appear that he or she is proceeding by. authority from his or
her master, employer or overseer, it shall and may be lawful for any
person to apprehend and carry him or her before a justice of the
peace, to be by his order punished with stripes, not exceeding thirty-
five, at his discretion.
Section 10. If any slave or servant shall presume to come and be
upon the plantation or at the dwelling of any person whatsoever,
without leave from his or her owner, not being sent upon lawful
business, it shall be lawful for the owner of such plantation or dwell-
ing house to give or order such slave or servant ten lashes on his or
her bare back.
Section 12. If any person or persons shall permit or suffer any
314 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
slave or slaves, servant or servants of color, to the number of three
or more, to assemble in his, her or their outhouse, yard or shed, for
the purpose of dancing or revelling, either by night or by day, the
person or persons so offending shall forfeit and pay the sum of
twenty dollars with cost to any person or persons who will sue for
and recover the same by action of debt or indictment, in any court
of record proper to try the same.
Section 13. It shall be the duty of all coroners, sheriffs, judges
and justices of the peace, who shall see or know of, or be informed
of any such assemblage of slaves or servants, immediately to com-
mit such slaves or servants to the jail of the county, and on view or
proof thereof to order each and every such slave or servant to be
whipped not exceeding thirty-nine stripes on his or her bare back.
MODE OF RUNNING THE U. G. R. R.
Very likely all of our readers have heard of the famous Under-
ground Railroad, but ver^- few know anything of its system of work.
Happily the corporation does not now exist, the necessity for the
enterprise not being apparent at the present time, as the class of
freight or passengers transported over the line are not now pro-
duced.
The question of slavery has always been a mixed one, from the
time the first slave was imported into our country until, by the
emancipation proclamation of Abraham Lincoln, all men were made
free and equal in the eyes of the law. A strong anti-slavery party
has long existed in the country. The framers of our constitution
upon the organization of the Government had to deal with the ques-
tion of slavery ; the successive administrations from Washington to
Lincoln had to grapple with it ; various compromises were adopted
which it was thought would quiet its spirit ; but like Banquo's ghost,
it would not down at the bidding of any man or party. The death
of Lovejoy at Alton, in 1837, a martyr to the anti-slavery cause,
gave an impetus to the agitation of the question which never ceased
until the final act was consumated which broke in pieces the shackles
that bound the slave.
Growing out of the agitation of this question, and the formation
of a party in sympathy with the slaves, was the organization of the
so-called Underground Railroad, for the purpose of aiding fugitives
to escape to a land of freedom. The secrecy of its workings justi-
fied its name. Notwithstanding the system was an organized one.
d/7?7.^
^^.^c^;-
Cincinnati,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 317
those engaged in it had no signs or passwords by which they might
be known, save now and then a preconcerted rap at the door when a
cargo of freight was to be delivered. Each relied npon the honor
of the other, and, as the work was an extra-hazardous one, few
cowards ever engaged in it. Pro-slavery men complained bitterly
of the violation of the law by their abolition neighbors, and perse-
cuted them as much as they dared : and this was not a little. But
the friends of the slaves were not to be deterred by persecution.
" The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church, " and persecution
onlv made them more determined than ever to carrv out their just
convictions of right and duty. No class of people ever made better
neighbors than the Abolitionists, or better conductors on a railroad.
It is well, perhaps, in this connection, to note how the passengers
over this road were received in Canada, the northern termination.
From mere goods and chatties in our liberty-boasting nation they
were transformed into men and women ; from being hunted with
fire-arms and blood-hounds, like wild beasts, they Avere recognized
and respected as good and loyal subjects by the Queen as soon as
their feet touched British soil. At the same time there stood, with
open arms. Rev. Hiram Wilson, the true, noble-hearted missionary,
ready to receive these refugees from " freedom's (?) soil, " and ad-
minister to their wants. In February, 1841, there came a day of
jubilee to the doubting ones, when Queen Victoria's proclamation
was read to them : " That every fugitive from United States slavery
should be recognized and protected as a British subject the moment
his or her foot touched the soil of her domain."
A very singular circumstance in connection with this road was the
fact that, although people well knew who were engaged in it, and
where the depot was located, freight could seldom be found, search as
carefullv as thev miojht. A consignment would be forwarded over
the line, notice of which would reach the ears of slave hunters, and
when ready to ])lace their hands on the fugitives, like the Irishman's
flea, they wouldn't be there. The business of this road for a num-
ber of years was quite extensive, but to-day all its employes are dis-
charged, and, strange to relate, none are sorry, but all rejoice in the
fact. As illustrating the peculiarities of this line we append several
incidents that occurred in this countv :
THE MATTHEWS DEPOT.
The main depot of the U. G. Road in Elm Grove township was
318 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
at Josiali Matthews', on section 24. Mr. Matthews was an earnest
anti-slavery man, and helped to gain freedom for many slaves. He
prepared himself with a covered wagon especially to carry black
freight from his station on to the next. On one occasion there were
three negroes to be conveyed from his station to the next, but they
were so closely watched that some time elapsed before they could
contrive to take them in safety. At last a happy plan was conceived,
and one which proved successful. Their faces were well whitened
with flour, and with a son of Mr. Matthews' went into the timber
coon-hunting. In this way they managed to throw their suspicious
neighbors off their guard, and the black freight was safely conducted
northward.
One dav there arrived a box of freio-ht at ]Mr. Matthews', and
was hurriedly consigned to the cellar. On the freight contained in
this box there was a reward of $1,500 offered, and the pursuers were
but half an hour behind. The wagon in which the box containing
the negro was brought was immediately taken apart and hid under
the barn. The horses, which had been driven very hard, were
rubbed off, and thus all indications of a late arrival were covered
up. The pursuers came up in hot haste, and, suspecting that Mr.
Matthews' house contained the fugitive, gave the place a very thor-
ough search, but failed to look into the innocent-looking box in the
cellar. Thus, by such stratagem, the slave-hunters were foiled and
the fugitive saved. The house was so closely watched, however,
that Conductor Matthews had to keep the negro a Meek before he
could carry him further. This station was watched so closely at
times that Mr. Matthews came near being caught, in which case, in
all probability, his life would have been very short.
THE CROSBY DEPOT.
Mr. Uriah H. Crosby, of Morton township, was an agent and
conductor of the U. G. E,. R., and had a station at his house. On
one occasion there was landed at his station by the conductor just
south of him, a very weighty couple, — a Methodist minister and
wife. They had a Bible and hymn book that they might conduct
religious exercises where they found an opportunity along the way.
On conducting them northward Mr. Crosby was obliged to furnish
each of them an entire seat, as either of them were of such size as
to well fill a seat in his wagon. The next station beyond was at
Mr, Kern's, nine miles. He arrived there in safety, and his heavy
cargo was transported on to free soil — Canada.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 319
The next passenger along the route that stopped at Crosby station
arrived on election day. A company had passed on northward when
a young man hastily came up. He had invented a cotton gin, and
was in haste to overtake the others of the party as they had the
model of his invention. He was separated from them by fright.
J. M. Roberts found this young man in the morning hid away in
his hay-stack, fed him, and sent his son, Junius, with him in haste
to Mr. Crosby's. On his arrival Conductor Crosby put him in his
wagon, covered him with a buffalo robe, and drove through Wash-
ington and delivered him to Mr. Kern, who took him in an open
buggy to the (Quaker settlement. He overtook his companions.
AN ACCIDENT ON THE U. G. R. R.
One of the saddest accidents that ever occurred on the U. G.
Road in Tazewell county was the capture of a train by slave hunt-
ers. Two men, a woman and three children, were traveling together.
The woman and children could journey together only from Tremont
toward Crosby station, as they had only one buggy. The negro
men concluded to walk, but stopped on the way to rest. Waiting
as long as they dared for the men to come up, Messrs. Roberts
started on with the women and children, but had not gone far before
they were stopped by some slave hunters and their load taken from
them. The mother and her three children, who were seeking their
liberty, were taken to St. Louis and sold, as the slave hunters could
realize more by selling them than by returning them to the owner
and receiving the reward.
When the two men came up it was thought best to take them on
bv a different route, the people determining they should not be cap-
tured. J. M. Roberts arranged to take them ou horseback to Peoria
lake. Several men accompanied them, riding out as far into the
water as they could, and by a preconcerted signal parties brought a
skiff to them, into which the men were taken and conveyed across
the river and sent on the Farmington route in safety. All other
routes were too closely watched.
ANTI-SLAVERY MEETING.
In those exciting days of the U. G. R. R. old Father Dickey and
Owen Lovejoy, strong anti-slavery men, made an appointment to
speak at Washington. On the notice of the meeting being an-
nounced the pro-slavery men took forcible and armed possession of
320
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
the church to be occupied by these speakers, and determined, at all
hazards, to prevent the meeting from being held there.
A prominent man of conservative views on the slavery question
advised the anti-slavery men not to attempt to hold the meeting as
they were determined to do, as the mob, he said, were frenzied with
liquor, and he feared the consequences. So they concluded to go to
Pleasant Grove church, Groveland, where they addressed one of the
most enthusiastic anti-slavery meetings ever held in this part of the
State. Owen Lovejoy was the orator of the day. The mob were
determined to follow and break up that meeting also, but were de-
terred by being told that as the anti-slavery men were on their own
ground they would fight, and doubtless blood would be shed.
CHAPTER X.
PIONEER life".
LOG CABINS.
WE shall, in this chapter, give a clear and exact description
of pioneer life in this county, commencing with the time
the sturdy settlers first arrived with their scanty stores. They had
migrated from older States, where the prospects for even a compe-
tency were very poor, many of them coming from Kentucky, for, it
is supposed, they found that a good State to emigrate from. Their
entire stock of furniture, implements and family necessities were
easily stored in one wagon, and sometimes a cart was their only
vehicle.
As the first thing after they arrived and found a suitable location,
they would set about the building of a log cabin, a description of
which may be interesting to the younger readers, and especially
their descendants, who may never see a structure of the kind.
Trees of uniform size were selected and cut into pieces of the de-
sired length, each end being saddled and notched so as to bring the
logs as, near together as possible. The cracks were " chinked and
daubed" to prevent the wind from whistling through. This had to
be renewed every fall before cold weather set in. The usual height
was one story of about seven or eight feet. The gables were made
of logs gradually shortened up to the top. The roof was made by
laying small logs or stout poles reaching from gable to gable, suit-
able distances apart, on which were laid the clapboards after the man-
nner of shingling, showing two feet or more to the weather. The
clapboards were fastened by laying across them heavy poles called
" weight poles," reaching from one gable to the other, being kept
apart and in their place by laying pieces of timber between them
called " runs." A wide chimney place was cut out of one end of
the cabin, the chimney standing entirely outside, and built of rived
sticks, laid up cob-house fashion, and filled with clay, or built of
322 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
stone, often using two or three cords of stone in building one chimney.
For a window a piece about two feet long was cut out of one of the
wall logs, and the hole closed, sometimes with glass, but oftener
with greased paper pasted over it. A doorway was also cut through
one of the walls, and the door was made of spliced clapboards and
hung with. wooden hinges. This was opened by pulling a leather
latch-string which raised a wooden latch inside the door. For se-
curity at night this latch-string was pulled in, but for friends and
neighbors, and even strangers, the " latch-string was always hang-
ing out," as a welcome.
In the interior, upon one side, is the huge fire-place, large enough
to contain a back-log as big as the strongest man could carry, and
holding enough wood to supply an ordinary stove a week ; on either
side are huge poles and kettles, and over all a mantle on which was
placed the tallow dip. In one corner stood the larger bed for the
old folks, under this the trundle-bed for the children ; in another
corner stood the old-fashioned large spinning wheel, with a smaller
one by its side ; in another the pine table, around which the family
gathered to partake of their plain food ; over the door hung the
ever trustful rifle and powder-horn ; while around the room were
scattered a few splint-bottomed chairs and three-legged stools ; a
rude cupboard holding the table ware, which consisted of a few
cups and saucers and blue-edged plates, standing singly on their
edges against the back, to make the display of table furniture more
conspicuous.
These simple cabins were inhabited by a kind and true-hearted
people. They were strangers to mock modesty, and the traveler,
seeking lodgings for the night or desirous of spending a few days in
the community, 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, a single room was made to
serve the purpose of kitchen, dining-room, sitting-room, bed-room,
and parlor, and many families consisted of six or eight members.
SELECTION OF HOMES.
For a great many years but few thought it advisable to attempt
farming in the prairie. To many of them the cultivation of the
prairies was an untried experiment and it was the prevailing opinion
that the timber would soon become very scarce, a fear soon proven
to be without foundation. Another obstacle that was in the way for
^.
C-^^-'-'z-'
DILLON TP
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 323
a great many years was that no plows suitable for breaking the
prairie land could be had. The sod was very much tougher then
than it was in after years when the stock had pastured the prairies
and killed out the grass to some extent. It would be astonishing
to the younger residents to see the immense crops of prairie grass
that grew upon the fields which are to day in such a high state of
cultivation. It grew in places six to twelve feet high. It was
these immense crops of grass that furnished the fuel for the terrible
fires that swept over the prairies during the fall. Then, again, there
was so much of the prairie land that was considered too wet to be
ever suitable for cultivation. Many of the older settlers now liv-
ing well remember when farms that are now in the highest state of
cultivation were a vast swamp. There was another drawback in the
settlement of the prairies, and that was the great labor and cost of
fencing. But the principal reasons for locating in the timber was
that many of their cabins were poor, half-finished affairs, and pro-
tection from the driving storms was absolutely required. The
timber also sheltered stock until such times as sheds and out
buildings could be erected. That the time should soon come when
intelligent, enterprising farmers would see that their interest lay in
improving prairie farms, and cease clearing fields, when there were
boundless acres presenting no obstacle to the most perfect cultiva-
tion, argues nothing in the policy of sheltering for a time in the
woods. In regard to the pioneers settling along the timber, we
often hear remarks made as though the selection of such locations
implied a lack of judgment. Those who are disposed to treat it in
that manner are asked to consider carefully the above facts, when
they will conclude such selection argued in their favor.
Clearing of timber land was attended with much hard labor.
The underbrush was grubbed up, piled into heaps and burned. The
large trees were in many cases left standing, and deadened by gird-
ling. This was done by cutting through the bark into the wood,
generally through the " sap," all around the trunk.
MILLING.
Not the least of the hardships of the pioneers was the procuring
of bread. The first settlers must be supplied at least one year from
other sources than their own lands. But the first crops, however
abundant, gave only partial relief, there being no mills to grind the
grain. Hence the necessity of grinding by hand power, and many
21
324 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
families were poorly provided with means for doing this. Another
way was to grate the corn. A grater was made from a piece of tin,
sometimes taken from an old worn-out tin bucket or other vessel.
It was thickly perforated, bent into a semi-circular form, and nailed,
rough side upwards, on a board. The corn was taken in the ear and
grated before it got dry and hard. Corn, however, was eaten in.
various ways.
Soon after the country became more generally settled, enterprising
men were ready to embark in the milling business. Sites along the
streams were selected for water-power. A person looking for a mill-
site would follow up and down the stream for a desired location, and
when found he would go before the County Commissioners and se-
cure a writ of ad quod damnum. This would enable the miller to
have the adjoining land officially examined, and the amount of dam-
age by making a dam was named. Mills being such a great public
necessity, they were permitted to be located upon any person's land
if the miller thought the site desirable.
A horse-mill was built on the southeast quarter of section 1, Sand
Prairie township, in 1830-1, by Elisha Perkins. People for many
miles away came to this mill, but its capacity was small. During
the Black Hawk war John Essex and others came from the extreme
northern part of Knox county to this mill to have their grain
ground. During these perilous times a fort was began at this mill.
It was intended to enclose it with a heavy palisade so that the set-
tlers would not be cut oiF from food, and also to jn-otect the people.
But the fort was never fully completed. The puncheons of which
it was made remained in position for several years afterward.
Mrs. Parmelia Brown, widow of Rev. William Brown, the i^ioneer
preacher, tells us that during the winter of the deep snow they, as
well as many others, had to pound their corn in a mortar.
NATIVE ANIMALS.
The wild animals infesting this county at the time of its settle-
ment, were the deer, wolf, bear, wild-cat, fox, otter, raccoon, wood-
chuck or ground-hog, skunk, mink, weasel, muskrat, opossum, rab-
bit, and squirrel ; and the principal feathered game were the quail,
prairie-chicken, and wild turkey. Several of these animals furnished
meat for the early settlers ; but their principal meat did not consist
long of game. Pork and poultry were soon raised in abundance.
The wolf was the most troublesome animal, it being the common
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 325
enemy of the sheep. It was quite difficult to protect the sheep from
their ravages. Sometimes pigs and calves were also victims of the
wolf. Their howling in the night would often keep families awake,
and set all the dogs in the neighborhood to barking. Their yells
often were terrific. Says one old settler : " Suppose six boys, having
six dogs tied, whipped them all at the same time, and you would
hear such music as two wolves would make." To effect the destruc-
tion of these animals the county authorities offered a bounty for their
scalps and besides big hunts were inaugurated for their destruction,
and " wolf hunts " are prominent among the memories of the early
settlers. Such events were generally turned into a holiday, and
everybody that could ride a nag or stand the tramp on foot joined in
the deadly pursuit. A large circuit was generally made by the
hunters, who then closed in on every side, driving the hungry wolves
into the center of the corral, where they were despatched. The
return home with the carcasses was the signal for a general turn-out,
and these " pleasure parties " are still referred to by old citizens as
among the pleasantest memories of early life in Tazewell county.
Many a hungry wolf has been run down on the prairies where now is
located a town or fine farm residence. This rare old pastime, like
much of the early hunting and fishing the pioneers indulged in here,
departed at the appearance of the locomotive.
Mr. J. Mooberry, his friend, Mr, Hudson, from Ohio, and a
number of young men of Groveland, started on a wolf hunt one
day many years ago. The young fellows were careful to take the
best and fleetest horses, leaving, as they laughingly said, " the plugs
for the old men." A wolf was soon found and chase given. After
running a long distance it went through a herd of horses. This
checked all the dogs save two, Avhich followed it. It ran directly
toward the two "old men," and plunged into the thick, tall grass of
a slough ; but soon the dogs came up and jumped upon the fatigued
animal. Before the dogs killed it, however, the men jumped from
their horses, muzzled the wolf and secured it alive. Mr. Mooberry
took it upon his horse in front of himself. Soon the laugh was on
the " boys," as the old men had captured the game.
Kezer Hancock, an early settler and quite a noted hunter, was
out hunting in Groveland township in the year 1839, when he sent
his very large bull-dog after a panther. He followed it until it
gave a terrible yawl, when the dog hastily retreated to his master,
and would not leave him again while in the woods. The wily pan-
326 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
ther kept apace with them, and only about fifteen feet away all
through the timber. It was doubtless the jiresence of the dog
that kept the panther at bay and enabled Mr. Hancock to escape.
Mr. Hancock has killed as many as 23 deer within three weeks'
time. At one time while out hunting without a dog, he shot a large
buck deer, causing him to fall. On attempting to rise Mr. Han-
cock siezed him by the hind leg, and with his hunting knife
struggled Avith him for about three quarters of an hour, gashing his
body, until finally, he succeeded in thrusting his knife to the heart.
Often has Mrs. Hancock chased the wolves from her door-yard to
save her chickens. Once a wolf caught a big sheep by his tail, and
pulled him back as he attempted to jump the fence, but Mrs. Han-
cock frightened the wolf away and saved her sheep.
Louis White, of Spring Lake, in relating to us a number of inci-
dents of early times in Tazewell, tells of a scare he received by
being lost on the prairie, and being surrounded by the pesky
wolves. While the wolves were not generally dangerous to persons,
yet they would occasionally attack them, and especially after night.
Mr. White had been at the carding-mill in Dillonville to have some
wool carded for home use. He returned by way of Tremont and
Pekin, and it was well after dark when he passed through Pekiu.
He had a very trusty pair of horses, and after getting a good start
on the road, as he often did he tied the lines around his body and
lay down in the wagon for a nap. He was awakened, after going
he knew not how far, by the yelping and howling of the wolves
which were following him. It was pitch dark, and the horses were
greatly excited. He could not induce them to go as he wished.
They wanted to go one way and he another. He got out of the
wagon and found he was off the road, and in reality lost on the
prairie with packs of ravenous wolves howling on every side. Un-
fortunately he had no fire-arms to defend himself against their attack.
He became alarmed at the unpleasant, yes, dangerous, situation he
was in. Who would not ? Finally he thought he would let his
horses go where they would and trust to them and Providence for
his safety. After going a little ways they again stopped, and he
could not possibly urge them further. Here was a dilemma worse
than the first, — in the midst of the prairie, pitch dark, with wolves
all around to eat him, and his trusty animals unwilling to move.
At last he ventured to get out of his wagon to examine and dis-
cover, if he could, what prevented his horses from going, and to his
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 327
utmost surprise found that they had stopped at his own door-yard
gate !
BEE-HUNTING.
During the early settlement of this part of the State, one of the
prevailing customs of the pioneers was "bee-hunting." Often a
small company would travel many miles into a wild, unsettled
country, in search of the sweet-flavored honey of the wild bee.
Large trees, containing many gallons, and often a barrel, were fre-
quently found by bee-hunters. The little, busy bees would be
carefully watched as they flew heavily laden with the richest extract
of the flowers that were purely native and unknown to the present
generation. They always took a "bee line" for their homes. This
was a correct guide to the sturdy hunter, who had studied with care
the ways of the bee and by their knowledge took advantage of the
little insect. Once on the trail, good bee-hunters were almost certain
to capture the rich prize. After the bee tree was discovered it was
no trouble to get possession of the honey. The tree was felled, and
the hunters would rush for their booty ere it was lost by running
out upon the ground.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
We copy a very interesting and graphic article from the " History
of Washington," by John W. Dougherty, upon the social habits
and customs of the people of this community. He says :
" We know but little of the social habits of the people in those
days," referring to the time the first settlers came to the county.
" Their appreciation of education is shown in their efforts to estab-
lish schools, temporary at first, but finally perhianent. Their reli-
gious zeal is shown by their successful efforts in establishing
churches, and their Christian liberality by the number and variety of
them. Nor are we informed in regard to the amusements indulged
in by the young folks ; but, being young folks, we have no doubt
they found many ways of robbing Old Time of loneliness. It
would be unfair to suppose them, especially the ladies, destitute of
fashonable aspirations, but the means for gaudy display were very
much circumscribed in those days. The male attire consisted chiefly
of buckskin, or homespun cloth, — we might add home-woven, the
loom beiu": far more common in or near their rude huts than the
piano or organ. They were not, however, destitute of musical
328 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
taste, and many of their vocal performances would compare favor-
ably with our present choirs. We may safely say they sang with
the spirit. Most of the ladies, also, wore homespun, which they
manufactured from wool, flax, cotton, and the bark or lint of the
nettle, colored with such ingredients as nature provided, without the
aid of art. A few even adopted buckskin. How many yards of
the latter article were required for a fashionable dress in those
times, or in what particular style they were cut and trimmed we
are not informed, and must leave the ladies to draw their own con-
clusions. These dresses certainly were durable, and shielded the
wearer in out-door exercises incident to the planting, attending and
gathering of crops, in which pursuit the ladies in all new countries
assist.
" Another of the prevailing fashions was that of carrying fire-
arms, made necessary by the presence in the neighborhood of roving
bands of Indians, most of whom were ostensibly friendly, but like
Indians in all times, treacherous and unreliable. These tribes were
principally Pottawatomies. There were also in the northern part of
the State several tribes of hostile Indians, ready at any time to
make a murderous, thieving raid upon the white settlers ; and an
Indian war at any time was an accepted probability ; and these old
settlers to-day have vivid recollections of the Black Hawk and other
Indian wars. And, while target practice was much indulged in as
an amusement, it was also necessary for a proper self-defense ; the
settlers finding it necessary at times to carry their guns with them
when they went to hoe their corn. In some instances their guns
were stacked in the field and the laborers worked for a certain dis-
tance around them, and then moved the guns to a certain position
and again proceeded with their work.
" These were only a few of the hardships incident to pioneer life,
which was largely made up of privations, inconveniences and dan-
gers. They had few labor-saving machines and no reliable markets.
Even communication by letter with their distant friends and relatives
was rendered difficult for want of proper mail facilities, and some-
times for the want of money to pay the postage on the letters sent to
them, — the postage then being twenty-five cents for a single let-
ter, many of which remained in the office for weeks on account of
the inability of the persons addressed to pay the postage."
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 329
PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL.
The earlv settlers were not entirely without preaching. Says an
old pioneer on this subject : " The ministers of the Gospel of the
Savior of the world hunted us up and preached to what few there
were ; therefore we did not degenerate and turn heathen, as any
community will where the sound of the gospel is never heard. I
shall not give their names, though sacred in memory, for they were
not after the fleece, but after the flock, because they had but little
to say about science and philosophy, but spoke of purer things."
EDUCATION.
Though struggling under the pressure of poverty and privation,
the early settlers planted among them the school-house at the ear-
liest practicable period. So important an object as the education of
their children they did not defer until they could build more comely
and convenient houses. They were for a time content with such as
corresponded with their rude dwellings, but soon better buildings and
accommodations were provided. As may readily be supposed, the
accommodations of the earliest schools were not good. Sometimes
school was taught in small log houses erected for the purpose. Stoves
and such heating apparatus as are now in use were unknown. A
mud-and-stick chimney in one end of the building, with earthen
hearth and fire-place wide and deep enough to take in a four-foot
back-log, and smaller wood to match, served for warming purposes
in winter and a kind of conservatory in summer. For windows,
part of a log was cut out in either side, and may be a few lights of
eight-by-ten glass set in, or just as likely as not the aperture would
be covered over with greased paper. Writing benches were made of
wide planks, or likely puncheons, resting on pins or arms, clriven
into two-inch auger-holes, bored into the logs beneath the windows.
Seats were made out of puncheons, and flooring of the same material.
Everything was rude and plain; but many of America's greatest
men have gone out from just such school-houses to grapple with the
world and make names for themselves, and have come to be an honor
to their country. Among these we can name Abraham Lincoln, our
martyred President, one of the noblest men ever known to the world's
history. Stephen A. Douglas, one of the greatest statesmen of the
age, began liis career in Illinois teaching in one of these primitive
school-houses.
But all these things are changed now. We no longer see the log
330 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
school-house. Their places are filled with handsome frame or brick
structures, which for elegance and beauty of design, rival those of
older settled countries ; and in place of the " masters, " who were
" looked up to " as superior beings, and were consulted on all matters
of law, physic and religion, there are teachers of liberal culture, in-
telligent and progressive, many of whom have a broad and compre-
hensive idea of education, and regard their labor as something more
than teaching merely in order to make a living — more than a knowl-
edge of a great number of facts in the universe of mind and matter.
It means culture, the educating, developing and disciplining of all
the faculties of the human mind. It is the comprehension of the
entire being of man ; and the school or teacher who takes charge and
care of the young should provide the means and methods for carry-
ing forward the process in all departments of their complex natures, '
physical, mental and spiritual.
MARKETS.
The earliest settlers of the county went to St. Louis with what
little produce they had to sell and the merchants bought all their
goods in that city. Soon, however, Peoria and Pekin became mar-
kets, and produce was wagoned to those cities and from there sent
south on the river. There was at that time no sale for corn, or com-
paratively none, and wheat would bring only a small price ; so that
really there was no impetus given to the raising of grain of any sort,
except for home consumption, until the advent of the railroad. At
that time improvement began. The great resources of the county
which had scarcely supplied more than home demand, were then
turned to supply the wants of thousands. That occasion, the advent
of railroads, was the commencement of agricultural development.
It was the commencement of the manufacturing institutions the
county can now boast of; it was the building of her thriving cities
and towns, — indeed it was the beginning of progress.
The people of this county experienced considerable trouble getting
to Peoria before the construction of the bridge across the Illinois.
It consumed so much time to cross on the slow-going ferry, especially
when there was a " big day " at that place, or when the river was
high. To the settlers who lived on this side of the river the Peoria
merchants offered inducements by paying their toll across and back
if they would trade to the amount of one dollar. The pork-buyers
would also pay the ferriage of those who would bring them pork,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 331
and besides give them dinner and feed their team. This induced
many to go there in preference to Pekin.
In those early days large crops of all kinds of grain could be
raised, but the prices were exceedingly low. Dressed hogs would
bring $1.10 per hundred pounds, while wheat would bring 25 cents
per bushel. At present, when hogs are considered very low, they
are worth alive ^3.50 per hundred, and wheat 95 cents per bushel.
C. R. Crandall tells us he sent a load of grain to Chicago to ex-
change for shingles to cover his first house with. Indeed, many of
the early settlers hauled their produce to that city.
" When the first settlers came to the wilderness, " says an old set-
tler, "they all supposed that their hard struggle would be princi-
pally over after the first year ; but alas ! we looked for ' easier times
next year' for about ten years, and learned to bear hardships, priva-
tion and hard living as good soldiers do. As the facilities for mak-
ing money were riot great, we lived pretty well satisfied in an atmos-
phere of good, social, friendly feeling, and thought ourselves as good
as those we left behind when we emigrated West."
CHILLS AND FEVER.
One of the greatest obstacles, and one which wielded a very
potent influence in retarding the early settlement of this county,
was the "chills and fever," or the "ague," or the "Illinois shakes,"
as it was variously styled. This disease was a terror to new comers.
In the fall of the year everybody was afflicted with it. It was no
respecter of persons ; everybody shook with it, and it was in every
person's system. They all looked pale and yellow as though they
were frostbitten. It was not contagious, but was a kind of miasma
that floated around in the atmosphere and was absorbed into the
system. It continued to be absorbed from day to day, and week to
week, until the whole body corporate became charged with it as
with electricity, and then the shock came ; and the shock ^v as a
regular shake, with a fixed beginning and an ending, coming on each
day, or each alternate day, with a regularity that was surprising.
After the shake came the fever, and this " last estate was worse than
the first." It was a burning hot fever and 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. It would not stop, either, for any sort of
contingency. Not even a wedding in the family would stop it. It
332 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
was imperative and tyranincal. When the appointed time came
around everthing 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 through some sort of collision and came out not killed
but badly demoralized. You felt weak, as though you had run too
far after something, and then didn't catch it. You felt languid,
stupid and sore, and was down in the mouth and heel and partially
raveled out, so to speak. Your back was out of fix and your
appetite was in a worse condition than your back. Your head ached
and your eyes had more white in them than usual, and altogether
you felt poor, disconsolate and sad. You didn't think much of your-
self, and didn't believe othfer people did either, and you didn't care.
You didn't think much of suicide, but at the same time you almost
made up your mind that under certain circumstances it was justifi-
able. You imagined that even the dogs looked at you with a kind
of self-complacency. You thought the sun had a kind of sickly
shine about it. About this time you came to the conclusion that
you would not accept the whole State of Illinois as a gift, and
if you had the strength and means, picked up Hannah and the baby
and your traps, and went back "yander" to Injianny, Ohio, or old
Kaintuck.
"And to-day the swallows flitting
Round my cabin see me sitting
Moodily within the sunshine,
Just inside my silent door —
"Waiting for the "ager," seeming
Like a man forever dreaming;
And the sunlight on me streaming
Throws no shadow on the floor —
For I am too thin and sallow
To make shadows on the floor —
Nary shadow any more! "
The above is no picture of the imagination. It is simply recount-
ing what occurred in hundreds of instances. Whole families would
some time be sick at one time, and not one member scarcely able to
wait upon another. One widow lady at Pekin informs us she lost
nine children from this dreaded disease !
COOKING.
To witness the various processes of cooking in those days would
alike surprise and amuse those who have grown n^ since cooking
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 333
stoves and ranges came into use. Kettles were hung over the large
fire, suspended on trammels which were held by strong poles. The
long-handled frying-pan was used for cooking meat. It was held on
the fire by hand ; or, to save time, the handle was laid across the back
of a chair. This pan was also used for baking short-cake. A better
article was a cast-iron spider, which was set upon coals on the hearth.
But the best thing for baking bread was the flat-bottomed bake-
kettle of greater depth, with closely fitting cast-iron cover, and
commonly known as " Dutch oven." With coals over and under it
bread and biscuit would quickly and nicely bake. Turkeys and
spare-ribs were sometimes roasted before the fire, suspended by a
string, a dish being placed underneath to catch the drippings.
IMPLEMENTS.
The agricultural implements used by the first farmer here would
in this age of im})r()vement be great curiosities. The plow used
was called the bar-share plow. The iron point consisted of a bar of
iron about two feet long, and a broad shear of iron welded to it. At
the extreme point was a coulter that passed through a beam six or
seven feet long, to which were 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.
Sown seed was brushed in by a sapling with a bushy top being
dragged over the ground. In harvesting the change is most strik-
ing. Instead of the reapers and mowers of to-day, the sickle and
cradle were used. The grain was threshed with a flail, or trodden
out by horses or oxen.
women's work.
The men were not called upon to endure alone all the hardships
and labor of frontier life. The women also had their physical labor
to perfi)rm, and much of it was quite arduous. Spinning was one
of the common household duties. This exercise is one which few of
the present generation of girls have ever enjoyed. The wheel used
for spinning flax was called the "little wheel," to distinguish it
from the "big wheel" used for s])inning yarn. These stringed in-
struments furnished the principal music of the family, and were
operated by our mothers and grandmothers with great skill, attained
without pecuniary expense, and with far less practice than is neces-
sary for the girls of our period to acquire a skillful use of their
costly and elegant instruments.
334 ErtSTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
The loom was not less necessary than the wheel. Not every
house, however, in which spinning was done had a loom ; but there
were always some in each settlement who, besides doing their own
weaving, did some for others. Settlers, having succeeded in spite
of the wolves in raising sheep, commenced the manufacture of
woolen cloth ; wool was carded and made into rolls by hand-cords,
and the rolls were spun on the "big wheel." We occasionally find
now, in the houses of the old settlers, one of these big wheels, some-
times used for spinning and twisting stocking yarn. They are
turned with the hand, and with such velocity that it will run itself
while the nimble worker, by her backward step, draws out and
twists her thread nearly the whole length of the cabin. A common
article woven on the loom was linsey, also called linsey-woolsey, the
chain being linen and the filling woolen. This cloth was used for
dresses for the girls and mothers. Nearly all the clothes worn by
the men were also home-made. Rarely was a farmer or his son seen
in a coat made of any other. If, occasionally, a young man
appeared in a suit of " boughten " clothes, he was suspected of hav-
ing gotten it for a particular occasion, which occurs in the life of
nearly every man.
Not until the settlers had supplied themselves with the more use-
ful articles of clothing and with edibles of various kinds, did wheat
bread become a common article of food. It is true they had it
earlier, but this was only served on extra occasions, as when visitors
came, or on Sundays ; and with this luxury they would have a little
" store coffee." " The little brown jug" found a place in almost every
home, and was often brought into use. No caller was permitted to
leave the house without an invitation to partake of its contents.
PLEASURES OF PIONEER LIFE.
The history of pioneer life generally presents the dark side of the
picture ; but the toils and privations of the early settlers were not a
series of unmitigated sufferings. No ; for while the fathers and
mothers toiled hard, they were not averse to a little relaxation, and
had their seasons of fun and enjoyment. They contrived to do
something to break the monotony of their daily life and furnish
them a good, hearty laugh. Among the more general forms of
amusements were the " quilting-bee," "corn-husking," and the
"apple-paring," and in timbered sections, " log-rolling" and "house-
raising." Our young readers will doubtless be interested in a
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 335
description of these forms of amusement, when kibor was made to
afibrd fun and enjoyment to all participating. The "quilting-bee,"
as its name implies, was when the industrious qualities of the busy,
little insect that "improves each shining hour" were exemplified in
the manufacture of quilts for the household. In the afternoon
ladies for miles around gathered at an appointed place, and while
their tongues would not cease to play, their hands were as busily
engaged in making the quilt ; and desire was always manifested to
get it out as quickly as possible, for then the fun would begin. In
the evening the gentlemen came, and the hours would then pass
swiftly by in playing games or dancing. " Corn-huskings " were
when both sexes united in the work. They usually assembled in a
large barn, which was arranged for the occasion ; and when each
gentleman had selected a lady partner the husking began. When a
lady found a red ear she was entitled to a kiss from every gentleman
present ; when a gentleman found one he was allowed to kiss every
lady present. After the corn was all husked a good supper was
served ; then the " old folks " would leave, and the remainder of the
evening was spent in the dance and in having a general good time.
The recreation aiforded to the young people on the annual recurrence
of these festive occasions was as highly enjoyed, and quite as inno-
cent, as the amusements of the present boasted age of refinement
and culture.
CHAPTER XI.
THE REBELLION.
FIRST INDICATIONS OF THE WAR.
THE brightest pages of the history of this county are those
which record the acts of love and devotion to the Union of her
people — the sacrifices made during the dark and trying days of the
Rebellion. Well may the people of Tazewell county be proud of
the record thev made both at home and in the field during the war
traitors inaguratcd against the Union. It reflects honor upon their
heads, and as future generations look back through history they will
bless their names for so strenuously ujjholding the best government
ever instituted by man.
When, in 1861, the war was forced upon the country, the people
were quietly pursuing the even tenor of their ways, doing whatever
their hands found to do — working the mines, making farms or culti-
vating those already made, erecting homes, founding cities and towns,
building shops and manufactories — in short, the country was alive
with industry and hopes for the future. The people were just recov-
ering from the depression and losses incident to the financial panic
of 1857. The future looked bright and promising, and the indus-
trious and patriotic sons and daughters of the North were buoyant
with hope, looking forward for the perfecting of new plans for the
insurement of comfort and competence in their declining years.
They little heeded the mutterings and threatenings being wafted
from the South. They never dreamed that there was one so base as
to attempt the destruction of the Union their fathers had purchased
for them with their life-blood. While thus surrounded with peace
and tranquility they paid but little attention to the rumored plots
and plans of those who lived and grew rich from the sweat and toil,
blood and flesh, of others.
The war clouds grew darker and still darker, the thunders of
treason grew louder and louder until April 12, 1861, when the fear-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 337
fill storm burst upon the country and convulsed a continent with its
attendant horrors.
On that day, the rebels, who for weeks had been erecting their
batteries upon the shore, after demanding of Major Anderson a
surrender, opened fire upon Fort Sumter. For hours an incessant
cannonading was continued ; the fort was being injured severely ;
provisions were almost gone, and Major Anderson was compelled
to haul down the stars and stripes, — that dear old flag which had
seldom been lowered to a foreign foe : by rebel hands it was now
trailed in the dust. How the blood of patriotic men of the North
boiled when on the following day the news was flashed along
the telegraph wires that Major Anderson had been forced to surren-
der! And nowhere was greater indignation manifested than in
Tazewell county.
THE FIRST CALL FOR TROOPS.
Immediately upon the surrender of Fort Sumter, Abraham Lin-
coln, America's martyr President, — who but a few short weeks before
had taken the oath of office as the nation's chief executive, — issued
a proclamation calling for 75,000 volunteers for three months. The
last word of that proclamation had scarcely been taken from the elec-
tric wires before the call was filled, men and money were counted out
by hundreds and thousands : the people who loved their whole gov-
ernment could not give enough. Patriotism thrilled and vibrated
and pulsated through every heart. The farm, the workshop, the
office, the pulpit, the bar, the bench, the college, the school-house,
— every calling offered its best men, their lives and fortunes, in de-
fense of the Government's honor and unity. Bitter words spoken
in moments of political heat were forgotten and forgiven, and, join-
ing hands in a common cause, they repeated the oath of America's
soldier statesman : " By the Great Eternal, the Union must and shall
be preserved."
Seventy-five thousand men were not enough to subdue the rebel-
lion ; nor were ten times that number. The war went on, and call
followed call, until it began to look as if there would not be men
enough in all the Free States to crush out and subdue the monstrous
war traitors had inaugurated. But to every call for either men or
money there was a willing and ready response. And it is a boast of
the people that, had the supply of men fallen short, there were
women brave enough, daring enough, patriotic enough, to have
338 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
offered themselves as sacrifices on their country's altar. Such were
the impulses, motives and actions of the patriotic men of the North,
among whom the sons of Tazewell made a conspicuous and praise-
worthy record.
The readiness with which the first call was filled, together with
the embarassments that surrounded President Lincoln in the absence
of sufficient law to authorize him to meet the unexpected emergency,
together with an under estimate of the magnitude of the rebellion ;
and a general belief that the war would not last more than three
months, checked rather than encouraged the patiotic ardor of the peo-
ple. But very few of the men, comparatively speaking, who volun-
teered in response to President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers
for three months, were accepted. But the time soon came when there
was a place and a musket for every man. Call followed call in quick
succession, until the number reached the grand total of 3,339,748.
Of this vast number Tazewell county furnished about 3,000.
The tocsin of war was sounded, meetings were held in every town-
ship, village and city, at which stirring and spirited addresses were
made, and resolutions adopted admitting of but one interpretation, —
that of unconditional allegiance and undying devotion to their coun-
try and their country's flag; that, at whatever cost of blood or
treasure, the stars and stripes, wherever floating, must be honored,
and the supremacy of the law of the National Union sustained.
VARIOUS MEETINGS HELD IN THE COUNTY.
On the 17th, only two days after the proclamation of Gov. Yates,
a large meeting of the citizens of Pekin was held at the court-house
in response to a call of Mayor Leonard. It was a prompt and en-
thusiastic gathering of all parties and animated by one motive — that
of proving their loyalty to the Government and their willingness
to sustain the national authorities in their efibrts to preserve the
Union.
Resolutions strong and full of meaning were offered, spirited
addresses delivered interspersed with music by the Pekin brass band
and soul stirring national airs of a martial band. As better show-
ing the state of the feeling of the people in general we give ex-
tracts from resolutions that met with unanimous approbation at this
meeting. J. McDonald, editor of the Tazewell Register, offered a
lengthy resolution which closed as follows :
" Resolved, That patriotism prompts a ready and willing resjjonse
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 339
to the President's call for men and means to aid the general Govern-
ment in the present crisis ; and that the people of Tazewell will not
prove laggard in following where duty points the way."
B. S.' Pretty man most eloquently and patriotically addressed the
meeting, and closed by offering the following resolution :
" Resolved, That in view of the present threatening aspect of a por-
tion of our country toward the general Government, it is the duty
of all men who owe allegiance to the nation, to offer themselves, and
their lives and their fortunes to the powers that be in support of the
Union and the laws.
" Resolved, That we, the citizens of Pekin and vicinity hereby
tender to the State and nation our united support, and pledge our-
selves to them in every emergency and at all times, our fortunes and
our sacred honor."
S. T>. Puterbaugh made a few telling remarks and offered a resolu-
tion commending Gov. Yates' proclamation, after which Joshua
Wagenseller offered the following :
"Re-solved, That the citizens of Pekin will protect, cherish and
render the material aid to the families of all volunteers who are not
able to make suitable provisions for their families, for their support
during their absence in the service of their country."
Dr. D. A. Checver offered the following eloquent resolution :
" Resolved, That, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for
the rectitude of our intentions, we accept the issue presented by the
attack upon our flag, and in jjeace or war, in life or death, proclaim
as our motto, God, Justice and Our Country."
At the close of the meeting volunteers were called for when a
large number responded.
At a meeting held at Tremont, Saturday, April 20, 1861, to con-
sult upon the perilous condition of the country, great patriotism
was manifested. Lloyd Shaw presided, and Seth Talbot, jr. acted as
secretary. Short speeches were made by J. K. Kellogg, Dr. Cole,
Stephen Stout, E. G. Smith, J. H. Harris, Isaac Stout, H. Shaw
and W. R. Lackland.
H. R. Brown offered the following resolution which was unani-
mously adopted :
" Resolved, That we keep step to the music of the Union, and
stand by our Government and the stars and stripes, first, last and
all the time.''
The City Council of Pekin held a special session April 20, 1861,
22
340 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
and showed their willingness to furnish material aid to the families
of volunteers. The sum of ^1,000 was appropriated to their bene-
fit, to be disbursed under the direction of a committee who pledged
themselves that the families of the volunteers should not suffer for
the necessaries of life while their protectors were absent. The
council also appropriated $300 to defray the expenses of transporta-
tion of volunteers.
The Union sentiment was strongly expressed by the people of
Mackinaw. Pursuant to notice a large concourse of people assem-
bled at the Christian Church, in Mackinaw, Monday, April 22, 1861.
On motion of W. A. K. Cowdry, William Watson was called to the
chair, and J. B. Mathews appointed secretary. Strong resolutions
were passed; among them were some by Dr. J. P. Terrell, which
plainly and strongly set forth the feelings of the mass as they met
with unanimous passage. AVe give extracts :
" Resolved, That Jeff. Davis & Co. are the " biggest devils " among
ten thousand, and the ones altogether devilish. ^ ^ ^
" That our faith is as fixed and abiding as that we repose in God,
that our cause is just, and that a people battling for life, for liberty,
and for the sanctity of homes and firesides, must and will triumph.
" That if this Government, the noblest fabric ever reared for the
worship of human liberty, must go dowm in a fratricidal conflict, we
of the North, appealing to history may, before the world, cliarge,
without fear of contradiction, that the responsibility rests upon our
Southern brethren. That it is the result of a wanton repudiation
bv them of the covenants of the constitution, and whether or not
we shall be able to preserve it as the great heart and only bond of
union. Mav the God of battles be our shield and strong defense."
April 25, 1861, the people of Cincinnati assembled at the Wood-
row school-house. A band from Pekin was present. Samuel Wood-
row was called to the chair, and W. F. Copes chosen secretary.
Remarks were made by R. Gibson, J. B. Cohrs, C. A. Roberts,
Charley Gary, Benjamin Priddy, William Woodrow, Samuel Larri-
more, John Slack, A. M. Woodrow, William Plawley, S. S. Parlin,
John S. Sinnet, and others. But one sentiment prevailed, that was
that they were all in for the Union at all hazards, and determined
to stand by the administration.
A large and enthusiastic meeting was held at the Christian church
in Hittle, April 25, 1861, at which Ellis Dillon presided, Daniel
Albright, secretary. G. W. Minier delivered a stirring and eloquent
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 341
speech and Mr. Cowdry, of Mackinaw, followed. Capt. Ketchum,
with a number of volunteers and citizens of Mackinaw, was present.
A number of volunteers had left for Springfield the previous week.
The sentiments of the people were expressed in the following pointed
language : " There is but one feeling here with regard to the present
perilous condition of our country, and that is, if necessary, that
every dollar be spent and every life sacrificed rather than have the
Government fall into the hands of traitors. Past political differ-
ences are laid aside. Democrats and Republicans stand side by side,
ready to maintain the dignity of our Government and the honor of
the glorious old stars and stripes."
When the boom of the great guns in Charleston harbor went
rolling across the continent, at this time their echo penetrated every
loyal heart in this country. They had scarcely ceased belching
forth their iron missiles, and our national ensign disgraced, ere the
patriotism of the sons of Tazewell county prompted them to go to
their country's defense. The call for troops was no sooner made
than a company was organized at Pekin. Such alacrity in rushing
to arms was never before witnessed in the world's history.
DEPARTURE OF FIRST VOLUNTEERS.
Early on the morning of the 22d of April, 1861, the people began
to assemble at the river landing, at Pekin, to witness the departure
of the first volunteers. This was a company under command of
Capt. F. L. Riioads, with C. C. Glass, first lieutenant ; J. A. Sheets,
second lieutenant; Dietrich Smith, third lieutenant. The company
numbei'ed over 100, and was assigned to the Eighth regiment, of
which Capt. lihoads soon became colonel.
Previous to embarking the company formed a circle, when the
Rev. Mr. Underwood, in a brief and feeling prayer, invoked the
blessings of Heaven upon the brave men who were about to go forth
in defense of the Union. Then, amid cheers and benedictions,
tears and farewells, the company marched on board the steamer,
Cambridge, for Peoria, where they took the cars for Springfield. It
was an impressive scene, and the tear of regret which marked the
cheek of many was no reproach to their manhood.
LIBERALITY OF THOSE AT HOME.
It is impossible for any historian to do full justice to the spirit
and patriotism of this people in the early days of this gigantic and
342 HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
bloody struggle waged by the American people against rebellion,
and their liberal and continuous contributions to maintain the integ-
rity of this glorious Union. It is, indeed, a proud record; for from
among them went out brave soldiers and efficient leaders to aid in
the grand struggle for the maintenance and perpetuity of the Union.
"A union of lakes, a union of lands,
A union that none can sever ;
A union of hearts, a union of hands —
The American Union forever."
When the first companies were being raised, measures were inau-
gurated and carried out to raise money by subscription for the sup-
port of the families of volunteers. But there were so many calls for
men, and the number and needs of these families, whose providers
had gone to defend the life of the nation, that it became impossible
for private purses, however willing their holders, to supply all de-
mands, and the county authorities made frequent appropriations, and
the aid societies donated largely. Private liberality still continued.
This money was raised in the midst of the excitement of war, when
the exigencies of the times demanded it, and the generous people
never thought to inquire how much they were giving. Aside from
the sums appropriated by county and city authorities no account was
ever kept. Had there been, the sum would now seem most fabulous.
FLAG PRESENTATION.
One of the first acts of the ladies of the county, at the outbreak of
the war, was the making of flags and presenting them to companies
as they were about to march southward. Many such flags were
carried over bloody fields by the brave boys from Tazewell County.
The ladies were fired with patriotic zeal and sent the boys to
the front with cheering words.
The ladies of Pekin prepared a flag for the " Pekin Invincibles,"
which was presented to the company at a public meeting held at the
court-house Saturday, April 27, 1861. Mrs. H. P. Westerman, on
behalf of the ladies, presented the banner with the following most
eloquent and encouraging remarks :
" Captain Montgomery : — You and your company have done well
thus promptly to respond to your country's call. As you are about
to march to her defense, we, your sisters and wives, have thought it
fitting to present to you some kind memento of our love. We
HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 343
honor you for your patriotism ; we trust in your valor, and though
sad to lose you, yet we freely bid you go. As you go take this flag
of our Union, the work of our hands, which we now entrust to your
care. May it never trail in the dust. Protect it, defend it, and
fight for it as you would for your country, your homes and the
graves of those you hold dear. Liberty and Union, let that be your
motto, and let its sentiments be deeply engraven on your hearts.
The Union, we love it, and the more now that it is in peril.
' Sail on, oh Union strong and great,
Humanity with all its fears, —
With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy fate.
Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea.
Our hearts, our hopes are all with thee ;
Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears,
Our faith triumphant o'er our fears.
Are all with thee, are all with thee.'
" Love the Union, and see to it that so far as your actions are
concerned, none of its stars shall be stricken out. As freemen do
valiant service in its defense. Be true to yourselves and to us.
Disappoint not our hopes. Accept this banner : with calm unfalter-
ing purpose ever bear it aloft."
James Roberts, on behalf of the company, responded in an appro-
priate manner, when Ca})t. Montgomery placed the flag in charge of
Leonard Martin, the standard-bearer, and the company gave three
hearty cheers for the Union, the flag and the ladies.
A PICTURE OF A SAD AND DESOLATE HOME.
The boys went forth to the field of carnage, and what vivid words
can the pen employ that will do justice to their heroic valor, to their
unequaled and unparalleled bravery and endurance. Home and
home comforts, wives and little ones, fathers, mothers, sisters, broth-
ers, were all given up for life and danger on the fields of battle — for
exposure, fatigue, disease and death at the point of the bayonet or
the cannon's mouth. But while they were thus suffering let us
not suppose that the mother, and sister, the wife, the children were
free from the tortures of anxiety, of the loss of dear ones. Yes,
while the brave boys upon the Southern field suffered indescribably,
the wife and little ones at home endured suffering beyond the power
of pen or tongue to describe. Let us picture a home where the
344 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
the husband and the wife and little ones are thus separated. The
picture of one will only reflect those of hundreds of others. We
look into the plain but tidy room. A mother is preparing her even-
ing meal. Upon a chair, and leaning her little arm on the window-
sill, a little child is kneeling, looking far into the dusky shadows that
encircle the brow of night. Her dark eyes have a longing, wistful
look, and on her brow lies one of lifers shadows. At last she
speaks :
" Oh ! mamma, papa has been gone so long ; why don't he come ?"
The mother sighs, and her heart repeats, "so long." But the
little one must have an answer, and mamma tries to comfort her —
" Papa has gone to war, dear ; gone to fight for his country, and when
the war is over he will come back to see mamma and little Bessie."
"But it seems so long, mamma; when will the war be over?"
" Mamma cannot tell ,dear ; but we will hope for the best."
Their frugal meal is now ready, and mother and child sit down
with heavy hearts, their eyes wandering to the place where papa used
to sit; but there is no manly form, — only a vacant chair.
In the mother's heart sad questions icill arise : " Will he return to
us? or will some swift-winged bullet, sped by a traitor's hand, de-
stroy the life so dear to us?"
Oh, why could not all men have been true to a government so
mild, — to their country, so vast and grand ? AVhy should they cause
sorrow and death to o'erspread our land, and the voice of wailing to
go forth from every fireside? In silence the meal is ended, and the
little one, whose eyes have grown heavy, is taken upon the mother's
lap, and prepared for rest. Her little prayer is said, and a good-
night kiss for papa, she falls asleep, and the shadow is chased from
her brow. But the shadows hover darkly round the mother's heart,
as she thinks of distant battle-fields ; of wounded and dying men
whose lives, and those they love more than life, have been given up
that their country might be saved. And on this September evening
a terrible battle has closed. For three days they have fought, and
now the evening shadows unite with clouds of smoke, and our army
is victorious ; but the ground is strewn with the dead and dying.
Hark ! here is one who speaks : " Water, water ; won't little Bessie
bring me water?" But Bessie's soft hands cannot reach him ; kind,
but rougher and stranger hands give him the cooling drops, and
with a weary sigh for his home, wife, and little one, his breath is
gone, and the brave heart beats no more.
HISTOPwY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 345
Rumors of a terrible fight reached that quiet home ; then came
dispatches, making rumors f arts. How long and dark are the hour
of suspense to the anxious wife and little one. Eagerly the papers
are watched for every word concerning the division in which was
the loved one, and now at last comes a list of the killed and wound-
ed in his regiment ; with fast-beating heart the poor wife takes the
list of ywoimded first, that she may still have some hope. His name
is not there. With hushed breath and heart beating faster, she scans
the list of the killed, until she comes to his name, the paper falls
from her nerveless hand and she sinks heavily to the floor. Bessie
bends over her, and the touch of her soft hands and the sound of
her sweet voice bring- the u-idow back to life that is now so dark.
But for Bessie's sake she will still be brave, and struggle on alone,
no, not (done. Bessie is still with her, and their heavenly Father
will lead them through the darkness.
This is only one of the many pictures that are drawn upon the
pages of unwritten history. Have traitors nothing to answer for ?
SOLDIERS AID SOCIETY.
The continued need of money to obtain comforts and necessaries
for the sick and wounded of our army, suggested to the loyal ladies
of the North many and various devices for the raising of funds.
Every city, town and village had its fair, festival, picnic, excur-
sion, concert which netted more or less for the care of hospital
relief The ladies of Tazewell honored themselves and this county
by their noble, generous work in behalf of the soldiers. Their
devotion to the loyal principles of the national Government was
undying, and its defenders were objects of their deepest sympathy.
During the dark and trying days of the Rebellion they were ever
on the alert raising funds, sending food, clothing, delicacies and
medicines to the soldiers in the hospital and at the front.
In the noble efforts the ladies made to palliate the sufferings
of their brothers upon the Southern fields of carnage, they were
actuated by love of country, devotions to kindred and sympathy
for those in distress. Though physically incapacitated to share with
them the toil and perils of battle, yet before its smoke and the echoes
of its artillery passed away, the offering of their hands would
relieve their pain, and inspire them with holier ardor for the cause
they M^ere defending. The number of weary sufferers on the field
of battle and in the lonely hospital relieved by their bounty, none
but the Recording Angel can tell.
346 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Money was raised for pushing forward this work in many ways,
but underlying all was the willing hearts. Large sums were
received by donations, but the chief reliance was upon entertain-
ments and the one great fair which netted a handsome sum.
The ladies had struggled on doing what they could in a smaller
way, but it became evident greater exertions would be necessary to
raise sufficient means to alleviate the sufferings of the soldiers.
Accordingly, the Soldiers Aid Society of Pekin, issued through their
Secretary, Mrs. H. P. Westerman, on the 3rd day of Aug., 1864,
the following call, looking toward a grand county sanitary fair :
"The continued need of money has suggested to the ladies of the
Soldier's Aid Society the necessity of getting up something on a
grander and larger scale than anything heretofore held in our county.
The winter season will soon be approaching with its inclemency
which will naturally make it more difficult for us ladies to replenish
our soldiers aid fund ; therefore what is to be done must be done
quickly and with might.
"The need of money for this sacred purpose (that of alleviating
the sufferings of our languishing heroes in our hospitals,) still con-
tinue and calls loudly on all noble men and women to assist. Our
brave men are still wrestling with Southern rebellion, which though
often caused to fall back is not yet subdued ; and therefore there is
treble the necessity for redoubling our efforts in their behalf. The
hospitals made vacant by death, recovery or discharge are speedily
refilled with new faces which disease and exposure have rendered
pallid, and emaciated forms shattered by a gun-shot or shell. I tell
you my friends we must continue to pour down our sanitary supplies
for the comfort of those bleeding, suffering soldiers of our country,
whose well-being lies near the heart of all true men and women.
Who has not some father, brother or loved friend in our army ? Then
awake and think. What can you do ? Your hands, however tiny,
can work up some little item which will either do to send to our
soldier boys or will bring money at our soldier's fair. Come up
and do something while it is day, for night cometh when no man
can work. Everything in the shape of the useful, fancy or orna-
mental, vegetables, meats, machinery, and, in fact, anything that can
be invented, both natural and artificial, will be heartily received."
According to the above call a meeting was held at the court-house,
Aug. 6, 1864, to inaugurate measures for the holding of the Tazewell
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 347
County Sanitary Fair. Henry Riblet was chairman of this meeting,
and W. W. Clemens, secretary.
The following named persons were elected officers of the Fair :
President — Joshua Wagenseller. Vice Presidents — Joshua Saw-
yer, Tremont ; Maj, R,. N. Cullom, Deer Creek ; William Dixon,
Sand Prairie ; Joshua Brown, Dillon ; I. B. Hall, Delavan ; Daniel
Reid, Boynton ; Samuel Woodrow, Cincinnati ; Gordon Nichols,
Elm Grove ; A. S. Cole, Fond du Lac ; Michael Hittle, Mackinaw ;
S. R. Crosly, Malone ; Dr. G, W. Minier, Little Mackinaw ; Daniel
Albright, Hittle ; Jacob Keyser, Spring Lake ; Dr. B. H. Harris,
Groveland ; Peter Weyhrich, William S. Rankin, Teis Smith, I. E.
Leonard, Pekin.
Recording Secretary — B. F. Blossom. Assistant, Lemuel Allen.
Corresponding Secretary — George H. Harlow.
Treasurer — George Greigg.
Executive Committee — Henry P. Westerman, William P. Chain,
George Tomm, Reuben Bergstresser, George W. Ingalls, David
Keyes, William Grant, Mrs. H. P. Westerman, Mrs. W. S. Rankin,
Mrs. G. H. Harlow, Mrs. E. Rhodes, Mrs. T. D. Vincent, Mrs.
Abram Haas, Mrs. Thomas King, Mrs. Daniel Harlow, Mrs. Samuel
P. Higgiuson, Mrs. W. Amsbary, Mrs. Robert Briggs, Mrs. Brear-
ley, Mrs. W. W. Sellers, Mrs. G. W. Athens, Mrs. William P.
Chain.
Great eiforts were made to make this a grand affair. Committees
were appointed to canvass in the surrounding counties. Circulars
were sent out setting forth the great necessity of raising means for
the relief of the soldiers in Southern hospitals. A large building
was erected on Court street, Pekin, which had its various departments
under able management. The fair lasted three days and proved
quite remunerative, the proceeds being over $5,000.
Whenever a great battle or any other emergency made unusual
demands, appeals were made through the press and never in vain.
In looking through the files of county papers we find call after call
made by different societies during those trying times. As the war
progressed the care of soldier's families became an important part of
the work of soldier's aid societies.
Let us examine into one or two of the boxes sent by the Soldier's
Aid Society of Pekin and see what they contained. We give list of
articles packed in box Sept. 15, 1863, and sent to the army of the
Cumberland: Number sheets 2; shirts 17; drawers 17; handker-
348 HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
chiefs 45 ; pounds of ground mustard 4 ; green tea 3 ; dried fruit 20 ;
packages corn starch 8; number bandages 10; books and papers.
Contents of a box packed and shipped April 13, 1864 — number
pillows 9 ; pillow cases 12 ; handkerchiefs 79 ; towels 40 ; shirts 24 ;
rolls butter 1 ; rolls cotton bandages 58 ; sheets 2 ; pairs slippers 5 ;
number quilts 1 ; dressing gowns 1 ; old shirts 1 ; jar pickles 1 ;
small sack dried peaches 1 ; bottle catsup 1 ; bundle linen rags 1 ;
a large lot of magazines and papers.
Shipped April 23, 1864 — Barrels dried apples 1; dried peaches
1 ; 4 dozen cans tomatoes ; 1 barrel of eggs ;
When the boys in blue came home on a furlough they were
cordially welcomed, and the ladies prepared dinners for them and
made their stay happy and pleasant. AVhen they returned to the
tented fields they carried with them grateful recollections of the
efforts the ladies at home were making for their comfort.
lee's surrender. — Lincoln's assassination.
Our armies bravely contended until finally after four long years of
bloodshed and carnage the news was flashed over the wires that Lee
had surrendered. This joyful news reached this county Monday,
April 10, 1865, being within two days of four years from the time
the batteries were opened on Fort Sumter. On receiving the news
of the fall of Richmond the people were very jubilant over the suc-
cess of the Union forces. They assembled in all parts of the county
and had grand jubilees. At Pekin the people came together at the
public square and a procession was formed, headed by the band, and
paraded through the city. The streets were brilliantly illuminated.
Bonfires, rockets and music were seen and heard on every hand, it
was indeed a season of rejoicing, and well might it be, for what had
been endured, what had been suffered ?
Scarcely had the downfall of the Southern Confederacy been re-
ceived ere the sad news of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln
was flashed over the wires. On that beautiful April morning, five
days after the announcement of Lee's surrender, the people, joyful
over the near approach of the return of their loved ones from the
South, the sorrowing news of the President's death was announced.
Mr. Lincoln was bound to the people of this county with
stronger cords than simply being a good ruler. He had spent many
days here ; had many warm personal friends and it was like the loss
of a brother. Thev felt the loss keenly ; the tolling bells, the sym-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 349
pathetic dirges, interpreted not merely the grief of a people at the
loss of a president, but the sorrow of a community at the death of a
brother, a son, one who was closely akin to all. Meetings were held
and appropriate resolutions passed. Dwellings, stores, churches and
public buildings were draped and the flags which had been sent up
in moments of rejoicing, were taken down, draped, and sent up at
half-mast.
THE CLOSE.
The war ended aud peace restored, the Union preserved in its in-
teirritv, the sons of Tazewell who had volunteered their lives in
defense of their government, and who were spared to see the army
of the Union victorious, returned to their homes to receive grand
ovations and tributes of honor from friends and neighbors who had
eagerly and zealously followed them wherever the fortunes of war
called. Exchanging their soldiers' uniforms for citizens' dress, most
of them fell back to their old vocations, — on the farm, at the forge,
the bench, in the shop, and at whatever else their hands found to do.
Brave men are honorable alwavs, and no class of citizens are entitled
to greater respect than the volunteer soldiery of Tazewell county,
not alone because they were soldiers, but because in their associa-
tions with their fellow men their walk is upright, and their honesty
and character without reproach.
Their country first, {heir glory and their pride,
Land of their hopes, land where tlieir fathers died ;
When in the right, they'll keep their honor bright.
When in the wrong, they'll die to set it right.
No more fitting tribute to their patriotic valor can be offered the
brave men who went forth in defense of liberty and union, than a
full and complete record, so far as it is possible to make it, embracing
the names, the terms of enlistments, the battles in which they were
engaged, and all the minutiai of their military lives. It will be a
wreath of glory encircling every brow — a precious memento to
hand down to posterity, and one which each of them earned in de-
fense of their and our common country. There are, no doubt, some
men who, while they lived in Tazewell county, enlisted in other
counties and were never credited to this countv. While the names
of such properly belong here, and we would gladly give them did
we know them, yet the Adjutant-General's reports, the source of our
350
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
information, gives their names as belonging to other counties. We
sent out thousands of circulars urging those who thus enlisted, or
their friends for them, if they were dead or had moved away, to
send us their name, company and regiment, and those who did so
will find their name properly recorded.
TAZEWELL COUNTY VOLUNTEERS.
ABBREVIATIONS.
abs Absent.
art Artiller}-.
col Colonel.
capt Captiiin.
corpl ("orporrtl.
com Commissioned.
ciiv Cavalry.
eapd Captured.
dis Disability.
d Di.scharged.
e Knli.sted.
hos Hospital.
inf Infantn-.
kid Killed.
lieut Lieutenant.
m.o Mustered Out.
pris Prisoner.
pro Promoted.
regt Regiment.
res Resigned.
sergt Sergeant.
tr Transferred.
V Veteran.
wnd Wounded.
7th INFANTRY.
The 7th is claimed to be the first regiment organized in the State, under
the first call of the President for three months' troops. The 8th also claims
the same honor. The 7th was mustered in at Camp Yates, April 25, 1861 ;
was forwarded to Alton and thence to Mound City, where it remained during
its three months' service.
It was re-organized and mustered for three years service, July 25, 1861 ;
moved to Fort Holt, Kentucky, where it went into winter quarters; was with
the reconnoitering expedition under General Grant, in the rear of ColumVjus,
Kentucky. On February 3d it embarked for Fort Henry, and on the 12th for
Fort Donelson, taking part in the siege and investment of that x^lju'e. At
DoneLson the regiment was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Babcock; loss
3 killed, including the gallant Captain Mendell of Companj' I, and 19 wounded.
The 7th was engaged continually April 6th and 7th, at the battle of Shiloh,
losing 2 officers and 15 men killed, and 79 wounded.
At the battle of Corinth, October 3 and 4, 1862, the regiment was engaged
both days entire. Colonel Babcock commanding. Loss at Corinth, 2 officers
and 6 men killed, and 46 wounded, also 21 prisoners.
After the battle of Corinth, the 7th was engaged in scouting and guarding
railroads through Tennessee and Mississippi, taking part in a number of expe-
ditions and having some .some bri.sk skirmishes, capturing many prisoners, etc.
December 22, 1863, the regiment re-enlisted as veterans, and, January 7,
1864, started to Springfield, Illinois, for veteran furlough. It was mustered out
July 9, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky; arrived at Camp Butler, July 12, 1865,
for final payment and discharge.
Colond.
A. J. Babcock, e. July 12,'61, res. Feb. 20,'63.
PrivaJUx.
Hoffman, Theo., e. Feb. 22,'65, in Co. B., m. o.
May 2.3, '6.5.
Di\-ine, M., e. July •i5,'61, in Co. C, v., m. o.,
July 8,'65.
COMTAJriT E.
Second Lieutenants.
Mart. V. Miller, e. July 2.5,'61, m.o. July 2^,'&i.
W. W. Judy, e. July 2o,'61, m.o. July 2oV64.
First Sergeant.
W. H. Miller, c. July 25,'61, m.o. June 16,'6.5.
Privates.
Barnes, L. I)., e. Julv 2.5,'61, v., d. for pro. in 3d
U..S. col. inf.
Bunvell, J. A.
Burwell, A.W., e. Feb. 10,'6-1, m.o. July 9,'65.
Burwell, W. H., e. Aug. 12,'fi2, kid. Oct. 5,'64.
Brown, L., e. Sept. 1,'61, tr. to V.R.C.
Bortlitt, Homer M., e. Oct. 1,'61, v., tr. V.R.C.
Carr, S. P., e. Aug. 12,'62, died April 26,'64.
Forbes, A. W., e. Aug. 12, '62, pro. capt. in 3d
U.S. col. inf.
352
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Forbes, John B.
Forbes, John S., e. Aug. 12,'62.
flardiner, Thos., e. Feb. '64. wnd.
(ranliner, Hiram, died Dec. l.'dl.
(Gardiner. .\., v.. m.o. July '.'.'t'lo.
Ilickev, Edward, v., pro. serj^, wnd.
Mainline, T. B., v., m.o. Julv '.t.'ti.').
Hainline, .S., e. Aug. 12,'(i2, d. June 2,'f,o.
Hainline, J. F., e. Aug. 12,'02, d. June 2,'65.
Hainline, O., e. Aug. 12,'r52, d. July 2,'65.
Hainline, A., e. Feb. 2,'tU, m.o. June 29, '6.5.
Hainline, E., c. Feb. 12, '64. kid. Feb. 1,'6.').
Huston, ('., e. Feb. 18,'t">4, m.o. July ;i,'65.
Ewing, S. H., e. Feb. IN.'tU, in hos. at m.o.
Jones, W. R., e. Sept. 15, '61, v., m.o. July '.\'6o,
sergt.
Jones, S. H., e. Aug. 12,'62, d. June 2,'62.
Kampf, \Vm. H., e. Oct. 4,'64, m.o. Julv 9,'6.").
Kampf, M. R., e. Feb. 2,'W, kid. Oct. 5,'64.
Kelley, Wm. H., e. Jan. 30,'64, m. o. July 9,'65.
Keates, \Vm. S.
Leise, John L., e. Sept. 2S,'64, d. June 2,'a5.
Lancaster, R., e. Aug. 12, '62, d. July 25, '64.
Lancaster, J., e. Aug. 1'2,'62, d. June 2,'65.
Miller, G. L.
Pangh, H. H., e. Oct. 4,'64, m.o. Julv 9,'65.
Paugh, Peter, e. Feb. 2,'64, died Jan. '21, '65.
Robinson, S., e. Sept. 15,'61, v., m.o. Julv9,'C5.
Roberts, D. C, e. Feb. 2.'64, kid. Oct. 5,'64.
Roles, J. P., e. Dec. 21, '64, v.. m.o. Julv y,'65.
Stafford, W. G., e. Sept. l.i,'61, m.o. Nov. l'2,'r>4.
Sullivan, G., e. Feb. 10,'64, m.o. July 9,'65.
Smith, Wm., v., kid. Oct. 5,'64.
Tompkins, J. Q., e. Feb. '2.i,'ti4, m.o. Julv 1,'65.
Thornton, A. \V., died Nov. •26,'61.
Verrv, \Vm. E., e. Feb. 2,'64, wnd.
Watt, T. H., e. Aug. 12,'lVl, d. June 2,'65.
Watt, S., e. Aug. 12,'64, d. June 2,'6.5.
Wood, W., e. Julv 25,'61. died Nov. 12,'61.
Watt, J. W., e. Feb. 2,'64, kid. Oct. 5,'64.
Allen, L. E., .Sept. 1.5,'61, v., kid. Oct. 5,'64.
Allen, J. B., e. Oct. 1,'64, pris.
Barnes, Lor. D., (No. 2) e. Oct. 1,'61, v., m.o.
Julv 9, '6.5.
Brooks, F. M., e. Sept. '61, died June .S,'62, serg.
Brooks, G. (i., e. Feb. 5, '64, m.o. J\ine 22,'65.
Booher, T. J., e. Oct. 1,'64, m.o. Julv 9,'6.5.
Burk, J. T., e. Oct. 31, '63, kid. Oct. 5, '64.
Burk, L. A., c. Feb. 10,'64, m.o. July 9, '65.
Goft'man, Peter, c. Sejjt. •29,'64, d. June 2,'65.
Decker, Joel, e. Feb. 5, '64, m.o. Julv 9,'65.
Decker, D., e. Sept. 1,'63, d. April 2l),'a5.
Dillon, Aaron, e. Sept. 2S.'r>4, d. June 2,'6.5.
Friend, H. B., e. Feb. 9,'64, m.o. July 9,'6,5.
Gardner, J., e. July '25, '61, v., m.o., July 9,'65.
Roelf.son, A. N., e. Oct. 31, '63, m.o. JulVg.'Go.
Reed, J. C, e. Feb. 15,'64, m.o. Julv 9,'65.
Stroud, L. C, e. Mar. 22,'64, kid. Oct. 5,'64.
Scales, J. W., e. Feb. 2.5,'M, m.o. Julv9,'65.
Warfield, J. H., e. Sept. 28,'(U, d. June 2,'&5.
Warfield, P. B., e. Sept. 2,s,'64, d. June 2,'65.
Ambro.se, M. H., e. Feb. 14, '65, in Co. H, m. o.
July 9,'65.
COtPANY K.
Brooks, George, e. Feb. 5, '64.
Brooks, William.
Barnes, William.
Barnes, Lorenzo.
Decker, John.
Friend, Henry.
Robin.son, George.
Robinson, William.
Left, John.
Hainline, John.
Galbraith, Michael.
Thornton, Watson.
Gillroy, T.
Beal, Jesse,' e. July •25,'61, d.
Nolan, John.
COMPANY !>.
Burk, James.
Crattv, David.
Landan, L., e. July 25,'61, died Nov. 6,'61.
Morman, L. J., e. July 25,'61, v., m.o. July 9,'65.
Ral.son, John.
Ralson, A.
Roberts, D. C, e. April 14,'61. m.o. Mav 11, '65.
Sparrov.-, J. M., e. Julv 25,'61, died Oct. 24,'61.
Tomljlin, W. H., e. July 25,'61, m.o. Julv 9,'65.
Ward. M. T.
Williamson, Thos. A.
Turner, John D.
Garrety, Albert.
8tli IXFANTRY.
On the 25th daj' of April, 1861, the 8th Infantrj' was first organized for the
three months' service. Colonel Oglesby commanding. A contest for rank and
seniority arose between the Seventh and Eight, both being organized on the
same day. This contest was finally ended by according to Colonel Cook the
first number (Seven) as the number of his regiment, with the second rank as
colonel — Colonel Oglesby taking the second number for his regiment, with
the first rank as colonel.
During its three months' term of service it was stationed at Cairo, where,
at the end of said term, it was mustered out, and on July 25, 1861, was re-
organized for the three years' service.
The regiment was stationed at Cairo, Illinois, until October, 1861, when it
was ordered to Birds Point, Missouri, where it was stationed until February
2, 1862, with the exception of occasional excursions to Cape Girardeau, Norfolk
Mission and Paducha, Kentucky.
February 2, 1862, embarked for Tennessee river. On the 5th met the
enemy near Fort Henry, and drove them. On the 11th was in advance of
attack on Fort Donelson, under command of Lieutenan-Colonel Rhoads,
Colonel Oglesby commanding brigade. On the 15th the Eighth met the
enemy, who were attempting to cut their way out of the fort, and for three
hours and a half withstood the shock of the enemy, although suffering ter-
ribly. Its loss was 57 killed, 191 wounded, and 10 missing.
March 6th, proceeded to Pittsburg Landing, where the Eighth did gallant
service, being engaged in the hottest of the fight. Towards the close of the
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
353
second day, the regiment was ordered to take a rebel battery, which was
pouring a destructive fire into our ranks — the battery was charged and taken,
the gunners being killed at their posts. The regiment lost 26 killed, 95
wounded, and 11 missing.
It was engaged in the siege of Corinth, and after the evacuation, moved
to Jackson, Tennessee, thence to Lagrange. November 28th it pushed as far
as Water Valley into Mississippi, returning after a very hard march.
The regiment broke camp at Tallahatchee river, January 4, 1803, and
marched toward ^lemphis, where it arrived on the 19th of January, and
camped on the Hernando road. February 22d embarked for Lake Provi-
dence. April 12th moved to Milliken's Bend; on the 25th started with the
army, and passing through Richmond, struck the river at Perkins' Land-
ing, and crossed over on the night of the 30th. May 1, 18H3, commenced
the fight at Thompson's Hill, Captain Jones severely wounded. On the 12th
engaged the enemy near Raymond. In this battle the regiment did distin-
guished service, relieving the center at a most critical moment, and gallantly
(Iriving the enemy. The regiment lost a l)rave young ofhcer here in Captain
Frank Leeper, Company A, who fell while leading his men on to victory.
Participateil in the l)attle of Jackson, May 14th, and on the 10th fought at
Champion Hill. On the 18th crossed Big Black river, and on the following day
drove the enemy into his works at Vicksburg. On the 22d engaged in the
heroic assault on Fort Hill. August 21, 1863, under command of Lieutenant-
Colonel Josiah Sheets, marched to Monroe, returning September 3d.
The Eighth remained at Vicksburg until February 3, 1864, when it joined
in the Meridian campaign under General Sherman.
The regiment re-enlisted as veterans March 24, 1864, going to Camp But-
ler, Illinois, for veteran furlough. Was consolidated June 21, 1864.
Left Vicksburg July 1st, for Jackson, and, returning on the 6th, met the
enemy tiiree miles from Jackson, and skirmished till dark. On the following
day had a severe engagement, suffering a loss of 3 killed, 21 wounded, and 2
missing.
From July 29th to September 3d, engaged in the Morganzia expedition;
moved to ^lemphis, Tennessee, October 18th, where it remained with brief
intervals till January 1, 1865, when the Eighth left for New Orleans, where
they arrived on the 4th, and were stationed fifteen miles above the city.
On March 26th encamped near Spanish Fort and entrenched; engaged in
approaching the fort until the 30th, losing 1 killed and 3 wounded. Pro-
ceeded to rear of investments April 3d, and on the 9tli engaged in a charge on
the enemy's works, ami was the first to plant the flag on the works in her
vicinity. The Eighth lost in this charge 10 killed, and .■)4 woumled.
The regiment was mustered out May 4, 186(5, at Baton Rouge, Louisiana,
and arrived at Springfield for final payment and discharge May 13, 1866.
Colonel.
Frank L. Rhoads, e. April 2.'5,'61, res. Oct. 7,'62.
.Josiah A. Sheets, e. July i'l.'fil, pro. to bvt. brig.
gen., res. Feb. 9,'60.
Quartrnnnstfr.
Samuel Rhoads, e. July 25, '61, res. Dec. 9,'til.
Sergeant- Ma jo r.
\Vm. Jones, e. July 2-5,'f)l, v., m.o. May 4, '66.
COMPANY D.
Brich, C. N., e. Oct. l,'(>t, m.o. Sept- :!0,'65.
Rodgers, 1). B., e. Jan. 2.t,'i;.'i, m.o. Jan. 21. '66.
Woodland, W., e. Jan. 'A5,'65, m.o. Jan. 24, '66.
Hawley, J. B., e. July 17,'61, d. July 16,'64.
COMCPANY E.
Sergeant.
Jos. E. Harbin, e. July 25,'61, killed at Shiloh,
April 6, '62.
B. F. Lawson, e. July 25,'61, d. Mar. 14,'64.
Privaleif.
Benthan, D., e. Julv 25,'61, m.o. Aug. 2",'64.
Thompson, E. H., c". July 2.->,'61. kid. Feb. 1.=>,'62.
Maiianville. F. K., e. Mar. S,'64, died of wnd.
Julv27,'64.
Steward, Isaiah, e. Xov. ?.0,'63.
Brown, B. W., e. July 2r),'61, m.o. July 30,'64.
Thompson, J., e. July 2.5,'61, m.o. July 30,'64.
COMPANY F.
Captains.
Joseph M. Hanna, e. April ZQ,'CA, kid. at Fort
Doncl.son.
Edwin L. Williams, e. July 2.'j,'61, tenii exp'rd
July 2<s,'6-l.
Alexander Coleman, e. July 25,'61, v., hon. dis.
June9,'6.i.
J. S. Hight, e. Julv 2.5,'61, v., res. Aug. 18, '65.
W. S. Waters, e. July 2,5,'61, v., m.o. May 4,'G6.
First Lieutenants.
R. Brown, e. July 2.5,'61, tenn exp. July 28,'6?'
Jos. Groves, e. July 2o,'61, v., m.o. May 4, '66.
354
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
\
Second Lieutenants.
D. A. Sheets, e. July 25,'61, killed in battle.
J. D. Handberry, e. July 25,'t)l, res. Aug. 31, '62.
Ketcham S. Conklin, e. July 25.'61, term ex.
July28,'&l.
Matthew Harrington, e. July 25,'61, v., hon.
dis. June 9, '6.5.
Sergeant.
F. M. Morgan, e. Julv 2.5, '61, kid. Ft. DoneLson.
W. H. Howell, e. July 25,'61, kid. Ft. Donelson.
Corporah.
N. Thoma-s, c. July 2,5,'61, d. April 2.S,'62, di.s.
J. C. Fitzgerald, e. Julv 2r),'fil, kid. Vlck.sburg.
J. Shilling, e. July 2.5,'61, kid. Ft. Donelson.
C. \V. Tooker, e. July 25,'61, m.o. July 30,'64.
Musicians.
A. R. Morgan, e. Julv 25,'61, m.o. Julv o0,'64.
W. J. Broaden, e. July25,'61, d. Nov. 23,'63, dis.
Privates.
Aukev, J., e. Julv 2.5,'61, died Dec. 21, '61.
Ackerson, J. G., e. Julv 2.5,'61, died Jan. 2fi,'62.
Brunner, J. G., e. July2.5,'61, d. di.s. July 2'.),'63.
Burnes, J., e. Julv 2-5, '61, v., died June 4, '65.
Bensel, J., e. Julv 2o,'61, v., m.o. May •1,'66.
Bryen, E., e. July 25,'61, d.
Casev, J., e. Julv 25, '61, m.o. Mav 4, '66.
Carroll, M., e. jiily ^i.'ei, died April 10,'62.
Doolittle, I. B., e. July 2.5,'61, v., pro. serg., m.
o. Mav 4, '66.
Fumal, J." e. July 25,'61, v., m.o. May 4,'66.
Grigslev, F. M., e. July 25,'61, v., d. dis. Aug.
31, '65.
Hill, J., e. Julv 2.5,'61, m.o. Julv .30,'64.
Hutchinson, J., e. Julv 25,'61, m.o. July .30,'64.
Hoffes, N.,e. Julv25,'61.
Hart, B. F., e. July a5,'61, d. dis. July 14,'62.
Hartshorn, C. E., e. July 2.5,'61, kid. at Fort
Donelson.
Hite, J. E., e. July 25,'61, v., m.o. May 4,'66.
Hite, \Vm.,e. Julv25,'61.
Hite, T. v., e. July 2,5,'61.
Hungerford, R. M., e. July 25, '61, d. dis. April
2.S,'62.
Hunter, C, e. July 2.5,'61, v., m.o. May 4,'66.
Hohl, E., e. Julv 25,'61, m.o. July 30,'64.
Hank.s, W., e. Julv 2.5,'61, m.o. Julv 30,'64.
Holmes, D., e. July 25,'61, kid. Ft. Donelson.
Hall, R., e. July 25,'61.
Lappin, J., e. Julv 2-5, '61, m.o. July 30,'64.
Lee-sman, C, e. July 25,'61, died Sept. 1,'61.
Long.sraith, F. M., e. July •25,'61.
Morris, H., e. Julv 2.5,'61, d. di.s. Sept. 24,'62.
Mintv, C, e. July 2.5,'61, m.o. July 30,'64.
Multen, T., e. Julv 2.5,'61, v., m.o. May 4,'66.
Miller, H., e. Julv25,'61.
Muloane, J., e. July 2.5,'61, m.o. July .30,'64.
Miller, F., e. July 25, '61, v., d. dis. May 27, '65,
McJunkins, A., e, Julv25,'61, v., m.o. May 4, '66.
McGrath, O., e. July 25,'61, d. dis. Feb. 2.S,'63.
Murphv, J., e. July 25, '61, kid. Ft. Donelson.
Mowerv, S., e. July 25,'61.
Mos,s, J. G., e. July 25,'61, v., m.o. May 4,'66,
sergt.
McJunkins, R. H., e. July 25,'61, v., m.o. May
4,'66.
McDaniel, A., e. July 25,'61, died Dec. 14,'61.
O'Connor, John, e. July 25, '61.
Owens, John, e. July 2.5, '61, kid. at Shiloh.
Powell, John, e. Julv 2.5,'61, d. dis. July 4,'62.
Platts, E., e. Julv 25,'61, kid. Ft. Donelson.
Rummell, A., e. July 26.'61, died Dec. 1,'61.
Reed, John, e. Julv 25, '61, v.
Rich, S., e. July 25,'61.
Schenck, Jos., c. July 25,'61, died of wounds
received at Vicksburg.
Squibbs, T., e. July 25, '61, died of wounds re-
ceived at Jackson, Mi.ss.
Staher, Jos., e. July 2.5,'61, m.o. July 30,'64.
Scott, J. W., 0. Julv 25, '61, pro. sergt.
Skinner, L., e. Julv 25,'61, died Nov. 16,'61.
Sweeney, W. H., e. July 25,'61, v., m.o. May 4, '66.
Taylor, G., e. July 25, '61, m.o. July ;!0,'64.
Wliotstone, Jos., e. July 25,'61.
Whitefoot, J. B., e. July 25,'61, m.o. July 30,'64.
Ward, W. B., e. Julv 25,'61, tr. to gunboat.
Ward. Alf., e. Julv 2.5,'61, m.o. Julv 30,'64.
WiLson, J. H., e. Julv2.5,'61, d. di.s." Oct. 24,'61.
Warner, W. H., e. Ju"lv25,'61, d. dis. Mar. 17,'63.
Watkins, J. W., e. July 25,'61.
Walters, W. S., e. Julv 25,'61, v., pro. 1st lieut.
Walters, T. B., e. July 25,'61, died Sept. 19,'63.
Zeigler, A., e. July 25,'61, d. dis. Mar. 15,'63.
Recruits.
Bu.sh, Lsaac, e. Jan. 6, '64, m.o. May 4, '66.
Brusboom, Dirk, died July '2S,'61.
Carr, Benjamin, e. Feb. 13, '64.
Coplen, W., e. Jan. 4, '64, m.o. May 4, '66.
Colloway, Washington, m.o. Aug. 13,'65.
Cohenoiir, Wm., e. Jan. 4, '64, m.O. May 4, '66.
Duffield, II. C, m.o. June 5, '65.
Devore, N., e. Fel). 7,'64, died Nov. 26,'64.
Davis, J. M., died Aug. 29,'65.
Gilmore, Jas., m.o. May4,'66.
Hite, W., e. Nov. 16,'61, v., m.o. May4,'66,corpl.
Hughes, Andrew, m.o. Dec. 30,'6.5.
Iliggins, Jas., e. Feb. 25, '64, died Dec. 31,'64.
Hart, David, died Jan. 22,'63.
McKav, D., e. Fob. 1.5,'64, m.o. May 4,'66.
Martin, E. S., e. Nov. 15,'61, d. dis. Aug. 15,'62.
McJunkins, Wm., m.o. Aug. 22,'65.
Peters, P., e. Fob. l,s,'r>4, m.o. May4,'66.
Phillips, Louis, died Jan. S,'63.
Reed, H. B., d. dis. April 1,'63.
Shearer, Julius, m.o. Aug. 12,'65.
Shaw, Augustus, m.o. Fob. 16, '66.
Stewart, Jas., e. Jan. l,'6t, died April 14,'6-i.
Warmsley, Wm., m.o. Aug. 13,'65.
Wilson, Haslip.
COMPAJVY I.
Captain.
Wm. Schlag, e. July 25,'61, m.o. May 4,'66.
Second Lieutenants.
Deitrich Smith, e. July 25,'61, res. Sept. 3,'62.
H. Barkmeyer, e. Aug. 2,'61, v., m.o. May 4, '66.
Privates.
Block, J., e. Julv 25,'61, m.o. July 30,'64, sergt.
Fluth, G., e. July 25,'61, m.o. July 30,'64.
Rccrnit.^.
Ahrens, A., e. Feb. 6,'64, m.o. May 4,'66.
Hopman, D., o. Aug. 2,'61, kid. Ft. Donelson.
Hills, J., e. Aug. 19,'61, m.o. July 1S,'64.
Kalmbuch, R., e. Jan. 5,'64, tr. to hv>-. art.
Miller, H., e. Aug. 22, '61, d. dis. Oct. 22, '62.
Potrv, G., e. Aug. 2,'61, m.o. July 30,'64.
Roolim, T., e. Aug. 2,'61, died April 20,'62, of
wounds.
Renstmann, John, e. Aug. 19,'61.
Lorrin, Otto, e. Jan. 25, '64, m.o. July 4, '66.
Smith, B., e. Jan. 15,'61, m.o. July 14,'64.
COMPANY K.
Privates.
Cloud, Wm., e. Julv 25,'61, m.o. July 30, '64.
Cloud, G., e. July 25,'61, died Oct. 17,'61.
Cloud, George.
Cloud, B., e. July 25,'61, d. dis. April 7,'63.
Smith, John O.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
355
15th INFANTRY.
COMPANY A.
Sergeant.
John W. Keithly, e. Mar. 1,'65, m.o. Sept. lf),'C5.
Corjjoral.
C. T. Robinson, e. Mar. 1,'65, m.o. Sept. IG.'Go.
Privates.
Bryson, James, e. Mar. 1,'65.
Cliapman, 11. W., e. Mar. ],'65, m.o. July 'Z^,'C>o.
E;vcle, G. T., c. Mar. 1,'(;5, m. o. June 12,'C5.
Farrell, J., e. Mar. 1,'65, m.o. Sept. lfi,'C>r>.
GrifTen, P., o. Mi.r. l.'tj.'i, m.o. Sept. 1(),'65.
Howartli, T., e. Mar. l.'O.'). abs. siek at m.o.
Haynes, M., e. Mar. l.'ii.'), m.o. Sept. lO.'G.').
Mace, Jos., e. Mar. l.'ti."), m.o. Sept. ll),'0."i.
Noble, Jame.s, e. Mar. 1,'Ctr,. m.o. Sepi. lf),'()5.
Noble, Wm. T., e. Mar. l.'tio, m.o. Sept. 10, '05.
Phillips, Isaae, e. Mar. 1,'05, m.o. Sept. 16,'C5.
ITth INFANTRY.
COMPANY II.
Privates.
Learks, FToraec, e. Mav I'S.Ttl.
Carey, Mieliael, e. May liii.'Ol.
Howard, T., e. June 24, '01, m.o. June 24, '61.
Hawley, J. B., e. Julv 17, 'til, rl. July 10, '04.
Haekeii, B., e. Mjy 2'.t,'01, d. July 24,'01.
Quick, Daviil, e. May 2J,'G1.
COMPANY G.
Dennis, J. ('.., e. Mry 2."),'01.
Ko^ip, Ferdina.u', e. May 2.5, 'Gl.
Li^atcap, John F., e. May 25,'(;i.
Leiiiiard, John J., c. May 2.5, '01, v.
Swariz, E. O., e. May 2.5,'01, drowndcd Feb.
10,'01.
StewarL, Isai.ih, e. Mav 2.5,'Gl, v.
WauRho^i, J. W., e. May 25,'Gl.
\Vauf,:iop, J. L., e. May 2.5,'01, d. Sept. 6,'G2, of
won. ids.
Glenus, G., e. Feb. 20,'02, m.o. Feb. iy,'G5.
,]aequim, \ ., e. May 25 '01, d. May 10,'G2.
Nariii, E., e. May 25, '01, tr. to KUiiboat.
Hai.inidud, Win. M., e. May 25,'01, d. dis. Nov.
2S,'G1.
Chai.deler, S., e. May 2S,'61, tr. to gunboat.
Marauville, F. A., c. Mar. 8,'frl.
18th INFANTRY.
COMPANY K.
First Lieutenant.
David Harmon, e. Mar. 4,'65, m.o. Dec. 1G,'G5.
Second Lieutenants.
Silas Biggerstaff, e. Mar. 4,'65, d. July 15,'05.
Richard Land, e. Mar. 4,'65, m.o. Dec. IG.'Go.
Corporals.
Chas. B. John.son, e. Mar. 4, '05, m.o. Dec. 1G,'G5.
M. Buck, e. Mar. 4,'G5, m.o. Dec. 10, '05.
Phillip Sutton, e. Mar. 4,'G5, m.o. Dec. 10, '05.
Musician.
Thomas Anderson, e. Mar. 4, '05.
Priviics.
Fulford, James, c. Mar. 4,'G5.
Gholstan, M. F., e. M<.r. 4,'05, m.o. Dee. 1G,'65.
Garrison, Alex., e. Mar. 4, '05, m.o. Dec. 1G,'65.
Nance, J., e. Mar. 4, '65, m.o. Dec. 16,'05, ccrpl.
Wallace, Mathew, e. Mar. 10,'65. in Co. D., m.o.
Dec. 10,'65.
Proaser, Daniel W., e. Mar. 30, '65, in Co. D.,
m.o. Dec. 10, '05.
26th INFANTRY.
COMPANY K.
First Se)-geant.
Lorenzo N. Perry, e. Dec. 13,'61, appointed hos-
pital stevvsird, U.S.A.
Sergeant.
Henry Allen, c. Dec. 21, 'Gl, v., pro. 2d lieut.
Carpoi-als.
Wm. N. Steers, e. Dee. 25,'Gl.
Jesse H. Fisher, e. Dec. 5,'Gl, d. dis. Feb. 10,'63.
Privates.
Bnrwell, J., e. Dec. 21, '61, d. dis. Oct. 6,'62.
Giur, D., e. Dee. 1,'01, d. dis. May.30,'62.
Darnell, V., e. Dec. 1,'61, v., pro. sergt.
Fleniken, H. C, e. Dec. 31, '61, v., m.o. July
20, '65.
Hill, P., e. Doc. 21, '61, wounded in both arms
at luka, MiS3., d. dis. June 30,'63.
McKay, J., e. Dec. 12,'61, v., died A])ril 10,'G4.
Long, W. A., e. Dec. 31, '01, v., m.o. July •i0,'e5.
McCormiek, J., e. Dee. 1,'61, v., m.o. JuiV 2'J,'G5.
Sands, T., e. Jan. 17,'62, v., m.o. July 2J,'G5,
wounded.
Staples, S., e. Jan. 17,'62, v., m.o. July 20,'65.
Wood, E. A., e. Dec. 28,'01, v., m.o. July 20,'65.
Hecruits.
Bak?r, Robert E., v., m.o. July 20,'65.
Berrv, Emanuel, m.o. July 20,'65.
Daniel!, James F., died Mar. 1(),'62.
Davis, John \V.
Dividson, Carneralsy, m.o. July 20,'C5.
Franklin, W. H., v., "m.o. July 20,'65, coqil.
Lvons, Wm. B,
Mathews, M.L., e. Feb. 2,'62. v., m.o. July 20,'65.
Miller, T. M., m.o. Julv 20, '05.
SliM'k, .'V'jn-nam, m.o. Julv2y,'65.
Spay, Isaiah, e. Oct. 4, '04, m.o. July 20,'65.
Nash, George, m.o. July 27, '05.
27th INFANTRY.
CO>n'ANY E.
(^owen, J. F., o. Aug. 12, '01, wnd. Chickamau-
ga, died Mav 22, '64.
Pollard, J. S., e. Aug. 1'2,'61, wnd. m.o. Sept.
20,'Gl.
Pem.ierton, G. W., e. Aug. 12,'61, d. dis. 'CI.
Rochester, S., e. Aug. 12,'61, wad. m.o. Sept.
20.'04.
Rankin, Marcellus, e. Aug. 12,'61, wnd. m.o.
Sept. 20,'C4.
Trcni, John A., e. Aug. 12, '61, wnd. m.o. Sept.
20, '64.
23
356
HISTOEY OF TAZE^\'ELL, COUNTY.
28tli INFANTRY.
The 2Stli was organized at Camp Butler, in the month of August, 1861.
The 28th met the enemy for the tirst time at Little Bethel Church, near
Fort Henry, February 13, 18fi2, when a detachment of sixty men met and
repulsed a "force of five hundred men. It was next engaged in the battle of
Pittsl)urg Landing, when it drove General Prentiss, early in the day of April
6, 1862; was assigned a position in the Peach Orchard, which it held under a
destructive fire for seven hours, only retiring by order of General Hurlbut.
During these two blooily days of Pittsburg Landing the regiment fought
heroically, suffering a loss of 239 killed and wounded. It was engaged in the
siege of Corinth during the month of May, 1862; also in the siege of Vicks-
burg from June lltli to .Julv 4th, 1863.
On the 12th of July, 1863, near Jackson, ]\Iississippi, the 28th was ordered
to charge across a level field and carry a strong line of the enemy's works,
mounting twelve guns and manned by two thousand men, and while it was
not possible to (nipture tlie works, these heroic men swept bravely forward
under a destructive fire of grape and canister. The enemy appearing on both
flanks as it reached the ditch, it was compelled to fall back, with more than
half of the rank and file killed or wounded. Of the 128 men of this regiment
in line, 73 were killed and wounded, and 16 taken prisoners.
On the 4th of January, 1864, the regiment, having re-enlisted as veterans,
was mustered for three years' veteran service.
The 28th participated in the advance on Spanish Fort, March 27, 1865.
COBIPAIVY A.
Privates.
EdwarfLs, J., e. Aug. l.'Ol, v., m.o. Mar. 15,'Ci6.
Readfiinger, J., c. Aug. 1,'61, d. Aug. 2G,'o4.
COIVEPANY IS.
Blair, Greenbury, e. Aug. 17,'61, v.
Hisel, Wm., e. Aug. 17, d. dis.
McGhee, W. T., c. Aug. 17, v., m.o. Mar. 15,'GG.
William.s, Forener, e. Aug. 17.
"SVilliams, P. C, e. Jan. 5,'fi4, m.o. Mar. 1.5,'G6.
Prypr, Alfred S., e. Aug. 27,'61.
COIVEPANY K.
Estes, Wm., e. Aug. 12,'Gl, d. dis. Oct. 19,'f)2.
Fleming, T. J., e. Aug. 12,'61, m.o. Sept. 18,'64.
Gardner, Wm. W., e. xVug. 12,'Gl, wnd. died
Jan. 19,'G:5.
Hurst, Merritt, c. Aug. 12,'Gl.
Hunter, J., e. Aug. 12,'Gl, wnd., pro. sergt.
HuTitor, G. K., e. Aug. 12,'61, m.o. Oct. 10,'&1.
Miller, S. J., e. Aug. 12,'61, v., wnd., m.o.
Mar. ir.,'6G.
Scott, J. K., c. Aug. 12,'Gl, died Oct. G,'fi2, wnd.
Stockard, G. E., e. Aug. 12,'Gl, died May9,'G2.
Wooders, Geo., e. Aug. 12,'Gl, died Mound City.
Dutr, Jas., e. Jlar. G,'G5, m.o. Mar. G.'GG.
Fleming, Thos. H., e. Mar. 22, '65.
Jackson, Henry, e. Mar. 22, 'G-').
Jarvis, J. W., e. Mar. 22,'G5, m.o. Mar. 13,'66.
Rvau, Michael, e. Mar. 22,'6.5.
Sunuiels, Ja.s. S., e. Mar. 18,'65, pro. 2d lieut.
Bovd, R. M., e. Feb. 28,'65, m.o. May 2:3,'65.
31st INFANTRY.
The 31st was organized at Cairo, Illinois, September 8, 1861, by Colonel
John A. Logan.
The regiment was engaged in the battle of Belmont, November 7, 1861,
and took an active and honorable part in the engagement at Fort Donelson,
February 13th, 14th and 15th; was engaged in the siege of Corinth, May, 1862.
During the following year, was occupied in scouting through Mississippi
and Tennessee, making many long and arduous marches, engaging in many
brisk skirmishes, in wdiich it showed excellent fighting qualities and great
powers of endurance.
On May 2, 1863, defeated the enemy at Thompson's Hill, again on the
following day, after a hard march without rations, came upon the enemy, after
crossing Bayou Pirre, defeating and completely routing him. They still fol-
lowed the retreating "Johnnies" to Jackson, where they had a severe fight
w^ith them, and were again the victors.
The 31st participated in the entire siege of Vicksburg, arriving there on
the inth of Mav; in the charge on Fort Hill lost 2 officers and 8 men killed,
and 40 wounded ; their liag received 153 shots, the staflf being shot in two
four times, but with a heroism born only of the truest bravery, they never
surrendered the flag.
March 19, 1864, started for Illinois for veteran furlough. Leaving Cairo
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
357
for the field of action on May 3(1, joined Sherman's grand army at Aekworth;
was with Sherman in the campaign after Hood, and on November 15th, started
on that world famed "March to the Sea."
The ;5lst was mustered out July 19, 1S()5, and moved to Springfield, Illi-
nois, where they received final discharge and pay July 31, 1865.
Colonel.
Edwin S. McCook, e. Aug. 10, 'CI, pro. Brevet
Brig. Geu.
Principal Musicians.
John J. Fuller, m.o. Julv 19,'65.
John Turrell, m.o. Sept. '04.
COMPANY I.
Captain.
Isaac Wert, e. Aug. 2.5,'61, v.. m.o. July 19,'G5.
First IJcntenanl.o.
John J. Curry, resigned Dee. 26,'f).'?.
F. W. Siiekney, e. Aug. 15,'61, v., m.o. July
19, '65.
(Second Lieutenants.
Robert A. Bowman, c. Aug. 10,'Gl, res. Mar.
2<),'62.
David West, e. Aug. 15,'r.l, v., m.o. July 19,'65,
sergt.
First .Sergeant.
Alex. H. Sutton, e. Aug. 1.5,'61.
Sergeant.
Edwin D. Lampet, e. Aug. 1.5,'Gl, d. Mav 10,'G2.
T. C. Murphy, e. Aug. 1.5,'Gl, m.o. Sept."l8,'6-1.
Corporals.
Jame.s 11. Miller, c. Aug. l.'i.'Gl, died at Andcr-
.'iouvilU', Grave No. 21.')?.
Charles Green, e. Aug. 15, 'Gl.
Charles N. Emiltan, e. Aug. 15,'61, d. dis. Oct.
31, '61.
John B. Reynolds, c. Aug. 15, '61, v., m.o. July
18, '65, sergt.
Wagoner.
Wm. Parker, c. Aug. 15, '61.
Priratcs.
Adams, John, e. Aug. 15, '61, v.
Burr, IIukIi, e. Aug. 15,'()1, pro. sergt.
Benson, \Vni., e. Aug. i5,'61.
Beckwilh, J. E., c. Aug. 15,'61, v., kid. July
21, '64.
Blanton, Thos. J., e. Aug. 10,'61.
Brown, C. W., e. Aug. 15, '(H, died Nov. 16,'G2.
Diekey, Jacob, e. Aug. 15,'61.
Drake, Edward, e. Aug. 15, '61.
Edson, Henry, e. Aug. 15,'Gl.
Hoffman, Thomas, e. Aug. 15,'61.
Jones, Henry, e. Aug. 15,'Gl.
Kelly, John, e. Aug."l5,'61, d. May 1(),'G2.
Marvin, H., e. .Vug. 15, '61, d. Mar .s,'62, wnd.
Mathews, J., e. .Vug. 15,'6l, v., m.o. Julv 19,'6.5.
Miekle, J., e. Aug. 15, '65, v., m.o. Julv i9,'65.
O'Brien, J., e. Aug. 15,'tn, died Mar. 14, '62.
Rearden, Ja.s., e. Aug. ]5,'61, died July 2U,'61,
wnds.
Roney, Jas., e. Aug. 15,'61, v., m.o. Julv 19,'6.5.
Shidler, John, c. Aug. 15,'61, kid. July 22,'G4.
Spillman, J., e. Aug. 15,'61, d. Mav 14, '62, wnd.
Taylor, W., e. Aug. 15,'61, died Dec. 6,61.
Vankiper, K., e. Aug. 15,'61, v., m.o. July 19,65.
Easland, M. J., e. Sept. 10,'61, v., m.o. June
17, '65.
Fuller, P. G., e. Sept. 10,61.
Fuller, P. B., e. Sept. 10,'01, d. Mar. 17,'62.
Orwin, Thomas P., e. Sept. 10, '61.
Stevens, C, e. May 15,'62, m.o. May 31,'65.
Nelson, A., e. Mar. 1,'65, died at Camp Butler.
32d INFANTKY.
Moore, Wm. S., e. Sept. 23,'&i, in Co. B, m.o.
June 3, '65.
Wood, J., e. Fel). 14,'65, in Co. B,, m.o. Sept.
16, '65.
COMPANY I,
MeCormack, Thos., e. Oct. 14,'61.
Abbott, Geo., e. Nov. 1,'61, d. dis. Aug. 18,'62.
(Calhoun, John, A., e. Oct. 2.5,'61, v., m.o. Sept.
b'),'6.5.
Smith, Jacob, e. Nov. 17,'6I.
Straker, P. E., e. Dec. 21,'61.
Sill, David, e. Dee. 26,'61, wnd.
Sinus, W. J., e. Dec. 26,'61, died of wud.s.
Young, Peter, e. Nov. 17, '61.
CJrittey, Daniel, e. Jan. 16,'62.
38tli INFANTKY.
Major.
Andrew M. Pollard, e. Aug. 15,'61, m.o. Mar.
20, '66.
Privates.
Beezeley, John F., e. Aug. 16,'61, v., pro. 1st
lieut. Co. F.
(;arpentcr, Horace G., e. Aug. 16,'Gl, in Co. F,
m.o. Mar. 14, '64, wnd.
Richmond, Frank, e. Aug. 16,'61, in Co. F, m.
o. Sept. 9, '64.
COMI'ANY G.
Second Licutsnant.
A. J. Rankins, e. Aug. 1.5,'Gl, r6s. Feb. 8,'G2.
First Sergeant.
V. Rector, e. Aug. 2G,'61, d. dis. Aug. 20,'62.
ScrgcanU.
J. Murphy, e. Aug. 26, '61.
Geo. H. Daniel, e. Aug. 2G,'61, m.o. Sept. 26,'64.
Privates.
Be(iuoath. N., e. Aug. 26, '61, m.o. Sept. 15, '64.
Howel, John, e. Aug. 26, '61, died May, '64.
Howel. K., e. Aug. 26, '61, died Jan. 2li,'62.
Lcoiiard, W., e. Aug. 26, '61, v., m.o. Mar. 20,'66.
McCutclieon, Ja,s. A., e. Aug. 26,'61, died Dec.
.S,'61.
Whitaker, W. W., e. Aug. 26,'61, d. Nov. 7,'Gl,
(lis., .sergt.
Wiseman, J., e. Aug. 26,'61, v., m.o. Mar. 20,'66.
Patten, W. T., e. Auar. 26,'61, v., m.o. Mar. 20,'66.
Blizzard, T. T., died Jan. 12,'65, wnds.
Moore, D. K., d. dis. J\nie 3, '63.
Harrison, J., e. Jan. 2:5, '61, m.o. Mar. 20,'66.
Unoj^signcd Recruits.
Carey, Patrick, e. Mar. 1,'64.
(Jerrety, Martin, e. Mar. l,'(i-l.
O'Neil, James, e. Mar. 1,'G-l.
Swift, John, e. Mar. 1,'6-1.
BriuH^ James, e. Oct. 19, '64.
Clark, John, e. Oct. 20,'64.
Callahan, John, c. Oct. 20,'G4.
Clark, Charles, e. Oct. 20,'64.
Doyle, Frank, e. Oct. 20,'6l.
Greenham, James, e. Oct. 20,'G4.
Heoffman, George, c. Oct. 19,'64i
Miller, John, e. Oct. 20,'64.
Roberts, John, e. Oct. 20, '64.
358 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
^ 44:th INFANTRY.
This regiment was organized in August, 1861, at Camp Ellsworth, Chioago,
and left for St. Louis, September 14th, where, at Benton Barracks, it remained
till the 22d, was armed and left for Jefferson City, where it took quarters in the
State House. It then went to Sedalia, and was assigned to General Siegel's
famous division. On October 13th moved to Springfield, Missouri, and No-
vember 8th moved to Wilson's Creek, but retreated next day toward Rolla,
where it remained during the winter.
On February 2, 1862, it moved toward Springfield, from where an exciting
chase of General Price was kept up till Camp Halleck, Arkansas, was reached,
where they remained till March 5th, when it became evident that the com-
bined forces of Van Dorn, Price and McCullough were marching to give l)attle,
and accordingly on the 6th moved toward Sugar Creek Valley, and the same
day the rear guard was attacked by the enemy and repulsed. Thus began the
terrible battle of Pea Eiilge, which resulted so disastrously to the rebels, in
which this regiment took a prominent part. The 44th followed up the retreat
of the enemy, taking hundreds of prisoners. May 8th took up line of March
toward Little Rock, but changed to Cape Girardeau, on Mississijipi, two
hundred miles distant, and from thence by water to Pittsburg Landing. After
evacuation of Corinth was attached to General Pope's army, and sent in
pursuit of the retreating foe. Bad roads prevented, and went into camp at
Brenzo.
The 18th was sent to Cincinnati September 1st, and from there to Coving-
ton, Kentucky, thence to Louisville, where the command was re-organized
under Major-General Buell, and started on the memorable cami^aign after
Bragg, and was in the battle of Perryville under General Sheridan. Went to
Bowling Green, where General Rosecrans assumed command, and November
4th started for Nashville; remained till December 26th, and moved against
the rebels at Murfreesboro. In the bloody battle of Stone river the 18th took
a prominent part, losing more than half its number in killed and wounded.
Remained there till June, 186.3, when it marched to meet the enemy; arrived
at Cowan's Station July 2d, then marched to Stevenson, Alabama, driving the
rebels. Augfist 21st the movement against Chattanooga began, and took part
in the bloody conflict September 19th and 20th. It was foremost in the des-
perate charge upon Mission Ridge, General Sheridan giving it i>raise for having
placed one of the first flags upon the rebel works. Noveml)er 27th set out for
a forced march to Knoxville, one hundred and fifty miles distant ; it arrived
three days after siege had been raised by General Burnside. At Blain's Cross
Roads, while in camp, the troops were on the point of starvation several
times, having, for days at a time, nothing but corn in the ear, and but limited
supply of that. Nothing could more fully prove the patriotism of the men
than the fact, that here, on the point of starvation, exposed to the most
inclement weather, (it being so cold that the ink would freeze to the pen as
the men signed their names,) over three-fourths of the men voluntarily con-
sented to serve three years more. Marched to Dandridge, Tennessee, and
was attacked January l'6th and 17th, and after much hard fighting, becoming
evident that the whole rebel army was advancing, fell back to Knoxville.
March 4, 1864, the men were furloughed, and started for home, having
marched over five thousand miles.
April 14, 1864, the regiment reached Nashville on its way back to the field.
Moved toward Atlanta, and entered on the 8th of September. Was in many
battles during this memorable campaign; was sent to Athens, Alabama, but
fell back to Nashville, followed by the rebels. At Franklin, Tennessee, Gen-
eral Schofield determined to give battle. The conflict was short and desperate.
Took part in the battle of Nashville. January 5, 1865, went into camp at
Huntsville, Alabama. In April ordered to Nashville, where it was thought
it would be mustered out, but instead were ordered to New Orleans, and July
16th ordered to Texas, where it remained till September 25th, when it was
mustered out.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
359
Captains.
George Zelle, o. Aug. 14,'(U, res. Mar. 31, 'G2.
Ahrend Behrend, e. July 1,'Gl, ra.o. Sept. 2r),'6ri.
First Lieutenants.
Nicholas Da^^.s, e. Aug. 11, '61, in.o. J\ine2",'62.
Henry Sehinidtz, e. July l.'Ol, res. Nov. 1S,'(V_'.
Peter Wevhrich, pro. adj't, died of wnds. Julv
7,'W."
J. Eberling, e. July 1,'61, v., m.o. Sept. 25,'Go.
Second Lieutenants.
Chas. J. Hulblg, e. Aug. 14,'61, m.o. May 23, '62.
John Fuchs, e. Aug. 1,'61, v., m.o. Sept. 2.5,'65.
Sergeant Major.
H. Huhn, e. July 1,'Gl, pro. 2d lieut. Co. K.
Sergeants.
J. Diiget, o. July 1,'61, ilied Jan. 28.'C.3, wnds.
John C. Frederick, c. July 1,'01, m.o. July 1.'),
'65, pas pris.
CorporaU.
Daniel C. Orr. e. July 20,'61.
Jacob Metzler, e. July 20,'01, v.
John Eger, e. July 20/01, d. dis. Dec. G,'C2.
Henry Becker, e.Aug. l.'Ol.
Franz Reuz, e. July l.'fil, v., m.o. Sept. 2.'>,'fi."i.
Joseph Jackel, e. Julv l.'i!!, d. di.s. Juue 6, '63.
W. Uecklenwald, e. Julv l.'(U, died Dec. :!l,'il2.
M. F. Heckman, e. July l.'Ol, died Oct. 20,'G;;.
3fiwieia7is.
Philip Remer. e. July l.'GG, m.o. Sept. 13,'tVl.
George Lidle, e. Aug. 1,'Gl.
Privates.
Angstein, G., e. Julv l.'Gl, kid. Sept. 20,'63.
Bartels, Frcl., e. July l,'t;i, v.
Conrad, Henry, e. July l.'Gl, kid. June 27,'64.
Darchner, Joseph, e. Aug. l.'Gl.
Ehrmannadraut, Josei)h, e. July 1,'Gl.
Ehrhard. J., e. July 1,'Gl, died .Tan. f<,'G3, wnd.
Eisele, \Vm. L., e. July 1,'Gl.
Eiscner, M., e. Aug. l.'Gl, v., m.o. Sept. 2),'G5.
Frie, Henry, e. Julv 1,'Gl.
Fluth, Jacob, e. July 1,'61.
Guckcr, George, e. Aug. 1,'Gl.
Greuel, Paul, e. Aug. ],'61.
Grenetie, H., e. July 1,'Gl, v., kid. May 17,'frl.
Geit, Henrv, e. Aug. 1,'Gl.
Haffner, J.^ c. July 1,'Gl, d. di.s. gept. l.S,'G2.
Helmreieh, P., e. July 1,'61, v.,m.o. Sept.25,'G5.
Jansen, Henry, e. July 1,'Gl.
Janscn, W., e. July 1,'Gl. died May.5,'6,5, wnds.
Jaeggi, John, e. Julv 1,'Gl, d. dis. Dec. 1G,'G2.
Junker, Henry, c. Aug. l.'Gl, kid. Dec. 31,'62.
Koch, Charles, c. July 1,'Gl.
Kirschner, Michael, "e. July 1,'Gl, v., d. Juue
18,'G5, wnd.
Kessier, J., e. July 1,'Gl, died Dec. 31, '63, wnds.
Kopp, Carl, e. July 1,'Gl, died Mar. 11, '61.
Mielick, R., e. Julv 1,'iil. diei\ Dec. 31, '()2.
Miller, H., e. July ],'G1, kid. Dec. 31, '62.
O'Brien, P., e. July 1,'Gl, died Jan. 2.s,'G3, wnd.
Oschmann, Henry, o. Aug. 1,'61, v., m.o. Sept.
25, '6.5.
Rucbenkocnig, John, e. July 1,'Gl, v., d. Mav
3, '65, wnd.
Suter. Jacob, e. Julv 1,'61.
Schwab, F., e. July"l,'61, v., d. May 9,'65, wnd.
Schai'hinger, John, e. July 1,'Gl, v., kid. Nov.
30, '64.
Steinmetz, Fred., e. July 1,'61.
Sturm, Christian, e. July 1,'61.
Sehroeder, John, e. July 1,'61, died Mar. 15,'63,
wnds.
Schmidt, Andrew, e. July 1,'61.
Schmidt, F., e. Aug. 1,'Gl, 'I. dis. Dec. 16,'62.
Becruiis.
Meer, W., e. Mar. 25,'64, m.o. Sept. 25,'65.
Schock, J., e. Jan. 25,'C>4, m.o. Sept. 25,'65.
Tochugy, Alovis, d. .'^ept. 2.S,'G3, wnd.
Tohms, L., v., m.o. Sept. '25,'G5, as sergt.
Tanbert, August.
I'ukrcig, Otto, d. Dec. 1,'62, wnd.
Villhaner, John, m.o. Dee. 25,'6o.
Wchring, M., kid. at Stone River, Dec. 31, 'G2.
Wagner, Charles.
Zimmer, Henry, died July 26,'64, wnd.
COMTAXY E.
Privates.
AItes.s P., c. Aug. 1,'Gl, d. dis. Fob. 4, '62.
Ai)penzelU'r, G., e. Aug. 1,'Gl, kid. Doc. 31, '62.
Becker, M., c. Aug. 1,'Gl, v., m.o. Sept. 2.5,'G5.
Fluss, 11., c. Aug. 1,'Gl, d. di.s. Dec. G,'G2.
Friend, Anton W., e. Aug. 1,'61, died May, '64.
Pohhnauu, W., o. Aug. 1,'61, died Aug. '63.
S.hmidt, Peter, o. Aug. 1,'61.
Conrad, B., e. Sept. 22,'64, m.o. June 15,'65.
Cash. S. II., e. Sept. 27,'(U, m.o. June 15,'65.
Jackson, W., e. Sept. 27,'G4, m.o. June 15, '65.
Oldmann, B.
COMPANY K.
First Lieutenant.
M. Keiiiingor, e. Ang. 14,'61, died Aug. 20,'62.
Sergeants.
Alle Bildhoff, e. Aug. 1,'61, m.o. July 15, '65,
was pris.
Udo Dirks, e. Aug. 1,'61, d. di.s. April 1,'63.
Philip Weber, e. Aug. 1,'61.
Corporals.
Fred. Traeger, e. Sept. 1,'Gl.
Julius Trueholl", e. Sept. 1,'61.
Privates.
Folkers, G., c. July 1, '61, v., m.o. Sept. 2.5,'65.
Jacobs, C, e. July 1,G1, m.o. Oct. 5,'64.
Sior, Jacob, c. Sept. 1,'Gl.
Seatou, Israel J., e. Aug. 1,'61.
Schawarz, B., e. .Vug. 1,'Gl.
Stanton, Anton, e. Aug. 1,'Gl.
Tenzlingor, Michael, e. Sept. l.'Gl.
Neef. F., e. Jan. 1,'G4, m.o. Sept. 25,'65, v.
Volpel, Wm., m.o. June 15,'65.
Neef, J., e. jNIar. 31, '61, m.o. Sept. 25,'G5.
45tli INFANTRY.
COMPANY A.
Corporal.
J. Mahood, e. Aug. 30,'Gl, d. July 12,'G2, wnd.
Privatoi.
Frazer, Alex., c. Aug. 30,'61, died April 21, '62,
wnd.
Hardin, W. H., e. Oct. 15,'61, died June 15, '64.
Kimmins, H., e. Aug. 30,'61, m.o. Sept. 3, '64,
wnd.
Patten, R., e. Aug. 30,'61, dropped Aug. 18,'62.
Smith, J. B., e. Aug. ;i0,'61, tr. -to invalid corps.
COMPANY I).
Armstrong, F. M., c. Dec. 30,'63, d. Jan. 25,'65.
Calvert, J., e. Dec. 30,'63, m.o. July 12,'G5.
(Jeorge, L., e. Dec. 30,'63, m.o. Julv 3,'65.
White, J., e. Dec. 30,'63, m.o. July 12,'65.
Wilder, A. \., c. Dec. 30,'63, died Oct. 7,'64.
360
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
47th i:f^A:NrTRY.
The 47th regiment was first organized and mustered into the service of
the United States, at Peoria, on the 16th day of August, 18G1.
They left Peoria on the 23d day of September, 1861, for Benton Barracks,
where they received clothing, arms", etc., leaving for the seat of vftxr on the 9th
day of October, 1861.
The 47th was engaged at Farmington, Mississippi, on the 9th day of May,
in which they lost their lieutenant-colonel, Daniel L. Miles, who was killed
while bravelv leading his men. On the 28th of May the regiment participated
in an engagement near Corinth ; took part in the battle of Corinth October 3d
and 4th, where on the 3d fell the brave and honored Colonel W. A. Thrush,
while heroically leading his command in a charge. Loss in this engagement,
30 killed and over 100 wounded.
Thev were with General Grant on his expedition through central Missis-
sippi, and on the 14th day of May, 1863, participated in the liattle of Jackson,
Mississippi, which resulted in the capture of that place. Took part in the
charge on the enemy's works at Vicksburg, May 22d, losing 12 men killed
and a large number wounded; assisted in the defeat of the enemy at
Mechanicsville, Mississippi, thirty miles below Vicksburg.
The regiment was at the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, April 9, 1864,
arriving at Vicksburg May 22d, with General Smith's command, after a cam-
paign of nearly three months, in which they suffered almost unheard of
fatigue and privations, many men dying from hardships.
The 47th met and defeated General Marmaduke near Lake Chicat, in
which engagement they lost 11 killed and a number wounded, among the
latter was Major IVIiles, who received almost a fatal shot in the neck.
The original term of service having expired, they were ordered to Spring-
field, Illinois, where those who did not re-enlist as veterans, were mustered
out October 11, 1864.
The veterans and recruits of the regiment numbering 196 men, com-
manded bv Lieutenants Edward Bouham and Royal Olmstead, accompanied
General Mouer's expedition up White river to Brownsville, Arkansas, and
from there into Missouri after the rebel General Price's army, which was then
raiding the State.
The 47th as re-organized, was mustered out January 21, 1866, at Selma,
Alabama, and ordered to Springfield, Illinois, where it received final pay and
discharge.
Lieutenant- Colonel.
Daniel L. Miles, e. Aug. 25'61, killed in battle,
May "J, '02.
Major.
John B. Miles, e. Aug. 25,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, 'C4.
Sergeant- Major.
Jay G. Rupert, d. Aug. 17,'63.
Sospital-Stewards.
Charles B. Cramer, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Thomas O. Brown, d. dis. June 11,'64.
COMPANY A.
Privaics.
Johnson, J., e. Aug. 16,'Gl. d. dis. July 30,'62.
Nicholas, P., e Aug. 16,'01, died April 4,'62.
COMPANY B.
Captains.
Benj. F. Biser, e. Aug. 2.'),'61, kid. June 6,'C>1.
Diego C. Ross, e. Aug. 16,'01, m.o. Oct. 11, '61.
Sergeants.
S. H. Tobia.s, e. Aug. 16,'61, d. dig. Oct. r2,'62.
George Eikelberuer, e. Aug. 16,'61, d. dis. Sept.
2, '63.
Corporals.
Catv C. Wright, e. Aug. 16, '61, m.o. Oct. 11,'64,
Jos.'B. Bradley, e. Aug. 16, '61, d. dis. Feb. 1,'62.
I. Kauft'man, e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
S. L. Ewing, e. Aug. 16,'61, kid. Oct. 3,'62.
Chas. A. Crane, e. Aug. 16.'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Joseph Means, e. Aug. 16,'61.
Dan'l Roberts, e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
A. M. Crosby, e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Aug. 22,'64.
Musician.
J. Wieterhaet, e. Aug. 16,'61, kid. Aug. 16"64.
Privates.
Burtan, W., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Bateman, W., e. Aug. 16.'61, died Oct. 22,'62.
Bliss, James, e. Aug. 16,'61, d. Mar. 11,'63, e. in
M. M. Brig.
Bamber, J., e. Aug. 16,'61, v., m.o. Jan. 21, '66.
Bowers, J., e. Aug. 16,'61, v., m.o. Jan. 21, '66.
Barnum, T. J., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Culbertson, Wm. E., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct.
11, '64.
Culp, S.. e. Aug. 16,'61. m.o. Oct. 11, '6-1.
Crosby, H. X., e. Aug. 16.'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Cutler, Charles A., e. Aug. 16, '61.
Cooper, W. H., c. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Dunley, W. A., e. Aug. 16,61, m.o. Oct. 11,'64.
Drummond, J. M., e. Aug. 16,'61, died Jan.
12,'62.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
361
Evans, A., e. Aug. 16, '61, d. dis. Jan. 14, '63.
Gross, C, e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Holland, J., e. Aug. 16,'61, d. <lis. Jan. 2.?,'63.
Jones, C, e. Aug. 16, '61, diad June •_"J,'63.
Jewett. J., e. Aug. 16,'61, v., died Dec. 1,'G4.
Kingman, C, e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Kraier, J. A., e. Aug. 16. '61, v., m.o. Jan. 21'66.
Lan.son, R., c. Aug. 16,'61. m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Lockwood, C, c. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Morgan. T., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Minch, J., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, 'tU.
Powell, T. J., e. Aug. 16,'61, v., pro. 2d lieut.
Parrell, R., e. Aug. 16,'61, v., m.o. Jan. 21, '66.
Phillips, J. M., e. Aug. I6,'6x, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Phillip.s, Ed., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11'64,
sergt.
Rolcy, J. F., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Roberts, T. C, e. Aug. 16,'61, d. dis. Julv 9,'63.
Roberts, E. H., e. Aug. 16,'61, d. dis. Nov. 25,'62.
Seaman, J., e. Aug. 16.'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Smith, D., e. Aug. 16,'61, died Sept. 30.'64.
Shultz. H., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11,'tVl.
Shoemaker, J., e. Aug. 16. '61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Sanders, (}. \V., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '61.
Shoemaker, A., e. Aug. 16. '61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Stiner, J., e. Aug. 16,'tV4, m.o. Oct. 11,'6-J.
Turrell, A., e. Aug. 16,'(U, kid. Oct. 3,'62.
Thamer, ('. G., e. Aug. 16,'61. m.o. Oct. 11,'64.
Thamer, H., c. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, "64.
Tobias, II. H., o. Aug. 16,'64, m.o. Oct. 11, '64,
corp'l.
Vunmeier, W. H., e. Aug. 16,'Cl, m.o. Oct. ll'(V4.
Vanmeter. W. C, e. Aug. 16,'61, kid. Oct. 3,'62.
Wiley, T. H., e. .Vug. 16,'61, lu.o. Oct. 11, "(Vl.
Waughop, M. H., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, "tU.
Whilaker, H., e. A\ig. 16,'61, d. dis. Oct. 12,'62.
^ Wilson, A. J., e. Aug. 16,'61, d. Feb. l',i,'62.
Webster, J. L., e. Aug. 16,'61, d. dis. Oct. 24,'62.
Weaver, J., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, 'W.
Zinser, G. W., e. Aug. 16."61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Zinser, .Sam. C, e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64,
corpl.
Recruits.
Arasbary, A. A., e. Aug. .s,'62, d. Julv 20,'65.
Avas, J., e. Aug. 4,'62, d. dis. Fel). 24, '63.
Bo\ighman, J. F., e. .luly 24, '62, d. Julv 20,'65.
liunn. A., e. Aug. 8. '62, d. .Inlv 2(),'6."). "
Bunn, B.. e. Aug. .S,'62, died Nov. ]2,'62.
Fnizier, Geo. W., e. Aug. 7,'62, m.o. Julvl3,'65.
Hartman, H., e. Aug. il,'62, kid. Mav22,'63.
Jewett, H., e. Aug. 7, '62, m.o. Julv 2(),'6-').
Klingenberg, N., e. Aug. 12.'62, m.o. Julv20,'65.
Orr, James, e. July 2".t,'62, m.o. Mav 22, '65.
Royce, C, e. Aug. 13,'62, kid. June, '64.
Seaman, T. D., e. July 2S,'62, d. July 2(),'6.5.
Sutton, A. B., e. Jan. S,'64, m.o. Jaii. 21, '66.
Tliomas, W. E., e. Aug. 12,'62, d. July 20,'65,
sergt.
Zaneis, J., e. .Vug. 4,'62, d. July 20,'6.5.
McBride, D., e. Feb. l.'),'6.j. m.o. Jan. 21. '66.
Phillips, N., e. Feb. 14, '6.5, m.o. Jan. 21, '66.
COillPANY E.
Captain.
G. Putcrbaugh, c. Aug. 25,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
First LieutciMJit.
W. M. Pierce, e. Aug. 25, '61, m.o. Oct. 11, '6^1.
Secoiul Lieutenant.
Edgar Lsbell, o. Aug. 25,'61, hon. d. Nov. 6,63.
Sergeants.
Leander King, e. Aug. 16,'6], m.o. Oct. 11,'64.
J. Putcrbaugh, e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '6-1.
F. T. Bower, e. Aug. 16,'61, d. dis. Aug. 9, '62.
Corporals.
Sam. A. Brddbuni, e. Aug. 16, '61, v., m.o. Jan.
21, '66.
Wm. H. Florry, e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
J. M. Allison, e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Theo. L. Wagonseller, e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct.
11, '(i4.
J. A. Ilittle, e. Aug. 16, '61, d. dis. Aug. 6, '62.
A. C. Miller, e. Aug. 16,'61, d. dis. Sept. 20, '62.
S. R. Drake, e. Aug. 16,'61, d. Oct. 9,'63, wnd.
Jacob M. Copes, e. Aug. 16,'61, v., pro. ser.-maj.
Musician.
Q. C. Bums, e. Aug. 16,'61, d. dis. Aug. 23,'C2.
Wagoner.
Puilph P. Potter, e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11,'64.
Privates.
Brown, J., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '&4.
Betcher, J., e. Aug. 16, '61, m.o. Oct. 11, 'M.
Bri.son, M., e. Aug. 16.'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Bowman, J. H., e. Aug. 16, '61, v., pro. 1st. lieut.
Bilker. R., e. Aug. 16,'61.
Crosley, S. H., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Carman, C. B., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Carroll, James, e. Aug. 16,'61.
Cary, M., e. Aug. 16,'61.
Cohenour, W., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Aug. 11,'64.
Cohcnour, R. M., e. Aug. 16,'61, d. dis. April
17, '62.
Cohenour, J., c. Aug. 16,'61, d. dis.
Coffman, H. H., e. Aug. 16,'61, died Dec. 20, '63.
Cooper, J. W., e. Aug. 16, '61.
Davis, II. W., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Davis, B. F., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Darley, \V., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Dare, \V. .S., e. Aug. 16,'61, d. dis. May29,'63.
Doman, Wm. H., e. Aug. 16,'61, v., m.o. Jan.
21, '66.
Drake, T. B., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Ekel, W. T., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11,'64.
ELson, H., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '(U.
Fisher, P., e. Aug. 16,'61, d. dis. Julv 24, '62.
Graves, B., e. Aug. 16,'61, d. dis. April 20,'63.
Gardner, DeW. C, e. Aug. 16, '61, v.
Hay, ])., e. .Vug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11,'64.
Hannagan, J. J., e. Aug. 16, '61.
Hatch, T. II., e. Aug. 16,'61. v., m.o. Jan. 21, '66.
Hamrick, J. P., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Harlow, J. B., e. Aug. 16,'61, pro. 2d lieut.
Hinsey, C. C, e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Hession, P., e. Aug. 16,'61, tr. to M. M. Brag.
Hill, H. W., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11 '64.
Ingersoll, G., e. Aug. 16,'61, d. Nov. 2.5,'63, wnd.
Koozer, J. II., e. Aug. 16, '61, v., m.o. Jan. 21,
'66, sergt.
McCarmack, R., e. Aug. 16, '61, m.o. Jan. 21, '66.
Moore, D., e. Aug. 16, '61, d. dis. Mav 20, '62.
Murphy, P., e. Aug. 16,'61, died July 22,'G3.
MiVeagh, J., e. Aug. 16,'61.
Meckley, C, e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Munroe, J., e. Aug, 16, '61.
Miller. J. Y., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, 'M.
Myers, P., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
McClcllcn. J. E., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, 'M.
O'Brien, H. M., e. .A.ug. 16,'61, died Julv 4,'63.
O'Brien, J. T., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '(U.
O'Brien, D., e. Aug. 16,'61, v., tr. to V. R. C.
Patchin, IL, e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Pettit, L. e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Rose. A., e. Aug. 16,'61, died Sept. 9,'64.
li<.)binson, M. V., e. .\ug. 16,'61,m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Ruble, J., e. Aug. lt;,'61.
Ryan, G., o. Aug. 16,'61, pro. capt.
Shrevc, E., e. Aug. 16,'61, v., m.o. Jan. 21, '66.
Sherman, J., e. Aug. 16, '61, m.o. Oct. 11, '6-1.
Smith, II. L.. e. A\ig. 1(),'61, v., d. Sept. iy,'6.5.
Stewart, T. E., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, "64.]
Specht, G., e. Aug. 1(),'61, v., m.o. Jan. 21, '66.
Stuard, L., e. Aug. 16."61, died Dec. 31, '61.
Thornton, C. W., e. Aug. 16,'61, v., m.o. Jau.
21. '66.
Thummel, W. H., c. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11,64.
VadDoser, G., e. Aug. 16,'61, v., m.o. Jan. 21,'61.
362
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Vincent, F. E., e. Aug. 16,'61, m.o. Oct. 11,'G4.
Wood, K., e. Aug. 1G,'01, m.o. J;iu. 21, '06.
Woodrutr, Theodore, e. Aug. 16, '01.
Wagenseller, A. E., e. Aug. 10,'64, d. dis. May
1>0,'61.
Williamson, Alex. H., e. Aug. 16,'Cl, m.o. Jan.
21, '60.
Wakelield, Wm., c. Aug. 1G,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Sergeant, Elijah D., e. Aug. 16,'01, d. dis. Dec.
17,'61.
McKenzie, W. F., e. Aug. 16"61, died Oct. 19,61.
Timbiell, B., e. Aug. 1C,'61, died Dec. 1,'61.
Tice, A., e. Aug. 16,'61, d. dis. Nov. 8,'63.
Rcendts.
Brock, O. P., e. Nov. 4,'61.
Clay, W. H., e. Jan. 5,'64, m.o. Jan. 21, '60.
Koozer, Fred., e. Mar. 1.3,'62.
King, J. M., pro. q.m. sergt.
Russell, F. M., c. Sept. 20,'Gl, died June 6,'63,
■\vnds.
COMPANY F.
Sergeant.
H. N. Ferguson, e. Aug. 21, '01, m.o. Oct. 11, '04.
Privates.
Frisby, I. M., e. Aug. 21, '01, d. dis. Dec. 26,'61.
Martin, A. L. S., e. Aug. 21, '01, m.o. Oct. 11, '04.
Marshall, R. A., e. Aug. 21, '01, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Twineham, R. O., e. Aug. 21, '61, v., m.o. Jan.
21, '66.
COMPANY H.
Stilcer, L., e. Sept. 1,'61, v., m.o. Jan. 21, '66.
Kayser, M., e. Mar. 1,'65, m.o. Jan. 21,'66.
COMPANY I.
Privates.
Ashmore, R. B., e. Sept. 4,'61, died Dec. 26,'61.
Bane, E., e. Sept, 4,'61, v., nro. Jan. 21,'66.
Bennett, J., e. Sept. 4, '61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Chainey, A., e. Sept. 4,'61, kid. Oct. 3,'62.
North, S. R., e. Sept. 4,'01, died July 16,'62.
Poulton, Wm., e. Sept. 4, '61.
Shompiert, J., e. Sept. 4, '61, m.o. Oct. 11, '04.
Stormer, J., e. Sept. 4,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '64.
Secruits.
Beekman, J., v., e. Jan. 2.5,'64, m. o. Jan. 21'00.
Bennett, A., e. Jan. 21, '04, died April.14,'64.
Carson, P. N., e. July 30,'02, m.o. July 20,'6.3.
Camp, T., e. Feb. 1,'64, m.o. Jan. 21, '66.
Dodson, C, e. July 24, '02, m.o. July 20,'65.
Dillon, I., e. Jan. 21, '64, died Aug. 3,'64.
Dane, Joseph, c. Aug. 6, '62.
Howard, J. F., e. Aug. 4,'62, m.o. July 20,'C5.
McNutt, L., e. Aug. 0,'02, m.o. July 20,'65.
McCuUoch, J., e. Aug. 7,'62, m.o. July 20,'05.
McNutt, J., e. Aug. 0,'62, died Dec. 28, '02.
Bulon, H., e. Jan. 2.5,'64, m.o. Jan. 21, '66.
Roberts, W. H., e. Jan. 21,'t>4, m.o. Jan. 21, '66.
Sweet, L., e. Sept. 1,'62, m.o. July 20, '65.
Tantlinger, P., e. Julv 30,'62, m.o. July 20,'05.
Vining, J., e. Aug. 8,'02, d. dis. Mar. 18,'03.
Ward, P., e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. July 20,'02.
COMPANY K,
First Sergeant.
Henry Hill, e. Mar. 3,'65, m.o. Jan. 21, '06.
Privates.
Ankney, F., c. Sept. 17,'61, tr. to V. R. C.
Boshow, J., e. Sept. 7, "61.
Bradshaw, J., e. Sept. 12,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '(Vl.
Brown, T. O., e. Sept. 0,'01, pro. hosp. stew.
Hoffman, H., e. Sept. 0,'61, m.o. Oct. 11, '04.
Lowe, A., e. Sept. 18,'01, died Aug. 20,'03.
Sharp, E., e. Sept. 11,'61, kid. May 22,'63.
Hornback, D., e. Mar- 3,'65, m.o. Jan. 21, '06.
Hofer, C, e. Mar. 3,'C.5, m.o. Jan. 21, '00.
Hanuon, A., e. Mar. 3,'0.''), m.o. Jan. 21, '66.
ISIaple, Albert, e. Mar. 3,'6.5, m.o. Jan. 21, '66.
Maple, A., e. Mar. 3,'6.5, m.o. Jan. 21, '66.
Maple, J., e. Mar. 3,'05, m.o. Jan. 21, '00.
49th INFANTRY.
COMPANY K.
Privates.
Beard, J. E., e. Feb. 21, '0.5, m.o. Sept. 9,'65.
Fairchild, J. G., e. Feb. 18,'65, m.o. Feb. 9,'65.
Odin, T. M., e. Feb. 1S,'65, m.o. Feb. 9,'65.
Whitehead, E., e. Feb. 21, '65, m.o. Feb. 9,'05.
Hall, J. R., e. Feb. 18,'05, m.o. Fel). 9,'65.
Odin, M. G., e. Feb. 14,'65, m.o. Feb. 9,'65.
Thurmond, T., e. Mar. 1,'65, m.o. Sept. 9,'65.
51st INFANTRY.
COMPANY D.
Privates.
Ellis, Thos., e. Jan. 22, '62.
Egman, Augustu.s, e. Jan. 7, '62.
Graham, A. J., e. Dec. 24,'63, v., m.o. Sept. 25,
'05, sergt.
Gardner, Wm., c. Jan. 14, '62, v.
Goffinett, Peter, e. Jan. :;,'62, died at Anderson-
ville, June 15,'lVt, No. Grave, 2001.
Lee, J. F., e. Jan. 7,'02, d. dis. Jan. 17,'02.
Merchant, S. P., e. Jan. 21, '02, m.o. April 1,'05.
Ruble, B., e. Jan. 7,'02, tr. to V.R.C.
Ruble, Wm., e. Jan. 14,'02, v., m.o. Sept. 25,'65.
58th INFANTRY.
COMPANY E.
Corporal.
T. H. Lamplin, e. Mar. 21, '65, m.o. Mar. 20,'66.
Wagoner.
Chas. Perry, e. Mar. 21, '65, m.o. Mar. 20,'66.
Privates.
Guthrie, S., e. Mar. 21, '65, m.o. Mar. 20,'66.
Hickev, D., e. Mar. 21, '65, m.o. Mar. 20,'00.
Rohm' D. F., e. Mar. 17,'65, m.o. Mar. 16,'66.
COMPANY r.
Corporal.
J. W. Ricard, e. Mar. 17,'65, m.o. Jan. 6,'66.
W. D. Skelly, e. Feb. 2S,'65, m.o. Feb. 27,'66.
Privates.
Allison, W. T., e. Feb. 2S,'65, m.o. Feb. 27,'66.
Green, Hardin, e. Feb. 28,'65.
Primm, J. J., Feb. 28, '05, m.o. Feb. 27,'06.
Riehards, S. S., e. Mar. 17, '65.
Skelly, W., e. Feb. 28,'05, m.o. Feb. 27, '60.
Tate, N. P., e. Mar. 3,'05, m.o. May 29,'05.
Tucker, W. D., e. Feb. 28,'05, m.o. Feb. 27,'GG.
Watson, H. E., c. Feb. 28,'05, m.o. Feb. 27,'06.
Watson, W., e. Feb. 28,'65, m.o. Mar. C,'66.
COMPANY H.
First Lieutenant.
J. W. Smith, e. April 1,'05, res, Aug. 29,'65.
COMPANY I.
Pi'ivates.
Gross, L. K., e. Mar. 25,'05.
Hall, J., e. Mar. 10,'65, died April 28, '65.
Robinson, Geo., Mar. 22,'05.
Wire, T. J., e. Mar. 25,'65, m.o. May 29,'65.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
363
Gist INFANTRY
Was organized at CarroUton, Illinois. At Pittsburg Landing, on April Gth,
1862, 400 men were formetl into line in time to receive the first assault of the
enemy, and stood their ground for an hour and a quarter. Upon retiring
from their position, the regiment was complimented by Gen. Prentiss for its
gallant stand. Loss 80 killed, w'ounded and missing, and 3 commissioned
officers. Regiment mustered out Sept. 8th, 18l>>, at Nashville, Tenn.
COMPANY B.
Recruit.
Damson, M. T., c. Sept. 30,'G4, m.o. July 20,'G5.
COIVIPANY C.
Adams, A., c. Oct. 10,'(>1, A: (lis. June 27, 'Co.
Hinson, S., e. Oet. l,'t>l, m.o. July 2U,Go.
C<>MP,\NY G.
Bahvin, J., c. .Sept. 'JV.'fit, m.o. Jiilv 2n,'a5.
Cratcliett, A., e. 0<'t. 1,'G4, m.o. July 2U,'r>ri.
Crade, J. J., e. Sei>t. 27, '04, m.o. Julv 2(i,'ti.').
Crateliett, W. C, e. Sept. 27,'G-l, m.o. Julv20,'G.').
Clark, G. F., e. Sept. 27,'G-l, m.o. July 20,'G5.
Peavine, J., e. iSept. 2iS,'G4, m.o. July 2().'G.'i.
Rhode.*, J., e. Sept. 27, 'G4, died Murfree.boro.
Robinette, J. R., e. Sept. 27,'G4, m.o. July 20,G.').
Warren, W. S., e. Sept. 27, 'G4, m.o. July 20,'G.").
Predemore, A. J., o. Mar. 7,'G.'), m.o. Sept. 8,'Go.
Vanai-sdale, N., e. Sept. 26,'C-}, in Co. G., 58th.
COMPANY I.
Recruit.
Adams, E. C, e. Sept. 30, 'G4, m.o. July 20,'G5.
COMPANY K.
Recruits.
Griffin, J. E., e. April .">,'G.5, m.o. Sept. 8,'G5.
Gates, J. W., e. Oct. 5,'G4.
Hauer, A., Sept. 27,'G4, m.o. May 23,'G5.
Lewis, H. B., e. Sept. 2S,'G4.
Simons, D. A., e, Sept. 27, 'G4.
62d INFANTRY.
Adjutant.
M. J. Haines, o. Feb. 2,'&4, m.o. Mar. 6,'66.
COMP.\NY r.
Recruit.
Ford, S. D., e. Feb. 11, 'G.'), deserted Mar. 20,'G5.
COMPANY H,
Private.-'.
Brauer, W. H., e. Feb. 1,'G2, deserted at Cov-
ington, Kv.
Hiscock, L. W., 6. Feb. 1,'G2, died .Vug. 13,'G4,
corpl.
Kellogg, F. A., e. Feb. 1,'C2, v., died April 3,'65.
Seelye, W. IL, e. Feb. 1,'G2, v., m.o. Mar. G.'GG.
Smith, J., e. Jan. 23,'G-l, rej. and discharged.
07tli (Three Months,) INFANTRY.
CO»U'ANY G.
Privates.
Anthony, C. E., e. June 2,'C2.
Burton, F. M., e. June 2, '62.
Crane, William, e. June 2, '62.
jVIishler. Samuel, e. June 2,'G2.
Rodtjurs, I). A., e. June 4,'G2.
Riddle, Hamilton, June 4, '02.
Ri<'e, Daniel, e. June 4,'G2.
Steele, J. A., e. June 4,'G2.
Toliias, B. F., e. June 4,'G2.
(Jadwell, William, e. June 2,'G2.
08th (Three Months,) INFANTRY.
COMPANY K.
Captain.
Ed. J. J(mcs, e. June 23,'C2, m.o. Sept. 26,'C2.
First Lieutenant.
T. L. Masters, e. June 23,'G2, m.o. Sept. 26,'G2.
Second Lieutenant.
IT. L. Dunn, e. June 23,'G2, m.o. Sept. 2C,'62.
Sergeants.
L. W. Coplin, e. June 2,'G2.
L. G. Smith, e. June 2,'G2.
R. J. Edwards, e. June 2,'62.
Corporals.
George Jones, e. June 2, '62.
Lueius Smith, e. June 2,'62.
Musician.
Ira Sipes, c. June 2,'G2.
Privates.
Barr, F. M., e. June 2, '62.
Burk, James, e. June 2,'G2.
Demorest, J. H., e. June 2'ri2.
Devore, Noah, e. June 2'.t,'G2.
Hailey, William, e. June 9,'G2.
Hill, J. G., e. June2,'G2.
Hinner, Ira, e. June 23, 'G2.
Loekwood, Henry, e. June 15,'62.
McNeal, John, e. June 2,'G2.
MeFarland, Edward, e. June2,'G2.
Mullen, Owen, c. June 2, '62.
Owens, E. M., e. June 2,'G2.
Ogden, I. B., e. June23,'G2.
Putnam, John, e. June 30,'G2.
Powers, James, e. June 2,'G2.
Striker, David, e. June 2,'G2.
Sams, .Vlexander, e. .June 11, 'G2.
Strieker, Henry, e. .June 2;»,'G2.
Turner, G. C, e. June 2'.i,'G2.
VauBureu, Edwani, e. June 2, '62.
Vaneil, J. P., e. June 2,'G2.
Wat.son, John, e. June 22, '62.
Zimmer, Henry, c. Juno 22,'62.
364
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
73rd INFANTRY.
The 7ord was organized at Camp Butler in August, '62, and soon became
part of Gen. Buell's army The 73rd took part in every Ijattle fought by the
army of the Cumberland, from Oct, 62. until the route of Gen. Hood's army at
Nashville.
No greater eulogy can be pronounced on the patrotism, bravery, and
heroic devotion to a sacred principle than that silent language of their dead,
speaking from the graves of every battle-tield where they poured out their
life's blood, at Perryville, Murfreesl^oro, Chickamaugo, Missionary Ridge,
through out mountain gorges of East Tennesee and in a succession of battles
from Chattanooga to the falls of Atlanta.
The 73rd had 2 majors and 2 adjutants killed, and nearly every officer of
the regiment wounded at some time — several, many times; but as to the
aggregate loss during their service no data is to Ije found. They left the State
one of the largest, and returned one of the smallest regiments, near two-
thirds of the organization having wasted away, either by disease, or death on
the battle field, during their three years' service.
COMPAJfY B.
Captain.
Harvey Pratt, e. Dec. 1,'6'2, m.o. June 12,'65.
First Lieutenant.
Joshua Bailey, e. July 17,'C2, m.o. June 12,'G5.
Sergeant.
Jesse D. Kilpatrick, e. July 23, '62, pris. Sept.
20, '63.
A. A. Holmes, c. July 15, '62, m.o. June 12, '6.').
Joseph S. Parke, e. July 1-J,'62, m.o. June 12,65.
David J. Reid, e. July 23,'62, m. o. June 12,'65.
Musicians.
T. A. Martin, e. Aug. 12,'62, m.o. June 12,'65.
N. D. Rodgers, e. July 12,'62, m.o. June 12,'65.
Privates.
Adams, D. H., e. July 31,'62, kid. Sept. 20,'63.
Avers, J. M., e. Aug. 8,'62, d. dis. June 1,'63.
Allen, W. M., e. Julv23,'62, died Dec. 23,'62.
Baylor, J. D., e. July 19,'62, m.o. June r2,'65.
Baldwin, A., e. Julv 22, '62, m.o. June 12,'65.
Buckman, J. H., e. Julo 21, '62, d. dis. May 3,'63.
Brown, J. A., e. Aug. 11, '62, died Anderson-
ville, pris.
Davis, W. E., e. Aug. 11, '62, died at Murfrees-
boro. Mar. 23, '63.
Few, P. B., e. July 17,'62, m. o. June 12,'65.
Tailor, G., e. July 23,'62. m. o. June 12,'65.
Fruman, M. L., e". July 23, '62, m.o. June 12, '65.
Frazer, T. J., e. Aug. 8, "62, m. o. June 12, '65.
Gilcrest, E. W., e. Aug. 11, '62, died at Nash%-ille,
Dee. 6, '62.
Gale, C. L., e. July 17,'62, trans. I. C. Aug. 1,'63.
Glaze, C. M., e. July 22, '62, died at Delavan,
Jan. 7, '64.
Gooch, DeWitt R., e. Julv 22,'62, trans, to I. C.
Goodale, D. S., e. July 22,'62, died at Nashville
Jan. 8, '63.
Gensett, J. M. e. July 23,'62, pro. Sei^t. Major.
Gaskill, C. F., e. Aug. 11, '62, died at Nashville
Nov. 24,'62.
Holt, Jesse, e. Aug.7,'62, m. o. June 12, '65, corpl
Huntlev, J. W., e. July 17,'62, died at Gallatin,
Tenn.
Hunt, J. A., e. July 17,'62, died at Murfreesboro
May 27, '63.
Hanna, F. H., e. July 22,'62, trans, to I. C.
Hatch, T. C, e. July 19,'62, ra. o. June 12,'65.
Hilderbrand, Jacob, Aug. 8, '62. died Feb. 1,'63,
wounds.
Hamptman, E. A.,e. Julv.31,'62,d.dis.Mar. 1,'63,
Hill, L., e. Aug. 11, '62, d. dis. .Ian. 6,'63.
Iscnberg, Joel, e. July 17, '62, died June 27, '64,
wounds.
Johnson, R. S., e. July 17,'62, kid Stone river,
Dec. 31, '62.
Jacobus, W. A., e. July 31,'62, d. dis. Jan. 15, '63.
Jacobus, L. K., e. July 31, '62, died Nashville
dec. '62.
Kibbj, G. R., e. July 19,'62, m. o. June 27, '65,
was pris.
Lawler, D. F., c. Aug. S, 62, m. o. June 12,'65.
Long, J. H., e. July 23, '62, d. dis. Aug. 7, '62.
Lamphier, I. L., e. July 21, '62, m. o. June 12,
'65, corpl.
Lovno, Reuben, e. Aug. 5, '62, died Nashville
■ Nov. 30, '62.
Morris, J. W., e. Aug. 7,'62, died Murfreesboro,
April 28, '63,
Monday, J. W., e. July 15,'62, m. o. June 12,'65.
Mondav, E. R., e. July 15, '62, m. o. June 12, '65.
McCormlc, M., e. Aug. 11, '62, d. dis. Jan. 10'63.
Opdyke, Benj., e. July 22, '62, m. o. June 12,'65.
Patterson, R. H.. e. Julv 19, '62, m.o. June 12, '65.
Palmer, D. H., e. Julv 22,'62, m. o. June 12,'65.
Reid, A. J., e. July 19,'62, died Oct. 28,'63,wnds.
Rvbin.son, R., e. July 19,'62, kid at Stone river
Dec. 31, '62.
Richards, C. C, e. Aug. 5,'62, tr. I. C. Aug. 1,'63.
Randolph, C. F., Aug. 11, '62, m. o. June 12,'65,
corpl.
Sherman, A., e. Julv 23,'62, m. o. May 20,'65.
Ward, W. B., e. Julv 17,'62, ni. o. June 12,'65.
Wertz, J. C, e. July 22,'62, d. dis. Apr. 23,'63.
Jiecruit.^.
Buckman, Joel, e. Sept. 29,'64, m.o. Junel2,'65.
Brown, M. e. Fel). 9,'64, trans. 44th Inft., wnd.
Bailcv, C. M., e. Feb. 13,'64, trans. 44th Inft.
Drake, N., e. Oct. 4, '64, trans. 14th Inft.
Kite, W. H., e. Oct. 4,'t54, trans. U. S. V. E.
Harbinson, G., e. Oct. 4,'64, kid at Franklin,
Nov. 30, '61.
Miller, G. A., c. Feb. 18, '64, trans. 44th Inft.
Newman, B., e. Sept. 29,'64, m. o. June 12,'65.
Provost, A., e. Sept. 2'J,'6^1, m. o. Mav 21, '65.
Patten, G. W., e. July 9,'62, d. dis. Feb. 9,'63.
Spruce, J. H., e. Oct. 6,'64, trans. 44th Inft.
COMPANY I.
First Lieutenant.
G. W. Patten, e. July 15,'62, m. o. June 12,'65.
HISTORY OP TAZEWELL COUNTY.
365
85tli INFANTRY.
The 85th was organized at Peoria in August, '62, by Col. Robert S. Moore,
and mustered into service August 27, '62. Ordered to Louisville, Ky., Sep-
tember 6, '62, assigned to Thirty-Sixth Brigaile, Eleventh Division, Third
Army Corps, Col. D. McCook commanding Brigade, Gen. Sheridan command-
ing Division, and Gen. Gilbert commanding Corps. The 85th marched in
pursuit of the enemy under Gen. Bragg, Oct. 1, '62, was engaged in the battle
of Champion Hill, at Perryville, Kentucky, Oct. 8, and moved with the army
to Nashville, Tenn., arriving Nov. 7, '62.
Regiment mustered out June, 5, '65, at Washington, D. C, and arrived at
Camp Butler, 111, June 11, 65, wliere they received their final discharge.
COMPANY A.
Captain.
Thos. R. RoberUs, e. July 11, '02, res. April 15,'G4.
First Lieutenant.
Daniel Havens, e. .July IS.'O^, m. o. May 15, '65.
Sergeants.
J. K. Miller, e. July is,'i>2, died hands enemy,
Aus. 20, 'W, wounds.
W. M. Landwitli, e. July 1S,'G2, d.dis. Meh.2G'62.
Joseph Stout, e. July lis, '(12, ni. o. Juno 5,'65, as
reg. color br'er. "
Coi-poraU.
Benj. Ohite, e. July 18,'G2, kid at Perryville,
Ky., Oct. 8, '62.
J F. Rodgers, e. July S,'G2, m. o. Suiie 5,'G.j, 1st
sergt.
Alonzo McCain, c. July IS, '62, m. o. July22,'G5,
was pris.
Privates.
Alyea, J. W., e. July 18,'e2, m. o. June 17,'65,
wa.s pris.
Albin, W. M., e. July 1S,'62, m. o. June 5,'65.
JJartram, K. W., e. July 18, '62, absent sick at
ni. o. of regt.
Boon, C. W., o. July 18,'62, died Chattanooga
July 14, 'G4, wnds, corpl.
Bradburn, J. M., e. July is, '62, m. o. June5,'65.
Bradburn, J. M., Jr., e. July 1S,'G2, m. o. June
5, '65.
Bradburn, J. W. e. July IS, '62, died Bowling
Green, Nov. 1,'62.
Bortzfield, Jacob e. July 1S,'62, ra. o. June 5, '65.
Bortztleld, Wm., e. June 21, '62, died Aug. 11, '61,
wnds.
Booth, J. VV., c. July 21,'62, died Nov. 27,'63.
Blizzard, W. D., e. Aug. 5,'62, m. o. Aug. 5, '65.
Cunley, A., e. Aug. 10,'62, died Nashville, Feb.
12, '63.
Charlton, W. P., e. Aug. 10,'62, m. o. May :!0,'65.
Daniels, J. R., e. Aug. 10,'62, tr. i. c. Feb. 15,'64.
Howell, Geo., e. Aug. 10,'62, died Nash%illc,
Apr. 5, '63.
Howell, H., e. Aug. 10, '62, died Louis\ille in '62.
Jordan, B. F., e. July 1S,'62, m. o. June 2S,'65,
wa.s pris.
Koozer, Danl., c. July 24,'62, died Goldsboro
Meh. 27, '65, wnds.
Kratzer, David, e. July 24,'62, died Big Shanty,
June 29,'64, wnds.
Layton, W., e. July 29,'62, died Nashville, Dec.
1,'62.
Mason, H., e. July 30,'62, died Louisville, Dee.
23, '62.
Mayes, J. A., e. July 30,'62, abs. sick at m. o. of
regt.
Parks, Jacob, e. July 20, '62, m. o. June 5, '65.
Pemberton, B., e. July 2'.i,'62, d. dis. Jan. 10,'63.
Pemberton, W. J.,c. Aug.l0,'62,d.dis.Jan.24,'63.
Shaw, R., e. July 18,'62, abs. sick at ra.o. of regt.
Saint, P. e. July 18,'C2, kid Peach T. creek, July
19, '64.
Streeter, H. R., e. July 18,'62, abs. atni. o. regt.,
wnd.
Schniick, W. S., e. Aug. 10,'62, abs. sick at ra.o.
of regt.
Trent, Thos., c. Aug. 10,'62, m. o. June 5,'65.
Vanduseu, J. P., e. July 18,'G2, died Nsishvllle
Meh. 3, 'Go.
Wood, J. A., e. Julv 1S,'G2, d. dis. Feb. 10,'63.
Whit^iker, W. J., July 1S,'62, died Nashville,
Dec. 20, '62.
White, M. L., e. July 18,'62, died Nashville Dec.
13, '62.
COHn»ANY F.
Jn
A
Captains.
10. Kennedy, c. Aug. 27,'62, died July 19,'64.
. J. Mason, e. June 16, '62, m. o. June 5,'65.
First Lieutenants.
Robt. J. Bowman, e. Aug. 27, '62, res. Oct. 17, '63.
F. M. McColyou, e. June 1G,'62, abs. sick atm.
o. regt.
Second Lieutenants.
R. M. Tinney, e. Aug. 27,'62, res. Jan. 13,'63.
E. D. Lampett, e. June 16,'62. res. Oct. 10,'63.
First Sergeant.
Wm. Kelly, e. June 16, '62, ra. o. June 5,'65.
Sergeants.
Wm. Johnson, e. June 16, '62, m. o. June 5, '65,
as 1st i>rivate.
Corporals.
Fd. Scattergood, e. June 16,'62, m. o. June 5,'65.
Nathan Kellogg, e. June 16,'62, m. o. June 5, '65.
Philip Beck, e. June 16, '62, kid Peach T. creek,
July PJ, '64.
Wagoner.
John Wolf, e. June 16, '62, m. o. Meh. 6, '64.
Privates.
Bird, Wm., e. June 16,'G2, m. o. June 5, '65.
Bcncr, David, e. June 16, ■62, d. dis. Junel9,'63.
Cleveland, P. P., e. June 1G,'62, died Feb. 4,'63.
Cregg, David, e. June; l(i,'G2, m. o. June 5, '65.
Cary, Jas., e. June 16, '62, died Meh. 11, '61, wnds.
Cheal, J. J. e. June 16, '62, tr. inv. corps Sep.7, '63.
Clark, J. J., e. June 16, '62, m.o. June 17, '65, pris.
Coombs, James, e. June 1G,'62, m. o. June5,'65.
Driver,R.,e.Junel6,'62,died Louisv'eSep.29,'62.
Dean, Wm., e. June 21,'62,m.o. June5,'65,corpl.
Deball, L., e. June 21, '62.
Earp, Wm., e. June 16,'62, died Nov. 30, '64,
wu<ls, Sergt.
Franks, Jajues, e. June 16,'62, m. o. June 5,'65.
Foruer, Jos., e. June 16,'62, kid. Buzzard Roost
Feb. 2.5, 'frl.
Fultz, Nicholas, e. June 16,'62.
Hanks, James, e. June 16,'62, kid. Feb. 9,'63.
Hinsey, A., e. June 21,'62, abs. sick at m.o. regt.
366
HISTORY OP TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
McCabe, Jas., e. June 16'6-2, m. o. June 22'65.
McCabe, Philip, e. June lf),'(V2, m. o. June 5, '65.
Maloney, J., e. June lC,'62,flie(i Nasnville Jitn.i).
McQuinn, John, e. June 21, "62, m. o. May 17, 'fi").
Pillsbery, Geo., e. June 10, '62, m. o. Juiie .5, '6.5.
Rily, M.", e. Junel6,'62, kid. Kenesaw Mt., Juno
27 '64.
Rvan,'M.! e. June 16,'62.
Rhoads, M., e. June 16, '62, drowned Oct. 9,'O.S.
Thompson, Jnc, e. Junel6,'62, m. o. Meh.7,'63.
Tanger, Beu., e. June 16,'62, m. o. June 5,'G5.
Vamum, B. F., e. June 16,'62, m.o. June 5,'65,
Corpl.
Wrigler, M., c. June 16,'62, m. o. June 22, '65,
was pris.
Whitaker, Jacob, e. June 21, '62, m. o. June5,'65.
Beeruits.
Bass, John.
Brickie, Philip.
Foot, Win. S.
Turner, Jno, died at Louisville, Ky., Oct.12,'62.
86th IXFANTKY
Was organized at Peoria, Illinois, in 1862. Moved for Louisville. Marched
from camp Oct. 1, and on the 8th was engaged in the battle of Perryville;
engaged in the battle of Chicamauga, Sept. 19, 20 and 21. Moved into Look-
out Valley Oct. 29. In tlie night of Nov. 23, crossed the river on a pontoon
and camped at the foot of Missionary Ridge Pursued the enemy on the 2Gth
to Ringgold, and was then ordered to Knoxville, Tenn. Marched as far as
Little Tennessee River, and returned to Chattanooga Dec. 18, after a most
severe march. Was engaged at Buzzard's Roost, May 9, 10 and 11; Resaca,
May 14, 15 ; Rome, 17th, — 6 kille<l, 11 wounded ; Dallas, from May 27 to June 5;
Kenesaw Mountain, from June 11 to 27,— losing 110 killed and wounded. It
again engaged the enemy on the banks of the Chattahooche on the 18th July;
at Peach Tree Creek on the 19th, and near Atlanta, 20 and 22nd. Engaged in
the siege of Atlanta. Commenced the "march to the sea" Nov. 16. Arrived
at Savannah Dec. 21. After the surrender of Johnson, marched, via Rich-
mond, to AVashington Citv, at which place was mustered out of service, June
6, 1865. Died, killed, and" wounded, 3-46. Marched 3,500 miles; by rail, 2,000.
COMPANY G.
Captains.
Wm. B. Bogardus, e. Aug. 27,'62, died wnds.
April 18, '65.
S. L. Zinger, e. Aug. 27,'62, m.o. June 6,'65.
First Lieutenant.
Martin Kingman, e. Aug. 27,'62, m.o. June 6,'02.
Hospital Steioard.
J. W. Robinson, e. Aug. 13,'62, m.o. June 6,'65.
First Sergeants.
Frederick Shearer, e. Aug. 9, '62, trans. Y. R. C.
April 20, '64.
Luther S. North, e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6,'65,
wnd.
Sergeants.
H. H. KcUogg, e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. Dec. 20,'62.
A. Graham, e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 5;'65.
M. H. Cloud, e.Aug. 9,'62, m.o. Juue6,'65, wnd.
Coi-porals.
C. G. Parker, e. Aug. 9,'02, m.o. June 6,'65,
serg't.
J. T. Gibson, e. Aug. 1,'62, m.o. June6,'65, serg.
W. H. Waughap, e. Aug. 9,'C2, m.o. June 6,'05,
sergt.
J. H. Chaffer, e. Aug. 9,'02, m.o. April 4,'G3,
wnd.
H. F. Heiple. e. Aug. 14,'C2, m.o. June 13,'65.
S. Hawkins, e. Aug. 11, '62, trans. V. R. C. Feb.
2, '6.5.
J. Roberts, e. Aug. Il,'fi2, m.o. Jan. 0,'65, \rad.
O. P. Eaton, e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. May 31,'65, wnd.
Micsician.
F. Gulp, e. Aug. 14,'62, m.o. Feb. 63.
P7-ivatcs.
Brcen, Ed., e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6,'05, wnd.
BrLketi, D., e. Aug. 9,'62, died of wnds. April
12,'65.
Brown, Levi, e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June6,'65.
Bracken, G. D., e. Aug. 14,'62, m.o. Jan. 18,'65,
dis.
Bitter, J. M., e. Aug. 14, '62, died Nor. 19, '62.
Botham, G. W., e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6,'65.
Crosby, Ira, c. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6, '65.
Corbih, il., e. Aug. 11, '62, m.o. June 22,'65,
wnd.
Criswell, Wm.,
pris. wnd.
Cullom, D. W.,
e. Aug. 9,'Gl, m.o. July 22,'65,
e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6,'65.
Davis, D., e. Aug. 12,'62, m.o. Oct. 5,'63, ^vnd.
Duvall, J. W., e. Aug.14,'62, died Sept. 3'63, wnd.
E\erhart, T. Y., e. Aug. 11, '62, died at Golds-
boro, N. C, Mar. 24,'64.
Eggman, J., e. Aug. 11, '62, m.o. June 6, '65, wnd.
P'arrow, Wm., e. Aug. 13, '62, m.o. June 6, '6-5.
Ferner, G. W., e. Aug. 12, '62, m.o. June 6, '65,
corpl., wnd.
Frock or French, Richard, e. Aug. 27, '62.
Graves, J. J., e. Aug. 15, '62, trans, to Miss. mar.
Feb. '63.
Hodgcson, J. E., e. Aug. 12,'62, kid. at Benton-
\-ille, N. C, Mar. 19,'65.
Haiu, D., e. Aug. 11, '62, kid. Dec. 3,'63, sergt.
Holmes, G. W., e. Aug. 12, '02, died at Chatta-
nooga July 9,'(>4j wnds.
Hindbaugh, J. W., e. Aug. 13,'62, m.o. June 6,
'65.
Holland, I. W., e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6,'6.5.
Kindle, E., e. Aug. 11, '62, m.o. June6,'65. corpl.
Kevs. J. T., e. Aug. 9,'62, trans, pioneer corps,
July 25,'t>4.
Lee, C, e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6,'65.
Lane, T. B., e. Aug. 8,'62, m.o. June 22,'05,
pris.
■Jameson, J., e. Aug. 9, '62, m.o. June 0,'65, cor.
Lewis, R., e. Aug. 9,'02, m.o. June G,'65.
Layton, H. C, e. Aug. 11, '62, m.o. Dec. 20,'62.
Merchant, Geo., e. Aug. 15,'62, m.o. June 6,'62,
pris.
Milligan, C. B., e. Aug. 9,'C2, m.o. April 13,'63.
Mericle, R., e. Aug. 9,'62, trans, to P. C, July
29,'(>1.
Merrick, I., e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 24,'65, pris.
McBride, W. G., e. Aug. 14,'62, died NashviUe,
Feb. 11, '63.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
367
, m.n. Jiinc fi.'Go.
kid. Kenesaw Mt.,
McCoy, D., c. AuR. 0,'f.2, m.n. INInr. 'aS.
Miiwnheimer, C.,0. Aug. ll.'iVi, in.o. .Tunefi,'65.
Miinroe. Felix, e. Aug. 14,'i>J, died Nashville,
Av)ril 5,'G.").
Murphy, P., c. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. Juno 6,'66.
Oberdurf, J., e. Aug. 14,'62, m.o. June (i,'(i3.
Parker, W. J., c. Aug. 9,'(V2, m.o. .Tunc (),'fi<j.
Parker, J. H., c. Aug. 0,'C.2, " ""'
Parker, C. A., c. Aug. 9,'G2
July 1,'64.
Petty, S., e. Aug. 11, '62, m.o. June fi,'f>5.
Kuble, John, e. Aug. 12,'G2, m.o. June 0,'65,
corj)!.
Robinson, N., e. Aug. 15,'62, m.o. June f),'65.
Ruble, Jona., e. Aug. 14,'62, m.o. June G,'6.5.
Riehanl, Benjamin, e. Aug. 11, '62, kid. Perry-
ville. Oct. 8,'G2.
Shoemaker, R., e. Aug. 1.5,'02, m.o. June G,'65.
Sutton, Phillip, e. Aug. 14,'G2, m.o. June G,'6.5.
Smith, H. B., e. Aug. 0,'62, m.o. May 15,'G5,
eorpl., wnd.
Strawsburgh, (}., c. Aug. 9,'63, tr., Y. R.C. Oct.
'G3.
Strawsburgh, e. .\ug. 9,'G2, died Jan. 7, '6?!.
Scott, H. E., c. Aug. 14, 'C2, m.o. June G,'G2.
Shreeve, Amos, e. Aug. 8,'G2, kid. Kenesaw
Mt., Jan. 27,'G4.
Shcppard, K. 11., e. Aug. 9,'G2, !il)s. at m.o. regt.
Small, J. W., o. Aug. 9,'62, kid. Kenesaw Mt.,
eorpl.
Spier, J. R., e. Aug. 9,'G2, m.o. Feb. '63.
Tobias, Israel, e. Aug. 9,'G2, m.o. May29,'6.5.
Truet, George, c. Aug. 9,'G2, died Nashville,
Feb. 19, '63.
Trowbridge, J, e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6,'65,
wnd.
Walker, J., e. Aug. 14, '62, m.o. June 6,'G5.
Wood, E., e. Aug. 9,'G2. m.o. June 6,'G5.
Westerlield, .Jacob, e. Aug. 9,,G2, m.o. June 24,
'G.I, eorpl., was pris.
Whistler, Benj.,e. Aug. 11, 'G.'), m.o. Dec. 20,'62.
Wilson, J. O., e. Aug. 15, '62, m.o. June G,'G3.
Jiccruits.
Burns, E. C, e. Feb. 1,'64, m.o. July 12,'C5,
eorpl.
Eggman, A., e. Jan., 24,'64, m.o. July 12,'65.
Eggman, J. J., e. Jan. 2.5,'64.
Feely, W. S., e. Dec. 2G,'G3, never reported to
companv.
Graves, S. A., e. Feb. 1,'64, m.o. July 12,'6r).
Gaudy, S. M., e. Aug. 27,'))2, m.o. June 6, '65.
Minch, S., e. Aug. 27, '62, m.o. June G,'65.
Riddle, W. H.,e. Sept. 23,'G4, m.o. JuneG,'G5.
Shurts, J. W., e. Sept. 24, '64, m.o. June6,'()5.
Smith, Bethel, e. Sept. 2:1, '61, m.o. June 6,'G.5.
Smith, W. M., e. Sept. 23,'Gt. m.o. May 2;i,'65.
Triplet, W. H., e. Sept. 2;!,'G4, m.o. June 6,'G5.
Wilson, S. L., e. Feb. 1,'Gl, tr. V. R.C, Dec. 24,
'64.
Whistler, B. F., .Tan. 26,'G4, m.o. July 12,'6.5.
94tli INFANTRY
Was organized at Bloomington, Illinois, in Aug. '62, and mustered in Aug. 20,
and five davs later was ordered to Benton Barracks at St. Louis.
The i)4th, after many fatiguing marches through Missouri and Arkansas,
met the enemy at Illinois Creek, Arkansas, under Gen. Hindinan, hohling
him in check for three hours, and being reenforced by Gen. Blunt's Division,
continued the action until night, when the enemy withdrew.
The regiment was mustered out July 17th, '65. at New Orleans, and ar-
rived at Camp Butler Aug. 2, '65. when it received final discharge.
COMP.INY H.
Privates.
Lane, Hugh, e. Aug. il,'G2, abs., sick at m.o. of
McAlister, F., e. Aug. 21, '62, m.o. July 17,'65.
Smith, I. L., c. Aug. 20,,G2, m.o. July 17,'G5,
eorpl.
Brinistol, Ira, e. Sept. 2l,'Gl, m.o. Jidy 17,'65.
COMPANV I.
Sergeants.
J. B. Chaplin, o. Aug. 1(),'62, d. May 1,'G4, dis.
Isaac Blair, e. Aug. .s,'G2, d. Feb. 24, 'G:',, dis.
Theodore Miner, e. Aug. 8,'G2, m.o. July 17, '65,
as sergt., com. 2d Ueut not mustered.
Privates.
Buggs, T., e. Aug. 9,'G2, d. June28,'63, dis.
Parker, E., e. Aug. 15,'G2, d. Feb. 21, '63, dis.
('(jlville, W., e. Aug. 15,'62, m.o. July 17, '65.
Durnan J. S., e. Aug. 11, '62, m.o. July 17,'05.
Hammond, J. W., e. Aug. 15,'62, died New
Orleans, Sept. 13,'63.
Hunter, D. L., e. Aug. 15,'62, m.o. July 17,'65.
Henry, J. W., e. Aug. 15,'62, m.(j. July 17,'65.
John.son, G. W., e. Aug. 11,'62, m.o. July 17,'65,
eorpl.
Laton. S., e. Aug. 12,'62, d. Aug; 13,'6-1, dis.
Livesav, J. T., e. Aug. 15, '62, died at home
Sept. 9, '63.
Loonev, A. P., c. Aug. 15,'G2, died at New
Orleans, Sept. 9,'63.
Lindsay, J. e. Aug. 17,'62, d. April 16,'63, dis.
IMitchcll, Bvron L., e. Aug. 7, '62, died New
Orleans, Aug. 29,'G3.
Macv, W., e. Aug. 11, '62, m.o. July 12,'65.
Macv, G. 0.,e. Aug. 11, '62, died Carroltou, La.,
Aug. 30,'63.
Miller. Peyton, e. Aug. 15,'G2, m.o. July 17,'G5.
Price, Dehuison, e. Aug. l(i,'62. m.o. July 17, 'G5.
Rockbold, J. 11., e. Aug. 8,'62, tr. I. C. April
30,'Gl.
Railsbaek, B. F., e. Aug. 9,'fi2, d. Jan. 24,'64.
Railsbock, T. F., e. Aug. 9,'G2, m.o. Juiy 17,'65.
Sweat, G. W., e. Aug. 19,'62, m.o. July 17, '65.
Strickland, F., e. Aug. 15,'G2, m.o. July 17,'65.
Smith, O. M.,e. Aug. 12,'62, m.o. July 17,'G5.
Shaw, G., e. Aug. 1.5,'G2, d. Dee. 1,'Gl, dis.
Ward, (ico., e. Aug. 9,'G2, m.o. July 17, 'G5.
Winn, W. S., e. Aug. 12,'62, died at (Jarroltou,
La., Aug. 14,'G3.
Williams, J. H., e. Aug. 12, '62, d. Sept. 14, 'tU,
(li.s.
Williams, J. A., e. Aug. 12,'G2, d. Jan. 7, 64, dis.
Jvrcruits.
Hunter, W. II., e. Mar. 12,'64, m.o. May 16,'66,
eorpl.
Lance, C, e. Sept. 24,'64, m.o. Julyl7,'6.5.
Hartzell, I., e. Feb. 27,'64, m.o. May 15, 66.
lOOth INFANTRY.
COMPANY H.
First Sergeant.
Wm. B. Connor, e. Aug. 14,'62, m.o. June 11, '64.
368
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Privates.
Allbrisht, John, e. Aug. 14,'G2, d. June 11, 'M.
AllbriKht, Jos., e. Aug. 14, '02, in.o. June 12, '65.
Conner, J. K., e. Aug. 14, '02, d. Mar. 24,04.
Conner, J. S., e. Aug. 14, '02, ni.o. June 12,'G.5.
Dosse, P. H., e. Aug. 15, '02, died Chattanooga,
Aug. 13,'G4, wnd.
Hcninger, B. W., c. Aug. 14, '62, m.o. June 12.
'05.
Lyon, L. M., e. Aug. 19,'62, kid. Chattanouga,
Sept. 19, 'G;!.
Moore, D. T., e. Aug. lo,'62, died Nashville,
Dec. 17,'e3.
Shoemaker, J., e. Aug. 1,'62, d. April 2,'64.
Coons, D., e. Aug. S,'62, abs. sick at m.o. regt.
104th IISFANTRY
formed a part of First Brigade, Fourteenth Army Corps, in which it remained
until mustered out.
On the 25th of Nov. '63, was in the battle of Missionary Ridge, capturing
a number of prisoners. The regiment moved to Ringgold May 3rd, to prepare
for the campaign a])out to commence against Atlanta. The regiment partici-
pated in many skirmishes up to the 5th of June, when they moved in front of
Kenesaw Mountain, where it was engaged skirmishing almost continously
until the 3rd of July, when the enemy left the Mountain. On the 20th July
the 104th crossed Peach Tree Creek, and at 4 p.m. were attacked by the
enemy, when the regiment distinguished itself for unsurpassed bravery,
losing in killed and wounded 50 officers and men.
The campaign, from May 7, when the regiment left Ringgold, to Sep. 6,
when it left Jonesboro, was very severe, skirmishing almost continually,
never halting for the night without throwing up w"orks for defence. The loss
in these engagements being very heavy, in killed and woundeii, and at Peach
Tree Creek the right of the regiment was almost annihilated, but the brave
boys never faltered.
On the 16th of Nov. the 104th started on that famous " march to the sea,"
taking possession of Savannah on the 21st Dec. The regiment had its share of
the hardships, marches, ect., as also the fine foraging produced by that beauti-
ful country through which they passed.
The Regiment was engaged in the battles of Hartsville, Chickamauga,
Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Utoy Creek,
Jonesboro and Bentonville. They were mustered out June 7th, and on the
8th left for Chicago where they received their final discharge.
COMPANY I.
Captains.
John Wadlegh, e. Aug. 12,'G2, res. July 30,'6.3.
Willard Proctor, e. Aug. 12, '02, m.o. June 6, '65.
First Lieutenant.
Jas M. Wright, e. Aug. 12,'G2, m.o. June 6,'05.
Second Lieutenant.
C. E. Webber, e. Aug. 12,'62, res. Fel). 9,'G3.
First Sergeants.
W. C. Hempstead, e. Aug. 12,'G2, pro. chaplain.
L. G. Stout, e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6s'63.
Sergeants.
A. S. Smith, c. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6,'65.
A. Moffatt, e. Aug. 9,'G2, m.o. June 6, '65.
Cor2Mrals.
Ethridge Chapman, e. Aug. 9, 62, kid. Chicka-
mauga, Sept. 20,'63.
C. L. Bangs, e. Aug. 9, '62, m.o. June 6,'G5.
Timothy Powel, e. Aug. 9,'G2, missing at Chick-
amauga, sergt.
N. II. Cooper, e. Aug. 9, '62, d. Jan. 8, '63, dis.
A. A. Vermilvea, e. Aug. 11, '62.
R. P. Hoge, e. Aug. 9,'02, d. May 29,'63.
Wm. Cady, e. Aug. 9, '62, m.o. June 6, '65.
C. L. Lymonds, e. Aug. 9, '62, died Tompkins-
ville, Nov. 21, '62.
Privates.
Andrews, B., e. Aug. 11,'62, tr. to I. C. June 30,
'64.
Allen, David, e. Aug. 14,'62, d. Aug. 17,'63.
Burns, F. W., e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6,'65.
Baker, S., e. Aug. 9,'G2, d. Jan. 20,'63, dis.
Blackburn, O. C, e. Aug. 9,'62, d. July29,'63,
dis.
Bane, Jacob, e. Aug. 11, '62, d. April 23,'64, dis.
Bailey, John, e. Aug. 12, '02, m.o. June G,'65.
Bailv, A. J., e. Aug. 12, '62, m.o. June 6, '65.
Beagle, D., e. Aug. 13,'62.
Bane, Henry, e. Aug. 20, '62, rejected.
Cooper, Jolin, e. Aug. 9, '62, m.o. June 6, '65.
Collins, A., e. Aug. !t,'02, d. Nov. 7,'G3, dis.
Coyne, J., e. Aug. 11, '62, abs., sick at m.o. regt.
('ailahan. A., e. Aug. 9,'(i2, m.o. June 6, '65.
Davis, E. M., e. Aug. 11, '62, m.o. June 6,'05.
Douglas, H. C, e. Aug. 12, '02, kid. at Mission
Kidge, Nov. 25, '63.
Everet, Richard, e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6,'65.
Ellenbocker, Nicliolas, e. Aug. 9,'62, died at
Gallatin, June 19,'G3.
Erie, John, e. Aug. 13,'62, died Cowen, Tcnn.,
Aug. 24, '63.
Foster, Samuel, e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6,'65.
Frink,W. E.,e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June0,'05, corpl.
Harkne.ss, P., e. Aug. 9,'02, m.o. June 0,'65.
Lamb, C, e. Aug. 9,'G2, m.o. June 0,'05, sergt.
Larkin John, e. Aug. 9,'62, d. Nov. 16,'03, dis.
l^arkin, Wm., e. Aug. 13, '02. m.o. June G,'6.5.
Miillin, I. B., e. Aug. 9,'02, d. June 1G,G3, dis.
Marlev, J., e. Aug. 9, '02, d. April 22, '04, dis.
McDonald, W. M., e. Aug. 9, '62, d. June 23, '63,
dis.
Mahan, Thos., e. Aug. 9,'62.
Miller, Christian, e. Aug. 9,'62, died Bowling
Green, Nov. 16,'62.
Mallory, E. T., e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6, '65.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
369
Moore, John, e. Aug. 9,'62, died at LouiSA'illc,
Nov. ll,'t;2.
IMoFaddoii, F. D.,e. Aug. 9,'r.2, m.o. JuneC,'f)5.
Malone, S. B., e. Aug. 0,'62.
Marsh, T. H., e. Aug. 11, '62, missing at Chicka-
mauga.
Mallory, M., c. Aug. 12,'C)2, d. May lG,'r)2, di.s.
Mackev, A. \V., e. Aug. 18, '1)2.
Mullins, N. H., e. Aug. '.),'(;2, d. Mar. 10,'o4, dis.
Newton, A. A., e. Aug. U,'()2, died Cincinnati,
Dec 23. '(;2.
Obennan, .1. H. e. Aug. 9,'62, died Loui.s\ille,
Sept. 21, T.;?.
Powell J. ("., e. Aug. 9,'G2, d. Dee. 30,'t)2.
Pouts, Andrew, e. Aug. 9.'62, m.o. .June 6,'G.'>.
Purviance, M., c. Aug. 12, '62, m.o. ,lune 6,'f),5.
Quinn, A. C, e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6,'G5,
Cf)rpl.
Quinlin, J., e. Aug. 12,'62, d. Jan. 30,'63, dis.
llohinson, O. L., e. Aug. 9, '62, m.o. June 6. '6.5.
Kobbins, D. C, e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6, '65.
Rico, Charlos, e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June G,'65.
Read, S., e. Aug. 9,'62.
Shoemaker, N., e. Aug. 9, '62.
Sowman, H. J., e. Aug. 11, '62, m.o. June 6,'65.
Smith, J., e. Aug. 12,'62.
Snyder C'ornelius, e. Aug. 11, '62, m.o. July 16,
'6."i, was pris.
Smock, A., e. Aug. 9,'62, d. June 15,'65, dis.
Purviance, Walker, e. Aug. 12,'62, tr. to I.C.
June 21, 64.
Traver, John, e. Aug. 9,'62, died Columbus, O.,
Dec. 26, '62.
Tliompson, J., e. Aug. 6,'G2, d. Dec. 18,'62, dis.
Taylor, R. W., e. Aug. 9,'62.
Traver, H. V., e. Aug. 9,'62, died Dec. 10,'62,
wnds.
Trask, D. L., e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6,'65.
Traver, J. J., e. Aug. 9, '62, m.o. June 6, '65.
Winans, B., e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 6, '62.
Whitman, Lewis, e. Aug. 9,'G2, died Anderson-
ville prison, Jan. 7, '64.
Williams, J. K., e. Aug. 9,'62, d. Jan. 7,'63.
Winans, Louis, e. Aug. 9,'G2, m.o. June 6,'6r).
Lewis, George, m.o. June 6, '65.
108tli INFANTKY
"Was organized at Camp Peoria, and mustered into the service of the United
States, Auf?. 28tli, 1862. The lirst cotnpany was recruited at Pekin, by Charles
Turner. Oct. Gth, the refi;'t. left Covington, Ky. arriving on the 8th. On the
17th, marched into the interior of the State, following the retreating enemy.
They passed through Falmouth, Cynthiana, Paris and Lexington to Nicholas-
ville, where they went into camp Nov. 1st, and remained until the 14th, when
they started for Louisville, arrived on the 19th, and left the 21st for Memphis,
Tenn., where it went into camp near the city on the 26th. On the 20th of Dec.
they went on hoard the "City of Alton," and proceeded with the expedition,
under Gen. W. T. Sherman against Vicksburg. They ])roceeded down the
river to the mouth of the Yazoo, and up that river to Johnson's Landing, near
Chickasaw Blutt". On the 2i)th they moved upon the enemy, who was found
strongly fortified upon the bluffs. It was here the 108th first met the enemy.
They withdrew from the attack on Vicksl)urg Jan. 1st and returned down
the Yazoo river and up the White river, antl through a cut-off into the
Arkansas, to Arkansas Post, where on the 11th they bore an active part in
that most brilliant and successful engagement. There was 13 wounded. On
the 17th of Jan., 1863, they moved down stream to Young's Point, La., where
they went into camp the 24th.
The long confinement on the transports, and want of pure air and sani-
tary conveniences during this expedition, cost the regiment more lives than
all other causes during its term of service. One officer, Philo. W. Hill, 1st
Lieut. Co. A. and 134 i^rivates died during the months of February and
March, '64.
Colonel.
Charles Turner, e. Aug. 2«.'62, jiro. col. March
13,'63, pro. Brevet Brig. Geu. Mar. 26,'65, m.
o. Aug. 5, '65.
Lieutenant Colonel.
W. R. Lackland, e. Aug. 2S,'62, m. o. Aug. 5,'65.
Hospital Steward.
3. R. Riblet, m. o. Aug. 5,'65.
COMPANY A.
Captain.
John W. Plummer, e. Aug. 28,'62, m.o. Aug.5'65.
First Lieutenant.^.
Philo W. Hill, e. Aug 28,'62, died San. 2C,,'m.
A. C. Beals, e. Aug. 14,'62, m. o. Aug. 5,'65.
Second Lieutenants.
J. S. Boucher, e. Aug. 14,'62, died July 22,'65.
J. W. Nonis, e. Aug. 14,'62,m.o. Aug.5,'65,scrgt.
Sergeants.
P. J. McQueen, e. Aug. 14,'62, died Arkansas P.
Jan. 3, '63.
J. B. Hicks, e. Aug, 14,'62, died Nov. 25,'62.
Martin Broyhill, e. Aug. 14, '62, m. o. Aug.5,'65.
Coi-porals.
L. F. Puffer, e. Aug. 14, '62, d. .Tnly28,'65.
Harrv Allen, e. Aug.l4,'G2,died Cairo Jan.26,'63.
Thos. F. McClure, e..\ng. 14,'62, died Jan.26"63.
R. W. Davidson, e. Aug. 14, '62, m. o. Aug. 5,
'65, private.
F. A. West, e. Aug. 14, '62, m. o. Aug. 5,'65,sergt.
Elmore Brem, e. Aug. 14, '62, died June 25, '63.
Privates.
Ashburn, Jesse, e. Aug. 14,'62, died Young's Pt.
Fe)). 22,'G3.
Ashburn, J. W., e. Atig, 14, '62, died Mar. 25,'63.
Amsburv, Horace, e. Aug. 14, '62, died Lexing-
ton Nov. 4, '62.
Beale, L. E., e. Aug. 14, '62, died Tazewell co.,
■Jan. 1,'64.
370
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Better, Asa, e. Aug. 14,'G2, abs. sick at m. o. of
regt.. corpl.
Bright, Jacob, e. Aug. 14,'62, died Nov. 5,'Gl,
pris. war.
Blazicr, W. S., c. Aug. 14,'G2, died at St. Louis
Feb. 22, '63.
Burns, C. L., e. Aug. 14, 'G2, died Young's Pt.,
Marcli 2, '03.
Broyhill, F. M., c. Aug. 14,'G2, m. o. Aug. .5,'05,
Wagoner.
Cooper, Isaac, e. Aug. 14, 'G2.
Cheshier, Wm., e. Aug. 14,'G2, died Millilien's
B., Mavl»,'G3.
Cornelius. G. IL, Aug. 14,'62.
Cale, John, e. Au^. 14,'G2, tr. V.R.C., Dec. 2G,'63.
Cornelius, J. H., e. Aug. 14, '02, d. May 2G,'G.i.
Davies, McLind, e. Aug. 14, '02, m. o. Aug. .'j.'O.').
Davies, Aaron, e. Aug. 14, '02, tr. I. C. Sep. 1,'()3.
Dressier, Jos., e. Aug. 14 '02, died Feb. l.'),"(')3.
Davidson, M. X., e. Aug. 1 1,'02, m. o. Aug. r),'i)'^.
Davidson, Columbus, e. Aug. 14, '02, m. o. Aug.
5,'6.'i, corpl.
Edworthy, J. B., c. Aug. 14, '02, died Jan. 10,'G3.
Edworthy, J. W., e. Aug. 14, '02, m. o. Aug. .5,'G'i.
Farmer, \V. C, e. Aug. 14, 'G2, abs. .sick at m. o.
of regt.
Folk, Samuel, Aug. 14,'G2, died St. Louis, Feb.
10, '03.
Groundt, G., e. Aug. 14, '02, m. o. Aug. 5,'0.").
Hendcrshot, John, e. Aug.l4,'G2,diod Jan.lG,'G3.
Henderson, Robert, c. Aug. 14, '02, died Young's
Pt., March G,'63.
Hodson, W. R., e. Aug. 14, '02, d. Dec. 20,'G2.
joUy, Daniel, e. Aug. 14, 'G2, abs. sick at ni. o.
of regt.
King, Thomas, e. Aug. 14, '02, died Memphis
May 24, '04.
Kramer, John, e. Aug. 14, '02, died Mempliis
Nov. S,'G3.
McQueen, C. F., e. Aug. 4, '02, died Nov. 7, '02.
Mansion, l)a%'id, e. Aug. 14, '02, died Nov.'27,'02.
McPeak, Leonard, e. Aug. 14, 'G2, died at La-
grange.
Nelson, John, e. Aug. 14,'62, abs. wnd. atm. o.
of regt.
Nelson, Samuel, e. Aug. 14, '02.
Oelschlegel, II, e. Aug. 14,'02, died June 11, '03.
Ogden, Geo., e. Aug. 24, '03.
Pile, Calviu, e. Aug. 14, 'G2, died St. Louis May
1,'63.
Russell, J. M., e. Aug. 14, 'G2, m. o. Aug. 5,'G.5.
Rockhold, John, e. Aug. 14, '()2, m. o. Aug. 5,'G.'i.
Rockhold, W. H., e. Aug. 14, '02, died Memphis
Feb. 27, '03.
Rockard, A. S., e. Aug. 14, '02, tr. to V. R. C.
Sands, Israel, e. Aug. 14, '02, tr. to V. R. C.
Speck, John, e. Aug. 14,'G2, died Lagrange Oct.
28, '03.
Shorts, Thos., e.Aug.l4,'62,m.o.Aug','i,'6.5,corpl.
Sheperd, Peter, e.Aug,14,'02,descr(ed Oct.l5,'0;!.
Sparrow, S. B., e. Aug. 14, '02, died Feb. G,'0,3.
Sherman, Jf)hn, e. Aug. 14, '02, m. o. Aug.."),'G.j.
Smith, John, e. Aug, 14,'02, died Oct. 30,'62.
Shiviler, Frank, Aug. 14, '62.
Stout, S. F., e. Aug. 14, '02, d. June 8, '0.5.
Tuttle, J., e. Aug. 14, '72, m. o. Aug. ."),'6.5, music.
Vincent, Frank., e. Aug. 14, 'G2, m. o. Aug.5,G5.
Vetitras, Louis, e. Aug. 14, '02, tr. to N. R. C.
Williamson, T. H., c. Aug. 14,'G2, d. Dee. 26,'C2,
wnds.
"West, H. F., c. Aug. 14,'62, died Young's Pt.
Fb]). 10, '03.
Williams, W. H., e. Aug. 14,'G2, died St. Louis,
April 10, '03.
Williamson, M. B., e. Aug. 14,'C2, tr. to V. R. C.
Sept. 1,'G3.
William.sou, C, e. Aug. 14,'62, m. o. Aug. 5,'05.
Whittaker, Albert,e.Aug.l4,'G2,died Mar.21,'G3.
Worick, Charles, c. Aug. 14, '02, r.i. o. Aug. 5, '65.
William.sou, T. A., c. Aug. 5,'02, m.O. Vug.5,'05.
Warner, DeWittC, e. Aug. 5,'02, m.o.Ang.5,'65.
Wilson, Silas, e. Aug. 5,'G2, died Benton Bks
uly 31,'63.
Warner, IIir'm,e.Aug.5,'02,m.o.Aug.5,'G5,corx)l.
Zul)er, Elijah, e. Aug. 5,'0.5.
Zimmerman, The., c. Aug. 5,'62, m. o. Aug.5,'65.
Recruits.
Anderson, W. R., c. Feb. 27,'65, died July 26,'65.
Garrett, Henry.
Patten, W. H.", e. Oct 10,'G4, m. o. Oct. 9,'G5.
Pettv, James, e. Sept. •2H,'CA, died April 25,'G5.
Petty, W. B., e. Sept. 2S,'64, abs. wnd. atm. o.
of regt.
Spavdding, Wm., m. o. Aug. 5, '65, as sergt.
Short, PaUerson, e. Sept. 2(),'&i, m. o. Aug. 5,'65.
Stout, Isar.e, e. Sept. 28,'G-l, m. o. Aug. 5,'65.
Slaughter, S. E., e. Sept. 2.s,'64, m. o. Aug. 5,'65.
Sturglss, Geo., e. Sept. 22, '04, m. o. Aug. -5, '65.
Shoi-i, John, died at Young's Pt., La., Jan.2G,'63.
Wa.s'iiburn, Edw., e. Oct. 4, '04, m. o. Aug.5,'65.
Whitaker, DeWitt C.,died at Ark.Post,Jan.9,'03.
Worthinsiton, E., died Millikeu's Bend, March
10, '03.
Warner, Emery, e. Sept. 28,0^1, died Mar. 31,'63.
COMTANY B.
Captains.
Richard B. Howell, e.Aug.28,'62, res.Mar.25, '63.
Wilbur F. Henry, e. Aug. 28, '02, m. o. Aug.5,'65.
First LicvteinmlK.
Garrett G. Ruhaak, e. Aug.28,'62, res.Nov.13,'62.
William Franks, e. Aug. 13,'62, m. o. Aug.5,'6.5.
Second Llmteiiant.
John J. Kellogg, e. Aug. 8, '02, m. o. Aug. 5,'65'
as sergt., wnd.
Scrgmntx.
S. J. Bumstead, e. Aug. 9,'02, pro. As.s. Surgeon
131st 111. Inf.
Benj. Swayze, c. Aug. 0,'02, ra. o. Aug. 5,'65,
com. 2d. lieut, not mustered.
Edward J. Davis, e. Aug.l3,'G2, d. dis. Mar.20,62.
Corporals.
John Ledterman, e. Aug. 11, '62, sergt., pro. 2d
Lieut. 01st. U. S- col. troops.
Harlan Gridley, e. Aug. 8, '02, abs. at m. o. of
regt., reduced to ranks.
Reuben W. Heyers, e. Aug. 8, '02, m. o. July 12,
'05, pris.
Stephen ]?. Sallee, e. Aug. 9,'02, d. dis. Jalv0,'63.
J. W. Timhrell,e.Aug.ll,'02,drowncdSep.ll,'64.
1\[. B. William,?, e. Aug. 0,'02 m. o. Aug. 5,'0.5.
Evereit Young, e. Aug. 11, '02, died Jan. 22, '03.
I. R. Brown, e. Aug. 11, '02, d. dis. April 7,'63.
Mru^icians.
Samuel Rankin, e. Aug. 9, '02, died Pekin Jan.
19, '03.
J. G. Stauffer, e. Aug. 22,'62, d. dis. Feb. 19,'63.
Wagoner.
W. T. :Masters, e. Aug. 9,'62, m. o. Aug. 5, '65.
Privates.
Brown, E. L., e. Aug. 9,'62, died May 18,'63.
Bowers, P. O., e. Aug. 11, '62, died Young's Pt.
July 10,'63.
Bowers, S. K. or R., e. Aug. 11, '62, m. o. Aug.
5, '65, corjil.
Bloom, Wm., e. Aug. 15,'02,m.o. Aug.5,'65, corpl.
Barnes, II. V., e. Aug. 22, '02, m. o. Aug. 5, '05.
Champion, Thos., e. Aug. 11, '02, abs. at m. o. of
regt.
Cockrell, Joseph, e. Aug.11,'62, m.o. Aug.5,'65.
Collins, Gr^•ill, e. Aug. 11, '62, m. o. Aug. 5, '65.
Campman, Saml., e. Aug. 14, '62, m. o. July 2,
'65, pris.
Coggins, H. L., e. Aug. 14,'62, m. o. Aug. 5,'65.
Clark, Leauder, e. Aug. 15, '62, died Jan. 16, '63,
corpl.
HISTORY OF TAZEAVELL COUNTY.
371
Fish, Leander, e. Aug. 22,'62,m.o. Auk.5,'65.
Goodwin, J. A., e. Aug. 11, '62, died Feb. 1,'63.
Goodwin, \V. P., e. Aug. 11, '62, died at Mem-
phis, Jan. 17, '03.
Holsopple, Jacob, e. Aug. 11, '02, m.o.Aug.ri,'f>ri.
Holsopplc, Edw., e. Aug. 11. '02, died Mar. 31, '03.
Heihuan, \Vm., e. Aug. 11, '02, ra. o. Aug. .3,'0.5.
Hcilinan. Geo., e. Aug. 11, '02, died Pekiu Aug.
30, '03.
Howell, J. R., e. Aug. 22,'62, d. dis. Feb. 9,'63.
Hubbard, John, e. Aug. 12,'62, m. o. Aug. .i,"65.
Iwg, Saiiil., e. Aug. 11, "02, m.o. Aug. 5, '0.5.
Jones, John, e. Aug. 11, '62, died rebel pris. Oct.
25,'64.
Jones, J. C, e. Aug. 11, '62, died Memphis May
3,'04.
Kohler, Henry, c. Aug. 11, '62, m. o. Aug. 5, '6.5.
Kress, Christo'phcr, e. Aug. 9,'62, died Young's
Pt. Feb. 14, '63.
Kress, John, e. Aug. 9,'62, died Young's Pt. Feb.
4, '0.3.
Lederman, H.,e. Aug.ll,'02, kid. Tusselo. Miss.,
July 14, '64.
McBride, Thos., e. Aug. 9, '62, m. o. Aug. 5,'0.5
corpl.
McGinnis, G. W., Aug. 21, '62, m. o. Aug. 5,'6.5.
Musselman, Louis B., e. Aug. 8, '62, m. o. Aug.
.5, '65. sergt.
Ncavar, Juo., e. Aug. 15,'62, died Jan. 21, '63.
Neavar, Jacob, e. Aug.l3,'02,m.o.Aug.3,'65,pris.
Perkin, I.saac, e. Aug. 13, '02.
Potter, Thos., e. Aug. 13,'62, tr. I.C. Sept. 1,'03.
Perdue, W. F., e. Aug. 22,'02, m. o. Aug. 5,'05.
Raush, John, e. Aug. S,'02, died May 16,'63.
Raush, .Saml., e. Aug. 8,'02, died Jan. 25,'6.3.
Rich, \V. H., e. Aug. 11, '62. died May ",'63.
Riush, G. A., e. Aug. 11, '62, died Miir. 12,'63.
Riblet, J. R., e. Aug. 9,'62, i>ro. hospital steward.
Stewart, T. B.. e. Aug. 8,'62, died Keokuk Jan.
7, '63.
Stewart, D. M., e. Aug. 15,'62, died Young's Pt.,
Feb. 1.'63.
Sanders, Henrv, e. Aug.9,'62.
Sallee, J. J., e." Aug. 11, '02, d. dis. March 8,'63.
Stetler, Isaac, e. Aug. 11, '02, m. o. Aug. .5,'65.
Sipe, W. H., e. Aug. 13,'02, m.o. Aug. 5,'65, sergt.
Strickfadden, Wm., e. Aug. 15,'62, m.o. Aug. 5,
'05, corjil.
Shclton, Jos., e. Aug. 15, '62, died Memphis,
Aug. 4, 63.
Sloat, C. T., e. Aug. 15, '62, m. o. Aug. 5, '6.5.
Tobey, H. S., c. Aug. 12,'02. d. dis. Aug. 13,'6.3.
Tew, Vitruvius, c. Aug. 22, tr. Aug. 1,'63.
Turner, J. G., e. Aug. 2. '02, died March 25,'03.
Wcstcrnian, C. S., e. Aug. 12,'n2, m. o. .\ug.5,'05.
Wehrle, F. W. c. Aug. 12,'02, tr. to I.C. Sept.l,'(i3.
Wilcox, Levi, c. Aug. 11. '02.
Webb, J. W., e. Aug. 12,'02, m.o. Aug. 5,'65,sergt.
Eecruits.
Bengal, Adam.
Charles, J. H.
Castle, J. H.
Colburn, Wm., e. Sept. 17,'64, diedin Alabama,
March 25, '65.
Cottrell, Geo., Sept. 20,'64, m. o. Aug. 5,'65.
Daman, J. W., m. o. Aug. 5,'05.
Daman, J. H. m. o. Aug. 5, '65.
Draper, J. W., e. Oct. 4,'frl, m. o. Aug. 5,'65.
Dunnigan, Alpheus.
Hoff, Bornett, e. Oct. 1,'64, m. o. Aug. 5,'65
Kellogg, H. C.
McGrew, H. J. tr. toV.R.C.
McQualitj-. Robt., e. Aug. 1,'M, m. o. Aug. 5, '65
Trumbull, J. H.
Wicks, Michael, e. Sept. 20,'64, m. o. Aug. 5,'65
Watson, Wm.,kld at Guntown,Mis.s,June 10,'04.
COMPANY C.
Hecruits.
Cook, Wm., e. Sept. 24,'64, m. o. Aug. 5, '63
McFadin. Wm., e. Sept. 24, '64, m. o. Aug. 5, '65.
24
Morganstein,Lewis,e.Sept.20,'64, m.o.Aug.5,'65.
Ross, John, e. Sepl. 27,'64, m. o. Aug. 5,'6.5,
Helsh, John.
McGrath, Wm., e. Sept. 24,'64, m. o. Aug. 5,'65.
COMPANY D.
Privates.
Buchanan, J. 11., e. Aug. .35,'62.
Bullock, Thos., e. Aug. 15,'62. pro. reg. O. M.
Brtines, John, e. .\ug. 11. '62.
Hailman, D. E. V., e. Aug. 15, '62.
Piffin, Sept. 10, '02, d. Nov. 7, '63.
JiecruiU.
Bellair, Peter, e. Sept. 24, '64, m. o. Aug. 5,'65.
Lombard, Augu.stus, .Sept. 24, '04, m.o. Aug,5,'65.
McGin, John, e. Sept. 20, '04. m. o. Aug. .5, '65.
Wood, James, e. Sept. 20. '64, m. o. Aug. 5.'65.
COMPANY E.
Hccmits.
Graves, I. H., Sept. 23,'64, m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
Honner, Landon.
Metz, F.. e. Sept. 20, '64, m.o. Aug. 5, '6.5.
Souday, E., e. Sept. 20,'64. m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
COMPANY F.
Hecruits.
Brtily, .S. P., c. .Sept. 27,'61, m.o. Aug. .5,'0,5.
Grubb, C. D., e. Sept. 27,'64, m.o. Aug. 5,'6.5.
Gaston, Cha.s., e. Sept. 27,'64, m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
Penfield, H. W., e. Sept. 28,'64, m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
COMPANY G.
Privates.
Brad.shaw, J., c. Aug. 15,'62, m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
Brad.shaw, Wm., e. Aug. 15,'62, m.o. Aug. .5,'65,
corpl.
Brown, R. E., e. Aug. 15,'62, died Feb. 12,'63.
Brown. John, e. Aug. ]5,'02.
Cadwell, W. R., e. Aug. 15,'02, m.o. Aug. 5,'6o.
Larimorc, J., e. Aug. 14, '62, m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
Lewis, B., e. Aug. 15, '62, m.o. Aug. 5, '6.5.
Hartly, J. J., e. Aug. 1.5,'62, m.o. Aug. 5,'65,
sergt.
Mitchell, L., e. Aug. 15,'62, died Andersonville.
Mooberry, S. R., e. Aug. 15, '62, m.o. Aug. 5, '65.
Mooberry, Wm., e. Aug. 15,'62, died St. Louis.
Reeder, (;. B., e. Aug. 15, '62, m.o. Aug. 5,65.
Sharp, A. T., e. Aug. 15,'62, m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
.Simms, A. S., e. Aug. 15,'62, died Young's Pt.
Uable, (;. W., e. Aug. 15,'62, m.o. Aug. 5, '05.
Watts, Bobt., e. Aug. 15, '02, m.o. Aug. 5,'6.5.
Recruits.
Garbcr, Noah, e. Oct. 1,'04. m.o. Aug. 5, '65.
Kinsinger, J., e. Oct. 5,'0-}, m.o. Oct. 4, '65.
Smith, Christian, e. Oct. 1,'64, m.o. Aug. 5,'6,5.
Twiggs, J. L., e. Oct. 1,'64, m.o. Aug. 5, '.55. corpl.
Wilber, E., e. Sept. 28,'64, m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
Lahargonette, P., e. Mar. 1,'6.5.
CO^IPANY H.
Second Lieutenants.
Michael Glasheen, m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
Sergeant.
Simon P. Hite, e. Aug. 12,'62, d. Feb. 6, '65, dis.
Corporals.
J. B. Kelley, e. Aug. 12,'62.
James M. Erwin, e. Aug. 12,'62, kid Ft. Spanish,
Mar. 28, '65.
Privaies.
Burues, Hugh, e. Aug. 12,'62, d. Nov. 6,'(>1.
Laiiig, I. B., c. Aug. 12,'62.
McManis, P., e. Aug. 12,'62.
372
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Rvan, Thos., e. Ans. 12, '02, m.o. AiiR. 5.'Gr).
Sliav, Michael, e. Aur. 12,'(;2, dii'd Julv 10,'(i:!.
Shouj), Fraiikliu, c. Aug. 12, '02, tr. to V. K. (-!.,
Sept. 1S.'64.
Spoek, Win., e. Aug. 12,62, abs., sick at m.o. of
rep;t.
Teift, H. M., c. Aug. 12, '62, died Young's Pt.,
Feb. 11, '63.
Recruits.
Anno, A. N., c. Sept. 27,'64, m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
Avery, A. M., e. Sept. 27,'64, abs., sick at m.o.
of regt.
Botztield, Benj., e. Sept. 24,'64, m.o. Aug. 5/65.
Fisher, J. A., e. Sep. 23,'64, d. May 5,'65.
COMPANY I.
Privates.
Droyers, Dennis, e. Aug. 14, '62. d. Aj)ril 20, '04.
Ennis, John, e. Aug. 11, '62.
Hamilton, Daniel, e. Aug. 15,'62.
Young, Peter, e. Sept. 18,'62.
Recruits. \
Baker, John S., e. Sept. 23,'64, m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
Bloom, Samuel, e. Sept. 23, '04, m.o. Aug. 5, '65.
Kipcha, Jona., e. Sept. 20,'64, m.o. Aug. 5, '65.
Wertz or Metz, Levi, e. Sept. 20, '64, m.o. Aug.
5, '65.
COHTPANY K.
Second Lieutenants.
Philander E. Davis, e. Aug. 28, '62, d. Mar. 28, '63.
J. M. Bruchher, e. Aug. 14, '62, m.o. Aug. 5, '65.
First Sergeant.
Henry C. Kellogg, e. Aug. 9,'G2, died April 24,
'63.
Sergeants.
Amos Seeley, e. Aug. 5,'62. m.o. Julv 27,'05.
David Stimmel, e. Aug. 5,'62, died Jan. 20,'63.
Corporals.
Alphius Donigan, e. Aug. 13, '62, died Young's
Pt., Feb. 8,'63.
J. H. Trumbull, e. Aug. 15,'62, tr. to I. C, Jan.
20, '64.
H. T. McGrew, e. Aug. 12, '62, tr. to. V. R. C.
Wagoner.
John Sunderland, e. Aug. 12"C2, d. Jan. 14,'63,
reason, family affliction.
Privates.
Cornelius, Levi, e. Aug. 14,'62, m.o. Aug. 5, '62.
Cornelius, Henry, e. Aug. 14, '62.
Castle, J. H., e. Aug, 13, '62, died St. Louis, Jan.
1,'64.
Charles, J. H., e. Aug. 15,'62, d. May 5,'63, dis.
Carett, H. E., e. Aug. 14,'62. m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
Enslow, Worthington, e. Aug. 14, '62, died at
Miliken's Beud, Mar. 10,'63.
Eads, Henry, e. Aug. 12,62, died at St. Louis
Jan. 30, '63.
Fliagle, Robt., e. Aug. 14,'02, m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
Flennakin, G., e. Aug. 24, '62, m.o. Aug, 5,'65.
Heenan, M., e. Aug. 28, '62. m.o. Aug. 5, '65.
Kahili, John, e. Aug. 22,'G2.
O'Larv, Arthur, e. Aug. 2S,'62, died in Ander-
Ronville pris., Sept. 2<S,'04, No: grave 10,042.
Olslagle, Chas., e. Aug. 14, '62, m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
Pavno, A., e. Aug. 14, '62, m.o. Aug. 5,65.
Poinfrctt, M. E., e. Aug. 14,'62, d. Sept. 24,'64,
dis.
Rose, Hilburt, e. Aug. 28,'62, died at Y'oung's
Pt., Jan. 24,'03.
Spaulding, William, e. Aug. 14,'62, m.o. Aug.
5,'(;5, as sergt.
Stout, T. F.. e. Aug. 14,'62, m.o. July 22,'65, as
pris.
Sniflin, John, e. Aug. 14,'62, kid. at Guntown,
Miss., Jan. 10,'64.
Stout, William, e. Aug. 2S,'62.
Taylor, V. W., e. Aug. 28,'62, d. Dec. 24,'63, dis.
Turner, G. R., e. Aug. 12,'62, d. Jan. 6,'62, dis.
Whitaker, S. M., e. Aug. 44,'62, m.o. Aug. 5,'65,
corpl.
Winn, F. M., e. Aug. 14,'62, abs., sick, supposed
Walker, S. W., e. Aug. 11, '62.
Young, Homer, e. Aug. 11,'62, m.o. July 27, '65,
as 1st sergt.
Recruits.
Bowers, D. C, e. Dec. 24.'63, d. Jan. 25,'65, dis.
Davis, A. E., e. Sept. 28,'64, m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
Navin, Edward, e. Oct. 3,'64, m.o. Oct. 2,'65.
Robertson Jas., e. Sept. 29,'04, m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
Scott, John F., e. Sept. 28,'64, m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
Weeks, A. F., e. Sept. 28,'64, m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
Wilcox, John, Sept. 23,'64, m.o. Aug. 5,'65.
Welsh, John, Sept. 24,'63.
Unassigned Recruits.
Berrv, Emanual, e. Oct. 3, '04.
Buckstone, P., e. Feb. 16,'65, m.o. Feb. 14,'66.
Carroll, John, e. Sept. 20,'64.
Campbell, M. A., e. Sept. 27,'64, m.o. Julyl,'65.
Charles, John, e. Sept. 24. '64.
Chamberlain, G. G., e. Oct. 3, 64.
Oral, James, e. Oct. 1,'04.
Davidson, Conoralzv, e. Oct. 3, '64.
Duffv, John, e. Sept. 22,'64.
Dav, John, e. Sept. 22,'64.
Gilljert, William, e. Sept. 22,'64.
Hoffage, Burnett, e.
Kellv, James F., e. Sept. 27,'64.
Miller, Thos., e. Oct. 3,'64.
McKnight, Edward, e. Sept. 22,'64.
Nash, (ieorge, e. Oct. 3, '64.
Reese, William, e. Sept. 23, '64.
Sherman, Frank, c. Sept. 20,'64.
Stack, Abraham, e. Oct. 3, '64.
Smith, William B., e. Sept. 22,'64.
Willis, Henry R., e. Sept. 2S,'64.
Willson, David, c. Sept. 23,'64.
Wagoner, Cornelius, e. Oct. 3,'64.
Weils, John, e. Sept. 22,'04.
Yf)ung, George, Sept. 23, '64.
115tli INFANTRY,
Left Camp Butler Oct. 4th, 1862, for Kentucky. After visitinfr Falmouth,
Cynthiana, Paris, Lexiufiton, Richmond, Danville and Louisville, Feb. 1st, '63,
proceeded to Nashville, Tenn. March 1st moved to Franklin. By reason of
exposure on marches and scouting expeditions during the severe winter of '62
and '63, it lost about 200 men. In March it engaged VanDorn, and drove him
across Duck river. Sept. 19 engaged the enemy on the field of Chickamauga,
Participated in all the engagements around Chattanooga and Mission Ridge.
It lost in the fall campaign of '63, 235 men and 10 officers. It led the charge on
Tunnel Hill, Ga., May 7th, May 15th and 16th engaged in battle of Resaca,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
373
Ga. Lost during the Atlanta campaign 100 men. Returned to Tennessee with
Gen. Thomas, and was active in the destruction of Bragg's old veteran army
under Gen. Hood. It received final discharge at Camp Butler, June 23d, '65.
C03IP.1IO: H.
Captains.
Henry Pratt, e. Sept. 1.3,'r.2, res. April 16,T>3.
John Keardun, e. Sept. 13,'63, m. o. Junell,'65.
First Lieutenant.
Silas Parker, e. Sept. 13,'f)2, res. Mareh 1l','63.
Jos. J. Slaugtiter, e. Aug. 9,'C2, m. o. June 11, '65.
Second Lieutenant.
S. K. Hatfield, c. Aug. 8,'<r_>, m. o. June 11, '05.
First Sergeants.
P. H. Herrott, e, Aug. 11, '02, m.o. June 11, '(5.5.
David Poter, e. Aug. 11, '02, d. Dee. 14,'63, for
pro. as 1st lleut. 15th U. S. C. T.
Sergeants.
Jame.s T. McDowell, e. Aug. 9,'62, kid. Dalton,
Ga., Feb. 25, 'W.
Theodore Van Hayne, e. Aug. 11, '02, ni.o. June
11, '65.
Corporal'!.
■William Fleming, e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 11,
'05. private.
Burnhani Vinpent,e.Aug.ll,'62, m.o.May 20,'65.
Rosewell WiUox, e. Aug. 12, '02, sergt., d. for
pro. as Isl lieut. 44th U.S.C.T.
Henry R. Gale, e. Aug. 11, '62, m.o. June 11, '05,
sergt.
Da\-id A. Johnson, e..\ug.ll,'02,m.o. Junell.'05.
Wm.Gleason,e.Aug.l3,'(i2,m.o. Juneir05,sergt.
Percival Place, e. Aug. 9,'62, d. dis. May 14, '02.
Musicians.
Elias O. Jones, e. Aug. 14,'62, d. dis. Dec. 24, '02.
Wm. T. Bacon, e. Aug. 9, '62, died Franklin,
Tenn., April 14, '63.
Wagojier.
Reulien Weller, e. Aug. 13,'62, d.dis. Mar.3,'C3.
Privates.
Arnold, G. H., e. Aug. 9,'62, died Lexington,
March 7, '63.
Akin, James, c. Aug. 13,'62, d. dis. Sept. 11, '03.
Albright, Wm., e. Aug. 19,'02, d. dis. Dec. 15,'03.
Albro, J. H., e. Aug. 9, '02, m. o. June 11, '05.
Bird, P. II., e. Aug. 9,'62,tr. toeng. c. .Vug.24,'i>4.
Briggs, E. M., c. Aug. 11, '62, tr. to V.R.C. May
1(),'64.
Branson, Caleb, o. Aug. 13,'62, m.o. Mav 20,'65.
Brighton, I. N., e. Aug. 12,'62, died Niishville,
May 31, '04, wnds.
C'reager, Chri.s., c. Aug. 14, '62, m. o. June 11, '05.
Carrol, J. J., e. Aug, 13,'62, died .A.ndersonville
pris. April 25,'64, No. of grave 600.
Fisher, J. L., e. Aug.l9,'62.ra.o.June n.'65,cori>I.
(Joodale, Simon, e. Aug. i:!,'62, d.dis. April :{,'{i3.
Hiscox, Edwin, JulyU2,'02. m.o. June 11. '0.".
John.son, Ja.s., e. Julv 9, '62, died at Nashville,
Tenn., March 9, '03.
Johnson, Ijcwis, e. July 9,'62, m.o. June 11, '65.
Jones, W. T., e. July 9, '62, died at TuUahoma,
Tenn. Aug. 2:5, '6.3.
Jones, J. Y.. e. July 9,'62, kid. at Danville, Kv.,
Feb. 9, '63.
Keller, G. J., e. July 11, '02, m. o. June 11, '0.5.
Lamm, S. L.,e.July il,'62,m.o.June ll,'65,corpl.
Lea.ser, Geo. N., e. July 12, '02, abs. sick at m. o.
Mell, Geo., e. Aug. 9,'62, m. o. June 11, '("15.
Myers, F. H..e. Aug. 9,'62, kid. Chickamauga,
Sept. 26, '63.
Olson. Swan, e. Aug. 11, '62, m.o. June 11, '65,
was pris.
Patterson, L. m., e. Aug. 9,'62, m. o. .Tune 11, '65.
Patten, Z. C, e. Aug. 9,'02, corpL, d. April 5,'65,
to accept 2d lieut. in 149th N. Y. Infantry.
Plackett. J. !^.,e. Aug. 9,'62, m.o. June 11, '6.5.
Poling, Philip, e. Aug. 13, '62. m.o. June 11, '65.
Robin.son, E. E., e. Aug. 9, '02, wnd. and missing
at Chicaniauga, Sept. 30, '03.
Ritchie, Jacob, e. Aug. 11, '02, d. dis. Dec. 1.3,'62.
Riithl)un, Elias, e. Aug. 11, '62, m. o. June 1,'6.5.
Sunderland, Samuel, e. Aug. 11, '62, m.o. June
11, '05, wnd.
Thomi>son, L. D., e. Aug. 9.'62, died March, '63.
Popping, Albert, e. Aug. 14,'62, tr. to eng. c.
July27,'M.
Van Nest, II. D., e. Aug. 9,'62. d. dis. Mav6,'63.
Waldron, John, e.Aug. 9,'62, wnd. and mi.s,sing
at Chickamauga, Sept. 20, '03.
Will. John, e. Aug. 11. '02, m. o. June 11, '05.
Work. Wm., e. Aug. 9,'02. corpl., accidenUlly
kid. at (ireenwood Mills, (ia., Julv 29, '64.
Work, Edw., e. Aug. 9,'02, d. dis. April 3,'e3.
Wat.son, J. W., e. Aug. 13,'02, m. o. June 11, '65.
Watson, T. J., e. Aug. 13,'62, d. Oct. 7,'64, wnds.
White, J. P., e. Aug. 14,'62, corpl., died at Chat-
tanooga. Oct. 30, '63, wnds.
Zumwalt, Wm., e. Aug. 9,'62, died at Richmond,
Ky., Jan. 10, '63.
Kecruits.
Brighton, J. v., e. Dec. 1,'63, m. o. Dec. 16,'65,
corpl.
Lamm, J. W., e. Sept. 30,'64, m. o. June 11, '65.
Plackett, A. K., e. Feb. 13,'64, m. o. Dec. 16,'6.5.
Zumwalt, John, e. April 3, '63, dis.
H7tli IXFANTKY.
Lieutenant Colonel.
Jona. Merriam, e. Sept. 19, '62, m. o. Aug. 5,'65.
COMPANY A.
First Lieutenant.
Benjamin R. Hieronymus, e. Aug. 7,'62, m.o.
Aug. 5, '65.
Privates.
Dempsey, Da\'id, e. Aug. 7, '62, m.o. June 22, '65.
Hieronymus, T. H., e. Aug. 7. '02, m.o. Aug.5,'G5.
Mason, Trueman, e. Aug.7,'02, m.o. June 22,'65.
McTerniii, John, e. .\ug. 7, '02, d. dis. Mar.19,'63.
Philip Buchcr, e. '02, in n7th Inf.. co. B., died
at Memphis, Tenn., of chronic diarrheii,
July,'64.
139tli INFA]>fTRY.
First Assistant Surgeon.
.Vllen M. Pierce, e. June 1,'64, m. o. Oct. 28,'6'1.
COMPANY C.
Captain.
Dietrich C. Smith, e. June 1,'64, m.o. Oct.28,'64.
First Lieutenant.
Elijah W.Dickin.son.e. June 1, '64, m.o.Oct.2.S, '64.
Second Lieutenant.
Benj. F. Burnett, e. June 1,'64, m.o. Oct. 28.'&1.
Sergeants.
Edward A. Hall, e. May 1,'64, m.o. Oct. •28,'64.
Henry A, Tomm, e. May 10,'&4, m.o. Gct.28,'64.
374
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
Wm. Morchcafl, o. Mav 14, '&l, m.o. Oct. 2S,'(J4.
Wm. H. Mars, c. May 4, '64, m.o. Oct. 2S,'G4.
Corporals.
Charles Tuesburv, e. May4,'fi4. m.o. Oct. 2S,'64.
Henrv ■WaReiiscliur, e. May 2,'f>4, m.o.Oct.'J.s,'tU.
Frank Kilpatrick, e. Mav 1,'G4, in.o. Oct. i!8,'64.
Wm. H. Laing, e. May 4,'(>4, m.o. Oct. 28,'64.
Musician.
Wm. H. Clauser, e. May 2.5,'64, m.o. Oct. 2.s,'Cil.
Wagoner.
Lemuel Role, e. May 14,'64, m.o. Oct. 2S,'64.
Privates.
Arae.s, John, e. May 4,'f>4, m.o. Oct. 28,'64.
Angler, Dwight, e. Mav4,'r)4, m.o. Oct. 2S,'f]4.
Allen, Jesse, e. Mav 14,'64, m.o. Oct. 28,'(>4.
Bartlev, Wm., e. May 4,'C4, died Ang. 22, '&4.
Burkv, John, e. May4,'64, m.o. Oct. 28,'G4.
Cufaude, Hugh, e. May 17,'64, m.o. Oct. 28,'64.
Coal, Wm. A., e. May 2.5, '64, m.o. Oct. 28, '64.
Casev. Wm. C, e. Mav26,'64, m.o. Oct. 28,'64.
Ehlen, Hermon, e. May 2.5,'64, m.o. Oct. 28,'64.
Hall, George, e. May 12,'64, m.o. Oct. 28,'64.
Hiffen, Albert, e. May 5,'64, m.o. Oct. 28,'fi4.
Hampton, Augustus, e.May 7,'04,m.o.Oct.2.s,'64.
Hooten. John, e. Mav 14,'&4, m.o. Oet. 28, '64.
Koch, Henrv L., e. May 7,'64, m.o. Oct. 28,'64.
Kruze, Johii, e. mav 2,'64, m.o. Oct. 28,'64.
Kepler, Jos., e. Mav 2.5,'64, m. o. Oct. 2S,'64.
Mowery, Daniel, e. May .5,'64, m.o. Oct. 28,'64.
McGrew, Nathaniel, e.Mav.5,'64, m.o. Oct.28,'t'>4.
Mark, Wm. W., e. May I.'IU, m.o. Oct. 28,'64.
Merithew, Fred., e. Mav 14, '64, m.o. Oct. 28,'W.
McCov, Wm. M., May 19,'64, m.o. Oct. 2S,'61.
Parr, Daniel, e. Mav 9,'64, m.o. Oct. 15,'64.
PleiflFer, John, e. May 14,'64, m.o. Oct. 28,'64.
Rosentreter, F. L., e. Mav7,'61, m.o. Get. 2R,'64.
Kobbins, C. L., e. Mav .5,'64, m.o. Oct. 28,'tVt.
Shaw, Henrv, e. May n,'M. m.o. Oct. 28,'tU.
Sipes, Ira, e. Mav .5,'fVJ, m.o. Oc't. 28,'64.
Speaker, Camp, e. May .5,'64, m.o. Oct. 28,'64.
Stewart, Henrv, e. May 4, '04, m.o. Oct. 28,'fi4.
Sting, Henrv, e. Mav 14,'61, m. o. Oct. 28,'64.
T(eTinigs, Henrv, e. Mav 23,'C4, m.o. Oct. 28,'64.
Van Buren, Edward, May .5,'64, m.o. Ocf28,'54.
Watts, Edward, e. Mav 4,'64, m.o. Oct. 27,'64.
Watson, John, e. Mav 5,'64, m.o. Oct. 28,'64.
Winslow, Chas. A., e. Mav20,'64, m.o. Oct.28,'64.
York, Henry, e. May 2, '64, m.o. Oct. 28,'C4.
COMPA>"Y F.
Baldwin, Henry N.,e. Mry 12,'64,m.o. Oct.2S,'64.
Hanson, Abel, e. May 24,'64, m.o. Oct. 28,'64.
145tli INFANTRY.
COlVrPANY D,
Sergeant.
James Flanniken, e. May2,'64, m.o. Sept. 23,'64.
Corporal.
Henry Wasborn, e. May 2'64, m.o. Sept. 2.3,'64.
Privates.
e. May 2, '64, pro. hos. steward.
Burk, BartlettJ.,
Burk, John L., e.
Bates, Wm. H., e
Hannig, John, e.
Mason, John G.,
R(rlof.son, Wm. .1
Sparrow, Yock, e
Thomas, Henrv,
Trout, Alex. W.
May 2,'64, m.o. Sept. 23,'04.
. Mav 2,'64, m.o. Sept. 23,'64.
Mav 2,'64, m.o. Sept. 2.3,'64.
e. Mav 2,'64. m.o. Sept. 23,'64.
., e. May 2,'64, m.o. Sept. 2.3,'64.
Mav 2','64, m.o. Sept. 23, '64.
e. Mav 2,'r>4, m.o Sept. 23,'64.
e May- 2,"64, m. o. Sept. 23,'64
146tli INFANTRY
Was organized at Camp Butler Sept, ISth, 1864, for one year. Companies B
and C were ordered to Arighton, III, Companies D and H toQuincy, and Com-
pany F to Jacksonville, and were a.ssigned to duty guarding drafted men and
substitutes. The remaining companies were assigned to similar duty at Camp
Butler. July 5th, 1865, it was mustered out of service.
CO]>IPANY I.
Captain.
Geo. W. Baker, e. Sept. 19,'64, m.o. July 8,'6.5.
First Sergeant.
James Bliss, e. Sept. 12,'64, d. June 14,'65.
Private.
Laing, Thomas, e. Sept. 3,'64, m.o. July 8,'6o.
COMPANY K.
Captains.
E. L. Williams, e. Sept. 21, '6-4, m.o. July8,'6.5
Sergeant.
Lewis G. Smith, e. Sept. 17,'()4, m.o. July S,'6.5.
Corporal'^.
J. M. Carmichael, e. Sept. 17, '64, m.o. July 8,'6.5
C. W. Tooker, e. Sept. 17.'64, m.o. July 8,'6.i.
W. E. ("niton, e. Sept. 17. '64. m.o. July 8,'6.3.
Wm. (Jolgau, e. Sept. 17,'64, m^o. July 8,'6.5.
ihmcian.'i.
Chas. W. Lee, e. Sept. 17, '64, m.o. July S.'O.'S. ^
. C. W. Seiwell. e. Sept. 17,'64, m.o. July 8,'65.
Wagoner.
Andrew Kirk, e. Sept. 17,'64, m.o, July 8,'65.
Athens, Geo. W., e. Sept. 17,'64, m.o. July 8,'6.5.
Butts, ,Ias. P., e. Sept. 17,'C>4, m.o. July 8,'6.5.
Cook, Wm., e. Sept. 17,'64, m.o. July S,'6.').
Cavin, Thos. E., e. Sept. 17, '(U, m.o. July 8,'6o.
Doll, F. A., e. Sept. 17,'64, m.o. July 8,'6.5.
Evans, Tavlor, e. .Sept. 17, 'tU, m.o. July 8,'6.5.
Fitzpatrick, H., e. Sept. 17,'64, m.o. July 8, '6.5.
Fellows, Hart, e. Sept. 17,'64, m.o. July 8,'65.
Hatcher, H. C, e. Sept. 17.'64, m.o. July 8, '6.5.
Jordon, John, e. Sept. 17, '(U, m.o. July 8,'6.).
Kubbacher, P., e. Sept. 17,'64, m.o. July8,'0.5.
Lohnes, John, e. Sept. 17, '64, m.o. July 8,'65.
Lvle, John H., e. Sept. 17,'6S, m.o. July 8,'6o.
Lockwood, J. I*:., e. Sept. 17,'f>4, m.o. July 8,'65.
Lotz, L. C, e. Sept. 17, 'W, pro. hos. steward.
Levans, John, e. Sept. 17, '64.
McCnlloch. C. H., e. Sept. 13.'64, m.o. July 8,'65.
Madden, M. H., e. Sept. 17,'64, m.o. July 8,'65.
Popkins, John, e. Sept. 17,'64, m.o. July8,'65.
Quiglev, Thos., e. Sept. 17, '64.
Raus, Jacob, e. Sept. 17,'64, m.o. July 8,'65.
Rapp, Jacob, e. Sept. 17,'74, m.o. July S,'6o.
Schoolev, P. H., e. Sept. 17,'64, m.o. July 8,'6.-),
Summers, J., e. Sept. 16,'64, m.o. July 8,'65.
Shannon, E., e. Sept. 17,'(V1, m.o. July 8,'65.
Spillman, Fred, c. Sept. 17,'&1, m.o. July 8, 65.
Sandu.-^kv J. C, e. Sept. 17.'64, d. May2^'6o,
Smith, E. P., e. Sept. 17,'64, m.o. July 8,'6o.
Trost, Peter, e. Sept. 17, '64, m.o. July 8, '6.3.
Troger, H., e, Sept. 17,'64, m.o. July 8,'6.3.
Voglesang, F., e. Sept. 17,'64, m.o. July 8,'fo.
Vories, Wm. L., e. Sept. 17, '64, m.o. July 8, bo.
Waldick, Wm., e. Sept. 17,'64, d. June 5,'6o.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
375
148tli INFANTRY
"Was organized at Camp Butler Feb. 21st, 1865, for the term of one year. Feb.
22d proceeded to Nashville, Tenn. Mach 1st moved to Tullahoma. ' June 18th
five companies were ordered to Deckerd, one company was stationed at Mc-
Minnville, and the other four companies were engaged' in guarding the Nash-
ville and Chattanooga Railroad fromLombardy to Anderson Station. Arrived
at Springfield Sept. 9th, 1865, where it received its final discharge.
COMPANY C.
Captain.
Beuj. F. Burnett, e. Feb. 10,'65, m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
First Sergeant.
Abel. B. IJarron, e. Feb. 8,'G5, m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
Sergeants.
Constantine Aberle, e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Sept. 5,
'65.
Geo. W. Jones, e. Feb. 8, '65. m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
M. R. Barron, e. Feb. 8,'6o, m.o. Sei)t. 5,'65.
J. F. Haines, e. Feb. S,'65, m.o. June 19, '65.
Corporals.
Wm. Booth, e. Feb. S,'C5. m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
C. W. Clark, e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Sept. 5,'6.5.
H. A. Miller, e. Feb. 8, '65, m.o. Sept. 5,'G5.
Wm. A. Barker, e. Feb. 8,'&'>, m.o. Sept. 5,'05.
D, Griflfey, e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Aug. 25,'6.5.
Musicians.
John F. Black, e. Feb. 8,'66, m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
M. M. Leach, e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
Wagoner.
Henry Bloom, e. Feb. 8, '65, m.o. Sept. 5, '65.
Privates.
Aplegate, E., e. Feb. 8,'6.5, m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
Bahrens, J. H., e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
Blair, W. S., e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Sept. 5.'66.
Bloom, J. W., e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
Bolinder, Wm.. e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
Bradv, Peter, e. Fel). 8, '65.
Bequeath, N., e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
Barkmier Henrv, e. Feb. 8,'65.
Conley, David, "e. Feb. 8,'6.5, m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
Dcvinney, W. R., e. Feb. 8,65, m.o. Sept. 5,'63.
DeLacy, J. A., e. Feb. 8,'65. m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
Dwyer. Wm. E., e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Sept. 5.'65.
Hdvn. Jacob H., e. Feb. 8, '65, m.o. Sept. 5,'55.
Fi.sher, Jerome, e. Feb. .s,'65. m.o. Sept. 5, '65.
Gallin, Edward, e. Feb. 8. '65, m.o. Sept. 6, '65.
(iriescr, Albert, e. Feb. is, '65, m.o. Sept. 5. '65.
Garrett Henry, e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Sept. 5,'6e.
Ghuse, Samuel, e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Sept. 6,'65.
Hayes, John, e. Feb. 8,'65.
Hafdv, W., e. Feb. 8,'6.5, m.o. Sept. 5,'G5.
Hall. Lewis, e. Feb. 9,'65.
Kuhn, Luppe, e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. June 19,'65.
Koozer, Tho.s.. e. Feb. 8,'65, died Mar. 29,'65.
Kcefer, David, e. Feb. 8, '65, m.o. .Sept. 6,'65.
Mc(Jrew, N. C, e. Feb. 8'65, m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
Musselman, Wm. H., e. Feb. 8, '65, m.o. Aug.
2.5, '65.
Miller, Francis, e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
Percey, John, e. Feb. 8, '65, m.o. Sept. 5, '6.5.
Steinman, P., e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Sept. 5, '65.
Sipes, Ira, e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
Williams, W. H., e. Feb. 8, '65, m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
Walker, R. C, e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Sept. 5,'64.
Wovtsbenjer, K., e. Feb. 8, '65, m.o. Sept. 5,'65.
Wyatt, Wm. T., e. Feb. 8.'65, m.o. Sept. 5,'S5.
Garritt, John, e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Sept. 5,'66.
152d INFANTRY
Was organized at Camp Butler, 111., by Col. Ferdinand D. Stephenson, and was
mustered in Feb. 18th, 1865, for one year. Feb. 20th it moved to Nashville,
Tenn., and thence to Tullahoma. The regiment arrived at Camp Butler Sept.
9th, 1865, where it received final payment and discharge.
Colond.
Ferdinand D. Stephenson, e. Feb. 18.'66, m.o.
Sept. 11, '65
COMP^VN'Y A.
Captain.
Wm. S. Slocumb, e. Feb. 18,'65,m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Privates.
Anderson, Rice, e. Feb. 11, '65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Creekmur, Jno. R.,e.Fed.ll,'65,m.o. Sept.11,'65.
Dnzev, Mark W., e. Feb. 11, '^5, m.o. Sept. 11, 'Rd.
Helm, Wiley R.. e. Feb. 11, 'tV), m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Meador. Joel J., e. Feb. 11, '(>5, m.o. Sept, 11, '65.
Pennington, E., e. Feb. 11, "65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Phelps, Ran.som, e. Feb. 11. '65, died Mar. 2,'65.
Scott, Joseph D., e. Feb. 11, '65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
COMPANY C.
Captain.
James. M. Hunter, e. Feb.18,'65, m.o.Sept.11,'65.
Sergeants.
G. W. Cox, e. Feb.9,'65, j>ro. principal musician.
Stephen Ml:Kenzie, e. Feb. 9, "65.
Corporals.
Allen Parlier, e. Feb. 9,'65, m.o. Sept. 11, "6.5.
Charles Dunn, e. Feb. 9, '65, m.o. Sept. 11'65.
Privates.
Crews, Jas. R.. e. Fel). 9,'(i.5, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Campbell, D. F., e. Feb. 9,'65, m.o. Sept. 11. '65.
Elliston. B., e. Feb. 9, '65, m.o. Sept. 11. '65.
GilbrciUh, Jas., e. Feb. 9,'65, d. dis. July 29, '66.
Gray, Saml., e. Feb. 9, '65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Gray, Geo. W., e. Feb. 11, '65, m.o. .Sept. 11, '65.
Hart, Elias, e. Feb. 9,'65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
McKinzie, F. M., e. Fel). 9,'65, m.o Sept. 11, '65.
Morris, Cha.s., e. Feb. 9, '65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
McClure, John. e. Feb. 9,'65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Quillnian, .1. W., e. Feb. 9,'65, m.o Sept. H,'65.
Robinson, C^alvin, e. Feb. 9,'65.
Smith, S. R., e. Feb. 9,'65, m.o. .Sept. ll,'r>5.
Smith, W. J., e. Feb. 9, '65. m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Woodrow, Wm. C.,e. Feb. 15,'65, m.o, Sept.11,65.
COMPANY D.
* Captain.
Wm. Morehead, e. Feb. 18, '65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65;
First Lieutenant.
C M. Kingman, e. Feb. 18,'65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65
376
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Second Lieutenant.
Frank Richmond, e. Feb. 1S,'65, m.o.Sept.11,'65.
Sergeants.
Jas. R. Ogden, e. Feb. 9,'65, m.o. Sept. 11, '6.5.
Homer P. Albright,e.Feb.lO,'65,m.o.Sept.ll,'65,
Corporals.
John R. Whi.sler, e. Feb. 13,'6.5, m.o. Sept. 11,'65.
Wm. H. Fleming, e. Feb. 9,'a5, m.o. Sept.11,'65.
Edw. Patrick, e. Feb. 4,'6.i, m.o. Sep. 11, '65.
Jno. H. Warfield, e. Feb. 7, '6.5, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Saml. Shreves, e. Feb. 10,'65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Musician.
Edward K. Lee, e. Feb. 10,'65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Privates.
Atkinson, Albert, e. Feb. 7, '65, died June 27, '65.
Bosier, Jos., e. Feb. 10,'65. m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Bowles, Jos., e. Feb. 7, '65, d. dis. July 30,'65.
Burk, John L., e. Jan. 2.3,'65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Baker, Geo. W., e. Feb. 7,'65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Cappilo Jos., e. Jan. 28,'65, m.o. Sept. 21, '66.
Enslow, H. S., e. Feb. 10,'6.5, m.o. Sept, 11, '65.
Evans, Clias. A., e. Feb. 7. '65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Fleming, A. J., e. Feb. 9,'65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Galbreth, Wm., e. Feb. 9,'65,
Garrison, J., e. Feb. 10.'65, m.o. July 14,'65.
Hoops, David A., e. Feb. 7,'65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Henning, Martin, e. Jan. 31, '65, m.o. Sept. 11. '65.
Johnson, Jno. W.. e. Feb. 7, '65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Kinzey, R. A., e. Feb. 13, '65, m.o. Aug. 22, '65,
Kinman, Taylor, e. Feb. 8, '65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Laing, Wm. H., e. Feb. 8, '65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Leech, Wm., e. Feb. 10,'65, m.o. Sept. 11, '55,
Lee, Jeremiah, e. Feb. 10, '65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Lamason, Wm. I).,e.Feb. 13, '65, died Aug.25,'65.
Melford, Geo. W., e. Feb. 4, '6.5.
Morris, Hiram D., e. Feb. 8. '65.
McCance, G. W., e. Feb. 2,'65. m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Meriweather, J.H. e. Feb. 11,'65, m.oSept.ll"65.
Meriweather, F. F., e. Feb. 4, '65.
Martin, Chas., e. Feb. 10, '65. m.o. Sept, 11, '65.
Osborne, Jno. E., e. Feb. 11, '65, m.o. Aug. 25,'65.
Richards, Wm. e. Feb. 3, '65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Reid, Jno. R., e. Feb. 7,'65, m.o. Sept. 11,'65.
Ramsey, Henry, e. Feb. 10, '65.
Sann, Jacob, e". Jan. 27,'65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Shreve, Wilton, e. Feb. 11, '65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Shay, Martin, e. Feb. 10, '65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Sullivan. Benj. F.,e. Jan. 30,'65, m.o. Sept.11,'56.
Santer. Jno., e. Jan. 23,'65, m.o. Julv 27, '65.
Thompson, W. T., e. Feb. 8,'65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Taylor, Jas. N., e. Feb. 7,'65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Vanmeter, H. R., e. Feb. 10,'65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Wilt, David. J', e. Feb. 7,'65, m.o, Sept. 11,'65.
COMPANT E.
Sergeant.
Chas. Wagoner, e. Feb. 10,'65, m.o. Sept. 11,'65.
Privates.
Cutcomb, Willis, e. Feb. 10,'65, d. Mar. 4,'a5.
Gilmore, J. H., c. Feb. 16,'65, m.o. Sept. 11, '6.5.
Lunn, Elijah, e. Feb. 16, '65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
Mondy, Jos., e. Feb. 16, '65, m.o. Sept. 11, '65.
COMPANY G.
First lAeutenanis.
Thos, L. Orendorff, e. Feb. 18,'65,res. Aug.14,'65,
Hamilton Sutton, e. Sept. 5, '65, m.o. Sept.11,'65.
Privates.
Blankinship, Jno., e. Feb. 16, died Mar. 10, '65.
154tli INFANTRY.
COMPANY C.
Sergeant.
Alfred Jenkins, e. Feb. 11, '65, m.o. Sept. 12,'65.
Corporal.
Joseph Crocker, e. Feb. 11, '65, m.o. Sept. 18,'65.
Privates.
Neal, James, e. Feb. 22, '65, m.o. Sept. 18,'65.
Phillips, James, e. Feb. 14, '65.
Swan, Alonzo, e. Feb. 22,'65, m.o. May 23,'65.
COMPANT G.
Sergeant.
Fayette Baker, e. Feb. 15,'65, m.o. Sept, 18,'65.
Privates.
Brookins, S., e. Feb. 16,'65, m.o. July 4,'65.
Brown, Richard, e. Feb. 15, '65.
Clark, Henrv R., e. Feb, 15, '65, pro. 1st lieut.
Cornelius, Henry, e. Feb. 18, '65, pro. 2d lieut.
Dixon, Abrahams., e. Feb. 15,'65.
McCormick, C, e. Feb. 18,'65, m.o. June 19,'55.
COMPANY H.
Privates.
Duff, John W., e. Feb. 21,'65, died April 3,'65.
155tli INFANTRY
Was organized at Camp Butler Feb. 28th, 1865, for one year. March 2d it pro-
ceeded via Louisville and Nashville, to TuUahoma, Tenn. June loth it was
divided into detachments of 20 to 30 men each, and assigned to guard duty on
the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroads from Nashville to Duck river, a dis-
tance of fifty miles. Sept. 4th it was mustered out, and moved to Camp But-
ler, 111., wliere it received final pay and discharge.
COMPANY I>.
Privates.
Clarkson, J.is. V., e. Peb. 23, '65, m.o. Sept. 4, '65.
Camp, Isaac, e. Feb. 22. '65, m. o. Sept. 4, '65.
Maines, Jas., e. Feb. 16, '65, pro. 1st Lieut.
Smith, John H., e. Feb. 18,'65, m.o. Sept. 4.'65.
Spaglc, Asa R., e. Feb. 20,'65, m.o. Sept. 4, '65.
COMPANY F.
Private.
Cazey, Joseph T., e. Feb. 24,'65, m.o. Sept. 4,'65.
COMPANY K.
First Sergeant.
Henry Lervin, e. Feb. 21, '65, m.o. July 10,'65.
Privaies.
Corder. Elijah, c. Feb. 16,'65, m.o. Sept. 4,'a5.
Edwards, Wm. R., e. Feb. 24,'65, m.o. Sept.4,'65..
Fi.sh, Charles, e, Feb. 21, '65, m.o. Sept. 4,'65.
Gable, Augustus, e. Feb. 24,'65, m.o. Sept.4,'65.
Hiple, Fred. W., e. Feb. 21,'6.5, m.o. Sept.4,'65
Hadlev, Lamar W.,e. Feb. 21,'65, m.o. Sept.4,'65.
Kapp,"Johu H., e. Feb. 22,'65, m.o. Sept. 4,'65.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Z11
Minch, Henry, e. Feb. 21,'6.5, m.o. Sept. 4,'65.
Minch, Geo., e. Feb. 21, '65, m.o. Sept. 4, '65.
Middleton, ('. C, e. Feb. Zi.'C^'i, m.o. .Sept. 4,'65.
Tobias, Wesley, e. Feb. 21, '65, m.o. Sept. 4. '65.
Tompliiin, Oliver, e. Feb. 21, '65, m.o. Sept. 4, '65.
Wilson, Merritt, e. Feb. 24, '65, m.o. Sept. 4, '65.
Walker, J. B., e. Feb. 21, '65, died Mar. 1'J,'65.
Ziuzer, Israel, e. Feb. 21, '65, m.o. Sept. 4,'65.
156th INFANTRY.
Corporals. *
.John Lvneb, e. Feb. 15, '65, m.o. Sept. 20, '65.
Wm. A. Hill, e. e. Feb. 15,'65, m.o. Aug. 24,'65.
Privates.
Hill, Martin, e. Feb. 15,'65.
Hill, .John, e. Feb. 15,'65.
Miller, Jaeob A., e. Feb. 15,'65.
Most, Henry, e. Feb. 15,'C5.
3rd CAVALRY
"Was organized at Camp Butler Aug., 1861. Sept. 25th moved to St. Louis, Mo.
October 1st to Jetferson City, thence to Warsaw, arriving Oct. 11th, and on the
23d marched to Springfield, Mo. Feb. 13th it fought the first engagement, and
won the first victory of Curtis' campaign. Feb. 14, '62, occupied Springfield,
Mo.; loth came up with Price's retreating army, capturing some prisoners;
18th, partici])ated in a charge, routing the enemy, at Sugar Creek, Ark. ; 20th
marched to Cross Hollows; INIarch 5th fell back to Pea Ridge; was engaged on
the 7th and lost 10 killed and 40 wounded; 19th moved to Keetsville; April
10th arrived at Forsyth ; 29th moved to West Plains; May 1st started for Bates-
ville; 14th moved to Little Red River. June 4th fell back to Fairview; on the
7th Capt. Sparks with 66 men was surrounded liy 200 of the enemy, he cut his
wav out, losing 4 wounded and 4 prisoners; June 11th to Jacksonport; July
5th to Helena, and moved to IMemphis in the spring of 1863. They took part
in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, and siege
of Vicksl)urg; also Vermillionville, Opelou.sas and Carrion Crow Bayou;
participated in battles of Tupelo, Okolona and Guntown. Aug. 21st it took
part in repulsing Gen. Forrest's attack on Memphis. Took part in the battles
of Lawrencel)urg, Spring Hill, Campbellsville and Franklin. In May moved
to St. Louis, thence to St. Paul, Minn. July 4th started on an Indian expedi-
tion. Returned to Springfield, 111., Oct. 13th, 1865, and was mustered out of
service. •
COMPANY B.
CaptaiJis.
Joseph S. Maus, e. Sept. 2.5,61, res. July 8,'G2.
John B. Baker, e. Aug. i:!,'61, m.o. Sept. 5, '64.
Fimt Lieutenants.
J. B. Ketchum, e. Sept. 21,'61, res. Mar. 18,'62.
Samuel L. Shellenberger, e. Aug. 13, '61, pro.
capt. Co. F. as consolidated, pro. maj.
Second Lieutenants.
Michael Fisher, e. Sept. 21, '61, res. Dec. 26,'61.
f'has. C. Wortli, e. Aug. 1:;,'61, res. Feb. 2.S,'63.
H. W. Bachman, e. Aug. lo,'61, m.o. Sept. 6, '64.
Sergeants.
M. W. Skinner, e. Aug. i:!,'61, d. May 2,'62, dis.
S. Start'ord. e. Aug. l;!,'61, d. Oct. 16,'62, dis.
J. D. Welch, e. Aug. 13, '51, m.o. Sept. .5,'64.
Corporals.
Peter .Sneider, e. Aug. 13,'01, d. Aug. 13,'62, di.s.
James Burton, c. Aug. 13,'61, v. d. June 7, '65,
sergt.
Philip Mutter, e. Aug. 13,'61, m.o. Sept. 5,'64.
Bugler.
Frank Smith, e. Aug. 13,'61, died at Memphis,
June 30, '64, wiids.
Wagoner.
Charles Habberfield, e. Aug. 13, '01, died Pekiu
while on parole.
Saddler.
Karl Shaflfnit, e. Aug. 14,'61, d. Oct. 17,'G2, dis.
Privates.
Adams, J. R., e. Aug. 13,'61, v., m.o. Oct. 10,65.
sergt.
Adams, David, e. Aug. 13, '61, m.o. Sept. 5, '64,
sergt.
Bachman, August, e. Aug. 13,'61, d. July 1,'62,
dis.
Banner, Patrick, e. Aug. 13,'61, tr. to V. R. C.
April 15,'64.
Blair, Austin, e. Aug. 13,'61, died at Mackinaw,
Dec. 5, '61.
Basquin, Barnard, e. Aug. 13,'61, died Lafay-
ette, Tenn., Aug. 10, '63.
Bowen, P., e. Aug. i3,'61, m.o. Nov. 5,'64.
Clayton, Wra., e. Aug. 13, '61, m.o. Nov. 5,'G4.
CiV-ssle, J., e. Aug. 13, '61, m.o. Nov. 5,'6-l, corpl.
Campbell, C, e. Aug. 13,'61, d. June 24,'02, dis.
Davis, .\lex., e. Aug. 13,'61, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Dennis, (ieorge, e. Aug. 13,'61, m.o. Sept. 5,'64,
saddler.
Druckliouse, Lewis, e. Aug. 13,'61, tr. to V. R.
C. Ajiril 16,'04.
Dyer, S. J., e. Aug. 13,'Gl, d. for pro. in 7 La.
A. D.
Flanniker, .\. W., e. Aug. 13,'61, v., m.o. Oct.
1(),'65, sergt.
Fessler, D., e. Aug. 13,'Gl, m.o. Sept. 5,'64.
I'lannikcr, J., e. Aug. 13, '61, d. April 30, '62, dis.
Gaither, W. G., e. Aug. 13,'61, v., m.o. Oct. 10,
'65.
Hood, David B., e. Aug. 13,'61, died St. Louis,
Dec. 4, '61.
Hobbs, John, e. Aug. 13,'61, v., m.o. June 5, '65,
Judy, S., e. Aug. 13,'61, v., m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Kock, Wm., e. Aug. 13,'61, v., m'o. Oct, 10,'65.
Linek, Henrv, e. Aug. 13,'61, died in hos. April
25,'63.
378
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Loutz, W., c. Aug. 13,61, m.o. Sept. 5,'65, sergt.
Monro, J. YL, e. Aug. 13, '61.
Mullen, O., e. Aug, 13,'61, d. May 23,'62, dis.
Mltchel, Julius, e. Aug. 13,'61, v., m.o. Oct. 10,
'65, sergt.
McConkie, J. A., e. Aug. 13,'61, left sick at
Warsaw, Mo., Oct. 13, '61.
Potter, P. G., e. Aug. 1.3,'61, v., d. June 7,'65,
dis.
Pence, John, e. Aug. 13,'61, m.o. Sept. 5,'64.
Parks, Baniard, e. Aug. 13,'61, v., m.o. Oct. 10,
'65, corpl.
Robinson, I. N., e. Aug. 13,'61, m.o. Sept. 5,64.
Richmond, A., e. Aug. 13,'61, v. d. Dec. 19,'62,
dis.
Smith, John, e. Aug. 13,'61, v., died Lafayette,
Tenn., July 31, '63.
Sunderland, W. E., e. Aug. 13, '61, v., d. June
7,'65, dis.
Snyder, S. S., e. Aug. 13,'61, v. pro. sergt. and
1st lieut.
Stuckhard, Henry, e. Aug. 13,'61, v.
Sunderman, George, e. Aug. 13, '64, died at
Young's Pt., La.. June 24,'63.
Sutton, N. W., e. Aug. 13,'61, died at Lagrange,
Tenn., Sept. 9, '63.
Tenny, James, e. Aug. 13,61, v.
Walters, John, e. Aug. 13, '61, m.o. Sept. 5, '64.
Walters, W. J., e. Aug. 13,'61, v., m.o. Oct. 10,
'65, corpl.
Worst, W., e. Aug. 13,'61, m.o. Sept. 5,'64, corpl.
Leach, N., e. Aug. 13,'61, m.o. Sept. 5,'&4.
Puterbaugh, S. G., e. Aug. 13,61, m.o. Sept. 6,
'64, sergt.
Wills, N., e. Aug. 13,'61, v., m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Simpson, E., e. Aug. 13,'61, m.o. Sept. 5,'64.
Probasco, J. H., e. Aug. 13,'61, d. June 16,'62,
dis.
Webber, J. B., e. Aug. 13,61, died at Memphis,
Julv 18,'64.
Erlicher, Fredrick, e. Aug. 13,'61, kid. at Pea
Ridge, Mar. 7, '62.
Sparks, Thomas, e. Aug. 13,'61.
JVilliamson, Joseph, e. Aug. 13,'61, d. Feb. IS,
'63, dis.
Walten, W., e. Aug. 13,'61, v., m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Recruits.
Barr, F. M., e. Feb. 4,'64, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Churchwell, W., e. Nov. 2,'63, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Eyger, N., e. Dec. 24, '63, m.o. June. 5,65, pris.
Graham, H. D., e. Feb. 1,'&4.
Miller, T., e. Jan. 13,'64, m.o. Oct. 10,'65, sergt.
Powers, James, e. Jan. 29, '64.
Putnam, John, e. Jan. 29,'64, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Shaft'er, Jacob, e. Dec. 17, '63.
Sunken, George, e. Jan. 4,'64, died at Eastport,
Miss, May 16,65.
Taylor, V. W., e. Oct. 23,'63, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
White John, e. Nov. 5,'63, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Wagoner, Christian, abs., sick at m.o. of regt.
3(1 CAVALRY, (Consolidated Regiment.)
Major.
Samuel Shellenbergher, e. Aug. 13,'61, m.o.
Oct. 10, '65, as capt.
COMPAJVY F.
Recruits.
Allensworth, G. M., e. Sept. 27,'64, m.o. May
23, '65.
Barton, J. F., e. Sept. 27,'64, m.o. May 23,'65.
Campbell, C, e. Oct. 8, '64, m.o. Oct. 10, '65.
Ewing, Charles, e. Oct. 4,'64.
Gray, Siliis, e. Oct. 4,'64, m.o. Oct. 10,'66.
Maiiker, L. L., e. Oct. s,'64, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Patterson, Geo., e. Oct. 16,'64, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Parmerlee, C. L., e. Sept. 27,'64, m.o. May 23,'65.
Samples, J. W., e. Oct. 7,'64, m.o. May 23,'65.
Search, J. W., e. Sept. 27,'&4, m.o. May 23/65.
Watson, Wm., e. Sept. 27, '64, m.o. May 23,'65.
COMPA^STY G.
Privates.
Glenn, J. W., e. Feb. 18,'65, m.o. May 10,'65.
COMPAJ*^' H.
Corporals.
Joseph B. Wilts, e. Mar. 1,'65, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Joseph M. or W. Travis, e. Mar. 1,'65, m.o. Oct.
10, '65.
Privates.
Bear, Wm. e. Mar. 1,'65, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Hibbetts, C. W., e. Mar. 1,'65, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Hibbard, A. B., e. Mar. 1,'65, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Maddux, W. M., e. Feb. 28,'65, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Masser, J. M., e. Mar. 1,'65, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Thorp, D. W., e. Mar. 1,'65, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
COMPANY I.
Sergeant.
Franklin Whitmer, e. Mar. 16, '65, m.o. Oct. 10,
'65.
Corporal.
Samuel Strobe, e. Mar. 16,'65, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Privates.
Lyons, J., e. Feb. 4,'65, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Moore, John, e. Mar. 7, '65.
COMPANY K.
Fatrier.
S. D. Stewart, e. Feb. 18,'65, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Privates.
Collins, Lewis, e. Jlar. 7, '65.
Evans, Samuel, e. Mar. 10,'62, m.o. Oct. 10,'65.
Unassigned Recruits.
Leech, Robert, e. Oct. 8,'64, died Camp Butler,
111., Nov. 2Q;(A.
Smith, J. F., e. Oct. 8,'64, m.o. May 21, '65.
Tu.ssillian, S. R., e. Feb. 24,'65, m.o. June 3,'65.
4tli CAVALRY.
COMPANY E.
Pickernell, W., e. Sept. 11, '6i, died Mar. 1,'62.
COMPANY G.
Orr, Thos., e. Sept. 5,'61, m.o. Nov. 3.'64.
Woodberrv, H., c. Sept. 5,'61, m.o. Nov. 3, '64.
Tuesburg.'H., e. Oct. 26,'61, kid. July 1,'62.
COMPANY H.
First Sergeant.
C. H. Cooper, e. Sept. 5,'61, d. June 19,'62, dis.
Sergeants.
Go. N. Leoni, e. Sept. 6,'61, pro. 2d lieut.
Ilngh. A. Work, e. Sept. 2,'61, m.o. Nov. 3,'64.
Corporals.
Jeremiah B. Cook, e. Sept. 21, '61, d. for pro.
L. P. Harwood, e. Sept. 26,61, died May 8,'62.
Privates.
Allen, Chas. L., o. Sept. 2,'61, m.o. Nov. 3,'64.
Becroft, John, e. Sept. 1,'61, m.o. Nov. 3,'64.
Brausau, C. P., e. Sept. 6,'61, m.o. Nov. 3,'64.
Blancbard, W. F., c. Sept. 6,'61, died, Feb. 9,'62.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
379
Cheever, A. B., e. Sept. 7,'61, m.o. Nov. 3,'64.
Cook, Henry C, e. Sept. ",'01, d. June 3, '62. '
Cook, Howard, e. Oct. l.'Ol, d. for pro.
Eiekhardt, A., e. Sept. 16,61, d. June 19,'C2, dis.
Fen, John, e. Oct. 1,'61, v.
Gififord, C. S., e. Sept. 2,'01, m.o. Nov. 3,'G4.
Holt, T. B., e. Sept. 9,'61, v.
Lang, Thos., e. Sept. 8,'Cl, v.
McMackin, Wm. H., e. Sept. 17,'Gl, m.o. Nov.
3, '04.
Scullv, Michael, e. Sept. 2.'),'6, d. for di.s.
Slaughter, J., e. Sept. 1.S,'64, died Sept. 12,'62.
Varnev, VV. S., e. Sept. 9. 61, d. May, 'ti2, wnd.
Mhipp", A. P., e. Sept. 6,61, died Feb. 10,'62.
Blair, W. S., e. Oct. 21, '61.
Beals, Jacob, e. Nov. 21, '61.
Durham, Lorenzo, e. Nov. 16,'61, d. for pro.
O'Neil, John, e. Oct. 1,'61, v.
Underbill. A. H., e. Oct. 1,'61.
Youtz, Jacob, e. Oct. 1,'61.
Elder, Leonard, e. Sept. 23,'61, v.
5tli CAVALRY.
COMPANY E.
Bell, Ellis, e. April 7,'G5, m.o. Oct. 27, '65.
Burt, Alonzo, e. April 7, '65, m.o. Oct. 27, '65.
Curtis, v., e. Ai)ril 7, '65, m.o. Oct. 27, '65.
Collins, C, e. April 7, '65, m.o. Oct. 27,'67.
Cunningham, Berry, e. Mar. 23, '65.
Lane, Larkin, e. April 7. '65, m.o. Oct. 27, '65.
Wilkinson, J. H., e. Jan. 4. '61, m.o. Oct. 27, '65
6th CAVALRY.
Ward, Alfred, e. Feb. 22,'65, in Co. B., m.o.
Nov. 5, '65.
Hile, Samuel S., e. Mar. 1,'64, in Co. C, m.o.
Nov. 5, '65.
Morrell, P. W., e. Mar. 10.'65, in Co. F., m.o.
Nov. 5, '65.
Weaver, Wm. W., e. Mar. 10,'65, in Co. F., m.o.
Nov. 5, '65.
Duke, James H., e. Feb. 22,'65, in Co. H., m.o.
Nov. 5,'65.
Rutherford, E., e. Feb. 9,'65, in Co. H., m.o.
N6v. 5. '65.
EUedge, N. D., e. Mar. 15,'65, in Co. I., m.o.
Nov. 5, '05.
Spence, Theodore, e. Mar. 15,'65, in Co. I., died
April ,5, '65.
Speers, Wm. H., e. Jan. 27,'65, in. Co. I,, died
June 24, '65.
Martin O. S., e. Mar. 10,'65, in Co. L., m.o, Nov.
5,'65.
Green, H. P.. e. Mar. 23,'65.
White, James. A., e. Feb. 22,'64.
7th CAVALRY.
Davis, Jacob, e. Co. F., Feb. 28, '65, m.o. Nov.
4, '65.
COMPANY G.
Wago7ier.
Isaac York, e. Aug. 20, '61.
Privates.
Colbert, Wm., e, Aug. 20,'Gl. m.o. Oct. 15,'04.
Campbell, J., e. Aug. 20,'61, m.o. Oct. 1,'6.1.
Morehead, A. J., e. in Co. L., Mar. 7,'65, m.o.
Nov. 4, '65.
Moore, G. G., e. Co. L., Mar. 2,'65, m.o. Nov. 4,
'65.
Unassigncd liccruiis.
Black, Charles, e. Oct. 11, '04.
Brenner, Henry, e. Oct. 11, '64.
Casey, Mitchell", e. Oct. 7, '64.
Cook, John, e. Mar. 3,'65.
Decker, Wm., e. Mar. 3, '65.
Farlar, James, e. Sept. 28, '64.
Wagner, John, e. Oct. 7, '64.
8th CAVALRY.
COMPiiNY B.
Privates.
Jordan, E. M., e. Mar. 20,'G4, m.o. June 21, '65.
Whitmore, J., e. Sept. 20,'G4, m.o. June 21, '65.
Whitmore, C, e. Sei)t. 20, '64, m.o. Jan. 21, '65.
Bowes, Geo., e. Oct. 3,'01, Co. F., d. for wnds.
9th CAVALRY.
Privates.
Keoler, C. M., e. Mar. 3,'65, Co.A.,m.o.Oct.31,'65.
McCulloch, Wm., e. Mar. 3,'65, Co. A., m.o. Oct.
31 ,'05.
Taylor. II. R., e. Mar. 3,'G5,Co.A.,m.o.Oct.31,'65.
Hill, Thos., e. Feb. 2,S,'05, Co. C, m.o. Oct.31,'6.5.
Dueneiiing, H., e. Sept. 10,'61, Co. D., v., m.o.
Oct. 31, '65.
Lightsey, J. II., e. Feb. 20,'65, Co. L., m.o. Oct.
31, '65.
Unassigned Pecruiis.
Gritfm, G. W., e. :March 3, '65.
Hamlin, Edward, c. March 3,'65.
10th CAVALRY.
Privates.
Crafton. Sam'!., e. Jan. 3,'C4, in Co. L.
Chambers, Noah, e. Sept. 28,'G4, in Co. L.
Hencle, J., e. Sept. 29,'04, in Co. L.
11th CAVALRY.
Company " F," of this regiment, was recruited at Pekin in the fall and win-
ter of 1861, and reported to the regiment, at Peoria, with ninety-eight men,
and three commissioned officers. The regiment left for the field, 22d of Feb.,
1865, and participated in the battle of Shiloh. After the evacuation of Corinth,
the regiment was assigned by detachments to service l)etween that place and
Memphis. Nov. 19th Co. "F" reported to the regiment at Jack.son, Miss.; was
engaged at Lexington, Dec. 18th, 18C2, when 46 of their number, with the
colonel, fell into the hands of the enemy. The regiment remained in West
Tennessee till September, 186:5, doing gooVl work among the guerrillas. After
this they operated in the country between the Big Black and Pearl rivers,
and on the Yazoo, rendering that' country untenable for the Johnnies. The
regiment veteranized in December, 1864. They participated in Sherman's
grand march through Mississippi. During the summer of 1864, they were in
380
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
many skermishes and raids. November and December were with General
Osborne in the raid against the Mississippi Central Railroad, reached Vicks-
burg on Dec. 5th; moved to Memphis in January, 1865; joined in Grierson's
raid; was engaged at Egypt Station; after this raided in Arkansas and
Louisiana, and done guard duty on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. It
was mustered out at Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 30th, and arrived at Peoria, Oct.
12th, 1865.
Lieutenant Colonel.
Aquilla J. Da\-is, e. Dec. 20,'61, m.o. Sept. 30/65.
Major.
Dennis S. Shepherd, e. Get. 8,'61, res. May 29,'65.
COMPANY A.
Bugler.
John Kraft, e. Sept. 27,'61, d. Oct. 14,'G2.
Privates.
Burkhardt, M., e. Oct. 29,'61, m.o. Dec. 20,'Cl.
Cook, F., e. Nov. 13,'61, v., m.o. Sept. 30,'65.
Dehwert, Wm., e. Sept. 25,'Gl, v.,m.o.Sept.30,'C5.
Geis, Geo., e. Nov. 26,'01, d. dis. Jan. 27,'64.
Graf, Jacob, e. Dec. 16,'61, v., m.o. Sept. 30,'65.
Hossert, John, e. Oct. 29,'61.
Krenser, Albert, e. Dec. 16,'61, died July29,'G4.
Kuhn, Gregor, e. Nov. IS.'Ol, kid. Aug. 25,'62.
Metz, John. e. Nov. 19,'61, m.o. Dec. 20,'64.
Ringle, Chris., e. Dec. 16,'(U, v., m.o. Sept.SO.'Gf).
Schaumburg, F.,e. Oct. 3,'(51, v., m.o. Sept.20,'G.5.
Recruits.
Bauler, Matthias, e. Jan. 21, '62, v.
Bailev, Ira M., e. Feb. 25,'G5, m.o. Sept. 30,'G5.
Gaengel, John, e. Dec. 18,'Gl, m.o. Dec. 20,'64.
Laspe, Fred., e. Dec. 9,'63, died Oct. 22,'G4.
Nievar, Adam, e. Feb. 2:5, '64, m.o. Sept. .30, '65.
Litlar, Jacob, e. Dec. 16,'63. m.o. Sept. 30,'G5.
Legesser, Samuel, e. Dec. 14, '63, died Nov.23,'64.
Watson, Jas., e. Feb. 25,'65, m.o. Sept. 20,'G5.
Thomas, Henry, e. Feb. 4, '65, in Co. B.
COMPANY C.
Sergeant.
John Mickil, e. Nov. 14.'61, v.
Corporal.
Samuel Miller, e. Nov. 17,'Gl, v. m.o. Sept. 30,'65.
Blaclcsmeth.
Wm. McColgan, e. Nov. 14,'61, d. dis. May 8,'G2.
Privates.
Edds, David C, e. Nov. 26,'Gl, v. m.o. Sept.20,'65.
Graham, H. D., e. Nov. 14,'61, d. dLs. May S,'62.
Hanger, J. W., e. Dee. 3. '61.
Kemper, Wm., e. Nov. 20, '61.
Leary, James, e. Dec. 4,'Gl, v., died Aug. 29,'G5.
Learv, John, e. Dec. 4,'Gl, v., m.o. Sept. 20, '65.
Sommers, Juo., e. Nov. 15,'61, d. dis. July 10,'62.
Wood, John, e. Nov. 14,'Gl, d. dis. May 20,'G2.
Reeruits.
Parker, J. R., e. Sept. 28,'G4, m.o. June 9,'65.
Brontage, John, e. Feb. 22,'62.
Gregory, Benj., e. Sept. 2«,'64, m.o. June9,"65.
Graham, Fred., e. Jan. 4,'62, kid. at Shiloh
April 6, '62.
Hover, Fred., e. Feb. 11, '64, m.o. Sept. 30,'65.
McClung, Jas., e. Sept. 28,'64, m.o. July22.'G5,
was pris. of war.
Dehalderman, Simon, e. Nov. 27, 'Gl, in Co. D.
Wilmoth, L., e. Oct. G,'64, in Co. D.
COMPANY r.
Captains.
Wm. M. Olmsted, e. Dec. 23,'61, res. April 18,'G2.
Bernard Wagner, e. Dec. 20,'61, m.o. Sept. 30, '65.
First Lieutenants.
Richard Burns, e. Dec. 20,'61, kid. In battle of
Shiloh, April G, '62.
David M. Cummings, res. April 11, '63.
John Backus, e. Dec. 31, '61, res. May 11, '65.
Chas. T. Mans, e. Nov. 5,'61, m.o. Sept. 30,'G5.
Second Lieutenant.
David Blair, e. Dec. 4,'61, m.o. Sept. 30,'G5.
Sergeants.
Samuel Dusenberry, e. Sept. 21, '61
Andrew McBride, e. Sept. 16, '61, v., m.o. Sept.
30, '65.
Corporals.
Chas. Jacob, e. Sept. 30,'61, v., m.o. Sept. .30,'65.
Wm. Hanlin, e. Sept. 25,'61, d. dis. July,'G2.
Richard Flinn, e. Sept. 21, 'Gl, v. m.o. Sept.30,'G5.
Frank H. Dare, e. Sept. 29, '61, v. m.o Sept. 30,'G.5.
Walter McDonald, e. Oct. 4,'Gl, m.o. Dec. 20,'64.
Blaclismith.
JasperSmJth, e. Oct. 3,'Gl, v.,m.o. Sept. 30,'65.
Privates.
Blanchard, W. S., e. Sept. 16,'Gl.
Bridgewater, Henry B., e. Sept. 23, '61, died Feb.
18,'63.
Brooks, Joseph, e. Oct. 16,'Gl, v., m.o. Sept30,'65,
Bennett, Richard, e. Oct. 3, '61, died May 1, '62.
Bover, Joua., e. Oct. 20,'61, v., m.o. Sept. 30,'6.5.
Cla'rk, Henrv, e. Sept. 16,'61, v., m.o. Sept. 30,'G5.
Cohenour, Wm., e. Sept, 21, '61, d. for dis.
Curran, Patrick, e. Dec. 15, '61.
Davis, Joshua, e. Oct. 11,'Gl, v.,diedFebl3,'64.
Goft; Alex., e. Sept. 30,'61. died May 25,'G2.
Gibbons, Thos., e. Oct. 3,'61, v., m.o. Sept. 30,'65.
Havs, Jacob, e. Sept. 27, '61, v., m.o. Sept 30, '65.
Harman, D. H., e. Sept. 23,'61, d. Oct., '62.
Hammond, Lemuel B., e. Nov. 11,'Gl.
Hudson, Nathl.,e. Dec. 15,'Gl,v.,m.o.Sept.30,'G5.
Kriell, John, e. Dec. 17,'61, v., m.o Sept. 30, '65.
Kemp, John, e. Sept. 23, '61, died.
Little, John, e. Nov. 2y,'Gl, d. for dis.
Long, John, e. Sopt, 23,'61.
McGinnis, John, e. Oct. 5,'61, d. Dec. 20,'G4.
Mulvahill, Albt., e. Sept. 1G,'61, m.o. Dec. 28,'64.
Mulvahill, Geo., e. Sept. 24, '61, d. Dec. 20,'frl.
Murphv, Alex., e. Sept.2y,'Gl, v.,m.o.Sept.30,'G5.
McKassen, R. J., e. Sept. 19,'61, v.
Merrvtield, M., e. Sept. 21, '61, died Feb. 28,'62.
Miller, Geo., e. Oct. 16,'61, v., m,o. Sept. 30,'65.
Myers, J. C, e. Nov. IG.'Gl, died Sept. 30,'62.
Nelson, Daniel, e. Sept. 17,'Gl, d. Dec. 20,'G4.
Pickerell, Saml., e. Sept. 23,'61, died May 3,'62.
Rvans, Moses, e. Sept. 23, 'Gl.
Rvan, Dennis, e. Nov. 13, '(;i, v., rft.o. Sept.20,'G5.
Stiles, David, e. Sept. 24, 'Gl, v., m.o. Sept. 30,'G5.
Scott, J. M., e. Oct. 21, '61, v., m.o. Sept. 30,'65.
Slawbaw, Jno., e. Dec. 17,'Gl, v.,m.o. Sept.30,'65.
Thorpe, M. G.,e. Sept. 24, 'Gl, v., m.o. Sept. 30,'65.
Town. L. A., e. Dec. 4,'Gl.
Winner, Jos., e. Dec. G,'61, v., m.o. Sept. 30,'65.
Recndts.
Cunningham. Charles, e. Mrrch 1,S,'63.
Davis, J. W., e. Dec. 9,'63, m.o. Sept. 30,'65.
Happenev, Pat., e. Jan. 4.'64, m.o. Sept. 30,'65.
Happenev, Elwd., e. Jan. 4, '(^, m.o. Sept.30,'65.
Ilabbertield, F., e. Nov.l3,'Gl,v.,m.o.Sept.30,'G5.
Heaney, Frank, e. Dec.26,'61,v.,m.o. Sept.30,'65.
Henderson, Fred., e. Dec. 25,'61.
HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
381
Jones, J. L.,e. Feb. 25, '65.
Johnson, Win. T., e. Dec. 6,'61, v.
Lock, M. M., e. Jan. ;n,'a'i, m. o. Sept. 30,'C).S.
Mundcr, Ellis ('., e. Mar. 81, '04, m.o. Sept.:W,'G.').
McFarlaiul, Kdw., e. Oct. :i,'W, m.o. Sept.:)0,'(i5.
Noi'\'elle, Thos., e. Jan. 31, '65, m.o. Sept. 30,'G5.
O'Riley, Jas., e. Sept. 23,'(;i, died Oct. 10,'W, v.
Pollard, Richard, e. Jan. 1,'G4, m.o. Sept.:50,'65.
Pero, Alex., e. Oct. o,'('A, m.u. Sept. :W,'(i5.
Powers, Thos., e. Mar. 31, 'tU, died Feb. lS,'i;,5.
Rjivles, Jacob, e. Jan. 31, '05, m.o. Sept. 30, 'G5.
Williams, S. N., e. Mar. 22, '(14.
Yerker, Wm., e. Dec. '25, 'Ol.
Hainlinc, tieo., e. Dec. 2, '01, in Co. G., v., m.o.
July 14, '&5.
Abbey, A., e. Feb. 29,'tU, in Co. G., m.o. July
14,'65.
COMPANY H.
Second Lieutenant.
Andrew T. Linbarger.
Corporal.
Henry Pratt, e. Dec. 6,'Cl, d. Dee. 22, '04.
Privates.
Barraton, Jos., e. Nov. 29,'ei, d. Dec. 22,'r)-4.
I-cnard, Peter, e. Nov. lO.'Ol, v.,m.o.Sept.30,'G5.
Murphy, P. M., e. Nov. 7, '01, m.o. Sept. 3o,'05.
Stamm. Jno., e. Nov. 10, '01, m. o. Sept. 30, '05.
Humphrey, Milt., Mar. 1,'02, m.o. Sept. 30,'05.
Recruits.
Crain, Frank, e. Feb. •29,'04, m.o. Julv 8,'C5.
Doty, Sidney, e. Mar. ;!1,'W, died July 22,'04.
Humphrey, Jno.,e. Mar. 31, '04, m.o. Sept. 30, '05.
Hiimphrey, N., e. Oct. 4. '04, m.o. Sept. 30,'O5.
Hcjward, G. W., e. Jan. 26,'t)4, m.o. Sept. 30,'05.
Kenneily, Isaac, e. Mar. 24, '04, m.o. Sept. 30,'05.
Owens, Funis M., e. Jan. 30, '04, m.o. Sept.30,'05.
Parsons, E. L. e. Fob. 1,'04, m.o. Sept. 30, '05.
Princeton. Wm., e. Dec. 16,'G3, m.o. May 22, '05.
Pemberton, J. K. e. Jan. iy,'04, m.o. Sept.30,'05.
Pemberton,.\lvin,e. Jan.l'J,'04,m.o. Sept.30,'G5.
Rose, Chas., e. Dec. 19, '03, m.o. Sept. 30, '05.
Speers, J. F., e. Feb. 27, '05, m.o. Sept. 30,'05.
Sakers, Henry, e. Dec. 15, '03.
Winklebleck, J., e. Oct. 4,'04, m.o. Sept. 30,'65.
Wright, Alfred, e. Sept. ■2S,'04, died Julv 12,'05.
Westfall, J. H. e. April 1,'04, m.o. Sept. 30,'65.
Pemberton, B., e. Feb. 5,'W, m.o. Sept. 30,'05.
COMPANY I.
Humphreo, W. H., e. Nov. 7, '61.
Shay, John, e. July 1,'02, m.o. June 9, '05.
Taggart, David, e. Feb. 23, '62, died Aug. 10,'G2.
COIVIPANY L,.
Farran, Geo., e. Feb. '2.3, '01.
Murphy, Pat., e. Oct. 27,'01.
Green, John, e. Jan. 7,'0-l, m.o. Sept. 30,'65.
Frye, Henry .V., e. Feb. 27, '05, m.o. Sept. 30,'05.
Manlion, D. F.. e. Feb. 1.S,'65, m.o. Sept. 30. '75.
Powers, A. C, e. Feb. 18, '65, m.o. Sept. 30, '05.
COMPANY M.
Brady, J. W., c. Feb. 27, '(U, m.o. Sept. 30, '65.
Delanev, Thos., e. Feb. 'i/.'Oo, m.o. Sept. :50,'0o.
Ickes, W. J., e. Feb. 27,'C5, m.o. Sept. 30,'05.
Unassigned Recruits.
Barrett, M. v. B., e. Nov. 16,'6'2.
Bowlsby, John. e. Nov. IS, '02.
Biggins, Patrick, e. Jan. 12,'63.
Betty, Joseph, e. Jan. 12,'03.
Brown, Edward, e. Dec. 19, '6:?.
Cufaude, Hugh, e. Nov. 14, '04, m.o. May 29,'65.
Crosby, Hugh, e. Jan. 10,'6:i.
Eibe, Conrad, e. April 4,'6o.
Howard, C. M., e. Nov. 16, '62.
King, John, e. Oct. 7, '64.
Strong, Jason, e. Dec. 3, '63.
12th CAVALRY.
Carey, Edward, e. Jan. 1.'62, in Co. E.
I'na.t.'^igned Recruits.
Blanche, Charles, e. Sept. 2S,'G4.
Cook. John, e. Sept. 2.S,'64.
James, Thos., e. Sei)t. 28, '04.
Layhe, Michael, e. Sept. 28, '64.
McGovern, John, e. Sept. '28,'0-l.
14tli CAVALRY.
COMPANY A.
Polland, J. P., e. Nov. 31, '62, missing in action
Aug. 3, '04.
Kolb, John, e. Sept. 11, '62, d. dis. Dec. 5, '63.
COMPANY B.
Amnion, John.
Baldwin, Erwin, e. Feb. 10. '64, m.o. July 31, '65.
COMPANY C.
Farrier.
Johi) Buxton, e. Nov. 1,'62, d. dis. June S,'65.
Privates.
Highland, Culberton, e. Sept. 17,'62, died at
Andersonville Pris., Nov. 17,'64, No. grave
12,070.
Pippin, R., e Jan. 26,'G3. m.o. July 31, '6.5.
Pippin, Thos., e. Jan. 22, '03, m.o. July 31, '65.
Pippin, -Arnold, e. Feb. 22,'t'>4. m.o. Julv 31, '05.
Rittenour, J. P., e Sept. 22,'02. in Co. G.
Miller. Henry, e. Sept. 14, '02, in Co. K.
COMPANY M.
SergeaTit.
Benj. Kaunnan, e. Sept. 15,'62, died Feb. 9,'64.
Corporals.
John Probasco, e. Sei)t. 15,'62, m.o. July 31, '65.
J. J. Ferguson, e. Sept. 15, '62, m.o. July 31, '65.
Privates.
Casev, J. M., e. Sept. 15, '62, m.o. July 31, '65.
Stinlev, Wm. J., e. Sept. 15, '02.
Kellogg, David, e. Oct. 0,'64.
Burk, Thomas, e. Sept. 27, '6-1.
Hass, Jacol), e. Oct. 5, '03, in Co. D., 17th, m.o.
Dec. 20, 'Cm.
Howard, D. ^i., e. Jan. 15,'61, in Co. D, 17th, m.
o. Dec. '20, '05.
Vorhees, David, e. Jan. 28,'64, in Co. D, m. o.
Dec. 20, '05.
ARTILLERY.
Gillett, Chas. S., e. Dec. 30,'63, in bat. F., 1st
kid. Aug. 3,'64.
Richardsdii, Thos., e. July 3,'62, tr. to V.R.C.
Betterliiig, Geo., e. April 19,'01, in bat. A. 2d
Art., il. <lis.
Wehner, Henry, e. July 17, '61, in bat. A, 2d
An., (lied Feb. 14,'02, wnds.
Brown, James, e. Sepi. •23.'64, in. bat. G. 'Jd Art.,
m.o. May 30, '65.
20th U. S. (COLORED INFANTRY.)
Corsley, Wm. H., e. Sept. 21, '6-1, in Co. B.,m.o.
Sept. 30,'(iu.
Hall, Geo. M~e. Sept. '21, '64, in Co. B.
382
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
COMPANY G.
Ashby, Wm. J., e. Sept. 21,'64,m.o. Nov. e.'Oo.
Ashbv, Miirehall, e. Sept. 21, '04, m.o. Sept.30,'()5.
Ashbv, Wm. H., e. Sept. 21, '04, m.o. Sept.30,'05.
Day, iMorgan, e. Sept. 30,'e4, died Sept. G,'60.
Heiirv, Wm., e. Jan. 27, '05.
Lewis, Edward, e. Sept. 2.s,'64, m.o. May23,'05.
Price, Wilson, e. Sept. 30,'e4.
Tumbleton, Thos. M., e. Sept. 30,'64.
McGee, Benj., e. Mar. 7,'65.
1st ARMY CORPS.
Davis, Noah, N., e. Feb. 21, '0.5, m.o. Feb. 21, '06.
(Jrabtree, A. J., e. Feb. 2S,'0.3, m.o. Feb. 2S,'0.5
Carr, Taos., e. Feb. 28,'65, m.o. Feb. 28,'66.
McClure, J. A., e. Feb. 27,'65.
Work, Husli A., e. Feb. 24,'6.5, m.o. Feb. 24,'n.5.
Sandburn, W. H., e. Feb. 3,'05, m.o. Mar. 3,'O0.
Crooks, Lawsoii, c. Mar. 6,'6.5.
Powers, (,'ha.s., e. Feb. 28,'0.5, m.o. Feb. 2S,'66.
Schermere, A., e. Mar. 23,'e5, m.o. Mar. 23,'eC.
Hill, Thos., e. Mar. 29,'6.5, m.o. Mar. 27,'66.
Harsh, Phillip, e. Mar. 30,'tw,"ui.o. Mar. 29,'00.
Simno, Francis, e. April 0.5.
Gibbs, W. J., e. April 5, '65, m.o. April 13, '66.
Hess, Peter, e. April 5,'65, m.o. April 13, '66.
Steinkoff, G., e. April 5,'65, m.o. April 13, '06.
Bliss, James, e. June, '65.
Dean, Henry, e. Sept., '64.
Donelson, James, e. Feb., '04.
Havs. R,, e. Sept., '04.
Newkirk, I. N., e. Oct., '04.
Price, Geo., e. Sept., 64.
Scott, John, e. Sept., '64.
Wilson, Charles, e. Sept., 64.
Young, Charles, e. June, '65.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Privates.
Montgomerj-, Samuel, e. Mar. 18, '62, v.
Newbauks, C. H., e. Mar. 29,'05, m.o. Oct. 15,'65.
Stanton, Mrchael, e. Oct. 12,'04, recruit.
Linton, A. R., e. Mar. 12,'64, kid. by R.R. acci-
dent, July 29, '04.
Wanttand John, e. Mar. 5,'64, m.o. Aug. 12,'05.
Wood, John, e. Dee. 21, '04, m.o. Aug. 12,'05.
Burns, Peter, e. Oct. 6, '64, recruit.
Femes, M., e. Oct. 6,'64. rejected by board.
Long, J. C, e. Oct. 0,'64, rejected bv board.
Dodson. R. S., e. Feb. 22,'65, v., m.o." Julv 31, '66.
Dod.son, M., e. Feb. 22.'6.5, v., m.o. July31,'65.
Smith, William, e. Sept. 3,'61.
Myers, Henry, e. Mar. 6, '.52, v., m.o. Julv 12,'05.
Rouse, T. J., e. April 2,'02, m.o. April 12,'65.
EdmLston, J., e. Sept. 10,'61, m.o. June 11, '62,
dis.
CoUins, N. M., e. Sept. 20, '64, Co. E., 73d inf.,
m.o. June 12, '65.
Morris, B. J., e. Aug. 5,'02, Co. F., 73d inf., d.
Jan. 13, '63, dis.
Horton, N., e. Feb. 9,'64, 73d inf., Co. K.
Newberry, A., e. Sept. 29,'04, 73d inf., Co. K.
Clegg, J. C, e. Aug. 13,'02, 77th inf., Co. IL,
kid. Vicksburg, Mav 19, '63.
Poga, A. B., e. Aug. 9,'02, 77th inf., Co. H., ra.
o. June]7,'05' pri.s. war.
Stewart, W. H., e. Aug. 12,'02, 77th inf., Co. H.,
d. May 27, '03, dis.
Hauck, John, e. 77th inf.. Co. K., as recniit.
Bagler, J. R., e. Aug. 12,'02, 81st inf., Co. D., m.
o., Aug. 5, '65.
Wilson, David, e. Feb. 41, '65, 81st inf., Co. K.,
recruit.
Groff, Joseph E., e. Aug. 1,'62, 85th inf., Co. I.,
m.o. June 5, '65.
Price, Fredrick, e. Feb. 5,'63, 2d oav., unas-
signed recruit. X>
Hayner, Christian, e. Dec. 17,'63, unassigned
recruit, cav.
Clark, Lewis, e. Dec. 10,'64, 3d cav., Co. A., re-
cruit, m.o. Oct. 10,'05, as sergt.
Ansell, Joseph, e. Oct. 11, '64, 3d cav., Co. D.,
m.o. Oct. 10,'C5.
Dalbv, Milo, e. Oct. 10,'fri, 3d cav., Co. E., m.o.
Oct. 10,'05.
McCance, G. R., e. April 12,'65, 3d cav., Co. E.,
m.o. Oct. 10, '65.
Morris, Geo., e. Feb. 13,'65, 3d cav., Co. E., m.
o. Oct. 10, '0.5.
Larish, Da\id, e. '01, in sappers and miners,
kid. in battle.
Moody, Albert, e. '61, in sappers and miners,
m.o. at close of war.
Ramige, W., e. Aug. 15,'62, 85th inf., Co. K., m.
o. June 5,'65.
Speicht, M., e. Aug. 15,'62, 85th inf., Co. K.,
died Oct. 30, '62.
Eaton, F. L., e. Aug. 11, '62, 8Cth inf., d. as hos.
steward.
Chauncy, W. W., e. July 18,'62, 86th inf., Co.
H., d. Dec. 28, '02, dis.
Howland, C. A., e. Oct. 13,'64, 92d inf., Co. K.,
recruit.
Sloan, J. L., e. Aug. 1,62, 94th fnf., Co. F., m.o.
July 17, '65.
Cathar," William, e. Mar. 3,'65, 97th inf., m.o.
Julv 29, '05.
Hand, Wm. B., e. July 26,'62, 99th inf., Co. A.,
m.o. Julv 31, '65.
Hand, WiUis, e. July26,'62, 99th inf., Co. A.,
m.o. Julv 31, '65.
Fitzpatrick, John, e. Mar. 9,'65, 103d inf., Co.
E., m.o. Julv 24, '65.
Vanmeter, J. B", e. Julv 22,'62, 106tli inf., Co.
C, m.o. Julv 12,'0.5.
Vanmeter, S. G." e. July 2,'62, 106th inf., Co. C,
m.o. July 12, '65.
Smith, James, e. Jan. 23, '64, unassigned re-
cruit 113th inf.
Holmes, Samuel, e. Sept. 22,'64, 113th inf., Co.
D., recruit, m.o. Aug. 3, "65.
Nale, William, e. Sept. 22, '64, 113th inf., Co. D.,
recruit, m.o. Aug. 3,'65.
O'Conor, Peter, e. Sept. 22,'&4, 113th inf., Co.
D., m.o. Aug. 3,'65.
Thompson, J. W., e. Sept. 22,'&4, 113th inf., Co.
D., m.o. Aug. 3, '65.
Carter, Wm., e. Oct. 6,'64, 115th inf., Co. K.,
died Camp Butler, Jan. 8, '65.
Lee, Chas. K., e. Sept. 27, '64, in 116th inf., re-
cruit, Co. C, m.o. Jan. 7,'65.
Hamilton, Pa.schal, e. Oct. 11,'64, 116th inf., Co.
E;., recruit.
Smith, J. K. P., e. Sept. 20,'62, 116th inf., Co.
F., m.o. June 7,'05.
Harbinson, S. J., e. Aug. 12,'01, v., 2d cav., Co.
B., accidentally kid. Oct. 10,'65.
Collison, Madison, e. Oct. 1,'64, 2d cav., Co. B.,
d. June 12, '65.
Jones, WilUam, e. Oct. 1,'64, 2d cav., Co. D., d.
June 12, '65.
VanMeter, Newton, e. Feb. 20,'Cl, v., 2d cav.,
Co. D., m.o. Nov. 12, '05.
Kemp, Abraham, e. Mar. 25, '64, 2d cav., Co.
K., m.o. Nov. 22, '65.
Hodges, Wm. J., e. Feb. 28,'65, Co. H., 14th regt.
Hammond, J., e. Feb. 28,'05, Co. K., 14th regt.
Wells, Marcus P., e. May 24,'ei, in Co. K., 16th
inf., died Mav 26,'02.
Hodgson, Hugh D., e. Dec. 14, '63.
Cadwell, W., e. June 17,'61, in Co. F., 19th inf.
Ketz, Fred., e. Mar. 8,'65, in Co. A., 20th inf.,
m.o. July 22, '65.
Scholotour, John, e. Mar. 8,'65, in Co. A., 20th
inf., m.o. Julv 10, '05.
Miller, Wm. H.. e. June 13,'61, in Co. E., 20th
inf., died.
Kelly, Thos., e. Jan. 23, '65, in Co. F., 20th inf.
Kelly, James, e. Jan. 23, '65, never reported.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY,
383
Donghert\', James, e. Jan. 16,'65.
Rotze, Fre<l., e. Mar. .s,'65.
Bviiuin, IsiUic, e. Sept. •J9,'G4, m.o. Aupr. t.'GS.
Bond, C. C e. Feb. 2.s,'65, m.o. Nov. 6,'(>.5.
Brown, Jackson, e. Aug. 'iO.'Gl, v., in Co. G.,
3:kl inf.
Davis, Jonathan, e. Oct. 7,'G4, in Co. H., o3d inf.
Oliver, R., e. Feb. 1.'),'(;.5, in Co. 1, drowned.
Kagan, H. W., c. Oct. 7,'64, in Co. I, m.o. Oct.
Carr.'Mark, e. Sept. 7,'61, v. in Co. I., 34th inf.,
missing in action.
Sullivan, C.. e. Dec. 30, 'G3, in Co. I., 34th inf.,
m.o. July 12, '(■).').
Muller, J. B., e. Aug. 30,'61, in Co. G., 39th inf.,
d. Julv4,'63, dis.
Neef, Fred., e. Aug. 30,'fil, in Co. G. 39th inf.
Heintz, P. H., e. Aug. 30,'61, v. in Cy. G., 39th.
inf.
Kuchule, M., c. Sept.
Leatherwood, Alex.,
43d inf., died May
1,'61, in Co. G., 43d inf.
e. April 5,'G5, in Co. K.,
9,T».
Spradley, A. J., c. April r>,'&o, in Co. K., 43d
inf.," m.o. May 11, 'G5.
Roberts, Newman, e. Oct. 1,'6-1, in Co. E., 120th
Inf., died Mav 2,'G.\
Bloonishine, Fred., Dec. 8,'C3.
JlcCullertv, James, e. Oct. 10,'G4.
Anderson", \Vm., e. Feb. 22,'65, in Co. B., 12Gth
Inf.. m.o. July 12,'G5.
Henderson, \Vm.," e. April 5.'65, in Co. E., 12Gth
Inf., m.o. Julv 12, 'G.').
Mueller, A. II., A"pril 5,'G,"i, in Co. E., 126th Inf.,
m.o. July 12, 'G.').
Peninger, Washington, e. March 21, 'G5.
James, John T., e. Mav20,'G4, in Co. G., 134th
Inf., Oct. 2.'^,'G4.
Robison, Geo. F., e. Mov 20,'G4, in Co. G., 134h
Inf., m. o. Oct. 25,'G4.
Willard, Erasuis II., e. June 21, '64, in Co. E.,
:!Sth Inf., is 1st lieutenant.
Zanies, Samuel A., e. T*Iav 1G,'64, in Co. I, 442d
Inf., m.o. Oct. 2G,'G4.
Armstrong, Thos., e. Nov. 1.5, '64, in Co. K.,
144th Inf., m.o. Julv 14, '65.
Houghton, Tnos. B.. e. Feb. 3,'65, in Co. A.,
150th Inf., m.o. Jan. 16,'GG.
CHAPTER XII.
THE TAZEWELL COUNTY BAK.
As the prosperity and well being of every community depends
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,
to whom these matters are generally relegated, must form no unim-
portant chapter in the county's history. Upon a few principles of
natural justice is erected the whole superstructure of municipal law
tending; to relieve the wants and meet the desires of all alike. But
where so many interests and counter interests are to be protected and
adjusted, to the judiciary is presented many interesting and complex
problems. But change is every-where imminent. The laws of
yesterday do not compass the wants and necessities of the people of
to-day. The old relations do not exist. New and satisfactory ones
must be established. The discoveries in the arts and sciences; the
invention of new contrivances for labor ; the enlargement of indus-
trial pursuits, and the increase and development of commerce, are
without precedence, and the science of the law must keep pace
with them all ; nay, it must even forecast events and must frame its
laws as will most adequately subserve the wants and provide for the
necessities of the new conditions. Hence the lawyer is a man of
the day. The exigencies he must meet are those of his own time.
His capital is his ability and individuality. He cannot bequeath
to his successors the characteristics that distinguished him, and at
his going the very evidences of his work disappear. And in com-
piling this short sketch one is astonished at the paucity of material
for a memoir of those who have been so intimately connected with
and who exerted such an influence upon the county^s welfare and
progress. The pecvdiarities and the personalities which form so
pleasing and interesting a part of the lives of the members of the
Bar, and which, indeed, constitute the charm of local history, are
altogether wanting. Unlike the fair plaintiff in Bardell vs. Pick-
wick, we have no pains-taking sergeant to relate " the facts and cir-
HISTOTIY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 385
cumstances " of the case. The Court records give us the facts, but
the circumstances surrounding and giving an interest to the events
are wanting.
Tazewell, like all pioneer counties, suffered much in the stability
of her judiciary owing to the numerous contests concerning the loca-
tion of the county-seat and the consequent bitterness and local
prejudice attending the various removals. The county-seat was
first located at Mackinaw, March 22nd, 1827. Tazewell county,
at that time, for judicial purposes, formed a part of the Second
Circuit. The first term of the Circuit Court ever held in this
county was at Mackinaw, May 12th, 1828, and presided over
by the Hon. Samuel J. Lockwood. The first case docketed was
entitled Bryan and Morrison vs. Wm. Eads, action of debt. The
first indictment presented was against William Herbert for assault
and battery.
Samuel J. Lockwood. — The Hon. Samuel J. Lockwood was one
of the justices of the Supreme Court of Illinois and assigned to
circuit duty in the Second Circuit. He was a man of good ability
and discharged his duties very acceptably.
Stephen T. Logan. — The Hon. Stephen T. Logan was the next
presiding Judge for several years and afterwards was Judge in the
Sangamon Circuit. He now resides in Springfield, Illinois, having
retired from active life. He was one of the ablest lawyers in the
State, and one whose ability and legal knowledge placed him in the
front rank of his profession. The Judge had a mania for whittling,
and Court never moved smoothly until the Sheriff had placed a
number of white pine shingles beside the wool-sack, when the
evolution of law and pine shavings proceeded Avith equal dignity
and composure.
John Pearson. — The Hon. John Pearson succeeded Judge Logan.
He is spoken of as a man of good ability and a good Judge, but
was not popular with the people on account of his inability to
accommodate himself to their ways and primitive civilization. The
court-houses were rude buildings with but few of the conveniences
considered necessary at the present time, and Judge Pearson, not
content with the chair provided for the Court, refused to sit until
a rocking-chair was procured for his use, which desire for personal
comfort led to a great deal of unfavorable comment among the
people.
Jesse B. Thomas. — The Hon. Jesse B. Thomas was the next
386 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Judge and presided for several years. He was one of the most
active men ever upon the bench. He allowed no delays, and his
executive ability is highly praised. At one term of Court in this
couutv he cleared the docket of some 500 cases and did much to
avoid the delays so tedious to litigants. Judge Thomas was Presi-
dent of the first Constitutional Convention of the State, and in
whatever position called served with distinction.
William Thomas. — The Hon. William Thomas served as Judge
but few terms owing to some change in the judicial circuit, and was
scarcely identified with the legal interests of this county.
Samuel H. Treat. — The Hon. Samuel H. Treat next came on
this Circuit and served until 1848, when the Judges were elected in
accordance with the provisions of the new constitution then adopted.
Judge Treat was afterwards appointed to the bench of the United
States Court, at Springfield, which position he still holds. He is a
close observer of men and times, and is considered one of the ablest
and most upright judges in our entire judiciary.
David Davis. — The Hon. David Davis was elected Judge of
this Circuit in 1848, and so remained until 1857. On first coming to
Illinois Judge Davis settled in Pekin, but shortly afterwards re-
moved to Bloomington. Early in Lincoln's administration he was
appointed to the United States Supreme Court from which he re-
signed in 1877, being elected in that year to the United States
Senate from Illinois. He was much inclined to indolence while
Judge of this Circuit, and required a great stimulus to exertion, but
he discharged very acceptably the onerous duties of his office.
James Harriott. — The Hon. James Harriott was elected to suc-
ceed Judge Davis in 1857. He came to this county in 1849, having
previously served a term in the State Legislature from the district
surrounding Jerseyville. He was the first Judge of the old 21st
Circuit, including the counties of Tazewell, Mason, Menard and
Cass. He filled the office for over 10 years and was highly respected
for his sterling good sense and discernment, and was well liked by
the Bar and the people. He died at his home in Pekin in the year
1869.
Charles Turner. — The Hon. Charles Turner was elected over
Judge Harriott in 1867. Judge Turner came to this State from
Ohio, 1851, and practiced law until 1862, when he entered the army,
serving three years and attaining the rank of Brev. Brig. General.
On his return he again pursued the practice of law, and was elected
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 387
CountyTrcasurer in 1865, when he resigned to accept the Judgeship
in 1867, and served until 1873, when the circuit was changed from
the 21st to the 12th.
John Burns. — Hon. John Burns in 1873 was elected over Judge
Turner, and is now one of the three Judges of what is known as
the 8th Circuit, being composed of the counties of Tazewell, Peoria,
Woodford, Marshall, Putnam and Stark. His term expires in June
of this year, and he is now (April, 1879) a candidate for re-election.
He is an able lawyer, an upright judge, and has proven very accept-
able to the people of this circuit.
Among the lawyers who were prominently known at this Bar
during and previous to the time when Judge Treat held Court at
Tremont were, Lincoln and Douglas, whose names and history have
become a part of that of our country ; George Farquhar, at one
time Secretary of State ; John T. Stewart, now of the firm of
Stewart, Edwards & Brown, Springfield, Illinois, and for many years
in Congress ; Daniel Stone and Thomas Nealc ; A. F. Hubbard,
during 1826 ad interim Governor of the State, and who precipitated
the celebrated case of Ewing vs. Farquhar, which called into ques-
tion the construction of Art. 3 of Sec. 18 of the then Constitution;
Edward Baker, Senator from Oregon, who was killed at Ball's Bluff
during the war for the Union ; Col. John J. Hardin, killed during
the Mexican War at Buena Vista ; Wm. A. McDougal, afterwards
United States Senator from California; Judge Dunmur, David Pick-
ett, Alexander Herring, A. L. Davidson, W. H. Purple, O. H.
Merryman and others whose history is coeval with that of the early
days of the county.
Among those of a later day who have either died or removed from
the county are the following :
Echcard Jones, who came to this county about 1830 and was
among the first Circuit Clerks. He was a captain in the Mexican
War, a man of fine education, a natural lawyer, and in the days of
the strict common law pleadings was without a peer at the local
Bar. He died at an early age, the victim of those habits which are
too frequently the accompaniment of brilliant and distinguishing
qualities of mind.
B. F. James, who was County Judge in 1850, in 1852 moved to
Chicago, but now lives in Washington, D. C.
W. D. Briggs, who was among the first County Judges, was a fine
business lawyer and a man well liked. He died in 1854.
25
388 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Wm. Furguerson, a very able and talented man, but was unfortu-
nately killed in a duel in California.
Ashiel Gridley and Wm. Holmes, who moved to Bloomington,
some years since.
A. H. Saltonstall, who practiced several years in Tremont, and
died in 1855.
William B. Parker and his son Edward Parker, men of fine edu-
cation and good abilities, but who lacked the perseverance so neces-
sary to the success of a lawyer. They died respectively in the years
1873 and 1874.
Samuel W. Fuller, who came from the East in 1851, and was
elected to the State Senate in 1856. In 1858 he removed to Chicago,
where he resided up to the time of his death, in 1873. Mr. Fuller
was an able and accomplished lawyer, and at the time of his death
had a reputation second to none in the State.
Samuel P. Bailey settled in Pekin about 1830 and practiced law
up to the time of his death in 1869. Mr. Bailey was an omnivorous
reader, and was probably the most widely read lawyer at the Bar,
but he lacked practical application and could in no way utilize the
immense stores of his knowledge ; and the learning which would
have given him the highest place as an advocate, was rendered val-
ueless because it availed him but little in the practical discharge of
the duties of his profession.
Richard W. Ireland came to Pekin about 1848 or 9 and was Clerk
of the County Court. At different times in his life he was associated
with prominent attorneys as a partner and was a very successful
office lawyer. He removed to Tremont a short time previous to his
death, in 'l 869.
James Roberts was admitted to the Bar in Missouri, in 1849, but
removed to Pekin in June, 1852. He was a man of fine abilities, to
which he united the most studious habits. He prepared his cases
with the most painstaking accuracy, and his knowledge of the law
was such as could only be gained by the severest application. He
built up one of the largest and most lucrative practices ever con-
trolled by any one lawyer, but his career was cut short at the early
age of 33 years by his death from overwork. He practiced in the
Supreme Court of the United States, being engaged in the cases
concerning the patents of the Illinois Harvesters, which at that
time attracted great attention.
Hon. Sabill J), Puterbaugh wag admitted to the bar in Pekin, and
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 389
in 1857 formed a partnership with Samuel W. Fuller, and after its
dissolution he removed to Peoria where he still resides. He was
elected Judge in that circuit for one term of six years. He is the
author of Puterbaugh's Pleadings and Practice, a work of merit
and which is in general use throughout the State.
Joseph Hanna came to this county from McLean about 1859 as
a partner of Hon. J. B. Cohrs, under the name of Cohrs &
Hanna. Mr. Hanna was a young lawyer of great promise, but on
the breaking out of the war he enlisted in the army and was killed
at Fort Donelson.
Richard W. Williams, one of the finest educated men, and one of
the best speakers at the Bar, came from the South to Pekin in 1866,
He died suddenly in the summer of 1873.
Abram Bergen came to Pekin in 1862, and shortly afterwards was
appointed States Attorney to fill the vacancy caused by the absence
of Major Fullerton in the army. In 1865 he moved to Minnesota,
and was there elected to the State Senate. He again moved, going
to Kansas, and from there was appointed to a judgeship in New
Mexico, but finding the position distasteful he resigned and returned
to Kansas, where he now resides. Mr. Bergen is an excellent law-
yer, and the various distinguished offices he has filled mark him as a
man of no ordinary ability.
Cassius G. Whitney was admitted to the Bar in 1869, and was
elected States Attorney of the 21st Circuit in 1868. In 1872 he
removed to Cass county, taking a very prominent part in the county-
seat contest between Virginia and Beardstown, which was finally
decided in favor of Virginia, where Mr. Whitney now resides. He
is a young man of talent and a leading lawyer in his county.
Charles Tinney was admitted to the Bar in 1870, practiced in
this county awhile and then removed to Virginia, and is now the
junior partner in the firm of Whitney & Tinney.
Frank Purple read with Messrs. Roberts & Green and after his
admission to the Bar, in 1869, became a partner in the firm. He
finally removed to Peoria and has since forsaken the law for other
pursuits.
Thomas W. Mehan was admitted to the Bar in 1868; was elected
to the office of City Attorney for one term and remained here until
1876, when he removed to Mason, and is now States Attorney for
that county.
William A. Mehan v^as admitted in 1870. He still resides in this
county though not engaged in active practice.
390 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
JSIias C. Brearley was admitted to the Bar in 1861 in the State of
New Jersey. He practiced in Pekin several years in the firm of
Brearley & Henry, then at Jacksonville and Washington City.
He is now located in Leadville, Colorado.
M. 31. Bassett was admitted in 1870, and removed to Peoria
where he is still engaged in the practice.
Henry P. Finnigan was admitted to the Bar in 1868. He had
served as Circuit Clerk in this county. He removed to Lincoln,
Nebraska, about 1870, where he resided up to the time of his death,
in 1878.
Albert J. Ware came to this Bar in 1868, and was for some time
associated as a member of the firm of Prettyman & Ware. He
practiced here until the spring of this year when he removed to
Leadville, Colorado, his present home.
George B. Foster was admitted to the Bar in 1869, and practiced
in Pekin until 1877, when he moved to Peoria and became a mem-
ber of the firm of Johnson & Foster.
The Bar of the county has always maintained a high standard of
legal excellence, and that it has not diminished will be seen by the
present able representation.
Hon. B. S. Prettyman came from New Castle, Delaware, in 1831,
and commenced the practice of law in 1845. Mr Prettyman's inter-
ests have always been identified with those of Pekin, which has been
his home since coming to this county. He is an able lawyer and in
the matter of real estate law has scarcely an equal in the State.
Wm. A. Tinney came to this State from Kentucky in 1833, and in
1834 he was elected to the office of sheriff, which he held until 1840,
but was beaten in "the coon-skin campaign." He then removed to
Washington where he opened a country store. In 1846 he enlisted
for the Mexican war. On his return he opened the Eagle House,
and at one time owned and conducted the Bcmis House. In 1861
he was elected Justice of the Peace and also Police Magistrate,
which he still retains. In 1865 he was admitted to the Bar but has
practiced but little, being principally occupied in the discharge of
the duties of his office.
Judge David Kyes was Sheriff of the county in 1852. At the
expiration of his terra he moved to Washington where he carried on
a grocery store until 1857, when he was admitted to the Bar. In
1860 he was elected to the State Legislature, and in 1865 to the
office of County Judge, which he hel4 for 12 years. He is now en-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 391
gaged in the practice of the law, having discharged the duties of his
various offices to the entire satisfaction of his constituents.
Hon. Ccesar A. Roberts came to Tazewell county from Missouri
in 1850, and practiced medicine up to 1858. In 1859 Mr. Roberts,
in company with a large number of the citizens of Tazewell, was
attracted to Colorado by the promising mining prospects. At a
convention on the 11th of July the same year, and of which Mr.
Priscoif, the present Mayor of Denver, was president, he was ap-
pointed to and drafted a code of mining laws, many of which are
still in force, and was then elected Recorder of Claims in the district
surrounding Central City. Later in the same year he returned to
Illinois, and in 1860 was admitted to the Bar. In 1864 he was
States Attorney for the 21st Circuit, and in 1870 became a member
of the State Legislature and served through the long session of the
27th General Assembly, engaged in revising the statutes in accord-
ance with the new constitution of 1870.
Judge Wm. Don Maus came to Illinois from Pennsylvania and
was admitted to the Bar in 1857. He was appointed Master in
Chancery by Judge Harriott, and filled that office for ten years, or
during the entire term of that Judge on the bench. In 1863 he
was elected County Judge, to fill the unexpired term of Wm.
Tackaberry, then recently deceased.
Nathaniel W. Green came to Illinois from New Jersey and was
admitted to the Bar in 1856. He practiced in Delavan, in this coun-
ty, until 1865, when he removed to Pckin and became a member of
the firm of Roberts & Green. Although frequently solicited, Mr.
Green has refused to accept any official position, and has confined
himself exclusively to the practice of the law.
Hon. John B. Cohrs was born in South Carolina, and at an early
age removed to New York where he received a collegiate education.
He then came to McLean county where he engaged in farming, but
shortly afterwards sold his farm, read law in Bloomington, Illinois,
and was admitted in 1859, when he came to this county as a mem-
ber of the firm of Cohrs & Hanna. In 1864 he was elected to the
State Senate. He is now a prominent candidate for the Judgeship
in this Circuit.
Hon. Abial B. Sawyer was admitted to the Bar in 1861. He has
made a specialty of Real Estate and Collection law. In 1877 he was
elected Mayor of Pekin, which he held one term.
Capt. Wilbur F. Henry came from Ohio to Illinois, and was ad-
392 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
mltted to the Bar in 1866; is a graduate of the Ohio State and
Union Law College. He served three years in the Army and was
Captain of Company "B," 108th Illinois volunteers; was Master
in Chancery from September 1867 to 1873, and was States Attorney
for this county from 1872 to 1876.
William S. Kellogg was admitted to the Bar in this county in 1869
and practiced until 1876, when he was appointed Deputy Circuit
Clerk, in which capacity he now acts.
Collins J. Elliott was admitted to the Bar in 1862. He has sever-
al times filled the office of City Attorney, and is still engaged in the
law practice in Pekin.
Henry T. Spoonhoff was born in Amsterdam, Holland, in 1834.
He came to America and was admitted to the Bar of this county in
1862.
Gurdon T. Saltonstall was admitted to the Bar in 1866, and in
1877 was appointed Master in Chancery for this County by Judge
Burns, which position he still holds.
Judge A. W. JRodecker was admitted to the Bar in 1868, and in
1877 was elected County Judge as successor of Judge Kyes. Judge
Rodecker was a member of the Board of School Inspectors for 7
years, and to his energy and ability may be attributed much of the
excellence of the public schools of Pekin'
John H. Pirkey was born in Virginia and came to Illinois at an
early age. In 1862 he enlisted in the Army under the " 600,000
call," and served three years. In 1875 he was admitted to the Bar
in the State of Missouri. Shortly afterwards he came to Illinois
and engaged in school teaching, and in 1879 he was admitted to the
Bar in this county. Mr. Pirkey has been principal of the public
schools for several years, but contemplates soon to engage in the
active practice of his profession.
James Haines, Sr., came to Pekin about 1849 and was admitted to
the Bar in 1850. He practiced several years when he engaged in
the Banking and Insurance business, and since then he has not
resumed the practice of the law.
William T. Stansberry came to this State from Ohio, in 1848, and
was admitted to the Bar in 1849. He has engaged but little in
the practice, having turned his attention to mercantile pursuits.
Cornelius Mihigan was admitted to the Bar in 1876.
Hon. William R. Hall was first admitted to the Bar in this State
in 1871, and went to Missouri but returned to the Bar of this county
HISTORY OF TA2EWELL COUStTV. 393
in 1871. He was elected City Attorney for one term, and is a
member at present of the House of Representatives from this district.
W. L. Preityman was admitted to the Bar in 1871, and was elect-
ed to the office of States Attorney for this County in 1876.
George C. Rider came from New York to Illinois in 1870, and
was admitted to the Bar in 1873. He was first elected to the office
of City Attorney in 1873, which office he has filled for 5 years, and
has now entered upon his fourth term.
Chsar A. Roberts, Jr., was admitted to the Bar of this State in
June, 1878.
The Bar at Delavan is represented by Mr. M. D. Beecher, who
was admitted to the Bar in 1869 ; by W. R. Curran, who came to
this county from Livingston county in 1876, and by Edward
Reardon, who was admitted to the Bar in 1876, and associated with
Mr. W. R. Curran under the name of Curran & Reardon. And at
Washington, Illinois, by Matthew Craig, who was admitted to the
Bar in 1870; by J. W. Dougherty, who was admitted in 1875 and
acted as Master in Chancery in this county for four years, and by
Mr. William Dougherty, who was admitted in 1877, but who is now
engaged in teaching in the College at Quincy, Illinois,
Thus closes the complete roll, as we believe, of judges and attor-
neys who have presided at the courts of Tazewell county or pleaded
at its Bar. *
COURT DAYS.
Among the notable days in the early history of the county, was
court day. The convening of Court was one of the events of the
year. On that day nearly everybody gathered at the county-seat.
If a settler happened not to be on a jury, or a witness, or a suitor,
he felt it his bounden duty to " go to Court," to see and hear what
was going on. It answered the place of the shows and circuses of a
later day, and perhaps was as instructive if not as entertaining.
When Court was over, in the evening the Judge, lawyers and citi-
zens congregated in the bar-rooms of the taverns, where stories
were told and the evening spent in conversation. These seasons
were accounted the most enjoyable of pioneer life, and when we
consider the men who were there to edify and please the crowd, with
their stories and anecdotes, we may well consider court days as pos-
sessing an interest of no little merit. There was Lincoln and
Douglas, two of the greatest statesmen the world has ever known.
394 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
and both of whom possessed an inexhaustible fountain of anecdotes.
It is said the immense fund of anecdotes possessed by the late Pres-
ident Lincoln was largely derived from collections made while " on
the circuit." Then there was Baker, Stewart, Lockwood, Farquhar,
the comical Hubbard, Hardin, Treat, Logan and Davis, and
others who could relate as good a story as ever was heard. Who
would not love to sit at the feet of such men and listen to their
arguments, their general conversation and their stories. Abraham
Lincoln was attending Court at Tremont, in 1842, when Gen. Shields
sent him the challenge to fight their famous duel. Many of the
older citizens remember this exciting: occurrence.
In speaking of the Circuit Courts in the very earliest settlement
of this part of the State, before Tazewell county was organized,
Nathan Dillon said: "In those days (1824) when we could not get
the store room of Hamlin or Allen, or the dwelling house of John
Dixon, we held our courts on the river bank ; not being as wealthy
or strong handed as in Sangamon, we had to do without a court-
house. Judge Sawyer was our circuit Judge, and it was some time
before we could scare up a jury. At that date there was not a
cabin on the site of the city of Pekin, and perogues were the only
crafts we had to freight our whisky, salt and iron from the State to
Peoria."
Nathan Dillon was a Justice of the Peace for many years in the
early history of the county, and in an action for debt always ren-
dered decision in favor of the plaintiff. He did so on the grounds,
as he would say, " that if the defendent had never owed the plaintiff
he certainly would not have sued him." That was his logic, which
overruled good evidence to the contrary.
'squire tinney as an instructor.
At the June term of the County Commissioners' Court the Judges
placed 'into the hands of a young aspirant of the legal profession
the following commendation :
" Whereas, J. Farnham is a gentlemen of respectability, honest,
and of good repute ; and, whereas, he is desirous of practicing in
Court, therefore, he is recommended to the Justices of the Supreme
Court as a man worthy to be admitted to practice in said Court."
Armed with this document Farnham was admitted. No doubt
he was a promising young sprig of the law, or else we believe the
Commissioners had refused to grant him a recommend. But he
HISTORY OF TAZEAVELL COUNTY. • 395
had some practical knowledge to gain, and this essential part of his
education 'Squire Wni. A. Tinney undertook to supply. It is true
he received but one lesson from the 'Squire, but let us hope that it
was so eifective, and made so strong an impression upon his mind,
that he never needed another.
It was in a suit for debt that Farnham received this lesson.
'Squire Tinney was at the time Sheriff of the county, and had levied
upon a fine team and carriage belonging to the defendant in the
suit. He proceeded to call a jury of disinterested persons to decide
the matter. The defendant had secured the services of Farnham
to defend his interests. The latter, being but just admitted to the
bar, endeavored to show off his legal knowledge, and consequently
was a great stickler to red tape. As might have been expected, he
used the privilege of objecting to one of the jurymen. This, of
course, delayed the case for several days, for it must be remembered
a petit jurv could not be gathered so quickly as at the present time.
The Sheriff was put to considerable trouble in impaneling another
jury, but finally the case was again opened when Farnham objected,
as usual. Of course, this was mere pettifogging, and merely done
to provoke and harass. A third jury w^as called, and Farnham
began, "I object" — but forbearance could endure no more, and
Sheriff Tinney gathered up a chair and laid the legal gentlemen
sprawling upon the floor. That trial was ended. Farnham soon
thereafter sought the exhilerating atmosphere of Oregon, and was
never heard of afterwards by any of the Tazewell county Bar.
CHAPTER XIII.
BOYNTON TOWNSHIP.
THIS township is situated in the southern portion of Tazewell
county. In point of acres under cultivation it is not surpassed
by neighboring townships, and when we take into consideration the
fact that Boynton, but a quarter of a century ago, contained but
little tillable land, the result is marvellous. It was attained only
through unflagging energy on the part of its enterprizing citizens
and an admirable system of tile drainage. The first settlement was
made by Joseph Grant on Section 9, in 1839; the first birth, in
1842, w^as Albert, son of Robert Houston, who settled here about
the year 1840. Benjamin Roe also came during that year, G. W.
Clamon located 6 years later. Among those who settled prior to
1852, we find Samuel Falor, John Blair, Andrew Kerr, and Wm.
Benton. In 1850 Wm. Milner, Charles and Richard Holden and
John T. Scates, Wm. and Peyton Alexander, John Jacobus and
others. In 1854 the township was organized and the following
persons, some of whom are now prominent in the affairs of the
township, met at the residence of James Huston as a committee on
organization : James Crawford, Wm. Wooters, Daniel Bennett,
Ira Judy, Wm. Burton, John T. Scates, John Jacobus, Philip
Wade and others were present. The majority of the citizens assem-
bled on this occasion declared in favor of township organization.
Many were the names suggested with which to christen their town-
ship, in consequence of which a ballot was taken. After the lapse
of considerable time spent in discussion, it finally received the name
of Boynton, in honor of an Eastern gentleman of that name.
There is a post-office kept in the center of the township. Mail is
received three times a week. The character of the schools and
school-houses are good, and every improvement in the township adds
its testimony to the enterprise, thrift and culture of the people.
Among the representative farmers of Boynton, those who make its
history and mold its destiny, we call attention to the following
gentlemen :
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 399
E. Atkinson, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 14 ; P. O., Boynton.
The subject of this sketch was born in Ohio in 1844. During the
same year his parents moved to Tazewell county, where Mr. A. has
since resided, and where he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah
Farmer, a daughter of John H. Farmer of Logan Co., Kentucky.
Two children blessed this union — Emma A. and Martha Jane.
Mr. Atkinson has witnessed many changes in the beautiful county of
Tazewell, wrought by the swift hand of Time. In this Township
he has acquired a farm property of 80 acres and few are of a more
hospitable disposition than he.
George Bcnhler was born in Baden, Ger., near the banks of the
historic river Rhine, on the 16th of Feb., 1832; turned to farm life
from his earliest days. He acquired a good common school educa-
tion, and at the age of 25 crossed the ocean ; after a short delay in
New York made his way to Chicago, and thence to McLean Co.
111., and finally to Tazewell Co., where he first procured employment
as a farm hand. He worked early and late to procure enough to get
a start in life. In 1865 he was married to Miss Delilah Burton,
daughter of Wm. Burton, of this township. In 1867 Mr. B. suc-
ceeded in purchasing an 80-acre tract of land on sec. 9, which he
has improved greatly by tiling. Of his marriage with Miss Burton
five children were born, four of whom are living — Esther, John,
Emma and William. Post-office address, Boynton.
Christian Beaver, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 6 ; P. O., Delavan.
Although not ranking among the original pioneers of this county,
Christian Beaver is worthy of more than a passing notice. He was
born in Adams Co., Ohio, in the year 1808. His father, Michael
Beaver, was a native of Penn., and in an early day, at a time when
Daniel Boone ruled, in a measure, the destinies of Kentucky,
Michael Beaver, then but a youth, accompanied his parents to the
then wilds of Kentucky. When we take into consideration the fact
that not a steamboat plowed our AVestern waters, and Kentucky the
home of wild beasts and still wilder men, this was indeed a bold
step on the part of these daring pioneers. He resided many years
in Kentucky, and in 1808 located in Ohio at a time when Ohio
was the home of the red men, and was inhabited by few white
men, save the hunter and trapper in search of new scenes and inci-
dents. During his 19th year the subject of this sketch, with his
parents, moved to Fountain Co., Indiana, where the head of the
family passed the remainder of his days. We now follow the
fortunes of him whose name heads this column and from whorn
our narrative is obtained. In 1831 he was united in marriage
to Miss Lydia Heuston, a native of Indiana. Here Mr. Beaver
continued to reside until 1862. One year previous Mrs. Beaver
was laid at rest in Fountain Co. Of this marriage thirteen chil-
dren were born, 6 of whom are living, Daniel, Sarah, Mary, Samuel,
Simon, Phoebe, Asa, Ann, Abraham, Jacob, Mahala, Eliza, Ellen.
In 1862 Mr. Beaver was married to Miss Phrana Livingood, a
400 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
native of North Carolina. One child blessed this union — Christian.
During the year above mentioned Mr. B. located in Boynton town-
ship, where he now resides.
John Beezley, farmer and stock raiser, Section 21 ; P. O., Boynton ;
was born in Shelby Co., O., on the 15th of April, 1843. He is the
oldest son of William Beezly, a native of Clark Co., O., now a
resident of Iowa and a farmer. John came to Illinois — Logan
Co. — in 1859, and was quietly pursuing his farm duties when the
war broke out. He then enlisted as a private in Co. F., 38th III.
Infantry. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Stone River,
Chickamauga, Franklin, Nashville and in Sherman's Atlantic Cam-
paign. He was promoted for meritorious conduct, March 23, 1864,
to 1st Lieutenant, which he served till he was mustered out April 9,
1866. When Gen. Rosecrans had charge of the army of the Cum-
berland he organized a corps of honor to which Mr. B., as a veteran,
belonged. After the war he returned to Logan Co. and engaged in
farming until he came to Boynton, in 1868. In 1867 he was mar-
ried in DeWitt Co. to Mattie, daughter of Edward and Margaret
Morris, natives of England and Virginia, respectively. Three
children were born of this marriage — Jennie May, Margaret A. and
Alice G.
L. C. Blair, farmer and stock raiser. Section 18; P. O., Delavan.
The subject of this biography is a native of Tazewell Co., where he
was born in 1851. His lather, J. J. Blair, was a native of New
York State ; he was a farmer by occupation, and there married Miss
Elizabeth Clark. About 1850 he came West and settled in Taze-
well Co., where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred
in 1858. Mrs. Blair survived her husband several years, being laid
at rest in the Delavan Cemetery in 1866. The survivors of the
family are seven in number — Emily, Allie, Winfield, Anna, Bessie,
L. C. and Susan. L. C. Blair grew to mature years in this Co.,
where, in 1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Rosa E. Verbryck,
by whom he had one child — Warren. The homestead property
consists of 120 acres.
Daniel Brenneman, farmer and stock raiser. Sec. 3 ; P. O., Hope-
dale. The subject of this sketch is one of the oldest and wealthiest
agriculturalists of Boynton township. He was born in Germany,
in the year_ 1804. His father, Jacob Brenneman, was a well-to-
do farmer in his native land, and on the old farm homestead
young Daniel grew to manhood, and there married Miss Elizabeth
Jutzic. In 1832 he first landed in America, and subsequently, for a
period of 22 years lived in Warren Co., O., where he resided until
the spring of 1854, when he located in McLean Co. In 1855 he
settled in Boynton township. By this union they had seven sons
and six daughters, namely — Jacob, Mary, Peter, deceased, Eliza,
Joseph, Phoebe, deceased, Ella, John, Christian, deceased, Anna,
William, Amelia, and Edward. Mr. B. began his agricultural
career in poverty, but after a long and successful career he now en-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 401
ioys the fruits of a well spent life. Mr. Brenneman lias succeeded,
*bv the characteristic energy of the German people, in acquiring a
farm, consisting of 320 acres in Boynton township.
Jacob Brenneman, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 4 ; P. O., Hope-
dale. Jacob Brennaman ranks among the more opulent farmers of
Bovnton township. He is a native of that portion of Germany
ceded to Prussia at the close of the war of 18(36, and was born in
1827. Five years thereafter his parents, whom we shall find occa-
sion to mention, concluded to cast their lot in America, and after the
usual voyage landed in Baltimore. They remained but a short
time when they moved near Cincinnati, where young Jacob received
a liberal education. On the 20th of Nov., 1853, he was united in
marriage to Miss Jacobinia Jutzic. It was during the spring of
1854 that Mr. B. moved flirther west, coming to McLean Co., 111.
He remained there until 1855, when he became a permanent resi-
dent in Tazewell Co., locating in Boynton. Like nearly all settlers
at this time his means were limited : so much so that he did not
purchase property till 1856, when he bought 160 acres on Sec. 9.
Since this period, when the financial horizon appeared none the
brightest, Mr. B. has prospered, even far exceeding his most
sanguine hopes of a quarter century ago. At the present writing he
is the owner of 520 acres of land unsurpassed in the county. For-
tune has smiled bountifully upon him, but it has by no means
dwarfed his naturally enterprising spirit of liberality. Of the mar-
riage above referred to seven children were born, six of w^iom are
living and whose names are — Maria L., Julia A., Albert I., Amelia
E., Minnie S. and Wm. C. Mr. B. represents this township in the
Board of Supervisors.
Joseph Brenneman, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 1 ; P. O., Hope-
dale. Although of German parentage, as the name implies, yet he
was born in Warren Co., O., Nov. 22, 1833. There he passed his
early youth and grew to manhood. The year 1854 found the fami-
ly enroute for the fertile prairies of Illinois, where, in Tazewell Co.,
and this township, they settled on farm property. It was here he
embarked in life for himself and has proven himself the possessor of
good business ability. He ranks among the liberal and progressive
farmers of the county. In 1858 he was united in marriage with
Miss Eliza Ensmann, daughter of Peter Ensmann, of Bureau Co.,
111. In 1865 Mr. B. made his first purchase of farm property,
consisting of 160 acres in Boynton, where, and in Hopedale, he
now owns 300 acres. The marriage refered to has been blessed
with three children — Otitia F., William A., and Sidney.
Wm. M. Burton, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 8 ; P. O., Delavan.
William Burton is a well known agriculturalist of Boynton town-
ship, and among the early pioneers of this Co. He was born in
Adams Co., Ohio, in March, 1811, where he received, so to speak, a
round log-cabin education, and passed his boyhood amid the associ-
ations of pioneer life. Hearing many glowing accounts of the
402 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
fertility of Illinois, thither he directed his footsteps in 1837, and first
located in Peoria, here, however, he remained but a short time, as
the following morning he proceeded on foot to the village of Peru.
Shortly after he went to Groveland, where he secured employment
as a rail-splitter, where he afterwards married Miss Rebecca Staples,
a daughter of Joshua vStaples, of New York State. Mr. B. made
his first purchase of land in 1850, in Boynton township, consisting
of 160 acres.
Robert Collins, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 28 ; P. O., Boynton.
Robert Collins was born in Ohio, April 5, 1841, and spent his
boyhood days upon the old farm homestead. His father, Barnabus
Collins, was a native of Pennsylvania, and in an early day came
to Ohio, where he married Miss Aimee Miller, by whom he had six
children, of whom Rob't is the fourth. He came to Boynton in
1865 and first secured employment as a farm hand. He purchased
his present farm of 80 acres in 1869. When the war broke out he
enlisted in Co. B, 106th Ohio Infantry, and was honorably discharg-
ed in 1864 and returned to his home in Tazewell.
James Crmrford, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 16, P. O., Boynton.
Mr. C. is a well known resident and prominent farmer of the town-
ship. He was born in Rochester, N. Y., Feb. 29, 1832. He is the
third child of David Crawford, a native of Ireland, and who came
to America during the autumn of 1830. He was then married,
having united his fortunes with Miss Margaret Alexander. He set-
tled at Rochester, N. Y., and afterwards moved to Iowa where he
died, leaving to the care of his estimable wife five children — Mary
A., Margaret, David, Samuel and James. The latter grew to man-
hood in the States of Ohio and Indiana, and during the spring of
1851 directed his footsteps to Tazewell Co., where he first Avorked as
a farm hand, receiving therefore 50cts. per day. In 1855 he was
married to Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Falor, of Penn. Of
this marriage seven children were born, all of whom are now living.
— Margaret J., Emma, Samuel, Eliza A., Byron, Clara and Mary
Mr. C. has succeeded well in the agricultural walks of life. In
1876 he served the township as Assessor.
Henry Curtis, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 18; P. O., Boynton.
The above named gentleman was born in Fountain Co., Ind., April
26, 1839. He is the oldest son of Henry and Elizabeth Curtis.
Henry Curtis, Sr., is a native of New York State and came to
Tazewell Co. at an early day, and in 1854 located in this township.
Henry, whose name appears at the head of this article, grew to
manhood in Boynton township, and on Feb. 11, 1864, was united
in marriage with Mary E. Matthews, daughter of Eli W. Matthews,
deceased. Their children number four — Ida A., Angie M., Ruble
E., and Florence. Mr. C. ranks among the more liberal, progressive
farmers of the township, and owns 240 acres of well improved and
tilled land. He is a consistent member of the M. E. Church.
Robert W. Darah, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 9 ; P. O., Delavan.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 403
He is a native of New Jersey, where he was born August 15th,
1833. His fother was born in Pennsylvania; was a stone mason
by occupation, who acquired his trade in New Jersey, where he
married Miss Martha Severns, of that State. Of eight chiklren
born of this marriage the subject of this sketch is the eklest. He
lived with his parents in N. J. until he was fourteen, when he went
with them to Indiana, where, fourteen months later, the head of the
family passed away from earth. Upon Robert, then scarcely sixteen,
devolved the support of a mother and a family of eight children.
With a resolution beyond his years he rented a farm and for many
years "roughed it," living in a log cabin and enduring all the hard-
ships of pioneer life. After working hard for 37|cts. a day, and
board, when the day's labor was done the youth applied himself
diligently to his studies, acquiring thereby a liberal education, that
subsequently turned to good account. On attaining his majority he
secured a school, which he taught for several winters, farming
during the summer season. While engaged in the latter the war
broke out, he enlisted in Co. F., 52 Ohio Inf and afterwards to the
53d. He remained until after the battle of Shiloh, where he
escaped with a slight wound. When the smoke from the guns of the
ever-to-be-remembered Shiloh had cleared away he was discharged,
and returned to his home in Indiana, where he was married to Miss
Amanda Freeman. In 1864 he moved to Logan Co., 111., and in
1870 located in this township.
James Donley, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 8 ; P. O., Delavan.
The whole-souled gentleman whose name heads this page was born
near Rochester, in the State of New York, on the 30th of April,
1829. At an early day his parents, George and Elizabeth Donley,
settled in Jefferson Co., Ohio, where the head of the family found
employment in a woolen factory. Young Donley grew to man-
hood in Ohio, and at an early age also secured employment in a
woolen mill. In 1852 Mr. D. was united in marriage to Miss M.
C. McCary. In 1854 he set out for Illinois, and first found em-
ployment in McLean Co., subsequently settling in Delavan town-
ship, Tazewell county, where he rented farm property. At the end
of two years he purchased the property of Milner Brown, consisting
of 160 acres, the property he now owns, brought to a high state of
cultivation. Of the marriage above mentioned six children are
now living — Lizzie, Samuel, Mary B. D., Frank, Laura, and Nellie.
Samuel Donley, farmer and stock raiser. Sec. 15; P. O., Boynton.
Samuel Donley is a native of Belmont county, Ohio, where he was
born in 1855; is oldest son of James Donley, a patron of this work.
Samuel grew to the mature years of manhood in this county. In
1878 he was united in marriage to Miss Florence Ireland, a daugh-
ter of a well known farmer of this township.
Michael Fanning, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 16 ; P. O. Boyn-
ton. Michael Fanning, as the name implies, is a native Irishman,
and ranks among the more generous agriculturalists of this town-
404 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
ship. He was born in the County of Tipperary, Ireland, about
1815. Growing to manhood in Ireland, he acquired a good com-
mon-school education at such odd times as the duties of the farm
would permit. While still a young man he crossed the Atlantic for
the New World, landing in New York City during the Spring of
1835, and for sometime worked in the Metropolitan City at SOcents
per day. From thence he went to Savannah, Georgia, where he
hired as a steamboat hand, thence to New York and Pittsburgh,
from whence he took passage on the Wisconsin, the only steamboat
then plying the Illinois River, for Pekin, then but a small place,
that Mr. F^ decribes in the following manner : Landing from the
boat I discoverd but few dwellings, mostly log cabins, on what is
now the main street. The village probably contained, at this time
about 25 inhabitants, mostly Frenchmen and Southerners. Mr.
F. afterward made the acquaintance of Mr. Tharp, Wm. Mosley, and
others, many of whom have passed the dark river. In 1851 Mr.
F. joined an expedition enroute for California. After some months
of weary travel he reached the golden coast, where he remained
some 13 months and became quite successful as a miner. Return-
ing to Tazewell Co., he again worked as a farm hand for a time.
In 1852 he was married to Miss Bridget Ann Phcan, of Ireland.
During this year Mr, F. leased property until enabled to purchase.
He is now the owner of 280 acres, and one of the most generous of
men. Of this marriage eight children were born, seven of whom
are living — James, Thomas, AVilliam, Mary, Sarah, Ellen and
Louisa.
Henry Fehrmann, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 27 ; P. O.,
Boynton. He was born in Germany, July 28, 1837. In his native
land he followed farming and received a liberal education. In
Julv, 1868, he crossed the Atlantic for the New World, landing in
the city of New York. From that city he went to St. Louis, thence
to Waterloo, Monroe Co., 111., where he worked as a farm hand for
space of the two years. From there he went to Macoupin Co., and
finally brought up in Tazewell Co., Boynton township, where, Oct.
5, 1874, he was married to Susan N. Rosenthall, by whom he has
one child — Henry J.
John Freeman, deceased, was born in New York State. In his
22nd year he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Fowler. Of
this marriage eleven children were born, nine of whom are living.
Early in life Mr. Freeman became a convert to religion, and his
hospitable home was always open to all of God's people, and many
happy meetings were held at his residence. Over 38 years ago this
consistent Christian cast his lot with the Church of Christ. His
lather was a soldier during the struggle for National Independence,
in 1776. In religious matters John Freeman took a deep interest,
and on all occasions it pleased him greatly to hear the word of God
read, and it was his custom frequently to call his family around him
and have some one read a chapter in the Bible, and lead in family
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 405
prayer. Shortly before his death he called his family around him,
and commending all to God, passed peacefully away. Thus ended
the life of one whose eventful career furnishes a moral for the ris-
ino- generation. The funeral discourse was preached by the Rev. J.
I. Judy, from Rev. xxii, 14. There were gathered together on
this solemn occasion many relatives and friends of this veteran in
the Lord's service, who attentively listened to the pastor, whose lips
uttered a just tribute to one whose life had not been in vain.
Franklin Freeman, farmer, sec. 11 ; P. O., Hopedale. This whole-
souled gentleman was born in Butler Co., O., Dec. 25, 1833.
There he passed his youth. He then removed to Indiana where he
was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda Bartholomew. Four-
teen vears ago Mr. F. came to Boynton township, where he owns
80 acres of choice land. The marriage referred to has been blessed
with four children, only two of whom are now living — Ashian and
Effie M.
Joseph Gilchrist, was born in Logan Co., 111., Feb. 10, 1853.
His father, James Gilchrist, was a prominent agriculturist of that
county; was born in Scotland; a farmer by occupation, and was
there married to Miss Jane Clark. In an early day he crossed the
ocean for America, and directed his footsteps to Logan Co., where
he became prominently identified with agricultural affairs. He died
at the age of 58 years, universally respected. Mrs. G. died many
years prior to her husband, and their remains lie interred in Union
Church cemetery. Joseph grew to manhood in Logan Co., received
a good common-school education and became identified with the
farming and stock raising interests from his earliest years. At the
age of 19 he was married to Miss INIartha Chenoweth, by whom he
had three children — Charles E., Burtie W. and Pearl. In 1877
Mr. G. moved to Boynton and resides on sec. 25; P. O., Boynton.
Jacob Hauler, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 9 ; P. O., Hopedale.
Few have succeeded better in life than the genial gentleman whose
name stands at the top of this column. He is a native of Germany,
where he was born in 1824, and there passed his childhood, youth
and grew to manhood. Attaining his majority he concluded to seek
his fortune in the New World, and accordingly sailed for America,
arriving during the. summer of 1845 in New York city, where he
remained a short time, and then proceeded to Ohio where he pro-
cured employment as a farm hand, and there married, in 1853, Miss
Mary Brenneman, a daughter of Daniel Brenneman, a well-known
resident of this township. For seven years Mr. Hauter worked in
Ohio, and then plunging still further westward, he located in Put-
nam county. 111., where he remained three years, when he moved
and settled in Boynton township, where, in 1858, Mr. H. made his
purchase of land in Illinois, consisting of 160 acres, now the
property of Jacob Brenneman, Esq. At the present writing Mr. H.
is the owner of 245 acres of land unequaled in this Western country,
on which he erected four years ago a handsome farm residence.
26
406 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Francis Ireland is numbered among the progressive agriculturists
of the township. He was born in Salem township, AVarren Co., O.,
Sept. 18, 1830, where at the old farm homestead he also passed the
days of his childhood and grew to manhood. During the winter
seasons he succeeded in acquiring a good common school education,
and then, perhaps, laid the foundation for future success in life. In
1853 he was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Coddington, daughter
of Wm. Coddington, of Ohio. In 1856 Mr. C. concluded to move
farther west and eventially located in Delavan township, this Co.,
and soon after moved to Boynton, where he erected a small frame
building in which he suffered many inconveniences during the win-
ter, sometimes finding nearly as much snow inside the dwelling as
outside. The fare at this time, humble as it was, however, was
enjoyed by the family and the occasional visitor. Times proved
very discouraging, and not until the flush war times did Mr. I.
begin to prosper in his new home, since then he has been extremely
fortunate. They have four children — Florence, William F., John-
athan and Monroe. Mr. I. holds the position of Road Com., and
takes a deep interest in educational matters.
Thomas J. Ireland, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 10 ; P. O., Boyn-
ton. Thomas Ireland was born iji Ohio, May 17, 1832. He is the
eldest son of James Ireland, a native of Virginia, and who moved
to Ohio during its early settlement, and where he united his
fortunes to Miss Naiicy Coyle, by whom he had eight children.
James Ireland became an exceedingly prosperous farmer in Ohio,
where, in the year 1852, he was laid at rest. His estimable wife
still survives and resides in Indiana. Thomas left Ohio in his
twentieth year and made his way to Shelby Co., Ind., where he
turned his attention to farming. In 1 855 he united in marriage
with Miss Ann Coddington, daughter of Wm. Coddington of War-
ren Co., O. Of this marriage seven children were born, only three
of whom are living, whose names are — Allen, James and Cora.
Ten years ago Mr. I. disposed of 120 acres of land he had in
Indiana and set out for Illinois, and located in this township, where
he has since been identified with the farming interests. Mrs.
Ireland died in 1870, and was laid away in Orendorff cemeterv. In
1874 Mr. I. was united in marriage to Mrs. E. Pultz, of Ind., by
whom he had two children — Katie and Edgar.
Frederick A. Intzi, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 2 ; P. O., Hope-
dale. The above named gentleman, as is well known, keeps pace
with the present times, and is a progressive farmer of Boynton
township. He was born in Butler Co., Ohio, on the 26th of Dec.
1841, where he lived upon the farm homestead until attaining his
majority _, when he became employed as clerk in a general furnishing
store, and at Dayton, Ohio, he ran, so to speak, a Yankee notion
wagon. In 1868 he acee})ted a situation as traveling agent for farm
machinery. He remained with this firm but a short time, as the
game year found hini a resident of this township, where he was
HISTORY OF TAZEAVELL COUNTY. 407
united in marriage during the autumn to Miss Amelia Brenneman,
a daughter of Daniel Brenneman, whom we have mentioned, by
whom he had five children — Laura, William, Augusta, Edward
and Emma. Since his residence here INIr. Intzi has acquired a prop-
erty of 80 acres brought to a high state of cultivation through an
admirable system of under-drainage.
J. I. Judy, minister of the Gospel and farmer, sec. 25 ; P. O.,
Boynton. The courteous gentleman whose name heads this biogra-
phy is a native of ISIackinaw, Tazewell Co., where he was born on
the 16th of Sept., 1832. His father Daniel H. Judy, a well-remem-
bered and prominent citizen of this county, is worthy of more than
a passing notice, although owing to a limited space we cannot enter
into particulars of his eventful and energetic life. He was born in
Greene Co., Ohio, and made his way to Tazewell Co. prior to the
deep snow. Like all pioneers he suifered many inconveniences, but
made the best of his humble lot and lived an exemplary Christian
life. He was one of the original members of the Hittle Grove
Christian Church. At an advanced age, he resides on his farm near
Atlanta, Logan Co.
James I. Judy, whose sketch we here append, passed his boyhood
days amid pioneer associations, and at the early age of 16 w^as con-
vinced of the necessity of leading a Christian life, and since this
period has been proniinently identified with the Church and Sun-
day-school. In 1853, he crossed the plains for the gold fields of
California, and after a year of moderate success returned to his
old home in Illinois; during the autumn of 1854 moved to Atlanta,
and entered into the mercantile business. During this time he was
married to Mary E. Campbell, daughter of G. R. Campbell of Ky.
In 1855 Mr. J. settled on his present form, and here he has lived
and labored for the salvation of souls during all those years, and
no one meets with more universal respect than Elder Judy. In
order to show to some extent the estimation in which he is held, we
copy the following : ^'A visit to Haw Grove and a visit to the Sun-
day-schooL'' — After school the house began filling with people.
Elder Judy preached his last sermon for the old year. We never
heard a more beautiful address than he gave his attentive listeners.
At night he bade his congregation larewell, although we know it is
not final. He has won to himself a place in the hearts of the
people that cannot be filled by another. He is accomplishing much
good in the world. Surely his life would seem just begun, and
God in his infinite goodness and mercy seemed to be blessing him
in every way, and tlie sincere wishes of the people are for his future
success and return to Haw Grove."
Michael Judy, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 26 ; P. O., Boynton.
Mr. Judy ranks among the more liberal fiirmers of this township.
He was born on the old homestead of his parents, John and Chris-
tiana Judy, near Hittle Grove, April 22, 1837. John Judy, the
head of the family was a native of Ohio, and a farmer by occupa-
408 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
tion. While a young; man he wended his way to 111. and was
among the first to settle at Hittle Grove, this county. This period
of time, about 1826, marked an era in the settlement of this coun-
ty. Indians were then a numerous and powerful people and tliose
few adventuresome settlers suffered many inconveniences from their
depredations. In subsequent years, Mr, J. who is mentioned in our
township history became a prosperous and respected farmer. He
died in Aug. 1861, in the 65th year of his age and his ashes repose
amid the scenes of his early labors. Michael grew to manhood in
Hittle township, received a common school education, or in other
words a log-cabin education. In Livingston Co. Feb. 8, 1858, Mr.
Judy was united in marriage to Miss Elvira Steers, a daughter of
Hugh Steers, of Ky. They have five children — Charles, John,
Christian, Hartzel and Hattie. Eleven years ago Mr. J. moved
to Boynton where he purchased 250 acres of land.
S. A. Knott is the oldest son of Wm. Knott, one of the original
pioneers and wealthy men of the county. He was born in Randolph
Co., Ind., 1847. He was but five years of age when his parents
settled in Delavan township, this county, where they remained some
eight years, when they came to this township, where our subject
attained his majority. In February, 1862, he mas united in mar-
riage to Mrs. Sarah Jane Pence, daughter of Thomas Pence, of Ohio.
Of this marriage two children were born — Viola R. and Maggie
Cordelia. Mrs. Knott passed from earth on the 26th of Sept., 1865.
In 1869, on the 4th of March, Mr. K. united his fortunes with Miss
Clarissa Ellen Morley, daughter of 'Squire Morley, a well-known
resident of this county, and who has held numerous offices of trust
and respectability. Of this marriage four children have been born —
Elmer, Ernest, Troy E. and Elizabeth A. Mr. K. is engaged in
farming on sec. 13; P. O., Delavan.
Nicholas Martin, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 3 ; P. O., Hopedale.
The above named gentleman is worthy of more than a passing notice.
He was born in France on the 15th of March, 1834. Growing to
manhood upon the farm homestead he acquired a liberal education.
At the age of 20 he concluded to better his fortune in America, and
accordingly sailed for this country during the spring of 1854. Land-
in New York city he remained there but a short time, when he made
his way to Illinois, locating in the town of Pekin, this Co., and first
worked as a farm hand. In 1855 he was united in marriage to Miss
Catherine Lytwiler, by whom he has five children — Barbara, Joseph,
Mary M., Emma and Catherine.
Daniel B. Meeker, farmer, sec. 1 ; P. O., Delavan. Mr. M. is a
well-known resident and prominent farmer of Tazewell Co. He
was born in Essex Co., N. J., on the 19th of August, 1819. His
father, Benjamin Meeker, was a native of Ncav Jersey, as was also
Phoebe, his wife. In 1859 he first set foot in Tazewell Co. He has
passed the greater portion of his life in the AYest. He is well known
for liberality and kindly manners, and )\q,b been financially successful
HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 409
In 1841, while in New Jersey, he was united in marriage to Miss
Eliza, daughter of John N. Baldwin, of N. J., and now a wealthy
citizen of Delavan township, and ujiwards of 80 years of age. Six
children blessed the union of Mr. Meeker and Miss Baldwin — Celia,
born Sept. 3, 1845; Anna K., born June 6, 1853; Charles B., Dec.
22, 1855; E. W., Nov. 25, 1859; Harvey C, Dec. 20, 1862, and
John E., Sept. 23, 1866.
Peter J. Nafziger was born in Germany Aug. 31, 1829, and is the
oldest son of Jacob N., a farmer in his native land. During the
infancy of Peter the elder Naifzigcr thought he could better his for-
tunes in America. He accordingly crossed the Atlantic, during the
spring of 1831. He landed with his flimily in New York city, and
from there moved to Ohio, where he resided six years. He then
moved to Woodford Co., 111., where he now lives, and is in the far
decline of life, being over four score years of age. Peter grew to
manhood in Woodford Co., where he acquired a common school
education. In 1854 he was united in marriage to Miss Magdalena
Naffzigcr, by whom he has eight cliildren — John W., Jacob A.,
Henry E., Samuel, Joseph, Daniel, Kate and Barbara. Eight years
ago Mr. N. disposed of his property in Woodford Co. and came to
Boynton, where, on sec. 1, he owns 80 acres of valuable land. P.
O., Boynton.
Andrew Peters, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 2 ; P. O., Hopedale.
Andrew Peters was born in Pa. on the 23d of April, 1826. During
his infancy his parents moved to Ohio, Guernsey Co., where young
Andrew passed his boyhood upon the farm homestead. In 1854 he
was united in marriage to Miss N. Egger, a daughter of Samuel
Egger. In 1858 Mr. Peters came to Illinois, settling in Tazewell
Co., Boynton township, where he bought 120 acres in Boynton and
adjoining township.
John E. Powell, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 15; P. O., Boynton.
He is a native of Logan Co., 111., where he was born May 19, 1838 ;
is the oldest son of Wm. Powell, a native of Green Co., O. He
acquired a liberal education, and while a young man made his way
to this county, where he taught school and secured employment as
clerk. While residing in this county he married Eliza, daughter of
Sanford Quisenbery, who was among the early settlers of Tazewell.
In 1850 he settled 'in Logan Co., where he held many responsible
local offices, and where he passed the remainder of his life. John
passed his boyhood in Logan Co.' Left an orphan at the age of
fourteen he came to Tazewell Co., where he has since lived, with the
exception of some years spent as a farm hand in Logan Co. In
1862 he purchased 160 acres of land in this township and is now the
owner of 375 acres.
Bryan Reardon, fiirmer and stock dealer, sec. 22 ; P. O., Boynton ;
is a native of Ireland. He was born July 14, 1836, and is the oldest
son of Daniel and Margaret (Keefe) Reardon. Daniel Reardon was
a farmer in Ireland, where he married Margaret Keefe, who bore
410 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
him nine children. In 1850 the family, inchuling Bryan, sailed for
America, and in due course of time landed in New York city, from
whence they proceeded to Providence, R. I., where they remained
until 1857, when they came to this township. One year previous,
however, our subject came. He was then unmarried, and secured
employment as a farm hand. In 1860, with other members of the
family, he purchased 360 acres of land. In 1867 he was united in
marriage to Miss Anna Fleming, daughter of Edward Fleming, a
native of Ireland. Thev have five children — Edward, Michael,
Daniel, Bryan and Wene. For several years Mr. R. held the posi-
tion of Town Clerk, and for ten years Justice of the Peace.
Capt John Reardon, sec. 14; P. O., Delavau. Capt. R., a well
and favorably known agriculturist of this county, is a native of
Thomastown, in the County Tipperary, Ireland, wliere he was born
in 1840. His father, Daniel Reardon, crossed the Atlantic in 1850,
and eventually settled in Rhode Island, where our subject passed
his boyhood days, and became employed in one of the numerous
cotton mills that dot the little State. In 1875, John, Bryan and
Thomas Reardon directed their footsteps to Illinois, and located at
Delavan. Here they became employed as farm hands, and in time
became farmers. In August, 1862, when the great civil war had
reached a fever heat, Mr. R., true to his adopted country, and the
stars and stripes, assisted in the organization of Co. H, 115th 111.
Inf. Although he enlisted as a private, he was appointed, at organ-
ization, second lieutenant. Proceeding to the front, he participated
in some the great battles of national renown. He was promoted to
first lieutenant, and soon to captain. After the war he returned to
this county, where he has since resided. Although of a retiring
disposition, he was once nominated for the office of sheriff of this
county, and was twice elected Supervisor. In 1870 he married Miss
Mary Murphy. They have three children, Nellie, Geniere and John.
Daniel Reardon, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 14 ; P. O., Delavan ;
was born in the county of Tipperary, Ireland. During his child-
hood his parents moved to America, as elsewhere given, and settled
in Rhode Island, eventually settling in Tazewell Co. Here young
Reardon grew to manhood, and received a good common school
education. In 1860, since the decease of his father, and the neces-
sary division of property, our subject received 240 acres, in the
township. In drawing this sketch to a close, we can say of the
Reardon boys, that few in Tazewell Co. have succeeded better in life.
Samuel Roles, although not among the earlier residents of Taze-
well Co., is worthy of more fhan a passing notice. He was born in
Luzerne Co., Pa., in 1818. Of his father, James Roles, but little
is known. He was an Englisman by birth, and on moving to this
country settled in Pennsylvania, where he married Miss- Esther
Miller, by whom he had 13 children, of whom the subject of this
sketch was the sixth child. Growing to manhood in Pennsylvania
Samuel early became apprenticed to learn the blacksmithing trade,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 411
and subsequently worked as a journeyman for many years. In
1841 he was married to Miss Surah, dauij;hter of George Davison,
of Pennsylvania. On moving to this county, which he did in 1854,
he farmed for one year, when he purchased a shop, and when his
skill as a workman became known he received a large patronage.
In 1859 he received the iirst jiremium at the Logan County Fair,
for skill disylayed as a nail worker and horse shoer. At the present
writing he resides on his farm, on sec. 23 ; P. O., Boynton.
Lewis Scarborough, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 15; P. O., Dela-
van; was born in New Jersey, in 1836, his father, Thomas Scar-
borough, was also a native of New Jersey. He was a farmer by
occupation, and married Miss Charity Burroughs, a daughter of
Andrew Burroughs, bv whom he had 9 children, 6 of whom are
living — Mary Ann, who married John Fish, and now resides in
Pennsylvania; Wilson T., who married Miss Sarah Hunt, and now
resides' in Trenton, Jersey Co. ; Howell, who married Miss Rebecca
Dallas, and now resides in Mercer Co., N. J. ; Comelia, who married
Francis Duffield, and now resides in Trenton ; Jacob, who married
Mary Servas, and resides in Pennsylvania ; Lewis grew to manhood
in Xew Jersey, where he followed farming, and where he was united
in marriage in the year 1860, to Miss Margaret Snedeker, a daugh-
ter of Jas. W. Snedeker. In 1871 Mr. S. moved to Pennsylvania,
where he resided until his removal to Boynton township, Tazewell
county, two years ago.
John Scoff, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 22 ; P. O., Boynton. He
was born at Delavan, Tazewell Co., 111., May 2, 1850; is the oldest
son of John and Mary Scott, natives of Scotland and Ohio, respec-
tively. George grew to manh<iod in this county ; received a good
common school education ; in 1874 was married to Miss Alice Paul,
daughter of John and Mary Paul. They have one child — Clara,
born in March, 1877.
Kennard Siailei/, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 28 ; P. O., Boyn-
ton; was born in Adams Co., Ohio, on the 23d of October, 1834.
He is the oldest son of Nathaniel and Fliza (Shields) Smiley. His
father was born in Kentucky, and in an early day moved to Ohio,
where he married and there })assed the remainder of his days.
Kennard grew to manhood in Ohio, where he received a common
school education. While employed upon the farm homestead, the
war broke out and Mr. Smiley enlisted in Co. E, 179th Ohio Infant-
ry, for one year, proceeded to the front and participated in the
famous battle of Nashville; was honorably discharged when the
war closed ; returned to Ohio, where he remained but a short time,
as the same year of his return to his Ohio home found him a resi-
dent of Tazewell Co., 111. Here he was married, Oct. 3, 1872, to
Miss Catharine Sparts. Their children are William and Franklin.
During the autumn of 1870, Mr. S. purchased his present farm.
John Lufcr, tlirmer and stock raiser, sec. 1 ; P. O., Hopedale ;
was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 27, 1825. He is the son of
41 2 ttlSTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
John Luter, who is now upwards of eighty years of age and a resi-
dent of this township. John grew to manhood in his native land and
where, owing to the excellent government of the German people, he
received a liberal education at such times as the duties of the farm
would permit. For a short time he served in the regular army of
Bavaria. On the 6th day of Nov. 1851, John Luter and parents
landed in the city of New York and from thence came direct to
Tazewell Co. where he has since resided, engaged in agricultural
pursuits in Boynton township. He own 240 acres of land the
greater portion of which is tile-drained. In 1837 Mr. L. was mar-
ried to Magdalena Gute by whom he has eight children — John,
Andrew, Crist, Jacob, Amos, Barbara, Lizzie and Susan.
William H. Woolf, farmer, sec. 22; P. O., Boynton. He was
born in West Chester Co. N. Y. Oct. 25, 1837. He is the third
child of a family of four. His father, Andrew Woolf, was a native
of N. Y. and a farmer by occupation and married in that State to
Miss Mary Devoe. Wm. passed his boyhood in New York State
and on attaining his majority came to 111. and located in this town-
ship, where he has since resided. In 1867 he was united in mar-
riage to Miss Mary Reed, daughter of John and Rebecca Reed, by
whom he has two children — Letitia and James.
William Wooters, was born in Muskingum Co., O., July 24, 1828.
He is the second son of Nathan and Deborah Wooters. Nathan
Wooters was born in Maryland and moved to Ohio in an early day,
where he followed farming, and moved to Indiana about the year
1835, wUere our subject grew to manhood. In 1850 he made his
way to Illinois, and located in this county, where he has since resided,
following agricultural pursuits. In 1857 he was married to Miss
Isabel Rouse, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Rouse. Of this
marriage three children were born. Mrs. W. died Sept. 17, 1865.
In 1876 he was married to Miss Mary Lightwine. They have
two children — Nellie M. and Walter. Mr. W. is a farmer and
stock raiser, resides on sec. 29 ; P. O., Boynton.
George Zehr, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 2 ; P. O., Hopedale.
George was born in Germany in an early day, probably about 1813.
He crossed the Atlantic for the New World, and first located in New
York State. Afterwards he moved to Ohio, where he was united
in marriage to Miss Barbara Lytwiler, a daughter of Joseph Lyt-
wiler. In 1846 tie located in Green Valley, Tazewell Co., thence
removed to Hopedale township, where he rented farm property.
He is now the owner of over 300 acres, and takes a leading position
among the farmers of the county. Of the marriage above referred
to five children are living — Joseph, Christopher, Malinda, Barbara
and Peter. Christopher, who has passed the years of his life in this
county, was born in 1855; married in 1877, Miss Anna Kaufman, a
daughter of Christian Kaufman, of Germany.
James Zumwalt takes a leading position among the agriculturists
of this township. He resides upon sec. 30 ; P. O., Delavan. He
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 413
was born in Fountain Co., Ind., on the 8th of October, 1847. His
father, Henry Zumwalt, deceased, was born in Harrison Co., Ky.,
in 1810. In an early day he moved to Indiana, where he was united
in marriage to Miss Nancy Davidson. Their children were —
Wm., John, Daniel, George, Levi, Edwin, Mary, Emma, Sarah,
Hattie, Alice and Susannah. In 1851 Mr. Z. moved to Tazewell
Co., where he purchased farm property. He died in May, 1875, and
was laid at rest in the Patterson cemetery. A handsome monument
marks the spot. It should be stated in this sketch that Mr. Z. was
united in marriage three times. His first marriage we have men-
tioned. His second wife was Miss Elizabetli Pearson; his third
wife Mary Dilly. James and John own the farm property, which
consists of some 500 acres. James entered the army at the last call
for troops. John enlisted for three years.
The following gentlemen have served the township since its organ-
ization in the various official capacities named, with the year of hold-
ing the position :
SUPERVISORS.
Philo Baldwin 1854 .John N. Snedeker 1866
R. B. Marley 1855-56 William Slaughter 1867
Andrew KeVr. resigned. John Reardon 1868
Stephen K. Hatfield 1857 William Slaughter 1870-72
Ellis Dillon 1859 John F. Beezley 1873
Wm. Lafever 1860-61 Wm. Morehead 1874
Ellis Dillon 1863 .John F. Beezlev 1875-78
R. B. Marley 1864 Jacob Brenneman 1879
John Shurts 1865
TOWN-CLERKS.
Wells Graves 1854 Bryan Reardon 1873-74
Samuel Graves 1855-57 Wm. Coddington 1875
John W.Graves 1859-60 Bryan Reanlon 1876
J. D. Woolf 1863-68 Wrn. Coddington 1877
John F. Beezley i. 1870-71 Bryan Reardon 1878
John W. Graves 1872 Hiram Morehead 1879
ASSESSORS.
Andrew Kerr 1855-56 Jacob Brenneman 1870-71
Jesse Evans 1857 John F. Beezley. 1872
John Shurts 1859 Jacob Brenneman 1873
Wm. Morehead 186tV61 Thomas T. Heaton 1874-75
John Shurts 1863 .James Crawford 1876
Henry Carpenter 1864 Henry M. Shipton 1877
Joseph Brenneman 1865-66 Wm. Coddington 1879-79
Wm. Morehead, sr 1867-68
COLLECTORS.
Jacob Baker 1854-54 James Morehead 1871
Jacob Blake 1856 AVesley J. Martin 1872
T. T. Heaton 1857 John D. Woolf 1873
Wm. Slaughter 1859 Wm. Coddington 1874
E. T. Orendorff. 1860-61 Bryan Reardon 1875
Henry Carpenter 1863 Wm. Coddington 1876
R. Weller 1864-65 Edward Reardon. 1877
Joseph Ball 1866 M. Fredeker 1868
Reuben Wells 1867-68 Samuel Donley 1879
Kersey Cook 1870
414 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
CINCINNATI TOWNSHIP.
This township comprises a fine body of land. During the grow-
ing season of the year, when the various cereals of this latitude are
waving in summer's breezes, it is said that more grain can be seen
growing here than in any section of similar size in Illinois. There
are no swamps, no marshes, or anything to obstruct a free and easy
cultivation of the soil. The vast tract of prairie land in Spring
Lake, Sand Prairie and Cincinnati townships, were known in the
early day as the sand prairie. It includes all the territory from the
bluffs to the river bank. The soil is very sandy, hence the name,
sand prairie. About the year 1834, Commodore Morris, of the U.
S. Navy, came from the East and entered, on behalf of himself and
the officers of the Navy, a large portion of this prairie for speculat-
ing purposes. They expected a large influx of settlers and a sudden
rise in the price of the land of this section. That their bright hopes
were not fully realized the history of the following dozen years
clearly proves. There were at that time a few settlers here and there
over the township, but they wore scarce and far between. As the
officers of the navy owned a large portion of the remainder and held
it at such high figures, it could not be, and was not, purchased by
actual settlers. These gentlemen held this land and paid taxes upon
it until about 1845, when, seeing no marked increase in value and
no immediate prospect of any, they commenced selling, and by 1848
had disposed of about all of it. They paid the regular price, $1.25
per acre, for it, held it for over ten years, and commenced its sale
at $2 per acre. ,It soon advanced to $2.50, $2.75 and $3 per acre,
and ere they had disposed of it all it went up to $10 to $15 per acre.
During the following decade it advanced rapidly, and when the rail-
road found its way through its sandy prairie it tilled up rapidly with
a good and thrifty class of agriculturists, and to-day it will compare
favorably in kind of improvements and value with any section of
our great State.
There are two streams in the township, one of which is of consid-
erable size, and both of them have cut some queer freaks. The
•larger is the Mackinaw river. It enters the township near the center
of section 19 and flows in a northeasterly course to the Illinois.
Near the southwestern corner of section 8 it divides and what is
known as the main stream courses northward and has its outlet on
section 5, and the " cut-off" strikes the river from section 9. What
was formerly the main river, after leaving the place of forking, on
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 415
section 8, is now scarcely a brook, and, indeed, is dry much of the
time. The cut-off, which a few years ago was the smaller, now car-
ries the main current. Another of its freaks is noticed of late years.
A short distance from the place where it enters the township, a branch
has started from it and flows over the prairie through Spring Lake
township, to the Illinois, Several years ago there was noticed a low
flat place through this portion of the prairie, but no indication of a
running stream. The strong current of the Mackinaw, however, is
enabled to force its way through the sandy soil of this region and
make a stream where it will.
The other principal stream is known as Lost creek. It derives
its name from the fact of it losing itself in the sandy soil. It will
course along, a clear, flowing stream, and soon disappear. In some
places not a drop of water can be seen on the surface during the
entire summer season. It again comes to the surface and forms a
current.
In the northern part of the township, on section 12, and section 1
of the old part of the township, is a beautiful lake. It is known
as Bailey's lake. It is situated about one-hundred feet above the
surface of the ground upon which the business portion of Pekin is
built. It has no visable outlet, but it is supposed that there is a
bed of clay leading from it to the Illinois, through which the
water finds its way to that river. This theory is partly substantia-
ted by the flow of water in wells that are sunk in what is supposed
to be this channel. For instance, there is a well near the freight
depot of the Pekin Lincoln and Decatur Railway, which has afford-
ed water for twenty years, and is only ten feet in depth. Mr. W.
S. Rankin has a well higher up and about one-hundred yards from
the above, which is thirty-nine feet deep. About midway between
these two wells is another, which affords water at the depth of
twenty feet. It is supposed these wells are on the line of the chan-
nel, the shallowest being better located and not as high up as the
others. In other places water is not found short of one-hundred
feet.
The timber along the bluffs in this township is of young growth.
We are told by old settlers, who were acquainted with this section,
that where the timber is now thick and trees as high as forty feet,
they have seen the deer grazing, nothing to obstruct the view for
miles save a cluster of bushes here and there.
In the eastern portion of the township are some coal mines which
416 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
afford a good article of fuel. Norman C. Hawley has an extensive
mine in operation here. The P. L. & D. Railway have construct-
ed a track from the main line to his mines, a distance of about half
a mile.
In 1850, on the eve of adapting the township mode of conducting
affairs, the commission appointed to divide the county into town-
ships, laid off Cincinnati a full congressional township, which
included 36 sections. Subsequently the northern tier of sections
was cut off and added to Pekin township. In this portion of the
township, near where the P. L. & D. Railway shops are now
located, Jonathan Tharp settled in 1824. He was the first settler
both in the city of Pekin and in this township, in that that
section he located upon, was afterwards included in Pekin. Jacob
Tharp Sr., came in 1826 and erected the second house, south of the
corner of Broadway and Court streets. Jonathan Tharp laid his
farm off into town lots, and named his prospective village Cincin-
nati, whence the present name of the 'township. Pekin was laid off
and the two places so close together, were known as Pekin and
Cincinnati. Finally they were united under the name of Pekin.
Willian Woodrow then came, about 1824, and settled on the south-
east quarter of section 36. It is said, he had the pick and choice
of any of the land on the sand prairie, as he made the first selection,
and decided upon that quarter. Robert T. Copes came and located
on section 26. Aaron Hackett, his son, Dr. Hackett, and son-in-
law, by the name of Conover and a man by the name of Hinges,
settled on section 14. Joseph Haines, who came in 1827, located
on section 13. Alfred Haines, son of Joseph, erected his cabin on
section 14. This was among the most thickly settled portions of
the county at that time. Samuel and Hugh Woodrow came in
1835, and settled upon section 35. These were about all the set-
tlers for many years in this township. It was settled up slowly
until 1848, Avhen a new start was given to settling the township, by
the sale of the land held by the naval officers, and the opening of
the Illinois and Michigan canal.
William Woodrow was a native of Pennsylvania; removed in
early life to Ohio, and came to Tazewell county in 1824, locating in
Cincinnati township, where he remained until 1863, when he went
to Knox county, where, Wednesday, Aug. 15th, 1866, in the 74th
year of his age, he died.
The township is now occupied by a good thrifty class of agricult-
ELIZABETH BEpUEAlTH
JOHN BEQUEAITH.
CINCINNATI TOWNSHIP.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 417
uralists. Among those which are especially identified with its
history, and who take a deep interest in all matters for the public
weal, we will mention the following :
Gerd AJfi, of Germany, came to this county in 1865. He was
born in Hanover in 18'25. His parents, Joiin and Gretchel Alfs,
were Germans. He was educated in his native country. He was
married to Mary Hendricks. They have eight children. Mr. Alfs
is engaged in firming very extensively in this township. He
resides on section 10; post-office address, Pekin. In politics Mr.
A. is liberal in his views.
Bennett Bailey, a native of Coshocton Co., Ohio, came to this
county in 1843 and resides on section 16 of this township. His
parents were Thomas Baily of Ohio and Rachel (Smith) Bailey a
native of Green county, Penn. He was educated in the common
and select schools. He has held the offices of School Director,
Commissioner, Assessor, etc. On 23rd of February, 1863, he was
united in the bond of wedlock with Mary A. Seiwell. They are
the parents of seven children. Their names and dates of birth are
Aug. 29, 1874; Talitha C, born Aug.27, 1876 and Ella,' born Dec.
22, 1878. Politically, Mr. Bailey is identified with the Democratic
party. Post-office, Pekin.
Sarah Jane Bailey was born in Union county, Penn. She is the
daughter of Henry and Sarah (Haas) Blooni, of Pennsylvainia,
and came to this county Jan. 1, 1849 and in January 1850, married
Jonathan Bailey, of Ohio. This union was blessed with three chil-
dren. William was born Nov. 18, 1850, Theodore, born Oct. 16,
1852, and Mary born Sept. 25, 1855. She is the wife of John
Worth and resides at Peoria, 111. William, married Mollie Dalby
and at present resides in Pekin. Theodore married Miss Ella Cope-
land and resides near the old homestead. Mrs. Bailey formerly
belonged to the Lutheran Church but at present attends the Metho-
dist. She resides on section 31. Her post-office address is Pekin.
Leonard A Beck, Justice of the Peace, was born in Franklin Co.,
Pa., in 1840. His parents were John and Margaret (Sweavel),
natives of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. Mr. Beck came to Taze-
well county in 1846, and is self-educated. He resides on section
27, where he is engaged in farming. Nov. 16, 1865, he was joined
in matrimony with Mary Sherrer. Their children are Annie E.,
born Feb. 28, 1869; Mary, born Sept. 2, 1873; Philip S., born
May 13, 1876, and John, born March 21, 1878. In politics Mr.
B. is identified with the Democratic party. Post-office address,
Pekin.
James C. Bequeaith, was born in this township, in 1853, June 6.
He received his education in this county, and is engaged in agricul-
418 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
tural pursuits. Dec. 24, 1873, he was married to Clara Jane Iliff,
of Marshall county, Iowa. John M., their first child, was born
March 9, 1875, and March 26, 187G, AVilliam Wesley was b()rn.
The former is not living. Mr. Bcqucaith is a Republican in political
views. Post-office address, Pekin.
John Bequenith, farmer, residence, section 18; was born in Knox
Co., O., in 1820. At the age of twelve he was brought from Indi-
ana, whether his parents had moved five years previous. His father,
Joseph Bequeaith, was a native of Scotland, his mother, Elizabeth
Conkle, was born in Pennsylvania, July 29, 1846. Mr. B. was
married to Elizabeth King.' Their children are — Anna, born in
1848, since deceased; Emma L., born March 11, 1851, James C,
June 6, 1853; Alice A., April 29, 1855; Laura J., April 9, 1858;
Louis C, Feb. 2, 1866. Mrs. Bequeaith is the daughter of Thomas
and Elizabeth (Beninger) King. Her fiither was a native of Mary-
land, and died in 1861, at the age of 70, and her mother was born
in Westmoreland county. Pa., and died in 1864. Mrs. B. was born
in New Philadelphia, Ohio. Her parents came to this county in
1844, and it has been her home since. She is a member of the
American Reformed Church, and made a profession of religion at the
age of 17. Their children — James and Laura Jane Loid, are
married and live near the parental roof; Emma L., Owen and Alice
A. Iliff, live in Marshall county, 111 ; the youngest, Louis, lives
with his parents. Mr. B. owns 800 acres of land, and is a success-
ful farmer. Post-office, Pekin.
WilUam Fletcher Copes, farmer, sec. 35; post-office address,
Pekin; born in McLean county, 111., in 1828. He is the son of
Robert T. Copes and Mary D. Tharp, of Ohio. Was brought to
this county when a child of two summers, where, in the common
schools, he received his education. He has held the offices of
Deputy-Sheriff, Constable and Town Clerk for about twenty years.
Mary Woodrow, his wife, and to whom he was married in 1851, has
born him six children — Laura A., born in 1853, Clara E., born in
1855 ; Ira O., born in 1857 ; Mary A., born in 1859, since deceased;
Adaline A., also deceased, was born in 1861 ; Ella A., born in
1863. Mr. C. united with the Methodist Church in 1844. He
votes with the Republicans.
Charles W. Corey, farmer and dairyman, sec. 9; was born in
Ithica, Tompkins Co., N. Y., in 1827. His parents, David and
Elizabeth (Williams) Corey, were from Orange Co., N. Y.. Mr.
C. came from New York to Mason county, 111., and from there to
this county in 1864. He received his education in Ithica and
Newfield, N. Y. He was married to Eliza Sutton, in 1855. Her
father's name was Benjamin Sutton, her mother's Elizabeth Roub,
natives of New Jersey. They moved to Michigan, where Mrs. C.
was born, thence moved to Cass county, 111., in 1834, where her
father was almost the first settler. ^Ir. and Mrs. Corey are the
parents of five children — C. Wilbur, born Nov. 7, 1856, died Jan.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 419
6,1873; Victoria D., born Aug. 5, 1859; Charles L., born Jan. 7,
1864; Rupert D., born Nov. 16, 1866; and Catharine S., born
Nov. 1, 1868. Mr. C. joined the M. E. Church in 1852. His wife
has been a member since 1862. The entire family, from oldest
down to youngest, are strictly temperance in principle and practice.
Republican. Post-office, Pekin.
Andreio Crooks, farmer, son of AVilliam and Elizabeth Crooks, of
Maryland, was born in Washington county. Pa., in 1809. All the
advantages for an education he enjoyed was attending subscription
schools three months in the year. Mr. C. came to this county Oct.
17, 1864, and resides upon section 36. His son, Alexander, served
four years and ten months in the late war, in the 90th Ohio. Mr.
C. was united in marriage with Elizabeth Anderson, of Pennsylva-
nia, in 1832. They are the parents of fourteen children, ten of
whom are living. Their names are Mary J., Matilda, Terrisa H.,
(deceased), Henry H., William, Thomas A., Alexander, Robert H.,
Franklin P., D. H., I^ouis A., James B., Andrew and Samuel.
Mr. C. united with the Old School Presbyterian Church, in 1832,
and belongs to that religious denomination at the present time.
Post-office address, Pekin.
John Eidmann, who is rather extensively engaged in farming in
this townshij), and who lives on section 32, is a native of Hesse
Darmstadt, Germany. He came to Tazewell county Feb. 6, 1848.
His parents were Frederick and Catherina Elizabeth (Weyruch)
Eidmann. Mr. Eidmann has held the offices of Supervisor, School
Director, etc. In 1858 he was married to Margaret Sherrer, of
Hesse Darmstadt. By her he had three children — John, born in
'1863; Margaret, born in 1865, and George, born in 1868. In 1871
he was united in marriage to his present wife, Christina Edenmiller,
who has borne him three children — Mary Ellen, born in 1874;
Emma M., born in 1876, and Frances, born in 1878. In politics
Mr. E. is a Republican. P, O. address, Pekin.
John Gainer, farmer, post-office address, Pekin, was born in Wit-
tenburg, Ger., April 13, 1830, and came to this country in May,
1834. His parents were George and Mary Maria Gainer, of Ger-
many. He was educated in common schools and embarked in the
agricultural pursuit, and resides on section 25. He does not belong
to any church, but inclines to Presbyterian belief. In 1867 he chose
for his wife Anna Fredcrika Reiling. Emma Elizabeth, John
Martin and Mary Alice Magdalcua arc their children.
Gainalid W. Hatch, farmer, and who resides upon section 5; was
born in Medina county, Ohio, in 1839. His parents were Hiram
and Amanda Hatch, of Ontario county. When a young man of
fourteen years of age he came to Tazewell county, and four years
later, 1857, was married. He is the parent of three sons — William
M., George H. and Albert Eugene. Mr. H. is identified with the
Democratic party. Post-office, Pekin.
John Christopher Hawkins was married to Elizabeth Coleman, a
420 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
native of Harrison county, Ohio, May 20, 1857. Mrs. H.'s parents
were John Coleman, a native of Pennsylvania, and Rhoda Johnson,
of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins have seven children living, two
dead. Their names and dates of birth are as follows : Emma, born
Aug. 11, 1859 (deceased), Elnora, born May 11, 1861 (deceased),
Margaret, born Aug. 13, 1863, Dallas, Nov. 11, 1865, William,
April 9, 1868, Mary, Nov. 25, 1869, John, May, 1872, Kate, Nov.
5, 1974, James, Nov. 13, 1876.
John Christopher Hawkins was born in Hampshire county, Va.,
in 1831. His parents were William and Mary (Orr) Hawkins. He
came to this county in 1831 and was educated in the free and sub-
scription schools of the county. P. O., Pekin.
N. C. Hawley. In 1837, June 6, Gideon and Elizabeth Hawley,
while residing in this township, had born unto them a son, Norman
C, the subject of this sketch. His father was a native of Vermont,
and his mother, Elizabeth (Caldwell) Hawley, was born in Kentucky.
This couple came to the State in 1819, and were among the earliest
settlers in Tazewell county. Mr. H. received his education in the
common schools. Jubilee -College, Peoria, and Wesleyan University,
Bloomington. He has been quite successful in life, and now owns
one thousand acres of land, much of which is underlaid with a fine
vein of coal, which he is working. April 1, 1867, he married Miss
Mary E. Martin, of Logan county. Their children number four —
James M., Gideon L., Prairie Ellen and Freddie S. Politically Mr.
H. may be found with the Republican party. Post-office, Pekin.
Adam Heilmann, farmer, is a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Ger-
many. His parents were Adam and Margaret (Weidman) Heilmann.
He came to this county in December, 1852; was educated in the'
select schools of Germany. He has a fine farm. He was married to
Elizabeth Repper in 1854. They have three sons — Charles, born
May 23, 1855; Philip, born Feb. 14, 1857, and Leonard, born Oct,
9, 1859. Mrs. Heilmann's parents were Adam and Eve (Fornof)
Repper, who came to this county from Germany the year after Mr,
H, did, and engaged in farming. Mrs. Repper has been deceased
for fifteen years, and her husband for two years. Post-office, Pekin.
Michael Hollywood, miller and fiirmer, came direct from Ireland,
(where, in Armagh county, in 1842 he was born), to this county
in 1852. His parents were Daniel and Margaret (McShaul)
Hollywood. He was educated in the common schools of this
county.. He is a widower. Mr. H. owns and runs a saw-mill in
this township, which does mostly custom work. He saws at this
mill an average of 150,000 feet of lumber per year. It has been
run by him for fourteen years, and is a great convenience to this
section of the county. Black walnut and oak are the kinds of
wood that are mostly sawed here. P. O., Pekin.
August Kastens, a native of Brunswick, Gr., born in 1839 ; came
to Tazewell County in 1832. He lives on section 13, where he is
engaged in farming ; post-office address, Pekin. He is the son of
HISTORY OF TAZEAVELL, COUNTY. 421
James P. Martin, retired farmer, is worthy a notice in this vol-
ume. His generosity and public spirit in all worthy matters are
unquestioned. He was born in the county of Donegal, Ireland,
Sept. 15, 1804. His father was Alexander Martin and Avas born in
the same county in 1782 ; but little is known of his early life. He
was raised a farmer-boy and on attaining his majority he was united
in marriage with Miss Mary McCorkle. She was born in the same
county, and was a daughter of James McCorkle. There were born
of this marriage nine children, four of whom grew to mature years :
AVilliam, deceased ; Alexander K., married Miss Hoblett, of Logan
county; Mary A. married David Gibbs, and now a resident of
Iowa. Alexander Martin, who is deceased, was a man of unusual
force of character and energy ; he crossed the Atlantic and landed
in Philadelphia, from where, with his family, he proceedad to Bed-
ford county and there passed the remainder of his life, as also did his
wife. Our subject, James P., received a good common school edu-
cation, and at the age of 25 was united in marriage with Miss Ellen
Skeen, of Westmoreland county. Pa. Previous to his marriage, he
learned the trade of weaver, and for a while worked at this vocation
in Pa. and Ohio. He then turned his attention to farming, and in
1845 settled in Logan Co., 111., where he purchased a farm. He
resided there till 1850, when he located upon the Delavan Prairie
in this county, where he purchased land at from 90 cts. to $30 per
acre, amounting in all to 1100 acres. This, by the exercise of unu-
sual energy, he brought to a high state of cultivation, and planted
25 miles of hedge fence, which is still in a thriving condition. For
many years he was the largest hedge-grower in the State, and took
a just and an especial pride in advancing and improving the agri-
cultural districts of Tazewell county. He bent his powerful energ-
ies to the accomplishment of this one laudable object and well
did he succeed. His life-work speaks in language both stron-
ger and more fitting than we can express in words. Eight
children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Martin, five of
of whom grew to maturity ; William H., married Miss Jane Quin-
senberry ; Thomas A., married Miss Alice Mountjoy, and is now a
resident of Kansas ; James A., married Caroline Hoblett ; George
B., married Matilda Merrill, and now lives in Missouri; Mary E.,
married Mr. Hawley, a prominent farmer of this township. In
1862 Mr. M. made an equal division of his pr()})erty among his
children, and after a life of great activity and unusual success,
determined to rest from labor, as consistent with his wealth and time
of life and spend the remainder of his days in quietude. At
present he is living with his son-in-law% Norman C. Hawley,
a man who is prominently identified with the interests and wellfare
of Tazewell county and of whom we speak elsewhere in this volume.
In drawing this sketch to a close we cannot refrain from referring
422 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
to Mrs. M. as a pioneer wife aud mother. She was born in Penn.
in 1811, and is a fine type of the pioneer woman. She has been an
ernest worker in the Christian Church for nearly 40 years. She
was formerly a member of the Presbyterian Chnrch. Mr. Martin
is also a consistant member of that Church and is respected and es-
teemed by all who know him. There are but few men living in the
county who have done more to advance its interests than Mr. James
P. Martin. The very fact of his accumulating in a short life time
such a vast property as he has is the best evidence in the world of
a well spent life. It is a source of pleasure for the biographer to
meditate upon a life thus useful and passed, that while he did much
good in his strong and vigorous manhood and while in the decline
of life he still, by example and precept, is found battling for the
right his works will live long after the last sad rites have been paid
him by those who loved and esteemed him life, and will not forget
to honor his memory when he is no longer in their midst. Now, in
the evening of life, as both Mr. M. and his good wife are beckoned to
that brighter and better land, we realize that the hand of the diligent
maketh rich, and the happiness of the Christian is worthy emulation.
AVe give their portraits in this work.
William Coddingfan, farmer, sec. 16, Boynton township; P, O.,
Boynton. He is a native of Warren Co., O. and was born Nov. 1,
1838. His father, Wm. Coddington, was a native of Essex Co.,
N. J., and was born in 1784. He was a farmer by occupation.
At the age of two his parents moved to Maryland, where he grew
to manhood. He married his first wife in Pennsylvania. Her
name is not now remembered by William, His father, William
Coddington, Sen., was married twice after: his last wife and
mother of the subject of this sketch was Miss Nancy Price. In
1808 his father moved to Chid where Wm, was born and grew to
manhood. He moved to Shelby Co., Ind., and married Miss Miner-'
va E, Kellogg, in Oct,, 1865, He came to :^iis township from
Ind. His chrfdren are Clara M., Lilly, Wm. W. and Charlie E.
Daniel 3f, Rankin, deceased, was born in Lancaster Co., Penn.,
Oct. 31, 1903. Mr, R. attended the schools of his native State,
where he received a good common school education. He was
raised on a farm until he was seventeen years old, when he began
to learn the trade of blacksmith ing. He was united in marriage,
July 7, 1825, to Miss Esther Lefevre, a native of" Peiln, Mrs.
R, died Aug;. 6. 1855. Thev had fourteen children. Mr. Ran-
kin has followed his wife to that world from whence no traveler
returns. A portrait of Mr. R., and also one of his son, John S.,
may be found in this work.
August Kastens, a native of Brunswick, Gr., born in 1839 ; came
to Tazewell county in 1832. He lives on section 13, where he is
engaged in farming; post-office address, Pekin. He is the son of
Gf RD. AU^^
^"^OTHY UAR\^^^^
'•'•■*-
>JOHN R^^
vc\^
-'O/yjy GA\^^^
Cincinnati Township.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 423
Henry and Adelhelt Kastens. In 1869, he was married to Marga-
ret Baker. Louis Henry and Rhoda, are their children. They
were born in 1870 and 1878 respectively. He united with the
Evangelical Lutheran Chureii in 1870.
Timothy Larimore, a prominent farmer in this township, resides on
section 26; was born in Hampshire county, Va., in 1826. His
parents were William and Nancy Larimore. Mr. Larimore is one
of the oldest residents of Tazewell Co., having come to the county
in 1831, where, in the common schools he received his education.
For the last fifteen years Mr. L. has held some township office,
either Collector, Supervisor, or some other position. In politics he
is a Democrat. In 1857 he married Mary Dillon. They have had
six children born to them, all of whom are living. They are
William Edgar, Arnold J., Effie A., Lillie I., Alpha E., Udie E.
Post-office address, Pekin.
Frank Loyd, a native of Yorkshire, England, having been born
there in 1827. He came to Tazewell county in 1865. He attended
only the common schools of England. His ]iarents were Frank
and Jane (Ward) Loyd. He was married to Sophia Porter, also a
native of England. They are the parents of three children —
Frank, who was born in 1854; Carrie, born in 1856; and Jennie,
born in 1861. Mr. Loyd's present wife he married in April, 1871.
Her name was Elizabeth Rankin. Post-office, Pekin.
Frank HarJand Loyd, farmer, and resides on section 19 ; was born
in Yorkshire, England, in 1854. His parents, Frank and Sophia
(Porter) Loyd, were also of English birth and parentage. Frank
came to this country, with his parents, in 1865. He was married
Feb. 5, 1879. In politics he is Republican. Pekin is his post-
office address.
Alonzo McCain was born in Peoria, 111., in 1839. His parents,
N, H. and Harriet McCain, were from Ohio. He received his
education in the common schools of Peoria. In 1862, when treason
was gaining victories at the South over our Government, he enlisted
in the 85th 111. Infantry, to help defend his country. He served
three years and three months, and during this time laid in i\\e worst
prison pen of the world's history for nine months and ten days.
Yes, for almost a vear he was tortured with all the fiendishness the
ingenuity of those in charge of Andersonville prison could invent.
Language can not convey an idea of the enormity of his suffi^ring.
Perhaps the strongest way we could put it would be to sim])ly say,
he was confined in Andersonville prison. He was married Nov. 24,
1868, to Phebe Davis. They have two children, John, born Sept.
5, 1869, and A. E., born January 6, 1871. Politically he is a
" Black Abolitionist." Post-office, Pekin.
Philip OH, farmer, sec. 13; P. O. address, Pekin. Mr. Olt was
born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, in 1817. His parents, Philip
and Catharina (Schafer) Olt, were also native Germans. At the age
of thirty-four he thought to better his condition in life by seeking
27
424 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
a home in the New World. He crossed the Atlantic and came
direct to this county, and purchased the farm upon which he now
lives of James Haines. After farming for four years he moved
into Pekin and engaged in the butcher business, returned to his farm
and again to Pekin. He also engaged in the brewing business at
Pekin. In 1856, after remaining from the fatherland for fifteen
years, he sailed with his family for Germany. He passed sixteen
months there, amid the pleasant associations of his earlier life. In
1858 he was married to Catharina Sherman. The names of his
children in order of their births, are — Catharina, (deceased), Lena,
Louisa, Emma and Louis. Lena is the wife of Andrew Soechtit,
and resides in Pekin ; Louisa is the wife of Wm. Horn, of Chicago.
Philip OR, Jr., son of John and Margaret Olt, and w^as born in
Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, in 1834. He was educated in the
common schools of Germany, and came to this county in 1852, and
engaged in farming, which pursuit he now follows on section 22,
and has been quite successful. In 1856 he was married to Margaret
Pepper. They have four children — Catharena, born in 1861;
Margaret, born in 1863 ; Leonard, born in 1865 ; and Philip, born
in 1868. Post-office, Pekin.
Robert Portufield McClintock is a native of this county, having been
born here in 1841. His parents, Robert and Mary Mc Clintock, were
from Augusta county, Va. All his opportunities for an education
were in the common schools of this county. He resides upon sec-
tion 24, where he is engaged in forming. In 1872, Dec. 9, Char-
lotte Hafliger and he were married. They have three children.
Cyrus Eugene was born in 1873, Letitia Ann, born in 1875 and
Clara Mable, born in 1878.
John S. Ranki7i is a native of Tazewell county and a son of
Daniel M. and Esther Rankin. He received his education in such
schools as was offered him at home. He is engaged in farming on
section 14 of this township. He is a Republican in political views.
Post-office address, Pekin.
John N. ReiUng was born in the village of Hergeshousen, Hesse
Darmstadt, Germany, Nov. 17, 1834. He came to the L^nited
States in 1846 and settled at Gettysburg, Penn., and came to this
county in 1867. The famous and bloody battle of Gettysburg was
fought on his farm. His parents were Wendel and Magdalena
(Seltzer) Reiling, natives of Germany. On the 14th of June, 1870,
Mr. R. was united in marriage with Catherine M. Starck. Their
children are, John Edward, born May 7th, 1871, and Philip Martin,
born March 16th, 1873. The parents of Mrs. Reiling, George and
Magdalena (Morehead) Starck, were natives of Hess Darmstadt.
She came to this county June 14, 1870. She and her husband are
members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Mr. R's post-
office address is Pekin.
Gottfried Schrech, farmer, P. O., Pekin ; was born in Saxe Coburg,
Ger., March 6, 1821. His parents were Gottfried and Christiana
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 425
Schreck. Mr. S. received his education in the common schools of
Germany and came to this county July 6, 1855, and resides on sec-
tion 12. His wife, Susanah Eichlieber, became such in 1849.
Their children are — Adam Jacob, born in 1853, Jan. 31, and
Elizabeth, born ]March 22, 1855. He has been connected with the
Evangelical Luthern Church since 1858.
Jacob Stockcrt was born May 13, 1817, in Hesse Darmstadt, Ger-
many. He thought to better his condition in life by coming to
America, which move he made in 1854, arriving in Missouri in June
of that year. He remained there but a little time, ho\\Tver, when
he came to Illinois and located in Tazewell county. Mr. S. is a
well informed man on the general topics of the day. He received
a liberal education in Germany, and, although devoting his attention
to farming, he takes a deep interest in geology, astronomy and other
kindred sciences. He is also a practical mechanic, making articles
of use and convenience for family and farm use. Mr. S. is consid-
erable of a philosopher and enjoys tracing eifects to their causes.
On his farm, section 12, are three veins of coal which are not over
fortv feet from the surface. He has found relics of Indian and sav-
age warfare on his place, which goes to show that the Indians once
had a destructive battle there. In 1845 he was wedded to Mary
Catharina Schwim, who died Aug. 5, 1867. She bore him five chil-
dren onlv one of whom, Jacob Stockcrt, jr. is now living. Mr. S.
is a member of the Evangelical Luthern Church. Post-office,
Pekin.
George Skvhr, farmer, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, in
1825. His parents were George Nicholas and Elizabeth (Hilbert)
Stoehr. He came to this county May 25, 1847, and resides on sec-
tion 20, Cincinnati township. He was educated in the common
schools of his native country and followed the tailoring business
there. Mr. S. held the office of Supervisor of his township for six
consecutive terms. He has been twice married. In 1852 he was
joined in marriage with Elizabeth Eidman. His second marriage
was to Mary M. Weiroch. His children are Mary Ellen, born in
1861; Alice L., born in 1863; Louisa W., born in 1865; George
Henrv, born in 1869; Laura, born in 1872, and Charles, born in
1875.' Elizabeth, the child of his former marriage, is the wife of
Peter Meisinger. Post-office address, Pekin.
Enoch P. Walker. In 1832, while Jesse and Sarah Walker were
living in Shelby county. 111., they had born unto them a son, whom
they christened Enoch. Twenty-four years thereafter we find he
was married to Clarissa Davis, also a native lUinoisan. Their chil-
dren number seven — five of them living, two dead. Their names
are Thomas F., Sarah, Annie J., Emma, Ella, Harvey and Enoch.
Ella and Enoch sleep in their graves. ]\Ir. Walker is engaged in
farming upon section 26. Post-office, Pekin.
Jacob Wcijhrich, a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, was born
in 1832 and came to this county in 1857. His parents were Philip
426 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
and Elizabeth (Stoehr) Weyhrich. He was educated in German
schools, and since his coming here has held the office of School
Director. The same year Mr. W. came to Tazewell county he took
unto himself a wife in the person of Mary Kulper. They are the
parents of nine children, three of whom sleep with the dead. These
.are, Louis, who died at the age of four years, John, a baby of four
months, and Catherine was taken from them, a girl of eight sum-
mers. The children living are Philip, born Oct. 11, 1858; Eliza-
beth, born May 20, 1860; George, born April 2, 1864; Peter, born
Sept. 20, 1868"; Eve, born Feb. 18, 1870, and Jacob, born Nov. 15,
1874. Mr. W. is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran. Church.
Post-office, Pekin.
The following is a list of township officials from its organization
to the present time, with dates of the years served :
SUPERVISORS.
Samuel P. Bailey 1850-52 John W. Coleman 1863-65
Lemuel Allen 1853-54 James S. Hawkins 1866
G.H.Rupert 1855-57 Timothv Larimore 1867-68
Samuel P. Bailev 1858 John Ei'dman 1869-72
Samuel Woodrow 1859 George Stoehr 1873-78
James Hawkins 1860-61 John Eidman 1879
TOWN-CLERKS.
James R. Babcock 1854-58 John H. Baker 1868-76
W. F. Copes 1859-61 John H. Baker. 1877
F.B. Chapman 1803-66 T. Larimore 1878-79
Wm. L. Pratt 1867
ASSESSORS.
Thomas King 1854 G. G. McClintock 1865
Geo. H.Pike 1855 E.T.Williams 1866
Samuel Woodrow 1856 Bennett Bailey 1867-68
John Coleman 1857 G.W.Mitchell 1869
Samuel Woodrow 1858 Bennett Bailey 1870
John Coleman 1859 Timothy Larimore 1871-72
EnosWest 1860 Leonard A. Beck 18?8
Thomas A. Orr. 1861 John Hatfield 1874-76
EnosWest 1863 James S. Hawkins 1877-79
Theodore Tharp 1864
COLLECTORS.
EnosWest 1854 Andrew Arnote 1867
Joel White 1855 John Hatfield 1868
ApollasCane 1856-58 George Stoehr 1869
EnosWest 1859 John Lohnes 1870
A. J. Arnott 1860 J.H.Baker 1871
EnosWest 1861 Timothv Larimore - 1874
Thomas A. Orr 1863-64 J. H. Baker 1875-76
M. P. Chapman 1865 T, Larimore 1877-79
T. Larimore I860
MARY M.STOEHR.
GEORGE STOEH R
CINCINNATI TOWNSHIP
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 427
DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP.
This township received its name from the creek which runs
through it, by that name, and it was christened by Major R. N.
Cullom. James Allaway was the first settler in the township, and
Major Cullom the next. Soon came John Small, James Harvey, A.
Hughes, Eli Swarens, James Perry, James Robinson, James Har-
land, and others. None of these are living, and but few of their
descendants now reside here. Juliette B., daughter of R. N. and
Betsy Cullom, was the first white child born in the township. The
day of her birth was January 22, 1832. She is the wife of Alvord
Parker, of Sedalia, Mo. The first death in the township occurred
in November, 1830. It was the death of James, infant son of
Major Cullom, and twin brother to Governor Cullom. The first
school taught here was by Nancy Parker, on section 27, in 1835.
Rev. William Brown, an M. E. preacher, delivered the first sermon,
at the residence of James Perry, in 1833. There are now three
Churches in the township — Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist.
Deer Creek Baptist Church is located on Wm. Huxtable's farm,
section 4. They have good frame edifice, 28 by 40 feet, which was
erected in 1868, at a cost of ^2,000. The congregation was organ-
ized Jan. 22, 1860, with the following members: C. Shaffer, W.
Huxtable, AV. Lockwood, B. C. Allen, W. Ammerman, Joseph
Green and their families, and others to the number of 35. The
following pastors have served the Church : Rev. A. J. Ammerman,
Geo. Sutherland, W. E. James and H. A. Nixon. The present
officers of the Church are James F. Lane and \Vra. Huxtable. The
present membership is 61, who contribute for the support of the
Church $600 per year. They have a Sunday-school, which was
organized in 1869, with an average attendance of 73; annual con-
tribution, $25.
Deer Creek Presbyterian Church building is a good plain frame,
located on section 8. The pastors who have served this congrega-
tion are W. L. Adams, Rev. Mr. Wood, John Wilson, and the
present pastor, Thomas Martin. The Elders of the Church are
Peter Doward and G. W. Smith, The congregation raises $640 per
year. They have a Sunday-school, with an attendance of 68.
The Deer Creek Methodist Church is located on the northwest
quarter of section 20. It is a good frame edifice.
There are four whole and four fractional school districts in the
428 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
township. The character of schools are good ; the County Superin-
tendent pronounces them first-class. The streams in the township
are, the Mackinaw river, Allaway's branch, and Deer creek. The
arcliJBologist could find a rich field for investigation in this township,
near these streams. On section 35 is a mound in which has been
found the remains of Indians. Mr. Joseph Dean dug into one of
the mounds here, preparatory to erecting a building. Among other
curious remains was a grave of three diiferent departmen*^^, one
above the other, and separated by layers of clay. In the top one
was one skeleton, while in the second and third were two each.
The bodies appear to have been burned, or else the grave had con-
tained fire before their interment, for there were ashes and coals in
the graves, and the walls of the graves were burned until red as
brick. The bones were quite entire. One skull was perfect, and
every tooth in its place, and retaining their gloss as in life. One
thigh bone was found, judged to be three inches longer than that of
a man six feet in height. Flint darts, or arrow heads, some ten to
twelve inches long, made of red flint, were found. A stone hatchet
with stone handle, solid, and which weighed six or seven pounds,
was found here. Also a grindstone about a foot in diameter, of
same material as the hatchet. A material similar to plush or red
flannel was found with the skeleton in the upper grave. These
were exhumed some fifteen years ago.
Mr. Perry M. Stephens tells of a burying place here, where the
inmates of the graves were hurried in a sitting posture. One, which
was found, had his steel trap and gun by his side. There was also
a lock of hair done up with a little silver band and plate. Upon
this plate was a rude engraving of a woman. We might surmise
that the individual consigned to this tomb was a chief, and the lock
of hair was given by his sweetheart ; and the engraving represented
she whom he loved. These were exl»;,'med near the iron bridge
over the Mackinaw. .''
There is a post-office in the centef 'of the township by the name
of Deer Creek. On section 32, John W. Osborn laid off the town
of New Castle, in 1861. In giving the history of the township, we
would also mention a few of the p*.,'{3ons who have and are making
its history. Among this number we find
Eri Bogardus, residence, section 21. Post-office address, Deer
Creek.
Abraham Chaffer, deceased. Mr. Chaffer was born in Essex Co.,
Eng. March 6, 1806. His parents, John and Mary (Stanley)
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 429
ChaiFer, were also English by birth. When ready to embark in
life for himself he looked to the United States for a home, and a
field to labor in. He accordingly crossed the ocean, in 1832, and
three years later came to this county. Before he left England he
had learned the wheelwright's trade and worked at it until he bade
his native land adieu. He came here and engaged in farming, and,
until shortly before his death, he continued at that pursuit. He
died March 5th, 1874, respected and loved by all who knew him.
He h id retired from business and moved into Washington only a
few months before his death. He held many local official positions,
and had the contidance of the whole community. Soon after com-
ing to this country he married Eliza Osborn, in New York City.
She died Dec. 19th, 1845. He was again married, Feb. 5, 1847, to
Sarah Huxtable, who was born Sept. 11, 1817, in England, and
came to this county in 1838. She lives with her sons, Daniel, who
resides at Washington, and Elijah, who lives at the old homestead.
Her P. O. address is Morton.
James Cornwell is the youngest subscriber w^e have for this work,
and was encouraged to interest himself in it by his mother, Susan
(Little) Cornwell. His father's name was Price Cornwell, both
his parents were natives of Ohio. James was born in Belmont
Co., Ohio., Aug. 24, 1864, and was brought to this county in 1872.
He is yet a scholar in attendance upon the common schools, and has
a choice for farming. Residence sec. 6 ; P. O., Washington.
Henry Danforth, farmer, sec. 8; P. O., Washington; was born in
St. Albans, Vt., Feb. 26, 1823. He is the son of Jonathan R. and
Amanda (Walker) Danforth, also natives of St. Albans. He came
West when young, and in 1848 located in this county poor, but now
owns 480 acres of fine land. He does not believe in the credit
system and has not asked for credit for twenty years. Jan. 12,
1846, he was married to Abigail Hathaway, of Swanton, Vt.
They have had born to them six children. — Jonathan R., born Jan.
19,1847; Henry P., Dec. 28, 1849; Byson W., Jan. 23, 1852;
Louis J., Sept. 13, 1858 ; James A., April 23, 1861 ; Mary A., Sept.
7, 1863. Jonathan died May 7, 1863. Mr. D. united with the M.
E. Church in 1854; politically. Republican.
William Huxtable, farn sec. 4 ; P. O., Cooper ; was born in
Devonshire, Eng., Nov. <21. His parents, George and Ann
(Rottenberry) Huxtable. English people. They left that coun-
try, crossed'the Atlantic ' ^^^^' were landed on the shore of America
with their eight chi' and by the year 1838 arrived in this
county, where they .d the remainder of their earth-life. He
came here a young "In, and ^ -r a period of over forty years has
lived an exemplary life, honored and respected by all. For a period
of thirty years he has been a member of the Baptist Church, first
uniting with the Church at Tremont. He has served eight years as
Justice of the Peace, and given satisfaction. His life thus fiir has
been successful. He now possesses 530 acres of good land. Jan. 1,
430 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
1846, he was married to Barbara Robison, daughter of James and
Isabella Robison, of Elm Grove. His wife died and he was again
married, in 1879, Feb. 19, to Levina Culbertson, daughter of Chris-
topher and Elizabeth SchsefFer, of Morton.
John Sampson, farmer, sec. 5 ; P. O. address, Washington. Mr. S.
was born in Penn. in 1818, Dec. 25. He is of Irish-German descent.
He came into Tazewell Co. in 1847, where he has since lived a
respected citizen and kind neighbor. He had only such advantages
for an education as the common schools of pioneer times afforded.
He is married and the parent of nine children, six of whom are
living.
John Small came to this county from Kentucky in 1833. He
was born in Christian Co., of that State, Aug. 20, 1818. John
and Mary (Mason) Small, his parents, were Virginians. John
attended subscription schools when small, and has always followed
the occupation of a farmer, and now resides on the original home-
stead of the Small family, sec. 22, and is engaged in farming. Jan.
13, 1847, he was united in marriage with Nancy Ramsey, Avho was
born Aug. 23, 1827, in Franklin Co., O. The union has been
blessed with nine children — Eliza Ann, born Dec. 7, 1847; Martha
E., Jan. 15, 1850; Sarah A., Nov. 18, 1851; Wm. M., Oct. 22,
1853; Millard F., Oct. 23, 1855; James C, Nov, 2, 1857; Robert
F., Nov, 29, 1859 ; Mary J., Dec. 4, 1861 ; Clara L., Jan. 20, 1869.
Post-office, Deer Creek.
Perry M. Stephens, farmer, sec. 28 ; P. O., Deer Creek. This
gentleman is the son of Milo and Sally (Purdy) Stephens, of
Genesee Co., N. Y., and was born in Muskingum Co., O., Aug. 10,
1820. When but thirteen years old he was brought to this county.
He learned the potter's trade and followed it for some years. At
the time we called upon Mr. S., which was Mar. 29, 1879, no other
man, save Robert and John Small, had been longer in Deer Creek
township than he. He has held minor local offices, but has been no
office seeker. Jan. 14, 1847, he was married to Mary Jane Small,
who was born Oct. 17, 1822. There have been born to them five
children — Sarah L., born Sept. 6, 1848; Margaret A., Nov. 27,
1850; Catharine, Sept. 1, 1853; John M,, Dec. 4, 1857; Robert A.,
April 1, 1862. Two of the girls are dead.
The following gentlemen have served the township, since its organ-
ization, in the various official positions and during the years named :
SUPERVISORS.
Eichard N. Cullom 1850-51 James Mitchell 1865
E. H. Durham 1852 R. N. Cullom 1866
E. Bogardus 1853 Abraham Chaffer 1867-68
Edward H. Durham 1854-55 Alex. Small 1869
James Mitchell 185(i-57 Eri Bogardus 1870-76
John Q. Adams 1858 George H. Small 1877-78
Alex. Small 1859-63 James Mitchell 1879
Eri Bogardus 1864
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Delavan,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 433
TOWN-CLERKS.
David H. Sherman 1854 D. H. Sherman 1864
T. A.Crane 1855 Tunis TenEytk 1865-70
David H. Sherman 1856-57 Wm. A. Cory 1871-72
Vivian Cloud 1858 John R. Small 187S-75
David H. Sherman 1859 Wilbur Allen 1876
William R. Miles 1860 John R. Small 1877-78
T. A. Crane 1861-63
ASSESSORS.
Joseph Dressier 1854-55 Vivian Cloud 1864-66
Vivian Cloud 1856 T.A.Crane 1867
John Q. Adams 1857 Dennis Osborne 1868-70
Joseph Dressier 1858-59 Geo. W. Smith 1871-74
Wesley B. Harvev 1860 Dennis Osborne 1875-77
David Sherman..". 1861 Wilbur Allen 1878
A. Chaffer 1863
COLLECTORS.
Alex. Small 1854-55 T. Ten Eyck 1868
Joseph Dressier 1856 P.M.Stephens 1869-70
Andrew Muckey 1857 T. B. Lane 1871
David H. Sherman 1858 H. B. Smith 1872
Wm. R.Miles 1S59 George H. Small 1873
Joseph Dressier 1860 John Lavten 1874
H. C Cullom 1861 John R. Small 1875
L. C. Fisher 1863-64 Wm. S. Pierce 1876
John Vancamp 1865 John Minnich 1877
Henry Kingman 1866 Wm. S. Pierce 1878
P. M. Stephens 1867
DELAVAN TOWNSHIP.
The history of Delavan is peculiar to itself. It began with the
Western trip of Deacon Jonas E.. Gale, which was made in 1836.
Having met Mr. Wright, of Dillon, in the East, the latter invited
him, in case he came West, to be sure and make him a visit. Dea-
con Gale, after making arrangements to settle at Alton, started for
home, with the intention of visiting Tazewell county on the way.
He was struck with the beautiful prairie land, which then abounded
in all kinds of game, and he conceived the idea of having a colony,
from Providence, R. I., settle on these lands. At Tremont he fell
in with Mr. Edward C. Delavan, of Albany, N. Y., who took great
interest in the proposed colony. The result was, that an organiza-
tion was formed, with a capital of over $20,000, and 20,000 or
22,000 acres of land were entered. Over fifty heads of families
agreed to come West and settle upon these lands, or to send a sub-
stitute to do so. Accordingly the land was laid off in 160-acre
farms. A town lot of 300 square feet went with each farm, as it
434 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
was thought the people would want to live in town in winter. The
farms were bid off at auction, at Providence, so much being paid as
choice money, independently of the regular price of the land ; the
amount, in some cases, ran up to $1,000. Henry R. Green, Deacon
L. Allen and Harris were the locating committee, and the first
gentleman named was the financial agent. Two rules of the associ-
ation were, that the place should be called Delavan, and that it
should be a temperance town. In 1837, the company sent out
carpenters and material to erect the Delavan House, which was to
be divided into compartments suitable for family house-keeping, for
the accommodation of the settlers, till they should be able to build
upon their own places. Part of the material for this building was
shipped from Providence, via New Orleans and Pekin, part from
Pittsburgh, Pa., and part came from the Mackinaw. The material
for a few dwellings was brought from the East. W. W. Grossman,
with his family, accompanied the carpenters, and his wife saw no
white woman for three months. She lived until the winter of
1874, and was therefore a witness of the entire growth of the com-
munity. Mr. Grossman still lives, and enjoys pretty fair health in
his old age. Gomparatively few of those who enrolled themselves
as actual settlers came West, and the growth cf the colony was not
as vigorous as had been expected. The Deacon left Alton about
18 months after the first settlement, and has lived in Delavan ever
since. Himself and Mr. Grossman are the only surviving members
of the original colony, James Phillips, another member, was
closely identified with the place, died not long ago. In 1840, Ira B.
Hall came to Delavan and opened the Delavan House as a hotel,
though some slight accommodations had been offered there previ-
ous to this. The stage line from Ghicago via Peoria to Springfield,
passed about one-half mile west of the village, and about four
months after Mr. Hall opened the hotel, Delavan was made a stage
stand. The telegraph line was put up in 1850, and Delavan became
an important point. But a little later, before the G. & A. railroad
was built, the poles were taken down, the stage withdrawn, and the
place became shut out from the world. Atlanta was the nearest
railroad point, and thither the people carried their produce, and
made many of their purchases. This continued till 1868, when the
branch of the G. & A. road was completed, and from this time the
place began to grow with great rapidity. The first store was kept
by a man named West, who was also the first postmaster, and who
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 435
was succeeded by Ira B. Hall. It seems that James Phillips
bought out West and kept a small stock of goods for a time. Geo.
Straut and Putnam came along one day with a one horse ped-
dlers' wagon, and they traded the horse and wagon with Phillips
for the goods. Putnam kept the store, and Mr. Straut, who was a
blacksmith by trade, went back to St. Louis to work. After a time
he returned to Delavan, worked a while at blacksmithing, increased
his stock of goods, and was soon doing a prosperous business. Mr.
Straut became interested in Mason City and amassed considerable
property, and now has an influential voice in the affairs of the C. &
A. railroad.
At a meeting held in April, 1850, the township was organized,
and the following officers were elected : Supervisor, W. W. Cross-
man ; town-clerk, Charles Grant ; assessor, Daniel Reid ; collector,
Geo. P. Vincent ; overseer of poor, W. S. Caswell ; commissioner
of highways, Geo. Teift, AV. S. Caswell, Folsom Dorsett ; constables,
Geo. P. Vincent and John Reese; justices of the peace, W. S. Cas-
well, AV. C. Clark; overseer of highways, Hugh Reid; pound-
master, Simon Goodal. There is, perhaps, nothing of general
interest in the history of the township till the time of the war,
when an event occurred which was the cause of no little excitement.
It was this :
Some time in 1864, Mr. James H. McKinstry, who had been
chosen special agent by the town to provide volunteers, in order to
fill out the necessary quota, and thus avoid a draft, lost |4,106 of
the funds subscribed for this purpose, under the following circum-
stances. Mr. Mc'K., while at Springfield looking for men, learned
that a number could be obtained at Alton, as Mr. Stephen Hobort,
of Tremont, was going there, Mr. McK. handed him ^4,106 with
which to procure men in that place. The money, as it was claimed,
was stolen from Mr. H. The important question now arose as to
who should bear the loss — the township, the parties who had sub-
scribed the money, or one of the • gentlemen who had handled it,
and which one. In 1865, at a town meeting, three resolutions were
adopted. One to re-im burse Mr. McK. ; another to refund money
subscribed by individuals to avert the draft; a third authorizing
Mr. McK. to bring suit against Mr. H. To procure money for the
carrying out of these resolutions, a tax of 3 per cent, on the assessed
valuation, was ordered levied for town purposes. This was meant to
include, also, the current expenses of the town. But an assessment
436 HISTOKY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
of fifteen cents on $100 was amply sufficient jor town purposes, and
an injunction was therefore issued from the Circuit Court, restraining
the collection of this tax, on the ground that such a tax was not
necessary for town purposes. The injunction was confirmed by the
Supreme Court, though it provided that the town was to bear the
expense incurred during the litigation, and then, after two or three
years of intense local excitement, Mr. McK. was finally compelled
to bear the loss himself.
DELAY AN TOWN.
In 1858 the village of Delavan was incorporated, but opposition
to the movement was so strong that the Trustees elected did not
qualify, and the incorporation seems to have fallen through. It was
organized Oct. 2, 1865, when it was voted to establish the corpora-
poration to include the old town proper, and its platted additions.
The following were the first officials : Trustees — E. O. Jones, pres-
ident ; L. P. Flynt, clerk ; J. C. Appleton, Stephen C. Hobart,
Wm. B. Orrell, and P. Clark ; city marshal, J. H. Upham ; col-
lector, Wm. Vaughn ; treasurer, D. L. Whittemore. The village
was incorporated under the new State law in July, of 1872, with the
following Trustees : Theo. Van Hague, president ; Wm. H. Phil-
lips, clerk ; P. D. Stockwell, Henry Kingman, John Carr, Andrew
Stubbs and John Warne. In 1874 the subject of license or no
license came up, and the board stood four to two against the grant-
ing of license ; in '75, '76 and '77 licenses were granted ; but in '78
the board was again four to two against, and in '79 unanimous
against authorizing the sale of liquor.
Delavan is one of the finest villages in the West. It is well laid
out, is abundantly supplied with sidewalks, has good drainage, is
lighted by about 40 street lamps, and has a Babcock Fire Co. and a
Hook and Ladder Co. The stores are numerous and confined to
one line of goods as a rule ; the houses are neat, with well-kept gar-
dens, and the entire surroundings of the place, together with the
manners and customs of the inhabitants, show at a glance that the
community is composed of Eastern people. The place has a graded
school, which, under the care of Mr. J. S. McClung and his assist-
ants, has become one of the best schools of the kind in the State. A
school building was erected at the time the Delavan House was con-
structed, and this building was also used for some time as a church.
It is still standing. About nineteen years ago another building, with
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 437
two rooms, was put up, which was used till 1871, when a fine brick
edifice was erected at a cost of not far from $25,000. It was com-
pleted in the fall and in the following December it was destroyed by-
fire. An insurance of $22,000 on the building and furniture had
been secured, and a new building, after the same design, was erected
in 1872, at a cost to the district of only $250.
There are four churches in the place. The oldest one is the
Baptist.
Baptist Church was organized Dec. 17th, 1846, with Deacons
Henry R. Green, Jonas R. Gale, and Joseph Grant, John Daniels,
Annes Green, Cynthia M. Gale, Sarah Grant, Eunice Hall and Mary
Ann Phillips, as constituent members. The pastors, from the organ-
ization to the present time, have been. Rev. Nelson Alvord, John
Scrogins, S. S. Martin, Wm. C. Pratt, R. Morey, L. L. Lansing
and T. P. Campbell, who is now pastor and has served as such since
January 24, 1872. The meeting house was dedicated April 2, 1854.
The parsonage was finished during the year 1868, at a cost of about
$2,500. In April, 1861, twenty-three members were dismissed to
organize a Baptist Church at Green Valley, Illinois, and on Septem-
ber 5, 1868, nine were dismissed to organize a Baptist Church at
San Jose, Mason Co., 111. Two of the former members, Daniel
Drake and Chas. A. Reese, are ordained Baptist ministers. The
former has been a missionary to the Telegoos for the last five years,
and the latter is now the pastor of a church in Roxbury, Mass.
There have been four clerks since the organization of the Church —
J. R. Gale, D. A. Cheever, Daniel Cheever (who served in that
capacity for twenty-three years) and A. B. Cheever. The officers of
the Church at the present time are, Deacons, Edward Drake, W,
Bower and T. E. Ward ; Trustees, G. D. Randolph, J. S. Hemstreet
and Geo, Drake ; Clerk of Church, A. B. Cheever. The Church
now numbers about 165 members.
M. E. Church. The M. E. Church was organized about 1850,
and was at first merely a circuit station. George Miller and John
Webster are said to have been the earliest preachers in charge. The
first church building was erected about the year '52, and it is still in
existence. A few years ago a fine brick church was built, and is a
very commodious building. The church was organized with about
20 members, among whom were the following : Samuel Hall, Sam-
uel Briggs, Jesse Trowbridge, John Fraze and Levi Cheever. There
is a parsonage in connection with the church. At present the mem-
bership includes about 175 persons.
438 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
Presbyterian. On the 19th of June, 1855, Rev. W. T. Adams
and Elder Cantrell organized this church, consisting of twenty-two
members, viz : Wm. Dorrence and Mary J., his wife ; J. C. Duncan
and Margaret M., his wife ; Mrs. Jane Davidson, J. H. McKinstry
and Sarah J., his wife ; Mrs. Martha Crawford, Wm. E. McDowell
and Elizabeth, his wife ; Miss Nancy E,. Davidson, Miss Sarah Bell
Davidson, Mrs. Susan Work, John McKinstry and Anna M., his
wife ; Ralph Martin and Eliza, his wife ; John Harbison, Thomas
McKinstry and Mary A., his wife ; Jacob McCollister and Catherine,
his wife. J. C. Duncan and Ralph Martin were elected ruling
Elders, and John McKinstry and Wm. E. McDowell were elected
Deacons, all of whom, except Ralph Martin (he having been a ruling
member before), were ordained and installed in their respective
offices by the committee of Presbytery. The Lord's Supper was
administered for the first time by Rev. W. T. Adams, of Washington,
Illinois. In July, 1857, being a little more than two years after its
organization, the congregation began the building of a house of
worship, which was finally completed at a cost of $4,400, and dedi-
cated, free of debt, in July, 1859, being about two years after the
work was begun. In 1872, the church building was remodeled and
enlarged at a cost of $4,600. The pastors of the church have been
as follows : Rev. S. M. Templeton, 1856-'67 ; Rev. Wm. Baldwin,
'67-'89 ; Rev. R. C. Colmery, '69-'71 ; Rev. J. A. Hough, who was
installed in April, 1872. The church has about 175 members.
Catholic. The Catholic Church was founded by Father Mur-
togh, in 1868. The principal benefactors were Messrs. Ryan, Leoni
and Reardon. The membership numbers 400. Pastor, P. A.
Macshaur.
Delavan has two temperance societies, the Good Templars and the
Washingtonians, both vigorous organizations. It has a lodge of
Odd Fellows — Siloam, No. 207, which was organized in 1856, with
the following charter members : S. W. Hall, E. J. Davis, L. D.
Smith, A. S. Stilman and E. O. Jones. It has also a lodge of A.
F. and A. M., No. 156, which received its charter in 1854. The
following were the first members : W. W. Crossman, W. M ; H.
S. Latham, S. W. ; and A. P. Littlefield, J. W. Mr. Crossman is the
oldest Mason in the State, having been made a Master Mason in 1814.
This township, with its beautiful village, is inhabited by an enter-
prising, wealthy and cultured people. In these respects it compares
favorably with any portion of the great Prairie State of like popu-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 439
lation. We give below personal sketches of some of the leading
and representative people of the township and town.
Joseph C. Applcfon is the youngest of a family of three chiklren,
of Rev. Geo. W. and Mary (Guild) Applcton, natives of Mass.
He was born in Sterling, Windham Co., Vt., May 18, 1825. His
father was a Baptist minister and came to Delavan in 1848, where
he died three years later. His mother passed from earth in 1859.
Joseph C. had a good education and has been actively identified
with the county's history for over twenty years. He has served
seventeen years as Justice of the Peace. He is by trade a tailor.
In 1853 he was married, at Woonsocket, R. I., to Frances Baken.
They have one child. Politically the 'Squire is a Democrat.
Andrew W. Ball was born in Irvington, N. J., Mar. 17, 1834.
In 1836, his father, Amzi Ball, moved West, to Fountain, Ind., where
he remained for fourteen years. In July, 1851, he came to Tazewell
county and shortly afterwards came to Delavan. His mother's
maiden name was Mary Meeker. When a young man Mr. Ball
taught school during the winter and worked in summer, and by dili-
gence has made life a success. He is the possessor of 80 acres of
land here and nearly 400 in Champaign Co. On the 27th of Dec,
1855, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Mosely, at Delavan.
The union has been blest with four children — Arthur A. the eldest,
was born April 7, 1858 and died Mar. 5, 1859; Clarence H., born
Sept. 26, 1860; Gertrude H., born Jan. 22, 1862, and Joseph H.,
born Mar. 20, 1866.
Uriah Briggs, farmer, section 7 ; was born in Ontario county, N.
Y., April 9, 1829. His parents, Uriah and Mary (Holcomb)
Briggs, were both born in Ontario county, and were farmers. Mr.
B. was educated in the common schools and at the age of twentv-
one came to this county. Before coming, however, he was married,
at Granger, O., to Cornelia Hatch, of Medina county, O. This
memorable event of his life occurred on the 11th of April, 1850,
and has been blessed with four children : Delia A., born Feb. 9.
1855, Adella M., born June 26, 1862, died Mar. 5, 1865, Jennie A.,
born Feb. 15, 1866, and Meloin E., born Dec. 28, 1872. P. O.,
Delavan.
/. H. Burlingame, farmer sec. 14; P. O., Delavan; was born in
Meig Co., O., July 13, 1824. His parents were Edwin and Jane
(Evans) Burlingame. When Mr. B. was a boy between four and
five years old, his parents moved to Muskingum Co., where he
received a good common school education. In 1851 he made his
entrance into this county and located at Delavan. His parents
moved to the same place about two years thereafter. Mrs. R. died
March 25, 1875, at the ripe old age of 77. Mr. B. is still living
and resides with one of his children. He is 82 years old. In
March, 1869, this estimable couple celebrated their golden wedding.
J. H. was married to Jane Allison, Jan. 1, 1851, at, or near, Zanes-
440 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
ville, O. They have eight children — Thomas E., born Feb. 16,
1853; Mary S., April 11, 1855; Sarah E., Sept. 10, 1857; Jane
E., April 7, 1860, died Oct. 23, 1862; Fannie P., July 30, 1862;
Louisa E., April 25, 1865; Charles H., Sept. 3, 1868, and Robert
C, August 5, 1871, died in 1872. Mr. B. is a member of the Pres-
byterian Church.
Robert W. Crothers. Dr. Crothers was born at»Mt. Pleasant, O.,
in 1833, and graduated at the Jefferson Medical College, of Phila-
delphia, in 1855. In 1856 he came to Delavan, where he has since
engaged in the practice of his profession, in which he has been
eminently successful. In addition, he has conducted a drug store
there and in this he has also been successful.
Rudolph Frey, banker, was born in Germany Oct. 30, 1841. His
parents, who were Germans, gave him a good common school educa-
tion. At an early age he crossed the Atlantic and was landed in
the United States ; and when only ten years old was brought to this
county. Just as he was emerging into manhood, when he expected
to enter upon the stage of active life, the Rebellion broke out. True
to his adopted country and to the flag of our glorious Union, he
shouldered his musket and went to the front to defend it ; and for
three long and bloody years he served in the 94th Illinois Infantry.
In 1865, at Pekin, Mr. Frey was united in marriage with Rose
Clauser. They have one child. He has held a position on the
Town Board of Trustees for some time and President of that body.
He is a Republican in political views. Mr. Frey is a well known
and respected citizen of this town and largely identified in the bus-
iness interests of the place. His portrait may be found in this
volume.
Elwood M. GarUek, printer, is a native of Pleasant Valley, Clark
county, O., having been born at that place Sept. 19, 1849. His
parents are Mortimore A. and Martha (Gilmore) Garlick. When a
young man Mr. G. entered a printing office, in Loudon, O., where
he acquired his trade. He came to this county when at the age of
nineteen, and is now foreman of the Delavan Advertiser. He had
the privilege of attending only the common schools, but the printing
office is one of the best schools in the land. On the 9th of April,
1875, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Keefe, at
Delavan. They have two children — Minnie M. and Mattie E.
The latter died Nov. 27, 1877.
Augustus Giles came to this county, in 1858, and settled in Malone
township, and came to Delavan in 1873. He now resides on section
18, and is engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is the son of
Benjamin A. Giles and Mary Clauson, both natives of Middlesex
county, N. J., where, in Piscataway, of that county, he was born
July 5, 1824. He was raised on a farm, and engaged in the hay-
pressing business before leaving New Jersey. At Plainfield, N. J.,
Jan. 18, 1846, he was married to Anna M. Brokaw. She is the
mother of nine children, seven living, two dead. Mr. G. has served
HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 441
as School Director several times. He has been a member of the
Baptist Church for a number of years. Post-office, Delavan.
Vandiver G-iles. This gentleman, who is engaged in farming, was
born in Piscataway, Middlesex county, N. J., Oct. 15, 1822. His
parents, Benjamin E. and Mary (Clauson) Giles, were also natives
of Middlesex county. His father was a farmer and a weaver. Mr.
G. was well advanced in life before he cast his lot and fortune
among the people of this county. He came in Feb., 1865. Before
coming to the West he was engaged in farming in his native county.
In 1842, at the age of twenty, he was married to Miss Experience
Giles. Twenty-one years later she died. She left three children,
who are still living — Patterson S., Martha A. and Martin. Martha
is the wife of Alfred Runion, who resides in this township. Pater-
son married Jane McCray, of New Jersey, and they now live in
Terre Haute, Ind. Martin married Sarah Z. Runion, and resides
in Delavan township. Mr. G. was again married in 1865, to
Elizabeth D. Boice. For many years he has been a member of the
Baptist Church.
Hon. Ira B. Hall is the eldest son of Preserved and Eunice
(Browning) Hall, and was born in Exeter, R. I. Nov., 29, 1812.
His father came to Delavan in 1844, where he resided until his
death, which occured Oct. 26, 1847, in his 68th year. His wife
passed from earth Sept. 20, 1849, and was in the 68th year of her
age. Ira B. Hall had tlie advantage of only the common schools of
his native State, but received good home training. Mr. Hall early
in life went to New York city and engaged with a publishing
house. He then returned home and engaged in teaching, which
profession he subsequently followed, both in New York and Ken-
tucky. He came to 111., and located in Springfield in 1839. Here
he was intimately associated with Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A.
Douglas and others of Illinois' honored sons. In Sept., 1840, we
find him landlord of the Delavan House. July 4, 1845, he quit the
hotel business and since has been mostly identified with agriculture.
In 1840, Oct. 22, he was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Thurston,
of Lee Co., Iowa. By this marriage they had two children — Al-
bert T. and Mary E. ^Mrs. Hall died Sept. 16, 1844. He again
married Feb. 11, 1846, to Sarah A. Briggs, formerly of Providence,
R. I. This union was blessed with two sons and four daughters.
In 1870 Mr. H. was elected to the Legislature and served with
distinction. He is one of the representative men of Tazewell Co.,
and as such we give a portrait of him in this book.
John Hays. This gentleman come to this country from Ireland,
(where, in the county of Limerick, in June, 1823, he was born) in
1847. He lived in Saratoga Co., N. Y., for four years, and then
came to this county and located at Pekin, where he lived for ten
years. He then moved on his farm, sec. 23, where he has since re-
sided and been quite successful. His parents were Patrick and
Catherine (Mahoney) Hays. On the loth of April, 1855, he was
28
442 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
married to Margaret Feehan, at Peoria. Miss Feehan was born
Oct. 25, 1838, in Kilkenny, Ireland, and was brought to this
country by her parents at a very early age. The names of their six
children are — Anna, Kate F., Ella M., M. Louisa, Daisey E.,
Henry (died Oct. 24, 1872), and Edward J. Mr. H. is a member
of the Catholic Church ; P. O., Delavan.
Joseph Holmes, farmer, sections 5 and 6 ; is the son of Joseph
Holmes and Charlotte Few, of Cambridgeshire, Eng., where, July
5, 1825, their son Joseph was born. He came to this county in
1848, not until he had married, however; for we find, on the 22d of
May, 1842, he was united in marriage with Mary Allgood, also a
native of Cambridgeshire, Eng., but at the time of the marriage a
resident of Lockport, N. Y. Their children — Alfred was born
Jan. 25, 1845, Charles, born April 4, 1855, and Alice J., Mar. 24,
1863. Alfred served three years in the 73d 111. Infantry during the
Rebellion. Mr. H. is a brother of Richard Holmes, and, like him, is
identified with the Republican party. P. O., Delavan.
Richard Holmes, farmer, and Chairman of the Board of Super-
visors, was born in Magora county, N. Y., Feb. 26, 1834. His
parents, Joseph and Charlotte (Few)' Holmes, were natives of Cam-
bridgeshire, Eng., and came to this country about the year 1837, and
settled at Lockport, Magora county, N. Y., where they lived till
1848, when they came to this county and settled in Delavan town-
ship, where they remained till their death. His mother died April
14, 1867, in the 75th year of her age. His father died in April,
1871, at the advanced' age of 79. He was elected from the 27th
District, in 1874, to the Legislature, and served the last session held
in the old State House. In 1869 he was elected Supervisor, and has
held the ofl&ce ever since except 1875. He has served six terms as
Chairman of that body. Dec. 6, 1855, at Lyons, Wayne county,
he was married to Lienor H. Carr. Their children are — Orville W.,
Kate E., Oliver, Frank, Laura and Willie. P. O., Delavan.
Philip Humbert, baker, Delavan, was born June 14, 1832, in
Alsace, when it belonged to France. He came to this country in
1849, and located at Rochester, N. Y. ; came to Henry, 111., where
he remained till 1859, when he went t9 California overland. In
1861 he enlisted in the 2d Cal. Cavalry, Co. M., and was stationed
most of the time at Utah. After his discharge, in Oct., 1864, he
re-enlisted in Co. H., 4th Regiment of Hancock's Veteran Corps,
organized at Washington, and stationed at Winchester, Md. ; then
at Washington till the hanging of Mrs. Surratt ; then at Columbus
till his discharge, Aug. 3, 1866. He was married to Mary Sann, at
Delavan, in 1868.
Peter F. Johnson, farmer, was born in Sweden, Sept. 8, 1833.
His parents were Jonas and Sarah Johnson. The elder Johnson
brought his family to the Bishop Hill Colony, (Henry county. 111.)
in 1846. The privations suffered were great. They walked from
Chicago ; their onl^ food potatoes and corn-dodgers. About one-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 443
half of the colony, which numbered about 360, died. Mr. John-
son, after a month's sojourn, then became dissatisfied with the
manner of life and the tyranny of Eric Jansen, the leader. He
worked one winter for the board of his family, near Victoria,
Knox county. His wife died one month after leaving Bishop
Hill. His father put out his children to be raised, and Peter fortu-
nately fell to the care of Horace Clark, the first Supervisor of
Morton township. He remained with him until he was twenty-one.
April 13, 1859, he was married to Emily Bowman, who was also
raised by Mr. Clark, and under the same circumstances. She died
July 18, 1877. Mr. J. was educated in common schools and the
Academy of Knox College, Galesburg. His children are Ida E.,
born Dec. 29, 1862; Arthur L., Aug. 24, 1864; Edith M., July 20,
1869; Florence E., Mar. 27, 1872; Leslie H., Aug. 23, 1874.
Residence, section 29. Post-office, San Jose.
Elias 0. Jones. Esquire Jones is a native of the Empire State,
having been born in Berlin, Rensselser Co., of that State, July 21,
1820. He is the oldest son of Elias and Lydia (Sweet) Jones, also
natives of New York. During the dark days of the Rebellion, he,
with his brother. Dr. James A. Jones, enlisted in the 115th 111. Inf.
His brother was Acting Surgeon of the regiment, when he was mur-
dered by guerrillas near Tunnel Hill, Ga., July 11, 1864. After
several months in the army Elias O. was obliged to quit the service,
on account of disability. He came to Delavan in Dec, 1855. He
has for many years held the position of Justice of the Peace. Mar.
13, 1843, he was united in marriage with Mary Brock way. She died
Dec. 25, 1872, and in April, 1877, he was married to Mrs. Henrietta
Barker, of Peoria, at Monmouth, 111. He has two children — Henry
P., born Mar. 20, 1846, and James O., born July 20, 1847.
Gyrus M. Kingman was born in Deer Creek township, this Co.,
Sept. 20, 1839. His father, Abel Kingman, came from Mass., and
his mother, Mary A. Kingman, came from Baltimore, Md., in 1831.
They were married the following year in Elm Grove township. At
that time there was but one other family living in the neighborhood,
though the Indians were numerous. The elder Kingman served for
several years as County Commissioner, and died many years ago.
His wife continues to reside on the old homestead, in Deer Creek.
In July, 1861, Cyrus M. enlisted in 47th 111. Inf, and served three
and one-half years. He entered the service again as 1st Lieut, of
Co. D., 152d 111. Inf. He participated in 37 engagements, and
had a horse shot from under him, being himself slightly wounded.
He holds commission of 1st Lieut, in the State militia. In 1867,
May 27, he married Lucy Rouse, at Bloomington. Their children
number four — one girl dead. Mr. K. is engaged in the hardware
business. He has three brothers, all of whom are engaged at differ-
ent places in the same business.
William Knott, farmer and stock raiser. His father, Ephriam
Knott, was a native of Pennsylvania^ and his mother^ Agnes Knott,
444 lilSTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
was born in New York. They settled in Fayette Co., Ind., early
in the present century, where in 1821, Dec. 28, was born to them
a son, the subject of this sketch. Ephriam Knott took great
interest in preserving the Union when it was assailed by traitor
hands. Although too old to take up arms, he contributed liberally
for the cause. At the age of twenty-one, William was united in
the holy bonds of matrimony with Margaret Clark, in Randolph
Co., lud. Miss Clark was born in Montgomery Co., O. Their
home has been blessed by seven children. The gloom of death has
found its way over the threshold, however, and carried away one of
the number.
Samuel Lmvton, jeweler, Delavan, came to this county in April,
1855. He was born July 12, 1831, in Warren, R. I. His parents,
William B. and Sarah (Smith) Lawton, were also natives of Rhode
Island. His educational advantages were limited to the common
schools. He has acted as Township Treasurer for fifteen years.
For many years has been connected with the Methodist Church.
In October, 1856, he took unto himself a wife in the person of
Albina Briggs, of Delavan. They are parents of four children.
George A. Martin, carpenter, Delavan, was born in Middlesex
county, N. J., Nov. 30, 1821. His parents were Henry and Cathe-
rine (Strangman) Martin, who were natives of the same county.
He was educated in the common schools and at the Semenary, at
New Brunswick, N. J. Mr. M. came to this county in October,
1855, from New York city, where he lived five years. Jan. 1,
1850, he was married to Margaret Mundy, at New Brunswick.
They have one child living, one dead.
John McKinstry, miller and farmer, is the son of Thomas and
Isabella (Huston) McKinstry, and was born in Franklin Co., Pa.,
July 22, 1822. In May, 1855, he came to this county, and for
nearly a quarter of century has engaged in active life here, winning
the respect and esteem of all who know him, and being successful
in his business career. He is now actively identified with the
business interests of this place. His father was a native of Ireland,
and was brought to this country when only four years of age ; his
mother was born in Franklin Co., Pa. He held at one time a com-
mission as Second Lieutenant, under D. R. Porter, in Co. A, 7th
Regt., Pa. Vol. This regiment was organized previous to the Rev-
olutionary War, and is still in existence. Sept. 12, 1843, he was
united in marriage with Anna M. Work, of Pennsylvania. She
died April 4, 1861, leaving six children. He was married a second
time to Mary Hall, of Gettysburg, Pa., Dec. 21, 1863. Mr. Mc-
Kinstry united with the Presbyterian Church in 1842, and has been
a consistent, liberal and active member since. His portrait, as a
representative citizen, may be found in this volume.
George Nichoh, farmer ; P. O., San Jose ; was born at Boston,
Mass., Jan. 20, 1825, and is the son of John and Mary (Gordon)
Nichols^ who^were natives of New Hampshire. Mr. Nichols' peo-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 445
pie came to this county in 1836, and after a little settled in Elm
Grove township. They remained here till obout 1854, when they
removed to Prairie Creek, just over into Logan county. Here
John Nichols died, in 1871, and his wife a few years after, both at
a good old age. The family consisted of four boys and four girls,
three of whom settled in Kansas ; one died 32 years ago, at the age
of 11 ; a sister, the wife of William Jones, lives on the old home-
stead next to Mr. Nichols' home. The latter moved to Prairie
Creek, in 1856, and he still occupies the same place which he did
while in Logan county, is still a part of the original township of
Delavan. His home is one of the finest country residences in this
section. He owns 330 acres of land in Tazewell county, and 240
in Logan. He was married Feb. 14, 1854, to Caroline, daughter of
Thos. Edes, of Elm Grove. He has had six children, five of whom
are living, viz: Ella E., born April 6, 1857, died September, 1858;
Norman T., born June 23, 1860; Enos R., born Dec. 18, 1863;
Clara G., born Oct. 16, 1866; Gertrude E., born Feb. 15, 1871 ;
Jessie M., born Jan. 4, 1S79. Mr. Nichols boyhood was spent in
this county, when the schools were neitlier good nor plentiful, and
he therefore did not enjoy very fine educational advantage. But he
was blessed with good common sense, was energetic and industrious,
and has achieved that success in life which those ({ualities are bound
to bring. A portrait of Mr. Nichols appear in our Delavan group.
John L. Orendorff. The family of Orendortfs, since the organi-
zation of Tazewell county, have been prominently identified with
its history. The name has numerous representatives residing in the
county at present, which are, in general, descendants of the old
pioneers. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch, is a repre-
sentative of the earliest pioneers of the county. Enoch and Rosan-
na Orendorff came from Kentucky to Tazewell county as early as
1826, While living in Hopedale township, and Sept. 15, 1835,
John was born to them. He received a common school education
in that township, moved to Delavan, and is now engaged in the
jewelry business, in whl(;h he has been successful. In July, 1858,
at Delavan, he was married to Mary Arnold. One boy and two
girls have blessed the union, all of whom are living.
Qaintus Orendorff] son of Enoch T. and Rosanna Orendorif, was
born in Tazewell Co., 111., Nov. 10, 1828. His father was one of
the earliest pioneers of this Co., having come here in 1826. He
died April 2, 1852. The death of his wife occurred April 15, 1851.
Quintus received such school training as the common schools aiford-
ed in pioneer times. He embarked in business life in Delavan.
He erected a steam flouring mill here in 1855, which was the first
in the town. This proved a financial detriment. He then went to
Mason City, 111., and engaged in the mercantile trade. He
remained here for eleven years, when (1866) he returned to Delavan
and went into merchandising. He is a live enterprising business
man and respected by the whole community. He married Miss
446 HISTOEY OP TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Emma E. Kelley Sept. 24, 1854. This union has been blessed
with five children, the names of whom, in the order of their births,
are — Oren B., Anna B., Olive B. (deceased), Charles B. and
Jesuline B.
George W. Patten. This gentleman was born in Jeiferson Co.,
N. Y., May. 8, 1836. He is the son of John A. and Betsey E.
(Caster) Patten. He received a liberal education in the common
schools and Lowville Academy, Lewis Co. He has been engaged
in farming during the greater part of his life, and in addition has
conducted a hardware store in Delavan for four years. He has,
however, disposed of both his store and farm. He served three
years in 73d 111. Inf., enlisting in July, 1862. He is now Captain
of Co. K. 7th I. N. G. This company is made up of citizens of
Delavan. He led to the marriage altar in 1867, Sept. 10, Lottie J.
Holmes. Their children are John A., born Sept. 27, 1868, Maggie
B., Nov. 27, 1869, Zeboim C, Sept. 15, 1875, and George H., Oct.
15, 1877.
/. B. Phillips, merchant, is the son of ^enoni and Lucy (Fry)
Phillips, who were both natives of Khode Island. He was born in
Providence, of that State Nov. 7, 1828. He attended the common
schools of his native city and obtained a good education. A few
months before he attained the age of eighteen (June, 1846) he came
into this county. For a period of twenty-five years thereafter he
was engaged in farming on sec. 3, of Delavan township. He then
embarked in marcantile business in Delavan, and has been success-
ful at both occupations. For several years he has been a member
of the Town Board, of Delavan. Jan. 31, 1843, he was united in
marriage with Ann Hoghton, in Delavan. Two children, a boy and
a girl, bless their home.
James Ryan was born in Limerick Co., Ireland, in 1811, and
his parents were John and Johanna (Leyston) Ryan. On Feb. 18,
1842, he married Margaret Hayes, who was born in the same county,
Oct., 29, 1825. Mr. Ryan was a poor man, and, though he had a
strong affection for " old Ireland " he decided to try his fortune in
America. He came to this country in 1851, leaving his wife and
four children behind him. Shortly after his arrival he went to
Delavan, and after working three years he saved sufficient money
to send for his family. After a few years he was able to buy some
land, to which he has, from time to time, made additions and he now
has a farm of 415 acres with excellent buildings. The names of
his children are as follows : Johanna, John, Patrick, Michael, Cath-
erine, (died Dec, 1851), James, (died in 1856) Catherine, James,
William (now at school at Notre Dame, Ind.) Daniel and Margaret
Idella. Besides these they have an adopted daughter, Johanna
Dohaney and a grandchild, Margaret Ryan, now living with them.
Mr. Ryan is a Catholic, and is one of the principal men in the
Church at Delavan. He votes with the Democratic party.
George T. Scott, farmer, son of Simon and Elizabeth (Farish)
HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 447
Scott, was born in Scotland, Dec. 8, 1797. Mr. Scott came to this
country in 1830 and settled iii Rhode Island, where he worked at
cotton spinning till 1843, when he came to Logan county. 111., and
engaged in farming. In 1854 he made another move and came to
Delavan where he has since lived. Sept. 1, 1819, he wes married to
Sarah R. Bell, in Scotland. Twelve children were born to them.
Mrs. Scott died in July, 1854, at Delavan. He was married again,
Aug. 7, 1855, to Mary Pratt. Of Mr. Scott's children five sons
and two daughters still live, — Simon lives in Atlanta, 111., John
resides in Delavan, Dr. George, at Sedalia, Mo., William and Nor-
man F. at Delavan. One of the daughters is the wife of Harvey
Pratt, of Pekin, the other is Mrs. Elizabeth Perrin, who lives in
Kansas. Of the dead children, one of the first born died in Scot-
land ; two died young in Providence, R. I. ; a daughter married
John Phillips and died in Delavan in 1872 ; Richard enlisted in the
73rd Illinois Infantry and was wounded in the battle of Franklin,
Tenn., in 1864, and died shortly after at Jeiferson Barracks, Ind.
His body was brought home and buried at Delavan. Mr. S. has for
many years been a member of the Christian Church.
John N. Snedeker was born in Mercer county. New Jersey, Feb.
18, 1832, and he is the son of James W. and Ann (Newell) Sned-
eker. He learned the trade of harness making in the East, but on
coming West, he settled on a farm in Delavan, and later he moved
into Boynton. He has always enjoyed the highest esteem of his
neighbors, and has represented Boynton in the Board of Supervi-
sors. He still owns a fiirm in Boynton, but is engaged in harness-
making in Delavan. He was married Nov. 20, 1853, to Miss
Amanda ]\Ieranda, of Warren county, O.
Arthur Stubbs, of the firm of Stubbs & McKinstry, millers, pro-
prietors of the Young American Mill. This genteman, who repre-
sents one of the important business interests of the county, was
born in Sheffield, England, Dec. 11, 1837, and is the son of George
and Harriet Stubbs. In 1849, his father crossed the Atlantic to this
country, leaving his son, then only twelve years old, in England.
He remained only two years, when he too sailed for the United
States. His father settled in St. Louis. Arthur was not long in
this country before he found his way to Tazewell county, for he
arrived at Pekin in 1861. He remained in that city for two years,
and then went to Morgan county, but returned to Tazewell in 1866,
and two years thereafter moved into Delavan, and, in connection
with Mr.'Starz, built the Delavan City Mills. Later he sold his
interest in that mill and built, in 1870, the Young American Mill,
with Mr. Ironmonger and C. L. Booth. In 1873, Mr, Booth sold
his interest to Mr. John McKinstry, and the present firm was
organized. In February, 1861, Mr. S. was married to Celia Ann
Sanford, of Macoupin Co., 111. They have seven children living,
one dead. Mr. S. is connected with the Presbyterian Church.
Ebeii a Teft, farmer, section 9 ; was born Dec. 24, 1829, at East
448 HISTORY OF T'X'ZEWELL COUNTY.
Greenwich, R. I. His parents were George and Eliza A. (Clark)
Teft. His father came to Delavan, in 1841, and bought a farm and
lived there until his death, which occurred Feb. 17, 1874, at the
age of 67. In the spring of 1852, the subject of this sketch crossed
the plains to California. He remained on the Pacific slope over
thirteen years, when he returned to Delavan. He was united in
marriage with Jane Rose, of Fulton county. 111., at Delavan, Nov.
2, 1873. Their children, Eliza and Rosa May, were born, respect-
ively, Aug. 15, 1874 and Nov. 25, 1877. Religiously he is non-
sectarian. Post-office, Delavan.
Henry H. Tomm, grain dealer, Delavan ; son of Joachim and
Carolina (Nunke) Tomm, was born in Prussia, Germany, Dec. 31,
18391 He came to this country at the time his father's family did.
He attended the schools of Prussia and Quincy College, Quincy,
111. He first entered the dry goods business, but now deals in
grain. He served in Co. C, 139th 111. Infantry, during the late
war. He is of the Lutheran faith, religiously.
James H. Upham was born March 26, ] 820, at Sand Lake, N. Y.
In '49 he went to California at the breaking out of the gold excite-
ment. After spending two years there, he decided to try his for-
tune in Australia, where he remained nearly two years more.
Leaving Australia Mr. U., and George Chase, the companion of his
travels, sailed for the western coast of South America. Greatly
impaired in health, and with no desire to catch the yellow fever,
which was at that time raging there, Mr. U. decided to return home,
which he did after an absence of four years. Few men have had so
varied an experience as has fallen to the lot of Mr. U. He not only
encountered the usual dangers of mining life, but twice narrowly
escaped death on the sea. The vessel on which he sailed to Austra-
lia was unseaworthy, and as she carried a heavy insurance, there
were strong indications that the owner intended that the boat should
not reach her ultimate destination, though, as he himself was on
board, his plan was to run upon the rocks near the Australian coast.
Convinced in his own mind that such were the facts, Mr. Upham
and his chum left the vessel at Sidney, with the intention of making
the 100 miles to Melbourne afoot. Whether his suspicions were
correct or not a typhoon suddenly struck the vessel and she went
down with the most of those on board, including the owner. The
news of the lost vessel reached America, and Mr. U.'s friends, not
receiving any of his letters, mourned him as dead ; nor did they get
any information from him till he himself appeared two years later.
Again, when sailing for South America, a watery grave seemed to
await the entire crew. The vessel was conveying sand ballast, and
when in mid-ocean sprang a bad leak. The sand got into the
pumps, which, continually clogging, could not be worked to any ad-
vantage, whatever. There was no ship-carpenter aboard, and matters
became worse and worse. Mr. Upham was lying sick at the time,
and knew nothing of the state of aiFairs till his companion told him
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 449
they had to go down. "Why can't we put in mining pumps?" said
the sick man. Sure enough, why coukhi't they"? They would
pump water, sand, or whatever came in their way. They were both
carpenters, and after consulting the captain, who was very glad to
receive a suggestion from anybody, a number of pumps were soon
in operation and the vessel saved. Some time after reaching Amer-
ica Mr. Upham again came to Delavan, where he has since lived,
serving, for ten years, in the different capacities of Constable, City
MarshTd and Deputy Shcriif. He was married, May 20, 1857, to
Catherine Mounts, who died Jan. 13, 1861, leaving two children,
Ella and Charles; was again married, Jan. 2, 1866, to Mary Rugg,
who was born, Sept. 25, 1834, in Oneida Co., N. Y. One child,
George H., has been the result of this union.
Isaac Vanicy, farmer, sec. 1 ; P. O., Delavan ; was born in the
District of London, Canada, June 4, 1826. His parents were
Smith V. and Mary (Johnson) Varney. His father was a native
of New Hampshire, and when a young man went to Canada to
engage in school teaching. He remained in the Queen's dominion
for about fifteen years, and while there married jSIiss Johnson.
After this event of his life he changed hi:; profession for the life of
a farmer, and came to this country in 1839, and settled north-east
of Washington in what is now Woodford Co. At this time Isaac
Varney was about nine years old. His father died in Dec, 1843,
and the widowed mother with her family came to Delavan the next
year. March 5, 1857, Mr. V. was married to Eliza Allgood, who
was born in England, Nov. 2, 1831. She was brought to this
country when an infant child They have had born to them four
children, two of whom are now living — George E., who was born
Oct. 7, 1859, and Flora I., born May 27, 1864. Mr. V. is connect-
ed with the M. E. Church and identified with the Republican party.
William A. Vaughn, farmer, section 9. This gentleman, who has
been residing in this county since October, 1851, was born in
Coventry, R. I., Nov. 6, 1827. He is the son of Caleb Vaughn,
also a native of Rhode Island. He was privileged to attend the
common schools of Providence, where he attained a good education,
which, with his practical knowledge, has enabled him to meet with
success in life. He has held local offices but is no office seeker. In
1855 he united his fortunes with those of Susan OrendorfF, of
Hopedale. This union has resulted in the birth of three children
— one boy and two girls.
Hugh A. Work, farmer and clerk, came to this county in the fall
of 1847, and located in Groveland township. In the spring of 1852
he moved into Dillon, and nine years later came into Delavan.
During this year the flag of our country was assailed by rebel hands,
and in the month of September Hugh enlisted in the 4th 111. Cav. ;
served three years and four months, and in Feb., 1865, re-enlisted
in Hancock's Veteran Corps ; served till the close of the war.
Shortly after Lincoln's assassination this regiment was ordered to
450 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Washington, where it remained for three months, and then to Albany
for that length of time. He was mustered out that fall, at Elmira.
Hugh A. Work was born in Franklin Co., Pa., June 15, 1827. His
parents, Henry and Susan C. Work, were also born there. In June,
1852, he was married, in Pekin, to Harriet Hill. Their children
number seven, one of whom sleeps in eternity.
Jacob Yontz, farmer, son of Jacob and Fanny (Lehman) Yontz,
was born in Lancaster county, Pa., Jan. 14, 1835. When a young
man he came West, with only money enough to pay his fare. Arrived
in this county April, 1852. He worked out a number of years, and
in 1854 bought 40 acres of land. He now has 160 acres on section
29. He enlisted, in Oct., 1861, in Co. H., 4th 111. Cavalry. He
served mostly in Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana ; took part in
the battles of Fort Henry, Donelson, Shiloh and others. He was
mustered out in Dec, 1864, at Natchez, Miss. He has been married
twice. His first wedding occurred Jan. 17, 1860, at Springfield, 111.,
when he was united in marriage with Anna M. Cochran. She died
Dec. 23d, of the same year. He was again married Aug. 26, 1866,
this time to Kate Cummings, at Mt. Pulaski, 111. His children
were born as follows: Samuel J., born Dec. 16, 1860; Laura F.,
Oct. 30, 1867 ; Robert A., Aug. 24, 1870; William E., July 7, 1873,
died Aug. 25, 1875; John, June 2, 1875. Politically, Mr. Y. is a
Republican. Post-office, San Jose.
Sarah Youle, widow of the late William Youle, was born in Eng-
land, July 28, 1819. William Youle, her husband, was a native of
the same country, and born Jan. 4, 1823. Her maiden name was
Sarah Askren. They were married May 6, 1845, in England, and
came to this country in June, 1851, and to this county the following
autumn. Thev did not locate in Delavan till 1866. From 1858 till
1866 thiey lived just across the line, in Mason Co. Mr. Y. engaged
in farming during the greater part of his life. He also was an exten-
sive stock raiser and stock dealer. From 1873 till his death he was
engaged in the lumber business, and was a member of the firm of
Youle & Brunson. His death occurred Aug. 4, 1878. He was a
man loved and respected by all who knew him. In business, enter-
prising and successful, as a citizen, honored and esteemed, and as a
husband and father, loved. He was the first to introduce osage
hedge, for fences, into this county, and was for a time engaged in
the hedge business. The marriage above referred to was blessed
with nine children — Michael A., died in Iowa in 1869; Leathan,
died Oct. 8, 1861 ; Wm. S. ; Elizabeth D. ; Laura J., died Dec. 15,
1875 ; Emma, George S. and Ada M.
Other prominent men here worthy of mention are Benjamin F.
Orndorff, Louis Bechcith, Thomas Pawson and 31. D. Beecher.
The following is a list of township officials from its organization
to the present time, wnth dates of the years served :
HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 451
SUPERVISORS.
Wm. W. Grossman 1850-55 H. L. Fisher 1866
Ira B.Hall 1856 Benj. F. Orendorff 1867-68
Henry Pratt 1857-60 Richard Holmes 1869-72
Henry R. Green 1863 M. D. Beecher 1875
James H. McKinstry 1864-65 Richard Holmes 1876-79
TOWN-CLERKS.
Charles H. Grant 1854-55 Wm. J. Scott 1866^7
Abraham Storms 1856-60 Charles L. Gale 1868
E.O.Jones 1863 Thomas S. Morris 1869
Wm. J. Scott 1864 M. D. Beecher 1870-74
Louis D. M. Lawton 1865 Louis D. M. Lawton 1875-79
ASSESSORS.
Silas Dand 1854 J.N.Nichols 1864-65
David Vandeventer 1855 Ricnard Holmes 1866-67
John Upham 1856 Burt Newman 1868
Daniel Reid 1857 Joseph J. Slaughters 1869-70
John Upham 1858 Geo. W. Patten 1871-73
Wm. D. Evans 1859 John N. Snedeker 1874-79
J. M. D. Davidson 1860-63
COLLECTORS.
Daniel Reid 1854-55 Simeon R.Drake 1865-72
Eben P. Sanford 1856-53 John Disbrow 1873
Levi T. Cheever 1856-60 Charles L. Gale 1874-78
Samuel Lawton 1863-64 Joseph M. Garrett 1879
DILLON TOWNSHIP.
Fifty-six years have come and gone since Nathan Dillon erected
his cabin on section 1, of this township. It is claimed that he was
the first settler in the county, save the old French traders, and for
proof to substantiate this we refer the reader to his own words,
recorded in the first chapter of this book. There is another claim-
ant, however, to this honor. We refer the reader to William
Blanchard's sketch in the history of Fond du Lac township. He
brings a prior claim to that of Mr. Dillon's. We state the facts as
clearly and pointedly as we can deduce them, and leave the readers
to draw their own conclusions. It is useless to dwell at length
upon the early history of this township, as that is embraced in the
first chapter of this volume.
A few incidents of the early settlement will illustrate the hard-
ships encountered by the pioneers. Mr. John Trowbridge relates,
that when he came to the county, in 1833, he worked for his uncle,
James Kinman, for two years at his saw mill, and for other parties,
for ^5 per month. He says there were but four or five cabins on
his side of the Mackinaw then. When he and his brother, Jessie,
452 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
first purchased land, they had no timber from which to make rails.
They accordingly went over to a grove, called Walnut Grove, which
they named at the time. This grove was eight miles from their
cabin. In the first tree they cut down, which was a walnut, they
found and killed four coons. While there at work it suddenly
turned cold. This was the most intense cold weather ever experi-
enced in the country. He does not so state, but it likely was the
"sudden change" refferred to elsewhere in this history. They
could not keep warm and their provisions gave out. Their folks
were afraid to come for them and they dare not undertake to go
home, for fear they would freeze to death on the way. They set a
trap and proceeded to cut a tree for fire. They soon returned to
their trap and found a quail. This made them one breakfast.
Toward evening it began to turn warmer, and while busily cutting
they heard a loud noise. They went back to their " shanty," made
a big fire, and Jessie laid down to sleep, but his brother kept him
awake, fearful that the wolves would devour them, for it appeared
that there were over 500 right around them. The following morn-
ing they left for home, and when on the top of a sand ridge, just
below them they counted 110 deer. They were running in Indian
file and were counted as they passed. The noise made by their
hoofs was heard at a distance of over a mile.
Mr. Trowbridge has seldom been out of the county since his
coming. He used to go on hunting excursions with Seth Kinman,
his cousin. Many of the old settlers remember this remarkable
character. On one trip they started up a wolf and killed it, and
started another, gave chase, and killed it also. They then found
three bee trees and got four tubs of honey. While they were
cutting the third tree, the dogs treed fifteen coons, all of which
were killed. This was called a good hunt.
Mrs. Ellen Studyvin tells us that when they first came, which
was in 1830, they kept a tavern or an inn. It was known as
Studyvin's Tavern. She recollects the deep snow, and says it
covered the fences entirely. Three children were drowned in the
Mackinaw when she first came. They were sliding on the ice,
which broke, they went through and were drowned. Their graves
are near the Mackinaw. They were children of Mrs. Mosler, who
now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Ball, at Delavan.
Mrs. Josiah Baily came in the fall of 1828, and is to-day, at the
age of 73, one of the Smartest old ladies in the county. She resides
with her brother, Daniel Brown. She remembers seeing Black
HISTORY OF TAZEWEI,L COUNTY. 453
Hawk and 1,500 warriors on parade. They had to go to Peoria
after lumber when they first came, and it took them four days to
make the trip.
Matthias Mount came in 1833, Feb. 20. He served in the Black
Hawk war, as Second Lieutenant in Co. C, 1st regt. He was at the
battles of Wisconsin and Bad Axe, and attended the treaty at Rock
Island, and says our portrait of Black Hawk is an excellent one.
He had a horse shot from under him.
Daniel Crabb is one of the early settlers, and one who has, by his
own labor and good management, amassed a fortune. He made
rails for 37| cents per hundred, and took his pay in trade, when he
first came.
The first meeting after the the township mode of conducting
county affairs was adopted, was held April 2, 1850. Nathan Dillon
presided. A vote was taken, and Nathan Dillon elected Supervisor ;
J. W. Musick, Clerk ; R. H. Hardy, Assessor ; J. B. Landet, Col-
lector; Daniel Dillon, Com. of Poor; Abncr Rulon, Obediah
Study vin and Samuel Berry, Com. of Highways; Sherrod Will-
iams and Jesse Kinman, J. P. ; John B. Landet and Wm. Stock-
ton, Constables ; Andrew Wallace, Pound Master. Nathan Dillon
was the first Justice of the Peace in the township ; he held his com-
mission from Governor Edwards.
Antioch Ghridian Church was the first Church organized in the
township. The congregation was formed by Jesse Fisher, Jerome
AValtmire, William Dillon, Abner Rulon, and others. The first
edifice was built in 1838; the present one in 1858, at a cost of
$600. The Elders are J. R. Cainpbell, Wm. Johnson, Rees Gatlis
and Allen Leonard.
There are two towns in the township, both of which are small
and quite old. They are Dillon, situated on section 3 ; and TuUa-
more, on section 24.
In connection with the history of Dillon township, we mention
some of the representative and leading citizens, believing they not
only deserve mention, but that a short sketch of them will be read
with interest.
John Birky, farmer, sec. 34 ; P. O., Delavan ; was born at Tre-
mont, this county, Feb. 4,1849; son of Clu-istian and Catharina
(Moseman) Birky, natives of Germany and France. Mr. Birky
attended the common schools of this county ; is connected with the
Omish Church; was married Jan. 25, 1874, to Magdelina Zimmer,
also of this county ; she was born Oct. 9, 1854. They have had three
454 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
children — Benjamin, born Dec. 28, 1875, deceased; Samuel, born
Jan. 6, 1877; and Emma, born Sept. 17, 1878. Is a Republican in
politics.
John C. Boivlsby, was born in 1799, in New Jersey; received a
common school education ; has followed the pursuit of farming ;
came to this county in 1868. Mr. Bowlsby went, with 1,000
others, to Hockistown, under Colonel Williamson, to fight in the
war of 1812. Has held numerous offices in his time. Mr. Bowlsby
gave his first vote to Thomas Jefferson ; is a Democrat. Was
married in 1819, to Ann Young; is the father of twelve children,
eight of whom are now living. P. O., Green Valley.
Charles H. Bowlsby. John, his father, and Ann (Young) Bowlsby,
his mother, were natives of N, J., where Charles H. was born Oct.
5, 1836. He received a common school education. He came to
Tazewell county in May, 1850; has been Collector and now holds
the office of Justice of the Peace; was married Nov. 14, 1869,
Is the fiither of Melvin J., born Aug. 29, 1871 ; Lillie B., born
April 7, 1873; Charles M., born July 26, 1874; Lewis T., born
Oct. 11, 1876; Warren F., born Dec. 10, 1878. He belonges to
the Methodist Church ; is a Democrat ; P. O., Green Valley.
Daniel Brown, farmer, sec. 35 ; P. O., Delavan. Mr. Brown is a
native of this county; was born Nov. 1, 1829. William Brown
and Rachel Milner Brown were his parents. The subject of this
sketch received a common school education ; has been School Direc-
tor ; was brought up in the Quaker Church ; was married in Nov.
1859, to Ariette Lillie. They have two boys — Louis E., born
March 30, 1862, and Daniel Jr., born Oct. 23,1867. Mr. Brown is
a Republican in politics.
JoJi^ T. Clemens is a native of Indiana, where he was born July
29, 1830. His parents were Roger T. and Nancy (Higgens)
Clemens. John T. received a common school education ; has held
the office of Justice of the Peace. He came to this county in the
spring of 1852, and worked by the month; 12 years ago he bought
his first land, a valuable piece of farm land on which he now resides.
Mr. C. has driven from the Mackinaw to Decatur when there were
but few houses on the way, and has passed over the site where the
city of Lincoln now stands when there were no houses there ; was
married Aug. 20, 1854, to Tamzon Bowlsby. They are the parents
of Charles W., born May 30, 1855; Frank T., born May 7, 1857;
Henry, born July 29, 1859; Jennie H., born Feb. 14, 1865; Min-
nie, born Dec. 14, 1868. He belongs to the Methodist Church, and
is a Republican. P. O., Green Valley.
Jeremiah Connell, farmer, sec. 23, P. O., Delavan. Mr. Connell
is a native of Ireland, where he was born Sept. 1, 1825. His
parents, James and Mary (Welch) Connell, were natives of the same
country. The subject of this sketch received a common school edu-
cation in his native country. He, like many of his countrymen,
thinking to better his condition, came to free America, locating in
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 455
this county in 1856, and was married Dec. 18, 1858, to Catharine
Gleason. They are the parents of seven boys, born as follows :
James, Dec. 3, 1859; Edward, Jan. 28, 1861; Thomas, Sept. 6,
1862; Michael, Feb. 5, 1864, died March 9, 1864; Richard, Feb.
10, 1866; Michael, Feb. 13, 1868; William, Aug. 6, 1870. Mr.
Connell is a Catholic and a Democrat.
Daniel Crabb, farmer and stock raiser ; son of Edward and Nancy
(Figens) Crabb, of Ohio. Daniel was born May 8, 1818, in the
above State, and received a common school education. Mr. Crabb
came to this county in the winter of 1844. He is one of the most
thrifty and successful stock raisers, and now owns 10 head of horses
and 300 head of cattle. He does not pay much attention to flirm-
inff, although he is the owner of 1,400 acres of valuable land. Mr.
Crabb was married in December, 1843, to Margaret Bailoy, who
died Feb. 13, 1857. They were the parents of the following children :
Frances, born Jan. 17, 1844 — she married Gilman Bailey, of this
township, and has four children; Emily, born Aug. 14, 1845 — she
married Joseph Phillips, of Malone township, and has four children ;
Edward, born Dec. 26, 1846 — married Mrs. Powers, and has two
children, and resides in Bates county. Mo. ; Lettitis. born Nov. 8,
1848 — she married Henry Bailey, of Dclavan, and has two children ;
Richard, born June 23, 1851, died April 27, 1867; James Warren,
born Dec. 28, 1853 — married Libbie Schureman, and has one child.
James Warren Crabb, farmer and stock raiser, was born in this
county Dec. 28, 1853; is a son of Daniel and Margaret (Bailey)
Crabb, natives of Ohio. James Warren was educated at Lake For-
est Academy. He was married Sept. 21, 1875, to Libbio, daughter
of Jonathan Schureman. They have one son. Mr. Crabb ])urchased
his first farm from Jonathan Schureman. He is now numbered
among the heaviest farmers and stock raisers, owning 540 acres of
choice land in this county, and 640 acres in Mason county. He has
on his stock-farm 15 head of horses, 200 head of cattle and 100
head of hogs. He belongs to the Democratic party. P. O. address,
Green Valley.
Nathan C Fisher, farmer, sec. 1, P. O., Dillon. Mr. Fisher was
born in Elm Grove township, this county, March 30, 1838. His
parents are Jesse H. and Annie (Dillon) Fisher. Mr. Fisher was
married March 12, 1865, to Helen Hitt. They have had three girls,
but only one is living. He is a member of Antioch Christian
Church.
Caleb W. Hopkins, farmer, sec. 34 ; P. O., Delavan. His parents,
Samuel R. and Hattie (Bates) Hopkins, were natives of R. I., where
Caleb was born, April 3, 1826. Mr. Hopkins is a descendant of
Stephen Hopkins, who came to this country in the May Flower.
The subject of this sketch received an Academic education in his
native State. He came to this county April 15, 1856; was married
July 23, 1849, to Catharine R. Stone, of R. I. Names and dates
of births of children — Annie C, May 8, 1852 ; Hattie E., Aug. 15,
456 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
1854; Mary L., Oct. 15, 1861 ; Charles L., July 15, 1865. He is
a Republican in politics, and is connected with the Baptist Church.
John R. Horton, farmer, sec. 33 ; P. O., Delavan. Mr. Horton
is a native of Providence, R. I., where he was born March 19,
1838. His parents were Stephen and Harriet M. (Brown) Horton;
received an academic education in his native State. He came West
in search of a new home, and located in this county in the spring of
1860; was married, Feb. 8, 1869, to Mary A. Miller. They have
had six children; they were born as follows: Louis, Feb. 17, 1870,
died March 1, 1871; Carrie, Jan. 23, 1871; Nathaniel B., Nov.
22, 1872; Anna F., May 12, 1874; Henry, April 23, 1876; Grace
v., Sept. 1, 1877.
Patrick Haypenny, farmer, sec. 22 ; P. O., Delavan. Patrick is a
son of John and Mary (Donnell) Haypenny ; was born in Waterford
county, Ireland, in 1830, and came to this county in 1850; is a
Catholic. Mr. H. married Margaret Brien, a native of Ireland.
They have had six children — Mary, born April, 1856; John, born
March 18, 1858; Andrew, born 1860, died 1866; Thomas, born
Jan. 17, 1862; Kate, born May 25, 1864; Patrick, June, 1866.
Is a Democrat.
Chridian Lorenson, farmer, sec. 26 ; P. O., Delavan. Mr. Loren-
son is a native of North Tlesvig, Germany, where he was born Oct.
21, 1850; parents, Erik and Anna (Peterson) Lorenson; attended
the common schools of his native country ; is connected with the
Lutheran Church; was married March 1, 1876, to Anna Sophia
Grav, a native of the same place as Mr. Lorenson. They have one
girl — Anna, born Feb. 25, 1878. Is a Democrat.
Nicholas Luft, farmer, sec. 1 ; P. O., Delavan ; is the owner of
217 acres. Is a native of Germany, where he was born Nov. 23,
1833; came to this county Aug. 6, 1851. Mr. Luft was in the
cavalry, in the German army, 6 years; was married April, 1847, to
Katrina Horn. They have had eight children — four boys and four
girls, five of whom are living. Mr. Luft is connected with the
Evangelical Church, and is a Democrat.
Jacob Maurer is a native of Germany, where he was born in
1835. His parents were Gatleib and Elizabeth Maurer; Jacob
received a common school education. Mr. Maurer but recently
came to this county, arriving here Feb. 4, 1878, He is a farmer;
is the father of five children ; is connected wdth the German Re-
formed Church, A Democrat. P. O,, Delavan.
Dennis McCarthy is of Irish parents, and himself a native of
Ireland, being born in Limerick, in 1833. His parents were Den-
nis McCarthy and Hanora Murphy, his wife ; attended the common
schools, Mr. McCarthy left his native country to try his fortune
in a strange land. He located in this county in 1848; he is a far-
mer; is a member of the Catholic Church; was married May 18,
1854, His children are — Michael, born 1855; Ellen, born 1857;
Josie, born March 1859; Bridget, 1861 ; Katie, 1863; Annie, 1865;
Dennis, Oct. 11, 1868; John, March 31, 1872. Is a Democrat.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 457
Frederick Merhee, farmer, was born in Germany, Feb. 21, 1845.
His parents, Jacob and Barbara, are natives of the same country.
Mr. Merkee received a common school education. He left his
native country and came to America and located in this county in
1873; was married Dec. 15, 1871, to Lizzie Schmidt. She has borne
him four children, as follows — Lena, born Nov. 1,1873; John,
born Dec. 4, 1874; Liddie, born Jan. 21, 1876; Lizzie, born Sept.
4, 1877. Is connected with the German Lutheran Church.
Thomas Morrisey is of Irish descent, being a son of John Morri-
sey and Julia Flinn, natives of Ireland. Thomas was born in
AVarhor, Ireland, in 1839. The subject of this sketch left the land
of his birth, and arrived in this county in the fall of 1857. He is
a farmer and a Catholic; was married in Feb., 1862, Thev are the
parents of John, Thomas, Kate, Patrick, Nellie, James, Martin and
Michael. Is a Democrat. P. O., Delavan.
Matthias Mount. This gentleman is, perhaps, as well and flivor-
bly known as any other man in Tazewell Co. He was born in
Shelby Co., Ky., Aug. 7, 1810, and came to this county in 1833,
Feb. 20. He received his education in the log school houses of his
native State and was married to Ann Louisa Broyhill, May 31,
1836. She died Feb. 20, 1840, leaving one son, Matthias, "born
Jan. 13, 1840, who, also, sleeps in death. Mr. M. was again mar-
ried Nov. 4, 1843, to Abigail Chapman Orendorff. She died June
23, 1853, leaving three children — Joseph, born Dec. 14, 1846;
Jane, July 9, 1848; Martha, March 2, 1852. Again Mr. Mount
was married. This time to Eliza Jane Bennett July 23, 1854.
By this wife he has five children — William M., Jolin DeKalb,
Mary Elizabeth, Nathaniel Green and Ida E. Mr. M. is engaged
in farming and owns about 700 acres of land and is considered one
of the solid men of the county. He has been a member of the
Board of Supervisors for a longer time than any other member.
He cast his first vote for Jackson in 1828 and has voted for every
Democrat nominee for President since, excepting Horace Greeley.
He came to Morgan Co., Ill, Nov. 25, 1830. He enlisted in the
Jacksonville Co. and served in the Black Hawk war as 2nd Lieut,
and participated in the important engagements of that war. In the
spring of 1833 he came to Tazewell Co. and since has lived an
honored, respected and useful life.
John Oswald, farmer, sec. 19; P. O., Dillon. This gentleman is
the son of Benjamin and Sarah (Geiser) Oswald, of Maryland. His
father was born in 1776, his mother in 1792. John was born in
Maryland, July 17, 1810, and came to this county in May, 1855,
and has since lived an active, energetic life, respected and esteemed
by all who know him. He was united in marriage with Margaret
Stephey, April 14, 1833. This union has been blessed with three
children, two of whom are living — William D., born May 7, 1834;
Mary Ann, wife of Anthony Fisher, was born Oct. 13, 1836; John
38
458 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
B., born Sept. 26, 1846. Mr. O. has filled many local official posi-
tions, and has been a Democrat since Jackson's time.
Thomas Page, farmer, is a native of England, and son of Samuel
and Elizabeth (Martin) Page. Thomas Page was born in Colchester,
Essex, England, in Dec, 1823; received a common school education
in his native country ; came to this county from England in the fall
of 1844; has been School Director. AVas married in March, 1846,
to Hannah Dillon, who lived but eight months and two days there-
after; married to Ruth Allgood, March 6, 1852, and is the father of
four children. Thev were born as follows — Marv Ann, April 6,
1853; Allean, Jan.' 26, 1856, died, Aug. 28, 18o7; Thomas C,
May 29, 1861 ; James H., Jan. 29, 1866. Mr. Page is one of the
descendants of the Jenning's family whose estate is now in litigation,
involving millions of money ; is a Republican. P. O., Delavan.
James Franklin Boilings, merchant and farmer; P. O., Dillon;
was born in Jackson county, "West Ya., Sept. 23, 1843. His
parents were James W. and Sarah (Casto) Rollings. Mr. Rollings
came to this county in the spring of 1852, attended the common
schools of this State, and spent his early days on the farm with his
father. Has held the offices of Constable, Justice of the Peace, and
Postmaster. Was married Sept. 28, 1865, to Martha Bliss. They
have five girls — Sarah E., born June 25, 1867; Mary A., born
June 10, 1871; Minnie J., Aug. 1, 1873; Martha M", May 25,
1876 ; Emma L., Dec. 21, 1878. Mr. R. is a member of the Meth-
odist Church.
Hiram Boilings, farmer, was born in Virginia, Jan. 31, 1847.
His parents were James and Sarah (Casto) Rollings. Hiram came
to this county in the spring of 1852. He received a common
school education. Was married Feb. 10, 1872, to Alice Rodecker.
Their son, Edger, was born Sept. 24, '73, and daughter, Luella, was
born Jan. 13, 1875; Mr. R. is a Democrat in politics, P. O., Dillon.
Frank Scott was born in Dillon in Oct., 1851. His parents were
Moses and Harriet (Alexander) Scott, natives of Mississippi.
Frank spent his school-boy days at school in Dillon. He now fol-
lows the occupation of farming ; is a Democrat in politics. Was
married Dec. 4, 1872, to Mary Cooper. They have one sou, Wal-
ter, who was born Oct. 30, 1874.
Cornelius Shay, son of David Shay, native of Ohio, and Rachael
Ridgwav, native of Illinois. Cornelius was born in Dillon town-
ship April 15, 1857, and has always lived in this county; received
a common school education. His chosen occupation is that of
a farmer ; is a member of the Methodist Church ; was married Sept.
3, 1878, to Samantha Dillon. Political views, Democratic. P. O.,
Green Valley.
Henry Stevens, a native of X. J., was born in Jersey City, Nov.
20, 1852 ; his parents are Julius and Mary (McCord) Stevens.
Henrv came to this county in the fall of 1856 ; attended the com-
mon schools of this township. His occupation is that of a farmer ;
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 459
is a professor of religion in the Methodist Church. Mr. Stevens
was married to Matilda Clawson, in 1875, who died three months
after marriage; was again married, Oct. 1, 1878, to Delia Morris;
is a Democrat. P. O., Green Valley.
Henry H. Stewart, farmer, was born in Tazewell county, April 20,
1847 ; is a son of Joel Stewart, native of Penn., and Mary Hinsey,
native of Ohio; received a common school education. Mr. Stewart
enlisted in the 139th Regiment, Company C, in April, 1864; was
married Feb. 12, 1874, to Sophie W. Lantz. Cora B., their daugh-
ter, was born Aug. 27, 1875; is a member of the Christian Church;
belongs to the Republican party. P. O., Green Valley.
Noah Studi/vin is a native of this county, having been born in
Dillon township July 28, 1853; is a son of John and Ellen
Studyvin, natives of Ohio. Noah attended the common schools.
Follows the jmrsuit of farming. Was married in Dec, 1876; is a
Democrat. P. O., Delavan.
Stephen Studyvin, farmer, was born in Dillon, Feb. 10, 1838.
His parents were Obadiah and Cynthia Studyvin ; received a com-
mon school education. Has been Assessor and Collector. Mr.
Studyvin was married Dec. 5, 1873, to Frances Ann Fisher. They
have one daughter, Delia May, who was born July 4, 1875, and a
son, Artie, born Nov. 6, 1877; is a Democrat. P."0., Delavan.
Levi Tollinger is a native of Penn., where he was born ]\Iarch 17,
1845. His ])arents were George and Margaret Tollinger. Levi
received a common school education, and came to this county in
Sept., 1872. In the dark days of the Rebellion Mr. Tollinger came
foward and offered his services to his country. He enlisted in the
9th Penn., Cavalry; was engaged in many hard fought battles,
among which we might mention "Thompson's Station," Tenn.,
"Stone river," "Lexington;" was with Sherman on his great
"march to the Sea." He was one of the party who captured Gen.
Johnson. Mr. Tollinger was shot through the clothes and had sev-
eral horses shot under him, but had the good fortune to escape any
personal injury ; was in the service four years. Was married in
Dec, 1875, to Emma Trimble. Jesse L., their son, was born Aug.
19, 1876. Mr. L. is a Methodist. Republican in politics. P. O.,
Green Valley.
Jacob Zimmerman was born in Germany, May 12, 1829. His
parents, Christian and Barbara (Sommers),'wcre "natives of Germa-
ny. Jacob attended the common schools of Ohio, and came to this
county in the Spring of 1872; was married in 1852, to Catherine
Unzickcr. She was the mother of nine children, born as follows :
— Magdalena, Feb. 23, 1853; Barbara, July 29, 1854; Catherine,
Nov. 9, 1856; Fannie, Feb. 26, 1858; Mary, March 28, 1860;
460 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
This township has been ably represented in all official positions
since its organization. The following is a full list of officers :
SUPERVISORS.
Nathan Dillon. 1850 Ezra Reetor 1863
C. Gill 1851-53 John A. Reinagle >< 1864
Nathan Dillon 1854 Sherrod Williams 1865
Sherrofl Williams 1855-57 Jonathan Schureman 1866
E C Hobert 1858 Mathiaa Mount 1867-75
S. Wilhams 1859 C. W. Waltmire 1876
H.C.Sutton 1861 Mathias Mount 1877-79
TOWN-CLERKS.
John L. Paine 1854-55 R. Lord 1868
R Lord 1857-59 J. W. Shurts 1869-72
W.D.Oswald 1861 James M. Shay 1873-79
James M. Shay 1863-67
ASSESSORS.
David Renner 1854 H.C.Sutton 1863-67
John L. Paine 1355 G. J. Boyles 1868
John A. Reinagle 1857 H. C. Sutton 1869-77
David Renner 1858-59 Stephen Studyvin 1878
E. Rector 1361 Charles E. Morris 1879
COLLECTORS.
David Renner 1854 John Oswald 1866
G. J. Haines 1855 Henry C. Sutton 1867
J. B. Landet 1857-58 Joseph A. Scott 1868
John M. Dillon » 1859 James Greenan 1869
Joseph Scott 1861 Stephen Studyvin 1870-76
Wm. D. Oswald 1863 C. H. Bowlsby 1877-78
J B Landet 1864 Stephen Studyvin 1879
John Keefer 1865
ELM GROVE TOWNSHIP.
The brave, true-hearted pioneer settled in the beautiful groves
of this township about as early as in any other place in this portion
of Illinois. The native groves were beautiful in the extreme ; and
a place of historic fame, in a local way, during the early history of
the county, was Pleasant Grove, which was located in this township.
Absalom Dillon erected the first cabin, in 1824. This was built on
section 34. The first mill in the county was built here, in 1825, by
William . Eads. The first woolen factory of the county was also
erected here. It stood on section 34, and was built in 1832, by
Theodorus Fisher. The first marriage in the county was celebrated
in this township in the spring of 1826. Daniel Dillon and Martha
Alexander were the happy couple. The first school-house was built
in 1827, on section 27. Samuel Bentley was the first teacher.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 461
The first meeting held in the county was held in a grove on Dillon
creek, in Elm Grove, in September, 1827. This was a Methodist
meeting, and was conducted by the celebrated Peter Cartwright.
He invited all present to partake of the Lord's Supper, but exclaimed,
" If there are any old button-hole rams present, stand back." He
had reference to the Regular or Hard-shelled Baptist people. An
old lady indignantly jumped up and said that " she was an old
button-hole ewe, and would take a back seat." The person who tells
us this incident was present on the occasion, and recollects the cir-
cumstances well. She is now a resident of the township. The first
church building erected in the township was in 1830, by the
Quakers, or Friends. The building was located on section 34.
The first cemetery of the county was located on the same section, in
1826. The first death to occur was that of Hannah Dillon, the wife
of William Dillon, in the year 1826. In the year 1834 the cholera
raged through the settlement and carried oif many of the settlers.
One of the oldest deeds in the county is in possession of Mrs. Fisher,
who resides in this township. It was given in 1830. It is signed
by Elijah Hayword, Commissioner of the Land Office, and Andrew
Jackson, President. She also has one in her possession which was
given to her uncle, Walter Dillon, in 1826. This is signed by John
Quincy Adams, and is recorded in Vol. 2, page 300. The County
Farm is located on sections 11 i\nd 14 of this township.
Among the earliest settlers were William Davis, John Dillon,
Hugh Montgomery, Alexander McKnight, Benjamin Briggs, James
Scott, Thorton Wilson, James Wright, Levi and Thomas Moulton,
Thomas Bennett, John Lord, John and Eli Redman, Rufus North
and Alexander Barnes. We find living there at the present time
none of these sturdy pioneers, but there is a good thrifty class of
agriculturists. Among the number we would mention, as fairly
representing the better portion of the community, the following
persons :
Jesse B. Cooper, Superintendent of County Farm, was born in
Hamilton county, Ohio, Sept. 25, 1831. His father, William Cooper,
was a native of Ohio, while his mother, Mary (Beal) Cooper, was
born in New York. He arrived in Tazewell county April 5, 1855.
In 1851, Nov. 11, he married Malinda Burns. They arc the parents
of six children, all of whom are living. They are Addie, William,
Kate, Chara, Charles and John. Mr. C. affiliates with the Democ-
racy. He resides on section 11 ; post-office, Tremont.
John W. Davis, a native of this county, was born in Elm Grove
462 HISTORY OP TAZEWELL COUNTY.
township, Jan. 4, 1889. His birtli occurred in the first house built
in that towhship. His parents, William and Jane (Eads) Davis,
were among the very earliest settlers of Tazewell county. Mr.
Davis received only a common school education, attending the
schools of his native township. On the 29th of March, 1863, he
was married to Mary J. Fisher, who has borne him five children —
Alvin T., Amos A., Alphis W., Laura M. and Thomas J. Mr. D.
resides on section 22. In politics he is a Republican. Post-office,
Tremont.
Jesse H. Fisher. Mr. Fisher is engaged in farming, and resides
on section 36. He is one of the oldest residents of Tazewell county,
having come here Sept. 23, 1829. He is a native of Ohio, having
been born in Clinton county, of that State, Aug. 26, 1814. His
parents were Theodorus Fisher, a very prominent man in his day,
and Martha (Dillon) Fisher, both of whom were North Carolinians.
Mr. F. enlisted in Co. K., 26th 111. Infantry, in 1861, and served
till 1868. April 9, 1835, he was married to Anna Dillon, daughter
of Nathan Dillon, the first settler of the county. Their children
number seven, and bear the following names : Sarah J. ; Nathan ;
Mary ; Frances E. ; Albert ; Martha A. ; Franklin A. In politics
he is a Republican. Post-office, Tremont.
Charles H. Fuller, son of James and Julia (Carpenter) Fuller,
was born in Elm Grove township, in 1823. He attended the schools
at Tremont and finished his education at Bloomington. He lives
on section 26, and is engaged in farming and raising Norman horses.
Charles has been Assessor of his township, and enters politics as a
Republican. Post-office, Tremont.
George W. Greeley, farmer, residing on section 2, was born in the
State of New Hampshire, Jan. 31, 1824. His parents, Benjamin
and Rebecca (Whittier) Greeley, were also natives of New Hamp-
shire. Mr. G. came to this county in 1836. He received most of
his education in Tremont High School. Mr. G. has held the office
of Treasurer of his township for the last nineteen years, and Assessor
for six consecutive terms. In politics he is a Democrat. In 1850
he was joined in marriage with Sarah Becker. Their children num-
ber four — James, Edward, George and Benjamin. Post-office
address, Tremont.
Philip Ileisel. Mr. Heisel was born in Sand Prairie township,
Tazewell county, Dec. 3, 1844. His parents, Philip and Mary
(Swain) Heisel, 'are natives of Germany. He was educated in the
schools at Pekin. He is a member of St. Paul's Church, Pekin.
In politics, he stands on the Democratic platform. He^ resides on
section 6, where he is engaged in farming. February 17, 1877, he
took unto himself a wife in the person of Mary Hoby. Post-office,
Pekin.
Christian Hochstetfler was born in Germany, June 16, 1841. His
parents were Joseph and Josephine (Zingorich) Hochstetfler. Mr.
H. came to this county in 1849, and received his education in the
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 463
common schools here. He is engaged in farming, on section 18.
He is a member of the Mennonite Church, Washington. In Feb-
ruary, 1868, Mr, H. was married to Mary Unzicker, who has borne
him four children, two girls and two boys : Louisa M., Robert H.,
Arnold H. and Annie L. Post-office address, Pekin.
Freeman Kingman was born in Bridge water, Mass., March 26,
1799. His parents were Henry and Anna (Bryant) Kingman.
Mr. K. is an old settler of the county. He came to section 12, this
township, in 1834, and has resided here since. He has transferred
passengers on the line of the famous Under-ground Railroad,
through Tremont township. He rode on the boat from Norfolk to
Baltimore, in 1833, in company with Black Hawk and his suit.
Gen. Jackson was also on the boat. In 1830, Mr. K. was married
to Mary White, who died in 1839. He was married again in 1840,
to Narcisa Greeley. By his first wife he had three sons : Lysander
P., John H., and Freeman. The union with his present wife has
been blessed with seven children : Mary, Annie, Emily, Augustus,
Amelia, Almeda and Nellie M. Mr. K. is quite stout for a man of
four score years, and has the a]ipearance of a man of sixty, rather than
eighty years old. He has followed stone cutting, but his time prin-
cipally has been devoted to farming. He is a member of the Con-
gregational Church. Post-office, Tremont.
Al/en Leonard came to this county at a very early age. He was
born in Clinton county, Ohio, Jan. 21, 1827. and arrived in Taze-
well county, Sept. 24, 1830. Thus it will be seen he is what we
term an " old settler." His parents, Thomas and Hannah (Starbuck)
Leonard, were natives of North Carolina. In September, 1849, he
was joined in marriage with Louisa Fisher. They have two chil-
dren, Elmira and Raphael. Mr. L. is extensively engaged in
farming, on section 26. In politics he is a Republican. Post-office,
Tremont.
Nathan Leonard was brought to Tazewell county, when a lad of
a dozen summers. He resides on section 36, which has been his
home for thirty-two years. He has a farm of 350 acres, which he
cultivates. He was born in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1820, and
arrived in this county, Sept. 24, 1830, and gained his education in
such schools as the home of his early a(lo})tion affi)rded. His
parents were Thomas and Hannah Leonard. On the 2")th of May,
1848, he was married to Ann Robinson, and two children, Leslie
and Eugene, have been born to them. Mr. L. adheres to the doc-
trine promulgated by the Republican party. Post-office, Tremont.
Thomas J. Jjeonard, a native of this township, having been born
here on the 16th of April, 1838, is engaged in farming rather exten-
sively in Elm Grove. He resides upon section 35. The common
schools of the county affin'ded all the advantages for an education
he ever had. His parents were Thomas and Hannah (Starbuck)
Leonard, the former a native of North Carolina, the latter of Ohio.
May 25, 1865, he turned from his bachelor habits, and took to him-
464 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
self a wife. This lady, Mary E. Loy, has borne him five children :
Emer A., Elmon, Ednie T., Mertie M. and Maiy C. Politically,
Mr. L. is identified with the Democracy. Post-office, Tremont.
Wilson S. Mauker, farmer, section 23, Elm Grove township, was
born in Ohio, Jan, 30, 1843, and came to Tazewell county in 1867.
He had only the common schools of Ohio at which to secure his
education. In 1877, Sept. 13, he was married to Elmina Hodgson.
Anna A. was born to them Sept. 21, 1878. Mr. M. is found in the
Democratic ranks. Post-office address, Tremont.
David B. McLean. The subject of this sketch was born in Ire-
land, Feb. 14, 1834, but was brought to this country during the
first year of his life. He lived three years in New York, when he
came to this county, arriving July 25, 1837, where he has since
resided. He is engaged in farming on section 15. He attended
the common school, and finished his education at Tremont. His
parents are Hugh S. and Janet (Breckenridge) McLean. Mr. Mc-
Lean has held the office of Town Clerk for ten years. Justice of the
Peace four years, and School Director twenty-one years. In 1859,
March 31, he was married to Lydia Williams. They are the
parents of six children : Mary J., Alice, Hugh S., William L.,
Charles and John. Politically, Mr. McLean adheres to the princi-
ples of the Republican party. Post-office address, Tremont.
Isaac Miars is a son of Martin jVIiars, one of the earliest settlers
in Tazewell county. Mr. Miars arrived here in 1825, and on
Sept. 30, entered the land upon which he now resides. His land
. was located on sections 27 and 28, Elm Grove township. He got
the " sheep skin " from the Government on the first day the land
office was opened at Springfield. Mr. Miars, sen., was born in
1801. When he first came to the county he went out hunting in
company with an Indian. It was customary for him to carry a
biscuit and an onion. The Indian became very hungry, and Mr.
M. gave him the biscuit, and he swallowed it down ravenouslv.
He then passed him the onion, and it, too, as quickly went to his
mouth, but the strong effects caused the tears to flow freely. Mr.
M. enjoyed this hugely, and laughed at the horrid faces the Indian
made. This made the red man mad, and he walked behind sullen
and silent, and would not shoot his gun off. Isaac was born in
Tazewell county, in 1838. His mother's maiden name was Ann
Hodgson. He was educated in the common schools ; and is en-
gaged in farming on section 22. Was married, Sept. 1, 1857, to
Finetta Carpenter. They have six children : Louisa', Isaac E.,
Charles, Annie, Ellen and Alberta. Politically, Mr. M. is a Re-
publican. Post-office, Tremont.
Fannie J. Miller, daughter of Phineas J. and Caroline (Drey)
Miller, was born in Fulton county, Jan. 27, 1857, and came to
Tazewell county in 1864. She attended the common schools, and
finished her education at Heading College, Abingdon, 111. Miss
Miller is engaged in school teaching. She resides on section 17,
and her post-office address is Pekin.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 465
Enoch G. 3£orse, farmer, sec. 21, was born in Concord, N. H.,
Jan. 10, 1827, and came to this county Oct. 7, 1835. His j)aronts,
Moses and Hannah (Smith) Morse, were also natives of New Hamp-
shire. Mr. M. has resided on his present farm for forty-two years.
October 22, 1856, he was married to Elizabeth Eades. They are
the parents of seven children — Robert C, born in September, 1859 ;
Annie M., born Feb. 16, 1862; Lucy S., born Dec. 21, 1865;
Mariette, born Xov. 12, 1868; Albert, born May 25,1875. In
politics Mr. Morse affiliates with the Republican party. Post-office,
Tremont.
Thomas J. Prunty, farmer and carpenter, was born in Franklin
county, Va., Dec. 12, 1824, and is a son of John and Cassandra
(Chunnery) Prunty. He came to this county in 1843, and got his
education in the common schools of McLean county. On the 31st
of August, 1855, he entered into the marital state with Sarah Dil-
lon. They are the parents of four children, all of whom are living.
They are Matilda, Clara, Ann and Elmer L. Mr, P. resides on
section 23. He adheres to the doctrines of the Democratic party.
Post-office, Tremont.
John Ringwald was born in Germany, Feb. 3, 1846, and came to
this county June 15, 1866, His parents, John and Catharine Ring-
wald, were Germans. He had only such opportunities to gain an
education as the conmion schools of his native country offi^red. He
learned the carpenter trade and followed it for eight years. He is
now engaged in agricultural pursuits, residing on section 7, this
township. On the 6th of March, 1868, he was married to Marga-
rethe Daum, who has borne him six children — John, Christ, Adam,
Margareth, George and Mary. Mr. R.'s post-office address is Pekin.
James Jxobison. Mr. Robison is a native of Scotland, having
been born in that country May #15, 1801. He received his education
in the commt)n schools of Scotland. His parents were James and
Gean (Hunter) Robison. Mr. R. was united in marriage with
Isabella Leslie, of Scotland, six years ago. They had born to them
eleven children : William, Barbara, (deceased), Frank, Annie,
James, Archie, (deceased), Susan, George, (deceased), Mary, Ijcslie
and Belle. He is a member of the Baptist Church. In politics he
is counted with the Republicans. He resides on section 10, and
his post-office is Tremont.
Mr. R. emigrated to the United States in 1832, and engaged in
a contract to construct the iirst railroad across the Alleghany ^
Mountains, in company with Jonathan Leslie. They operated there
successfully for two years, when they moved to Micliigan into a
heavily timbered and wild region, and there cleared about sixty
acres of land and built a house. He remained there al)out three
years when, in 1837, he sold out and came to Tazewell county. He
took contracts on construction of the Pekin & Tremont railroad.
The road-bed of this road, the present I. B. & W., was finished
through Elm Grove in 1830. It was contemplated to lay the track
466 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
of this road with strap-iron on wooden rails. It was all completed
except the iron work, which was never done. Mr. R. next engaged
in contracts on the Illinois & Michigan canal.
James W. Robison. Although a native of Scotland, Mr. Robison
has been reared in this country. He was born in 1831, and with his
parents, James and Isebella (Leslie) Robison, came to the United
States, and in 1837 found himself under the parental roof in Elm
Grove township. Mr. R. was educated in the common schools of
this county, and attended school at Jacksonville, 111. He is engaged
very extensively in farming, and takes great interest in fruit grow-
ing, and has been president of the State Horticultural Society. He
has also represented his district in the State Senate, being elected
on the Republican ticket, which party he is identified with. Post-
office, Tremont.
Jacob S. Ropp was born in Elm Grove township, April 29, 1846.
His parents, Peter and Mary (Gehrig) Ropp, were natives of Ger-
many. Jacob got such an education as the common schools of his
native township aiforded. He resides on section 9, where he is
engaged in forming. In 1869, Jan. 10, he was married to Mary
Ann King. Thev are parents of four children : Walter, born Aug.
12, 1872; Albert,' born March 28, 1875; Ezra, born Sept. 16, 1877;
and Amelia, born Dec. 19, 1870. For a short season, from 1870 to
'7b, Mr. R. lived in Missouri. With this exception his entire life
has been passed in Tazewell county. He is connected with the
Mennonite Church. Post-office, Pekin.
Joseph. P. Ropp. It will be noticed that quite a number of the
prominent men of Elm Grove were born in the township. They
were reared from earliest childhood in their pleasant country homes,
and wisely have embarked on the busy career of life on their own
native prairies and woodland. The ^subject of this sketch, Joseph
P. Ropp, first saw the light of day here. He was born March 19,
1844. His parents were Peter and Mary Ropp. On the 4th of
March, 1869, he was joined in the holy bonds of matrimony with
Josephine Ropp. Levi, Mary B., and Ephriam are their children.
Mr. R. is extensively engaged in farming. He resides on section
23. His political views accord with those of the Democratic party.
Post-office address, Tremont.
Joseph W. Ropp, son of Andrew and Jacobina (Wurkler) Ropp,
was born in Tazewell county 111., Jan. 30, 1840. He received his
education in the common schools of this county. In 1865 he went
'to Germany and spent seven months. He is an agriculturist and
resides on section 1. Mr. R. made a profession of religion in 1857,
and is connected with the Mennonite Church. In 1866, March 13,
he took unto himself a wife in the person of Catherine Garber, who
has borne him five sons : Samuel, William, Asa, Ithel and Alvin.
Mr. R. views politics from a Democratic standpoint. Post-office,
Tremont.
Seth Talbot, This is a name familiar to most people in Tazewell
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 467
county. He has been foremost in the various enterprises of the
county during the past thirty years. He was a member of the first
Board of Supervisors of the county, and remained an active mem-
ber of that body during; the five following terms, and since has
served occasionally. He was Secretary of the County Agricultural
Society for twelye years. He had charge of the first mail that was
ever carried from Tremont to Pekin by rail. He was engaged in
the mercantile business at Tremont for three years, after which he
went to farming, living on section 13. He has been engaged in the
shipping business between United States and the West Indies. He
was born in Providence, R. I., June 3, 1820, and came to this
county April 28, 1838. He was educated in the common schools of
Bristol county, Mass. His parents were Seth and ]\Iary (Ware)
Talbot. He has two children: Mary E., born in 1842, is the wife
of John H. Trout, and William E. Talbot, born in 1852, is a farmer
in Elm Grove. Politically Mr. T. is a Republican.
John H. Trout was born in Tremont township, this county, Feb.
26, 1838. He is engaged in farming and stock raising on section
24 of this township. He received his education in the common
schools of this county. In his business he has been quite success-
ful. In 1863, the 29th of January, he was married to Mary E.
Talbot. This union has been blessed with three children : Mary E.,
Clara W., and Seth Talbot. Politically Mr. T., is a Republican.
Post-office, Tremont.
Joseph T «u Dorn is the son of William H. and Sarah E. (Dirling)
Van Dorn and was born in Lansing, X. Y., June 9, 1836. He was
educated in the common schools of DeKalb county. 111. and came
to this county March 14, 1877. He learned the carpenter trade, and
and at present follows the occupation of farming. He entered the
army Sept. 23, 1861, in 11th 111. Cavalry, under Col. R. G. Inger-
soll and remained until October, 1865. In 1878, Dec. 14th, he w^as
united with Rosanna Kunncr in marriage. Politically he is a
Democrat. Post-office, Pekin.
John Voupel was born in Heussian Castle, Germany, March 4,
1820 and came to this county in 1855. He attended the common
schools for five years and for the same length of time was in the
military school. He served a term of six years in the flying artil-
lery of Germany. He was married to ^largaret Sahmeihart Oct. 19,
1851. They have five children: Christoj)her, born June 8, 1852;
John, born Sept. 12, 1858; George, born Dec. 26, 1860; Annie,
born Nov. 6, 1863; and Charlie born Nov. 3, 1865. Mr. Vaupel
is engaged in farming on section 2. He is a member of the Luth-
eran Church, Pekin. In politics he is a Republican. Post-office
address Groveland.
The following is a list of the officials serving since the organiza-
tion of the township:
468 HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
Seth Talbot.. 1850-55 George W. Greeley 1863-64
John Dillon 1856 Seth Talbot 1865
Daniel Hodson 1857-58 George W. Greeley 1866-67
Seth Talbot 1859 Alfred E. Leonard 1868-71
A.J.Davis 1860-61 D. John Bennett 1872-79
TOWN-CLERKS.
William Murphy 18.50-54 William L. Pratt 1864
E.G.Morse 18.55 E. G. Mor.se 1865
William Murphy 18-56 Aq. J. Davis 1866
E.G.Morse 18-57-61 David B. McLean 1867-75
Daniel Brown 1863 E. G. Morse 1876-79
ASSESSORS.
John Waldon 1850 • Jesse Fisher 1865
John Buckley 18-54-55 Edward Pratt 1866-67
John AVal.lon 18.56-57 George W. Greelev 1868-73
Jesse Fisher 1858-59 Leslie W. Leonard 1874
Edward Pratt 1860 Wm. H. Roof 1875-76
John Dillon 1861 C. H. Fuller 1877
John Waldon 1863-64 Wm. H. Roof 1878-79
COLLECTORS.
G.W.Greeley 1850 Allen Leonard 1865
N.G.Nichols 1854 Thomas Larimore 1866
A. J. Davis 1855 H. T. Davis 1867
Isiah Newkirk 18-56 Aquilla J. Davis 1868
A. J. Davis 18.57 L. P. Kingman 1869
E.G.Morse 1858 Warner L. Pratt 1870
G. W. Ciine — resigned Lysander P. Kingman 1871
A.J.Davis. 1859 Thomas Larimore 1872
Thomas Larimore I860 M. A. Davison 1873-75
G. W. Greelev 1861 W.L.Pratt 1876
Thomas Larimore 1863 John E. Potts 1877-78
John Wolneldorf 1864 C. B. Bennett 1879
FOND DU LAC TOWNSHIP.
In the first chapter of this work we give to Nathan Dillon the
honor of being the first settler in the county. We mean, of course,
aside from the French traders who located here long before any
settlers came. But if we take the statements of William Blanchard,
who now resides in Woodford county, and we have no reason for
discrediting them, to him the credit of being the first settler of Taze-
well county belongs. We have no disposition to be partial, or
record facts differently from what they really are, indeed we could
possibly have no object in so doing. It is our desire to record the
facts just as they have occurred and precisely as they are, uncolored
and unchano;ed, and if we had known before this late date of Mr.
Blanchard's claims, we would have given his statements in the first
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 469
chapter. "We visited him at his home in Woodford county, Illinois,
and found a very genial old gentleman. We obtained the following
items from him :
Wm. Blanchard, Jr., is a native of Vermont, where he was born
in 1797; left that State when seven years of age, and with his
parents went to Washington Co., N. Y., where his father, William,
died. When seventeen years of age he enlisted in the regular army,
and took an active part in the war of 1812, serving five years, when
he, with Charles Sargeant, Theodore Sargcant and David Barnes,
veterans of the war, started West, coming to Detroit, Mich., thence
to Ft. Wayne, whence they journeyed in a canoe to Vincennes, thence
to St. Louis. From there they came up the Illinois in a keel boat
manned by a fishing crew, and commanded by a man named Warner,
and landed at Ft. Clark, now Peoria, in the spring of 1819. Crossing
the river to what is known as the bottom lands they found a cleared
spot, and with such tools as they could arrange from wood put in
a patch of corn and potatoes. This land is now embodied in Fond du
Lac township. Looking farther down the stream they found, in 1822,
an old French field of about ten acres, on which they erected a rude
habitation, and soon this soil was filled with a growth of blooming
corn and potatoes. This was the first settlement between Ft. Clark
and Chicago, and was the first dwelling erected. The site is now
covered by the fine farm of Jacob Ames. In 1825 he was married
to Miss Eliza Donohue, a native of Delaware. The ceremony took
place in his cabin, and was performed by Jacob Wilson, first Justice
of the Peace between Peoria and Chicago. This was the first
license taken out between those cities. She died Dec. 18, 1867,
leaving five children. His present wife, Sarah E. Gale, was a
native of Virginia. They were married in 1869, He entered the
land of his present home, in Woodford county, and settled on
the same, in 1830, where he has since made his home. He is
now living in quietness, surrounded by his relatives and friends.
His experiences of pioneer life, and the dangers that often visited
his abode, are interesting in the extreme. At one time he was
visited by a stalwart chief of the red skins, who demanded whisky,
and upon refusal raised his tomahawk and would have plunged it in
his skull, but the keen eye of the settler was upon him, and he
wrested the weapon from hira, and with the aid of friends the assail-
ant was secured. But he never forgot it, and always threatened his
life.
470 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
The second oldest living settler of Fond du Lac township is
Jacob L. Wilson, a resident of Washington, Illinois, who, with his
father, Jacob, and family, in company with Jakey Phillips, Joshua
Walker, Thomas Banks and Elisha Green, started from Wayne Co.,
Ind., in the fall of 1823. They stopped at the farm of Isaac Wil-
son, grandfather of Jacob L., through the holidays. His large area
of acres are now covered by the costly stores and palatial residences
of Indianapolis, Ind. In the midst of winter, with two sleighs
drawn by ox teams, this little colony ploughed their way through
deep snows and high waters. When they arrived at the Vermillion
river, it was deemed unsafe to cross on the ice, and after consulta-
tion it was decided to break the ice, and, if prossible, ford the
stream. Accordingly, heavy clubs were cut from the timber skirt-
ing the stream, and the band of heroic explorers began the task.
Ere the day dawned the ice was broken, and the Egyptian pilgrims
passed through with water nearly over the wagon box, and en-
camped on the opposite shore. A blinding snow storm set in, which
made further progress impossible. AVhile hunting in the woods for
game the party were surprised to find six large fat hogs, feeding
leisurely upon acorns and other growth that the woods afforded. It
is supposed that this stock strayed from a drover, or was the stock
of an unknown pioneer. However, the swineships were slaughtered,
skinned, and divided equally among the party, whose provisions
had began to show a famished condition. With this fortune came
bright sunny weather, and the little party journeyed on until they
reached the banks of the Illinois river, where they landed in Febru-
ary, 1824. Of this number but few remain to tell the story of their
trials and difficulties. Uncle Jacob, by which name he is familliarly
known, is the only one who has clung to the home of his boyhood.
Among those who came in afterward were Cyrus J. Gibson, who
came in 1830, and settled on section 11 and 12. His son, who
accompanied him, is now a prosperous merchant of Washington,
111. Austin and Horace Croker, Elza Bethard, Thomas Camlin
and Jacob Funk, who was shot by the Sheriff; Major Donohue and
David Mathews, whose families all grew up in this township ; Jos.
Schertz, who came in 1830, is still a living resident near Farmdale;
also, William and Samuel Moberry, brothers, who settled in Grove-
land, in 1832, and have experienced all the hardships of pioneer
life. There are many others equally worthy of notice, but want of
space will prevent the mention of an extended number of names.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 471
William Blanchard hauled the mother of Jacob Minch to her
grave over the bare ground on a sled, it being the only conveyance
among the settlers at that time. Samuel Beck came in early and
made his living by hunting deer.
The first mill built in Fond du Lac was in 1832, on Ten Mile
creek, by Samuel Parks. This mill was aftewards sold to Abraham
Lewis. It was burned and after\vards re-built. The first saw-mill
was built on the same creek, in 1828, by Hugh Woodruff and
David Baily, of Pekin. It has passed away in the debris of time.
The first religious meetings were held in this mill by the pioneers.
Samuel Brown, a Methodist minister, preached the first sermon.
He was soon followed by Zadock Hall, an early pilgrim who settled
in this township. Buckeye school-house, on section 11, was built
in 1835. It was used as the first church. It has been torn down,
and the erection of a substantial structure is being considered. On
the same section it was our pleasure to visit a mound, which had,
until 1877, been covered by a heavy growth of timber. On this
mound has been found the remains of human skeletons of large
proportions. These were, no doubt, the remains of the Mound-
Builders. Near this mound stood the relics of a mighty oak, which
had spread afar out its garland of geeen sweeping branches for
scores of years, and beneath which both the Indian and pioneer
children sported in childish glee. In the hollow of this mighty
monarch of the forest was imbedded in the debris and bark, a
human skull. This was a common curiosity for some years. It
was taken out at a later day, and secured by Dr. Hazard, now
deceased. Since the Doctor's demise all traces of it has been lost.
We give below a few personal sketches of citizens of this town-
ship, in order to more fully detail its history :
Jacob Amen, farmer, sec. 11 and 12 ; P. O., Fond du Lac; born in
Alsace, Germany, April 5, 1820, and emigrated to America, in 1837,
with his parents, David and Barbara (Bard) Ames, who settled in
Richland, Woodford Co. ; lived with his parents until he was unit-
ed in matrimony to Miss Henrietta Pfeffer, at Metamora, Feb. 28,
1850. She was born in Germany, Nov. 26, 1827, and emigrated to
America in 1848. He purchased 52 acres of land in Partridge
township, where he lived until 1863, when he moved to this Co.
and settled on his present farm of 160 acres. Of their several chil-
dren there are living — Henry, born Dec. 3, 1850, married Miss
Hannah Haedicke Aug. 8, 1876, and resides in Kansas; Charles,
born April 25,1857; and Mary Magdalen, born Sept. 19, 1860.
They lost three twins, Sophia, born Oct. 20, 1853, married John
472 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Conrad, Dec. 25, 1872 ; and died May 23, 1877 ; one not christened
and Jacob, born Jan. 20, 1855, died March 1, 1855.
Thomas Andrews, miller, sec. 2 ; P. O., Fond du Lac ; born in
Mercer Co., Pa., in 1834, came to this Co. in 1852, and engaged on
the premises of his present estate, where he remained five years,
when he went to California prospecting ten years, at the end of
which time he returned and purchased the farm of 109 acres. He
afterward formed partnership with Abraham Lewis and erected the
mill he now occupies. In 1808 he was married to Miss Sharlotta
Lewis, a native of this county, where she was born Nov. 16, 1845.
Mr. Lewis died in 1871, and was succeeded by Mr. A. in the busi-
ness, where he has conducted a prosperous trade. Charles A., Mary
M., Martha E., Amanda and Susan are their living children.
J. J. Arnold, farmer, sec. 26, P. O., Hilton; born in Licking
Co., O., in 1847. His parents were Umphrey M. P. and Patsy
Maddox Arnold, natives of Va., who emigrated to O. at an early
day, and to this State in 1854, settling in McLean Co., where he
lived three years, when he came to this Co. and settled on the pres-
ent estate. He subsequently moved to Woodford Co., where he
died in 1873. His wife still survives him at the age 70 years and
resides on the homestead. In Feb., 1865, Mr. A. enlisted in the
150th I. V. L, Co. A. and served one year. Was married in 1869,
to Miss Mary A. Allen who was born in England, in 1850. Samu-
el P., Charles A. and Daisy P. are the living children. His moth-
er still owns the farm of 185 acres.
/. TF. Cunningham, postmaster, Farmdale, sec. 36 ; born in Fond
du Lac township, in 1852. His parents were John and Mary
Goodman (Cunningham), natives of O., who emigrated and settled
in this township in 1838, where he lived until his death, in 1867.
His mother survived him until May 12, 1879. The subject of this
sketch still resides on the homestead, and was appointed P. M. in
1876, since which time he has filled that office. The same year he
opened store, keeping a general stock of goods, and conducts a small
yet prosperous trade. Is also School Director and is well known
throughout the county. His parents numbering among those of the
early settlers. Jane L., a sister, remains at home, and conducts the
affi\irs of the household.
Avery F. Dehor if ij, farmer, sec. 26 ; P. O. Hilton. Born in
Licking Co., O., Dec. 9, 1833. His parents were George W. and
Mary Draper (Dehority) natives of Del., who emigrated to O. in
1821, and to this county in 1838, settling on the present estate of
160 acres, where they resided until 1854, when his father moved to
Woodford Co., thence to El Paso, where his father died Dec. 9,
1874; mother died in Palestine township in 1855. Mr. D. has
always lived on the homestead and was married to Miss Matilda
Cross, at Columbus, O., in 1860. She was born in Franklin Co.,
O., Nov. 19, 1833, and left parentless when young. She was adopted
in the family of Alexander Moberry, and at eighteen years of age
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 473
commenced teaching school, and engaged in that capacity until mar-
riage. Mr. D. has filled the office of town Treasurer three years ;
town Clerk six years and Constable two years, and always been
identified with the interests of the town and county.
Scoaud li. Jlooberry, farmer, sec. 30 ; P. O., Farmdalc. Born in
Franklin Co., O., Jan. 1<S, 1824, and is eldest son of David and
Margaret (Stumbaugh) ]\Iooberry, who emigrated to this county in
1832, and settled in Groveland townsliip, where he entered a large
tract of land, raised his family, and died in 1850. His aged wife
still survives him, and resides on the homestead with her youngest
son, Alexander. Mr. M. was married at Morton Oct. 26, 1845, to
Miss Louisa C. Hughes, who was born in Franklin Co., O., in 1821.
After marriage he moved and settled on his present estate of 240
acres, where he has been successfully engaged in farming and stock
raising. Also owning valuable lands in Nebraska and elsewhere.
Has filled the office of Collector and Assessor a number of years,
Justice of the peace, Supervisor, School Trustee, Constable, and in
fact he has been father to all the town offices, and served with
satisfaction to all. He numbers among those of the early pilgrims
who stood the trials and sufferings of pioneer life. The writer was
shown from his collection of curiosities found in the woods: Fort
Crevecoeur shoe bottoms, or soles cut from stone ; flint arrow heads,
stone ax and mortars, which he has gathered and are valuable curi-
osities. Mr. M. has a family of seven children living — David R.,
born Aug. 30,1840; George E., born Nov. 20, 1847; Evaline,
born March 9, 1853; Alvira, born June 21, 1856; Milton, born
April 28, 1858; Dorcas J., born March 7, i860 and Nettie, born
Feb. 6, 1862. Lost 4 — Floyd, born June 6, 1851, and died Oct.
18, 1853; Walter, born Aug'. 25, 1854, died Feb. 8, 1858; Denna,
born Dec. 29, 1863, died March 22, 1877; Luther B., born May
19, 1849, died Aug. 30, 1877.
William Moobcrry, farmer, sec. 36 ; P. O. Farmdale. Born in
Franklin Co., O., May 26, 1825. His parents were David and
Mary Stumbaugh, natives of Pa., who emigrated to O. in 1806, and
to this Co. in 1832, settling in Groveland townshi]), where he en-
tered a large tract of land. Here he engaged in farming and in a
saw-mill, conducting a successful trade in both branches of business.
His death occurred in 1849, by cholera. His wife is still living on
the homestead with the youngest son, Alexander, at the age of 76
years. The subject of this sketch was married in 1848, to Miss
Matilda Marion, who was born in Franklin Co., O., Dec. 29, 1830.
After marriage settled on his parents estate of 375 acres, where he
has since made it his home, and is one of the early pioneers of the
county. His farm was a dense woodland, which he has cleared by
his own hands. Here he erected a rude cabin without a floor, and
has experienced all the hardships which attended the early settling
of this deeply wooded country. Has been Justice of the Peace two
years, and at different times held nearly all the offices in the town-
29
474 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
ship. Is a strong supporter of Churches and Schools and always
identified with the interests of the town and county, William C.,
Laura M., Lizzie L. and Maggie E., are their living children ; Lost
one — Francis M.
Thomas V. Pinkham, ftirmer, sec. 26 ; P. O., Hilton. Born in
Grafton Co., N. H., in 1841 ; his parents were Thos. and Margaret
(Vincent) Pinkham, natives of New Hampshire, where they died.
Came to this county in 1838, and settled in this township, and on
his present estate of 80 acres, in 1840. Was married in 1843, to
Miss Mariah Camlin, daughter of Thomas Camlin, who settled in
this township in 1823, where he died. Mr. P. is one of the county
pioneers, and has been prominently identified in the interest of the
town and county during his eventful life, having been Justice of the
Peace for seventeen years, and served in about all the offices of this
township. He is a citizen esteemed by all who have the pleasure
of his acquaintance, honorable in all things, and having a just pride
in all his business operations. Emeline, George, Lizzie, Susan,
Albert, Luella and A. J. are their living children.
Joseph Schertz, merchant, Hilton; P. O., Hilton. Born in
Alsace, Germany, in 1827. His parents were David and Annie
(Rosche) Schertz, who emigrated to America in 1830, and landed
at Ft. Clark, now Peoria, in August of that year, where he built a
hut and settled, purchasing a claim for $800., where the family
settled and experienced all the hardships of pioneer life. His fath-
er died in 1859. Mr. S. built the mill near his residence in 1852.
After his father's settlement on the present place, coal was discover-
ed in the hills, and a mine opened, which is still in operation. In
1849 the subject of this sketch went to California prospecting, and
returned in 1851 ; became extensively engaged in milling, and in
1861 he sold out and retired from the active pursuits of life. His
active nature, however, rebelled against a life of rest, and wishing
to advance a son in a successful start in life, he opened a store at
Hilton in 1877, keeping a general stock of groceries where he is
still actively engaged. Is President of the Bridge Association;
has been Town Clerk, and otherwise identified in the offices of the
township. He is well and favorably known for his liberality in the
advancement of the cause of education, and his father spent large
sums of money in the cause of emigration. Was married in Sept.,
1851, to Miss Catherine Belsley, who was born in Germany in
1826. Benjamin F., Mary A., Sarah C, are their living children.
Lost two children — David H., and one that died in infancy.
Charles E. Sheets, postmaster, Fond du Lac. Born in Salem Co.,
N. J., July 12, 1827, and came to this county in the spring of
1859, settling near his present place, where he engaged at his trade,
milling, and where he has since made his home. Married Miss
Ellen Genoways, a native of this State, who died in 1871, leaving
three children, Anna C, John G., and Roland. Was appointed
postmaster in the Spring gf 1876, and has since filled that office.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 475
Is also School Director, and well known throughout the town and
county.
GROVELAND TOWNSHIP.
This township received its name from the village of Groveland,
and it from the beautiful groves in the neighborhood. A visit to
the township at this late day shows it to have been very appropri-
ately christened. The first settler to locate here was James Scott.
He built his cabin in the timber on section 35, as early as 1827.
Others who came in shortly afterwards were Milton Shurtleif, John
O'Brien, Daniel and John Mooberry, John Anderson, Joseph Lan-
des, Benjamin Dobsone, Alexander Caldwell and George Dupree.
The only ones of these pioneers now living are John Mooberry,
Joseph Landes and John O'Brien. The first school in the town-
ship was taught by John McGinnis, in a little log cabin built for
that purpose on the southwest quarter of sec. 11, in the winter of
1834-35. Some claim that Mathew Kingman was the first " master."
Mrs. James Scott, wife of the first settler, gave each new comer
into the settlement a hen with her chickens. This was her mode of
welcoming them to their new homes. Austin Harding, when a lad of
ten, remembers well the circumstances attending the gift of his hen
and chickens. With a light heart he carried them home from Mrs.
Scott's, but the hen managed to get out of her place of confinement,
the chickens scattered, and his present, which was so highly prized,
was lost to him. The good motherly Mrs, Scott, however, replaced
it by another hen and her brood. James Scott moved to El Paso
in 1859, where, in 1860, he died. George, son of Joseph Landes,
bought the original Scott farm, being the southeast corner of section
35, (not 33, as has been recorded,) in 1858, of Mr. Elijah Brown,
Mr. Scott's son-in-law, who accompanied Mr. S. to El Paso.
The first settlers here experienced many hardships. During the
winter of the big snow, 1830-31, they suffered greatly. The slight
snow and sleet that fell before the heavy snow came froze the mast
to the ground, which, when the big snow came, the wild animals
were unable to get to subsist upon, and, consequently, many died.
Those, however, that could get to the cornfields lived well. Wild
hogs were quite abundant these times. These were the progeny of
the hogs the old French traders formerly raised about Wesley City.
They would often mix with the hogs of the settlers running in the
476 HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
timber. Sometimes they would become furious and attack other
stock. One old hog, with ancient and mammoth tusks, became
quite fierce and troublesome. Many eifijrts were made to kill him,
but in vain. His thick callous hide resisted many a shot and rifle
ball. However, Franklin, son of B. J. Montgomery, found his
weak spot one day, and sent the fatal lead to the monster's forehead,
and relieved the neighborhood of their dreaded terror.
For overshoes, Mr. Landes tells us they would tan the skins of
the wolf and ^v^ild cat and work them up, and they made good
shoes, too.
Alexander McKnight had a horse mill here, where the settlers
could get all kinds of grain ground, but the bolting had to be done
by hand. This mill was located on section 1, Elm Grove township,
three-quarters of a mile from the south line of Groveland. There
was another mill in Elm Grove, driven by tread-wheel power,
using horses or oxen. Bolting was also done by hand here. Both
mills did good work. The latter, Mr. Shipman's mill, was running
in 1830, how long previous, not known. A negro by the name of
Mose was the miller. A fuller sketch of this historic individual
may be found in the history of Sand Prairie. The other of the three
mills in the county, at this time, was a small water mill in Dillon
township. This did the bolting by water power ; it could only run,
however, in wet seasons. In an early day there was a saw-mill on
sec. 27. It was first run by horse-power, afterwards by steam. It
was built by Charles Hinnian, but changed hands many times after-
wards. Others have been built and flourished for a time, but only
one remains, and it is in the north part of the township.
The streams of the township are the South, Middle and North
forks of Lick creek, named from the Deer licks of salt springs. At
the lick on the Middle Fork, Mr. B. J. Montgomery found the
skeleton of two large bucks, that had locked their horns together,
and unable to separate themselves died. He kept these horns for
many years. This same gentleman also describes the Indian bury-
ing places of this section. A pen was made about the size of a cof-
fin, of split timber about four inches square, nicely locked together
at the corner, joints all very close. These were covered with
bark. A hole was cut through either side of this pen, one for the
good spirit to go in, and the other for the evil one to go out. These
when first seen were somewhat decayed. The bones, beads and an
old hat were all that was visible in the enclosure, where, evidently,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 477
an Indian woman, with a child abont four years old, were laid to
rest. As many as half-dozen of these pens were seen on ths east
bluff, near Wesley City, section 6.
The pioneers had many novel rules that are lost to the present
generation. For instance, rules for trailing Indians and wild beasts.
The course taken was known by the way the grass leaned, or had
been pressed by the foot. The Indian travels with his toes turned
in, the white man with his pointing outward. The panther, wolf
and other like animals make a hollowing track, with grass gently
bent. The deer, with its small sharp hoof, cuts or makes a short
bend in the grass. These points were all noted. Children were
also taught to do many things whereby their course might be fol-
lowed, should they be captured and carried away by the Indians.
One was to break spears of g'rass, leaning them the way they were
going. Also to tie as many knots in strings as there were Indians
in their company, dropping them in their path. This was done, to
show the force of their captors.
The oldest house in Groveland is owned by Thomas Hancock,
section 27. Some twenty years ago it was moved from the bottoms
near Wesley City, and is said to be over fifty years old. It is made
of logs and looks quite pioneer-like, as also the present owner, who
believes in old-time ways and customs, and has never been on a
railway car. Although he does not believe in sewing machines and
many other modern improvements, yet we see he has a modern
mowing machine. Still he is of that liberal turn of mind which
leaves every one, without let or hindrance, to enjoy his own chosen
ways.
The first sermon, it is said, was preached in 1<S34, by Rev. Neele
Johnson, but Joseph Landes tells us he heard Rev. Wm. Brown
preach a sermon in 1831, on a farm on section 25, near where the
cemetery now is. The first church organization was by IVIormon's,
in 1831 or '32. There are five churches now in the township.
Fird M. E. Church.— The first M. E. class was formed in 1840,
at Nicholas Burroughs' residence. Rev. Zadock Hall formed the
class. In the early part of the winter of the same year, Reuben H.
Moffatt being the preacher in charge, a protracted meeting was held
at the tavern house, built by Homer Roberts, at which sixty were
converted, most of whom joined the M. E. Church. The First M. E.
Church is located on lot 7, block 4; is a frame, erected in 1848, and
cost $1,500. It was organized by Zadock Hall. The Church con-
tributes $800 per year. There are in the Sunday-school 75 scholars.
478 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Presbyierlan Church. — Mrs. Jane Harding, wife of Alijah Hard-
ing, formed the first Sunday-school in Groveland township, in 1834,
in her own house, which was a double log cabin in the north edge
of Pleasant Grove. She seemed to be the right person to do this
work. She stepped forth to the task, and did her work well. Rev.
Flavel Bascom came into the neighborhood soon after and formed
a Presbyterian Church, which organization continued till about
1855, when it was abandoned. Moses Pettengill and wife, Jan. 20,
1837, deeded the ground for the erection of the Church edifice.
Zions Church of the Evangelical Association of North America. —
The church edifice is located on sec. 17, and is a frame 36 by 56,
and cost $3,000. It was erected in 1876. William Kolp was first
pastor. The trustees are John Roedee, Frederick Ramige, Simon
Swartz, Nicholas Eller, Joseph Strickfaden. Present membership,
121 ; value of church building, $5,000; contribution $800 per year.
Mennonite Church is located on sec. 26. It is a good frame 30 by
50; was built in 1878, at a cost of $1,100. The pastors who served
were, Peter Hochstadler, Nicholas Roth and Michael Mosselmen.
The old Mennonite congregation have no church building, but
meet around in houses of members. Andrew Ropp is Bishop, and
Peter Ropp, Daniel Roth, John Bachman and John Birkey, minis-
ters. This denomination has a large Church at Hopedale, and also
at Washington. The people of these congregations design erecting
a house of worship soon.
The village of Groveland, which is located on sections 26 and 27,
was laid out by Isaac Roberts, May 30, 1836.
Among the leading and representative men of the township we
would mention the following :
Johii Ackerman, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 26 ; P. O., Grove-
land. This gentleman, who has been living in this county for thirty-
four years, was born in Germany, May 24, 1819, and is the son of
Jacob and Catherine (Redeger) Ackerman. He attended the com-
mon schools of the Fatherland and gleaned a good education, which,
with his practical knowledge, fits him for an active business life.
He was married July 13, 1845, to Magdalena Birke, who died, and
he again was joined in marriage, Feb. 9, 1871, with Elizabeth
Sutter. He is the parent of ten children, all of whom are living
save one.
Lutie Burhans. Miss Burhans was born in Chicago, 111., Sept. 27,
1856. Her father, Henry J. Burhans, was born in New York State,
April 17, 1818. Her mother, Abigail Tarbell, was born in Vermont,
Nov. 9, 1817. They were married July 13, 1839, at Peoria, 111.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 479
They had born to them six children, five of whom are now living.
Mr. Burhans died in Chicago, Sept. 12, 1859. His widow came to
Groveland in 1859, and with her youngest daughter, Lutie, reside
at their own beautiful home. Miss Lutie is engaged in s-chool
teaching. She only received a common scool education, and now
teaches in the same school where she was educated. She has taught
here for a year and a half to the entire satisfaction of all. She has
taught fourteen months elsewhere. Post-ofhce, Groveland.
G. D. Dissman, farmer and coal miner, was born in Prussia,
March 15, 1828, and came to this county in 1849. His parents
were William and Elizabeth Dissman, Prussians. He served as
surgeon in Louisiana volunteers in the war between L^nited States
and Mexico. He was at Vera Cruz and the surrounding country
conducting supply trains from place to place. The company in
which he served, composed of sixty men, and twenty-four teamsters,
put to rout 5,000 Mexican lancers, while conducting twelve wagons
load of money to the head of the army, at the city of ^Mexico.
The Captain, a German, formed his men into a circle around the
wagons. They waited until the enemy advanced to within fifty
yards of them, when they all fired at once and the Mexicans dis-
persed. He was married to Christiana Harmon in 1847. They
have only five children living, out of the eleven that have been
born to them. On his farm, section 19, he has a coal shaft 86 feet
deep, and gets a good article of soft coal. The first vein of coal is
16 feet from the surface and over 4 feet thick, but very irregular in
thickness, so they go to the second vein. He works four or five
men. Post-office, Pekin.
Fredrick Hamm, shoemaker, sec. 17; was born in Bavaria, Ger.,
Aug. 18, 1815. His parents were Jacob and M. E. (Brown) Hamm,
natives of the same country. Mr. H. was educated in the common
schools of Bavaria, and came to the United States in 1836, and to
this county in 1848. He was united in the holy bonds of matrimo-
ny with Miss S. Kamige, April 2, 1842. Their children number
six, five living, one dead. He made a confession of his faith in the
Savior of the world, in 1837, and is connected with the Evangelical
Association. Post-office, Peoria.
Benjamin H. Harris, physician, Groveland, is a son of Lemuel
and Mary (Kearmy) Harris, of West Chester county, N. Y., where
he was born. He prepared himself and entered the medical depart-
ment of St. Louis Univ^ersity and graduated. On the 23rd of July,
1846, he was married to Ann Hutchison. They have had born to
them three children all of whom are living. Dr. Harris united
with the Baptist Church in 1843. Politically he is a Republican.
John A. Hodge was born in Pekin, this county, Oct. 16, 1850;
received his education in the common schools of Groveland and en-
tered upon the occupation of farming. Mrs. Kezer Hancock, foster-
mother of Mr. Hodge, who took him while an infant and with
whom he has since lived, came to this countv in 1831. The hard-
480 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
ships of that snowy winter will never be forgotten by ber. She
was born in Pennsylvania. Mr. Hodge advocates the principles
promulgated by the Republican party. Residence, sec. 21 ; P. O.,
Groveland.
William Hodgson, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 32 ; P. O., Pekin.
This gentleman came into the county at an early day, and at the
time was sixteen years old. Soon thereafter he entered upon the
duties of active life, and has proven himself equal to mould his own
destiny, very largely. He has accumulated considerable property —
enough to give each of seven children a small farm, and still have a
farm left. He has been a member of the Christian Church since
about 1866. In his habits he is temperate, never having bought a
drink of liquor in his life. He is the son of Amos and Mary (Bar-
nett) Hodgson, North Carolinians, and was born in Clinton Co., O.,
Aug. 15, 1816. He was married Dec. 18, 1836, to Phoebe Bennett.
They have had eight children born to them, seven living. He has
filled several local official positions.
Lewis Kepcha, farmer, was born in Germany, Sept. 25, 1825. His
parents were also Germans. They were Lewis and Margaret (Bruk)
Kepcha. He came to this county from Pennsylvania in 1851 ; had
only opportunities of attending the common schools. He took
unto himself a wife on the 27th of Feb., 1848, in the person of
Mary Ankeney. Mr. K. is a member of the German Lutheran
Church, having made the good confession about 1845. He identi-
fies himself with the Republican party. P. O., Pekin.
George Landes, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 35, is a native of
Elm Grove township, this county, having been born there Jan. 26,
1831. His parents, Joseph and Jane (Mitchell) Landes, were early
settlers of this county. He received a limited common school edu-
cation. June 22, 1859, he was married to Barbara Smith. Three
children have been born to them, one of whom, only, is now living.
In politics he is " Republican to the core." P. O., Groveland.
Joseph Landes. Mr. Landes is one of the pioneers of Tazewell
county, having emigrated here Oct. 17, 1830. One year and a half
later he entered the Black Hawk war, serving in Capt. Adams' Co.
He was in the command of ]\Iajor Stillman, and took part in the
famous battle of Stillman's Run, and was one of the number that
made good their escape. He is one of four or five Black-Hawk war
soldiers now living in the county. He was born in Hampshire Co.,
Ya., Sept. 16, 1803. His parents, Rudolph and Nancy (Plum)
Landes, were Virginians, He received his education in the log
school-house of Pickaway county, O. He has been twice married:
the first time to Jane Mitchell, April 8, 1830. His second marriage
occurred April 15, 1858, and was with Elizabeth Hathaway. He is
the father of eight children, three boys and five girls, four of whom
are living. He is a Republican in politics, and "proud of it."
Post-office, Groveland.
George Lux was born in Elsass, France, June 4, 1811. He came
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 481
from France, in 1830, to Wayne county, X. Y., married and lived
there until 1844, when he came to Chicago. In 1847 he bought a
farm on sec. 7, this township, and finally settled on sec. 16, where
he now lives and is engaged in fanning and stock raising. He at
first was engaged in the carpenter's trade. Mr. L. was the first of a
large nuuiber who came from Wayne county, and led the way for
the others, among whom are many of the most substantial citizens
and farmers of this township. His parents, George F. and ]\[ary E.
(Velden) Lux, were natives of France. He has held the office of
Justice of the Peace for two terms, and other offices. March 18,
1833, he was married to Magdalena Rtunige, who has borne him
twelve children, nine of whom are now living. He united witii the
Baptist Church, at Peoria, in ISGG. Politically he is a Republican.
He was the first German-French Whig in Xew York State, and led
many others to follow him as such. Post-office, Pckin.
B. J. Montgomery, farmer, sec. 31 ; P. O., Pckin, This gentleman
is well advanced in years, having been born Feb. 8, 1799. He is
quite spry for a m:in past fourscore. He is the son of Elisha and
Margaret Montgomery, natives of Kentucky, and he was born in
Washington Co. of that State. He came to this county in October,
1835, and has since won the love and esteem of thousands. Before
coming here, in 1820, he traveled from Charleston, S. C, to Council
Bluffs, Iowa, by land, and in 1823 went from the Gulf of Mexico
to the same city. He is a self-educated man, and his first wife
taught him the rudiments. He has lived a long, peaceable, quiet
life, and now in the evening of his earthly journey he can say,
I never sued a man in my life, and the law was never required
to collect a debt from m-j. But few can say that even at a much
earlier age. He enlisted in the Black Hawk war, but was dis-
charged without service. He has held many local offices. In 1829,
Sept. 22, he was mirricd to Elizabeth Walker. In 183G, May 7,
he was married again, this time to Eliza Drace. He has five child-
ren living and seven dead.
John Mooberry, Sr. A review of the life of a gentleman such as
we have here is interesting in the extreme. He was born in York
Co., Pa., Feb. 2, 1801, and is the son of AVilliam and Eliz;il)eth
(Ramsey) Mooberry, natives of the same State, He went to Colum-
bus when a young man and came to this township in Oct., 1832,
and settled on sec. 14, where he has resided ever since. He visited
the county in 1830, and again in the spring of 1832, and satisfied
himself that no better location could be found than Tazewell Co.
He bought his farm in June, and returned to Ohio after his family.
There were but few settlers here when he came. The country was
almost one vast wilderness, the red-man its owner. Rev. Neele
Johnson was preaching in Pleasant Grove when he came in 1832.
In the winter of 1831-32 the intensest cold weather prevailed.
For forty days the snow did not thaw enough to run from the eaves.
This was called the cold winter, the previous one the snowy winter.
482 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
When Mr. M. and family were nearing their Western journey they
met a family returning to " Indianar." On being asked why they
were leaving such a good country as this was said to be, the woman
replied, " well, this may be a very good country for men, but its the
devil on woman and oxen." Mrs. M. tells us that she had to light
a candle to enable the family to see to eat breakfast, dinner, and
supper during the first winter. When summer came they sawed
out a log to let in the light of heaven and made oiled-paper "glass"
to prevent the rain from pouring in.
Mr. M. attended the common schools of Ohio, where they had
the alphabet pasted on a board and a sch(jol-house with greased
paper windows. He has been successful in life and has been enabled
to give a good "setting out" to each of thirteen children. Jan.
25, 1825, he was married to Lydia Merion, who bore him fourteen
children, eleven of whom are now living. John York, a grandson
of Mr. M., was born Sept. 6, 1862. His mother, Lydia E. (Moo-
berry) York, died when her son was an infant of eleven days old.
His grandparents took him at the age of one year and have cared
for him since. He is a lover of history, and his grandfather has
willed that he shall have his copy of the History of Tazewell
County.
John S. Mooberry, farmer, see. 14, was born in Franklin Co., O.,
Nov. 5, 1826. He is the son of Daniel and Margaret (Stunbaugh)
Mooberry, natives of Pennsylvania. At the early age of six John
was brought to this township by his parents, and ever since has
been identified with the interests of Groveland. Few men live so
long in one locality as has Mr. ]\I. He owns good farm property to
the amount of 340 acres, well improved. He has held local offices
such as J. P., Collector, Road Com., School Trustee and Director.
On the 7th of Jan., 1851, he was married to Jane Cunningham.
She was the mother of seven children, six of whom are noAV living.
She died April 10, 1877. He advocates the principles of the Re-
publican party. Post-office, Groveland.
'J. a Finckardv^AA born in Alton, 111., Feb. 18, 1820. His
parents, William G., and Eliza (Warren) Pinckard, were natives of
Virginia. Mr. P. came to this county in 1839, resides on sec. 26.
He received his education in common schools and McKindry Col-
lege. For nineteen years he was a traveling minister in the M. E.
Church, and for twenty years has been living on a farm, and grown
considerable fruit. He has held the office of Assessor, Collector
and Road Commissioner. March 1, 1843, he was united in mar-
riage with M. C. Gibson. They have ten children, six of whom,^
however, live on the shores of eternity. He made a profession of
religion when in his tenth year of age, and united with the M. E.
Church. He regards that as the most im])()rtant event in his life to
be commemorated. Mr. P. was a junior preacher with the celebrated
Zadock Hall, of pioneer fame. Republican in politics. Post-office,
Groveland,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 483
George Ramige, preacher, was born in Germany, Oct. 22, 1811.
His parents were Henry and Sally (Koontz) Ramige, of Germany.
Mr. R. came to Wayne, N. Y., in 1829, and to Groveland in 1848.
He was educated in the common schools of his native country. He
first entered upon the ministry of the Gospel, then changed to farm-
ing, but has returned to proclaiming the "glad tidings" again. He
resides on section 7. He was a traveling preacher in the State of
New York for nine years, but his health failed him, and since has
been a local preacher. Feb. 22, 1834, he was married to Barbara
Eyers. They are the parents of ten children, seven of whom are
living. He made a profession of religion in 1836; is now connect-
ed with Zion Church of Evangelical Association of North America.
In politics he is a Republican. Post-office, Pekin.
Benjamin Roe, farmer, is the son of John and Sarah (McCune)
Roe, Virginians, and was born in Posey county, Ind., Nov. 15,
1811. He came to this from Fulton county, 111., in 1846. He
attended the common schools for only eighty-eight days, yet has
held six commissions to important position from the Governors and
President. He has been Justice of the Peace for two terms, Enroll-
ing Officer, Provost Marshall, Notary Public, and United States
Assessor. Nov. 7, 1833, he was married to Susan Whaley, and to
his second wife, Helen Davison, July 24, 1838. He is the parent
of four sons and seven daughters. Religiously he has been a
life-long Swedcnborgian. Before the freedom of the slaves he was
a radical Abolitionist, now an independent voter. Post-office,
Groveland.
John Shannon was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, Aug.
16, 1789, and is therefore over ninety years old. His parents were
Robert and Jane (McElhany) Shannon. Mr. Shannon came to this
county from Ohio in 1834, and located on sec. 15, Groveland town-
ship, where he has since continued to reside. All who know Mr. S.,
and they are many, know him to be an upright, kind and benevo-
lent man, always ready to extend a helping hand to the needy.
Many a person will bless the day they first saw Mr. S. and accepted
the free and kindly offers from his generous and bountiful hands.
Mr. S. remembers when there stood a pioneer horse-mill at Pleasant
Grove, Elm Grove township. It did a good business, and was a
great help and convenience to the early settlers. The pioneers
found it an exceedingly difficult matter to do their marketing at
some seasons of the year. Peoria was the point where most of the
people in the northern part of the county went to do their trading.
Often Mr. S. has seen the river banks full to overflowing, and the
current sometimes more than a mile wide. When no further than a
half dozen miles from Peoria, the hindrances were often so great
that pioneers who started in the morning did not get home till mid-
night. No bridge then, nor steam ferry, only a flatboat or skiif in
which to make the transit. Mr. S. was in the war of 1812 and
served in Ohio. He was a member of Gen. Foos' battalion, to keep
484 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
back the Indians after Gen. Hull's surrender, March 9, 1826, he
was married to Mary Stambaugh, who was born Feb. 11, 1799.
They had six children, only two of whom are living: Mrs. Eliza-
beth Cleveland and Mrs. Margaret Hancock. Mr. S. made a pro-
fession of religion in 1835, and united with the Presbyterian Church.
He is now connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
He has always lived a quiet and peaceable life with all men, and ex-
pects soon to pass over and join the Church Triumphant. He is
"Kepublican in sentiment, always." Mr. S. was formerly a large
stock raiser and farmer, but has retired from active business, and is
spending his declining days with his son-in-law, Horace Hancock.
Post-office, Groveland,
Isaac Smith, farmer and small fruit grower, resides upon section
7. His parents, Samuel B. and James (Smalley) Smith, (the former
a native of Kentucky the latter of Ohio,) came to Tazewell county
and were living in Mackinaw township when their son Isaac was
born, which was May 25, 1853. His father was a Methodist minis-
ter, and Isaac attended the common schools wherever his father
chanced to reside, and the graded school at Morton. February 16,
1874, he was married to Abbie Welcher. Politically he is "for the
honest, loyal man wherever he may be." Post-office, Hilton.
Joseph Strickfaden came from Wayne county, N. Y., to Tazewell
county, in 1848. He resides upon section 20, and is engaged in
farming, owning 1,000 acres of land, which is the best indications
of a successful life one can oifer. Mr. Strickfaden was born in
Baden, Germany, Feb. 22, 1814. His parents, Andrew and Eliza-
beth (Yost) Strickfaden, were also Germans. He was educated in
the common schools of his native land. He has held the office of
Road Commissioner for nine years, and that of School Director for
sixteen years. February 4, 1838, he was married to Mary E.
Ramige. They have had borne to them eleven children, ten of
whom are yet living. He made a profession of religion in 1838,
and is connected Avith the Evangelical Association of North Amer-
ica. He is a "Black Abolitionist" in politics. Post-office, Pekin.
William Strickfaden, farmer and stock raiser, section 17, was born
in Wayne county, N. Y., Jan, 6, 1840. His father, Joseph Strick-
faden, was a native of Baden, Germany, Mhile his mother, Mary E.
Pamige, was born in France. ]Mr. S. came to this county when a
lad of eight years of age. He had a very limited common school
education. He entered the U. S. service during the trying days of
the Rebellion, and served as corporal in Co. B, 108th 111. Infantry.
Took part in the siege of Vi('ksl)urg, and many other noted engage-
ments. He was united in mai'riage witli Elizabeth Preacher, Nov.
6, 1865, who has borne him three sons and two daughters, three of
whom are now living. Made a confession of his faith in our Savior
in 1859, and is c(innectcd with the Zions Church, Evangelical Asso-
ciation, Groveland. Politically he is "a Republican that stands up
for his own rights." Post-office, Pekin.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 485
George W. Tou-ne was born on sec. 18 of this township, March 15,
1844. He attcMidotl the common schools here and received a good
education, wliic-h, coujiU'd with his practical knowledge, fits him for
an active and successful life. He has lu'ld many of the local official
positions. March 11, 1809, he was united in marriage to Angeline
]Meyer, but was not permitted to enjoy her society long after the
happv union. While ridiug in a sleigh on the 18th of Jan., 1871,
in company with his wife, infant son, and his wife's sister. Miss M.
Meyer, the horses took fright, turned u[)on the approach from the
bridge, was thrown over, and his beloved wife received a fatal injury.
Her skull was fractured by her striking the fence, and she expired
witiiin half an hour. She left one son, Earnest ()., born January 2,
1870, and an affectionate husband to mourn her sudden death.
Lewis S. White, farmer and stock dealer, was born in Sangamon
countv. 111., March 23, 1842. His parents were Robert White, a
native of Ohio, and Mary Short, a Kentuckian. They were married
in Springfield, 111. When a lad of six years of age Lewis was
brought to this county. He resides on sec. 9. He served in Co.
D., ilth Illinois Cavalry. He has been married twice : the first
time, Jan. 2(3, 1865, to Miranda Stout, and Nov. 3, 1872, to Cather-
ine L. Swan. His children number four living, two dead. Robert
B., born Oct. 26, 1862; Drusilla B., April 17, 1873; Flavel L.,
born March 3, 1877; Lewis B., born Feb. 8, 1879; James Henry,
born Dec. 26, 1874, died by being scalded May 17, 1876; Thomas,
born Aug. 17, 1864, died April 17, 1865. Politically he is a Dem-
ocrat. Post-office, Hilton, Tazewell county.
The following are the officers who have served the township :
SUPERVISOUS.
George L. Parker 1850-51 Benjamin H. Harris 1867-71
Robert Bradshaw 1852-54 J. W. Mooberry 1872
Charles G. Hinnian 1855 Geo. Landes 1873-74
C. S. Worthington 1856-58 F. Shurtleff 1875
Robert Bradshaw 1859 Geo. Landes 1876
C S Worthinjzton 1860-61 Joel T. O'Brien 1877-78
John W. Caldwell 186:5-64 C. S. Worthington 1879
F. H. Hancock 1865-66
TOWN-CLERKS.
George B. Elliott 1854 Geo. H. Smith 1868-72
L. Stookwell 1855-63 N. A. H. Worthington 1873-75
F. H. Hancock 1864 George W. Franks 1876-78
E. C. McKibben 1865-66 E. C. McKibben. 1879
J. F. McGinnis 1867
ASSESSORS.
T.M. Wiles. 1854 F. Hamm 1864
Geo. F. Cleaveland 1855 L. Stockwell 1865
Dwight Clark 1856 A.Harding 1866-69
J. W.Moreland 1857 W. Anderson 1870-72
B.W.Parker 1858-59 SchnvU-r Scriver ; 1873
H. S. McKibben 1861 Washington Anderson 1874-79
C. R. Johnson 1863
486 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
COLLECTOES.
J. V. K. West 1854 William Ramige 1870
H. S. McKibben 1856-58 Daviil Sammons. 1871
George Hinman 1859 Charles Burhans 1872
J. G. Lyford 1861 James Bradsh aw 1873
John C. Pinckard 1863 Austin Harding 1874
Fred. Ramige 1864 F.Zimmerman 1875
J. W. Mooberry 1865 J. W. Craft 1876
J. Eller 1866 Wm. Strifkfaden 1877
Alex. Mooberry 1867 George W.Towns 1878
Washington Anderson 1868 E. T. Burns 1879
Edwin O'Brian 1869
HITTLE TOWNSHIP.
The first settlers of Hittle township were George Hittle, Jonas
Hittle, his son, and John W. Judy, his son-in-law, with their fami-
lies. They left Ohio in the fall of 1825 and stopped a short time
in Sangamon county, where they gathered corn on shares, thus
earning sufficient to carry them through the winter. After cold
weather set in these pioneers began looking for a permanent place of
abode. Starting northward they visited Pekin, (then called Town
Site, and consisting of three cabins,) and Fort Clark (Peoria).
Turning about they passed through Pleasant Grove, where they
found an abundance of hard maple timber. The opportunity to
make sugar at home in those days was no slight consideration, and
the party thought this was surely the place for them. Making a
claim, they continued southward, and were still more pleased with
the beautiful black walnut timber, where the Orendortf' s afterward
settled, in Hopedale. They therefore abandoned their first claim,
made a second one here, and once more started on their journey.
Stopping at the home of Robert Music, on Sugar creek, where Gov-
ernment surveyors had boarded, they were told that the finest piece
of timber in the whole country was about eighteen miles above.
Turning their horses in a northerly direction they soon reached the
place. The sight of such beautiful black walnut, hard maple and
oak filled them with delight, and straightway they made a third
and final claim. Having erected rude huts, they returned to Sanga-
mon for their families and goods, and quickly set out for their new
homes. John Judy was the only one who had a horse team, and he
reached the destination one day ahead of the others — namely, on
Feb. 20, 1826. But as George Hittle was the patriarch of this new
community, both the grove and township have taken his name.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 487
Jacob H., (son of John W. Judy,) who was then a child of four
years of age, has lived in the township ever since, and he is, there-
fore, the oldest settler in the community. In the following year
William Burt and the Hainlines settled near by, and about the same
time two families by the names of Perry and Williamson. In 1828,
William Hieronymus settled on the east fork of Sugar creek,
where two of his sons still live. Other early settlers in Hittle
were: Jacob Albright, 1829; Joseph Richmond, 1830; Martin G.
Staiford, 1830; Thos. Burt, 1833; Quisenbury, 1835. After
this, settlements became quite numerous, and the pioneers were
happy and prosperous as the times went. At first the people were
compelled to go to Springfield to mill and for mail, and later to
Mackinaw. In the winter of '31, the time of the big snow, Jos.
Richmond was frozen to death. It seems a daughter of his was to
be married and himself and one of his neis-hbors set out for Mack-
inaw on snow shoes, to get some necessary articles. On the return,
the sndw was soft and walking Tcrv difficult. When only three
miles from home, night came on, the weather became very cold, and
Mr. Richmond gave completely out. Covering him up, his friend
went for assistance. They continued the search till after one o'clock,
but without avail. Next day the body was found frozen stiif, with
part of the clothing removed.
About the year 1841, a store was opened by two Eastern men,
whose names were Armington & Hazleton, and Armington post-
office took its name from the former.
The people of Hittle are largely the descendants of the old
settlers, and are intelligent and well-to-do. At one time every
voter, with one exception, voted the Whig ticket; and now the
place is Republican in sentiment. After giving sketches of its
churches, we will speak of some of the representative citizens at
greater length, for we believe the history of any community is made
up largely of the history of the. live, enterprising men of that com-
munity.
Christian. — Hittle Grove Christian Church was organized at the
house of John W. Judy, about the year 1828. The Judys, Hittles,
Hainlines and Burts were among the early members. At first old
Elder Rhoade, of Blooming Grove, preached once a month, at
John Judy's, where also a dinner was served to the congregation.
The society has had two houses of worship — the last one was built
fifteen or sixteen years ago. The membership is not far from 200
— 70 of whom have been recently added.
488 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
Hieronymus Grove Church. This church was built entirely by
Enoch Hieronymus, in 1869. Mr. H. thought, in view of the fact
that they were so far from any church, many persons in the neigh-
borhood might be induced to enter the house of worship who would
not otherAvise go, accordingly he bore the entire expense of putting
up the building. Services htwe been held regularly from the be-
ginning.
31. E. Chiroh. — A society was organized at Hittle Grove 35 or
40 years ago, and among the early members John Burwell, Isaac
Carr, Philo Baldwin, with their families, may be mentioned. About
twenty years ago, Joseph Kelly, Foster Griffin and A. E. Forbes
organized a separate society at Armington, and the old church
thereupon divided, part going to Armington and part going to
Boynton, according to convenience. The present church building
was erected in 1862 ; cost about ^2,600. Membership over 50.
John F. Albrif/hf, farmer, Armington, was born in Lincoln county,
Tenn., in 1825. His father, Jacob Albright, came to Hittle in
1829. He was married in Tenn., to Esther Touchstone. His
grandfather was from South Carolina, and his grandmother from
North Carolina, where his father was born. "When the latter came
to this State he settled on land bought of George Hittle. He had a
family of 8 children — 6 boys and 2 girls. He lived until May 12,
"868, when he died at the age of 72. His wife died in 1855, at the
age of about 65 years. John Albright was married June 15, 1848,
to Louisa, daughter of John Judy. She was born Jan. 10, 1830.
They have seven children, five of whom are now living — Emma,
Jerome, Harriet J., Rosa, Alice, Martha and Clara. Mr. Albright
now lives on part of the place his father owned, and two brothers
live in the same neighborhood. Member of the Christian Church
and a Republican.
Michael Albright, farmer, Armington, was born Dec. 19, 1820, in
Lincoln county, Tenn., (see John F. Albright). He was married
June 4, 1843, to Mary Ann JNIalick, daughter of George Malick,
one of the earliest settlers of Mackinaw. She was born Dec. 12,
1820. They have six children — Ann, Homer, Alice, Charles,
George and Florence. Mr. Albright is a substantial farmer, a man
well informed on all topics of general interest, and one with con-
victions of his own. He is a Republican.
Charles D. Allen, Armington, was born Sept. 30, 1811, in Tioga
county, N. Y. His fatlier's name was Daniel, and his mother's
Anna (Dodd), who were natives of New York. In 1837 Mr. Allen
left Ohio, where his parents had lived since he was twelve years of
age, and settled in Hittle. His parents also came West, and settled
just over the line in McLean county. His father died in February,
1848, aged 83 years. He was married Nov. 8, 1839, to Nancy^
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 489
daughter of Henry Hainline, one of the first settlers of Hittle. The
descendants of Mr. Hainline are very numerous in Hittle townshij),
there being five sons and one daughter, with numerous grandchil-
dren. Mr. Allen's wife died in June, 1847; he was married to
Hannah, the sister of his former wife, Feb. 14, 1850. She was born
Feb. 1, 1826, in Boone county, Ky. Mr. A. has five children, two
of them by his first wife. Their names are : Henry, Jessie, John,
Massie and Silvia. He is a member of the Christian Church, and
Republican in politics.
Jas. W. Burt, farmer, P. O., Armington, is a son of William Burt,
one of the earliest settlers of Hittle. He was born May 15, 1844,
and was married to Miss Emma Tenney, of Atlanta, Feb. 28, 1867.
They have two children. Mrs. B. is a daughter of Dr. Tenney, and
was born Feb. 20, 1850. Wm. Burt was born Dec. 10, 1800, in
Scott county, Ky., and in the fall of 1827 settled in Hittle, on sec-
tion 29, where he still lives. When Mr. Burt first came to Hittle
he found a rude little cabin already built. This he fixed up, and
began life in the new country, happy in the possession of a home.
Not long after a man came along and claimed the premises, and to
avoid any trouble or unpleasantness a settlement was made by pay-
ing the party $9.00 In 1829, about Christmas time, and when it
was very cold, Mr. Burt's house was destroyed by fire, together with
all its contents except a little bedding. The neighbors assembled
and by the following Saturday Mr. Burt's fiimily found themselves
once more in a comfortable home. While none of the neighbors
were overburdened with clothing and furniture, they all contributed
a little to assist their afflicted friends. About 1835 he built another
house, made entirely of hewn logs with a board floor, and it was
considered the finest house anywhere in the neighborhood. He was
a great hunter in his time, and hundreds of deer, wolves and fowl,
fell before his gun and club. He was married in June, 1825, to
China Hainline, in Kentucky, and has had eight children, two of
whom died when young, and the others are still living. Their
names are— Elizabeth (wife of Allen Quisenberry) Sally (wife of
William Britt) Louisa (who married Andrew Bowles) John H.,
Polly (wife of Arthur Quisenberry, of Lincoln) and James W.
Mr. Burt's wife died in 1873, aged 63 years.
Enoch Hieronymus. One of the oldest, as well as one of the most
respected families of Tazewell county, is the Hieronymus fiiniily, of
which our subject is the oldest living member. William Hierony-
mus, his father, was born Feb. 13, 1788, in Virginia. His parents
were of English and Dutch descent. In 1811, Aug. 14, he married
Alvira Darnell. He engaged in boat building for a while. In
1818 he went to Missouri and settled on the Missouri river. The
place is now washed away and forms the channel of the stream.
After three years he returned to Kentucky, and finally settled at
Big Bone Lick. This lick is a deep lake of mud and water, the
water being very shallow. The mud has apparently no bottom.
30
490 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
The animals, which in former years went there to drink, sank
down and died. Their bones are so numerous that the place is
called the Big Bone Lick. The bones of many curious animals
have been found there ; and particularly were the bones of the
large mammouth, which was placed in Barnum's museum. Enoch
Hieronymus has seen a bone from this lake, large enough for nine
men to sit on at once. In 1828, Mr. H. came to Illinois. His
family moved with several others. The oldest man in the company
was George Henline. They camped the last night of their journey
in Blooming Grove. The next day they came to Hittle's Grove.
Mr. H. went from there, in October, 1828, to Hieronymus' Grove,
which was named in his honor. Enoch was born in Madison Co.,
Ky., March 7, 1816. He accompanied his father's family to this
county, and has lived an active useful life since. During the winter
of the big snow, they had to pound corn for food. He made snow
shoes that winter out of boards ten inches square, which were lashed
to his feet, and thereby could chase the deer. He married, Aug.
22, 1839, Elizabeth A. Thompson. Her parents came to the State
in 1829. They have never had children of their own, but have
raised the orphan children of James Heironymus, who died in 1848.
His wife died a few months previous. Enoch and his wife took
into their home one girl, two boys and one infant, the latter soon
died. Another infant child, twin to the first, was raised by the
sister of Mrs. H. The two boys and girl grew up and were happily
married. Benjamin R. and Thomas H. both served in the late war,
in Co. A, 117th III. Inf., and sketches of both may be found in this
volume.
William Hieronymus, farmer; P. O,, Minier, was born Oct. 17,
1826, (See Enoch Hieronymus.) He was but two years of age
when his father moved to Hieronymus Grove, where he has lived
all his life. He was married in December, 1849, to Lucinda Gard-
ner, who is a native of Ohio. They have had eight children, seven
of whom are now living ; three are married and live in the neigh-
borhood. Mr. H. has a fine farm of 650 acres, part of which is in
McLean. In politics Mr. H. is a Republican ; a member of the
Christian Church.
Thomas H. Hieronymus, farmer ; P. O., Armington, was born in
Logan county, Dec. 18, 1845. His father's name was James, and
his mother's Malinda C. (Thompson). His father was born in
Kentucky, (See Enoch Hieronymus,) and his mother in Tennessee.
They died not a great while apart, the latter in 1847, and the former
in 1848. The children were young, and Thomas, and one brother
and sister were raised by their Uncle Enoch. He enlisted in 1862,
in the 117th III. Inf., and served three vears. He was married
April 18, 1866, to Mary P., daughter of Theophilus Caton, of Mc-
Lean county ; has five children. Is a member of the Christian
Church, and a Republican in politics.
Mrs. Susannah Kampf, P. O.^ Miaier, Mrs. Kampf is the widow
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 491
of John Kampf, and was born in Madison county, Ohio, Sept. 11,
1823; Mr. Kampf, in Pennsylvania, Jan. 1, 1817. They were
married July 9, 1840, in Ohio; came to this county in 1844, and
settled on section 10. Mr. K. died March 5, 1875. They had
eight children, six of whom are now living ; two daughters and one
son are married ; and three sons live at home. One son, Marion R.,
was a member of the 7th 111. Inf , and was killed in battle. Wm.
H. was also in the army, having enlisted in the 7th 111. Vet. Inf.,
Oct. 1864, and was discharged July 9, 18(35.
Henry C. Mountjoy, merchant, Armington, was born in Tazewell
county, Nov. 25, 1845. His father, William Mountjoy, came from
Kentucky, and settled in Logan county, near the line, in" 1835. He
was married in 1840, to Sinia V. Thompson, whose people lived in
the same neighborhood. Thcv had thirteen children, seven of whom
are now living. Henry Mountjoy had only a common school edu-
cation, and engaged in farming till about five years ago, when he
embarked in the mercantile business, and is now carrying on a
profitable trade. He was married March 23, 1865, to INIargaret A.
Hawser, of Jersey county; has three children. Enlisted in the 7th
111. Inf. in 1863, and served till the close of the war. Is a member
of the Christian Church, and votes the Republican ticket.
Col. Jonathan Merriam was born in Passumpsie, Vt., Nov. 1,
1834. His father, Rev. Jonathan Merriam, came West in 1836,
and shortly afterward accepted a call from the Baptist Church, of
Springfield. Later he came to Hittle. Col. Merriam was educated
at Wesleyan University, Bloomington, and at McKendre College,
Lebanon. The Colonel has been engaged in farming and stock
raising during the greater portion of his life, and at this time has a
farm of 1,200 acres of land, situated in Tazewell, Logan and Mc-
Lean counties. On the 19th of September, 1862, the 117th regt.
111. Inf. was mustered into service, with Mr. Merriam as Lieutenant
Colonel. This regiment experienced some severe service, and served
till the close of the war. After the war. Colonel Merriam took a
prominent part in political affairs, and was a useful member of the
Constitutional Convention. In 1873 he was appointed Internal
Revenue Collecter for the 8th District, which position he now holds.
He was married June 6, 1859, to Miss B. A. Barland, of McLean
county. She died June 19, 1861, and he was again married Nov.
10, 1864, to Miss Lucy C, daughter of Rev. J. B. White, of Bond
county.
Allen Quisenherry, farmer, lives in Eminence, Logan county ; P.
O., Armington. Mr. Q.'s father settled in Hittle Grove, in 1835.
He came from Kentucky, though he lived in Virginia till after he
was married ; he lived in the Grove about twenty years, when he
moved over the line into Logan county, where he died about the
close of the war. The subject of this sketch was born Oct. 9, 1823;
married November, 1844, to Elizabeth Burt, who was born Sept.
18, 1826, in Boone county, Ky. They have had three children;
492 HISTORY OF TAZEAVELL COUNTY.
two of whom are now living. John W. lives on a farm near by ;
and the daughter, China M., married W. F. Albright and now
lives in Bloomington. The old settlers, living almost beyond the
reach of newspapers, had queer ideas of the progress of the age.
Mr. Q. tells this story of his father. When a telegraph line was
built from Peoria to Springfield, the line passed through Delavan,
and caused no little excitement among the inhabitants. But the old
gentleman was skeptical, and one day said to his sons : " I tell you
w'hat, boys, that thing is all tomfoolery, depend upon it. Talk of
people speaking together, 100 miles apart! why, its rediculous. Its
just some Yankee scheme to make money."
Ellis \V. Roberts, farmer ; P. O., Armington ; was born in Lycom-
ing county, Penn., April 4, 1829. His parents came West about
1838, and settled on the Little Mackinaw. His father, whose
Christian name was Peter, died Feb. 24, 1847, aged 40; his mother
is now living with her son at an advanced age. Mr. Roberts was
married to Nancy J. Judy, May 23, 1850; she was the daughter of
Jacob Judy, and was born Oct. 1, 1831. Her father came to Hittle
with the very first settlers, but he was then unmarried and did not
settle permanently until a few years later. He now lives at Atlanta
in good health. On the last of April, Mr. and Mrs. Judy celebrated
their golden wedding. Mr. Roberts' family was in Missouri eleven
years, and with that exception ]\Irs. Roberts has always lived on the
same place where she was born. Mr. R. served nine months in the
21st Mo. Vol. Inf. Republican.
William G. Stafford, farmer and manufacturer of tile, sec. 9, Hit-
tie ; P. O., Minier. Mr. Stafford is the son of Martin G. Stafford,
who came to Hittle, from Tennessee, in 1831, He died in 1847,
and his wife about the same time. They had seven children ; two
of the sons are in Oregon, and one in Kansas. One of the daugh-
ters is the wife of Lorenzo Hainline, of Hittle, and the other, now
a widow, lives in Bovnton. Mr. Stafford was born in Tazewell Co.
in 1838. He enlisted, Sept. 15, 1861, in Co. E, 7th 111. Inf, and
was discharged Nov., 1864. He was married, Nov. 18, 1868, to
Ellen J. Tefft, and has four children.
Hon. L. M. Stroud, farmer ; P. O., Armington ; was born Sept.
27, 1822, in Dixon county, Tenn., not far from the house of Gen.
Jackson. His father, Thomas Stroud, emigrated from North Caro-
lina to Tennessee in 1806, and married Miss Virginia Thompson,
whose people came from Virginia. While Mr. Stroud was a Jack-
sonian Democrat he did not believe in slavery, and he therefore left
Tennessee and settled, in 1830, in what is now Logan county. He
died March 7, 1858, at Atlanta, his wife having passed away the
year before. Mr. L. M. Stroud did not enjoy very great educational
advantages, but nevertheless he had that energy and shrewd com-
mon sense which are bound to bring success. He has not far from
900 acres of land, and a fine store in Minier conducted by his son.
He has represented his town in the Board of Supervisors, and was
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 493
a Representative of the 27th District in the Legislature of 1873-74.
He was married, April 7, 1847, to Miss Elva, daughter of Captain
Adams, who fell in the Black Hawk war at the battle of Old Man's
Creek, or, as it has since been called, Stillman's Run, after a terrible
conflict with the Indians. Mrs. Stroud was born in Bedford county,
Tenn., Jan. 9, 1826. They have a family of nine children, several
of whom are married,
Eton F, Verry, merchant and grain dealer, Armington. He is a
son of William A. Verry, and was born Nov. 23, 1852. He was
educated in common schools and Eureka College. He was married
Feb. 6, 1879, to Ella, daughter of Thomas Dills, one of the old
residents and most influential citizens of Hittle. Politics, Republi-
can.
mUiam A. Verry, stock farmer, Armington. Was born in
Boston, Mass., Jan. 17, 1819. In 1820, his father, William C. Verry,
came to this State and settled in Morgan county, near Jacksonville.
In 1843 Mr. Verry came to this county and settled on section 22,
Hittle, where he purchased forty acres of land. Almost every
endowment necessary for success in business seems to have been
bestowed upon Mr. Verry, and to-day 2800 acres of fine farming
land and a large amount of other property, stand as a monument
to the energy, industry, and good management which have always
been characteristic of him. Mr. Verry was married, Oct. 20, 1842,
to Sarah A. Farnsworth, and four children have been the fruits of
this union. Their names are William E., George, Elon, and Fran-
ces. In politics Mr. Verry is a Republican, and while not a mem-
ber of any church, he always lends a helping hand to every good
cause which comes under his notice.
The following gentlemen have taken charge of the public matters
of the township from time to time, since its organization :
SUPERVISORS.
Hesekiah Armington 1850 L.M.Stroud 1870-71
David Mainline 1851-53 Peter Paugh 1872-73
R. B. Marlev 1854 Lorenzo Hainiine 1874
David Hainline 1855-57 John H. Burt 1875-76
Ellis Dillon 1858 John Q. Darnell 1877
S. K. Hatfield 1859 John H. Burt 1878
Jonathan Merriam 1861 John Q. Darnell 1879
George N. Bry.son 1863-69
TOWN-CLERKS.
Jacob H.Judy 1854 H.J.Allen 1869
S.K.Hatfield 1855 J. M. Guv 1870
John Kampf 1856 John Q. Darnell 1871
Jonathan Burwell 1857 James M. Brooks 1872
J. W. Graves 1858 D. A. Dempsev. 1873
Foster Griffin 1859 James M. Brooks 1874
Jacob H. Judy 1861 B. H. Griffin 1875-77
David Allen 1863-65 Ambrose Gilbert 1878
B. H. Griffin 1866-67 Bryson 1879
Will H. Kelly 1868
494 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
ASSESSORS.
Ephraim Glolfetter 1854 Jesse M. Guy 1872
David Mainline 1855-57 B. R. Hieronvmus 1873
Wm. Morehead, Sr 1858 J. Q. Darnell" 1874
Caleb Mainline 185^-69 T. M. Dills 1875-77
JohnKampf 1870-71 V.M.Darnell 1878
COLLECTORS.
S. K. Hatfield 1854-55 J. M. Guy 1870-71
JohnKampf 1856-57 Thomas H. Hieronymus 1872
Wm. Slaughter 1858 B. N. Ewing 1873
Daniel Albright 1859 V.M.Darnell 1874
John G. Wood 1861 E. W. Roberts 1875
Oliver Mason 1863-65 D. S. Dempsev 1876
Joseph Kelly. 1866 Joseph Bradley 1877
W. M. Kelly 1867-68 C. W. Roberts 1878
Benj. R. Mieronymus 1869 Johnson 1879
MOPED ALE TOWNSHIP.
This township was named by Moses Meeker, who, at a meeting of
the County Court, in 1850, christened it Hopedale. This name was
unanimously adopted. When the late Mr. OrendorfF laid oflf the
village of Hopedale he called it Osceola. Upon application to the
Postmaster General for a post-office, he found there was another
Osceola in the State. The village was then changed to the name of
the township. The township is largely woodland, quite hilly, and
the Mackinaw river. Little Mackinaw and Indian creek run
through it.
The first church building erected in the towns^hip was called
Shiloh, and was named by Jno. E. Davis. It was built about the year
1839, principally by the Methodists and Presbyterians. The latter
appear to have had the controlling interest. It was also used as a
school-house for a number of years. It is now known as the Old
Shiloh. There are three churches in the township, and three school-
houses where divine services are held. The next church built was
the Presbyterian Church. This was erected in the village about
1854. It burned down during the past winter. The Old Shiloh
has not been used as a church for 22 years. The New Shiloh was
built by the Methodists about 20 years ago. This church stood
upon the ground of the old one, and it, too, is a church of the past.
The M. E. Church of the village was erected in 1874 at a cost of
$2,400. The first sermon was preached by Hiram Buck, in Septem-
ber, 1874; Il6v. S. F. Johnson was at that time pastor. Then
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 495
came Revs. A. Bland, J. C. Keller, and finally the present pastor,
Rev. W. C. Avery. The first baptismal ceremony occurred Aug.
19, 1877, when John Bright and twelve others were baptised, some
by immersion. The first marriage ceremony in the edifice was cele-
brated on the evening the church was dedicated — T. W. Harlan
and ]\Iiss H. P. Coggins were the contracting parties.
The first settler in Hopedale was Aaron Orendorff, who settled
here about 1827. D. W., son of Aaron Orendorff, was the first
white child born in the township. The first Sunday-school was
taught by Jas. McDowell in the Old Shiloh Church.
The old town of Hopedale was laid off Nov. 1, 1853, by Thomas
Orendorff. The new town was incorporated Feb. 22, 1869. The
first Trustees elected and who attended the first meeting were, T.
H. Orendorff, Wm. Neisen, J. R. Ogden and E. Barnum. Oren-
dorff was elected president, Ogden secretary, and Barnum treasurer.
Thomas Smith tells us that the first store opened in Hopedale was
by D, W. Orendorff and Mr. Mortimer. Afterwards T. H. Oren-
dorff formed a partnership with T. A. Smith and had the second
store.
The first meeting for the organization of the township was held
at the house of Mrs. Purviance, on the first Tuesday in April, 1850.
Laban Hicks was called to the chair, and Charles W. Holden
appointed secretary. James E. Davis was elected moderator for the
day. A vote was taken and R, H. Holden was elected clerk for
the day. Township officials were then elected. For Supervisor,
Chas. W. Holden received 27 votes, which elected him by a majori-
ty of 6. For Clerk, Richard H. Holden received 28 votes, which
was a like majority. For Assessor, \Vm. H. Briggs received a
majority of 8 ; and for Collector, Andrew Kerr was elected by 10
majority. Wm. Milner is put upon the records as being elected as
Clerk, which is incorrect. The Commissioners of Roads elected
were: Nathaniel Bennett, Enoch T. Orendorff and G. W. Bryan,
each of whom received 49 votes. Enoch T. Orendorff was elected
Overseer of Poor; and the Justices of the Peace elected were Jesse
Fisher and Geo. W. Bryan. John Bennett and John Davis were
elected Constables.
In order to more fully detail the history of the town and town-
ship we will speak personally of some of the leading and represen-
tative citizens :
Robert N. Barger, M. D., was born in Hancock Co., 111., March
496 HISTORY OP TAZEWELL COUNTY.
19, 1842; His parents, were John S. Barger, (who was born in
1802, in Va. He died in 1876), and Sarah A. Baker (who was
born in 1803, in Ky., and died in 1878). Dr. Barger has had
superior educational advantages, having attended college in Jackson-
ville, and is a graduate of Rush Medical College, Chicago, and also
of St. Louis Medical College. During the War he was a member
of Co. I., 73rd 111. Inf. He was Acting Hospital Steward for 12
months; was married Jan. 1, 1870, to Martha S. Poe, who was born
in 1851. Mr. B. is a member of the Methodist Church. P. O.,
Hopedale.
Joseph Beanchamp, carpenter and builder, sec. 24, P. O., Hope-
dale; is a native of Canada, where he was born in 1826. The
ancestry of Mr. B. were French. He was apprenticed five years, to
learn his trade, by the end of which time he become a skillful work-
man ; Mr. B. was married to Miss Margaret Brier, a daughter of
Isaac Brier; there were born of this union twenty two children,
of whom only seven are living — Louie, Jos, Henry, George,
Louisa, Emma and Alexander, Mr. B., informs us that his grand-
mother was the mother of thirty-six children. Mr. B. settled at
what is now Hopedale 13 years ago and has erected every building
of any importance in the village. He was the builder of the first
house in the town. It is now occupied by Mr. Willard. We can-
not speak to highly of him as a skilled mechanic.
John S. Sever was born in the State of Indiana, Oct. 10, 1848;
is a son of Samuel and Eliza (Curtis) Bever. John S. came to this
county July 28, 1855. He attended the common schools of his
adopted county. He was married Feb. 2, 1871, to Catharine
Pearson. They are the parents of two children — Francis E., born
Jan. 16, 1872, and Berdella, born Sept. 28, 1873; Mr. and Mrs.
Bever are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a Democrat
in politics. P. O., Delavan. *'
Jacob Bever is a native of Indiana, having been born in that
State, Aug. 25, 1855. He is a son of Christian Bever and Lydia
Easton. Jacob Bever came to this county in 1862; attended the
schools in Dillon township. He was married Nov. 14, 1878, to
Idella Davidson, a native of Indiana. Mr. B. is a member of the
Church of the United Brethren in Christ; is a Democrat in poli-
tics ; P. O., Delavan.
Matthias Bever, farmer, sec. 33 ; P. O., Hopedale ; was born in
Adams Co., Ohio, Feb. 20, 1820. His parents were Matthias and
Catharine (Chumoker) Bever. The subject of this sketch came to
this county Feb. 28, 1855; received a common school education.
He is a member of the Baptist Church; was married March 14,
1853, to Rebcca A. Fuller, who was born April 3, 1829. They
have one daughter, Catharine Ann, born Feb. 14, 1852. She was
married to Henry Henkle in Sept., 1875. Mr. B. is a Democrat in
politics.
Samuel Bever, Sr., is a native of Adams county, Ohio, where he
"■^i-vCs^ *-■!]
tvv-
(deceased")
Dillon, '^^•
:-'ai*rr.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 499
was born Dec. 23, 1815. His parents were Michael and Margaret
Bever. Samuel B. attended the common schools of Indiana, and
came to this county July "28, 1855. He follows farmino;; resides on
sec. 30 ; owns 400 acres of land ; is connected with the Church of
the United Brethren; was married to Eliza Curtis Sept. 27, 1838.
They have had eleven children born as follows: — Jane, born July
20, 1839; Susanna, Dec. 3, 1841; Ephraim, Feb. 21, 1844; James,
Nov. 9, 1846; John S., Oct. 10, 1848; Matthias, Sept. 1, 1850;
Mary, Nov. 27, 1852; Martha, Nov. 25, 1854; Elizabeth, Feb. 10,
1858; Mahala, Oct. 5, 18(i0; Ida A., May 21, 1866. Mr. B. acts
with the Damocratic party. P. O., Hopedale.
Christian Birky, farmer, sec. 31 ; P. ()., Delavan ; was born in
Elm Grove, this county, in May, 1847. His parents were Christian
and Catharine Birky. Mr. B. attended the common schools of this
county ; is a member of the Omish (Mennonite) Church ; was mar-
ried Feb. 17, 1878. He is a Democrat in politics.
Henry H. Brigliain, station agent and operator on the C. & A.
R. R., Hopedale, was born in Chatauqua Co., N. Y., July 30, 1833.
His father, James B. Brigham, was born in the year 1782, Nov. 6,
at Marborough, Mass., died Jan. 31, 1<S61 ; he served in the Revo-
lutionary war. His mother was born May 15, 1793, died Jan. 26,
1869. They were married March 4, 1810, at Fredonia, N. Y. It
was in that place that Henry received his education, where he took
an academic course. He was connected with the U. S. Treasury
Department during the war.
William H. Briyfj, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 24 ; was born in
Westchester county, N. Y., on the 21st of Oct., 1807. His father,
Phillip H. Briggs, was a native of N. Y. He received a liberal
education, and was married to Phoebe, daughter of John Ryen, of
Fordham, N. Y., who was born May 4, 1788. ]Mr. B. went to New
York city about 1808, where he became engaged in the mercantile
business. He was very successful, and died Oct. 19, 1840; his wife
died April 1, 1866. The descendants are four in number — William
H., whose name is at the head of this sketch, Phoebe, who married
Ebben Leggett, and now resides in Brooklyn, N. Y., Larina, who
married Charles Valentine, and Ann Eliza, who is married and lives
in Philadelphia. William H. received a liberal education in New
York city. On the 26th of Nov., 1 828, he was married to Louisa,
daughter of Thomas Hoif, of Monmouth county, N. J. In 1 H29
Mr. B. entered on a mercantile career in New York; in 1836 he
came West, locating near Hopedale. He first rented farm property ;
in 1837 he purchased 207 acres, and is now the owner of 547 acres
and a beautiful farm residence. Few men are better known for
generosity than Mr. B. He has been Supervisor and Assessor for
this township. The marriage of j\Ir. B. was productive of six child-
ren, four of whom are living — Hannah, Jane E., Cecilia and Will-
iam H., jr.
John Burgess, born in England May 4, 1822. Thomas and Lucy
500 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
(Black) Burgess were his parents. He attended the common schools,
Mr. B. came to this country in 1849; is a member of the Christian
Church; was married to Elizabeth Hurn, Oct. 6, 1851. She died
in 1869. She was the mother of Lucy, born July 12, 1857; Jen-
nie, born Nov. 1, 1859; Lilian, born May 7, 1863. Mr. B. was
again united in marriage March 20, 1870, to Lucinda Bennett, by
whom he had five children, born as follows : Laura, July 30, 1871 ;
John R., Jan. 3, 1873; Elizabeth, Dec. 15, 1874; Mattie S., Nov.
26, 1877; Rose, March 22, 1879.
Otto Butterweck, of the firm of Schulte & Co., Hopedale, is a na-
tive of Germany, being born in that country Aug. 24, 1848. His
parents were Gustav and Mary (Brenneman) Butterweck, natives of
Germany. Mr. B. came to this country Nov. 1, 1864 ; was educated
in the common schools and Wiesbaden College. He is a member of
the Lutheran Church, and politically a Republican,
Andrew J. Bijern, farmer, sec. 11 ; P. O., Hopedale. Mr. B. is a
native of Franklin county, O., and is the youngest son of Joseph
and Sarah Byers, and was born Jan. 7, 1828. He grew to manhood
in his native' State, receiving a liberal education. In 1852 he was
united in marriage with Miss ^Nlary Sands, daughter of Thos. Sands.
Two years later Mr, Byers settled in Hopedale, where he purchased
town property and built for himself and family a home. Since this
time Mr. B. has followed farming. Five children have blessed this
union — William H., Hope, Alvira, Sarah, and Ira.
August L. Capps was born in Hanover, Prussia, Feb. 18, 1850.
His parents are August and Fredricka (Fricke) Capps. He was
married Feb. 22, 1876, to Mary Bever, who was born Nov. 27,
1852. They have had one son, Eugene Ray, born Nov. 13, 1876,
died April 25, 1877. Mr. C. is a miller by trade, and is now run-
ning the mill at Hopedale. He is a Democrat in politics.
John Cheshier was born Sept. 15, 1837, in North Carolina. His
parents were Solomon and Nanney (Todd) Cheshier, The subject
of this sketch came to this county in 1859, Is a farmer, residing
upon sec, 15, He belongs to the Methodist Church, and was mar-
ried April 9, 1860, to Amanda J, Terhune, a native of Indiana,
where she was born Dec, 20, 1845, They have two daughters —
Josepine, born Feb. 28, 1861, and Bertha May, born July 31, 1877.
Mr. C. is a Republican in politics.
Fhilandor E. Davis, attorney and Justice of Peace, Hopedale,
was born in Little Mackinaw, this Co., Aug. 14, 1830; is the son
of James E. and Mary (Taylor) Davis. His father was born in
1797, died in 1872; niother'born in 1793, died 1871. He attended
the common schools of the county and then entered De Moines
College, Iowa. During the war he enlisted in Co, A., 108th 111.
Inf.; was transferred to Co, K., in which he held rank as 1st Lieut.
Has been J. P, for twenty years, and Supervisor for eight years ; was
elected J, P, when only 24 years old. He was married in June,
1850, to Rosetta Roberts, who was born in 1830, died in 1862; was
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 501
married again to Catherine Henderson, who was born in 1840, and
came to this Co. from Ohio when but seven years okl. By her he
has two children — Eugene R., born Nov., 18BG, and John S,, A])ril,
1872. By his first wit'e he has but one child living, Evangeline,
born 1852. She is the wife of Henry Peitzman, and lives in Kansas.
John L. Donalson, farmer, sec. 30 ; P. C, Hopedale ; was born in
Kentucky, April 24, 1828 He is the son of James and Sarah
(Klines) Donalson, both natives of that State ; came to this
county in 1873; married Margaret Beaver June 24, 1846. They
have been blessed with fourteen children, nine of whom are living
— Elizabeth, born Feb. 8, 1846; Delilia L., Feb. 12, 1848; James,
Nov. 8, 1850; Sarah A., Oct. 8, 1851; Nancy I., Feb. 12, 1853;
Christopher C, May 6, 1859; Joseph, Oct. 9, 1861; Maria, Nov.
12, 1863; Martha *R., 1865; Jacob, Nov. 22, 1868; Mary E.,
1869; Minnie, May 22, 1870; Isaac and Catherine, twins, born in
1872, dead; Sarah, Mattie and Mary are also dead.
William M. Ely, farmer and carpenter, sec. 24 ; P. O., Hopedale ;
was born in Ohio in 1833. In 1858 Mr. Ely moved to this county,
and first found employment as a farm hand. The same year,
Dec. 30, he was united in marriage to Margaret, daughter of J. T.
Scates, the following year Mr. Ely moved to Indiana, where he re-
sided at the breaking out of the Rebellion. He enlisted in the 142d
Indiana Vol., participated in many battles ; at the close of the war
he returned to Ind. and purchased a farm. Eight years ago Mr.
Ely sold his property in Ind., and returned to this Co. Mr. Ely
has always taken a deeji interest in educational matters, and now
holds the ])osition of School Director. He is the father of seven
children — Emma, Parthena, Susannah, Katie, John, Nettie and
Harriet.
Michael Flynn is a native of Ireland, where he was born in Feb.
1850. His father, Patrick, and mother, Ellen Cullnan, were
natives of Ireland and are still living. Mr. F. came to this county
Oct. 20, 1866. He purchased his present farm of Mr. W. F. Hod-
son. He was married, April 9, 1874, to Julia Cooney, a native of
this county. She was born Nov. 28, 1853. They have three chil-
dren— Catharine A., born April 2, 1875; Thomas F., April 9,
1877; Patrick, born May 2, 1879. Mr. F. is a Catholic; P. O.,
Hopedale.
Henry 31. Ford. This gentleman is one of the business men of
Hopedale. He W('s born in Madison Co., Ind., Aug. 14, 1837.
He is the son of Abraham M. (who was born in Feb. 1801, and
died 1861) and Rebecca (Hendrickson) Ford, who was born in Se])t.,
1811 and is still living. Came to Hopedale ten years ago and em-
barked in business, and has been quite successful. Has been engag-
ed in the harness trade for 26 years. Pie was educated in common
schools and La Grange College, Kentucky. He enlisted in Co. F.
9th Ky. Cav. as Sergeant. Was Cai)t. Co. A. 1st Regt. of Eng.
and Mechanics. Was wounded by bushwackers. Has served as
502 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
J. P. for four years. Oct. 6, 18G6, he was married to Mary E.
Laughery, who was born ]\lay 30, 1842.
Arthur Gibson Crisp is a native of England, where he was born
Aug. 29, 1823. Charles E. and Ann E. Crisp, his parents, were
natives of the same country. Arthur G. came to this country in the
fall of 1867. He resides on sec. 11 ; P. O., Hopedale. He received
an academic education in London ; is an active member of the jNIeth-
odist Church; was married in April, 1875, to Mary E. Heckard, a
native of Ohio. They have two children — Arthur H., born March
2, 1876, and Frances Irena, born Sept. 6, 1877. Mr. C. is a Re-
publican.
Adam Griesemer is a native of Germany, where he was born Feb.
14, 1825. His parents were John and Elizabeth Griesemer. Adam
came to this county in March, 1869. He received a common school
education. Mr. H. is a farmer, and resides on section 23 ; P. O.,
Hopedale. He has a fine farm under a good state of cultivation.
We would refer the reader to a portrait of Mr. Griesemer in this
History. Mr. G. was married in October, 1848. He is the parent
of ten children, as follows: Elizabeth, born Aug. 3, 1851, died Feb.
15, 1853; Adam C, born Aug. 27, 1853; Mary Ann, Jan. 6, 1855;
Theresa, May 2, 1857; Barbara A., Aug. 20, 1859; Rosa, Oct. 27,
1861; John W., Julv 16, 1864; Clara M., Mav 13, 1867; Charles
M., Sept. 18, 1869;' Henry Simon, July 20, 1872. Mr. G. is a
German Catholic.
Charles L. Hess is a native of Rockingham county, A^a., where
he was born Sept. 3, 1851. His parents are Joseph and Anna
(Roudbush) Hess. Charles L. received a common school education
in his native State, and he came to this county in Feb., 1875; is a
member of the Methodist Church. P. O., Hopedale. In politics a
Democrat.
Joseph P, Hess is a native of Virginia, being born in that State
April 3, 1854. He is a son of Joseph Hess and Anna (Roudbush)
Hess. Joseph P. received a common school education. He came
to this county in Feb., 1875; by occupation a farmer on section 32.
P. O., Hopedale. Is a member of the Methodist Church ; was
married in Auir., 1875, to Ella Dick. Thev have had one child, a
daughter, who died in infancy. Politically, Mr. H. is a Democrat.
3Iilton H Hodson (deceased). Among those born and raised in
Tazewell Co. is Mr. H., who is worthy of special notice in this volume.
He was born in Hopedale township in 1831. His father, Reuben
H., was a native of North Carolina, but of whom but little can now
be learned. He, many years after his marriage, moved to the West,
settling on the banks of the Mackinaw in this county. Here
he passed the remainder of his life. We now follow the fortunes of
Milton Hodson. Reared among pioneer associations he grew to
vigorous manhood, and received a liberal education for the times in
which he lived. In 1851 he was united in marriage to Margaret E.
McDowell, a daughter of James McDowell, an honored citizen and
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 503
early pioneer of this county. After the usual hardships in settling
a new country, Mr. H. acquired a nice farm property. After an
active life, and having; the respect and confidence of all who knew
him, he passed peacefully away, in 1876, leaving to the care of his
wife two children — Cyrus K. and James M.
Reuben Hodson, farmer, sec. 15; P. O., Hopedale. Mr. H. was
born in this county, in May, 1844, on the old homestead of his
parents, William and Caroline Hodson. When our country called
for tro()])s, Mr, Reuben Hodson went to her defense, and enlisted in
Co. A, 72d reg., 111. vol., for three months; he re-enlisted in the
Artillery service. Mr. H. participated in many important battles,
among which we mention Snake creek gap, Lays Ferry, Roanoake,
Dallas, Old Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Siege of Atlanta, Jones-
boro. Fort McAllister, Savannah, Columbia, Mill creek. He re-
turned to Tazewell county, where he was united in marriage in
March, 1875, to Miss Alice Stout, a daughter of Seneca Stout. Of
this marriage two children have been born, Jessie R. and Roy.
Wiliuua R. Hodson, farmer, sec. 23 ; P. O., Hopedale. The Hod-
san family are among the first to settle in this county ; the father of
him whose name heads this sketch was a native of Virginia. He
was the father of eight children ; Reuben Hodson emigrated from
Ohio to this county in 1828, and settled in what is now Dillon
township; here he built him a log cabin, William R,, the subject
of this sketch, received a common school education. He well re-
members the big snow of 1830 and 1831, and the sudden change of
1836. He has passed through all the trials incident to the subjuga-
tion of a new^ country. In 1836, INIr, H. was married to a daughter
of Rev. J. E. Davis, by wdiom he has had three children — Mary,
Reuben, and William F. Mrs, H, died in 1859. His present wife
is Emily J. Sparrow, a daughter of Elias Sparrow, was a native of
Kentucky, and came to this county in 1826.
George W. Hook was born in Highland county, O,, Oct. 19, 1837.
His parents were Benjamin and Elizabeth Hook ; they were of
German descent. ]Mr. H. came to this county in 1865; he received
a common school education ; during the war of the Rebellion he
enlisted, Feb. 27, 1862, in Co. D, 11th Ohio Cavalry; mustered out
April 4, 1865; was married in Feb, 1856, to Catharine Mankee.
They have eight children, born as follows : Charles V., July 7,
1858; Mary L., June 26, 1862; Anna L,, Jan, 11, 1866; John
William, Feb, 13, 1867; Rebecca J,, April 2, 1869; Ellis J., Dec.
5, 1870; Ida M., March 21, 1872; Cora E., July 24, 1876. Is a
Democrat. P. O., Hopedale.
Nathan Hudson was born in Mason county, Ky., Aug. 27, 1842.
His parents were George W, Hudson and Sarah A, Fisher, his Avife.
Mr. H. came to this county in 1871 ; commenced as a laborer, but
now has an interest with E, S, Hobert and A. B. McClure, in the
drain-tile manufacturing business. Mr. H. was married in April,
1872, to Cynthia Ann Tool. , They are the parents of Mary E.,
504 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
born May 6, 1877, and an inflmt son, born April 27, 1879. Mrs.
H. is a Methodist, and Mr. H. is a Presbyterian.
Peter I)idg, farmer, sec. 25 ; P. O., Hopedale ; was born in Ger-
many in 1855, in 1859 his parents, Jacob and Anna Imig, emigrated
to America, settling in McLean Co., this State, remaining there two
years, then moved to Hopedale township, this county, where the
head of the family passed away June 25, 1872. The survivors of
this family are Mrs. Imig, Henry, Peter and Anna. The home
farm is one among the best in the township.
William F. Ireland, hardware dealer. Mr. I. was brought to the
county in 1856, when but two years old, and embarked in the drain-
tile business here in April, 1875, and Nov. 3, 1878, opened up in
his present location in Hopedale, in the hardware business. He was
born in Warren county, O., July 11, 1854, and is the son of Francis
and liuth (Coddington) Ireland, of that State. He was wedded to
Cora Black, Dec. 29, 1878. Miss Black was born in Ohio, in April,
1859. Mr. I. has served the town as Trustee, and is a man well
esteemed by the community.
William H. Jackson, farmer and stock raiser. Joseph Jackson,
the father of our subject, was a native of Maryland ; but little of
his early life is known. He united his fortunes with Miss Jane R.
Devillbis, by whom he raised a family of ten children, all of whom
are living but one. Some 23 years ago he concluded to cast his lot
among the people of the West, and accordingly made his way to
Logan county, this State ; after a short residence in Lincoln he
purchased a farm on which he still resides, and is one of the best
improved farms in that county. William H,, the subject of this
sketch, received a good common school education, attending school
during the winter season mostly; was united in marriage in 1873,
to Mrs. Lucretia Ileaugh. She was the widow of William Reaugh,
whom she married in California ; they moved to this county where
Mr. Keaugh died; of this marriage two children were born — Lillie
M. and William H, Mrs. Jackson is a daughter of James Babbitt,
of Scott Co. She has three children of this marriage — Joseph,
Henry C, Harriet E.
Mr?. Kitty Ann. 3IcDoicell, widow of the Rev. James McDowell
(deceased). Mr. McDowell was a native of North Carolina; and a
graduate of Princeton Presbyterian College, where he received his
degree with full honor. He studied for the ministry, and was or-
dained as a Cumberland Presbyterian minister; moving to this
county, he became both a successful farmer and a zealous effectual
minister of the Gospel. Mr. McD. was licensed as a minister in
1825, and immediately started on what was called the Green River
Circuit. From that period to April, 1830, his time was mostly
spent in riding the Circuit and preaching. From his journal, kept
during this time, we find him a laborious worker, and a succesful
minister of Christ. The first six months labor, from October, 1825,
to Api'il, 1826, he says: "Since last Presbytery, 47 made profession
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 505
of religion, and 12 joined the Church. I have received $9.25 in
cash, three pairs of socks, one pair pants, and two cravats ; my
expenses were $5.75." It will thus be seen that his pay in money
was $3.50. Again he says, ^' from April 20, to Nov. 12, I rode
1738 miles, preached 161 times, 54 professed religion. I received
by way of remuneration, $27.25 ; my expenses were $3.62." Mr.
McDowell organized the first Cumberland Presbyterian Church on
Little Mackinaw. He died on the 29th day of Oct., 1846. Three
children blessed his marriage with the lady whose name is at the
the head of this sketch ; they were Margaret, Lucy, and Joseph W.
Mrs. McDowell is a native of Kentucky. She was born in Breck-
enridge Co., in 1814, and was the daughter of Edward and Lucy
Rawlings, who were natives of Kentucky. Mrs. McDowell was
married when but 16 years old, and the next day after her marriage
accompanied her husband to this county, where he had previously
visited and built a log cabin. This cabin was of the usual style of
that day, and still stands on the old homestead. We give a portrait
of Mrs. McDowell, and would gladly give one of her husband, but
unfortunately, he never had a picture of any kind taken of himself
Mrs. McDowell was married Sept. 12, 1830. She has in her pos-
session some very interesting relics. She has a family Bible that
has been handed down from one generation to another, for 150
years. She also has considerable Continental money, of the denomi-
nation of $20, which is a real curiosity to the people of this
generation.
Elkha F. McMuUen, farmer, sec. 5, P. O., Tremont, is the son of
Hugh and Nancy (Frazee) McMuUcn, of Maryland, where, in Alle-
gany Co., he was born March 8, 1821. He came to this Co. on the
4th day of the same month twenty years thereafter. He was united
in marriage with Mary E. Bennett Sept. 23, 1855. He has held
local official positions. He is a Republican in politics.
Patrick MorriHey, farmer, sec. 16 ; P. O., Hoi)cdale. Mr. Morri-
sey is a native of the county of Waterford, Ireland, where he was
born about 1837. His father, Patrick INIorrisey, who was a farmer
in Ireland, married Mary Coffey, by whom he had nine children.
Patrick, whose name heads this sketch, was the second child. He
passed his boyhood days in his native country, and at the age of 26
crossed the ocean to cast his fortunes in a new country. He made
his way West and found himself at Tremont, this county, where he
found employment as a farm hand. He was married to Johannah
Whalen ; there were born of this marriage seven children all of
whom are living, and whose names are — Mary, Michael, Joseph,
Patrick, Morris, Martin, and John. Mr. M. first purchased land 10
years ago, consisting of six acres, but now owns 163 acres, which is
due to his indomitable will and energy.
Jasper Mount was born in this county in 1846, and is the oldest
son of Matthias Mount, Esq., so well and favorably known in this
county. Jasper attended the common schools of this county, and
506 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
completed his education at Notre Dame, Indiana, receiving his
degree in 1866; after which he returned to his home and labored for
his father until 1<S67, at which time he was joined in marriage to
Miss Angeline Waldon, who was born in Elm Grove township, in
1846. Mrs. Mount was educated in the schools of this county. After
his marriage Mr. Mount was engaged as book keeper and foreman
in Orendorffs woolen mills. He afterwards settled on section 22,
where he has been successfully engaged in farming and stock raising.
Mr. M. has held several local offices of his township. He is Col-
lector of Hopedale at present. The marriage of Mr. Mount to
Miss Waldon, was blessed with six children, five of whom are liv-
ing— Abagail, born July 8, 1869; Katie E., born Oct. 9, 1870,
died Nov. 11, 1870; Robert Lee, born Oct. 14, 1871: Lucy A.,
born in 1874; Ida B., born March 17, 1876; Margaret, born Nov.
21, 1878.
James R. Ogden, farmer, sec. 21 ; P. O., Hopedale. Mr. O.
ranks among the older residents of the county. He was born in
Hopedale township in 1831. His father, Elias Ogden, is well re-
membered by the citizens of this vicinity. He came to this Co. in
1831 coming from Ky. He was a native of Maryland, where he
was born in the year 1791. He filled many of the offices of this
township. He died while on a visit to his old friends in Ky. At
the time of his decease, there were then living Mrs. Ogden and
eleven children, whose names were — Lueinda, Nancy, Mary, An-
drew J., J. R., Martha A., Lupena, (?) Henry L., George P., Luti-
tia E., and Ira B. James R. Ogden, from whom this sketch is
obtained, entered Uncle Sam's service in 1865, in Co. D., 152d
Illinois Vol. Was sergeant; was honorably discharged Sept. 18,
1865, at Memphis, Tenn. He returned to Tazewell Co. where he
now resides; in 1852 he was united in marriage to Miss Caroline L.
Beal, a daughter of Moses Beal of Washington, this Co. Five
children have blessed this union, four of whom are now living,
they were — William L., Charlie E., Victor F., Henry, (deceased),
and Anna. Mr. Ogden has held the position of Town Clerk for
some 20 years and most all the local offices besides. He is the
the owner of 120 acres of valuable land.
Willkua Fhillipfi, of the firm of Phillips Bros., owners of saw-
mill ; residence, sec. 3 ; P. O., Mackinaw. He is the son of Andrew
B. and Lydia (Runey) Phillips, and was born in 1839. He received
a common school education, in Livingston Co., 111. He enlisted in
Co. E, 129th 111. Inf., and fought for the stars and stripes. In
1867, March 28, he was united in marriage to Martha J. Fisher.
Their children number five — Mary L., Cyrus D., Walter A., Ord
E. and Lydia M.
Samuel Frobasco was born in Virginia, March 9, 1825. His
parents, Francis T. and Margaret (Higgins) Probasco, were natives
of the same State. Mr. P. received a common school education and
came to this county in October, 1840; settling three miles east of
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 507
Pekin, in what is known as the Hodson settlement. The subject of
this sketch was married in 1849, to Eunice Bennett, a daughter of
Michael Bennett, one of the first settlors. He died of the cholera
during the epidemic of 1833, They are the parents of the following
children — Francis, born March 7, 1850, he now lives in Colorado;
James H., Dec. 15, 1851 ; Emily J., Nov. 4, 1854, she is the wife
John Trimble; Charles W., May 12, 1857, died Sept. 23, 1858.
Mr. P. belongs to the Christian Churcli.
Tho8. H. Orendorff, a native of Kentucky, came here with his par-
ents at the age of thirteen, in 1827, almost before the magic hand of
civilization had waved its scepter over the native wildness of the Prai-
rie State. More than half a century has rolled its ponderous wheels
through the trackless starless course of time since Thos. Orendorff
set his foot on the unplowed soil of Tazewell Co. Even at that early
age his keen foresight and shrewdness led him to see that this sec-
tion must take rank among the best localities of the Northwest.
He received his education by private tuition before the advent of
our free school system. AMien about the age of 23, while engaged
in farming in Schuyler Co., 111., he met and loved Miss Letitia C.
Mitchell, whom he married and brought to Hopedale on his return,
about 1843. From this union four children were born, only one of
whom, G. P. Orcndortf, now sitting in the General Assembly of Illi-
nois, is living. Mr. O. did much to advance the interests of this
county, and a few years before his death, which was in Dec, 1878,
he laid out the village of Hopedale, and by his influence established
a post-office there. Nov., 1863, occurred the death of his wife, and
during the year 18(36 he was married to Miss S. Maggin, of Bloom-
ing Grove, McLean county, who still survives him and lives in
Hopedale.
Greene P. Orendorf, a large land-o^vner and extensive farmer in
Hopedale township, is the only surviving son of Thomas H. and
Letitia Orendorff, who were among the first to settle in Tazewell
county, and who will be remembered by the early settler as being
closely identified with many of the leading movements which oper-
ated to advance the best interests of the county. Greene P. Oren-
dorff was born in Hopedale in 1844, and after attending the schools
of his native place he passed through Wesleyan University, Bloom-
ington. 111., afterwards taking a commercial course at Bryant &
Stratton's Business College, Chicago. In politics he acts with the
Democratic party, and has held a number of important local offices,
and at the present time occupies a seat in the present Legislature,
having been chosen by the voters of his district as a man eminently
fitted to discharge the duties of that office, and his record gives evi-
dence of the fact that he will not only, with ability, represent his
own party and his own section, but will be found ready to cast his
vote and use his influence for the enactment of any law benefiting
the whole State. A full-page portrait of Mr. Orendorff will be
found in our book.
31
508 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
John K Roach is a native of Wilson Co., Tcnn., where he was
born July 20, 1843; his parents were John N. and Elmira Roach.
The subject of this sketch came to this county in 1867. Mr. Roach
is engaged in the drug trade in Hopedale, where he commenced
business in November, 1877 ; he was with G. P. Orendorif for seven
years. Mr. Roach was sergeant in Co. A, 117th rcgt., for three
years ; among the battles he participated in were Vicksburg, Fort
Deruse, Compte, Cross Roads, Yellow Boil, Pleasant Hill, Tupelo,
Old Town Creek, Nashville, Spanish Fort, and Fort Blakely, and
thirty-three skirmishes. Mr. R. was married in October, 1875, to
Emma Waldon, who was born 1851, in this county. They have,
one girl, Deda May, born Oct. 26, 1878. Mr. R. is a Methodist,
and Mrs. R. a Cumberland Presbyterian. Mr. R. is a Republican.
William A. RoeJffson, former, sec. 16 ; P. O., Hopedale. Perhaps
none of the more substantial agriculturalist of this township are
better or more favorably known than William A. Roelffson. He
was born in White Co., this State, in 1821. He had attained his
thirteenth year when his parents, Lawrence and Mary RoelflFson,
located in Groveland township, this county. Mr. R. received his
education in the old log school-houses that existed in his boyhood
days. In 1843 he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza A. Mc-
Curdy, a daughter of Michael and Ann McCurdy, natives of Penn-
sylvaiiia. During the pioneer days of Mr. R., before and after
marriage, he roughed it, so to speak, in common with his neighbors.
Mr. R. was the owner of a saw-mill at Groveland; in 1850 he
moved to DeWitt county, where he erected a saw-mill near Long
Point, and for sixteen years conducted a successful business. In
1860, having returned from DeWitt Co., he purchased a saw-mill
from Taylor Wright, in this township; he supplied the Illinois
Central Railroad with ties and bridge timbers. Mr. R. has from
time to time, held several local offices. He has a form of 210 acres
of valuable land. Of the marriage above referred to, eleven child-
ren were born, eight of whom are living. Augustus, who married
Miss Sarah Myers ; AVilliam J., who married Miss Rose Walters ;
Rose, who married Robert P. Tate; Henrietta I., who married
Elias A, Wood ; Anna M., who married Mathias T. Wood ; E. P.,
who married Eliza Copps ; Robert D. and Lawrence D.
Israel Sands, former, P. O., Hopedsle ; was born in Jefferson Co.,
Ohio, July 27, 1831. His parents were Thomas Sands, who was
born July 3, 1802, died Dec. 26, 1871, and Jane Sprunce, who was
born in Jan., 1811. She is still living. Mr. Sands came to this
county in the spring of 1855. He served during the war in the 108th
Regiment. Mr. Sands was married to Hope V. Gilmore March 3,
1850. She died Nov. 2, 1860. She was the mother of six children,
born as follows: Frank, Jan. 25, 1852; Townsend N., Oct. 15,
1854; Ida E., Dec. 5, 1856; Mary J., May 20, 1858; and Marcus
and Martha, twins, June 25, 1860; Marcus died Dec. 11,1860.
Mr. Sands was nited in marriage to Lucy Bowser Sept. 27, 1865.
x:y,
^y-^-^^^t^-T:^-
^
u
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 511
She died Dec. 27, 1867. He Avas again married Feb. 25, 1874, to
Sarali Stewart ; is a Methodist and a Rebnblican.
W'dUaiii H. Schulte, of the firm of Schnlte & Co., genei'al mer-
chants, Hopedale. Mr. S. commenced business here Feb. 12, 1876.
He was born in Germany Dec. 16, 1850. AVilliani and Sophie
(Stockmann) Schnlte are his parents, and both of whom living. The
subject of this sketch was married Nov. 1, 1876, to Sarah Davin,
Avho was born May 1, 1857; she is a member of the Presbyterian
Church; they have one child — Mabel, born Sept. 1, 1878.
Addison Myrtle Smith, farmer, sec. 2 ; P. O., Hopedale ; was born
May 13, 1835, in this county. His parents were John Addison
and Cyntha S. (Floyd) Smith. He is a member of the Methodist
Church; was married Dec. 31, 1857, to Julia E. Stinnett, a native
of this township. They have three sons — AVilliam A., born Dec.
2, 1858; Henrv Olive, born Aug. 20, 1861; Clarence Albert, born
March 15, 1864.
Henry 31. Smith was born on the place where he now lives, sec. 11,
March 27, 1837. His parents were John A. and Cyntha S. (Floyd)
Smith. Henry M. attended school in the old Floyd school-house.
The windows in those days were greased paper, fastened over holes
in the old log building. Mr. S. was married Oct. 16, 1856, to
Mary E. Hodson, a daughter of Wm. R. Hodson. She was born
March 12, 1840. They are the parents of El via C, born ]\Iay 8,
1858, died April 11, 1860; Thomas E., born Jan. 6, 1860, died
March 22, 1860; C. Ella, born May 8, 1861 ; F. Elmer, born Sept.
15, 1864; Eveline, born Aug. 23, 1869; Carrie E., born July 18,
1875. Mr. S. is a Methodist; P. O., Hopedale.
NtUlianiel F. Smith is a native of Kentucky, having been born in
that State Sept. 2, 1833. His parents were John A. and Cynthia
S. (Floyd) Smith, natives of Va. Mr. Smith came to this county
43 years ago. Has held several local offices; was married, in 1855,
to Margaret A. Kilby. They have five cliildren, born as follows —
Charlie A., July 20, 1856; Liona and Livona (twins), April 11,
1859; Miriam, Jan. 4, 1866; Maggie, April 4, 1869. Livona mar-
ried T. N. Sands. Mr. Smith's P. O. is Hopedale.
Robert S. Smith, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 25 ; P. O., Hope-
dale; was born in 1829; is the youngest son of John Smith, a
native of Virginia, who, in an early day, married Miss Elizabeth
Swift. Mr. John Smith moved to Kentucky in an early day, where
Robert S. was born. When Robert was but five years old his
parents moved to this county, locating in Tremont. Among pioneer
associations Robert passed his boyhood days, and grew to manhood ;
during the winters he would attend the subscription schools ; in
1850 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah C. Bryan, daughter
of W. and Lucinda Bryan. Of this marriage six children were
born, three of whom are living, whose names are — George J., John
A., and William H, Mr, S. made his first purchase of land in
1850.
512 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
George 0. Wafihhurn, farmer, sec. 11 ; P. O., Hopedale; was born
in Rush Co., Indiana, Nov, 7, 1841. His parents, George and Ella
(Potter) Washburn, were natives of Ohio. They are both deceased.
Mr. W. came to this county in 1861 ; was married in Jan., 1868, to
Susanna Beaver. She is a native of this county. Thev are the
parents of five children — Minerva, born July 2, 1869; Laura, born
Jan. 28, 1871; Nellie, born Oct. 10, 1873; 'Charlie E., born Nov.
3, 1875, and an infant.
*S'. M. WilUarivi, farmer; was born in this county Feb. 14, 1844.
His father, Shadrach Williams, who is well remembered by the
pioneers of this county, was a native of Tenn. He died at an ad-
vanced age in Hopedale township. His wife was Jane Paisely, who
was also a native of Tenn. Of this marriage three children were
born. Shadrach W. was married three times during his long and
eventful life. S. M, AVilliams received a common school education,
and was married in 1864, to Miss Rilla Shipman. They have one
daughter — Sarah J.
The following gentleman have served the township in the various
official capacities named :
SUPERVISORS.
Charles Holder 1850-52 Adolphus Russell 1867
Edward Bird 1854 James R. Campbell 1868
Thomas Orendorflf 1855 P. E. Davis 1869-70
Jesse Fisher 1856 Michael E. Pomfret 1871
Eleazar Hodson 1857-60 P.E.Davis 1872
P. C. Davis 1861 G. P. Orendorff 1873-75
Thomas Orendorff 1863 P.E.Davis 1876
D. W. Brhton 1864 G. P. Orendorff 1877-78
Levi Orendorff 1865 E. J. Orendorff. 1879
Wm. E. Pomfret 1866
TOWN-CLERKS.
Richard H. Holden 1850 T.H.Smith. 1864
James H.Flovd 1854 David Boucher. 1865
John Bennett 1855 J. R. O^den 1866
James R. Ogden 1856-61 W. H. Briggs 1867
David Boucher 1863 J. R. Ogden 1868-79
ASSESSORS.
Wm. H. Briggs 1850 I. Orendorff. 1865
William :Milner 1854 Aaron 0. Davis 1866
William M. Briggs 1855 M.D.Davis 1867
Lorenzo James 1856 Wm. H. Roof 1868
John Whitaker 1857 N.F.Smith 1869
Jesse Fisher 1858-60 Jasper Mount 1870
John Brown 1861 A. J. Kinsey 1871-75
Wm. H. Briggs 1863 Jesse Fisher, Jr 1876
B.J.Burke 1864 T.A.Smith 1877-79
COLLECTORS.
William Milner 1850 J. R. Campbell 1865-66
Lorenzo James 1854 H.M.Davis 1867
Alfred M. Davis 1855 George Hines 1868
D. AV. Orendorff. 1856-57 E. Barnum 1869
P. N. Hill 1858 M. E. Pomfret 1870
Thomas H. Orendorff. 1859 Jasper Mount 1871-73
B.J. Burke 1860-61 A.D.Russell 1874
D. AV. Britton 1863 Jasper Mount 1875-79
J. A. Davis 1864
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 513
LITTLE MACKINAW TOWNSHIP.
In point of agriculture, of the class and kind of improvements,
and of the wealth and high standing of her people. Little Mackinaw
is second to no township in Tazewell county. It is mostly prairie
land, undulating, and well drained by the Little Mackinaw, Whitten
branch and Sugar creeks. The Kansas City branch of the C, A.
& St. L. Railroad passes through it on a direct east and west line.
The village of Minier is located on sec. 22, on the line of this road,
and also on the Illinois Midland Railroad. This town was laid out
in 1867, Oct. 18th, by Geo. W. Minier, Chas. E. Boyer, and others.
It is now a thriving place, and considerable business is done here.
We speak more fully of the business men further on in this article.
The township is inhabited by a cultured, refined and a religious
people. Good churches, neat school-houses, and the fine commodi-
ous residences on every hand, are unmistakable evidences of the
verity of this statement.
Minier is a very extensive grain maiket. There are five elevators
now in the village, the oldest of which is now owned by Williams
& Quigg, and is located on the C, A. & St. L. R.R. It -.was built
by Samuel Smith, in 1865. It has a capacity of 7,000 bushels. The
next elevator erected was by Wm. E. Verry, in 1874. It also has
a capacity of 7,000 bushels, and located on the same road. The
next one, in point of the date of erection, is located on the I. M.
R.R., and was built by Williams, Railsback & Co. In 1877, Line-
baiger & Johnson put up an elevator, with a capacity of 4,000
bushels, on the C, A. & St. L. road. During the present year,
(1879) R. P. & J. Lower put up one on the I. M. R.R., with a
capacity of 3,000 bushels.
The township was settled at a very early date, by Samuel and
John Stout. It was at the house of the former that the incident
related in the first chapter, in regard to the first marriage license
being issued by Mordccai Mobley, occurred. Soon came Railsback,
Buchanan, Hevenhill and *ere long quite a settlement was made at
Stout's Grove. The first birth was that of a child of Joseph Stout
— name and date unknown. The first death was that of an orphan
child, at the house of Samuel Stout. The first school was taught
by Thos. F. Railsback, on section 5. The first sermon was preached
at Mr. Railsback's house by Elder Ottman, a Christian minister, in
1831.
5l4 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Little Machinaw Christian Church was organized in 1833, in a
log building, and was among the first congregation of this people
organized north of the Sangamon river. The members at the time
were Thomas F. Railsback, Louisa, his wife, A. B. Davis, Catherine
Allensworth, Benjamin Herndon, and Nancy, his wife, Elijah Howell,
and Maria, his wife. Elder James Lindsey was the first minister.
The church edifice is about 36 by 40 feet, and cost $2,100. The
first discourse in this structure was preached by Elder Minier, in
September, 1863, the year tlie building was erected. It is located
near the residence of G. W. Minier. Connected with the building
and grounds is a beautiful cemetery, perhaps the finest necropolis
in the county. The present pastor of the church is Elder R. D.
Cotton. The Sunday-school is superintended by Richard Chapman,
and has an average attendance of 75. The Little Mackinaw Church
is the parent of four other Christian Churches, viz : The Christian
Church of Minier, and those at Mackinaw, Concord and Lilly.
Minier Christian Church. — This church edifice was erected in 1874.
It is a frame building, and is located on South Railroad street.
The original members of the congregation were W. P. Williams, J.
E. Railsback, J. F. Quigg, J. M. Edmiston, and others. The first
pastor was Samuel Lowe, who dedicated the church and preached
the first sermon. The officers are J. B. Chaplin, R. J. Mitchell, J.
E. Railsback, J. M. Edmiston, John F. Quigg, and Asa Hicks.
The present membership number about 130. The value of building,
$3,000; average salary of pastors, |1,000. The Sunday-school has
an average attendance of 75.
United Evangelical St. John's Church. — The church edifice of this
cone-reiration is located in Minier, and was erected in 1870, at a cost
of $2,000. The first sermon was preached by Rve. Witte, who organ-
ized the congregation in 1870. The officers are Valentine Imig,
Sr. Henry Imig, Carl Imig, Ernest Schroeder, and Valentine
Myers. The present membership numbers about 30. The parson-
age is valued at |],500. Average salary of pastors about $400.
There are about 50 scholars in attendance upon the Sunday-school.
The present pastor is Rudolph Mcuk.
Minier M. E. Church was organized in January, 1870. The
original members were T. J. Brown, Wm. Glodfelter, Wm. Morris,
John Burwell, and others. The first pastor was Rev. M. Pilcher.
The present officers are : A. C. Hcnslee and Wm. A. Sallee. The
present membership numbers about 45. The present pastor is Rev.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 515
S. Shinn. The church edifice is a good frame, located on 4th Ave-
nue, and was built in 1869 at a cost of $3,000.
The first school building was a log cabin, erected on section 8, in
1834 ; John Turley was teacher. The scholars were James Lindsey,
Wm. Allensworth, D. G. H. Railsback, P. G. H. Railsback, and
Wm. Herndon. The first frame school-house was built about
1850. It was used as a church at first. School was taught here by
Elder G. W. Minier.
In the town of Minier there is one of the best schools in the
county. It is presided over by Miss Imogene Minier, principal ;
Miss Ida Burrows, teacher of the intermediate department ; and
Miss Kate Denny primary department. The building is located
in the northeastern part of the town. It cost |5,000, and was
erected in 1870. The average attendance is 125.
C F. Albright, clerk and real estate and loan agent, INlinier, was
born in Hittle township, this county, Nov. 1, 1849. He is the son
of M. and Mary A. Albright, the former of Tennessee, his mother a
native of Pennsylvania. He received his education in the common
schools of this and Logan counties. Politically he is " Pepublican
by a large majority."
Jesse F. Beal, farmer, was born in Washington township, Taze-
well Co., Aug. 20, 1842, and received such education as was afforded
by attendance upon the common schools. His parents, Moses H.
and Anna A. Beal, were natives of Ohio. July 25, 1861, he enlist-
ed in Co. D, 7th 111. Infantry, the first regiment raised in the State,
and served three years, doing battle for his country. In 1868, Oct.
15, he was united in marriage with Jane Etzler. She died Oct. 23,
1869. He was married again Nov. 18, 1873, to Sarah Jelly. He
casts his ballot and influence on the side of Republicanism. Post-
office, Minier.
William Bennett, farmer, section 19; was born in Elm Grove
township, Tazewell Co., 111., May 5, 1829, which certainly places him
in the list with " old settlers." His father, Nathaniel Bennett, was
from Kentucky; his mother, Elizabeth Bennett, was from the
Buckeye State. William only enjoyed such educational advantages
as the' common schools of this county afforded in pioneer times.
He has held most of the township offices at different times and
served as Justice of the Peace for nine years. Sept. 3, 1854, he
was joined in holy matrimony with Angelina Kimler. They have
had twelve children — four boys and eight girls — seven of w^hom
are now living. P. O., Minier,
John S. Briggs, stock dealer and farmer ; resides on sec. 2 ; post-
office, Minier. Mr. Briggs is a son of Benjamin Briggs, one of the
first settlers of Central Illinois, and of Tazewell county, and whose
name is so frequently mentioned in the early history of the county.
516 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUKTY.
He held the offices of County Commissioner, County Treasurer,
Coroner, and was Sheriif at the time of his death, Avhich occurred
in 1844. Mr. Briggs, the father of John S., come to Logan Co.,
(then Sangamon) in 1822, and to Tazewell in 1825 or '26, and set-
tled in Pleasant Grove, Elm Grove township. He was a native of
Virginia. His mother's name was Susan Briggs, a Kentuckian.
John S. was married Nov. 14, 1839, to Amanda V. Railsback. Their
children number ten, nine living, one dead. He was born in Nel-
son county, Ky., May 31, 1817; he is a member of the Christian
Church, and politically a Repulican.
James M. Edmiston, station agent of I. M. R.R., insurance agent
and Notary Public, Minier; was born in Bradford Co., Pa., Dec.
27,1843. His parents, Joseph and Sarah Edmiston, were natives
of the same State. He came to the county in 1867, and the year
following united with the Christian Church. He attended the pub-
public schools of his native county, and finished his education at
Wesleyan University, Bloomington, 111. He has held the office of
Town Clerk and village Trustee, and for a period of five years has
been President of the Board of Trustees, of Minier. On the first
day of the year 1868 he was united in marriage with Miss Jennie,
the daughter of Elder G. W. Minier. They have three children.
Baultzer Eversole, Sr., is a native of Rockingham Co., A-^a., where
he was born June 11, 1802. His parents were Peter and Catherine
Eversole, natives of the above named State. Mr. E. came to the
State in 1857, and to the county in 1863. He received his educa-
tion mostly in the schools of Ohio. By occupation he is a farmer ;
has followed the milling business for some fifteen years. Mr. E*.
has held the commissions of Lieutenant, Captain and Colonel in the
State Militia of Ohio. He served as Justice of the Peace of the
same State for six years. Was joined in marriage Feb. 6, 1823, to
.Miss Sarah Huhn; she died, July 25, 1863. Mr. E. was again
married, Feb. 5, 1865. He has been the father of eleven children;
George W. Eversole was killed at the battle of Altona Gap, Ga.
Mr. E. is a member of the Christian Church ; in politics he is a
Republican.
B. N. Ewing, postmaster and druggist, ISIinier, was born in Butler
Co., Ky., Dec. 4, 1849. His parents were natives of the same State.
He attended the common schools, and finished his education by
spending two terms at Wesleyan University, Bloomington, 111. He
was united in marriage with Alvira Darnall, Dec. 9, 1869, and the
following year came to the county and embarked in mercantile bus-
iness. His home has been blessed by one little girl.
3Iartin Gainer, farmer; P. O., Minier. Mr. G. was born in Ger-
many, and came to this county in 1835. His father, George, and
his mother, Mary Gainer, w^ere both native Germans. He received
his education in the common school of this county, and engaged
himself in farming. He resides on section 35. March 19, 1861,
he took unto himself a wife in the person of Mary J. Bishop. On
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 517
the 3d day of March, 1871, she was taken from him by death.
Aug. 22, 1875, he was married again, to Mary J. Lower. He is the
parent of nine chiklren — three boys and six girls — six of whom
are now living.
William A. Glotfelter, tile manufaeturer, seetion 27 ; is the son of
Solomon and Sarah Glotfelter. The former was born in Lancaster
Co., Pa., and is living at a ripe old age in Green county, O. His
mother was born in the Buckeye State. Mr. G. had only a com-
mon school education, and came to this county in 1850 and eiigaged
in farming. He now manufactures tile and, fortunately, has a
superior quality of clay to work, and he has constructed excellent
facilities for making the very best of tile. Oct. 9, 1849, he was
joined in marriage with Sarah Robinson. She died in October,
1872, and he married again in 1874, to Margaret Barnes. He is
the parent of eight children — five boys and three girls — six of
Avhom are living. Religiously he is a Methodist ; politically, a
Republican. P. O., Minier.
Isaac Y. Gray, farmer, section 2, came to Illinois in 1858 and to
Tazewell Co. in 1870. He was born in Georgetown, Harrison Co.,
Ohio, Dec. 3, 1832. His parents were A^illiam H. ^nd Susanna
Gray, the former from Virginia, the latter from Ohio. j\[r. Gray
attended only the common schools to obtain his education. On the
24th of Feb., 1856, he was united in marriage with Sarah A. Turner,
daughter of Harvey Turner, of Logan Co. She died July 24, 1867,
and he was again married, May 1, 1870, to Susan L. Briggs, daugh-
ter of John S. Briggs. He is the parent of two children, only one
of whom, a girl, is now living. Mr. G. is a member of the Chris- .
tian Church ; politically a Republican ; post-office, Minier.
James L. Gunncll, dentist, Minier; was born in Christian county,
Ky., Feb. 16, 1832, and was brought to this county in the sj)ring of
1834. His father Avas a native of Virginia, his mother of North
Carolina. He received his education in the common schools and at
Eureka College, Eureka, 111., and has chosen the dental profession.
He enlisted in Co. D, 94t]i 111. Inf. during the trving days of the
Rebellion and served till INIarch 16, 1863. Ont^he 14thof May,
1878, he was married to Kate M. Myers. Orville J. was born to
them March 3, 1879. Mr. G. is a member of the Christian Church.
James W. Herndon, farmer, was born in Christian county, Ky.,
Oct. 5, 1823, and was brought^ to Tazewell county when a lad of
only seven summers, and is therefore one of the " old settlers." His
parents were Benjamin and Nancy Herndon, of Virginia. Mr. H.
has served his township as Constable and Collector. He was joined
in the holy bands of matrimony with Frances Wilson, on the 24th
of July, 1850. They are the parents of six children — three boys
and three girls — five of whom are living. He casts his influence
and ballot on the Democratic side of politics. P. O., ^linier.
Elwood Hicks, farmer; P. O., Minier; came to this county in the
fall of 1837. In 1859 he went to California with a drove of cattle,
518 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
and returned in Dec, 1862. He is the son of Asa and Annie Hicks,
of Georgia, and was born in Belmont county, Ohio, Feb. 3, 1833.
He came to the county when a child, grew up, attended the conmion
schools, and settled down here and is rearing a family. He has
served as School Director for seven years. March 5, 1863, was the
day upon which he married Eliza A. Shumaker, who has borne him
six children — four boys and two girls — five of whom are living.
Religiously he was raised a Quaker ; politically he is a Republican.
Francis 0. Kilby came to Tazewell county at an early day and
when quite a small lad, being only eight years old. He is the son
of St. Clair and Ellen Kilby of Virginia, and received his education
in the common schools of the county and entered the agricultural
pursuit and resides on section 6. He confessed his Savior before
men and united himself with the Christian Church. Sept. 1, 1853,
he was joined in marriage with Mary E. Allensworth. They have
two children, a boy and a girl. Post-office, Mackinaw.
N. L. Kilby, farmer, was born in Rappahannock county, Va.,
Feb. 17, 1832. His parents, who were also A^irginians, were St.
Clair B. and Ellen Kilby. They brought their son, N, L., to this
county when a boy of five years of age. He attended the common
schools where he received his education, grew up and made the good
confession and united with the Christian Church. He was married
to Margaret Allensworth Sept. 19, 1854. They have been blessed
with five children — two boys and three girls — but their home has
been saddened bv the death of one. Post-office, Mackinaw.
Williaiii Lilly, farmer, son of Joseph and Mary Lilly, of Mary-
land, was born in Alleghany county of that State, Aug. 12, 1822.
He came to Illinois when a lad of thirteen, and two years later
(1837) came to Tazewell county. All the advantages for an educa-
tion offi3red him were such as were aiForded him in the log school-
houses of Ohio and Illinois in pioneer times. He has held the office
of Justice of the Peace for thirteen years. July 28th, 1859, he was
uni'-ed in marriage with Elizabeth Aldridge, who has borne him four
children, three of whom are living. He is identified with the Re-
publican party. Residence, sec, 12; post-office, Minier.
James C. McClure (deceased), was born in Huntingdon county.
Pa., July 25, 1828, came to this county in 1850, and died May 28,
1877. He was educated in the common schools of his native coun-
ty. He learned the carpenter trade which he followed until his mar-
riage, and from that time until his death he follo%,ed farming. Jan.
30, 1859, he was married to Lucinda Robinson, who was born in
Green county, Ohio, Nov. 18, 1831. She is the mother of four
children — George E., born Dec. 30, 1859; Wilbur C, born Sept.
4, 1861 ; William A., Aug. 31, 1863; and James C, Oct. 27, 1866.
Mr. McClure was a life-long Democrat. His widow lives on sec. 6,
where she is engaged in farming. Her post-office address is Macki-
naw.
Elder George W. Minier. The subject of this sketch was born in
%
5ARAH M\^^
Little Mackinaw, Township.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 521
the township of Ulster, Bradford Co., Penn,, October 8, 1813. His
father, John Minier, was of German descent and educated in the
German language. His mother was of English parentage and born
in the State of New Jersey. Both his grandfathers were soldiers in
the American Revolution, and he now says he desires no better
blood in his veins than that which resisted the oppressions and
usurpations of the English King and Parliamenr and gave freedom
to the thirteen colonies of North America. Aside from the public
schools of the rural district in which his father lived he had the ad-
vantage of an academy in the village of Athens. At this school
young Minier worked for his board and tuition, nights, mornings
and Saturdays, at a hotel kept by an old lady. His younger brother,
the Hon. T. L. Minier, ex-Senator, of Elmira, N. Y., attended
the same Academy. He returned to his father's house and labored
with and for his father, and at times seeking employment of the
neighboring farmers. At nineteen years of age our young friend
found himself in possession of nearly §5 ready cash and a suit of
clothes. Through a friend he obtained a school in New York and
began in earnest the office of an instructor. He continued teaching
until the spring of 1837, when he started for Illinois. One of his
first efforts in this State was the surveying of a State road from
Peru, on the Illinois lliver, to Knoxville, in Knox Co. On the 1st
day of Jan., 1839, he was married to Miss Sarah Ireland, with whom
he still lives. The fruits of this union has been twelve children,
six of each sex. Ten of these are living. In 1847 he removed to
Bloomington, McLean Co. and opened a high school for boys and
girls. In 1848 he opened the first high school exclusive for young
ladies that was ever attempted in Bloomington. In 1850, his health
being impaired, he sold his school-house and " good will " to a Mr.
Finlay, and Professor Wilber took his place as princi])al. In the
autumn of 1851 he removed to the farm on which he still lives and
began farming, to which pursuit he is enthusiastically devoted. He
purchased his land of the Government by laying a soldier's warrant,
and so got it for about eighty-three cents per acre. He united him-
self with both the Horticultural and Agricultural Societies of the
State, and was connected with them as one of the A^ice-Presidents
for a number of years. Here he rapidly improved in what he still
calls the " divine arts of tillage," emphatically declaring that " Hor-
ticulture is the religion of Agriculture." Mr. Minier was conscien-
tiouslv opposed to human slavery ; an early and outspoken abolition-
ist, and during the time of enlisting soldiers for the late war, he
made many able and eloquent speeches in favor of volunteering.
During August, 1839, Mr. Minier took the survey and topography
of a portion of the Illinois river, surveyed the bars and islands, and
ascertained by quadrant the altitude of " Starved Rock," which was
found to be 9^6 feet. In 1867, in company with Messrs. Blackstone,
Boyer and Strout, he platted the village which bears his name,
which is located three and one-half miles south of his residence, and
522 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
numbers already some 800 inhabitants. Mr. M. entered the minis-
try nearly forty years ago. During all these years very seldom a
Sunday passed that did not find him in the pulpit reproclaiming the
Gospel, and during the week among his books or in his fields and
among his herds and flocks, living like the Patriarchs with his flocks
and herds around him. Having the advantages of an extended ac-
quaintance he has probably had the pleasure of uniting in wedlock
as many persons as any other man in Central Illinois.
Theodore L. Kilmer, merchant, miller, real estate dealer and agent,
Minier ; is a son of George AV. and Sarah Minier, the former from
Pennsylvania, the mother of Virginia. He was born in Putnam
county. 111., May 18, 1842, and came to this county in 1850. He
was liberally educated by his father. After attending the common
schools he entered Bryant & Straton's Commercial College, Chicago,
from which he graduated. He also attended Wesleyan University,
Bloomington. He enlisted in company I, 94th 111. Infantry ; was
elected Sergeant and promoted First Sergeant and then Second
Lieutenant. He was appointed agent for the State of Illinois and
the Northwest for the Paris Fxposition in 1866. He is an active
member of the Christian Church and Superintendent of the Sunday-
school at Minier, He was married Aug. 3, 1870, to Ellen Arming-
ton. They have two children, girls.
Rodney J. Mitchell, banker and grain dealer, Minier ; was born in
Rutland, Meigs Co., O., Oct. 31, 1833. His parents, James G. and
Sophia (Williams) Mitchell, were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio,
respectively. His father for nearly half a century has proclaimed
the Gospel, being a minister in the Christian Church. His son united
with that Church in 1850, and has been an active member since.
He received only a common school education. He came to this
county in 1855 and located on section 10, this township, and en-
gaged in agriculture. He remained on the farm for twelve years
when he moved into Minier and embarked in commercial life.
Mary E. Railsback, his wife, and to whom he was married Dec. 24,
1858, is the daughter of Thomas T. Railsback, one of the jpioneers
of the county. Mr. M. has served his township as Supervisor sev-
eral terms and filled other official positions. He casts his ballot and
influence with the Republican party.
Johnson A. llyers, farmer, P. O., Minier ; was born in Armstrong
county, Pa., July 2, 1828, and was brought to Tazewell county seven
years thereafter. Thus we see his life has been almost wholly passed
in this county. His parents were John and Catherine Myers,
natives of Pennsylvania. He was sent to the common schools of
this county in primitive times. Carolina A. Davis, his wife, he was
married to Sept. 21, 1847. Ten children — three boys and seven
girls — have been born to them, only five of whom are now num-
bered among the living. He is a member of the Christian Church,
and in life has been snccessful.
Henry A. Peyne was born in Germany April 3, 1844, and came,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 523
with his father, to this country at the very tender age of one year,
and as far back as '49. When Henry was but 5 years old his father
settled at Hittle's Grove, this county. They settled in Little Macki-
naw township in '53, when they engaged in farming. Mr. Peyue
married, Jan. 31, 1871, Miss Caroline Buehrig; four children have
been born to them, 2 boys and 2 girls. Mr. P. was very successful
as a farmer but wishing to engage in the mercantile business, he
sold his fine farm and engaged in trade at Minier, where he is now
conducting a successful and growing business.
John F. Quigg, whose ancestors point with pride to the Keystone
State as the land of their nationality, himself has the proud distinc-
tion of being born in Tazewell Co., which event occurred on the 13th
day of Dec. 1841. He is one of the firm of Williams & Quigg,
bankers and grain dealers at Minier. Both branches of their busi-
ness have grown to be both extensive and lucrative, and their
methods of business transaction, has made for them a record to
which they can refer with satisfaction and feelings of pride. Mr.
Quigg dates his wedding day, and therefore his truest happiness,
from Dec. 28, 1871, at which time he clasped the hand and recorded
a vow in high heaven, that he would love and protect Miss Sheets
until death did them sever. Two little boys were sent to gladden
their home. He lives in the faith and embraces the religion of the
Christian Church.
James E. Railsback, senior member of the firm of Railsback &
Mitchell, ]\Iinicr, and a native of this county, was born Nov. 17,
1833, only a few years after the formation of Tazewell Co., and
before the native soil of these beautiful prairies had been turned by
the pioneer plowman. This firm, in addition to a general banking
business, carry on an extensive grain and lumber trade, and are rated
among the solid business firms in this county, and, indeed, their
commercial transactions and business re])utation extends beyond the
boundaries of a single county. Mr. Railsback was married, Oct. 3,
1855, to Susan M. Howell, whose death occurred Jan. 28, 1861, and
March 3, 1865, was married to Ann P. Adams, and is the parent of
four children. Mr. R. has, since 1849, been a member of the
Christian Church, in whose cause he has labored assiduously during
all these years.
Philip G. H. Railsback was born in Montgomery Co. Tenn.,
Feb. 14, 1822. His parents, Thomas F. and Louisa V. Railsback,
were Virginians. He came to the county with his parents in 1830.
His father was one of the leading pioneers and served for a number
of years County Commissioner. Philip had only such education as
the common schools of this county afforded at an early day, but,
nevertheless he has been very successful in life. He is engaged in
farming on section 6. He is a member of the Christian Church ;
politically, a Democrat. Feb. 15, 1842, he was united in marriage
with Susan M. Adams. They have five children living, three dead.
Post-ofiice, Mackinaw.
524 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
David P.Richardson, mason, Minier; son of George W. and
Mary Richardson ; the former of England, the hitter of Vermont.
He was born in Clinton county, Ind., May 2G, 1838; was educated
in public schools of Indianatown, Pa., and Methodist College at
Thornton, Ind. In May, 1861, at the breaking out of the Rebell-
ion, he enlisted as a private in company I, 20th 111. Infantry. He
was appointed Corporal, promoted to first Sergeant then to first
Lieutenant and finally Captain of the same company. He was dis-
charged July 16, 1865. He has served as United States Collector
of internal revenue for Iroquois and Ford counties and Collector of
his own township. Politically he is a Democrat. On the 30th day
of March, 1864, he was married to Lydia Parker. They have two
children living, one dead.
William F. Howell was born in Crafton county, N. H., Sept. 15,
1839. His parents, Jonathan B. and Cyntha Rowell, were also
natives of New Hampshire. Mr. R. was educated in the common
schools of New Hampshire and Illinois and Lombard Universities,
this State. He came to the State in 1849 and to this county in
1871. Among the first that went in defense of our flag, when it
was assailed by rebel hands in '61, was Wm. H. Rowell. He enlist-
ed in June, 1861, in Co. D, 8th Mo. Infantry and served till July 4,
1864. Another important event of his life occurred Oct. 20, 1869.
Upon that date he was united in marriage with Belle Dickinson.
They have four children, two girls and two boys. Politically Mr.
R. is a Republican. He is a farmer and resides on sec. 13. Post-
office, Minier.
Jolm Shreeve, farmer, sec. 25 ; P. O., Minier ; was born in Perry
county, O., March 14, 1811 ; came to this county in 1855 and set-
tled in Deer Creek township. He rented the Cullom form there for
nine years, when he purchased the £irni upon which he now lives
and cultivates. Mr. Shreeve's parents, Israel and Mary Shreeve,
were natives of Pennsylvania. He has been twice married, the first
time April 11, 1833, to Catherine Koons, who died Aug. 5, 1864.
March 9, 1865, he was married to Angeline Cooper. He united
with the Methodist Church in 1855 and in politics he adheres to the
Republican party.
William Moss Shreve, farmer, is a native of this county, having
been born in Morton township, Tazewell Co., Dec. 15, 1833. He
attended the common schools in his boyhood days and gleaned a
good common school education. His parents, Israel and Elizabeth
Shreve, were natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. Mr.
S. at present holds the offices of Justice of the Peace, Highway
Commissioner and Town Trustee. He was married to Mary E.
Eggman Sept. 28, 1857, who has borne him eight children — two
boys and six girls — all of whom are living save one. He is a
member of the M. E. Church. In politics he stands upon Repub-
lican platform. He is engaged in farming on section 36, where he
has a fine farm and good improvements and displays much taste in
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 525
ornamental and shade trees and the improvement of his grounds.
Post-office, Minior.
Philip W. Smith, is a son of Pliilip H. and Catharine Smith,
Philip W. Smith, the subject of this sketch, was born in Lebanon
Co., Pcnn., Sept. 12, 1842; was educated at the public schools of
of Philadelphia, Penn. By occupation he is a shoe-maker and re-
sides in the town of ^linier. Mr. S. was Drum Major in the oth
Penn. Reserves, during the late war. He was united in marriage
Feb. 21, 1868, to Miss Emma Roothadrawl. They have six chil-
dren — three boys and three girls ; is a member of the Christian
Church. Post-office, Minier.
The following gentlemen have guided the public affiiirs of the
township since its organization.
SUPERVISORS.
B. F. Orendorff. 1850 John S. Bricrsrs 1S64-67
A. B. Davis 1S51-52 Rodnev J. Mitchell 186S-69
D. W. C. Orendorff lS53-o4 William Bennett 1870-71
J. L. Summers 1855-61 Asa Hicks 1872-79
Zerah Munsell 186:;
o
TOWN-CLERKS.
Wm. R. Adams 1854 Wm. Barrett 1867-68
J.L.Summers 1855 Ezra E. Howard 1869-73
Zerah Munsell 1856-58 J. M. Edmiston i:)74
R.J.Mitchell 1859 George W. Ferree 1875
John Hunter 1860-61 Wm. Beuhrig 1876-77
John Hendenson 1863 George Whitman 1878
Johns. Dalv 1864 Wm. Beuhrig 1879
R. J. Mitchell 1865-66
ASSESSORS.
James Galbraith 18-54-56 G. AV. Minier 1865-66
George W. Minier 1857 Wm. M. Shreeve 1867
James Galbraith 1858 J. S. Briggs 1868-69
J. B. Hicks 1859 William Bennett 1870
J. S. Briggs 1860-61 J. .S. Briirgs 1871
Wm. P. Allensworth 1863 William Murdock 1372-78
J. L. Summers 1864 B. C. Allensworth 1879
COLLECTORS.
T. F. RaiLsback 1854 John Rupp 1864
J. H. Ross 1855 J. E. Railsback 1865-66
Samuel B. Buckley 1856 T.J.Brown 1867-69
Richard C Gaines 1857 Richard C. Gaines 1870-71
S.B.Buckley 1858 -'Adam Hample 1872-75
R. C. Gaines 1859-60 John Ling 1876
John Hunter u 1861 Adam Hample 1877
Wm. P. Allensworth 1863 D.P.Richardson 1873-79
526 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
MALONE TOWNSHIP.
This was the last township of Tazewell Co. to receive its first
settler. His advent was not until 1850, over twenty-five years after
settlers came into other parts of the county. Much of the priarie
land, before the county was generally cultivated, was so wet that
many supposed it never could be tilled profitably. In this respect
Malone was worse than most any other portion of the county. We
find a very good description of the state of the land in an early day
in a report made by a commission appointed by the Legislature to
survey and appraise the swamp lands of the county. This survey
was made in 1852, and the report reads as follows: "The whole of
this body of land is such as would be generally denominated wet
prairie land. During the spring months of April and May M'ater
stands upon the ground to the debth of from one to two inches to
one to two feet. The higher ground on the west side is compara-
tively dry, and is composed of sand ridges interspersed with small
oak timber, but the prairie on the north, east and south sides is
among the best for farming purposes to be found in this section of the
county. In the course of a few years this low land will become very
valuable, both for pasture and meadow. At a little expense a ditch
could be cut into Crane lake, when the land would be dry enough
for the slough." Upon such lands as they adjudged swamp or over-
flowed lands, they put a valuation of from 50 to 80 cents per acre.
In Spring Lake they valued some land as low as 10 cents per acre.
Several years age a large ditch was cut through the township which,
with numerous small ones, a fine system of tiling and cultivation,
has relainied this rich soil, and now some of the finest farms in the
county are located here.
Among the earliest settlers here were Silas Dowed, Thos. Perry,
James McCoy, James and John AVilson, Calvin F. Buckman, Dr.
Hubbard, S. and William Latham, Joseph Watts, and William
Boyer. John A. Kerman was the first to train the children in the
school room. The first marriage occurred in 1850. Francis M.
Griffin and a daughter of James McCoy were the contracting
parties.
Mr. Wm. Boyer relates some incidents of earfy life here, that
will be read with interest, no doubt. He says Ohio, the State he
left when he came here, abounded in game, and in consequence he
had hunted a great deal. On his arrival here he found game equally
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 527
as plentiful, and he has enjoyed many exciting hunts after deer,
brant, geese, etc. One winter he, with his son, John P., Ed. Vancil
and Manuel Purcell, went on a deer hunt. A heavy snow lay upon
the ground. They started in a sleigh and soon discovered some
deer, and succeeded in killing two of them. Across the "flat"
there were two groves — one called Swamp Grove the other Ash
Grove. Between the two the deer were generally numerous. The
party saw some deer about a quarter of a mile away, and arranged
it that Ed. Vancil should circle around them with the team and
drive them through these groves, where Mr. B. and the others were
to lie in wait for them. In a short time Vancil returned and re-
ported that " the deer did not scare worth a cent." Indeed, instead
of running at his approach, they came right up to the sleigh, struck
at him, shook their antlers, and manifested unmistakable signs of
fight. At least to such an extent that Vancil acknowledged being
afraid to shoot, although well armed. At the conclusion of this
singular report the party hurried to the spot, and succeeded in get-
ting only one shot, and secured another deer. In this herd forty-
seven deer were counted by Mr. B. He relates that at that time he
could find deer at any season of the year in what was called Crane
lake swamp. This was previous to the cutting of the county ditch
and it was therefore very wet.
AVolf hunts were not unfrequent in an early day here. The
wolves were so numerous and troublesome that regularly organized
raids were made upon them. With dogs, guns, and other weapons,
the people would turn out and drive them to their coverts. At one
particular hunt, which is spoken of by John P. Boyer, six men
engaged to exterminate or intimidate the marauding rascals, to such
an extent, at least, as to aiford temporary relief. The hunt was
carried on with dogs, used for the purpose of tracking them. The
men went on foot, and often started up several and followed them
for miles. The wolves were driven to their burrows, where the
party succeeded in capturing nine young ones. These were divided
among the party, taken home and trained, and grew to be well be-
haved dogs, save they were bound to live on spring chickens, camp-
meeting or no camp-meeting.
The personal sketches and family history of the following persons
of this township properly contribute to make up its history :
George Ail, farmer, sec. 9; P. O., Green Valley; son of George
aud Mary (Brown) Ail, natives of Germany, having lived on the
32
528 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
river Rhine. The subject of this sketch was born in Ripley county,
Ind., Sept. 22, 1837 ; received a common scliool education, and came
to this county in 1855; has hekl several local offices; was married,
April 20, 1859, to Mary Jane Thompson, a native of" Hillsdale Co.,
Mich. She died Aug. 16, 1878; she was a consistent Christian lady
and a member of the Christian Church. They were the parents of
Henrict E., born Jan. 21, 1860; Lilly Olive, born Sept. 30, 1863;
George Leander, Feb. 28, 1866; Jennie Maud, July 27, 1875.
Joseph Ary, farmer, sec. 8 ; was born in White Co., near Carmi^
this State, Oct. 20, 1820. His parents, George Ary and Susan
Dosier, his wife, were natives of Virginia. Joseph received a com-
mon school education, and M-hile quite young worked at the cooper's
trade ; has served his county in several local official positions ; was
married, in 1839, to Frances Griffin, a native of Ky. The union
has been blessed with nine children, only three of whom are living.
They were born as follows: Lucinda,* Aug. 13, 1840; J. Henry,*
Sept. 6, 1842; John Anderson, Feb. 5, 1845; Mary A.,* April 13,
1847; Millessa,* Aug. 8, 1849; Minerva A., Aug. 14, 1852; Geo.
Alonso, Nov. 13, 1855; Presilla,* Feb. 2, 1859. Those marked *
are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. iVry have been members of the Chris-
tian Church for 30 years. His grand parent, Adam Dosier, served
in the Continental army for seven years under Washington ; Mr.
Ary remembers distinctly of hearing him recite the many exciting
times he had witnessed, and many hardshi])s he went through, in the
war for Independence. He died in White Co., 111., at a very ad-
vanced age.
Jerome Boyiaparte Bailey, farmer and blacksmith, sec. 11 ; P. O.,
Green Valley; was born in Hillsboro, N. H., May 31, 1839. His
parents are Josiah Gordon and Catharine (Barnes) Bailey. Jerome
B. came to this county in 1853, attended school at Pekin, and ^vas
married, July 7, 1864, to Ada Noel, of Green Co., 111. They have
two daughters, Jesse N., born Oct. 23, 1869, and Mabel Lee, born
March 16, 1875. Mr. B. is paying special attention to the culture
of strawberries. In 1878 he raised on a small ])atch 54 bushels,
being at the rate of 675 bushels per acre. He has If acres, which
is a very large strawberry bed.
William Boyer, a native of Frederick Co., Md., where he was born
in 1816. His parents were Peter and Catharine (Runkles) Boyer,
natives of Germany. Mr. Boyer, with his parents, moved to Ohio
in 1836 and settled in Muskingum Co. He arrived in this county
in the year 1848, and located 480 acres of choice land. He has
been a pioneer of two States. He has lived to see this county grow
to its present populous and prosperous condition, and is now pre-
pared to pass the remainder of his eventful life happily. He was
married to Lucinda Day in April, 1836. They have been the pa-
rents of thirteen children. John P. was born Dec. 8, 1836, and he
married Nancy M. Shoup; Susanna, born July 2, 1839, she married
David Jones; David W., born May 23, 1841, married Mary Wise-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 529
man; Margaret Ellen, born June 4, 1843, married Wilson Griffin,
died Jan. 1,1859; Manuel, born Sept. 6, 1844, married Harriet
Dean; Thomas, born March 9, 184G, married Cecilia Worstall;
William H., born June 15, 1849; Lucinda, born July 12,1850;
Jacob, born May 26, 1853; James and three others died in infancy.
Post-office, Green Valley.
John Peter Boi/er, merchant and farmer; P. O., Green Valley; is
a native of Muskingum Co., O., where he was born Dec. 8, 1836.
He is the oldest son of AVilliam and Lucinda Boyer. For an edu-
cation he enjoyed only the advantages of the common school. He
came to this county in 1849, and has held various local offices; was
married, in Jan., 1858, to Nancy M. Shoup, a native of Muskin-
gum county, O. Mr. Boyer and his wife are both members of the
Christian Church.
Thomaii Boyer was born in Muskingum Co., O., in 1846 ; is a son
of William Boyer, a native of Maryland, and Lucinda Day, his
wife, a native of Licking Co., O. Thomas came to this county with
his parents in 1849; received a common school education; his occu-
pation is that of a former ; Avas married to Cecilia Worstall, in March,
1876, who is a native of this county. She is a member of the
Christian Church. They have one son, Francis Melvin, lx)rn Nov.
23, 1877. P. O., Green Valley.
Hayes Brownlee, farmer, sec. 13 ; P. O., Delavan ; is a son of
Jos. and Rosanna McKinstry Brownlee, natives of Washington Co.,
Pcnn. The subject of this sketch was born in Marion Co., O., in
1832. The Brownlees are of Scotch descent, and the McKinstrys
Scotch-Irish. John McKinstry came to Penn. from Ireland over
106 years ago. He died at the age of 94. He could remember the
battle of Cowpens of the Revolutionary war. It was near where
his parents lived. Mr. Brownlee has held several local offices ; was
married, in 1855, to Elizabeth Reed, a native of Marion county,
O. They have six children, born as follows: Clark, Jan. 1857;
Charles, April, 1860; Rosetta, Jan. 1, 1863; Mary J., Sept., 1864;
Samuel, April 13, 1866; William, March 13, 1869. Mr. B. came
to this county in 1852.
Bartholomew Buckley, farmer, sec. 24 ; was born in the county of
Cork, Ireland, in 1824. His parents were Timothy and Bridget
(Welch) Buckley. His grandparents were Bartholomew and Joanna
(Murphy) Buckley, and on his mother's side, Edward and Ellen
(Guyre) Welch. The subject of this sketch came to New York city
in 1848, and then to Batavia, N. Y., and to this county in 1867;
was married, in 1852, to Ann Madden. They have had the follow-
ing children : Edward U., born 1854; Timothy W., 1856; Eliza-
beth A., Sept., 1860; Mary J.; George W., 1864; AVilliam H.,
1866 ; Harriet A., 1868 ; Thomas J., 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Buckley
are both Catholics.
^Tohn T. Burns is a native of Carroll Co., Md., where he was born
in 1837, His parents were John and Mary M. (Leister) Burns.
530 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
John T. came to this county in 1857, and is engaged in farming on
sec. 2; was married, in 1865, to Ellen Wilson. They are the pa-
rents of Anna M., born Nov. 29, 18()6; Louis W., horn March 2,
1869; Bessie Maud, born Dec. 11, 1876. Mrs. Burns is a member
of the Methodist Church. P. O., Green Valley.
John W. Cline was born in Elm Grove township, Tazewell Co.,
June 17, 1825. He is, therefore, the first male child born in this
county. Stephen Woodrow, to whom is generally accorded this
honor, was not born until Sept. of 1825, three months after the birth
of Mr. C. He has witnessed the transformation of the wild prai-
ries into beautiful homes. Mr. Cline received a common school ed-
ucation, and has held the offices of Supervisor, School Director and
others; was married, 18-47, to Roxana Stewart, of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Mrs. Cline's parents were Joseph Stewart and Elizabeth Grady, the
first of New Jersey, and the latter of Penn. Phillip Cline, of Vir-
ginia, was his grandparent. He died at an advanced age at his son
John's, in Elm Grove township. The Clines are of German de-
scent. Mr. Cline is a farmer on sec. 17. P. O., Green Valley.
Simeon R, Orosby, retired, is a native of Bristol, Ontario county,
N. Y., where he was born in 1806. His parents were Simeon and
Anna (Rice) Crosby, of Mass. The Crosbys are of English descent.
They settled in Mass. at an early day, and then moved to Ontario
Co., N. Y., where the subject of this sketch was born. Mr. C. was
Captain for a number of years in the N. Y. State Militia, and was
promoted to Colonel. Mr. Crosby was married, in 1829, to Roxana
Pitts. She is deceased. She was the mother of — Richard M.,
Russell W., Webster R., Silas H., and Vernon C. Mr. C. is a
Republican in politics. Post-office, Green Valley. His wife was
the widow of George Davis, of N. Y". Mr. C. came to this county
in 1852.
Karl Hoehley, is a son of Gottfried and Christiana (Grumbach)
Hoehley, natives of Prussia, where Karl was born in 1828. He
crossed the ocean and came to this county in 1854. He attended
the German schools for 14 years; was married to Mary Roush in
1859. To them have been born ten children, whose names and
dates of birth are as follows: Elizabeth, Eeb. 16, 1860; Wilhel-
mina, July 8, 1861 ; Mary Catharine, March 19, 1863; Emma C,
June 27, 1864; Frederick, Mav 10, 1866; Jacob Levi, Feb. 21,
1868; Louisa, Nov. 9, 1869; Jidia A., Dec. 21, 1871; W. Frank-
lin, Aug. 18, 1874; Anna R., Feb. 11, 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Hoeh-
ley are menibers of the Evangelical Association. He is a farmer on
sees. 5 and 6. P. O., Manito.
Alexander Demmin// IngermU, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 15;
P. O., Green Valley. Mr. Ingersoll is one of the most extensive
farmers and stock raisers in Tazewell Co. He is the owner of 1245
acres of land, on which he usually raises 70 acres of wheat, 36 acres
of barley, 70 acres rye., 500 acres corn, and 140 acres of oats. He
has on his farm 14 head of horses, 40 head of cattle, and 85 hogs.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 531
Mr. Ingersoll was born in Grafton, O., in 182;). His parents were
Reuben and Christine (VanDuseu) Ingersoll, of Mass. The subject
of this sketch received a common school education at Hinckley, O.
He was engaged in the general merchandising business in his native
State; came out West to this county in Jan., 185G, and has held the
various local offices ; is a Democrat. He was married, Feb. 22,
1853, at Granger, O., to Sarah Vanorman, a native of Ontario Co.,
N. Y. They are the parents of James R., born Nov. 27, 1853;
Georgia A., born June 9, 1854; Edward Y., July 1, 1855; John
Elbridge, Sept. 27, 1857; Hubert I., July 1, 18(j0; Charles E.,
Aug. 31, 1862; Henrv C, Nov. 12, 1867; Ella Medora, June 16,
1868; Doctor Alexander, Sept. 21, 1870; Josie Belle, April 16,
1876.
Doctor Benjamin Franklin Ingersoll is the seventh son of Reuben
and Christine (Van Duesen) Ingersoll, who were natives of Mass.
They moved to Ohio in 1816, where the subject of this sketch was
born, at Hinckley, Medina Co., in 1832. He received a common
school education. He arrived in this county on the 29th of Jan.,
1856 ; is the owner of 520 acres of land and considerable stock ; has
held several local offices; was married, Dec. 23, 1852, to Ann Eliza
Johnson, of Ohio. They are the parents of eleven children, born
as follows : Emmagene Z., born, '53 ; Franklin T., born Dec. 13, '51 ;
Josephine A., born Sept. 14, '56 ; AVilliani H., Oct. 5, '58, died Feb.
4,'63 ; Lauretta, Oct. 6, '60 ; INIilton Webster, Aug. 22, '62 ; Fred-
erick L., Sept. 11, '64; Samuel B., Dec. 11, '66; Clara Belle, Sept.
21, '68; Stephen Asher, Jan. 14, '71; James O., Jan. 28, '74.
Post-office, Green Valley.
William Pitts Latham, farmer, sec. 10; P. O., Green Valley; was
born in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., in 1824. His parents were Hub-
bard Sylvester and I^aura (Short) • I^atham, natives of New York.
Hubbard Latham and Mercy Bennett were his grandparents, and
Hubbard and Ruth Farbold were his great grandparents, who were
natives of England, His great grandfather served in the Revolu-
tionary war as Colonel in the Continental army. AVilliam P., whose
name is at the head of this sketch, came to this county in 1851 ; has
held the offices of Supervisor, Collector, etc. He was married, Dec.
30, 1851, to Ann E. Waggoner, daughter of Abraham and Catha-
rine (Strawbridge) Waggoner, natives of Penn. Mr, Latham is the
father of John S., born Nov. 5, '52 ; Julia, Nov. 8, '54, deceased ;
Ada B., Oct, 3, '56; Charles W., May 2, '59; Laura C, Nov. 15,
'61, deceased; Daniel Lee, April 14, '65; Cassius W., May 12, '67;
Frederick G., Aug. 25, '71.
John M. McDowell, farmer, sec. 25 ; P. O., San Jose ; was born/
in Franklin Co., Penn., in 1850. His parents were AVilliam E.
McDowell and Mary E. Davidson, his wife. John M. came to this
county with his parents in 1855; received a common school educa-
tion, and was married, March 9, 1876, to Elizabeth Irving, a native
of Perry Co., O. They have two daughters, Myrtie Bell, born
532 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
March 31, '77, and the baby, born Dec. 21, ,78. Mr. McDowell Is
identified with the Republican party.
Henry Crawford McDoicell, farmer, sec. 24 ; P. O., San Jose ; was ''
born in Franklin Co., Penn., Nov. 12, 1827. His parents were
William and Sally (Work) McDowell. Henry C, attended the
common schools of his native State. He came to this county in
1853, and was married, Dec. 3, 1856, to Eleanor Glud, of Berkshire,
Mass. They are the parents of William H., born Sept. 21, '60;
George A., born June 13, '63 ; Carrie May, born May 14, '69 ;
Charles C, born March 30, '72. Mrs. McDowell is a member of the
Baptist Church.
Thomas McKinsiry was born in 1813. His parents were Mary
(Patton) McKinstry, a native of Penn., and John McKinstry, a na-
tive of Ireland. He came to this country about the year 1773.
They had seven children, six of whom are now living, which shows
that the McKinstrys are of a very long-lived family. Maria, now
72 years old, is the widow of James Brownlee. Rosanna is 70 years
old, and the widow of Joseph Brownlee. James is 68 years old.
Matthew, aged 65. Rebecca, aged 53 ; she is now a widow. All
the above, except Thomas, reside at present in Ohio. Thomas,
whose name is at the head of this sketch, is 65 years of age. He
was married, in 1835, to Mary Ann Graves, a native of Ohio. They
have one son, James F., born June 14, 1850. He served as Justice
of the Peace for 14 years, and has been a member of the Presbyte-
rian Church for 30 years. He came to this county in 1852. Is a
Republican in politics.
George Solon Nave was born in Marion, Perry Co., Ala, March
22, 1846. His parents were Jesse B. and Mary W. Nave. Mr. N.
went through the Sophomore class at Horow College, Ala., and
graduated at the University of Ala. Is now a farmer, sec. 4. He
served in the 20th Ala. regt., C. S. A., as Sergeant Major and Cap-
tain, being promoted for gallantry at the battle of Rock Face
Mountain. AVas married, Dec. 19, 1875, to Ella M. Latham. They
have one son, Hubert Latham.
Joseph N. Phillips is a native of Tazewell Co., being born here
March 19, 1842. He is the only child of John and Catherine
(Stipes) Phillips, who are natives of France, but now reside in
Sand Prairie township, this county. They were among the earliest
settlers. Joseph received a common school education ; was united
in marriage with Miss Emma Crabb. They have four children —
John D., born April 8, '70; Joseph W., born Dec. 24, '71 ; George
Edward, born March 26, '77 ; Catharine Margaret, born Oct. 10,
'78. He is a Democrat ; P. O., Green Valley.
James K. Pagh. Mr. Pugh is a descendant of Jesse Pugh, who
came to America with AVilliam Penn. Ellis Pugh and Phoebe
Copie were the parents of James. James and Joanna Pugh were
the parents of Jesse. Jesse and Rebecca (Babb) Pugh, natives of
Va., were the parents of James K., who was born in Warren Co.,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 533
O., in 1826, and came to this county in 1848. Has held the offices
of Supervisor, Collector, and Com. of Highways ; was married to
Sarah S. Tcnnent, a native of N. Y. They have had born to them
four children, only one of whom is now living. Mr. P. is a farmer
and resides on sec. 10.
Benjamin Strmcbridge, farmer, sec. 9 ; P. O., Green Valley, was
born in Lycoming Co., Penn., May 14, 1814. His parents were
Benjamin and Alargaret (Kiuman) Strawbridge. Mr. S. had only
such advantages for an education as the subscription schools offered.
He learned the shoe-maker's trade. Mr. S. was Notary Public at
Williamsi)ort, Penn., appointed by Gov. Packard ; was elected
County Treasurer of his native Co. in 1861, on the Democratic
ticket,* being the only Democrat elected. He was married July 14,
1844, to Sarah Calvert. Thev were the parents of John B. ; Mary
C; William R. ; Frank B.;' Jesse; George B. McC. ; Mary C. ;
P. W.; Ellis; Smaley E.
Michael Pritc-hard Wolford, farmer, sec. 24 ; P. O., Green Valley ;
was born in Hampshire Co., W. Va., in 1845. His parents are
Peter and Elizabeth (Short) Wolford. Michael came to this county
with his parents in 1855; attended the common schools and learned
the blacksmith trade; was married March 25, 1875, to Mary J.
Metcalf; they have one daughter, lona Elizabeth, born Feb. 24,
'76, and one son, Frederick Marion, born July 23, '78. Mr. and
Mrs. Wolford are members of the Presbyterian Church.
Samuel Mijron Woodrow, farmer, sec. 25 ; P. O., San Jose. Mr. '
Woodrow was born in this county in March, 1855. His parents are
William and Ellen R. (Kellogg) Woodrow. Mr. W. attended
school at Pekin High School, Eureka College, and Peoria Business
College. He is the owner of 501 acres of valuable land, and has it
well stocked and improved. He was married Jan. 31, 1877, to
Sarah Gravett, a native of White Co., 111. They have one son,
William W., born April 24, 1878. Mrs. Woodrow is a member of
the Christian Church. Mr. W. is a Republican in politics.
Edward D. Wordall was born at Zanesville, O., in 1824. John
Worstall, a native of Penn., and Lucy Morris, his wife, and a native
of N. J., were his parents. When Mr. W. came to this county in
1851, he carried on blacksmithing at Pekin and afterwards the same
business at Circleville, and in 1861 he moved on the flirni where he
now resides. He filled most of the town offices, and has been
Justice of the Peace for the past 1 1 years ; was married Oct. 4,
1849, to Mary V. Foster, of Zanesville, O. They have had ten
children — Sarah A., who married William Dean, of Mason Co.;
John C, who married to Manty Debolt, of Ohio, and who resides
in this township; Charles W. is dead; Arrila J., who married
Isaiah Correll and lives in Sand Prairie township ; Celia M., who
married Thomas Boyer and resides one-half mile west of the old
homestead; George F. ; James M. ; William IL, and Lottie who is
dead.
534 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
The Supervisors, Clerks, Assessors and Collectors who have
served this township from its organization, and the years of serving,
are as follows :
SUPERVISORS.
W.P.Latham 1854-58 Jan^esK. Pugh 1869
James Wilson 1859 J.M.Wilson 1870-72
H. S. Latham 1860-64 Wm. E. McDowell 1873-74
Wm. D. Cleveland 1865-67 John Cline 1875-77
Wm. E. McDowell 1868 James K. Pugh 1878-79
TOWN-CLERKS.
Wm. D. Cleveland 1855-58 Henry Glover 1869
C. F. 3uckman 1859 Wilson Griffin 1870-73
Wm. D. Cleveland 1860-63 T. J. Barton 1875
S.M.Webster 1864 Thomas J. Frazee 1876-77
Edward Worstall 1865 Aaron P. McGalliard 1878-79
J. B. Bailey 1868
ASSESSORS.
CyrusB. Chase 1855-57 A. P. McGalliard.. 1870
C. F. Buekman 1858 J. P. Boyer 1871
Wm. E. McDowell 1859 A. P. McGalliard 1872
CyrusB. Chase 1860-63 A. D. Ingersoll -... 1873-74
C. F. Buekman 1864 Emanuel Boyer 1875-76
C. B. Chase 1865 M. Boyer 1877
J. P. Boyer 1866-69 Albert Dean 1878-79
COLLECTORS.
Frank K. Pugh 1856 Hubbard Latham 1863
H.Latham 1858 Ira F. Randolph 1864
Ira F. Randolph 1859 Wm. P. Latham 1865-70
James K. Pugh 1860 Eugene McCord 1871
Wm. P. Latham 1861 Wm. P. Latham 1877-79
MORTON TOWNSHIP.
Harvey Campbell proposed the name for this township, and in
honor of Gov. Morton, of Mass. A man by the name of Soward
was the fir.st settler. He located on sec. 31, but just when is not
known. He had a bearing orchard, however, as early as 1831.
Among the earliest settlers were, Isreal Shreeve and son, Julius ;
Daniel Roberts and sons, John M. Roberts, Ambrose Roberts,
Darius Roberts, Walter Roberts ; Alfred Phillips ; Rev. Wm. Brown ;
U. H. Crosby. Maus Shreeve was the first child born, which was
in the spring of 1831. The first death was Mary Elizabeth, infant
daughter of Rev. Wm. Brown, died Dec. 1831. The first school-
house was built on sec. 4, somewhere between the years 1828 and
1831. It is claimed that Rev. Wm. Brown taught the first school
in his own cabin, in the spring of 1831. The second school-house
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 535
was built on sec. 16. All material and work was paid for in the
currency of that day, viz: labor and trade, no cash. This building
is now used as a dwelling by H. N. Crosby. At that date Uriah
Crosby was the frontier settler, and had to plow around and protect
his property from the prairie fires. But the building of this school-
house induced others to settle in his neighborhood.
Uriah H. Crosby came to Morton in 1832, and settled perma-
nently in 1834, erecting his log cabin on the spot where his house
now stands, on sec. 9. At this time a few settlers were scattered
here and there over the county. He came a little in advance l f the
Tremont colony, from New York. This colony entered all Govern-
ment land on the two southern tiers of sections in Morton. ISIr.
C. was busily engaged in making a home in the wilderness, and his
trusty rifle was his constant companion.
In the early settlement of this country it was not uncommon for
children to get lost, yet when they did the intensest excitement pre-
vailed in the neighborhood. When Robert G. Strickland was only
two years old, he started out to find his father. The surrounding
country there was one vast wilderness of brush and timber. He
was soon missed, but no traces of his whereabouts could be had for
some fifteen hours. The whole settlement turned out in search of
the child. Three district schools dismissed, that all might join in
the search. A Mr. Baricks found him over a mile from the house,
and took him to Samuel Tart's, who had just lost a little boy, and
their girl was so glad she had another little brother. Mrs. Tart had
a little niece about the same age of the lost boy, who lived with her.
He was tired and dirty, and his clothes all torn and face badly
scratched. To this day he wears the scars on his face. He was
dressed in the clothing of her little niece by Mrs. Tart, and was
sleeping sweetly when his father called for him. We will close this
narrative by stating that the lost boy is now the husband of the
little girl whose dresses he was clothed with. He resides on the
same old farm, and has seven children, none of whom has he lost
either by death or straying.
The original village of Morton was laid out by J. M. Campbell, in
October, 1850, in the form of a triangle, comprising about five and
one-half acres of land. Since then he has made several additions.
His brother, W. W., together ^^'1th others, have added to the village
until it is a beautiful place, and contains about 300 acres of land.
It was incorporated under the late general law for organizing villages,
and the first officers were elected in August, 1877.
536 HISTOKY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Buckeye M. E. Church was the first M. E. Church organized in
the township. The building, a frame, 30 by 40 feet, is located on
sec. 33. It was built in 1864, at a cost of $1,700. The original
members were : Israel Shreeve and wife, James T. Avers and wife,
Wm. Brown and wife, (Mrs. B. now resides in the village of Mor-
ton,) and Benj. Ayers and wife. The present membership is 31.
The parsonage is located on sec. 20, Deer Creek township ; value,
$1,000.
Morton M. E. Church. — This church is located in the village and
is a good brick, Gothic style, 30 by 50 feet, and cost $1,800. It
was built in 1878. The congregation Avas organized in 1842 by
either Zadock Hall or Reuben H. Moifatt. The original members
were, Father Ratcliif, Wm. Barnuni and wife, Robert Roberts and
wife, Joseph Mitchell and wife, and Abner Mitchell. The officers
are, Geo. Sharp, Robert Roberts, W. P. Rork, C. G. Parker and
Wm. Bennett.
Morton Baptist Chirch was organized March 6, 1851, by Elders
W. S. Bly and G. S. Bailey, with 24 members. They continued
meeting until 1859, when so many of the members had moved away
that the organization was disbanded, and the remaining ones united
with the Church at Washington.
Morton Congregational Church is located in the village, and was
organized in August, 1851, by Rev. W. W. Blanchard. The edifice
was erected in 1870, at a cost of $2,300. It is 30 by 40 feet in size.
Up to the year 1870, services were held in the Library Association's
building, but at that date that was burned, being set on fire by an
incendiary. The school-house was then used till their new struc-
ture was ready to occupy. The original members were, Mrs. G.
Webb, Mrs. W. W. Campbell, John S. Lilly, John Lilly, Ellen J.
Lilly, Horace Clark and wife, Wm. C. Bartlett, Daniel Bartlett,
Martin Messingcr and wife, Francis Messinger, H. M. Crosby and
wife, and Willard Gray.
Aj)odolical Christian Church is located in the village. The
building is a good frame, erected in 1869, and an addition put up in
1876. It is in size 58 by 60, and cost $3,500. The congregation
was organized in 1853 by Benedict Weynet. The present member-
ship is 150. This Church has no salaried ministers. Geo. Welk
serves as elder.
Before closing the sketch of this township, we wish to give some
personal history, believing such sketches will prove interesting, be-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 537
sides they contain much of the early history. For this purpose we
mention the following :
John W. Brown is among the oldest native born residents of
Tazewell Co. He was born in Morton township July 31, 1833.
His parents, Rev. William and Permelia (C'ullom) Brown, were
natives of Kentucky and came to this township three years before
the birth of their son John. Rev. Wm. was the pioneer preacher of
this part of the State. He died May 14, 1845, on the form he first
settled upon, (the southeast quarter of section 13,) in October, 1830.
Isreal Slireeves and Moses Norris were the only residents of this
township when Mr. Brown came. Mr. Norris lived on the north-
east quarter of section 23. He remained there only a few years,
when he moved to Iowa; whether living now or not we can not find
out. Mrs. Brown, a sister of the late Major R. N. Cullom, came
to Morton at the time her brother went to Deer Creek. She is still
living. John W. Brown received his education in the old log
school-house, the first one built in the township. He has quit
farming and gone into the village and deals in grain and stock. He
was married April 5, 18o5, to Sarah McBride, who was born Aug.
18, 1833, in Ohio. Their children are Samuel, born Nov. 14, 18o(j,
and Mary P., born Aug. 18, 1859. Residence, Morton.
Robert Barnard. In Essex county Eng., on the 14th day of
Aug., 1030, was born unto Robert and Martha (Chaifee) Barnard,
natives of the same county, their son Robert. From England, in
1851, Robert came to Geneva, N. Y., and the following year to this
county, where he has since resided. He is engaged in forming on
section 12, and, considering the size of the family he has reared, he
has been pretty successful in life. He has held the offices of Road
Commissioner and School Trustee. Aug. 10, 1853, Mr. B. was
united in marriage to Rachael Chaffee. She was born in New York
Feb. 5, 1836. They are the parents often children, eight of whom
are living. Their names and dates of births are as follows : ]5yron
E., born April 20, 'oo; Martha, Oct. 5, 1850; Sarah, Dec. 7, '57;
Susan, Sept. 14, '59; A. Lincoln, Nov., '61; Robert H., Feb. 10,
'63; Marv, Feb. 11, '65; Frederick, Julv 27, '67; Elvina, Feb.
14, '69; Elzina, Feb. 24, '71. Sarah and "Susan died while young.
Mr. B. made a profession of religion in 1860, and both he and his
wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. The latter joined
in Jan. 1879. Post-office, Washington.
Charles R. Crandall, farmer, who lives on sec. 9 ; came to Taze-
well Co. in 1830. He was born of New England parentage, John
Crandall, his father, being from Massachusetts, while his mother,
Mary (Croell) Crandall, was born in Connecticut. Charles was born
Dec. 11, 1812, at Sheldon, Genesee Co., New York. Like most
pioneer formers, Mr. C. began life without money or lands, and to
day he is one of the wealthiest formers, owning a half section of
land under a high state of cultivation and stocked with abundance
of fine stock. All this is the result of industry and integrity of
538 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
character, always indicative of a well rounded Christian life. He
united his fortunes, Jan. 9, 1845, with Elizabeth Norris, of London,
England. Their only son, John H., was born Jan. 9, 1846. Mr.
Crandall embraced the Christian religion in 1850, when he joined the
Baptist Church.
Uriah H. Crosby, one of the early settlers, was born at Bristol,
Ontario Co., N. Y., March 9, 1811. He came here from Ohio, as
far back as 1834, when those only with strong determination and
nerves of steel cared to come. A thousand miles on foot, with rifle
and knapsack, with sore feet and scanty rations, were not pleasant
things to look forward to, but Mr. Crosby was one of those men,
who, in danger, with a destiny to fulfill, never falter; to prove
which his whole life might be called as a witness. His parents were
natives of New Eno;land and Avere humble noble characters. Mr.
Crosby, at the age of 28, on the 18th day of April, 1839, married
Miss Margaret Murray, and from the union sprang nine children,
four of whom — Horatis X., John E., Mary Oliver and Lucinda,
are living. Mr. C. cast his first vote for Gen. Jackson, for Presi-
dent, which fact healudes to with pardonable pride. A strong
Democrat in Jackson's time, he has been a firm Republican since
the day Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. He lives
on sec. 9 ; P. O., Morton.
William H. Conibear, M. D., jNIorton, was born in 1844, and is
the son of Thomas and Ann (Kingdom) Conibear, natives of Eng-
land, and who emigrated to America in 1850. He settled in Peoria
where he resided until 1857, when he came to this county, and
settled in Deer Creek, and after two years moved to Bureau county,
where he died in 1875. The subject of this sketch enlisted, in 1862,
in 112th 111. luf , Co. B, and served until the close of the war. He
participated in the battles of Knoxville, Resecca, Buzzard's Roost,
Kenesaw Mountains, Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville, Bkiir's Cross-
roads, Dallas and Centerville. Dr. C. commenced the study of
medicine at Sheffield, Bureau Co., in 1866, after which he attended
a course of lectures at Rush INIedical College, Chicago. He com-
menced practice in this viHage in 1869, returning to Chicago in
1875, and was graduated from that institution. He was married to
Miss Jane A. Sterling, a native of Greenfield, Conn., where she was
born in 1845. Cornelia A., Charles E., John C. and Eri B. are
their living children. Dr. C. is President of the Board of Trustees,
School Trustee and controls a large practice in his profession.
Joseph Dodds, farmer; was born in Plattsburg, N. Y., Dec. 28,
1822, and came from that State to this county in September, 1851.
His parents, Joseph and Betsy (Chapman) Dodds, were natives of
England. He served his township as Collector and School Director.
An important event of Mr. Dodds life occurred April 28, 1850.
That is the date of his marriage with Louisa Gove. Mrs. Dodds
was born in Alburgh, Yt., Nov. 26, 1827. They are the parents of
four children, one of whom, however, dwells on the other side of the
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 539
Jordan of death. The names and births of chihlrcn are as follows:
Mary A., born April 28, '51 ; Sarah Frances, born Feb. 13, '56,
and died Oct. 26, '70; George, born Feb. 5, 58; Henry, born July
29, '64. Mary was married" to Lester B. Roberts, Feb. 22, '72.
Post-office, jNlorton.
Lorenzo Durham was born in the village of Baldwinsville, Onon-
daga Co., N. Y. His father, Lorenzo D. Durham, was a native of
Baltimore, Md., and his mother, Matilda Minard, was a native of
New York City. The subject of this sketch was left an orphan at
a very early age, his father died in 1849, and his mother one year
later. Lorenzo was left upon his own resources until 1852, when his
aunt, Mrs. Col. Hugh Gilston, of Baltimore, offered him a home,
which was accepted. He finished his education in 1854, when he
entered the wholesale drug-house of Clotworthy & Flint, Baltimore,
and remained there until 1856, when he went to Washington, 111.
After learning the carpenter's trade, at ^yhich he served as aj^prentice
three years, he went to Groveland, 111., and engaged to work on a
farm, where he remained till 1861, when, Nov. 16th of that year, he
enlisted in the 4th 111. Cav., and was wounded at Pittsburg Land-
ing, which disabled him for cavalry service, but after\yards assisted
in raising the 2d West Tennessee Col. Inf, and was commissioned
second lieutenant of Co. C, and in 1865 was promoted to first
lieutenant, which he resigned in 1866, when he returned home and
engaged in farming. On 17th October, 1867, was married to Mi-
nerva B. Gay, of Morton township, Taze\yell Co., 111. He moved
to the town of Morton in 1875. In April, 1877, he was elected J.
P., and has held that position to the present time.
Royal B. Joydin was born in Rutland Co., Vt., Nov. 26, 1820.
His parents, Calvin and Eunice (Barlow) Joyslin, were from the
Green Mountain State. He came to jNIorton township from Ver-
mont in 1847, and is engaged in farming on section 27. All the
education he ever obtained was at the common schools of his native
State, and by his own personal exertions. Oct. 5, 1848, he was
married to Miss Minerva Brown, daughter of Nathaniel and Sally
(Deusmore) Brown, of New York and New Hampshire, respectively.
Their children number, five four of whom are living. Fredrick C,
born Aug. 30, '51 ; Charles F., born July 5, '57 ; Lulu J., born
Nov. 10, '61; Julia L., born June 3, '66, and died Sept. 7, '73;
Clara B., born March 26, '73. Previous to the Emancipation of
the negro slaves, Mr. Joyslin was a radical Abolitionist and I^iberty
Party man in his political views. Since then he has been identified
with the Republican party. Post-office, Morton.
Alexander Mooherry. The subject of this sketch, a man of fifty-
four, has spent forty-seven years of his life in this county and is
therefore what we term an '^old settler." He was born in Franklin
Co., Ohio, Sept. 5, 1825. His parents, John and Lyda (Merion)
Mooberry, were natives of Penn. and Mass., respectively. Mr. M.
received his schooling at the log school-house with greased-paper
540 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
windows and dirt floor in Ohio, and at the same kind of structure
in Illinois. He came to this county in October, 18o2, and is engaged
in farming and stock raising on sec. 26, He converted his place
from the raw prairie. He has held the offices of Assessor, Road
Com., and that of School Director for fifteen years. He has been
married twice. The first time to Martha J. Mooberry, Dec. 9,
1851. His second marriage occurred Dec. 13, 1864, and was with
Mary C. Lott. He is the parent of twelve children, and what is
remarkable, all are living. Post-office, ]\Iorton.
Christian May, Postmaster and Notary Public, Morton; was born
in Dutchy of Nassau, Germany, in 1834, and emigrated to America
Oct. 4, 1855, landing in New Orleans Jan. 5, 1856, in a shipwrecked
condition, being 88 days on the ocean. The ship w^as struck by an
English vessel and disabled, and ran into Plymouth for repairs.
In March of that year he came to this village and worked on a farm
until 1862, when he enlisted in the 82nd I. V. Inf , Co. E ; was
wounded May 3rd, 1863, at Chancellorville, Va., in the left arm,
and sent to Finley Hospital, Washington, D. C, where his arm was
amputated May 31st, and where he was confined and discharged
Sept. 8, 1863; returning, attended school four months at Groveland
and ten months at Tremont, when he engaged with a marble house
at Peoria and traveled until 1869, when he was married to Miss
Mary A. Hay, a native of N. Y. State. Was appointed P. M. in
1870, and in the spring of the same year elected Justice of the
Peace, which he filled for seven years; has also been Assessor and
Collector for many years. Has been School Treasurer since 1872,
and is one of the village Trustees, and always been identified with
the interests of the town and county. Dora A. and Charles H. are
their living children.
Hon. William A. Moore, who resides on sec. 25, Morton township,
is a native of the Blue Grass State, having been born in Todd Co.,
Ky., Nov. 1, 1839. He came to Illinois when but seven years old. -
His parents, David G. and Ann (Ellison) Moore, settled in Wood-
ford Co., where William spent his ycjuth and obtained his education.
He married Miss Sarah E. Stumbaugh, Feb. 20, '62, and one year
later came to this county. Mr. M. acts with the Democratic party,
and has many times been called to fill important offices in the county,
and, in 1877, was elected to a seat in the General Assembly from the
27th district, which postion he filled with marked ability, and de-
clined a re-election two years later.
0. J. Pettyjohn is a native of Tazewell Co., having been born in
Tremont township Jan. 25, 1851. His parents, James and Mary
(Quinn) Pettyjohn, were natives of Ohio. He attended the com-
mon country schools for some years and then entered Jacksonville
College, Jacksonville, 111. He is engaged in farming and resides
on section 29. He is a Director of his school district and Clerk of
the Board. February 23 of the present year (1879) he was united
in marriage with Nannie Todd. Miss Todd was born in Springfield,
HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 541
Ohio, Feb. 8, 1855. Her parents, James and Anna (Espy) Todd
were natives of Pennsylvania. Post-office, Morton.
Lewis Tai'bdl, son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Lamb) Tarbell,
the former of Vermont and the latter a native of New Hampshire,
was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., Oct. 1, 1828. Ten years later he
came to this county and has since resided here. He is engaged in
ao-ricultural pursuits on section 33. His educational advantages
were limited to the common schools of New York and Illinois.
The 17th day of Nov., 1853, is a day memorable in the history of
ISIr. Tarbell's life. Upon that day he was united with IMary Akens
in marriage. The union has resulted in the birth of seven children,
four bovs and three girls. All of them are living save one of the
girls. Post-office address, Morton.
Erastus Roberts, hardware and agricultural implement dealer.
Mr. R. was born in Morton township, in 1842; is son of Darius
and Augusta (Hathaway) Roberts, natives of New York State, who
came to the West in 1831 and settled in this township, where he
entered laud and lived until his death, Dec. 16, 1868. The subject
of this sketch lived at home until 1875, when he came to the village
and formed a partnership with Mr. ]\Ioschel, where he has since
carried on a large trade. Was married, in 1862, to Miss Harriet
Loomis, a native of Peoria, and four children surround the fireside
of their home — Carrie, Edith, Nellie and Fannie. Mr. R. is Town
Trustee, and well known throughout the county.
John M. Roberts. The subject of our sketch, was among the first
to settle in this county. He is the son of Daniel and Polly (Phelps)
Roberts, natives of Connecticut. John was born in Delaware Co.,
N. Y., on the 9th of Dec, 1807, and after receiving a good educa-
tion in the schools of his State, came to Tazewell Co., at the age of
24, in the year 1831, setting on sec. 18, Morton township, where he
now lives, himself and wife residing with their son, Lester, Mr.
Roberts is the oldest settler in the township, living, and the history
of the county is also the history of himself, he having been so
closely identified with its development. He was first married to
Mary Burhans, May 14, 1831, and Sept. 6, 1834, was again united
in wedlock to Ann Natirs, five children having been born to him.
He has held many important offices in the county, all of M'hich he
has filled with honor and ability. In 1838 he joined the Congre-
gational Church.
Joseph Rich was born in France, Jan. 1, 1822. His parents,
Jacob and Catherine (Zimmerman) Rich, were also French people.
His father was a soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte, and participated
in the famous siege of Moscow. He was born in 1789, came to this
country and died at the residence of his son, Joseph, in Morton
township, in August, 1876. Joseph Rich came to America in 1840,
and landed in New York. He worked for an Italian, near Brook-
lyn, for two years. He then went to New Jersey, then toTj*hiladel-
phia, Pittsburg, and brought up in Ohio. Here he remained for
542 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
five years, clearinD; land and maulins: rails. He finally came to this
county, arriving in 1848, and resides on sec. 1, of this township.
He is engaged extensively in farming, and owns 1,050 acres of land,
He is a School Director. He has been married twice. His first
marriage occurred in 1849, and was with Catherine Rich. In 1860,
April 5th, he was married to Catherine Zimmerman. Their chil-
dren number seven, all living. Tlieir names and ages are as follows :
David, born Feb. 5, '50; Jacob, March 15, '53; Mary, Sept. 10,
'54; Lydia, May 1, '56; Daniel, Oct. 25, '57; Joseph, July 9, '61;
Christian, March 8, '65. Post-office, Washington,
Christian Hinith was born in Woodford Co., 111., Jan. 8, 1846, but
is of French parentage; his parents. Christian and ]\Iagdalaine
(Schrock) Smith, were natives of France. He came to this county
in 1853, and is engaged in farming in company with his brother-in-
law, Peter Sweitzer, on sec. 2. They are conducting the farm of
John Sweitzer. He served in the late war, in Co. G, 108th 111.
infantry. He united with the (Omish) Minnonite Church in 1867.
Feb. 13, 1873, he was married to Rena Sweitzer, daughter of John
E. and Mary Sweitzer, and who was born June 12, 1847. They have
two little boys, William Arthur, born Nov. 22, '73, and Frederic
Albert, born Feb. 21, '79. Post-office, Cooper.
Christopher Shaefer, farmer, sec. 28, is the son of Christopher and
Mary (Fisher) Shaefer, of Virginia, and was born in Green Briar
Co. in that State, April 29, 1813. He found his way to Ohio and
in 1841 came from Franklin county to Tazewell. He received a
limited education, having the advantages only of subscription
schools, but in life has been reasonably successful. On the 29th of
Dec, 1836, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Cox, who
bore him eight children, four boys and four girls. One of the boys
and one of the girls sleep in their graves. He confessed his faith
in Christ in 1840, and is connected with the Baptist Church. Post-
office, Morton.
Louis Stcdtcr, merchant, Morton ; was born on the river Rhine,
Germany, in 1841, and emigrated to America with his mother in
1853, and settled in Washington township, where he engaged in
farniing until 1863, when he moved to Livingston Co. where he
resided until 1874, at which time he settled in this village and
opened his present place of business, where he has since been suc-
cessfully engaged in keeping a general stock of goods. Was mar-
ried in 1861, to Miss Annie Schrock, a native of this county.
She died in 1874. He has five children by this marriage — Joseph,
Peter, Lewis, Laury, and Annie. His present wife, Phoebe
Rediger, was born on river Rhine in 1846. Mr. S. has been Jus-
tice of the Peace three years, and has been otherwise identified with
the interests of the town and county,
John Sweitzer, son of John and Veronica Sweitzer, of France, was
born in that country Sept. 15, 1807. He had heard much of Amer-
ica and longed to press its free soil. Accordingly, in 1832, he sailed
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 543
for the United States. He spent some time in Pennsylvania, and
in 1833 came to Illinois and located in Woodford county, which, at
that time, was included in Tazewell county. He remained there
until 1851, when he came to sec. 2, of this township, where he now
resides. He has retired from active labor himself and rents his
farms, whicii ineludge 720 actes. On the day he was twenty-one
years of age he was married to Mary Engel, who was born in France
Dec. 1, 1807. Her parents were Christian and Barbara (Brunner)
Engel, of France. They are the parents of twelve children, seven
of whom are living : Christian, born July 24, '29 ; Barbara, Jan.
10, '31 ; Neronica, Aug. 26, '32; John, Oct. 2(j, '34; Joseph, Nov.
30, '39 ; Mary, Dec. 7, '41 ; Bena, June 12, '47 ; Peter, Sept. 7, '49 ;
Catharina, Jan. 4, '52. Three of the children died young and have
no record. Christian, a sea captain and pilot, of Oregon, was
drowned in the Pacific ocean, near San Francisco, Nov., 1858, while
in a gale. Joseph, a mate, fell from a steamboat on the Columbia
river, Oregon, in 1864, and was drowned. Peter Sweitzer resides
in Washington, is engaged in the manufacture of drain tile and is
doing a j)n»sperous business. Mr. S. is a member of the Omish
Mennonite Church. Post-office, Washington.
William Voelpel, blacksmith, Morton; born in 1840 and emi-
grated with parents to America in 1848 and settled in St. Louis,
where he lived until his father's death in 1874. In 1861, enlisted
in the 5th Mo. V., Co. B, serving three months and twenty days;
returned and enlisted in the 2d Mo. V., Co. F, serving one year,
when the regiment was disbanded. Participated in the battle of
Corinth. The following year came to this village and became en-
gaged at his trade, where he was drafted in the 44th I. V. I., Co.
F., and served nine months, participating in the battles of Franklin
and Nashville. Returning formed a partnership with Henry Miller
and in the fall of the same year purchased his interest, wdiere he
has since carried on a successful and remunerative business. Was
married in 1867 to Miss Barbara Metz, a native of Germany. They
have eight children — William, John, Lucy, Edward, Annie, George,
Ida, and Mary. Are members of the Christian Church.
Those serving the township in the various official capacities of
Supervisor, Clerk, Assessor and Collector, are given below, together
with the year or years of serving :
SUPERVISORS.
Horace Clark 1850 Wm. A. Moore 1874-75
Joel W. Clark 1851-59 Samuel C. Smith 187(j
Andrew Gilhim 1860-61 John H. Cran.lall 1877
Charles K. Crandall 1863-66 Samuel C. Smith 1878
Wm. Munroe 1867-71 William Smith 1S79
Thomas Cooper 1872-73
TOWN-CLERKS.
Eri Gray 1854-59 Frank Greisser 1870
J. M. Roberts 1860-69 John M. Roberts 1871-79
33
544
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Enoch G. Emerson
All)ert Parker resig
John M. Roberts
George F. Crandall.
Charles R. Crandall
Hiram L. Phillips
Enoch G. Emerson
Martin L. Smith
Alex. Mooberry
Charles Waters
ASSESSORS.
1854 J. L. Hayward 1864
ned. J. W. Brown 1805
1S55 W.B.Roberts 18()G
185*) J. L. Hayward 18()7
1857 Edward Munroe 1868
1858 Christian May 1869-71
1859 Alex. Mooberry 1872-73
18G0 Christian May 1874-75
1861 Samuel C. Smith 1870
1863 Christian May 1877-79
COLLECTORS.
John W. Ely 1854
Charles R. Crandall 1855
William Gray 1856
Geo. F. Crandall 1857
Enoch G. Emerson. 1858
Amos Brown 1859
W. B. Roberts 1860
Thomas J. Brown.. 1861-63
J. H. Loapman 1864
D. G. Bracken 1865
Christian May, jr 1866-68
James M. Phillips 1869
E. N. Phillips 1870
Alex. Mool)erry 1871
Christian May 1872
Samuel C.Smith 1873-74
Wilson S. Smith 1875
Simon Denniel 1876
William Moschel 1877
Samuel R. Plum 1878
W. B. Renard 1879
MACKINAW TOWNSHIP.
The land in the northern part of the township is somewhat rough
and broken. It is covered with a splendid growth of timber. The
southern portion is fine rolling prairie, and contains some of the
best farming land in the county. The first improvement was made
by Abner Smith, on sec. 28. Among the early settlers were Morde-
cai Mobley, Elijah Sergeant, Samuel Judy, Michael Hittle and Jonas
Hittle. Michael Hittle is the only one of the first settlers now
living here. We can say with the poet ;
"Of the pioneer who came,
Battling for a home and name,
All are dead."
The first birth was that of Wm. Hittle, in 1833. The first death
was Abner Smith, in 1828. The first marriage occurred in 1830,
when Conway Rhodes was united with Miss Harmon. The first
sermon was preached by Mr. Mitchell, a Methodist, in 1829. The
first Justice of the Peace was Jonas Hittle. The first school was
taught by Silas B. Curtis. The first round-log cabin was built by
Mordecai Mobley, a pioneer, who, in an early day, officiated in the
several positions of what are now County Judge, County and Cir-
cuit Clerks, Recorder, and Postmaster. But of so little importance
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 545
were these offices in those days, that fees from all of them were
scarcely sufficient to support his family.
The early history of the villags of Mackinaw is very fully de-
tailed in the second chapter of this History, we therefore deem it
unnecessary to record it here. The present population of the town
is about 800. It is on the line of the I., B. & W., and I. M. Rail-
roads. The first post-office was established in 1827. Mordecai
Mobley was the first postmaster ; the present postmaster is James
E. Hill. There is one drug store, three grocery stores, one furni-
ture store, one hardAvare store, and two of general merchandise, one
hotel, one large agricultural implement house, three wagon shops, and
a grist-mill. There is a Masonic lodge, which was organized over
a half century ago, and is now in a flourishing condition. The Trus-
tees of the town are as follows : Daniel Beckly, James H. Porter,
J. L. Davis, Thomas Higgins, and J. H. Wilson.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF MACKINAW TOWNSHIP.
Christian Church. — From the earliest settlement of Mackinaw
township, dating as for back as 1826, there were occasional religious
meetings held at private houses and subsequently school-houses.
Methodist, Cumberland Presbyterian, United Brethren, occasionally
a Baptist, a New Light, or Old Christian preacher, living in other
settlements, or traveling through, would stop with the friendly
pioneers and preach to those who would gather in. These meetings
were not without some good effect. In 183-t, Elder James A. Lind-
sey came from Kentucky and settled in the east part of the town-
ship. He was a minister of the Disciples or Christian Church, and
was, perhaps, the first resident preacher of the township ; was a
man of sterling worth and integrity, kind and genial in disposition,
and ardently devotional. He began at once the proclamation of the
Gospel as taught by this people. Having a large family, and real-
izing the importance of regular church influence, he soon made it a
special feature of his work to establish the cause in his own neigh-
borhood. He was successful in harmonizing some of other religious
views, and baptizing others who had made no profession. These
efforts resulted in a meeting for consolidation, which was held at his
house in Sept., 1837, and on the 5th day of October, at what was
known as Mt. Pleasant school-house, the first Christian Church of
the township, and perhaps the first, that was strictly on that basis, in
the county. The Methodist Conference had established a station at
546 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Mackinaw town, and had monthly preaching, and this has always
been a point in their Conference. The Christian Church organized
with 23 members and chose as Elders, George Hittle and Samuel
Fleshen; Deacons, Michael Hittle and Nehemiah Hill; James E.
Lindsey, Evangelist, and R. F. Houston, Clerk. From the first the
congregation prospered and increased steadily, seldom failing to meet
on the first day of every week. Her circle of influence and bound-
aries enlarged. The school-house and the private homes were soon
too small to contain the anxious congregations. The groves, God's
first temples, were the frequent resorts of the early worshippers.
This book will foil into the hands of those who will remember with
emotions of supreme delight many of those grove meetings, where
was heard the clarion voices of a Davenport, a Palmer, or a Bowles,
or the milder teaching of a Young, a Major, or a Lindsey, all of
whom have gone to their rewards. They brought scores to the Cross
and delighted the souls of 'the devoted throngs. When, in the year
1849, the congregation conceived the necessity of a house of wor-
ship, a majority of the members favored building in Mackinaw town.
Accordingly, in that and the following years, they erected a large
and comfortable house. For a period of over a quarter century they
occupied it, and seldom failed on the first day of the week to hold
their meeting in accordance with their faith. During these years
they have enjoyed the pastoral and evangelizing services of many of
the finest speakers of Central Illinois. In addition to those al-
ready named there were AVm. Ryan, James Robinson, the Johnsons,
the Aliens, S. T. Jones, Howe, Mitchel, R. Williams, Chaplin,
Poynter, Shick, Samuel Lowe, John Lindsey, ^\. Houston, and a
host of others.
In 1875 the Christian Church disposed of the house they had
used so long, and erected another more modern in architecture, and
at a cost of ^3,300. On the 22d day of August of that year it was
formally opened. Elder Joseph Lane preaching the first or dedica-
tory sermon. Since that time H. A. Pallister has labored one year
with them with marked success, and a number of other speakers of
notoriety have been with them. The venerable G. W. Minier has
been a frequent speaker for this congregation for many years. At
the present time Prof. Kirk, of Eureka, and Elder R. B. Chaplain,
of Normal, each preach once per month. The meetings are well
attended. The present officers are: Elders, D. W. Puterbaugh,
Joseph Myers, Thos. Wilson, Geo. Patterson; Deacons, Solomon
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 547
Puterbaugh, Jacob Smith, Moses Ingersoll, James E. Hill, Samuel
Puterbaugh, David Philips. More than 2,000 persons have had
membership with this congregation. About 150 are attending
members now. Several who made their religious start here have
been acceptable preachers, and some of them dfstinguished. Some
whose Christian career began at Mackinaw, have been instrumental
in building up the cause in other places. Thus the history of the
little start in the log school-house, in 1837, can never be told in
full until Millennial morn, when the gathering hosts shall meet before
the grand assize and strike glad hands, and receive the recompense
of their reward.
The M. E. Church. — The church edifice of this congregation was
erected in 1850, at a cost of §1,000. The first pastor was Rev.
Wm. Beadle. It was organized with about nine members — J.
Tucker and wife, Dr. Sailor and wife, Jas. Mathewson and wife,
and A. S. Smith and wife. The several pastors have been Revs.
George Miller, Samuel Smith, John Calhoun, Wm. McKay, Mr.
Pinkcrton, George Milsap, John Smith, and others. The present
pastor is Rev. Wm. Wiley. The present membership numbers 24.
Seventh Day Adventists. — This congregation was organized in the
village in 1877, and includes members residing in Deer Creek.
They have no church edifice, but meet in private houses. All mem-
bers take part in exercises. One-tenth of the actual income of
members goes to the Church. They have no discipline but the Bible ;
construe immersion as baptism, and observe the seventh day instead
of the first day, as the Lord's day. Xo person is admitted into the
Church who uses whisky, tobacco or opium in any form. They
believe Jesus Christ is soon to come to earth to destroy it, and set
up his kingdom ; that the soul sleeps in the grave until the final
judgment day.
In closing this sketch we wish to mention, personally, some of
the leading citizens of the community.
Edward H. Bacon, farmer, stock raiser and brick-maker, sec. 13;
Post-office, Lilly. Mr. B. is the owner of about 1,200 acres of land.
He is a native of Oxford, Butler Co., O., having been born in tliat
State March 13, 1827. His jiarents were Edward and Jane Bacon.
His father was a native of X. J., and mother of l\'nn. Mr. B.
received his education in the schools of his native State. He came
to this county in the year 1860, and has been very successful
in business matters. He was united in marriage March 15, I860,
to Miss Sarah Worden, Of this union one daughter and one son
548 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
were born. The latter is deceased. In politics Mr. B. is a Demo-
crat. His portrait may be found in this work.
Charles Bergen has followed the occupation of farming since he
came to this State. He located in this county in 1832 ; has only
moved once since coming to the State and then only eight miles ;
now resides on sec. 22. He is the owner of 720 acres of fine farm-
ing land. Mr. B. was born in Kings Co., N. Y., Jan. 21, 1806;
his parents were Johannes and Johanna Bergen, natives of N. Y.
He was educated in the common schools of his native State and was
married Feb. 6, 1834, to Eleanor Maples. They are the parents of
eight children — two boys and six girls — only three of whom are
now living. Post-office, Lilly.
Isaac Blair is a native of Ross Co., O., having been born in that
State Feb. 4, 1836. He is the son of Bethnel and Sabry Blair, who
are natives of the same State. Mr. B., the subject of this sketch,
received his education in the common schools of his native State
and 111. By occupation he is a farmer, residing on sec. 27. He
was united in marriage Oct. 5, 1860, to Miss Elizabeth S. Chaplin;
their union has been blessed with six children, five of whom are
living. Mr. B is a member of the Christian Church. His Post-
office address, Mackinaw.
Joseph L. Boucher, salesman for George Miller and Son, Macki-
naw, was born in Licking Co., O., March 22, 1828. His parents
were Jacob and Elizabeth of Maryland and Virginia. Mr. Boucher
came to the county in 1837, and was a delegate in the first Republi-
can convention ever held in Tazewell Co. ; was postmaster at Arm-
ington under the administration of Buchanan, and at Mackinaw
under Lincoln and was U. S. ganger for four years under Grant, and
no indictment or fault was ever found against or with him in his
official duties. Mr. Boucher was married Jan. 16, 1850, to Sarah
Parmelee, who died Jan. 13, 1851; was married again June 15,
1853, to Mary A. Hittle. He is a member of the Christian Church,
and a Republican.
Joseph L. Davis, Justice of the Peace and Notary Public. Mr.
Davis has been Justice of the Peace since 1849, with the exception
of two years, and has at various times filled the offices of Town-
Clerk, Collector, and Assessor. In politics he is a Democrat. He
resides in the village of Mackinaw. He is a native of Bennington
Co., Vt., where he was born April 22, 1814. His parents were
Gideon and Lydia Davis, of New Hampshire. He attended the
common schools and Chester Academy, of Chester, Vt. He was
married Sept. 22, 1838, to Catherine Lance. They have had nine
children — two boys and seven girls — six of whom are living.
John C. Dennis, jr., farmer, sec. 35. He owns 160 acres of fine
land and has been successful in his chosen pursuit. When our
country called for men to perpetuate the Union, Mr. Dennis donned
the bliie and joined Co. G, 17th 111. Infantry, May 25, 1861, and
served his country for over three years. He is a native of Morgan
MPS. EMILY I.HILL
NEHEMIAH HIL«
MACK/NAtV TOWNSHIP
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 549
Co., this State, where he was born March 27, 1832. He was educat-
ed in the common schools of his native county. His parents are
John C and Rachel A. Dennis, natives, respectively, of Virginia and
Kentucky. Both of them arc now living at Eureka, this State,
aged 76, and 71. The subject of this sketch was married INIarch
22, 1866, to Susan A. Railsback, daughter of D. G. A. Railsback.
They have had six children — three boys and three girls — five of
whom are living. He belongs to the Christian Church. P. O.,
Minier.
Robert A. Dunham, retired, resides in the village of Mackinaw,
and is the owner of 345 acres of land. Mr. Dunham started in life
with a cash caj^tal of twenty-five cents, and never received a cent
from any one but what he gave value received. He was born in
Northumberland Co., Pa., April 15, 1806. His parents, Mathias
and Maria Dunham, were natives of Pa. and N. J. He received a
common school education in his native State. He came to this
county in 1834; was married July 11, 1839, to Sidney A. Halsey.
They have had nine children — five boys and four girls, but three
of whom are living. He is a Methodist. His political views are
Republican.
Peter G. Ilai/ was born in Christian Co., Ky., Jan. 12,1825;
his parents were John and Celia Hay, of Virginia and Kentucky.
Mr. Hay attended the common schools of Kentucky and Illinois.
He came to this State in 1835 and settled in this county in 1853;
he now lives on sec. 25. He pursues the occupation of farming and
stock raising, in whicli he has been quite successful. He ownes 793
acres of land. The subject of this sketch was married Nov. 27,
1850, to Almedea Smith, who has borne him eight children, one of
whom is deceased. Mr. Hay is connected with the Christian
Church. Political views are Democratic. P. O. address, liilly.
Neheminh Hill is a native of North Carolina, and a son of Gar-
land and Elizabeth (Wade) Hill. His mother died when he was
quite small. His father moved to Ky. in an early day, in which
State Nehemiah grew to maidiood and was united in marriage to
Emily I. Wooldrige May 13, 1828. They have celebrated "their
golden wedding. Their union was blessed with nine cliildren ; their
names are as follows : Mabel, who died in infancy ; Henry W., who
served three years in the 47th regt., is now deceased ; John W. ; J.
E. ; Benjamin C, who served in the 26th regt. and was killed in
battle; ^lary Elizabeth, deceased; Philip P., who served in the
26th regt.,jwas wounded at luka. Miss. ; Nehemiah L., who served
in 26th regt. ; and Hernion W. Mr. and Mrs. Hay are consistent
members of the Christian Church. He was an old-time Wliig, but
has acted with the Republican ]>artv since its organization. Post-
office, Mackinaw.
Hermon W. Hill, druggist, INIackinaw. Mr. Hill luis a first-class
drug-store, is an experienced apothecary, and is (juite successful in
his business. He is a native of Tazewell Co., and was born Aug.
550 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
7, 1850. His parents are Nehemiah and Emily I. Hill, natives of
North Carolina and Mississippi, respectively. Hermon W. was ed-
ucated in the common schools of this county and Eureka College,
Woodford Co., 111. He was married to Ida B. Boucher Feb. 20,
1879.
James E. Hill, postmaster, of the firm of J. E. & N. L. Hill,
general merchants, INIackinaw. Mr. Hill was born in this county
and township, Oct. 29, 1835. His parents were Nehemiah and
Emily I. Hill, of North Carolina and Mississippi. James E. at-
tended the common schools of this county ; was married to Mary
E. Blair Dec. 27, 1862. They have one boy and two girls. Mr.
Hill is a member of the Christian Church, and, politically, a
Republican.
Michael Hittle was born in Greene Co., O., Nov. 29, 1808. His
parents, George and Mary Hittle, were natives of Northumberland
Co., Pa. His father came West to Ohio in 1790. He visited Illi-
nois in 1817, and moved into Sangamon county in 1825, where he
remained only four months, when he pushed on to the beautiful
grove in Hittle township, which was christened Hittle's Grove in
honor of the Elder Hittle. Mr. H., the subject of this sketch,
felled the first tree and split the first rail in Hittle township. He
sold out his improvements in Hittle's Grove in 1830, and moved
into Mackinaw township, sec. 22, where he has since resided. He
received his education in the log school-houses of Ohio and Indiana.
Aug. 6, 1828, he was united in marriage with Mary Ewing, of
Logan county, 111. She died Sept. 15, 1869. June 16, 1870, he
married Mrs. Agnes Bovd. His children, with dates of birth, are
as follows: Eliza Jane, May 29, 1829; Mary Ann, Oct. 27, 1831;
George, April 8, 1836 ; Ehzabcth, July 8, 1837 ; Angeline, Aug.
19, 1839; Harriet, Aug. 20, 1841; J. A., Oct. 16, 1843; Clara B.,
June 12, 1846; Jonas, May 14, 1849, and Emma A., Sept. 6, 1851.
Seven of these ten children are now living.
Mr. Hittle was a member of Capt. Adams' company, Avhich went
from this county during the Black Hawk war. He participated in
the battle of Stillman's Run. We were not aware Mr. H. was in
the Black Hawk war at the time we wrote the chapter on that war,
in this volume, or we would have given his name there. We made
diligent inquiries, but his name was not mentioned. Mr. H. is a
member of the Christian Church ; politically, a Republican ; post-
office, Mackinaw.
Mosea W. Ingersoll is a son of William and Lora Ingersoll, na-
tives of Mass. Moses AV. was born in Courtland Co., N. Y., Sept.
26, 1813. He was educated in the schools of his native State. Mr.
I. moved to Ohio in 1836, and to this Co. in 1852. He follows the
occupation of farming. INIr. Ingersoll was united in marriage Oct.
II, 1840, to Miss Caroline Hoffner, by whom he had eight chil-
dren. She died April 12, 1856. He was again married June 25,
1857, to Elizabeth Taylor, by whom he had five children. Of his
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 551
thirteen children, but six arc now living. In politics Mr. I. is a
Eepnlilican. P. ()., INIackinaw.
Elder Jtimes Alfred Lindsey was l^orn April 28th, 1793, near Haw
river in the vicinity of Raleigh, N. C. His father, James Lindsey,
a native of Va., was of English and Welsh origin. His mother,
Delilah Hodgson, a native of North Carolina, was of Scotch ])arent-
age. His father was a mill-wright by ])rofession. On his way
from the South at the close of the Revolutionary war, in which he
served as a soldier for many years, he was taken down sick in North
Carolina, at the house of Mrs. Delilah Brewer, formerly Miss Hodg-
son as above. On his recovery he was mtirried to the Avidow
Brewer, who bore him eight children, four sons and four daugliters,
among whom was James Alfred, the subject of our narrative.
When he was thirteen years old his parents removed to Christian
Co., Ky. Here his father opened a farm and built a mill, which
bears the name of Lindsey's mill to the present day. James A.
grew up among the pioneers of Western Kentucky, and had many
an adventure with the wild beasts of the forest ; bears, wolves and
panthers being numerous. When about 19 years of age he enlisted
in the army against the Indians in the war of 181*2; but before
leaving home he obeyed his deep religious convictions, and was bap-
tized Sept. 29, and united with the Baptist Church, of which his
forefathers had been members time immemorial. He was chief mu-
sician in his regiment. He was married when 21, to Miss Jean
Scott, dautrhter of Wm. Scott, also a Revolutionarv soldier. Jean's
origin was Scotch and Irish. She Avas also at that time a member
of the Bajitist Church and deeply pious. She had, however, been
reared a member of the Scotch Presbyterians or Independents.
Soon after his marriage James A. became fully convinced that God
required him to preach the Gospel. He therefore began his work as
a minister. He was poor, but thirsted for knowledge, and went to
school after his marriage, and among other studies he mastered sur-
veying. He was elected County Surveyor of Christian Co. He,
however, grew exceedingly unhappy over human creeds and human
names in the Church, and resolved to abandon all these, and have
no creed, but God's word, and, accordingly, he left the Baptist con-
nection and took his whole church with him. In the meantime he
fell in with the ChristUoi B<(pfisi, and on reading it he found that in
many things Alexander Campl)ell taught his own views, and on
many other points Campbell gave him new and better views. So,
when he took the Noali's Spring Church witli him they were at once,
in derisif>n, called Campbellites. This was the first church in Ken-
tucky south of Green river to take this position. Soon many other
churches and several other preachers went with them. His new
position was taken as early as 1827 or 1828. W'iicn he had worked
hard all day as surveyor he wouhl j)reach at night, and he, in this
way, baj)tized many. His wife, Jean, bore him twelve children —
six sons and six daughters — who all lived to be grown. The fami-
552 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
ly record is as follows : James Alfred Lindsey, born April 28, '93 ;
Jean Scott, his wife, Aug. 6, '92 ; Elizabeth, Dec. 5, '14; James,
Feb. 18, '16; William, Oct. 13, '17; Alfred, June 1, '19; John,
June 15, '21; David, Jan. 28, '23; Delilah, Dec. 21, '24; Jane,
Oct. 22, '26 ; Eliza Davenport, June 10, '29 ; Lucy Ann Major,
Feb. 1, '31; Mary Eleanor, Dec. 3, '32; Felix Erastus, April 15,
'35. He never dabbled in party political strife, but was early con-
vinced that human slavery was wrong and alike injurious to master
and slave. Hence his great concern, for many years, was to move
his family from the region of its pernicious influences. Elder Lind-
sey first came to Tazewell county, in the fall of 1833, in search of a
new home. He entered land on sec. 23, Mackinaw township. Dur-
ing this visit he baptized the first man and the first woman ever
baptized in Tazewell county. In the Spring of 1834 he moved to
the spot chosen for his new home, with his wife and their eleven
children, the twelfth being born the following year. On his arrival
at Little Mackinaw, which occurred about two o'clock in the after-
noon, on Saturday, he found that they had a meeting appointed at
three. He preached that afternoon and again on the next day, the
Lord's-day, at the house of Thomas Railsback, five miles south of
Mackinaw. He thus promptly began his life-work in his new home,
which he prosecuted to the day of his death with unabated interest.
His first work was at Little Mackinaw, where he and his numerous
family held their membership, till he gathered in enough of his
neighbors to form a congregation in his own neighborhood, called
Mount Pleasant congregation. This took place in 1837. Being a
practical surveyor he was of great value in locating corners and
lines, and this settled and prevented many difficulties and much
strife. Being a good practical scholar he taught for several winters.
But his life-work was preaching the Gosjiel. So, as the Apostles
and the primitive preachers, he went every where preaching the
Word. He constituted a church at Stout's Grove ; preached often
at Bloomington, and in the region all round about Bloomington,
Danvers, Lexington, Leroy, etc. He began to preach early south-
west of Tremont, and soon built up a large and prosperous church
called Antioch. He preached much at Hittle's Grove, where he
baptized many and established a strong church. He was the first
man who ever taught the distinctive features of his church at Sugar
Creek, now in Logan county. Salt Creek, Dewitt county, at Hieron-
ymus, Delavan, Pekin, Green Valley, and, indeed, for from fifty to
one hundred miles all around Mackinaw. He early formed the ac-
quaintance of H. D. Palmer, near Lacon, Hugh Bowles and his son,
Walter P. Bowles, near Clinton, Elder E. Rhodes, near Blooming-
ton, and several others, who belonged to the Christian connection or
New-Lights. He had much earnest labor in harmonizing the differ-
ences between himself and them. Yet he ultimately succeeded, and
those who differed so widely at first became one, and all preached
and practiced as he had done from the first. Thus he became one of
ELDER JAMES A.LINDSEY
MRS. JEAN S.LINDSEY.
Mackinaw.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 555
the greatest mouklino; powers that gave shape and caste to all the
churches in the State of Illinois, from S])riiigfiekl, north, and from
the Illinois, east. Although his great power lay in organizing and
harmonizing, this was by no means his only power. His mind
being clear and delineative, he seldom failed to bring conviction to
those who heard him. Hence, he was a successful prosclyter, and
baptized manv hundreds with his own hands. Being mild and gen-
tle toward all he was generally beloved, and early received the title.
Father Lindsey, and was so addressed and spoken of during the last
forty years of his life, and his name is yet sacred in the memory of
thousands.
He had the pleasure of seeing three of his s(nis successful ])reach-
ers of the Gospel, James, Alfred, and John. The two former went
to the spirit land before him. He was an earnest advocate of the
great temperance cause, and as early as 1842, in company with his
sons, John and William, got up a Washingtonian society, writing
the pledge with his own hand. He was often heard to say: "if this
nation is ever overthrown, it will be caused by intemperance and
})ride." He was also one of the first jireachers of his church who
advocated a missionary society, and a new and improved translation
of the Scriptures into our great English language. He advocated
the establishing of high schools and colleges for the education of
preachers and teachers ; and after his son, John, graduated at Beth-
any College, and entered into the work of establishing AValnut
Grove Academy (now Eureka College), he gave him his full aid
and support, and deserved more honor than any other man, living or
dead, who lived as far from the College as he did, for the existence
of that great seat of learning. During his career of near forty years
in this county, besides constituting some twenty or thirty churches,
he had the good fortune to induce many young men to enter
the ministry. Tiie last earnest labor of his useful life was to aid
in establishing a congregation and erecting a house of worship at
Lilly, a new town near his own home. To this work he subscribed
very liberally. His son William is now Elder, presiding over it.
And his aged widow, now near 87 years of age, is a member of the
Lilly congregation. His three living daughters also have their
membership here, and are all active workers, both at home and for
the foreign mission cause. The mother also gives freely to the mis-
sion work. Before taking any step in life, his standing question
was, "Is it right?" His motto in action towards others was, "Do
unto others as you would have them do to you." " Owe no man
any thing," was his financial motto. Hence he never went in debt.
For all reliijious dutv he said, "Give me a thus saith the Lord."
His posterity, living and dead, number at the date of this writing,
eighty-eight persons. The leading features of his life grew still
more vivid as he drew near to his closing hour. His house, as he
lay on his death-bed for many weeks, was truly a house of worship.
As friends crowded around him from far and near, before each one
556 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
took his last earthly farewell, he had a portion of God's word read,
singing and prayer, and then followed the exhortation to be faithfnl.
Thus there was worship from three to five times a day in his room.
He was in his 80th year when he died. Shortly before he breathed
his* last, he looked steadily into the face of his son John, who stood
near him and said, " My Son, work while it is day. The night soon
cometh when no man can work." " How short is life in which to
do the great work for God, for Christ, for Humanity." He wrote
his last will and testament with his own hand many years before he
died, chosing Michael Hittlc, who had for near forty years stood
by him and been true as a neighbor, a friend, and a brother in
Christ, to see that he was hurried in a precise spot, and that his wife
was laid to his right side. He committed to the care of his daughter,
Jane, and her husband. Dr. S. K. Linn, his beloved and aged wife,
having also left ample provisions for her support, then fell asleep,
and rests, not like Jacob, with his fathers, but, like Abraham, with
his children. As a souvenir for the many who dearly loved the
old veteran, we place in this volume his portrait, and, also, that of
his wife.
Elder John Llndsey, A. 31., was born in Christian Co., Ky., June
15, 1821. His parents, James A. and Jean (Scott) Lindsey, were
blessed with twelve children, of whom John was the fifth in order
of birth. He was in his fifteenth year when his father moved to
Tazewell Co. A few days after John was 15 years old he obeyed
his religious convictions and was baptized, uniting with the Little
Mackinaw Christian Church, being the first north of Sangamon to
take the Bible as a rule of faith, and break the loaf every first day
of the week. At the age of 19 he began to preach in Tazewell,
McLean, Logan, Dewitt and Woodford counties. He was ordained
when quite young and began to administer baptism when almost a
boy. He preached much and baptized many before going to college.
He entered Bethany College, AV. Va., in the fall of 1844; gradua-
ted in 1848. AVhile a student he often went out to preach, and
especialy during vacations, and gathered many into the Church, also
many of the so-called New Light congregations, of West Va. and
Tenn., laid aside their peculiarities and came into the fellowship of
the Disciples. In two summers more than 1,500 souls thus came
over. At the close of his stay in College he returned to Illinois,
and after preaching till his last coat left the elbows exposed to pub-
lic gaze, he commenced teaching a district school in Mackinaw
township. While in school he conceived the plan of erecting one
central college in Illinois, and a subordinate high school in each
county in the State. On presenting his plan to his father. Elds. J.
P. Jones, Wm. Davenport and H. D. Palmer, and especially Elder
Major, they decided to locate at Walnut Grove, now Eureka. After
a few rousing meetings at Eureka, he went forth, in company with
Wm. Davenport, among all the Churches, soliciting means to found
the College. He would first give a lecture on education and then
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 557
Elder D. would join him in appealing to their pockets. Where they
would not give money, he would take a cow, a horse or any other
property worth money. On one occasion he procured a mule, blind
of one eye, and sold "it in an hour for §37.50. He also solicited
money to build a boarding house. The school was opened and he
began to teach in the fall of 1850, in company with Professor A. S.
Fisher. He was married the previous April to Miss Mariah Mason,
of Woodstield, Ohio. He taught for two years and then abandoned
teaching on account of the failing health, both of himself and wife.
During this period he had also done much preaching, and held suc-
cessful meetings. In the meantime his plan being openly made
known, the Church at Jacksonville and one at Abingdon aimed to
outstrip the Eureka enterprise, and each desired to become the
central school. This engendered strife and division, and greatly
retarded the well-begun work. He returned to Tazewell county
and located in Washington, Avhere he built up from a handful of 32
members, a strong Church numbering 150 members. He removed
from Washington to Peoria, where he built up a congregation of 65
members in a short time, and a neat and elegant house of worship.
His best estimates of additions in Tazewell county is about 1,000;
he can count up near 500 at Mackinaw alone, 250 at Washington,
125 each at Lilly and Antioch, and about 40 at Pekin. He also
held a very successful meeting in Tremont. These two Churches
were sutfered to go down when he was called to other fields. While
in Peoria he Avas one of the editors of a religous paper. He has been
married three times. He was first married in 1850, to Miss Maria
K. Mason; second, in 1855, to Miss Sarah F. Eeding; third, in
1858, to Miss Martha M. Davidson. His children by the first two
are all dead. He has three childreen by the present wife. He
began in the temperance work when a boy, and has been very
earnest all his life as a temperance man. He has been State Evan-
gelist or Corresponding Secretary of the State Missionary Society
for three different times, a year each ; was President of Princeton
College, Kentucky, two years; has been pastor at Peoria, at Pekin,
at Washington, at Atlanta, Logan county, and at Duquon, in Illi-
nois ; also pastor of the Churches at Palmyra and St. Joseph, Mo.
Of his 5,000 additions to the Church, one-fifth have been in Tazewell
county. Being the first college graduate among his people in Illi-
nois, he has been often called upon to hold public debates, and in
the numerous discussions held by him, he has always succeeded in
leaving his people in a healthy and prosperous state, and fully confi-
dent that he had sustained himself well. At the present writing his
residence is in Eureka, yet he always calls it going home to return to
Tazewell. He has just entered his fortieth year as a minister of
the Gospel, and is yet strong and vigorous, being only 58 years old.
He loves to recount the days when they beat all their meal in the old
homony mortar, or went thirty miles or more to mill. The wolf
chase, and deer hunt of the early times, are percious to his memory.
558 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Samuel K. Linn, M. D., was born in Clinton Co., O., Aug. 17,
1819. His parents Avere Samuel and Jane Linn; He was educated
in the common schools of his native State and was graduated from
the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, O., Feb. 21, 1848.
Dr. Linn came to this county in 1840 and owns farm property on
sec. 23, on which he lives and farms in connection with the practice
of medicine, in which he has been successful ; was married Oct. 22,
1850, to Jane Lindsey, daughter of Elder James A. Lindsey. Dr.
Linn is a member of the Christian Church, and a Republican in pol-
itics. P. O., Lilly.
John McFall. Mr. McFall was born at Brownsville, Fayett Co.,
Penn., June 4, 1822. He is the son of Charles and Jane McFall
and came to this State in 1846, locating in Peoria. He moved to
this Co. in the year 1859. By occupation he is a blacksmith and
brickmaker. Mr. McFall has served his people in the office of
Justice of the Peace. He has considerable musical taste and talent
and has taught vocal music for many years. He was united in
marriage April 14, 1842, to Miss Mary Wagoner. They have had
seven children, only three of whom are living. He is a member of
the Methodist Church. P. O. address, Lilly.
Philip J. F. 3Iiller, former, sec. 22 ; P. O., Mackinaw. Mr. M.
is the happy possessor of 333 acres of choice land. He was born
in Robinson Co., Tenn., Nov. 4, 1836. George and Elenor, his
parents, were natives of Virginia. Philip came to this county in
June, 1837. Attended the common schools of this county; and has
held the offices of Assessor and Highway Commissioner; was
joined in wedlock to Martha Adams, June 29, 1858 ; they have had
seven children — three boys and four girls; five are living; is a
member of the Christian Church, and a Democrat in politics.
Joseph H. Myers is a son of John and Catharine Myers, who were
natives of Pennsylvania, in which State Joseph H., the subject of
this sketch, was born March 1, 1826. He came to this county
while a lad nine years of age. He is a farmer on sec. 27, and is the
owner of 263 acres of land. His post-office is Mackinaw. Mr.
Myres has been a consistent member of the Christian Church for
the past sixteen years. Mrs. Myers is also a member of the same
Church. He was united in marriage to Mis Susan Perry, who was
born in Kentucky, April 30, 1830. The day upon which he led
Miss Perry to the hymenial alter was March 13, 1849. They have
been blessed with six children, four of whom are living.
Daniel W. Pnterhaugh, farmer, lives on sec. 26, and is the OAvner
of 619 acres of choice farming land; has succeeded admirably in
his chosen profession. He was born in Miami county, Ohio, Oct.
24, 1824. His parents were Jacob and Hannah Puterbaugh,
natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania, respectively. Daniel W.
was educated in the common schools of Ohio and his adopted State.
He is a member of the Christian Church, and has served as Elder
for about sixteen years; was married Oct. 8, 1846, to Sarah J.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 559
Smith, who was born in this township Sept. 9, 1829. She is the
mother of seven children — three boys and fonr girls — six of whom
are living. Mr. Pntorbaugh has served as Justice of the Peace for
sixteen years, and has held the offices of Supervisor and Highway
Commissioner. P. O., Lilly.
Solomon Putcrbangh is an extensive farmer and one of the solid men
of the county, owning over 1,000 acres of land, well stocked and
equipped. He is a native of Miami Co., O., where he was born Sept.
9, 1822 ; his parents were Jacob and Hannah Puterbaugh. Solomon
came to this county in 1839. He only enjoyed the priyilegeof at-
tending the common schools of pioneer times, yet with his rare
native business qualifications he has conquered, to a very great extent,
the circumstances that tend to keep men down, and has made of life,
thus far, a success. Has been Supervisor and Highway Commissioner.
In politics is Repulican and Prohibitionist. Mr. Puterbaugh was
married Feb. 27, 1844, to Eliza A. Howell, who was born in White
Co., this State, June 10, 1826. They have had four children —
three boys and one girl — of whom two boys are living. He is a
member of the Christian Church. P. O., Mackinaw.
Warren Percy, deceased, was born in Rutland, Meigs county, O.,
Jan. 26, 1822. His parents were natives of the same State. He
Avas educated in the common schools of Ohio, and came to this
county in 1858» He resided on sec. 35, where he owned 160 acres
of fine land, which he cultivated. In this he proved quite success-
ful. Mr. and Mrs. Percy accepted the teachings of the Gospel of
our Savior, and united with the Christian Church. He Avas a Re-
publican, politically. Mr. Percy went to California in 1850, where
he was quite successful, financially. He returned in 1854, and was
married Dec. 15, 1857, to Emma E. Williams, a native of Meigs
county, Ohio, where she was born March 7, 1835. Their home was
blessed by the birth of two boys and two girls, only one of whom,
a boy, is now living.
D. G. A. Railshack, farmer, sec. 32. Mr. R. has spent an active
life of almost half a century in this county, and has acquired 356
acres of land ; P. O., Mackinaw. He is one of the substantial pil-
lars of the Christian Church of this section, having been a member
for 45 years ; has been an elder in the Church for nearly 25 years.
The subject of this sketch was born in Montgomery Co., Tenn.,
April lb, 1819,' and moved to this county in the fall of 1830.
Thomas F. and Louisa V. Railsback, his parents, were natives of
Virginia. The first school Mr. Railsback went to in this county
was taught by his father in his own cabin, in 1832. Mr. Railsback
was united in marriage Jan. 17, 1839, to Ellen E. A. Walles, who
died in March, 1853; was again married Aug. 5, 1854, to Virginia
E.Adams; He is the parent of eleven children — four boys and
seven girls — nine of whom are living. Thomas A., his eldest son,
served during the Rebellion in the 94th 111. Inf
Asa S. Smith, Sr. This gentleman is a native of Sumner Co.,
560 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Tonn., where he was born Feb. 16, 1816. His parents were Joshua
and Eliza])eth Smith, the former a native of Va. the hitter of Ky.
Mr. Asa S. Smith came to tliis county in 1848. He foHows the oc-
cupation of farming and stock raising. He was united in marriage
May 16, 1838, to Elizabeth Neville, a native of Montgomery Co.,
Teiin. They have had twelve children — nine boys and three girls
— four of their sons were taken with a fever, in Jan., 1867, and
died within forty-two days. Mr. S. has been a member of the
Methodist Church for thirty-five years. Post-office, Mackinaw.
We will cite an incident of his life which he vividly relates : In
Jan., 1836, while engaged in the woods getting out timber, in the
State of Louisiana, and having no weapons of defense but his axe,
he was attacked by a panther. So sudden was this nimble and
treacherous animal in its attack, that Mr. S. was compelled to drop
his axe and use only his hands against the formidable enemy.
After a long and severe struggle, he succeeded in killing it by
choking it to death. The scars of the many wounds he received
cling to him yet and will through life.
irichnrd Sparks, of the firm of Sparks & Son, fiirmers and grain
dealers, Mackinaw. He is a member of the Christian Church, and
was born in Salem Co., N. J., Aug. 19, 1805. Thomas and Abi-
gail, his parents, were natives of New Jersey. Mr. Sparks has
lived for over half a century in the holy bonds of matrimony, hav-
ing been united in marriage March 14, 1820, to luicy Devore, of
Brown Co., O. She is the mother of ten children — five boys and
five girls — eight of whom are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Sparks
celebrated their golden wedding March 14, 1879. On that occasion
four of their children and ten grandchildren were present. Mr.
Sparks is one of the original Republicans, having acted with the
party since its organization. Tliomas Sparks, the third son of
Richard, served in the 3d 111. Cavalry during the Rebellion.
James R. Whisler, proprietor of the steam flouring-mill at Mack-
inaw, was born March 17, 1836, in Cumberland Co., Pa. His
parents were Jacob and Mary A. Whisler, natives of l*a. James R.
while a youth, attended the common schools of his native State, ac-
quiring a good practical education, and came to this county in 1855.
Two years later, Oct. 28, 1857, he was married to Mary C. Smith,
who was born Sept. 14, 1840, in Fulton Co., Ky. She is the
mother of three girls. Mrs. Whisler is a member of the Christian
Church. Mr. W. is identified with the business interests of Taze-
well Co., and has been quite successful.
Georr/e Walker, farmer on sec. 22, He has acquired the owner-
ship of 900 acres of land, and, too, when he commenced life with
nothing. He worked as a laborer at $12 per month for his first
start, "This certainly speaks well for his energv and business
ability. Mr. Walker was born Cecil Co., Md., May 24, 1832. His
parents, George and Harriet Walker, were natives of Maryland.
He came to this county in 1838; attended common schools of
WILLIAM ALLENSWORTH
[deceased)
UTTLE MJICKff^^^
-■■^
EDWARD H.BACON
MACKINAW
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 561
McLean county, 111., where lie received his education. He was
married March" 18, 1858, to Mary Lilly. They have five children
— two bovs and three girls. He made the good confession befi^re
men and ibr sj)iritual strength and support, and to aid in the great
labor of the Church, united himself with the Christian Church.
His P. O. address is Lilly.
George T. Williams was born in this township June 2, 1834. He
is a son of Isaac J, and Anna AVilliams, natives, respectively, of
Ky. and Tenn. They are among the earliest settlers of the county,
having come here in the year 1829. George T. Williams, the
subject of this sketch, is a farmer on sec. 13, and is the owner of
over 400 acres of land. Mr. T. was married May 6, 1858, to Miss
Rebecca A. Macy, a native of Randolph county, Ind. Their home
has been blessed with three daughters and three sons, of whom two
girls and one boy are living. Mr. W. acts with the Republican
party, and is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
P. O., Lilly.
John H. Wilson was born in Augusta Co., Ya., July 11, 1834;
attended the common schools of his native State and came to this
county in 1855. P. O., INIackinaw. His parents were Daniel and
Elzabcth A. Wilson, natives of Virginia. JSIr. Wilson was married
Nov. 18, 1858, to Charlotte Sargent. He was in the Quartermas-
ter's Department for over a year during the Rebellion, and has held
the office of Justice of the Peace, and Assessor of his township.
Below may be found a schedule of the township officials serving
since the organization of the township, together with the years of
serving :
SUPERVISORS.
Lyman Porter. 1850 Daniel W. Puterbaugh 1866
Jonas H. Hittle 1851-52 George Miller 1867
David Judy 1853-56 Solomon Puterbaugh 1868
J. W. Brack 1857-58 George Miller 1869-74
George Miller 1859-65 J.H.Porter 1875-79
TOV,-N-CLERKS.
M.F.Gerard 1854-55 William M. AVatson 1871
M. D. Tenny 1856 Norman L. Porter 1872
Lyman Porter 1857-58 J. W. Wbite 1873-74
J.A.Terrell 1859 William Saxton 1875-76
N.L.Porter 1860-64 L. M. Brook 1877-78
J.L.Davis 1865 William M. Watson 1879
John A. Richmond 1866-70
ASSESSORS.
Thomas C Wilson 1854 J. W. Puterbaugh. 1868
J.L.Davis 1855-56 N.L.Porter 1869
D. W. Puterbaugh 1857 Elisha Barton. 1870
Elisha Barton 1858 Clark Barton 1871
Clark Barton 1859 Rufus M. Elliott 1872-73
J. L. Davi.s. 1860 C. W. Samuel 1874
D. W. Puterbaugh 1861 Clark Barton 1875
J. L. Davis. 1863 J. L. Davis 1876
Elisha Barton 1864-65 P. J. F. Miller 1877
J. L. Davis 1866-67 J. H. Wilson 1878-79
34
562 • HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
COLLECTORS.
Clark Barton. 1854 Clark Barton 18()0-67
J. Matthews 1855-56 J. L. Davi.s 1808-73
J.B.Chaplin 1857 Daniel Beckley 1874-76
E. B. Hibhard 1858 Wm. Ammerman 1877-78
J.B.Chaplin 1859 James F. Quigg 1879
PEKIN TOWNSHIP.
As the history of the city of Pekin will include that of the town-
ship, we will at once enter upon the difficult task of detailing the
history of that city.
CITY OF PEKIN.
This city is beautifully situated on the eastern shore of the Illi-
nois river. During its early history it enjoyed the advantages of
being a river-town. Since the advent of railroads into the county,
it has been bountifully supplied with the " steel rail " and the " iron
horse," which has very largely replaced the steam-boat as a means of
traffic and travel. The earliest pioneers, the very advance guard of
civilization, as they wended their way up the placid Illinois, and
plunged into the wilderness, where dwelt the red man and wild
beasts of forest and plain, were especially attracted by the beautiful
lay of the country upon which Pekin is located. They looked upon
it as a most favorable site for a town, and, ere a lot had been laid
off or a stake driven, it was christened " Town Site." It was thus
known far and wide by those who traversed the river. We have
been fortunate enough to secure, from the old journals of the late
venerable Jacob Tharp (whose son was the first settler, and who was,
himself, the second person to locate here), a very minute and inter-
esting sketch of the settlement of Pekin. These journals are in the
possession of Mr. W. F. Coopes, of Cincinnati township, to whom
we are indebted for them. We quote in his own language :
"I was born in New Jersey, in September, 1773. In 1792, I
married Miss Phoebe Winans, of Pennsylvania. Two weeks after
we united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. After a streak of
bad luck, in 1825, left Ohio, where I then resided, and traveled
through Indiana with one ox-team, a span of horses, and a family
of twelve persons, reaching the site of Pekin just before Christmas.
" Jonathan Tharp, my son, built the first house ever erected in
the city of Pekin, in 1824, on the spot now occupied by Joshua
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 563
Wagenseller's residence. Jonathan's farm embraced the land now
covered by our heaviest business houses.
" At the time of my arrival, Jonathan was the only occupant.
Their neighbors were Major Nathan Cromwell, living on the Hawley
farm ; Gideon Hawley, living on the Mackinaw side of Sand Prairie ;
Seth Wilson, living on John Young's farm; John and Geo. Clines,
between that place and Tremont ; the Woodrows and John Sum-
mers, living in the AVoodrow settlement ; the Dillon family, after
whom that township was named ; the Hodgsons, friends and rela-
tives of the Dillons; old Benj. Briggs, afterwards Sheriff; James
Scott, who with Wilson, acted as constable in those days ; and Wm.
Eads, who was the first miller in this section of the State. He ran
a "horse-mill," and ground only corn. On New Year's day, 1827,
I went to Fort Clark, now Peoria, where I found a few cabins occu-
pied by John Hamlin, James Dixon, and others. Hamlin had a
little store, and I bought groceries, coffee selling at 37h cents per
pound. On my way home I contracted for mast-fed pork at $2.50
per hundred. I soon built my cabin, placing it about half way
between Joshua Wagenseller's house and the present landing at the
river.
"In the summer of 1827, the first consignment of goods was sent
to Pekin, by one Mobley, the land auctioneer. I received them,
and so won the honor of being the first commission merchant. jSlost
of the goods, however, went on to Mackinaw, which was the first
shire-town. Pekin at this early day, was reported to be the best
commercial point on the Illinois river. All goods came up from St.
Louis, which was the great basis of supplies for the settlers.
"The Government surveys were made previous to 1828. This
year we were cheered by a close neighbor, a Mr. Hinkle, who came
to put up a trading house for Absalom Dillon. The goods came
before the house was finished, and so my smoke-house was used for
the first store. This season the Methodists established a mission,
and their first service was held in Hawley 's house, on Sand Prairie.
In the fall of 1828, Absalom and Jose])h Dillon moved to Pekin,
and 'camped out' for a while. Major Cromwell came in 1829, and
bought out Dillon's stock in trade, when those gentleman returned
to the country. In the same year, Hawley and William Haines
built cabins in our town. The inhabitants then consisted of Crom-
well, Hawley, Haines, Dr. John Warner, the two Hiatts, Jonathan
Tharp and myself. Mr. Clark made a raft of hewed puncheons,
564 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
and started the ferry, placing a stake just below the present ferry
landing to mark his claim.
" When the land sales were held at Springfield, there were several
claimants for the Pekin town-site. On the first day of the sale, the
biddino; ran hio-h, and the land was knocked down to Wm. Haines
at $20.00 an acre, but he did not comply with the regulations of the
sale, and on the second day the same tract was sold for one hundred
dollars per acre. The buyer again failed to comply, and the tract
was once more offered on the third day. A man in Springfield,
named Harrington, had in the meantime a deadly quarrel with Ma-
jor Perkins, one of the principal claimants, growing out of some
delicate question. Those were chivalrous days and he determined
on revenge. So he placed himself near the auctioneer, armed to the
eyebrows, and when the coveted tract was put up, he bid one dollar
and twenty-five cents an acre, and swore he would blow out any
man's brains who offered a higher bid. Major Perkins was stalking
around the room, armed for battle and hunting blood. There was
immense excitement, and death was felt in the atmosphere, but the
tract was knocked down to Harrington. He complied with the
regulations, and walked out feeling sublime, but the Major and his
friends captured the usurper, conveyed him to a room, and j)er-
suaded him to make out deeds for the prize. From these papers
the original title is derived.
"In the spring of 1830, the proprietors surveyed and laid out the
town, Perkins, Hawley, Haines and Cromwell being the active
agents. Cromwell did the surveying. About this time Perkins
sold out to Thomas Snell, from Cincinnati, Ohio. The gentlemen
were much exercised about the way in which to lay off the celestial
city. The elder Hiatt had a claim upon the Lake shore, but when
the land sales occurred he forgot to bid, and Carpenter bought Ids
tract, also buying eighty acres on the east side of said tract. The
proprietors of the future city included these two tracts in the town-
site. Mr. Hiatt was appeased with a pony purse of seventy-five or
eighty dollars.
" After some property sales, the foreign owners were bought out
and the entire city owned, body and soul, by five persons, namely :
William Haines, Thomas Snell, Nathan Cromwell, William Brown,
and David Bailey. The surveys were finally completed, and it was
found that the lots had cost just twenty-eight cents apiece. The
advertisement for the gale of lots was immediately made, to take
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 565
place in April, 1830. The deed of partition was drawn up before
the sale, and is the one now on record."
Jacob Tharp was a large, robust man, and lived almost long
enough to celebrate his centennial birthday. He was born in 1773
and survived till 1872. Much of his life was spent upon the front-
ier, opening up and developing new country for coming generations.
He died at Lancaster, Peoria county, 111., and his remains were
brought to his old home and interred at Pekin. A daughter of his,
Mrs. Mary D. Taggart, and the mother of W. F. Copes, resides in
Cincinnati township. The manuscript, of which the above is an
extract, was put in shape by the old gentleman himself, about 1860,
and revised about 1872.
The survey of the new town was mode by Wm. H. Hodge, the
first County Surveyor, in 1827. He had no surveyor's chain, and,
instead, used a string. Now that the town had been laid off it must
be christened. Mrs. Cromwell, wife of Major Cromwell, was hon-
ored by being called on to perform this important part of founding
their new city. Doubtless with a proplietic eye she could sec a
brilliant future for their town in the not far distant time, and, there-
fore, gave to it the name of Pekin, we suppose after the celestial
city of that name. We should think the streets were also named by
this goodly matron, judging from the feminine names they bear. It
is stated that they were named in honor, and perpetuate the names,
of the early women of the city, and that the older streets, with few
exceptions, bear the given names of the mothers, grandmothers,
wives and daughters of the pioneers. For instance, there is Aman-
da street ; then there are streets that bear such names as these : Ann
Eliza, Caroline, Catharine, Charlotte, Cynthiana, Elizabeth, Har-
riet, Henrietta, Isabella, Jane, Margaret, Matilda, Minerva, Lucinda,
Ruth, Susanna, etc.
A store was soon opened, as recited by Mr. Tharp, The settlers
then wisely turned to look after the welfare of their children. They
erected a school-house in 1831. This pioneer institution was long
known as the Snell school-house. It was a one-storied building and
was erected by Thomas Snell, and stood on the west side of Second
street, between Elizabeth and St. Mary's streets. Its first occupant,
as a teacher, was John S. Snell, a son of the builder, who also dis-
tinguished himself by delivering the first Fourth of July oration to
the citizens of Pekin.
In the same year a warehouse was erected by Thomas Snell, who
566 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
seems to have been a prominent man, and a promoter of the com-
mercial and educational interests of the town.
The Asiatic cholera visited Pekin in the beginning of July, 1834,
bringing death to many a household, and sadness and sorrow to the
hearts of those who were left behind. Many prominent citizens,
among whom are mentioned the names of Mr. Smith, Mrs. Cauldron,
Thomas Snell, Dr. Perry, Mrs. Perry, and Mrs. J. C. Morgan, fell
victims to this fearful malady. Drs. Perry, Pillsbury and Griffith
were the representatives of the medical profession here at that time.
July 9, 1835, the first town election of which we have any au-
thentic account was held in the court-house in Pekin, for the elec-
tion of five resident freeholders of the town of Pekin as Trustees,
with the following result : David Mark received 24 votes ; Daniel
Bailey, 24; Samuel Wilson, 17; J. C.Morgan, 22; S. Pillsbury,
24, and S. Field, 12. The five first-named candidates were elected
and qualified before Alden Hull, a Justice of the Peace. The Board
of Trustees met and organized by electing J. C. Morgan, President,
and Benj. Kellogg, Jr., Clerk.
The Board of Trustees met at the court-house, Aug. 1st, 1835,
and passed an ordinance defining the limits of the corporation of
Pekin, which were as follows : " Beginning at a point on the west
side of the Illinois river, opposite the northwest corner of fractional
section 34, in township 25, north of range 5, west of the third prin-
cipal meridian ; thence east on the north line of section 35, in the
township above named, to the middle of last-named section ; thence
south on a line with the middle of said section 35, to Broadway, in
the town of Cincinnati, county and State aforesaid ; thence west
along Broadway to the west bank of the Illinois river; thence north
to the place of beginning."
Benjamin Kellogg, Jr., was appointed Treasurer, and Richard H.
Snell, Collector, by the Board of Trustees, at this meeting. Asses-
sors were afterwards appointed.
The following anecdote is related of Rev. Joseph Mitchel, the
first regular pastor of the M. E. Church at this place : Some of
the neighbors met to hold a religious meeting, when some of the
younger members, thinking instrumental music would add to the
enjoyment of the occasion, as an accompaniment to the singing,
brought a bass viol. When Father Mitchel came in and was seated,
they began to tune up the viol, which brought Father M. to his
feet at once, with the exclamation, " What's that ! " what's that ! "
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 567
Some of the brothers explained that it was a bass viol which they
had brought for the purpose above mentioned. The old man ex-
claimed "No such thing! no such thing! it's an ungodly great
fiddle. Take it out ! take it out ! " And thus the brethren Avere
obliged to dispense with the " fiddle " and thereafter content them-
selves with vocal music.
The second election for Trustees was held at the school-house,
Aug. 8th, 1836, when Samuel Pillsbury, Spencer Field, Jacob Ea-
mon, John King and David Mark were elected. John King was
chosen President and Benj. Kellogg Clerk, and on the 23d the
Board approved the bond of David Mark as Assessor.
At the third election, Aug. 8, 1837, David Mark, Samuel Pills-
bury, John W. Casey, John A. Jones and Gideon H. Rupert were
chosen Trustees. The Board chose David Mark, President ; Wm.
M. Sandusky, Clerk ; Irenus N. Henkle, Constable and Collector,
and Alden Hull, Treasurer.
On the 8th of August, 1838, a fourth election was held at Lind-
ley's Hall, on the southwest corner of Second and Court street.
The following were the Trustees elected : Spencer Field, David C.
Alexander, Samuel Pillsbury, Richard H. Snell, and John O. Hyde.
The Board elected Dr. Samuel Pillsbury, President ; AVm. H. San-
dusky, Clerk; and Alden Hull, Treasurer. On Dec. 6, 1838, the
Board appointed Wm. H. Holmes, Clerk, vice Wm. H. Sandusky,
who had removed from the State. John Gridley and David Mark
were appointed Assessors, and J. Peters, Street Commissioner.
On the 1st of April, 1839, the town of Pekin acquired the title
to the Ferry across the Illinois river, by a release of all the right
and interest of Mrs. Lucretia Mount, administratrix of Sexton
Mount. The fifth election for Trustees was held Aug. 12, 1839,
when Harlan Hatch, Middlcton Tackaberry, James W. Tharp, R.
H. Snell, and John W. Casey were elected. Harlan Hatch was
elected President by the Board; Alden Hull, Treasurer; and John
Gridley, Clerk. On Aug. 26, M. Tackaberry was appointed Collec-
tor and Street Commissioner.
At the sixth election for Trustees, held Aug. 10, 1840, Wm. S.
Maus, M. Tackaberry, Benj. Wagenseller, Orlando F. Earnest and
Joseph B. Worley were elected. The Board elected Wm. S. Maus,
President ; Alden Hull, Treasurer ; and John Gridley, Clerk. The
Board resolved, Dec. 29, 1840, that "An eagle of a quarter of a
dollar of the new coinage, be adopted for a seal of the corporation
of the town of Pekin."
568 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
On Jan. 20, 1841, Joseph Haines, Sr,, Wm. H. Holmes, and Juo.
Gridley were appointed Assessors for 1841. On Feb. 24, a tax of
four mills on the dollar was levied, and Joseph Haines was appointed
Collector. At the same time John Gridley, Town Clerk, was
" Authorized to procure one fire ladder and two hooks for the cor-
poration." We find no evidence to show that license was given to
sell spirituous liquors until the 21st of April, 1841. On that day
Lawrence Doyle and Henry Schwan were granted a license for that
purpose, for one year, in consideration of the sum of $25.
The seventh election was held Aug. 9, 1841, resulting in the elec-
tion of Wm. S. Maus, John W. Casey, Orlando F. Earnest, Benj.
Wagenseller and Richard Snell. They organized by electing Wm.
S. Maus, President; and John Gridley, Clerk. On Nov. 16th,
Wm. S. Maus tendered his resignation as a member of the Board,
which was accepted, and David Mark elected to fill his place.
In December, 1743, a fearful epidemic overspread the town, spread-
ing disease and death on every hand. It was erysipelas and malig-
nant scarlatina. The physicians in attendance were Drs. AVilliam
Rinehart, Wm. S. Maus, and Wm. Cromwell, and although they
labored faithfully and earnestly to check the disease, it held its sway
for four months, but finally disappered, after having attacked over
five hundred out of a population of about eight hundred, and carry-
ing fifty-two of its victims to the grave.
An ordinance was passed June 4, 1847, declaring the ferry across
the river to be free, and authorizing the Street Commissioners to
receive subscriptions from the citizens to defray the expenses of the
same. The free ferry did not prove a success, however, for on the
28th of August following, the Trustees resolved that "from and
after the 28th day of August, 1847, ferriage shall be charged at the
ferry at Pekin." The ferry was sold in December, 1847, to B. S.
Prettyman, for $1,575.
In 1848, a Division of the Sons of Temperance was organized,
which flourished for some years, but finally died out.
On the 7th of August, 1849, the Board resolved "that the census
of the town should be taken preparatory to a city organization,"
and John App was appointed census taker, with instructions to
report at the next meeting. On the evening of the 9th Mr. App
reported the census completed, which showed that the town contain-
ed 1,500 inhabitants, the minimum number required by law for the
adoption of a city charter. On Aug. 20, 1849, an election was held,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 569
pursuant to previous notice, and an unanimous vote polled in favor
of city organization. Thus Pekin became a city, and the first city
election was held for city officers on the 24th of September, 1849.
The first calaboose was built by John S. Boone, in 1849, and in
the summer of 1868 was set on fire by an inmate and destroyed.
A census of the city was taken in 1850, when it was ascertained
to contain 1,840 inhabitants.
Early one Sunday morning in March, 1851, the citizens of Pekin
were suddenly startled by a terriffic explosion, which brought them
in crowds to the river, where they beheld one of the most sickening
and heart-rending spectacles that could well be imagined. The
boiler of the Prairie State had exploded just as she was about to
land at the levee, and being loaded with passengers, many were pre-
cipitated into the river, some never to rise again, while others lost
some of their limbs, and nearly all were severely scalded, a number
fatally. The sufferers were taken into houses near by, and every
attention given to them that was possible. Many recovered, but
some were so badly injured that they lived but a short time. Some
of the survivors are still living in Pekin.
On April 2d, 1851, John Giblin w^as awarded the contract for
grading the plank road on the opposite side of the river, and on
Oct. 13, 1854, it was completed, having cost the sum of $32,000.
It was a frail affair and soon abandoned, and in 1867 what remained
of it was torn down and replaced by an embankment of earth, erected
by J. A. and T. J. McGrew.
In 1853, D. P. Kenyon and B. Kellogg, Jr., were appointed a
committee to subscribe $100,000 to the Mississippi and Wabash
Railroad, which they did in their individual names, and afterwards
transferred it to the city; and, on Oct. 23, 1856, the city voted to
subscribe $100,000 to the capital stock of the Illinois River Rail-
road,
The first rail was laid on the Illinois River Railroad on July 4th,
1859, and appropriately celebrated by the leading citizens of Pekin
on the anniversary of the birthday of our nation's independence.
About ten o'clock on the night of March 22, 1860, the citizens of
Pekin were startled by an alarm of fire, which had been discovered
in the grocery store of E. Grondenburg. In a few minutes a large
crowd of citizens had gathered to combat the fiery monster, but in
spite of all their efforts it continued to gain headway, and soon the
buildings adjoining, including the office of the Tazewell Register,
570 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
were enveloped in flames. All eiforts to check the spread of the
fire were unavailing, and in a short time the buildings on both sides
of Court street were enveloped in flames, and it was not got under
control until it had destroyed nearly all the buildings on both sides
of the street, from Third to Capitol street, including over thirty of
the principal business houses. This was a severe blow to the busi-
ness interests of the city, involving a loss of over $150,000. But
the enterprising citizens soon went to work to rebuild their business
houses, and it was not long before Court street, on both sides, be-
tween Capitol and Third streets, was rebuilt with substantial brick
buildings. Mr. McDonald, of the Register, issued a small sheet to
his subscribers until April 17th, when, having refurnished his office
with new material, his paper was issued in its regular form.
Immediately after the fire above referred to, the people became
enthusiastic over the formation of fire companies. A company was
formed and sent in a petition to the council for the purchase of an
engine, and desired it to be called " No. 1." Another company was
formed, consisting of Germans, and sent to the council a similar
petition. Two engines were ordered, and it appears the council was
somewhat partial to the German company, for it recognized it as
No. 1. The day of the arrival of the engines was a gala day in
Pekin. They came on a boat, and the two companies marched down
to the dock in fine style to get their engines. The German company
found their engine all right, with "No. 1" conspicuously painted
on it. Equally as prominent, on the other engine, was " No. 2,"
which was distasteful to the other company, and they marched away,
leaving it, for they claimed their engine had not come. Thus, the
original fire company of Pekin had but a momentary life.
In June, 1860, one of the Commissioners for taking the census of
Tazewell county, reported the population of the city of Pekin at
5,023 ; the number of dwelling houses, 742 ; trading establishments,
commonly called stores, 49 ; commission houses, 5 ; small establish-
ments of productive industry, with less capital, 21 ; principal ho-
tels, 4 ; drug stores, 6 ; printing offices, 2 ; lager beer saloons, 25 ;
billiard saloons, 5 ; steam flouring mill, 1 ; churches of different
denominations, 11; school-houses, 12; pupils in attendance, 503;
taxable property, $1,900,570, paying a revenue of $29,370.
The call of President Lincoln for troops, at the breaking out of
the Rebellion, elicited a prompt response from the citizens of Pekin,
which furnished for the defense of our country as brave and noble
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 571
a band of soldiers as any city of its size in the Union. It is but
just that we shouki Jionor and revere the memories of these brave
men, for many of them laid down their lives, while others suffered
untold miseries in Southern prison pens, to perpetuate the freedom
and unity of this great nation. Col. Frank L. Rhodes was the first
to enlist in this city. He'died at Shawneetown, Jan. 6, 1879.
The death of Stephen A. Douglas was announced to the council
on the 3d of June, and, on motion of Alderman Harlow, appropri-
ate resolutions of sorrow were adopted.
On the 16th of April, 1865, the sad news of the assassination of
Abraham Lincoln cast a shade of gloom and sadness over the city.
All business was practically suspended, crowds of citizens gathered
along the streets, whose hearts were sad and sorrowful, and soon
flags were to be seen floating from numerous business houses and
residences, draped in mourning and displayed at half-mast. Busi-
ness houses and dwellings were also draped in mourning, and a
feeling of sorrow and sadness for the loss of one whom they loved,
and to whose wit, wisdom and eloquence they had listened in years
gone by, pervaded every heart. He had once been an honored
member of the Pekin Bar, and his eloquence and large-heartedness
had won for him a prominent place in the hearts of its citizens.
The city council passed resolutions expressive of their regret and
sorrow for the murdered President.
On the 15th of March, 1869, a new city charter was adopted by
the city council.
On Feb. 28, 1870, the Pekin Agricultural and Mechanical Asso-
ciation was organized, under the general law of the State, the
society having for its object the development and encouragement of
agriculture and the mechanic arts, fixing its capital stock at $50,-
000, divided into 2,000 shares, of $25 each. B. S. Prettyman
was elected President ; Teis Smith, Vice President ; G. R. Cobleigh,
Secretary ; Geo. Greigg, Treasurer ; and Jas. W. Robinson, C. R.
Cummings, J. H. Height, John Stoltz, Peter Weyhrich, H." P.
Finigan and W. W. Sellers, Trustees. Eighty acres of land were
purchased, enclosed with a fence, and stalls, amphitheatres, etc.,
were erected. The first two or three years this enterprise was quite
successful, but was finally abandoned on account of insufficient pat-
ronage, although it was one of the finest and best located fair
grounds in the State.
On the 7th of August, 1877, a meeting was held at Hiberuia
572 HISTORY OP TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Hall, for the purpose of organizing a military company, and the
following officers were elected : Captain, K. S. Conklin ; First
Lieut., Geo. G. Geiger; Second Lieut., H. L. Koch. The company
was styled the Celestial Guards. On the 20th of the same month,
Captain Conklin was elected Major of the 7th regiment, by accla-
mation, and on Oct. 26, following, Lieut. Geiger was elected Cap-
tain, vice Conklin, promoted, and Wm. L. Prettyman was elected
First Lieutenant, vice Geiger, promoted. On Dec. 27, 1877, the
ladies of Pekin presented the company with a handsome silk flag.
On August 29, 1878, the company competed with the Governor's
Guards, of Springfield, and Morgan Cadets, of Jacksonville, defeat-
ing them by several points, and winning the first prize of $150.
At its organization the company numbered about forty members.
Its membership has steadily increased, until now it numbers about
eighty members. Captain Geiger has proved himself an able and
efficient officer, and has contributed in a great measure to make the
company one of the most perfect in the State.
Having thus given the most prominent events in the history of
Pekin, for the data of which we have largely drawn upon the His-
tory of Pekin, found in the City Directory, pulished by Sellers &
Bates, in 1870, we Avill note some of the business interests of the
city. Before, however, taking up this line of history, we wish to
copy the following extract from that work, which describes the
location of the city of Pekin :
" Beautifully situated on the east bank of the Illinois river, on an
elevated jjlain, two miles wide before reaching the picturesque
scenery of the east bluff, the location challenges a comparison with
any in the West. On the west side it is bounded by the river,
crowded, during the greater portion of the year, with steam packets,
tow-boats, steam propellers, canal boats, barges and other water-
crafts, while the beautiful lake to the northward is made alive of
summer evenings with pleasure boats of every description. Sur-
rounding the city on the other sides is a country teeming with every
product that brings wealth and luxury to the people — the field, the
orchard, the garden and the vineyard, vieing with each other in the
richness and abundance of their yields. The city is located about
midway between Chicago and St. Louis, with direct communication
by rail with both, and, during the season of water navigation, by
daily packet with St. Louis, and by steam propeller, via the Illinois
and Michigan Canal, with Chicago and the lakes. As a railroad
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 573
center it has no superior, having now daily communication by rail
in every direction."
We have no doubt the reader will regard the above graphic
description somewhat overdrawn, especially that clause relating
to the river. We presume, however, that Pekin's former historian
was of a poetic turn of mind, and, now and then, indulged in such
bursts of phantasy.
Pekin has a population of about 8,000.
MANUFACTORIES.
Among the manufacturing establishments of Pekin, the first
claiming our attention is that of T. & H. Smith & Co., corner of
Third and Ann Eliza streets. The business of this firm, which has
grown to such large proportions, was started in 1849, by the pur-
chase of a small shop by Messrs. Teis and Henry Smith, from Mr.
Alright. They established themselves, and with but a small capital,
commenced business. Steam power was out of the question, with
the means at their command, and many of the citizens can well re-
member the horse which walked around the ring from morning till
night, furnishing the power for certain mechanical operations. The
business of the firm steadily increased, and it soon became necces-
sary to erect more commodious buildings. In 1850, Mr. Lupper
came to the city and became one of the firm. As the business con-
tinued to increase, other partners soon came in, and finally new
branches were established in other parts of the city. The following
firms are the outgrowth of T. & H. Smith & Co., in all of which
that firm have an interest at the present time : Smith, Hippen &
Co., grain dealers, organized in 1857; Smith, Velde & Co., dealers
in hardware and agricultural implements, organized in 1858; Teis,
Smith & Co., bankers, organized in 1866; the Smith Plow Com-
pany, manufacturers of plows and cultivators, organized in 1875.
Just before the formation of the latter company, a fire broke out
in the shops of T. & H. Smith & Co., totally destroying the build-
ing and contents. Phoenix-like, it soon rose from its ashes, a larger
and more imposing structure than before. The Smith Plow Com-
pany was organized, and the manufacture of plows and cultivators
transferred to another building, which was fitted up with machin-
ery of the latest modern improvements, for their manufacture.
The firm of T. & H. Smith & Co., now confine themselves
exclusively to the manufacture of wagons and buggies. Their
574 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
business is steadily increasing, and by employing first-class work-
men and using only the best material they have won a reputation
second to no manufacturing firm of the kind in the United States.
Hon. Teis Smith, the original founder of the above works, was
born in Hamswerum, Hanover, Germany, March 21, 1827. He
was the first-born son of Conrad and Margaret (Velde) Smith,
descendants of a long line of German ancestors. Conrad Smith had
a strong love for his native country, but his love for his children,
and his anxiety for their welfare, induced him to leave his Father-
land and come to the New World, where better chances for their
success and advancement in the road to fortune and honor were
aiforded. His decease occurred in June, 1850, and his wife died in
April, 1851. Teis Smith was married to Miss Elizabeth Neef, a
native of Germany, and daughter of Deiderich Neef, in the spring
of 1852. They had six children, only one of whom, Maggie C, is
now living. Mr. Smith became a member of the German M. E.
Church about the time of his marriage, and took an active part in
the erection of the German M. E. Church, in Pekin. He was a
gentiine and consistent Christian gentleman, and honored and res-
pected by all with whom he came in contact. His wife died in the
spring of 1862. He was married the second time to Miss Dinah
Neef, daughter of Frederic Neef, and a cousin of his former wife.
By this union three children have been born to them, of whom one
son and one daughter are living. In politics Mr. Smith was identi-
fied with the Republican party. He was public spirited, and was
active and earnest in promoting the advancement of the interests of
the city of his adoption, and the financial welfare of Tazewell Co.
He was called away from the cares of earth on the 12th of Septem-
ber, 1870, and was followed to the grave by a host of friends, who
felt that in his demise they had sustained a loss which was practi-
cally irreparable.
Luppe Luppen, manufacturer, another member of the firm of T.
& H. Smith & Co., is a first-class mechanic and one of the sterling
men of Pekin. He was born at Hamswerum, Germany, Aug. 20,
1823, and was educated in the common schools of that country.
His parents were Peter and Juste (Lutjcns) Luppen. He was mar-
ried to Catharine Smith in 1846, and came to Pekin June 21, 1850,
and in the same year united with the German M. E. Church. They
have had four children — Margaret, born Sept. 18, 1849; Conrad,
Dec. 6, 1851; Louisa, Aug. 11, 1852; and Peter, Nov. 24, 1855.
D.C.S WITH
TEIS SMITH
-^CJS^K^'
FRED SMITH
LUPPE LUPPEN
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 577
Conrad is the only one now living. Mr. L. has been financially
successful, and now owns a fine residence on the corner of Fourth
and Catharine streets.
Frederick C. Smith, another member of the above-named firm,
was born in Hanover (now incorporated with Prussia), Germany,
June 20, 1829. His parents were Conrad H. and Margaret (Velde)
Smith. He was educated in the public schools of Germany, and
came to this city in August, 1849, and afterwards became associated
with the firm of T, & H. Smith & Co., manufacturers. On the 6th
of May, 1855, he married Miss Louisa Grondenberg. Nine chil-
dren were the fruits of this marriage, seven boys and two girls, as
follows: Conrad, born Oct. 2, 1856, died Oct. 23, 1857; Fred. F.,
born Jan. 26, 1859; Conrad F., Aug. 29, 1861; Charlotte Louise,
Oct. 1, 1863; A. Lincoln, Sept. 12, 1866; George A., March 8,
1869; Louis Teis, Aug. 13, 1871; Teis H., Dec. 30, 1874, and
Maggie Centennella, Oct. 3, 1876. Mr. Smith became connected
with the German M. E. Church in September, 1849. In polities he
is a Republican. By untiring industry and strict attention to busi-
ness he has been financially successful, and regards his coming to
this country as a stepping stone to fortune, and is enthusiastic in
expressing his gratitude to his adopted country.
Hon. Dietrich C. Smith, banker, a member of the firm of Teis
Smith & Co., was born in Hanover, Germany, April 4, 1840. His
parents, Conrad and Margaret (Velde) Smith, were also native Ger-
mans. He came to Pekin with his parents and brothers in 1849.
His education was obtained in Germany and at the college in
Quincy, 111. During the Rebellion Mr. Smith was Lieutenant of
Co. I, 8th 111. Inf, and was also Captain of Co. C. 139th 111. Inf.,
and was wounded in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, April 6, 1862.
He has held the offices of Alderman of the city of Pekin, Super-
visor of Pekin township, member of the 30th General Assembly of
Illinois, etc. He was married, in 1863, to Miss Carrie Pieper, by
whom he has had six children — Walter, born in 1864; George L.,
in 1866; Ernest, in 1868; Mary in 1870; Dietrich, in 1872; and'
Carrie, in 1875. George L. died, the other five are still living. He
has been financially successful, and is now the owner of a fine brick
residence on the corner of Newhall and Willow streets. He is a
member of the M. E. Church. In politics he is a Republican. INIr.
Smith is a public spirited man, and is largely interested in the I., B.
& W., and other railroads in this county.
578 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
Weyhrich & Co. The firm of P. Weyrich & Co., manufacturers
of the Weyrich Headers, employs a large number of hands in the
manufacture of that machine. They run an 80 horse power engine
at their works, and turn out from 600 to 700 machines annually, at
an aggregate valuation of at least $100,000. On the 20th of May,
1879, they had one hundred machines in their yard, some of which
were finished and packed ready for shipment, while the finishing-
touches were being put upon others, every one of which were
already contracted for. The business of the firm is steadily increas-
ing, and under its present management bids fair to surpass any
other establishment of the kind in the West in the amount and
excellence of its work.
BANKS.
The banking interest has for a long time been, and must always
be, a very important factor in all commercial centers, and the large
amount of money-transactions carried through without the inter-
vention of coin or bank notes, in a country like ours, is inconceiva-
ble to those not engaged in business pursuits. The manner in
which these transactions may be effected without money would be
at once apparent, if all persons in the same locality dealt with the
same bank, and all banks throughout the country were branches of
the same institution, and in reality, the business is managed by the
operations of the clearing house, as if this were true. The checks,
bills or other drafts which come into the hands of the banker, drawn
on (that is, payable by) other banks, are set off and liquidated by
drafts, which they have received, drawn on him. The balance or
difference, only, is paid in money.
The largest banking house in the world — the Bank of England
— was started by William Patterson, a Scotchman, and was char-
tered in the year 1694, and since that time the banking business has
steadily grown in volume and importance until now, it has reached
such magnitude that the collossal business transactions of our coun-
try could scarcely be carried through without the use of banks.
The first banking house in this county was opened under the
name of the Shawneetown Bank, in 1839, and was a branch of the
Bank of Illinois, with Col. C. Oakley as its President ; Charles C.
Wilcox, Cashier; and William C. Docker, Clerk. The bank was
located on the southeast corner of Court and Second streets. This
institution had but a short run, as the collapse of the great internal
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 579
improvement system, inaugurated in 1836-7, so efFectecl its ojiera-
tions that in June, 1842, it closed its doors. The old safe used by
the bank is still in existauce, and in possession of Peter A. Brower,
step-son of Colonel Oakley. It is a quaint old relic of antiquity
that the skilled burglar of to-day would delight to meet.
For many years after the close of the Shawneetown Bank the
business men of Pekin were without a bank, and not until 1852,
Avhen Rupert & Haines organized the Platte A^alley Bank, was this
want supplied. This institution had a run of about nine years,
when it went down, causing quite a flutter in business circles in
Pekin, depositors and others losing heavily by the failure. After
the collapse of the Platte Valley Bank, Greigg c^' Smith did a bank-
ing business just east of the Bemis House, in a ])uilding now occu-
pied by George Greigg. On the 15th of March, 1860, the First
National Bank was opened. This bank was organized by the Leon-
ards, and did business as a bank of issue for about ten years, when
it called in its bills and surrendered its charter as a National bank,
and was then conducted by Leonard & Blossom for a short time,
and is now known as the Banking House of F. W. Leonard & Co.
About the time of the organization of the First National Bank the
Banking House of Teis Smith & Co. was inaugurated. This bank
is located in the block occupied by their extensive wagon factory, but
is conducted as a distinct and separate enterprise. They do a gen-
eral banking and foreign exchange business, with D. C. Smith as
General Manager, and H. B. Whitefoot as Cashier and Clerk. The
Farmers National Bank was organized June 9, 1875, with a jiaid up
capital of ^50,000, Jonathan Merriam and A. C. Hoblit l)eing the
])rincipal movers in the enterprise. The bank opened with Jonathan
Merriam, President, S. H. Jones, Vice President, and A. B. Hoblit,
Cashier. Mr. Merriam still occupies the position of President, with
C. R. Cummings, Vice President, and B, R. Hieronymus, Cashier.
A large number of the solid business men of the county are inter-
ested in this institution, which occupies one of the finest brick
buildings in Tazewell county, erected and fitted especially for it,
and located on the northeast corner of Court and Capitol streets.
Its fire-proof vaults and burglar-proof safes are of modern
build and the very best make. The present Cashier, INIr. B. R.
Hieronymus, is widely known throughout the county for his cour-
tesy and fair dealing, and his known business qualifications and in-
tegrity of character, so characteristic of the man^ eminently fit him
35
580 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
for the most important office in one of the leading' lianking houses
in Central Illinois.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
The M. E. Church. — Fifty-two years ago a little band of movers
might have been seen wending their way from Ohio, with faces bent
on the prairie wilds of Illinois. At nightfall the weary oxen were
loosened from their yokes and left to lazily graze and rest, while
this little colony, as it were, prepared their evening's meal and
couches for the night. Nor did they forget, on bended knees, to
thank their maker and preserver for guiding them aright in that
great wilderness of wild waving grass and dense woods, by the Avay
side, where crouched in ambush lay the red men of the forest.
Little children sleeping in the calm moonlight, the cattle resting
from the toilsome march of the day, chewing their cud as they lay,
the smoke slowly ascending from the camp fires which smouldered
close by — when, hark! what sounds echo through the still woods:
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow," comes up in deep and
earnest tones from grateful hearts, and, they retire for the night,
with the wild wolves of the forest howling about them, and the red
eyes of the catamount glaring upon them.
Methodism was the pioneer Church of Pekin and of Tazewell
county. In 1826, Jacob Tharp and family pitched their tents on
the banks of the Illinois river, and on the present town site of the
city of Pekin. In 1823-4, Sangamon Circuit was laid out, which
comprised all territory lying between Springfield and Lake Michi-
gan. Rev. Samuel Thompson was appointed Presiding Elder, and
Rev. Jesse Walker was appointed as a missionary, taking in Pekin
and Fort Clark. Jesse Walker is therefore booked as the first
Methodist preacher in Tazewell county. We quote from the diary
of Jacob Tharp :
"However, in the same season, but I cannot now remember
whether before or after Dillon and Hinkle's goods arrived, the
Methodists had established a mission or circuit for this part and
range of the country. Religious services by that persuasion were
first held at my friend's, Gideon Hawley, on Sand Prairie, when I
first met our preacher, Jesse Walker, and invited him to give us a
discourse at the 'Town Site.' He thought it unnecessary, as no
body but myself and family, and my son Jonathan and family, re-
sided there, but I insisted and he complied. We had quite an
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. OJ^I
aiulionre. Pokin then giving promise of being something in the
future. Some came to examine tlie site, .'iome to do some trading,
and some to h)ok at the river and to Jisli, etc. The meeting was
hchl in my house."
Thus the first j)reaching and" meeting was hekl in the cabin of
Jacob Tharp. During the same year, 1(S26, the first ckiss was
organized, with Jacob Tharp and Hendricks as leaders. The
foHowing persons comprised that class: Jacob Tharj^ and wife,
Phoebe, and her mother, whose name was Winans; Jonathan Tliarp
and his wife, Sarah ; N. B. Tharp and Avife, Margret ; Wm. Tharp
and wife, Jane ; Gideon Hawley and wife, Elizabeth ; Geo Hinkle
and wife; Mr. Clark and wife, Mr. Hendricks and wife, and John
Rylander. This class met from time to time, giving in their relig-
ious experience, singing their hymns of praise, and thanking God
for His great mercy and goodness vouchsafed unto them. Preaching
occurred occasionally in Mr. Tharp's cabin and that of his son Jon-
athan's. The circuit extended from Chicago to Springfield, and it
generally took from two to three months to make the trip. The
circuit rider's equipmentj|i(Ras a horse and a pair of saddle bags, to
contain his Bible and discipline of the Methodist Church.
The next minister we can find any account of, is Rev. Lord, and
he, in turn, was succeeded by Rev. John Sinclair, in 18.'j1. He and
Zadock Hall (then a young man in the full vigor of his manhood)
formed the first regular organization. Old Peter Cartwright had
then formed, for himself and family, a little habitation at a place
called Pleasant Plains, this side of Springfield. At his home the
weary and exhausted circuit rider found rest and encouragement in
labors. Quarterly Meetings, in those days, meant a big time.
Extra cooking and preparing went on for some days in advance of
the meeting. Men, women and chikh'en came from miles about
prepared to stay the meeting through, which generally lasted three
days. The Rev. John T. Mitchell followed Rev. Hall. He was a
man of great power and eloquence, and eccentric to a great degree.
His fiights of )[)ratory at times were truly sublime. He began his
labors as the first regular installed minister, in 18o4, in a little
room, about twenty feet square, in the old barracks or stockades,
which stood on the ground now occupied by the old frame residence
of Joshua Wagenseller. In this little room Judge David Davis, of
the Supreme Bench, and now U. S. Senator, made his maiden speech,
the room being occupied as a kind of court-house during the week.
582 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
We will give one or two illustrations which, in themsolvcs, will
speak for the plain-tongued man of God, John T, Mitchell. One
of his congregation, and a widow, who had but recently laid off her
weeds, sold a cow and purchased what in those days was termed an
elegant cloak, and she disposed of a brass preserving kettle and
bought a bonnet (we presume a love of a one). This piece of whole-
sale extravagance had gone the rounds of the village, and loud were
the censures for this wanton outlay, when to wear a bow or an arti-
ficial flower was ecpiivilent to receiving sentence with the damned.
Well, one Sunday morning when Father l^.Iitchell was coming
down on the pomps and vanities of the world, and earnestly hoping
that none of his congregation would be guilty of putting on the
flippery and flummery as worn by the worldings, just as his eloquence
waxed warm on the subject of dress, in walked the widow M'ith her
new clothes, whereupon the sight of her was too much for him, and
he said (pointing his finger directly at her,) "Yes, and there comes a
woman with her cow upon her back and her brass kettle on her
head." The rebuke and the lesson must have been severe, and in
ruminating over those days and fashions we have wondered what
Father Mitchell would say if he were to wake up and open his eyes
in the chapel of to-day. We think he would find many cows and
kettles decorating the devout of the present age.
Rev. Richard Haney, as Presiding Elder, figured conspicuously
in the early history of the Church. But more of Father Mitchell.
In those days all the excitement the populace had, by way of break-
ing the monotony, was the landing of the steam-boats, and we are
told that more always came on Sunday than any other day. Father
Mitchell was exceedingly annoyed, from time to time, by many of his
congregation jumping up and running to the river every time a boat
whistled. Once, when the stampede began. Father Mitchell, with
voice raised in tones of thunder, cried after them, "The wicked
fleeth when no man pursueth." Whcreu])on a waggish fellow turned
in the doorway, hat in hand, and, looking calmly at the divine,
answered back, "and the righteous are as bold as a lion."
In 1839 the old brick church was founded. It was commonly
called, in after years, the old Foundry Church. For this Father
Mitchell labored hard and zealously. The Church was, in its incep-
tion, to be quite a grand and imposing edifice, built of brick, with
basement for schools, and an auditorium above. Grandfather Tliar2>
went back to Ohio to raise money to finish it, and raised $100 and
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 583
spent $200 of his own in getting it. The basement was compk^tecl,
but the dreams of the vast auditorium, which was to hokl the com-
ine; multitudes was never fullv finished, and their visions and dreams
remained as castles in air. The old Foundry Church was situated
immediately west of Crittenden's livery s,table.
We think Father Mitchell must have been a firm believer in total
depravity. There was a Universalist minister by the name of Carey,
from Cincinnati (who was afterwards sent to Congress), came to
Pekin and held a series of meetings in the two-story frame house
directly opposite the old Foundry Church. This preacher, Carey, was
brilliant and fluent of tongue, gathering about him, apparently, the
whole village, to the disgust of Father Mitchell and his meml)ers.
This was something new to them, it being the first time the broad-
guage religious track had struck Pekin, and many there were who
were charmed with the doctrine. Still, some of the young men felt
an innate sense of delicacy in openly and glaringly cutting old faith-
ful Father Mitchell's teachings, and they would walk about and
reconnoitre until they would get to the corner of the building, and
then stand and look around them for a few minutes, to see who was
looking at them, and then like lightning dodge in. Father Mitchell,
across the way, was of course taking in the full imi)ort of the scene,
and feeling just a little bit of human chagrin at the boys leaving
him for that glittering faith, he would walk up and down his church
aisles, with his arms crossed behind his back, and as another and
another would dodge in to hear Carey, lie would say, very audibly,
" there 's another one gone to hell."
The following persons composed the first choir : Samuel Rhoads,
John W. Howard, James White, Daniel Creed, John M. Tinney,
John Rhoads, and Henry Sweet, who acted as leader. This band of
"ye singers" met in Creed's room for practice, and sometimes "took
a hand," to pass the time until service. One morning one of the
members (still surviving in Pekin) felt the conviction that the boys
had pinned a card upon his back. So deep was the conviction, and
so annoying was the sensation, that he reached his hand over his
shoulder in hopes of grasping it, and then rubbed his back against
the wall, but there was no card there; it was only another instance
of " the guilty conscience needeth. no accuser." This choir did
valiant service in waiting on the sick during the fearful scourge and
epidemic, called putrid sore throat, or black tongue, which swept
over this part of the country during the winter of 1843 and 44.
584 HISTOKY OP TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Tliey paired off, night about, in watching the sick. But one even-
ing Creed did not put in his apperance, and some of the boys sug-
gested that he might be sick, and went to his room where they were
wont to sing, but poor Daniel Creed had sung his last song on earth,
and passed to the anthem choirs in the courts of Heaven, for they
found him dead in his bed. The poor fellow had passed away in the
loneliness of his own chamber, all alone, " to that bourne from whence
no traveler returns." This fearful disease swept off, seemingly, half
the village. The dead and the dying were in almost every house ;
men and women were aroused to a sudden sense of their oblijiations
to their God, and with death apparently staring them in the face,
they were crying out, " What shall we do to be saved '?" During
this panic was started what was always afterwards termed the " sore-
throat revival." Shops were shut, stores were closed, and all voca-
tions for the time suspended, while the sick were nursed, the dead
laid away, and the souls of the living presented to God for mercy.
A pall hung over the infant town. A doom, at once dark, and deep,
and solemn, seemed to settle oyer the citizens. Everybody joined
the Church,
Lucus Vanzant, the editor of the Pekin Gazette, and one of " the
b'hoys," took sick early one night, and during the progress of the
meeting, that same evening he sent his name down to the minister
to be enrolled on the Church books. Vanzant got well.
Old Father Wolston was a local preacher who did much good in
his time. In his own language he always " whittled his sermons
down to a pint." In 184G, the first regular Methodist Sunday-
school was organized with Father Wolston as Superintendent. In
1847, the old brick church was sold to Messrs. Jewett & Baker for
a foundry, and Rev. James Olliver came on the field and commenced
the work and plans of the old frame church, which stood north of
the residence known as the Holmes property, and where now stands
the Farmers National Bank. This Church was burned in 1870.
The sleepers and sills of the church were taken from a little Method-
ist Church, which stood for a while near the. farm of Wm. Davis,
and close beside what is known as the Myers grave yard. This
church they pulled down, and with oxen hauled the timbers into
Pekin, to helj) form the frame of the new church. He was followed
in turn by one Rev. Bristol, one of the finest built and most splendid
looking men who ever graced a Pekin pulpit. His manner and style
was courtly and engaging. His dress was of the old martial day.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 585
with knee breeches, and big steel buekk's on his shoes. ^Ivu nud
women in turn raved over him, and in ])assin<>; turned and k).oked
again.
Timothy Crosby was the next ])astoi'. OKI Father Ledterman
rendered vahuible assistance in the comph'tiou of the Chureh.buikl-
ing, and in 1847 it was dedicated.
The bell, which for years was mounted in the tower of the old
frame church, and which rung and tolcd alike in joy or sadness, for
marriage or funeral, was presented to the Trustees of the Church
by the following gentlemen : Samuel Rhoads, Colonel Frank L.
Rhoads, William Tinney, and John ISI. Gill, and was captured by
them Avhen in Mexico, in the Mexican War. They took it from the
tower of a Roman Catholic Monastery, at Vera Cruz, ])afked it in a
flour barrel with straw, and brought it liome with them to Pekin,
and presented it the Methodist Church oi" this city, where it, with
its old cracked chimes, made singular music for the masses in its
rino-iuir for service or fire. But the old bell wearied of in'otestant-
ism, and in the year 18G7 was sold, with its full consent, to the
English Roman Catholic Church, of Pekin, where its peculiar tones
may be heard at five in the morning, calling its devotees to the
early mass. And thus the old bell has returned to its early faith and
original creed.
Timothy Crosby was followed by Father Chandler, a man of great
force of character and native ability. Isaac Hawley here began to
work valiantly for the Ijord. He served as Sunday-school Superin-
tendent for several years. Father Chandler was followed by Rev.
Worthington, an excellent man and minister. Rev. John Bour-
land now put in an appearance, in his own language, he felt as though
"the devil had the hawk of his jaw on most of the town." At the
end of two years he departed to make room for one Rev. Vance.
He remained but one year. Rev. George Erwin came to Pekin as
a boy bridegroom in 1855. His sermons were concise and emj)hatic.
His personal appearance was good. Next came Rev. Gregg, a min-
ister with more brahis and mind than physic to support it. The
Church raised a purse, Mr. Sam Rhoads collecting in two hours time
^130, to help Mr. Gregg go South for the benefit of his heaUh.
He returned ere long to Pekiu, where he died. Rev. J. C. Rybolt
now steps into the j)ulpit, a man of remarkable ability and gift of
oratory. He did not grace the ])ulpit in Pekin long, as he turned
his attention to law. Next comes long John Windsor, who served
586 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
acceptably for two years. He was a good man, no higher can be
said of any.
The church sustained a heavy loss about that time in the decease
of the persons of INIrs. Whitefoot and Mrs. John Hammer, who
was a Shelton.
Rev. James Vernon followed John Windsor. He had a large
family wholly dependent upon his salary for sustenance. His cares
and anxieties were so many, and the struggle for bread and butter
so hard, that it is a wonder how he could forget his embarrassments
sufficient, to prepare his sermons, which were always polished and
methodical.
Zadock Hall, known better of late years as " old Father Hall,"
now turns up again. He served full three years. He was here when
the times were stirring, and the war was upon us with all its terri-
bleness ; when women and children were weeping for their husbands
and fathers ; when maidens wer^ sad in the absence of their lovers,
and when brother was arrayed against brother, and when the South
had said " extend to us the Mason and Dixon line," and when the
North was saying back, in smoke and thunder, " unshackle those
bent forms from bondage and toil, and consent to our flag waving
over you, — the Star Spangled Banner which was bought amid peril
and blood in the Revolution."
What changes Father Hall must have beheld in his coming back
to the Church he left in its infancy. His life was so humble and
exemplary that the whole town loved him for his gentle ways, and
when there was low whisperings that perhaps a younger man might
prove more efficient, the populace arose in a mass and petitioned
Conference to send the gentle old man back the last and third year,
which its session cheerfully granted.
During Father Hall's time the Church invested (amid many mis-
givings as to the righteousness of the act) in a melodeon, at a cost
of forty dollars. There had been a feeble attempt once before to
introduce some instrumental music, in the form of a flute in the
hands and mouth of Richard Shaw, which was to be accompanied
by a bass viol, but somehow the thing wouldn't work as pure
orthodox, and the instruments were banished.
Rev. Robert Pearcc, a nephew of Rev. Robert McChaiu, the emi-
nent Scotch divine, of Edinburgh, came next. Robert G. Pearce is
an Edinburgh Scotchman, born and educated in that city, the mod-
ern Athens of the world. Rev. Pearce in stature is below the
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY. 587
medium, with coal black hair, as straight as a shoo string, and a pair
of eyes dark and piercing and a large and well defined mouth and
nose. But wait, he has stepped into the pulpit or rostrum. He has
opened his mouth, and now all eyes are upon him, and every ear
strained to catch each syllable as it falls from his lips, and he holds
his audience in breathless silence. The coming of Robert Pearce
was the dawning of a new era in Methodism in this city. He
opened a series of meetings with the new year of 18GG. The old
church would not begin to hold the people who thronged to hear
the little Scotch preacher. His work was full and complete and
men and women bowed before the old altar rail, who had been
called proud and haughty. Two names we have handed down on
the wings of the memory of that winter, who came out gloriously
on the Lord's side, arc Mrs. Henry P. Westerman and Emma
AVagoner. The Morks of these ladies speak for themselves.
Rev. Pearce raised the subscription and built the present edifice.
The little frame church was sold to David Lowery, who prostituted
its old sanctified walls into those of a billiard hall and drinking
saloon. Afterwards it was leased to Hight & INIiller as a livery
stable, and in 1870 it was burned down. What early associations
cluster around its old-time memories ; what scenes of joy have been
witnessed within its four old walls, when, in solemn vow and prom-
ise, men and women, with right hands clasped, vowed to love one
another till death did them part; and then what shouts of gladness
were borne out on the midnight air when some darkened soul was
born again of God; and then what hush would fall as some mother
with pale hands clasped in the cold embrace of death, was carried up
the aisles in her last earthly tenement, or some infant sweet with
white roses scattered on its silent breast. Ah, what tales'of joy and
sadness the ashes of the past could tell, if tongues to ashes were
given.
Teis Smith subscribed $500 towards the new church, it being the
first subscrii)tion given. Reuben Bergstresser followed with .^100,
and Isaac Hawley, Mary L. Westerman, Stephen Roney and Geo.
Greigg giving the same, and thus the first $1,000 was raised. The
new church edifice was erected at a cost of $12,000. It was finished
and dedicated in April, 1867, the dedicatory sermon being preached
by the Rev. Dr. Eddy, of Chicago, and the sermon in the evening
by Rev. J. G. Evans, late President of Hedding College.
Joseph C. Hartezell was appointed in 1808. He was a young man
588 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
of fine mind and capabilities, and a graduate of the Xorthwestern
University. He served until removed South by Bishop Janes, to
fill the unexpu'ed year of Dr. Newman, of Ames Chapel, New Or-
leans, who had been elected as Chaplain of the U. S. Senate.
After the removal of Hartezell, the pulpit was filled from Sunday
to Sunday, by Professors from the Wesleyan University, or until
Rev. Joseph Millsap, Presiding Elder, could secure a minister to
fill the vacancy, which he did in May, in the person of Rev. James
B. Blakency who acted as a supply until Conference, which con-
vened in Pckin in the fall of the same year (1870), The session
was presided over by Bishop Janes, who, with a niunber of his cab-
inet, were entertained by Mr. and Mrs, Reuben Bergstresser, Mr.
B., although not a member of the Church until the year 1869, still
he saiight to labor in the Lords vineyard somewhere and for years
cast his influence in behalf of the Methodist Church and for nine
years he served as Sunday-school Superintendent. The Church
sustained a severe loss in the death of Martha Burnett, wife of Sam
Rhoads, This good woman was a power and might in her day and
many missed her cheering voice by the weary wayside. While it is
not a written law of the Church politic, yet it is conceded as a mat-
ter of courtesy to permit the Church entertaining the Conference to
pick their man at the time of the session, therefore a conmiittee
waited upon Bishop Janes and requested him to send Rev, James
W, Haney to preside over them as a Church, and in accordance M'ith
their request, he was appointed. He is the eldest son of Rev,
Richard Haney, one of the old pioneers of Western Methodism,
His address and manners are pleasing and engaging. His dignity
and pose in the pulpit could not be surpassed. As a preacher he
was immensly popular; his sermons always abounding in fine logic
and diction, and with all a splendid delivery and powerful voice,
which, at will, could be hushed to the most tragic whisper. During
the three years which he served he was for two thirds of the time
the only English speaking minister in the town. This was during
the ravages of the spinal menengitis in Pekin, and Mr. Haney's la-
bors and visits among the sick, were early and late. He made more
visits on the sick, buried more dead and married more than any
other minister ever did in the same time in Pekin. Durino; his ad-
ministration much was done to improve the church property. The
pews were cushioned, the church building was given two coats of
paint, the Smith's American organ placed in the infant room, and
HISTORY OF TAZEAVELL COUNTY. 589
the hand.some pipe organ placed in the audience room and many mi-
nor improvements were added to the church and Sunday-school in a
general way.
Rev. Haney was followed by Rev. Dr. Hugh M. Laney, a Chris-
tian gentleman, full of analysis and philosophy as well as the Gospel.
His sermons were concise and well put. His reign in Pekin was
two years. His last was marked by great im])rovement to the
church building. The two stairs were changed, the auditorium re-
freshed, the windows put into frames and hung with weights so as
to come down from the top, gas chandeliers put in, new carpets put
down, pews all repainted, and new chairs [)laced in the Sunday-
school room. This was done under the Doctor's direction and
supervision, at a cost of thirteen hundred dollars. Mrs. Westermau
])resented the mountings to the ])ulpit which she had put on fresh
for the funeral of W. W. Sellers, which took place from this church.
In the fall of 1875, Rev. Edward Wasmuth was sent to Pekin,
where he remained two years. During the fall of his first year, the
^Central Illinois Conference met in session in this city in the M. E.
•Church, Bishop Wiley presiding. The Bishoj) and Cabinet, with
•the agents, book and newspaper men, numbering twenty-five, were
entertained at Rose Villa, by ]\Ir. and Mrs. Westerman. At this
'session E. Wasmuth was returned to Pekin. Through letters of
solicitation to Aberdeen, Scotland, and to India, Mrs. Westerman
received from Lord Wm. Leslie, of Aberdeen, and from Major
Francis Gillie, of her Majesty's service in India, the money wdiich
placed the fence and pavement around the church, as also the walks
to the doors and the out-houses. Thus Auld Caledonia and India
have contributed to Pekin Methodism.
Rev. Marion F. Havermale now pnts in an appearance on the
scene, and his bright and sparkling sermons still live in the com-
munity, as they always abounded in happy hits and well-made
points, which he hurled at his hearers like sledge hammers.
Rev. R. D. Russell, the present minister, was appointed to fill
his place. Rev. Russell is a gentleman of fine intellectual ability,
pleasing address, and scholarly attainments. He graduated with
the first honors of his class from the Northwestern University at
Evanston. He is serving his people and the city in a very accept-
able manner. During his brief stay, he has already lifted some six
hundred dollars indebtedness from the Church.
And now the pen-picture is done ; the history, in much weakness,
590 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
is given. In all these years that have come and gone, the Church
has had its seasons of sadness and rejoicing. The record is made,
and the Recording Angel hath it. The Pekin Methodist Episcopal
Church will continue to stand. Blows which were meant to be
death, have been struck at her vitals, but they fell harmless and
powerless on the breast-plate which confronted them, and those who
gave with the sword, were, in turn, met with the scabbard.
German M. E. Church. — This is the finest and costliest church edi-
fice in Tazewell Co. It was erected in 1873, at a cost of -f 27,000. It
is a large brick, 55 by 85 feet, with basement story. The congrega-
tion was organized in 1842, and a building, which at present stands
on Fourth street, near the L, B. & W. Raildroad track, was erected.
Among the first pastors were Revs. Plcuel, Zimmerman, Holl,
Fiegenbaum, and Holtcamp. The present pastor. Rev. John
Schlagenhauf, came in 1878. The present membership is 200. The
congregation raise $2,000 per year. The Trustees are Luppe
liuppen, H. Feltman, John Velde, Fred Schaefer. The Stewards
are Luppen, H. Velde, Unland, Schaefer, D. C. Smith, Fred Smith,
and IT. Albertson. There is a large Sunday-school in connection
with the Church, which is presided over by Supt. E. F. Unland.
The average attendance is 360. The annual contribution amounts
to from 1350 to $400. The school has a well selected library of
450 volumes.
First Dutch Reformed Church. — The sketch of this Church is
gleaned from an historical sermon preached by Rev. E. P. Livings-
ton, Jan. 18, 1874, being the last discourse preached in the old
church edifice. When Pekin was a small village, there was felt the
pressing need of a Church. The desire for a Church assumed deffi-
iiite shape in the organization of a Sabbath-school. As early as
Feb. 21, 1836, we find J. R. Crandell as Superintendent of the
school. There were at that time four teachers and twenty-nine
scholars. This school was short lived, however. Another school was
organized Nov. 22, 1837. On the 26th of the same month a con-
stitution was adopted, which, in the main, is the one under which
the school now works, which makes this the oldest school in the
city. Until 1844 or '45 it was the only one.
As it often happens in new countries and mission fields, the Sun-
day-school became the parent of the Church. There was piety here,
and as that was called out and developed by work in the school, it
would not be satisfied until all the means of grace were enjoyed.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 591
Hence we find the Presbyterians making early efforts to establisli a
cliurch. Indeed, Rev. jNIr. Bascom was aetuallv settled here for a
short time. Through his efforts a church was organized under the
title of the Presbyterian Church of Pekin and Sand Prairie. For
some reason this church was soon disbanded, and the field atrain left
open.
The next effort toward a church was made by Rev. A. D. Wilson,
the energetic and ])ersevering pioneer of the Reformed Ciiurch in
the West. During 1842-3, this father in Israel pressed his wav to
this place to prepare the way for a churcli. In the spring of 1843,
Father Wilson fell in company with IMr. Daniel Bailey, on a trip to
St. Louis, and at once engaged in conversation with him in refer-
ence to the prospect of a church at Pekin. At that time the propo-
sition was made that if the citizens would raise $1,000, he (Father
Wilson) would secure a like amount. This the people accepted, and
accordingly, April 9, 1843, Rev. A. D. Wilson and George Sill
came to organize the Church, which consisted of ten members. The
Elders chosen were Charles M. Grimwood, David Bailey, and Henry
Lew. Of the original members, Mrs. Olive S. Tackaberry is the
only one living here. The first Trustees chosen were John W.
Casey, Daniel M. Bailey, David Mark, Harlen Hatch, I*. G.
Thompson, and T. J. S. Fluel. A church building was begun and
the corner stone laid July 24, 1843. The subscription in the village
amounted to %\ ,500 instead of |1,000. The day of laying the corner
stone was a gala day in Pekin. Business seems to have been sus-
jx'nded and they paraded the streets. Nov. 11, 1843, Rev. N. D.
Williamson arrived and took charge as pastor. As soon as the
building was enclosed and floor laid, services were held in this new
church, the pastor using a dry goods box for a j)ulpit. The build-
ing was not fully completed till 1847. It cost $G,000.
It was occupied for thirty years, an honor and ornanuMit to the
town. January 1, 1849, Rev. S. V. E. Westfall was called to take
charge of the Church. He was an earnest worker, and remained
with the Church until April 1, 1856. Over a year elapsed without
a pastor when. May 24, 1857, Rev. A. Lloyd was called and re-
mained until No. 1, i860, when another period was passed without
a pastor. July 1, 1861, Rev. N. D. Williamson was recalled as
stated supjily. Rev.^U. D. Gulick took charge of the Church in
Sept., 1862. The Church had experienced many seasons of pros-
perity, but it was not jDermitted to enjoy an uni;iterrupted tide of
592 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
prosperity. The deepest gloom often settled over it, but it became
recognized on every hand as one of the strongest Reformed Churches
in the West. In 1866 was the season of the greatest revival. As
many as forty in one day were admitted. May 1, 1870, Rev. Gulick
resigned and Dec. 1, 1871, Rev. A. Thompson assumed charge. In
the meantime many of the wealthier members withdrew and were
organized into a Congregational Church. Rev. Thompson's pastor-
ate was short, when (Dec, 1872) the present pastor. Rev. E. P.
Livingston, was called, and has remained with the Church since.
The fine church edifice was erected under his pastorate. In the fall
of 1872 the building of a new house of worship was agitated. The
following spring it was begun, and just thirty years from the laying
of the corner stone of the old church the corner stone of their new
Ijuilding was laid. It is a handsome edifice, and in every way in
keeping with this age of culture and refinement.
Rev. Edward P. Livingston, the present pastor of this congrega-
tion, is the son of Rennselacr and Rachel Livingston, and was born
Dec. 5, 1831. He attended the common schools and then entered
Rutirers Collco-e, New Brunswick, N. J. He was united in mar-
riage, Feb. 5, 1856, with Minnie A. Kipp, at Newark, N. J. Two
children have been born to them, to gladden and cheer their home.
Minnie A. was born in Sept., 1857, and Mary C, born in Feb.,
1864. Mr. Livingston came to Pekin in Dec. of 1872, and took
charge of the Reformed Church. As a speaker he is clear, forcible,
and effective ; as a pastor exemplary in his daily walks, pleasant and
genial, and watches with care and tenderness over those under his
charge ; as a husband and father he is kind and devoted, and as a
citizen has the respect and esteem of all.
Second Dutch Rcfonned Church was organized July 26, 1876, by
Revs. K. B. Wieland," John Miller, and E. P. Livingston, with
fifteen members. The building was erected the same year. It is a
good frame, 35 by 55 feet in size, and cost $2,500. It was dedicated
the first Sunday in October, 1876, and since has made great ad-
vances, and the pastorate of Rev. P. F. Schuolke, the present pastor,
has been especially blessed, and the meml)ership increased to 80.
Rev. K. B. Wieland preceeded Rev. Sehuelke, who came in May,
1876, and was the first pastor. The Elders are U. B. Johnson, and
W. Dickman. Deacons; D. Greon, and D.dvlok. The Sunday-
school was organized with two teachers and twelve scholars. It now
numbers 125 to 150 scholars in attendance, Henry Ploepot,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 593
Sui^erintcnclent. Contribution, !$75 }>er year. Salary of jiastor,
$700.
Pekin Baptist Church was organize! in LS50, by Rev. G. 8. Bailey,
with four members. These were Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Allen, Mr.
Hall anti Mrs. Haas. The congregation grew and prospered and in
ISoo, built a house of worship. A fine large brick, 40 by 70 feet,
with basement, was erected. The audience room is reached by a
short flight of stairs from an ante-room into a vestibule under the
gallery of the main room.
St. Paur.s Episcopal Church was organized in the Spring of 1850,
bv Rev. J. S. Chamberlaine. He was succeeded by Rev. Lloyd
Johnson. Rev. G. Sayres took charge of the Parish during the
foil of 1854, and remained pastor until 1859. In Feb. 1861, Rev.
C. F. Loop was called and remained till 18G3, when Rev. S. M.
Steele succeeded him and he in turn was superceded by Rev. A. B.
Russell, then by Rev. Hyde and he by Rev. T. N. Morrison.
A new church edifice was erected in 1874, on Buena Vista Ave.
and Washington St. The foundation was laid in the fall of 1870,
but as the society was unable to complete the church it was left thus
until the spring of 1874. The structure consists of two stories
proper, a brick basement and main auditorium. The building is of
Gothic style of architecture and about 35 by 85 feet in si/o. Lt is
neat and tasty and elegantly furnished.
Umver'salist ChurcJi was organized April 20, 1851, by Rev. (J. C.
Lemon, with fifteen members. A church edifice was erected in
1857, and was dedicated on the second Sunday in February 1858.
The Universalist society no longer hold regrdar services. Their
church building is occupied by the Christian Church.
<S7. Paiirs German Ecauf/clical Church is located on tlie corner of
Seventh and Ann Eliza streets; was organized with thirty mem-
bers, in 1857. The present edifice is a brick structure 45 by 82 feet,
Gothic style of architecture, and cost about t?12,000; have a parson-
age and school building costing about $3,000. The first pastor was
Rev. Wm. Lipj), wiio was succeed by Rev. Wni. Kisel, whose suc-
cessor was Rev. Wm. Kampmeier, the present pastor. The Elders
of the Church are Pleniy Voth and Gustav Vohlow. The pastor's
salary is $750, and the Church raises for all purposes $1,600 annu-
ally. The Sunday-school has an attendance of 250.
Christian Church. — On Friday, Sept. 29, 1876, a meeting was
commenced in Pekin, under the auspices of the Tazewell County
594 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Christian Co-operation, Elder W. F. Richardson acting as their
missionary. This meeting was continued until October 29th, and
resulted in the organization of a congregation of thirty-four mem-
bers. Officers were not elected, but T. J. Collins, Joseph Hiett,
Rival Jones, and Job Hodges were chosen a business committee.
The Universalist Church edifice was rented, which is retained to the
present time. The congregation has had its trials, and they were
severe tests, and shook the faith of some of its members in the
ultimate success of the work, but it is at present in a prosperous
condition. President Everest, of Eureka College, Eureka, 111., is
the present pastor. He devotes half of his time to the work here.
They have a good Sunday-school, which is presided over by B. R.
Hieronymus, Superintendent.
In connection with the history of the city we wish to speak per-
sonally of some who have been and arc making its history, and who
are not mentioned elsewhere in this volume.
Lemuel Allen was born in the State of Virginia, March 23, 1818.
His parents, James and Elizabeth (Lee) Allen, were also natives of
that State. He came to Tazewell Co. in 1846. Previously he re-
ceived a good education in Virginia and in Morgan Co., 111., and
adopted school teaching as his chosen profession. When lie first
came to Pekin, opened a school in the old Lindley Hall, corner
of Court and Second streets. This was quite an historic old house
in the early days of Pekin. This was a subscription school, as all
schools here were at that time. About 1849, a brick building-, yet
standing in the rear of Smith's wagon factory, was erected as a
school-house and Masonic hall ; the Masons occupying the upper
story ; soon the entire building was used for school ])urposes. Dur-
ing the years from 1855 to '58, inclusive, he was Superintendent of
Public Schools at Pekin, and for ten or twelve years served as
County Commissionor of Schools. He was married Sept. 14, 1843,
to Mrs. Margaret Pratt. He has been a member of the Baptist
Church since 1841, and has been a Trustee and Deacon since the
organization of that Church here. In politics Mr. Allen is a
Republican.
William II. Bates is the son of Alva T. Bates, who was born
among the Green Mountains of Vermont, and Elizabeth (Bowman)
Bates, of New York. William was born in New London, Huron
Co., O., April 28, 1841, and received his education at La Fayette
Seminary, La Fayette, Ind. He learned the printer's trade, and at
the first call for three year troops, enlisted in Co. H, 8th Mo. Inf.,
where he served with honor for over three years. At the close of
his army-life, he came to Pekin, where he engaged in the printing
and publishing business, and for many years edited the Tazewell
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 595
Bepublican, where he showed himself to be a stroncr, forcible writer,
advocating in a fearless and masterly manner, all the great political
questions endorsed by the Republican party. Emulating the ex-
ample of the best men of all ages, Mr. Bates loved and married.
He dates his matrimonial bliss from Sept. 18, 1875, at which time
he was united in the holy bonds with INliss Filmer Sluth, and four
nierrv, romping children fill his household with the sweetest of all
blessings.
Thomas K. Bemis, proprietor of the Bemis House, Pekin, is as
well known, perhaps, as any man in the county, and as a landlord,
throughout the State. He is a native of the grand old State of
Massachusetts, and was born at the town of Spencer, Dec. 5, 1826.
His parents were natives of the same State, where too, Thomas
spent the early years of his life and received his education. At the
age of 24, in 1850, Mr. Bemis was, united in marriage to ISIiss
Amanda Fay, who lived only a few years thereafter. He came
AVest and engaged with the Illinois Central Railway, as a passenger
conductor, in which capacity he proved very efficient, taking rank
with the best men on the road. In 1860, Mr. Bemis was married to
Mrs. Dr. Ackley, and seven years later came to Pekin, where he
purchased the Tazewell House of Wm. A. Tinney. The business
of the house having run down, Mr. Bemis thought best to change
its name, and, accordingly, christened it the Bemis House. The
buildino; was ori<:;inallv erected bv Mr. Richard Snell, in 1849, be-
fore the days of railroads in Pekin, and when the Illinois river was
the great highway for travel. The hotel was therefore built on the
banks of that great artery of commerce and travel. The Tazewell
House, when built was the most imposing hotel structure on the
Illinois river, and was intended for a first-class hotel, and since it
came into possession of its present proprietor, thirteen years ago, it
has taken rank, under the skillful management of a thorough-going
hotel man, as a popular house, and is to-day, by far, the best hotel
in the county, to which fact hundreds of traveling men and local
patrons will cheerfully testify. The old-time friends and others,
both in and out of this county, will be gratified to find in this vol-
ume, a full-page portrait of j\Ir. Bemis, a man who has done so
much to furnish the public with a hotel worthy of Tazewell county.
In politics Mr. Bemis is a Republican, always voting with that party
on all national questions.
Avon Boeninc/, born in Hanover, Germany, Dec. 20, '51 ; is son
of Simon and Elizabeth (Dicken) Boening ; came to Pekin May 14,
'67; was educated in the schools of his native country. He is
agent of the steamer Isabell, on the 111. river. Mr. Boening is a man
of good business qualifications and has accumulated a fine property
in Pekin. He was married Sept. 9, 1875, to Mary Heyl, and Prov-
idence has brightened their lives with one cherub son, Oscar, born
Aug. 21, '77. They ^vorship with the Evangelical Christian Asso-
ciation.
36
596 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Robert D. Bradley, 31. D. The subject of our sketch came to
Ta/xnvel] Co. in the spring of '73. He is a native of Green Co.,
Ills. His parents, Robert and Virginia Bradley, placed him
in school at Jacksonville and afterwards sent him to Jefferson
Medical College at Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1867,
and in 1873 he began the practice of his profession in Pekin,
where he now enjoys a fine practice. He served as captain,
in the 6th 111. Cav., in the war for the Union, leaving the service in
'65, and five years later he wooed and Avon the accomplished Miss
Lizzie Karr, and was united to her in the bonds of matrimony in
Oct, 1870. Their only child, Robert C, a bright young lad was
born July 12, '72. Doctor Bradley has filled, acceptably, the office
of County Physician for Tazewell Co. for three years.
Peter A. Brower was born in New York city Dec. 3, 1818. He
came to this county in 1835 with the Tremont Colony, of which his
step-father, Col. Charles Oakley, was a prominent member. He has
resided in the county since. In 1840, in company with a Mr. Coth-
real, under the firm name of Brower & Cothreal, he embarked in the
mercantile business at Pekin. For a number of years he was very
largely identified with the business interests of this city. He dealt
largely in grain, and packed pork extensively. He also engaged in
steam-boating, owning and running a boat. He has been captain or
clerk of seveml boats" For the past thirteen years, until last year,
he was agent here for the St. Louis & Illinois River Packet Co.
He has been three times married. The first time to a daughter of
Capt. Wybray, of Tremont. The second time to Susan Buck. She
was considerable of an authoress and poetess, and Avrote much for
the press. His present wife was Sarah Myers, of this city.
Levi W. Carter, physician, who came to this county in the fall of
1871. He is the son of Wm. and Susan (Wyatt) Carter, natives of
Delaware, in which State the Doctor Avas born on the 9th of May,
1835. He graduated at the Hahnemann Medical College and Hos-
pital, Chicago, and was married, Nov. 2, 1858, to Miss Mary S.
Giles, of Wyanet, 111.
Thomas R. Cooper was born in Morton toAvnship Feb. 21, '53.
His parents, Thomas and T^Iargaret Cooper, Avere early settlers in
Tazewell Co. James was sent to school in his native township, and
also attended Eureka College in Woodford Co. He resides in the
city of Pekin, Avhere he fills, acceptably, the position of Deputy
County Treasurer. Is a Democrat in politics, and is a Sergeant in
Co. G; 7th Regt. I. N. G.
Cornelius B. Cmmnings, Avhose name stands at the head of one of
the largest dry goods firms in Central Illinois, was born in St. Law-
rence Co., N. Y., in 1832, and came to this county in 1859, twenty
years ago, and during all these years has been engaged in his pres-
ent business, Avhich has steadily increased in volume, and is now the
largest in the county. His father, James P. Cummings, is a native
of Vermont, and his mother, Clarissa (Wilson) Cummings, was born
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 597
in New York. He was married to Harriett A. Cumings, in 1859.
The union has been blessed with two children, Emma L. and
Hattic Eugenia. His official duties consist in having served as Su-
pervisor four years. He votes with the Democrats.
Willicua IJamm, a grocer of Pekin, came here in the spring of
1866, and one year before came to America from Kerhesson, Ger-
many, where he was born on the 11th day of May, 1847, and where
his parents, Henry and Elizabeth Damm, gave him an education,
and instilled into his young mind the living principles of truth and
sobriety, that have done so much in forming his character in mature
years. He is an active member of the German Lutheran Church ;
was married to Augusta Bertha Johannes, the union being blessed
with two children, John H., born Sept. 4, '75, and Katharine M.,
Sept. 1, 77.
Geerd S. De Vries, a native of Germany, was born at Ostfriesland
Dec. 2, '44. His parents, John and Margaret DeA^ries, gave Geerd
a good education, which was completed at Peoria, where, at the Com-
mercial College, he graduated. He came to Pekin in 1872, where
he engaged in the grocery business, at which he is now engaged on
South Fourth street. He was united in marriage, April 22, '73, to
Miss Tena Roelfs, of Pekin, and their hearts and homes have been
brightened bv the advent of three children : Stephen G. born
May 17, '75;' Stewart G., Feb. 8, '76, and Louis C, Feb. 4, '79.
Henri/ Howard Fitch, a dental surgeon of Pekin, is a son of H.
C. Fitch and Clara B. (Howard) Fitch, and a native of Mooers,
Clinton Co., N. Y., where he was born April 10, '46. He received
an academic education in Vermont, and afterwards took a partial
course at Dartmouth College ; was united in marriage, July 8, '71,
to the widow of H. L. Beach, whose maiden name was Mary L. Foot.
Their two children, Agnes and Alice, are bright little gems, born,
respectively, July 23, '73, and July 2, '75.
Abraham Fuld, a clothing merchant at 421 Court street, and an
American by adoption, was born in Germany, in 1828, of Jewish
parents, Meyers and Gertrude Fuld, who gave him a good education
in the schools of Germany. He came to Pekin in '66, where, six
years later, he married Miss Bertha Glazowsky. Augusta, Ida and
Max are their three children. Mr. F. was formerly associated in
business with ISIr. Schradzki, but dissolving this partnership in '78
he established his present house.
Otto S. Gaither, son of William and Eliza (Garrett) Gaither, who
were among the earliest pioneers of this county. Mr. Wm. Gaither
is a man well and favorably known, and has served two terms as
Treasurer of this county. The subject of this sketch was born at
Tremont, this county, March 1, '47. He has since lived in the Co.,
and received his education here. While yet only twenty-one years
of age he assumed the responsible duties of Cashier of the P., P. &
J. Railway, which position he held until '73, when, owing to the
declining health of his father^ he resigned his position and took pos-
598 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
session of his business affiiirs. Mr. G. has been actively engaged in
the insurance business in Pekin for about five years. His religious
views accord with those of the Baptist faith^ and he is a member of
the Baptist Church.
George G. Geiger, a native of the Buckeye State, was born at
Marion, (3hio, Oct. 3, 1850, where, in the high school of his native
town, he received a liberal education. His parents, Marion and
Margaret (Holverstoll) Geiger, early instilled into the mind of young
George the necessity of obtaining an education, such as would ena-
ble him to successfully meet the adversities and buifetings of a busi-
ness life. Mr. Geiger was formerly engaged in merchandising in
Peoria, and is now pursuing the same business in Pekin. He has
shown his devotion to his country by standing ready, at the first
signal of danger, to strike a blow for her defense, he being Captain
of Co. G, 7th Regt. I. N. G. He was married, Oct. 2, '78, to Miss
Ida J. Bootz.
J. W. Glassgow is the oldest of six children of William and Mary
(Clark) Glassgow. The subject of this sketch was born in Blair
Co., Penn., April 10, 1805. He moved with his parents to Ohio
when he was quite young. That portion of Ohio was at that time
filled with roving bands of Indians. Mr. G. learned to talk the
Indian language quite fluently, as his playmates were mostly Indi-
ans. His mother died a few years after they arrived in Ohio. At
the earlv ajje of eleven John W. was thrown on his own resources.
He has always kept the good advice his father gave him on leaving
home : " That he should never get into bad company." At the age
of eighteen he went to Center Co., Penn., and there became an ap-
prentice to learn stone-cutting, which, in various places, he followed
for some five years. Mr. G. was united in marriage, Sept. 28, '26,
to Miss Sarah W. Randolph, a native of Ohio. Their union was
blessed with four children, only one of whom is now living, Isa-
bella, who is the wife of D. T. Thompson, of Pekin. Mr. G. came
to this county in April, 1849. In 1858 Mr. G. was elected to the
responsible office of Justice of the Peace, in which position he has
served for some nineteen years; in 1862 was appointed Deputy Col-
lector of Internal Revenue ; has been Notary Public for some seven
years; in 1866 Mr. G. was appointed U. S. Commissioner. Mr. G.
was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, Avhen he
became identified with its principles, to which he has since given his
unwavering support. He voted twice for the martyred Lincoln,
and twice for Gen. Grant. We find much that is worthy of com-
mendation in the career of this venerable gentleman.
George Greigg, a prominent business man and banker of Pekin,
came to Tazewell Co. in the fall of 1841. He is the son of David
and Agnes (Hackney) Greigg, of Scottish birth, and was himself
born in Forfarshire, Scotland, in the year 1818, where, surrounded
by the best influences of his mountain home, he formed his habits
and established a character that has done much, in mature years, to
M
Xtt
'^AYOR ofP£^^
i:^e-
C'Tr-CLERK OF ^
HWAN OF
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 601
mark him as one of the solid business men of Pekin. He, like the
most of his eountrymen, lives in the Presbyterian faith. On the
16th dav of Oetober, 1849, he was united in marriage to Susan
Smith; their daughter, Annie, being their only ehild. Mr. Greigg
has been connected with the C, P. & S. W. Railway as its Treas-
urer, and for many years one of the Directors of that road. He was
also at one time engaged in a very extensive lumber business in
Pekin.
James H. Goad. The subject of this sketch, who now resides in
Pekin, has been closely identified with the development of the com-
mercial and mining interests of this county for more than a score of
years, having settled here in 1857. Pie was born in Cornwall, Eng-
land, April 'I'l, 1844. His parents, Henry and Eleanor Goad, were
also natives of England, where James received his education. Mr.
Goad is associated with Mr. Rundle in the operation of the Victo-
ria Coal Mine, located soutiicast of Pekin. He married, Sept., '76,
Margaret Jane Bell. They have one child, Mary Eleanor, born
April 10, 1878. He endorses the Christian religion and is a mem-
ber of the ^I. E. Church.
Hon. William A. Hall, the Democratic llepresentative to the 31st
General Assembly, from Pekin, is a natjve of this county, was born
in 1851. His literary education was obtained in his native county.
He inherited a taste for the law, and after a thorough preparation,
was admitted to the Bar of the State in 1871, while yet but twenty
years of age. Has been chosen by the voters of Pekin to represent
them as City Attorney, discharging the duties of his office with
filial trust. Mr. Hall is one of the youngest members of the Pekin
Bar, and gives promise of taking rank among the leading men of
his profession in Illinois.
Martin Herget, a native of Germany, was born 21st of Nov.,
1849, and came to America when a boy, settling in Tazewell county
thirteen years ago, arriving here Oct. 9, 1866. He was married on
the 19th of August, 1875. Five years ago Mr. Herget established
himself in the mercantile business, the (Nothing trade, in which he
has continued to the present time, being now located in the same
store in which he began. Mr. H. can look back over the five years
of his prosperity here with much satisfaction and pardonable pride.
He is an active member of St. Paul's Evangelical Ciiurch of Pekin.
John Herget, of the firm of J. & G. Herget, wholesale grocers, is
one of the leading and representative men of Tazewell Co. He has
accumulated a large property and built up one of the largest busi-
ness houses in this part of the State. The citizens have honored
him with the office of Mayor of Pekin. He is a shrewd business
man, enterprising citizen, and an upright gentleman.
Martin F. Hcisel, dry-goods merchant, Pekin, is the son of Leon-
ard and Mary (Sauer) Heisel, both natives of Germany. Martin
was born in Pekin, Dec. 20, 1857, and here he spent his school-
days, and where now, at the age of twenty-two, he is the successor
602 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
of his father in a lucrative mercantile business. The senior Mr.
Heisel has been twenty-seven years engaged in trade in the same
street, and now, after a successful business career, retires in favor of
his son, whose ability and business experience so well fits him for
the position.
B. R. Hieronymus, cashier of the Farmer's National Bank, Pekin,
and one of Tazewell county's best known citizens, was born in the
southeastern portion of this county in the month of June, 1841, and
is therefore just thirty years of age. His parental ancestors came
here away back among the early days, when Tazewell county was in
its childhood, and when it gave promise of what it has since
become, an important factor in shaping the commercial destiny of
the great commonwealth of the State of Illinois. His father,
James, Hieronymus, was born in Kentucky, while his mother,
Malinda (Thompson) Hieronymus, was a native of Tennessee. In
Sept., 1861, he was wedded to Miss S. M. Mountjoy, and three
children were the issue of this union. In Aug., '62, Mr. Hierony-
mus enlisted in Co. A. 117th 111. Inf., and at the close of his term
of enlistment, he was mustered out as 1st Lieut. In politics he is
a Republican, and his religious views accord with the faith of the
Christian Church, in which he has, for many years, been an earnest
Christian worker. After the death of his wife, he spent five years
in the Internal Revenue office at Springfield, and while living at
Springfield, he met and won the heart of Miss N. P. Clark, of that
city, and Providence has sent them one bright little gem, Lora, to
shed a sunbeam and scatter joy through the hearts and home of two
souls, who can bless as they should, the Giver of all good, for this
fountain of life's purest, truest bliss.
Herman W. Hippen, the present Mayor of Pekin, was born in
Germany, July 18, 1836, and came to this country in 1855. His
parents, Ulrich and Anna Hippen, were also natives of Germany.
Mr. Hippen received a collegiate education at Aurich, Prussia. He
was united in marriage, in 1866, and they have four children, Ella
E., Alma H., Herman W., and an infant child. In addition to the
mayoralty he has held the offices of Supervisor, School Director,
and Alderman of the City of Pekin. Mr. Hippen has been very
successful in his business enterprises in this county, having accumu-
lated a competency. He represents the Republican school of politics,
and is a member of the Lutheran Church. A portrait of Mr. Hip-
pen may be found in this work.
John J. Johns, a resident of Pekin and member of the firm of N.
Reuling & Co., dry-goods merchants, was born at Tremont, this
county, Dec. 21, 1846, and came to Pekin in 1871. His parents,
Andrew and Mary (Kennedy) Johns, were both also natives of Illi-
nois. Mr. Johns received his education at Tremont, and is a mem-
ber of the German M. E. Church. Pie was married, March 8, '70,
to Elizabeth Webber. They are now the parents of four children :
Tena, born Dec. 14, '70; Laura, April 5, '72; Lena, Jan. 21, '75;
Adda, July 5, '77.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 603
Charles M. Kinsei/y a farmer of this county, is tlic present Deputy
Sheriif, and a resident of Pekin. His nativity is Little Mackinaw,
this county, where he was born June 14, '55. His parents were
both natives of A^irginia, but came to Tazewell Co. when the coun-
try was little improved. Charles was given a good education in the
common schools of this county. On the 25th of Dec, '78, he was
united in marriage to Miss Martha Mount.
John Kracycr came to Tazewell Co. as early as 1853, from Ger-
many, where he was born Nov. 28, '32. He loves the land of his
adoption, and his long residence in Pekin has gained him many
warm friends. He is engaged in the grocery trade on Court street.
Mr. Kraeger was united in the bonds of matrimony to Mary Huget,
in April, 1867, and their six children, Phillip A., Anna K., Edwin,
George, Carrie, and Amelia, are all living.
George Albert Kuhl was born of German parentage, on the 17th
day of June, 1858, at Beardstown, Illinois, and settled in Pekin in
the fall of '73, when he en«;ay;ed as a salesman in the grocery house
of Geo. J. Webber, which pt)sition he filled with ability until the
spring of '79, when, with Mr. DeVries, he became successor to Geo.
W. Weber. INIr. Kuhl is a young man of fine ability, which, with
his accustomed close attention to business, must insure him success.
He is a member of the German Methodist Church.
John Lowery, wholesale ice dealer. One of the large business in-
terests of Pekin is represented by this gentleman.
August Lucas, one of the firm of I^ucas Brothers, Court street,
Pekin, was born in Germany, March 3, '44, and settled in Tazewell
Co., in the spring of '66. After six years residence in Pekin as a
bachelor Mr. Lucas found it was not good for man to live alone, and,
on Feb. 15, '72, he plighted his troth and united his destiny with
the idol of his heart. Miss Louisa Weyhrich, of Pekin, and one
bright promising boy, now nearly seven years of age, was sent to
cheer and comfort these fond parents.
Geo. Lucas, son of George and Helena (Metzger) Lucas, natives
of Germany, was born at Hesse Darmstadt, Jan. 13, 1821, and came
to this county in April, 1848. He received his education in the
common schools of Germany. He first came to this county in the
spring of 1848, from Gasconade Ferry, ISIo., where he held the office
of postmaster for twelve years. He has been twice married, first to
Amelia Proseh, in 1855; again, Paulina Umrath, in 18G2, and of
the eight children that have blessed these unions, four only are liv-
ing— Ernest, born Feb. 2, '60; Carl, Nov. 10, '63; Oscar, June 9,
'68; and Robert, Sept. 11, '72. Mr. L. is successor to his brother,
John, in the grocery business, at Pekin, in which business he has
labored and prospered for about ten years.
Conrad Luppen, born at Pekin, 111., Dec, 6, 1851. His parents
were Luppe and Catharine Luppen, natives of Germany. Conrad
acquired the rudiments of his education at Warrentown, Missouri,
and finished in the Illinois Wesleyan University, at Bloomiugton.
604 HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
He is at present engaged in the banking business in his native city
of Pekin ; is a member of the German M. E. Church ; a Republi-
can in politics, and is an honorary member of Co. G, 7th regiment,
I. N. G.
William Don Maus, attorney, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Sept.
23, 1836, His parents were Samuel G. and Ann E. Maus. He
was brought to this county as early as 1838, but not permanently
until 1845. Since he has attained his majority, he has been closely
identified Avith the interests of Tazewell county. He is a thorough-
going public man, and one eminently suited for public life. He
attended the common schools of Jackson Co., 111., and at Oswego,
N. Y., and at private school under the tutorship of J. K. Kellogg,
Tremont, and at an academy at Mt. Palatine. He was admitted to
the Bar in 1857. He served for many years as Master in Chancery,
and filled the office of County Judge. Sept. 11, 1856, he was
united in marriage with Miss Chancey. Their home has been
blessed with three children — Adriannne, born Aug. 20, 1857 ; Kate,
Dec. 14, 1859; Fred. Philip, Dec. 20, 1862. Politically, the Judge
is a Democrat.
John McDougal has lived in Tazewell county about eleven years,
having came here Jan. 5, 1868. He eminates from a country that
produced a Burns, and has reason to refer to his nativity with feel-
ings of pride. Mr. McD. was born Sept. 26, 1840, at Dundee,
Scotland, where his parents, also of Scotch birth, sent him to the
common schools, and gave him a good education. Naturally enough
Mr. McDougal worships in the Presbyterian faith.
Jeremiah M. Moloney, native of the county of Clare, Ireland, and
son of Michael and Ellen Moloney, was born Jan. 6, 1848, and
came to Tazewell county in the fall of 1865. He was educated in
Limerick. Mr. M. is a young man of fine business qualifications,
and high moral character, and a member of the Catholic Church.
He entertains Democratic views ; was elected City Clerk in 1875,
and filled the office with ability and entire satisfaction for three
successive terms. Mr. M. stands ready to defend the country of his
adoption, as shown by his joining the 7th regiment, I. N. G., in
which organization he fills the office of Hospital Steward.
Charles H. Oltmanns, the subject of this sketch, has been a resi-
dent of Pekin since '71. He was born in North Germany, in 1839,
and is a son of Eilte and Sarah Oltmanns, who lived upright Chris-
tian lives, and who imparted to their son a desire to do right.
Charles is a member of the Lutheran Church of Pekin, and a
useful member of society. Was married in 1863 to Kate Peters;
they have had five children, and but two are living. Mr. O. is en-
gaged in the manufacture and sale of boots and shoes, in which he
is eminently successful.
Adolph Pautz, a merchant of Pekin, came here at the early day
of '48, at the age of 27. His nativity is Germany ; was born June
II, '21, and was placed, by his parents, in the schools of his native
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 605
place, where he received a good education. He was chosen School
Inspector of Pekin, which position he filled with ability from '68 to
'71. \V'as united in marriage to Elvira H. Flovey, who bore him
five children, whose names and births are as below : Ella, Aug. 3,
'53; Ida, March 20, '55; James H., Jan. 6, '57; Edward, Jan. 20,
'58 ; and Gertie, Jan. 29, '68. They worship with the Universalists.
Mr. P. is one of Pekin's oldest grocers, having been engaged in that
business since 1851.
Hon. Benj. S. Prettyman is the son of Lewis and Harriet (Mason)
Prettyman. He was born in Kent Co., Del., Nov. 21, 1819, and
came to Pekin with his parents in 1831, and since has been promi-
nently identified with the interests of the county. He is an able,
shrewd, and well-known lawyer of the Pekin Bar, and practiced in
an early day, along with some of the best legal talent our State
ever boasted of. He was married in April, 1845, to Miss Sarah A.,
daughter of Wm. Haines, an early settler of this county. He
reared a large family, the members of which are well esteemed.
His son, Wm. L., is States Attorney for this county at the present
time.
Ahan Bryant Redlon, printer, was born in Buxton, York Co.,
Maine, Jan. 25, 1830, obtaining the rudiments of an education in
common schools of his native county. His parents were Jonathan
and Mary (Bryant) Redlon, both natives of Maine. His mother
died when he was ten years old. In the 15th year of his age he
left his father's house to make his own living, and the following
year he entered the office of Zion's Advocate, published at Portland,
Maine, as an apprentice. Afterwards he was employed at Boston
and Cambridge, Mass., and in Phode Island and Connecticut, and
came to Detroit, Mich., in July, 1857. The following year he went
to Wisconsin, and in Nov., 1859, he came to Pekin and obtained
employment in the office of the Tazewell Register, on which paper,
and the Times, its successor, he worked the greater part of the time
for nineteen years. On July 11, 1861, he was married to Mrs.
JSmelinc Bridgewater. He was a member of Division, No. 74,
Sons of Temperance, which flourished here some years ago, and
served one term as R. S., and one term as W. P., of that Division.
For about two years he was proof-reader in the Times office.
Nicholas ReuUng. Adam and Elizabeth Reiding, the parents of
Nicholas, were natives of Germany, and he was also born in the
Fatherland. Coming to this county in the year 1854, he engaged,
not many years after, in the dry-goods trade, in which business he
has been eminently successful, having, by his ability and integrity
of character, rose to be one of the leading men in the trade in Taze-
well county. In Dec, 1858, Mr. Reuling was united in marriage
to Mary Herget, the fruits of the marriage being four children, all
now living. Perhaps no man in the county has a larger personal
acquaintance, and certainly none who stand higher in the estimation
of the people. He is a member of St. Paul's Evangelical Church.
606 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
George C. Rider, City Attorney of Pekin, is one of Tazewell
county's promising young lawyers. He has filled the office of City
Attorney for three terms with satisfaction to the people and credit
to himself He is the son of Jonathan and Mary (Kirk) Rider, of
New York, and was born at Rider's Mills, Columbia Co., N. Y.,
May 29, 1850. He received a collegiate education at Schenectady,
N. Y., and settled in Pekin in 1870, ariving here in Dec. 11. He
won the heart and hand of one of Pekin's most accomplished young
ladies, Miss Elizabeth Prettyman, to whom he was wedded Oct. 7,
'74, and two bright little girls, Sarah Grace and Mary Kirk, cheer
their home.
Coesar A. Roberts, son of William and Elizabeth (Forquer) Rob-
erts, was born in Jeiferson Co., Mo., June 24, 1825, and came to
this county in the summer of 1850. His school days and early
manhood was spent at Patosi, Mo.; was married in June, 1850, to
Sarah G. Clark, and five children have blessed the union, four of
whom are now living. Mr. Roberts chose the law for a profession
and time has proven .that he chose well, success having attended his
efforts ; his politics is radically Democratic ; was chosen a member
of the Constitutional Convention at Denver, Colorado, in 1859, and
held the office of States Attorney from 1864 to '68, also served in
the General Assembly at Springfield as member from Tazewell Co.
1871 and '72.
John Rods, one of the pioneer merchants, came to Tazewell Co.
in May 1853. He came here from Rockenhausen, Germany, April
20, 1838. Philip and Elizabeth (Hoffinan) Roos, his parents, were
frugal industrious people, and following their example, he has met
that success in life, which always results from a life of honest effi)rt
and strict business integrity. He lives in the Episcopal faith, and
was married to Elizabeth Harmus, March 13, 1863 ; their three chil-
dren, Julia, Louisa and Annie, are the living spring of their joy.
Mr. R. has held the office of Alderman of Pekin, and is now en-
gaged in a lucrative boot and shoe business.
Ccesar A. Roberts was born in Pekin 111. April 9, 1855, and has.
since lived in the city of his nativity, where, in the common schools
and by private tuition he has obtained his education. He is now
just beginning what promises to be a very successful law practice,
for, though young in years, his studious habits and fine mental poise
insure success, and the future will doubtless find him occupying a
high place in the Bar of Illinois. Mr. Roberts has been connected
with the Pekin Times about two years, also the Daily Bulletin dur-
ing, 75 and '76. Is a Democrat in politics. We wish to take this
opportunity of publicly thanking Mr. R. (as we are sure all our
readers will feel grateful to him,) for the very full and interesting
chapter on "The Bar of Tazewell Co.," to be found in this volume.
William Rundle was born at Cornwall, England, 19th of May,
1832, and came to America in Feb., 1858. William's^ parents,
Joseph and Mary (Wyatt) Rundle, were of the same nativity. He
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 607
was educated in England. Was married to Elizabeth Ann Hocken,
May 10, '54, and their two children, both of whom are living, were
born, Joseph, Feb. 18, '56, and Mary Ann, May 10, 1868. Mr.
Rundle has held the office of Mine Inspector, and is, at present,
Alderman from the 4th Ward. He has long been at the head of
the coal-mining interests of this county, having, for twenty years,
been actively engaged in that enterprise, during which time he has
done as much, perhaps, as any individual, toward the development
of the coal-mining interests of Tazewell county, and from his re-
search in the science of mining, many others have gained valuable
knowledge and realized large profits, Mr. Rundle is now opera-
ting, with good success, the Victoria mine, under the firm name of
Rundle & Goad. This shaft was sunk to the depth of 132 feet,
about six years since. Its location is one and a quarter mile south-
east of Pekin court-house, on the north side of Tremont road. Mr.
Rundle has ever felt a deep interest in the advancement of the edu-
cational and religious interests of the county, and is a member of
the Methodist Church at Pekin. In one of our Pekin groups will
be found a })ortrait of Mr. Rundle, and we feel sure that hundreds
of admiring friends, especially those who have worked shoulder to
shoulder with him, in the cause of temperance, will retain it as a
souvenir of his noble devotion to this sacred cause.
Frank E. Rupert is the son of Gideon and Eliza (Kownslor)
Rupert, who were among the first to settle in Pekin, and Gideon
Rupert will be remembered by the pioneers of this county as being
one of the first to engage in the mercantile business, far away back
in 1835. Forty-four years ago he kept store on Court street, on the
spot where now stands Rupert's block. Frank E. Rupert was born
at Pekin on Feb. 9, 1840, and having lived here for thirty-nine
years, is closely identified with its development and prosperity. On
Dec. 1, 1864, obeying the scriptural injunction, he took unto him-
self a wife, and was united in the holy bonds of wedlock, to Miss
Ellen Hornish, and the union has been blessed with three children.
He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Pekin.
James J. Sake was born in Indiana, July 7th, 1831, and is the
son of James and Mary (Hornback) Salee, the former of Va., the
latter of Pa. Mr. Salee, as he often remarks, was blown into
Pekin. He was a passenger on the ill-fated Prairie Stare steamer,
which blew up a the levee at foot of Court street, April 16, 1853.
He was badly scalded and lay for weeks between life and death, and
to this day wears terrible scars from the injuries received. He was
on his way from Bureau county to Texas, but being cast ashore
here in a helpless condition, gave up his Southern trip, and has re-
mained in Pekin since. He is engaged at his trade, that of plas-
tering. He enlisted in Co. B, 108th 111. Inf., and served under
Capt. Henry during the Rebellion. He was united in marriage
with Catherine E. Sipes, April 16, 1857. This union has been
blessed with five children, three of whom are living — James W.,
608 HISTORY OP TAZEWELL COUNTY.
born July 27, '58 ; Charles L., Dec. 10, '60; Foster S., Oct. 18,
'62; Lewis F., Dec. 6, '64; Ida Bell, Feb. 10, '67; Charles and
Foster are dead. Mr. S. united with the Christian Church, Oct.
16, 1876.
James Sanford, a native of Albany Co., New York ; was born
May 16, 1849, and settled in Tazewell county in 1878.^ His pa-
rents, James and Amanda (Bush) Sanford, were both natives of the
Empire State. James, Jr., was sent to the district school ; one year
after which, was placed in the Episcopal school at Rennsalearsville,
N, Y., where he finished his education. Dec. 24, 1878, he was mar-
ried to Sarah Stillman. In politics Mr. Sanford pins his faith on
the Greenback party, believing that the only road to national wealth
and individual happiness lies along the verdant banks of our dear
old currency inspired by the immortal Chase.
Abial B. Sawyer. Ex-Mayor of the city of Pekin and leading
real estate Lawyer of Tazewell Co., is perhaps as closely identified
with the development of the various interests of this county, as any
man within its borders. Far back, in the primitive days of the
Prairie State, Josiah and Harriett (Bates) Sawyer, his parents, who
were both natives of New Hampshire, guided by the "Star of Em-
pire" Westward, settled in Tremont this Co., where, with the pro-
verbial thrift of native New Englanders, they set about carving for
themselves, and posterity a home, and where on the 3rd day of
May, 1838, Abial was born. At the proper age he was placed in
Lombard University, in Knox Co., 111., where he received a liberal
education. His political views are Democratic, and his party have
honored him with the positions of City Attorney and Alderman in
addition to that of Mayor. His marriage with Miss Rebecca A.
Baily, occurred on the 26th of March, 1863. Their four children,
Myro, Gussie, Josiah and Abial B. Jr. have been protected by a
kind Providence and all give promise of lives of usefulness.
Henry Hayr was born in Lewis county N. Y., March 22, 1819,
and coming West settled in Whiteside county, 111., 1844, and five
years later, fall of '49, came to Pekin, where he has since lived. A
carpenter and builder by trade ; he has done much to develop the
county in the erection of its business buildings and dwellings. He
was married Jan. 27, '53, to Miss Angeline D. Upson. One child, a
daughter, born in Aug., '54, being the issue of the union. He has
for many years been an active Christian worker and is one of the
charter members of the Universalist Church of Pekin.
Fredrick Schaefer, hook dealer, and stationer. Court St. ; came to
Tazewell county' from Germany in 1854. He was born Sept. 27,
1831. His father, F. W. Schaefer and his mother, Mina (Dreier)
Schaefer, were of the same nativity. Two years after his arrival
here he was married to Mrs. Zimmerman, seven children being the
fruits of the union. Mr. S. established his present business in '75,
which has steadily grown and now is the largest of the kind in the
county. He grew up in the faith of the Lutheran Church in the
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 609
old country and now worships with the German M. E. Church of
Pekin.
Gottshalt Schradzki, native of Koenig Province, Posen, Germany,
and came to Tazewell county in 1866. He is a son of Harris and
Hannah Schradzki, who gave him a good education in the schools of
his native place. He is a member of the Jewish Church ; was
married in 1859 to Miss Lena Stone, who has borne liim seven chil-
dren, all but one of whom have been calkxl to tlieir home above.
Joseph, born May 3, '63, died April 21, '78; Jacob, born July 1,
'68, died May, '76 ; Aaron, born June 15, '71, died May '76 ; Annie,
born '65, died July, '67 ; and Jennie, born Aug. 27, '64. Mr.
Schradzki is one of the representative clothing merchants of Pekin,
and came here by solicitation of his brother then living in Peoria.
Ernest Schurman. — Conrad and Emely Schurman, the parents of
Ernest, were of German birth, where he, too, was born, at Buer,
Hanover, June 25, 1843, where he received a fine German educa-
tion, at Norden, Ostfriestland. In 1864, while just ready to sail for
America, he met at Norden, Mr. Teis Smith, who was then in Europe
on a visit, and who oifered him a situation as book-keeper, which
he excepted, and sailed at once for xVmerica, arriving at Pekin, Aug.
25, 1864. He was married to Onnoline Looschen, by Rev. Julius
Seidel, Sept. 29, 1867, this being the twenty-fifth anniversary of the
wedding of his parents, who were then celebrating their silver
wedding in the fatherland. Mr. S. has been called by his fellow
townsmen to fill many offices of trust, among which was Alderman
of Pekin, during which time he was made chairman of the Finance
Committee ; Supervisor of Pekin township, also Supervisor of city
of Pekin, etc. The family of Mr. and Mrs. S, consist of five
children.
C. H. L. Schnrman, a son of C. H. and Emily (Voigt) Schur-
man, was born in Buer, near Osnabruck Province, Hanover, Ger-
many, Feb. 20, 1848, where he grew to manhood and received a
good education, and graduated at the Gymnasium in Norden, Ost-
friesland. Coming to Pekin in 1864, he engaged as book-keeper
with Smith, Hippen & Co. He was married to Miss Hermine
Hippen, a native of Aurich, Ostfricsland, Germany, from which
union were born four children — Carl, May 27, '71 ; William, July
28, '73; Minnie, Nov. 20, '75; Henry, Aug. 14, '78. He was
elected by his fellow^ citizens to fill the office of City Treasurer,
serving with satisfaction.
Louis Stapper, piano tuner and music teacher.
Peter Steinrnetz was born at Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, Septem-
ber, 1839. His parents were Adam and Barbara (Schantz) Stein-
metz, natives of Germany. He came to this country in 1S57,
entirely penniless, and by frugality of habit, personal integrity, and
business ability, has accumulated a fine property, and established
himself in a large and growing dry goods and clothing trade. He
was married in the fall of 1 862, to Fredrica Ross, and they have
610 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
seven children, born as follows: Peter, March 23, '63; George,
Sept. 30, '64; Lena, May 23, '66; Henry, June 12, '69; Louisa,
Sept. 30, '71 ; and Emma, April 6, '78. Mr. Stein metz has held
the offices of Supervisor, School Director, and Inspector of Pekin,
the latter office he now holds, and has filled it acceptably for many
terms. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, of Pekin.
WilUam T. Thompson, whose parents, John C. and Celia J. (Col-
lins) Thompson, were natives, the former of New York and the
latter of Kentucky, was himself born in Peoria 111., where he spent
his early life and received his education. Mr. T. spent many years
in frontier life engaged in the live stock trade throughout the wilds
of the far West, which at times was full of thrilling adventures so
often met with in a life beyond the borders of civilization. Desir-
ing a more quiet occupation Mr. Thompson returned to Peoria
and engaged in the mercantile business, and has since settled in
Pekin, where he now is engaged in like pursuits. He has been
a member, since its organization, of Co. G, I. N. G., of Pekin.
William A. Tinney was born in Petersburg, Va., March 31, 1806.
His parents were Nathaniel and Caroline (Marshall) Tinney.
Nathaniel served in the Revolutionary war and participated in
many hard fought battles. William A. learned the saddler's trade,
which trade he followed for some fifteen years. He was united in
marriage April 6, 1830, to Miss Sarah Jane Yager, a native of Ky.
Mr. T. arrived in Tazewell Co. in Nov., 1832. He was Second
Lieutenant of Co. G, 4th Regt. 111. Vol. during the Mexican war,
and participated in the battles of Vera Cruz and Cero Gordo. He
was by the side of Gen. Shields when he was wounded at the latter
battle. He caught the falling Gen. in his arms and bore him out
of danger. In 1848, he settled permanently in Pekin, where he
still resides, respected by all. Mr. T. has been honored by his fel-
low citizens with various elective offices, which he has always filled
with honor. He was appointed to take the United States cencus in
1840 and 1860. He is at present Police Magistrate for the dty of
Pekin. In politics is Democratic to the core, having cast his first
vote for Jackson.
Oen. Charles Turner, the son of Rev. Charles A. and Mary
(Bailey) Turner, who lived in Connecticut, where the General was
born in the county of New London, March 15, 1825. He inherited
a determination to make a mark in the world and chose the law for
his field of conflict with the great problem of life, in which he has
shown himself the equal of any in the Bar of Tazewell county, and
where he attained the eminence of Judge. He was married on the
20th of Oct., 1853, to Miss Sarah E. Henry, the cultured and
accomplished daughter of R. I. Henry, of Ohio. In the war for
the Union Gen. Turner took rank among the bravest and ablest,
whose names have been written on the scroll of imperishable fame,
from the great State of Illinois.
Joshua Wagenseller is in the truest sense, one of Tazewell county's
HISTORY OF TAZEAYELL COUNTY. 611
pioneers, having arrived here as far back as Jan. 3, 1837. He
points with pride to the Key-stone State as the hind of his birth.
He first saw the light July 5, 1813, in Norris county. Pa. Peter
and Susanna (Longacre) Wagenseller, his parents, were honest in-
dustrious people. Three years after he came here he was married
to Miss Mary Rupert, five children being the issue of the union.
Mr. W. is now engaged in the mercantile business, which is far the
oldest established house in Central Illinois, having been opened 42
years ago and continued without intermission during all these years.
Although not a politician, Mr. Wagenseller has numbered among
his personal friends some of the greatest statesmen of our time, and
among the number was Abraham Lincoln, who, previous to his
election to the Presidency, frequently visited him at his home here.
Lincoln was, in former years, Mr. Wagenseller's attorney and after
his elevation to the high position of President, he did not forget his
friend of former years, but offered him an appointment to a Federal
office, which Mr. Wagenseller chose to decline and time has proven
that he chose wisely, for no country has a greater honor to bestow
on any man than that of a successful, honest private citizen.
William Weisfi, whose name heads this sketch, has been a resident
of Pekin since 1855, where, by his native ability and personal in-
tegrity, he has built up one of the largest trades in the sale of lum-
ber and manufacture of sash and blinds, in the central part of
Illinois. His jnirents, Daniel and Christiana (Henkel) Weiss, were
natives of Germany, where William was born Sept. 9, 1829. Per-
haps no man in Tazewell county is better or more favorably known
in business circles than Mr. Weiss, He has been elected Alderman
of his ward, and filled the office of Chief of Fire Department at the
age of twenty-eight. When he had been two years in Pekin he
wedded Miss Eva Lahnes. Providence has dealt kindly with them,
for their eight children, Elizabeth,born Sept. 5, '57; John, Jan. 10,
'59 ; William, Sept. 25, 'G3 ; Gretchen, Aug. 27, '08 ; Emma, Sept.
5, '68; Anna, May 19, '71 ; Louisa, May 19, '71 ; and Ida, March
23, '75, have all been spared, and all give promise of living lives of
usefulness.
H. P. Wcsterman was born, Aug. 25, 1836, in St. Louis, Mo., and
is the son of Conrad and Margaretha (Lang) Westerman. His
father and his family came to Pekin in 1 846, and old Father West-
erman died here in 1873. H. P. attended the common schools of
Pekin, and then entered Bell's Commercial College, from where he
graduated. In 1848 he embarked in the dry goods business as
clerk, and from that time his active business career began. He was
united in marriage with Mary L. Gregg, Oct. 13, 1856. Three
children were born to them, two of whom are living.
3Iary L. WeMennan, daughter of John Gregg and Susan Leslie,
was born in Wayne Co., Mich., but at an early age removed to 111.
Her father is a direct descendant of the McGregor clan. Her
mother was a woman of fine natural abilities, to which were added
612 HISTORY f'F TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
the gifts of a forcible and observing writer. Mrs. W. received a
thorough English education. Her natural abilities are superior and
are carefully cultured by study and extensive travel. She is a
woman of great energy and a firmness of purpose that has assured
success in all undertakings. On the 13th of October, 1856, she was
married to Henry P. Westerman, Esq., at the old Reformed Church,
being the' first marriage ever solemnized there. Their union was
blest with three children, the eldest of whom died some years since.
At the breaking out of the Civil war, although young in years, Mrs.
W. proved a woman of great foresight and executive ability, being
a leader of what may well be denominated the "home guards," that
noble army of women of whom history is silent, but from whose
courage and generous aid the soldiers drew much of the inspiration
which brought success to their arms. She was connected with the
Soldier's Aid Society four years, two as president and two as secre-
tary. The Sanitary Fair was held in this city in the fall of 1863.
Mrs. W. was appointed to solicit subscriptions from Eastern mer-
chants, and to visit hospitals to learn the most urgent needs of the
soldiers. Her cflForts were unusually successful, receiving, among
other things, six autographic photographs from President Lincoln.
The Fair netted the Aid Society $3,163. A dispute arose as to the
proper disposition of the funds, Mrs. W. and several of the Demo-
cratic ladies of the committee desiring that it might go for clothing,
medicine, and the comforts so necessary to the sick room. An
equaF strong faction voted the entire sum, by a majority of one, to
Tyng & Reynolds, of Peoria, to be used to buy tracts and Testa-
mf .s, thinking, in their way, that the presentation of a tract defin-
ing the status of the doctrine of eternal punisment would be more
consoling to the dying soldiers than a soft bed and healing medicine.
Mrs. W., having a practical experience as to the needs of our boys,
feeling their woes with a woman's tenderness and sympathy, plead
as only a woman can that it might not be devoted from its proper
object", but backed by feelings as barren of practical results as the
doctrines that bred them, the money was voted away. The meet-
ing took place late Saturday night. Before breakfast Monday Mrs.
W. and Mrs. James Wilson sought legal advice of Hon. B. S. Pret-
ty man, and got out an injunction restraining the payment to Tyng
& Reynolds, and the latter, hearing of the dispute, came to Pekin
and insisted on the money being spent for hospital comforts and
necessaries. The papers denounced Mrs. W. "ibr striking hands
with the Copperheads." But knowing the righteousness of her
cause she persevered with that true courage which rises superior to
taunts and scoffs, and the end was her complete vindication, and the
following letter exhibits the feeling engendered by work of the Aid
Society :
Bird's Point, Missouri, January 1st, 1862.
To Mrs. H. P. Westerman and Mrs. F. L. Bhoads :
Your kind note of December 21st, informing us that to the ladies of
Pekin we are indebted for the splendid Christmas gift, in the shape of "bed
HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 613
comforts," as also the comforts themselves, were duly receivetl. You ma}' be
assured tliat we are all deeply touched bj' this evidence of your kin<hiess and
good will towards us, and that we are grateful to and proud of the fair donors.
Accept from us all our heartfelt th:inks and best wishes for your future peace
and prosperity; and may the land of the free long be the home of such gen-
erous sympathy. We have the honor to l)e yours, most respectfully,
Co. F, 8th Regt. Illinois Volunteers.
And so strongly did the tide turn in the lady's favor, that on all
occasions she was sought as the one jiiost worthy to do honor to the
soldiers on their return, and one time the following toast was paid
her : " Our Lady Speaker. May she live to address our soldiers
when they return from the war ; when our spears have been beaten
into pruuing-hooks and our swords into plow-shares." Responded
to by D. C Smith.
In 1866 she united with the English M. E. Church, A little
later she commenced as a teacher in the Sabbath-sc'iool, with a class
of 11 little ones. Being a conscientious and interesting teacher, and
a woman of peculiar sympatliy and knowledge of the child-heart, her
class grew with ra]>idity and soon demanded a larger room, number-
ing, at one time, 400 active pupils, and it is said that in 13 years
half the children in this city have passed through her hands as Sun-
day-school children, aiul the incidents of her teacher-work alone
would fill a volume. In this limited record of facts we have no
s})ace to speak of those qualities which have ever won for her honor
and respect. Pier daughters. Misses Alice and Susie, have enjoyed
unusual educational advantages ; have also made two trips t^ Europe
in company with their mother. Mrs. W. is a ready, pleasin,g' Sjieaker,
a vigorous, forcible writer, and has filled with al)ility every po^'^ion
to which she has been called. Like all persons of progrtssiv^' ind
liberal ideas and fixedness of purpose, she has been the subject of
many bitter animadversions, but through all trials she has borne
herself with characteristic dignity, and, as time has developed, her
opponents have acknowledged that she was right. No one, whether
mendicant or business man, in distress (and many have gone to her),
has appealed to her charity in vain, and were the little "heart histo-
ries," the teai;s that she has dried, the wants that she has relieved,
made known, it would add a lustre to her name tliat time could not
dim. It in the penalty of such lives to meet untold op})osition, and
it is only when the tenderness is of no avail, and the kind words
can no longer be heard, that such lives are truly estimated. But
they are a legacy that make the inheritors richer than seas with
sands of gold.
Charh'8 Young, a Justice of the Peace at Pekin, was born at
Athol, Mass., Dec. 4, 1818. His ancestors were natives of the same
State, and, like most of the loyal sons of that grand old common-
wealth, fought in the Revolution. Both of his grandfathers, elec-
trified by the burning words and matchless eloquence of the
immortal Patrick Henry, sprang to arms at the first call for troops,
and fought tell the close of the war. Charles was sent to Brattle-
37
614 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
boro, Vt., where he received an academic education. We next find
him in New York, where, in 1841, he united his destiny with the
accomplished Miss Read, who, however, lived but a few years.
About 1840, Mr. Young joined the New York Malitia, where, for
his commanding presence and military bearing, he was commis-
sioned, by Wm. H. Seward, a Lieutenant in the Light Artillery.
Leaving New York, he went South, where he traveled extensively,
and at the beginning of the war in 1860, he left New Orleans and
came to Pekin. He was married in 1852 to Henrietta Hanaghan,
who died in 1872, and who was the mother of his six children.
Louis Zinger, whose portrait appears in our Pekin group, was
born at Alsace, France, June 7, 1846. His parents, Barnabas and
Stephania .Zinger, were also natives of Alsace, where Louis passed
his childhood and received his early education, which he completed
at Peoria, where he came at an early age. He came to Pekin Feb.
27, 1874, where he engaged in the monumental business, in which
he has had good success, having, in the short space of five years, es-
tablished a fine trade. Mr. Zinger was married to Miss Catherine
Stalter, and three children gladden their household, who are all liv-
ing, and promise lives of usefulness. Mr. Zinger has held the office
of Supervisor and is at present Treasurer of the City of Pekin. In
})olitics he acts and votes with the Democratic party, having been
elected to his present office by that party.
OFFICIALS OF PEKIN CITY.
1849. Mayor— Bernard Bailev. Aldermen— 1st Ward, John Atkinson; 2nd,
David P. Kenyon ; Srd, Wm. S. Maus; 4th, Jacob Riblet. Clerk— Benj.
Kellogg. Treasurer— John Gridley. City Attorney— Benjamin S. Pret-
tyman. City Marshal— Thomas Cloudas.
1850. Mayor— Bernard Bailey*; A. Woolstein. Aldermen— 1st Ward, Peter
Weyhrich: 2nd, David P. Kenyon; ord, Wm. S. Maus; 4th, Jacob Rib-
let;" 5th, John Turner. Treasurer— John Gridley. City Attorney— B.
S. Prettyman. City Marshal— Wm. Snider.
1851. Mayor— Jas. Harriott. Aldermen— 2nd Ward, William AVilkey; Srd,
Stephen Robinson; 5th, Jacob Clauser. City Attorney— John S. Mc-
Intire. City Marshal— T. M. Cloudas.
1852. Mayor— James Harriott. Alderman— 1st Ward, Thomas N. Gill, 2nd,
David P. Kenyon; Srd, James A. McGrew. Clerk— T. D. Vincent.
1853. Mayor— Middleton Tackaberrv. Aldermen— 1st Ward, Thos. N. Gill;
2nil, David P. Kenyon; Srd, R. "Buck; 4th, Peter Weyhrich; 5th, Jacob
Clauser. City Marshal— Wm. A. Tinney. Clerk— W. B. Parker.
1854. Mayor— M. C. Young. Aldermen— 1st Ward, Thos. N. Gill; 2nd, Jno.
W. Glass; Srd, R. Buck," A. Brown; 4th, Peter Weyhrich; 5th, Jacob
Clauser. Attorney— C. H. Goodrich; Marshal — S. P. Higginson.
1855. Mayor— M. C. Young. Aldermen— 1st Ward, Thos. N. Gill ; 2nd, Jno.
W. Glass; Srd, A. Brown,* G. L. Thomas; 4th, Robert Gibson. City
Attorney— Wm. B. Parker. Clerk— Wm. B. Parker.
1856. Mayor— L. H.Wilkey. Aldermen— 1st Ward, Joshua Wagenseller and
James S. Mclntire ; 2nd, Peter Devore and Conrad Westerman ; Srd,
Reuben Bergstresser ; 4th, Benj. S. Prettyman. Clerk— Wm. B. Parker ;
Treasurer— John Gridley. City Attorney— James Roberts.
" Resigned.
HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 615
1857. Mavor — M. Tackaberrv. Aldermen — 1st Ward, J. Wagenseller ; 2nd,
S. D. Pnterbaugh ; 3rd, A. Haas; 4tl), David Mark; Clerk— William B.
Parker. City Attorney — James Roberts. Treasurer — John Gridley.
1858. Mayor— Peter Weyhriob. Aldermen— 1st Ward, S. P. Higginson; 2d,
Peter Devore and Wm. Devinnj^; Srd, N. Davis and T. J. Pickett; 4th,
B. S. Pretty man. Clerk — Wm. B. Parker. Attorney — James Roberts.
Treasurer — John Gridley.
1859. Mavor — Peter Wevhrich. Aldermen, 1st Ward, Joshua Wagenseller;
2nd, John Sandusky; 3rd, Teis Smith; 4th, Thos. C. Reeves. Clerk—
Wm. B. Parker. City Attorney — Jas. Roberts. Treasurer — J. Gridley.
1860. Mavor — I. E. Leonard. Aldermen — 1st Ward — Daniel S. Reisinger;
2nd, John Lucas; 3rd, W. T. Edds; 4th, Samuel Rhoads; Clerk— A. P.
Griswold. Attorney — James Roberts. Treasurer — John Gridley.
1861. Mayor — L E. Leonard. Aldermen — 1st Ward, Henry P. Westerman;
2nd. Henry Zuckweiler; 3rd, Teis Smith; -Jth, Geo. H. Harlow. Clerk —
A. P. Griswold. Attorney— J. M. Hanna and C. A. Roberts.
1862. Mayor — B. S. Prettyman. Aldermen — 1st Ward, Stephen Roney and
Daniel Reisinger; 2nd, John Lucas; 3rd, Reuben Bergstresser ; 4th, I.
E. Leonard. Clerk — A. P. Griswold. Attorney — Jno. B. Cohrs. Treas-
urer— John Gridley.
1863. Mavor — Samuel E. Barber. Aldermen — 1st Ward, Jacob Clauser; 2d,
George Kennedy; 3rd Teis Smith; 4th, Thos. N. Gill. Clerk— A. P.
Griswold. Attorney — A. Bergen. Treasurer — John W. Glassgow.
1864. Mayor — Thomas C. Reeves. Aldermen — 1st Ward, Stephen Roney ;
2nd, John Lucas; 3rd, John Herget; 4th, John D. Mclntire. Clerk — H.
Yandervoort. Attorney — A. Bergen. Treasurer — J. W. Glassgow.
1865. Mavor— Wm. W. Sellers. Aldermen— 1st Ward, Peter Schaumleffel;
2nd, J. F. Tucker; 3rd, Teis Smith ; 4th, W. Don Maus. Clerk— Wm. M.
Olmstead. Attornej- — N. W. Green, Wm. E. Parker. Treasurer — B. F.
Blossom.
1866. Mayor— Wm. W. Sellers. Aldermen— 1st Ward, John Cohenour; 2nd,
John Berrv ; Srd, John Herget; 4th, James F. Pevton. Clerk — Wm.
Olmstead. ' Attorney— C. J. Elliott. Treasurer— J. M. Gill.
1867. Mavor— C. J. D. Rupert. Aldermen— 1st Ward, Peter Schaumleffel ;
2nd, Wm. Schlagg; 3rd, Teis Smith; 4th, Chas. Turner. Clerk— Wilbur
F. Henry. Attornay — Richard Williams. Treasurer — John M. Gill.
1868. Mayor— C. J. D. Rupert. Aldermen— 1st Ward, Stephen Roney ; 2nd,
August Winkle; 2rd Benjamin Michael; 4th, George S. Smith. Clerk —
Felix G. Knott. Attorney — Richard Williams. Treasurer — George R.
Babcock.
1869. Mayor — William T. Edds. Aldermen — 1st Wanl, Herman Kickler;
2nd, Jacob Klein; 3rd, Teis Smith; 4th, Reuben Bergstresser; .^th, Lott
Bergstresser, James Haines; 6th, Jonathan H. Mvers, John G. Eyrse.
Clerk— William H. AVallingford. Attorney— Collins J. Elliott. Treas-
urer— Charles Young.
1870. jNIayor— David T. Thompson. Aldermen — 1st Ward — Joshua Wagen-
seller; 2nd, W. Weiss; 3rd, D. W. Umdenstock; 4th, I. E. Leonard; 5th,
James F. Peyton; 6th, Charles Young. Clerk — William Docker. At-
torney— A. B. Sawyer. Treasurer — Thomas J. Roney.
1871. Mavor— David T. Thompson. Aldermen — 1st Ward, John M. Gill;
2nd, E. vSchurman; Srd, D. C. Smith; 4th, H. P. Westerman; 5th, Wm.
Blenkiron; 0th, Fred Christopher. Clerk — Wm. Docker. Attorney — E.
C. Brearley. Treasurer — Thomas J. Roney.
1872. Mayor— John Stoltz. Aldermen— 1st Ward, Chas. J. Hulbig; 2nd, D.
W. Umdenstock; Srd, George J. Webber; 4th, W. T. Patterson; 5th, C.
R. Johnson ; 6th, Phillip Weber. Clerk— Wm. Docker. Attorney— T.
N. Mehan. Treasurer — J. G. Rupert.
1873. Mavor— John Herget. Aldermen— 1st Ward, John Hallinan; 2nd, Ja-
cob Klein; 3rd, Habbe Velde; 4tb, G. F. Saltonstall; 5th, W. Blenkiron;
616 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
6th, W. L. Prettyman. Clerk— Wm. Docker. Attorney— Geo. Rider.
Treasurer — J. G. Rupert.
1874. Mavor— John Hcrget. Aldermen— 1st Ward, E. A. Hall ; 2nd, I. C.
Frederick; 3rd, John Bonk; 4th, W. F. Henry; 5th, A. B. Sawyer; 6th,
C. K. Myers. Clerk — Wm. Docker. Attorney — W. R. Hall. Treasurer
— Jay G. Rupert.
1875 Mavor— C R. Cummings. Aldermen— 1st Ward, John M. Gill, E. A.
Hall,T. R. Skelly; 2nd, E. Schurraann, H. A. Bruns, Habbe Velde; 3d,
U. G. Albertson, W. D. Oswald, John Scheidel; 4th, G. R. Cobleigh, Jas.
Haines, John Roos. Clerk— J. M. Moloney. Attorney— W. R. Hall.
Treasurer — Oscar Hofer.
1876. Mayor— C. R. Cummings. Aldermen— 1st Ward, H. W. Hippen, T.
R. Skelly, Henry Lautz; 3rd, W. J. Albertson, J. P. Scheidel, Thomas
Schneider. Clerk— J. M. Moloney. Attorney— Geo C. Rider. Treas-
urer— Oscar Hofer.
1877. Mayor — A. B. Sawyer. Aldermen— 2nd Ward, H. A. Burns, Geo. S.
DeVries, John Velde; 4th, J. F. Peyton, G. R. Cobleigh, J. G. Ledter-
man. Clerk, J. M. Moloney. Attorney— G. C. Rider. Treasurer— Louis
Schurman.
1878. Mayor— A. B. Sawver. Aldermen— 1st Ward, E. M. Mulvey, John
Kelch, I. F. Schipper'; 3rd, H. Vork, O. Wieburg, Adam Saae. Clerk—
J. M. Moloney. Attorney— G. C. Rider. Treasurer — Louis Schureman.
1879. Mayor— H. W. Hippen. Aldermen — 2nd Ward, Aug. Winkel, Ahrend
Behrens, E. Schurman; 4th, G. R. Cobleigh, Erastus Rhoads, William
Rundle. Clerk— John W. Hoffman. Attorney— G. C. Rider. Treas-
urer— Louis Zinger.
SUPERVISORS.
William S. Maus 1850 H. Naylor 1874
James Haines 1851-52 Peter Steinmetz 1875
Williams. Maus 1854-61 Henry Lautz 1865
William S. Maus, asst 1863-65 Ernest Schurman 1876
Joshua Wagenseller 1860 Wm. Don Maus 1876-77
Peter Wevhrich, asst 1861-65 C. B. Cummings 1876
Martin Stover, asst 1860 Fred Smith 1876
Wm. Don Maus 1866 J.G.Weber 1876
George Greigg 1867-68 Henrv Didcock 1877
Teis Smith, asst 1867-70 John'C. Avdelott 1878
Joshua Wagenseller 1870 Thomas R. Skelly 1878-79
John Stoltz 1871-72 C. B. Cummings 1878-79
John Herget, asst 1871-72 E. Schurman 1878-79
GeorgeGreigg 1873-74 H. W. Hippen 1878
W. Don Maus, asst 1873-74 J. M. Gill 1879
John Herget 1874 J. Lederer 1879
D. C. Smith 1874
TOWN-CLERKS.
JohnGridley 1854-55 AVm. H. Teibert. 1806
Charles Turner 1857-59 Julius Maverhoff. 1867
A P Griswold 1860-61 Charles F." Vatterline 1868
Geo. R. Babcock 1863 Mvron Cory 1870-76
David W. Umdenstock 1864 Erastus Rhoads 1877-78
Harmon Kickler 1865 Charles Young 1879
ASSESSORS.
M. Tackaberry 1854 Henry Riblet 1867
S P. Higginson 1855 Jacob Lucas 1868-70
Thomas C. Reeves 1857 Fred Schaefer 1871-72
Charles Turner 1858-59 H. Lautz 1873
Robert W. Briggs I860 John Wildhack 1874
HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 617
Richard Shaw 1861 Jacob Stout 1875-76
James Haines 1863 Michael Gallow 1877
Thomas C. Reeves 1864 Jacob Lucas 1878
Jacob Stout 1865-66 David Wandschneider 1879
COLLECTORS.
Henry Riblet 1854-58 Ibe Look 1873
Joseph Stewart 1S59 John G. Kuhl 1874
David T. Thompson 1S60 John Cohenour 1875
John B. Wliitefoot 1861 Phillip Webber 1876
Hugh K.Alexander 1863-66 Thomas B. Dorsey 1877
Hezekiah Naylor 1867-()S Hezekiah Naylor 1878
August Riese 187U-72 U. J. Albertson 1879
SAND PRAIRIE TOAVNSHIP.
The Mackinaw river courses eastwarclly through this township,
dividing it near its center. The groves on the north side of the
river were settled at a very early day. Elisha and Major Isaac
Perkins .settled on sec. 1, about 1824. J^oth of the.se gentlemen were
active, enterprising pioneers, and were prominent in the early history
of the county. Major Perkins was killed in the famous battle of
Stillman's Run, during the Black Hawk war. Isaac moved to
Iowa about twenty-five years ago. They came here from near
Shawneetown, 111. Gideon Hawley came from the East and settled
on the section with the Perkins'. He died on the farm where Jas.
Hamson now lives. Thomas Lander located on section 7 ; he was
from Virginia. Jno. Sommers was from North Carolina; he erected
his cabin on section 1. Daniel Rankin came from Pennsylvanin in
1828, and located on 7. Jolni Shelton came the following year from
Virginia, and made himself a home on 8. James Reese came the
same year, and located on section 9. John Vancil was among the
first to come ; he settled on section 9, and is the only one of the
earliest pioneers of this township now living. He resides in the
town of Circleville. He was born in Penn.sylvania in 1798. When
he was but two years of age, his parents moved to Kentucky. Here
he remained until he was nineteen years old, when he was married
to Miss Nancy Tuley, who was born in North Carolina, Jan. 20,
1800. Her parents al.so moved to Kentucky when she was a child.
Shortly after their marriage they came to Illinois, and to Tazewell
county.
Mr. Shipraan came from Kentucky in 1826, but did not live in
this township a great while. He moved from this into Elm Grove
township, where he spent the remainder of his life. He brought
618 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
with him to this township a negro man, his wife and children. He
treated them kindly, and they in turned loved him. They all lived
here in peace and freedom, carving new homes in the wilderness, and
preparing for future prosperity and pleasure. The quietude of the
little settlement was disturbed one dark night, by the appearance
of some slave hunters. There were some men from Kentucky
came up the river, left their boats at the mouth of the Mackinaw,
quietly came over and carried oif the negro family. They were all
tied and hastily run to the river. It appears that Mose, the name
of the negro man, was a singularly constructed negro, and it would
almost seem, as an old settler said, that " he was part aligator." He
had a double row of large sharp teeth. His hands were tied, and
with a rope he was led along. He pulled back considerable, and
lagged behind as much as he dare do, all the while chawing on the
rope by which he was led. Finally he succeeded in severing it,
when with all his might he ran back to the settlement, and informed
his neighbors of the theft of his family. This aroused the ire of
those sturdy pioneers, and, being equal to any emergency, three of
them saddled up their horses, that gloomy night and set out for St.
Louis, anticipating the destination of the thieves. These resolute
men were Johnson Sommers, Wm. Woodrow, and Absalom Dillon.
They pushed on toward that city, and fortunately rode off the ferry
boat just as the Kentucky would-be slave-traders landed with the
family of Mose. This was a singular coincidence, but true, and with
determination that plainly showed he ment what he said, Sommers
jumped from his horse, gathered up a stone and swore he would
crush the first one who attempted to leave the boat, and the men,
who could steal the liberty of their fellow men, were passive before
the stalwart pioneers. One of the pioneers hurried up to the city,
and procured the arrest of the men. We do not know the penalty
inflicted, but most likely it was nothing, or, at least, light, for in
those days it was regarded as a legitimate business to traffic in
human beings. The family was secured, however, and carried back
to this county, where most of them lived and died. All honor to
the daring humane pioneers.
Joseph Haines built the first frame house and barn ever erected
in the county, in this township. The house was built in 1829, and
the barn in 1831. Both of them are still standing, and are yet
good substantial buildings.
It was some years before the portion of the township lying south
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 619
of the Mackinaw was settled. It was a sandy prairie, and was
thought to be almost worthless, but we now see some of the best
farms in the county on this prairie. The first school-house erected
south of the Mackinaw was in 1854. The first school in this house,
which was in district No. 5, was commenced Oct. 1st, of the same
year. The first church edifice in this portion of the township was
erected in 1865. There are now several fine church edifices in the
township.
The Presbyterian Church of Green Valley was called at first the
Sand Prairie Church. It was organized June 10, 1832, at Circle-
ville, and it was united with the Green Valley Church, or re-organ-
ized, April 15, 1863. At first the meetings were held in private
residences, and at school-houses. We copy the following from the
" Record of the Presbyterian Church of Tazewell Co.," which was
made at the time of its first organization. "On the 10th of June,
1832, the following persons : Samuel Woodrow, Catharine (Monta-
gue) Woodrow, George Rausbarger, Stephen Holton, Emily Som-
ers, and Mary Babbitt, agreeable to previous appointment, for the
purpose of mutual benefit in Holy living, voluntarily associated
themselves into a Christian Church, under the rules of the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of
America." Samuel Woodrow was elected Ruling Elder, and C. W.
Babbitt, their stated supply, was chosen Clerk.
" A congregational meeting was held at Green Valley, for the
purpose of electing Trustees : S. S. Darling, C. F. Buckman, and
Samuel Schureman were chosen. A motion was then made and
carried, that the Presbyterians of Green Valley proceed to take
necessary steps to build a house of worship. Also that the Trustees
act as a committee to suggest a site and exhibit a plan for a place of
worship." The above is the record of the first meeting held for the
purpose of building a new church edifice. Other meetings were
held, site and plans were adopted, and the work vigorously prose-
cuted. Work was commenced September 1, 1876, and the house
dedicated, free of debt, Sunday, Dec. 31st, of the same year, being
the last Sunday, the last of the last month of the Centennial year.
It was supplied by Rev. Charles A. Holmes. On the 15th of Oct.,
1878, Rev. W. R. Smith, of Albion, Iowa, received a call.
The Methodist Church, Green Valley. — The present church edifice
of this denomination was erected in 18(i5, at a cost of $5,000.
This society at that time, was connected with the San Jose Circuit.
620 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
It continued in that relation until the autumn of 1870, when, at the
request of the official board of the Church, Green Valley was set
oif to itself. Its present pastor is Rev. H. S. Tryon. The first
sermon by a Methodist preacher, Mr. Totten has any knowledge of,
was preached in the school-house, and the first Methodist discourse
delivered in the neighborhood. It was delivered by Rev. Craig, of
Delavan, who continued to preach here while he was pastor of the
Delavan Church. The next preacher was Rev. H. B. M. Colt.
There are two towns in the township. One of them, Circleville,
is located upon section 1. It was laid oflF Aug. 7, 1837, by Spencer
Field and E. M. Perkins. It will be seen, therefore, that Circle-
ville is one of the oldest towns in the county. The other town is
Green Valley, upon section 35, and is upon the line of the P., L.
& D. Ry. Mr. Samuel Schureman was the original proprietor of
the land upon which Green Valley is located. He entered it in
1852. The town was laid off by Mr. Schureman, Oct. 19, 1872.
The village received its name in this wise. There was a Union
Sunday-school organized in 1853, and the question came up as to
what the school should be called. There were several names pro-
posed, and among the number was Green Valley by Samuel Schure-
man. The names were voted upon, and Green Valley received the
majority, and the name was adopted for the school, and when the
town was laid off it was christened with the same name.
There are five store buildings in the east end of the town, owned
by Samuel Schureman, and occupied as follows : Israel Schureman,
dry goods, boots and shoes ; Samuel Bradfield, drugs ; A. Helmbolt,
post-office, books, and stationery ; S. Schureman, office ; James Mc-
Cord, carpenter; Rachel Greenleaf, millinery; and Thos. Champion,
butcher.
The improvements throughout the township are of a substantial
character. Comfortable and even elegant houses dot the prairies,
with good out-houses, and well built fences, bespeak the fact that
the people are permanently located, and take a pride in their
surroundings. AVith the elements of a prosperous future in her
grasp, with every resource of this temperal clime, it will be strange,
indeed, if the township and the county does not rapidly grow in
wealth. We cannot, in justice, close this historical sketch, without
speaking personally of some of its citizens. We therefore would
call attention to the following :
W. C. Auld, farmer, sec. 24 ; P. O., Green Valley. Mr. A. was
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 621
born in Guernsey Co., O., in 1848. He is a son of Alexander and
Rose (Cunningham) Auld. The subject of this sketch received a
common school education. He came to this county Nov. 20, 1873;
was married Oct. 9, 1873, to Kate Woodrow, a daughter of William
and Ellen (Kellogg) Woodrow, of this county. Mr. and Mrs.
Auld have two daughters — Alice, born May 3, 1875; and an in-
fant, born March 28, 1879; is a member of the Presbyterian
Church.
Jesse Black, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 27 ; Post-office, Green
Valley. Mr. B. is a son of Jacob Black and Sarah Wikirk, natives,
respectively, of Penn. and Maryland ; Jesse Black was born in
Huntingdon Co., Penn., Feb .7, 1825; Mr. B. came to this county
March 13, 1854; is now the owner of 440 acres of valuable land
which he has made since he came to this county. Mr. B. has repre-
sented this township in the Board of Supervisors. He was united
in marriage Oct. 20, 1846, to Mary J. Johns; their childrens' names
and births are as follows — John W., born Oct. 28, 1847, de-
ceased; William, Sept. 11, 1849, married Calesta Miller, a native of
Mich ; Sarah J., Feb. 20, 1852, married George Cockefair ,who lives
in Deer Creek townshi]> this county ; Henry T., July 10, '54, de-
ceased; Almon J., July 20, '56; Francis M., Dec. 11, '58; Arthur
N., Aug. 31, '61 ; George, Feb. 20, '64, deceased ; Charles, June 28,
'65; Edgar, May 20, '68; Jesse May, Nov. 5, '73. Mr. B. has
been a member of the Methodist Church since he was twenty years
old, and Mrs. B. ever since she was fifteen. The Blacks are of
German descent, they were Protestant-Lutheran, and left their
homes in Germany on account of religious persecutions by the Cath-
olics, about the year 1679. The first of the family that came to
this country, was named Jacob. On the voyage his wife and two
children died and were buried in the sea. Mr. B. settled where
Philadelpliia now stands, it was then a small village. Mr. B. was
again married. Jessie B. is a lenial descendent of the Jacob above
referred to. The family were great hunters, they kept going west-
ward where game was plenty. Mr. B. is honored and respected
by all who know him,
Lewis II. Burns was born in Carroll county, Maryland, March 17,
1827; John Burns, his father, and his mother, Mary Liester, were
natives of Maryland but of (Tcrman descent. LcAvis H. Burns, the
subject of this sketch, learned the miller's trade but follows farming.
He is the owner of 651| acres of land, that he has accumulated by
industry; when Mr. B. came to this county in 1854, he obtained
work at five bits a day for some five months, afterwards worked l)y
the month at §18.00 per month, but before three months rolled
around he bought 60 acres of prairie land at $20 per acre; in the
fall of this year he sowed the whole 60 acres in wheat, which
yielded 1600 bushels, and for wdiich Mr. B. received §1.00 per bu.
After realizing on this crop Mr. B. returned to Maryland, to get
him a wife, and was married Feb. 12, 1857, to Julia Hilderbrand,
622 HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
they are the parents of Thomas Jeiferson, who was born Dec, 17,
1857, deceased; John J., born Feb. 13, 1860; Sally Ann Elizabeth,
born May 13, '62 ; Louis N., born Jan. 16, '66 ; George Z., born
May 18, '68, deceased; William H., born Oct. 29, '72; Mr. and
Mrs. Burns are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. P.
O., Green Valley.
Abraham Champion, deceased, was born in Huntingdon county,
Penn., in 1812. His parents were Thomas and Sarah (Nikirk)
Champion, of Penn. Abraham C. was married in 1834 to Leah
Barto. She died in 1855. She was the mother of six children —
Alfred G., Wm., F. Marion, Thos., Henry, Mary Ellen. Mr. C. was
married again in 1856, to Catherine Hawkins, of Virginia, by
whom he had three children — Belle, Abraham Lincoln, and John
M. William and INIary (Orr) Hawkins, the parents of Mrs. C,
came to this county from Virginia with a family of eight children,
four of whom now reside in the county, they are — Elizabeth,
(Hawkins) Claton, James S., John C, Catherine (Hawkins) Cham-
pion, Margaret (Hawkins) Coleman, who now resides in Fulton Co.,
111., Mary (Hawkins) Wilsev, who now^ lives at Jackson, Mo., Sarah
(Hawkins) Vroom, who died in 1864 ; William died in 1868. They
all raised families, and many of their descendants reside in this
county. Mrs. Abram Champion, the widow, now lives on section
34, Sand Prairie township, and Belle, A. Lincoln, and John M. are
living with her.
Russell W. Crosby was born in Summit county, Ohio, in the year
1834. His parents were Simeon R. and Roxana (Pitts) Crosby.
Russell W. Crosby, the subject of this sketch, came to this county
in 1852. He received a common school education; by occupation
is a farmef ; in politics he is a Republican. P. O., Green Valley.
Mr. Crosby was united in marriage in 1868, to Miss Emma C. Hart,
a native of Wadsworth, Medina county. She is a member of the
Presbyterian Church.
Solomon Simeon Darling, farmer, sec. 34. Post-office, Green
Valley. His parents were Solomon and Mary (Hatter) Darling,
natives of N. Y. The subject of this sketch, S. S. Darling, is a
native of N. Y., where he was born in 1830. He was educated at
Lockport Seminary, N. Y. Mr. D. has always taken a great inter-
est in educational matters. Pie has been a faithful School Director
for 18 years in succession, and has done much to advance educational
facilities. Mr. D. was united in marriage to Sarah Amanda Wood-
row. He is the father of Samuel W., Clarence S., Susan Adelaide,
Solomon Byron, George W., and Catharine. Mr. and Mrs. Darling
united with the Presbyterian Church in 1866.
John Z. Evans was born in Licking Co., Ohio, in 1837. His
parents were Thomas and Susannah (Sturman) Evans. Mr. Evans,
whose name is at the head of this sketch, came to this county Nov.
13, 1868. He received a common school education in his native
State ; is a farmer by occupation ; was united in marriage to Chloe
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 623
E. Shanholtzer in I860. They are the parents of E. T., John S.,
William E., and Frank X. P. ()., Green Valley.
Anthony Fisher was born in Hohoeus, Bergen Co., N. J., Jan. 23,
1830. His parents were David and Kate (May) Fisher. The ances-
tors of the Fishers came to N. J. before the Revolutionary war.
Anthony Fisher first visited this county in 1850, but did not locate
here permanently until 18-34. He was united in marriage Nov. 20,
I806, to Miss Araann Melinda Oswald. Mrs. F. was born Oct. 13,
1836. They have been blessed with thirteen children, born as fol-
lows : David Scott, born May, 1857 ; John Walter, July 30, 1858 ;
Laura ]Margaret, born April 14, 18()0, died Sept. 10, 1861 ; Emma
Kate, Oct. 12, 1861; Ella Frances, April 29, 1863, died Oct. 8,
1864; Anna Belle, Jan. 13, 1865; Malinda Rachel, Jan. 30, 1867;
Charles Mav, Nov. 22, 1868; Sarah Elizabeth, Jan. 9, 1871 ; Lewis
Elmer, Nov. 7, 1872; Frank F., Sept. 17, 1874; Minnie Maud,
Feb. 17, 1876 ; Mary Alice, July 31, 1878. Besides Mr. F.'s farm-
ing interest, he has one-half interest in the Valley Mill, situated on
the Mackinaw, sec. 15. It runs by water-power, has two run of
stones, one for wheat, the other for corn. P. O., Green Valley.
Jonathan Frazee, son of Jacob and Sarah (Ogden) Frazee, was
born in Summersett Co., New Jersey, in 1812. He learned the
blacksmith's trade, but follows farming on sec. 35. He came to this
county 28 years ago. Hr. F. was united in marriage May 3, 1834,
to Miss Caroline Bilyieu, a dauo;hter of William Bilvieu, who was
a native of N. J. Mr. B. is of French extraction, and a descend-
ant of the French Huguenots. Mr. and Mrs. Frazee have four
children — Mary; Thomas J., born June 2, 1840; Almeda; Cor-
nelius, born April 21, 1840. Mr. and Mrs. F. are members of the
Methodist Church. P. O., Green Valley.
John Heiselwa.^ born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, His parents
were John and Elizabeth (Karg) Heisel, both of whom died in Ger-
many. John Heisel, whose name heads this sketch, came to iWner-
ica in 1841, and located in this county, where he has accumulated a
large property. He owns 500 acres of choice land, which he rents,
he having retired from active business. Mr. H. united in marriage
in 1842, to Margaret Schwrim, daughter of George and Eva (Mar-
quardt) Schwrim. ]Mr. and Mrs. Heisel are the parents of John,
boru Aug. 4, 1847, married Catharine Woner, in 1871 ; Leonard,
born July 29, 1854 ; Mary, July 27, 1845, the wife of Michael Horn,
married in 1871 ; Eva, Nov. 13, 1849, married Jacob Shmetle, in
1872, and resides in Greene Co., Iowa; Catharine, March 4, 1852,
the wife of Michael Hilt, married in 1871 ; Louisa, Feb. 22, 1857,
married to Henry Urich in 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Heisel are mem-
bers of the Lutheran Church. P. O., Pekiu.
John Heisel, Jr., son of John Heisel, Sr., and Margaret Schwrim,
his wife, natives of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, who came to this
county about the year 1843. John Heisel, Jr., was born in this
township in 1847. He received a common school education. He
624 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
follows the pursuit of farming, and resides on sec. 26. Post-office,
Green Valley. Mr. H. was united in marriage March 10, 1870, to
Catharine Woner. They have been blessed with three children —
Emma, born Feb. 22, 1872; Clara, born Oct. 18, 1876; Leonard
Louis, born Dec. 22, 1870. Mr. H. and his wife are members of
the Lutheran Church.
Frederick Lutz, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, in 1850.
His parents were Frederick and Margaret (Bigler) Lutz. The sub-
ject of this sketch was brought to this county while an infant but
two years old. He was educated in the common schools of this
county ; is a fiirmcr by occupation ; was united in marriage to Eliza-
beth Heisel in 1874. They are the parents of George N., born Jan.
13, 1875; Emma E., born Feb. 15, 1877; Philip H., born Nov. 4,
1878. Mr. and Mrs. Lutz are both members of the Lutheran
Church.
William Magee is a native of Westminister, Maryland, Avhere he
was born in Feb. 1825. Aquillia and Mary (Blizzard) Magee were
his parents. They were natives of Maryland. William Magee's
ancestors on both sides were of Scotch decent. His great great
grandparents came from Scotland at a very early day, and took part
in the early struggle of the colonist, and in the Revolutionary war.
Mr. M. was married in March 1855, to Mary Jane Burns, a native
of Maryland. Her ancestors on her mother's side were of German
descent. Mr. M. adopted a daughter, who married Richard Correll
and now resides in this township. Mr. Magee acts with the Repub-
lican party in politics. He has been a profess(?i' of religion for
some 23 years, and is connected with the Methodist Church. P.
O., Green Valley
Joseph Warren Martin was born in Geneva, Fayette Co., Penn.,
in 1835. His father, Tazewell Presley Martin, was born in Monon-
gahela Co., Va., and is now living in Lloydville, O., 78 years old.
He has always voted the Democratic ticket except once and then
under protest he voted for Horace Greeley. His wife, Ann Dixon
Bailey, was a native of Geneva, Penn. The ancestors of Mr. M.
served in the Revolution army and also suffered depredations from
the Indians. Several members of the family were massacred by the
Indians in an early day in Virginia. The Martins are of English
descent. Joseph W. Martin was educated at the graded schools of
Ohio and Carmichael Academy, Greene Co., Ohio. Mr. M. was
married to Carnelia Woodrow, Oct. 13, 1868. She is a native of
this countv. She is a daughter of William Woodrow, Jr., and
Ellen Kellogg. Mr. Woodrow died March 3, 1860, and Mrs. Ellen
W. died April 25, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are the parents of
Fannie D., born Jan. 30, 1870; Thompkins P., July 31, 1871;
William W., Feb. 3, 1874; P. O., Green Valley.
Charles E. Mcintosh is a son of Charles Mcintosh, a native of
Ky. and Elizabeth Adams, his wife, a native of 111. Charles R. is
a native of Weakly Co., Teun., where he was born Jan. 8, 1836.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 625
He located in this county in 1861 ; by occupation is a farmer, and
in politics a Democrat. He has represented the sixth ward of
Pekin in the City Council. He was united in marriage April 1,
1857, to Miss Lucinda Glover, a native of this county. They have
one son — James E., who was born Nov. 18, 1858.
John Mcifers, farmer, sec. 36 ; P. O., Green Valley ; is a son of
A. Louis Meyers and Fannie Hafliger, his wife, they are of Swiss
and German descendants. John Meyers, whose name is at the head
of this sketch, is a native of Sand Prairie township, Tazewell county,
111., where he was born Aug. 26, 1838. Mr. Meyers was educated
in the schools of this county ; has filled the offices of Collector,
Supervisor, and other local offices with satisfaction to all those who
were interested. On Feb. 26, 1863, he was united in marriage to
Mary Hafliger, of Dillon township, a daughter of John Hafliger, a
native of Switzerland, whose wife was Catherine Rhink, a native of
Germany, They settled in Dillon township about 40 years ago.
Mr. and ]\Irs. Meyers are the parents of — Joseph A., born Oct. 30,
1865; Franklin E., born Oct. 21, 1867; Catherine Mabel, born
Dec. 26, '69.
Thomas C. 3Iurphn, 31. D., was born at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1844.
His parents were John and Margaret (Hayes) Mur[)hy, natives of
Limerick, Ireland. Dr. M. came to this county Jan. 29, 1856. He
attended the schools of his native State, and also of this State ; the
Doctor received his medical education at Rush Medical College,
Chicago, 111., where he graduated Feb. 5, 1868; is now located at
Green Valley. When treason stalked abroad in this land ; when
this mighty nation of ours was reeling and rocking to and fro like
a distressed vessel upon the stormy seas, Thomas C. Murphy was
one of the band of j^atriots in this land who defied treason and fliced
the war made against the nation; willing to risk his life and his all
for its presevation. He enlisted Aug. 6, 1861, in Co. I, 31st regt.
111. vol. In April, 1862, was promoted to Sergeant, in which posi-
tion he served until mustered out, Sept. 18, 1864. Dr. M. partici-
pated in the battles of Belmont, Mo,, where he received a wound in
the leg, Fort Henry, Tenn., Fort Donelson, and all the skirmishes
from Pittsburg Landing to the capture of Corinth, Miss. ; took part
in the second battle of Corinth, and the battles while marching to
the south and rear of Vicksburg, receiving two wounds, one in the
neck from a pistol ball, and in the back by a piece of shell, Avhich
so disabled him he was sent home on furlough. April 18, 1864, the
regiment joined Sherman's army at Clinton, Tenn., and was actively
engaged in the battles and skirmishes as far as Atlanta, on Sher-
man's famous march to the sea, where the Doctor was mustered out
on account of exj)i ration of term of service. Dr. M. was married
Feb. 2, 1871, to Virginia M. Plackett, a native of New Jersey.
They are the parents of Edward Powell, born June 9, 1874, and
Ettie I., born Dec, 26, 1876.
John Benjamin Oswald, is a native of Washington county, Md.
626 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
His parents, Jolin and Margaret (Stephy) Oswald, were natives of
Maryland, and same county in which John Benjamin Oswald first
saw light, Sept, 26, 1840. John B. was educated in the schools of
his native State, and has always taken a deep interest in educational
matters, has held the office of School Director for some eight years.
Mr. O. was united in marriage in 1861, to Caroline Keefer, of
Pekin, Tazewell county. Their children are — Emma K., born
July 5, 1861; Harvey L., April 8, 1864; Benjamin F., March 31,
1874; Alva Edwin and Alvin Edgar, twins, born Jan. 22, 1877;
and an infant son, born Feb. 9, 1879. Mr. O.'s post-office is Green
Valley.
Enoch Runyon is a native of Plainfield, Essex county, N. J.,
where he was born in 1824. His parents were Benjamin and Joan
B. (Hariott) Runyon. The Runyons, Hariotts, and Blackfords
were very early settlers of New Jersey, dating back from the Revo-
lution. Enoch R., the sul^ject of this sketch, received a liberal
education in his native State. He came to this county May 10,
1853. He follows the occupation of a farmer, but formerly worked
at the hatter's trade, in New Jersey. He resides on sec. 33 ; owns
180 acres of laud ; post-office. Green Valley. Has been a consist-
ent member of the Baptist Church for the past thirty-six years ; has
been Assessor and School Director; was married in December,
1845, to Margaret D. Shortwell, daughter of Jacob and Dorcas
(Drake) Shortwell, who were descendants of very early settlers of
New Jersey. Enoch Runyon, the subject of this sketch, is the
father of twelve children — Alfred H., Benjamin N., Sarah Z., Jacob
S., Jaso, Julia E., Howard, Andrew S., Walter, Arabella, Jeanna,
Ralph S. Mrs. Runyon is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
John Sehafer, farmer, sec. 9 ; is the ow^ner of (500 acres of valua-
ble land. . Mr. Sehafer is a native of Germany, where he was born
in 1818. His parents were Philip and Margaret Sehafer. John,
the subject of this sketch, received a common school education in
his native country, and came to this county in 1840. Has been
Supervisor for this township for two years ; is a Democrat in poli-
tics; was married to Elizabeth Carroll, in 1843. They are the
parents of — Anton, born Feb. 4, 1844, he married Margaret Lutz;
Philip, born Nov. 26, 1848, was married to Elizabeth Lutz; John,
Jan. 13, 1854, (deceased), John, born March 12, 1855, married
Mary Hafleger; Elizabeth, March 17, 1842, married to Philip
Weyhrich ; Margaret, Aug. 14, 1876, (deceased) ; Eve, Aug. 13,
1851, married Peter Weyhrich; Margareta, Oct. 21, 1857, married
U. Lutz: Elizabeth, Jan. 29, 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Sehafer are
members of the Lutheran Church. P. O., Pekin.
Jonathan Schureman was born in Essex Co., New Jersey, March
13, 1816. His parents were John and Jane (Totten) Schureman,
natives of N. J. Mr. S. received a common school education. He
is a farmer, and the owner of 500 acres of choice land. He was
formerly a carpenter and builder. Mr. S. was married to Miss
HISTORY OP TAZEWELL COUNTY. 627
Kcziali Lawler in 1837. They are the parents of Rachel, who was
born in Oct., 1839; Mariette was born Feb. 7,1841; Israel was
born Dec. 27, 1843; Elizabeth was born May 4, 1855. Mr. Schure-
man first started from New Jersey in Oct., 1849, on a prospecting
tour, for the purpose of finding a place to locate permanently ; going
through New York State, Canada, IVIichigan and Wisconsin. Trav-
eling by canal, stage, and where there was no public conveyances,
traveling on foot. He passed down into Illinois as far as Jacksonville,
where he concluded to stop, on account of meeting a Mr. Goltry,
who was general superintendent of carjwnter and mason work on
the Insane Asylum, which was then being built, and although Mr.
S. proposed locating lands for the purpose of farming, as he was
offered the superintending of the mason work on the Asylum, he
concluded to accept, and returned immediately to N. J. to secure
other masons. Mr. S. returned to Jacksonville with his help about
March 24 ; and, as soon as he got his men fairly at M'ork, he came to
this county and bought 320 acres of land, but afterwards sold this
tract, and in 1855 he bought 800 acres of raw prairie land in sees.
19 and 20, Dillon township, at |25 per acre. Mr. S. has sold all
his farms, and lives at a very pleasant residence in Green Valley.
Samuel Schureman, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 35 ; P. O., Green
Valley ; was born in Essex Co., N. J., March 1, 1818. His parents
were John and Jane Schureman, natives of N. J. Mr. S. received
a common school education in his native State, and was united in
marriage May 15, 1845, to Cornelia H. Dickinson, a daughter of
Philomen and Cornelia (Howel) Dickinson, of Essex Co., N. J.
Mrs. Schureman died Oct. 27, 1858. She was the mother of five
chihlren — Mary E., born Feb. 1, 184G; Alice, born Jan. 28, 1848;
John \y., born Jan. 3, 1851, Avho died while an inflint of one year;
William H., born Sept. 11, 1863; Charles E., born Oct. 25, ISod.
Mrs. S. was a member of the Presbyterian Church at the time of
her death. Mr. S. was again married March 30, 1865, to Deborah
Osborn, daughter of John and Sarah (dark) Osborn, of N. J.
With a stout heart and a determined will Mr. S. has made life a
success.
Thomas Schureman was born in Essex Co., N. J., June 16, 1823.
His parents were Samuel and Sally (Scuddcr) Schureman, natives of
the same place. Mr. S. was educated at New Providence Academy,
N.J. He came to this county in 1852. He is retired, and lives
in Green Valley. He has held several local offices. Mr. S. was
Ellworth, Frederick W., Estella Mav. Mrs. S. is a member of the
Methodist Church.
Christopher Stoehr was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, in
1828. His parents were Nicholas and Elizabeth Stoehr. The
subject of this sketch came to this county in 1850. He follows the
628 HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
occupation of farming ; is the owner of 260 acres of land ; resides
on section 6 ; P. O,, Green Valley. He was married in 1851, to
Elizabeth Ekrhart, a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Ger., where she
was born May 6, 1831 ; they have been the parents of fifteen chil-
dren, of Avhom eight are living, as follows — George, born Oct. 28,
1852; Philip, Sept. 30, 1854; Conradt, Oct. 25,"' 1863; Margaret,
Feb. 5, '65 ; Alice, March 1, '70 ; Catherine, March 31, '72 ; Louisa,
July 11, '74; Ada, June 11, '77, and the following chiklren are
dead — Martin died at the age of live years; Philip, one year;
Mary, six years ; Elizabeth, age four years ; Lena, age three years,
and two infants not named.
Peter Urish, farmer, sec. 24 ; post-office. Green Valley ; is a
native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, where he was born in 1824.
He emigrated to this country in 1831, and settled with his parents
on section 24, this township. His parents were George and Eve
(Wyhrick) Urish. Peter Urish was united in marriage in 1846, to
Margaret Vogel, a daughter of Frederick and C'harlotta (Beck)
Vogel, who were natives of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. They
emigrated to this country and located at Smithtown, Maryland, in
1833, and moved to this county in 1846, bringing Mrs. Urish with
them. She was born in Germany in 1828. The fruits of her mar-
riage with Mr. Urish are — *Henry, born Nov. 10, 1847; '^'Mary,
born Jan. 29, '49 ; Eva, born Dec. 10, '53; Elizabeth, born May
30, '56 ; *Mary Ann, born Feb. 4, '58 ; John, born Feb. 24, '60 ;
*George, born March 18, '62; Jacob, March 15, '63; Nicholas,
April 20, '65; Peter, Nov. 11, '67; Adam, Dec. 13, '69; Amelia,
April 17, '73. Those marked * not living. Mrs. Urish has been
a member of the Lutheran Church ever since she was 14 years old.
Nicholas Yolk, farmer, sec. 9 ; P. O., Pekin. Was born in Ger-
many, July 22, 1818. He came to this county 37 years ago. His
parents were John and Mary (Schwin) Volk. Nicholas Volk served
in the German army. He was united in marriage to Margaret
Ulrich, in 1846. She was born in Germany, in 1826. They are
the parents of thirteen children, who were born as follows — Peter,
born in 1847, Mary, 1849, Elizabeth, 1851, Jacob, 1853, Eva, 1855,
Caroline, 1857, Balz, 1859 Lizzie, 1861, Margaret, 1863, Nicholas,
1865, John, 1867, George, 1869, Philip, 1871.
James M. Watkins, 31. D., Green Valley. Is a son of William
M. and Mary Patterson, his wife, natives of Rockbridge Co., Vir-
ginia, near the Natural Bridge. The Watkins are of Scotch-
Irish Welch descent. The subject of this sketch was born in the
town of Montezuma, Parke Co., Ind., in 1830. He attended the
schools of Terre Haute, in his native State. He attended one
course of lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Penn.,
and two courses at Rush Medical College at Chicago, where he
graduated in Jan., 1864. Was united in marriage in 1862, to Sarah
B. Megaw, a native of Ind., this union has been blessed with four
children — Sarah F., born in Dec. 1858; Samuel M., born in May
^^'
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^■m^4
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''^'^^^UUS L.GOVO^^'
^/ZAB.GOVO^^'
Spring Lake Township.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 629
1863; Anna E., born March 23, 1865; James Edmund, born in
April, 1867. Mrs. \V. is a member of the Presbyterian Chureh.
ThoHKVi Hdriford Wilcman, physician, Green Valley. Dr. W.
was born in Stark county, Ohio, in 1829. His parents were Jesse
and Lydia (Gregg) Wileman. Dr. AV. received his literary educa-
tion in Fulton county, and Knox College, Knox county, and his
medical education in the Allopathic, Homeopathic, and Eclectic
schools, and practices as a regular physician of these schools of
medicine ; has practiced medicine for nineteen years ; having com-
menced his medical studies in 1857, at Vermont, Fulton county.
The Doctor's medical studies did not cease with lectures that he
attended, or at the commencement of his practice, but he has always
been a close student; during these nineteen years of jiractice he has
always taken the leading medical journals of this country, keeping
apace with the knowledge gained by experience from all parts of the
country. Dr. W. enlisted Feb. 8, 1865, in 147th regt. 111. vol., and
was appointed assistant surgeon, and served in that capacity during
the time of service, which was one year. Dr. W. came to this
county in April, 1866; was united in marriage April 11, 1871, to
Lizzie* D. Field, a native of Pennsylvania, Their union has been
blessed with two daughters — Mabel, born May 25, 1873; and
Bessie, born July 29, 1877. Dr. and Mrs. A¥ileman are members
of the Methodist Church.
*S'. M. Wood row, Sr., was born in Cincinnati township, Tazewell
county, 111., in the year 1840. His parents were Samuel and Cath-
arine (Montague) Woodrow, natives of Pennsylvania and New
Jersey, res})ectively. S. M. Woodrow is a farmer, on sec. 25 ; P.
O., Green Valley. Mr. Woodrow is a Republican in ])olitics. Pie
united in marriage with Miss Anna Hill, Aug. 21, 1862. They
have been blessed with five children — Katie A., born Sej)t. 30, '63;
Edna May, born Jan. 15, '65; Louis C, born July 27, '(yS; Bennie
E., born March 23, '72; Richard S., born Sept. 18, '76.
Jo.scpli Woodruff is a native of Fabius, Onondago county. New
York, where he was born in 1824. He is a son of Joseph and
Lavina (Blanchard) Woodruff. The Woodruff's are of English
descent. Three brothers came to this country, one settled in Con-
necticut, which was the great grandparent of the subject of this
sketch ; another settled in the State of Rhode Island, and the other
in South Carolina ; they took i)art in the struggle for independence
in the Revolutionary AVar. Gurdin W. emigrated to New York
when it was a wilderness, his son, Joseph, the father of the subject
of this sketch, died at his son's residence in Sand Prairie townshij),
in 1862, at the age of 72, having ex})erienced pioneer life in three
States. Mr. W.'s first wife was Adeline S. Davis, of New York.
She is deceased. His present wife is Anna Eliza Codding, of Sum- ,
mit county, Ohio. Mr. W. is the father of — Emma J., born Feb.
5, '50; Esther L., Dec. 14, '54, died Oct. 1, '63; George D., Nov.
9, '59 ; Adeline A., Oct. 4, '63 ; Nettie M., Feb. 21, '65 ; Gurdin
38
630 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
A., Jan. 18, '67; Byron M., Jan. 28/70; Alta O., Feb. 13, '74.
P. O., Green Valley.
SUPERVISORS.
W.J.Thompson 1850 John Schaffer 1868-69
Lewis Prettvman 1851-55 Moses R. Meeker 1870-72
James Hanison 1856-61 James H. Kilpatrick 1873-74
James Hampson 1863-64 Jesse Black 1875-77
Henry A. Sweet 1865 John Meyers 1878-79
Jonathan Totten 1866-67
TOWN-CLERKS.
William Dickson 1854-60 Samuel Renner 1869-71
William Woodruff 1861 Baltz P. Melick 1872-77
James Hampson, Jr 1863-64 Samuel Ornofield 1878
John C. Edwards 1865-68 Samuel Bradfield 1879
ASSESSORS.
William Woodrow, Jr 1854 William Edwards 1864-68
David W. Ayres 1855 Jesse Black 1869
William Edwards 1856 J. W. Burhans 1870-72
Alex. McCrea 1857-58 Henry A. Sweet. 1873
William Edwards 1859 Anthony Fisher 1874-75
James Kilpatrick 1860-61 Enoch Runvon 1876-78
Moses R. Meeker 1863 P. E. Ripper 1879
COLLECTORS.
David G. Williams 1854 Hubbard Latham 1869
James Hampson 1855 Samuel Renner 1870
David G. Williams 1856 H. Latham 1871
Lewis Shelton 1857 Samuel Renner 1872
Abraham Champion 1858 John Meyers 1873
Benj. Priddy 1859-60 Hubbard Latham 1874
Thomas S. McKasson 1861 I. N. Munson 1875
James H. Killpatrick 1863-64 S. M. Woodrow 1876
Thomas Schureman 1865-66 Peter Ripper 1877-78
Lewis H.Burns 1867 David F. Lawler 1879
William Woodruff. 1868
SPRING LAKE TOWNSHIP.
The soil of this township is not unlike that of Cincinnati, and
the history of its early settlement is similar. Joseph Otfutt erected
a cabin on the border of Spring lake in 1839, and moved in the
following year. The first school-house was built in 1849, on sec.
11, range 7, 23 north. Mr. Offutt was to the expense of getting
the shingles and lumber for this house. The neighbors joined in
and hauled the logs for this building. Daniel Hawkins was the
first to wield the rod in this school-house, the same year. The
children of all the settlers attended. The first sermon preached in
the township was by a Mormon by the name of Woods. This
meeting was held at the house of a man named Grover. Quite a
MRS HAR;«I£T woods ABRAHAM WOODS
SPRING LAHE TOWNSHIP
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 633
number of the neighbors went to hear him, not knowing that he
was a Mormon, and they were prejudiced against that people. Two
weeks thereafter he preached by appointment again, but no one went
to hear him. This finished his ministration here. Louis White
tells, that when he settled here, he had but few neighbors, and no
church nearer than Long Pine Church, but he had preaching in his
house occasionally, both in English and German. The nearest mill
was seventeen miles away ; they would start in the early morning
with a load of corn and wheat, and get back the next morning.
The first school in his neighborhood was held at what is now No. 4.
The first teacher's name was Hoagland. This house was used for
school, Suuday-school, preaching, town-meetings, and elections.
The first regular Methodist meeting was began in this house, the
preacher being Rev. Joseph Hart.
The first church organized was the Dutch Reformed Church in
1856. The first death was that of John Owen Offutt, Oct. 10,
1841. The first marriage was that of Chas. Seiwell to Deborah
Claton, in 1842. Among the earliest settlers in the township were
Valentine Haas, Chas. Seiwell, Maxon Claton, James Flemings,
Daniel Devore, and the McLeashes and Hibbards. Mr. Christian
Hermann bought a land warrant of an old veteran of the Mexican
war, named John H. Banker, and settled on the land in 1851. It
is the farm David W. Hermann now lives on. He tells us that
this part of the county, to a great extent, was used as a public range
for stock for many years after the first settlement of the county.
The soil was then regarded as not desirable on account of its sandy
nature, consequently, it was not settled as rapidly as some other
portions of the county. There were other drawbacks besides the
soil. There was no bridge across the Mackinaw, and the settlers
had to depend upon the slow-going ferry of John Bequeaith, and
when the water was high, it was . impossible to cross even on this.
But as the people learned of the productiveness of the soil, it was
rapidly settled. A good iron bridge has taken the place of the
ferry. He also tells us that game was plentiful here. He has seen,
within rifle-shot of where he now lives, twenty-five deer in one
drove. Prairie wolves were numerous, and timber wolves were
often seen. These would destroy pigs, calves, sheep, and other
domestic animals.
A terrible tornado passed through the township in 1859, carrying
destruction in its path. It destroyed Mr. Hermann's fine orchard
634 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
of 150 trees, leaving but one standing. It destroyed corn-bins,
barns, out-houses, carried off wagons, etc. It carried oiF a spring
wagon which was never heard of afterwards ; destroyed fowls, many
of which, when found, had no feathers on them at all, and were as
clean as though they had been picked. Mr. Christian Hermann re-
ceived an injury from a flying timber, from the eifects of which he
never fully recovered. He was a large, portly man and healthy,
and during the prevalence of the cholera at Pekin, he took upon
himself the care of many a poor suiferer of that dreaded disease.
He was fearless, and although constantly with it, did not catch it
himself.
TERRIBLE TORNADO.
The following account of the disastrous storm of May 26, 1859,
as referred to above, is gleaned from a letter of Dr. C. C. Hodgland,
of Spring Lake, to the Tazewell Register:
"We had a refreshing shower during the night of the 26th, and the early
morning wrapped the hills in dense fog. About 9 o'clock rain began to fall
which continueil at intervals till mid-day. About 4 o'clock our attention was
attracted to a very dark and heavy cloud which arose out of the southwest,
and soon began to show the shape and indications of a waterspout — from the
dark cloud above the eart spiral tubes of vapor, varying and shifting in a
circle, accompanied with vivid streaks of lightning ami heavy thunder in the
distance. Soon the cloud advanced rapidly with a gyrating motion, appearing
very grand and awful, but filling our minds with apprehension as it ap-
proached with the rapiclity of the wind. Rev. Mr. Brumstead's house is about
a mile and a half from mine and it was doubtful whether the cloud was pass-
ing east of his house or over it ; but all doubt was dissipated in a moment
more as the tornado struck his barn and smashed it in a moment, scattering
the timbers and enclosures, and carrying them to great height in the air, whirl-
ing and tossing them as if they were feathers. A young man in the barn hear-
ing the roaring ran out and was overturned at once, and rolled over and over
thirty or forty yards before he could regain his feet. The farm wagon was
taken next and dei)0sited, the fore wheels with the tongue, three hundred
yards from where it stood, while the hind wheels were carried one hundred
yards further. Then a small granary was crushed like an egg shell ; a two-
rowed corn planter was hurled fifty yards over the ruins of the granary and
deposited against a shed in the yard which next shared the fate of the granary,
anil the well-curb was lifted from its place and hurled against the house and
broken in pieces. The kitchen was next in order, and instantly unroofed, the
shingles flying in every direction and the fragments covering the i)rairie for
hundreds of yards with cloth and household fui'niture. Trees were twisted
down and flower gardens and shrubs made a desolation. The fence was broken
thoroughly and then across the prairie the tornado marked its path with the
ruins of fences and buildings. George B. VanNortwick's buildings were next
in range. Here fences, outhouses, well-curb, boxes, barrels, stove furnitui-e
and clothing were at once flying in very direction. The house-door was burst
open, window panes and sash smashed in, and the south lialf of the roof torn
bodily from its place and sent flying over the prairie. Mr. Hermann's fence
was extensively torn up, an out-building demolished, and the house moved
from its foundation several inches.
"It is wonderful that no lives were lost. The minister's four horses were
in the barn, and were covered with the ruins, but Avere taken out uninjured.
In his house he was struck by a falling rafter, but only slightly bruised. Mr.
VanNortwick and his daughter, in trying to close the door, were thrown in
violence across the room but only bruised."
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 635
From the earliest period of the county's history down to the
present time, we find that the loss of life by accident has been most
remarkably frequent. Scarcely a week has passed but some home
has been darkened by the gloom cast over it by the loss of one of
its inmates. One of the saddest of these painful accidents occurred
in this township in October, 1865.
A party of young people embarked on a boating and fishing
excursion on Spring lake, unfortunately, in an old leaky boat,
which cost the lives of three young ladies. The party was composed
of Joshua G. Claton, Silas McLean, the Misses Julia and Susan
Van Bonthusen, and William Van Benthusen, of Bloomfield, Iowa,
Miss Mary ]\Ioore, of same place. Miss Mattie King, and the Misses
Amanda and Bina Claton,of Spring Lake. Happy and jovial were
the party as they left the shore in their fated boat, but ere they had
got sixty yards from shore it began to leak. It grew worse and
worse rapidly and before anything could be done toward returning
to the shore a hole was broken in the bottom of the boat and it
filled immediately. McLean, becoming excited jumped out and
swam ashore, but in doing so upset the boat, precipitating the entire
party into the water. At this critical moment the presence of mind
of Mr. Claton prevented the six young ladies from all going to a
watery grave. He remained with them, directing them to hold on
to the side of the boat. Three of them, with Willie, managed to
retain their hold on the skiff, and Mr. Claton shoved the boat
ashore and saved three. Although he made strenuous efforts to
save the other three, they went doMai before he could rescue
them. The unfortunate ladies were the Misses Van Benthusen and
Miss Bina Claton. The sad catastrophe cast a gloom over the en-
tire neighborhood, which remained for many a day, and even at
present it is referred to only with sighs and tears by those who
.were living there at that time. The grief-stricken parents of the
young ladies, had their bodies removed to their home in Iowa, for
interment.
Mr. Benj. Priddy, of this township, was the first to introduce the
Osage orange hedge in the county. About the year 1846, when he
was in Texas, where this tree grows in a wild state, he saw its qual-
ities as a fence. It was there known as " boycdare." The timber
is used for the purpose of manufacturing wagons, furniture, etc.,
where a fine-grained, tough timber is needed, being susceptible of
very fine polish. Another peculiarity of the wood is, that it will
636 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
neither swell or shrink. Mr. P. sent home seed to his friends, for
them to experiment on its growing in this climate. Their trials
proved eminently successful, and in 1852, when he came back to
this county, he brought 500 bushels of the seed and introduced it
generally. It is unnecessary to say anything of the usefulness of
the Osage orange for fences, if properly cared for, or to the extent
to which it is used, as it is so general, all of our readers are acquainted
witli those facts.
This country, in an early day, was infested by bands of horse-
thieves, who were regularly and strongly organized. In these bands
were some daring, reckless fellows, and an account of their exploits
is exciting, even in detail. At the close of the career of these des-
peradoes a book was written recounting their adventures and detail-
ing their crimes. This was called " The Banditti of the Prairie."
Abraham Woods had an experience with a member of one of these
bands in 1853. A very gentlemanly appearing man stopped at his
house for dinner. He was sociable, agreeable in conversation, and,
withal, a clever fellow. He claimed to have plenty of money, and said
he was on his way to California. He left, and a few days thereafter
again appeared and called for breakfast, remarking as he entered,
"Treat a dog well and he is sure to return." He was such a fluent
talker, so intelligent and agreeable, that Mr. W. was glad to see him.
He soon left. Mr. W. observed that he had a sharp eye, which
could not be caught for an instant. On coming to the house that
morning he passed the barn and looked at two spans of fine horses,
a gray and a bay team. He expressed much admiration for the
grays, and made inquiries about their gentleness, &c. Mr. W.
replied that they were his " darlings," and were perfect pets.
A week passed, when Mr. W. was awakened during the night by
the running and whinnying of a horse, as if it had lost its mate.
He sent his man out, telling him one of his horses was loose. He
soon returned with two letters, one had been stuck up on the door,
the other was found on the ground. He also reported one of the
gray horses gone. One of the letters read as follows :
"Oh, avick! shurc and its meself that's trying to make a dacent outfit to
go home to Sarah and the childer. As Col. Doniphan said in the Mexican war,
I came across your ranche and made bowld to take into my sarvice two Ille-
gant Gray travellers I found on your premises. I wunst thought of calling
and telling yer Honor what I was after transacting. But thinking it would be
to bad intirely to be Robbing a dacent gentlemon of his Darlings and sweet
sleep at the same time I mean, I hope and trust your Darlings can travel
Handsomely, for I shall be after putting them to their trumps, for a while at
least, for it's no more than likely you'll be after sending the dirthy spalpeen
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 637
of a constable after me. Bad cess to the likes of him, He'd be asking my
name and other unconstitutional questions, for what does Will Shakspeare say,
' That which we call the Rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.'
"So you perceive that this settles the point at i.ssue. Perhaps you would
be mighty well obliged should I tell you my name, place of Residence, and
where I am from. AVell, yer honor, I am from every place but this, and shall
be from this Just as quick as your Darling's legs can carry me. Now to con-
clude. Fare ye well, and still'forever fare ye well, Hoping your Darlings you'l
see never, before I can them swap or sell. Acushla Mavourneen."
The above letter goes to show that the writer was undoubtedly
the stranger who had been so hospitably received a few days before.
As soon as this letter was read, and Mr. W. found his horse gone,
he notified his neighbors. Soon a large number of his neighbors
assembled and prepared for the chase, but ere they had fairly started
the stolen horse returned. It was evident that the thief got alarmed
before he had fairly started. He attempted to take both horses, but
one had broken loose.
It was evident from the other letter found, that there was a regu-
lar systematic gang of horse-thieves running from here to Texas.
It was in a sealed envelope, and was directed to Frederick Gamble,
Galvaston, Texas, forwarded by Patrick Dougherty, and contained
a promisory note for $220, on David C. Jones, of Texas. He states
in this letter that, " Patrick and Jim have gone in the neighborhood
of Pekin to make a raid on fine horses, which they would likely get
away with, as Patrick was a good engineer, and knew the country.
They would stop the first night with a friend on Salt creek, thence
to W. Davis', near Carlinville, from there to Chester, where they
knew the ferryman, who would take them across in the night, thence
proceed with due dilligence to Texas." ^
The town of Spring Lake, which is located on sec. IG, 22 north,
7 west, was laid out May 15, 1862, by Thomas G. Conant. Haines-
ville is on the P., P. & J. Railroad, on sec. 2, 6 west, 22 north.
Spring Lake M. E. Church. — The church edifice is located on sec.
31, of town 24 north, and 6 west, and in size is 36 by 50 feet, with
basement story. It is one of the largest and finest church structres
located in the rural district, that Central Illinois can boast of. It
was erected in 1872,- at a cost of $3,500. A class was organized in
this neighborhood as long ago as thirty years. Meetings were held
at school-houses and at private houses, until their building was
erected. The first pastor after the completion of the duirch was
Rev. Williams ; the present pastor is Rev. Boggess. The Trustees
of the Church are Eli Haas, D. C. Orr, Abraham Woods, Lewis
638 HISTORY or tazewell county.
AVhite, and Mr. Hammer. Abraham Woods is class leader; and
Eli Hass, Jesse Scott, Abraham Woods, John B. Lowry, Edward
Reader, and others, are Stewards. There is a good school in con-
nection with the Church, of which Isaac Larish is Superintendent.
The membership of the Church is about 40, which is also about the
attendance at school.
Spring Garden Dutch Reformed Church. — This is an old well
established congregation, being organized in 1856. As far back as
twenty-six years ago, this people began to hold public religious
services in this township. Some years thereafter a neat edifice for
worship was erected on sec. 5, 23 north, and 6 west. It is a good
frame, and although the congregation has no regular pastor at pres-
ent, yet is in a good healthy condition. Rev. Gilmore was the last
pastor.
We have occasion, in giving a more detailed history of the town-
ship, to speak personally of some of its leading and representative
residents, among whom we find the persons named below :
Frank E. Adams is a native of West Haven, Vt., where he was
born Aug. 15, 1852. His parents were Edward and Calista Adams ;
the Adams are lenial descendents of the Pilgrims. They came to
America about tw^o years after the "May Flower" landed. Mr.
Frank Adams, the subject of this sketch, took a scientific course of
studies at Ft. Edwards, N. Y. He follows the occupation of
school teaching ; he has taught five school years of nine months each.
He was united in marriage. May 10, 1876, to Miss Mary G. Emens,
a native of Dayton, Middlesex Co., N. J. She is a daughter of
Abraham Emens and Anna Van Arsdale, his wife, natives of Mid-
dlesex and Hunterton Cos., N. J. They came to this county, April
26, 1866, and settled in Pekin, but now live in Spring Lake town-
ship. Mr. A. is connected with the Reform Church of America.
In politics, is a Republican. Post-office, Manito.
John Barnes was born in Fulton Co., 111., in 1835. His parents,
John and Susan (Chandler) Barnes, natives of Kentucky, died in
Mason Co. His father died in 1843, his mother in 1853. The
subject of this sketch was first married to Charity Ide, of New
York. She died in 1863, having one child, William Barnes. In
1868, Mr. B., was again married, this time to Ellen Lawson, of
Sangamon Co., 111. Mr. Barnes, memory carries him back to the
times when wolves were very numerous through this part of the
State. They became very bold, even so daring as to chase a small
dog through the house. Mr. B. was in the war of the Rebellion.
He enlisted in Feb., 1865, in 148th 111. infantry, under Col. H. H.
Wilsie. He was in Co. C, and served till the close of the war.
Post-office, Pretty man.
MRS.ANN. C.HAAS EZLI HAAS
SPRING LAKE TOWNSHIP
/■
■J:-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY. 641
Harman Henri/ Beimfohr. John Henry and Mary (Hokanip)
Beimfohr were his parents. H. H. was born in Minclen, Prussia,
Oct. 30, 1842; was educated in the schools of his native country.
He has held tlie office of School Director. ^Ir. B. was united in
marriao:e, April 2, 1808, to Miss Mary Ann Bortzfield, a daui^hter
of William and Catherine (Musseliyan) Bortzfield. They were
natives of Penn. Mr. B. is now living in Osborn, Kansas. Mrs.
B. died in 1859. The children of Mr. Beimfohr are,-Mjiry^nn
Catherine, born Oct. 22, 1869; Fanny Wilhelmina, born Augr 2^),
'71; William H., Dec. 9, '72'r Mary Magdalena, May 28,^ '75;
Lucy Wilhelmina, born March 2, '77, died Sept. 21, ,78. Mrs.JB.
is a member of the Evangelical Church. Mr. B. acts with the
Democratic party. P. O., address, Prettyman.
John Bernhcvd Beimfohr was born in Minden, Prussia, in 1836.
His parents were John Henry and Mary (Hokamp) Beimfohr.
John B. came to this county in 1854; was educated in the schools
of his native country. He is a farmer ; in politics is a Democrat
He was united in matrimony in Oct., 1856, to Mary Wilhelmina
Baker. They have been blessed with six children — August, born
Oct. 27, '54;" Mary Ann, born Dec. 25, '61; Martha Theresa, Nov.
19, '65; Emily, July 29, '68; John Harmon Henry, Feb. 5, '72;
George Frederick, March 21, '77. Mr. and Mrs. B. both united
with the Evangelical Church in 1867. Post-office, Prettyman.
David P. Black was born in Blair Co., Penn., in 1842. His
parents, George and Rebecca (Mauly) Black, were both natives of
the same county. He came to this county in 1858; received his
education at Green Valley, this county, and has been generally suc-
cessful in business. He was joined in marriage with Somantha H.
Marshall, in 1865. They have one girl — Annie Laura, born in
August, 1866. He enlisted, in 1862, in the 85th 111. Inf , and
served as musician. He was in the battles of Perrysville, Stone
River, INIission Ridge, Atlanta, Jonesboro', and all the battles of
Sherman's army on its march to Savannah. Post-office, Manito.
WiJIiam Ira Callaway, farmer, was born in C-ampbell Co., Va.,
in 1826. He came to the county in 1851, and to the State, with
his parents, Isaiah and licttice Callaway, in 1836. He had only a
common school education ; has served as Justice of the Peace, School
Trustee and School Director. In 1851 he married Ruth A. Lowry,
who died April 1,1878. She bore him six children — Siralda S.,
Sarah B(41, Rhoda J., Louis F., Henry M. and Fannie A." Three
of these are married and live in this township, not three miles from
the parental roof Siralda, w^fe of Wm. McFarland, is living about
two miles away, while Rhoda and Sarah, wives of Isaac Schinick
and John McFarland, respectively, live but a short distance from
their father. His present wife, Catharine Sherrer, he married Nov.
10, 1878. Mr. C. has been a member of the M. E. Church for 13
years. Post-office, ^lanito.
/. G. Claton, farmer, residing upon sec. 27, township 24 north,
s,^.>
642 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
range 6 ; was born in Shelby Co., Ind., in 1844. His parents, James
and Sarah Ann (Guile) Claton, were both natives of Ohio. Mr.
Claton was educated in the common schools of Iowa. He came to
this county in 1865. In 1870 he married Sarah E, Vanorstrand,
who has borne him two children — Thomas A., born Dec. 28, 1870,
and Cora, born Oct. 23, 1872. Post-office, Prettyman.
llrs. Margaret Claton. — One of the earliest settlers of the town-
ship is Mrs. Margaret Claton, who, at this writing, April 13, 1879,
is just 86 years old. She is a native of Georgia. Her parents,
John and Anna (Davidson) Gaston, moved to Virginia before she
was two years old, and subsequently to Ohio. While living in that
State, and on July 4, 1812, she was married to Maxon Claton.
They came to this county in 1836, locating in Sand Prairie, and in
1838 moved on the farm where she now lives. Her husband died
Aug. 17, 1839. Mrs. Claton had a family of ten children, only one
of whom is now living. For an old lady, nearly four score and ten,
she is remarkably quick and smart, and has a good memory. To
hear her relate her experiences in early times, is almost like reading
a thrilling romance of border life. At one time all her fences and
her wheat crop was burned by the prairie fire. She hired a man,
during an early day, for two years, at $50 a year and board and
clothes. She was to give him 12 yards 4-leaf jeans, 9 yards of cot-
ton flannel, 4 cotton shirts, 2 pair cotton socks, 1 pair of boots,
and 1 pair shoes, and a hat. She had all these articles specfied in
the agreement.
Frank F. Deyo is a son of John P. Deyo and Sarah Ann Forester,
his wife, natives of New York. Frank F. Deyo, the subject of this
sketch, was born in Erie county, Ohio, 1847. He received his edu-
cation at Milan Xormal School, Ohio. Mr. D. came to Tazewell
county in September, 1869; by occupation is a farmer and teacher;
has taught for the past fifteen years. He resides on sec. 15; post-
office, Pekin. He was united in marriage, Dec. 28, 1871, to Miss
Irene Claton. She is the daughter of Jno. Claton and Elizabeth Ann
Hawkins, his wife; they came to this county in 1835. Mr. Claton's
portrait may be found in his book. Mr. and Mrs. Deyo have two
children — Eunice Anna, born Nov. 25, 1873; and Palmer Claton,
born Nov. 16, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. D. both united with the Meth-
odist Church in 1874. In politics Mr. D. acts with the Democratic
party.
Abraham Gorman is a native of Lehigh county, Penn., where he
was born in 1823. His parents were Abraham and Elizabeth Gor-
man. Mr. G. was educated in the schools of his native State. He
came to this county in 1855; and was united in marriage to Mary
Hensinger, a native of Pennsylvania, in 1849; they are parents of
— Benjamin F., Abraham, John M., Wm. L., Emery G., Elizabeth
C, Mary F., and Sarah Bell. Mr. G. acts with the Democratic
party. Post-office, Manito.
Cornelius L. Golden is a native of Hunterdon county, N. J., where
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 643
he was boru Oct. 5, 1807. His parents, David and Deborah (Wil-
son) Golden, were natives of New Jersey. Mr. G.'s grandfather
came from Holland. The subject of this sketch came to Fulton
county, this State, and after residing there three years he removed
to this county in tlie year 1853. Ho received his education in his
native State; by occupation he is a farmer. Mr. G. was united in
the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Eliza B. Dallas. This mar-
riage has been blessed with six children, five of whom arc living —
Joanna, born Dec. 17, '30; Ephriam D., born March 4, '32; Frank-
lin L., boru Dec. 12, '35; Jane E., born Aug. 11, '37; Rebecca,
born Aug. 4, '39, deceased ; Sarah, born Sept. 30, '43. Mrs. Golden
is a member of the Dutch Reformed Church. Mr. G. has lived a
long and useful life, and is beloved and respected by all who know
him and a is representatives of Spring Lake. His portrait, with
that of his wife, will be found in this volume.
Ephriam D. Golden, a native of New Jersey, came to this county
with his parents, in 1850, and is engaged in farming in this town-
ship. His education was obtained in the common schools of New
Jersey. Mr. Golden was married to Lydia R. Van Deuscn, of New
York. They have four children — John W., born Nov. 18, 1863;
Reuben S., born May 13, 1865; Emma May, born Nov. 3, 1869;
Rebecca H., born Aug. 15, 1871. Mr. Golden and his wife are
both members of the Reformed Church of America, and have been
for fifteen or sixteen years. He has held the positions of Road
Commissioner and School Trustee in his township. Post-office
address is Manito.
Eli Haas. This gentleman is certainly one of the representative
men of the county, and an extensive farmer, owning 2,000 acres of
land. He came here with his father in 1839, and at that time was
the possessor of a very limited amount of this world's goods. The
simple statement of his owning, at present, thousands of acres of
land, is the best evidence of a well-sj)ent life. He was born in
Union Co., Pa., Sept. 13, 1817. His father was born in Montgom-
ery county of that State. He died here in 1852 at the age of 69.
His mother, Mary Magdalene (Mauck) Haas, was also a native of
the grand old Key-stone State. She passed over the Jordan of
Death, Jan. 6, 1876, being at that time almost ninety years of age.
The marriage of Mr. Haas with Miss Ann Catherine Orr, took
place March 2, 1853. They have one son, Edward S., who was
born Dec. 2, 1864. Both Mr. and Mrs. Haas are consistent and
active members of the Methodist Church. He has held the office
of School Director for some sixteen years. We give his portrait,
with that of his wife and son, in this volume. He resides upon sec.
30, upon which section he has lived since his advent into the county.
Post-office, Manito.
Joseph F. Haines, grain dealer and farmer, is one of the oldest
residents of Tazewell county. He was born in Jiutler Co., O., and
came to the county with his parents, William and Elizabeth (Wil-
644 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
son) Haines, also natives of Ohio, in the year, 1828. In Feb.,
1865, he enlisted in the 148th 111. Inf., under Col. Wilsie. Mr.
Haines was joined in marriage with Emeline Lance in 1844. Their
children are William C, born in 1848, and Maggie May, born in
1863. William Haines, the father of the subject of this sketch, on
coming to this county, located first at Pekin, and was one of the
original proprietors. He died in that city in 1834, with the cholera.
He owned, at the time of his death, all the lots fronting north on
Court street, save two, of the original town of Pekin. INIr. H. re-
lates that Pekin wa:s first called " Town Site." The name " Pekin "
was given by a Mrs. Cromwell, a wife of one of the proprietors,
who, doubtless foreseeing its brilliant future, gave it its illustrious
name. Mr. Haines, Sr., left a family of five children at his death,
whose names were, Sarah Ann, now the wife of B. S. Prettyman of
Pekin ; Elizabeth Jane, many years deceased ; INIartha Ellen, who
married John Gorage, of Ottumwa, Iowa, and died about the year
1872 or '73. One of her sons is now running a paper in the Black
Hills; Caroline Matilda, who married John M. Hedrick, of Ot-
tumwa, Iowa, and is still living ; the next, Mr. Joseph F. Haines,
the subject of this sketch, is now living at Hainesville, a station on
the P., P. & J. P. P., which derives its name from him, he being
the first settler, and built the first house at that place in 1860. The
house is now owned by B. S. Prettyman, and occupied by Mr. Ben-
jamin Priddy. Post-office, Prettyman.
Samuel C. Hammer was Ijorn in Franklin Co., Pa., in 1824. His
parents, Jacob and Priscilla (Eyler) Hammer, were natives of
Maryland. Mr. H. came to Tazewell county in 1855. He learned
the trade of shoe-making and followed that business for ten years,
but for many years has been engaged in farming. In 1846 he was
married to Ann Elizabeth Working, a native of Maryland, The
union has been blessed with five sons and four daughters : Frances
Virginia, Lewis Cass, John Winton, Elizabeth H., Emma, Alvin
Davis, Clara, William Pufus and Johnson. He is a member of
the M. E. Church. In politics he is a Democrat. John G. Ham-
mer, brother of Samuel, is a veteran of the • Mexican war and is
now living in Pekin. He enlisted in Capt. Jones' company, and
served about a year. He participated in the engagements of Vera
Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Puebh). He first settled at Springfield, then
came to Pekin to build a mill for Mr. Wagenseller, and has since
lived there.
Samuel Hammer, like many of the early settlers, thought the
best locations were by the streams and timber, and let thousands of
acres of fine prairie land go for others to occupy, thinking it would
never be settled.
Leivis Franklin Harbaugh was born in Franklin Co., ]\Id., in
1837. His parents, John and Margaret Harbaugh, were also
natives of the same county. Mr. H. came to this county in 1865,
and is engaged in agricultural pursuits in this township, owning
z^-^?-^
^L-iH^^'C^^
SPRING LAKE TP.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL OOIJNTT. 645
over 300 acres of land. He was married to Mary J. VanOstrand,
April 2, 1873, who has borne him two children, Frank Leslie, born
Jan. 18, 1874, and Charles Dana, born Dec. 2(3, '75. Mrs. H. is a
member of the American Reformed Clinrch. Mr. H's ancestry was
of Swiss descent. Yost Harbangh, of whom the sudject of this
sketch is a lineal descendent, came to this country in 1736 or '38,
and settled in York Co., Penn.
David WdUnyton- Herrmann wa>' born in Wayne Co., N. Y., in
1846. His parents, Christian and Barbara (Lux) Herrmann, were
natives of Germany. He was married to ]\Ienni Hanns, of Prussia,
in 1869. They liave four children: Lilly, born Feb. 18, 1871;
Irene, May 20,' 1872 ; Albert, Sept. 24, 1874 and Carlina May, Feb.
7, 1879. Mrs. Herrman's parents were Christian and Frederick
(Dietrich), Prussians. Her father died in that country. Her
mothcT CJirae to this country in 1868, bringing Mrs. H. with her,
and located at Bloomington, 111., where she still resides. Mrs. H.
is a member of the Kvangelical Lutheran Church. Christian
Herrmann's family consisted of six children : David W., Caroline,
Jemima, Louisa, Catharine, Rosena. Mr. H. has held the office of
Justice of the Peace, Road Commissioner and School Director.
Post-office, Prettvman.
Jacob Kei/ser. INIr. Keyser ' is one of the early settlers of this
county, having settled in this townshi]) in 1833. Mr. K. is a son
of Phili]) and Elizabeth (Flower) Keyser. Jacob Keyser was united
in marriage, in 1847, to Miss Hannah Wood. They are the parents
of — Minerva, born June, 1848; William T., born June 9, 1850;
Jacob F., born May 14, 1852; Sarah Jane, Sept. 7, 1854; Louis E.,
March 22, 1857. When Mr. K. first settled on S])ring Lake prairie,
they lived on what they raised, and made the cloth at home to clothe
the family. Their friends were every one for twenty miles around;
their fresh meat consisted of venison and other wild game. ]\Ir.
K.'s house at that time was headquarters for religious meetings. In
politics ]\rr. K. is a Republican. Post-office, Pekin.
Jo/in B. Loirri/ is a native of Jefferson Co., O., and a son of Wil-
liam and ]\Iartha Ann (McCoy) Lowry, natives of the above State.
John B. attended the schools of Clark and Tazewell counties; by
occupation a farmer. Post-office, Pekin. He has filled several
local offices with perfect satisfaction to all. Mr. L. was united in
marriage to Sarah C. Claton, in 1862. The fruits of this marriage
are four boys, as follows : William E., born Nov. 14, 1863 ; John
C, born March 18, 1867; James M., born March 13, 1869; George
M., born iSIay 15, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Lowry are both members
of the Methodist Church.
Joshua Marshall is a native of the State of Va., where he was
born in the year 1814. He is a son of Joshua and Sarah (Hayne)
Marshall. The subject of this sketch settled in this county in 1862.
Mr. M. has been very successful, financially, since he came to this
county ; has filled several local offices. He came to Kankakee Co.,
646 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. ,
this State, in 1846. He was not very successful there. He com-
menced in the hotel business in Kankakee, havino; l)uilt a new hotel.
He was burned out in 1857, which caused almost a total loss of
$6,000. After coming to this county, everything turned the other
way, and in the year 1867, he sold $6,200 worth of produce off
his farm. Was united in marriage, in March, 1838, to Miss Dru-
sella Rakestraw. They are the parents of — Samantha Black, John
A., Horace S., Allen J. and Henry H. Post-office, Manito.
Allen J. Marshall was born in Kankakee Co., 111. He is a son of
Joshua and Drusella Marshall, and received his education in the
jniblic schools. His political views are those of the Republican
party. He was joined in matrimony, in 1876, to Miss Anna R.
Patterson. His post-office address is Manito.
Henry H. Marshall is a son of Joshua and Drusella Marshall, and
was born in Kankakee Co., this State, in 1852. He came to Taze-
Avell county with his parents in 1862, received his education in this
county, and is, by occupation, a farmer. He was married Oct. 6,
1875. In politics he is a Republican. Post-office, Manito.
Horace 8. Marshall is a native of Kankakee Co., 111., where he
was born in 1848. He is a son of Joshua Marshall. Horace was
educated in the schools both of this and his native county. He is
an extensive farmer, owning 1000 acres of land, and is also a dealer
in grain. Mr. M. was united in marriage, in 1871, to Miss Mary
Haas. In political matters he acts with the Republican party. His
post-office address is Manito.
David K. Moore was born in Fleming Co., Ky., in 1815. His
parents were Jacob Moore and Rebecca Paddicks, his Avife, who
were natives of Kentucky. David K. came to this county in 1857.
During the war for the Union he enlisted in the 38th Regt. 111. Inf.,
and was engaged in many important battles, among which were the
Battles of Corinth, Miss., and Perrysville, Ky. Mr. Moore's health
gave way after two years of service, from which he has never en-
tirely recovered. He was married to Miss Fanny Mcintosh in '45.
They have been the parents of ten children, named as follows :
Louisa C, Thomas J., Clarinda, deceased, Sarah J., deceased, James
W., Mary Isabel, deceased, Rhoda, deceased, Hannah E., deceased,
Fanny Belle, and Jacob R.
Edward Purdy was born in the county of Westmead, Ireland, in
1831. His parents were Thomas and Catherine (Hosey) Purdy.
He came to New York in 1846 and to this county in 1857. In '60
he united with Elizabeth Jane Ballard, of Allen Co., Mo., in mar-
riage. Her parents were Anderson S. and Susan (Archer) Ballard.
He is the parent of nine children, six of whom are living. The
names and dates of birth of his children arc as follows : Catherine
Ann, born Nov. 5, 1860; Susan Jane, Sept. 7, 1864; Mary Ellen,
Feb. 26, 1866; Emma Viola, Feb. 16, 1868; James Edward, Sept.
30, 1830; Sarah Cordelia, March 5th, 1872; Frans A., Jan. 5, '75;
John William, March 25, '76; Florence L., Oct. 28, '78. Oath-
HISTORY OF TAZEWEIJ. COUNTY. 647
erine, Emma, and John are dead. He is a member of the Roman
Catholic Cluirch. P. O., Manito.
Benjiuain Pviddy, grain dealer at Hainesville, was horn in Kan-
awha Co., W. Va., in 1821. His father, Nelson Priddy, was a na-
tive of Virginia, and his mother, Leah (Morris) Priddy, was born
in West Virginia. Mr. Priddy's introduction into Tazewell county
was over half a century ago, when he was a lad of but eight sum-
mers. His parents first settled on sec. 10, Sand Prairie township,
and spent the remainder of their earth-life there. His mother died
in 1833, and his father in 1844. This couple reared a large family
of children, only three of whom are now living. Their children
were Strawther, Sclden, Elgin, Morris, Charles, Benjamin, Sybil,
Leah, Nelson and Frances. They all lived to maturity except
Elgin, who died at the age of 13 or 14. Two of the boys, Selden
and Charles, served in the Mexican war. The company they were
in was raised in Pekin by Ca]itain Jones. They were in the battles
of Buena Arista, Vera Cruz, and other engagements. Their com-
pany was the one which captured Santa Anna's wooden leg. Selden
lived but a short time after his return home. Charles lived till '78,
when he died. Sybil, the wife of H. H. Elmore, and Frances, the
wife of Thomas Baker, are now living in Sangamon county. Their
husbands are early settlers of that county and are in good circum-
stances. Benjamin was married to Harriet A. Prettyman in 1844,
who has borne him three children — Louis P., born in 1848; Chas.
C, born in 1851, and Benjamin F., born in 1857.
James Fredon, farmer and stock raiser, is a son of James and
Sarah (Cohenour) Preston, who resided in this county about one
year, when, in 1846, he moved to Iowa with his family, where he
died in the fall of 1866, leaving a wife and five children. His wife
has since followed him over the river of death. James Preston, the
subject of this sketch, returned to this county in the fall of 1868,
and still resides on sec. 23. Mr. P. takes a great interest in educa-
tional matters ; has held the office of School Director for twelve
years. He has been quite successful in life, having accumulated
considerable property by industry and close attention to business.
He was united in marriage, in 1861, to Adaline Avery, a native of
New York. They are the parents of six children — Martha Jane,
born Aug. 24, 1862; Ella L., April 10, 1864; Walter G., Sept. 8,
1866; Leonard L., Aug. 28, 1868; Norah B., Sept. 10, 1870; Ed-
gar W., Feb. 17, 1874. In politics is a Democrat.
Jesse Wilson Scott is a native of Scott county, Ky., where he was
born March 15, 1837. Thomas and Elizabeth Scott were his par-
ents. Jesse Wilson Scott came to this county, in 1843, with his
parents. He received his education at Pekin. When our country
called for men, Mr. S. was among the first to respond ; he enlisted,
July 5, 1861, in the 8th regt. 111. vol., Co. F, and served till May,
1866. He took part in many a hard fought battle, among them
were Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, and Vicksburg. On several occasions
648 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
he has had balls pass through his clothing, but was never seriously
injured, beyond mere scratches, until the last battle he was in, at Ft.
Blakely, Alabama, where he received a severe wound in the right
shoulder, braking the bone. His hearing was also affected by
heavy artillery at Vicksburg. Mr. S. was united in marriage, in
Dec, 1866, to Margaret Fleming. They have one son — William
Edwin, born Dec. 6, 1867. They are both members of the Meth-
odist Church. Post-office, Pekin.
F. 11. Heiivcll was born in Spring Lake township, this county, in
1841. His parents were Charles and Deborah (Claton) Seiwell. F.
E,. received his education in the school of this township, and at
Pekin. Mr. S. is a farmer by occupation. He Avas united in mar-
riage, in 1868, to Miss Frances C. Kuly. She is a daughter of
Hiram and Mary (Mowrery) Kuly, who were natives of Philadel-
phia, Pa. They moved to this county in 1854, and are now living at
Manito, Mason county. Mr. and Mrs. Seiwell are the parents of —
Charles Edward, born July 10, 1869; and Annie May, born June
26, 1874. Politically Mr. S. is a Democrat. Post-office, Pekin.
Mrs. Catharine Seiwell (Westspher) was born near Harrisburg,
Penn. Her parents were George and Mary E. (Myers) Westspher.
Mrs. Seiwell came to this county about the year 1849. She was
married to Charles Seiwell in 1855; they had four children — De-
borah, Hauorah, Almira, and Catharine. Mrs. S. is a consistent
member of the Methodist Church. Her post-office address is Pekin.
Stephen ShanhoHzer, farmer, was born in Hampshire county, Va.,
March 17, 1819. Plis parents, Philip and Zilpha (Queen) Shauholt-
zer, were also natives of Virginia ; his father of German parentage,
and his mother of Irish. Mr. S. came West to Ohio in 1859,
in 1864 to Illinois. In 1838 he married Hannah II. William, a
native of Hampshire county, Va. They have had twelve children
borne unto them, eight of whom are now living. The names and
dates of birth of their children, are as follows : Sarah Ellen, born
Nov. 16, '38; Zilpha Jane, Feb. 29, '40; Jacob N., Nov. 7, '41;
William Jasper, April 11, '43; Chloe E., Jan. 4, '46; Hannah M.,
Sept. 25, '48; Philip M., Sept. 18, '51 ; James W., Nov. 30, '53 ;
Virginia F., Jan. 17, '56; Albert D., April 19, '59; Geo. R., Sept.
6, '61 ; and Ida B., Nov. 12, '64. AVilliam, Philip, James, and
George are dead. Post-office, Prettyman.
Louis White. This gentleman was born near Reading, Berks
Co., Penn., Dec. 9, 1809. He is the son of Louis White and Susan
(Crouse) White, both of whom are natives of the above county, and
their ancestors took part in the Revolutionary war. Mr. White
received a liberal education. He holds the office of School Director
at present, and has for fifteen years past. He was united in mar-
riage, Oct. 20, 1833, to Miss Catharine Keyser, a native of Penn.
She was born Sept. 26, 1811. Her father, Philip Keyser, was a
native Russian, and her mother, Elizabeth Flower, of Penn. Mrs.
White was the mother of — Mary E., deceased ; Catharine, deceased ;
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 651
William H. ; Martin Luther, deceased ; Jonathan Franklin, deceased ;
Louis Wesley, Lydia Ann, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. White were
united with the Methodist Church some 27 years ago ; they have
lived a long and consistent Christian life. Mr. W. was an old-time
Whig until the formation of the Republican party, with which he
has since acted. His post-office address is Prettyman.
Abraham Woods. This gentleman was born in the city of York,
England, in the year 1818. He is a son of Abraham and Jane
(Masey) Woods. Mr. W. left his native country and came to
America, arriving in Greene Co., this State, in 1831. He came to
this county in 1850, and is one of the prosperous farxners. He is
the owner of 524 acres of land. His success is wholly due to his
own efforts. He was united in marriage, in 1853, to Elizabeth
Woorfoot. She died in 18G1. He was again married in 1863, to
Harriet M. Adams. Mr. W. is the father of the following ch ildren :
Maria J., born in Sept., 1854. She married the Rev. R. B. Williams,
and now resides in McLean Co.; George A., born in Dec, 1856;
John L, born March 28, 1858; Mary E., born July 15, 1860;
James Lincoln, born April 14, 1865; Clarissa E., born Jan. 11,
1867. Mr. W. has been a member of the Methodist Church for
upwards of 45 years, and Mrs. Woods since 1861.^ Mr. W. acts
with the Republican party in politics; his post-office address is
Manito. The reader will find portraits, in this volume, of INIr. and
Mrs. Woods.
Edwin A. VanDeiisen was born in Greenport, Columbia county,
N. Y., March 15, 1832. His parents were James and Eve (DcLa-
mater) VanDeusen. His parents came to this county in 1856.
Jacob VaiiDcum is a son of James A'anDeusen and Eve DeLa-
mater, his wife. Jacob was born in Columbia Co., N. Y., in 1835.
He received an academic education at Charlotteville, N. Y. He has
filled several local offices. Mr. VanDeusen was united by marriage,
in Feb., 1863, to Elmina King; they have had one child, a daugh-
ter, Eva May, who was born Aug. 15, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Van-
Deusen are both members of the Reformed Church of America. In
politics he is a Republican. Post-office, Manito.
Charles Gregory VanOrstrand. This gentleman's jjarents, Chris-
topher and Mary Ann VanOrstrand, came to 111. in 1839, taking up
his residence at Whitehall, Greene Co., where he carried on black-
smithing and wagon-making for twelve years, when he moved to
this county and township in 1851. Their children, four in number,
now live in this township. Their names are Sarah Elizabeth (Cla-
ton) ; John Oliver, living on the old homestead ; Mary Jane (Har-
baugh), and Charles Gregory, whose name is at the head of this
sketch. His father, J. C, departed this life March 9, 1868. His
mother, Mary Ann, died March 9, 1866. Charles G. was born in
Greene Co., this State, in 1844: was married to Mary M. VanDeu-
sen in 1868. They have two children — Charles Edwin, born Feb.
8, 1870; and Catharine, Sept. 20, 1872. P. C, Pekin.
39
652 HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
The following gentlemen have served the township in the various
official capacities named. The years of serving are given, and
where more than one date is set opposite a name, covering a period
of years, the official served during the intervening years.
SUPERVISORS.
George H. Daniels 1850-51 Edward Bailev 1870
Elbert Park 1852-53 Daniel Sapp ." 1871-74
J. C. VanOstrand 1854-65 E. A. VanDeusen 1875
EzekielPoe 1866-69 Daniel Sapp 1876-79
TOWN-CLERKS.
N. Holton 1854 James Claton 1871
EzekielPoe 1855-57 Frank Devo 1872
D. J. Heck 1859-69 E. \V. Reader 1873-76
Daniel Sapp 1870 Frank F. Deyo 1877-79
ASSESSORS.
J. Offutt 1854 Edward Bailev. 1863
Wellington King 1855 Wellington King 1864-65
T.Clark 1856 J. W. Claton 1866
A.J.Rankin 1857 Wellington King 1867-70
R. S. Eakin 1858 Charles G. VanOrstrand 1871-76
Wellington King 1859 James Claton 1877-78
Wm. Stewart 1860 Jonathan Ayres 1879
Wellington King 1861
COLLECTORS.
J.P.Ross 1854-55 AVm. Claton 1869
E. Poe 1856-58 D. J. Heck. 1870-72
E.Park 1859 J. B. Lowrv 1873-73
D.J. Heck 1860-61 Jacob Bartzfield 1875-76
Charles W. Skinner 1863 Daniel Havens 1877-78
D. J. Heck 1864-68 John B. Lowry 1879
TREMONT TOWNSHIP.
This township has a fair proportion of timber land, and is well
drained by numerous streams, among which are Mackinaw river,
Prairie creek. Deer creek. Mud creek, etc. The township was set-
tled at a very early date, and has been brought to a very high state
of cultivation. Among the first settlers Avas Hezekiah Davis, who
was born in Virginia, Dec. 3, 1798. He came to Illinois in 1819,
and to Tazewell Co. in 1826. He bought out Thomas Cameron,
who had started in the tannery business, but had not finished any
leather. In July, the 17th, 1827, Mr. Davis moved his tannery to
Pleasant Grove, sec. 2, Elm Grove township. He carried on the
business there until the Tremont colony came. The colonists bought
up all the timber land and he could get no more bark, and was com-
pelled to abandon the business. It took him about a year and a
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 653
half to tan hides, as the fires that ran througli the timber liad weak-
ened the bark. Mr. Davis could do nothing at his business during
the winter of the deep snow. He was away from home, and
was unable to get home for two months. It is supposed that James
Chapman was the first settler in the township. Among other early
settlers were Michael Trout, David Lackland, Wm. Stcarling, Wil-
liam and James Broyhill, the former of whom bought the improve-
ments made by Chapman. For some years nothing of interest
occurred in the history of the township. It was not until 1834,
when the purchasing committee of the Tremont colony appeared,
that anything of interest is noted. This committee was composed
of Josiah L. James, John H. Harris and Wjlliam Sampson. They
selected a fine body of land on the prairie in the western part of this
and Elm Grove townships. There was no settlement on this prairie
at that time, save a place known as the Auburn house, which was
near the center of the township. The Tremont colony was formed
in New York City and in Providence, R. I., and came here in 1835.
It was composed of about fifty persons. They brought with them
the culture, refinement and enterprise of the East. The town pros-
pered at first, and soon secured the public buildings of the county,
which gave an impetus to its growth that was remarkable. But
soon the long, eventful and disastrous contention arose between
Pekin and Tremont, which not only retarded its growth at the time,
but injured the bright prospects of both towns. We speak of this
portion of Tremont's history in the second chapter of this book,
and will, therefore, make no repetition.
The rapid strides made by the young colony is shown by the fact
of their eagerness to incorporate as a town. On the 25th of July,
183G, a vote was taken for or against incorporation. There were
twenty -eight ballots for and one against the proposed move. The
incorporation measure being adopted, town officers must be chosen.
Accordingly, Tuesday evening, Aug. 2, 1836, at the school-house,
for the purpose of chosing five Trustees, an election was held. The
following gentlemen were selected : IMiilij) Flaglee, Coles Tomp-
kins, Palmer Holmes, J. C. Morgan, and Richard S. Updike.
Nathan Kinsey delivered the first load of lumber in Tremont for
the first house, which was Col. Chas. Oakley's, and Josiah Matthews
completed the first house. The old county buildings still stand, and
are owned by the town. The court-house was used for a number of
years as a high-school building, and many of the men and women
654 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
who are to-day actively engaged at various callings throughout the
county, received much of their education in attendance upon the
the Tremont High School.
Among the early settlers of this township who are now living, is
Martha S. Sawyer, wife of Rees Sawyer. They came in 1835, and
she has lived here ever since. Mrs. Sawyer was born in 1801, and
during the past winter spun twelve knots in a day. She walks to
town, a distance of seven miles, and returns, apparently without
much fatigue.
Capps & Wisler have a grist-mill on the Mackinaw, in this town,
on section 26. This is a new mill, and has three run of burrs, two
for wheat and one for corn. The mill that formerly stood here was
destroyed by fire in the fall of 1878.
Phillips Bros, have a saw-mill on the Mackinaw, on the line be-
tween Hopedale and Tremont townships, on sec. 3 of the former and
34 of the latter. They have good facilities and are doing a good
business. They have a twenty horse-power engine, and a capacity
of turning out 4,500 feet of lumber per day.
Before closing this sketch of Tremont we wish to speak person-
ally of some of the leading citizens. We would call attention to
the following :
Charles A. Bowyer, son of Engle and Mary Bowyer, was born in
Cullpepper Co., Va., Oct. 31, 1822. In Dec., 1845, he moved to
Tazewell Co., and is farmer on sec. 12. He has served in the
important position of Justice of the Peace. Oct. 29, 1846, he was
married, and is the father of seven children. Politically he is a
Democrat.
John Boyle is an old resident of this county, having come here in
December, 1835, when he was a small boy. His father, John
Boyle, was a native of Ireland, while his mother, Sarah Green, was
a Virginian. They were residing in Henderson Co., Ky., in 1830,
when their son John Avas born to them. He is engaged in farming
on section 23. He was married to Sarah Miars, on the 23d of Sept.,
1856. Their children number six, wearing the following names:
Mary, Martin, Fannie, Charles, Martha and Archie. Twenty-one
years ago Mr. B. made a profession of religion and is connected
with the Christian Church at Mackinaw. He votes the Democratic
ticket. Post-office, Mackinaw.
Wileam Buchele is a native of Baden, Germany, where he was
born in 1841. His parents were Hieronymus, and Frances (Jager)
Buchele. He came to this county in 1865. He has a bakery,
grocery, and confectionary in the village of Tremont. He served,
during the war, in the 8th 111. Infantry, in Co. I. Mr. B. was uni-
ted in marriage, Feb. 11, 1866, to Josephine Brellesaner. She has
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 655
borne him five children — Henry, William, August, Josephine,
Mary, Francis. Mr. B. is a Catholic.
Fred Capps, miller, was born in Germany in 1842. His parents,
August and Fridrike (Trieka) Capps, were also natives of Germany.
Mr. C. attended the High Schools of Germany and finished his
edu<^ation in Wisconsin, When the Rebellion first broke out he
took up arms to defend the Government of his adopted country.
He enlisted in company H, 7th 111. Infantry, in December, 1861,
and re-enlisted in 1863 as a veteran. He accompanied Sherman's
army on the march to the sea. December 26, 1866, he was married
to Minnie Brown. Charlie, Minnie and Freddie are their children.
Mr. C. resides on sec. 26, and is carrying on a milling business on
the Mackinaw. He is a Democrat. Post-office, Mackinaw.
Milo Dalbey is a son of John, and Clara (Gard) Dalbey. Mr.
Dalbey was born in the State of Ohio, Jan. 23, 1843, and was
brought to this county the following year. He resides on sec, 34,
and is engaged in farming. He served during the Rebellion in Co.
E, 3d 111. Cavalry. At the close of the war he turned his attention
to domestic affairs, and was united in marriage, March 8, 1865, to
Miss Margaret Davis, Avho has borne him seven children, as follows
— Ira, George, Clara, Seborn, Henry, Idila, and Milo. Post-office,
Tremont.
Aquilla J. Bavis is one of the pioneers of this county. His par-
ents, Hezekiah and Sarah T. (Scott) Davis, came to this county in
an early day. Aquilla J., the subject of this sketch, was born in
this county, March 3, 1830. He grew to manhood while his native
county was being converted from a wilderness to modern homes.
When our nation was in peril, Mr. Davis went to her defense. He
was mustered as second lieutenant, Nov. 1, 1861, in Co. H, 11th
cavalry, under Col. R. G. Ingersoll, and served until Oct. 15, 1865.
He was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Dec. 24, 1850, Col. Davis
was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Gowdy. They have
been blessed with seven children, three boys and four girls, six of
whom are now living. Col. Davis' political views accord with those
of the Democratic party. Post-office address, Tremont.
Thomas J. Bavis, farmer and stock raiser. Mr. Davis is a i)io-
neer of this county, having been born in Elm Grove township,
Nov. 23, 1831. His parents were William and Jane (Eads) Davis,
His flither was the old hunter, surveyor and early settler of this
county. Mr. D. was educated in the schools of his native county.
As a farmer and stock raiser, he has been very successful. He was
married April 10, 1859, to Miss Susan Fisher. Their children are
Sophronia, William, Charlie, Eliza, Archie, and Walter. In politics
he is a Republican. Post-office, Tremont.
Robert Sanford Finks is a son of John and Wineford Finks.
Robert S. was born in Culpepper county, Va., Oct. 5, 1816, and
when 18 years old went to Howard county. Mo. In the year 1836
he entered the State malitia, under General Clark, against the Mor-
656 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
mons. They captured the leaders, among whom were Brigham
Young, White, and others. They took them to Richmond, Mo.,
where a compromise was made that they should leave the State. He
then went back to Virginia. After about ten years he came to Illi-
nois, and settled in Tazewell county, where he has since remained.
Mr. F. is a consistent member of the Christian Church, and an
intelligent and enterprising citizen. He was united in marriage to
Miss Lucy A. McQueen ; the union has been blessed with four
chldren.
James F. Finks is a native of Mackinaw township, this county.
He is a member of the firm of Finks & Allen, of Allentown, grain
dealers. The subject of our sketch was united in marriage, Feb.
29, 1872, to Miss Nellie Franklin; they have one child, who was
born May 2, '73.
Gustiis Flegel is of German parentage, and was born in Tazewell
county, June 4, 1855, where he received a common school educa-
tion. His parents are Christian and Willmanda (Hodgson) Flegel.
Gustus is engaged in farming on sec. 23, Tremont township, and
has been quite successful financially. He has identified himself
with the Republican party. Post-oifice, Mackinaw.
Marks Goodyear was born June 10, 1809. Mr. Goodyear left
New York on the 17th of Jf.n., 1837, for Illinois, with his family,
consisting of wife and three children. Their conveyance was a
wagon set on a sleigh. In this vehicle they traveled three hundred
and fifty miles ; then there came a thaw in which the snow disap-
peared, the wheels were put on the wagon, and they went from Day-
ton, Ohio, to Cincinnati, over very rough roads, most of the time it
being very cold. Arriving at Cincinnati, they had to wait a week
before they could get a boat down the river. Mr. G. says " they had
a long, tedious voyage ; the boat caught fire once, but finally the
flames were extinguished." He landed his familv in Pekin the 7th
day of March; he remained in this township till 1841, when he
moved to sec. 32, Morton township, where he now resides. Mr.
Goodyear was united in marriage, April 13, 1834, to Miss Eliza
Hodges. This union has been blessed with ten children, of whom
seven are living. Mr. G. is a member of the Episcopal Church.
In politics he acts with the Democratic party.
EUsha Grenard, farmer, resides on section 23 ; was born in Indi- '
ana in 1831. His parents are Elisha and Anna (Reeve) Grenard.
He was educated in the common schools of Indiana, and came to
this county in 1873. The 18th of Oct., 1855, is a memorable day
in the history of the life of Mr. Grenard. Upon that day he took
unto himself a wife in the person of Joanna Roll. Their children
number seven, all of whom are living. Their names are — John C,
Mary E., Elizabeth J., Emma J., Harvey L. and Fred. E. Mr. G.
is a member of the Mackinaw Methodist Church. In politics he is
identified with the Republican party. Post-office, Mackinaw.
Daniel W. Hammond is a native of the Buckeye State, having
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 657
been born in Miami county, of that State, in 1835. It was there
his early life was passed, and where he gained his education, in
attendance upon the common schools. His father, Jonathan Ham-
mond, was a native of the Green Mountain State, and his mother,
Louisa Harrington, was born in the Empire State. In July, 1843,
Mr. H. was married to Mary Lance. The following ten children
are the fruits of this marriage — Peter, Jonathan, Elizabeth, Catha-
rine, John, George, Alice, Annie, Winficld and Belle. Mr. H.
came to this State in 1840 and settled in Fulton county, and in 1848
came to Tazewell. He resides on section 23. Politically he is a
Democrat. Post-office, Mackinaw.
John H. Harris was born in Bedford, Westchester Co., N. Y.,
Oct. 31, 1792. He was the sou of Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Hamil-
ton) Harris, natives of N. Y. His early life was spent on the farm,
receiving a common school education. In the year 1809, he went
to learn the hatter's trade with William Garretson, at Sing Sing, N.
Y. ; here he remained until 1812, when he went to New York, from
there he went to South Carolina, on Nov. 1, 1812, to clerk for a
brother in the hatter's business. Mr. Harris was taken prisoner
twice by the British during the war of 1812, but was paroled both
times. Mr. H, returned to N. Y. and imbarked in the hatter's
business for himself in 1815, which he continued until 1833, when
he came to 111. to look at the country, which made a favorable im-
pression on him. He returned to N. Y. in 1835, and helped to
form a colony which afterwards settled in Tremont township. Mr.
Harris was made Treasurer, Mr. H. was married to Miss Catharine
Montross, Dec. 2, 1815. She bore him four children — Elizabeth,
Jacob, Louise M., deceased, and John H. Mr. H. was again mar-
ried, April 3, 1844, to Mrs. Sarah Holder, of Lynn, Mass. Post-
office, Tremont.
Henrietta Jenks was born in Somerset Co., Maryland Dec. 20,
1811. Her parents were James and Elizabeth (Nelson) Owens.
She came to this county in 1833, and was united in marriage, Oct.
29, 1835, to George Jenks. This union was blessed with ten chil-
dren. Mrs. Jenks resides on sec. 5, Tremont township, on what is
known as the Lone Tree Farm.
Jlclcin P. Lackland is a son of Col. William II. Lackland, who
served three years in the Civil war, and his wife, Cordelia C. (War-
ner) Lackland. Melvin P. was born in Tremont towniship, Oct. 12,
1851. He has received a liberel education, having graduated at the
Wesleyan University, of Bloomington, 111., with the Class of '78,
after a five years' course. He was President of his class. He took
a more extended course in mathematics than any graduate of the
Institution. Mr. L. has been a member of the Methodist Church
since Oct. 12, 1872. Post-offi(!e, Tremont.
Levi R. Matthews was born in Ro(!hester, Vt., in 1830. His par-
ents were Josiah and Mariette (Waters) Matthews. He attended
the schools of Tazewell county, and finished his education at Knox
658 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
College, Galesburg, 111, He was married April 30, 1852, to Miss M.
A. Sill, who has borne him seven children — Mary L., Ellen M.,
Katie L., Annie M., Levi E,., Grace L., and Wimfred L. Mr.
Matthews became connected, in 1850, with the Antioch Christian
Church. He was a conductor on the Under-ground Railroad.
Post-office, Tremont.
Vitilda May is a daughter of Samuel and Malinda (Wood) May.
She is a native of Tazewell county, having been born here Sept. 15,
1358. She was educated in the schools of her native county. She
resides on sec. 36. Post-office, Mackinaw.
Samuel A. McClure is a native of McLean Co., 111., where he was
born Feb. 9, 1850. His parents were Samuel and Deliah J. (Oren-
dorff") McClure. The subject of this sketch was educated in the
schools of Logan Co., 111. He came to this county in 1858, and
now resides on sec. 35, following the occupation of farming. He
was united in marriage in 1874, to Miss Mollie Stout. They are
the parents of three children — Lillian E., Maudie J., and Lourin.
Mr. McClure is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Post-office,
Mackinaw.
Samuel R. Saltonstall, M.D. Dr. S. is one of the solid men of
this county. He was born in Scott Co., Ky., Aug. 31, 1818, and
came to this county in 1839. Dr. S. attended the schools of his
native State and finished his education at the St. Louis University,
where he received the degree of M.D. Dr. Saltonstall has repre-
sented this district in the State Legislature three terms, which fact
speaks of his ability in much higher terms than we can find words
to express it. He has also represented the township in the Board
of Supervisors. Dr. S. was united in marriage, Dec. 3, 1840, to
Elizabeth C. Harris. They have been blessed with three children
— Nathaniel M., born Sept. 20, 1841, by occupation a stock raiser;
Hamilton H., born Sept. 14, 1843, died March 28, 1868, was a law-
yer by profession; Kate, born March 5, 1848. Politically Dr. Sal-
tonstall is a Democrat. Post-office, Tremont.
Thomas S. Shaw is a native of Ky., in which State he was born,
Dec. 31, 1832. His parents were AVilliam and Alice (Nesbit) Shaw.
Mr. Shaw came to this county in 1865, and became engaged in
farming and stock raising, in which he has been quite successful.
He was united in marriage June 3, 1861, to Miss I^orena C. Marrs;
they are the parents of three children. Mr. S. is a member of the
Christian Church. In politics he is a Republican. P.O., Tremont.
James B. Sterling was born in East Tennessee, Oct. 11, 1827.
His parents were William and Jane (Lackland) Sterling. Mr.
Sterling came to this county when but four years old. He is a
farmer on sec. 17, in which calling he has been quite successful.
Mr. Sterling was united in marriage Feb. 1, 1856, to Miss Mary J.
Shepherd. His father was born in McMinn Co., Tenn., in 1800,
and came to this State in 1830, and stopped in Sangamon county
and put in a crop and came to Tremont in September and settled on
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 659
the place he now owns. He had nothing but one horse and a
wagon. His horse strayed away from him leaving him without any
horse. Then the deep snow came and his family saw no persons
except the family that came with him, which was Mr. Broyhill's, for
two months. They killed eleven deer, which furnished meat, and
they lived on deer and hominy. They could get no flour. They
got' out of corn and went to the nearest settlement, which was three
miles away, to get some corn to make hominy. It took all day to
gather 10 bushels of corn and four horses to haul it home.
Peter Speece, farmer ; is the son of Peter and Sarah (Princehouse)
Speece, Virginians. He was born to them in 1824, while they were
living in Champaign county, Ohio. In the common schools of that
State he received his education. At the age of twenty (Sept. 1,
1844), he was married to Tliamer Swiger, who has borne him seven
children, all of whom live. Their names are Washington, Martha
A., Mary E., "William, Elizabeth, Edward, and Thomas T. Mrs.
S. came to this State from Ohio in 1850, and settled in Sangamon
county, where he made a farm. In 1865 he came to Tazewell county.
In 1863 he made a profession of his faith in Christ, and united with
the Christian Church. He is connected with the Concord Congre-
gation in Hopedale township. Politics, Democratic. Post-office,
Tremont.
Wtlliam D, -S/je/T7/ was born in Onondago county, N. Y., Sept, 10,
1831. His father, Aurelius Sperry, was born in New Haven, Conn.,
in 1800, and came to Tazewell county in 1849. He was Deacon in
the Baptist Church at Tremont for many years and held the position
at the time of his death. His mother, Julia Mandiville, was born
in Middlebury, Conn., in 1804. She is now living. William's
grandmother died in 1877. She was born in New Haven, Conn.,
in 1780. On the 4th day of July, 1877, at a picnic, this old lady
was present and had grcat-great-grandc^hildren with her. They
were the children of William S. Russell. The younger nearly
three years of age. These children had eleven grand and great-
grand and great-great-grandparents living. Mr. Sperry resides on
sec. 10, and is engaged in farming. He formerly worked at the
cooper's trade. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace for
eight years. In 1853, Jan. 11, he was married to Anna Dean.
Ella, Eugene, Adelbert, and Elmer E., are the names of their four
children. He is a member of the Tremont Baptist Church. In
politics, a Republican. Post-office, Tremont.
Henry L. Trout. One of the many young men who were born in
Tazewell county ; who have grown u]>, educated and married here,
and who have identified themselves with the interests of their native
place, is the subject of this sketch, Henry L. Trout. His parents
were Matthias and Mary (Ireland) Trout, of Tennessee. He was
educated in the common schools and Tremont High School. He is
engaged in farming on section 15. October 15, 1874, he was joined
with Elizabeth Owens in holy matrimony. Mrs. Trout is also a
660 HISTORY OP TAZEWELL COUNTY.
native of this county. They have a little girl, Gertrude, who was
born March 5, 1876. In politics he is a Democrat. Post-office
address, Tremont.
Mrs. Minnie E. Trout, wife of the late William H. Trout, a stock
dealer, which business he carried on successfully until his death,
which occurred Dec. 14, 1872, after a brief illness of thirty hours.
Mrs. Trout was born in Lorain Co., Ohio, April 23, 1839. Her
parents were Libeus and Anna (Bliss) Sperry. She was wedded
to William H. Trout April 18, 1861 ; they have had two sons —
Zenas A., born Sept. 7, 1862, died July 7, 1867; and Frederick H.
Trout, born June 5, 1864. Mrs. Trout united herself with the
Methodist Church in 1859. Post-office, Tremont.
Dc Witt C. Warner. In the dark days of the Rebellion Mr. War-
ner came forward and enlisted, Aug. 14, 1862, in Co. A. 108th 111.
Vol. He had the misfortune to fall into the hands of the enemy
at Price's Cross Poads, on ths 12th day of June, 1864. He was
taken to Andersonville prison, where he was confined for five long
months and eight days, sufficing terribly the pangs of hunger, his
rations being a half pint each of beans and corn meal per day, and a
tea-spoonful of salt once a week.
Fredrick W. Warner is a son of Hiram and Phebe Warner. He
was born in Tremont, this county, Dec. 24, 1854, and was educated
in the schools of his native county. He chose the pursuit of farm-
ing, in which he has been quite successful. Mr. W. was joined in
marriage, Aug. 13, 1875, to Miss Elizabeth J. Williamson,
Jesse Wilso7i, farmer, is a native of this county, having been born
in Tremont township. His parents are Edward and Mary Wilson.
Mr. Edward Wilson is a very large farmer and stock raiser, and is
the owner of 1800 acres of land. Post-office, Mackinaw.
3fary Wilson was born in Montgomery Co., Tcnn,, in 1829. Her
parents were John Allensworth and Rebecca Shankliu, his wife.
She came to this county in 1834. She was united in marriage Feb.
3, 1846, to Henry Wilson. She is the mother of seven children —
Edward S., Sarah E., Benjamin F., Susan E., William S., Jesse S,,
and John L. She is a member of the Hopedale Christian Church.
Post-office, Mackinaw.
Alexander Wynd, grocer and farmer, Tremont, was born in Dun-
dee, Scotland, June 18, 1808. His parents, Robert and Margaret
(Constable) Wynd, were Scottish people. Young Alexander was
apprenticed to the bakery trade to Margaret Proctor, of Dundee,
then worked in London two years, and shortly afterwards sailed for
America, landing in New York in 1830. He remained in that city
for a number of years, when he went to New Orleans, and in 1839
came to this county, and engaged in mercantile life. He received a
good common-school education in Scotland. In 1844, May 27, he
united his fortunes with those of Frances E. Clement, a native of
France. Their children numbered ten, six of whom are living —
Margaret, John C, Augustus P., Frances, Freeman and Genevieve.
Religiously he is a Presbyterian ; politically, Democrat.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 661
Henry C, Vaicter, farmer, sec. 27, post-office, Tremont. He is a
son of J. D. and Sarah (Foster) Vawter. He was born in Ky.,
April 4, 1838, and came to this connty when bnt nine years old.
Was educated in the public schools of his adopted State and county.
He has been a consistent member of the Christian Church since
1858. He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah L. Davis, Sept. 7,
1866. They have been blessed with three children — Oliver, Sarah
L., and Henry L.
The following gentlemen have served the townshi]) in official ca-
pacities since its organization :
SUPERVISORS.
R. W. Britrgs 1850 Peter Menard ISOG
John M. Bush 1851-52 Edward Allen 1S67
James K. Kellogg 1853-54 Stephen Stout. 1868-71
Charles Emerson 1855 A.J. Davis 1872-73
James J. Kellogg 1856-59 Edward Pratt 187-1
Samuel R. Saltonstall 1860-61 S. C. Hobart 1875-79
Edward Allen 1863-65
TOWN-CLERKS.
David Roberts 1854-58 James E. Phillips 1867
H R Brown 1859 David Roberts 1868-69
Robert Wvnet, Jr 1860 W. Hayward 1870-71
James E. Phillips 1861 J. C. Wynd 1872-73
C. G. Rowland 1863 A. J. Davis 1874
John Ingalls 1864 W. Hayward 1875
Stei^hen Stout 1865 James Pons 1876-77
L. M. Hobart 1866 W. Hayward 1878
ASSESSORS.
John Stiles 1854 Samuel G. Russell 1866
A. Stockwell 1855 E. L. Case 1867
John Stiles 1856-59 Simeon Norman 1868-69
David Eaton 1860-61 Stephen Stout 1870
Stephen Stout 1863 C. M. Broyhill 1871
Edward L. Case 1864 C. W. Clark 1872
AlfredLowell 1865 Justin S. Armstrong 1873-78
COLLECTORS.
Richard Oliver 1854 R.Oliver 1867
J W.Howard 1855 W.B.Armstrong 1868
Richar.l Oliver 1856-59 R. L. Rvant 1869-70
Emerv Warner. I860 S. H. Quinn 1871-72
Stephen Stout 1861 W. W. Stiles 1873-,4
Gilson Hok'omb 1863 Richard Oliver 18/o-/b
James Pettijohn 1864 Wm. H. Harris 1877-78
Justin Armstrong 1865-66
662 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
The first settler in Washington township was William Holland,
Sen., a native of North Carolina, and who emigrated from that State,
and settled in Edwardsville, Madison county. 111., in 1815. He
remained there for three years, when he removed to Sangamon Co.,
and after two years residence there moved to Peoria, then Fort
Clark, in the spring of 1820. He crossed the river to the flats,
now Fond du Lac township, and occupied an old shanty. Here he
raised a crop during the summer of the same year. He cut logs,
which he hauled across the river and erected a double log cabin.
This was the second dwelling built in Peoria. Prior to his settling
in Peoria, and during his residence in Sangamon, he was employed
by a man named Cramer, who had contracts with the Government
to do blacksmithing for the Indians. But completing the erection
of his abode, he, himself, formed negotiations with the Government,
and commenced at his trade, blacksmithing. In the spring of 1825,
he came to this township, and built a log house on section 23, and
on the present site of A. G. Danforth's residence. Here the family
were surrounded by a dense wilderness, and were the only white
occupants of this township until 1826. Holland commenced im-
proving a farm on sec. 24, town 26, range 3, just east of the town
of Washington, and embracing a part of the Holland, Dorsey, Wal-
than and Robinson addition to the town. His nearest neighbors
were located on Farm creek, three miles east of Peoria, where the
first settlement was made in this section. Amono' them were Wm.
Blanchard, Elza Bethard, Jack Phillips, and his son William, Aus-
tin and Horace Crocker, and Thomas Camlin, whose cabin was
located nearest Holland's Gove. There are others, the exact data of
whose coming seems quite impossible to determine. In 1824 Jacob
Wilson, Sr., Joshua Walker, Thomas Banks, and Elisha Green, all
settled on Farm creek. Cyrus J. Gibson followed in 1830, and
Thomas Trimble, whose sons are now prominent among the residents
of Washington City, settled there in 1834. William Thompson, a
native of Indiana, came in 1826, and settled on the farm now occu-
pied by John Johnson and made some improvements. The same
year William Weeks came from Indiana, and settled on the present
estate of Peter Portman, where he erected a rude habitation, which
has since given place to the fine residence of its owner. In the fall
of the same year, John Redman, also from Indiana, settled near the
farm of 'Squire Baker.
These four families were the only white inhabitants in this town-
ship until 1827, when Ira Crosby, of New York, located on the
place now occupied by James R. Crane. George Burrow, of Ten-
nessee, came in the same year, and settled on the Peter P. Scott farm,
and James Holland, a brother of William Holland, Sen., from
North Carolina, made a temporary location, but removed to Macou-
pin Co. In 1828, James Harvey, father of Wesley B. Harvey, came
^^^3.
.s^^^^ ■
L/(oeceASEo)
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COFNTY. 665
and purchased the Benjamin Kindig farm, where he lived until
1834, when he removed to Groveland, where he died in 1859. In
1829, George Burrow and Peter P. Scott added their number to the
little community. In the spring of 1880, William Heath located
in AVrenn's Grove, also a man named Pearl, made a temporary lo-
cation in this vicinity. The same year James McClure settled on
the present farm of Orin Castle, where he lived until his death, in
1858. His son, Hamilton, is still a resident of this townshij).
William and Walter Berket, of Lancashire, Eng., and John Low-
man, from Indiana, came in 1831, and located west of the city,
where they are still living. Their heads are silvered by the frosted
tooth of Time. These worthy pilgrims are numbered among the
few living pioneers. The same year Reuben Bandy, a Kentuckian,
came and located on the claim made by Ira Crosby ; Abarham Van
Meter, from the same State, settled on the farm now occupied by
Adam M. Switzer, and where he lived until his death, in 1868. In
the fall of the same year. Rev. Nathan Curtis, a Methodist minister,
located on the present farm of W. T. Higgins. Several of his chil-
dren are still residents of the township. Col. Ben. Mitchell, a Vir-
ginian, settled in Wrenn's Grove, and opened the present farm of
Wade T. Wrenn. He was elected to the Legislature in 1834, and
to the State Senate in 1836, and was succeeded in this position by
Major R. N. CuUom. He died at his home in 1840. In 1832, the
settlements became numerous. Among the arrivals of that year,
were Elias Slaughter and Philip Varble, from Kentucky, Thomas
and Jonathan Reed, from Indiana, and John Mincli. The last two
named located on their present estates.
With the coming of the spring and summer months of 1833,
there came a general rush of immigrants, and ere the first snows of
winter fell, the whole of the timbered sections of the township were
nterspersed with cal)ins and settlers. A large ])ortion of the lands
bearing timber, and the smaller groves, were claimed, if not occu-
pied, while the prairie, for most part, was left untouched and un-
sought. The })rairie land was regarded as Avorthless for purposes of
agriculture, and considered a useless waste. There were hundreds
of men w^ho believed it would never be occupied. If any of the
settlers at that time had located on the prairie he would have been
regarded as extremely visionary, if not absolutely crazy. Of those
whose names appear among the early pilgrims, many removed from
the township ere many years had flown ; others followed from year
to year, in other localities; others have passed to the Shining Shore
of the Beautiful River, while many others still remain in the en-
joyment of the homes of their industry, endurance, and enterprise ;
fashioned and founded in the beautiful lands of Washington. The
surroundings of piom^er life arc well calculated to test the true in-
wardness of the human heart, and the trials, sufferings, and endur-
ance, incident to the founding and building of homes, unite them in
the strongest and deepest feelings of friendship, that grows and
666 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
strengthens with their years. Raven locks may bk'ach and whiten ;
full round cheeks wither and waste away ; the fires of intelligence
vanish from the organs of vision ; the brow become wrinkled with
care and age, and the erect form bowed with accumulating years,
but the true friends of long ago will be remembered as long as life
and reason endure.
The oldest living settler of this township is Lawson Holland,
eldest son of William Holland, Sr., who was born in Lincoln Co.,
N. C, in 1812, and came to this county with his parents. From
him we gather many incidents connected with the early settlement
of the township. He was married in Oct., 1833, to Miss Elizabeth
Bandy, daughter of Reuben Bandy, who came from Kentucky in
1831, and bought out the claim of Ira Crosby. They were married
by Rev. Nathan Curtis, a Methodist minister. This was the fourth
marriage in the township. The first in the neighborhood was in
1828, between James Hendricks and Miss Sallie Redman, daughter
of John Redman, They were united by Daniel Meek, Justice of
the Peace and resident of Waterloo. The same day Terrill Hall
was married to Miss Jane Redman, second daughter of John Red-
man. The first funeral was that of a child of Plenson Thomas.
It was buried in the graveyard on the 'Squire Baker farm. The
first death of an adult was a Mr. Pembrock, a stranger, who had
stopped at the residence of William Heath, where he died. He Avas
also laid away in the same grounds. The first physician was Dr.
Goodwin, who came from Vermont in 1832, where he was a student
with the late Dr. G. P. Wood, and with whom he associated a busi-
ness relation in 1835, in this city. They were the originators of
Goodwin & Wood's addition to Washington. He is now a resident
of Kendall Co., 111. James Huggins, of North Carolina, came in
1833. Jle learned wagon-making in the same shop in which Hol-
land worked at blacksmithing. He engaged in the practice of med-
icine until 1859, Avhen he removed to Peoria, where he died in 1870.
In 1834, Joseph Kelso and George D. Gibson came in, and are all
of the living relics of that date. In 1835, Anthony Field, deceased,
came in and located on sec. 34, where he resided until his death, in
1878. His widow still occupies the homestead. Thos. Cress came
in the fall of the same year, and has secured an impregnable j)osi-
tion in the public history of this township, having beeuelected Col-
lector twenty-four consecutive years.
The first school-house was built near Wm. Holland's hut in the
winter of 1827-28. It was built of logs and was 16 by 18 feet.
The writing desks and seats were made of split logs, and it was
lighted by sawing an aperture out of each end of one log, over
which was pasted greased paper. This ancient and somewhat unique
style of windows served to keep out the wind and admitted some
light. The school was a subscription school and Avas taught by
George H. Shaw, now a resident of Shaw's Grove, who was travel-
ing through the country, and stopped over night with Wm. Hoi-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 667
land, Sr. He was satisfied to receive, as oonipcnsation, his board,
washing and horse feed. The second school was taught by Eli Red-
man, in the house built by William Weeks as a residence, on the
Portman place in the winter of 1828-29. In the spring and sum-
mer of 1829 or 1830 school was taught by Miss Elizabe'rh Wathon,
a native of Kentucky. It was taught in a building which at that
time was erected near the site of the old Methodist Church. It has
since gone to decay. Chas. S. Dorscy, who came from Kentucky in
1831, erected the third building in the townshi]) and the first on the
present site of Washington city, in 1834. It was built of logs, and
near the present site of Kingsbury & Snyder's store. It was occu-
pied by Dorsey, who had the honor of exhibiting the first stock of
goods for sale in the city. The first frame building was erected by
Jehu Lindley, on the present site of Long's wagon manufactory,
where he also opened a store, and was, for some years, a pioneer
merchant. The following year he built the premises noAv occupied
by Thomas Handsacker, as the office of the Washington Herald.
It was used by Lindsey as a store-house. The caqienter work was
done by L. J. Smith, a native of Virginia, who settled in Washing-
ton in 1834, and performed the first carpenter wark in this cit!y,
where he died in 1844. His son, Robert, came with his father aiid
is a resident of the city. Other authorities say the first frame build-
ing erected in the town is still standing opposite the present resi-
dence of Mr. Buckley, and is called the Gorin House. Be this as
it may, we have positive information that this building retains the
first i)lastcring done in the city. It was originally owned by Ben
Sickler. It has been rebuilt, and at the present writing presents a
good appearance. The Buckley mansion, on Walnut street, nearly
opposite, shelters its happy occupants from spring and autumn rains,,
and the cold blasts of winter fail to pierce its Avalnut sides..
William Holland, Sr., laid out the original town of Washington
in 1834, being part of the town lying east of main street. The first
building was erected on the original town plat by Joseph Kelso,
Sr., in 1834. Kelso and a Mr. AV'agoner had purchased of Holland
three lots for ^150 each, ujmn one years credit. Much valuable
timber grew in front of these lots, and in the street, which, by
agreement, the first to build should be entitled to use. The ques-
tion was settled by lot, which fell to Kelso, wdio was also the first of
the pioneers to open a farm wholly on the prairie. The first hotel
was opened by Charles Dorsey iii a two-storv frame house, which
stood on the lot now occupied' by Lewis Tobias tt Sons' hardware
store. Jesse and James Oatman came in 1835, and engaged in the
mercantile business. The same year Whipple and Blair opened a
general stock of goods, and a man named Kilebrem, also opened a
small store. Lands & Hawks were another firm added to the busi-
ness list. Burton <fe Gant came in soon after, and erected a store-house
on the corner of Peoria and Main sts., and on the lot now occupied
by the Zinser Brothers. Here they carried on an extensive business
668 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
for some years. Gant and Jacob Wilson were the only Constables
between this precinct and the boundaries of Tremont and Peoria,
including Hushaw's Mills, some miles to the North. Grant is now
a resident of Missouri and Burton has passed through the shadow
and valley to that brighter and better land. Old man Pearl, as he
was usually called, was another merchant, who remained a few years.
His whereabouts is at present unknown to any person living in this
township. Prior to 1885 William Holland Sr,, carried on the only
blacksmith shop in town, at which time Brazilla Allee built a large
two-story frame building on Main street, now occupied by his
widow, Sarah Allee. Allee and William Spencer used this building
as a blacksmith shop and wagon manufactory, it being the first place
in town in which wagons were manufactured. These were primi-
tive times, and the sight of a wagon was hailed with much joy and
pleasure, and its possessor envied by all. Travelling was princi-
pally done on horseback, and hauling on sleds. Peter P. Scott
opened a blacksmith shop soon after his arrival. He carried on his
trade here for several years. Tinware was sold by the merchants
until 1848, when Charles S. N. Anthony became engaged in that
business.
William Holland, Sr., built the first grist-mill west of his dwell-
ing, in 1827. It was called a band-mill, and was run by horse-
power, a simple arrangement consisting of one large wheel, the
nave of which was a log of wood eight or ten feet long, hewed
eight square, set in a perpendicular position, and supplied with
spokes or arms. The lower end was secured by a pivot, on which
it turned to another timber fastened in the ground, the upper end
being secured in like manner. The flour produced resembled bran
or Graham flour.
Lawson Holland, Esq., has the honor of manufiicturing the first
flour made in Washington. It was produced by breaking the wheat
with a pestle in a mortar, and sifting through a hand seive. The
mortar was made by hollowing out one end of a log, the other end
of which rested firmly on the ground. The pestle was a heavy
piece of timber, the lower end of which was shaped to fit the exca-
vation in the mortar, the upper end being fastened to a spring pole,
which aided in raising the weight of the pestle. Near the lower end
of this pestle were four cj-oss pins or handles, for the use of the
operators. The hand seive was not of the modern manufacture, but
was made by drawing a fawn skin tightly across a wooden hoop,
and perforating it with a red hot iron of the size desired. Through
these holes the fine particles of grain escaped during the shaking
process. What remained in the seive was returned to the mortar
and repounded and sifted again, until all the flour was separated
from the bran. The hand-mill of William Holland, Sr., was the
only kind of mill in this section of country until 1836, when Wm.
Kern erected a flouring-mill on the premises formerly occupied by
Jaquin as a brewery. It was run by Jehu Lindly, and proved a
HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 6G9
financial failure. A. Danforth & Co. built the next mill, in 1845.
It was the first brick builing erected in AVashington. The bricks
used in its structure were made by Danfijrth. The mill is now
being operated by the Andrews Brothers, who settled in AVashinccton
in 1843.
RELIGIOUS.
Methodist Church. — The first religious society was organized in
1828, by Jesse Walker, a Methodist preacher. The meeting was
held at William Holland's cabin. His family and that of James
Harvey, oonstituted most of the society at that time. In 1840, they
built the old church, near the corner of Jefferson and Main streets,
which is now fast passing into decay. This denomination erected
their present place of worship, on the corner of Walnut and Pine
streets, in 1866. A complete history of which we were unable to
secure on account of lost records.
Christian Church. — In 1832, the Christian Church was organized
by Richard B. McCorkle, in the school-house on the 'Squire Ba-
ker farm. Of its members we find R. B. Isabelle and Eliza Mc-
Corkle, James and Mary McClure, John and Martha Johnson, Wni.
Holland, Sr., Peter and Catharine Scott, Dr. and Mrs. Goodwin,
Rufus and Catharine North, Levi and Mrs. Moulton, Josiah and
Mrs. Yager. The first church building was built of brick and was
erected in 1851. The congregation became too large for it, and it
w^as sold to the Germans, and Nov. 28, 1869, the second edifice was
dedicated. This was burned Feb. 17, 1870; fire caused by a defect-
ive flue. Another and the third building was erected, which was
dedicated Aug. 28, 1870, and Oct. 29, 1876, was burned, being set
on fire by lightning. The congregation, not disheartened, erected
another, which was dedicated July 29, 1877. The congregation has
expended, on the several houses, about $32,000. The jiresent mem-
bership is about 150. The officers are, Elders : John Johnson, Geo.
Bonurant, H. A. Pallister; Deacons: John Bassett, Henry Jewett,
W. P. Thompson, and A. J. Cress. The present jiastor is Elder J.
W. Spriggs. Those who have preached regularly here are : R. B.
McCorkle, Wm. Davenport, H. D. Palmer, Josiah Yager, S. P.
Gorin, J. J. Harvey, John Lindsey, O. A. Burgess, A. G. Ewing,
J. B. McCorkle, B. W. Johnson, R. H. Johnson, J. A. AValters, J.
M. Allen, J. F. Berry, D. R. Howe, J. W. Allen, H. W. Everest,
James Kirk, G. W. Mapes, A. P. Cobb, and J. AY. Spriggs, present
pastor.
Presbyterian. The Presbyterian Church' was organized on the
16th day of Nov., 1834, by Rev. Father Bascom and Leonard Fos-
ter, a committee of the Presbytery of Sangamon, appointed fi)r
the purpose, and upon the petition of certain persons residing at
Holland's Grove. The meeting for the organization was held in the
store of Charles Dorsey. The following named persons united in
the organization : .Henry Kice, Mary Kice, John T. Tool, Elizabeth
40
670 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Tool, Horace Blair, Rebecca L. Blair, Elizabeth Reid, Charlotte
Berghet, David Gibson and Mary Gibson. Of these David Gibson
and Horace Blair were elected Ruling Elders. The congregation
commenced the erection of a church building in 1837. The frame-
work was erected, but on account of the financial crisis which came
upon the county in that year, was not enclosed until 1842. It was
then occupied, but never finished. In 1850 the old building was
sold and a new one, more suitable to the wants of the congregation,
was erected. In 1871 this building was removed, and the present
tasteful edifice erected at a cost of $5,000.
St. MarFs English Lutheran. This congregation is a departure
or division from the German Lutheran Church of this city, from
which the prominent members came. It was the custom in the early
history of the German Lutheran Church, to have both the English
and German language preached each Sabbath. But the German
element being in the majority, that congregation voted to exclude
the English language from the pulpit. A meeting of the English
brethren was held April 18, 1875, and a committee appointed to
draw up a constitution for its new congregation. This organization
was eft'ccted at a subsequent meeting held at the house of Josiah
Snyder, April 26, 1875. First officers, elected May 2d, were, Josiah
Snyder, Elder ; Henry Mahle and T. L. Benford, Deacons ; Henry
Denhart, Eli Heiple and Elias Benford, Trustees, and Rev. S. W.
Harkey, Pastor. Their meetings, for the first year, were held at the
Baptist Church. A festival, held June 12, 1876, gave them net
proceeds of $277, with which the ladies of the congregation pur-
chased the lot upon which their beautiful church now stands. It
was contracted to be built for |3,700. It was dedicated Aug.
26, 1877. The entire cost of the building, including the lot, was
$6,500. Of this sum, $2,600 remained unpaid, which was provided
on the morning of dedication. The members that united in its
organization were T. L. Benford, H. Mahle, L. R. Harkey, Edgar
Benford, Sarah Snyder, Elias Benford, Sabella Mahle, Minnie Ben-
ford, Mary E. Benford, Sojihia Benford, Emma Jones, Mary Heiple,
Amanda Mahle, Clara Denhart, Frank Snyder, Isadore Burton,
Anna Burton, John Bradle, Mary Bradle, Sarah J. Harlan, Mary
F. Kingsbury and Caroline R. Kingsbury.
Baptist. — The Baptist organization was not effected until 1835,
meetings being held prior to that time at Tremout. Abraham Van
Meter and wife and their son, "William C, Matthew and Martha
Crane, and Mr. Shermqn and wife, were of its first members. The
minister officiating at its organization was the Rev. Thos. Brown,
and of there members, Mrs. Martha Crane only appears on its
church roll.
Catholic. — The Catholic church was erected in 1877 at a cost of
$250, the money being raised by subscription by Walter T. Berket.
Ornish Church, sec. 20. This people, who have organized under
the above name, are a division from the Mennonites, and are so
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 671
called by its leader, Jacob Armour. This Church was organized in
1866 with 30 or 40 members, and the house contracted to be built
for ^1,500. Its size is 30 by 40, and is 68 feet high, the whole cost
being over |2,000. Joseph Stuckey, from McLean Co., was the
original mover in its organization, and Peter E. Stuckey and Peter
Gingrey were elected, in 1868, by the people to preach. Mr. Stuckey
was also elected Bishop in 1875, and has filled the pulpit to the
present time. The Church has a membership of 150 and is in a
prosperous condition.
It is quite impossible to secure records of church organizations,
together with a history of their growth, without the assistance of
those who may have been active or taken some part in the church
work, and the absence of those not embraced in this work is, in a
measure, due to the indiiference of those to whom the writer ap-
pealed for information. These remarks will apply as well to other
places in the county as they do to Washington.
GENERAL HISTORY.
The first physician that located in Washington was Dr. D. T.
Goodwin, who came from Vermont in 1832, where he was a student
with the late Dr. G. P. Wood, with whom he shared a partnership
for some years. He is still living at Dundee, 111. Dr. Wood came
from the same State in 1835, and resided in this city until his death
in 1871, at which time he was a ])artncr of the late Dr. 11. J]. M.
Wilson, Dr. Burton, from Kentucky, came in 1838, and opened
the first drug store in Washington. He also followed his profession.
He died in this city in 1859, leaving a large family, many of whom
are still residents of Washington.
The first lawyer to secure a footing in this community was
Thornton Walker, a Virginian. The first constable elected was
Jonathan Hodge, of Stout's Grove. James Harvey was the first
member of the County Commissioner's Court from this township.
He was succeeded by Benjamin Mitchell. The first land sales for
this district was held at Springfield, in 1830 or 1831. Prior to that
date no title could be acquired to any land in the district. The set-
tlers, however, recognized the justice of securing to each of their
number the benefit of his labor, and a])pointed Col. Benjamin
Mitchell Registrar of Claims. By this arrangement, and the paying
of twenty-five cents to the Registrar, each ai)plicant secured the
registration of his claim, and the right to buy the land he had im-
proved, when it came into the market. This gave a value to the
lands in the hands of the holder, and also enabled the person mak-
ing the claim to sell and transfer it if so desired. Rough and rude
though the surroundings of these pioneers may have been, they
were none the less honest, sincere, hospitable, and kind in their
social relations. It is true, as a rule, there is a greater degree of
peal humanity among the early pilgrims of any new country, than
672 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
there is when the country becomes older and richer. If there is an
absence of refinement, it is more than compensated for in the pres-
ence of generous hearts and truthful lives. They are void of hy-
pocrisy themselves, and despise it in others. They hate cowardice
and sham of all kinds, and maintain and cultivate a sterling integ-
rity and fixedness of purpose, that seldom permits them to prostitute
themselves to any narrow policy or artifice. Such were the character-
istics of the men and women who pioneered the way to the township
of Washington. Those who visited them in their cabins in a social
capacity, or settled among them as real occupants of the soil, were
always welcome as long as they proved themselves true men and
women. The stranger, who came among them and claimed shelter
and food, was made as welcome as one of the household. To tender
them pay in return for their hospitality, was only to insult the bet-
ter feelings of their nature. If a neighbor fell sick and needed care
and attention, the whole neighborhood was interested. If a cabin
was to be raised, every man turned out, and oftentimes the women,
too, and while the men piled the logs that fashioned the primitive
dwelling place, the women prepared the dinner. Sometimes it was
cooked by camp fires at the site where the cabin was building. If
one neighbor killed a pig or a deer, every other family was sure to
receive a piece of it, and a welcome remembrance it often proved.
One of the few remaining pioneer settlers remarked : " In those
days we were neighborly in a true sense. We were all on equality.
AVhat one had, we all had. Aristocratic feelings were unknown,
and that was the happiest period of my life. But to-day, if you
lean against a neighbor's shade-tree, he will charge you for it. If
you are poor and happen to fall sick, you may lie and sufter almost
unattended, or go the poor-house, and just as like as not, the man
who would report you to the authorities as a subject for county care,
would charge the county for making the report." This declaration
was not made because the facts exist as he put them, but to show
the contrast between the feelings and practices of the pioneers of
fifty years ago, and the people of the present.
At a special election held on the 2d of March, 1878, to vote for
or against organizing under the General Law, which was carried by
a majority of eighty-three votes. The following city officers were
elected on the 16th of April, 1878: Mayor, Peter Fifer; City Clerk,
Eli E. Heiple ; City Attorney, J. W. Dougherty ; City Treasurer,
T. C. Sonnemann ; Meml^er Board of Supervisors, W. B. Hervey ;
Aldermen — 1st Ward, Henry Mahle and D. J. Chaffer; 2d Ward,
Lawson Holland and Henry Denhart ; 3d Ward, Ernst E,app and
James Cameron. The first City Council met April 18, 1878.
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
The present business interests of Washington embrace the follow-
ing firms : Banking and Exchange, A. H. Danforth, son of A. G.
Danforth, who commenced banking in this city at an early day, and
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 673
retired from active business pursuits in 1871. This was the first
bank in the city. Anthony & Denhart formed a partnership in '66,
and a few years later opened their handsome brick banking house,
where they do a general exchange business. Kingsbury & Snyder,
G. R. Hornish, Gibson & Parker, and the Stormen Brothers are all
heavy dealers in Groceries and control a large trade. The Dry
Goods business is represented by L. S. North, Anthony & Denhart,
and E. E. Hornish, all enjoying a lucrative trade. Heiplc & Port-
man, both honored sons of Eli Heiple and Peter Portman, and pre-
senting the dash of business qualifications, are doing an extensive
business in Clothing and Gents' Furnishing Goods. T. C. Sonne-
mann, who erected the fine store he now occupies, in 1870, controls
the bulk of trade in the Hardware business. Lewis Tobias & Son
also have a small stock of hardware, but deal considerably in stoves.
Israel Zinser and A. Alphonso, Druggists, are both doing a pros-
perous trade. The Zinser Brothers are extensive dealers in Stoves
and Hardware, and occupy the oldest business premises in the city.
The daily and weekly papers may be found at the post-office. Chas.
A. Crane, Postmaster, is a social man and always at his post of duty.
Jas. A. Crane has an office in the same building, and carries on a
general Brokerage. Mrs. Ho]ikins responds to the call for spring
and winter bonnets, and supplies the trade in Millinery. William
F. Roehm is an enterprising German in the Boot and Shoe trade.
Eli E. Heiple, Peter Fifer and Henry Mahle are extensive dealers
in Grain and Produce. J. W. Dougherty, educated under his own
tuition, and tiirough his energy and perseverance, has represented
Washington city as Attorney for several years. Henry Harms has a
Meat Market on North Main street. Uncle Jacob Wilson repre-
sents the Livery business, and George F. Tobias is a rising young
merchant in the Furniture business. Flour and Feed, James Keyes.
Harness and Saddlery, Benjamin Frederick.
Wagon Manufactories. — Boss & Zinser both early settlers, are
engaged in this business on north side of Commercial S(piare. Wm.
H. Long, M. R. Brady, and Benjamin Tobias; the last named com-
menced the manufacturing of plows in this city in 18oo. Has for
some years been engaged in wagon manufacturing, and his work has
a good reputation.
Milling Interests. — The flouring-mill erected by A. G. Danforth
in 1845 is being successfully operated by the Andrews Bros. John
Watson, Jr., is proprietor of the Tazewell County Mill.
The Siierman House was built in 1835 by Stiles and Titus Hun-
gerford, and run by them until 1839, when Thomas Cress rented
and assnmed the proprietorshij) fi)r one year. It was afterwards
opened by the widow of Titus Hungerford, who died in 1846. In
1854 the building was sold to a man named Robinson, whose career
as a hotel proprietor prpved quite a success. It subsequently be-
came the property of a company and passed into the hands of Elias
Benford, who rented the premises and conducted a successful busi-
674 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
ness for some years, and retired from public life after the purchase
of the building. In 1878 it was occupied by its present proprietor,
John W. Patton, a native of Somerset Co., Penn. Although the
edifice is one of the oldest frame buildings in the city, and does not
present an inviting appearance Avithout, it is neat, clean and tidy
within, and in keeping with the standard of a first-class hotel.
Patton is a veritable joker, a good talker, and if not overtaken by
sickness or disease will not be old at ninety.
WASHINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
During the school year of '78— '79, nine teachers were employed
at an annual expense of about $3,000, and the number of pupils
enrolled in the schools was 419. The schools are all in one build-
ing— a substantial two-story brick edifice, recently built at a cost
of about $20,000, and supplied with all the modern improvements
in the way of heating, ventilation, furniture, etc. The school work
is done in the high school and seven subordinate grades. The high
school is in charge of the Principal, R. McCay, assisted by his wife,
and the teachers of the other grades are, in the grammar room, Mr.
J. R. Morse ; third intermediate, Mr. S. F. Corley ; second inter-
mediate. Miss Latiua Patrick ; first intermediate. Miss Mary Rich ;
third primary. Miss Carrie Schultz; second primary. Miss Mary
Italin ; first primary. Miss Clara V. Crane.
Robert 3IcCay, Principal of Washington schools, was born in
McLean county, 111., Jan. 13, 1852. At the age of eight his perents
removed to Macon county, where his mother died shortly afterwards.
He remained upon a farm with his father until sixteen, when he was
sent to school three years at Bloomington, 111., during which time
he prepared himself for college. Being deprived at this time, by
death, of the assistance and encouragement of his father ; at the age
of nineteen he entered upon the work of teaching, in order that he
might obtain funds with which to go to college. Thus, by teaching
in winter and working as a farm-hand in summer, he was enabled to
go to college, where he completed the classical course of the Wes-
leyan University in 1877. In 1878 he was married to Miss M. H.
White, of Bloomington, who acted as his high school assistant the
following year. He has held his present position since graduating.
G. P. Wood has for some years conducted a select school in this
city.
POTTAWATOMIES.
This tribe of Indians was the largest of three tribes that were
located in this section, and had conquered the Sugars and Kickapoos.
They were all settled under Snatchwine, the Chief of the Pottawato-
mies. He was honored and loved by all the braves of these tribes ;
his word was law, and his presence and council always sought in
times of disturbance or trouble. Among the whites he was gener-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 675
ally honored and respected. To them he always extended the hand
of welcome, and the futtcd deer of the forest was brought to their
door in token of good will. The peculiar habits of these time-
honored natives were naturally a deep curiosity to the whites, and
from the well-stored memory of Lawson Holland Ave were enabled
to gather some facts and incidents which we place upon the records
of this work, knowing that only a few years could pass ere they
would have been lost in the debris of time.
Gathering Turtles. The preparations incident to this journey are
somewhat extended. Two horses are placed side by side, and a
blanket stretched between them, and the party start for the streams.
The turtles are thrown in this blanket, and when a full load is
secured they are carried to the camp, and a large kettle tilled with
water is placed over the fire, and in the boiling cliauldron the living
turtles are thrown, until the kettle is filled. When thoroughly
boiled, the meat is plucked from the shell and eaten.
Tradition. A tradition which has existed among the Pottawato-
mies for ages, is, that at a certain time of the year, a deer must be
killed and eaten without breaking a single bone. This performance
is entered into largely, and the greatest caution taken to secure the
animal without a l)oue being broken. It is then roasted, and the
meat eaten with the greatest possible care. The remains are then
gathered up, placed in the skin of the animal and buried.
Punishment for Adultery. The punishment for adultery is cutting
oif the nose; the first offense being j)unishable by a small piece, the
second a larger one, and the third cuts it to the bone. These are
rare cases, however, both sexes having a high regard for purity and
virtue.
Marriage. In marriage the women promise to do all the work,
such as skinning animals, dressing hides, building tents, and per-
forming all the manual lal)or, the males only furnishing the necessi-
ties of life. The marriage covenant is made by the exchange of
corn for a deer's foot by the parties to be united, and is a time of
great solemnity.
Ornamental Wealth is indicated by piercing the nose and ears,
from which hang large rings and bells ; also bells attached to a strap
bound around the leg or ankle.
Their Dead. In the winter the dead are entombed by standing
the body upright, around which is ])laced poles run in the earth.
At one time Avhen ]Mr. Holland's wife was washing, a squaw
entered the cabin and interrupted her in her work. She had just
put a kettle of boiling water in a tub, and in passing, the squaw fell
or sat in the tub of hot suds. Her cries called the braves, who lifted
her out and carried her to the wigwam.
One day, when Lawson was a boy, and while the family were at
dinner, and a Frenchman, named Louey, who was stopping with
them, had finished his meal, lighted his pipe, and was leisurely
smoking outside the cabin, a stalwart Indian came down the trail
676 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
and demanded his pipe, which was refused. The Indian then drew
his tomahawk and drove it into his skull. Holland and old man
Avery, who was there at the time, rushed from the cabin, and Avery
grappled with the redskin. He sounded the war-whoop, and in a
twinkling the little band of whites were surrounded by hundreds
of the swarthy tribe. The Chief, taking in the situation, drew his
war-club and struck at Avery with this deadly weapon, but Avery's
quick eye dodged the blow, and the instrument was buried in a
large tree behind him. It was a j)erilous moment and there seemed
to be no earthly escape for this little band of pioneers, but Holland
was regarded as a friend, and his counsel was at all times sought.
The Indians then had a war-dance, and returned to their camps,
and peace and quietness was again restored. This occurred in 1822.
Snatch wine, the Chief of the Pottawatomies, in about 1823,
found out the whites were becoming alarmed, and called a council
with the whites, to talk. He spoke about four hours. He began his
history back to old "Kentuck." He said: " When you palefaces
came to our country we took you in and treated you like brothers.
We furnished you with corn and gave you meat that we killed, but
you palefaces soon became numerous and began to trample upon our
rights, which we attempted to resist, but was whipped and driven
off. This is retui'ning evil for good. The graves of my forefathers
are just as dear to me as yours, and had I the power 1 'd wipe you
from the face of the earth. I have 800 good warriors, besides many
old men and boys, that could be put in a fight, but this takes up a
remnant of these tribes since the last war. I believe I could raise
enough braves, and taking you by surprise, could clean the State.
I know I could go below your capital and take everything clean.
But what then? We must all die in time. You would kill us all
off. You tell me that you have forbidden your men to sell whisky.
You enforce these laws and I stand pledged for any depredation my
people shall commit. But you allow your men to come with whisky
and trinkets and get them drunk and cheat them out of all their
guns and skins and all their blankets, that the Government pays me
yearly for this land. This leaves us in a starving freezing conditon
and we are raising only a few cliildren compared to what we raised
in old Kentuck, before we knew the palefaces. Some of my men
say in our consultations, let us rise and wipe the palefaces from the
face of the earth. I tell them no, the palefaces are too numerous.
I can take every man, woman and child I 've got and place them in
the hollow of my hand and hold them out at arm's length. But
when I want to count you palefaces I must go out in the big prairie,
where timber ain't in sight, and count the spears of grass, and I
havn't then told your numbers." Mr. Holland knew this Chief for
ten years. He was a large stalwart man, and always sorrowful.
He said : " When you make my men drunk, my men are just as big
fools as your men when they are drunk. But when sober, I say
come, and they come, and I say go, and they go."
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY. 677
Washingtou city and township are settled by a cultured, refined
and wealthy community, many of whom deserve personal notices in
this volume, which we append :
Alfred Alphonso, druggist and proprietor Academy of Music, was
born in Berlin, Germany, in 1835, and received his early education
at the medical university of that city ; emigrated to America in
1861, and settled in Chicago, where he followed his profession. In
1863 he enlisted as Acting Surgeon in the 17th Illinois Cavalry,
and served one year, and returned to Chicago. The following year
he married Miss Susan Cassen, a native of Baden, Germany, where
she was born in in 1846. After a residence of eight years in Kane
Co., he moved to Ottawa, 111., where he resided until 1875, when he
settled in this city and opened a small drug store, now occu})icd by
Dr. Wood. By strict attention to business he was enabled, in 1877,
to erect the Washington Academy of Music, and became extensively
engaged in the music trade, and has, in a masterly manner, made an
entire success.* Edwin, born June 16, '68; Clara, Jan. 11, '7U; and
Ida, June 1, '72, are his living children.
Margaret Aubray, residence Elm street, Washington, widow of
Frederick W. Aubray, a native of England, who emigrated to
America at an early age, and settled in Deer Creek townshij), in
1848, where he engaged in farming and mercantile pursuit, and
entered largely into the interests and development of the township ;
was prominent. in all the enterprises pertaining to its growth, and
successful in all his business transactions. Through his energy and
perseverance he accumulated a large landed property ; was called
from the held of life just when in the enjoyment of his home. He
died in August, 1872, beloved and respected by a large circle of
friends and relatives.
John. H. Ant/ioni/, farmer, sec. 23; P. O., Washington; born in
Shelburn, Vermont, in 1820, and emigrated to this county witii his
widowed mother, two brothers and one sister, in the fall of 1 837,
settling in this city, and with strong hands and willing heart com-
menced the struggle of life. Sagacious, industrious and frugal, he
was enabled, in 1843, to purchase 80 acres of his present estate, and
in 1846 he became engaged with a house at Peoria, and traveled
extensively through all the Southern and Western States, establish-
ing agencies for the sale of })atent medicines, and in 1852, connected
himself in business witii his brotiier, Charles S. M. Anthony, at
Washington, but continued traveling until his brother's death, in
1857, when he assumed control of the business, and formed a part-
nership with Wm. Ross, in keeping a general stock and hardware.
He engaged extensively in the manufacture of tin ware, with which
the surrounding country was supplied. In the spring of 1858 he
sold his interest to Lewis Tobias, and moved on his present estate,
now consisting of 400 acres, valued at $65 per acre; also 130 acres
southwest of the city. The same year he married Catherine Keys,
a native of Michigan, by whom he has four children — John A.,
678 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Charles H., Mark and Kate. In 1857 he was elected Justice of the
Peace for one year, to fill vacancy occasioned by the death of his
brother. In 1871 he was elected Supervisor, and has been the
people's choice for that office every year since ; he was also elected
a member of the State Board of Equalization, in 1876, and is prom-
inently known throughout the county. Mr. A. is in every respect
a self-made man ; with indomitable energy and tireless industry and
courage, he acquired wealth. He has for years been Trustee in the
Methodist Church, of which the family are members.
Emih/ 31. Baird, farmer, sec. 12; P. O., Washington; widow of
Thomas Baird, Jr., who was born in Tioga Co., N. Y., in 1812.
Her maiden name was Haynes, and she was born in Sharp's Mills,
Oswego Co., N. Y., in 1816. They were married in 1838, and came
to this county in 1844, and settled on the present estate, then owned
by Father Baird. Mr. B. resided here until his death, in 1859, when
he was killed at South Bend, Ind., by a railroad accident, which cast
a feeling of gloom and sorrow over the whole community. He was a
man beloved and respected by all who knew him, and numbered
among those of the early settlers. Mary L., Sarah R., Senith A.,
Martha C, Thomas P., and George S. R. D. are their living children.
^Squire Baker, farmer, sees. 14 and 15 ; P. O., Washington ; born
in Campbell Co., Ky.^in 1813. His parents were Nicholas and Su-
sanah (Carroll) Baker, natives of Penn. and Va. He married Eliza-
beth Clark, in 1836; she was born in Campbell Co., Ky., in 1815.
They came to this county in 1837 and settled on his present estate,
consisting of 80 acres, valued at -$75 per acre, which he bought with
script. His father came to this county in 1856, and died in 1875.
The family were among those of the early settlers, and experienced
all the hardships of pioneer life. John J., William C, George W.,
Benjamin F., Thomas L., Robert W., Elizabeth C, Edward S.,
Lill'ie, Stephen A., and Alfred are their living children.
George Bayler, farmer, sec., 36; P. O., Washington; born in
York Co., Pa., in '18. His parents were John and Catherine (Kuhn)
Bayler, natives of Pa., where his fiither died when he was 12 years
of age. He came to the West in 1841 with his mother, and settled
two miles west of their present place, where he resided 11 years.
In 1845 he was united to Miss Elizabeth Franklin, a native of Frank-
lin Co., O., where she was born in 1823; moved on his present
estate in 1853. It consists of 140 acres valued at |70 per acre.
T^Ir. B. is one of the early settlers and well known throughout the
Co. Alfred P. and Joseph E., are their living children.
JoHcph J. Bayler, farmer and stock raiser, sec. 36 ; P. O., Wash-
ington; born in Washington, 111., in 1849; married Lillie Yoor-
hees, in 1876. She was born in La Salle Co., 111., in 1857 ; they have
two children — Theodore and Celia; settled cm his present estate in
1876. Mr. B. has for years been extensively engaged in taming
and training horses, of which he has a fine stock and is successful
in the business. He is a son of one of the oldest settlers.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 679
Joseph BcU'Iii, farmer, sec. 7 ; P. O., AVashiiigton ; })orn in Wood-
ford Co. in 1842. His parents were John and Barbara (Ragy) Bels-
ly, natives of France. They settled in Woodford Co. at an early
day, where Mr. B. died in 1 855, His motlier is still living at a
good old age. In 18G-1 he married Miss Susan Imhotf, a native of
Butler Co., where she was born in 1842; came to this Co. in the
spring of 1878 and settled on his present estate, consisting of 100
acres. Mary, John, Barbara, Bena, Annie, Katie, Louisa and Peter
are their living children ; are members of the Omish Church.
Elias Benford, retired, born in Stark Co., O., in 1819. His
l)arents were F. Henry and ISIagley Stael, natives of Pa., both
deceased; married Lavenia Snyder in 1843. She was born in Som-
erset Co., > Pa., in 1825; emigrated to this Co. in 1868 and settled
in this city, where he engaged in the livery business, and in 1870
became the proprietor of the Sherman iiouse, which he conducted
with success and purchased it, retiring from the active pursuits of life
in 1878. Julia, Arminta, Sophia K., Cyrus I., John H., Franklin
A. and Hattie M., are their living children; lost three children —
Jacob, Mary M., and one that died in infancy. He is a member of
the English Lutheran Church.
Walter T. Berket, farmer, sec. 26 ; P. O., Washington ; born in
Lancaster Co., England, in 1792, and in 1817 emigrated to America
and settled in A'ermont, where he resided 12 years, when he started
for the AVest, making his first stop at Fort Clark, in 1831, where
he remained only a short time, when he came to this township and
settled on his present estate, and erected the first frame-house built in
the township. Mr. B, was married in 1833 to Miss Dorothy ^\"eth-
erell, a native of England, who died in 1856, leaving one child,
Walter, Jr., who was born in this township in 1841, and was mar-
ried Sept. 19, 1878, to Miss Mary Beman, a native of London, Eng.,
where she was born Dec. 25, 1842, and is daughter of Jeremiah and
Susan Beman, who were banislied from I'russia and found a home
in the broad land of the free, and number among those of the county
pilgrims. Mr. B. has always clung to his pioneer home, and is the
oldest man in the township. A previous record predicted his early
demise, but, though in the 88th year of his age, his eye is sharp at
long range, and it was the pleasure of the writer to accompany his
elastic footsteps to a row of apple trees which he set out in 1832,
all of which are in a fine state of preservation, and have grown to
an immense size.
William Berket, farmer and dairyman, sec. 26 ; P. O., Washing-
ton; born in Addison Co., Vt., Jan. 21, 1818; his ])arents were
Thomas and Mary (Field) Berket, who came from England and
settled in that State, and to this Co. in 1831, landing at Fort Clark,
now Peoria, in Sej)t. of that year, and alter a short stop, came to
this township and made a claim of 160 acres in sec. 26, where he
erected a cabin and lived until his deatii in 1838. On May 12, 1842,
Mr. B. was married to Miss Mary J. Keys, daughter of Laban Keys,
680 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
a native of N. H., and a veteran of the Revolutionary war, in which
he enlisted when 17 years of age; was the first settler to erect a
habitation on the present site of Kalamazoo, Mich., from which
place he came to this township in 1837 and purchased of John
Lindly 200 acres of land now occupied by the residences of J. R.
Crane and Ben. Nichols. He died at his home in Dec, 1865. Mr.
B. carries on an extensive dairy business, manufacturing an average
of 200 lbs. of butter weekly ; has 130 head of cattle, many of them
being thoroughbred Durhams and Jerseys. Another noticeable
occupant of his farm is a large pear tree, which he planted when a
mere switch, and it has grown until it measures over six feet in cir-
cumference, bearing yearly from 40 to 80 bushels of its fruit — the
popular Berket jiear. Mr. B. is one of the early pioneers of this
township, and has realized all the hardships of pioneer life. The
fine impr(jvements of his farm attest his energy and perseverance.
Of his children, 10 are living. David, eldest son, enlisted, in 1861,
in 86th I. V. I., Co. G; was wounded at Goldsborough, N. C,
and died at Newburn, April 12, 1864; Clara J., Annie E., Charles
L., Lafayette, George, William, Ella, Perry, Hattie and Lester.
William A. Berket, farmer and brick-maker, sec. 27 ; born in
Peoria, 111., in 1836. His parents were John and Mary (Thomas)
Berket, who emigrated from England in 1826, and settled in Peoria,
(at that time Fort Clark, there being but one house there at that
time,) where he remained until 1839, when he removed to this
county and purchased 320 acres land, where he lived until 1849,
when he returned to Peoria, where he died in 1875. Married Sarah
J. Wilson, in 1860. She was born in Drum Lodge, Ireland, in
1836. Returned to this county in 1862, and settled on his present
estate. Martha A., Margaret W., John A., James W., Frank,
Samuel, Edward A., Lewis C, and William W., are their children.
William A. Berket, farmer, sec. 26; P. O., Washington; was
born in England Aug. 30, 1796, and is the second son of John and
Ann Berket, who emigrated to America in 1816, and went to Ver-
mont, where he engaged in farming, and in 1821 settled at Fort
Clark, now Peoria, there being but few cabins erected at that time.
He became extensively engaged in the nursery business and farm-
ing, his being the first nursery started in the State north of the
Sangamon ; was also engaged in farming in Greene Co., and spent
one winter in Madison Co., and in 1831 settled in this township
on his present estate. Here he erected a cabin and commenced to
improve the farm. The same year he was married to Miss Mar-
garet Barrick, a native of Ohio, where she was born in 1816; she
died in 1852. Charles, Ann, Margaret, Margy, Eliza, John and
Thomas, are his living children. His youngest son, Thomas, re-
sides on the homestead. He was born in this township in 1847, and
in 1872, married Miss Jennie E. Frances, a native of Ohio ; Albert
H. and Lillie Bell are their children. The life of this aged veteran
of four score years has been one of industry and perseverance. An
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 681
early pilgrim to this townsliip, he lia.s lived to see his sons and
daughters grow up witli their families, settled on the land that was
(in his prime) a dense forest. His locks are silvered with the frosts
of time, but he has been spared to be a living witness of the great
changes which have taken })lacc in this township and county.
James Brown, farmer, sec. 12; P. O., Washington; was born in
Woodford Co., 111., in 1841, and is the eldest son of Asa and Cath-
erine (Kines) Brown, and grandson of Amos A. and Ruth (Nelson)
Brown, natives of Conn, and Md. His father was born in Switzer-
land Co., Ind., in 180(S, and came to the West in 1834, settling in
Woodford Co., and numbering among the early pioneers of that
county. Came to this county in 1859 and settled on his present es-
tate, consisting of 160 acres; his father still owns 120 acres in
AVoodford county. In 18(32 was married to Miss Mary Noel, a na-
tive of France, where she was born in 1845. Nellie, Nettie, Stella,
Linda, Ida, and George are their living children.
James Cameron, stock dealer, was born in Scotland in 1834.
In 1855 married Plelen Glegg, a native of Scotland, where she was
born in 1824. In the same year emigrated to America and settled
in this city, where he became engaged at blacksmithing for eleven
years, and after two years in the lumber business with F. D. Har-
rington became largely engaged in stock dealing, which business he
has since followed with success. He has served two consecutive
terms on the old Board of Trustees, and was elected to the City
Council at the first election for city officers in 1878. Ann IL,
Belle E., Mary and liouisa L. are their living children. Members
of the Christian Church.
Charles A. Crane, jjostmaster, Washington ; was born in Wash-
ington, March 9, 1839; married Laura L. Parker, March 4, 1864.
She was born in Washington, April 29, 1841 ; have two children
— William T. S. and James C A. He is a descendant of Mathew
and Martha (Rogers) Crane, natives of Pa., from which State tlujy
emigrated to O. and to this county in 1835 ; his father died Sept. 28,
1855. His wife still survives him at the age of 77 years. Mr. C.
engaged in teaching until his ap{)ointment as P. M. in March 1870,
which office he has filled to the present time. He is a member of
the Methodist Church.
James H. Crane, general broker, residence and business. Main
street; was born in Zanesville, O., Sept. 14, 1824; came to this
county in 1835, and settled in this city, where he became engaged in
carpentering and milling; married Leva A. Burton, Sept. 13, 1855.
She was born in Ky. in Oct., 1835. In 1854 he opened a general
brokerage office in which business he has been entirely successful ;
filled the office of School Treasurer for 16 years and is well known
throughout the town and county.
A. G. Danforth, banker, Washington ; was born in AVashington,
111., Dec. 8, 1840, and is eldest son of Asa H. Danforth, who was
born in Norton, Mass., June 4, 1813. His jiarents were Asa and
682 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Hanniih (Walker) Daufortli, natives of Mass., where they died at
an early day ; and during the years of his boyhood worked on the
farm until seventeen years of age, when he went to Fall River,
where he served an apprentieeship at cabinet making and for four
years after became engaged in the manufacture of furniture at Mil-
ford, Pa. In 1835 he removed to Coshocton, O., where he engaged
in the manufacture of wheat-mills, and in the following year settled
in Peoria and engaged in turning and planing until July, 1836,
when he removed to this city and became extensively engaged in
his profession. In those primitive times machinery was unknown,
and the increasing demand for his goods made it apparent that a
power to turn his" lathe was necessary to meet the requirments of
his trade, and to attain this desired object his inventive faculties
were brought to play, and the problem soon solved. He owned
two large dogs, and these intelligent noble friends were brought to
take an active part in his success. Accordingly, he constructed a
large cylindrical wheel twenty feet in diameter, into which the dogs
were placed for duty. The experiment proved an entire success,
and in this manner he w^as enabled to turn out hundreds of bed-
steads and other articles of furniture which found its way to the
cabins and homes of the pioneers. He erected the mill now occu-
pied by Andrew Brothers, in 1844, and has in various ways added
to the growth and prosperity of the city. He was for four years
Director of the eastern extension of the Peoria & Otpunvka R. R.,
and at an early day established the first banking institution in this
city, and became entirely engaged in the interests and development
of his Western home. Of him we may say he is a self-made man
in every respect. Beginning without capital, but with a determined
will and ready hands. His unquailing purpose and tireless indus-
try, making every opportunity useful, combined wdth scholarly
enthusiasm," with which he acquired wealth. He w^as married in
Feb., 1839, to Miss Catherine Rupert, a native of Mt. Pleasant,
Va., where she was born in 1819 — Almon G., Henry R., Harriet
C, Caroline R., Catherine M., are their living children. Mr. D.
retired from the active pursuits of life in 1872.
The subject of this sketch began life in the mercantile business
and became a partner in the banking house of his father, w^here he
has since been actively engaged. In 1872 the firm dissolved, and
Mr. D. assumed control of the institution. Was married in 1861,
to Miss Susan A. Burton, a native of this city. From the marriage
five children are growing up in all the educational advantages of
the present day. They are George C, Jessie M., Cassie A., Asa
H., and Mary. Mr. D. is among those of the present business men
of the city and a social genial gentleman. His residence stands
upon the site of ground historic as the spot where the palatial log
cabin of William Holland Sr., was erected in 1825. Mr. D. takes
a just pride in his blooded stock of horses, prominent among which
is Fairy Gift, a brown stallion of Hambletonian stock, who has a
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 683
record on private trial of 2 :38J after two montlis work including;
breaking;. He will undoubtedly rank among the celebrities of
American trotters. Nellie, grey" marc, Restless, bay mare, Dolly,
bay filly, and a thoroughbred bay mare, all Hambletonian stock,
also bay stallion. Live Oak, bred by Col. Peppers, of Ky., all of
which promise fair records and are valuable stock.
Robert Davis, ticket agent and telegraph operator of T. P. & W.
R. R. ; was l^orn in Laiue, county of Antrim, Ireland, in 1852;
married Martlia Davis in June, 1876. She was born in Laine Co!
in 1858; emigrated to America in 1871, and settled in Peoria,
where he became engaged with the T. P. & W. R. R., and by strict
attention to duties has been promoted to his present position, which
he fills with satisiaction. Are members of Presbyterian Church.
Henvy Iknhurt, merchant and banker, of the firm of Anthony &
Denhart; was born in Hessel Kassen, Dec. 8, 1842, His parents
were Andrew and Mariah (Storner) Denhart, natives of Germany.
They emigrated to America in 1853, and settled in this city. In
June, 1866, the present Partnersliip was formed with Mr. A., which
has been successfully carried on to the present time. In March
1872, he was married to Clara S.Lawson, a native of Somerset Co.,'
Pa., where she was born in 1833. Mr. D. has always taken an ac-
tive part in the interests of the town and countv, and was elected to
t\iG City Council, March, 1877.
John W. Douf/hcHy, attorney at law, was born in New Castle Co.,
Del., in 1824. His parents Avere Dennis and Margaret (Baldwin)
Dougherty, natives of Ireland and Pennsylvania. They emigrated
to Dayton, ()., in 1828, thence to Centreville, Ind., where he re-
sided until 1857, when he came to this county and settled in this
city and became engaged in the grocery business. He then com-
menced tlie study of law, relying upon his own efforts and ambi-
tion; he was admitted to the' Bar in Jan., 1874. He now fills the
office of City Attorney, and is successful in his profession. In 1852
he married Caroline E. Hornish, who was born in Wayne Co., Ind.,
in 1834. William J., ]\Iartin D., Forest and Florence, twins, John
B., Robert, Edith A., Martha PI, and Laura C. are their living
children.
Reuben W. Dunningfon, farmer, sec. 30 ; P. O., Washington ; was
born in Putnam Co., Ind., in 1836. His parents were Joshua and
Mary (Spencer) Dunnington, natives of that State, and who emi-
grated to 111. in 1840, and settled in this townshij) one mile west of
AVashington. From that place he moved to Walnut Grove, now
Eureka, where he lived until his death, in 1844. His mother died
in 1876. Mr. D. settled on his present estate in 1848; was mar-
ried in 1868 to Miss Catherine Bayler, daughter of John Bavler, an
early pilgrim to this county. She was born in this town"ship in
1847. They have six children — Mary M., John C, George E.,
Reuben F., Cora M., and Catherine.
Christian Engel, farmer, sec. 5 ; P. O., Washington, was born in
684 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Woodford Co., 111., in 1840. His parents were John and Barbara
(Detwilda) Engel, natives of France. They emioratod to America
in 18.'j1 and settled in Woodford county, where his father is still
livinjy; his mother died in 1874. He came to this county in 187.3,
and settled on his present estate, consisting of 160 acres, valued at
$65 per acre. The same year was married to Miss Elizabeth Nof-
singer, who was born in this county in 1848, and was the daughter
of John Nofsinger, an early settler of this county. Ida E., John
A. and Anna M., are their living children. Members of the Ornish
Church.
George Ferner, farmer, sec. 25 ; P. O., Washington ; born in
Somerset Co., Pa., in 1815. His parents were Abraham and Bar-
bara (Smith) Ferner, natives of Pennsylvania. He married Miss
Catherine Weyand, in 1835. She was born in Somerset county, in
]812. They have five children — George W., John W., Sarah,
Mary, and Elvina ; lost one, Barbara. He came to this county, in
1851, without means and rented land until, by frugality and indus-
try, he was enabled to secure 40 acres of land, where he lived until
he purchased his present estate. He is a Deacon in the Evangelical
Church, of which the family are members.
3Iarii A. Field, farmer, sec. 34; P. O., Washington. Mrs. F. is
the wadow of Anthony Field, who was born in Franklin Co., Vt.,
Aug. 15, 1808. He was married to Miss Mary A. Hathaway, Aug.
11, 1836, a native of Swanton, Vt., where she was born April 17,
1817. Mr. F. came to this county in 1835, and settled on their
present estate, consisting of 260 acres, where he resided until his
death, which occurred Dec. 19, 1878. He was one of the early pio-
neers to this county, and the first man to lay out the roads through
this section of the township. He died, l)eloved and res})ected by all
who knew him. He was a mcml^er of the Methodist Church.
Peter Fifer, grain broker; was born in Rockingham Co., Va., Jan.
21, 1821, and emigrated to this county in the spring of 1842, where
he engaged in farming for some years, when he commenced buying
grain and stock, opening the grain house of Fifer & Co., at Peoria,
in 1866, which is still in successful o})eration. He also has a saw-
mill in operation in this city, where he is extensively engaged in
business. He was married in 1843, to Miss Mary J. Curtis, a
native of Erie Co., Pa., by whom he has four children — Cordelia,
Inez, Charles M., and Ellie. Mr. F. is among the foremost of the
business men of this city, and was the people's choice to fill the
Mayor's chair in March, 1877, at which time the city was incorpo-
rated; was also elected Supervisor April 15, 1879, and has always
been identified with the interests of the town and county.
John Frederick, farmer, sec. 7 ; P. O., Washington ; was born in
Germany, in 1833, and emigrated to this country in 1855, settling
in Butler Co., where he resided two years, when he removed to this
county and settled in Morton, where he lived two years. He then
came to this township and settled on his present estate ; was married
HISTORY OF TAZEAVELL COUNTY. 685
in 1859 to Miss Nancy Graves, a native of Ohio. AVilson Freder-
ick is their only child. He has a farm of 80 acres, and 10 acres of
timber, valned at ^70 per acre; also owns 100 acres in Fairbnry,
Livingston Co.
C. J. Gibson, of the firm of Gibson & Co., grocers, Main street;
residence, corner Catharine and I^Ilm streets. He Avas born in Lan-
caster Co., Pa., in 1823; his parents were Cyrus J. and Margaret C.
(Canon) Gibson, natives of that State, who emigrated to tiiis county
in November, 1830, and settled in this township, where he purchased
a claim and erected a log cabin, where he died in 1832. His son
remained on the homestead until 1863, and moved to Woodford Co.,
and after a few years returned to Washington, when, after some years,
he embarked in his present business, in w^hich he has been success-
ful. He is one of the early pioneers of this township, and expe-
rienced all the hardships of pioneer life.
George D. Gibson, farmer and dairyman, sec. 34, P. O., Wash-
ington; born in Fayette Co., Pa., in 1810; parents were John and
Nancy (Mills) Gibson, natives of N. J. and Pa. He worked at
home until he had saved $100, with whi(;h he pui'chased a horse and
equipments and in the fall of 1834 started for the West, and made
his claim on the site of his present estate and commenced work in
Washington at wagon-making with Wm. Spencer ; the same winter
split 5000 rails, enduring much hardship and privation ; has hauled
wheat to mill that weighed 60 lbs. to the bushel and in those j)rim-
itive days portage was paid in produce. Some years later he became
engaged in business at Pekin, where he continued until he was
enabled to purchase a few cows and commenced on a small scale in
the dairy business. Mr. G. has now increased his farm to 360 acres,
which he has gained only by continued perseverence and economy,
and all the privations of pioneer life. He was married in 1836 to
Miss Alice Berket, a native of Vt., where she was born in 1820.
Sarah, Elizabeth, John, Charles, Martha, George, William and
Mary, are their living children. He is an Elder in the Presbyteriau
Church.
U. Z. Gilmer, D.D., pastor Methodist Church, was born in Brown
Co., O., in 1846. His parents were Derrick and Margaret (Strain)
Gilmer, natives of O. and Pa„ respectively, who emigrated to Put-
nam Co., Iowa, in 1850, and after four years' residence there,
moved to Decatur Co., Ind., where they resided three years, and re-
turned to Iowa, where they lived for a short time; thence to
Clinton Co., 111., where his father died in 1860. He commenced
his course of studies at the Monmouth Academy after his removal
to that place, in 1865; entered college, in 1869, at Oquawka, Hen-
derson county, where he graduated in 1872, and immediately en-
tered upon his duties as pastor of the Methodist Church at Milan ;
after which he became engaged as teacher in Abingdon College,
Knox Co., where he continued until three months prior to his
Qoming to this county, which he spent at Chaddock College, Quincy,
686 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
111. Came to this county Nov., 1878, and has hckl the pastorate of
the Methodist Church since that time in a commendable manner.
In 1870, he married Mary McCullough, a native of Rush Co., Ind.,
where she was born in 1852. Emma, Nellie L., Nina M., and Carl
R. are their living children.
Jacob Glebe, farmer, sec. 31 ; P. O., Farmdale ; was born in
Germany, in 1815, where he married Catherine Stein in 1844. She
was born in Germany in 1816; emigrated to America in 1848, and
settled on his present estate, consisting of 120 acres, 80 acres of
which he entered. He is one of the early settlers of this township,
and well and favorably known. Henry, John, Caroline, Jacob, Jr.,
Levi and Sebasken are their living children. They are members of
the Evangelical Church.
Andrew Gonglof, farmer, sec. 2 ; P. O., AVashington ; was born in
Tazewell Co., in 1841 ; is son of John B. and Mary (Millei-) Gong-
lofP, natives of France, and who emigrated to America in 1839, and
settled in Woodford county, and after a residence in this county, re-
turned to that county where he still resides. The subject of this
sketch settled on his present estate, in 1863. He was married, in
1871, to Miss Elizabeth Roth, by whom he has four children —
Mary, Julia E., Susannah, and Christena. They are members of
the Catholic Church.
John G. Gorin, agent T., P. & W. R.R. and U. S. Express Co.,
was born in Vandalia, Fayette Co., Ill, Feb. 28, 1835. His par-
ents were Sanford P. and Jane H. (Gaunt) Gorin, natives of Ky.
His family came to this county in 1839, and settled on a farm near
this city, where they resided until 1844, when they moved to
Eureka, and after a few years returned to this city. In 1854, he
became engaged in the mercantile business. March 8, 1758, he was
married to Miss Julia A. Wood, a native of Washington city, 111.
He followed mercantile business until 1860, when he received his
appointment to his present position, which he has since filled with
ability and satisfaction, and is one of the oldest agents in the State.
Was for three years President of the Board of Trustees and has
always bore an active interest in the welfare of the town and county,
and been prominently identified with its interests. Is also an offi-
cer in the Sunday-school of the Presbyterian Church, of which the
family are members. Josephine, Elizabeth W., Ellen M., and
Harry W. are their living children.
W. T. Griffith, 31. D., residence, Walnut street ; born in Sullivan
Co., Ind., in 1833. There he commenced the study of medicine,
and in 1856 entered upon a course of lectures at Cincinnati, O., and
the folloAving year began practicing at Washburn, Woodford Co.
In 1858 he moved to Shelby Co. where he attained a successful
practice and was married, in 1859, to Miss Lucy A. Applegate, a
native of Orange Co., Ind., where she was born in 1838 ; came to
this county in 1865 and settled in this city, where he has since
made it his home and been successfully engaged. George M., War-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 687
den T. and Fiinnie are their living children ; lost two — Willie, and
one that died in infancy.
Henry Gulick, physician, east side of the square ; was born in
Northumberland Co., Pa., in 1839; parents were William and
Annie Clark Gulick, natives of the same State ; commenced his
studies at Jefferson College, Philadelphia, where he graduated in
1865, and in the same year was appointed to the charge of a post at
Fortress Monroe and Lynchburgh, where he was engaged until July,
1866. Returning home he began practice at Mt. Carmel, Iowa, and
the following year was married to Miss Lottie Hay, a native of
Warren Co., O. ; came to this Co. in the spring of 1876 and settled
in this city, where he has conducted a successful practice. Anna
M., Charles B., Agnes W. and Frank H. arc their living children ;
a member of the Presbyterian Church.
John Guth, farmer, sec. 21 ; P. O., Washington ; born in Wash-
ington, 111., in 1839, and is the son of Peter Guth, an early pioneer
of this township. He married Mary Cursman in 1861. She was
born in McLean Co., in 1838; settled on his present farm in 1861,
consisting of 315 acres, valued at $60 per acre. Annie, Joseph,
Katie, John, Jr., Barbara, Peter, Christian, Samuel and Mary are
their living children ; a member of the Omish Church.
Valentine Gunthcrt, farmer, sec. 32 ; P. O., Washington ; born in
Bavaria, Germany, in 1828; emigrated to America in 1852, and
settled in Peoria, w^iere he married Miss Anna M. Ucbel, in 1855,
a native of Bavaria, Ger. Anna M., Bonnie, George, William C,
Emma, Valentine, Jr., Adam, Caroline, Josephine and Louis are
their living children. He settled on his present estate in 1863; a
member of the Methodist Church.
Henry Harms, proprietor of meat market. Main street ; born in
Germany, in 1825; and emigrated to America in 1852, settling near
this city, where he engaged in farming two years, when he worked
at milling with M. Andrews until 1859, when he opened his pres-
ent place of business, where he has since carried on a successful
trade ; same year married Catharine Denhard. She was born in
Germany in 1836. Loney W., Lizzie, Katie and Henry D. are
their living children ; are members of the liuthcran Church.
F. D. Harrington, of the firm of Harrington & Bickman, lumber
merchants, contractors, builders and millers. He was born in Ot-
sego Co., N. Y., in 1830. His parents were John J. and Lydia
(Gallop) Harrington ; was married to Mariah Smith Nov. 24, '58.
She was born in Province of Canada in 1832; came to this county
in 1855, and settled in this city, where he has been successfully en-
gaged in his present business. Frank B., Nina M., Chas. E. and
John G. are their living children.
W. B. Harvey, retired farmer, born in Licking Co., O., in 1825.
His parents were James and Mary (Billingsly) Harvey, natives of
Va. and Md., and who emigrated to this county in 1828, and settled
pear this city, there being only six families in the township at that
688 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
time. He took an active part in the Black Hawk war, and numbered
among the early pioneers of this county. He died in 1859. The
subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Eliza Barrett in
1849. She was born in Saline Co., 111., in 1827. Mr. H. has been
for years on the Board of Supervisors, Justice of the Peace, and a
participant in the organization of the town, and being otherwise
identified with the interests of the city and county. Trustee of the
Methodist Church, and among the few left of the early pioneers.
Eli E. Heiplc, grain dealer, P. O,, Washington ; born in Somerset
Co., Pa., in 1830; was married to Mary E.. Snyder, a native of
Somerset Co., Pa., in 1851. Came to this county in 1857, and set-
tled in Washington, and became engaged with Andrew Miles & Co.,
in the dry-goods business, with whom he remained until he opened
his present place of business, where he has since been actively en-
gaged. He has filled the office of Town Clerk for fifteen years and
was the first City Clerk elected in the spring of 1877, and is other-
wise prominently identified with the interests of the town and
county. He is well known throughout as a thorough, live business
man. Augustus and Frank are their living children.
Israel Hicks, farmer, sec. 30, P. O., Washington ; born in Bel-
mont Co., O., July 15, 1816. His parents were Asa and Annie
(Cox) Hicks, nativ^es of Va. and Ga. The family started from Ohio
in Oct., 1837, in wagons, and when near the Wabash river in Ind.,
the horses took fright and ran away. His father, attempting to get
out of the wagon, fell under the wheels, causing almost instant
death. This was a terrible blow to the grief-stricken family, who
after a reasonable time, resumed the journey westward, settling on
the old Dillon farm in Tremont township, which his father had
rented prior to his coming. He had but fifty cents left when the
family arrived at this place, and he commenced teaming, splitting
rails, and cheering the discouraged and broken-hearted mother. By
constant labor and untiring industry, in a few acres of land, which
he improved, and the dark clouds of adversity were soon scattered
from his home. After five years residence at Tremont, he moved
to Pleasant Grove, then came to this townshi}^ in the spring of 1 843,
and settled on his present farm. He was married, Feb. 24, 1848,
to Miss Susan M. Umphrey, daughter of Luke Umphrey, and who
was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 8, 1825. Her father was
one of the pioneers of this county, where he died in 1878. Julia
E. is their only living child. His mother died in his first home in
1853. Mr. H. has experienced the roughest side of pioneer life,
and only through a determined will has attained his present position
in life.
Elo7i E. Hornish, dry goods merchant. Main st., residence, corner
Main and Oakland streets. He was born in Wayne Co., Ind., in
1849. His parents were Martin and Elmira (Rupert) Hornish, na-
tives of Penn. and Va., and who' emigrated to this county in 1858,
and settled in this village and engaged in the grocery business.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 689
where he died in 1859. Elon engaged with Rupert <& Hornish in
the dry goods business in 1868, and this firm dissolved in July of
the same year, when he went to New York. city and engaged as a
salesman. On Dec. 28, 1871, he married Frances L. Sticklcy, who
was born in Ohio in 1849; returned AVest in 1873, and formed a
partnership with C. B, Cummings at Pekin. He remained one
year and returned to New York in 1874, and to this city in 1875,
and formed a co-partnership with M. H. Hornish, and in July of the
same year purchased the interest of M. H., where he has since car-
ried on a successful and prosperous business. Robert S., George B.,
Morris E., and Ella R. are their living children.
G. R. Hornish, grocer. Main st., res. cor. Pine and Holland ; born
in Wayne Co., Ind., in 1839; married Mary E. Grady April 1, '61.
She was born in Woodford Co. in 1838; came to this Co. in 1857
and settled in this city, where he engaged as salesman with J. W.
Dougherty, with whom he remained eight years, when he opened
his present place of business, where he has since carried on a suc-
cessful and prosperous trade. Grant, Joseph G., Mary H., and Lulu
E. are their living children.
/. T. Hoover, dentist, north side Commercial Square, res. High st. ;
born in Belmont, O., in 1838. Parents were Jacob and Phoebe
(Frazier) Hoover, natives of Penn. and Va. Emigrated to this
State in 1855, and settled in Peoria, where he served an apprentice-
ship and opened his first place of business, and in 1863 came to this
city, where he has since followed his profession and continued in a
prosperous and successful career. Married Emma S. Couch a native
of Peoria in 1865,. May E., Abbie E., and Edna E. are their liv-
ing children.
Nicholas Huguet, Jr., farmer, sec. 11 ; P. O., Washington ; born in
France in 1808. His parents were Nicholas and Maggie (Chawry)
Huguet, native of that country. Was married, in 1830, to Miss
Sophia Cunig, and emigrated to America in 1850, and settled on his
present estate of 198 acres, valued at $50 per acre. Julius, Maurice,
Charles, Nicholas, Jr., Peter, Josephine, Gabriel, Annie, Mary and
Julia are their living children. Are members of the Catholic
Church.
JaclcHon Hukkl, retired farmer ; residence, Washington ; born in
Fayette Co., O., Oct. 12, 1823. At 20 years of age he left home
and went to Champaign Co., where he served an apprenticeship at
the tanning bwsiness, and engaged in that business for seven years in
Cass Co., Mich. Was married, in 1847, to Miss Sarah J. Nicholson,
by whom he has one daughter, Samantha A., wife of S. D. Murphy,
of Chicago. In 1855 he moved to Atlanta, 111., and became en-
gaged in the mercantile business, when his wife died, March 27, '56.
After a residence of one year in Lincoln he became extensively en-
gaged in the wool trade and farming implements, and for ten years
dealt largely in real estate, when he sold his proi)erty and moved to
McDonough Co., and in Jan., 1875, settled in this city, where he
690 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
has since made it his home. His present wife, Sarah Kern, daugh-
ter of Jacob Kern, was born at Mt. Pleasant, Pa., Dec. 28, 1829.
They were married in this city Dec. 1, 1859. James H., Mary C,
Ida Belle, and Gracie, are their children. Mr. H. is Elder and
Sunday-school Superintendent in the Baptist Church, being well
known throughout the town and county.
S, W. Harkey, D. D., pastor St. Mark's English Lutheran Church,
born in Iredell Co., N. C, in 1811. His parents were John and
Sarah (Welcher) Harkey, natives of that State. He commenced his
course of studies at Pennsylvania College, at Gettysburg, in 1830;
graduated from that institution in 1834, and entered upon his official
duties at Philadelphia, then to AVilliamsport, Woodsborough, Md.,
Frederick City, and in 1852, emegrated to the West and entered
the State University at Springfield, 111., as professor, at which place
he enlisted, in 1864, as chaplain, serving until the close of the war,
when he went to St. Louis and officiated until 1871, when he came
to this city and became pastor of the German lAitheran Church a
short time, when he was called to fill the pulpit of the English
Lutheran Church, where he is still occupied in his professional
calling.
Rodger Jenkins, farmer, sec. 29 ; P. O., Washington ; born^ in
South Wales, in 1811. His parents were John and Rachel (Wal-
kyns) Jenkins, natives of that country. Mr. J. emigrated to Amer-
ica in 1845, and settled in Pennsylvania, where he resided five
years, when he came to this county, and settled in Deer Creek
township, and in 1858 moved to this township and settled on his
present estate of 240 acres, valued at ^65 per acre. Was married,
in 1848, to Miss Elenor Davis, a native of South Wales, where she
was born in 1817. Margaret, John, and Morgan are their living chil-
dren ; lost two — George B., and Geo. B. 2d. Mr. J. is one of the
early settlers of the county, and is Trustee of the Presbyterian
Church of Deer Creek, of which the family are members.
Joseph AWso, farmer, section 18; P. O., Washington; born in
Venango Co., Pa., July 27, 1805, and was the second son of Robert
and Jane (Mercer) Kelso, natives of New Hampshire, who emi-
grated to the West in 1800, and after an eventful life, died in
Switzerland county, Ind., in 1835. The subject of this sketch
started from Switzerland county, Ind., in March, traveling by ox
teams and arriving in this county April 20, 1832. After looking
the county through, he settled on his present farm, where he entered
80 acres of land". Having but little money, he commenced the
cultivation and improvement of his place, and, by continued perse-
verance and industry, has made an entire success. The land sur-
rounding his fine residence now numbers over 320 acres of valuable
land. He was married to Miss Sarah Nelson, in 1829, a native of
Switzerland county, Indiana, where she was born Dec. 25, 1811.
Robert, John, Jane, Joseph, Jr., Wilson, and Matilda are their
living children; lost five, Charles, David, William, Sarah, and
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 691
Eliza. There were five families who accompanied this veteran
pilgrim to his Western home, some of whom are still living. Mr.
K. is truly a self-made man. Commencing life with no advantages,
but by his indomitable energy he has acquired his well earned
wealth. He is well known throughout the county, and honored and
respected by all.
George W. Kingsbury, merchant, of the firm of Kingsbury &
Snyder. Born in Steuben Co., N. Y., in 1827, and emigrated to
this county in 1840, settling in Deer Creek township, and engaged
in farming, where he married Caroline Harlan in 1853. She was
born in N. Y. in 1825. Came to this city in 1857, and engaged
as clerk with Horton & Kingsbury until 1866, when he formed the
present copartnership, which has since been in successful operation,
Florence, Julia and Harlan are their living children. Members of
the Lutheran Church.
Conrad Laiorentz, Jr., farmer, sec. 32, P. O., Washington. Born
in Groveland township in 1853. His parents were Conrad and
Barbara Lawrcntz, who emigrated to America in 1830 and settled in
Peoria, and two years afterward moved to St. Louis, thence to this
county, settling in Groveland township, where he died. Was among
the early pioneers of this county. The subject of this sketch was
married, in 1875, to Miss Annie C. Friedinger, a native of Grove-
land, where she was born in 1857. George E. and Christian V. are
their children. In 1873 he settled on his present estate, which con-
sists of 115 acres, valued at §40 i)er acre,
John Loioman, farmer, sec. 31 ; P. O., Farmdale. Is the oldest
son of Martin and Elizabeth (Howard) Lowman, natives of Lincoln
Co., N. C, who emigrated to this county and settled in Holland's
Grove, near Washington City, May 12, 1831, where father and
son entered a quarter section of land and were three days erecting
a cabin of split rails, when they engaged in opening and improving
a farm. In 1871 his father moved to Mo., where his mother died,
when he returned and is now living in Woodford Co. The subject
of this sketch was married, in 1 838, to Miss Elizabeth Gordon,
daughter of George Gordon, a veteran of the Black Hawk war, and
one of this county's early pilgrims, where he died in 1853. She
was a native of Dearborn Co., Ind., where she was born in 1821.
Mr. Lowman served as a scout in the Black Hawk war, and has
experienced all the hardships of pioneer life. In 1845 he settled on
his present estate, consisting of over 300 acres of valuable land,
where he has since made it his home. His collossal frame measures
six feet eight inches in his stockings, and his greatest weight is 255
pounds. Mary, Hannah, Rebecca, Martin H., John W., James C,
Jane, Elizabeth, Henry C., Samuel M., Annie and Edward W. are
their living children.
Henry Mahle, grain dealer; residence. Main street. Born in
ClaYion Co., Pa., in 1832. His parents were Louis and Elizabeth
(Lilly) Mahle, natives of Hesse Cassel, Germany. Married Sybilla
692 HISTOEY OF TAZEWEI,L COUNTY.
Lawson, May 10, 1855. She was born in Gettysburgh, Pa., in 1834 ;
came to this county in 1865 and settled in the city, where he has
been engaged principally in the grain business. Has filled the office
of Township Trustee for many years, and was elected to the City
Council after its incorporation in the spring of 1877. Amanda J.,
Charlotte E., Lincoln E. and John W. are their living children.
Members of English Lutheran Church.
William B. Ilerchanf, real estate and insurance broker, Washing-
ton city. Born in Steuben ville, Jefferson Co., O., in 1830. His
parents were John and Margaret (Sanonton) Merchant, natives of
Pa., who at an early day emigrated to O., where they have since
died. Mr. M. was married, in 1857, to Miss Jane H. Eagleson,
a native of O., and in the following year came to this county and
settled south of Washington, and became extensively engaged in
farming, where his estimable wife died in 1862. Six years later he
removed to this city and engaged in real estate and insurance busi-
ness with his only son, Alvin E., where they have conducted a suc-
cessful and active practice. Mr. M. has been an invalid for some
months, and is still suffering from an affection of the lungs. He is
held in high esteem and respect by a large circle of friends in this
community, where he has become widely known and appreciated.
His worthy son, possessed of excellent business abilities, is his con-
stant attendant, and we know of no young man who has more warm
friends than Alvin E. Merchant. Are members of the Presbyterian
Church.
Joseph B. Miles, Jr., farmer; residence Washington. Born in
Athens, Athens Co., O., Oct. 11, 1828. Is the son of Joseph B.
Miles, Sr., who was born in Rutland, Mass., June 21st, 1781, and
removed, with his parents, to Ohio while very young, and settled at
Belpre, on the Ohio river, in what is now Washington Co. On
reaching his majority he settled in Athens Co., O., where he re-
mained until the summer of 1843, when, with his wife and seven
children, he removed to this county and settled on sec. 28, where he
resided until 1857, when he removed to the town of Washington,
where he died Aug. 18, 1860, aged seventy-nine years, one month,
and twenty-eight days. Was married to his second wife, Elizabeth
M. Falton, April 14, 1822. The subject of this sketch came to this
county in Aug., 1843, settled on and improved the S. E. quarter of
sec. 28, where he resided until Oct., 1857, when he moved into the
town of Washington, where he still resides. Enlisted in the Union
Army on Aug. 16, 1861, as First Lieut., Co. B, 47th Regt., Vol.
Inf. Commissioned to take rank as First Lieut, from the 25th day
of Aug., 1861. Was promoted and commissioned to take rank as
Capt. from Sept. 2, 1861. Promoted to take rank as Major, Aug.
21, 1863. Participated in the battles of New Madrid and Point
Pleasant, Mo., Island No. 10, luka. Miss., Jackson, Miss., seige and
assault of Vicksburg, Miss., Mechanicsburg, Miss., Richmond, La.,
Fort De Russey, La., Henderson Hill, La., Pleasant Hill, La.,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 693
Monsura, Yellow Bayou and Lake Chicot, where he was severely
wounded by a gunshot through the neck and shoulders, June 6,
1864. AVas brought home to Washington ; returned to the field
and joined his regiment at Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 2, 1864, and was
mustered out of the service Oct. 11th, 1864. His elder brother,
Daniel D. Miles, enlisted Aug. 16, 1861, and commissioned to take
rank as Captain, Aug. 16, 1861; promoted to Lieut. Col,, Sept. 1,
1861, and died from wounds received in action at Farmington,
Miss., May 9, 1862. Deceased was a native of Athens, O., M'here
he was born Aug. 18, 1827; was married Dec. 31, 1855, to Miss
Ellen Wood, daughter of the late Dr. G. P. AVood.
Jacob Minch, farmer, sec. 35; P. O., Washington. Was born in'
Washington township in 1840, and is a son of an early pilgrim.
Was married, in 1861, to Miss Anna E. Berket, daughter of Wil-
liam Berket, also a native of this township. They have four chil-
dren— Mary C, Ella V., Arthur C, and Bessie S. Mr. M. resides
on the homestead, consisting of 180 acres, valued at $60 per acre.
He enlisted in the 47th I. V. Inf., Co., B, and served three years
and three months. Was wounded slightly at Yicksburg, but never
missed a roll-call, and was not confined during the time of his ser-
vice. Participated in battles of Point Pleasant, Mo., Island No. 10,
luka, Miss., siege and assault of Yicksburg, Richmond, La., Fort
De Russey, La., and all the battles tliat regiment was in.
Phillip Moschel, farmer, sec. 21; P. O., Washington; born in
Bavaria, Germany in 1833, and. emigrated to America in 1853, set-
tling near Groveland township, where he resided six years, when he
moved to Woodford county, where he was married, in 1861, to Miss
Mary Centmeyer, a native of Bavaria, where she was born in 1836.
In 1866 he returned to this county, and settled in this township on
his present estate in 1875, consisting of 160 acres, valued at $60
per acre. Mary, Carrie, and George are their living children.
Members of the Lutheran Church.
B. F. Myers, farmer, sec. 12; P. O., Washington; born in Pick-
away Co., O., in 1850, and emigrated to this county with his
parents, Solomon and Mary (Bufford) Myers, in the fall of 1864,
and settled in \\'ashington. The following year he removed to his
present estate of 80 acres, valued at $2,000. ' Was married, in 1869,
to Miss Mattie Gibson, who was born in this county in 1853.
Carrie V. and Mamie A. are their children.
Henry Myers, farmer, sec. 12; P. O., AVashington ; born in
Pickaway Co., O., in 1847. His parents were Solomon and Mary
(Bufford) Myers, natives of O. The family came to this county in
1864, and after one year's residence in Washington the subject of
this sketch settled on his present estate of 80 acres, valued at $65
per acre. Same year of his coming he was married to Miss Barbara
Puntches, a native of Pickaway Co., where she was born in 1848.
Time and Nellie May are their two living children.
John C. Nof singer, farmers, sec. 5 ; P. O., AVashington ; born in
694 HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Tazewell Co., 111., in 1843. His parents were Christian and Bar-
bara (Schetch) Nofsinger, natives of Germany, who were early
settlers in this connty, and where they still reside. In 1868 he
married Catherine Baughman, a native of Woodford Co., where she
was born in 1852. Peter, Christian, Joseph, John, and Annie are
their living children. Are members of the Ornish Church.
L. 8. North, dry goods merchant, north side of Commercial
Square. Has occupied his present place of business since 1869.
Is a thorough business man, and enjoys the confidence of the com-
munity at large.
Charles Oesterley, former, sec. 32 ; post-office, Farmdale ; born In
Germany in 1820; married Catherine Freibelin in 1848, who was
born in Germany in 1826. The same year he emigrated to America,
and resided for one year near Buffalo, N. Y., when he moved to
Pennsylvania, and six years after came to this county and settled
on his present estate, consisting of 105 acres, valued at $35 per
acre. Fronecar, John, Henry, Catherine, and Paulina are their
living children. Are members of the Evangelical Church.
Phillip Orth, fiirmer, sec. 4; post-office, Washington; born in
Germany in 1827, and emigrated to America in 1849, settling in
Jeffi^rson county, N. Y., M'here he resided until 1856, when he came
to this county and settled on his present estate of 190 acres, valued
at $50 per acre. He was married in 1855, to Miss Catherine Shafer,
who was born in Germany in 1836. John, Theodore, Emma,
Lizzie, and Phillip, Jr. are their living children. Are members of
the Lutheran Church.
P. H. Parker, grocery merchant, firm of C. J. Gibson & Co. ;
residence Church street; born in Woodford county, in 1854; is a
son of Hiram Parker, who settled in McLean county in 1837. The
family moved to this county in 1870, and he became engaged in his
present business in this city. He was married, in 1875, to Miss
Mary B. Foster, a native of Peoria, where she was born in 1850.
In the spring of 1878 he formed the present partnership, where he
has since carried on a successful trade.
Peter Portman, firmer and stock dealer, sec. 24 ; P. O., Washing-
ton ; born in Sanburgh, France, in 1822, and emigrated to America
in July, 1848, and settled near his present estate, consisting of 290
acres, valued at $100 per acre. He was married, in Woodford Co.,
in 1853, to Miss Josephine Uqnat, a native of France, by whom
he has ten children — Nicholas G., Emil J,, Rosa M., Josephine
G., Mary F., Peter N., Louisa M., Frankie J., Charles L., and
Clement A. In 1837 they returned to their native country, (after
renting the farm,) where they spent four years, and in 1861 he
opened a livery stable in this city, where he resided until 1864,
when he moved again on the farm, where he has since made it his
home. Are members of the Catholic Church.
Charles Rapp, jeweler, north side of the square ; born in Washing-
ton, 111., in 1851 ; is a son of Earnest and Christian (Smith) Rapp,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 695
natives of Germany. The subject of this sketch commenced his
apprenticeship at Fairbury, in 1873, and the following year engaged
with an extensive house at Peoria, where he remained two years,
when he returned to this city and opened his present place of busi-
ness, where he entertains his customers with the finest and best
selected stock of jewelry in the city. In 1877 he married Frances
Miles, a native of this city. They have one child. Pearl May.
Joseph Ropp, farmer, sec. 8 ; P. O., Washington ; born in Alsace,
France, now Germany, in 1823. His parents were natives of same
place, and emigrated to this country in 1836, and settled in Wood-
ford county, where they lived a short time, when they came to this
county and settled in this township, where he lived until his
removal to McLean county, where he died. The subject of this
sketch then moved to Elm Grove township in 1839, where he pur-
chased and resided until his coming to Washington township, and
settled on his present estate of 156 acres, valued at $70 per acre.
Married Catherine Burkey in 1850, a nativs of Germany, where
she was born in 1829. Elizabeth, Barbara, Amos, Phoebe, Daniel,
Katie, and Fannie, are their living children. A member of the
Omish Church.
Frederick Rickman, firm of Rickman & Harrington, Washington ;
born in Germany in 1834: and emigrated, with his parents to Amer-
ica in 1854, stopping one year in Canada, thence to Spring Bay, and
after a few years moved to Peoria, where his father still resides.
The subject of this sketch came to this city in 1855, and engaged in
wagon making until he formed the present copartnership, where he
has since been successfully engaged. Was married, in 1857, to Miss
Sophia Baker, a native of HI. Frederick N., Lizzie, Loney,
Frank, Annie D., Laura, Hattie and Tilly B., are their living chil-
dren, lost one, William.
William F. Rochin, boot and shoe merchant, S. W. cor. Commer-
cial Square; residence. High st ; born in Wurtemburgh, Germany,
in 1833. Parents were David and, Elizabeth Roehm, natives of
Germany. Emigrated to America in 1847, and settled in Detroit,
Mich., where he resided until 1855, when he moved to Peoria.
Was married, in 1856, to Miss Catherine Eantzi, a native of
Germany, where she was born in 1831. Came to this county in
1865 and opened a small shoe shop on Main street, forming a i)art-
nership with Wm. Fletmeyer, which was dissolved in the same year.
In 1869 he was enabled to open his j)resent place, where he has
since carried on a large trade. Katie, I^ouisa, Mary, Julius, Theo-
dore, and Emil, are • their living children. Are members of the
German Liberal C'luirch.
William A. Ross, blacksmith, firm of Ross & Zinscn, north side
Commercial Square; born in Franklin Co., O., in 1826. His
father was Hugh M., a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he
was born in 1791. His mother's name was Nancy Crosseta, a
native of N. Y. State, and the family moved to Maine, on the
696 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Penobscot river, at an early day, and to this county in 1835, settling
in Deer Creek township, where he entered land and resided until
his death, which occurred at the residence of Dewitt Higgins in
1842. He was a land surveyor and entered largely upon the inter-
ests of the town and county, being among those of early settlers.
After his fother's death the subject of this sketch made his home
with Maj. R. N. CuUom, father of the present Gov. of the State, a
native of Kentucky, and after four years residence came to this
city, and served an apprenticeship with Brazilla Alice, with whom
he formed copartnership, subsecpiently going into business for him-
self, where he continued until the formation of the present firm in
active operation. Was appointed Deputy Provost Marshall in
June, 1862, and served every draft notice in the county, until the
close of the war. His family are members of the Methodist
Church.
Josiah Snyder, firm of Kingsbury & Snyder, merchants. Main
street, Washington; was born in Somerset Co., Pa., Feb. 20, 1827,
and is the only son of Jacob and Julia (Woy) Snyder, natives oJF
Pa., where his father died in 1848, leaving his wife and seven daugh-
ters and only son. He remained on the farm with his mother and
the younger sisters, filling, in a measure, the father's chair, in the
duties which were before him. At the age of 22 years he was mar-
ried to Miss Sarah C. Lawson, daughter of Rev. S. B. Lawson, and
in Oct., 1863, left Somerset Co., with his wife and three children,
for the West, and settled in this city, where he became engaged in
the mercantile business, and two years later associated himself with
G. W. Kingsbury, in the grocery business, where he has since been
successfully engaged. This firm is popular among all classes through-
out the surrounding county and city. Possessing business qualifi-
cations and experience, they control the immense trade that is
brought to this thrifty little city. Politically Mr. S. is Republican.
Religiously, has been a consistent member of the Evangelical Lu-
theran Church from the age of seventeen years. Is strictly tem-
perate in all his habits. Being in the prime of manhood, he may
long continue a useful member of the community in which he is
highly appreciated and respected. Emma, John B., Frank M.,
Charles L. W., Harvey J., Clara R. and Sarah E. are their children.
T, C. Sotmemann, hardware merchant. Main street, res. cor. Hol-
land and High streets ; born in Vandalia, Fayette Co., 111., Feb.
10, 1845. His parents were Jacob and Ann, natives of Germany,
who came to this State in 1835 and settled in Vandalia, where he
engaged in the harness business, removing to this Co. in 1848, where
he fi)llowed his calling until 1865, when he retired from business,
and died in 1866. Mr. S. continued the business until 1870, when
he formed a partnership with Tobias & Sons, in the hardware trade,
where he remained three years, when he retired and engaged for
three years in the lumber business, at which time he built the store
he now occupies as a hardware store, and carries on a successful
HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 697
trade. Was elected City Treasurer at tlie first election of city offi-
cers after its incorporation in the spring of 1877. Was married, in
1866, to Miss Mary F. Tobias. She was born in Circle ville, O., in
1848. Lewis C. and George T. are their living children.
J. W. Sprif/gs, D. D., Pastor Christian Churcii ; born in Noble
Co., O., in 1847. Parents were Morris D. and Catharine (Pool)
Spriggs, natives of Pa., who emigrated to tliis State in 1867, and
settled in Wavne Co. Was first educated for the law in Woodford,
O., where he graduated and became pastor of a Christian Church in
Minn. In 1878 he took charge of the Mission Church at Pekin,
and in Feb. of the following year came to this" city, where he has
filled the pulpit of the Christian Church. V. Winnie, Flora, Lotta
and Ednor are their living children.
William Sformcr, firm of Stormer Bros., south side of the square ;
born in Frankenburgh, Hesse Cassel, Germany, in 1845. Emi-
grated with his parent to America, in 1856, and settled northeast of
this city on a farm, where he resided until 1874, when he formed a
partnership under the firm name of H. W. & W. Stormer. In 1875
his brother John purchased the interest of H. AY., where they have
since conducted a thrifty business. He was married, in 1876, to
Miss Amelia Bontz ; slie was born in Peoria county in 1853. They
have one child, Conrad B. John, senior member of the firm, was
born in Hittenrod, Germany, in 1839. He married Catherine Keil
in the spring of 1868; she was born in Holland's Grove, now
Washington city, in 1847. They have four children — Charles,
Julia, Clara, and Mamy. Are members of the German Lutheran
Church.
Peter Strubkr, Jr., firmer, sec. 30 ; post-office, Washington ; born
in France, in 1827, and emigrated to this country in 1835, with his
mother, and settled in Butler county, Ohio, where he resided until
1845, when he moved to McLean county, and to this county in
1867, and settled north of Washington. He was married, in 1850,
to Miss Barbara Switzer, a native of France, where she was born
in 1830. Joseph, Christian, Peter, Jr., and Valentine are their
living children; lost two — John, and Mary. Moved on his pres-
ent estate in 1871, consisting of 320 acres, valued at $60 per acre.
Peter K Stitckei/, farmer, sec. 19 ; post-office, Washington ; born
in Butler county, Ohio, May 31, 1844; came to this county in 1865,
and in 1866 was married to Miss Catherine Engle, who was born in
AVoodford county, 111., in 1842. Mr. S. was called to fill the pulpit
of the Omish Church, soon after settling on his present estate, in
1871, where he has since been occupied. Has a farm of 80 acres,
valued at $50 per acre. John E., Wm. A., Joseph H., Charles J.,
Barbara E., Elvina J., and Theodore T. are their living children.
EdmiDtd Sullivan, fiwrncr, sec. 27; ])ost-office, Washington; born
in Ireland in 1837. He married Johanna McCarty in 1856; she
was born in Massachusetts in 1839. Mr. S. emigrated to America
in 1857, and was engaged in a grocery in New York State for some
698 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
months, when he came to the West and settled in Peoria, where he
lived nine years, when he moved to this county and settled on his
present estate, consisting of 240 acres, valued at $60 per acre. This
home he has accumulated by his own labors and toil, and is a pros-
perous, active farmer. John T., Daniel, Ellen, Edmund, Jr., and
Michael, are their living children.
Adam M. Switzcr, farmer, sec. 24 ; P. O., Washington ; born in
Hampshire county, Va., in 1810. His parents were John and
Elizabeth (Kline) Switzer, natives of Germany. They emigrated
to Hennepin, Putnam Co., this State, in 1834, where he remained a
short time, and settled in this village the same year, where he
engaged at his trade, tailoring, a few years, when he purchased his
present estate, consisting of 100 acres, valued at $100 per acre. In
Nov., 1835, he married Harriet A. Heath, who was born in Mus-
kingum county, O., Aug. 14, 1818. Arabella H., widow of John
L. Webster, who died in Carlisle, Ark., in 1877, is their only living
child ; she has one son, Abel M. Webster, of the firm of Voorhees
& Webster, of this city. Family are members of Methodist Church.
William P. Thompson, farmer, sec. 23 ; P. O., Washington ; born
in Washington county. Pa., in 1816. His parents died when
young, and when four years of age, he was taken to the home of
Eliza Maxon, in Fayette county, with whom he lived many years.
At the age of sixteen years he went to Clinton county, Ohio, where,
in 1841, he was married to Miss Mary H. Kizer, a native of Va.,
where she was born in 1821. Came to this county in 1850, and set-
tled one mile east of the city, where he lived 24 years, when he
moved on his present estate of 20 acres, valued at $250 per acre.
Also owns the homestead of 200 acres. Elizabeth J., Eliza M.,
Cclia A., Lucinda E., Louisa, Ella, tnd Alice, are their living chil-
dren, lost three — Emma, George C, and one died iu infancy,
George F. Tobias, furniture dealer and manufacturer, of the firm
of Tobias & Co., south side Commercial square ; born in Pickaway
Co., O., in 1854. Parents were Elijah and Sarah (Moyer) Tobias,
natives of Pa., where they died at an early day. Emigrated to this
county in 1870 and settled in this city, where he engaged at his
trade of wagon manufacturing. In 1875 was married to Miss
Sophia Benford, who was born in Somerset, Pa., in 1354. Formed
the present co-partnership in 1876, where he has since continued in
a successful business. Leroy is their only living child. Member
of the Lutheran Church.
Benjamin Tobias, Jr., carriage and wagon manufacturer. Walnut
and Holland sts. ; born in Burks Co., Pa., in 1829. Parents were
Benjamin and Elizabeth (Roth) Tobias, natives of that State, where
he married Elizabeth J. Anderson iu 1850. She was born in Pick-
away Co., O., in 1831. Came to this county in 1855, and settled
in this city, when he commenced the manufacture of plows, which he
conducted for several years, when he became engaged in wagon
manufacturing, building his present premises in 1862, and a black-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 699
smith shop connected in 1874, where he has since been extensively
engaged. Has two extensive farms near Gihiian, conchictcd by his
sons, vahied at $40 per acre. AVas Justice of the Peace twelve
years, Supervisor a short time, and elected Mayor of this city, April
15,1879. Denny, Willis, and Sanford are their living children;
lost five — Alice, Flora, Charles A., Harley and Florence.
James Trimble, retired farmer, residence and P. O., Washington ;
born in Highland Co., O., in 1820. His parents were Thomas and
Margaret (Kelley) Trimble. Came to this county in 1834, and set-
tled near this city, where his father died in 1856. In 1839 or '40,
came to this cify and engaged at his trade, wagon-making. In
1849 he married Mary B. Mcrris ; she was born in Cecil Co., Md.,
in 1820, and died in 1871. Of their several children two are liv-
ing— Chas. E. and James H.
John Watson, Jr., proprietor Tazewell Co. Mills ; born in ISIont-
goraery Co., 111., in 1836. His parents were John and Eliza (Kelly)
Watson, the former a native of Conn., and mother a native of
Ireland. His parents emigrated to this State in 1836 and settled
in Hillsburough, Montgomery Co., where he engaged in milling
eighteen years, when he built a mill and erected the Pilot Knob
Iron Works at Pilot Knob, Mo., where he resided five years when
he moved to St. Louis, and after a few years residence there he
returned to Hillsborough, when he sold his milling interest and
lived one year at Litchfield, same county, thence to Morrissonville,
where he leased a mill under the firm of Frederick & Watson, and
continued until 1878, when the subject of this sketch came to this
city and leased the mill where he is now conducting a successful
trade. Was married, in 1865, to Mary Barefoot, who died the fol-
lowing year. His present wife, Ella R, Hayes, was born in Pike
Co., 111., in 1856. They were married in 1874, and have two
children, Fannie M., born May 3, 1875, and Mary H., Oct. 17, 1878.
George C. War/ncr, fiirmer, sec. 17; P. O., AVashington ; born in
Germany in 1838; emigrated to this country with his parents in
1847, and settled in AYo()dfi)rd county, where his ])arents died.
Married Catherine Belchy, in 1861, a native of Woodford county,
and has five children — Lane, John, Barbara, Samuel, and Susie,
lost three — Bena, Joseph, and Emma. Came to this county in
1872, and settled on his present estate of 154 acres, valued at $70
per acre, where he has since made his home. Are members of
the Omish Church.
Harriet Waughop, farmer, sec. 23 ; P. O., Washington ; widow of
James Waughop, a native of Portsmouth, Va. Siie was born in
Bedfi)rd county, Ya., in 1814, and is a daughter of Abraham and
Nancy Huddleston, early pioneers of this county, who settled iu
this township at an early day. Mr. Waughop came to this county
in 1830, and settled in this township, where he lived until his death
in 1868. Was one of the early pioneers and was well known
throughout the county. They were married in 1836, and of their
700 HISTORY OF TAZEAVELL COUNTY.
several children two are living — Martin and Joseph. Settled on
the present estate of 65 acres in 1857.
John Weeh"^, farmer, sec. 12; P. O., AVashington ; born in Wor-
cester Co., Mass., in 1834; married Easter Holland, daughter of
AVilliam Holland, Sr., a native of this township. Came to this Co.
in 1860 and settled in Washington, where he resided with his father-
in-law until his death, he then removed to the east side of the
township, where he lived until 1877, when he settled on his present
estate of 84 acres, valued at $70 per acre. Eliza J. and William A.
are their living children.
Wm. H. Weirick, 31. D., Physician, north side Commercial Square ;
born in Union Co., Pa., in 1841. At the age of 21 he enlisted in
131st Regt. Pa. nine month's men, participating in the battle of
Fredericksburgh. Returning, re-enlisted, in 1863, in State militia,
serving six weeks, when he returned home, and in the spring of
1864 commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Samuel Blair, of
Louisborg, and in the fall of same year entered Lombard Univer-
sity of Pa., and the following spring entered the service in the 213th
Regt., as Surgeon, serving until the close of the war. Returning,
continued the course of lectures until the spring of 1866, when he
commenced practice at Montrose, Henry Co., Mo., remaining until
1875, when he came to Peoria, and after a short stay there returned
to Montrose, where he remained until Feb., 1876, when he came to
this city, where he followed his occupation for one year, when he
engaged with Drs. Wood and Wilson as assistant, where he remained
until the death of Dr. AYilson, on Feb. 17, 1879, at which time he
opened his present place, where he has successful practice. He
married, in 1869, Harriet N. Wilson, who was born in Union Co.,
Pa., in 1843. Agues B., Margaret A. and Ralph W. are the living
children.
Jacob L. Wiko7i, firm of Wilson & Shormaker, livery stable, south
side of Commercial Square; born in Wayne county, Ind., in 1817,
and is the eldest son of Jacob Wilson, and grandson of Isaac Wil-
son, who owned a large farm on the present site of Indianapolis,
Ind., where he died at an early day. In the fall of 1823 his father
started from Wayne county, and after a hard journey, landed on the
flats in Fond du Lac township, in February, 1824, where he made
his claim of 320 acres of land on sec. 14, where he resided until
1828 or 1829, when he sold his claim and went to the lead mines at
Galena, and after one year returned and purchased the homestead
claim, where he lived until his death in September, 1869, and was
one of the oldest residents of the town and county. He was com-
missioned by the Governor to act as Justice of the Peace for several .
years ; also County Deputy, which office he held at the time of his
death. The subject of this sketch was married, at Indianapolis,
Ind., March 25, 1841, to Miss Martha Evins, a native of Lexing-
ton, Ky., where she was born in 1824. Mr. W. moved to Wash-
ington, 111., in 1874, and opened his present business, where he has
WASHINGTON
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 703
been successfully eno-ao-ed. W^s elected Justice of the Peace in
1864, to fill vacancy of C. J. Gibson ; re-elected in 1866, and re-
signed, and again elected in the spring of 1879. Mr. W. is the
second oldest living settler of Fond du Lac township, and has ex-
perienced all the privations of pioneer life. To Uncle Jacob, as he
is familiarly know, the writer is largely indebted for many valuable
items, and the interest and assistance Avhich it was his pleasure to
bestow. INIay his memory through life keep fresh and green as now,
and his shadow never grow less. Mary J., Sarah F., Laura C, and
Hattie E. are their living children. Family are members of the
Methodist Church.
R. B. M. Wilson, 3I.D., deceased. The subject of this sketch was
born on Island Magee, County of Antrim, Ireland, March 19, 1827.
Was the eldest child of Alex. C. Wilson, and grandson of Rev.
John Murphy, who was for fifty-three years jiastor of the First
Presbyterian Church of Island Magee, the church with which the
Doctor's family was connected. He pursued the study of medicine
and surgery at the Royal College in Belfast, Ireland, also at the
Glasgow University, and the Andersonian University in the city of
Glasgow, Scotland. He took his degree in the latter University, in
March, 1847, at the close of the 20th year of his age. In the fol-
lowing month he emigrated to the United States, and first settled in
Metamora, the county seat of Woodford county, in this State. He
was married, June 1, 1854, to Miss Jane F. Anthony, daughter of
the late Charles S. N. Anthony, of this place. In the falfof 1848
he removed to this place and commenced the practice of medicine,
forming a co-partnership, in the same year, with the late Dr. G. P.
Wood. Being worn by the labors of a large practice, and desiring
a period of rest, he accepted the nomination, and was elected by the
people in 1858, to serve as their Representative in the Legislature
of this State. He was also chosen a member of the convention
which met, in 1862, to frame a new constitution for the State. At
the expiration of his term of service, he returned to the practice of
his profession. By success in his labors, he accumulated a large
landed property, which he improved and managed with executive
ability. In 1877 he formed a co-partnership, in the practice of
medicine, with Dr. F. F. Wood, the son and successor of his former
partner, and entered with new energy upon the labors of the phy-
sician.. His professional reputation extended far beyond this imme-
diate vicinity. His services were in demand throughout this section
of the country, and almost every incoming train brought ])atients to
receive the benefits of his skill. He had, for some time, been
troubled with chronic bronchitis, which was at last renderecl acute
by exhaustion, over-exertion, and exposure caused by these large
demands upon his strength, causing his death, which occurred Feb.
17, 1879. His wife and their only children, two sons, survive to
mourn his death. His portrait may be found in this volume.
E. F. Wood, M.D., residence, North Main street; born in AVind-
42
704 HISTORY OF TAZEAYELL COUNTY.
sor Co., Vt., in 1829, and son of the late Dr. G. P. Wood, a native
of Windsor Co., Vt., where he was born in 1800. At the age of
eighteen years he commenced his studies at Castleton, Vt., when he
moved to' this city and became a student with Dr. Dundee, a pioneer
physician of this county, with whom he was associated several years,
afterwards forming a business relation with Dr. Rogers, and in 1848
formed a partncrshij) with the late Dr. R. B. M. Wilson, which was
continued until 185G, when he made a professional connection with
his son, and followed a successful practice until 1864, when he re-
tired from public practice, attending only to private cases where
his services were deemed a necessity. His death occurred in this
city in Nov., 1872. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait ap-
pears in this work, commenced studying with his father, with whom
he remained until 1 849, when he entered the State University, at
St. Louis, through the sessions of '49, '50, and '51, in which year
he was graduated, and returned to this city, forming a partnership
with Benjamin Harris, of Groveland, and for one year followed his
professional calling at Morton, 111., when he returned to Washing-
ton, and entered upon an extended practice in connection with his
father, and in Feb., 1877, a partnership was formed with the late
Dr. R. B. M. Wilson. From this relation sprang the deepest feel-
ings of friendship and brotherly love. Having a large field of
practice it was often the cause of remark, that so much could be
accomplished only by the united feelings of the heart. He was
married, June 22,1852, to Miss Lydia A. Lindley, daughter of
John Lindley, an early pioneer of this city. She died in this city
March 17, 1879, leaving four children — Maria E., Julia E.,
Laura L., and Charles E. Dr. W. is the oldest resident physician
of this township, and possesses the affable and gentlemanly qualities
that endear him to a large circle of friends, to whom his life, for a
score of years, has been devoted.
William B. F«7c, retired farmer ; res. Peoria st; born in AVash-
ington county, N. Y., in 1820. His parents were Nira and Anna
(Chase) Yale, natives of Mass. Emigrated to this county in 1836
and settled four miles south of this city. Was engaged at his trade,
blacksmithing, several years, and in the spring of 1840 moved tAvo
miles north of the city and engaged in farming. Was married in
1854, to Miss Margaret Bell, a native of Nelson county, Ky., who
died in 1875, when he moved to his present residence, which he has
since made his home. Mr. Yale was selected as the people's choice
as a representative of the city fathers April 15, 1879. He numbers
among those of the early county pilgrims, and is a social, genial
gentleman.
Israel Zinscr, druggist. Main street, Washington ; born in Picka-
way Co., O., in 1844. His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Lin-
ter) Zinser, natives of Germany and Pa. The family came to this
county in 1851, and settled near Washington. Subsequently re-
moved to Henry Co, in 1868, they moved to ElPaso, where
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 705
his father died in 1870. The subject of this sketch enlisted, in
Feb., 1865, in the lOoth I. V. I., Co. K ; was sent to Nashville
and Murfreesboro, where he was mustered out in Sept. and returned
home, and after one term at school engaged in the grocery business
one year, when he -went to Plainficld, returning to Washington in
1868, where he married Miss Martha Tobias, and formed a ])artner-
ship with Solomon Sonneustein in the drug business, which was con-
tinued until 1871, when he sold out and returned to Plainficld,
where he engaged in the same business until 1873, at which time he
returned to this city, forming a ])artncrship business which was con-
tinued until 1876, when he purchased the whole interest of the con-
cern, where he has since carried on a successful trade. Mr. Z. is one
of the growing young merchants of the city, is popular with all
classes, and a social, genial gentleman. Elmer F., Harley A. and
Royal are their living children.
SUPERVISORS.
James W. AVather 1850-51 John W. Daugherty 1865-66
Lawson Holland 1852-53 Benj. Tobias 1S6G-68
W. A. Ross 1854 Richard D. Smith 1869
J. S. Marsh 1855-58 Peter Fifer 1870
D. L. Miles 1859-60 John H. Anthony 1871-79
Elias Wenger 1863 Wesley B. Harvey, city 1873-78
Richard C. Dement 1864
TOWN-CLERKS.
J.L.Bell 1854-60 Eli Heiple 1S67
Thomas Taylor 1861-64 Simeon Miller 1868
Eli Heiple 1865 Eli Heiple 1869-79
Jonathan H. Myers 1866
ASSESSORS.
J. L. Bell 1854-60 Charles T. Moore 1868
Jonathan H. Myers 1863-66 Eli Heiple 1869-79
Eli Heiple 1867
COLLECTORS.
J. B. McCorkle 1854 Thomas Cress 1855-79
CHAPTER XIV.
COUNTY OFFICIALS AND POLITICAL HISTORY.
«
COUNTY OFFICIALS.
Dr. Flavd Shurflef, County Clerk, was elected in 1877. He is a
son of Milton Shurtleff, a native of Plymouth, Mass., and Mary F.
Berry, a native of New Hampshire. They came to Tazewell county
at a time when Central Illinois was but little inhabited. Dr. D.
was born in Groveland, Tazewell Co., Jan. 6,1842; was sent to
the common schools, and later attended Rush Medical College,
Chicago, where he graduated with honor, and engaged in the prac-
tice of medicine in his native place. He owns a large and valuable
farm in Groveland township. The Doctor served in the war for
the Union as Assistant Surgeon of the 154th 111. Inf., a position he
was, in an eminent degree, qualified to fill, he being, by education
and practice, a skilled "surgeon. The Doctor's political views con-
form to those of the Democratic i)arty, by whose suffrage he was
elected to the office of Clerk of this county. He was also Super-
visor of Groveland from 1872 to 1875. A full-page portrait of Dr.
Shurtleif will appear in this volume.
Andrew Jackmn Kinsey, Sheriff of Tazew^ell county, is a native
of Culpepper Co., Virginia, born Oct. 8, 1831. He has been a res-
ident of this county for twenty-six years, and during all these years
has always been keenly alive to every movement looking toward the
development of her resources. His parental ancestors, James and
Ann Kinsey, were also of Virginian birth, and hard-working,
honest people. Mr. Kinsey lived in his native State until twenty-
one years of age, when he married Miss Lucy Brown, and came,
one year later, to Illinois, settling in Tazewell county. They have
been blessed wath ten children, whose names and dates of birth are
as follows: Ann Eliza, Nov. 27, '53; Charles M., June 14, '55;
Stephen D., Nov. 1, '58; Martha N., May 18, '61; Turner L.,
April 8, '63; John F., Oct. 27, '64; Lina J., June 15, '66; James
W., Jan. 8, '69; AVilliam W., Dec. 8, '70, and Harry B., April 1,
'74. Their household has been saddened by four deaths: Ann
Eliza, Sept. 11, '54; Martha N., Sept. 3, '62; Turner L., Aug. 15,
'64, and John F., Oct. 18, '65.
William L. Prettyman, States Attorney, is a native son of Taze-
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 707
well county, having'been born in Pekin, Feb. 17, 1850. He is the
son of Benjamin S. and Sarah A. (Haines) Prettyman, both of whom
came to the county in an early day, and are well and favorably
known. States Attorney Prettyman passed his boyhood days in
attendance upon the public schools of Pekin, and passed one year in
school at Worcester, Mass. He finished his education at Chicago
University, Chicago, at which institution he spent two years. He
returned to his native town and engaged in the ])raetice of law, and
in 1876 was elected to the office of States Attorney, running on the
Democratic ticket. He has served his ward, the third, as Alderman
in the City Council, He fills his present official position with
credit to himself, and as far as we can learn with general satisfaction
to all. He is First Lieutenant ofCo. G, 7th Regt., I. N. G. July
21, 1871, he was united in marriage with Fannie Yandervort; they
have two children — Fannie, born July 8, 1873, and John B., born
Oct. 19, 1875.
Alfred ]V. Eodecker, County Judge, was born in Peoria, May 15,
1844, and received his education in Eureka College, Eureka, 111.
He came to the county in the spring of 1856, at the age of 12 years,
and in 1862 settled in Pekin, where he was afterwards admitted to
to the Bar, and engaged in the practice of law. In addition to the
office of County Judge, Mr. Rodecker has been School Inspector
for seven years. He formed the acquaintance of Miss Ida Fenner,
and on June 8, 1871, was united to her by the bonds of matri-
mony, and their home was brightened by one son of promise,
Thaddeus, who was born June 22, 1872.
Henry C. Sutton, present Circuit Clerk, has been a resident of this
county since 1855 ; is a son of Samuel C. Sutton and Susan, his wife,
who lived in New York city, where Henry was born Sept. 23, 1828.
He has held many of the most important offices of Tazewell Co.,
and was Justice of the Peace for twenty years. Pie is a conscientious
Christian, and member of the j\I. E. Church. Dec. 31, 1849, at
Martin vi lie, Somerset Co., N. Y., he married Miss Jane McCord,
and from the union sprang six children, to gladden the home and
lessen the cares during the evening of their peaceful lives.
George Henry Harlow, former Circuit Clerk, and now Secretary
of State, was born Sept. 5, 1830, at Sacket's Harbor, Jefferson
Co., N. Y., and is the son of Daniel Harlow and Mercy nee Austin.
At the age of 13, he spent one year on a farm, and then engaged in
a dry goods and grocery store, at Belleville, X. Y. At the age of
18 he engaged himself to Lewis Chambers, of Deer River, N. Y.,
to learn the carpenter's and joiner's trade. Mr. C. was a most
exemplary man, and a devoted Methodist. It was his custom at
morning prayers, to ask that "liberty and universal freedom might
cover this land as the waters cover the great deep, and that every
chain might be broken, and every slave set free." At his majority,
he entered the office of O. L. Wheelock, now of Chicago, for the
purpose of learning the art of designing and drafting. In March,
708 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
1854, having attained considerable proficiency as an architect, and
wishing a more extended field in which to start in his chosen pro-
fession, he removed to Illinois, and located in Pekin. He soon
found, however, that there was little demand for fancy architecture,
and was compelled to lay aside his T square and pencil, and take up
his jack plane and hammer. For fifteen months he worked steadily
at $1.75 per day. In 1855, accepted a position as clerk in the store
of James Milner, at Pekin. Soon after entering the office of Mr.
Gill, which he did in 1857, he entered into a partnership with him,
to conduct a general merchandising business at Delavan. In 1858,
Mr. H. began business in his own name, as a forwarding and com-
mission merchant and grain buyer. He shortly afterwards associated
with himself L. B. Chambers, and were doing a prosperous business,
when, in 1859, they were burned out, without a dollar of insurance.
The blow was a severe one, but, undaunted, the young firm rallied
their energies and again established themselves. In a few months
Mr. Harlow purchased his partner's interest.
In politics Mr. Harlow always took an active interest, and was
formerly a Whig. During the political campaign of 1858, he be-
came greatly interested in building up the Republican party, and
his place of business became the headquarters whence the Republi-
can documents were distributed throughout Tazewell county. In
1860, he was nominated for the office of Circuit Clerk, and was
elected, being the only Republican elected in the county on the
ticket. One of the important events in which Mr. H. took an
active part, was the organization of the '' Union League of Ameri-
ca," an institution that originated in the city of Pekin, and spread
with unparalleled rapidity, into every loyal State in the Union.
Associated with him in this patriotic work, were the following old
and well known citizens of Tazewell county : John W. Glassgow,
Esq., Dr. B. A. Cheever, Hon. Chas. Turner, Hart. Montgomery,
Maj. R. N. Cullom, Col. Jonathan Merriam, Capt. Henry Pratt,
Alexander Small, L. F. Garrett, and Rev. J. W. M. Vernon.
From this organization, on Sept. 24th, 1862, a State Council was
organized, and George H. Harlow elected Grand Secretary thereof.
The order grew rapidly, and in 1863 the office of the State Council
was located at Springfield, where Mr. H. spent most of his time in
the interest of the order, and working in conjunction with that old
( war Governor, Richard Yates, who was not only a member of the
I order, but also one of the advisers and counsellors in carrying on its
work. At the meeting of the 24th General Assembly, held Jan. 2,
1865, he was elected first assistant secretary of the Senate. He held
this position until Jan. 17, when Governor Oglesby appointed him
his private secretary. He filled this position four years, and was,
at the same time, assistant inspector-general, and commissioned with
rank of Colonel of the State. He accepted the position of Asst.
Sec'y of State, in 1869. In April, 1872, he resigned his position
at the request of Mr. Rummel, who saw, from the complimentary
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 709
notices in the papers throughout the State, that Mr, Harlow was
growing in favor, and would probably be the next nominee for the
office of Secretary of State. He was nominated in INIay, and one
month later Mr. Rummol joined the Liberal or Democratic party,
and on its ticket was nominated for the same office. The result of
the election was, Mr H. defeated him by 47,942. He entered upon
the duties of his office Jan. 13, 1873, and performed its duties with
honor to himself and satisfaction to his constituents, as was demon-
strated by his re-nomination in the convention held May 24, 1S76,
and his re-election in the following November. He is a member of
the Episcopal Church, and is now a vestry-man of St. Paul's Church,
Springfield, and Supt. of the Sunday-school. He was married Oct.
1st, 1850, to ^liss Susan M. Baily, daughter of Hon. Samuel P.
Baily, of Tazewell Co. Mrs. Harlow is a member of the Epis-
copal Church. Her father was a native of Penn. He married
Mary Dorsey, of Elk Ridge landing, Maryland, and shortly after
moved to St. Louis, Missouri. From here he returned to Pekin,
where he was for thirty years engaged in the practice of law, and
occupied many positions of honor and trust. Mrs. Baily was a lady
of culture and fine accomplishments, and greatly beloved by a host
of friends. Mr. Harlow has had born to him seven children —
George Dorsey, who died at the age of one year and four months ;
Richard Austin, now twenty years of age; Bessie Baker, Georgia
Clarissa, Kate Louise (who died at the age of five years), Howard
Bernard (who died at the age of four years) and Susanna Baily.
Thomas Cooper, County Treasurer, and a pioneer of Tazewell Co.,
was born Feb. 2, 1830, in Hamilton Co., Ohio, and came to this
county way back in the early days of the county's history, in 1844,
when but a lad of fourteen years. His parents, William and Mary
(Beal) Cooper, were natives, the former of Virginia, and the latter
of Pennsylvania. At the rather tender age of 19, Mr. Coo})er, in
compliance with the scriptural injunction, "took unto himself a
wife," and in 1849 was bound in the bonds of matrimony to Miss
M. A. Strickland. Five children blessed the union. Mr. Cooper
at the age of 16, enlisted in the Mexican War, in which he did
gallant service, and fought under that brave old hero Gen. Winfield
Scott. In January, 1879, he, as a delegate, accompanied the " Mer-
chant's and Manufacturer's Industrial Deputation of the Northwest,"
to Mexico, thereby giving him an opportunity to see that land,
where thirty-three years before he liad helped to vanquish that great
Mexican chieftain, Santa Anna.
A. R. Warren, M. D., Coroner of Tazewell Co., is a native of
Kentucky, and was born in 1841. His father, an attorney at law
and Judge of the Surrogate Court in Canada, was a man of fine legal
mind, and his mother, Eliza (Bordridge) \\'arrcn, a native of Ken-
tucky, was a woman of high culture and fine education. The
Doctor received his medical education at the E. M. Institute, Cin-
cinnati, and came to this county four years ago, where he has
710 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
established a fine practice. While engaged in the practice of his
profession in Elgin, 111., he became acquainted with Miss Mary
Kizer, of that city, whom he won and wed in October, 1863.
He grew up in the Episcopal faith, to which he still adheres.
Benjamin C. Allensworth, County Superintendent of schools, P.
O., Minier; was born in Little Mackinaw township, this county,
Oct. 27, 1845. He attended the public schools of his township and
then entered the State Normal University, from which he graduated
June, 1869, and was elected to the office he now holds at the reg-
ular November election, of 1877, on the Democratic ticket. He
was also elected Assessor at the April election of the present year,
(1879). His parents, William P. and Arabella Allensworth, were
natives of Kentucky. Supt. Allensworth is well informed on
school matters having made educational questions a special study.
He resides on section 3.
His father, William P., was born in Mulilenburg county, Ken-
tucky, Sept. 25, 1820. He came to this county in 1830, and, con-
sequently, is remembered as one of the early settlers. His father's
family lived at the head of Little Mackinaw timber, and Mr. Allens-
worth made his permanent home in Little Mackinaw township.
On the 13th of March, 1844, he was married to Miss Arabella
Waggenner, who, together with seven children, three sons and four
daughters, still survive his death, which occurred at Minier, the
10th of May, 1874. Politically the subject of this sketch was first
a Whig, and then, to the close of his life, was identified with the
Democratic party. In 1868 he was elected to the office of Circuit
Clerk of Tazewell county, which position he held for four years.
In his private relations he possessed qualities of heart and mind
which endeared him to his family and a large circle of devoted
friends. Although cut down in the prime of his manhood and use-
fulness, he is kindly remembered by those who knew him best, as
one who lived long by living well. A portrait of Mr. Allensworth
may be found in this work.
Leander King, County Surveyor ; a native of Ohio, was born in
1838. Thomas King, his father, was a Pennsylvanian, while his
mother, Elizabeth Bunniuger, was born in Maryland. Mr. King
early learned surveying and civil engineering, which he has followed
with good success, having held the office of County Surveyor of
Tazewell Co. for 10 years. He came here in 1845, when but seven
years of age, and has been identified with the county since ; was a
soldier in the war for the Union, serving as orderly sergeant in the
47th 111. Inf, in which he enlisted in Aug., '61, and served with
credit for 3 years. Soon after the close of the war, in Jan, 'QQ, he
was married to Miss Helen F. Foster.
William H. Hodge. The first Sheriff and Surveyor, and one of the
active men who parti(U])ated in the organization of Tazewell county,
was William Herron Hodge. He has aided in organizing three
counties. He was born Jan. 4, 1794, in North Carolina. He came
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 711
to Illinois in 1820, and to Bloomino; Grove, McLean county, in
1824. At that time, however, that was within the boundary of" this
county. He was Sheriff, Collector and Assessor from 1827 to '31.
John Bciif^on, the first County Treasurer, was born in Pennsylva-
nia, March I, 1778. He came to Illinois in 1820 and in 1823 to
Blooming Grove. He was in the war of 1812 and fought at Tippe-
canoe under Harrison. Mr. Benson was living up to 1874, whether
he has lived to see his hundredth birth-day, we do not know.
Thomas Orendorf, the first Coroner of Tazewell county, was born
Aug. 14, 1800, in Spartanburg, S. C. He. came with his father to
Illinois in 1817 and in 1819 came to Sangamon county, which was
called the Saint Gamy country, but the words were afterwards unit-
ed by common usage, and became Sangamon. In 1823 he came,
with his brother William, to Blooming Grove, then in Fayette
county, but afterwards in Tazewell, and now in McLean, where he
became a well known and respected citizen.
POLITICAL HISTORY.
"As early as 1821," says Nathan Dillon, in an article written
several years before his death, "a few log cabins were already built in
Sangamon county, which at that date embraced all the northern part
of the State. The cabins were filled to overflowing with the fami-
lies, the pioneers of the country, my family being among the num-
ber. I was present at the election, August, 1822, held at Springfield
(the election precinct extending many miles east and west, and north,
to the State line), and saw all the voters who could come to vote in
that wide scope of uninha))ited country. Most of the voters re-
siding in the precinct attended the election, though many of them
had miles of wild country to travel in order to do so.
" The voters were mostly immigrants from the East and South,
though a large portion of the men present were Indians and darkies,
they of course not being allowed the right of suffrag(\ The voting
portion of the community were then called the Yankees and white
men. Three men named Kinney, Parkinson and Edwards, had a
long bench ranged along side of the court-house, on which they set
their liquors. The j)olls were held in the interior. We all got
plenty to drink. The white men sang songs, the Indians and dark-
ies danced, and a general frolic occurred ; but what has surprised
me as I have reflected upon these early days, we had no fighting.
The great evil was, that every candidate had to fill his jiortmanteau
with whisky, and go around and see and treat every v(jter and his
wife and family with the poisonous stuff, or stand a'chance of being
defeated. John Reynolds was our Circuit Judge. He held his
court at Springfield, in a log cabin built of round logs, the walls of
which were only six feet high; it was also destitute of a floor; yet
we continued to get along very well. The jury had to retire to the
jail, another such building as I have described. Such are the outlines
of those happy days.
712
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
" In the winter of 1 823, 1 emigrated to what is now called Dillon
Settlement, in this county, 10 miles from Pekin, and 17 miles from
Peoria, where I spent the season in quietude ; ray nearest neighbor
living in Peoria, except one by the name of Avery, who had raised
his cabin at Funk's Hill. But things did not remain in this condi-
tion long ; for during the same winter the Legislature made a new
county, with Peoria for the county-seat, embracing all the country
north of Sangamon county. Phelps, Stephen French and myself
were appointed Justices of the Peace, for the new county, which ex-
tended east as far as Bloomington and north and west to the State
line. We sent our summonses to Chicago and Galena, and they
were promptlv returned by our constables.
" March, 1824, we held an election at Avery's, Wm. Holland,
Joseph Smith and myself were elected County Commissioners. The
whole county was embraced in one election district. The number
of votes polled was 20 ; had some whisky on the occasion, but it
was well tempered, having been imported a long way by water ; and
we did not succeed in getting on as great a spree as we did at Spring-
field. "
On the first Monday in August, 1826, an election was held at the
house of Nathan Dillon. This was the year previous to the organ-
ization of Tazewell county. The election was for Governor and
other officials. We are not informed who received a majority of the
votes nor the number polled, but the day was a gala one^ and of
sufficient importance to be commemorated by a banquet. When the
voting was concluded Jesse Dillon went to a neighboring corn-field
and procurred an arm-full of roasting-ears, they were boiled together
with a ham in a fifteen gallon iron kettle, then served to the assem-
bled crowd of pioneers. This constituted an out-door feast worthy
the occasion and heartily and thankfully partaken of by the people,
nor do we know that whisky was served, yet we cannot say it was
not.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
George Hittle 1827—29
Benjamin Bnggs 1S27 — 30
James Latta 1827
Ephraim Stout 1828
Nathan Dillon 1829-32
Timothy B. Hoblet 1830
Isaac Baker 1830
Benjamin Briggs 1831
William Holland 1831
George Havenhill 1832
James Harvev 1832 — 34
William Brown 1832— 34
Thomas F. Raileback 1833—38
Benjamin Mitchell 1834
L. P. Fletcher 1834—36
Richard N. Cullom 1835
James Fisher 1836—39
AldenHull 1836—38
Abraham Bowman 1838 — 41
Joshua Woolev 1838—40
Robert Bradshaw 1839—42
Durrett Higgens 1840—43
Williams. Rankin 1841—47
Able Kingman 1842 — 48
Elias Ogden 1843—49
James Brovhill 1846-50
Joshua Stewart 1847—50
Lawson Holland, 1847—50
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
713
COUNTY CLERKS.
Mordeoai Mobley 1827—28
John C. Morgan 1828—36
John H. Morrison 1836—47
William Cromwell. 1847—49
Richard W. Ireland 1849—53
John Gridley 1853—65
William W. Clemens 1865—69
R. D. Smith 1869-77
Flavel Shurtleff 1877
SHERIFFS.
William H. Hodge 1827—30
Philip B. Mile.s 1830—32
James Srott 1832—35
Alfred Phillips 1835—36
William A. Tinney 1836—40
Benjamin Briugs 1840 — 44
Rol)ert W. Briggs 1844—48
R. T. Gill. 1848—50
William Gaither 1850—52
David Kves 1852—54
Thomas C. Reeves 1854—56
Chapman Williamson 1856 — 58
Thomas C. Reeve.s 1858—60
Chapman Williamson 18()0— 62
James S. Hawkins 1862—64
James Hamson 1864 — 66
Jonathan H. Myers 1866-68
P:dward Pratt 1868—70
Thomas C. Reeves 1870—74
Edward Pratt 1874—78
Andrew J. Kinsey 1878
STATES ATTORNEYS.
Chas. Turner 1860
C. A. Roberts 1864
Chas. Parker 1868
W. F. Henry 1872
Wm. L. Prettyman 1876
COUNTY JUDGES.
Joel W. Clark 1860
M. Tackaberrv 1861
Wm. Don Maus 1862
David Kyes 1865
Alfred W. Rodecker 1877
CIRCUIT CLERKS.
Mordecai Moblev 1827—28
John C. Morgan 1828—34
Edward Jones. 1834
John A. Jones 1842—56
Merrill C. Young 1856—60
George H. Harlow 1860-
Henry P. Finigan 1864-
Wni. P. Allensworth 1868-
Simeon R. Drake 1872-
Henry C. Sutton 1876
COUNTY TREASURERS.
John Benson 1827—29
Abraham Carlock 1829—30
Philip B. Miles 1830
Anson Demming 1830 — 32
Benj. Doolittle 1832
George W. Miles 1832—33
Thomas Snell 1833—35
Benjamin Briggs 1835 — 36
David Travis 18.36—37
Benjamin Briggs 1837—39
James Wibray 1839-
A. B. Davis 1843-
James R. Babcock 1849-
William S. Maus 1860-
Peter Weyhrich 1861-
Charles Turner 1865-
John Gridley 1867
Samuel E. Barber 1867-
William Gaither 1869-
Thomas Cooper 1873
CORONERS.
Thomas OrendorfF. 1827
Thomas Dillon 1828
Nathan Dillon 1829
Timothy B. Hoblet 1830
Isaac Baker 1830
Benjamin Briggs 1831
William Holland 1831
David H. Holcomb 1831
Andrew Tharp 1832
John A. Brovhill 18.39-
-42
Nathan B. Kellogg 1842—48
David Bailey 1848-
Joseph B. Worley 1852-
David M. Bailey 1854-
William A. Tinney 1856-
John Wildhack 1S60-
Henry Sage 1862-
William Diviney 1864-
A. Culver 1868-
Jf)lin M. Tinney 1872-
Henry Gulon..! 1874-
Albert R. Warren 1878
-64
-68
-72
-76
-43
-49
-60
-61
•65
-67
-69
-73
-52
-54
-56
-60
-62
-64
-68
-70
-74
-78
714
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
SURVEYORS.
William H. Hodge 1827—31
Park Woodrow 1832
Lewis Prettyman 1833
Thomas C. Wilson 1836
Lewis Prettyman 1840
Wm. Mooberry 1843
Jesse A. Nason 1848—53
Thomas King, Jr 1853—61
Wm. R. Kellogg 1861
Wm. D. Cleveland 1863
Leander King 1865—71
B. C. Smith 1871—73
J. L. Hayward 1873—75
Leander King 1875
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
Lemuel Allen 1859—63 John W. Moreland 1863—65
SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.
S. K. Hatfield 1865
M. E. Pomfret 1873
B. C Allensworth 1877
ELECTION RETURNS.
ELECTION NOV. 7, 1858.
VOTE.
CONGRESS.
William Kellogg, rep 1783
James W. Davidson, dem...l860
Jacob Gale 9
ELECTION NOV. 8, 1859,
SCHOOL COMMISSIONER.
Lemuel Allen, rep... 460
J. C. Rybolt, ind 416
A. Lloyd, dem 151
COUNTY TREASURER.
J. R. Babcock, rep 984
COUNTY SURVEY'OR.
Thomas King, Jr 962
ELECTION NOV. 6, 1860.
PRESIDENT.
Abraham Lincoln, rep 2348
Stephen A. Douglas, dem. ..2169
John Bell, union 26
J. C. Breckenridge, dem.... 3
GOVERNOR.
Richard Yates, rep 2344
J. C. Allen, dem 2186
CONGRESS.
William Kellogg, rep 2.345
Robt. G. Ingersoll, dem 2184
STATES ATTORNEY.
Charles Turner, rep 2347
Hugh Fullerton, dem 2190
STATE SENATOR.
Henry E. Dummer, rep ..-.•2355
Benj. S. Prettyman, dem. ..2157
MAJ.
177
44
179
158
161
157
198
VOTE. MAJ.
REPRESENTATIVE.
David Kyes, rep 2361 191
S. R. Saltonstall, dem 2170
COUNTY JUDGE.
Joel W. Clark, rep 2316 106
C. A. Roberts, dem 2210
CIRCUIT CLERK.
George H. Harlow, rep 2294 60
Merrill C. Young, dem 2234
SHERIFF.
Chapman Williamson, rep..2306 108
Aquilla J. Davis, dem 2198
John Shellenberger 32
CORONER.
John Wildhack, rep 2265 64
William Divinney, dem 2201
ELECTION NOV. 5, 1861.
COUNTY JUDGE.
M. Tackaberrv, dem 1478 351
Joel W. Clark, rep 1127
COUNTY CLERK.
John Gridley, dem 1249 657
I. Newkirk, rep 592
A. P. Griswold, dem 485
Charles W. Green, rep 211
H. K. Alexander, dem 74
COUNTY TREASURER.
P. Weyhrich, dem 1296
J. W. Glassgow, rep 678
H. Riblet, rep 581
HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY,
715
VOTE. MA.I.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONER.
Lemuel Allen, rep 1249 134
W. A. K. Cowdrey, dem....lll5
James K. Kellogg, rep 197
COUNTY SURVEYOR.
Thomas King, Jr., rep 845
William R. Kellogg, (lem...l702 857
ELECTION NOV. 4, 1862.
CONGRESS.
John T. Stuart, dem 1971 339
Leonard Swet, rep 1632
ST.\TE SENATOR.
Colby Knapp, dem 1972 34G
S. M. Cullom, rep 1626
REPRESENTATIVE.
Ellas Wenger, dem 1975 348
David Kyes, rep 1627
SHERIFF.
James S. Hawkins, dem 1957 317
William Gaither, rep 1640
CORONER.
Henrv Sage, dem 1990 378
John"Wildhack, rep 1612
SPECIAL ELECTION JULY 30, 1863.
COUNTY JUDGE.
William Don Mans, dem... 1854 221
Joel W. Clark, rep 1633
ELECTION NOV. 3, 1863.
COUNTY TREASURER.
Peter Weyhrich, dem 1735 227
Geo. Tomm, rep 1503
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
John W. Moreland, dem.... 1688 137
Josiah Wood, rep 1551
SURVEYOR.
Wm. D. Cleveland, dem 1703 164
J. L. Hayward, rep 1539
ELECTION NOV., 1864.
PRESIDENT.
Abraham Lincoln, rep. 2147
Geo. B. MoClellan, dem 2307 160
CONGRESS.
S. M. Cullom, rep 2162
John T. Stuart, dem 2302 140
STATE SENATOR.
Geo. W. Minier, rep 2166
John B. Cohrs, dem 2302 136
STATES ATTORNEY.
Thomas A. Carter, rep 2145
C. A. Roberts, dem 2324 179
VOTE. M.\J.
REPRESENTATIVE.
John Wildhack, rep 2157
S. R. Saltonstall, dem 2287 130
CIRCUIT CLERK.
Geo. H. Harlow, rep 2159
H. P. Finigan, dem 2308 149
SHERIFF.
AVilliam A. Ross, rep 2176
James Hamson, dem 2287 111
CORONER.
Henry Riblet, rep 2139
William Divinney, dem 2329 190
ELECTION NOV. 7, 1865.
COUNTY JUDGE.
W. Don Maus, dem 1756
David Kyes, rep 1903 147
COUNTY CLERK.
John Gridley, dem 1796
W. W. Clemens, rep 1878 82
COUNTY TREASURER.
Peter AVevhrich, dem 1817
Charles Turner, rep 1842 25
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
John W. Moreland, dem ...1793
S. K. Hatlield, rep 1875 82
SURVEYOR.
J. M. Miller, dem 1760
Leander King, rep 1908 148
ELECTION NOV. 6, 1866.
CONGRESS AT LARGE.
John A. Logan, rep 2312
T. Lyle Dickey, dem 2399 87
CONGRESS.
Shelby M. Cullom, rep 2.307
Edwin S. Fowler, dem 2406 99
REPRESENTATIVE.
William W. Sellers, rep .....2335
S. R. Saltonstall, dem 2361 26
SHERIFF.
John Reardon, rep 2295
J. H. Myers, dem 2395 100
CORONER.
Richard B. Howell, rep 2302
William Divinney, dem 2392 90
ELECTION NOV. 3, 1868.
PRESIDENT.
U. S. Grant, rep 2728
Horatio Seymour, dem 2735 7
CONGRESS.
S. M. Cullom, rep 2655
B. S. Edwards, dem 2759 104
716
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL, COUNTY.
VOTE. MA.T.
STATES ATTORNEY.
Charles Parker, rep 2699 14
C. G. Whitney, dein 2685
STATE SENATOR.
Nicholson, rep 2670
J. B. Cohrs, dem 27-16 76
REPRESENTATIVE.
J. Merriam, rep 2683
S. R. Saltonstall, dem 2725 42
CIRCUIT CLERK.
Eli Heiple, rep 2700
W. P. Allensworth, dem.... 2714 14
SHERIFF.
John Puterbaugh, rep 2647
Edward Pratt, dem 2763 116
CORONER.
A. Culver, rep 2704 46
W. A. Tinney, dem 2658
ELECTION NOV. 5, 1872.
PRESIDENT.
U.S. Grant, rep. 2360 268
Horace Greeley, dem 2092
Charles 0. Connor, dem 221
GOVERNOR.
Richard J. Oglesby, rep 2346 168
Gustavus Koerner, dem 2178
Benjamin G. Wright, dem.. 247
CONGRESS.
JohnMcNulta, rep 2350 203
Clifton H. Moore, lib 2147
S. S. Seeds, dem 285
STATE SENATOR.
Aaron B. Nicholson, rep.. ..2365 212
Edmond Syrich, Ub 2153
Ezra Davis, dem 284
STATES ATTORNEY.
W. F. Henry, rep 2386 246
A. W. Rodecker, lib 2140
Benj. F. Baker, dem 233
REPRESENTATIVE.
Herman W. Snow, rep 3677
Peter J. Hames 3315
Laban M. Stroud 3134
Jacob W. Noel 2782J
John N. Snedeker 1236
CIRCUIT CLERK.
Simon R. Drake, rep 2372 120
Samuel G. Puterbaugh, lib.2252
Wm. P. Latham, dem 217
SHERIFF.
T. C. Reeves, rep ..2545 604
J. S. Briggs, lib 1941
Wm. Knott, dem 262
VOTE. MAJ.
CORONER.
John M. Tinney, rep 2530 643
James Milner, lib 1887
Lyman Evans, dem 264
ELECTION NOV. 4, 1873.
COUNTY JUDGE.
David Kyes, dem 2055 991
J. W. Glassgow, rep 1064
COUNTY CLERK.
James Claton, dem 1276
R. D. Smith, rep 1799 520
COUNTY TREASURER.
Thomas Cooper, dem 1649 205
Thomas J. Brown, rep 1444
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
M. E. Pomfret, dem 1853 825
Miss Mary Fuller, rep 1028
ELECTION NOV. 3, 1874.
CONGRESS.
John McNulta, rep 1834
A. E. Stevenson, dem 2210 376
STATE SENATOR.
James W. Robison, rep 1376
D. G. A. Railsback, dem 1640 264
J. H. Anthony, ind 1008
REPRESENTATIVE.
H. L. Sill, dem 4606|
Richard Holmes, rep 5986
G. W. Middlecoff, dem 1016J
Thomas Windle, dem 440^
R. A. Talbot, rep 29
SHERIFF.
Edw^ard Pratt, dem 2307 529
William Cobean, rep 1778
CORONER.
Hiram Vandervoort, rep.. ..1879
Henry Gulon, dem 2261 382
ELECTION NOV. 2, 1875.
TREASURER.
Thomas Cooper, dem 1794 700
John F. Beezley, rep 1094
SURVEYOR.
Leander King, dem 1728 627
J. L. Hayward 1101
ELECTION NOV. 7, 1876.
PRESIDENT.
R. B. Haves, rep 2850
S. J. Tilden, dem 3174 316
CONGRESS.
Adlai E. Stevenson, dem ...3247 412
Thomas F. Tipton, rep 2835
HISTORY OF TAZEWF:LL COUNTY.
717
VOTE, MA J,
BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.
John H. Anthony, rep 2800
W. Don M;ius, dein ;n42 246
REPRESENTATIVE.
D. C. Smith, rep 84G4i
C. A. Moore, dem 9514.^
Thomas Wemlle, dem lOS'
STATES ATTORNEY.
W. F. Henry, rep 2832
W. L. Prettyman, dem 3215 383
CIRCUIT CLERK.
R. R. Drake, rep 2962
H. C. Sutton, dem 3091 129
SHERIFF.
PhilHp, rep 2774
Edward Pratt, dem 3289 515
CORONER.
Jacob Mueller, rep 2837
Henry Gulon, dem 3219 382
ELECTION NOV. 6, 1877.
COUNTY JUDGE.
Wilbur F. Henry, rep 1400
Alfred W. Rodecker, dem... 1961 561
David Kyes, ind 1050
COUNTY CLERK.
Flavel Shurtleff, dem 2151 204
Simeon R. Drake, rep 1953
WelUngton King, greenb'k 301
A'OTE. MAJ.
COUNTY TREASURER.
Thomas Cooper, dem 2477 927
Will. Moorhead, rep 1550
Wm. P. Latham, greenb'k.. 374
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
B. C. Allensworth, dem 2236 425
Josiah P. Wood, rep 1811
Daniel S. Elliott, greenb'k.. 373
ELECTION NOV. 5, 1878.
STATE SENATOR.
Abrani Mayfield, dem 2380 282
James W. Robison, rep 2098
George W. Minier 503
REPRESENTATIVE.
Green P. Orendorfl; dem ...3533^
Wm. R. Hall, dem 3858^
Josiah Snyder, rep 6185
Chas. C. Brackett 1409J
SHERIFF.
Andrew J. Kinsey, dem 2340 298
Wm. Cobean, rep 2042
N. F. Smith 539
CORONER.
Albert R. Warren, dem 2340 203
Robert D. Bradley 2137
Chas. E. Hayward 466
H. J. Puterbaugh 64
CHAPTER XV.
THE PRESS.
The printing-press is everywhere recognized as one of the most
important factors in shaping and moulding the character and destiny
of communities, and, perhaps, among the least appreciated by the
people called upon to sustain it. Printing presses are continually at
work in many towns of this county preparing the news aud gen-
eral information to be circulated in almost every home in the
county, and then almost every train that crosses the borders of the
county carries the newspapers fresh from the press. Contrast this
state of affairs with that of half century ago when the pioneer
came to found homes. They had no local weekly, no steam-engine
to bring in foreign papers, yet damp from the press, but, in-
stead, the mail boy at long intervals would bring a paper or two,
some religious paper or Eastern journal, into the neighoorhood.
This supplied all the news for the entire settlement.
At the present there are nine regular publications in this county.
During the year from the time the first paper was struck off till
1879, the newspaper enterprises have been numerous, and the
number of editors counted by the score. Among the gentlemen
who drove the quill for these publications, were some talented,
graphic and cultured writers, some of whom wielded a salutary influ-
ence in the county, while others won reputations not enviable. The
editorial staff of the various papers represent pleasant, forcible and
pointed writers and advocate their various theories, principles and
political views with much ability and effect.
PEKIN TIMES.
The Times is one of the leading journals of Central Illinois, and,
indeed, takes rank with the larger and more prosperous papers of
the Northwest. It is uncompromisingly Democrat in politics. In
its management is displayed considerable enterprise, tact, energy,
and superior business ability. Its editorials are able, and its local
columns are generally full, well arranged, and embrace all the hap-
penings of the city, and, indeed, of the entire county. Its list of
regular correspondents in various parts of the county contribute
well-prepared articles of the news of their district each week. The
-drffp^5^^*^«=sto.
EDITOR PEHIN TIMES
HISTORY OP TAZEAVELL COUNTY. 721
Times' office is furnished with the best material and presses, and for
mechanical execution, the work turned from it will compare favor-
ably with that of the largest printing establishments in the West.
The foreman and men of this department are fine executors of
the art. The general office is provided with a library, and the
sanctum sa)ictorum, the place where ye editor sits in his easy chair,
is not only finely fitted and furnished, but elegantly so, and for an
equal we must go to some of the largest establishments in the State.
The Pekin Times is the oldest paper in the county, and we labored
quite assiduously for weeks to get its early history, and only par-
tially succeeded. In 1850, the only newspaper published in the
county was the Tazewell County Mirror. It was published by
John Smith, who at present resides at Princeton, where he is pub-
lishing a paper. It was Whig in politics. In the fall of 1850, a
Democratic paper, the Pekin Weekly Reveille, was started by James
Shoaf and E. S. Rogers. The former subsequently won great
reputation as a newspaper man, at Decatur. He died some years
ago. The latter was a lawyer, and at present lives at Omaha, Neb.
They sold to J. C. Thompson in 1851. He was a young lawyer
from Ohio, went to Kansas, in 1854, and died. He published the
Reveille until the winter of 1853 and '54, when he sold to Merrill
C. Young, who, also, in the fall of 1854, bought the Mirror, and
consolidated them, and called it the Pekin Weekly Plaindealer.
This paper was published by Young & Underwood. It was inde-
pendent or neutral in politics, with Democratic tendencies. These
gentlemen ran it till the fall of 1856, when Young was elected Cir-
cuit Clerk and Underwood moved to Charleston, 111., where he is own
running a paper. During the winter of 1856 Young sold to Thos.
J. Pickett. He had published the Palladium here in 1840, and in
1838 the first paper was started by Jesse Nason. Pickett turned
the Plaindealer into the Register, a paper whicih enjoyed a long and
varied run. It was independent with Republican tendencies. In
the spring of 1858, about the time the Lincoln and Douglas
Senatorial campaign began, John McDonald bought it and pub-
lished it as a Democratic paper. He ran it till 1868, when Wm. T.
Meads bought it and conducted it till 1872. B. C. AUensworth
then went in partnership with him. Then John Mounts went in
with AUensworth. He now publishes the Havana Democrat. They
ran the Register a while, then AUensworth drew out and Mounts ran
it until it failed, when it fell into the hands of Wm. P. AUensworth.
It did not appear for a while in 1873, when a man named Wilkes
got hold of it and ran it till Oct., '73. Then \V. T. Dowdall and J. B.
Irwin, of Peoria, became its possessors, when it was christened the
Pekin Times. Irwin soon bought Dowdall out, and by untiring
energy and rare business tact, built up a larger circulation than it
ever enjoyed before. In July, 1877, Geo. E. Schaumleffle pur-
chased a third interest of the paper, and the firm name is now J.
B. Irwin & Co.
43
722 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Joseph B. Irwin was born in Circlevillo, Ohio, Oct. 11, 1849.
His parents, John E. and Catharine (Tobias) Irwin, were natives of
Pennsylvania. Mr. Irwin passed his boyhood days in his native
town and attended the common schools and Circleville Academy,
where he received a good education. In January, 1872, he was
united in marriage with Inez M. Fifee. They have had born to
them two children, neither of whom are now living. Before leav-
ing the Buckeye State Mr. Irwin held the position of City Clerk of
Portsmouth for one year, and since residing in Pekin has been
School Inspector for three years. He came from Portsmouth, O., to
Peoria and engaged in the printing business on the Peoria Democrat.
In 1873 he came to Pekin and in company with W. T. Dowdall, of
Peoria, purchased the effects of the Pekin Register of W. P. Aliens-
worth and started the Pekin Times. When he first issued the
Times there was no subscription list, the paper had changed hands
often, its reputation was gone and everything was discouraging, but
by much hard work, perseverance and both business and editorial
ability he has placed the Times on a solid financial basis, and as a
news and literary production ranks among the leading weeklies of
the Northwest. We give his portrait in this volume.
George E. Schaumleffle, junior member of the firm of J. B. Irwin
& Co., and the literary man of the' Times, was born in Pekin, 111.,
March 1, 1854. His parents are P. and Lizzie (Volk) Shaumleffle,
the former a native of Bavaria, the latter of Hess Darmstadt, Ger-
many. George attended the public schools of Pekin and at six-
teen entered the printing office, the best of all schools. July 28,
1877, he bought an interest of the Times and since has conducted
its columns with marked ability. During the two years preceeding
he was local editor of this paper. As a writer Mr. S. is forcible and
pleasing. His editorials show him to have a thorough knowledge
of the great questions of the day ; his local squibs are full of life
and often smack with a high order of humor. He is young, a hard
worker and close student, and we predict for him a bright future
should his editorial career continue until he reaches the prime of
life.
A paper in the hands and under the control of men of such
business ability, tact, foresight and able writers, as J. B. Irwin and
George E. Schaumleffle, is sure to be a success.
THE TAZEWELL COUNTY REPUBLICAN.
The history of the Republican and its predecessors dates back to
some time in the year 1836, but the destruction of the files, which
contained a succinct compilation of its history, were destroyed by
fire, May 9, 1875, therefore, all that can be given is what the biog-
raphers have been able to secure through individual recollections up
to the year 1863, to-wit : In the month of October, 1848, the Taze-
well Mirror was purchased from John S. Lawrence by John Smith,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY, 723
now of Princeton, 111, In 1850 Smith sold to Bernard Bailey, but
repurchased the Mirror in 1851 in company with Adam Henderson.
Henderson remained a member of the firm but six months, when
John Smith became sole publisher and proprietor. In 1855 Smith
moved the material of the office to Toulon, Stark county. Thomas
Pickett, after the removal of Smith, procured a comjilete outfit and
revived the paper but called it the Tazewell County Mirror.
In 1860, at the commencement of the famous Lincoln and Douglas
campaign for the Presidency, the Republican party had no organ in
Pekin. The leaders here foresaw a fierce contest would be made
between the two great political parties of the nation and desired the
principles of their party to be set forth to this people. Accord-
ingly, John Smith, the same gentleman who published the 3Hrror,
came back to Pekin, bought out the Mirror and started the Bepuhli-
can. A paper which has wielded influence and power for its party
principles that has been felt throughout Central Illinois. Some of
the ablest writers known to the State have conducted its columns.
Smith ran the Republican till 1862. Shortly before this Hezekiah
Naylor and O. White started the Patriot, which had a short unsuc-
cessful run, when it failed, and in 1862 Hart Montgomery went
in with Naylor and bought the Republican from Smith. They pub-
lished it until Wm. W. Sellers got a hold ot it, in 1863 or '64. He
made it a red-hot Republican organ and one of the best papers
published in the Northwest. He was a shrewd able writer and
could turn the English language into a two-edged sword Avhen
in a wordy conflict with an opj)oncnt. He conducted it until
his death, which occurred Dec. 15, 1872. It was then conducted
by his administrators for a short time, when Jacob P. Riblett and
Wm. H. Bates purchased it. They conducted it jointly for three
months when Bates withdrew. In 1874, D. W. Lusk bought Rib-
lett out and remained its proprietor until Nov. 3, 1876, when Bates
again became its owner. He remained at the helm until Feb. 14,
1879, when Joseph B. Bates, of the Lincoln, 111., Bejmblican, pur-
chased it, and is its present editor and proprietor. Mr. Bates is a
man of more than ordinary ability, and thoroughly understands the
management of a paper, to make it a real family journal. His locals
are fresh, short, and to the point; his editorials prove him to be
thoroughly versed in the civil, political and domestic economy of
our times and country. As a party advocate, he is temperate, yet
forcible and convincing, and will wield an influence in the county
that will be felt and recognized.
W. A. Wildhack, city editor, is a son of one of the early pioneers
and prominent men of this county, John Wildhack. He is a wide-
awake, able young man, a just and graphic writer, and the columns
under his management arc full, interesting and gives credit to both
himself and the paper,
724 HISTOKY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
THE WASHINGTON HERALD.
The Washington Herald was established in July, 1868, by
Thomas Handsaker, its present editor and proprietor, and is one of
the best local and family newspapers in Central Illinois. In addi-
tion to the newspaper department, it has a most excellent book and
job printing department. At one time in Mr. H's career he could
have bought every article of printing material in the county for the
small sum of $500. To-day he is the publisher of one of the fore-
most of the nine newspapers published in the county. Washington
had a newspaper as far back as 1853. Mr. A. A. Couch, in connec-
tion with Albert Parker, both gentlemen from Peoria, started the
Washington Investigator, which, after a life of two years, suc-
cumbed, like thousands of others, to the inevitable. For ten years
the town was without a paper, when an adventurer came in with
type and press, and issued a paper, the name of which is now for-
gotten, canvassed the country thoroughly, received many advance
subscriptions, after which, like the Turk, " he silently folded his
tent and quietly stole away" in the night, leaving a huge obstacle in
the way of any one who might come after him to surmount. Not-
withstanding the above tacts, and being almost a stranger^ to the
business community of AVashington, Mr. H. came on with his
printing material, and went to work, asking no aid of any one, and
no pay ibr work until it was finished, and that, too, satisfactorily,
and by constant and indefatigable labor, he has established The
Herald Printing House on a firm, paying basis, and has^ the confi-
dence of the business men of the city, and the farmers of the entire
surrounding country. Mr. H. is progressive in his nature, and is
adding to his establishment the new and latest styles of type for the
convenience of his numerous customers as his means will permit,
or the business justify, and on July 1st, 1879, the commencement
of the twelfth volume"' of the Herald, if life and health are spared to
him, his paper will ai)pear in an entire new dress. The Herald has
always been noted and has become popular from the simple reason
that its chief aim has been to protect and build up the business of
the town, and although its columns are open to advertisers from all
sections, it never solicits advertising away from home, knowing that
the business men of Washington can do as well by their patrons as
those of other places, and much preferring that they should do the
business of this section. This fact alone, should induce the business
portion of Washington to give all their advertising and printing
to the Herald, wliich has always stood manfully by them in the past
and expects to in the future.
Thomas Handsaker. — The founder and at present the editor and
publisher of the Washington Herald, and the oldest resident printer
in Tazewell Co., was born in the city of Derby, England, Feb. 2,
1837, and emigrated with his parents 'to the United States in 1844,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 725
arriving in Alton, 111., in June of that year. In the fall of 1846 he
entered as an apprentice on the Alton Daily Telegmph, then edited
and published by the late Judge Bailache, in which office he worked
a little over two years, but the labor proving too heavy for his phys-
ical ability, he was given an honorable discharge and a new position
secured him by his employers upon a paper about to be started in
Carlinville, 111. At the age of 12 years he went to Carlinville, un-
packed and laid the type in the cases and set up the Washington
hand-press and had it in readiness for work one week before the
foreman, N. J. Howe, of Lockport, New York, but then engaged
upon the St. Louis Republican, arrived to take charge of the office.
Hon, Jeff L. Dugger was the editor and proprietor of the paper,
which, by the way, was called the jNIacoupin Statesman, and upon
the arrival of the foreman, he found the first number of the paper
set up, proved and corrected, all ready to go to press, and all this
mechanical work had been done by Handsaker, who was known by
the cognomen of the "Boy Printer," and to this day he feels a just
pride in the fact that he laid the first office and set the first type
that was ever set in "the State of Macoupin, " and refers to ex-Gov-
ernor Jno. M. Palmer, then a leading lawyer in Carlinville, for the
correctness of this assertion. Serving out his time upon the States-
man, he went to Sj^ringfield, where he worked one winter upon the
State printing, and from there found himself 'next in Chicago, where
he worked for Long John Wentworth, on blank work ; Langdon &
Rounds, book and job printers; and was for a time, in the Demo-
cratic Press job room. In September, 1 852, he arrived in Pekin,
Tazewell county, Illinois, on his way to New Orleans, but be-
ing prevailed upon by N. J. Howe, his former foreman and
chum in Carlinville, whom he found foreman of the Pekin Weekly
Plaindealer, Merill C. Young, editor and publisher, he went to
work, and remained until the winter, when he went to Peoria, and
during the Crimean war was an attache of the Peoria Morn-
ing News, and for several months he occupied the position of fore-
man. He again went to Chicago, where he was engaged in the
Democratic Press job rooms when the Pres=, and Chicago Tribune
were consolidated, and being thrown out of a job, he took himself to
Cincinnati, where he got cases on the Cincinnati Gazette before he
had been in the city an hour. Giving up working on a morning
paper, he secured a permanent i^osition in the book office of ^Nloon,
Wildstack, Keys & Overend, tlie largest book ])ublishing house in
the West at that time, which posjtion he held for several months.
In all his wanderings he did not forget the " Prairie State, " and
which, no doubt, contained more than one object of attraction of
more than ordinary magnetic power, so lie found himself, in August,
1855, foreman of the Atlanta (Logan county, Illinois) Forum, edited
and published by Samuel B. Dugger, Esq. While engaged in this
office he married Miss Aminda A. Clifton, in Pekin, October 4,
1855, and remained on the Forum until the spring of 1856, when
726 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
he returned again to Pekin. In the fall of 1856, he again took
cases in Peoria, where he remained until the late John McDonald
started the Tazewell Register, in Pekin, when he accompanied him,
and occupied the position of foreman for eight years. In July, 1868,
Mr. H., came to Washington and built up the Washington Herald
upon the ashes of two defunct predecessors, and nothwithstanding
the head-shaking and croakings about being able to make a paper
pay, he still lives, and has as good a lease of life and prospect of an
honorable and glorious future as many of his younger cotemporaries
Mr. H., can truthfully be said to be a self-made man, having secur-
ed the limited education which he possesses while making the nec-
essaries of life. His preceptors in the "Art Preservative" have all
passed away, while the larger part of his companions and fellow-
workmen of his youth have succumbed to the ravages of time, or
are scattered and lost — but not forgotten. The limited space allot-
ted to this sketch must necessarilly cut out some reminiscences that
might be interesting to the general reader, but we must close with
one, which is nothing more nor less than that during Mr. H's., ca-
reer as a printer, Tazewell county has seen the day when he could
have been the possessor of every bit of printing material and the
publisher of the only paper if he had only possessed shekels enough
to figure $500. What a change twenty years has made in the print-
ing business in this county, which has now within its borders
nine weekly newspapers, which cost at least $25,000 to establish.
DELAVAN ADVEETISER.
This has the honor of being the first paper started in Delavan.
The first issue was submitted to public gaze in 1868, C. R. Fisk
being its publisher. It was independent in its political expressions.
This journal received a severe blow in December, 1869, when Mr.
Fisk died. Its publication ceased for a time, but ere long the pres-
ent editor and publisher, Mr. Jno. Culbertson, became its possessor,
and since which time it has, notwithstanding its ups oud downs,
assumed an enviable position among the local newspapers of Central
Illinois. Mr. Culbertson took charge of it in April, 1870, and
during the memorable Presidential campaign of 1872, it was the
only straight Democratic paper published in the State. It then
supported Charles O'Connor for President, and with considerable
energy and ability. Since under its present management, it has been
conducted on straight Democratic principles.
The Advertiser is an eight column folio, neatly printed, ably edit-
ed and a good circulation. Its advertising department is well sus-
tained by the business men of Delavan, which, we might remark,
shows them to be sagacious, wide-awake business men, and also is
the best of evidence that the Advertiser is appreciated by the bet-
ter class of the community.
John Culbertson, the editor of this journal, was born in Muskin-
gum county, Ohio, July 23, 1837. He is the son of John and Ann
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 727
M. (Beavers) Culbertson. He was united in marriage with Miss
Sarah E. Morris, on the 31st of October, 1861. The union has
been blessed with five children, three of whom are now living —
Celia B., Ella A., and Sarah A. Mr. Culbertson enjoyed only the
advantages of a common school education, yet he has taken ad-
vantage of the practical schooling received in the printing office.
He learned the trade of printing in the office of the Zanesville
Aurora, and then worked for about six years in the Cincinnati
Commercial office. After leaving that office, he engaged in farming,
and then embarked in the mercantile business, in Muskingum Co.,
O., where he remained until 1870, when he came to Delavan and
bought the Advertiser, which he has established on a paying basis,
with a fair prospect for the future.
THE MINIER NEWS.
The Minier News was established in September, 1875, by Geo. L.
Shoals, its publisher and proprietor. Mr. Horace Crihfield has been
its local editor, with the exception of a few weeks, since the first
issue. The News is an eight-page, forty-column paper, neutral in
politics, and devoted largely to local interests. It is published every
Saturday morning, at |1.50 a year, and has a good circulation.
Horace Crihfield, the local editor of the News, was born at Atlanta,
Logan Co., 111., May 13, 1856. He attended the common and high
schools of his native town, at which, together with the printing
office, he has acquired a good education. He is a plain, pleasing,
yet forcible writer, and conducts his department of the News with
satisfaction to the public. He was united with Emily C. Arnold,
in marriage, Oct, 2, 1878. Politically, Mr. C. stands upon the
Republican platform.
DELAVAN TIMES.
The Delavan Times first greeted its readers Sept. 5, 1874. This
publication is a happy illustration of the success ever attending
pluck and editorial ability. Its editor, Mr. Joe Reed, started the
concern largely on " wind." He had no means, and but little in-
fluence. By dint of persistent effi)rt, he establislied sufficient credit
to get together some material and issue a paper. Tlie first number
reached but one bona fide subscriber. Mr. Reed worked off his
edition and waited for patronage. It failed to come, and continued
discouragements seemed to doom the enterprise to an early death.
After waiting for a few weeks he put the subscri]ition price down to
a nominal figure on three month's subscription, and inaugurated a
fearless, pithy and outspoken editorial tone, which has characterized
the policy of the Times ever since. From that day the paper has
been a pronounced success, and noted fi)r its pungent editorial com-
ments on matters of local and public interest. Politically the Times
728 HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
is Independent Republican. It is by no means a party paper, and
sometimes opposes Republican candidates. It is opposed to liquor
license, but is neither bound or influenced by any temperance organ-
ization, and is strongly in favor of individual freedom, as applied to
the use of ardent spirits. In short, the Times is a don't-care-a-cent
kind of a sheet, and favors or opposes men and measures with a
supreme disregard of financial or other results. It is now liberally
patronized, has a handsome circulation, a Avell-stocked oflice, and
free from incumbrance. Its proprietor is the editor, who is assisted
by correspondents and reporters unknown to the public. Mr.
Reed is a young married man, intelligent and red-headed. He has
lots of enemies and lots of friends, but seeks not the latter, and
cares nothing for the former.
TAZEWELL INDEPENDENT.
The first number of this excellent paper, which is published at
Washington, appeared Friday, Nov. 24, 1876. It was founded by
its present editor, H. A. Pallister, and George N. Bondurant.
These gentlemen had considerable experience in the world, practi-
cal knowledge of the art, and possessed more than ordinary ability,
which, backed by energy and moral tone, gave this journal an impe-
tus, from the start, such as few papers have enjoyed. We do not
mean to convey the idea, however, that it has not had obstacles to
surmount ; the various difficulties incident to the establishment of a
new enterprise, especially that of the newspaper, has attended it, but
with strong faith in ultimate success, its editors struggled on and
succeeded, even in so short a time, in placing it upon a firm founda-
tion. On the 16th of March, 1877, H. A. Pallister purchased Mr.
Bondurant's interest in the paper, and remained sole editor. At
present it is owned by Mr. Pallister and E. E. Heiple. The latter
bought an interest in the concern at the beginning of the present
volume, which was Nov. 21, 1878. At that time the publication
day was changed from Friday to Thursday. Mr. Pallister, however,
has sole editorial management. It is strictly non-partisan and unsec-
tarian in its principles, thus not binding its editor to party or sect,
but leaving him free to endorse and impartially advocate such meas-
ures as are of greatest public weal. Price, per year, $1.50.
H. A. Pallister was born in Liverpool, Eng., May 19, 1843. He
attended the common schools of that country, and was apprenticed
to learn the "art preservative." For seven years he served in the
job office of the Leeds Mercury, a journal published at Leeds, York-
shire, Eng., and one of the largest and most widely circulated dai-
lies in the north of England. At the close of his apprenticeship,
desiring to embark in life in the New World, he crossed the ocean,
and, after a safe voyage, landed in New York city. He remained
in that metropolis for a year, during which time he worked at his
trade. Desiring to further cultivate his mind, he entered Bethany
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 729
College, Bethany, AVest Ya., one of the best institutions of learning
in our country. At that time it had a corps of professors second to
no other college in the United States. Here he spent three vears,
taking a regular classical course. At the close of his term at Beth-
any, he returned to his native country on a visit. After spending
four months amid the scenes of his boyhood-life, he came back to
this country, when he was married, in Guernsey Co., O. Not long
after this important event of his life he was ordained a minister of
the Christian Church, and began earnestly laboring to save the souls
of his fellow men. His first charge in his new profession was at
McArthur, O., where three years were spent proclaiming the Gos-
pel, which was attended with great success. He next located at
Canton, O., then at Wheeling, W. Ya. From there he was called
to the Christian Church at Mackinaw, this county. After laboring
in that portion of the Lord's vineyard for about eighteen months,
and very acceptably to the entire community, he came to AVashiug-
ton, where he changed the pulpit for the editorial chair, which he
fills with ability. As a Avriter he is clear, lucid and forcible, and as
a citizen we believe he holds the respect and esteem of all who
know him.
LEGAL TENDER.
The first number of the Legal Tender appeared on Dec. 20, 1877,
and was a perfect surprise to almost every body. It was a seven-
column folio, and was published in the interests of the Greenback
Labor party. It was started by B. S. Heath & Co., with B. S.
Heath as editor and manager, and J. H, Randall as associate editor.
Both of these gentlemen were easy vigorous writers, and handled
the subject of financial refi)rm with a zeal and energy beyond com-
parison. The paper quickly attained a reputation as one of the
leading organs of the Greenback Labor party in the United States,
and its subscription list and advertising patronage assumed quite
liealthy proportions. But Col. Heath, notwithstanding his abilitv
as an editor, was a failure as a business manager, and could not make
both ends meet, and on July 17, 1878, he shook the dust of Pekin
from his feet, and the Legal Tender passed into the hands of
Frank M. Cassel and James Yogan, under the firm name of Casscl
& Yogan. From this time the paper gradually declined, as neither
Cassel or Yogan were familiar to the business or editorial manage-
ment of a newspaper. On December 18, 1878, Yogan retired from
the paper, and it was conducted by Cassel alone until Feb. 1, 1879,
when James Whitfield joined hands with Cassel, under the firm
name of Cassel tt Whitfield, and the Legal Tender once more as-
sumed the appearance of a newspaper, and again became popular.
On the 1st of May, 1879, Frank M. Cassel retired, and the paper
passed into the hands of Whitfield Bros., James and Herbert, who
now control it. It is one of the best papers published in Tazewell
county, and is eagerly sought after by the reading public. Its
730 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
editors are both young men, but have had many years experience
in the field of journalism, especially in this county.
James Whitfield, the senior member of the firm, was born in
Staifordshire, England, June 27, 1855, and came to this country
with his parents and brother in 1870, and first embarked in the
printing business under that old Republican champion, W. W.
Sellers, publisher of the Tazewell County Republican, in 1870, and
continued in the employ of that paper, except at short intervals,
until he took hold of the Legal Tender. He was for several years
city editor of the Tazewell Republican, and regarded as an able and
forcible writer ; energetic, and ever on the alert for items of interest
for his department. His brother and partner, Herbert, is nearly
two years younger, and is also a practical printer of many years
experience, and considered a good writer.
The Legal Tender is now a prosperous newspaper, and is, under
its present management, rapidly gaining popularity.
The Whitfield Bros, have also a job printing establishment in
connection with the paper, and the work they turn out is second to
none in Central Illinois.
FREIE PRESSE.
No less than five different German weekly newspapers have, at
different times and at short intervals, been established here, none of
which withstood the storms of adversity and the trials incident to
the hard pathway of newspaper existence more than from six months
to two years. The causes for these repeated disasters may perhaps
be justly ascribed to the German public as well as to the respective
publishers, the former perhaps forget that the mission of the press is
to instruct the people, and not to he forced by the people into princi-
ples against a better conviction of right — while the latter may also
have erred, in forgetting tiiat it is also the mission of the press to
follow public sentiment rather than to attempt to drive the masses.
Another fault of the former German publishers, who have failed in
their attempts to establish a German press in this county, was that
they were in part exiles and refugees, who had fled from the iron-rule
of a Monarch across the ocean. They were men of learning and ex-
cellent abilities in other vocations ; men who hated despotism and
oppression, but who, in a measure at least, misconceived the Ameri-
can ideas of liberty and equality ; they no doubt lacked that " Help
yourself" qualification which is so essential, especially in the succes-
•ful management of a newspaper.
The first German paper was established in 1852 by L. Reitzen-
stine, and was called Der Wachteram Illinois. It existed only about
six months. The next was started by Koeber & Lohman in 1854.
The name of this we could not ascertain. It afterwards passed into
the hands of Mr. Lugans, but lived only a short time. The next
German weekly was started by Julius Myerpefer, in the fall of 1867,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 731
called the Freie Presse. It was printed in Peoria and was in reality
only an anxilliary to a German daily published there. In the spring
of 1868 it passed into the hands of Mr. Luntz, but survived only a
few months. In the spring of 1870 Theo. Falk established Dcr In-
dipendent, which, for a time, flourished, but after a very brief period
of prosperity passed into the hands of Henry Fuss, but soon follow-
ed the way of its predecessors.
This brings us down to the period when the present popular Ger-
man paper, the Freie Presse, first made its appearance. We might
state right here, that unlike those that have gone before it, the Freie
Presse has continued to grow in standing, ]>opularity and real merit
since its incipieucy. Its editor, John W. Hotfman, has labored
assiduously and with ability to make it what the large, intellectual
and cultured German element of the county demand — a first-class
literary, newsy journal. His earnest labors have been appreciated to
a very great extent, and the paper can now boast of a larger circula-
tion than any of its predecessors. The paper made its bow to the
public June 15, 1876, as a seven-column folio. The impression
made on the minds of its German friends and the business men was
so favorable that in order to have space for all matter and advertise-
ments it was enlarged to eight columns the very next issue. The
mechanical work of the paper is in every way in keeping with the
age of fine printing.
John W. Hoffman, the editor of the Freie Presse and City Clerk
of Pekin, was born in Dayton, O., Jan. 18, 1846. He is the sou
of John and Maria M. (Kock) Hoffman, native Germans. John
attended the common schools and then entered Hamlin University,
Red Wing, Minn., and then took a commercial course at Chicago.
In that city he embarked in mercantile business, which after a time
he exchanged for the position of reporter on the Evening Journal
and subsequently for a German commercial paper. In April, 1876,
came to Pekin and established the Presse as an independent political
paper. His personal poj)ularity led his friends to have him run for
the office of City Clerk at the last election and he won a victory
over his opponent. June 7, 1870, he was married to Emeline
Wehrli, daughter of Rudolph Wehrli, an old and respected citizen
of Chicago. They have three children — Ada Louisa, born March
2, 1871 ; Charles "a., May 8, '73, and Florence Gertrude, July 27,
76. We give the portrait of Mr. H. in this volume.
'7
CHAPTER XVI.
RAILROADS.
INDIANAPOLIS, BLOOMINGTON & WESTERN RAILWAY.
Among the very first charters granted to railroads, perhaps the
second one, by the State of Illinois, was the one granted to the
Pekin & Tremont Railroad. This company was incorporated by the
Legislature, Jan. 13, 1835. Madison Allen, Harlan Hatch, J. L.
James, John H. Harris, George W. Brodrick and Aronet Richmond
were constituted a body corporate, with capital stock of $50,000, for
the purpose of building said road. It ran, according to the charter,
from Pekin to Tremont, in this county. The company was given
the power "to erect and maintain toll houses along the line."
The road bed was graded and track partially laid, but the
hard times of 1837 and the failure of the grand internal improve-
ment scheme of the State put a stop to further progress on the P.
& T. road. About a year after the P. & T. road was chartered a
grander scheme was undertaken, and the Legislature incorporated
the Pekin, Bloomington & Wabash Railroad, Feb. 16, 1836. This
was a continuation eastward of the P. & T. road. Considerable en-
thusiasm was at first manifested in regard to the matter, but, like
many other railroad schemes, it was never carried out.
Years passed by, and the work accomplished along the route left
to ruin. Nothing definitely was further done until June 26, 1866,
when fifteen or twenty persons met in the court-house at Urbana,
Champaign county. 111., for the purpose of taking steps to secure
the construction of a railroad from Danville to the Illinois river.
Very little was done at this meeting, the parties present merely
exchanged views and adjourned to meet Aug. 7, at LeRoy, McLean
county. The meeting was held there and largely attended, but no
definite action was taken, and it adjourned to meet on the 24th of
the same month. The enterprise was then fully discussed by the
newspapers, and when the time for the meeting came, some opposi-
tion to the road was manifested. It was a matter of some dfficulty
to effect an organization, nevertheless it was done under the general
railroad law of the State. But after some delay the towns along
the line subscribed the required amount. The road proposed was
116 miles in length, and the subscriptions amounted to $116,000.
The route selected was, so far as they went, over the P. & T. and
the P., B. & W. Railroads. The company immediately selected
HISTOEY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 733
officers, making C. R. Griggs, President; W. T. McCord, Vice
President and Dr. Henry Conklin, Secretary. The road was then
named the Danville, Urbana, Bloomington & Pekin Railroad.
The charter was adopted by the company at a meeting held at
Pekin, March 27, 1867. Commissioners were immediately appoint-
ed to secure the right of way and push the work. Steps were taken
to secure subscriptions. Most of the cities and towns answered the
call and subscribed to the stock to the amount of |85(),0()0. The
road had three divisions, the western extending from Blooming-
ton to Pekin, Work on the road was commenced Oct. 1, 1867,
and the last rail laid at Bloomington May 1, 1870. While this
road was being built, another road was projected from Indianapolis
to Danville, known as the Indianapolis, Crawfordsville ct Danville
R. R., and in August, 1869, the two roads were consolidated under
the name of Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western R. R., extend-
ing from Indianapolis to Pekin, a distance of 202 miles. Since then
the road has been extended from Pekin to Peoria.
THE PEORIA, PEKIN & JACKSONVILLE RAILROAD
is 83 miles long, passing through the county-seats of Tazewell,
Mason and Cass counties, and extending from Peoria to Jackson-
ville. That portion of its line from Pekin to Virginia Avas con-
structed in the years 1858 and 1859 under the charter of the Illinois
River Railroad Company, Richard S. Thomas, of Virginia, being its
President, and Benjamin S. Prettyman, of Pekin, its Vice Presi-
dent. Its Directors in 1857 were Wm. Thomas, of Jacksonville,
R. S. Thomas, of Cass county, J. S. Ruggles, of Bath, Francis Low,
of Havana, and Joshua Wagonseller, of Pekin. Its Treasurer,
James H. Hole, of Havana, who was afterwards succeeded by Francis
Low. Its Secretary, Dr. H. M. L. Sehooley. The first Chief En-
gineer of the road w^as W. G. Wheaton, who located the line. His
successors were J. C. Chesbrough, J. B. Cummings, and Thomas
King, in the order of their names. Dr. Charles Chandler, the
founder of Chandlerville, afterwards became a Director, and ren-
dered important aid in the construction of the road.
In 1862 the Illinois River Railroad Co. had exhausted its assets,
and steps were taken to foreclose the road upon its issue of 1 1,020,
000 first mortgage bonds, which had been used in jMirchasing the
track-iron. At the foreclosure sale on the 1st day of October, 1863,
the property was purchased by John Allen, of Old Saybrook, Conn,
on behalf of himself and Aaron Arnold, and Edwin I^. Trowbridge,
of the city of New York, fi)r the sum of S400,000. They sold the
same to the Peoria, Pekin & Jacksonville R. R. Co. on the May
21, 1864, and in the autumn of that year the road was completed
from Pekin to Peoria. In 1868 the extention of the line from
Virginia to Jacksonville was commenced and completed on July 4,
1869, when trains were first run with passenger cars to Jacksonville.
734 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Edwin L. Trowbridge was the first President of the Company.
He retained the office until Sept. 25, 1867, when he was succeeded
by Mr. Allen, who has held the office until the present time.
Under his administration the extention from Virginia to Jackson-
ville was made, the road and bridges thoroughly rebuilt, and about
twenty miles of steel rails placed in the track. It was also supplied
with its present excellent equipment.
April 1, 1878, the road was placed in the hands of a Receiver by
the Circuit Court for Peoria county. Judge Cochran presiding, who
upon the request of the Trustees for the Bondholders appointed Mr.
Allen Receiver. One of his first official acts thereafter was to peti-
tion the Court for authority to issue Receiver's Certificates for the
protection of the legally preferred indebtedness, which was granted,
and all such indebtedness, including arrearages to the employes of
the road, was soon paid in full. The Receivership was a measure of
protection to all interests involved, and the road thereby was
quickly placed on its feet for business purposes.
The main offices of the road were in Pekin till 1876, when they
were moved to Peoria. The shops, which are located in Pekin, have
for many years, been in charge of Mr. R. F. Hurd, who has, with
economy and distinguished ability, discharged the duties of his de-
partment. It may be stated that Mr. John S. Cook, the present
Traffic Manager, has been identified with this property almost un-
interuptedly since the trains first commenced running over the Illi-
nois River Railroad in 1859. He is a well-known resident of Pekin
and a man thoroughly identified with the interests of this county.
The operation of this road has been signally free from accidents,
no passenger having been killed on its trains or the trains of its
predecessor. The outcome of the present Receivership will proba-
bly be the incorporation of the property into one of the longer roads
it intersects, of which it must form a valuable addition.
CHICAGO, ALTON & ST. LOUIS RAILROAD.
The Jacksonville branch of the Chicago Alton and St. Louis
Railroad, which runs from Bloomington through this county to
Jacksonville, is the outgrowth of the old Tonica & Petersburgh
Railroad. This road, as its name suggests, was chartered, Jan.
15, 1857, to run from Tonica, through Tazewell county, to
Petersburgh and Jacksonville. The county voted to bond itself
for $100,000 in aid of the road, but work progressed very slowly.
After building the line from Jacksonville to Petersburgh work
stopped, and the whole thing came to a stand-still. Finally
the C, A. & St. L. people offered to advance money to com-
plete the road, if the company would allow it to run to Blooming-
ton, thus making it a feeder of their main line. The proposition
was accepted, and the road was completed in 1868. While it is
controlled by the C, A. & St. L. Company, a separate organization
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 735
is still kept up. Its charter will allow the extension of the road
from Jacksonville in a northeast direction indefinitely through the
State, and it is said to be the only railroad charter with such indefi-
nite privileges. It was drawn up by Richard Yates. The Directors
mentioned in the charter are as follows : Albert Reynolds, Elijah N.
Farnsworth, Jesse Hammers, Josiah Sawyer, Henry R. Green,
John Bennett, Wm. G. Green, William Crow", and Richard Yates.
George Straut, formerly of Delavan, is now the President of the
road.
PEKIN, LINCOLN & DECATUR RAILWAY.
No other of the several railroads traversing this county seem so
closely identified with the interests and history of Tazewell county
as the P., L. & D. It is a road in which every one takes a com-
mendable local pride. While they love to see all of their roads
prosperous, more especially do they desire to see this road weather
the storms of hard times, and successfully encounter the struggles
incident to new corporations. There are feelings of a peculiar na-
ture ; ties of kindred sympathy that bind the good will and interest
of the people to the P., L. & D., and, we believe, deservedly so.
The present management of the road has successfully guided it over
the critical period of its history and placed it upon a solid footing.
The first charter for the road was obtained in 1867. The charter
members were B. S. Prettyman, Ties Smith, Peter Wevhrich, R. B.
Latham, A. M. Miller, John Wyatt, M. Wemple, J. F. D. Elliott,
S. C. Beau, Henry B. Durfee, and Lu])er Burrows. The first offi-
cers were : President, B. S. Prettyman ; Vice-President, R. B.
Latham; Secretary, A. M. Miller; Treasurer, J. F. D. Elliott.
The roadway w^as first surveyed by J. Edward Baring in 1867,
He followed the line indicated at first in the charter, and the one
upon which the organization was based. The final location of the
road, however, varied from the original survey as the necessities of
the location required. Soon an interest began to be manifested by
the people along the line of the proposed road. Meetings were held
and the people grew very enthusiastic over it. So zealous w^ere the
people at Delavan, and so anxious were they to secure the road for
their town, that all the lots it touched passing through were freely
given. A prominent man there, who grew over-zealous, perhaps, said
he would give the company the right of w^ay to run through his
library if they wanted to. Elections were held along the line for the
purpose of voting for or against subscribing to the road. In this
county the result of these elections were : Pekin voted $75,000 ; Del-
avan, $50,000; and Tazewell county, $100,000. In Logan county it
was voted upon to give $300,000, but the measure was defeated by 17
ballots. In November, 1867, another election was held, and the
proposition carried. The county authorities refused to issue the
bonds, however, and it was finally compromised by the issue of
$150,000 of bonds to the company. Macon county gave $100,000.
736 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
The election at Pekin was held March 2, 1867, and the vote stood
698 for, and 12 against, the subscription.
In the spring of 1869, the Directors advertised for bids for the
construction of the road. After holding a succession of meetings,
and considering propositions from various parties, the contract was
finally awarded to a company known as the Pekin Railway Con-
struction Company. This company, which consisted of Teis Smith,
C. R. Cummings, G. R. Cobleigh, Peter Weyhrich, Bergstresser &
Gill, and D. C. Smith, commenced work in September of the same
fall (1869). The construction company elected Teis Smith, Presi-
dent ; G. R. Cobleigh, Secretary and Superintendent ; and Peter
Weyhrich, Treasurer. The idea of organizing this company origi-
nated in the mind of Mr. Cobleigh. Several of the gentlemen who
afterwards composed the company, were on their road to Lincoln to
attend a railroad meeting, when it occurred to Superintendent
Cobleigh that if any set of men could profitably construct that road
they certainly could. He proposed to his companions to form a
company and take the contract for building it. This they regarded
as a happy thought, and heartily entered into the enterprise, and
the company was formed, and the road successfully built by it.
The company claimed the right and privilege of locating the road,
and for this purpose employed Mr. Edward Powers as chief engineer.
Under him the line was re-located. He had charge of the work
until the spring of 1870, when B. C. Smith, the construction com-
pany's engineer, was appointed chief engineer, and continued in
charge until the road was completed. Grading through Tazewell
county was completed early in the year 1870; the first work on
the road being done in 1869, between Pekin and Delavan. The
contractors made contracts in England for iron sufficient to lay
the track through this county ; owing to unavoidable delay, how-
ever, the iron did not reach Pekin until the latter part of Au-
gust. The people along the line were growing anxious for the
completion of the road, but the unflagging energy with which the
contractors pushed the work, and the character and standing of the
men in charge, plainly told them that no unnecessary delay would
be made. On the arrival of the iron, track laying was vigorously
commenced, and that jxirt of the road between Pekin and Delavan
was completed that fall. That portion of the road was then oper-
ated by the construction company for passenger and freight traffic.
The first engine was purchased in Chicago by Mr. Cobleigh.
Early in the spring of 1871, work was again commenced, and
as fiist as track was laid, trains for the accommodation of the
public were run, and so considerable was the traffic that it was evi-
dent the enterprise would be a paying one. In 1871 the road was
leased to the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railway Company ; lease
to take affect upon the completion of the road by the contractors.
The road was completed to Decatur on the 6th day of October,
1871. Mr. Cobleigh, the present General Superintendent, had entire
4%....,
;,,^:^^
GENt- SUPT P. L a D R'
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 739
charge of the construction of the road, and the management of the
trains. By his request the contract for grading was sub-let. In
making the sub-contracts, the Construction Company reserved the
privilege of paying the laborers before giving sub-contractor any
money. The reason for this was, at that time many roads were
being constructed, and the sub-contractors would not pay their
laborers, thereby swindling poor men, and bringing the road into
disrepute. To avoid this, Mr, Cobleigh in person paid every labor-
ing man in this branch of the work, and also matle every pavment
in the construction of the road througout. He also did nearly all
of the purchasing, and it seems remarkable that one man could
attend to so much, and perform his work so well as he did, during
the building of P., L. & D. Railway.
The T., W. & W. Ry., ran the road for four and a half years.
The road was mortgaged for $16,000 per mile, and the lease held by
the T., W. & W., required them to pay the interest on this indebt-
edness, and to maintain the road. In the spring of LSTG, the T. W.
& W., being behind about two years in the payment of interest, the
bondholders foreclosed the mortgage and sold the road. It was bid
in by them for $500,000, and re-organized as the Pekin, Lincoln &
Decatur Railway Company. C. R. Cummings was chosen Presi-
dent ; J. B. Cohrs, Secretary ; R. A. Bunker, Treasurer, and John
S. Cook, General Manager. The road Avas operated under this
management until the fall of 1878. Mr. Cook resigned as General
Manager, when that office was abolished, and G. R. Cobleigh aj)-
pointed Gen. Superintendent, Avhich position he now holds. Before
the time of his electiod to his ])resent position, which was Dec. 1,
1878, Mr. Cobleigh was Purchasing Agent and Supt. of Track.
The present officers of the road are, President, C. R. Cummings ;
Secretary, J. B. Cohrs ; General Superintendent, G. R. Cobleigh ;
Treasurer, R. A. Bunker; General Freight Agent, G. L. Bradbury;
General Ticket Agent, L. M. Rupert.
The P., L. & D., extends from Pekin to Decatur, a distance of
68 miles. It has a lease, however, of the Peoria & Springfield Road,
running from Pekin to Peoria, Avhich it operates and controls all
roads running over it, and makes the time-cards. These roads are,
besides their own, the I., B. & W., and the C, P. & S. W. It con-
nects at Decatur Avith roads running south, east and Avest. The
road-bed is good, well drained, level and uniform. The rolling-
stock is first-class ; conductors, agents and employes accommodating
and courteous, and the general management is all that could be
desired by the public, employes and stockholders.
Columbus R. Cummings, President of the P., L. & D. Railway, is
the son of James P., and Clarissa (Wilson) Cummings. He Avas
born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., Oct. 14, 1834. He came to
Chicago, Ills., in 1853, and entered a mercantile house as clerk and
in the fall of 1859, came to Pekin, Avhere he embarked in the dry
goods business in company with his brother, C. B. Cummings. Since
42
740 HISTORY OF TAZEAVELL COUNTY.
his advent into Tazewell county, ]Mr. C, has been actively identi-
fied with all the leading; enterprises of the county. He was married
June 26, 1862, to Miss Sarah C. Mark, daughter of David Mark, an
early settler of this county. President Cumniings has served the
citv of Pekin as Mayor, and is an honorable citizen and a judicious
railroad man.
Gordis R. Coblcigh, General Superintendent of this road, and
whose portrait will be found in this volume, was born in Lisbon, X.
H., Dec. 22, 1838. He is the sou of Royal E., and Mercy (Yilas)
Cobleigh. His mother was a native of Vermont, his father of Xew
Hampshire. The latter died when the subject of this sketch was
ten years old, and since that time he has been obliged to look out
for himself. It took all the money he had to get out West, and he
started here with absolutelv nothina:, and he is one of the most re-
spected men of the county and has acquired considerable property.
He came to this county Dec. 19, 1856, and taught school for two
winters, and worked on a farm in summers. In the fall of 1859, he
entered the mercantile trade at Pekin, in company with H. Mont-
gomery. He continued in this, the grocery business, for about two
years, Avhen, in 1862, he entered a wholesale grocery house in Chi-
cago as book-keeper. We find him next in Peoria, actively engaged
in the commercial business, where he remained until 1864, when
he came to Pekin and embarked in the dry goods business in com-
pany with C. B. Cummings. He continued in this line for eight
years, when he commenced railroading, wliich business he has since
continued to follow, and his labors are mentioned above in this ar-
ticle. He is a judicious railroad man and keeps in view the accom-
modation of the general public as well as the interests of the stock-
holders. He is esteemed by all the employes and has the best
wishes of the community. In 1864, Feb. 25, he was united in marriage
with Mary V. Smith. Their children number five, only three of
whom are living, tw(» having crossed the Jordan of Death. The
names and dates of births of children are as follows: Royal E., born
April 23, 1865, died Nov. 4, 1865; Francis A., born April 10,
1867; William S., born Aug. 30, 1868; Gordis R., jr., born July
7, 1870, died Xov. 24, 1873; Mary Y., born March 2, 1875. Sui)t.
Cobleio;h has served as Alderman of the citv of Pekin for three
terms, and at present represents the fourth ward in the City Council.
He was Enrolling Officer in 1863 for recruiting for the U. S. army,
and Postmaster in Peoria county. He is a Universalist in religious
belief, and politically a Republican. Residence, corner of Colt and
Washington streets, Pekin.
TOLEDO, PEORIA & WARSAW R. R.
One of the principal arteries by which the produce of the Xorth-
west is transported to the seaboard, is the T., P. & W. R. R. Under
its present able management it has taken rank with the greater lines
of our countiy. Its road-bed is level, well ironed and smooth.
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 741
Its rolling stock, both frei<>lit curs and coaches, is equal to that
run by the oldest and most prosperous of roads.
The T,, P. & W. was formerly the eastern extension of the Peoria
& Oquawka road, which was constructed in about 18(30. It was
changed to the T., P. & AV. in about 18G4, and in February, 1875,
was given into the hands of A. I^. Hopkins, as Receiver, who is one
of the ablest railroad men in the United States. The road crosses
the Illinois river at Peoria, runs through Fond du Lac and AVash-
ington townships, passing througli the city of A\ ashington. There
are 16 miles of this road in Tazewell county.
ILLINOIS MIDLAND.
This is a consolidation of the Peoria, Atlanta & Decatur and the
Paris & Decatur Railroads. The road was constructed in 1872.
Its line extends from Terrc Haute, Ind., to Peoria, 111., a distance
of 176 miles. There are more miles of this road in Tazewell county
than any of its other seven roads. It leaves Peoria, entering the
county at Fond du Lac, running diagonally through Morton, touch-
ing Tremont, passing south through Mackinaw, Little Mackinaw
and Hittle. There are 29 miles of track in this county, of the Illi-
nois Midland, valued at §57,000.
THE CHICAGO, PEKIN & SOUTHWESTERN RAILROAD.
The C, P. & S. AV. R. R. Co. is the successor of the Chicago
& Plainiield Railroad Company. The first charter of the C. ct P.
R. R. Co. was approved Feb. 24, 1859. The corporators named
therein being Lyman Foster, I). AV. Cropsy, K. J. Hammond, G.
AV. Bradley, John Moore, John Letsey, A. K. Wheeler, AVm.
Thurber and Benj. Pickertson. They were empowered to lo(;ate
and construct a railroad from Chicago, by way of Plainfield, to or
near Ottawa. Afterwards, on th(> 25th of Feb., 18(37, an amend-
ment was approved to the charter, which jirovided that said com-
pany be allowed "to extend their line of railroad from some eligible
point therein near the southern line of Kendall county, thence
southwesterly into the county of Peoria." Again, on the 29th of
March, 18(59, an amendatory act was passed to the above charter,
providing "that said corj)oration, heretofore known as the 'Chicago
and Plainfield Railroad Company,' shall hereafter be known and
called the 'Chicago, Plainfield and Pekin Railroad Company,' " and
in this act it was provided that the said company have the right to
locate and build their line of road through Groveland township,
Tazewell county, to Pekin, and that it should be authorized and em-
powered to receive subscrij)tions and donations to aid in the con-
struction of said road, and also to borrow money and to issue bonds
to the extent of ^i^l 5,000 jK'r mile, to obtain funds to construct
and equip the line. April 19, 1869, the name was again changed to
the present one.
The first Board of Directors of the Company was elected
742 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
June 29, 1869, and consisted of B, S. Prettyman, P. Weyhrich,
George Greigg, C. R. Cummings, John M. Dougherty, W. A. Ross,-
B. H. Harris, C. Sharp, H. R. Kiff, J. R. T. Overholt, J. Dieven-
baugh, E. T. Pierce, and R. Clark. The first contract for building
the road was made between the C. & P. Co. and Richard P. Morgan,
who was afterwards joined by E. T. Pierce. This contract was de-
clared forfeited by the first Board of the C, P. & S. W. Railroad Co.,
and another contract entered into by said Board and Messrs. Roder-
ick Clark of LaSalle Co., Cragie Sharp, of AVoodford Co. and Edgar
T. Pierce, of LaSalle Co. Pierce, Clark and Sharp did some grading
on the line and purchased some materials but became cramped and
embarrassed in the work and failed.
On April 14, 1871, the contract of Pierce, Clark & Sharp was,
with consent of all parties interested, transferred to Col. Ralph
Plumb, of Streator, in order to more vigorously prosecute the work.
On June 29th, 1871, on the resignation of R. Clark, F. E. Hinckley
was elected a member of the Board of Directors. On Jan. 9, 1872,
F. E. Hinckley was elected President and F. Plumb, Secretary.
From the last date forward the work was prosecuted with vigor
rnd determination and results began to show, although hindered and
harrassed by litigation caused by former mismanagement. On Dec.
18, 1872, the contractor. Col. Plumb, announced to the Board of
Directors that the track was laid from Streator to Pekin, 64 miles,
and a few days later, Jan. 6, 1873, that portion of the road was
opened for business, and continued to be operated between these
points until Feb., 1876, when an extension of the road from Streator
to Mazon river was turned over by the contractor to the company,
and by the acquirement of a few miles of road from the Mazon river
to JoHet the C, P. & S. W. R. R. now have a short direct line from
Pekin to Joliet, with mutual running arrangements with the Chi-
cago & Alton R. R., forming a through Chicago line.
Francis E. Hinckly has remained President of the road since his
election in 1871, and has managed the property vigorously, and
through this and other roads under his management, acquired a high
reputation as a skillful railroad manager. The road has been
■ thoroughly equipped with freight cars, coaches and engines, and the
business developed and encouraged.
The Superintendent of this road, Mr. D. H. Conklin, is located
at Streator. He is a railroad man of thorough experience and intel-
ligence. He is a telegraph operator, and can watch the running of
his trains at all points, and is always ready, when necessity requires,
to run an engine over the road, or conduct a freight train. P. B.
Shumway, the General Freight Agent, is a man of ability and
shrewdness, and alive to the necessities of the business of the road
in that department. B. T. Lewis is at the head of the passenger
department, and although a young man, has had much experience
in railroading, and displays an ability and tact fitting him for the
responsible position. The general offices of the company are located
at Chicago.
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
LAWS.
The courts recognize two kinds of law, Statute and Common.
Statute law is that which is enacted by the Legislature. Common
law consists of all the law of England, — whether Statute, or Com-
mon, which was in force in that country at the time of our inde-
pendence, and recognized by our courts, and which has not since
been repealed or disused.
We have what is called established law. For this branch of
common law there is no authority excepting the decisions of the
courts; hence the value of the reported decisions which are pub-
lished by official reporters. The law presumes that every body is
acquainted with it. Mistakes of fact can be corrected by the courts,
but not mistakes of law; no man being permitted to take advantage
of a mistake of tbe law, either to enforce a right, or avoid an obli-
gation; for it would be dangerous and unwise to encourage igno-
rance of the law, by permitting a party to profit, or to escape, by his
ignorance. One is required at his peril to know the law of his own
country.
JURISDICTION OF COURTS.
Justices have jurisdiction in all civil cases on contracts for the
recovery of moneys for damages, for injury to real property, or tak-
ing, detaining, or injuring personal property; for rent; for all cases
to recover damages done to real or personal- property, by railroad
companies; in actions of replevin; of actions for damages for fraud;
in the sale, purchase, or exchange of personal property, when the
amount claimed as due is not over $200. They have also jurisdic-
tion in all cases for violation of the ordinances of cities, towns, or
villages. A justice of the peace may orally order an officer or a
private person, to arrest any one committing, or attempting to com-
mit a criminal offense. He also, upon complaint, can issue his
warrant for the arrest of any person accused of having committed a
crime, and have him brought before him for examination.
744 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
COUNTY COURTS
Have jurisdiction in all matters of probate (except in counties
having a population of one hundred thousand or over ), settlement
of estates of deceased persons, appointment of guardians and con-
servators, and settlements of their accounts; all matters relating to
apprentices; proceedings for the collection of taxes and assesments,
and in proceedings of executors, administrators, guardians, and
conservators, for the sale of real estate. In law cases, thej have
concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Courts in all cases where jus-
tices of the peace now have, or hereafter may have, jurisdiction
when the amount claimed shall not exceed $1,000; and in all crim-
inal offenses, where the punishment is not imprisonment in the pen-
itentiary or death, and in all cases of appeals from justices of peace
and police magistrates, except when the county judge is sitting as
a justice of the peace.
Circuit Courts have unlimited jurisdiction.
COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS.
The commissioners of hiffhwavs in the different towns, have
the care and superintendence of highways, and bridges therein.
They have the power to lay out, vacate, regulate and repair all roads,
build and repair bridges, and divide their respective towns into as
many road districts as they shall think convenient. ' This is to be
done annually, and ten days before the annual town meeting. In
addition to the above, it is their duty to erect and keep in repairs
at the forks or crossing-place of the most important roads, post and
guide-boards, witli plain inscriptions, giving directions and dis-
tances to the most noted places to which such roads may lead; also
to make provisions to prevent thistles, burdock, cockle-burs, mus-
tard, yellow dock, Indian mallow, and jimson weed from seeding,
and to extirpate the same as far as practicable, and to prevent all
rank growth of vegetation on the public highways, so far as the
same may obstruct public travel; and it is in their discretion to
erect watering places for public use, for watering teams at such
points as may be deemed advisable. Every able-bodied male inhab-
itant, being above the age of twenty-one years, and under fifty, ex-
cepting paupers, idiots, lunatics, trustees of schools and school di-
rectors, and such others as are exempt by law, are required to labor
on highways in their respective road districts, not less than one,
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 745
nor more than three days in each year. Three days' notice must
be given by the overseer, of the time and phxce he requires such
road labor to be done. The labor must be performed in the road
district in which the person resides. Any person may commute
for such labor by paying the equivalent in money. Any person
liable for work on highways, who has been assessed two days or
more, and has not commuted, may be required to furnish team, or
a cart, wagon or plow, with a pair of horses or oxen and a man to
manage them, for which he will be entitled to two days' work.
Eight hours? is a days' work on the roads and there is a penalty of
twenty-five cents an hour against any person or substitute who
shall neglect or refuse to perform. Any person remaining idle, or
does not work faithfully, or hinders others from doing so, forfeits
to the town $2, Every person assessed and duly notified, who has
not commuted, and refuses or neglects to appear, shall forfeit to the
town for every day's refusal or neglect, the sum of $2; if he was
required to furnish a team, carriage, man or implements, and neg-
lects or refuses to comply, he is liable to the following fines: 1st,
For wholly failing to comply, $4 each day; 2d, For omitting to
furnish a man to manage team, $2 each day; 3d, For omitting to
furnish a pair of horses or oxen, §1.50 each day; 4th, For omitting
to furnish a wagon, cart or plow, 75 cents each day. The commis-
sioners estimate and assess the highway labor and road tax. The
road tax on real and personal property can not exceed forty cents
on each hundred dollars' worth. The labor or road tax in villaires,
towns or cities, is paid over to the corporate authorities of such,
for the improvement of streets, roads and bridges within their lim-
its.
The legal voters of townships, in counties under township organ-
ization may, by a majority vote, at their annual town meeting,
order that the road tax may be collected in money only.
Overseers. — Their duties are to repair and keep in order the high-
ways in their districts ; to warn persons to work out their road tax
at such time and place as they think proper; to collect fines and
commutation money, and execute all lawful orders of the commis-
sioners of highways; also make list, within sixteen days after their
election, of the names of all inhabitants in his road district, liable
to work on highways. For refusal to perform any of his duties he
is liable to a fine of $10.
746 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
As all township and county officers are familiar with their duties,
it is here intended only to give the points of law with which the
public should be familiar. The manner of laying out, altering, or
vacating roads, etc., will not be here stated, as it would require
more space than can be spared in a work like this. It is sufficient
to state that the first step is by petition, addressed to the commis-
sioners, setting out what is prayed for, giving the names of the
owners of the lands, if known (if not known, so state), over which the
road is to pass, giving the general course, its place of beginning,
and where it terminates. It requires not less than twelve freehold-
ers residing within three miles of the road, who shall sign the peti-
tion. Public roads must not be less than fifty, nor more than sixty
feet wide. Koads not exceeding two miles in length, if petitioned
for, may be laid out not less than forty feet wide. Private roads
for private and public use may be laid out three rods wide, on peti-
tion of the person directly interested; the damage occasioned there-
by shall be paid by the premises benefited thereby, and before the
road is opened. If n-ot opened in two years, the order shall be con-
sidered recinded. Commissioners in their discretion may permit
persons who live on or have private roads, to work out their road
tax thereon. Public roads must be opened in five years from date
of filing order of location, or be deemed vacated.
FENCES.
The town assessor and commissioners of highways shall be fence
. viewers in their respective towns in counties under township organ-
ization. In other counties, the county board appoints three in each
precinct, annually.
A lawful fence is four and one-half feet high and in good-repair,
consisting of rails, timbers, boards, stones, hedges, or any other
material the fence viewers may deem sufficient. The electors at
any annual town meeting may determine what shall constitute a
legal fence in the town.
Division fences shall be made and maintained in just proportion
by the adjoining owners, except where the owner shall choose to let
his land lie open ; but after a division fence has been built by mu-
tual agreement or otherwise, it shall not be lawful for either party
to remove his part of said fence, so long as he may crop or use such
lands for farm purposes, or without giving the other party one
year's notice in writing, of his intention to move his portion of the
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 747
fence. Adjoining owners sliould endeavor, if possible, mutually to
agree as to the proportion that each sha,ll maintain of the division
fence between their adjoining lands; and the agreement should be
reduced to writing, each party taking a copy. When any person
shall enclose his land upon the enclosure of another, he shall refund
the owner of the adjoining lands a just proportion of the value at
that time of such fence. The value of such fence, and the propor-
tion thereof to be paid by such person, and the proportion of the
division fence to be made and maintained by him, in case of his
inclosing his land, shall be determined by two fence viewers of the
town. Such fence viewers have power to settle all disputes between
owners as to fences built or to be built, as well as concerning repairs
to be made. Each party chooses one of the viewers, but if the
other party neglects, after eight days' notice in writing, to make
his choice, then the other party may select both. It is sufficient to
notify the tenant, or party in possession, when the owner is not a
resident of the town in which such fences are situated. The two
fence viewers chosen, after viewing the premises, shall hear the
statements of the parties. In case they can't agree, they shall se-
lect another fence viewer to act with them, and the decision of any
two of them shall be final. The decision must be reduced to writ-
ing, and should plainly set out a description of the fence and all
matters settled by them, and must be filed in the office of the town
clerk.
If any person who is liable to contribute to the erection or repa-
ration of a division fence, shall neglect or refuse to make or repair
his proportion of such fence, the party injured,after giving sixty days'
notice, in writing, that a new fence should be erected, or ten days'
notice, in writing, that the repair of such fence is necessary, may
make or repair the same at the expense of the party so neglecting
or refusing, to be recovered from him with costs of suit; and the
party so neglecting or refusing, after notice in writing, shall be lia-
ble to the party injured for all damages which shall thereby accrue,
to be determined by any two fence viewers. When a person shall
conclude to remove his part of the division fence and let his land
lie open, and havihg giv^en the year's notice required, the adjoining
owner may cause the value of said fence to be asQertained by fence
viewers as before provided ; and on payment or tender of the
amount of such valuation to the owner, it shall prevent the removal.
T48 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
A party removing a division fence without notice is liable for tlie
damages accruing thereby.
Where a fence has been built on the land of another through
mistake, the owner may enter upon such premises and remove his
fence and material within six months after the division line has
been ascertained. Where the material to build such a fence has
been taken from the land on which it was built, then before it can
be removed, the person claiming must first pay for such material,
to the owner of the land from which it was taken ; nor shall such a
fence be removed at a time when the removal will throw open or
expose the crops of the other party; a reasonable time must be
given beyond the six months to remove crops.
The compensation of fence viewers is one dollar and fifty cents
a day each, to be paid in the first instance by the party calling them;
but in the end all expenses, including amount charged by the fence
viewers, must be paid equally by the parties, except in cases where
a part}' neglects or refuses to make or maintain a just proportion of
a division fence, when the party in default shall pay them.
DBAINAGE.
Whenever one or more owners or occupants of land desire to con-
struct a drain or ditch, through another man's land, the right can
be had only under legislative authority, or is granted or exists by
prescription or by consent of the owner.
Dripping water from one house upon another can be allowed only
where the owner has acquired the right by grant or prescription;
and no one has a right to construct his house so as to let the water
drip over his neighbor's land.
TRESPASS OF STOCK.
Where stock of any kind breaks into any person's inclostire, the
fence being good and sufiicient, the owner is liable for the damage
done; but where the damage is done by stock running at large, con-
trary to law, the owner is liable where there is not such a fence.
Where stock is found trespassing on the inclosure of another as
aforesaid, the owner or occupier of the premises may take posses-
sion of such stock and keep the same until damages, with reasonable
charges for keeping and feeding, and all costs of suit, are paid.
Any person taking or rescuing such stock so held, without his con-
sent, shall be liable to a fine of not less than three nor more than
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 749
five dollars for each animal rescued, to be recovered by suit before
a justice of the peace, for the use of the school fund. Within twen-
ty-four hours after taking such animal into his possession, the per-
son taking it up must give notice of the fact to the owner, if known;
or if unknown, notice must be posted in some public place near the
premises.
ESTRATS.
Stray animals are those whose owner is unknown, any beasts, not
wild, found on one's premises, and not owned by the occupant. Any
animals found straying at any time during the year, in counties
where such animals are not allowed to run at large, or between the
last day of October and the 15th day of April in other counties, the
owner being unknown, may be taken up as estraj's. A party who
wishes to detain property as an estray, must show an exact compli-
ance with the law. In order to vest the property of the stray in
him, such acts must appear in detail on the record.
No person not a householder in the county where the estray is
found can lawfully take up an estray, and then only upon or about
his farm or place of residence. Estrays should not be used before
advertised, except animals giving milk, which may be milked for
their benefit. Notices must be posted up within five days in three,
of the most public places in the town or precinct in which the es-
tray was found, giving the residence of the taker-up, and a partic-
ular description of the estray, its age, color, and marks natural and
artificial, and stating before what justice of the peace, in such town
or precinct, and at what time, not less than ten nor more than fif-
teen days from the time of posting such notices, he will apply to
have the estray apprised. If the owner of an estray shall not have
appeared and proved ownership and taken the same away, first
paying the taker-up his reasonable charges for taking up, keeping,
and advertising the same, the taker-up shall appear before the justice
mentioned in above notice, and make an afiidavit as required by
law. All subsequent proceedings are before the justice who is fa-
miliar therewith; therefore we omit them here.
Any person taking up an estray at any other place than about or
upon his farm or residence, or without complying with the law, shall
forfeit and pay a fine of ten dollars with costs. Ordinary diligence
is required in taking care of estrays, but in case they die or get
away, the taker-up is not liable for the same.
760 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
If a man finds estravs in his field he is not bound to retain them
for the owner, but may drive them off" into the highway without
being liable to an action. But a person who chases a hor&e out of
his field with a large fierce dog, commits an unlawful act, and is
liable for any injury which the act occasions. A person who takes
anestray to keep for the owner, but does not pursue the course pre-
'scribed by statute, is not liable to an action unless he uses the same
or refuses to deliver it on demand. Riding a horse to discover the
owner is not " use."
HORSES
Are animals of a domestic nature. Under the age of four years
they are called colts. A borrower of a horse is liable for negligence,
misuse, or gross want of skill in use. The lender is liable in case
the animal lent is unfit or dangerous, as he thus may occasion
injury. The animal should be used only for the purpose and to the
extent stipulated, and not by a servant.
If he dies from disease, or is killed by inevitable accident, the bor-
rower is not liable. Defects which are manifest, open and plain to an
ordinary observer, and those also which are known to the buyer, are
not usually covered by a general warranty. The former requires
no skill to discover them, and the latter may be objected to or
acquiesced in at the time of the purchase. In the case of lateiit
defects existing in such a condition that they could not be detected
by the buyer, and are known to the seller, who fails to disclose them
to the buyer, the latter practices a constructive fraud, unless the
animal is sold " with all faults." By consenting to purchase the
horse " with all faults," the purchaser takes upon himself the risk
of latent or secret defects, and calculates the price accordingly.
But even this kind of a purchase would be voidable if the seller
had purposely, and to deceive the purchaser, covered, filled up,
patched, plastered, or otherwise practiced fraud to conceal any
defects, and he would be liable.
Hiring out a horse and carriage to perform a particular journey,
carries with it the warranty of the person letting the horse and
carriage, that each of them is fit and competent for such journey;
but, if a horse is hired for one purpose, and is used for another and
is injured, the hirer is liable for the damage sustained. The hirer
is in all cases answerable for ordinary neglect. If he uses the
hired horse as a prudent man would his own, he is not liable for
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 761
any damage which the horse may receive. If, however, he keeps
the hired horse after a stipulated time, or uses it differently from
his agreement, he is in any event liable. If the hirer sells the horse,
the owner may recover its value of the purchaser, though the pur-
chaser had in good faith given the hirer full value for it, as the
hirer could mve no better title than he had himself.
Mischievous animals render their owners liable when known to
them to be so, and they are responsible for the damage they may do
when they permit them to go at large. Any person may justify
the killing of ferocious animals.
MARKS ANB BRANDS.
Owners of cattle, horses, hogs, sheep or goats, may have one ear-
mark and one brand, which shall be different from his neiglibors',
and may be recorded by the county clerk of the county in which
such property is kept. The fee for such record is fifteen cents. The
record of such shall be open to examination free, of charge. In
cases of disputes as to marks or brands, such record is primafacie
evidence. Owners of cattle, horses, hogs, sheep or goats, that may
have been branded by former owners, may be rebranded in presence
of one or more of his neighbors, who shall certify to the facts of
the marking or branding being done, when done, and in what brand
or mark they were re-branded or re-marked, which certificate may
also be recorded as before stated.
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT.
An agreement is virtually a contract by which a certain person
(or persons) agrees or contracts to perform certain duties within a
specified time. Good business men alwa3's reduce an agreement to
writing, which nearly always saves misunderstandings and long
and expensive lawsuits. No particular form is necessary, but the
facts must be clearly and explicitly stated ; and there must be a
reasonable consideration, else the agreement is void.
Unless it is expressly stipulated that the agreement is binding for
a longer time, the contract expires at the end of one year. Every
agreement should state most distinctly the time within which its
conditions are to be complied with. A discov^ery of fraud, or mis-
representation by one party to the agreement, or changing of the
date, renders the contract void. Each party should retain a copy of
the agreement.
"752 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
GENERAL FORM OF AGREEMENT.
This Agreement, made the third day of November, 1878, between
Damon Chirke of Macomb, county of McDonough, State of Illinois,
of the first part, and William Hays, of the same place, of the
second part.
WITNESSETH, That the said Damon Clarke, in consideration of
the agreement of the party of the second part, hereinafter contained,
contracts, and agrees to, and with the said William Hays, that he
will deliver in good and marketable condition, at the city of Gales-
burg, 111., during the month of December of this year, nine hun-
dred bushels of corn, in the following lots, and at the following
specified times, namely: one hundred bushels by the fifth of Decem-
ber, three hundred bushels by the fifteenth of December, and the
balance by the thirtieth of December.
And the said William Hays in consideration of the prompt ful-
fillment of this contract on the part of the party of the second
part, contracts to, and agrees with the said Damon Clarke, to pay
for said corn fifty cents per bushel as soon as delivered.
In case of failure of agreement by either of the parties hereto, it
is hereby stipulated and agreed that the party so failing shall pay
to the other, one hundred dollars, as fixed and settled damages.
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands the day and
year first above written : Damon Clarke,
William Hays.
NOTES.
A note is legal, worded in the simplest way, so that the amount
and time of payment are mentioned. The following is a good form:
$100 Chicago, III., May 1, 1S79.
Thirty days after date I promise to pay F. M. Chapmaiij
or order, one hundred dollars, for value received.
S. T. Lewis.
To make a note payable in anything else than money, insert the
facts instead of the sum of money alone; unless paid when due, it
is payable in money. To hold an indorser of a note, due diligence
must be used by suit in collecting of the maker, unless suit would
have been unavailing. Notes payable to person named or to order,
in order to absolutely transfer title, must be indorsed by the payer.
Notes payable to bearer may be transferred by delivery, and when
so payable, every indorser thereon is held as a guarantor of pay-
ment unless otherwise expi-essed.
The limit of time in which action may be brought on a note is
10 yeara
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
753
If the note is payable to a person or order, or to a person or
bearer, to a person or his assigns, or to a cashier of an incorporated
company, such notes are negotiable.
When transferring a note, the indorser frees himself from respon-
sibility, so far as the payment is concerned, by writing on the back,
above his signature, without recourse to me in any event.
A note is void when founded upon fraud. Thus a note obtained
from a person when intoxicated, or obtained for any reason which
is illegal, cannot be collected. A note given on Sunday is also void.
No defense can be made against negotiable paper purchased
before maturity for good consideration in the usual course of busi-
ness, without knowledge of facts impeaching its validity, except
fraud was used in obtaining the same. Thus if A gives his note
to B for $15<), receives in consideration a shawl and live pieces of
cloth. The former was represented to be worth §75, and the cloth
the best imported English goods. When, in fact, the shawl was
only worth $8, and suits made of the cloth wore out in less than
six weeks, long before the note was due. B, however, had sold the
note to C, who did not know the circumstances, and before it was
due — A would be obliged to pay it.
JUDGMENT NOTE.
For value received I promise to pay Ewing Summers, of Gales-
burg, or order, two hundred dollars, with interest, on the first day
of January next. And, further, I do hereby empower any attorney
of any court of record in Illinois, or elsewhere, to appear for me,
and after a declaration filed therefor, to confess a judgment against
me in the above sum, as of last, next, or any subsequent term, with
cost of suit, release of error, etc., with stay of execution until said
first day of January.
Witness my hand and seal at Galesburg, 111., this sixth day of
March, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
[seal] John Jones.
INTEREST.
Interest is the compensation which is paid by the borrower of
money to the lender for its use. When the debtor expressly under-
takes to pay interest, he is bound to pay it; but if a party has
accepted the principal, he cannot recover interest in a separate
action. During the course of dealings between parties, a promise
to pay is implied, and the debtor is bound to pay. So also on an
754 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
account stated, whenever the debtor knows precisely what he is to
pay, and when he is to pay it, after a demand ^of payment; but
interest is not due on a running account, even when the items are
all on one side, unless otherwise agreed upon. Where the terms of
a promissory note are that it shall be paid by installments, and on
the failure of any installment the whole is to become due, interest
on the whole becomes payable from the first default. Where, by
the term of a bond or promissory note, interest is to be paid annu-
ally, and the principal at a distant day, the interest may be recov-
ered before the principal is due.
Interest is collectible in the following cases: For £:oods sold and
delivered after the stipulated term of credit has expired; if there be
no credit, then from the time of sale; on judgment debts, from the
rendition of judgment; on money obtained by fraud, or where ii
has been wrongfully detained (for whoever receives money not his
own, and detains it from the owner unlawfully, must pay interest
tlierefor: hence a public officer retaining money wrongfully is lia-
ble for the interest); on money paid by mistake, or recovered on a
void execution; on money lent or laid out for another's use; and
rent, from the time that it is due.
When the rate of interest is specified in any contract, that rate
continues until full payment is made. A debt barred by the
statute of limitations and revived by an acknowledgment bears
interest for the whole time.
Computing Interest. — In casting interest on notes, bonds, etc.,
upon which partial payments have been made, every payment is to
be first applied to discharge the interest; but the interest is never
allowed to form a part of the principal, so as to carry interest.
When a partial payment is made before the debt is due, it cannot
be apportioned part to the debt and part to the interest, but at the
end interest shall be charged on the whole sum, and the obligor
shall receive credit for the interest on the amount paid until the
interest becomes due.
The legal rate of interest is six per cent. Parties may agree in
writing on a rate not exceeding eight per cent. If a rate of interest
greater than eight per cent, is contracted for, the penalty is a for-
feiture of the entire interest, and only the principal can be
recovered.
In computing interest or discount on negotiable instruments, a
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 756
month shall be considered a calendar month or twelfth of a year,
and for less than a month, a day shall be figured a thirtieth ])art of
a month. Notes bear interest only when so expressed; but after
due they draw the legal interest, six per cent., even if not stated.
Notes payable on demand or at sight draw no interest until after
presentation or demand of the same has been made, unless they
provide for interest from date on their tiice. If "with interest" is
included in the note, it draws the legal rate from the time it is
made. If the note is to draw a special rate of interest, higher than
the legal, but not higher than the law allows, the rate must be
specified.
WILLS.
The legal declaration of a person's mind, determining the man-
ner in which he would have his property or estate disposed of after
his death, is termed a will. No exact form of words is necessary
in order to make a will good at law, though much care should be
exercised to state the provisions of the will so plainly that its lan-
guage may not be misunderstood.
Every male person of the age of twenty-one years, and every
female of the age of eighteen years, of sound mind, can make a
valid will. It must be in writing, signed by the testator, or by
some one in his or her presence, and by his or her direction, and
attested by two or more credible witnesses. Care should be taken
that the witnesses are not interested in the will.
The person making the will may appoint his or her executors;
but no person can serve as such executor if he or she be an alien at
the time of proving the will, if he be under twenty -one years ot
age, a convict, a drunkard, a lunatic, or an imbecile.
Persons knowing themselves to have been appointed executors,
must, within thirty days after the death of deceased, cause the will
to be proved and recorded in the proper county, or present it and
refuse to accept. In case of failure to do so, they are liable to for-
feit the sum of twenty dollars per month. Inventory to be made
by executor or administrator within three months from date of let-
ters testamentary or administration.
The person making a will is termed the " testator " (if a female,
the " testatrix ").
A will is of no force and eflfect until the death of the testator,
756 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
and can be cancelled or modified at any date by the maker. The
last will made annuls the force of all preceding wills.
A will made by an unmarried woman is legally revoked by mar-
riage; but she can take such legal steps in the settlement of her
property before marriage as will empower her to dispose of the
same as she may choose after marriage. No husband can make a
will that will deprive the wife of her right of dower in the prop-
erty; but the husband can will the wife a certain amount in lieu of
her dower, stating it to be in lieu thereof. Such bequest, however,
will not exclude her from her dower, provided she prefers it to the
bequest made in the will. Unless the husband states distinctly
that the bequest is in lieu of dower, she is entitled to both.
In case a married woman possesses property and dies without a
will, her husband is entitled to administer upon such property in
preference to any one else, provided he be of sound mind.
Notice requiring all claims to be presented against the estate
shall be given by the administrator within six months after being
qualified. Any person having a claim and not presenting it at the
time fixed by said notice, is required to have summons issued noti-
fying the executor of having filed his claim in court. Claims
should be filed within two years from the time administration is
granted on an estate, as after that time they are forever barred,
unless other estate be found that was not inventoried. Married
women, infants, persons insane, imprisoned, or without the United
States, in the employment of the United States, or of this State,
have two years after their disabilities are removed to file
claims. Claims are classified and paid out of the estate in the fol-
lowing manner:
1st. Funeral expenses.
2d. The widow's award, if there is a widow; or children, if there
are children and no widow.
3d. Expenses attending the last illness, not including the physi-
cian's bill.
4th. Debts due the common school or township fund.
5th. All expenses of proving the will and taking out letters
testamentary or of administration, and settlement of the estate, and
the physician's bill in the last illness of the deceased.
6th. Wiiere the deceased has received money in trust for any
purpose, his executor or administrator shall pay out of his estate
the amount received and not accounted for.
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
757
7tli. All other debts and demands of whatsoever kind, without
regard to quality or dignity, which shall be exhibited to the court
within two years from the granting of letters.
Award to the widow and children, exclusive of debts and lesacies
or bequests, except funeral expenses:
1st. The family pictures and wearing apparel, jewels and orna-
ments of herself and minor children.
2d. School books and the family library to the value of $100.
3d. One sewinor-machine.
4th. Necessary beds, bedsteads and bedding for herself and
familv.
*j
5th. The stoves and pipe used in the family, with the necessary
cooking utensils; or, in case they have none, $50 in money.
6th. Household and kitchen furniture to the value of $100.
7th. One milch cow and calf for every four members of her
family.
8th. Two sheep for each member of her family, and the fleeces
taken from the same, and one horse, saddle and bridle.
9th. Provisions for herself and family for one year.
10th. Food for the stock above specified for six months.
11th. Fuel for herself and family for three months.
12th. One hundred dollars' worth of other property suited to her
condition in life, to be selected by the widow.
The widow, if she elects, may have in lieu of the said award, the
same personal property or money in place thereof as is or may be
exempt from execution or attachment against the head of a family.
GENERAL FOKM OF WILL FOR REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY.
I, Samuel T. Lewis, of the city of Chicago, county of Cook,
State of Illinois, being aware of the uncertainty of life, and in
fulling health, but of sound mind and memory, do make and declare
this to be my last will and testament, in manner following, to-wit:
Fh'st. I give, devise and bequeath to my oldest sou, P'ranklin
M. Lewis, the sum of Four Thousand dollars of bank stock, now
in the First National Bunk, Chicago, Illinois, and the farm owned
by myself, in Ontario township, Knox county, Illinois, consisting
of one hundred and sixty acres, with all the houses, tenements, and
improvements thereunto belonging; to have and to hold unto my
said son, his heirs and assigns, forever.
Second. I give, devise and bequeath to each of my daughters,
LidaLouan Lewis, and Fannie Antionette Lewis, each two thousand
758 DIGEST OF STATE LAAVS.
dollars in bank stock, in the First National Bank of Chicago, Illinois,
and also each one quarter section of land, owned by myself, situ-
ated in the town of Delavan, Tazewell county, Illinois, and recorded
in my name in the Recorder's office of said county. The nortli one
hundred and sixty acres of said half section is devised to my elder
daughter Lida Louan.
Third. I give, devise and bequeath to my son, Fred Davis
Lewis, five shares of railroad stock, in the C, B. & Q. Raih-oad,
and my own one hundred and sixty acres of land and saw-mill
thereon, situated in Astoria, Illinois, with all the improvements and
appurtenances thereunto belonging, which said real estate is re-
corded in my name, in the county where situated.
Fourth. I give to my wife, Trypliena Lewis, all ray household
furniture, goods, chattels, and personal property, about my house,
not hitherto disposed of, including ten thousand dollars in bank
stock, in the First National Bank of Chicago, Illinois, fifteen shares
in the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, and the free and
unrestricted use, possession and benefits of the home farm, so long
as she may live, in lieu of dower, to which she is entitled by law;
said farm being my present place of residence.
Fifth. I bequeath to my invalid father, Samuel T. Lewis, Sr.,
the income from the rents of my store building, at Canton, Illinois,
during the term of his natural life. Said building and land there-
with revert to my said sons and daughters in equal proportions,
upon the demise of my said father.
Sixth. It is also my will and desire, that at the death of my
wife, Tryphena Lewis, or at any time she may arrange to relinquish
her life interest in the above mentioned homestead, the same may
revert to my above named children, or to the lawful heirs of each.
And, Lastlij. I appoint as executors of this, my last will and
testament, my wife Tryphena Lewis, and my eldest son, Franklin
M. Lewis.
I further direct that my debts and necessary funeral expenses
shall be paid from moneys now on deposit in the First National
Bank, Pekin, Illinois, the residue of such moneys to revert to my
wife, Tryphena Lewis, for her use forever.
In witness thereof, I, Samuel T. Lewis, to this, my last will and
testament, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this third day of
March, eighteen hundred and seventy.
[L. S.] Samuel T. Lewis.
Signed, sealed and delivered by Samuel T. Lewis, as and for his
last will and testament, in the presence of us, who, at his request,
and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have sub-
scribed our names hereunto as witnesses thereof.
Fred D. Selleck, Chicago, Illinois.
Erastus Child, Oneida, Illinois.
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 769
CODICIL.
"Whereas, I, Samuel T. Lewis, did, on the third daj of March,
one thousand eight hundred and seventy, make my last will and
testament, I do now, by this writing, add this codicil to my said
will, to be taken as a part thereof.
Whereas, by the dispensation of Providence, my daughter Lida
Louan, has deceased, November fifth, eighteen hundred and seventy-
four, and, whereas, a son has been born to me, which son is now
christened Charles Burchard Lewis, I give and bequeath unto him
my gold watch, and all right, interest and title in lands and bank
stock and chattels bequeathed to my deceased daughter Lida Louan,
in the body of this will
In witness thereof, I hereunto set my hand and seal, this fifth
day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-nine.
[L. S.] Samuel T. Lewis.
Signed, sealed, published and declared to us by the testator,
Samuel T. Lewis, as and for a codicil, to be annexed to his last will
and testament. And we, at his request, and in his presence, and in
the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses
thereto, at the date hereof.
Erastus Child, Oneida, 111.
E. C. Johnson, Chicago, 111.
DESCENT.
"When no will is made, the property of a deceased person is dis-
tributed as follows:
First. To his or her children and their descendants, in equal
parts; the descendants of the deceased child or grand child taking
the share of their deceased parents, in equal parts among them.
Second. Where there is no child, no descendant of such child,
and no widow or surviving husband, then to the parents, brothers
and sisters of the deceased, and their descendants, in equal parts,
the surviving parent, if either be dead, taking a double portion;
and if there is no parent living, then to the brothers and sisters of
the intestate and their descendants.
Third. When there is a widow or surviving husband, and no
child or children, or descendants of the same, then one-half of the
real estate and the whole of the personal estate shall descend to
such widow or surviving husband, absolutely, and the other half of
the real estate shall descend as in other cases where there is no
child or children, or descendants of the same.
Fourth. When there is a widow or surviving husband, and also
760 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
a child or children, or descendants of the latter, then one-third of
all personal estate to the widow or surviving husband, absolutely.
Fifth. If there be no child, parent, brother or sister, or
descendants of either of them, and no widow or surviving husband,
then in equal parts to the next of kin to the intestate in equal
degree. Collaterals shall not be represented except with the
descendants of brother and sister of the intestate, and there shall
be no distinction between kindred of the whole and the half-blood.
Sixth. If any intestate leaves a widow or surviving husband
and no kindred, then to such widow or surviving husband; and if
there is no such widow or surviving husband, it shall escheat to and
invest in the county where the same or the greater portion thereof
is situated.
DEEDS.
A deed is a sealed instrument in writing, conveying lands and
appurtenances thereon from one person to another, and special care
should be taken to have them signed, sealed, delivered and properly
acknowledged, with the proper seal attached. Witnesses are not
necessary. The law in this State provides that an acknowledg-
ment must be made before certain persons authorized to take the
same. These officers are: Master in Chancery, Notary Public^
Circuit or County Clerk, Justice of the Peace. United States Com-
missioner, or any Court of Hecord having a seal, or any Judge,
Justice or Clerk of any such court. The instrument shall be
attested by the official seal of the officer taking the acknowledg-
ment, and when taken by a Justice of the Peace residing out of the
county where the real estate to be conveyed lies, there shall be
added a certificate of the County Clerk under his eeal of office, that
he was a Justice of the Peace in the county at the time of taking
the same. A deed is good without such certificate attached, but
cannot be used in evidence unless such a certificate is produced or
other competent evidence introduced. Acknowledgments made
out of the State must either be executed according to the laws of
this State, or there should be attached a certificate that is in conform-
ity with the laws of the State or country where executed. Where
this is not done the same may be proved by any other legal way.
Acknowledgments where the Homestead rights are to be waived
must state as follows: " Including the release and waiver of the
right of homestead."
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 761
To sender a deed valid, there must be a sufficient consideration.
To enable a person to legally convey property to another, the fol-
lowing requisites are necessary: 1st, he or she must be of age;
2d, must be of sane mind; and, 3d, he or she must be the rightful
owner of the property
Any alterations or interlineations in the deed should be noted at
the bottom of the instrument, and properly witnessed. After the
acknowledgment of a deed, the parties have no right to make the
slightest alterations. An alteration after the acknowledgment in
favor of the grantee vitiates the deed. The maker of a deed is
called the "grantor;" the person or party to whom the deed is
delivered, the " grantee." The wife of the grantor must ackowl-
edge the deed, or else, after the death of her husband, she will be
entitled to one-third interest in the property, as dower, during her
life. Her acknowledgment of the deed must be of her own free
will and accord.
By a general warranty deed the grantor engages to secure the
grantee in any right or possession to the property conveyed against
all persons whatsoever. A quit-claim deed releases what interest
the grantor may have in the land, but does not warrant and defend
against others. We do not give form for a deed, as printed forms
are used by all. Deeds should be recorded without delay.
MORTGAGES AND TRUST DEEDS
Are conditional conveyances of estates or property by way of
pledge for the security of debt, and to become void on payment of
it. Special care should be taken to have them signed, sealed
delivered, and properly acknowledged, with the proper seal attached.
All kinds of property, real or personal, which are capable of an
absolute sale, may be the subject of a mortgage.
Mortgages of personal property need not be under seal. In the
absence of stipulation to the contrary, the mortgagee of personal
property has the legal title thereto, and the right of possession, and
he may liave an action against any one taking them from the mort-
gagor. And although the mortgage contains no express stipulation
that the mortgagor shall remain in possession until default of pay-
ment, and with a power to sell for the mortgagee's debt, the mort-
gagee may nevertheless sustain trover against an officer attaching
the goods as the property of the mortgagor.
7G2 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
A mort^a^e must be in writing when it is intended to convey the
legal title. It inust be in one single deed which contains the whole
contract.
Redemption must be made within one year from the sale.
"Where, however, the mortgagee takes the property for an absolute
discharge of the debt, then the equity or right of redemption is
barred. Satisfaction, or release of a mrirtgage, may be made on
the margin of the record, or by an instrument duly acknowledged.
The wife need not join in this release.
TRUST DEEDS,
Trust deeds are taken generally in preference to mortgages,
especially by non-residents, for in case of foreclosure under the
power of sale there can be no redemption. Advertisement, sale,
and deed is made by the trustee.
Mortgages of personal property, or chattel mortgages, can be
given for a period of only two years, and cannot be renewed or
extended. Acknowledgment may be had before a Justice of the
Peace of the town or district in which the morto:aij:or resides. If
the mortgagor is a non-resident, then before any officer authorized
by law to take acknowledgments. Foreclosures may be effected
upon default, and possession, and sale of the property taken and
made; any delay will invalidate the mortgagee's lien.
LIENS.
Any person who shall by contract, expressed or implied, or
partly both, with the owner of any lot or tract of land, furnish
labor or material, or services as an architect or superintendent, in
building, altering, repairing, or ornamenting any house, or other
building or appurtenance thereto on such lot, or upon any street or
alley, and connected with such improvements, shall have a lien
upon the whole of such lot or tract of land, and upon such house
or building and appurtenances for the amount due him for labor,
material or services. If the contract is expressed, and the time for
the completion of the work is beyond three years from the com-
mencement thereof; or, if the time of payment is beyond one year
from the time stipulated for the completion of the work, then no
lien exists. If the contract is implied, then no lien exists, unless
the work be done, or material furnished, within one year from the
commencement of the work or delivery of the material. As
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 7C3
between different creditors having liens, no preference is given to
the one whose contract was made first; but each shares pro rata.
Incumbrances existing upon the lot or tract of the land at the time
the contract is made do not operate on the improvements, and are
only preferred to the extent of the value of the land at the time of
makino; the contract. The above lien cannot be enforced unless
CD
suit is commenced within six months after the last payment for
labor or materials shall have become due and payable. Sub-con-
tractors, mechanics, workmen, and other persons furnishing any
material, or performing any labor for a contractor, as above speci-
fied, have a lien to the extent of the amount due the contractor at
the time the following notice was served upon the owner of the
land who made the contract:
To : You are hereby notified that I have been employed
by [here state whether to labor or to furnish material,
and substantially the nature of the demand] upon your [here state
m general terms description and situation of building], and that I
shall hold the [building, or as the case may be], and your interest
in the ground liable for the amount that may [is or may become]
due me on account thereof. [Signature] .
Dated, .
If there is a contract in writing between contractor and sub-con-
tractor, a copy of it should be served with the above notice, and such
notice must be served within forty days from the completion of
such sub-contract, if there is one; if not, then from the time pay-
ment should have been made to the person performing the labor
or furnishing the material. If the owner is not a resident of the
county, or cannot be found therein, then the above notice must be
filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, with his fee, fifty cents,
and a copy of such notice must be published in a newspaper pub-
lished in the county for four successive weeks.
When the owner or agent is notified as above he can retain any
money due the contractor sufficient to pay such claim; if more
than one claim, and not enough to pay all, they are to be paid pro
rata.
The owner has a right to demand in writing a statement of the
contractor, of what he owes for labor, etc., from time to time as the
work progresses.
The liens referred to cover any and all estates, whether in fee for
V64: - DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
life, for years, or any other interest which the owner may have.
To enforce the liens of sub-contractors, suit must be commenced
within three months from the time of the performance of the sub-
contract, or during the work or furnishing materials.
Hotel, inn and hoarding -house keejyers have a lien upon the
baggage and other valuables of their guests or boarders brought
into such hotel, inn, or boarding-house, by their guests or boarders
for the proper charges due from such guests or boarders for their
accommodation, board and lodging, and such extras as are furnished
at their request.
Stahle-heepers and other persons have a lien upon the horses,
carriages and harness kept by them for the proper charges due for
the keeping thereof, and expenses bestowed thereon at the request
of the owner, or the person having the possession of the same.
Agisters (jiersons who take care of cattle belonging to others)
and persons keeping, yarding, feeding, or pasturing domestic ani-
mals shall have a lien upon the animals agistered, kept, yarded or
fed for the proper charges due for such service.
All persons who may furnish any railroad corporation in this
State with fuel, ties, material, supplies, or any other article or thing
necessary for the construction, maintenance, operation or repair of
its road by contract, or may perform work or labor for the same, are
entitled to be paid as part of the current expenses of the road, and
have a lien upon all its property. Sub-contractors or laborers have
also a lien. The conditions and limitations, both as to contractors
and to sub-contractors, are about the same as herein stated, as to
general liens.
BILL OF SALE.
A bill of sale is a written agreement to another party for a con-
sideration to convey his right and interest in the personal property.
The purchaser must take actual possession of the property. Juries
have power to determine upon the fairness or unfairness of a bill
of sale.
COMMON FORM OF BILL OF SALE.
Know All Men by this instrument, that I, B. F. Lewis, of Chi-
cago, Illinois, of the first part, for and in consideration of six hun-
dred and fifty dollars, to me paid by Columbus C. Chapman,
Astoria, Illinois, of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby
acknowledged, have sold, and by this instrument do convey unto
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 765
the said Chapman, party of tlie second part, his executors, admin-
istrators, and a-signs, my undivided half of ten acres of corn on
my farm in the town of Deer Creek, Illinois ; one pair of horses,
twenty sheep, and five cows, belonging to me, and in my possession
at the farm al'oresaid; to have and to hold the same unto the party
of the second ]:>art, his executors and assigns, forever. And I do,
for myself and legal representatives, agree with the said party of
the second part, and his legal representatives, to warrant and defend
the sale of the aforementioned property and chattels unto the said
party of the second part, and his legal representatives, against all
and everv person whatsoever.
In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed ray hand this tenth
day of October, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
B. F. Lewis.
DAYS OF GRACE.
No check, draft, bill of exchange, promissory note, order, or
negotiable instrument, payable at sight or on demand, or on pre-
sentment, shall be entitled to days of grace. All other bills of
exchange, drafts or notes are entitled to three days of grace. All
the above-mentioned paper falling due on Sunday, New Year's day,
Fourth of July, Christmas, or any day appointed or recommended
by the President of the United States or Governor of the State as
a day of fasting or thanksgiving, shall be deemed as due on the
day previous; and should two or more of these days come together,
then such instrument shall be treated as due on the day previous to
the first of said days.
LIMITATION OF ACTION.
The limit of time in which action may be brought on certain
things is as follows: Open accounts, five years; notes and written
contracts, ten years; judgments, twenty years; partial payments or
new promise in writing, within or after said period, will revive
the debt; absence from the State deducted, and when the cause of
action is barred by the law of another State, it has the same efiect
here; assault, slander, libel, replevin, one year; personal injuries,
two years; to recover land or make entry thereon, twenty years; and
sealed and witnessed instruments, as action to foreclose mortgage
or trust deed, within ten years. All persons in possession of land,
and paying taxes for seven consecutive years, with color of title, and
all persons paying taxes for seven consecutive years, with color of
title, on vacant land, shall be held to be the legal owners to the
extent of their paper title.
766 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
RECEIPTS.
Receipts should always state when received and what for; and if
receipt is in full it should be so stated. We give two forms:
FOB MONET ON ACCOUNT.
Eeceived, Knoxville, 111., Nov. 10, 1878, of J. C. Cover, sixty
dollars on account. $60. J. H. Franklin.
FOR MONEY ADVANCED ON A CONTRACT.
$100. Galesburg, III., June 9, 1868.
Received of Fernando Ross, one hundred dollars, in advance, on
contract to build for him a brick house at No. 76 Kellogg street.
Samuel J. Chapman.
EXEMPTIONS FROM FORCED SALES.
The following personal proiJerty and home worth $1,000, — Lot
of ground and buildings thereon, occupied as a residence by the
debtor, being a householder and having a family, to the value of
$1,000. Exemption continues after the death of the householder for
the benefit of the widow and family, some of them occupying the
homestead until the youngest shall become twenty-one years of age,
and until the death of the widow. There is no exemption from sale
for taxes, assessments, debt or liability incurred for the purchase or
improvement of said homestead. No release or waiver of exemption
is valid unless in writing and subscribed by such householder and
wife (if he has one), and acknowledged as conveyances of real estate
are required to be acknowledged.
The following articles of personal property owned by the debtor
are exempt from execution, writ of attachment, and distress for rent:
The necessary wearing apparel. Bibles, school-books and family pic-
tures of every person; and one hundred dollars' worth of other prop-
erty, to be selected by the debtor, and in addition, when the debtor
is the head of a family and resides with the same, three hundred dol-
lars' worth of other property to be selected by the debtor, — provided
that such selection and exemption shall not be made h^ the debtor
or allowed to him or her from any money, salary or wages due him or
her from any person or persons or corporations whatever. When the
head of the family dies, deserts, or does not reside with the same,
the family shall be entitled to and receive all the benefit and priv-
ilege which are by this act conferred upon the head of a family
residing with the same. No personal property is exempt from exe-
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 767
cntion when judgment is obtained for the loages of laborers or ser-
vants. Wages of a laborer who is the head of a family cannot be
garnisheed except for the sum due him in excess of $25.
LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.
The ])rincipal obligation on the part of a landlord, which is in
fact always to be implied as a necessary condition to his receiving
any rent, is, that the tenant shall enjoy the quiet possession of the
premises, — which means, substantially, that he shall not be turned
out of possession of the whole or any material part of the premises
by any one having a title paramount to that of the landlord, or that
the landlord shall not himself disturb or render his occupation un-
comfortable by the erection of a nuisance on or near the premises,
or otherwise oblige him to quit possession. But if he be ousted by a
stranger, — that is, by one having no title, — or after the rent has
fallen due, or if the molestation proceeds from acts of a third person,
the landload is in neither case responsible for it. Another obligation
which the law imposes on the landlord, in the absence of any ex-
press stipulation in the lease, is the payment of all taxes chargeable
upon the property, or any ground rents or interest upon mortgages
to which it may be subject. Every landlord is bound to protect his
tenant against all paramount claims. And if a tenant is compelled,
in order to protect himself in the enjoyment of the land in respect
of which his rent is payable, to make payment which ought, as be-
tween himself and his landlord, to have been made by the latter, he
may call upon the landlord to reimburse him, or he may deduct
such payment from the rent due or to become due. But the land-
lord is under no obligation to make repairs, or to rebuild in case the
premises should be burned; nor does he guaranty that they are
reasonably fit for the purpose for which they are taken. And it is
not in the power of a tenant to make repairs at the expense of his
landlord, unless there be a special agreement between them author-
izing him to do so; for the tenant takes the premises for better or
worse, and cannot involve the landlord in expense for repairs without
his consent. Even if the premises have become uninhabitable by
fire, and the landlord, having insured them, has recovered the
insurance money, the tenant cannot compel him to expend the
money so recovered in rebuilding, unless he has expressly engaged
to do so ; nor can he in such an event protect himself from the payment
of rent during the unexpired balance of the term, unless exempted
768
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
therefrom by statute or the terms of the lease. The uninhabit-
ableness of a house is not a good defense to an action for rent. If
the landlord expressly covenanted to repair, the tenant cannot quit
and discharge himself of rent because the repairs are not made, un-
less there is a provision to that effect; and if a landlord is bound by
custom or by express agreement to repair, this obligation, and the
obligation of the tenant to pay rent, are independent of each other,
so that the refusal or neglect of the landlord to repair is no answer
to a demand for rent. The tenant is answerable for any neglect to
repair highways, fences, or party walls. He is also liable for all
injuries produced by the mismanagement of his servants, or by a
nuisance kept upon the premises, or by an obstruction of the high-
ways adjacent to them, or the like. One of the principal obligations
which the law imposes upon every tenant, independent of any agree-
ment, is to treat the premises in such a manner that no substantial
injury shall be done to them, and so that they may revert to the
landlord at the end of the term unimpaired by any willful or negli-
gent conduct on his part.
A tenancy from year to3^ear requires sixty days' notice in writing
to terminate the same at the end of the year; snch notice can be
given at any time within four months preceding the last sixty days
of the year.
A tenancy by the month, or less than a year, where the tenant
holds over without any special agreement, the landlord may termi-
nate the tenancy by thirty days' notice in writing.
When rent is due, the landlord may serve a notice upon the ten-
ant, stating that unless the rent is paid within not less than live
days, his lease will be terminated; if the rent is not paid, the land-
lord may consider the lease ended. When a default is made in any
of the terms of the lease, it shall not be necessary to give more
than ten days' notice to quit or of the termination of such tenancy;
and the same may be terminated on giving such notice to quit, at
any time after such default in any of the terms of such lease;
which notice may be substantially in the following form:
To , You are hereby notified that, in consequence of your
default [here insert the character of the default], of the premises
now occupied by you, being, etc., [here describe the premises], I
have elected to determine your lease, and you are hereby notified to
quit and deliver up ])ossession of the same to me within ten days of
this date [dated, etc].
' DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 769
The above to be sif^ned by the lessor or his agent, and no other
notice or demand of possession or termination of such tenancy is
necessary.
Demand may be made or notice served by delivering a written or
printed, or partly either, copy thereof to the tenant, or leaving the
same with some person above the age of twelve years, residing on
or in possession of the premises; and in case no one is in actual
possession of said premises, then by posting the same on the prem-
ises. When the tenancy is for a certain time, and the term expires
by the terms of the lease, the tenant is then bound to surrender
possession, and no notice to quit or demand possession is necessary.
DISTRESS FOR RENT.
In all cases of distress for rent, the landlord, by himself, his agent
or his attorney, may seize for rent any personal property of his ten-
ant that may be found in the county where the tenant resides. Tiie
property of any other person, even if found on the premises, is not
liable.
An inventory of the property levied upon, with a statement of
the amount of rent claimed, should be at once filed with some
Justice of the Peace, if not over $200; and if above that sum, with
the Clerk of a Court of Record of competent jurisdiction. Pi'operty
may be released by a party executing a satisfactory bond for double
the amount.
The landlord may distrain for rent any time within six months
after the expiuation of the term of lease, or when terminated.
In all cases where the premises rented shall be sub-let, or the
lease assigned, the landlord shall have the same right to enforce
lien against such lessee or assignee, that he has against the tenant
to whom the premises were rented.
When a tenant abandons or removes from the premises, or any
part thereof, the landlord, or his agent or his attorney may seize
upon any grain or crops grown or growing upon the premises, or
part thereof so abandoned, whether the rent is due or not. If such
grain or other crops, or any part thereof, is not fully grown or
matured, the landlord, or his agent or attorney shall cause the same
to be properly cultivated, harvested or gathered, and may sell the
same, and from the proceeds pay all his labor, expenses and rent.
The tenant may, before the sale of such property, redeem the same
770 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
by tendering the rent and reasonable compensation for the work
done, or he may replevy the same.
EXEMPTION.
The same articles of personal property which are by law exempt
from execution, except the crops, as above mentioned, are also
exempt from distress for rent.
If any tenant is about to, or shall permit, or attempt to sell or
remove from the premises, without the consent of his landlord,
such portion of the crops raised thereon as will endanger the lien
of the landlord upon such crops, for the rent, it shall be lawful for
the landlord to distress before rent is due.
CRIMINAL LAW
Is that branch of jurisprudence which treats of criminal offenses.
The extreme importance of a knowledge of criminal law is self-
evident; for a mistake in point of law, which every person of dis-
cretion not only may know, but is bound and presumed to know, is
in criminal cases no defense. This law is administered upon the
principle that every one must be taken conclusively to know it,
without proof that he does know it. This doctrine has been carried
so far as to include the case of a foreigner charged with a crime
which was no offense in his own country. And further, the
criminal law, whether common or statute, is imperative with refer-
ence to the conduct of individuals; so that, if a statute forbids or
commands a thing to be done, all acts or omissions contrary to the
prohibition or command of the statute are offenses at common law,
and ordinarily indictable as such. When a statute punishes a
crime by its legal designation without enumerating the acts which
constitute it, then it is necessary to resort to the common law for a
definition of the crime with its distinctions and qualifications. So,
if an act is made criminal, but no mode of prosecution is directed
or no punishment provided, the common law (in the absence of a
statute to the contrary) furnishes its aid, prescribing the mode of
prosecution by indictment, and its mode of punishment by fine and
inprisonment. So far, therefore, as the rules and principles of com-
mon law are applicable to the administration of the criminal law,
and have net been altered or modified by legislation or judicial
decisions, they have the same force and effect as laws finally enacted.
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 7Yl
Tlie following are some of the leading principles of the criminal
law:
1. Every man is presumed to be innocent till the contrary is
shown; and if there is any reasonable doubt of his guilt, he is en-
titled to the benefit of the doubt.
2. In general, no person can be brought to trial till a grand jury
on examination of the charge has found reason to hold him to trial.
3. The prisoner is entitled to trial by a jury of his peers, who are
chosen from the body of the people with a view to impartiality, and
whose decision on questions of facts is final.
4. The question of his guilt is to be determined without reference
to his general character, previous history, or habits of life.
5. The prisoner cannot be required to criminate himself, nor be
compelled even to exculpate himself by giving his own testimony
on trial.
6. He cannot be twice put in jeopardy for the same ofiense.
7. He cannot be punished for an act which was not an ofiense by
the law existing at the time of its commission; nor can a serverer
punishment be inflicted than was declared by the law at the time of
its commission.
Crimes are sometimes classified according to the degree of pun-
ishment incurred by their commission. They are more generally
arranged according to the nature of the offense. The following is,
perhaps, as complete a classification as the subject admits:
I. Offenses against the sovereignty of the State — 1, treason; 2
misprision of treason.
II. Offenses against the lives and persons of individuals — 1,
murder; 2, manslaughter; 3, attempt to kill or murder; 4, may-
hem; 5, rape; 6, robbery. 7, kidnapping; 8, false imprisonment;
9, abduction; 10, assault and battery.
III. Offenses against ^luhlic property — 1, burning or destroying
public property; 2, injury to same.
ly. Offenses against private property — 1, arson; 2, burglary;
3, larceny; 4, obtaining goods under false pretenses; 5, embezzle-
ment ; 6, malicious mischief.
V. Offenses against piihUc justice — 1, perjury; 2, bribery; 3,
destroying public records; 4, counterfeiting public seals ; 6, jail
breach; 6, escape; 7, resistance to officers; 8, obstructing legal
process; 9, barratry; 10, maintenance; 11, champerty; 12, cou-
T72 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
tempt of court; 13, oppression; 1-i, extortion; 15, suppression of
evidence; 16, compounding felony; 17, misprision of felony.
VI. Offenses against the jnthlic 2>ec('Ce — 1, challenging or accept-
ing a challenge to a duel; 2, unlawful assembly; 3, rows; 4, riot;
5, breach of the peace ; 6, libel.
YII. Offenses against chastity — 1, sodomy; 2, bestiality; 3,
adultery; 4, incest; 5, bigamy; 6, seduction; 7, fornication; 8,
lascivious carriage; 9, keeping and frequenting houses of ill-fame.
VIII. Offenses against piiblic policy — 1, false currency; 2, lot-
teries; 3, gambling; 4, immoral shows; 5, violation of the right
of suffrage; 6, destruction of game, fish, etc.; 7, nuisance.
IX. Ofenses against the currency^ and pullic and private
securities — 1, forgery; 2, counterfeiting; 3, passing counterfeit
money.
X. Offenses against religion and morality — 1, blasphemy; 2,
profanity; 3, Sabbath-breaking; 4, obscenity; 5, cruelty to ani-
. mals; 6, drunkenness; 7, promoting intemperance. ' '*
XI. Offenses against the public^ i7idividuals, or their property
— 1, conspiracy,
TAXES.
The owners of real and personal property, on the first day of
March of each year, are liable for taxes thereon.
Assessments should be completed before the fourth Monday in
June, at which time the Town Board of Review meets to examine
assessments, hear objections, and make such changes as ought to be
made. The County Board have also power to correct or change
assessments.
The tax-books are placed in the hands of the Town Collector on
or before the tenth day of December, who retains them until the
tenth day of March following, when he is required to return them
to the County Treasurer, who then collects all delinquent taxes.
ISTo costs accrue on real estate taxes until advertised, which takes
place on the first day of April, when three weeks' notice is required
ijefore judgment. Cost of advertising, twenty cents each tract of
land, and ten cents each lot.
Judgment is usually obtained at the May term of County Court.
Costs six cents each tract of land, and five cents each lot. Sale
takes place in June. Costs, in addition to those mentioned, twen-
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 773
ty-eiglit cents each tract of land, and twenty-seven cents each
town lot.
Eeal estate sold for taxes^may be redeemed any time before the
expiration of two years from the date of sale by payment to the
County Clerk of the amount for which it was sold, and twenty-five
per cent, thereon if redeemed within six months, fifty per cent, if
redeemed between six and twelve months; if between twelve and
eighteen months, seventy -five per cent., and if between eighteen
months and two ye/irs, one hundred per cent. ; and, in addition, all
subsequent taxes paid by the purchaser, with ten per cent, interest
thereon; also, one dollar each tract, if notice is given by the pur-
chaser of the sale, and a fee of twenty-five cents to the Clerk for
his certificate.
SUBSCRIPTION.
The selling of books by subscription is so frequently brought
into disrepute by agents making representations not authorized by
the publishers, that the public are often swindled. That there
may be more general knowledge of the relation such agents bear
to their principal, and the law governing such cases, we give the
following rules, which, if followed, will save a great deal of trouble
and perhaps serious loss.
A subscription is the placing of a signature below a written or
printed engagement. It is the act by which a person contracts, in
writing, to furnish a sum of money for a particular purpose: as, a
subscription to a charitable institution, a subscription for a book,
and the like. In the case of a book, the consideration is concur-
rent that the publisher shall publish the book named, and deliver
the same, for whicli the subscriber is to pay the price named. The
prospectus and sample should be carefully examined before sub-
scribing, as they are the basis and consideration of the promise to
pay, and not the too often exaggerated statements of the agent,
who is merely employed to solicit subscriptions, for which he
usually receives a commission for each subscriber, and has no
authority to change or alter the conditions upon which the sub-
scriptions are authorized to be made by the publishers. Should
the agent assume to agree to make the subscription conditional, or
modify or change the agreement of the publisher, as set out by
the prospectus and sample, in order to bind the publishers, the
774: DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
subscriber should see that such condition or change is stated over,
or in connection with his signature, so the publishers may have
notice of the same.
When several persons promise to contribute to a common object,
desired by all, the promise of each may be a good consideration for
the promise of others. In general subscriptions on certain condi-
tions in favor of the party subscribing, are binding when the acts
stipulated are performed. Subscription is in the nature of a con-
tract of mutual promises. All persons should remember that the
law as to written contracts is, that they can not he altered, varied, or
rescinded verbally, but if done at all, must be done in writing. It
is therefore important that all persons contemplating subscribing
should distinctly understand that all talk before or after the sub-
scription is made is not admissible as evidence, and is no part of
the contract. Persons before signing their names to any subscrip-
tion book, or any written instrument, should carefully examine
what it is; if they cannot read, they should call on some one dis-
interested who can.
Persons who solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as can-
vassers. They are agents appointed to do a particular business in
a prescribed mode, and have no authority to do it in any other way
to the prejudice of their principal, nor can they bind their principal
in any other matter. They can not collect money, or agree that
payment may be made in anything else than money. They cannot
extend the time of payment beyond the time of delivery, nor bind
their principal for payment of expenses incurred in their business.
Where you pay money to an agent you should satisfy yourself of
his authority to collect money for his employer.
CONTRACT FOR PERSONAL SERVICES.
When a contract is entire and has been only partially fulfilled,
the party in fault may nevertheless recover from the other party for
the actual benefit received and retained by the other party, less the
damao-es sustained by such other party by reason of the partial
non-fulfillment of the contract. This may be done in all cases
where the other party has received benefit from the partial fulfill-
ment of the contract, whether he has so received the same from
choice or from the necessities of the case. Where D hired B to
work for him for seven months at $15 per month, and B worked
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 775
for D only fifty-nine days, and then quit without any reasonable
excuse therefor, it was held that B might nevertheless recover from
D for what the work was reasonably worth, less any damage that
D may have sustained by reason of the partial non-fulfillment of
the contract.
NEWSPAPER LIBEL.
Allowing the most liberal rule as to the liability of persons in
public employment to criticism for their conduct in which the
public are interested, there never has been a rule which subjected
persons, private or public, to be falsely traduced. No publication
is privileged except a bona fide representation, itiade without
malice, to the proper authority, complaining on reasonable grounds.
The nearest approach to this license is where the person vilified
presents himself before the body of the public as a candidate for an
elective office. But even then there is no doctrine which will sub-
ject him without i*emedy to every species of malevolent attack.
TENDER.
If the tender be of money, it can be a defense only when made
before the action was brought. A tender does not bar the debt as
a payment would, for in general he is bound to pay the sum which
he tendered, whenever he is required to do so. But it puts a stop
to accruing damages or interest for delay in payment, and saves
the defendant costs. It need not be made by the defendant person-
ally; if made by a third person, at his request, it is sufiicient; and
if made by a stranger without his knowledge or request, a subse-
quent assent of the debtor will operate as a ratification of the
agency, and make the tender good. Any person may make a valid
tender for an idiot. If an agent, furnished with money to make a
tender, at his own risk tender more, it is good. So, a tender need
not be made to a creditor personally; but it must be made to an
agent actually authorized to receive the money. If the money be
due to several jointly, it may be tendered to either, but must be
pleaded as made to all. The whole sum due must be tendered, as
the creditor is not bound to receive a part of his debt. If the
tender be of the whole debt, it is valid. If the obligation be in the
alternative, one thing or another, as the creditor may choose, the
tender should be of both, that he may make his choice. To make
a tender of money valid the money must be actually produced and
776 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
proffered, unless the creditor expressly or impliedly waives this
production. The debtor is not bound to count out the money, if he
has it and oilers it. No conditions must be annexed to the tender,
which the creditor can have any good reason whatever for objecting
to; as for instance, that he should give a receipt in full of all
demands. The tender should be made in money made lawful by
the State in which it is offered. Generally, a tender is valid and
effectual if made at any time after the debt is due; and a demand
made after the tender if for more than the sum tendered, will not
avoid the tender. Certainly not, if the demand is for more than
the real debt, although the excess was for another debt truly due.
Tender of Chattels. — The thing tendered may not be money, but
some specific article. If one is bound to deliver chattels at a partic-
ular time and place, it may not be enough if he has them there; they
may be mingled with others of a like kind which he is not to
deliver. Or they may need some act of separation, or identifica-
tion, or completion, before they could become the property of the
other party. Generally, if no time or place be specified, the articles
are to be delivered where they are at the time of the contract,
unless collateral circumstances designate a different place. If the
time be fixed, but not the place, then it will be presumed that the
deliverer was to bring the articles to the receiver at that time, and
for that purpose he must go with the chattels to the residence of the
receiver, unless something in their very nature or use, or some other
circumstances of equivalent force, distinctly implies that they are
to be left at some other place. It may happen, from the cumbrous-
ness of the chattels or other circumstances, that it is reasonable and
just for the deliverer to ascertain from the receiver, long enough
beforehand, where they shall be delivered; and then he would be
held to this as a legal obligation. So, too, in such a case, the
receiver would have a right to designate to the detiner, a reasonable
time beforehand, a place of delivery reasonably convenient to both
parties, and the deliverer would be bound by such directions. If
no place be indicated, and the deliverer is not in fault in this, he
may deliver the chattels to the receiver, in person, at any place
which is reasonably convenient. And if the receiver refuses or
neglects to appoint any place, or purposely avoids receiving notice
of a place, the deliverer may appoint any place, with a reasonable
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 777
regard to the convenience of the other party, and there deliver the
articles.
If the promise be to pay at a certain time, or deliver certain
chattels, it is a promise in the alternative; and the alternative
belongs to the promisor; he may do either the one or the other, at
his election; nor need he make his election until the time when the
promise is to be performed; but after that day has passed without
election on his part, the promisee has an absolute right to the
money, and may bring his action for it. A contract to deliver a
certain quantity of merchandise at a certain time means, of course,
to deliver the whole then. If by the terms of the contract certain
specific articles are to be delivered at a certain time and place in pay-
ment of an existing debt, this contract is fully discharged and the
debt is paid, by a complete and legal tender of the articles at the
time and place, although the promisee was not there to receive
them; and no action can thereafter be maintained on the contract.
But the property in the goods has passed to the creditor, and he
may retain them as his own.
DRUNKENNESS
Is the condition of a person who is under the immediate influence
of intoxicating liquors. This condition presents various degrees of
intensity, ranging from a simple exhilaration to a state of utter
unconsciousness and insensibility.
The common law shows but little disposition to afford relief,
either in civil or criminal cases, from the immediate effects of
drunkenness. It has never considered drunkenness alone as a suffi-
cient reason for invalidating any act.
When carried so far as to deprive the party of all consciousness*
strong presumption of fraud is raised; and on that ground courts
may interfere.
Courts of equity decline to interfere in favor of parties pleading
intoxication in the performance of a civil act.
The law does, however, recognize two kinds of inculpable drunk-
enness, viz.: that which is produced by the " unskillfulness of his
physician," and tliat which is produced by the "contrivance of
enemies." To this may be added cases where a party drinks no
more liquor than he has habitually used without being intoxicated,
and which exerts an unusually potent effect on the brain in con-
sequence of certain pathological conditions.
778 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
MARRIAGE CONTRACT.
Marriage is a contract, made in due form of law, by which a man
and woman reciprocally engage to live with each other during their
joint lives, and to discharge towards each other the duties imposed
by law on the relation of husband and wife. The marriage contract
is in law a civil contract, to which the consent of the parties is
essential. The marriage relation can only be entered into, main-
tained, and abrogated as provided by law. It is dissolved by death
or divorce. A marriage which is valid by the law of the country
in which it is contracted, is valid in this State. To make a valid
marriage, the parties must be willing to contract, able to contract,
and have actually contracted. All persons are able to contract
marriage unless they are under the legal age, or unless there be
other disability; the age of consent at common law is fourteen in
males and twelve in females. When a person under this age mar-
ries, such person can, when he or she arrives at the age above speci-
fied, avoid the marriage, or such person or both may, if the other is
of legal age, confirm it; if either of the parties is under seven, the
marriage is void. If either of the party is noii compos mentis or
insane, or has a husband or wife living, the marriage is void.
The parties must each be willing to marry the other. If eitner
party acts under compulsion, or is under duress, the marriage is
voidable.
The husband is bound to receive his wife at home, and should fur-
nish her with all the necessaries and conveniencies which his for-
tune enables him to do, and which her situation requires, but this
does not include such luxuries as, according to her fancy, she deems
necessaries. He is bound to love his wife and bear with her faults,
and, if possible, by mild means, to correct them; and he is required
to fulfill towards her his marital promise of fidelity.
Being the head of the family, the husband has a right to estab-
lish himself wherever he may please, and in this he cannot be con-
trolled by his wife; he may manage his affairs in his own way, buy
and sell all kinds of personal property, without her control, and he
may buy any real estate he may deem proper; but as the wife
acquires a right in the latter, he cannot sell it without her consent.
A wife is under obligations to love, honor and obey her husband,
and is bound to follow him wherever in the country he may go and
establish himself, provided it is not for other causes unreasonable.
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 779
She is under obligation to be faithi'ul in chastity to her marriage
vow. A wife has the right to tiie love and protecting care of her
husband; she has the fight to share his bed and board; she can call
upon her husband to provide her witli the necessary food and
clothing, according to her position in life, and if he neglects or re-
fuses to do so, she can procure them on his account.
MARRIED WOMEN
May bargain, sell, and convey their real and personal property, and
enter into contracts with reference to the same. The wife may bo
tlie agent of the husband, and transact for him business, making,
accepting or endorsing bills or notes, purchasing goods, rendering
bills, collecting money and receipting for the same, and in general,
entering into any contract so as to bind him, if she has his authority
to do so. And while they continue to live together, the law con-
siders the wife as clothed with authority by the husband to buy for
him and his family all tilings necessary, in kind and quantit}-, for
the proper support of his family; and for such purchases made by
her he is liable. The husband is responsible for necessaries sup-
plied to his wife, if he does not supply them himself, and he
continues so liable if he turns her out of his house or otherwise
separates himself from her, without good cause. But he is not so
liable if she deserts him, (without extreme provocation) or if he
turns her away for good cause. If she leaves him because he treats
her so ill that she has good right to go from him and his house,
this is the same thing as turning her away; and she carries with her
his credit for all necessaries supplied to her. But what the mis-
conduct must be to give this right, is uncertain. But the law un-
doubtedly is, that the wife is not obliged to stay and endure cruelty
or indecency. It is also held, that if a man lives with a woman as
his wife, and represents her to be so, he is liable for necessaries sup-
plied to her, and her contracts, in the same way as if she were his wife-
The statutes intend to secure to a married woman all her rights.
But many women about to marry — or their friends for them —
often wish to secure to them certain powers and rights, and to limit
these in certain ways or to make sure that their property is in safe
and skillful hands. This can only be done by conveying and trans-
ferring the property to trustees; that is, to certain persons to hold
the same in trust.
7S0 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
A married woman may sue and be sued. At the death of the
husband, in additio7i to the widow's award, a married woman has a
dower interest [one-third] in all real estate owned bj her husband
after their marriage, and which has not been released by lier, and
the husband has the same interest in the real estate of the wife,
after her death.
SCHOOL MONTH.
NUMBER OF DAYS IN A SCHOOL MONTH TEACHERs' HOLIDAYS.
The law of this State says that a school month shall comprise
twenty-two school days, actually taught. It also provides that
teachers shall not be required to teach on legal holidays, thanks-
giving or fast-days, appointed by State or National authority.
SCHOOL children's STUDIES.
The rulings of courts are that the trustees of a school district
may prescribe what studies shall be pursued, and may regulate the
classification of the pupils; but that a parent may select, from the
branches pursued, those which the child shall study, so long as the
exercise of such selection does not interfere with the system pre-
scribed for the school ; that the child cannot be excluded from one
study simply because he is deficient in another; the rule requiring
his exclusion is unreasonable, and cannot be enforced.
IXFANTS
Can make a binding contract for necessaries only. An infant can
never bind himself even for necessaries when he has a parent or
guardian who supplies his wants. What are considered necessaries
depend upon the rank and circumstances of the infant in the par-
ticular case. All his other contracts are considered voidable and
void. An infant's contract on a bill or note is voidable. His
liability may be established by ratification after full age.
The confirmation or ratification must be distinct, and with a knowl-
edge that he is not liable on the contract. A mere acknowledgment
of a debt, or a payment of a part of it, will not support an action
an such a contract. When an infant indorses negotiable notes or
bills he does not pass any interest in them as against himself; his
act is voidable, but neither the acceptor nor subsequent indorser
can oblige his infancy to evade their liability; nor can the drawer
of a bill set up the infancy of a payee and indorser as a defense to
DIGEST OF STATE L^WS. 781
an action thereon against himself. An infant may sue on a bill,
but he sues by his guardian v or next friend, and payment should
accordingly be made to him.
Parties contracting with an infant assume all the inconveniences
incident to the protection which the law allows him. In law
infancv extends to the age of twenty-one years.
ADOPTION OF CHILDREN.
Children may be adopted by any resident of this State by filing
a petition in the Circuit or County Court of the county in which
he resides, asking leave to do so; and, if desired, may ask that the
name of the child be changed. Such petition, if made by a person
having a husband or wife, will not be granted unless the husband
and wife joins therein, as the adoption must be by them jointly.
The petition shall state name, sex, and age of child, and the new
name, if it is desired to change the name; also, the name and resi-
dence of the parents of the child, if known, and of the guardian,
if any, and whether the parents or guardian consent to the
adoption.
The Court must find, before granting decree, that the parents of
the child, or the survivors of them, have deserted his or her family,
or such child, for one year next preceding the application ; or, if
neither is living, that the guardian (if no guardian, the next of
kin in this State capable of giving consent) has had notice of the
presentation of the petition, and consents to such adoption. If
the child is at the age of fourteen or upwards, the adoption cannot
be made without its consent.
CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS
May be legally made by electing or appointing, according to the
usages or customs of the body of which it is a part, at any meeting
held for that purpose, two or more of its members or trustees, war-
dens or vestrymen, and may adopt a corporate name. The Chair-
man or Secretary of such meeting shall, as soon as possible, make
and file in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of the county an
aflidavit substantially in the following form:
State of Illinois, )
County. ) '
I, , do solemnly swear [or aflirm, as the case may be]
that at a meeting of the members of the [here insert the name of
782 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
the church, society, or congregation, as known before organization]
held at [here insert the place of meeting], in the County of ,
and State of Illinois, on tiie day of , A. D. 18 — , for
that |3urpose, the following persons were elected [or appointed;
here insert the names] trustees, wardens, vestrymen [or officers by
whatever name they may choose to adopt, with power similar to
trustees], according to the rules and usages of such [church,
society, or congregation], and said adopted as its corporate
name [here insert name], and at said meeting this affiant acted as
[Chairman or Secretary, as the case may be].
Subscribed and sworn to before me this day of ,
A. D. 18—. [Name of affiant] .
Which affidavit must be recorded by the Recorder, and shall be,
or a certified copy made by the Recorder, received as evidence of
such corporation.
JMo certificate of election after the first need be filed for record.
The term of office of the trustees, and the general government of
the society can be determined by the rules and by-laws adopted.
Failure to elect trustees at the time provided does not work a dis-
solution, but the old trustees hold over. A trustee or trustees may
be removed, in the same manner, by the society, as elections are
held by a meeting called for that purpose. The property of the
society rests in the corporation. The corporation may hold, or
acquire by purchase or otherwise, land not exceeding ten acres, for
the purpose of the society. The trustees have the care, custody
and control of the property of the corporation, and can, tvhen
directed by the society, erect houses or improvements, and repair
and alter the same, and may also when so directed by the society,
mortgage, encumber, sell and convey any real or personal estate
belonging to the corporation, and make all proper contracts in the
name of such corporation. But they are prohibited by law from
encumbering or interfering with any property so as to destroy the
effect of any gift, grant, devise or bequest to the corporation; but
such gifts, grants, devises or bequests must in all cases be used so
as to carry out the object intended by the persons making the same.
Existing churches may organize in the manner herein set forth, and
have all the advantages thereof.
GAME
Consists of birds and beasts of a wild nature, obtained by fowling
and hunting. The last few years have shown a general interest by
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 783
the people in having wise and just laws passed for the protection of
fish and game. It is apparent to all that, unless these laws are
vigorously enforced, the time will soon come when fish and game
will be so scarce as to be within the reach of only the wealthy.
Under ]n*oper regulations our streams of pure running water would
all be filled with fish, as in other years, and our prairies, fields and
forests alive with their great variety of game. It is a question that
interests all, and the game laws should be enforced.
The following are sections 1 and 6 of the Game Law of 1873, of
this State, as amended by the act approved May 14th, 1877:
Sec. 1. That it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to
hunt or pursue, kill or trap, net or ensnare, destroy, or attempt to
kill, trap, net, ensnare, or otherwise destroy any prairie hen or
chicken, or any woodcock, between the 15th day of January and the
1st day of September in each and every year; or any deer, fawn,
wild turkey, ruffed grouse (commonly called partridge), or pheas-
ant, between the 1st day of February and the 1st day of Octo1)er
in each and every year; or any quail between the 1st day of Feb-
ruary and the 1st day of November in each and every year; or any
wild goose, duck, snipe, brant, or other «^aterfowl between the 1st
day of May and the 15th day of August in each and every year:
Provided^ That it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to
net any quail at any time after this act shall take effect and be in
force; and lyrovided further^ That it shall be unlawful for any per-
son or persons who is or are non-residents of this State to kill,
ensnare, net or trap any deer, fawn, wild turkey, ])rairie hen or
chicken, ruffed grouse, quail, woodcock, wild goose, wild duck or
brant, or any snipe, in any county of this State, at any time, for
the purpose of selling or marketing or removing the same outside
of this State. Every person who violates any of the provisions of
this section shall, for each and every offense, be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be fined not less than five dol-
lars ($5) nor more than twenty-five dollars ($25) and costs of suit for
each and every separate bird or animal of the above enumerated
list, so unlawfully hunted or pursued, killed, trapped, netted,
ensnared, or destroyed or attempted to be killed, trapped, netted,
ensnared, or otherwise destroyed, and shall stand committed to the
county jail until such fine and costs are paid, but such imprison-
ment shall not exceed ten days.
784
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
Sec. 6. No person or persons shall sell or expose for sale, or
have in his or their possession for the purpose of selling or expos-
ing for sale, any of the animals, wild fowls or birds mentioned in
section 1 of this act, after the expiration of five days next succeed-
ing the first day of the period in which it shall be unlawful to
kill, trap, net, or ensnare such animals, wild fowls or birds. And
any person so ofiending shall, on conviction, be fined and dealt with
as specified in Section 1 of this act: Provided, That the provisions
of this act shall not apply to the killing of birds by or for the use
of taxidermists for preservation either in public or private collec-
tions, if so preserved.
The fifteenth of January, it will be observed, is the date when the
prohibition begins to work as to prairie chickens and woodcock;
the first of February is the date for most other sorts of game,
except waterfowl. And five days after the prohibition against kill-
ing goes into force, it becomes unlawful to sell or expose for sale
the prohibited game.
preservation of other birds.
It may be appropriate to mention here that Sections 3 and 4 of
the act of 1873, which are not changed or affected by the act of
1877, are as follows:
Sec. 3. JSTo person shall at any time, within this State, kill or
attempt to trap, net, ensnare, destroy or kill any robin, bluebird,
swallow, martin, mosquito hawk, whippoorwill, cuckoo, woodpecker,
catbird, brown-thrasher, red-bird, hanging-bird, buzzard, sparrow,
wren, humming-bird, dove, gold-finch, mocking bird, blue-jay, finch,
thrush, lark, cherry-bird, yellow-bird, oriole, or bobolink, nor rob or
destroy the nests of such birds, or either or any of them. And
any person eo ofiending shall on conviction be fined the sum of five
dollars for each and every bird so killed, and for each and every nest
robbed or destroyed: Provided, that nothing in this section shall
be construed to prevent the owner or occupant of lands from
destroying any of the birds herein named on the same, when deemed
necessary for the protection of fruits or property.
Sec. 4. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to destroy
or remove from the nests of any prairie chicken, grouse or quail,
wild turkey, goose or brant, any Qgg or eggs of such fowl or bird,
or for any person to buy, sell, have in possession or traffic in such
DIGEST 01' STATK LAWS.
785
eggs, or willfully destroy the nest of such birds or fowls, or any or
either of them. And any person so oifending shall on conviction
be lined and dealt with as specified in Section 3 of this act.
MILLERS.
The owner or occupant of every public grist-mill in this State
shall grind all grain brouglit to his mill, in its turn. The toll for
both steam and water mills, is, for grinding and bolting wheat, rye,
or other grain, one-eighth part ; for grinding Indian corn, oats, barley,
and buckwheat not required to be bolted, one-seventh part; for grind-
ing malt, and chopping all kinds of grain, one-eighth part. It is
the duty of every miller, wlien his mill is in repair, to aid and assist
in loading and unloading all grain brought to his mill to be ground;
and he is also required to keep an accurate half-bushel measure, and
an accurate set of toll dishes or scales for weighing the grain. The
penalty for neglect or refusal to comply with the law is $5, to the
use of any person suing for the same, to be recovered before any
Justice of the Peace of the county where the penalty is incurred.
Millers are accountable (except it results from unavoidable acci-
dents) for the safe-keeping of all grain left in their mill for the pur-
pose of being ground, with bags or casks containing same, provided
that such bags or casks are distinctly marked with the initial letters
of the owner's name.
PAUPERS.
Every poor person who shall be unable to earn a livelihood in con-
sequence of any bodily infirmity, idiocy, lunacy or unavoidable
cause, shall be supported by the father, grandfathers, mother, grand-
mothers, children, grandchildren, brothers or sisters, of such poor
person, if they or either of them be of siifticieut ability; but if any
of such dependent class shall have become so from intemperance, or
other bad conduct, they shall not be entitled to support from any
relation except parent or child. The children shall first be called on
to support their parents, if they are able; but if not, the parents of
such poor person shall then be called on, if of sufiicient ability; and
it there be no parents or children able, then the brothers and sisters
of such dependent person shall be called upon; and if there be no
brothers or sisters of sufficient ability, the grandchildren of such per-
son shall next be called on; and if they are not able, then the grand-
parents. Married females, while their husbands live, shall not be
786
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
liable to contribute for the support of their poor relations except
out of their separate propert}'. It is the duty of the State's attorney
to make complaint to the County Court of his county against all the
relatives of such paupers in this State liable to support, and prose-
cute the same. In case the State's attorney neglects or refuses to
complain in such cases, then it is the duty of the overseer of the poor
to do so. The person called upon to contribute shall have at least
ten days' notice of such application, by summons. The court has
the power to determine the kind of support, depending upon the
circumstances of the parties, and may also order two or more of the
different degrees to maintain such poor person, and prescribe the
proportion of each, according to his or her ability. The court may
specify the time for which the relatives shall contribute; in fact it
has control over the entire subject matter, with power to enforce its
order.
Every county is required to relieve and support all poor and in-
digent persons lawfully resident therein. " Residence " means the
actual residence of the party, or the place where he was employed;
or in case he was in no employment, then it shall be the place where
he made his home. When any person becomes chargeable as a
pauper who did not reside in the county at the commencement of
six months immediately preceding his becoming so, but did at the
time reside elsewhere in this State, then the county becomes liable
for the expense of taking care of such perscm until removed ; and it
is the duty of the overseer to notify the proper authorities of the
fact. If any person shall bring and leave any pauper in any county
in this State where such pauper had no legal residence, knowing him
to be such, he is liable to a fine of $100. In counties under town-
ship organization, the supervisors in each town are ex-officio over-
seers of the poor. The overseers of the poor act under the directions
of the County Board in taking care of the poor and granting tem-
porary relief; also, in providing for non-resident persons not pau-
pers who may be taken sick and not able to pay their way, and, in
case of death, causing such persons to be decently buried.
PUBLIC AND PRIYATE CONVEYANCES.
When practicable from the nature of the ground, persons travel
ing in any kind of vehicle must turn to the right of the center of
the road, so as to permit each carriage to pass without interfering
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. V87
with the other. The penalty for a violation of this provision is $5
for every offense, to be recovered bj the party injured; but to re-
cover, there must have occurred some injury to person or property
resulting from the violation.
The owners of any carriage traveling upon any road in this State
for the conveyance of passengers, who shall employ or continue in
their employment as driver any person who is addicted to drunken-
ness, or the excessive use of spirituous liquors, after he has had
notice of the same, shall pay a forfeit at the rate of $5 per day ; and
if any driver, while actually engaged in driving any such carriage,
shall be guilty of intoxication to such a degree as to endanger the
safety of passengers, it shall be the duty of the owner, on receiving
written notice of the fact, signed by one of the passengers, and cer-
tified by him on oath, forthwith to discharge such driver. If such
owner shall have such driver in his employ within three months
after such notice, he is liable for $5 per day for the time he shall
keep such driver in.his employment after receiving such notice.
Persons driving any carriage on any public highway are prohib-
ited from running their horses upon any occasion, under a penalty
of a fine not exceeding $10, or imprisonment not exceeding sixty
days, at the discretion of the court. Horses attached to any car-
riage used to convey passengers for hire must be properly hitched,
or the lines placed in the hands of some other person, before the
driver leaves them for any purpose. For violation of this provision
each driver shall forfeit twenty dollars, to be recovered by action
commenced within six months.
It is understood by the term " carriage" herein to mean any car-
riage or vehicle used for the transportation of passengers, or goods,
or either of them.
WAGERS AND STAKEHOLDERS.
"Wagers upon the result of an election have always been consid-
ered as void, as being contrary to sound policy, and tending to im-
pair the purity of elections. "Wagers as to the mode of playing, or
as to the result of any illegal game, as boxing, wrestling, cock-
fighting, etc. , are void at common law.
Stakeholders must deliver the thing holden by them to the person
entitled to it, on demand. It is frequently questionable who is en-
titled to it. In case of an unlawful wager, although he may be jus-
788 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
tified for delivering the thing to the winner, by the express or im-
plied consent of the loser, yet if before the event has happened he
has been required by either party to give up the thing deposited
with him by such party, he is bound to deliver it; or if, after the
event has happened, tlie losing party gives notice to the stakeholder
not to pay the winner, a payment made to him afterwards will be
made to him in his own wrong, and the party who deposited the
money or thing may recover it from the stakeholder.
SUiNDAY.
Labor of whatever kind, other than the household offices of daily
necessity, or other work of charity and necessity, on the first day of
the week, commonly called Sunday, is in general under penalty pro-
hibited; but all persons do not come under prohibition. If a con-
tract is commenced on Sunday, but not completed until a subsequent
day, or if it merely grew out of a transaction which took place on
Sunday, it is not for this reason void. Thus, if a note is signed on
Sunday, its validity is not impaired if it be not delivered on that day.
DEFINITION OF COMMERCIAL TERMS.
$ means dollars, being a contraction of U. S. , which was for-
merly placed before any denomination of money, and meant, as it
means now, United States currency. £ means pounds, English
money. @ stands for azJ or ?5«:V ft) iov poimd; bbL for barrel; and
f) for per or ly the. Thus, butter sells at 20 @ 30c. '^ ft, and
flour at $6@10 f bbl. j,, stands for ^^t^r cent., and ^ for number.
In the example "May 1— wheat sells at $1.05@1.10, seller
June," seller June means that the person who sells the wheat has
the privilege of delivering it at any time during the month of
June. " Selling short" is contracting to deliver a certain amount
of grain or stock at a fixed price within a certain length of time,
when the seller has not the stock on hand. It is for the interest of
the person selling " short " to depress the market as much as possi-
ble, in order that he may buy and fill his contract at a profit.
Hence the "shorts" are termed "bears."
LEGAL WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Whenever any of the following articles shall be contracted for,
or sold or delivered, and no special contract or agreement shall be
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 789
made to the contrary, the weight per bushel shall be as follows,
*to-wit:
ft)S. lbs.
Apples, dried 24 Hemp seed 44
Barley. . = = 48 Hair (plastering) 8
Beaus, white 60 Lime, uuslacked 80
Beaus, castor 46 Onions 57
Buckwheat 52 Oats 32
Bran 20 Potatoes, Irish 60
Blue-glass seed 14 Peaches, dried 33
Broom-corn seed 46 Potatoes, sweet 55
Coal, stove 80 Rye 56
Corn, in the ear 70 Salt, fine 55
Corn, shelled 56 Salt, coarse 50
Corn meal.. . > 48 Turnips 55
Clover seed 60 Timothy seed 45
Flax seed 56 Wheat 60
BEES.
Bees, while unreclaimed, are by nature wild animals. Those
which take up their abode in a tree belong to the owner of the soil
in which the tree grows, if unreclaimed ; but if reclaimed and identi-
fied thev belono' to their former owner. If a swarm has flown from
the hive of A, they are his so long as they are in sight, and may
easily be taken; otherwise, they become the property of the first
occupant. Merely finding on the land of another person a tree
containing a swarm of bees, and marking it, does not vest the
property of the bees in the finder. They do not become property
until actually hived.
DOGS.
Dogs are animals of a domestic nature. The owner of a doc has
such property in him tliat he may maintain an action for an injury
to him, or to recover him when unlawfully taken away and kept by
another.
When, in consequence of his vicious propensities, a dog becomes
a common nuisance the owner may be indicted, and where one
commits an injury, if the owner had knowledge of his mischievous
propensities, he is liable for the injury. A man has a right to
keep a dog to guard his premises, but not to put him at the
entrance of his house, because a person coming there on lawful
business may be injured by him, though there may be another
entrance to the house. But if a dog is chained, and a visitor
incautiously goes so near him that he is bitten, he has no right of
action against the owner.
TOO DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
CRUELTY TO ANI3ULS.
"Whoever shall willfully overdrive, overload, overwork, torture,
torment, beat, deprive of necessaiy and proper food, drink, or
shelter, or cruelly kill any such animal, or work an old, maimed,
sick, or disabled animal, or keep any animal in an unnecessarily
cruel manner, for each and every offense shall be liable to a tine of
not less than $3 or more than $200, to be recovered on complaint
before any Justice of the Peace, or by indictment. The word
"animal" used shall be taken to mean any living creature.
NAMES. •
Any person desirous of changing his name, and to assume another
name, may file a petition in the Circuit Court of the county where
he resides, praying for such change. Such petition shall set forth
the name then held, and also the name sought to be assumed?
together with his residence, and the length of time he shall have
resided in this State, and his nativity. In case of minors, parents
or guardians must sign this petition; and said petition shall be
verified by the afiidavit of some credible person. A ])revious notice
shall be given of such intended application by publishing a notice
thereof in a county newspaper for three consecutive weeks, the first
insertion to be at least six weeks prior to the first day of the term
of the court in which the said petition is to be filed.
UNITED STATES MAILS.
The following suggestions and rulings of the Post Office Depart-
ment in regard to the sending of matter through the United States
mails will be found valuable. By giving careful attention to and
closely following them, almost perfect security from all delays and
losses, and the many little vexatious inquiries generally made by
the public will be avoided.
Make the address legible and complete, giving the name of the
postoffice, county and state; the name of the street, and the num-
ber of the house, also, should always be given on letters addressed
to cities where letter-carriers are employed. Letters intended for
places in foreign countries should have the name of the country »s
well as the postoffice given in full.
See that every letter, newspaper or other packet sent by mail is
securely folded and fastened. Avoid using, as nauch as possible,
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 791
cheap envelopes made of thin paper, especially when containing
more than one sheet of paper.
Never send money or any other article of value through the
mail, except by means of a money order or in a registered letter.
Every letter sent should contain the full name and address of the
writer, with the county and State, in order to secure its return if
the person to whom it is directed cannot be found. Persons who
have large correspondence find it most convenient to use "special
request " envelopes, but thos6 who only mail an occasional letter
can avoid the trouble by writing a request to " return if not
delivered," etc., on the envelope.
Postage stamps should be placed upon the upper right hand
corner of the addressed side of all mail matter.
"Written matter in unsealed envelopes prepaid with only a one-
cent postage stamp will be held for postage.
Diplomas, commissions, certificates, etc., having written signa-
tures attached, circulars having anything written thereon, are sub-
ject to postage at the rate of tliree cents for each half ounce or
fraction thereof
Stamps cut from stamped envelopes, mutilated postage stampS)
and internal revenue stamps, will not be accepted in payment for
postage. Letters deposited in a postoffice having such matter
aflSxed are held for postage.
To use, or attempt to use, in payment of postage a postage
stamp, or stamped envelope, or any stamp cut from such stamped
envelopes, which has been before used in payment of postage, is
punishable with a fine of fifty dollars.
In using postal cards, be careful not to write or have anything
printed on the side to be used for the address, except the address;
also be careful not to attach anything to them. They are unmail-
able as postal cards when these suggestions are disregarded.
No cards are " postal cards " except such as are issued by the
Post Office Department. In no one case will unclaimed cards be
returned to the writer or sent to the Dead Letter Office. If not
delivered within sixty days from time of receipt they will be burned
by the post- master.
To insure a letter being forwarded in the mails it must have not
less than three cents in postage stamps affixed.
After a letter has passed from the mailing office the delivering
792 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
of it cannot be delayed or prevented by the writer; but, if the
writer request the return of the letter, which has not left in the
mail, the post-master may deliver it, if he is satisfied that the party
applying is the writer.
A subscriber to a newspaper or periodical who changes his resi-
dence and postoffice should at once notify the publishers of the
change.
Printed matter, merchandise and other third-class matter cannot
be forwarded from the office to which it is addressed unless postage
is furnished for such purposes. A request to return indorsed on
such matter will not be regarded unless postage is furnished for the
purpose. A request to return written on such matter subjects the
package to letter postage.
All packages mailed at less than letter postage should be wrapped
so that their contents can be readily ascertained without destroying
the wrapper.
Matter contained in sealed envelopes, notched at the ends, is sub-
ject to letter postage.
The sender of any article of the third-class may write his or her
name or address therein, or on the outside thereof, with the word
" from " above or preceding the same, or may write or print on any
package the number and name of articles inclosed.
All losses should be promptly reported.
Packages of any description of mail matter may weigh not exceed-
ing four pounds.
BATES OF POSTAGE.
On letters, sealed packages, mail matter, wholly or partly in
writing, except book manuscript and corrected proofs passing
between authors and publishers, and except local or drop letters, or
postal cards; all printed matter so marked as to convey any other
or further information than is conveyed by the original print, except
the correction of mere typographical errors; all matter otherwise
chargeable with letter postage, but which is so wrapped or secured
that it cannot be conveniently examined by the post-masters with,
out destroying the wrapper or envelope; all packages containing
matter not in itself chargeable with letter postage, but in which is
enclosed or concealed any letter, memorandum, or other thing
chargeable with letter postage, or upon which is any writing or
memorandum; all matter to which no specific rate of postage is
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 793
assigned; and manuscript for publication in newspapers, magazines
or periodicals, three cents fob each half ounce or fraction
THEREOF.
On local or drop letters, at offices where free delivery by carriers
is established, two cents for each half ounce or fraction
THEREOF.
On local or drop letters, at offices where free delivery by carriers
is not established, one gent for each half ounce or fraction
THEREOF.
RATES OF POSTAGE ON THIRD-CLASS MATTER.
By act of July 12, 1876, third-class matter is divided as follows:
One cent for two ounces. — Almanacs, books (printed), calendars,
catalogues, corrected proofs, hand-bills, magazines, when not sent
to regular subscribers, maps (lithographed or engraved), music
(printed sheet), newspapers, when not sent to regular subscribers
occasional publications, pamphlets, posters, proof-sheets, prospec-
tuses, and regular publications designed primarily for advertising
purposes, or for free circulatien, or for circulation at nominal rates.
One cent for each ounce. — Blank books, blank cards, book manu-
script, card boards and other flexible materials, chromo-lithographs^
circulars, engravings, envelopes, flexible patterns, letter envelopes,
letter paper, lithographs, merchandise, models, ornamented paper,
postal cards, when sent in bulk and not addressed, photographic
views, photographic paper, printed blanks, printed cards, sample
cards, samples of ores, metals, minerals, and merchandise, seeds
cuttings, bulbs, roots and scions, and stereoscopic views.
Any article of mail matter, subject to postage at the rate of one
cent for each ounce or fraction thereof, which may be enclosed in
the same package with items subject to the rate of one cent for each
two ounces or fraction thereof, will subject the entire package to
the highest rate, viz.; one cent for each ounce or fraction thereof.
The following articles are unmailable:
Packages containing liquids, poisons, glass, explosive chemicals,
live animals, sharp pointed instruments, flour, sugar, or any other
matter liable to deface or destroy the contents of the mail, or injure
the person of any one connected with the service. All letters upon
the envelope of which, or postal card upon which indecent, lewd,
obscene, or lascivious delineations, epithets, terms or language
may be written or printed, or disloyal devices printed or engraved,
794 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.
and letters or circulars concerning illegal lotteries, so called gift
concerts or other similar enterprises offering prizes, or concerning
schemes devised and intended to deceive and defraud the public-
Also, all obscene, lewd or lascivious books, pamphlets, pictures,
papers, prints or other publications of an indecent character.
REGISTERED MATTER.
The fee for registering a letter going anywhere in the United
States is fixed at ten cents in addition to the regular postage. Post-
masters are required to register all letters properly presented for
that purpose, but no letters are to be registered on Sunday.
Registered letters will never be delivered to any person but the
one to whom they are addressed, or to one whom the post-master
knows to be authorized to receive them.
MONEY ORDERS.
The money-order system is intended to promote public conven-
ience and to secure safety in the transfer through the mails of small
sums of money. The principal means employed to attain safety
consists in leaving out of the order the name of the payee or per-
son for whom the money is intended. In this respect a money-
order differs from an ordinary bank draft or check. An advice
or notification containing full particulars of the order is transmitted
without delay by the issuing post-master to the post-master at the
oflice of payment. The latter is thus furnished, before the order
itself is presented, with information which will enable him to pre-
vent its payment to any person not entitled thereto, provided the
remitter complies with the regulation of the Department, which
prohibits him from sending the same information in a letter inclosed
with his order.
Under no circumstances can payment of an order be demanded
on the day of its issue. The fees or charges for money-orders will
be as follows:
On orders not exceeding $15 10 cents
On orders over $15 and not exceeding $30 15 cents
On orders over $30 and not exceeding $40 20 cents
On orders over $40 and not exceeding $50 25 cents
When a larger sum than $50 is required, additional orders to
make it up must be obtained. But post-masters are instructed to
refuse to issue in one day, to the same remitter and in favor of the
same payee, more than three money-orders payable at the same
postoftice.
^y
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA
SWF^AZEWELLC0ffiv, ILLINOIS CHG
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J 01 12 025392918
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