Full text of "Past and present of Menard County, Illinois .."

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M,^.^ ,

PAST AND PRESENT

MENARD COUNTY, ILLINOIS

REV. R. D. MILLER

ILLUSTRATED

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never

achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by

remote generations." — Macaulay.

CHICAGO :

The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

1905

THE NEW YORK.

PUBLIC LIBRARY]

370976

ASTOR, LENOX ANO
TILOEN FOUNDATIONS.
R 1906 L

lE>c^icatc^ to the ipiouccv? ot
/IDcmivC* Countv

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PREFACE

It is au iiiluitiijii III iiiiiii to dL'siri' lo know iIk' (.■vriits df ihc jiast. It is. also, a coiu-
iiiciidalile trail in the liur U> desire to perpetuate their own gond and jjraiseworthy aets for
those who eoine alter tlieni. Wlio woidd not wisii to know tiie history of the lirst inhabi-
tants of tliis eountry — tiie .Mound Builders? lint that part of history, the every-dny routine,
the ordinary alfairs of life, nrr the ones that we most desire to know and are the very ones
least likely t(i lie preserveil. A loeal history — a history of a eoiinty, like this — is the most
dillieult to writi'. Matters the most likely to interest and inleitaiii a coniiiiunity are the
hardest lo write. More than iwenty-fiN'e ycai's auo, when \vilin,u a history of Menard eounty
for a eompany, 1 U'arned the faet that the very matter that the j)eople would want was the very
matter that the eompany refused. So 1 began then to note down items of interest an<l have
kept it up ever sinee, expeetiug that al some lime this matter wdiild he arrange<l, svstema-
tized and publishi'd. S[ieakiug of the past of this country, what an interesting lic^ld opens
before us. If some supernatural power would mable .•ionie one to give a eori'eet history of the
' \ents whieb lia\f taken place jusi in tlu' small lerritory of M-iiard cdiiiilv in all the past ages
who would lefuse to buy it, no matter the price? l>ui tbc.-i' things are gone to eternal
oblivion. Xolhing is Ud't but the testimony of a lew inanimate -md dumb witnesses; yet with
what eagerness and ])atieni toil we strive and si arch in the eltort to ileeipher the obseiire
hieroglyjihies which dimly outline some of tliis dark |iast How men have sweat and dug and
toiled in the few small mouiuls of earth in this county. We imearth a stone ax. Hint arrow-
point or pii'cc of hammered eopjier, and with a thrill in every rierve-fiher we grasp it with
ilie thought that no human hand had iouehed il till ours since ii was grasped by the swartliv
hand of the long-dejiarted Mouiul Builder, 'riicn \\r wonder and imagiiu- concerning tiie
condition of this country at that time; the animals ihat inamed these prairies and wooris;
the kind of people these lieings were; and how many hundreds of years have rolled i/y since
they gave place to the "noljle red man."" We know that they must have been nunierons and
jmwerful, and that they must have lici^ii organized in some way ro luive performed the vast
amount of labor that was iiMpiired to erect these \ast monument-. Then came the Indians
with their tribal wars and forays of murder and toitnre: how this slorv would tiirill with
interest the liearts of men to-day. If all this is Iruc. what a ilcbi we owe to those who will
come after us to leave a record of the events nf ihe present that they may know to be reliably
true. Events, comnionplace in themselves, in ibe lives of our father-- and grandfathers will
iml only be interesting, but they may be of in stimablc> \alue in the years to conu'. Such
has been the writer's aim — to gather up facts of local interest: id' family history; of social,
political and religious im[iortance. which, in yeai's to come, vill gixc dii<' credit to men for
Ihe part that they performed in the work of the development of llu country, socially, civilly,
religiously and financially. .\o effort at display has been made; no effort to over-draw or
exaggerate; but the |)lain. simple truth has lieen aimed at in every case. Bulwer says: "One
of the most sublime things in tiie world is plain Irulli."" Sydney Sniitli says: "Truth is
tlio handmaid nf justice: freeddui is its cliiid; peace its eonipanion: safety walks in its steps:
victory follows in its train. Il is the brightest emanation of tlie gos|)el — it is the attribute
of God." .\nd Dryden said: "'We lind iait few liistorians wlio have been diligent enough in
their seardi fnr truth. It is tluir common metiiod to take on trust what they clistrii)ute to
tlie puldic. Iiy which ineans a falsehood once received becomes traditional to the pnl)lir." T
have tried, in the following ])ages, to tell the jilain. simple, unvarnished Iriilh.

i{. I). MII.LKH.
Febrnarv. 1905.

^J^y^ l^'UfyL^ ^2^:-^-ijyUf

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HISTORICAL

It is said tliiil wlu'ii Frudfrick the (iroat
voidd have his secrotarv read liistory to him
he would say: "Brinjr me my li.ir." I>ut his-
tory, to he siifh, musi he tho statement of
facts, aiul whei'c' smh is not the case it is not
history. General history may ho gathered and
compiled from various reliable sources, but the
history of events and occurrences of a locality,
as a county in Illinois, is a vi'ry dilTerent and,
in fact, a more difficult thing. In olden times
a good man could wisJi no greater evil to be-
fall an enemy than that lie were compelled to
write a book, for good old .Job cried out in the
anguish of his soul, "Oh, that mine enemy
would write a book." and surely this sliould be
enough to gratify the enmity of a nuich wor.se
niiui tiian he of Uz, especially if the book was
lo 1)0 a detailed history of a county in Illinois,
nearly one hundred years after the county was
settled. Xo doubt many important events, as
Well as the deeds of individuals, wliicii are
important items in the history of this county
are completely lost, bnt it is the aim of tlie
writer to record all such facts as have i>een
preservcil, and to give nothing but what he
honestly believes is authentic and true. The
object of these pages is to record the known
facts in the history of the past so as to pre-
serve to those who come after us those facts,
■ vents and individuals, that will serve to in-
struct and influence for good those whom may
read them. One especial aim is to do justice
to those noble men and women wiio, though
perhaps unlearned and uni'clined in the modern

sense of that leim, wei'e Goil's ciiosen agents in
preparing the priceless heritage that they have
left us in this land with its institutions and
civilization. They made possible and gave to
us this priceless boon.

Immediately after the close of the war of
1812, or at least as soon as the news of peace
was confiriiud through the ccnintry, the mass
of the people was seized with a mania for west-
ern emigration, and. although the sagacious
editor of New York had not then given the
advice to young men to go west and grow up
with the country, yet thousan<ls of both young
and old were seized w-ith the fever, and as a
result, the "Western Territory" began to fill up
very rapidly from the older settled jjortions of
the country. During almost the whole of the
eighteenth century the name of Illinois was
applied to all the known region lying west of
tiie Ohio river. As early as l(i7:5 French col-
onies established themselves at Kaskaskia and
("ahokia. Just one hundred years from the
establishment of these colonies, the territory, of
which they were the nucleus in conjunction
with Canada, was ceded to (ireat Britain.
This was transferred to the United Stales in
1 7S7. In the same year that this territory was
ac(piired Congress passed a law or ordinaiu'C
that the territory lying west and north of the
Ohio river was to be divided into not less than
three nor more than five states. Congress also
divided the region named into Ohio. Indiana
and Illinois. When we remember that this
legislation was onl\ a little over a hundred

I'AS'I" AM> l'i;i>i:.\"T OF MKXAKD COIVI'^'

years ago, we may muile at the siiort-sighted-
iicss of our statesmen, especially when we re-
flect that the territory was boiindeil on the north
by the British possessions.

So ra])i(lly did this iiorthwt'stern country
fill up. that in 1810. the Illinois territory,
which thru iiuliided a part of \Vi.<ciirisin and
Minnesota, contained a ])0])nlation of twelve
thousand two hiiiulred and eighty-two. Mich-
igan had liein foniicd into a separate territory
in 180."), and Indiana in 1S0!I. The reader
is perhaps acquainted with the iiistory of the
controversy with Wisconsin over the nortiiern
boundary of Illinois. If tlie peo))lc of Wis-
consin are correct in theii' \ ii'ws of the matter,
then Illinois has no iiortlu'ni limit save that
first given to tiic territory, and her area still
extends to the liritish possessions i'.i Canada.

Illinois, like other new territories, was at
first divideil into counties covcrin.j very large
areas, in fact, the entire state was once "Illi-
nois county," but as the country ijccame more
thickly settled these counties were subdivided
and in many cases re-divided a third and fourth
time. Illustrative of this fact, it may be stated
that at tile time of tln' adiiiissidii nf Illinciis
into the T'nion, it comprised only fifteen
counties. .\s the settlement of the state began
in the southern ]iortiou and extended north-
ward, it is not at all sur])rising that in more
than one case it would have Ix-cn imjiossible
to find the northern boundary of the county,
unless it were considered as extending to the
northern line of the state. As an illustra-
tion of this subdivision* of counties, it may be
stated that the city of Chicago, or at least the
land that it now stands on, was once in Fulton
county: whereas the nearest [mint of Fulton
county to the city of Chicago is now one hun-
dred and fifty miles on an air line. Another il-
lustration of this may be briefly given : If the
reader will turn to the maji of Illinois he will
ob.sen'e that Crawford county is the eighth
county .south on the state line from Chicago.
This county at first included Chicago; but when
Clark was formed it embraced C'licago; and
when Edgar was cut off of Clark the "windy
city" was in it: and then wIhh ^■el•milion was
formed from Rdgar. Chicago fell in it; .so that

a nuiidjcr of Illinois counties can boast that
Chicago was once in their territory.

In consideration of the fact that Menard
eounty was stricken off from Sangamon, it be-
comes necessary to give a brief outline of the
latter. The rea<ler who is familiar with the
history of llliiinis will rcmenilier that portions
of it were settled even iiefore the close of the
eighteenth century. Prioi- to the formation of
the ciuinty of Sangamon, by act of the legisla-
ture, approved .January M). l.S-.il, the territory
of which it was formed was included in the
counties of Madison and i'.ond. Sangamon
county, when lirst formed, included all of what
is now Logan. Tazewell, Mason, Menard and
Cass, and part of ilorgan. McLean. Marshall,
Woodford. Putnam and Christian. Its bound-
ary remained tlnis till the year 1824, when the
legislature reduced its limits. It still, how-
ever, extended to the Illinois river and in-
cluded ail of Alenard and parts of Christian,
Logan Mild Mason, '{"he boundaries of Sanga-
mon remained unchanged till the year IS."?!),
wiieii the legislature again subdivided it, cut-
ting off Menard. Christian and Logan. The
name of Dane was at first given to it but later
it was changed to Christian.

During the session of the legislature of
18:58-9. ;\Ieiiard county was stricken off from
Sangamon and named in honor of Colonel
Pierre Menard, a Frenchman who settled at
i\askaskia. Illinois, in 1790. ilenard was so
popular in his day with the peo])le of Illinois
territory that when the convention framed the
constitution of the .state a clause was included
in the schedule to the constitution providing
that "any citizen of the I'nited States who had
resided in the state for two years might be
eligible to the oflice of lieutenant governor."
This was done in oi-der that Colonel ^lenard,
who had oidy been naturalized a year or two
at the time, might be made lieutenant governor,
under Shadrach Bond, first governor of Illi-
nois after its formation into a state. .\s ^fe-
nard county was 7iamcd after this jiopidar
Frenchman it may lie interesting to the reader
to give a brief account of his life. Pierre
Menard was born in Quebec. Canada, in the
year lT<i7. Lie remained in his native city till
his nineteeidh year, when his inherent spirit

PAST AM) PRKSENT OV M KX A IM > (Ol N'l ^

of .ulvoiiuirc It'll hiiu to si'i'k his forliiiR' in tlie
territories watered by the ilississippi and its
tributaries, lie was. tliereforc. soon lound in
the town of Vineennes on tlic Wabasii river in
the employ of a nierehant. known as Colonel
Yigo. Jn the yv:\v \',W he roruied a partner-
ship with one J)u Bois, a merchant of Vin-
eennes. and they removed their stock to Kas-
kaskia at the iinnilh cif the Kask.iskia river in
Illinois. Menard, though possessed of but a
limited education, was a man of (puck ))ercep-
lion and iif almost iinerriui;' juil<;iiirMl. Ilr
was caiiilid ami honest, full of enei'gy and in-
dustry, and these tpialities soon marked him as
a leader am<mg the scattered population of his
ado])ted home. For a number of years he was
government agent for the Indians, and his
candor and integrity so(ni won for liini the
cstepui and friendship of the hulian tril)es.
This fact secure<l iiiin great advantage as a mer-
eliaut as he coubl buy their jieltries for one-half
as much as they could be bought by tlir ■"Lung-
knives." He was a member of the lower house
of the legislature while llliiu'is was under the
Indiana regime and. from 1S12 to 1818, be was
a member of the Illinois legislative council,
being the president of that body. Ib^ was
lieutenant governor from 1818 to 18V-.'. anil
after that he declined to accept further bonoi-s
at the hands of the people. He acquired a
considerable fortuiir but uimli of it was lost
through his liberality in going security for his
friends. He died in Tazewell county. Illinois,
at the good old age of seventy-seven years.
Such was the nuin for whou' ^fenard county
was named.

^lenard county is lU'ar the '-enter of the state
of Illinois and is approxiuuitely twenty miles
square. It is hounded on the noi'tb by Salt
creek: on the west liy f'ass county: on the south
by Sangamon, and on the east i)y Logan. The
entire area of the county is one hundred and
ninety seven thousand nine liundi-ed and sev-
enty live acres, imt it is estinuited that the
Sangamon river occupies an area of seven hun-
dred acres in the limits of the county, leaving
an entire area of one hundred and ninety seven
thousand two hundred and seventy five acres.
The Sangamon river flows througli the county
from south to north, dividii;:: it into tw-n nlmn-:t

equal (larts. A number of small streams flow
into the Sangamon river, and Salt creek alt'ords
an abundance of fresh. ]iure water for all jiur-
poses. The surface of the country is gently
undulating in the main, though for a mile or
two back from the river it is somewhat broken.
The great portion of the land was. in its native
state, prairie, being covered with a luxuriant
growth of initi-iiious grass, interspersed with a
countless growth of wild flowers. Groves ami
bodies of tindier were interspersed all over the
entii-e ai'ea of the county, being ahuiulant. bad
it been i>i-eserved. for all |)urposes of agricul-
ture and nuinii facture. .\long the Sanganum
river for a distance of a mile ami a half on
either side there was formerly heavy timber,
while on Kock creek and Indian creek are con-
sideral)le bodies also, in the eastern part of
the county are Irish Grove, Bee Grove and
Sugar Grove, each of which is a considerable
body of timber. On the w'cst side of the river
are Little Grove and Clary's Gi-ove, formerly
liiu' bodies of tindier. The timber comprises
a uuniber of varieties of na]<. elm. ash. walnut.
liutternut, sycamore, linden or ba.<swood, hick-
ory. Cottonwood, black and honey locust, pecan,
cherrx. uiulberry and nuiplc. hard and soft.
There are several sugar orchards in the vicin-
ity of Talhila and Sw-eetwater. Near Tallula
Messrs. Speer, Conover, Greene and others have
good orchards. Around Sw'eetwater are the
orchards of ^fr. Smoot. .\lkires and 11. .L
Mai-bold. the last named having oiu' thousand
five hundred trees on an ai-ea of not more than
eiuhtv acres.

AGlMt ILTLKE.

The soil of this county is a ricli. dark loam,
fiom one to five feet deep. This is the pre-
vailing condition, but in the northern portion
of the county there are considerable areas where
sand mounds exist, but even these are surpris-
ingly produitive of a favorable season. These
sand mounds pi-oduce melons and sweel-pola-
toes of the liiiest quality and in profuse abund-
ance. Jfore than ninety |ier cent of the land
of the county is in cidtivation. in grass or
planted in grain.

The county is abuudanllx' ~up]ilied with the

PAS'J' AM> i'i;ksext (ik .\ii;nai;ii (oixt^'

various kinds of stock, and for many years
tlie farnuTS have taken irrcat jjride in trying
to improve their quality, and to this end llie
best breeds from all over the world have been
imported till the finest breeds of horses, cattle,
shee]) and hogs may be seen on the rich pas-
tures or in the eomfortahle barns of every farm-
ing eomniiinity.

The soil produces abundant crops of corn,
wheat, oats, rye, barley, millet, timothy, clover,
potatoes, all kinds of vines and vegetables.
Grapes and small fruits grow in luxuriant
abundance, but while tlie large standard fruits
in past year did well they are now practically
a failure. Peaches are winter-killed at least
four years out of five, while apples and pears
are almost a total failure on account of the
numerous fungoid and insect pests that attack
them in countless hordes.

Cattle, horses and hogs are raised in abund-
ance, while poultry produces no insignificant
part of the total income of the farmers. Fann-
ing lands are worth from one hundred to one
hundred and fifty dollars per acre. The farm-
ers are, as a rule, well-to-do, many having
grown rich hy farming and stock-raising. We
have farmers w'hose wealth is fast approaching
the million dollar mark, while estates of a
quarter and half-million dollars are by no means
rare. The last half decade has been an es-
pecially prosperous period to the farmers, but
as it is the writer's business to state facts and
not theories he can not say whether this is due
to the Almighty or to the administration: one
of the two did it. ''llocli dcr Kaiser!"

MINEUAL UKSorHCHS.

Inexhaustil)lc iicds of bitiniiiiious vir,\\ i>( the
best quality underlie the entire county and at
such a depth that it can lie mined at a trifling
cost. This coal is deposited in three layers,
or strata, that have l)eon worked to some ex-
tent and the state geologist claims that in this
part of Illinois the three strata will aggregate
at least twenty-five feet in thickni'ss. A toler-
ably correct idea of the wealth laid up here may
be gained by considering tlie miners' estimate
that in everv foot of the vein, in thickness.

there are twenty million bushels or one mil-
lion tons to the square mile. Now, to say
iiDlliing of the twenty-li\r feet of strata, of
wiiieh we arc told, let the reader contemplate
the wealth that is stored up in the vein that is
nnw iicing worked. This vein averages six feet
in thickness. This will give us live million
tuns to every square mile. This alone is a
source of inexhaustible wealth. A writer in
the London Quarterly Keview said a few years
ago that no peoi)le can succeed in the arts of
Christian civilization without a supply of coal,
and this is undoubtedly true. ^Mien we reflect
tiiat nuinufaeturers, commerce and the general
enterprises of civilization can not be carried on
without a dynamic agent, we see that the fore-
going statement is not extravagant. In the
sultry cycles of the carboniferous jieriod, the
.\linighty was laying up the crystalized sunshine
in the form of these dusky diamonds in this,
then unknown, world for coming Christianity
to uncover and use as an energy to bless the
world. The same Avriter. (pioted above, says
thai the paddK'-wheels of European civiliza-
tion are constantly stirring up the dark waters
of superstition in the east and every steamer
that navigates those oceans goes as a herald of
Christian civilization and enlightenment, and
thus we see that coal is becoming the mighty
ajrent in the uplifting of humanity. Such
were the stores of coal laid up in the bowels of
England, and Iter supply so inexhaustible, as
was supposed, that the expression, "carrying
coals to Xewcastle," has long been the maimer
of cxpi'essing the inexhaustihleuess of the de-
])osit. init present indications bid fair for it to
become literally true, and also tiial the coals
carried to Newcastle shall be from .Vmerica,
This mighty force has slumbered for countless
cycles under this soil and lure is untold wealth
for Christian enterprise to utilize for the good
of man.

Stone of a good quality is also found in sev-
eral places in this county that might be made a
source of great income. Considering all the
natural advantages that we possess, we conclude
that few localities have more or better facilities
for manufacturing than we. Here is the tim-
ber, the coal, the stone, the water, the sand and
the agricultural products. Look at the vast

AS'I' AMI I'KKSK.XT i ) K Mh:\ \i;|i lol NTV

sums of iiiouev thai go out I roiii luro i-viTv year
to pay for the very tliinjis that wc j^IkhiIiI make
and sell to others — plows, reapers, planters,
wagons, buggies, threshers, ete. If our ad-
vantages were utilized mil luily wmild all the
iiionev be kept in mii- midst Imi other great
ailvantages would areiiie to us. A market
would be created here at home for all our
surplus, a demand would he made for greater
quantities of eoal. and this would eall for a
greater number of laborers; the erection of
factories would ereate a ilrmiiinl fur stone,
brick, sanil and lime: haiidling these things
woulil make a demand f(ii- teams and laborers,
and last, but not least, this would liriiig me-
chanics, and their families wnuld build up the
towns and lill up the srhoois and fui-!iish a
market for all our surplus products. Surely
our people will not remain blind to this matter
many years longer.

The population of Menard county, according
to the last census, is fourteen thousand three
hundred and thirty-six. PetorslAirg. the county
seat, is situated on the Sangamon river, near
the center of the county, and has a i)o|)ulation
of about three thousand four hundred. Two
railroads run through the e<uinty. The Chi-
cago & Alton ent(>rs the county near the
northeast corner of the rouiil\ and runs through
Petersburg and leaves the county near the
southwest corner. The Chicago. Peoria & St.
Louis runs thnuigh the center of the county
from north to sotith. These two roads cross in
Petersburg. The Peoria and Springfield branch
of the Chicago & Alton runs for eight or ten
miles just in the east edge of the county.

The first settlements of ^leiiard county were
made by immigrants from Tennessee, Ken-
tucky. "N'irginia and the Caroliiuis, with a small
per cent from the states farther north. These
immigrants were of a class of men and women
unsurpassed for bravery, enterprise aaid de-
termination. In fact, we have in the pioneers
of Illinois and other western states a wonderful
type of men and women. The first settlers of
America were of the best stock of the various
European countries from which they caiue.
Those first emigrants from Europe to America
were the most liberty-loving, most conscientious,
brave and determined of the lands tbev left.

These jieople liy inlermairiage llirough the laws
of hereility. arul amalganuition iiave produced
a new and improved ty[)e of the genus homo.
We are not luiglish or (ierman or French, but
we are distinctively Americans. We are a peo-
ple, a race. uiii(|ue and distinct, adapted to the
conditions and needs of tins new and unique
eounliy. Ii was llie men and women of this
new l\pi' who made this country what it is to-
day. .\o one dare to limit the aehievements
of this country in the future unless intermar-
riage, idleness, ease and luxury shall enervate,
weaken and destroy the [lower of the people. ]_
will iclate one peetdiar political incident ami
with this close this ehai)ter. .Menard county
has been Democratic in all its history, with the
exception that in the first years of its existence
as a county, it gave a majority to the old Whig
party. It was cut off from Sangamon and
organized into a separate county in 1839. In
1840 William II. Karrison was the Whig
candidate for president. oppo.sed by Martin
\'an Kureu. the Democrat candidate, ^fenard
county gave Harrison four hundred and thirty-
four votes and Van Buren three hundred and
seventy-i'our. In 1844 we had a third candi-
date for ])resident for the first time: Clay,
Whig: Polk, Democrat; and Burney, Free-
Soil. The county gave Clay three hundred
and ninety-seven; Polk, three hundred and sev-
enty-eight; and Mr. Burney got one. In 1848
the candidates were Taylor, Democrat; Ca.es,
Whig; and Van Buren, Free-Soil. The county
gave Taylor six hundred and five votes; Cass,
four hundred and eighty-eight ; and Van Buren
oni'. In 1852 the candidates were Pierce.
Democrat; Scott, Whig; and Hale. Abolitionist.
The county gave Pierce six hundred and ninety-
eight votes; Scott, six hundred and forty-four;
and Hale one. The same old fellow, I suppose,
cast that one lonely Abolition vote every time.
This was a very discouraging beginning for
.Vbolitionism. but see what ]iersevcrancc in fol-
lowing honest convictions will do. But "Won-
ders never will sease." Aristotle said. "It was
through the feeling of wonder that men.' now
and at first, began to philosophize." But I
fear that no pliilosophy will ever solve this
jiroblem. "Little ^fonard" went liepublican in
the vear of ^'race. 100 | ! Yes. the whole thing.

1-.'

I'ASI' AM) I'liKSK-NT (»l MKNAIMi ((ilNTY

lock, stock ami liiincl. went down in the gen-
oral ci-iLsli. \Va.s it ••'IVilily's" |ioiiuUirity or
Parkers telegram, that did it ? Bi-nnett,
l.anniug, Watkius. Clary and .Miller all sank
to rise no more.

\r,<»i;i(;ixi:s.

A history of ilenard county would be im-
perfect that did not include some account of
the aboriginal inhabitants. Indeed, to very
many men no subject is more intensely interest-
ing than this. Little can be said of the In-
dian tribes of this locality, but that little will
be given, but anoibrr and far more interesting
people than they once held dominion here and
roamed these prairies and woods. I refer to
the ■■iHound l>uild<'rs."" TJiis strange and un-
known ])eople were once as numerous here, no
douiit, as the present pojjulation. but unfortu-
nately they left only enough mementoes of
their existence to arouse in us a desire to know
more of them. Even here in this county
there are. or were a few years ago, abundant
evidences of the teeming thousands that lived
here. Unfortunately nearly all the monu-
ments they left were the earth-mounds they
built, at the expense of untold toil and ])er-
serveranee. ilany of the.«e. by rain and storm
and the erosive power of the ]ilow. have been
partially or entirely obliterated, but a (piarter
of a century ago they were plainly visible in
many localities. Along the bluffs overlooking
the Sangamon river they were to be seen in
great numbers. Years ago the writer o])oned a
number of tho.se mounds and was amply re-
warded for his labor. In many nothing was
found except the decayed bones of the buried
deail, but others were rich in relics. Pipes,
axes, spades, totems, etc., were found in abund-
ance, and I have no doubt that vast numbers
are still hidden under the soil here that may
never be seen by man. unless by some accident
they are unearthed. In digging a cistern, an
arrow-point was found at a depth of nine feet
below' the surface. A stone ax was found, in
digging a grave, five feet down. The writer
found a sand-stone ax, a half mile from Salem,
that was embedded in the shale. .\ chisel.

haiuinered out of native eopper. was found in a
mound nine milis norlli of Peteisburir, that
was eight feet under "rimnd. Several <iipL"r
arrow-])oints have iieen found in the cnunty.
These can be seen in the collection of 11. .1.
Marboid. at Grtenview. One kind of mound
that was not uncommon is worthy of descrip-
tion : This was on the bluff, four miles north
of Petersburg. Before it was tampered with,
it was about six feet high and perhaps twelve
feet across. Some two and a half feet below
the top of the mound two skeletons were found,
supposed to be of a male and a female, lying on
clay that had been iiurned almost as hard as
a brick. Careful examination indicated that a
mound, some three or four feet high, had been
Ijuilt and on top of this was formed a basin,
al)out the proportions of a sou])-dish, lined with
clay, made into a mortar and tlien thoroughly
burned. This liasin was about six feet across
and eight or ten inches lower in the center than
at the edge. That the bodies had been placed
■ in this basin, fuel piled on them and then
burned was clearly evidenced by the fact that
tile upper surface of the bones were burned
away, the sides charred black and the under
side untouched by the lire. The whole skele-
tons, except the smaller bones which were
burned up, showed xis that this was the case, as
they were found mingled with the ashes and
dead coals in the bottom of the basin. Several
such mounds as this were opened by the writer.
After the body was burned three or four feet
of earth was added to the mound. What are
these, however, comjiared to the works east of
St. Louis, in Illinois, where there are over two
iiuiulred large mounds in the area of one town-
ship, six miles .sfpiare? These mounds arc all
lar<tc\ but the king of them all is Cahokia
mound. It was surveyed by Chicago parties
several years ago and they fouiul that it cov-
ered eleven acres of ground and was ninety-
.seven feet high, after all the past years of
erosion liy the elements. There is jierfect evi-
dence that the earth was carried a distance of
over four miles to build it. St. Louis bears the
nickname of "Mound City" from the immense
mound that once stood in the very heart of the
city. Vast numbers of relics were obtained
from each of these, a number of which may be

rAS'l'.WD I'K'KSKNT nF M KN A II 1 1 ('( i| N'I'V

i:;

swu in MarliildV c ollfiiitni. 'I'lir iiii^e pamt-
iiig, calloil ••The Piasa Hinl." iliat was on the
>iiiuiilli fai-i; uf iIk' i-litl' alM)\c AUiiii. oiiu hun-
^\v^^i\ IVfi Troiii the base ami .-cM'iity-live i'uet
lirlow the lull, was the work nl' iIksc |icoplo.
'I'liis puiuting was there wlieii .Marc|Uelte and
Juliet went down the .Mississippi i-i\ci- in l(J7"-i,
and i-eniained tliere. ln-ighl and ehai-. till ISIS,

uhell the elilV fell into the li\el'. When we
eiinteiiiplate the lni,L;e piles nl' rai'tli mi almost
every hlull' aluiig the .M i.--is^ip|ii. the Missouri,
the Ohio, the Illinois and. in faet. almost all
the rivers of the eounti'v. ue may well wonder
coneerning the strange peuplc wIki Imilt them.
The "llini"" Indians, as they called themselves,
who li\iil at tile mouth id' I'iasa ereek. when the
lirst white man \ lilted this eouuti'y, had no
more iilea n{' who painted this picture than wo
have to-day. 'I'lieir |iriiK-ipal village was al-
most in a -tonethrow of th(> painting hut they
knew nothing of its hisloi'y. 'The picture was
in three colors, i-ed. \clliiw and hiack. The Imdy
was as large as a cow. a faie like a human,
horns like a dei r. teeth of gi'eat size, outsprt'ad
wings, like a l>at. four legs, each with four
terrible claws, a huge tail. wrai)))ed three times
arountl the ijody. and the whole hody and tail
covered with scales, like a lisli. 1; was a lei'-
rihle looking picture. The Indians had a
strange and weird tradition concerning it hut
We have not s]>ace to record it heie.

Of the Indians, in rolat'im to this county.
hut little can he said, .\houl the time that the
lirst settlers came to this iiimit\. the Indians
made a raid on the settlements south rd' here
and after killing a citizen or two they stole a
young lady and started north with her. She
was the daughter of a Captain W'hitesides and
the father and a company of citizens started in
pursuit. The Indians were overtaken just this
side of Elkhart Grove. There a fight occurred.
The young lady was on a ])ony. which was led
hy an Indian, while a rope was tied around the
girl's neck and held hy her ca])tor. When the
fight hegan the Indian in the excitement dro]i-
jied the rope and the girl sprang off the pony
and started to run hack to the whites. But the
Indian, seeing his prize ahout to e.scape, threw
his tomahawk ai her, driving the hlade into
the snuill of her hack. Her father heintr near

aiul seeing this, galloiied helwun her and the
Indians, when one of thcni firing at him sent
a hall entirely through his horse. However, tiie
horse did not fall and the father, s])urring him
forward, n ached the L;irl and seizing her liy
the arm, bore her hack to the whiles. The
lilood was s]iurting fioiu the wound in the
horse's \itals hut the faithful animal, with his
fast ehhing sli'cngth. hore her to >afei\ and in
a short time died. In the reli'cat the Indians
crossed the Saiiuamon i'i\er near wheie the
iion bridge, south of I 'I'tersburg. is located, and
their pursueis. leiuiinng the same way, brought
the young lady to a settler's cabin near Salis-
bury. Ica\ing her there till she recovered. When
ti:e lirst seltlemciils were made in the limits
ol' this county the Indians had marly all iieeli
remoxcd : a few wci-c still in the timber on
Indian creek, in the neighborhood of Indian
Point: and two old men. with al)out a dozen
of tlicii- rclativis. remaiiU'd for some time.
These wei'e .Shicksliack and Shambolee. Thev
lixi'il two or three years just south of the
residence of the late J udge Robert Clary, on the
high hill ii\ei-|o(iking the lake. They then re-
moved to a high hill within a mile of the site
ol' the |)l-esent town of Chandlci'x ille. Here
Shickshaek died at a very advanced age and
was buried (here, and the hill is still known as
■•Shiek.shack's Hill." After his death the rest
of the little band in sadness left the haunts of
the pale-face and were iieard of no more.

There being no trouble with the Indians in
this seelion after the lirst settlenu'iits here and
thei-e being variinis forts near the frontiers, as
l-'ort Clark at Peoria and at other points,
there was never any need of any forts or block-
houses in this section of the state. 'I'he trouble
s])oken of above, with a band Avhosc town was
at Elkhart drove, was the last, and perhaps
the only tiouble, that was ever in Ihis im-
mediate jiart of the state. Further northeast,
at Old Town Timber, in ^fcLeau county, and
over toward Fort Clark, now Peoria, there had
been considerable warfare. The ^lound Build-
ers are gone atid the Indians are gone, and the
hills and woods and streams have no tongue to
tell the story of the i)ast. All tlie record we
have is the chipjied flint, the jiolished stone-ax
and the curiouslv wrought in'pe and banner-

I'AST AM) l"i;i;sK\T OF .MK.\Al!lt (OI N lA

^l(llll- to tell their siiiiiige story. How we long
to extort from tluse unite stones the story of
those long gone years, but mir a]i]i('iil is un-
heard and the book is sealcii, only as we may
imagine, guess and wonder.

KAiM.v sK'i"ri.i-;_Mi-:\'i's.

♦^litc a number of suttlemeuts iuid itten made
in the territory of what is now Saugamou
eouuty sonie time Ijcfore any were made in the
bounds of what is now Menard. TJic reader
must bear in mind that this county had no ex-
istence till the year 1839, hence the history
of the settlement and development of the county
is eonncetrcl with the hislorv of Sangamon
county.

Although the white man had frequently vis-
ited the "Sangamon country," as it was called,
and had traveled over the beautiful prairies
and explored the dc^p woods of this locality,
yet we have no evidence that any one ever
settled in the area of the county prior to A]n-il,
1819. We have indisputable evidence that the
first settler of the county was John Clary, who
came with his family at the date above named.
He settled in a grove in the southwest part of
the county, near the present site of the village
of Tallula. This grove was ever after known
by the name of its first settler and it is to-day
noticed on the maps and known and spoken of
far and near as "Clary's Grove." Mr. Clary
settled on the southwest quarter of section 32,
township IS, range 7; the land now belonging
to the heirs of George Spears, Sr. Mr. C.
Clary built what was known to the pioneers
as a "three-faced" camp: tliat is, he built three
walls, leaving one entire side open, as ample
means of ingress and egress. These walls were
built about seven feet high, then poles were
laid across about three feet apart and "elaj)-
boards" were laid on these for the roof, and as
nails were not to be had. "weight-]ioles" were
laid on the boards to hold them to their place.
These boards were generally four feet in length
and from ten to fourteen inches in width.
They were split out of oak timber, with an
instrument, common in tho.se days, called a
"froe." Xn floor was laid in tlic camp, nor

was there any sucii thing as a window or door-
siuitter or chimney eoniieeted with the strue-
tur<'. .Now these are laets and we doubt not
that tliC young j)eople of to-day are skeptical
nn the matter. The one side left out served
as door, chimney, wiiidnw and all. .lust in
front of the o|ien side, a huge log-heap was
liuilt. whieli served to furnish heat in cold
weathei- Mild lor cooking all the year round, and
gave wJiat light they needed at night. We de-
scrilie this camji so particularly because in
such dwellings as this, the early settlers all
s|)ent the llrst few years of their sojourn in
the new country. .Mr. Clary had a family when
he first came to the Grove, the late lamented
•hidge Kobert Clary being six Avceks old when
the family reached its wild home. The large
and respected family of Clarys now living in
this county are all descendants of this hardy
pioneer. Xot long after Clary located in the
Grove, Solomon Pratt with his family took up
his residence in a cabin, which he built on sec-
tion 3, township 17, range 7, this geing near
Mr. Clary. During the fall of 1819 and the
spring of 1820 emigration came in pretty
rapidly, but there being no record kept of the
order in which they came and the names of
some being forgotten, it is impossible to give
the detail correctly. About this time the
Armstrongs, Greens and Spears came to the
grove; a more detailed account of whom will
be given in another place. It was stated
above that the first settlement in the county
was made at Clary's Grove. This we believe
to be true, but there is great diversity of opin-
ion on this subject among the oldest citizens
who were alive thirty years ago, with whom
tlie writer often talked the matter over.
.Vniberry I?ankin, late of Athens, in this county,
was of the opinion that Judge Latham was
the first white man to take up his abode in the
limits of the county, and it is a known fact that
Sugar Grove, in the northeast part of the
county, was settled very soon after Clary's
Grove, if not at the very same time. From a
document left liy Charles Montgomery, de-
ceased, and from statements made to the writer
by .Mexander ^feadows, we gather some very
important facts. These statements are fully
reliable, as the L'''iitlemen named were members

I'As'i" WD i'i;i:si-:\'r oi-" Mi-;\Ai;i» coix'i'v

1.5

of tho iiret jiarlv that scitlnl on the oas^t side
of till' SangaiiKiii river. Jaeol) JJovor autl
.Jainusik'adows, wiiii were Imjtliers-in-law, came
to Sugar Grove trom tiie American bottom, near
St. Ivouis. anil located in tliat groxc in tlie
spriiia- of 18]!). Tiiev had lived one or two
years on Wood river, in the .Vnicrii-an hultniu.
a few miles from Alton, ileadows broiiuht
with liiiii a wagou, drawn hy two horses, a
3'oke of yearling steers, which liad been broken
to work when sucking calves, and some thirty
head of hogs. Boyer brought three horses, two
milk cows and perhaps a yoke of oxen. About
the same day that Boyer and Meadows came, the
Blano family, consisting of four brothers, one
sister, and the mother, came to the .same grove.
'I'his family was of Irish blood, and it was
from them that "Irish Grove"' got its name.
The Blanes brought two two-horse teami5 and six
or Seven yoke of oxen. Boyer and Meadows
erected a cabin on the soutli side of tlie grove,
which was occupied by Boyer, and Meadows put
up a "three-faced camp'" on the ground now
occupied by the Sugar Grove cemetery. Be-
fore the Blanes settled there they had camped
for several days in the Grove, and it was this
cam])ing that gave the Grove the "Irish" pre-
fix, and this makes it ])rol)able that they were
camped there when Clary s('(tlc(l in Clary's
Grove.

Till- Blanes at once look claims, erected
cabins and began business in earnest. These
were doulitless the first .settlers on the east
side of the Sangamon river. Before giving an
account of the furtlicr settlement of Sugar
Grove, it may not ije amiss to relate an inci-
■leut in the early history of tliis settlement,
illustrating the fact that iiuman nature is ever
the same and that even in thi< early day men
had need of civil courts. It will be neces-
sary to explain that although the trouble be-
gan when but few families had settled there,
it was some time before it culminated in a
suit at law, as there were no courts of justice
within reach till some time later. As stated
above. Meadows brought two horses, thirty head
of hogs, and two yearling calves with him to the
grove. Not many months elapsed until both of
the horses were missing and the hogs had all
straved awav and were lo.st. Xot a great while

after these misfortunes, one of his little oxen
was foi'i.d dead in the woods. Diligent search
was made in every direction for the missing
stock, as they could not be replaced witiiout
great trouble and I'xpcnse. owing to the dis-
tance from any older settlement. In his anxiety
.Mi-. Meadows applied to a foitune-teller, who
strolled through the new settlement practicing
his art, as the ancient troubadour used to stroll
from village to village to rehearse the deeds of
his heroes. This seer told Mr. Jleadows that
his horses were in the possession of the Indians
and that he would recover them after awhile,
though but one at a time. Sure enougli, the
horses were found in the hands of the Indians,
who said that they had traded for them from
a Frenchman. The horses v.crc so jaded that
they were of no service and soon after died.
The hogs, iie was told, had gone down the
Sangamon river, where one-half of them had
been eaten by a ''squatter"' and the rest he would
recover. ^leadows faithfully followed the di-
rections given, found the cabin of the suspected
settler but foun<l none of the hogs. He, how-
ever, traded for a frying-])an from the worthy
citizen, the one that he supposed his hogs had
been fried in. but the remainder of the liogs
were found as had been predicted. The for-
tune-teller further said that the steer liad come_
to its death at the hands of one of Mr. Meadows'
neighbors in the following manner: The
neighbor was making rails in the timber, his
coat lying on a log near by, when the poor calf
came browsing along, and spying the coat, con-
chuled to make a meal of it. The laborer see-
ing his coat about to be swallowed by the calf,
ran and struck the brute on the loins with his
maul, and the blow proved sufficient to kill it
oil the spot. .Vlthniigh this was only the state-
ment of a sujierstitious fortune-teller, yet it
was believed strongly enough to induce Meadows
to begin a suit against the accused jiarty, which
was in the courts for several years, cost a vast
sum of money, and caused a feud between the
two families which lasted to the third or fourth
generation. This is spoken of as the fir?t law-
suit of any importance in the county, and also
as illustrating a superstitious belief in fortune-
tellers, which at that time was almost uni-
versal.

l(i

i'A>r wii n;i;si-;N'

.MK.NAKl) ((HN'rV

Not long allL'i- tlie st'ltleiiic]ii nl ISojlt,
ileadows ami the JBlanes, aiiotlier caravan of
ininiigrants cauio to the Grove. John Jeimisou,
-Mr. Hill and William McXahh, his wilV, sou
ami (laughter, were ol' that compaiiv. James
ileXabb, sou of William JlcXaijh, above uamed,
Wiis a surveyor and taught the ilrst seliool that
was ever taught iu the Grove. A few years
later he was drowned iu the Sangauiou river,
which streaui he was trying to swim, wiili his
compass tietl on his head. It is said that he
had been drinking or he would not have umde
the attempt. A few months after the arrival
of tliose last named, others came, among them
IJoland Grant and family, Benjamin Wilcox
and Ward Benson. About the same time a Mr.
Pentecost came from Kentucky, bringing a
family of four sons and three daughters, lie
settled near the j)resent residence of Judge
II. 11. Marbold, near Greenview. Cavanis. for
w hum Cavanis creek was named, also canu' from
Kentucky, about this time. The next tu lind
their way to this Grove was a company from
Deer Creek. Ohio, composed of the Alkires and
William Engle, all of whom in later years per-
formed such an important part in the develop-
ment of that wealthy portion of the county.
No party of weary travellers ever entered a
new country that was destined to e.xert a strong-
er influence on the future growth and prosper-
ity of a community than this little band.
Leonard Alkire brought considerable means
with him and invested it largely in "claims,"
wliicii he entered later on. lie purchased the
claims of Meadows. Grant. Wilco.x and the
Blanes, which marked the beginning of change
among the settlers of this grove. TTill. who
was spoken of above, removed to St. Louis:
John Jennison farmed for a year or two in the
Grove and then removed to Baker's Prairie,
three miles southeast of Petersburg. Mesulows
moved to the lower end of the Grove, where
he liought the claim of Pentecost. MeXabh and
Wilcox also removed to Baker's I'lairie. where
they took claims, which they entend as soon
as the land came into market. There they
reared families and many of their descendants
were there for many years, hut almost all of
them are now gone. Not long after the ar-
rival of .\lkire and Engle. Matthew Bracken

came to the neighborhood, bringing a large
family with him, and after him lame Nicholas
I'rojist : tlii'n Wallace and William Sweeney.
.Milton liced. and Thomas and William Cald-
well. From this time the tide of inuuigiation
constantly grew deeper and wider, pouring in
its hosts of earnest, industrious and enlerin'is-
ing men to develop this most highly favored
iioily of country, and well did they perform
llieir task.

While the setiUcnient was being made in this
locality, the other portions of the county were
not negh'cted. It is a remarkable fact, how-
e\er. that no settler ventured out on the prairie
lor a number of years but the groves of timber
contained settlement and each became the
nuileus for a community. Of the more im-
portant of these more will be said in the proper
place. It may i)e of interest to the reader to
know that the iirst marriage in the county, on
I be east side of the river, was John .lennisnn to
I'atsy JIcNabb ; the second was Mi'. Ilmman
to Rosina Blanc: and the third was William
Kngle to Melissa Blane. The last named
eou])le were Joincil in wedlock by Harry l?iggiu.
■I. P. The first death on the east side of the
rivee was an infant son of Jacob Boyer, named
Henderson. The second death was Jacob Boy-
er; and the third was Joscpli Kinney, who
was thrown finui a horse lie was brought
home ali\i' liiit siKiM afterward died. Kinney
was buriecl in Sugar Grove cemetery, and soon
after an elm ti'eo came U]) out of the grave,
almost Irom its center, and it is now a large,
wide-spreading tree; and although its roots and
stem have obliterated all signs of a grave yet
it is a verdant monunu'ni to the memory of
Joseph Kinney.

The Iirst sclioolhouse built in Sugar Grove
was erected in LS22 by ^feadows. Boyer, Wil-
cox. ilcNabh ami Grant. It was about six-
teen feet square and was built of split logs.
This house was furnished on a par with all
the school houses in the early settling of the
country. Covered with split hoards, held in
place by weight-poles, the floor of puncheons,
or split logs, the seats of half of a split log.
with four legs, saplings, driven into auger-
boles bored into the round side of the log, and
the win<low. if any. was a log cut out of one

I'AST AMI im;i;si;\'|- ok mi:.\ai;]) corx'i'v

side oT till' wall. 'I'lic uritiiii; ilrsk was a
|iuiiclieon placed on pins in the wall. 'Hie text-
liddks were few in nnmlri- ami llir teacher
mailr all the pens iisrd mil (if uodsc quills.
The lidoks used were the .New 'ri'>lanicnt lor a
rcadei-, with now and then a. copy of the old
JMiiilisli K'i'ader; Pike's or Smiley "s arithmetic,
and Mui ray's or Kirkham's i;raniniar. The
leaelier who could "work through the single
and (lonhle rule of throe" was a genius whoso
services \v(>re always in demand. (We will say
for the enlightenment of our school girls and
liovs that the single and douhle rule of three
meant single and tl(ud)le proportion.) The
liooks named above, with the indispensable
Webster's spelling-hook, were the texts that
children had in thos(> early days. Then the
schools in those days were never held longer
than three months, in mid-winter. These
schools were all gotten up by jirivate sidiscrip-
tion, for the young people must bear in mind
that we had no free school system at that time.
1 speak of these things particularly that the
present generation may know the truth con-
cerning the privations that their parents and
grandparents experienced in preparing the in-
heritance that they left to them. 1 speak thus
particularly of the seliool privileges of those
early times, that the young people may com-
pare their own oppiu'tunities with those of their
ancestors. A'oue of the statements concerning
the early schools and the helps of those times
are exaggerated in the least, foi- the writer at-
tended such a school and used part of the
of the books named but could not secure all
of them. If your pai-ents accomjilished what
ihoy did with such ludps, what should you do
with your opportunities?

James McXabli, who was drowned in the
Sangamon river, was the tirst teacher in Sugar
Grove; lie was followed liy Daniel ^IcCall; and
he by one ^li-. I'empleman: then dthers came,
and the count was lost.

The first preaching in Sugar (irove was in
I be cabin of lidland (Irani, by one J-Hder Hen-
derson, a preacher of the "Xew Light" faith,
as it was then termed. The New'-Lights and
I he followers of Alexander Campbell afterward
united, forming what was at first denominated
"The Church of the Disciples," but afterward

changed lo "The Cliurc'b id' Christ," sometiincs
called ('am])bidlites. Of this a more extended ac-
count will be gi\cMi iindi'r the head of Religious
l)enominatiiuis. When the settlement was lirsi
begun at Sugar (lro\e. and for some time after,
the nearest ]ibysii-ian was in Springlield. then
a mere \illage. Dr. .\llen of that ])lace was the
first pi'aci it ionei- cd' tlu' healing art that was
lalh'it professionally to visit the community at
the (irove. Not a very great while elapsed.
bowc'M'r, till Itr. Wiini settled near Indian
Point, and began the practice of the profession.
Having thus glanced hastily at the history
of the early sc'tllement of Sugar Grove, we
turn now to other localities where settlements
were nuide in an early day, as New Salem,
two and a half miles iVom Petersburg, up the
Sangamon ri\er: ihe vicinity of Indian i'oint :
and Concord, three miles north of Peter.si/urg.
The Indian Point settlement includes that of
Lebanon and Athens, while that of Now Sa-
lem is connected with Kock Creek. These, with
Clary's and Sugar Grove, before mentioned,
were the most important of the early centers
of civilization: indccul all the others may be
regarded as off-shoots of these. About the year
182(J the settlement at Indian Point began.
The liist wiiito man to take uji his permanent
abode lliei-e was Kobert White, who settled on
the farm on which his grandchildren, John
While and Mary YanEmons now reside, adjoin-
ing the ground on which the Lebanon Cumbi>r-
land Presbyterian church now stands. Witli him
came James Williams, father of Colonel Joiin
Williams, late of S|)ringlield. Illinois, and fam-
ily, consisting of two .sons and four daughters.
.Vrcliibald Kincaid. Jacob Johnston and Dr.
Charles Winn came about the same time, with
those nanieil above, and soon after John lloore
also settled in this vicinity. William H. Short
was also one of the early settlors here. His
son. James Short, now past eighty years of
age, still lives on the farm that his father first
locateil on. These were all i-arnest. intelligent.
enter|irising people, and by their industry and
economy laid the foundation of the success of
that conimunily. 'i'he descendants of those
named above make up the larger part of the
population of Indian creek at the present time.
Indeed wo are not surprised at this when we

PAST AMI I'i;i:sK\T OK MKXAIM) fOlXTY

rt'flei-t that these people held in higii esteem
and regard the divine injunction to "nuiltijilv
and n'j)lenisli the earth." as is proven by tlie
fact that James B. Sliorl ventured no less than
live times into the bonds of matrimony, l^iit.
seriinisly. we s(>I(lom lind a (■ommiinity in wliieh
so many ('nt('r]irising. industrious and success-
I'ul men are associated together; and such a
large jier cent consistent. Christian men. ilosl
ol' these men reared large families and liiey
in turn, following their fathers" footsteps, have
liuilt up a community, noted far and near for
its wealtli. relinement and morality.

.Viiout tlu' year 1820 .losepli Smith, from
Kentucky, and his hrotlu'r-in-law \\'illiam Hol-
land, from Ohio, came and settled in the south
side of the Indian I'oint timber. Mattliew
Kogers. of .\ew York, lamc the .same year
and located one mile northeast of the pres-
ent site of the town of .\thens. From this
time on the stieani of immigrants became so
overflowing that iioihing reliable can be giv-
en with regard to the order of arrival. 11 iv-
ing thus .sketched these three centers of early
settlement — Clary's Grove, Sugar Grove and
Indian Point — we will now turn to the most
imj)ortant locality, so far as early settlement
is concerned, in the county: >.'ew ^Saleln.
This was the first town or village laid out in
the county. At a jioint some two and a half
miles above Petersburg, the Sangamon river
washes the foot of a high hill or bluff whose
precipitous sides and level summit were, in
an early day, covered with a thick and luxuri-
ant growth of timber. The country back from
the crest of the hill is almost |)crfectly level
for miles to the west and formerly the timber
grew dense and heavy for the distance of a
mile or more. From this point the prairie
stretched on westward in unbroken sameness
for several miles. At a distance of perhaps
three miles up the Sangamon the little stream
— for it is liardly worthy of the name of a
creek — of Rock creek mingles its waters with
those of the "St. Gamo," as the Sangamon was
sometimes called by the early settlers. This
little .stream, rising in the western part of the
county and flowing almost due east enters the
Sangamon at almost a right angle. Its bor-
ders on either side were formerly covered for

a distance of a mile or iiuue. north and south,
and for si.\ miles east and west, with a mag-
nificent growth of timber. The land north
and south of K'ock creek is neither level or
hilly liut is gently undulating and the soil is
of the richest and most productive quality.
Taken altogethei-. there is no more attractive
oi' more productive section of country in cen-
tral Illinois than that around h'ock creek and
.New Salem, .lust on the brow of the impos-
ing blulf, described aiiove. was located the vil-
lage of Salem. This locality, though not so
at present, will in time beeonie almost as his-
toric and sacred as ilount N'ernon. Although
Nature has not been so liberal and profuse
in tile gorgoousness of the scenery bestowed
as in that of the Old Dominion, nor is the
(|uiet Sangamon to be comjiared to the ma-
jestic Potomac, yet in numy respects Salem is
as sacred to the lover of human liberty as
Mount ^'ernou in all her historic glory. ^lany
a visitor, from far away, seeks the spot where
President Lincoln sjicnt the days of his early
nuinliood, where he studied law and states-
craft, where he wrestled, romjjcd, raced and
sported with the young men of his age, and
where those principles were imbibed and ma-
tured, which, in after years, made him the idol
of a great nation and inscribed his name on
tablets more enduring than granite, brass or
bronze — the tablets of living, throbbing, lov-
ing, liiiniaii hearts. Standing on the bluff,
near the site of the store where Lincoln served
as clerk, you may gaze oji the Sangamon river
far below you. whieli in the sunshine looks
like a ribbon of silver, as it meanders through
the timber or among the hills: or you may
turn and \ lew the hills and groves where in
years long, long agone. he wandered with .\nna
Kutledge by his side and told her the story
of his love and the devotion of his "great big"
heart. Could these inanimate things have
tongues, what stories they might tell ! As you
stand on the hillside, you look down u])on
the river's bank where once the old watermill
stood. Nothing is there to remind j'ou that
it ever existed save a part of the broken wall
of the old foundation of the mill, and farther
down some rotting timbers, half concealed in
the liMid<. mark the location of the dam, over

I'AS'I' AXl) I'ltHSHXT oF MKN AU'D COlXTV

wliieli llic mad \\aUrs were wnnt to jiDur. and
you almost iiiiagino that, you lu'ar, above the
roar of the waters, the shouts ot' the Clary's
(irove boys as they and "honest Aiie" engage
in some rude sptu't.

Xi)t a vestige is left of the once prosperous
village of Xew Salem to tell where onee it
stood. The mill is long sinee gone; nothing
remains of the dam, save a few blackened tim-
bei's, half buried in the soil; and where the

houses ojici' si I and llie streets ran, bi'UsK

ami briers grow in wild tangles. Not a single
location is pointed out, except the depi'cssion
where the store, in whieh Lincoln sold goods,
onee stood, and out of this old cellar two trees
ha\'e grown — nature's mmuiments, rebuking the
ingratit\ide of man. Xot a sign of human life
oi' laljor is to be seen in liaU' a mile.

Settlements had been made in this neigh-
hiirh<iod several years before the laying out of
Salem, (ireen had settled southwest of thei-e,
whili' .\iiiistrong, Potter, Jones, and others bad
lneaie(l niii far away, with Lloyd and otliers
t'aither up the Rock creek timber. Somewhere,
about 1824 to 1826, John Cameron and James
Kutledge erected a rude and primitive mill
near the site, or perha])s on the very spot, where
the hiter structure stood. A brush and stone
dam was constructed across the river, a breast-
Avbeel was put in and a pair of home-madi>
bulu's were set to grinding corn for the hun-
gry settlers. Xotwithstanding the extreme sim-
plirity (if this mill, it was indeed a "big thing"
in that early day. for mills were so scarce that
people came from a distance of fifty and even
a hundred miles in every direction to h.ave their
grain ground in this mill. Such was the )iat-
ronage given this enterprise, that the |iropri-
ctors decided to lay out a town adjoining the
mill pi'operty. .\ecordingly I be surveyor, Eeu-
fieii Harrison, was employed and on the Ditii
day of tJctober, 1820, the town of Salem was
duly and legally laid out. (See ])lat.)

The llrsl im])rovements in the town wi're
made liy the pniprietors, John Cameron aiuf
.lames Hutledge. Each of them began ■■iiiter-
md improvements" by building an up-to-date
log ealiin. The third building erected was a
storeroom whicii. whi ii completed, was occupied
bv Samuel Hill and .John ArcXaimir. These

wcri', perliaps. the first mercbants in the eoini-
1y. except Harry Kiggiii and A. .V. L'ankin of
.Vthcns. At the time that Salem was laid out
there had never been a postollice in the limits
of what is now Afenard e(ninty, the people get-
ting what liltl(! mail they received from Spring-
tield, then a mere village. A postollice was
at once established in Salem and Colonel Rog-
ers was appointed the first postmaster. His
duties, however, were not very arduous as news-
pajicrs were then scarcely known in the west,
or in the east for that matter, and but few
persons received letters. The youth of lo-day
can scarcely imagine how jieo])le lived in those
days. To illustrate this postal system it may
lie stated that while Illinois County was under
the government of the state of Virginia. Colonel
John Todd was appointcil lieutenant command-
ant of said county, with instructions to report
to Governor Patrick Henry, of Virginia, every
moiitli. and although Todd live(l in Kentucky
yet his reports were often a moiiUi in reaching
(iovernor Henry.

Hill and McNamar were followed in the mer-
cantile business by George Warburton, who soon
became addicted to hard drink and ended a
wretched existence by suicide, throwing himself
in the Sangamon river. Warburton was a
shrewd imsiness man, well educated, and of
a genial, fricndlv turn, so miicli so that he
had but one enemy, and that was "Jolm Barley-
corn." He was succeciled in the store by iv.'O
brothers from \'irginia, by the name of Chris-
man, but they remained only a short lime,
following the "star of empire" toward the west.
About this time W. (i. (ireene. fi-om Kentucky,
and Dr. ,iohn .VUen ami his brother, both from
the Green Mountain slate, came to Salem. Dr.
Allen was a tlnu-cnigh Chi-istian Liciitlcmaii. and
stood very high in the medical pr(d'essi(Ui. Tt
was through the intiuence of |)i-. .Mien thai
the first Sunday-school, and the lirst temper-
ance societies were oi'ganized in the county,
'i'he meetings of both of these were held in a
log cabin that stood across the ra\ine that lains
just south of Salem. Mr. Allen's brother soon
tired of Salem and removed to Minnesota,
wheri' be became very wealthy and dcnditless
long ago has gone to his linal bi>mc. The doc-
tor remained in Salem till it be<;an to m) into

•JO

I'AST AM" i'i;i:si:.\T of .mknai.mi loi ntv

cjeclint' and then reuioved to Petersburg, wliere
he successfully lollowed his profession for uianj'
years, but more tliaii forty years ago he re-
moved where physicians are not in demand.

In the spring of 1831 Abraham Lincoln was
on his way to New Orleans with a tlatboat load-
• il with pork, lard, lieeswa.x, etc.. when the
boat caught on the Salem mill-dam. It was
here tliat the future president performed the
wonderful feat of raising the sunken boat,
liy boring an auger hole in the bottom, thus
letting the water out. (This is an actual fact.)
Ml-. Lincoln was very much pleased with the
country and probably with the people about
Salem, so in the summer or fall of that same
year, on his return from New Orleans, he
sto])]ietl at Salem and that place became his
home for a number of years. It is needless
for us to enter into the story of his life and
experiences here; already the world knows it
Ijy heart. It was here on this now lonely hill
that he sported with the boys of the vicinity;
it was here that he read and pondered over
the dry and musty pages of Blackstone; and
perhaps it was here that those conceptions of
human liberty and human rights were con-
ceived, cultivated, matured and made a part
of his great soul. It was here too that that
other event occurred, which, it may be, influ-
enced his whole after life; his first love epi-
>odf. It was sometime near the time of the
lilack Hawk war that J.Ir. Lincoln was first
pierced by the darts of the cruel little blind
god. Cupid. The "i)eautiful Anna Kutledge,"
as .'^he was called, was just then ripening into
a lovely and perfect womanhood and Lincoln
felt the force, as Lytton says, of "the revolution
that turns all topsy-turvy — the revolution of
love." it has been truthfully said that:

"Love, like death,
Levels all ranks, aiul lays the shepherd's crook
Beside the sceptre."

From the few old citizens who could remember
these events distinctly and especially from old
'•'.Vnnt Jane Berry," a younger sister of .\nna
Rutledgc. I learned luany facts concerning this
event in the life of Mr. Lincoln that are inter-
esting in themselves and go to establish the
truth of the affection between him and Miss
Rutledgc but not of sufficient importance to

be repeated here; sulhce il to say that there
is no doui)i that if she had lived his domestic
history would have been different from what
it was.

Anna Rutledgc was not a beauty in the
iiindcrn sense of that word for brought up in
this rural district and in total ignorance of
the conventional follies of fashionable life, ac-
customed from early childhood to out-door ex-
ercise, and the rough, wild itastimes of the
day in which she lived, she was stamped with
a beauty entirely free from art and human
skill — a beauty all the result of Nature's handi-
work. That the young clerk was captivated is
not surjjrising. It is not our purpose to in-
vade those hallowed j>recincts by describing
their many strolls along the margin of the
river, or over the rugged bluff's in the vicinity
of Salem. Suffice it to say that his affection
was fully reciprocated and the two were doubt-
less pledged in the indissoluble bonds of mutual
love, but in 1835 disease laid its cruel hand on
the young girl and in spite of the love of
friends and the skill of the ablest physicians,
on the 25th of August, 1835. death came to
her relief, and as ilr. Ilerndon has said : "The
heart of Lincoln was buried in the grave of
Anna Rutledge.'' Be this literally true or not,
one thing is sure, from that time a dark sha-
dow seemed to hang over him, from which he
never seemed to emerge. It is said by those
having the means of knowing, that even after
this, whenever o])])ortunity afforded. ].,incoln
would wander alone to the little hillock raised
above her ashes, and sit for hours pondering
in sadne.-;s. doui)tless thinking over the ha|)|)y
hours si)ent with her at Salem, .\otwithstand-
ing his tall, ungainly I'dnii. and the abundance
of his ever-ready humor, there was hidden in
his breast a heart as tender and full of sym-
patiiy as a wduiairs — a licait touched by every
tale of sorrow and full to overflowing with the
milk of human kindne.<s. .\nna Kutledge was
imried at Concord, ihre<' miles north of Peters-
burg, and her remains rested there during all
the e.xeiting days of Mr. Lincoln's political
career, and tliroiii;ji tiie dark and bloody times
of the Civil war; and aftiT he had slept for
vears under the monument at Springfield, Sam-
uel Montgomery, of Petersburg, removed her

I'AS'i' Axn 1'i;ks1':\'|' (H- mi;\ai;ii cdi ntv

■n

n.'iiiains tn Oiikhmil ceinrtcrv. ami iheve they
(|ui(_'lly I'csl with iinly a j;raiiiti' houldcr, one
of the transported relier; of the ghieial period,
niariviny her grave with the siiiipU' words, cut
lieei) into the solid stone. •■Anna li'utledgc."

KAKI.V HXI'EHIKXCES.

'I'lie hoys ami girl> of to-day ean fm-m no
conception of the imonvenieuces ami liardships
of the pioneei's of Illinois, nor do any of us
pet a proper estimate on the woi-tli of the men
anil women who wrouglil out for us the grand
inheritance that we uow eujoy. I feel safe
in saving that no i^i'aiidei- type of men ami
wiimen i'\er li\e(l ihaii those who opened up
the west for settleineut. They were not gen-
erallv educated in hooks — many of them lieing
unalile to read oi- wi-it( — yel they were edu-
cated in that higher' ami -rander sense that a
knowledge of hooks will ne\er enahle one to at-
tain. In rugged Nature's school they leai'ued
not the follies and frailties and vices of so-
ealled fashionahle soeiety, hut they learned the
more suhlime lessons of justice, meny and
lo\e. Ill no perioil of liiunan history were men
more just to their fellow iin'ii. nor was tliei'e
ever a time when pi'ofessing Christian men
wert- moi-e true to the jirofession they had
made. Men wel'e religioiw then, not "fin- i-e\-
enu(> onh." hut from pr'neiple. .Ministers
preached not for tin' money there was in it.
hut for till' glorx' of (hill and from a ^eiise of
diitv and for the good of their fellowmaii.
"The gro\es were (loiTs lirst temples." and
from them arose the imense of true ile\otiiin.
and it was retui-iied in the power of the Holy
Spirit. Men rode eiicuits ol' liundreds of iiiihs,
pri^ailiiiig in the settlers" rude eahins or in the
grovts, sle|)t upon pallet- and lived u]ion the
lioniely fare of the Imspitahle early M-ttler and
reeeived no salary wliale\er. .\t first tlie
houses had no floors, e.xcept the dirt. tram|ied
hard hy many feet; the logs were cut out in
one end of the eahin for a tireplare. with a
chimney liuilt of sticks and plastered over with
mud — called ''cat-and-clay" — wa.s the mean?
for kee|)ing the home warm. Cooking stoves
were unknown foi' main' long years. The young

piople of to-day will wollilei' how the eooking
was done. Meals to tempt the appetite of the
epicure were cooked in those days. Most house-
w'i\es were eipiip|)ei| with a coll'ee-])ot. a frying-
pan and a "llat o\en."" and with these the
iiilinai-y work was done. .\ml such meals as
wei'e looked upon these three simple implements
are unknown at the i)resent day. The cofl'ee-
pol. steaming on a hed of li\id coals on the
hearth, the llat-o\eii. mireil down in coals, the
ti'\ing-pan. held over the lilazing "■fore-stick,"
prodiieed the lorn-dodger, the fried ham (from
hogs falleiieil on the mast) hissing in the pan
and the eoll'ee, with all its rieh aroma retained,
and made a meal that a king might desire.
There i~ no (piestioii that the victuals cooked
III ihi- wa\ and on these primitive utensils had
a I'ieliei' Ihnor than any of the produets of
the present time, luit in the early days it was
a serious uiatler to keep the family supplied
with liread-stulV. When Menard eoiinty was
lirst settled the settlers were ohliged to go to
l']dwarilsville. in Madison county, for m(>al or
Hour, or make some other shift, ami as no
wheat wa- raised at lii'st. cornmeal was the
staple. In the late summer and early fall they
had reeoiii'se to the --grilter." as the grater was
imiversall\ called. l''.\ci'y tin vessel was care-
fully |)resei'\cd and ripped up to make this
essential article of domestic use. This piece
of tin was punched full of holes, hont into the
form of ,'i gutter and nailed to a hoard, with
the rough side out. and the ears of corn, just
after hardeinng from the roasting-ear state, or
at other times, after hroiling the corn on the
coh till siitlicicntly soft, the corn was grated
oil' in the form of meal hy ruhhing the ear up
and down on ihe ••gritter." .And this was no
])lay. as the writer can aver fnuii sad experi-
ence. It was a daily joh. which gave notice to
all in the immediate vicinity hy its "gratinfi;"
sound, that lircad was on the way. .\nil our
motliers knew just how to make this bread; and
hetter or more healthful hread was never eaten
hy man. But in this case man did. indeed,
"eat his hread hv the sweat of his brow." The
writer well rememhers. when a little boy, bear-
ing an old man from Tennessee, who had spent
manv davs digging ginsan<:. say that be hoped
the time would soon come when he would never

I'AST A\i> im;i:sk\t nr mi:\ \i;ii coiat^-

more hear ■"tlii' souiiil of a ^'ritltT. or tin' twan^'
of a sang-lioe." By and by water mills wt'rc
liuilt on tlic streams, and these fiirnislicd eorii-
iiieal for tlie peoj)le, Init it was a uiimlier of
years before wheat was ground and lloiii- was
bolted in these mills. And this firings to mind
a story told to the writer by Benjamin F. Ir-
wiu, of Pleasant Plains, more than thirty years
ago, and it was written down in a diary at the
time. Mr. Irwin said the story was told to him
by the Eev. John M. Berry, the pioneer Cum-
luM-land Presbyterian preacher of this part of
Illinois, and he voiu-hed for the lit<'ral truth of
the entire narrative. Mr. P>ei-i-y would not give
the names, but be knew the story was Hue.
A party owned and operated a flouring mill on
one of the .streams in this vii-inity. lie was
a devout Christian uuin, honest and lienevolent
in all bis relations to his fellownjen. For
some time he tlinugbt tliat some one was taking
.small amounts of tiour froTu the chest almost
every week. T^'ing convinced of the fact, he
dcteruiinrd to watili and see if he co.dd not
trap the intruder. So one night he conc-ealed
himself under tiie iiolting-chest and ]iatiently
awaited developments. Sure enough, it was
not long till a man entereil the mill and walked
hesitatingly to the chest. .\ moment's ])ause
and tlie intruder kneeled down beside thi' Hour
chest and in a low. but t'arnest, voice began
to jiray. Astonished beyond measure at such
seemingly contradictory conduct, the miller pa-
tiently listened to the jjrayer. In low and
trembling tones he l)egged the Lord lo forgive
him for what he was about to do. lie told the
.Vlmighty how he had tried to get work — how
his wife and little ones were hungering for
bread. His jileading prayer linished, he arose,
and taking a small amount of Hour in a .sack
which lie carried, he started to leave the mill,
but wlien be reached the door the miller called
him by name, -for he had recognized him from
the first, and started toward him. The in-
truder made no elfort to escape, r.s a real Ibief
would have done, but luiiied and faced the
miller. He told the miller the conditions at his
home an<l also .said that he lia<l taken small
amounts of flour l)efore. The iniller made him
go to the chest and (ill his sack, and after some
conversation tliey separateil and each went to

hi- biiuii'. 'I'liese uien bad been intimate
friends before this oceurreiu-e, each having con-
lidence in the honesty and integrity of the
other; nor did this break tiieir friendship, but
rather cemented it. The intruder and the mil-
ler continued to live in that neighborhood for
many years; the former, through industry and
economy, pros])ered in wordly things and was
respected and honored by all who knew bim
as an honest Cliristian citizen, nor did the
iniller ever disclose his visitor's name, and the
parties to the occurrence were never named.

The iieojile were far more sociable in those
days than thi'V are at the |u-esent time. They
were (iitirc'ly satislied if they could serure suf-
liiiciit food and l)e comfortably clothed in their
^impl(■ liome.~|iun attire. Then the ulijecl was
III li\c and enjoy the blessings of life: now the
aim is to got rich and live a selfish, unsocial
life. (Il'lcu line neighbor wiuild biteb up bis
yoke of steers to the lumbering farm wagon^-if
be had one: if not, a sled would do. even in the
summer — put in some home-made, split-bottom
chairs for the older women, crowd in the whole
I'amilv and drive several miles to stay all night
and have a good time. Then the hoste-SS. be-
side the eornbread and the savory bacon, Avould
bring out the crab-apple ])reserves (made with
honey) and the pumpkin pies, and they would
feast like lords. Perhaps there was but one
room, which served as kitchen, dining-room,
parliir and bed-chamber, but when bed time
laiiie till' good housewife, not in the least con-
fiiM'd. pnieeedeil to |)re]iare for the comfortable
rest of all. "Pallets" wi're made mi the floor
of ipiilts and luilfalo roiics and bear skins, and
sunn the floor was almost conqiletely covered
with a mass of bumanity, sleeping as sweetly as
if on beds of ilii\ui. This picture is not in the
li^ist over-drawn. I'm' such scenes were of con-
stant occurrenre. nor should anyone infer from
this that there was any want of refinement on
(he part of the people, for ]uirer society never
existed anywhere than among the pioneers of
this whole coiintrv.

i;\i;i.^' 'MM. M.S.
The early .•settlers of Illinois — and Jlenard
county as much as any other jiart — were sub-

I'AS'i' AM* im;i:sk\'1' ok .mi.;\ai;ii corx'i'v

•?:?

jci-ti'il to illi uuti)lil Nariiiy (if lri:ils iuiil iii-
cDiiveniciiccs. Xot mily ilic lalior roniu'cti'd
uilli n|icniii.u lai'iiis. rican'njz I'dim'sIs. rrocting
(Kvclliiiiis. Imililino- liridgi's and hijilnvays, l)ut
a iiWiit varirty of other aiinovaiicrs wore met
(111 cvrrv liaml. \\r spiikc in aiidtln'i- |ilacc of
llu' ti'oulilc ill very early times ol' securing meal
anil tlour ami of the ever annoying "gritter."'
as well as the waul nf implcmciils ami mai-liin-
ery with wliieh to cultivate the snil : the wooden
mole-liiiard plow, the sickle, and later the
scytlii' and iradlc. with which tlu' harvests were
reaped, and the flail for heatJiig out the grain,
and hitci' the more expeditions and more scien-
tilic inelhod of ti-amping it (uit with horses;
and then, last lint not least, the interesting
means li\ which the grain was separated t'ynwi
the chalV. Two shuit iiii'ii wnuhl catch a ciiin-
mon lied-slieet hy tlie corners and whih' a tliii'd
]ioured the grain, chart' and all from an elevated
piisitiiiii. the winnowers A\ould fan nut the (half
with the sheet. After going over it three t>v
four times in this way. the uraiii would he fairly
well separated from the chall'. The making nf
elothing — spoken of more at length in another
place — was an annoying hut essential part of
the lionsehold duties. In \('i'y early timc^ in
Mciiard c(iuiii\ c'lttdii was raiseil O' eoiisicler-
ahle extent, while tlax was al.-o cultivated, and
e\cry tainily raised sheep as extensively as the
wiiKi'S would permit. .Ml of these ai'ticles
were carded hy liand hy the women of the fam-
ily. The flax was grown in the fields, pulled
hy hand, watered, hrokeii. skutched and then
spnn on the little wheel. The writer reinem-
liers distinctly to-day that wlien he awoke in
the trundle lied, in the late hoiii's <if the night,
he would oftt'n hear tlu' swish of thi' cards as
his widowed mother, prompted hy matei'iial
love, would ply those cards — often lill the hour
of midnight — in or<ler tci clothe her fatherless
children. .Ah, little dn uc realize the price
onr pai-cuts paid I'm- the priceless heritage that
we enjoy. We will never know the privation,
sacrifice, anxiety and toil that they endured in
order that we niiglit he what we are. Wo hoast
of what we have done in the growth and devel-
opment of this country, forgetting what our
mothers and grandmothers in their home-spun
attire anil loving sim|ilicity, accomplished in the

way of making our success possihle. We are
sometimes almost ashamed at the tlioiight of
the want 111' lelinemeiit and rough exterior of
our fathers, forgetting that it was their fore-
sight and rugiicd philosophy that laid the solid
I'liuiiilatiim. deep diiwn on the solid hed-rock,
"f all thai We are and hojie to he, materially,
morally and intellectually. Tliev it was wlio
made possihle all that we are and all that we
expect til he. One \cry prolilic source of trou-
hle and (lillicully to tln' eaidy pioneers was the
pie\alcnce of disease of certain t\pes that pre-
\ailed in early times. I will name hut two of
these: hiliims and malai-ial fevers, the latter
taking the I'orui of ague, as it wa> eiimiiinidv
called, or chills and lc\er. Smiie callcil this
diead disease thi' "shakes." There was a \ast
amiiiini nf decaying vegetalinn. I'spcciallv in
ilie fall nf the year, and the vast areas of un-
drained swamps and lagoons that hred a niias-
matic piiisoii which Idled the air with its ])oisou-
ous hreath. True, it was not so often fatal,
iiiit it was a li\ing death — a long drawn-out
aiiiiiiy that left just t'liough of life to realize
the liitterncss of disease. One of the most ter-
rilile features of it was its universal prevalence
at some seasons of the year. Whole families
won Id he down, so tliat one was not aiile to
give another a drink of water, and entire coni-
munities would he in this condition for weeks.
if iKit mouths, at a lime, .\fter it had preyed
upon its suhject for a lime, the liver would he-
come enlarged, the ahdomeu would assume un-
\Minteil dimensions, the whnle per.son would
li(c-anie liloated and a sickly sallow would |ier-
\ade all the saddonetl features. In many cases,
in seeming mockery, it would assume the form
of "the e\ery-other-day agcr," or the "third (hiy
ager," and return at its ap|>ointed time, as un-
erringly as the jilanels in their course. At the
appointed minute the premonitory pains wotih]
liegin to shoot u|) the hack, the sallow victim
would then hegin to ga|>e and yawn and the
rigors of (he ]iolar zones would seize his frame
and then for from one to two hours the demon
of malaria would seem to strive to shake each
separate joint apart. Then came the raging
fever, the torturing licadache and at last the
disgusting sweat, as the sufferer reached once
more, the temperate zone, between the horrid

I'AST AMI I'RRSEXT t)F MHXAlf!) Col N TV

experience? tliat he liml just iiasscd througli.
Then the "well day" came, with il* ravenous,
unnatural ap|)etite, deiuandinj; all that reason
or eoniniou seuf^e would forbid. At first, before
the physician came with his pill-bags, tlie rem-
edies were "yarbs and teas," prescribed by every
one, but later on same "Sappington's Pills,
Fowler's Solution and Quinine." No mortal
man. wiio never had "the chills,"' can form any
just conception of its agony. Sot sick enough
to be abed but a few hours at a time, yet filled
with agony, comjjared to which l)eing confined
to bed would be a solace and relief. Some
jjoetaster, who knew the agony of the "ager,"
has parodied "Poe"s l{a\en"" as follows:

And to-day. tlie swallows flitting
Eound my cabin, sec mc 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 1 am too thin and siUlow
To make sluidows on the floor —

Xary shadow any more.

But as the prairies were broken, the i)()iids
drained and the amount of stock increased to
eat out the vegetation, the ague diminished
until at last it left, to return no more, we tru.st
forever.

Till': DEFl' S.\()\V.

One of the most consi)icuous chronological
landmarks in the history of Menard county, and
of all central Illinois for thai matter, is the
"Winter of the Deep Snow.'" Old settlers, in
fixing remote dates, use this as the average
mother uses the birth of her children ; she says.
"It was the spring that John was liorn." and
the old settler says. "It was just after the deep
<now." M the old settlers' annual meetings
they have badges that are worn by all who were
here before 1S.30. which are in.scrilicd "Snow
Rird."' In the year 1830 it rained for several
davs in succession just before Christmas, and
on Christmas day. as some say. and the day
after, as others ]n\t it. it began to snow. The
snow fell so rapidly that in a few hours there

«a> a ijrpih of six inches nn the ground, but
it did Milt cease to fail with this, but continued
to fall till at the very least three feet had
fallen. Some claim that there was more tiian
this, not a few jilaeing it at four feet, but the
most conservative estimate it at three feet on a
level all over the country, .\fter this snow had
fallen there came a rain and this, freezing on
the snow, formed a crust that would liear the
weight of a num. After this other snow fell,
adding to the depth. President Sturtevant, of
Illinois College, who was here at the time, says
that as soon as tlie snow had fallen it turned
very cold and thai for two weeks the mercury
never rose higher than twelve degrees below
zero. The ground was entirely covered from
that time till the latter i)art of March. The
settlers would break roads with ox-teams, but
the snow would blow in and again they had to
be broken. This process ])acked the snow in
the roads till it formed a verital)le ridge, and
these ridges remained after the snow elsewhere
was all gone. The writer heard one old pioneer
say that these ridges remained and after the
snow was gone from the ]n'airies they looked
like silver threads winding across the country.
The snow was so deep tlial it covered ii]) the
food that the wild aninuils were accustiuned
to subsist on and thousands of them perished.
The crust on the snow was strong enough to
bear up a man, and the wolves and other like
animals could travel in safety on its surface,
Intt the deer were not so fortunate. .\s they
run by a succession of leaps and their hoofs
iieing hard and sharp, just so soon as they
started to run they bnike through the crust and
thus they lay helpless on the snow. On this
account the deer were nearly all killed, for the
dogs and wolves soon learned that as soon as
the deer started to r\in they would break
through and then they were an easy prey. The
.settlers ex|)erienced terribly hard times dur-
ing that winter on account of the fact that the
snow came so early that they were caught with
their crojis ungathered and they were in many
ways unprepared for tlie winter, .\nother trou-
ble was the scarcity of mills in the country.
Many were from forty to sixty miles from the
nearest mill. and. of course, it was impossible to
go that distance for breadstuff. .\p a conse-

PAST AND iM!i:si;\'r (IK Mi:\Ai;i) cdi \■|■^

<|iii'nri' iill kinds "T r.\|ii'(lii'iits \\r\v rt'sorletl
In. 'I'lic iiii'vitablf "iiritlcT" wiis calli'd into
constant list' Mini lyc-li(iiiiin\ was a siaiiilai'il
article ill cvcrv lioinc. The i;aiiie perislieil in
such iiiiiiiliers that it was never as [deiitifiil
al'terwaril. I'nl'ortiiiuitcly, the wihl iiaiiie was
licit Ihe niily thing tliat perished. Duriiii;- this
w inter tu(i men who resided near the soiitli lino
of wliat is imw Mciiard cnuiity perished in tile
snow. William Saxtoii started out huntiiiii, and,
not I'et inning, the neighhors made search for
him. lull tailed to liiid him. The iie.xt spring
]\\< liddx and that el' his horses were found
within a mile nt hi> home, .lolin Rariiott started
after a wolt while the snow ^l'as falling, hut he
did not return. Search was made for liim. hut
lie was not found. Tlie next s))ring the body
of Barnett and that of his horse and dog wer(>
found forty miles from the point from which
he started. It was snpposed that the falling
snow hliiidcd and hewilderi'd him. and. losing
]\\< hearings, he rushed on till his horse gave
<mt and horse and dog and man perished to-
gether. On IJock creek li\f(l an old haelu'lor
liy the name of Stout, no relati in to any of the
Stouts there now, however, who jicrislierl in the
snow, sonicwiicre near when' I'leasaiit I'Inins
now stands.

Pages might he writti ii of the stories told
liy old pioneers of the privation and suffering of
that winter. There is no douht that it was the
most severe winter that has ever heen known
since the country was settled. The snow at
three feet deep would ha\e heep nothing re-
markable in the I'ast. but it was iinknow'n to
the peo])le here, and, besidi' this, they were un-
prepared for such conditions, and the country
being new it is no wonder that there was great
inconvenience and suffering. It must have
hteii a reiuarkalile time, to mark a period that
still stands as a chronological nioiuiment, mark-
ing a ])eriod of time so abidingly as not to be
erased bv vears.

THE SUDDE.X ([lANMJE.

The Indians had a tradition, which they told
to the early settlers of Illinois, that many,
many winters before the paleface came to make

his home here, that there was a winter of ter-
rible snlTering in all this region on account of
tlie deep snow and the long continued cold.
They relalerl ihal early in the fall the snow
liegan to fall and there were no warm davs to
eau.se it to melt, hut every few days fresh snows
would fall, and thus it continued to grow
deeper and ileeper until, as they said, it was
deeper than the height of the tallest man. .\s
a eonse(|uence, the game was nearly all starved
or frozen to death and many of the Indians per-
ished from iMihl and hunger. Tbi- earlv settlers
noticed on the tall hills in the prairies there
were vast number of bull'alo and deer bones in
an a(l\aiici'd stage of decay. The Indians ex-
plained this by saying thai during that winter.
as the snow grew deeper in the low ground and
being blown oil' ihe liigbei- ground, the game
retreated to those s|iots of high ground and
perished then' from want of food and the in-
tense cold. It appears that tlieie are periods
when the elements are "out of joint'"; times
when the influence of the planets or of sun-
spots, oi' something else, brings about strange
and disastrous etfects. Such was the case "the
winter of the deep snow" — the winter of 18;?0-
;>!. The deep snow began to fall between
t'hristmas and the \ew "^'ear. It is a little re-
markaljle that th(> "sudden change" was at the
same season of the year. On the 20th day of
Deceniber, IS^fi, the sudden change came. The
weather up to this time had lieen mild and
pleasant. There had been but little snow and
no severe cold had been experienced. The
giound was frozen to the depth of three or
four inches. On thai nioining, Deceniiier 20th,
some time liefoi'e iioou. ii began to i-ain and
continued to rain till after noon. The rain
came from Ihi' northeast, and between twelve
and one o'clock p. in. a very ilark cloud aj)-
peared. low down in the northeast, and as it
came nearer a rumbling, roaring sound eould
be heard. ;iiid in a few moments a strong wind
swept over the woods and prairies and the cold
liecame at once intense. Perha])S a more sud-
den change was never exjierieneed in this lati-
tude. Chickens and geese had their feet caught
in the suddenly congealed mud and water and
later hail to be cut out and their feet released
by thawing them out at the fire. Facts con-

I'AS'l' AMI I'l.'KSKXT nF MKXAI.'lt i(»r.\TY

cfniiiig tliis clninge, as told \>\ men ul' un-
doubted veracity, are almost beyond belief.
Alexander ironljioiuerv, of Greeuvicw. gives
the following account, as told by his father,
who tlieii lived where H. II. Marbold now re-
sides. West of the liouse is a low piece of
ground which had l)een filled by the rain to the
depth of eight or ten inches. West of this
slough ^Ir. ^lontgomery had a lot of calves in
a pen, and realizing the intensity of the cold
he started as soon as the change began to feed
them. He waded across the slough, the water
being almost to his boottops. and fed the calves
as quickly as he could, and returned, as he said,
in less than twenty minutes, and when he re-
turned he crossed the slough on solid ice. Eev.
Josiah Porter, of Chatham, Illinois, was at that
time a traveling evangelist and traveled over a
large territory of Illinois. lie relates a cir-
cumstance that occurred in the v.-est part of
Douglas county, near the corner of Piatt and
Moultrie counties. Two men, brothers, by the
name of Deeds, started out to cut a beof-irec,
which they had found in the fall, and were
overtaken by the cold of this sudden change.
Not returning home, a search was instituted,
l)ut they were not discovered for nearly two
weeks, when they were found frozen to death
some three miles from their home. -Vndrew
Heredith. who was formerly a merchant, miller
and pork-j)acker in Cincinnati, having met with
reverses, came to Illinois to retrieve his for-
tune. He settled in Sangamon county, about
three miles west of T.oami, near Lick creek, and
called the place ilillville. He bought wheat
and made flour, but seeing, as he thought, an
opening for great wealth, he began buying hogs
and driving them to the St. Louis market. His
first ventures were very successful, so he de-
cided to Venture on a larger scale. So in the
fall of 183() he bought up a drove of twelve or
fifteen hundred hogs and in December he
started to drive them to St. Louis. By the
20th of December he had reached the prairie
of Macoupin county. He had taken with him
a number of wagons and teams for the purpose
of hauling corn to feed the hogs on the way.
As soon as the corn was fed out of a wagon
it was utilized in hauling those hogs which
were giving out. When the storm struck them

.Mr. Heredith at oiu-e realized its severity, and
calling ail the men to his aid they overturned
the wagons and replacing the lieds upon them
they entered iheiii and drove as rapidly as pos-
sible to the nearest residence, which, fortu-
nately, was not far away. When they reached
the farmhouse their clothing was frozen solid
upon them and the men had their hands and
firt and ears frozen. The hogs erowiled to-
gether in order to keep warm, and as the cold
grew more severe they literally piled up in
piles, and as a result those in the center smoth-
ered and those on the outside froze to death.
Tho.^e that did not die outright scattered over
the prairies and finally perished. Jlr. Heredith
returned home as soon as the state of the
weather would permit, but the loss had broken
his spirit ami he piiieil away and in a year or
two died.

James 11. llildnth and a 3'oung man iiy the
name of Frame started to Chicago on horseback
and by the 20th of December they reached the
region of Hickory creek, a tributary of the
Iroquois river. Here the storm struck them.
They wandered about till night overtook tnem
and. seeing that they were doomed to jierish,
they killed one of their horses and. removing
the entrails, they crawled into the carcass and
remained there till about midnight, when the
animal heat having been exhausted, they came
out, determined to kill the other horse and
utilize it in the .same way, but in their be-
numlied condition the knife was dropped and
could not be found. They stood around the
living horse till two or three o'clock in the
morning, when Frame became drowsy and Hil-
dreth was unable to keep him awake and he
sank down and was soon beyond all human suf-
fering. As soon as light came Hildrctb mount-
ed the remaining horse and after wamlering for
hours reaeheil a cabin, where the inhuman
wretch wIki inhabited it refused him aid. He
finally recovered, with the loss of his hands
and feet, and reared a family, the descendants
of whom now live in I.,ogan and DeWitt coun-
ties. Henry and John live in Logan, and his
daughter Sarah, (Mrs. William Weedman)
lives in Farmer City. I can not leave this
story without stating another fact in connec-
tion with it. The wretch who refused ^fr.

I'AS'l' AM) I'KESENT OV .MKNAIID (Ol NTV

llildrcth nitl in liis dire extroiiiity \v;is nniiicd
Kcnjiiniiii K'\is;;. Tlic ^tory cd' liis inlumiau
inMlmcnl of llildrrlli liciiiu' lircuhiti'd in tlio
scttk'nicnt. ihc ire of the liuncsl ])ioni'ois wns
aroiisod and tliev "athcrod to deal out sum-
mary justice, lint in some wa\' he u'lit wiiul of
what was in stori' fur liim and lied to more
eonfjenial climes and was seen there no more.
Many nthcr mid e(|Ually I'eniarkalile incidents
of tile sudden cluuiuc liave I eeii tohl the writer
hy men of nndoidiled veracity, hut tlie ahove
will serve to ^ive an idea of its >uddennc>s and
severity. Jt was the opinion of many t)f those
who experienced this storm that it traveled at
a i-ate of at letist seventy miles pc|- liniii-.

II, Ml. STiiKAl OF IS.Vi.
At irrejiidar intcr\als ol' lime slranji'e and re-
markahle meteorolo^dcal plu'iiomeiia occur for
which nil line can account — whether they are
caused hy sun-spots or planetary relations, no
one can tell, for some continue hut a few hours,
while others last through an entire season.
The Inilians have a tradition of a winter, per-
haps in the lirst half of the oit;hteenth century,
which far surpassed anything known since the
jialcfiKe canie west of the Ohio river. It was
undouhtedly confined to the west. I'm if it
had extended to the east we would ha\e had a
record of it hy the white man. The winter
of 1S;30-;51 was rcmarkahle for its severity and
the de|)th of the snow, and it has loni; heen
a chronolojiical landmark and old settlers count
time from '"Ihe winter of the dee]) snow": an-
iither wa.- the awful ■■.-uildeii chanfje" on the
•.'iith of December, 1836; and still later the de-
-iructive freeze on the ".'Tth day of .\uirust.
ISii;!. which man\' jicrsmi-- nnw lixiiii: still
distinctly remember. The corn, which was just
in jiond roastini^-ear. was frozen hard and all
creation literally stunk with the rottinj; vegeta-
tion, init the event that I am going to relate
was confined to very narrow limits, it is the
hail storm of JFay the 2;th. ls.-)(l. it was
eonlinecl to Menard county, lieing oidv seven
miles wide and only ten or twelve miles in
Icmiih. Greenview and Sweetwater were near
the center of its destructive power. The day —
^Fav ?7. IS.^n — had heen extremelv warm for

that time of ihe year. Late in the afternoon
a cloud ai)i)eared in the northwest and came u|)
very rapidly. It was. perhaps, iielween live and
six o'clock in the afternoon when the storm
broke. It came with a very high wind and the
rain fell in a jierfect tmrent, accompanied by
a hail storm such as was never witnessed before
hy those who ex])erieneed it. In fact, the state-
ments made by the must relialile men in the
county at the time, and in which they all agree,
are almost beyond belief. The hail stones were
large — many nf them largei- than a hen's egg —
and they fell in such vast (piantities that they
lay to a depth of a foot at least on the level
prairies. Mlilei' \\'illiam Engle, a man of un-
impeached veracity, told the writer that he and
Uncle David Propst gathered the hail stones
thirty-eight days aftei' they fell and made ice
watei' of them to driidv. This is literally true.
as will lie explained further on. 'i'he hail stones
were so large and came with such driving force
from ilieii- momentum ami the force of the
wind that it is strange that nuicli greater dam-
age was nnt done. Many hogs and calves were
killed outright, while all the ])oultry which was
not under shelter suffered a similar fate. 'I'iie
wild birds, rabbits and other small animals in
the i-ange of the storm were entirely extermi-
nated. It is a fact, authenticated beyond dis-
|iute. that a large amount of timber, especially
white oak. was killed. 'J'he leaves and smaller
limbs were licaten off, the Itark on the side next
the stiirni was peeled off, and scores of trees
two feet and two feet six inches .in diameter
wei-e killed and stood for years as silent but
unimpeachable witnesses of the .severity of tlie
storm. The crops were a total wreck, being
beaten into the earth. Corn, wheat, oafs and
even grass were a total loss. .\ Mr. Leach, then
li\ing near Greenview, was a mile or two from
home on horseback and was caught in the storm,
and being some distance from shelter he .soon
realized that unless he got protection in .some
way he would assuredly jierish. So, as (juickly
as |)ossible, he dismounted and ungirthing the
saddle he ])iit it over his head as a helmet. He
told the writer, thirty years ago, that even with
this jirotection he thought that he would as-
snredlv lie killed. Now and then a stone of
unusual size would strike the saddle with such

PAST AM

KSKXT OF MKXAIM) Corx'l'V

force a:< to stagjitT him and cause him to see
whole constelhitious of stars. Tiie rain wliich
Tell witli the liail. together wii'u the melting
hail stones, produced such a torrent of water
that tlie small streams were soon raging floods.
By these the hail was, in places, piled up to
a depth of ten ami lifteen feet. Grove creek, in
Sugar Grove, became a raging river, piling up
the hail in vast heajis and in many cases cover-
ing ii over with leaves and trash till a perfect
ice-house was constructed. It was from one of
tliese that Engle and l*ropst, on the -Ith of July
— thirty-eight days after the storm — got ice
with which to make icewater for the people who
were gathered together not far away to cele-
brate the birthday of our independence. We
have in this story a lint' illustration of the si)irit
of "grit, gum])tion and go-aheaditiveness" of
our ancestors. With tlie lields as hare as in the
midst of winter, the season's lalior all destroyed,
with the crojjs all beaten into the ground and
tl'.e winter soon to come, with biting, bitter
blasts — with all this they gather together to
spend a day in soc-ial converse, to renew ac-
(luaintance and to cultivate the spirit of patri-
otic devotion to God and native land. Ah. that
is what has made this land what it is to-day I
We boast what we have done, but we forget that
that class of men and women who preceded us
— our fathers and mothers — are the force that
made this country what it is to-day, I verily
believe that the world has never known so
grand a race of men and women as the pioneers
of these western states. They come of the best
stock of the world. Out of every nation on
earth, there came to this country the most lib-
erty-loving, the most independent, the bravest,
the most self-reliant and determined people
ever known, and by amalgamation and training
they produced our fathers and mothers, who
drove out the wild beasts, subdued the wild
])rairies and forests, laid the foundations of
education and of moral and religious training,
leaving to us this glorious heritage that we pos-
sess, ilany of them were not educated in books,
or in the fashions and follies of some classes of
social life, but they had that higher and nobler
development of head and heart, that fitted them
to the plant, the germs of which, under God,
have grown into this, the grandest and greatest

nation on earth. Will we preserve what they
left to us? Hut 1 have gotten olf the track. In
my imagination I can see the people at that
celebration. Uncle ''Bill" Engle was a promi-
nent figure among them. True, the crops were
ruined and the prospect for the coining winter
was a littli' dark, but what good would fore-
bodings and repinings do? ] see him, with his
kindly face and portly form, as he tried to
liieiM- up his disheartened neighbors and friends.
With words of encouragement and cheer, he
admonished them to look on the bright side
and then, with an appro|>riate story, the whole
com|)any would be put in a good humor and,
forgetting their troubles, all would go "merry
as a marriage bell." .\s 1 s])oke of "rncle
Bill" telling stories, 1 should explain that he
was an expert story-teller. Like- Lincoln, ho
had an exhaustle.-^s store of "yarns" and anec-
dotes and no one eould surpass him in telling
them. Out of thai vast store he could always
find one just suited to the occasion, and when
he tiild a story he enterecl into the spirit of it
as he preached — that is, with bis whole soul,
lie and the nuirtyred jn'esident, .Vbraham Lin-
coln, had many a tilt at spinning yarns during
the terms of court in Petersburg. If the old
"Menard House" had the power of speech it
could entertain for days and weeks, repeating
the unnumbered ''good ones" that were told
when Lincoln, Engle and other home and im-
ported talent spent an evening at that old-time
hostelry. Not only the evenings were passed in
this way. but I have it from the very best
authority of the time that on one occasion at
!i ast. when 'Tncle Bill" had met a foenuin
"worthy of his steel," the battle raged, with
varying fortune, until the rising of the sun
and even then the referees were compelled to
declare it a "draw." Elder William Engle was
a very rennirkable man in many respects and
left his impress upon all the enterprises of this
county, an impress which will last for years
to come. He performed a very important part
in the development of the resources of the
county: he also aided largely in the elevation of
social life, and to him we owe a lasting debt
of gratitude |'(ir the part he played in shaping
till' moral and i-elii.'ious seutinu'nt of the |>eo-
pie.

i'.\si- ANh i'i;i:si:.\T of mkxaiih ((tl\T^

2i)

.MAN.NKliS AM) ( TS'IOMS.

'J'lu' yuuiif; iiu'ii and women of to-day liave
no fonet'ptidii ol' \hv mode of life among the
early settlers of the eoiiiitiy and wliiii the story
is tnilhfidly told they eaii scaieeiy l)elievc it.
It is iiiir iilijcit ill this e]ia|iter to jjive a verv
liricf luit alisdlutely true aectnint i\\' this. We
fee! thai the tiiiu' will imt lie lust in doiiij; this,
as the lesson will Ik' m \aliuilile and inst nietive
Dlie One eaii seaieeU iiiiaL;iiie hnw so i;reat
a ehaiige eoilld have taken plaee in the spaee of
sixty to eighty-live years, and when the simple
and truthful story is heard hy our young peo-
ple they will hold in higher esteem their grand-
fathers and grandmothers who hore those trials
and tlifdugh them secured the rich heritage
that we enjoy to-day. It will also lead them to
hdlil in higiier isteeni those unpolished and
iincultivatrd people wliiim they have Ijec'ii dis-
posed to look down upon. In nothing are the
liahils. manners and customs of the people like
what they were seventy or eighty vears ago.
We are at a lo.ss where to liegin so as to give
the youth of the present anything like a just
idea of thi- matter. The diet, the clothing, the
dwellings, the social customs — in fact, every-
thing ha.s undergone a eom|ilcte revolution. We
sijoke hefore of the "three-faced camp" in
which some of the early .settlers lived, and it
may he truthfully .said that the dwellings in
which the pioneers lived for a niiinl)er of years
were hut slightly in advance of these. The
house was invariahly huilt of logs, the spaces
hetwecn the logs heing (illed with smaller pieces
of wood, called chinks, and then danhed over
with mortar made of clay. I f the floor was anv-
thing more than the earth tramped hard and
smooth, it was made of puncheons — that is, logs
were split and one side was smoothed off with
an ax and these laid down for a floor. The
openings between these ])uncheons were often
so large that the cats could pass in and out
tlirough them. The top of the cahin was drawn
in, after the fashion of a l)oy's quail trap, and
on the poles on top. elaphoards. or. as the
yankees called them shakes, were laid on, and
weight-poles laid on them to keep them in
place. For a fireplace the logs were cut out of
one side of the wall, six or einht feet wide, and

the hack and sides of this were limit up o| logs,
niak.ng an otfset in the wall somewhat like a
modern hay-win<low. and this was lined with
mud — or stone, if it could he had — and served
as a lireplace. The eliimney was huilt of sticks,
over which a thick coating of mud was spread,
to keep them from taking lire. This was called
a "cat and clay" chimney and was the only kind
in use I'oi- a great many years. The door was
also made hy cutting out logs, making an open-
ing of the desired size, and the shutter was
made of ltoar<ls pinned to crosspieecs (for nails
coulil not le had lor several years after the
Krst settlements were made), and this was
hung on wooden hinges. The door was fas-
tened hy a woollen latch, which caught in a
W()od<Mi hook on the inside. .V hole was bored
in the door above the latch, and a buckskin
string was fastened to the latch and passed
through this hole, so that to open the door from
the outside all you had to do was to ptdl the
string and this would lift the latch out of the
iiook and the iloor would oj)en. To lock the

il ■ at night ail that was necessary was to

pull the string in. When the lateh-string hung
through the hole anyoiu' could open the door

t'r the outside. This gave the idea of the

expression of hospitality by .saying "the latch-
string hangs out." We describe this thus mi-
nutely that the young people may under^tanil
this expression : "the latch-string is out."' Tiie
furniture in the hou.<e was on a par with tiie
house itself. A few home-made, split-iiotlonu'd
chairs: a short bench or two: a bedstead (in
common u^r) made hy driving a fork in one
corner of the cahin. about six feet from the
wall and the desired height for the bed. then
poles ran to each wall from this fork, and
boards placed across made the frame of the
bed. lliindreds of t liesc "scaffold beds" were in
usi'. The very early settlers had no kitchen,
but the articles for cooking were as few and
sim])le as the furniture. .\ "tlat-oven" or skil-
let, a frying-])an, an iron pot or kettle, and oc-
casionally a coffee-pot conii)leted the outfit in
this de])artmeiit of the liest fixed cabins. Stoves
wei-e then and for many years later entirely un-
known, hence the cooking was done entirely on
the fireplace. The flat-oven was set on a bed
of glowing coals, and the frugal housewife.

I'AST AMI n.-KSKXT mK \||:\ \1;1i ((HN-IV

taking a;; iiiucli stitl' dough ol Indian meal as
she could conveuiently hold in both hands, and
deftly tossing it from hand to iiand to mold it
into the desired shajH', tossed it into tlie oven,
patting it witii her ham! to the desired thick-
ness. Aliout tliree of these "ilodgers" fdled tlie
oven, wiu'u tlie ready-heated lid was placed uiiou
the oven anil the whole eoxcred with glowing
coals. As soon as the l)read was done it was
taken from tiie oven and jdaeed upon a tin
plattei- and set on the lu'arth near the lire to
keep warm, (ienerally the i)rints of the lingers
of the cook wi're plainly visible on every dodger.
In the oven from which the bread was taken
the ham or venison was then fried and, in the
fall of the year especially, the "lye-honiiny,"
made of Indian corn, was seasoned in the grease
tried out of the meat. Thus the repast was
preiJared and sweeter liread or more savory
meats were never eaten than were jirepared on
those rude fireplaces. .\s to sweetmeats and
confections, they were things entirely unknown.
Sugar was entii-ely unknown, save in sections
where sugar-maple abounded, bnt nearly all
of the pioneers had an abundance of the liuesl
honey the year around, for the wild honey-bee
existed in great abundance wherever there was
timbcT. Sometimes wild grapes, wild crabs and
berries of various kinds were preserved in
honey, but these were only opened when tiie
l)reacher visited or on some other great occa-
sion. For many years after the settlements
were made, wheat bread was entirely unknown.
from the fact that there were no mills in the
country which were provided with facilities for
grinding the wlicat or bolting the flour. In
all the new settlements means of preparing
grain for liread were matters of the very first
concern. As already said, most, or we might
say all, of the jdoneers settled in the tind)er
and at almost every cat)in a large stumj) or
block of wood set on end was dug or burned out
into the form of a mortar, and a "spring-pole"
with a heavy block of wood, in the form of a
pestle, was suspended above this mortar, and
in this the corn was pounded into meal. But a
small amount of corn was put in the mortar at
a time, and when this was reduced to meal, by
working this pestle uji and down, then another
small amount was put in. and so on till the re-

ipiirrd amount was ground. 1 ins laborious
task was to be repeated as often as the meals
were to be eaten, but the process was so slow-
that in a large family the jiestle must go almost
incessantly or some of them would be placed
on short rations. So important a matter was
this of breadstuff that it overshadowed all
others. To illustrate this we state the unde-
niable fact that the lirst "milling" done for the
settlement of Sugar (irove was done by John
.Icnnison and .lames Meadows. These two men
wi'iit in a canoe down the Sangamon to the
Illinois river and then to the Mississippi, to
.\llon. and there got a canoe-load of breailstuif
and bnuight. it to Sugar (irove, i-onsiiming
twenty-one days in the trip. Think of this I
What hiliors were performed and what trials
i'IkIiiiciI bv our fatlu'l's and mothers to make
this roiintry what it is. Can we ever pay the
delil of gratitude that we owe them!' Hveii
after those primitive mills were built — even
aftei' the Salem mill was built — tlu'rc was great
trouble oxer the matter of somethinir of which
til ma]\e bread. The Salem mill, built by Cam-
eron and Kulleilge, though looked upon by the
people as a marvtd of mechanical skill and in-
genuity, was incapable of ovi-rcoming all of
these troubles. In those days the owners of
mills made a rule like barbers have at the pres-
ent time — that is, that each one should take
his turn. Persons would take a grist of one
or two bushels of corn to mill and they must
wail till it was gi-oiinil. Keliable men of Tal-
lula told the writer that in the days of the old
band-mill at I'etersliurg that they went there
I'roni Clary's (irovi — only eight miles — and
using their utmost diligt'iiee it was midiiiglit of
the ninth day when they returned with tlieii'
grinding. It was many years before the mills
of the country could jirovide the facilities for
making Hour, and there are people still living
who remember the lime when the children
longed for Sunday to come, not from any spirit
of devotion or reverence for the day, but be-
cause they thought that they would have "cake"
for breakfast Sunday morning. By "cake" they
meant simjile wheat brt'ail or biscuits.

.Vmong the ])ioneers everything was, of neces-
sity, ])lain, simple and in conformity with the
strictest economv. This was true not otdv of

I'. VST \\ii i"i;i;si:\T ok mi:\\i;|) ((hn'iv 31

lln'ir (Iwrlliiiiis. riii'iiiliii'c ami |iro\ isioiis, hut tlrs. ^irowiii;:: as lliick as wliral, aii<l three and
of ilirir clotliiii';' as well. In the \er\ early. lour f( et hi^li. .Miei- these were killed hv tlie
early days, tiie men usually wow |iaiits ami frost and rotted hy the j-lenients, Ihey produeed
hiintinii-shirts of huekskin ami caps of nioii or a lint as stroni;- as tlax, hut much lighter nnd
I'ox skin, wliilr hoth men and women elolhed liiii'r. This linl would hleaeh almost to snowv
their I'eet in nioeeasins. Colloii good.s were whiteness and it luul more the apiiearanee of
then extremely hard to liet, for two reasons: silk than of eotton. Tliousands of yard.s were
lirsl. hei-anse of the ureat dislanee that ihey had \\ii\en and woiii hy tin- pioneers. Mrs. .Tanu's
lo he transported hy ]iri\ate means: and, see- .Meadows, of Sii<;ar (Jrove, actually spun and
ond. heeause the inanufaetui'e in this eountry wo\c thirty yards of this nettle cloth one sea-
was Very limited, almost all of >uch iioods he- sini. I5nt cMii alter the rultivation of lla\ anil
ing nianufaetiircd in luiiope. As a rrsuli the the introduction of (piitc a nuniher of sheep, the
pioneer (d' the wrst rminil ihis one of thr \rv\ matter of clothing was the niost l'oriuidal)le dif-
hardcst demands to nu^ct. Many wrvr the e\- licidty in the way. The task of raising the flax
pedicnls de\ iscd liy 1 hem. cspi'eia lly liy llie fi-u- oi- hemp, of cutting, rotting, hreaking, hackling,
gal and anxiiuis \\i\e> and inotlirrs, for e\ei' skuirhing. spinning and weaving it was an
since the wonilerful expedient of prejiaring an ilerenlean task : or raising the sheep, protecting
entire wardrohe from lig leax'es, de\iseil ipnte a them from the wolves, shearing llicin and then
numhei' of years hack, woman has heeii \ery -pinning and weaving the wool into cloth re-
gifted in laying plans and de\ising expedients ipiired a \ast amount of lahor. Then, aftei' all
in the matter of dress: hnl. iin fori iinalcdy. for this, garmeins were to he cut and nnnle, and
her skill and industry, ihi' eoiinli'y alfoi'ded -ocks and stockings were to he knit liv han<l
nothing for ihi' lirst few years of its oeeupaiicv for all the family. What a taskl We wonder
that could he tuiaied to much account in tin- thai our inolhiis did not desjiair, and they
direction. If cotton had heen planled when wmdd had the fashions heen then as now, hut
th(>y first came, it could not ha\e heen much to a halloon IVame was not tiien to lie covered in
their ad\antage. heeause of the fact that neither hy the skirt of the di-ess. Skirts were not wide
the soil nor the climate were adapted to its then as now. On a certain occasion, under the
cultivation and the seasons were so slun-f that old '•hlnc> laus" of Connecticut, a young lady
it had to he planted so very early foi' ii lo ma- was hauhil hefore the niagisliale. charged with
tuie that it coidd not he gotten in in lime in Jumping the hrook on the Sahhalh. which of-
-iiHieient (piantity to justify its eult'\ation. feiise. if she were |)roven guilty, would suhjeet
And it was almost useless t<i take she 'p into her to a luMvy line. The girl's mother came
ihcse frontier settli'inents on account id' the into court on the day of trial and testified that
nuniher of prairie, lilack and gray wolves, lor her danghter was piously on her way to church.
ihey would destroy an entire lloek in a single and coming to the hrook, on account of the mir-
nighl. Hence the ]ieoplc had to choose hctween rowness of her skirts, she was obliged (o .jump
adopting exp<'dicnts and going forth in "na- or step in the water. Our young gcntlenu'n of
lure's light and airy garli." so in a year or two the present, who have dressed in the very lu'st
the settlers adojitcd the expedient of sowing cNcr since they could renu'inhev. woidd he sur-
erops of hemp and Max. and this the women prised and shocked at the scanty oiitlit of the
soon learned to inanufactnre hy hand into a hoys of that day. The summer wear of the hoys
coarse hut good and coinfortalile linen. Hut np to ten ami twelve years of age was very
these practical and ohserving pionce-s also ap- simide and free from any clfort at display, for
]iealed to nature in tlicii' need and this good it eonsisted of a long tow-linen shirt, "only
dame is sekloiu applied to in vain. In various this and nothing more." With this indispcnsa-
localities in central Illinois, when the country lile and convenient article they explored the for-
was 'first settled, there were vast areas covered ests. traversed the prairies, thought about the
with wild nettles. Sometimes there would be girls and built as many castles in the air as the
two or three acres together, covered with net- bovs of more favorable times and more con-

:!-^

I'AST \\n rUKSKXT OF :\| KXA l.'I i (dlXTV

ventioiiiil wanlrobes. In tin- wiiitor tliev were
^;u]l]ll■l■(l with lnukskin or tow-linen pants, nioe-
la.siiis or raw-hide shoes, and coats of jeans
after tliey began to raise sheep. This scarcity
of clothino; continued for at least two decades,
or even more. In summer time nearly every
one, both male and female, went barefoot and
it was nothini^ uncommon to see vounir ladies
of the best families (your i;randniot]ier, pcr-
liaps, dear reader) on their way to church on
foot, carrying their shoes in their hand till
near the place of worship, when, carefullv
i)rushing the dust from their feet, they dcmned
tl-.eir stockings and shoes and (juictly mingled
with the throng. This continued to be com-
mon for nearly twenty years. After sheep could
be protecti'd from the wolves the people fared
better in the matter of clothing. Flannel and
linsey were worn by the wonun and children
and jeans was woven for tlic men. For want
of other and more suitable dye-stuffs, the wool
for the jeans was almost invariably colored with
the shoots of the walnut, hence the inevitalilo
"butternut" worn so extensively in the west
for so many years. As a matter of course, each
family liad to do its own s])iiining and weaving,
and for a long term of years all the wool had
to be carded by hand on a little pair of cards
not more than five by ten indies, l-lach familv
had its S|)inning-wheels. little and l)ig reel,
winding-blades, warping l)ars. made by driving
[>ins into the wall of the liouse on the outside at
some place where there was no door in the way.
and their wooden loom. These were indis-
])ensable articles in almost every home, and
during tiie fall of the year the merry whirr of
the wheel ami the regular "bat bat" of the loom
was heard to a late hour of the night. Well
does the writrr remember, when a little bov. as
he lav in the "trundle bed" at night, of beinsr
aroused from sltep, far on to midnight, of hear-
ing the "swish swish" of the cards as his wid-
owed mother by the light of a few coals on the
hearth was carding wool to make cloth to clothe
her fatherless children. And it was truly won-
derful to see the jiatterns of colors woven m
the dress flannels and the counterjianes of those
times. A.« a general thing the shoe.s worn by
the entire family were made at home and mostiv
during the long evenings of the fall and winter.

It therefore happened that .-^ome of the family

"oiild have to wait till

"The frost was on the pumpkin
-Vud till' fodder in the shock"

before their feet were clad. We renu'nd)er boys,
who afterward achieved both wealth and dis-
tinction, who never got their shoes till well on
to Chri.stnuis. but they went to school, if there
was any. and played with the other boys in
their bare feet. \o .-jcene can be iuuigined that
is more full of rial happiness than the home of
the |)ioneer, when in the evening all are en-
gaged in their work. .\ bright fii-e burns on th(>
wide heartli and the ruddy flame leaps far up
ihi' wooden ebiinney. affording the only, bn;
sutlicient. light in the room. Tn one corner sits
the father, busily engaged in making shoes;
the mother at her little wheel hums a time in
low harmony with its steady whirr, while in
fi-ont of the am|)le fireplace the daughter trips
uimlily hack and forth, drawing out the long
woolen threads, while the wheel, seeming to par-
take of the general ha|)piness, swells out its
musical whir-r-r. which swells and dies awav
in regular and harmonious cadence: the
younger members of the household engaged in
some absorbing pastime, all undisturbed bv a
single discordant note.

Boots were unknown for many vears and
many of the old men never owned a pair in all
their lives while none of tie younger ones were
fortunate enough to boast the possession of
boots till they reached manhood. Boys of fif-
teen to eighteen years of ago ne\er thought of
wearing anything on their feet except for three
or four months in the winter, while the num-
ber who were not so fortunate as to get them
in winter was by no means small. Boys and
men often went to church without .«hoes or
stockings, but what would the people of today
think of the minister who would ]»ropose to
come before his audience barefooted? This
may never have occurred in Illinois, yet it did
ill -nine of the older states and possibly here.
The writer was intimately acquainted when a
boy with two old ministers, both of whom died
at an extreme old age long years ago, who often
spoke of jireaching in their younger davs in
their bare feet. They began preaching in Ten-

PAST Wli IMM'iSI'-.XT (»|' .Mi;\.\i;|i (dl \TV 33

lic'~,>(.'.' iinil wcic iiirii 'if fill- iiiiiri' lliaii uiiliiiary dl' tlir cniiU- mikI iiicoii\ciiiciil niiaiiH of inukillg

aliiliiy; in lail. \\v have licard many sunnons, a livinu' i-ould be given. Imi llic aliove will suf-

n liiii'ly rn-scocil i-luirflics, by t-lassii-al scholars; lice, .\iuitl all this the jieople were ha|)|)y, coii-

iIii^xmI in liroailcloth. which were not worthy tented and social)le. While it is true that there

111' riiin)iai isdii, :ii any rcsperl. with the ser- were some wicked and had men among them,

nions preached hy tl.i'se men. Several tin\es yet it is also true that there were never more

ilu'y s])oke ol' preachini; on a certain occasion, consistent, raithl'ul and devoted Christian jieo-

uliiii ',!;i'y were yoiuiL; men. in a [iiivate cabin, pie (ban anmni;- the early jiioneers. Society

ibi' loft or icilinL;' ot which was very low, and. was never [Hirer, virtue never more esteemed, or

line 111' the |ii-eacliers, bi'iiii;- a \ery tall man. a honor held more sacrecl than amonji; them. It

puucbion was taken up in the llimr. so thai be was nut then the objcci cd' e\ery man to get

might stand in this opening, his bead thus be- rich. The social i|ualities were never more

ing below the loft. This being in the summer highly cultivated than in those limes. We do

time, and liie region lieing infested with rattle- not mean the ciinvenlimial fnllies and deceitful

snakes, the speaker .-^oon felt a thrill ul' awful customs of latei- times, but true and un-

hoi'ror convulse his frame as the ihmighl, unvarnished social friendshi]). 'I'he o.\-wagon

llasluil aci'iiss Ills mind that perhaps lie stood or sled wiiuld be bitched up and the entire

in the midst nf these unwelcome companions. family, from the aged grand|iarents to tlie in-

()f course, under these circumstanci's. th(> ser- fant in arms, and all th(^ "intermediate grades,"

mon was not |iaini'nll\ long. We ai'c fullv would pile into this family coach and they

aware of the ini^rcdulity with which the abo\p would drive several miles ]ierhaps to "stay till

and similar stories will be rei-eived bv the nuis.~ bi'd tinu'" with soni(> neighbor, or perluips to re-

of the present generation, but we write facts. main oxei' ni^lit. and at bed time the tloor of

such things as we believe are absoluieU true. lb e lonm would be covered with "pallets"'

and wc> have not a shadow of doubt of ihe lit- and all would retire, in modest sim]ilicity and

eral truili of the story related abo\c. These true decorum. Young gentlemen and ladies,

facts should be recorded, for none .d' the present these were youi- ancestors, who. amid all these

generation have the faintest idea of the changes trials aiid with unceasing toil, subdued this

that have taken place in the last .-;eventv-five bind and laid the broatl and solid foundation

or eighty years. If the next eighty years should for all the untold blessings, social, civil, cduea-

be as prodnetivi> of cIuhilic as the past eiMJitv tional and reliudous. that you now enjoy. Wc

(and the prnbabililx is that it will be much are mil "buildini; the tombs of the prophets."

greater), who can imagine the state of affairs but we say. witboul fear of successful contra-

in that time? Tbi' lool- and agricultural im- diction, that no grander, truer or more noble

plcmcnts were all on a par with the thinus we generation of mt'ii and women ever lived tiian

have named. The ground was bidken up with a the pioneers of these western states. 'I'iiey laid

one-horse wooden mold-board plow and the I be foundation of all that we are or can ever

corn cultivated with a hoc and a bull-tniiLine hope id be. and this fact shoidd be recorded

]ildw. The ^n-dund was markeil dif. Imtli wa\s. and be i-emendiered in all the years to come and

with a liull-tonguc, and the cdi-n droppeil bv be impressed dn tin- minds of all who are to

band and covei'ed with a hoe. in plowing corn. c(nne aftt'r us.

they had to go tbi'ee nr fdui- limes belween the

rdws. Wlual. oats, rye. etc., wei-e cut by hand

with a sickle, threshed with a thiil and win- 111 Hi All i »N.

iidwed by hand. Oven wire prineipallv used, Ivlueatidu is the best protector of hcaltli.

often six and seven yoke were seen hitched to the source of the greatest production of crops,

the |)low, breaking up the prairies. Thev were the richest sonrie of social enjoyment and the

often worked singly for ])k)wing corn an<l siin- cheapest defense of the nation. Enligiitcned

ilar work, but space forl)ids further detail in nations have I'ver been struggling for ednca-

this direction. Scores of similar illustrations tion, hut in the early settling of tliis country.

3-1

PAST AM) ri!i:si;.\T of mexakd colxty

the ojjportiinitic'!? of cdiication were very poor
indeed. Tliey were as poor in Illinois as in any
other part of the whole country because the
people were poor, the settlements were sparse
and (nialified teachers Avere not always at hand.
Beside this, money was so scarce that it was
impossil)le to build suitable schoolhouses, but
in the face of all this tlie people were deter-
mined that their diildren should not jio en-
tirely untaught. So eomniunities joined to-
gether and erected log houses, at central points.
in which to have school. For the benefit of this
and coming generations, let me describe some-
what in detail one of these primitive schools
and I j)romise you that 1 will not overdraw
the picture in the least. The house was built
of logs, generally vmliewu. hewn puncheons
made the floor, and the roof was made of "clap-
boards," split nut of oak. laid on logs, and held
in their pbu'c by "weight-poles." tliat is. logs
laid on the boards and ])rnpped with "knees"
to keep them from rolling off. In one end the
logs were cut out for a sjjace of six feet, in
which space a fireplace was constructed of rmlc
or dirt, and a cliimney was luiilt of sticks, plas-
tered over with mud, called "cat-and-clay." On
one side, nearly the entire length of the build-
ing, two logs were "halved-out," for a win low
and just below this, two-inch auger-holes wwe
bored and a slab or |ilauk was laid on them for
a writing-desk. .\t ibi' first, greased paper
was fastened over this opening, in lieu of win-
dow glass. The seats were made of split logs,
smoothed a little on the s]ilit side, and four
two-inch auger-holes were bored into them on
the rounding side and .small saplings driven
into them. f<u' legs. It was very rare that more
than three of these legs touched the floor at
once. There being no l)acks to them and they
being so tall, it was a serious job for p little
fellow to iiioiint one of tbrin : it was like a
tender-foot tackling a ijuckiug broncho, and by
the time the day was over the little fellow was
worn out with the struggle, for schools "took
up" at S A. yi and "let out" at -"i P. M. The
books used were the Testament, the Kntrlish
Reader, or Pleasing Companion, Pike's .\ritb-
metic, 'Murray's or Kirkbam's Grammar and
the old blue-liacked spelling book. Most be-
ginners were furnished a "horn-book" — a

wooden paddle witli the alphabet pasted on it.
Tlie aspiring teacher visited the families in a
given neighborhood with a subscription paper,
which usually began: "This article of agree-
ment, entered into this day between A

B , i)arty of the first part and the annexed

subscribers of the second ])art, witnesseth. The
said party of the first part proposes teaching
a common school for the term of one quarter,
or GO days, etc., etc." Then the branches to
be taught were named, the price, two dollars
per term, and other retpiirements on the part
of the jiatrons were named, and the deed was
done. It took a year for a child to learn the
al]ibabet : they first taught the child to repeat
the letters by I'ote Mild to recognize them at
sight : then they began to spell, ab, eb, ib, ob,
ub. then ba. be. I)i. Iw. t)u, by. But arithmetic
was well taught as was grammar. The games
and amusements were much the same then as
they are now. The boys knew nothing then of
towiiliall. !)asebMll or rootball as it is )ilayed
now. but tiiey had o'.ie game of ball which, for
I'eal fun, skill and healthful exercise, was su-
])erior to any of the ball games of the present
day. They called it "i)ull-pen." Running.
junijiing and wrestling were sports which were
engaged in every noon, with a zest and earnest-
ness which sent the rich young blood b(uinding
through the veins, like an electric current.
One braueh was taught with better pract'cal
results than it is at the present time, notwith-
standing our increased facilities and advant-
ages. That braueh is spelling. It is not be-
cause of any lack of opportunities, but l)eeause
mcu'c pride was taken in spelling and because
more attention was given to it. The sessions,
both in the forenoon and afternoon, were
closed by the entire school lined up and en-
gaging in a spelling-lesson. On Friday after-
noons the school would select two captains and
they would cast lot for first choice and then
choose alternately, until all were chosen. Then
two came on the floor and when one missed a
woril anil the otlier s])elled it, the defeated one
went to his seat and the next on his side took
his place, and so on till one side was defeated.
In the winter season they had spelling schools
at night, one a week. By these methods great
enthusiasMi was arousc'd. and as a result a great

I'AST AM) n;i:si:.\-|' hf mi;\ai;|) < nrxTv

iiuinv buys ami ^Ivh bctaiiie most cxwllout
spulk-rs. AiiioiiiT the early teachers of Menard
county wrrc many men of no mean gifts and
amonu the last of the teachers under the old
suhseriiition plan, may be mentioned, with
honor, ilinter Graham, John Tice, Clayl)orn
Hall and Augustus K. Higgin. (See History
Menard lounty, pp. 252-4.) After the intro-
duction of our new and admirable system of
jiublic schools, the work of education advanced
very rapidly. I'hc county never had a teach-
ers" institute or county normal till the summer
of 1S78, wJien it enrolled about forty pupils
and continued for a term of six weeks and did
academic work. These six-wteki normals con-
tinued for nine years, when the term v.as
abridged, livery district in the county has a
mat and com foi table schoolhouse, emjiloys
lirst class teachers and continues the school
from seven to nine months. Let us look at
some statistics: There are in the ruunty:
niales. under twenty-one years of age, three
thousand one hundred and nineteen: females,
two tlioiisanil nine bundi'ed and t went v-four ;
total, six thousand and forty-three. Between
six and twenty-one: niales, two thousand two
hundred and twenty-two: females, two thou-
sand and ninety-four; total, foui' thousand
three hundred and sixtei'ii. Xumber of graded
schools, eleven; ungraded, forty-nine; tutal,
sixty. .Number of rooms used in graded
schools, thirty-eight: rooms in ungraded
schools, forty-nine: total, eighty-seven. Total
number of tlays attended, foui- hundred and
ejexuii Ihiuisand two Inindrei! and fifty-five.
Average wages paid to male teachers, sixtv-
ciglit dollars and eighty-eight cents: to females,
forty-five dollars and twenty-one cents; whole
amount paid to teachers, thirty-seven thousand
nini' hundred and five dollars and thirty-seven
cents. Whole amount expended for schools,
eighty-eiglit thousand eight hundred and sixty-
seven dollars and fifty cents. The city of
IVtersburg is now (.August, 1!)()4) exjiending
eighteen thousand dollars on a new high-school
building, with every modern appliance, con-
venience and comfort, and it is to lu' hoped that
such wisdom and care will he used by the peo-
ple in selecting a school boartl that this great
ex]ienditure will not be lost. Hinldings and

furniture and ajiparatus arc essentials, but the
item above all others is a teacher with com-
mon-sense, education and "'up-to-date." We
have the buildings, the apparatus, the andiition,
anil our children have the brains: will we give
them the bcsi directing power? Menard was
the fourth county in the state to adopt a course
of study — "llie teachers went down into their
pockets an<l paid for it." The "State Course
of Study" has now become so perfected that
the work of the whole county can be sys-
tMiiMti/.eil and perfected in sueli way as to have
all the schools do the same work and do it in
tlie same way. If parents will give their
eaiiiest co-operation to the officers and teach-
ers, no dilliculty will be experienced in making
the schools all that we could desire them to
be. We u ill give a brief account of the Peters-
burg school. After laborious and painstaking
search, we find it a settled fact that Charles H.
Waldo, a brotber-in-biw of .lolin Bennett, Esip.
mentioned as one of the early settlers and busi-
ness men of the town, was the teacher of the
lirsi school in I'ctersburg. This was in ls:!T
and it was taught in a log cabin in the south
part i>( the town. .\ year or two after this, a
small frame schoolhouse was ])ut up west of
the town, oil the brow of the hill, near the
"old I ir. .Mien place." It stood out in the
hriisli, with a winding path leading to it. In
this pi-imitive temple of learning the youth of
the |)eriod laid the foundation and learned —
to shoot pajier wads — until 18.")5. when the town
purchased a building from the Masonic fra-
ternity, which they had ii.^ed as a hall, and
changed it into a schoolhouse. and in it opened
a free school. Hinging its doors open to all,
rich and poor alike. It scents sonunvhat
strange. I)ut it is absolutely true, that although
the common .school law was passed in ISIT the
first free school in this place was not taught
till 1855. I'p lo this time the old sub.scrip-
tion schools were the only kind in Petersburg.
About the year 1845 or 184(1 the Masons started
a school in the lower story of their liall for the
benefit of their children and engaged W. .\.
Dickey as teacher. The attendance was not
limitcil to their own children, others lieing
admitted upon certain conditions. This con-
tinued until it was bnuLdit bv the (own. as

I'AST AM> ri;KSK.\T (»1 Mi;\ Al.'h (orN-i-v

nolKLcl iihow. Al'liT its |)urchase au aUditiou
was l)uilt to it, making a large and commodious
school liuilding. which answered all the needs
of the town till 1874, when the present third
ward school building was begun. This was
pushed with such energ}- that by February,
1875, it was ready for use. This is a brick
Iniilding, of si.x rooms, w'ith modern ventila-
tion, heating, etc. It was built at a cost of
ten thousand dollars. Tiie first free school
was taught by Judge .1. H. Pillsbury, in ]S55
and 1856. The following is a list of principals,
in regular rotation, from Pillsbury down:
J. II. Pillsbury, 1855-56; John Dorsey. 1856-
57; Edward Laning, 1857-58; J. H. Best,
1858 to 1860; A. Bixby, 1860-61; W. Taylor,
1861-62; Edward Laning, 1862-63; M. P.
Hartley, 1863-61: \V. Taylor, 1864-65; C. E.
McDoiigall. 1865-6G: .1. A. Pinkeiton and J.
II. Pillsl)urv, 1866-6:; W . 11. Berry, 1867-69;
C. H. Crandall, 1869-70; Professor Maylield,
1870-71: M. C. Connelly, 1871-76; C. L. Hat-
field, 1876-77; J. A. Johnson, 1877-78; M. C.
Connelly, 1878-79 ; then came Briggs, JIcBride,
Frank Hall, ilanni.v, Perrin. Meeker and then
the present principal, or rather superintendent,
H. E. Waits. Mr. Waits began his work here
last September and is offered as fine an oppor-
ttmity as any nuin ever had to prove his ability.
For a miniber of years past the school has been
in a sad state of decline, having fallen into
ruts of a quarter of a century ago. We spend
money enough and have a patronage which, not
only in numbers but also in ability, is equal to
any anywhere and we have a right to demand
the best in our schools. We want men and
women of natural ability and educational train-
ing to conduct our schools. There is a popular
custom, found almost everywhere, that is a
great detriment to our ischools, and that is the
custom of em|tloying "home talent." It is all
right to emj)loy home teachers, provided they
are as well qualified in every way as any others,
but we cannot afford nor can our children
afford to have our school system made a 'chari-
table institution." Oiir children have but one
time, of a few years, to prepare for the work
of life. Directors and patrons should appre-
ciate this fact and secure the best opportuni-
ties for them that can be had. The people

should e.\erci.se the greatest care in the elec-
tion of school boards, as only a few men ai-e
adapted to the work that they have to do.

Aljout 1890 or 1891 a new and modern
schoolhouse was built in the first ward. This
is a brick building, with all modern appliances,
having seven rooms, furnace, etc. It cost about
twelve thousand dollars. A high school, with
primary room, library room, etc. was built some
years ago, at a cost of four thousand dollars,
l)ut this was torn away in the spring of 1904
to give place to the new high school building,
whicli will be occujiied the first of January,
I'.Hi.'j. This house cost eighteen thousand dol-
lars and is up to date in every feature. Be-
side tlie class-rooms, cloak-rooms, etc., it has a
gymnasium for boys and one for girls, labora-
tory, ami in fact everything that could be de-
sired in a perfect school-building. Will wr
now have a school such as the town has a right
to demand? It is now "up to" the board and
the superintendent to decide this matter.

AVe have in ilenard county four towns that
have a regular high-school course of three or
four years. These are Peterssburg, Athens,
Greenview and Tallula; and several which
teacJi the high-school branches, but what we
need most is a system of township high-schools.
The combination of country schools is the
rational solution of tlie rural school question.
Let .'our or more districts be consolidated into
one. i)uildiug a large schoolhouse in a central
place, and the problem is solved. By doing
this the school can be graded in such a way that
no teacher will have more than half, one third
or one fourth as many grades as the country
teacher now has. In this way each teacher will
lie able to care for more than twice as many
pui)ils as under the present method and will
be able to do the work much better. This
would reduce the number of teachers, at least
one half, or more, and the number of rooms
the same, thus reducing the running expenses
at least one half. The matter of difficulty of
attendance, on account of the increased dis-
tance that some will he obliged to go, is the
chief and. In fact, almost the only argument
against it, but this has been tried in many
|)laees and found to be a very weak objection.
It is a fact that, as a rule, the pupils farthest

PAST AND i'i;i;si:.\r (ik mk\ai;i) ( (U n'iy

I'rmii tlif R-hoolhouse arc tardy and absent the
least. Where pupils are near the school no
provisions are made to <jet tlieni tliere, wliilc
in eases where ihiv are a distance away pro-
visions are made and. as a result, they attend
ri'<,ndariy. This ]>ian. instead of increasing
I lie expenses ol' tJie schools over wliat tliey are
under tlu' ])resent system, would materially re-
duce theiu. Hut suppose it increa;;ed them
i\\cnt\-li\e or lil'ty per cent, it would still he
a sa\iui: to thi^ pidilie in aeueral. because the
majority of )iarents. at this time, desire to
uive their children a hiph-scliool course, at
least, as their iiiliri' iMlucation or to prei)aro
them for i-olle<;e. When we take into consid-
eration the amount of money spent by the
farmers, in board and tuition, in sending their
chihlren to liigh-sehool, and then reflect that
tin's ran be done at home, by the proposed sys-
tem, we are able to see what an immense saving
there would be in it. Township high-schools
are coming and they arc coming to stay, and
the sooner we pre|iare for tlieni the better olf
we will be. Before scliool boards sficnd any
more money in building new schoolhouses or
in iTpairing old ones, they had better weigh
this matter and act the part of wisdom and
economy. The time has come for the people
to exercise common sense in respect to this
(picstion. We spend millions of dollars every
year in this matter of education ; why not
economize and get all the good for our money
that we can. It is within our reach to ]ilace
within the grasp of every boy and girl of the
land, the means of securing an academic educa-
tion. 'I'here are scattered all over this country
thousands of poor boys and girls who long and
hunger for an education : boys and girls who,
if tliey had the opportiniity. would nial« their
mark in the world: and shall we not place this
boon within tlnir iea<b ? liow man}' Kdisons
and 'J'eslas and harwius and .\gassiz in em-
bryo are stretching out their hands to ns and
pleading for the o|)portinn'ty to succeed! Shall
we not heed the call ?

lu ISTii the public schools, having run down
or iclrograded, in Petersburg, several public-
-pirited citizens determined to provide some
better edu<alioiial advantages for the voung

peojde (d' the town. 'J'o this end John A.
Brahm. Isaac While. II. W. Montgomery. David
i'liuk.'lion. .1. M. IJ.J.Inii- and R. V. Mont-
gomeiy l'orni((l a Joint-stock <-ompany and
erected a building on the hill, some half mile
west (d' the public s(|uare. for the purpose of
having a "good scluxd." The building cost
three thousand seven iitnnlreil ami lifty dollars
and the school was opened un<li r the name of
■"Till' Petersburg Seminary." .\s seen from
the above fact-:, it was a private and individual
cnterpiise and the rite charged was thirty-six
dollars per pupil, lor a term of nine months.
The lirst year id' the new seminary. W. S. Ben-
nett aiul .Miss M. .\. ('am])ln'll were employed
as teachers. The pali'oiiage was not what the
projectors had hoped lor liul they continiii'd
to ciiuduci ilie institution. The second year
D. M. I'.one aixl Miss M. P. Itaincy were the
teachers. Let inc remark just here, parenthet-
ically, as a matter of deep interest to all our
lady readers, and especially the "school-
marms.'' that both of these principal- man-ied
the assi.stants. Whether this fact led to the
position of assistant being much sought after
by vming lady teachers or not wc are not in-
I'oriudl. but there was no trouble in securing
lady teachers after this. This seminary was
continued for two more years and then the en-
ti'rpri.se was abandoiu'd. Whether the in-
creased I'Hieiency id' the puiilic schools was the
cause of this or not we cannot say, but at any
rate the school closed The directors sold the
building, which has ever since been used as a
dwelling bouse, and ^Irs. Kaeliel Frackelton
bought the ground and erected a residence
upon it. This is the only elTort ever made in
the county to build up a school of a higher
grade, except the one at Indian Point. Nearly,
or (piite fifty years ago an academy was or-
ganized at that |)lace. which was very succe.ss-
I'ld for a nnmber of years. Pev. .\. J. Strain
was princi])al <d' that schoi>l and it was well at-
tended and the work done would compare fa-
voraldy with the work of any school, of similar
grade, in the country, but after a few years it
went down and since that time the two rooms
of the building have been occui)icd by the dis-
trict, which employs two teachers all the time.

As'i' AND i'i;i;sK.\T OF Mi;\ \i;ii corxT^-

Some iiiisrortuiioj have i-dhu' to .-I'luiol Imilil-
ings in Jlcnard coiintv in the last year Imt
tliey have jiroved blessings in the end. |)inini:
the winter of IDOa-O-t the sehoolhouse at
Athens Inirned to the ground, destroying the
I'liniiliiii' and Imoks, niajis. ete. They, how-
ever, had a fair aiiimmt of insui-aiiee and at
onec preiiared to rehiiild. They o]iened tlie New
^'ear. 1!)0."). in one of tiie most conniindious.
convenient and up-to-datie buildings in tht>
entire county. Tlie Iniildiug burned was get-
ting old and was somewhat old-fashioned any
way, so that getting the insurance, and adding
a comparatively snuill amount, ihey have a
new and modern building, which Ihey wmild
have been obliged to Iniild wiihin a short
lime.

Tallula added two most eleganl rooms to
ihcir already conuuodious building in the fall

of 1!U)-1. The I- ir- added ai'e absolutely pei-

feet, so far as light, ventilation and comfort
are concerned. It cost consideraldc money but
it will be a ]iaying investment in tlie long
run.

Oakford. also, felt the cducalional inspira-
tion and added two moius to its already com-
fortable sehoolhouse. In fact all over the coun-
ty the spirit of iniprii\cment in educational
advantages has been felt and results are visible
on every hand, retersbnrg. with her new
eighteen thousand dnHai' high siIkihI building.
with gymnasium, laboratory, lii)rary. etc., and
a score of rither evidences of advancement, tells
the treiul of pulilic feeling. Will not the pco-
]ile arouse to a sense of their needs and their
opportunities and at once liegin to agitate the
<|uestion of township high schools or of neigh-
borhood high schools, it does not nuitter which?
Districts have the right under the law to com-
liinc in any way that they please, for the good
of tlie schools. Four, six, or any numlier of
schools may conil)ine, that may see lit, under
the township high school law or nndor the
general school law. and the ilirectors liave the
right to dictate the l)ranches that they wish
taught. Distance is the only argument against
this, and this will disa]ipear when it is care-
fully investigated and inf|uiied into.

K.\i;i,\ I III i;i iiKs.

Xcitu ithstanding all the toils and ti'ials in-
eideiii to the settlement of a new country, and
uuiriy rough ami vicious men who come into
them, it is a fad that the teachings of the
Christian reliiiinn were felt and realized in
the most remote and sparsely settled settle-
ments. What a rcbid<e, too, is given to the
ministers of the |u'csenl time, by the self-
sacrificing devotion and arduous toil of those
men who first |ilantcd the standard of the Cross
of Christ in the spai'selx settled froiiliers of
the west. Without the most remote hope of any
temporal reiuinieration, exposed to danger and
disease, subject to the severest trials and most
painful privations, lliey went out. foregoing
all tiie joys of home and the society of loved
ones, to be instrumental in the adxancement of
the truth and the salvation of men. Often the
jiioncer ]ireacher, with no companion but the
horse lie rode, would start ai-i'oss the wide
|irairic~. with no guide but llu' knowledge he
had of the cardinal jioints, or perhai)s a ])oint
of limber scarcely visible in the dim and hazy
distance, and, reaching the desired settlement,
would present the claims of the Gospel to the
few asseiidiled hearers, after the toilsome and
louel\ day"s journey; then after a night of rest
in the humlde cabin and partaking of the sitn-
ple meal, be again <'ntci-s upon the journey of
the day. to preach again at a di-tant point.
Thus the "circuit" of hundreds of miles was
ti-a\eled month after month: and to these men
We owe the planting of churches all over the
laud, and the hallowed intlnenee of religion as
seen and felt in society everywhere. .\t this
late day it is impossible to learn who was the
lirst minister who visited the territory now
embraeed in Menard ecuinty. This honor is
claimed f(n- at least a dozen ditVerent individu-
als, and three or four <lilferent dcnomimitions
lay claim to the honor of being lirst to be
represented by a minister here. There were
at least five dcn<uninations that were repre-
sented hy ministers I'oming here in a very early
day. These were the Regular, ITard-Shell or
f'ahinistic l^aptists. Ihe Se]iarate (now ^fis-
sionary) liaptisls: tbi' Methoilists: the Xcw-
TJghts, afterward called Disei])les. sometimes
called "Campbellite> :" and the Cumberbind

lilCOri.AK li M'llSTS.

TAST .\M> i'i!i:si;N'r nv Mi;\.\i;ii ( o^^•l•^• 39

I'ri'slntci-iiUis. W'r will .L'ivu ii very luirf his- cm llir siil)j('cl of lC'iM|ii'ranc(' and nianv were

tiirv of llii'sc SI ]iaratrly. iiKhucd to sign a pletlgi' of total abstinence.

AiiiDii^ llinsp sijrninjr tlic plodfre was Minter
(Iialiaiu. till' ]iii>iii'iT li'aiiier of the r-ounty. and
These people, generally callril •■Ilard-Slu'lls," ., mi'mlicr of tlic Kcgular Baptist ehureli. So
have ever liocn anti-missionary, ami uiMicraily ^i,,,,, .,^ ||,i^ ^y.|^ known in the churcli. Graham
o|i|ins(il til ii'm]i(M-anco socictit's ami (i]i|ioscd „;,^ promptly trinl and as pn)m])tly tnriied
to ministi'i-s rrcciving sti])nlati'd salariis. hut „„(. Thus far the story is true to the letter.
arc a good rlass of citizens, candid and icliahle. ]^^^^ ([j^, j;t,)i-v. ns popularly (old at the time.
while their niiiii-lers arc men of good natni'al j^ to the elfcet that on the same day that "rnele
aliilitv lull a niajorily of them ai'c unedueated. M inter" was tinned out. another lirothcr was
Vet am(Mig them have lieeii iiumliei-cd some oC i,.j,,,| f,,,- jr,.tling drunk and he too was ex-
ilic great preachers of the \Muld. for c\am])lc, [ndled. .\fter this an old brother arose very
(haiie- II. Spiirgcon. lu'ing ('al\ini<ts id the solcmnK. and, drawing a ipiarl ""llask" from
most |ironounced tyi)c, it is not to he wondered i,;^ ])ocket. the l)ottle licing ahonl half full of
at that they believe tl'.at if (lod has made it a whisky, and holding it steadily lietween his
nian"s iliil\ to preach, lie will enalile him to do ..y,. .,,,,1 ii,,, fj^ln mid imlining his head sliglil-
ihc work wlieu the time c(Mues without any |v to one side, he thus addi-cssed the congrcga-
previous |irepai'ation on his part, llcuce they tion: "Rrethering. von have turned one mem-
in their pi-( aching give to the people the ti-utli l,,,,- ,,ul because he would not drink and aTi-
"just as (iod gave it to them." If this be nilu-r because he got drnnk and now 1 want to
true wc must say. and with reverence, thai lie ;,^|^ ;, ipicsiion. It is this: Ilow much of
has gi\en iliem sonic very sti-ange nu'ssages. n,,. ,.]'iit,.i' docs one have to driid< in order lo
\'ery soon after settlements were begun here remain in full fellowship in this ehureh':'"'
-Kegular"" Baptist preachers nuidc their advent \\\. ,),e not advised what answer was given to
also. Some alllrm \ery positixciy. that the this ipiest ion but donbtliss there was a nu'dium
li'cgidar Baptist church in the neighboorhood well delined. and understood by the ministry
(f Salem was organized before the Bajitisl jf ,iot bv the laity. This ]ieo]ile performecl a
ehureh at ClaryV drove. ( Iramlinotbi r I'otlcr, ver\- important pari in the opening up and
who was a grown woman, and living within a developmcnl ol' this country an<l their in-
mile of Salem, says that ihe church was older tluence for good is still fell all over this
bv a vear or twn, than that al Clary's drove, section. Main' men and wonieu of the diMumi-
But the nu-niory of all others i> at variance ination. among the best citizens of the coun-
with hers. Be this as it may. one thing is trv, are living here, but not in nnmbers sulli-
true, that this dcnoininalion had a cbui-ch hero cient to organize societies, but .adhering to
in a very early day. Other societies were per- t|,pi,- faith they are calndy waiting the trans-
hajis formed in the comity, but if so, they. |Vr to the "great congregation above."

with that of Salem, lia\e lonu' since liecome ex-

.MissioN.vitv ii.\i'risT,s.
tinet, so that at the ])rescnl nine there is not, we

believe, an organization in the county. I'.iit .\s before stated, the Baptist.* were early in

Iliere are a number of good and substantial men ibis lidd. but this denomination was vry much

of that faith, who.se Christian life ami char- divided, especially on llie subject of foreign

actor will compare favoralily with aiiv others, and domestic missions. There wore, bosnle the

still living in llie county. While we would - 1 lard-Shell.s" or R.'gular Baptists, the Separ-

not say anything disrespectful or disi)araging ate and rnilod Baptists, ami these were di-

of this venerable people, whom we respect and vided into the nussionary and anti-nii.ssionary

honor, yet we cannot refrain rmm relating an parties. The ojiposition to missions gradually

anecdote of them, the truth of a part of which, declined till long since there ceased to be any

at least, is vouched for. In the palmy days of anti-mission Bajitisls except the Hard-Shells.

Salem Dr. Allen created quite an excitement No people can justly be said lo he opjiosed to

]>AS'r AMI rifE.SKNT U1-" .ME.NAl.'H COrNl-V

missions who enroll aiuou;^ tlieir members such
men as the Judsons. Clary's Grove Baptist
church was organized on Christmas day. 1824.
This was the first church of this denomination
organized in the county but the burden of testi-
mony is that Rock Creek Cumberland Presby-
terian church is entitled to the honor of being
the first religious organization of any kind in
the county. From Clary's Grove radiated an
infiueiice which makes it the parent of that
denomination in all this section of country.
The early Baptist preachers, like all the
evangelical preachers of that time, were earnest,
devoted and self-.sacrificing in their labors.
Baker's Prairie congregation of Baptists was
organized in ratlier an early day and is still an
important church. A Baptist church was or-
ganized in Peterslnirg soon after the town was
laid out, and is still a flourishing congregation.
New Hope, on Sand Ridge, is one of tlie old
Baptist churches in the county and is doing
well. Tliere was at one time a church in
Greenview. but it has gone down. They have
in the county three good brick buildings and
one frame. 'J'iie venerable P. H. Curry, after
over sixty years in the ministry in this county,
is now ])reaching as a missionary in Athens
and we hope will succeed in building up a
church ill that place. The Baptists form an
important element in society in this county and
their influence for good is felt far and near.
Baptist ministers are mentioned in other places
in this work, in connection with the various
settlements, but as there are some of more
importance than others we will mention them
here. Elder P. H. Curry is an able and good
man and has done more for that church than
any other one man in all this part of Illinois.
At over eighty years of age he is still at his
post, battling for the right as he sees it. Rev.
William Goldsby, who died many years ago,
grew up in this county, was converted here in
early life and began preaching and spent his
life in the work. He was a man of limited
education and possessed of nothing brilliant
intellectually, but his straightforward integrity.
unswerving honesty and devoted piety gave him
a wonderful power for good and while he was
not regardi'd as an able preacher yet in his
simple way he won many to the way of right-

eousness, and will ddublless have many stars
in his crown of rejoicing. The Spears. Hon.
\V. T. Beekman and olbers were pillars in this
denomination anil did iiiueli fcu' the cause of
religion and morals in thi.< county, and are
doubtless rea])ing their reward.

TiiK .viKTiioDisr i;i-is(<)i"Ai. ciiiiu'ii.
It would seem eiiiinciitly proper to have
placed this chunh lirst in the history of
churches in this county fur they are pre-emi-
nently a pioneer jjcople. its |)olicy for spread-
ing the gospel is Just exactly adapted to tlie
wants and needs of new and sparsely settled
sections of country. The first i[ethodist that
ever settled in Illinois was Cajitain Joseph
Ogle, who came to the state in 177"). The first
^lethodist preacher to come to the state was
Rev. Jose])h IJllard. who fornieil tlie lirst so-
ciety in the state. This class was formed in
the cabin of Captain Ogle, in' St. Clair county,
l)ut the exact date is not given. Some time
later Rev. John Clark, who had i)reached for
years in the Carolinas. that is from 1791 to
17f'G. desiring to get away from slavery, wan-
dered westward and was the lirst to ])reach
Methodism west of the Mississippi river, and
subsequently came to Illinois. Rev. Ilosea
Hiiigs was the first local jjreacber to settle in
llu' state. The first work in the state, under
tli( authority of conference, was in 1803. when
Rev. Benjamin Young was a])pointed mission-
ary to the territory of Illinois by the western
conference, holding its session at ^[ount Geri-
zini, Kentucky. In 1804 he reported sixty-
seven memliers in the state. He was a man
of great zeal and energy. In 180G Rev. Jesse
Walker came to the state and it was he who
held the first camp-meeting in the state. .\t
the close of 1806 there were two hundred and
eighteen members in the state. The western
conference included Tennessee. Kentucky, Oliio
and all the northwest. In 1812 it was divided
and Tennessee and Illinois formed a confer-
ence. In 1816 the Missouri conference was
formed and Illinois was joined to it. In 1824
Illinois conference was fornieil. with Indiana
joined to it. In 18:?2 Indiana was sejiarated
from it. and Illinois formed a separate confer-
ence. We have no relialde evidence as to who
was the first Methodist preaclier in Menard

I'AST AMI ri;i';si:\'

MKNAIMi (MlX'l'V

county liiil Wf lid liMvc pnxir tlint as I'lirly as
1S'.'0 or IS-.M a class was foniicd at Atlicns.
Iicv. .lanii's Strinjifiold was proliably tlic lirst
Methodist preacher in the coiinty and ccrtaiidy
the first local ])reaclier of that faith to settle
iiere. In 1821 or ISi'i a circuit was laid out
and Rev. Isaac House was the circuit rider
and Rev. Sinnns presiding elder. The Metho-
dists huilt the first house of worshiji that was
Innlt in Menard county; it was buih (ui the
farm of Harry Hi.i^uin. The land was ilnnaled
l)y Mr. Ixiiigin. to revert to him when ii ceased
to l)c used for the purpose for which it was
given. It was a neat hewed log house, twenty-
two by thirty-six feet, and hy chance it had
glass windows. We say liy chance because it
was almost impossible to secure glass at tliat
day. liut Mr. Riggin had brought a lot with
him and donated enough for the chunli. 'I'liis
house served the purpose till almut l.s;3;) or
1840. when it was <iAi\ and became a barn on
^Ir. Riggin's farm and the proceeds wei'c ap-
])lied on the church built in Athens in 18l(».
The church has been blessed in '\[enard county
with the lai)ors of some very able men. 'j'lii.'
venerable Peter Akers, D. I)., was presiding
elder here for some time and Peter Cartwright
has preached in almost every grove and way-
side in the couut\. Tbeeliiinb has now fourgood
houses and four congregations in this county
at tlu' ])resent time. liV'nnniseenecs of ^Icth-
odist jireachcrs rush on ibe nnnd but if the
flood gate is once opened there is no safe place
to land, so we will s]ieak of but one more num.
The pni'tly figure and smiling face of Rev.
Barrett rises up before us. and with the face
an interminable store of incidents rush upon
the memory, 'i'hat lye, so full of liuinor. looks
out on the world no nu)re; the voice, so sweet
in ]iersuasion. so dire in denunciation and so
convincing in argument, is hmg since silent in
death, but those who knew him will never for-
get the power of his pulpit elTorts or the un-
rivaled point and potency of his witticisms.
Always and everywhere a zealous Christian
gentleman and devoted minister, yet he saw the
ludicrous side of things and ho had the gift of
leading others, to sec it also. Sometimes,
thouiih not often, this characteristic of the man
would manifest itself in the pulpit and when

it tlid the JKuise was '"bnuight down." Pardon
one illustration of the uum ; a story tluit is
absolutidy true and told without exaggeration.
Mr. ISarrelt was a plain wolcrn nuin, used to
western habits and customs. He was also
lilesscd with a jiowcrful ])hysica! constitution
ami, being a man of very active iuibits, his na-
ture demanded, and he relished most heartily,
good, ]>lain, wholesome food. .\t one time he
was on a cii-cuit in wbit-li one of the preaching
points was in a settlement of New ]']ngland
people and most of the nicndjers were Yankees.
Of course their manners were very unlike his,
and especially in the matter of diet they were
totally unlike. In that early day sweetmeats
were scarce and those Eastern people had no
idea of eating meat like the Westerners. They
liveil almost entirely without meat, ami the
inevitable pum])l<in-pie was a standard jiart of
their living, especially in the fall and winter
season. Profiler Barrett visited almost every
house but it was everywhere the same — the
pumpkin pie confronted him wherever he went.
At last, almost starving, he hinted very broad-
ly that he wanted meat, but to no avail, i-'inal-
Iv oil Siinda) morning, at the ipiarterly meet-
ing, when the Presiding ivldcr was present, he
determined to present his case to the Lord in
prayer. .\ large audience bad assembled and
Brother Barrett oflered the opening jirayer.
.Vfter addressing the throne of grace for a
time be went on: "() Lord, we thank Thee
for this good land, for this productive soil and
for sunshine and shower. .\nd wc pray 'J'liee,
(» Lord, if Thou canst bless under tiie Gospel
what Thou didst curse under the Law, that
Thou wouldst bless the hogs. Oh, may they
fatten and thrive: and ilo Thou send abundant
crops of corn that they may be made fat, tliat
Thy servants may have meat to eat. that they
may grow strong to serve Tluc and do Thy
will. But Oh. Lord, we jiray Thee to l.ligiit
the ])umpkin crop. Send blasting and mildew
on every sprout and vine, for 'I'bou knowest
W(> can not serve Thee on the strength tliey
give." Jle then went on, closed iiis prayer,
and tlie service; and we may say that Brother
Barrett had meat to cat after that. This story
is literally true. Mr. Barrett lived and con-
tinued to preach till some time in 1878, and

-12

PAST AXD TRESEXT oK MKXAK'l) (orXTY

iu that vear lie wa;; livinjr in Jacksouville, and
went up Id (iri,i;j;V I'liapi'l. in Cass county.
He prfailic'd morning and evening and then
went home with a Irieiul and retired in ap-
parently perfect iieaUh. The next morning he
was found cold in (k'ath. Thus closed the life
of this strong, devoted, successful, hut eccentric
servant of God. The ilethodist Episcopal
cliurcii has had a great many able, devoted and
faithful ministers who have labored in this
county and this great church is doing its jiart
of the work here.

(TilBEIiLAND PRESBYTERIAN.

About the year 1800 the spiritual condition
of the church all over the south was very low.
For malice was about all there was in the
church, especially the rresljyterian church in
the south. That church, being Calvinistie to
the last degree, awaited the "election of grace"
to do the work, instead of urging men to use
their free agency in seeking the way of life.
.\ ])rominent elih'r of the church in that day
said that be sat under the ministry of an able
Doctor of Divinity for twenty years, and never
in ail that time lieard him mention the agency
of the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration.
About this time Hev. James McGready, who
had been preaching for several years, was acci-
dentally aroused to a realization of his condi-
tion and was powerfully converted to God. He
was a man of finished education and of great
natural ability and after his conversion he
began to appeal to a dead and lifeless church.
The result was wonderful. A great revival
swept all over the south and thousands were
])owerfully converted. The church was di-
vided into a revival and anti-revival party.
The revival party could not accept the West-
minster Confession of Faith, believing that it
taught the doctrine of fatality. The Calvin-
ists were the anti-revival party and they charged
the revivalists with lieing Arminian in faith.
i)ut this they most vehemently denied, claim-
ing to be neither .\rminian nor Calvinist.

Out of this revival the Cumberland Presby-
terian church was born. They have always
claimed to occupy a clearly defined medium
ground between Calvinism and .Vrmin'anism.
Their first thi'ological publication was called

the ■■'J'heological Medium," and il was set for
the defense of this position, denying every one
of the distinctive doctrines of each. Whoever
chiirges this church with being Calvinistie or
.Vrminian does it through ignorance or preju-
dice. 'I'bey do not accept a single one of the
five points of Calvinism, as they teach them,
and they as strongly repudiate the distinctive
doctrines of Arminius. Calvin says, election
from eternity; Arminius says, election at death ;
they say, election at conversion. Calvin says,
salvation possible to a jiart, and certain to the
elect: .Vrminius says, salvation po.*sible to all,
but ceitaiu to none: they say, salvation possi-
ble to all, and certain to the believer. This
church was organized on the 4th day of Feb-
luary. isio. in Tennessee. Hence it is not
to be expected that it had spread very far, as
early as the first .settling of this county in
isi!) :ind 1820, especially when we remember
that it bad its origin as far south as the south-
east part of Tennessee. Tt is true, however,
ndlwithstaiiding this fact, that ministers of this
denomination found their way here before the
church was fifteen years old. The first Cum-
berland Presbyterian minister to visit this part
of this state was the Rev. John ^IcCutchen
Berry. He was horn in the Old Dominion
March 22, 1788. His education was limited.
When twenty-two years of age he made a pro-
fession of religion and joined the Cumberland
Presbyterian church. He was a soldier in the
war of 1S12 and ])articipated in the battle of
Xew Orleans. The I.,ogan Presbytery licensed
him to preach in 181!), and in 1822 he was or-
dained l)y the same body. He removed to In-
diana in 1820 l)ut returned to Tennessee for
ordination. Soon after his ordination he came
111 Illinois and settled in the limits of ilenard
county, on Hock creek. lU'ar where the Cum-
iierland Presbyterian church there stamls.
This section of the ^tale was then in the bounds
of the Illinois Presbytery and so remained till
the spring of 182!>. Sonii' years before this
Mr. Kerry ha<l organized the Sugar Creek
church, souu' ten miles soutli of S|iringfield.
Hv order of the ('und>erland synod (for the
general assembly was not yet frfrmed) the San-
gamon presbytery of the Cumberland Pre-l)y-
tiii;m cliMrch was orL'anized at Sugar creek. <m

I'AS'I' AND riJl'lSl'lN 1 III' Mi;\Ai;|i (IMWIV 43

ihc -Jiitli ,|a\ 111' A|ii-il, 1S-J9, at the lioiiio of nf drink. lircnniin.L; a cniilirincil drunkard and

William I )rciiiiiiii. 'I'lif iiiinistors forniinij tiie dyiiii; an awful death. 'J'liis was a lilow from

j..rrsli\ tci-\ \MTr li'rvs. .Iiilin M. ISiTi'v. Oillicrt wliicli the fallirr ncM'r recovcri'il. Iiul a deep,

])cidds. 'J'liiinia> I'anipliell. |)a\iil l''(i.-lri- and dark sliadow scenicil e\cr after to be i-ast over

John Porter. Mr. Berrv lieinii moilei'ator. and him. Jt ap[iear> thai while his son was in the

(lilliei'i Itodds. ili'rk. Ml'. Uei'ry prcaelnd llie store at Salem he slro\'e in every way that he

opening- sermon from .Matthew \\i:l.j. The eould to dissuatle his son from a life of in-

elders present were Joseph Dodds, from Suj^ar temperance, lint in \ain. His lalxirs, however,

('reek rhurch: John Hamilton, fi-om I'leiliei; weri' ;in| in \aiii. as it seems, for the eouneil

anil Samuel JV'rry, from Coneord and Lebanon. i;i\('n to the son made a lasting impression on

.Vs Mr. Kerry was the lirst Cuniherland I'les- ilr. Lincoln. Years after the close of the

livterian preacliei- in tlii> part of the state, it little grocery store at Salem, when Mr. i>incoln

is line to history and to the eans(^ to say some- had reached a place of eminence in the legal

thing more of him. .\s said before, his edu- profession, a eei'tain grog-sho[) in a conununity

i-ation was limilnl. owing to the cii'cmnstances was having its usual bad inlliieuce and a num-

surrounding him when be was \iiung. bur bis ber of married men were neglecting their homes

natural gifts, in cverv respect, were far above and ibeir wi\es. 'J'liese wives, seeing no other

ihe axerage. lie was independent in his man- way to remedy ihe evil, on a certain occasion

ner of thought, gentle and l^ind. but uncom- gathered together and made a raid on the vile

promising and unmerciriil in his opposition to den, demolishing the barrels, breaking up the

exerytbing that he thought to be wrong. He decanters and d( nii.jolins ami playing havoc

was charitable in bis feelings to the vi(>ws of with things generally. For this the ladies

others but unyielding in his ccunietions un- were ai'rested and piosecuted, and .\lr. Lincoln

til he was coininced by the fiu'ce of ai-gnment. \ohintcered his ser\ ices for their derrn.-i-. In

.Vs a speaker, he was plain, solemn and unas- the midst id' a mo,-l powrrl'nl argument on

suming, making no ell'ort at rhetorical display (he evils ni the use id' and the tralVu' in iiitox-

or dranuitii- t'll'ect, but possessing a cmumand- icalim; spirits, while all the irowil in the room

ing presence and a voice full of force and |ier- wei-e intensely iiiterested. and many bathed in

suasive attract ixcness it is not surprising that tears, the speaker tui-ned. and pointing his

he exerted a wonderful powfr over men. lon.u', boin linger to\\ard where the venerable

'I'hough usually full of force and logic, yet Kerrv happened to be standing, said: "There

at times, when warmed and iuspii'ed by his slamis the man who, years ago, was instru-

themc. he aro-i' almo-1 to >ubliniitv and at mi iilal in convincing me of the evils of traf-

~uch times bis appeals were almost irnsist ibie. licking in and using ardent spirits. I am glad

The method of bis argument was of the clear- that 1 ever saw him. I am glad that 1 e\er

'■St and most incisive character, and when fully beai'il his testimony on this terrible subject."'

arouseii by the impnrlanii of his subject hi' This was a higher honor than to have bi'cn

seemed to carry everythin.i; before him. His made chief magistrate of I be tuition. Such an

cliaracter and the estinuite in which he was encomium front such a man speaks \olumes in

belli can be given best by relatiiiL; all anecdote, ])raise of Mr. i^errx's intlueuee for good and

or rather an incident, which occurred at an unlliuching stand for what is right,

early day here. The reader is dou!)tless axvari- Such is ii brief sketch of this pioneer C'nin-

tliat till' lameniril Abraham Lincoln was at berlaml Preshvterian preacher in this part of

one time engaged in selling groceries in old Illinois. Mr. llerrx died as he had lived, with

Salem. .V son of l{ev. Kerry xvas. for a time, his armor on. He died in Clinton. IteWitt

a partner of ^Ir. Lincoln in this .srrocery. and county, Illinois, in the winter of IS.")!! or IS.">7.

it is a fact, conceded by all. that intoxicants where he bad lixed for a number of years,

were sold by them, as was the ease in all gro- His early co-laborers xvere etpially earnist, de-

cerv stores in those times. Re this as it may, voted and pious in their work for tlie ifaster,

the young Berrv in some wav formed the habit and T)odil>. Campbell and otiiers xvill ever bo

I'AST WD

m;i;skx'I' o'-' mk\ai;ii coi xtv

rcmi'inljc'iTd with wMriiicst j^iiitituck- liy the
l)(.'0])le of this (k'nomination. Soiiu' of tlie olu
settlc'i's are firm in Uw c-oiiviotion that T^ohanou
congregation of the C'liinherland I'reshyterian
church was the tirst religious organization in
the county, hut after tlie most careful iii(|uiry
we are convinced tiuit Clary's (Jrove Baptist
church has a just right to this honor. Li'liamin
was organized in IS? I or IS-.'.") and Coiu-ord a
year or two hitiT. Thnc arc in the county.
at this writing, seven congregations of this de-
nomination, four id' which have rcL^idar pas-
tors.

PRESBYTiiin.vx ciiriaii.

'j'hcrc is such an almndance of litrralurc.
especially in the line of liistory, of this churc'h.
that it is not thought necessary in this place
to enter ujmn an extended account. in 1811!.
or as some .-^ay, in LSI t, the Rev. James ^Ic-
{; ready organized the Sharon congregation of
thai church, in Wliite county, Illinois. It was
under the |ireaching of this same .lames llc-
Gready in JSOO that the great revival hegan in
the south, that swept all ci\ei- that i)art nf the
United States, and out of which was born the
Cumberland Presbyterian church. .Vbout the
same time the Rev. J. F. SchencMlmrn and Sam-
uel J. Mills visited Kaskaskia and left a very
deep iinpression l>y their zeal and fidelity, espe-
cially in the family of the (iovernor, Xinian
Edwards. At that time there was not a town
of a thousand iidiahitants in Indiana. Illinois
iir Missouri, unless it was .Madison. Yinccnnes
or St. Louis. Sparse settlements were scattered
along the east side of Illinois as far north
as the Vermillion river, and on the west side
as far as Quincy. .Ml north of this was a
wilderness, save here and there an Indian trad-
ing post. Peoria was Fort Clark and Chicago
was Fort Dearborn. In is-.'l |;e\. (iideon
]?lackl)urn was in the zenith of his |)ower as
a preaciier of the (Tospcl. He jiassed through
the state ;ind held a camp-meeting at Shoal
creek, in Bond county, where there was a
great outpouring ol' the Holy Spirit and many
were converted and a church was organized.
Rev. Abraham Williamson, from I'rincetcm.
New Jersey, also Rev. f)rrin Cailin and Daniel
G. Sprague, from Andover, ^lassachusetts.

preached in that part of the state and organ-
ized a church at Carrolllon. About 182o, near
the time that the town of Jacksonville was laid
out. Rev. John iiirch. a Scotcliuuin, came to
the state and began his labors in Jacksonville.
Mere he organized a church. He was succeed-
ed by Rev. ilr. Ellis, who laid the foundation
of Illinois College. On the 30tii of January,
1828, ^Ir. I-'llis organized a church in Spring-
field and named it Sangamon church, after the
ii\er and county of that name. There were
nineteen went into the organization, only five of
whom lived in the village of Springlicld, and
these live weic all women. The membership
was scattered over a region of twenty miles
around, several of them ( ^^essrs. John and
John X. ]\[oore) lived in what is now Mcnurd
county. It is worthy of mention that this
clinrch was (U'ganized in the home of ^Irs.
Elizabeth Smith, widow of Dr. John Blair
Smith, a xcry eminent nian and once pre^ident
of Ihimpdon anil Sidney College, Virginia.
The chunli of Kdwardsvilli' was also organized
in her house, wlien she lived in that ])lace in
1819. Rev. John G, Bergen, of Xew Jer-'y,
was the first regular pastor of the Springfield
church. On the 20th of May, 18.32, Rev. John
Bergen organized the Xcu-th Sangamon or In-
dian Point church, in the Cumberland Pres-
byterian "Mecting-llouse." at Lebanon, with
the following as members: Elijah Scott, John
Stone, Andrew Moore, Samuel Jfoore, .Mcx-
ander Barnett, David Walker, ililton Raylnirn,
Phoebe ^loore, Margari't S. ^loore. Ste|ihen
Stone. .\iin Harnelt. .lohn X. Mooie. Mary
Moore, Jane Patterson. Panthy Barnett, Han-
nah Baxter, Jane Rayburn, Polly Walker, Ma-
tilda Walker. Elizabeth Walker. Jane Walker.
.\nii Widkcr, John Moore, Ambers Stone, Jane
Scotl. Lucy Stone, Polly Stotts, Catharine
Stone, Jane Casey. Isaliella Walker, Alexamler
Walker and William Stotts. The same day the
following were received on experience: John
Allen, Henry C. Rogers. Sarah C, Rogers and
Elizabeth Patterson. John Moore, John X.
Moore and .Mexander Walker were chosen rul-
ing elders. They used the Cumberland log
"Meeting-House" till the Cumberlands decided
to build a better house of worship, when the
Presbvterians assisted in Imilding it and occu-

I'AST wn im;i:s1':\t (M' \ii;\.\i;|) cni \-iv

]iiril il h;lir lie lilllc lill 1 S I I . ulirll lllrv 'luilt,
a \<'r\ riiinri)rt;ililr rrMiiic cliui-cii. I wriil y-i'lylil
l)_v thirty-six IVet in size. 'I'liis liduse tlirv ov-
ciipic'il for sevciitci'ii ycti's, (ir till l.StiT. wIhm)
I 111' |in'S('iii liriok cliiii'iii \\:i> linislird ami dicli-
cali'il hy l{ov. .loliii (i. Buriicii, 1). I). AiiKing
the honorcil |)aslors and sii|i|ilics ul.n luivo
sewed this chui'ch we may naim' li'<'\. W'illiaiii
l\. Sti'wail. Ii'r\. ■riHiiiKK A. S|iNliiian. \\v\ .
<luori;e W. Mi Ixiidey. Ii'c'v. Saniiii'l l''ij-tei-,
K'ev. AlexamliT I'AviuL;. \lr\ . .lohn W. Little.
1,'i'v. Thoinas Gait. Kev. William Peikins !;r\.
i;. A. Criswell. Rev. K. A. Yanl'clt. Kev. :\lr.
li'iTsc. K'ev. ,li)lin Cni/.ici-. \[r\ . 1 1. .1. Strain.
IJev. Harnalias l.yman. \lr\. T. W. I.,eard and
tlie liev. 11. B. Doiijilas. Ml'. Dduglas served
till l.-^'.U. On the Sth (if May. 1K!)1, tli,' liev.
D. G. Carson hegaii his ministry heir, whirh
still coutiiiiiis. Till' must im|Hniant event in
the recent history (if the Xerth San.a'anuiii
■hureh was the ci-ectinn (if a Mission Chapel
HI the Idwn (if Athens. On the '.'Sth of Mareh.
ISilv'. the session of this chui-ili took the initial
■ ■lc|i in this im|i(irtant work. Going ahont it
vvilh zeal and enerj^y, it was no groat task to
hnild a ]daee of worship. Athens had needed
a Presbyterian house of worship for a long
time, as tliere were a number of pi-ople of
that faith who lived in tiie ])hu-e. On the
liilh of duly. IS!):!, they dedicated a very mat
i-nd commodious house of worsliip, costing four
thousand dollars. The house was dedieateil
free of di'ht. on the date given ahove. the serv-
ices heing conducted hy the ]?e\ . \\'. II. I'en-
hallegan, 1). D.. of Decatur. 111. Since the
lioiise was huilt tliey have kept up regular serv-
ices, Eev. Mr. Carson jircaehing for them, and
they liave a successful 8ahl)ath-sidiool, witli all
tlie otlier services. The Xorth Sangamon
( hurcli is ill a ]irosperous condition, the Rev.
] '. G. Carson, who has served them as pastor
i'or fourteen years, heing still their beloved and
trusted leader, with the following olTicers :
I?oli(rt .V. Young, !McKinley Jones. John IT.
Kiiicaid. Henry M. Moore and James S. Culver
constituting the session: the trustees being \i.
Y. Kincaid. V. 11. WiiitiK^v and l.ee Kincaid.
No church in icntral Illinois runs smoother
»(nd with less friction, it is located in the
vcrv heart of one of the finest a <rri cultural sec-

lions in central Illinois, and in a comnumity
of ent( rprising, intellij.;eut and pious people
it can not hut he an agency of great good.
The following persons who were communicants
111 ih's church. ha\c entered the gospid ininis-
Iry: .fojin II. Mooic. I). .1. Strain. John W.
I.itth. .lohii .1. Graham. W. C. McDougall and
.lolin Howe Moore. The last named, a young
man of lare piely and pnunise, was called
III his reward licfore he had completed his
•liidiis preparatory to entering the active min-
istry.

riir: iiis('ii'M-;s.
This hody of people, kiiowii ;is Disci]des,
( hnsiians. or Church of Christ, had its origin
in ucstcrn l'eiinsyl\aiiia. It originated thus:
In the year ]sii!i Thomas Campbell and his
sun, .\le\aiider Cainpliell. Iia\ing become deep-
ly impl■e^sed with what lhe\ regarded as the
nil fort iiiialc di\isiiin among professed Chris-
tian people, began an elVort to bring about a
union ^if all. imt intending to start a new "sect"
or parly. These men were natives of Scotland
and having emigrated to America they settled
in \'irginia. They were both regularly or-
dained ministers in the Presbyterian cliurch,
liiit after coining to .Vmerica they became dis-
sitisliiNl in regard to baptism and sonic other
sulijeils of Chrisiian doctrine and after a time
thev united with the Haplist ehureli. II was
mil long till they were regarihxl as unsound
' n the doctrine of the o]ieration of tlie Holy
Spirit ami I he work of regeneration, by the
liaptists, and a great deal of disjiutation and
conlrovcr.sy followed. They had arrived at the
conclusion that taking the Bible alone, with-
out any standard of interpretation, would unite
all the churches. (Juite a number of people,
mostly Presbyterians, went into the enterprise
with the Cainpbells. liut soon tlic question of
the mode and subject of baptism was mooted
and many forsook the new party but the ma-
jority rejected infant bajitism and alTusion
and the body became one of "'immersed be-
lievers," and were soon uiiiied witli the Red-
stone Ba])tist Association. Soon after this the
troulilcs. spoken of above, developed, and the
'Tlisciples" became a distinct sect. Thus what
was intended to unite the sects resulted in
adding another to the long list of sects, .\bout

id I'AST A\i> i'i;ksi:.\'|' ok mi:\.\i;|) ((Untv

tliroe vi'iirs lid'orc tlic ln'^iiininu nl' tlif ihovl' snun liccainc a \cf\ stnmj;- and in'osiiennis

l)y iIr' l'iiiii|il'clls ill l'('niis\ Uania. a Presbv- luxly ami ii was Tor many years llic largest

terian ininistcr in Kentucky liad tried to briiiir and niosi wi'allliy e()n<,nv<ration in the county.

alwiit a union of all cluirches on the basis of j, eoiil iiiued ti. hold this enviable jiosition till

the Hihle alone. This iii(i\eni(^nt was brought jst;; when mislortune seamed In overtake it,

about and led by one Barton W. Stoue. who ,,,,,1 j„ ,, ,i„„., ,[„„, |, „,.„ .,|„,„^t annihilated.

had been a I'resbyterian miiiister for yo-ars. ,j,„ j,^ j,,), ^j,„.^. j^ j,,,,, j,, .,„„ther i^laee. we

Stone ha,l collected Muite a little band together ^,,,5^ -^ ,,^,.p .p',,.^ i^ ., ^„.^,^„ ,„„, ^,^.,.^.^, ,^^^1^

and 111' and the ('aniiibell-; met and after quite ,. , ,, 1 ■ ii • 1 •

' ^ ol |ie(i|ile. earnestiv ])ushiiiir their work in everv

a time spent in controvertinir various points, ,. ,,,, ', ,■ . 1 1 •"

' ' (lirectKui. 1 bev have live strong churches in

tliev united their torces, the two forming a ,. , , ,■ -,

.,,,,, „ , ,,„ . ,, Alenard cmintv. each active and aggressive,

vcrv consideralile Imdv ot iieoiile. I he follow- , . ,,',,, „ ,, ■ ,

" . .,, ' ,, / V- I ■ ,. " 1 keeping ui) all the departments of their work,

ers ot Sfoih' were called "Aew Lights and 1 ^ i 1 .

,, ,. , , I ,, ..T^. • 1 r- 1 i .■ II and the general enterprises of the cause. Thev

those ot ( ampliell Disciples, liut tor the '^ '

sake of distinction manv penpl,. .-alled the one '^"^■'' '^^ "'''^ '^"'^ intelligent ministry, and as

party ''Stonite.s" and the other ••Canipbell- ^' 'Iraomination are very active in the work

ites" but neitlu'r of these names was ui\'en in

of education.

reproaeli, but merely to distinguish thoni. It 'I'lnis we have given a brief outline of the
is certain that the "Xew Lights." as they were work of the various bodies of Christian people
called here, sent i)rcachers into this part of in the county, from the beginning of the settle-
Illinois almost as early as other denominations. nnni here, and we think that in the main it
-Vs said before. Rev. House, of the Methodist is correct. Tinier the head of the various set-
E])iscopal church, was the lirst preacher in tienients will be found more of the detail of
this County and old Mr. ('i-o\\. the Regular or the work of particular congregations. We
"Hard Sliell" llaptist, was the next. As early would have been glad to have given more of
as IS-^i or is-.M a New Light i;reacher by the the jjarticulars of the trials and hardships en-
name of Henderson came to Sugar Grove, and dureil by the early preachers, as we believe
preached in the cabin of Itoland Grant but that this would ]\;\\r been of great value to
there is no evidence that he ever attempted the ]ieo|ile of to-day. When our modern kid-
to form a society- -\ot long after this liarton L:lo\ed and classically educated young preachers
W. Stone himself came and preaeheil a number of the pre.si>iit time go into a congregation,
of times ill Clary's Grove. Stone was fol- strong and rich, and receive a good salary and
lowed by Sidney L'igdon. who was then a .\ew a pleasant home, they should know and realize
Light [ireacber hut he afterward became a the work that was done liy those hardy pio-
^lorn.on and later one of the 'ruelxe Apostles, iieers. in jireparing this "well-feathered nest"'
and Iraxeled all over Kurope as a missionary for tbeiii. They should know that, while many
of that church. In the year lS-.iT a Discijile of those early ])reaehers had only the rudiments
congregation was formed in Clary's Grove and of an education and had scarcely ever heard of
a few years later they imill a log meeting- a theological si-miiiary. they were better versed
hou.se. Some years later they built a good in the doclriiies of the Hible and could preach
frame church in the Grove wbieb served them the gospel with tenfold the power and elTect
till the village of Tallula was laid out. See- that is realized at the pi-eseiit time. Those
ing that this was to be the center of the com- nun r<'ceived no salary, they eiidureil liard-
inunity, they sold the frame church in the ships and privations almost beyoiul descrii)tion ;
Grove and aliout the close of the Civil war they they sulTered and toiled without ]iay. because
erected the large and commodious church in they had the matter at heart, and the gospel
the village, which they still occupy. The date was like tire shut up in their bones: and like
of the organization in the Sugar Cioxc is irm "Sons of Thunder" they went forth and
not definitely known, but it is admilled by laid this broad and deep foundation, rm which
all that it was at a very early perioil. This we. of the present, are railed to build.

'As'i- A\ii im;i:sk\t ok mi;\.\i;i> ((U \t^

Cl \li'^'"S t;i;t»\ Iv """■ l'<ii'f;iili'i'- '"' ^^ riMiifinlici-cil only as the

hist liii^vriiii: iiirinoi-ii's u( a liidcdus niditinarc.

This sellK'ninu nf ,M,urs.' incluclos Talhila ^.^^^ ^^- ^^^'^^^^^^ ^^^^^ 1^.^^^, ,,^^. ,.^..,,|,,,. ^„|,|„,^e

niHl all thai srct mil of .Menard county north <.r ^^^^^^ ^^,^ nulu.lr llir Clary^ or mhrr ct the

l!,K-l< .'ivck aiul to the Cass county line, an.l ^„|, ,,.,,„ ,.,, ,.i,j,,,.,„ „ ho hail located there. .\s

.111 north to the San,iiaiiion river. It inehules |^^ ^.^^^^ stated, it was the rough clement always

some of Ih.. linest lands, hoth timher and |-,„,„| j,, ,,,„.,,.,,„,„,,■ ,nid long ago left there

pniirie. that theiv is in the entire county. |. _ ^,,,,,„^.,. ji,.i,is and re .-..iigeuial climes.

Kvery one is aware of the laet that the early ,|,|_^ j.^.^^. ^pf^i^.,,,,,,,, j„ chu-y's Grove lias
settlements were invariahly n\ade in the tun- |_^^^^ ^^ |^l __^^ ^ |.|^^^ ^l^.^l U ^^,^,,||^ unnecessary to
her. ir one wished to know where the linesl ^^^^^^^^^^ .^ 1^^^^ ,^^,^^^ (,,,i^.^. ^^..,^ ,|„iil,ile.ss the
and largest hodies of tmii.er were when the ^.^_^^ ^^^^^l^,^, ^^^ j,^^, irrritory of what is now
uliite man lir>l ininr, all he would he required ^|,., ,.,,.,! ,,„||Hv. hut il is also heyoud .lispute
In d.. would he to aM-rrtain where the lirsl ^^^^^^ ^^|^^^_^^l .^l^,^^, ^.^,^.^. ,;„„. ,|,,,, |„. „.;,s |,„.at-
seltleiiieiits wre made and his (|Uesti.ai would .^^^ .^^ ^1^^^ ^,^,^^^^ ^^ll^^.^, |,,|^,i,., ,.,,|„^. t„ Sugar
he answeivd. Tallula is the only town or vil- ^,_^^^^ ^^^^1 ,^^^1^^^^^ ,,^^,^^, ,,,,^1,,.,. (^.[.^j.^^. ,,a,^,j,
lage in this territory and the only postolliec ^.^.^^^^^ Tennessee and l..rai,.,l in the grove ever
at the i.re.-^ent lime. The .laeksonville divi- ^.^^^^ ^.^1,^,^1 |^^. ,^|^ ^^,^^^^^_ ,,, ,l„, ^.^.^^. ij^j,,,
.ion (d' the Chiea-o .V .\hon railroad runs -^^ ^^^^.^^^ ,^ t lire.- faced camii. leaving one en-
through this seetioii Iro.ii northeast to soutli- ^.^.^_ ^.^|^, ^^^^^^^^^ .^^ ^^.^^■^,^^ ,,,, |j^,,,, „.j^|, |,i^ i'.,,,,.
west and passes almost immediately over the .|^ |.^^^, ^1^^,^,^, ^.^,.ii,_,^ ,[.|i^, ^^j,,.,, ^j^i^^. „|' ^i,,.
spot where Clary Iniilt three-faeed camp when ^'^^^^^^ ,^ ^.^^^, .,/,|,„,,_ .viiidow and tireplacc. as,,
lie first settled there. Xotwithstamling Tallula .^^ ^_^|^| ^^,,.,||„.,._ ||„,,^ |^,,|,, ,, huge log heap
coinniunity i> now the very perfection of re- i,,,!.,,;,,^ i,, i,.,,,,! ,,r it. wliieh served to keep
lincinent and wealth, the time was when it ^i^^^^^ ■~^^^^,^^^^ .^^^^l ^^^^ ,|,j^ i;,.,. ,,„,^. .n,] ,]„.i,.
eould justly have laid claim to the other e.K- ^.,,^,,.j„^._ y ,■,,., ,|,,.^,j. ^.,,.„s ('|:„.y sold his
tremc. Seventy-live years ago Clary's Grove ^^^.^^^ ^^^ ,^ ^,^. yvatkins and a little later Wat-
was syii..nvmoiis with all the mischief and dev- j^.^^_. ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ George Siiear>. who improved
iltry that oeeiiriv,] within a radius of fifty ^^^^^ |.^^_.^^^_ ,^^^^^^1^, ^^^,,^,,. ,.„„|^ .„„, n^.^.j ,i„,,.,.
miles, and the lew rivili/.eil men who had the ^^^ ^|^^ ^.^^^^ ^^|. ^^-^ ^\^..^^u_ wiiieh oeeurred some
misfortune to lue there among those "horder ^.^.^^^^^^ ^^^. l^^^^^l^ ^.^,.ii.^ ,^.i^.|.^ (.|.,,.^_ after .sell-
rullians" of that remote date say they were .^^^ ^^.^ ^|,^.^^^_ ivmoxed i.i .Arkansas hut several
ashamed to tell wlieiv th.'V were from wdien ^^|."|^.^ ..hildren remaiiie,! in Illinois and many
they unii to Springlield. The settlement was ^^^. ^^.^ ,|,,s,.i.,„laiil> are still living in this eoun-
niade u]) largely of the -rag tag and hoh-tail" ^^ jj^ ^^.^^ .^ soldier of the H.'volutionary war
who leave the more civilized sections for their ^^'^^ ^ ^^^^1^ ^^.^^.^ -^^ ^^^,^^^^ ,,,• ,1,,, ,|,,,.^.,. |,attles
own and their eouiilry's good and seek the ^^.^^^^ ^1^^, ..^.^,^1 ^,^^,^^.- ,,|. |^j„„. ^i^,„ya^._ By
frontier, where they are unrestrained hy law ^^^^^^^^.^ .^ |,i,uierr. he sought tlu- wilds of Illi-
and order, and again take up their line of ^^^ ._^ ^^^^^1 ,^^ ^^^.^^^^|^. crowded him too close he
march as the star of emidiv weiids its way ,.,,,,,,,^,,,1 ,,, ,i„, |',,.s||,.r scenes of .\rkansas.
toward the glowing west. 80 it was here. As ■pi,,,,,,.,^ Wat kins wa> from Kentucky and
civilization advanced this rough element pulled |,,,||„|,, d.^.y ,,„, „|„| settled there in 1820 or
up stakes and moved to other Imntier local- ,^._,^ When he sold his (laim in the grove
ities. leaving the suh.stantial element in full j^. ,.j.,„oved to the timher near where the city
possession, and thus Clary's Grove developed ,,|' petershurg now stands. He reared a large
into one of th(> most quiet and respectahle family and many of iiis descendants are resi-
neighhorhoods in the eiitir.' country, and to- .Knts of the county at the present time. When
day it is looked upon as the verv jiaradise of (ieorge Spears came to this state from Ken-
Monard eountv. The ill name -iven it hv the tucky in IS-.M. he hought Walkins out as stated
lawless deeds of the "Clary-s (irovc hoys"' is ahove. Spear< ivared a lar^e family, some of

-IS

VAS'r AM) I'KESENT UF ME.NAIID CUUN'l'V

wlioiii are still living. One son lives in Tal-
lula, John Q. Spears; and one daughter, Mrs.
George C. Spears, lives in Tallula ; and another
daughter, llrs. William T. Beekiiuin, lives in
Petersburg.

Absalom Mounts came to the grove in 1830
or 1821 and remained for a time. He built a
mill here; perhaps this was the first mill in
the county, but it was a most primitive affair
in pattern, dimensions and capacity. Whence
he came no one seemed to know, and after
awhile he removed to Mason county and was
"lost in the shuffle." James White and Robert
Conover were brothers-in-law to George Spears
and came from Green county, Kentucky.
White settled here in 1820 and Conover in
1821. Their wives were sisters of Mr. Spears,
and they, having opened farms in the grove,
reared large families, whose descendants are
scattered all over this country. The old peo-
ple, of course, liave been dead for many yesrs;
in fact their second generation are now all
gone. Hev. James and John G. White, noted
Cumberland Presbyterian preachers in this
state years ago, were sons of the pioneer James
White. Solomon Matthews, from Tennessee,
was another of the early immigrants of this
part of the country, coming in 1821 or 1822,
but he was one of those transient settlers to
be found in new countries, who, as game thins
out and becomes scarce, follow it to other
fields. Jiattlii'ws left in a few years, and where
he went, no one seems to know or care. Anoth-
er of the very early comers was Bannister Bond,
who came from Tennessee and remained for
over twenty years and then sold out and re-
moved to Iowa. Cyrus Kirby came in 182?
and located in the grove, where he became a
permanent citizen. He was originally from
Kentucky, but first settled in Madison county,
near Alton, somewhere about 1816 or 1817.
He was rather poor and, having no team to
plow his land, he took a mattoc and actually
dug U|i two acres of ])rairic and j)!anted it in
corn. Think of this, ye "silk-stockinged"
farmers, as you ride over your broad fields in
j'our sulky plows and watch with pride your
reapers and headers as they glide through the
golden grain, and remember that eighty years
;igo, [jcrhaps, some hard run. but honest far-

luer like Cyrus Kirby was toiling upon the
same spot to make bread for his children.
When Mr. Kirby died, some years ago, this
same memorable mattoc was sold at his sale
and was bought by his son and it is still treas-
ured in the family as a relic of ])ioneer days.
Mr. Kirby died here many years back. His
.son George Kirby died in 1904. at ti;e gieat
age of ninety-two years. Two of C^yrus Kir-
by 's daughters still live in this county: .Mrs.
Samuel Watkins, far up in the eighties; and
ilrs. Lewis Watkins, now in her ninety-seventh
year. .Mr. Kirby lias a large posterity in this
section of country, all of whom are well-to-do
and respected citizens. Another of the early
comers to this grove was Solomon Speer, ulio
came in 1820, with Mr. White. He and White
were brothers-in-law, and he located here, i)ut
after a few years he removed to Cass county,
where he died many yi-ars ago. Jacob and
Jesse Gum came out from Kentucky, where
most of the early settlers of this section came
from, in 1821 or 1822. and took claims. Jesse
died wiiere he settled many years ago. and
Jacob moved to Knox county, where he died.
William Clary came from Tennessee in 1.S22
or 1823 and in 1824 sold his claim to George
Spears and removed to Arkansas. Andrew
Heard came about the same time and took a
claim — the same that John Q. Spears after-
ward lived on — and sold it to George Speare
in 1824. After selling out to Spears Beard
settled on the west side of the gi'ove, where
he remained several years, and then sold and
started (o Oregon, but died on the way on
the Gulf of Mexico. Burton Lytton, also
from Kentucky, was an early .settler. Init sold
ids claim to George Spears in 1824 and re-
moved to Cass county. William Revis came
in 1822, but sold his claim to Conover in a
yifar or two and went west. ilrs. Jane Vaughn,
a widow lady, came about 1822, but in a few-
years sold her claim and moved to Kno.x coun-
ty. Joseph Watkins was here as early as 1820
or 1821. but in a short time he removed to
Little Grove, where he lived many years, and
died on the farm he had improved. John
Gum, Sr., came to the grove from Kentucky
in 1822 and settled on a claim, liut later he
removeil \,, Knox county, where be spent the

PAST AMj i'lIK&K-NT UK MKNAKD CULMi

n'liiiiiiKlL'i' ot liis life. I'lu! pionoors niuncd
abovL' laiiie to tlie grove prior to l.S"M — the
year that George Spears settled there. Sev-
eral had already moved away before that time,
for they were of that class who squat in the
w ihleriiess where game is plenty, and when
thai begins to fail they, like the Aralis, "fold
their tents and silently steal away."

Mr. Spears came here from Kentucky in
IS'M^ and, as already noted, bought the claims
of a nundu'r of jjarties whose settlement in
the grove has been mentioned above. His
father and mother came with him, far ad-
vanced in years at the lime, and died there
at a ri])e old age. lie bought the claims of
liiese squatters, for they were only claims, and
entered the land after it came into market.
After i-oming in 18"ii he entered and oi)eued
lip over three thousand acres of land and set-
tled his children around him on good farms,
lie saw the wilderness transformed until it
does indeed blossom as the rose. When he
came here the few scattering settlers who were
here had to go to Springlield to vote. He built
the second brick house that was erected in
Sangamon county, which then embraced ile-
nard, Cass, Mason and parts of two or more
counties. He lived the remainder of his days
in that house, dying only a short time ago
at more thaxi eighty years of age, and the house
is still (1905) standing and in a good state
of repair, still being occupied. The brick for
the house were made on the farm, the mud
for them being tramped with o.xen, and the
finishing lumljer, which was all walnut, was
sawed by hand with a whipsaw. He was an
earnest Christian nuin, belonging to the Bap-
tist church, and contributed, perhaps, more lib-
erally than any other man to the church in
Tallula and as liberal to all the general enter-
prises of the church.

Elias Conover was the first man who settled
out on the prairie and, as his house was four
nnles from the timber, many of the people
thought that he was demented. Conover was
from- .\ew Jersey and had an idea that he
woidd always have inexhaustible pasture for
ids stock on nature's blooming meadows, for
the eai'lv imtiiigrants all thought that the

piaiiies would never he settled, at least for
many generations. How far they missed their
guess the present state of the country shows.
Thomas Arnold came from Tennessee in 18"i()
or ISl'T and. iieing very poor, he lived on .Mr.
Spears" land till able to secure a home of his
own. lie lived on Sjjcars' land till aide to
buy a piece of his own and linally accumulated
a fair j)roperty. John Sewell, a brother-in-
law of Arnold, and William Tipjiett came at
the same time with Arnold and they also lived
on Spears" land. They were ever after spoken
;;f as honest, hard-working men and linally
secured comfortable homes. Sanmel B. Neoly
came from Tennessee in 1828 and settled in
the grove. Some years later he went to Ma-
son county, where ho died. Abraham Burgin
came from New Jersey in 1825 or 18'^G and
was a man of considerable prominence, but
after a time he went to Galesburg, where he
later died. Abraham B. ]3ell came fron." Ken-
tucky in 1826 and settled in the grove and
died there many years ago. John Kinner came
from Virginia at the same time that liell
eanic and located here. He reared a family
and has been dead many years, but his descend-
ants still live in that vicinity. William T.
Beekman came from New Jersey at a some-
what later date and married a daughter of
George Spears. Ho was a man of line char-
acter and of considerable prominence in the
county. He died recently in Petersliurg.
Other settlers, coming at a little later date,
were George, Jacob and Jesse Greene, W'illiam
Smedley. Samuel Colwell, Joseph Coddington,
Theodore Baker. Isaac X. Keding and Wiilia.n
G. Greene. Mr. Greeno was a native of Kon-
lUeky, and he and his ]iarents came here at
a very early day and they settled near "Xew
Salem,"' where the old people died in the early
history of the settlement. William G. Greene
was one of the most prominent figures, in his
day, in this part of the state. He was an
intimate friend of .Vbraham Lincoln and at
line time was associated with him in business
at Salem. He accumulated a large fortune
which he left to his children. .\. fuller account
of him is given in another place in this vol-
ume, l-rom this period it is impossible to
trace the settlements of this section, because

I'AS'I- AND I'lJHSKXT OF MK.XAl.'l) COl Nl^

111' till' vast tide wliiili \va>; in i(iiislaiit cijIi and
llow.

The trials ami iiuoinciiieiu-cs of these set-
tlers were the same as in other new eountries.
As other white peo])le Hocked to the {rrove
with undaunted eourajic they met the aneient
])ossessors ot the soil, whether savage l)easts
or savage men, and despite their strongly con-
tested right to it. suiTcrdcd in gaining a foot-
hold, wiiich has ilcvel()|]ed into the state of
civilization and material wealth that we see
around us today. 'I'hrsc [)t'oplc knew untliinL:
of railroads, had never heartl of a locomotive
aud if anyone had pi;ophesied the I'aili'oads,
telegraph.*, telephones, etc.. of the present, he
would have heen ])ut umh'r guard as a con-
Jirnied aiul dangerous lunatic. Steam thresh-
ers, sulky plows, mowers and reapers were alike
uid<nown to these early pioneers and are in-
ventions that had never entered into their wild-
est dreams. The old sod. cary or bar-shear
jilow. drawn liy three or four yoke of oxen,
was the only means kn(}\\n to thrm of subdu-
ing the soil, ^''heir nearest trading |ioinl was
Springfield, and the stock of goods kept there
was linuted and often the funds were not at
hand lo pay tlic price. Springfield was also
their nearest ])ostoffice and a Idler from the
old home cost ''two bits" or 1 wcuty-livc cents.
and often tlir hllcr would lie in llic ollicc I'oi-
a month for want of the ""(luarter"" to pay
the little l)ill. as I'ncle Sam had a way of
refusing credit to all alike. Sidling was an-
other great annoyance as mills wci-c very scarce,
and often the very early settlers had to go
twenty-five, fifty or even one luinrlred miles for
bread stuff: in fact, the Athens people in an
early day had to go to St. Louis, a distance
of one hundred and twenty miles, for meal
and llour. ()fteu for weeks, and even month>
together they were cf)mpelled to ilepend upon
the mortar to pound the corn, or the "grittcr."
as tliey eajlcd the grater, or ujioii •'lye-hondny.""
as the only siil)Stitiite for bread. .\nd then
I he prairie fires, the prairie wolves, the deep
snow, the sudden cold snap, and oiher trouliles
'ioo numerous lo mention'" beset their way.
Of lliese trials the present generation know
nothing, only as they sit by the fire and hear
some grandfather or grandmother tell the storv.

and then tiu'y often think that it must lie an
exaggerated story. But eighty-live years have
jiassed and lo I Ihe change that has taken )ilace.
Upon the face of nature these rolling years
have written th.eir n'cord and the wilderness
has ln'cn transformed into a veritable Garden
of Kileii. The i-ailroad has sn|iplanted the ox
wagon: in fact. Ihe country is a network of
railroads: the pow(>i' of the ox and horse is
superseded by that of steam aud electricity;
aud brain is now doing what iirawn did in
their day. What a change has been lirought
about ill the last eighty-live years I .\nd what
will the next eighty-five years do? Judging
the futui-c by the jiasi we coiielude that no
imagination can ])aint a picture too extravagant
to represent the changes of the coming period
of that length. To the pioneers of that day
the achievements of today would have been as
chimerical as anything ilial Jules A'crne's fer-
tile liiain could devise. What will it be? In
eighty-live years we will sail through the air
as securely and eomfmlalily as we now glide
over these jii'airies in the cars. We really be-
lieve this will lie the ease. What a day that
will be. Insti'ad of buggies or aulos or steam
or electric turnouts, we will have double back-
action, electric-aulomalie repeating sky-scrap-
ers. The church entrance will then lie down
the >|iiie: and on Sunday morning the sky will
be fidl of gaily ailorned turn-outs, or turn-u)is.
on the way to elnirch. It's funny, hut it's com-
ing. No moi-e >iranL;i' to \is than the present
achievements would ba\i' been to our grand-
fathers.

The lirst practicing physician in this seetion
of country was 1 ir. .Mien, of I'etershnrg; and
Dr. Hcnier was the lii'st disciple of .\esculai>ius
to settle in Clary's Grove. When he lirst came
he was a bachelor and be hoarded with George
Spears. This was in 1S',;S or IS^H. In a
little while he took unto hiins(df a wife and
went to housekeeping. The conditions in those
days were such that ]icople could not all'ord to
get sick and hence doctors wviv far less im-
portant personages than they arc now. .\ man
who owned a mill or a lilacksmitb shop was a
bigger man than any doctor. It was generally
believed then that the women could do all th<'
"iloctorin'j" needed with catidp ti'a and bone-

I'As'i'.wn i'i;i;si:.\-i- oi- \ii:\.\i;ii cdi \'|•^■ -)i

set. EobiTt Ariii.sti-oii>;- was the lirsl justic-e ol' lhi> n<i\v vciicraiilc i-liurcli was H(>v. Jacol)

the peace in tlio i^mve anil, as we are infornud. (inm. witli IidIktI Coimver as clerk ol" the ses-

liad Inn little k\L:al kimu Icdur. ills r.niiiliar- sidii. The lirsi cliiircli lumk was iiiaile nf I'ools-

ity with U'ual teeliliicalities was limited in the cap |iaper and l)iiiuul with jiastelioard. The

extreme and his eonrts were the theater of early meetim;s of the soeiel \ were held ( Tor the

many luimoroLis scenes as one illiisl ration «ill iimsi pari alleriuilelv ) al the hemes ol' (ieorjje

servt' to show: A ease came hefore him one Spears and Hoijcrt Conoxer. i'roni a period

day in whieh a couple (d' lawyers were em- ;i few years after the oriranization till 1S|.") a

])loyed. Al'icl' the easc> had heen deeidc'd the loi; si-hoolhoiise (llie one spoken (d' aliove) was

did'eated lawyer gave notice that he a|)iH'aled used by the society as a place of worsiiip. Dur-

tlie case from his decision, when the oilier law- in<r the year last mentioned the society erected

yer nndji'ed him and whisprivd in his ear: a substantial rrami' Imilding-. thirty l>y fcu'ty

"Doirt allow him lo appeal." The justice drew feet in dimensions, which was used as a church

liiiriself up with all the diiznity emhodied in building imtil 1S71. This building is thought

the ponderous form of |ia\id Daxis. and re- to have cost about two thousand dollars and

plied: "Tlieri- is no appiai; 1 allow no a|i- was built under a eoidrael with William T.

)ieal from this eourl. sir." Bcekinan. who ilid the principal pari id' the

The first sehool taught in Clary's (Jrove was carpenter work, .\fler this lasi date Ihe so-
taught by .lames Fletcher in a house on the ciety removed to the village of Tallula. where
land of (leorge Spears about 182.5. Fletcher they erected a sjdendid house of worship. See
loidd not have gotten a first grade certificate further account of ihi> umler the In, -id
at the present day, but we are informed that "Churches." Kev. John M. Ileriy. a Ciimiier-
he could spell words of two syllables and i-ead land Presbyterian minister \v ho li\ri| on Koik
fairly well by skij)ping the hard words, lie n-eek. was also one of the early pi-eaiiiers in
was the best, however, to be secured in those the grove. In his day but few eliunh ho\ises
times and the people were obliged to iie satis- had been erected in this |iart of the state and
lied with him. This log temple of leai'iiing he was an ilinei-anl in the fullest sense of the
served the citizens of the grove for a luunber word. Bui he preached everywliere and all
of years, in fact till it was burned down, '^i'he the time. .\ Christian church was organi/.ed
eommunity then ei-eiied a hewed log house, in the grove in ISIll with the following mem-
whieh ser\eil iheni for a iiumbrr of years as hers: .Tohn Wilson, William i~. White, .lane
a sehoolhouse as well as a ehiirch. White. Jesse L. Trailor, Obedience Trailor and

'{''he lirst cinirc'h organization in the grme Lydia A. Caldwell. Services were held in pri-
was Clary's (irovr Uaptist ihunh. which many vate residences till ISK, when a eoinfortalile
claim was the lirst organization of a i-eligimis little church was built on the farm of William
charac-ter in what is now ^lemird county. But Sinedley. In this house they worshipped initil
some most strenuously deny ibis, allirming that ISIM. when they sold it and ereeted anoiher
the ^^ethodist class al .\tl:ens was prior to it. house in the village of Tallula as noticed in
This dispute can ne\er lie settled now. The another place. The inevitalile Methodist eir-
reeords show that the Clary's Grove Ba])tist cuit rider used to ]iass this way as ihey go
church was organized on the •.'.'>th day of l)e- into every place with the old. old story, but
eend'cr (Cliristmas day) 18".' 1, the ordaining lliry seem never to liave gotten a hold in any
presljvtery consisting of William I'. Crow, pait of this entire territory. Xo Methodist
William Kollin and James Bradley. The con- ICpiscojial church liouse has ever been built
siituent members were thirteen in number, or society organized within the limits of this
namely: George Sjiears, .Sr.. Mary Spears, entire settlement so far as we can learn. We
li'ev. Jacob Gum. Samuel Combs. Sr.. .lane believe that of late years the "Sanctilied" Jletli-
Coml s. Ezekiel Harrison and wife. M. Hough- odi.sts have formed a societv and built a house
ton ,ind wife. I']lijah Iloughlon. Hubert Con- in the village of Tallula. but we have no re-
oxer .-ind llanmdi Whits. The lirst pastor of liable data to give loiu'crning them.

I'. VST AM) i'i;i:si:\T di' \ii;\ai;ii {(UXT^"

Talluh). a mil liltk' gem of a village, is
situated on the southwest side of Clary's Grove
on the Jaeksouville division of the Chicago &
Alton Kailroad and is surrounded by as fine
a section of farming country "as lies out of
doors." In thr latter jiart of 1857 the town
was laid out by William G. Greene, J. G.
Greene, Kiehard ^atis. Theodore Baker and
W. G. Spears. The iimiih' was given by the
last named gentleman and it is said to be an
Indian word meaning "dropping water," but
if the existence of the town deijcndcd on the
meaning of the word there would never be any
Tallula except when it rained, for there is no
other water near there to "drop." Nevertheless
it is a pretty name, whether it is appropriate or
not. and its sound is as musical as the country
around it is beautiful. 'I'lic lirst bouse was
erected soon after the town was laid out by
W. (1. S]]eais and was afterward owned by K.
B. Thrapp. The next building was put up liy
Hob( I't M. Kwing and so nearlv at the same
time with S|iears" tliat it is hard to say which
was really the iirst. The lirst store was o|ieiU'd
in January. 18.")8, by Thrajip \- Sjicars. which
firm continued about eight months, when
Spears retired, and Thrapp continued tn I'un
the inisiness alone. The postotlice was estali-
lished there in 1858 with V. S. Thra])]) as
postmaster. Hugh Hieks opened the first
blacksmith shop in 1859. Dr. J. F. Wilson
was the first practicing ]ihysician to hang out
his shingle in the new village. .\s soon as the
railroad began operation 1-". S. Thrapp began
the business of buying grain. Jle bought and
shi])])ed at first from wagons, but later he built
a grain warehouse. About 1876 or 1877 A. T.
Gaylord built an elevator at a cost of about
four thousand dollars and ran the business for
gome time. .\t present Mr. Hushman is run-
ning the elevator. In the past Thrapp, Gay-
lord. Bell Brothers and ('. l'>. I.aning & Com-
pany have run Ibis business here. The first
hotel was run l)y Mrs. Hrooks. but the first
building ])Ut up for the purjjose was built l\v
Frank Spears ami run by bim for some lime.
iMrs. Zolman at one time kept the h'evcre
House. .1. F. Wathen has been the vcti'ran host
for Tallula. Charles Greene atui a man by the
name of Peal sunk a coal shaft here in 1S7:>

oi- ISli and it has been w(U-kcd almost con-
stantly since by one and anotlur. This coal is
about two hundred feet below the surface and
the vein is a little over si.Y feet thick. The first
school taught in the village was by Miss Sarah
Hroeknutn in 1859 in the district schoolhouse,
which stood just outside the corporate limits.
This may seem an Irish bull, but it was termed
the village school and was patronized by the
childrcu of the town. The German Reformed
church was afterward used as a schoolhouse.
Till present school building was erected in
18tiS-9 at a cost of from eight to ten thousand
dollars, beside three acres of land, on which it
stands, donated by Mr. Greene. The original
building contained four elegant rooms, with
closets, cloak-room. etc. During the summer of
IMOI twii more elegant rooms — up to ilaie in
every respect — were added. Tallula has always
striven to have the best schools in the couiitv
and has often succeeded. (See under bend
"Ivlucatiou.")

'''allula was incorporated a- a village under
the general law in 1872 with the fullowing as
tliL^ first board of trustees: J. F. Wilson. K. 11.
Bean. J. T. Bush. J. F. Wathen and F. S.
Tbrapp. who organized for Inisincss by elec'ting
i;. II. Hean president of the board. At pn-enl
the population is about a thousand and the
the business of the town is all that could be
expected of a place of its size. It has a nuniiier
of good general stores, a bank, drug store, hotel,
lumberyard, with shops of various kinds and
the inevitable saloon, but in justice it may be
said that Tallula has had saloons but a very
small p(nlion of the time since it began. (For
churches, cemetery and schools, see under their
appropriate heads.)

The village of "Iiusbaway," once a thriving
business place, almost equal to what Tallula is
now, has "rushed away" and is now among the
things that were. It was laid out l>y .1. T.
U\\>\\ and William Workman sometime in the
early fifties, but the exact date is not known.
The first store was kept l>y .T. T. Rush and a
man bv the iianu' of Way. These two names
connected in iuisini'ss combined together make
the name Hushaway. which was given to the vil-
lage. F. S. Tlivapp bad a store there also. .\
postotlice was also established, with Rusli as

AST A\i) ri;i:si-;\'|- oi- Mb:\\iM) (■n]•\■^^■

])o.-;tiiiastor. When llic ( 'hiciiiii iV A linn Kail-
mad wati liiiill it iiiissiil llic iciwii a mill' nr
two and on tin' la\ini; out of 'I'allida a |iart of
I he town rushed there and I lie rest rushed to
Ashland. The postolliee was renuncd to Tal-
hda and the nanu> elianiicd. 1'he |iro|irieloi s
of the railioad. it i> said, wduld ha\e run the
roa.l thi-ough the villai;c if tluy had i-ecei\(d
the proper eneonraucnienl. hut the people of
liiishaway. helievint; that the road wotdd he
ohJiMod to u(i thiit way, stood upon their di"-
nily ami even i-efnsed to grant the riiiht of way.
oidy at the highest marUct priee. .Vs a conse-
quonec. tlie foad was locale<l elsewhere and
17ushaway was left out in the eold. Tin' coni-
pletion of the road sealed theii' doom and.
as already staled. |iart of the town went to
Tallida and a part to .\shlaiid. .\t present
there is nothing to show that siuh a town I'ver
existed. The site is now a tloiirishing farm ami
orchard and th(> passing stranger woidd !»■
surprised to learn thai a thriving village had
once stood where now the "yellow har\est.'
wave."

SfdAH GROVE.

If wc did not know that the Garden of Eden
was somewhere on the eastern continent, soiu"
one woidd have arisen long ago with the proofs
that it mu>t have heen located somewhere in
the vicinity of Sugar Grove, but only two of
the fiHir rivers can he located in the Grove,
and these are (Jrove creek and Pike crecdc, near
by. so this settles it. hut the earlv comers must
have thought of Ivli'u when they helield around
them

"hearth's unmimhered llowers
-Ml turning up their gentle eyes to heaven;
The birds, with hriglit wings glancing in the

sun,
Filling the air with rainbow miniatures,"

and combining to restore, in all its loveliness,
"lost Eden's faded glory." Xo liner ilivision
of country could mortal crave than is found in
this |)ortion of Menard (-(lunty. Fine rollijig
prairie, with as rich a soil as exists auywlu'i-e.
with here and there a grove of timber, scattered
over the undulating plain like islands slumber-
ing in the ocean, is no oM-rdrawn picture of this

s.'elion of country, cspccialh a> the lirst settlers
saw^ it. But the hand of civilization diil not
come to mar hut to adm-n ami under its magic
touch its virgin beauty has been enlianced un-
til it is, indeed, a veritable Ivleii. It has im-
proved under the sway of man. as the fields
of waving grain, the blooming orchards and
countless herds of thriving stock abundantly
testify. We do not speak of this section now
as a politii-al division, but rather as a center
of an early settlement. One of the first settle-
ments made in ^lenai'd cMUinty was nuule in
Sugar Grove. In the year I81!t. the same year
that Clary settled in Clary's Grove. Janes
Meadows settled on the east side of Sugar
Grove, jierhaps (ui tin' laiul now owned bv
Mr. Jones. Meadows came from Ohio and
located near Alton in the year 18 IS, but the
I'oUowing spring he came to this ))lace. In
the spring of 1833 he sold his claim to Leonard
Alkire. and removeil to the west side of Sugar
Grove aiul took a claim there, on which be
lived till a few years before his death. He
died in (Jreenview in tlie year IStiO, at an ad-
vanced age. His last claim that he made is
now o\vn<'<l liy II. II. Marljold, of Greenview.
He liinit the "tread-wheel mill" described in
another ])laee. Mrs. Ferry Bracken, now living
at an advanced age, with her son-in-law. John
Hlane, of fJreenview, is a daughter of Mr.
^leadows. the only member of his family now
living. Jacob Boyer came to the (Jrove with
Mr. ;\[eadows and they campeil the first night
at a spring on the farm that was afterward
the home of Milem .\lkire. The Sugar Grove
cemetery is near that spring. The next morn-
ing, being struck by the beauty of the sur-
roundings and the abundance of pure water
afforded by the spring, Mr. Boyer said, "This
is my future home," and at once staked off
his claim ami settled there. Meadows settled,
as noticed above, on what has for many years
been known as "'the Jack .\lkire place." Boyer
also sold out to Feonard .Vlkire in the spring
of 1823. Oidy a few days after the settlement
of Boyer and ileadows, the Blanes came to
the Grove. The Blane family consisted of
four brothers, Robert. William, John ami
George, and their mother and one sister. They
were from the Emerald Isle, the gem of the

j'As'i- AMt i'i;i:si;\-i' of .mi:\ai;ii ( oint^-

ocean, and being the first Irisli to settle bun-,
and among the very first wbite people Iiere.
it is not strange tbat one of tbese groves
should be called "Irish Grove." Williani
Blane died in an early day; John soon returned
to Ireland, where he remained aljoiit twenty-
five years, and then returned to the settlement ;
Robert and the sister removed to Wisconi^in,
leaving George and the motlur ou the place
that they originally settled. In 1833 George
and his mother sold their ]ilaee to Leonard
Alkire, and removed to the mu'tliwest side of
the grove, where they both diid. The Blanes
were well educated men, and George in early
times held many offices of trust and honor.
He was an old line Whig, and after its organ-
ization he joined the Eepubliean party, in
which faith he lived and died. In the year
1S",^I1. IJoljind (iraiit eanie to the (irove and
in-ought with him a lot of sheep, tl'.e first of
these animals that were brought to this jiart
of tile <'iiuntr\. (irant came here fnim Ohio.
but he was originally from Kentucky, and
when a year or two later the .\lkires came,
he sold out to them and removed to Island
Grove, in Sangamon eounty. His brother.
William Grant, who came with him to the
Grove, also snli] mit to the Alkires and removed
with his brother. Like many other settlements
in the county, many of tlie ])ioueers were
from Virginia and Kentucky. The following
Kentuckians came here among the early set-
tlers: Leonard .Mkire and family. Williani
Engle, Lemuel Otiille. the llii-he-. Wesley
Wbipp, Samuel MciSTabb, the Pentccosts, John
and George Stone, a man named Parsons, ^Mat-
thew Bracken, Williani Douglas, and perhaps
several others. The Alkires and William Engle
came here from Ohio, liut they were originally
from the Old Dominion, thence went to Ken-
tucky, and afterward to Ohio. William Engle
came in the spring of 1823, raised a crop and
then went back and brought out the family of
Leonard Alkire. (This is the statement gen-
erally made, but the writer is satisfied that
Mr. Engle came in 1822, for the testimony of
all is that Alkire bought the claims of Mea-
dows, Boyer, and others, in Ihe spring of
1823.) ^Mr. Engle was a bachelor when he
came to Illinois but he soon after married the

daughter of Leonard Alkire. Jlr. Engle be-
came one of the most prominent and best
known men in this seetion of the state and
dill more i'nv tile material development and ad-
vancement of that part of Menard county
than any other man. lie took an active part
in the organization of the county, was one of
the first commissioners, represented the county
in the state legislature and was the first mer-
chant in east Menard outside of Athens. Mr.
Engle was liberal in his views, a never-tiring
advocate of religion and education, and always
stood as an advocate of the right. .\s before
stated, he married a daughter of Leonard Al-
kire and they spent their (irst winter in a camji
that stood near where the village of Sweet-
water now stands. He then luiilt a cabin
northwest of tlie village, where he lived and
reared his family, lie lived tn a gond did age.
lespeeted by all. and was prominent in all the
affairs of that section of Illinois for more
than half a century, lie died in March, IS'O.
He reared a large family, several of the sons
being still living, scattered over the west. Only
two of the family still live in this county:
^Frs. William C. Smoot, of Curtis; and Mrs.
William Clayjjole, four miles east of Green:
view. ^Ir. Engle's mother (a widow at the
time) came to this settlement about ten year«
after her son. Slic was a genuine pioneer lady,
large and almost as stout as a man, kind and
benevolent to all, a great nurse and friend in
times of sickness iind distress. She passed to
her reward long years ago, her memory revered
and honored by all wdio knew her. As already
stat^'d, Leonard Alkire was a native of Vir-
ginia but emigrated to Kentucky or was taken
there by his parents when very young. Arriv-
ing at man's estate and having taken to himself
a wife, he removed to the stato of Ohio, where
he remained until he removed to Illinois, in
the spring of 1823. While he resided in Ohio
he to a large extent followed the business of
buying up stock, which he <lrove to more east-
ern markets, a business at tbat day exposing
one to considerable danger. t)n one of his trips
hmiie. after having disposed of his drove of
stoek. he traveled on horseback, having tl;e
Tuoney he had received, which was nearly all
silver, ill a ])air nf saddlebags on his sadille.

I'AST AMt i'i;|';si-;n'1' oi' .\!i;\.\i;i) cni wrv

"III swininiinij the Oliio rivt'iv" t^ays a local
writer, '■'poreiu'd on his hands and foot on to|i
of tiiu saildlc. his slurdy and trusly roadstor,
stonnniuu I ho rajiid ourront witii groat conr-
ago and onn-uy. wiion ncarini;' tlio opposito
shoro siuhlcnly went ih^uii. luit with a last
dosporato st niguio, as if for life, ho sucooodod
in landing his niastor on tho solid ground,
whon ^Ir. Aikiro niado liio discovery that tho
saddlo-hags, fillod witJi tho silver, liad in some
way fallen from liis horse, hul hail hung to
the stirrup in such a way as to greatly iMi|iode
tho otforts of the horse while struggling in llir
water, thus iin])('rilinu iini onlv the hard-
earned oash of the owner hut the life of lioth
horse anil rider." ili'aring so many ropoatod
stories of the auuizing lieauty and fertilitv of
the ''far west,'" as Illinois was then ealled. he
made a tri]> of inspeotion to the country.
.Mmie and mi horseliaok ho e.\plored this then
almost unlirnken wilderness. By chanee liis
route led hiui to Sugar drove. JMitering it
ujjon tho south side, ho reached a point from
which the seeiu' was viewed to advantage and
s1o|]|ied 1(1 Iniik around liiin. lii' was so iui-
prosed with the wealth and spleiidur iif what
lie saw. that lhiiuL;li there alone am! no one
to hear lu' reined u|i his horse and shouted al
the top of his voice: '"Hurrah foi- old Ken-
tucky, tho garden spot of the wmldl" \rr\
soon he came upon the claim of dames Mea-
dows, and hoing so [ileasod with the country
and tlu' surroundings, ho soon bought the claim
of Mr. Mi^adows. He tiien returned home, sold
his Ohio farm and. tho following spi'ing, he
came to the Grove and .-ettled where the re-
mainder of his life was spent. .lolm .\lkiro,
his lather, oam(> in a few years. John .\lkiro
had removed from A'irginia to Kentucky in
an early day. during those hloody wai's with
the Indians whicii gave that state tho ajipolla-
tion that it has ever since worn and will wear
in all coming time, "The |)ai-k and llloodx
rjround,"' and like all the other ])ionoers of tho
time he liore an active part in those wars. He
died liei'e and was hui'ied in what is known as
the Ulane graveyard. Leonard Aikiro i)uill the
lirst hrick house that was built in tho tlion
oountv of Sangamon, now Menard. .\s uole<i
elsewhere. (icor;.'e Spcar>. ot ('lai'\"s (ii'oxe.

huilt tho second brick house that was erected in
the same county. Alkiro"s house was bnilt
seventy-seven years ago, and it was still stand-
ing a few years back. To his son, Miloni .\1-
kiro, and to John l']ngle and Jesse lingland,
wo are imleMed for most of tho facts con-
cerning the earl\ iiisior\ of this section of the
count}'. 'J'lio wi'itcr has in his ohl diaries
many stories told by those men and William
Kngle, James Meadows, and other old citizens
all over tho county. T.ooiuird .Mkiro died in
1877. The following will show the onerg}'
and public spirit of tlie man. .\boiit ls■?,'^ or
1830, he was appointed by the commissioners
of Sangamon county, road supervisor of the
district he lived in, which was larger than the
present county of i\[enard. He was ordor(>d to
open a road from near the mouth of Salt creek
to Havana, on the Illinois rixcr. .\ groat im-
pediment to travel in that ro\ite in those days
was the Crane creek swamp. lie called to-
gether all the able-bodied men in that region,
and taking wagons, teams, a.xes, etc., he pro-
ceeded to the timber, where ho made rails,
hauled them to the swamp, and laid them down
for a fotuidation for a idail; then he cut large
i|uaiiliti(s o|' ^wanip gi-a>s, which grew there in
aliinidanee, and spread this over the rails. He
iii'\t drove forked sticks astride ])oles. which
were laid lengthwise across the ends of the rails
to kn-op the water from Moating the rails away,
and tluai spread five or si.\ inches of sand over
the gi'ass. In this way he constructed a road
oM^r the swani]). whicli served the purpose fully,
and lasted for many years without repair.

Lemuel OlHIlo and tho Hughes came among
the eai'ly settlors about the sanu' tiuu\ James
Hughes was a Xew IJght, or as called now, a
"Christian" preacher, and one of the first of
this ihuiimiiiialion in this part of the c(uintry,
although one of their founders, liarton W.
Stoiu'. had proachod in the Clary's Crovo sot-
tlemi'Ut a little hefore thi-. One of bis sons,
l)aniol T. Hughes, was one of tho respected
|)reachers of this chnrch, in this part of tho
state, and li\i'd in this section tnitil his death,
some twelve or lifleon years hack. One of
dames Hughes" sons, Hugh I). Hughes, was
cuie of tho first residents of tlie village of
Sweetwater aiul was one of the builders of the

5(i

PAS'!' AM) IMJKSKXT OF MEXAK'lt ((UN TV

mill wliii'li \va# oiK'rateil tliiTe so lung. Ollillc
and till' Hiiglies e-anie Iktc Iroiii liuliaua,
but they were originally from Kentucky. Hugh
1). liughos niarrii'd a ilaughter of Mr. Oliille.
Wesley Whipp cajne about the time of "the
deep snow." He married a daughter of Leon-
ard Alkire, died many years ago and was laid
to rest in the Sugar Grove cemetery. One of
his sons, Leonard Whipp, one of the leading
lawyers of the jjlace. now resides in Peters-
burg. Samuel JIcNabb came previous to 1824
and his brother-in-law came about the same
time. Tliey have both been dead many long
years. Pentecost, and his sons, William, John
and George, came in 1824 or 1825. The old
gentleman's first name is not remembered and
he and all his sons left the neighborhood a great
many years ago. John Stone came about the
time of the "deep snow." He had a number of
sons: William, James, Stephen, Henry, Boyd
and Oliver. A man named Par.sous. a brother-
in-law of the Stones, came to this country with
them, or about that time. He liad two sons,
William and Joseph. The old gentleman and
William died many years ago, but Joseph was
mail carrier between Sweetwater and Green-
view a great many years. William Douglas
was here as early as 1831 or 1832, and settled
in Irish Grove. Matthew Bracken came in
1S24 or 1825, and settled here imt afterward
sold out to Nicholas Propst and removed to
Woodford county, where lie died long since.
A man by the name of ilcKinney ranks among
the early settlers of this section but we are
unable to learn the particulars concerning his
life. With several others he was returning
from a horse race and they got up a race of
their own, in which McKinney was thrown
from his horse and so badly injured that he died
from the effect in a short time. It is said that
he was probably the first one buried in the
Sweetwater cemetery and that some one stuck
the switch, with which he was riding when he
was thrown, in the center of his grave and it
took root and grew and is now a huge tree.
Any way, the tree is still pointed out, and it
leaves no sign of any grave having ever been
there. Enoch B. Smith came to this settle-
ment in 1821 and his nephew, Josiah B. Smith,
in 1824. The latter was an old line Whig, and

took a very active part in politics. Enoch B.
Smith settled in south end of Irish Grove and
his son Jordan settled in the same vicinity.
Enoch B. Smith died in 1841 and all his fam-
ily are dead, so far as we can learn. Mrs.
Jesse England was his daughter. Jesse Eng-
land settled here in 1824 and lived here his
entire life, dying on his old homestead in 1!)U3,
having lived there for seventy-nine years. Jlr.
England's father came from Ohio to Sanga-
mon county in 1819 and was the first white
maji to settle on the east or north side of the
Sangamon river, and his daughter was the first
white woman to settle north of the Sangamon.
John S. Jennison was a native of the old Bay
State, and came to Sugar Grove in 1822 or
1823. He sold his claim to Leonard Alkire
and moved to Baker's Prairie. His son, Luther
Jennison, lives on a farm near Greenview, as
does his daughter. Mrs. Jerinan Tice, and an-
other son, John Jennison, has lived for some
years in California. About the year 1825, two
iiTothcrs. Josei)h and Samuel Powell, and
l)rotliers-in-law of Leonard Alkiie, came from
Ohio here. i>ut were natives of the Old
Dominion. They reared large families here
and finally died, and their families scattered
and moved away, some going to Fulton county
years ago, and others going to Oregon. Nicho-
las Propst came here from Virginia and set-
tled in Sugar Grove before the winter of "the
deep snow." He was of German descent and a
verj' eccentric, though a good, man. He died
many years ago. .\ caliinet-makcr in the neigh-
borhood was indebted to him and not having
the fmids on hand to cancel the obligation, he
told Propst that he would make him anytliing
in the furniture line that he might need.
Propst told him that he did not need anything
in that line just at the ])resent but that some
day he would need a coffin and if he chose to
make him one he might do so. The cabinet-
maker went to work on the coffin and ^Ir.
Propst superintended the work and had it com-
pleted to his own taste. When the coffin was
done there was still a small balance due to
Mr. Propst. .so he had him make a long bench
on which to lay him out when the time
came for him to "shuffle off this mortal coil."
Being thus far prepared for final dissolution.

'AS'I'.WD i'liKSl'lXT Ol'' MMNAI.'K ('()^■^■^^"

lie made I'urtlior arrMUjiCiiieiits for his last
rest by liaving a toinlistime cut out of a solid
limestone, with the simple iiisri'i|itiiin : "■Xieh-
olas Propst," hewn mi ii. Win n lie iiiially
died lie was laid awa\ in Suiiar Ci-uve lmr\ing-

grouud, and tliis saii

stone, without any

other letter or mark, was set up at the head of
his grave and marked his humble bed till time
crumbled it baek to dust. AJ'ter the coffin
was completed he got into it. as he said, "to
try it. to see how it woulil lit." lie afterward
told Kev. John Alkire that it seared him like
li — I when he got into it. .lohn Wright came,
some time liefore ISIK). it is believed from
Ohio but of this we are not sure, lie bought
out Samuel .Mkire. a cousin of l,(<uiard .\1-
kire. who had settled hrr<' in IS'.' I or 1^2'j.
and hr ri'iiiovcd to Indiana aflei- soiling to
Wright. Aftrr li\ing in the (Jrove for sev-
'I'al years Wright -nM mii an<l removed to
I'etersburg. and aftoiwai'd hi' built the first
bridge over the Sangamon river at that jilace.
William Gibbs came heiT from lialtimore hut
was an Englisliman by birth. lie bouglit
Wright out when he removed to Petersburg.
Heuben D. Black came from Ohio, and after
living- here for a time he married a daiishler
of Leonard Alkire. Black was a physician and
years ago left here, removing to llissonri.
ISIO-IDO.").
Highty-six years! What an insignificant
point of time, when compared to the ages of
tlie world's past history ! Even time itself is
only

" a brief arc.

Cut from eternity's mysterious orb.

.\nd cast beneath the skies — "

and yet what a vast record these eighty-six
years have borne with them from the world.
T?evolutions have swept over the earth, as
troubled visions sweep over the breast of
dreaming sorrow. Cities have arisen and flour-
isheil for a little season and then have perished
from the earth, leaving not even a trace to
mark the spot where once they stood. Nations
and empires have sprung into lieing, gathering,
in a few decades, the strength of centuries,
and then as suddenly have sunk from the world
forever. The changes and luiglitv events that

have occurred in our own county, in a few short
years, are equally astounding. The coming of
the steamboat, the building of llie railroad,
the telegraph, the telephone, and all the won-
derful work of electricity are but a few of these
astounding events. Eighty-six years ago when
James Jfeadows erected a log cabin in Sugar
drove, lie could not have believed that to-day
would present the changes that we see, even
if one had '"arisen from the dead"' to proclaim
it. \\'here were the wild prairies and the
densely wooded groves and tangled dells, inhab-
ited only by Iiulians. wolves, panthers, and
other wild animals, arc now vast fields of wav-
ing grain: and the palatial home of the farmer,
with I'MM-y c-omfort and convenience that the
heart could wish, now stands where the hunter's
cabin or the Indian's wigwam then stood. Ail
these changes are dilTicult to realize by any
but those who have witnessed them. Think
for a moment of some of the trials that these
pioneers experienced; the difficulty, for in-
stance, of securing the absolute essentials of
life. Sometimes a trip was made to St. Louis
for such supplies as salt, flour, sugar and cof-
fee, when the settler could afford such lux-
uries. James Meadows made more than one
trip to that city, in a canoe, by way of the
Sangamon. Illinois and Mississipjii rivers.

Jaiiic'< MiXalili taught the first seboid in
that settlement, in a log caliin that stood near
where (Jregory Lukiiis lived so long, west of
Sweetwater. As his old pupils, if any of tiiem
are still alive, look back to the days when he
ruled with a rod of iron, they may call to mind,
no doubt, the familiar lines of Goldsmitli :

"Beside yon straggling fence that skirts the

way,
With blossoming furze uuprofitably gay,
Tlu'rc, in his noisy mansion, skilled to rule.
The village master buight his little school ;
A man severe he was and stern to view ;
I knew him well, and every truant knew:
Well had the boding tremblers learned to

trace
The day's disaster in his morning face:
Full well they laughed, with counterfeited

glee,
At all his jokes, for many a joke had he :
Full well the busy wdiisper circling round
Conveyed the dismal tidings when he frowned;
Yet lie was kind, or if severe in aught.

.IS

I'AS'I- AND I'U'KSKXT (i K Mi:\\i;|i ((UN'I'Y

The love he Iwre to kniniinj; was hi< faiih.
Amazed the gazing nisties ranged around ;
And still they gazed, and still tlio wonder

grew
That one small head could carry all he knew."

If this teacher could he permitted to return
and see the state of education now and look
into our schoolrooms and see the helps and ad-
vantages that our children now enjoy, he would
conclude doubtless that his sleep in the grave
had been much longer than it really has.

The religious history of this section is given
in another place, but we will enter into some
detail, in this case, that we may nut be obliged
to do so in other cases, as the history of the
trials and difficulties that one couimunity had
to meet, is similar to that of all others.

Rev. John Alkire, Rev. Hughes and Kcv.
.\bner Peeler (who after a few years removed
to Woodford county) were the early divines
of the New Light, or, as they afterward pre-
ferred to be called. Christian church. A con-
gregation of this faith was organized here in
quite an early day. They first worshipped in
a house that stood near the old home of Greg-
ory Lukins and was used lor Imih cbunli and
school purposes. It was built of logs, had a
puncheon floor, was covered with clapboards,
and had a fireplace, with stick or "cat and
clay,'" chimney, at each end. In 1838 they
built a frame church, eighteen by twenty feet,
on the same site, and it, like the former, w^as
used for both church and school purposes. In
1848 this frame building was replaced by a
brick edifice on the same site. After the vil-
lage of Sweetwater was laid out this church
was converted into a dwelling, and the society
erected a large and substantial brick church in
the village. This building still stands and is
occupied by the congregation, seemingly in as
good a state of repair as when first built. It
is still oecupicd by a prosperous congregation.

The Presbyterians have a good house of wor-
ship in Sweetwater and tlie Rev. Thomas
preaches regularly to them.

Sweetwater was laid out by William Englc
and the Alkires in the year 1853. It is located
on sections 31 and 3'2. in township 19, range
5. It is near Sugar Grove, which, before the
woodman's a.x had defaced its beautv, was one

of the prettiest groves of timber in Illinois.
Engle had for some time liad a store on bis
farm and when the village was laid out the Al-
kires opened a store there, and soon after this
Mi-. Engle moved his store there too. Soon
after the village was laid out a petition was
sent ii|i asking for a postoffice at Sugar (Jrove.
Mr. Ihiiris then represented this distriri in
congress and when he made the application he
was informed that there was a Sugar Grove
postoflice in the state already, and he wrote
to this effect to Mr. Engle. He consulted with
some of the neighbors aliout the matter and
they decided that as the water of the sugar-
trees, which formed the grove, was sweet, that
Sweetwater would be ne.xt thing to Sugar
drove, and so that name was adopted. One
citizen informed the writer, however, that the
town had another name, that it was often
called "Chloeville."" Pointed questioning drew
from this citizen ti'e following statement: At
one time there was an old lady lived in the
village whose first name was Chloc. "and some
one, in acknowledgement."' said our informant,
■'of her general cussedness, as a burlesque,
called the town after her."" William Engle
was the first postmaster in the ])lace ; Jacob
Propst, Jr., was the first blacksmith : Dr. John
M. Hughes was the first ])hysician ; Deal &
Hughes built and operated the first mill. The
business of the town, at the ]iresenf, may i)e
thus summed u|i: Two good general stores,
a blacksmith sliop. a physician. Dr. Hill, two
churches, and a schoolhouse of two riimiis. The
town, we believe, has never be<'n incorporated,
i)ut the general moral sentiment is such that
they do not need such protection as this would
iiring. The writer has no disjiosition to make
light of sacred things, but if the story of the
"Soul Sleeper'" troubles in the Sweetwater
iluinh could he told, as a citizen once told it,
the demand for these pages would be immense,
but this we will not undertake to do. and will
close this chapter by a brief reference to the
churches here. The schoolhouse was built in
IStiS or 1870. at a cost of about four thousand,
live hundred dollars. The Christian church
was built years ago, at a cost of about three
thou.sand, five hundred dollars. The congre-
gation was a large, peaceful nml iimsperous

I'As'r AM) I'U'i'.sMN'r di' Mi:\\i;ii t■(l^\•^^• .-.o

OIK'. ;is aiiv in tlic hiiiil. lill niic Hhlir S|>ccr, I'cw dlil |icii|ili' arc now livini; wlio can rciiiciii-
of Indiana, was eallod to the pastorate. lli~ ln'i llu' i;i-c:!l ironmastor and lii? dwds of cnirr-
[ii-facliini;- was all ri^dit I'or a time, for he was a prise. Strange tales, liowever. coidd these lew
man of far more tiian ordinary al)ilitv, liiil tell of his "cast iron coliors" that could jet
liv and l)_v he began to preach the most material coal hy machinery, of his eccentricity, of his
liiTiii of "soul-sloopiug."' It is enough to say wealth, and of his singular superstition. .\s
tliat the church was rent asunder, the greattr an illustration of this lattei-. wi' are told, that
jtart of the memhers, j)erliaps. endorsing the dii his deathhcd he declared his conviction tlial
ncu doctrines, and so infatuat<'d and insane at the end of seven years lie would i-eturn to
did they ln'come that they were ahsolutely look- the earth again. His work people showed a
ing for the immediate coming of Christ, singular aversion to handing his name down to
Some went so far as to say that they expected posterity, as if they felt tiiemscdvcs the secui'est
to go fishing with the Savior in Salt creek, anardians of his virtue and his fame. l"or \\\<
Klder ,1. K. Speer would imi accept a slipu- wonderful aliility. for l'i> depth of scicntilic
lated salary. "0, no, all he wanted was a liv- reseaieh. Wilkinson deserves to live in the
ing."' and the faction that followed him olf annals (d' industry and enterprisi'. His friend-
were wealthy and full of zeal, and "he was jhip for Honlton and Walt makes it remark-
clothed in |iur]ile and line linen and fared ahle that his name should have lieeii passed over
sumptuously every day." < )f course the church by hiograpiu'rs of the inventors of the steam
divided; the staid and n-asonahle part stayed engine. Surely, "the father of the iron trade."
with their church, while the fanatics pulleil a- he has heeii aptly named, deserved at least
out. The Soul-81ee]iers hnilt a neat frame a passing mention in the liiography of his
church in the village, at a cost of two thousand friend James Watt, .lohn Wilkinson was liorn
live hundred dollars. They lived awhile. Speer in K-.'s and iindi'r circumstances which the
got all he coitld out of them and left, and most superstitious peoph' of the vicinity helieved por-
of them, fnun the best that we can learn, ti-nded that ".lolmnv W(uild some day he a great
drifted into inlidclity. It took the Christian man." His luothei- was in the habit of going
ehnreh years to recover from this stroke. The cverv day to the market with the ]>roducts of
Methodists iiought the AdveiitistV house, when their little farm and on this occasion, as she
they went up. or rather when they failed to go was returning to liif home, the son was born
up. The Methodists were unsuccessful aiu1 in in the earl. John Wilkinson was tin' inventor
a little while they sold the house to the Pres- of iron ijoats. Tlie lirst one ever tried was built
byterians. who still own it. and have a jiros- nl his foimdiy and was named the "Trial."
perous congregation tliere. and to whum lo-v. lie was al-o the liist to use coal successfully in
Thomas preaches regularly. >inelting iron. His life, like that of Oliver

CroniwellV. was attended by ;i very singular
circumstance. .\s Se|)tember 'Ml was the dies

iiiiniliills in the Protectoi's history, so was .Tulv

•'"11^ W II.KI\S<»\. 11,1, j„ ,.„. |j|-,, „,• Wilkinson.' II.' came to

The hisKn-y ol Sugar (iio\e would lie in- Slall'ordshire on .Inly II. 17.M1. lb' attended

complete without a sketch of the Wilkin-oii the great bamiuet in i'aris.lulv II. Ksti. He

family. I'red Wilkinson, of reter-;burg, Hli- lauiuhcd the lir.-t iron boat mi .Inly II. 17.S7.

nois. is a grandson of the great ironmimger of He obtained a jiatent for the improxeinent of

England and a son of .lohn Wilkinson of the steam engine. Inly 11. \'^W: and he closed

Menard ciuiiitv. who died in (iieeiiview many his eventful and useful life on the Illhof.luly.

years ago. .John Wilkinson was intimately as- ISdS. He left a vast fortuni' in money and real

-ociated with .lames Watt, the inventor of the estate. His children, a number of them being

-team engine, and with many of the greatest ijuite young, were left to the care of guardians.

>>-ientilic men of his day. but he never ac(piircd .lohn Wilkinson, the father of Fred \\'ilki?i-

the notoriety even in iMii.dand thai he deserved. son. of I'etersbnrg. was but six years of age

PAST AND PRESENT t»F MEXARD COUNTY

V hen be was thus placed in the care of guardians

a:./; w;^- ■ - itn that

i:me .1:. : ; , . ...- j .... he was

eonstantlj in sehooL Beins: po^es?ed of moie
than ordinarx- e: ■ : is not

to be wondered ...cnt was

laoid and he acq aired ^: - education.

■ in the sciences
■ 1 L. ■ .^. . i- "..- . ■'-'•^r of six dif-

fert-nt lan^uasps - - - :her tongue.

<yn ritv he came inio posses-

sion • •. .1 -j-r. '-L..I.. "■ ^ ' Heing trained in
the intricacies of bu- .1 these vast in-

terests were placed under the control of agents.

Beside this j ""^i' ;-;— 1. ..:.,_. i,.pgjj

reared in 1il\ . - me

rather "fasT" habits, it is not to be wondered
" ■' "he went in * ^ " ' ' '- tastes for
He was a . -r of horses

and went into the races with all the zeal and
' ' - " - ■ -e. But we can

nrured and lost.
His agents, doubtless, took advantage of him
- !? gone. In dis-

_ - - - ~i xinder his con-

trol in the hands of others and bidding fare-
well to T - " ns passage on a
sailing r- . . . : the shores of
Americ-a to l>eirin life anew. After a stormy
Tovage ^ed at New

Orleans. : ., ; . .. and Illinois

rivet? to Beardstown. and ^agar Grove,.

where ^ - " . He took up his
ahK>de wi;.. ^, ; .■ x^-,cr families, who then
lived in the south side of Sugar Grove, near
where the oemeter}" now is. In 1838 be was
united in marriajre to Miss Sarah Goble. He
took up land and began life in earnest. He
farmed v. raising cattle and hogs,
■-'■■■■'■: - ■■ -^ ' 1 •- Tv-,ria^

: - . ...ts.

At <»ie time be owned a half section of land

'■-' _ - ' - 'by Mr.

. :i prepa-
rations for building the hotel at Greenview.
■ ■ - " ' ■ ■ ■ in-

he
di«l. He was. in many respects, a very re-

intelli-
a won-

derfully accommodating neighbor. He was a

US' : in the community where he lived.

i.. . ...jdnson was bom in Sugar Grove in

1840. From his earliest manhood he has oe-
cupieil positions of importance and honor in
the community where he lived. When barely
more than a boy he was captain of the anti-
horse thief company at Greenview : a little later
he was school director there, and while he was
in that position two new sehoolhouses were
built there. He was early in the field for the
improvement of the breed of our stock and
brought into the neighborhood several thor-
oughbred horses. Later Mr. Wilkinson was
elc. - ' :' -iff in 1870 and served the people
so that he was elected for a second

term to the same oflBee. He was elected to the
legislature in 1SS6 and chosen to l'
position again in 1890. He was col.
internal revenue for seven c-ounties of the
eighth district from 18ST to 1889. T-
also United Slates gauger in ri-
in Pekin, Illinois, from 1893 to 1899.
He was married to Miss Olive Bishoji.
Octor^r 1". 189-5. In 1880 he bought the
Pe" . Democrat. (But this is told in

anoiiii-r ijiace. ) Mr. Wilkinson is one of our
most useful and enterprising citizens, using
his inflnenc-e for every enterprise that promises
the advancement and welfare of the town in
\v';",-'i 'h^ "i :i .irizen.

ATHENS.
In giving the early settlements of the c-ounty
it is better to give them by neig^' "'■ '- or
settlements than by precincts or o: ;ical

divisions, because those settlements have no
agreement • " " - -• ' i ;

by man. J

part of the connty, borderiitg on Sangamon on
th> •' ' • iching Logan on the east. Be-
fore of the white man it was al-
most equally divided between prairie and tim-
fji-r land. The - '1 the Sanga-
mon river for a -t four miles
is rolling and some of it broken by ravines and

w;y - ' - . - . ... - . _ .

tin - -

PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COINTY

through this section, the largest of which is In-
dian creek, which takes its rise in the non
I" to anil

' L.. > u river.

• was once so abundant is nearly a.
goui- and the land is in cultivation. Tht '
cago. Peoria i St. Louis Railroad runs thr ....^.^
this jjortion of the county. lia^Tng a depot at

-J - i..,;..;..^ ..f iiu-

! ■ - - - - .ration

^an to r :y into the Sangamon com

iry and liiu.: _ ' :;lf decade following u

great iitanv - - were formed in the

varioi- it ti>untrT. It is admitted

I. - * Clarv-'s Grove was

t' iinty. but very soon

a ■ t at the very time of that settlement,

otn- r- ' _ "' - ■ " ; -

tv. I- - . -

"he timber and near the streams

'"inr ii. _

Ities. To designate any one of the early set-
tlers as I" - - is a resT -

we do not - -rome. .\

at so near the same time and the evidence is

>-n of Rotjert White live on the old farm.
. -rable elm. lM.arina the initials ~W. B. S.^

'-2

. ... >.. ... .- .... . ... . it

took the claim. This same fail, or

\S-2i.K

...-.- - -rt

of K - ;e

:. Point ■ ~ ;n was a

1 .>y tr' ' :tt his

was do' ■ trade

• ea«t side of tne Sangamon nver in this

H ^ ■ -I the ft— -- —- d

-r. He.: .rs

ago and was tinned at Indian Point. William
H-"-- ' ■'---'■ ----■■- ■■ -- -■'■ _ ■- ^- m

I , . . - - ie

of the Indian Point timber. Ue was a black-

goremment blacksmith for the K

to Peoria, or Fort Clark, as it was then, and

New York, bnilt a log cabin one mile north and

1: - „.: ; ... ..... ,- .. ; .

■ honor. Amon;: earliest, howerer.

We may mention Roij^ri Wliite and WUIiam B.

>Ii,,rr. \rho wer"- '•••t'l' tV,.!. r;r,.»-n county. Ken-

and w) - Indian Point

tiiuMrr. Short ifx-r .►- plac-e still occu-

lere his grandson ..loim N. White now resides.

-i- men are said to have st.-'- ' "^ their

- and b»«nin their improv ;i the

fall of 1819. The claims they at lirst staked

off and improv' ■ ' -■•— --> entered, they

lived on the r .- lives. Short

'.1 1863 and was t>urie«i in the Lebanon

i-»iii.ifr}\ He was. ' ■ " -~. the ~r- -- - --

ried" man in the • r no less

ries had he plighted his vow? at the hymenial
:iitar. Mr. White die«l ne:i-'
aii'^ his remains also r^-si in

The Short homestead is occupied by
• I Liui'-s B. Short, son of William B. The arand-

sprins of 1821. Four years after this, whoi

- tract

: . ; _ ... -.: . . Mr.

Rollers lived on this place for manr rears. In

with the earlv s» ■

-r that 1
... He wa
< with the
who was

,1... ..:.... -

.V _

Morse, throuah wiiom

-John I.
1 martvr to ins

and M

in New York Matthew Roger occupied a promi-

Iltinois in 1818. or rather started then, bat did
not reach here nntil 1819. Mr. Rogers bnilt a

I'AST .\M» i'i;i-;si;xT (•!■■ mi:n.\i;|) corx'i'v

Inline iiaru in 1S2.5 or IS-.'i; and this is said to
be the first frame building erected in the state
north of tlio Sangamon river. Mr. Rogers
reared a family wiio performed an imi)ortant
jiart in tlie future devel()])ment of ^Menard
eounty. llenrv V. Rogers, his eldest .son. lived
a useful and honored life and died some years
ago on the old homestead near Athens. One of
iiis daughters was the wife of Amherry Rankin,
of Athens, and another the wife of Harry Rig-
gin, of whom we will speak further on. Mr.
Rogers established the first nursery in this part
n( the state, and he was the first postmaster
at .Vtluiis. Wlien Abraham Lincoln kept the
postofiice at New Salem he used to walk across
the country, through the woods, to Athens to
get the mail for Salem, which he carried in his
pocket.

In the fall of l.siii 'riioinas I'rimm came
from St. Clair county and laid a elaiui south-
east of where Athens now stands. After taking
the preliminary steps necessary to secure his
claim he returned to his family. In the spring
of 1820 he returned and raised a crop, but did
not remove his family here till in the fall. On
his first trip he traded the horse he rode to
Ste])hen England, in payment for which En-
gland was to build him a log cabin and make
for him a stijjulated numl)er of rails. The
cabin was built and the rails luadr in ISID. but.
as said above, Primm diil not iiio\c till the fall
of 1S20.

John Primm, a brother of the above, came
in 1S20. The advent of the Primm family in
Illinois dates back to a very early day. John
Primm, the father of Thomas and John, above
mentioned, came from ^'i^ginia to St. Clair
county in 1802. and the date of (he coming of
their mothers family runs still farther back.
Mr.s. Primm was a daughter of .Vbram Stal-
lings. who came down the Ohio river in a iioat
from Virginia and .settled in the bounds of
what is now St. Clair county in 170(>. John
Primm. the father of the Thomas and John
above named, and his three brothers, William.
James and Thomas, were all soldiers in the
Revolutionary war and fought in Washington's
comnuind. Thomas Primm. who came here in
IHlit, died at his honu- near .\lhens in 1S.")(! at
tile age of seventy-four years lie had a large

laiiiily of .sons, several of whom dii-d years ago.
These were Daniel. Xinian. James and John,
while William. Dr. Thomas L. and Al>raham
lived to lie ohl men. Some of the third genera-
tion still live in this vicinity, .\mong them
we nuiy mention Xinian 0., one of the suecess-
fid farmers of that part of Menard county.
The settlements thus far named were the very
earliest in this part of the county.

In 1S20 Orimal Clark laid claim to the tract
lit land \vlii<h Athens now stands upon, l)ut he
did not remain on it long, but soon sold it to
Rev. John Overstreet. of whom the romantic
storv is told in another jihue. Clark removed
from .\thens to Fancy Creek, below Williams-
ville, and later to Springfield, where he died
many years ago. The year 1820 brought a large
number of recruits to the po])ulation of this
section, ilartin Higgins. son-in-law of Mat-
thew Rogers, spoken of above, John Moore, a
Mr. Terry. William Armstrong. James TTayncs
and John (iood. all came this year. Higgins
was from Xew York and settled what is known
as the William Primm farm, but he sold it in
a few years to Thomas Primm and located south
of Indian creek, where he lived and died. Moore
and Terry were both from \'ermont and set-
tled at Indian Point. .Moore was a cabinet-
maker l)y trade and had the first cabinet shop
in this county. Terry and wife were both highly
educated and accomplished and found them-
selves ill at ease among their rustic neighbors,
so they soon .sold out to Martin Higgins and re-
moved to S]iringficld. where they renuiined for
a few years and then returned to their native
"Creen Mountain state." :Moore left in a few
yciirs and returned no more. William .Arm-
strong at first settled on Indian creek, but after
a fi w years he sold out to Eli Rranson and
moved to the vicinity of what is now Oakford
and settled there, and there lie lived and died.
Manv of his descendants are around Oakford
vet. Pleasant .Vrmstrong. a single brother,
lived with William and he was one of the early
justices of the peace of this seelimi. Ilaynes
and (iood were l)oth from Ohio. The former
siltled on Imlian creek and afterward sold to
Martin Higgins and moveil to Texas, (iood
went farther west and settled on thc' prairie
between (he Indian creek and Oak Bridge tim-

I'AS'I' AM) l'i;i;sK\'l' ol- Mi;N\i;|i i()|\l^ (;;i

111 r. 111'. ;il'liT ;i IVw yi'Mi-s. soM (o old mail ilird wliiTc llii'v had >('ttl('d so loiij; iK'l'orc.

'I'irr. llir lillllrl' of llir latr .Illili;i' .lollll Tici'. 'I'lu'ir SOU. .ll'U'l'rsOll .loliiisoii, owiis tlu' old

and in i-oiii|iaii\ with llavms wnit to 'LV'xas. Iiiiiiu- rami and .just in fniiil nl' liis iiiiidiTii

.lames (Jarilner also eanic in ISvJd and settled lanii house may still he seen sif;iis of where the

nil the farm on which idd Harry I\i<;j,dn lived house stood in whieli the family was reared,

and died. Gardner was from New ^'ol•k and .lelV .lohnson is well on toward cijrhtv years of

his ajied father raiiic with liiin. Later he went a.ne and still lives on the very spot where he

to Fulton eoiinty. In 1S".'I Walter Turner was horn. His hrother. John .lohnson. is still

came and laid a claim on the south side of the living' in the same commuuitv.

Indian I'oint timher, which lu' iin|iroved and. Williams located we-t of .lohnson and farther

beill*: a tanner hy trade, he later opened a tan- down the creel< and. heiiii; a tanner, he run .-i

yard, which he run for a iiumhcr of years to lainanl in connection with his fainnni;'. Ili

tlie great henelit of the community, lie li\ed reared a large family and amassed i|uite a large

and died on the same farm and his ymiiii^est furtunc lie died in is;!' and \\a> luii-icd (Ui

son. William, now owns it. ilarrx IJiggiu came the fai'iii wlicrc he had lived. 'The late Colonel

that same year, houglit a claim am! engaged in .lolin William^ \\a> ihe son of .lames Williams

tilling the soil. His ancestors came from Ire- and died here a few yiai's ago. Cnloncl Wil-

land and there the name was not liiggin. luit Mams was one of tie most successful linaiiciers

(•"Kcgaii. When his ancestors came to .\merica. in this part of the state. To him more than

having renounced iioinanism and espoused lo any ulliei- man ai'c we indehicd for the coiu-

I'roti'stantism, they changed the name! to what pli liou of the i-ailroad wliiih connects us with

it now is and they have borne it ever since. He the capital. His. son (leorge now livis mi the

was id'ten heard to express regret that the old homestead of his father and L;randfather.

eliange was ever made. Ilariw liiggin was one .Inhn \. Moori' came fi'om Keiitucl-;y as early

of the most enterprising and useful citizens in as 1823 and ])ossihly a year earlier. Included

his time in the counly. His name was often aniong those who came prior to 1,S:i(i we lind

liefoie the jiiililic for ])ositions id' tni-t and the mimes of .Inlin Turner. William Stanley,

honor, lie was a niemher of the hoard of ( oiu- Scott Kawlins. .loiiatlian Dunn. .\sa Caiit<'r-

missioners for Sangamon county who located herry. .lohn S. .VIexander. William Mdlougall.

the county seat. He was at dilVirent limes a 'I'heophilas i^rackeii. Allen Tuinei'. Amhcrry

candidate for otlice, hut was dtd'iated. hi- imiii- li'ankin and l'"leining liall. Nearly all id' tliese

petilors heing such men at Stephen 'I'. I.ojaii. were from Kentucky and Oiiio and settled on

Ninian Ivlwards and .Vhrahani Lincoln— lui n Indian creek and in the vicinity of .\lhens. or

\>liii later aihieved fame in a much wider (ii Id. where .\lhens now stands, l-'leming Hall had

His long, useful and pul)lic-s|iirited life closed ;;oiie from \'irginia to Missouri in l.S'iS anil

lu lST-1. after he had attained the I'ipe a,i;e in 1.S"i!) lie came In Meiiai'd and pre-empted

of eighty-one vears and six months. land mi whiili part nf .\tliens now >lanil<. lie

lOlisha. Aliiier and .lames Hall, hrotheis. lived on this land two years and then entered

eaiiie from Ohio and settled in the vicinity of it and soon after he sold it to Ahiier Hall and

Athens in \S->'i. Some of their descendants Mr. ( 'atterlin. Canlerlierry and .\lexandi r were

aie living in and around Athens still. Philip lioth fnuu Kentucky and they settled south of

Smith, also from Ohio, came this year and .\thens. Some of the descendants of Canler-

niade improvemi'iits w hei-e Tlnophiliis Turner herry are still in the iieijfhhorhood where he at

afterward lived. Smith was a hlacksmith and first settled. Scott h'awlins settled on and iin-

fiilliiwed his trade in connection with farming. proved the f.-iriu that W. T. IJankin owned and

In is-.':; \\ illiam .lohnsnn and .lames Williams lived mi for a niimher of years. Ii'.iw lins was a

came -from Uatli ccmnty. Kentiickv. ami he.iian kiiiil of horse doctor and horse joekev and not

improving claims north of Indian creek. Mr. in first-elass odor with his neighhors. indeed.

.lohnsnn died in I.'^l^i. His wife survived him his sucklon accumulation of large numiiers of

a gnat main vears and at an advanced a<_'e she horses at dill'erenl limes warranted tile siis-

f.4

PAST AND PRESENT ol MKXAl.'l) COUXTY

picion tlint tlicv were not always gotten bv
li'ffitiniatc means, so that his increasing un-
jmpuhirity led him to dispose of liis land at an
early day and he removed to an island in the
Illinois river near Bath, where he died many
years in the past. McDougal), Bracken and the
{{ankins are dead, hut have a miinher of ro))rc-
scntatives left in the community.

During the years 1830, 1831 and 1832 but
few recruits were added to the po|)ulatioii of
this vicinity on account of the e.\citement inci-
dent til the Black Hawk war. wliicjt occurred at
this time. However, in the spring of 1833 J.
Kennedy Kincaid. then a young man. came
from Bath county, Kentucky, and located in
the neighborhood. He was a carpenter by
trade and found here a very inviting field for
displaying his mechanical skill, lie biuded at
Beardstown. from the steamboat on which he
had found jiassage, and walked to Springfield
in order to husliand his scanty means so as to
be able to buy a kit of tools at the latter town.
Mr. Kincaid worked at his trade and also
taught .school part of the time, and by dint of
industry and economy he soon had jneans
enough to enter a small tract of land. la the
fall of 1833 his father. Andrew Kincaid, came
out from Kentucky on horseback to visit his
son and to prospect the country. He returned
well pleased and in the fall of 1834 he came
with his family and settled on the farm where
his son Thomas Kincaid afterward lived and
died.- After a long and useful career he closed
his life in 1872 at the ripe old age of eighty-
seven years. His wife lingered on the shores
of time till in March, 18T9, when she followed
the beckoning hand of her husband and died at
the more advanced age of ninety-one. 'i'hey ii ft a
large family and their .sons were among the
most wealthy and successful lainiers in central
Illinois. Their grandchildren have now taken
the places of their jiarents and grand pa riMits
and are among the n-li;ilple and successful .nen
in tlie various callings of life. James Kaikin
came from Kentucky and settled here in 1833.
Later on. in 1839 and 1840; perhaps, further
settlements were made by .Tes.se G. Hurt. David
and James K. Hurt. Jesse Preston. Josiah
Francis. Thomas Hargus, William Straw-
bridge. Charles Robinson. H. T,. \\iNc.n. Xeal

and .\rchii.abl Julinscm iiml nihcis douljlless
whose names liave pa.ssed from memory. But
space fariiids us to give the detail of settlements
of later years, as the ta.sk would lie endless.
These were all good and true men. as the in-
lieritance that they worked out ami left to their
posterity abundantly proves.

The early pioneers knew nothing <>( the com-
forts and conveniences that we are surrounded
with at the present time. Naught was here
bnt the wild unltroken forest and prairie, the
soil riih and generous, it is true, but it was un-
subdiie(l and was still the hunting ground of
the red man. \\'ithout roads, without liridges
anil far removeil from the iiuirts of trade, the
incentive In agricultural pursuits was very
\\v\k. \vl while confronted with all these man-
ifold annoyances and threatening obstacles, the
love of liberty for themselves and children and
the fond hope of one day acriuiring a com-
petency and owning these broad and fertile
fields, they bravely erected their cabins and un-
flinchingly entered into the long and arduous
battle. In many new countries there is one
obstacle to overcojue that the people of this
section did not have to meet. In most new
countries the first settlers are a class of roving
adventurers who stop for a time and then move
on to other scenes, but the great element of
success in the first-comers to this jiart of Illi-
nois was that unyielding inllexiliility of pur-
]iose in which they set aiiout making homes for
themselves and families. Though most of
tiii'iii were men of but liniitei! means, yet with
tlieir iliMermination. the aid. encouragement
and help of the wives and daughters, and the
health and liunyancy ])roduced by their sim-
ple mode of life, they entered upon the task to
win. .\t least ninety-live ])er cent of them
lanie to make homes and subsequent events
have fully proved this to be true. There are
many here to-day an alistract of whose title
is simply the |)atent frnni the government and
the deed from the father to the son. Some
of them hold their title direct from the gov-
ernment over the signature of John Quincy
.\dams. The inconveniences and difficulties
endured by the.se pioneers were of such a char-
acter as would appall the heart of the bravest
iif the present generation. Often their milling

I'As'r.wD i'i;i-;si-:\-r oi' mi;\.\i;ii corNT^-

liiid to lie ildiK' at |n)iiil> one liundrofl iiiiUs
:i\viiy anil tlic in'ctssarv suppliis Tor the faiii-
ilv wri'c' Diilv scenircd at a like distaiuc. Mr.
I'riiiiiii told the writer that his father used to
go til St. I.iiiiis t(i iiiili.a distaiiee id' no less than
one liiindieil and luenty niilrs. and part id' the
way there was no road whatever.

The first ]x)5toltii'e estalilished nnrlh of tlie
Sanj;aiiion was at the house of Matthew Ko;:-
ers and. was known as Hogers" postotliee. The
exaet date of its estaidislmiont is not known,
luit it was not earlier than ISvJC or IS".'". The
mail was carried on this line on horsehaek from
Spriiiiilield to i.ewiston liy way of Kou'ers.
\\ alkei'"s (iroM" and Havana and wa- known as
the .Siioon river unite, .lolin lienfro wa-^ the
mail earrier on this route for a numlier of
years. \i that time it took four weeks for
a letter lo l:o to or from New York — two
months to tii't an answer from there. When
the town of .\thens was laid out the olliee was
removed III that phu-e and the name ehanired
to Athen.s ])ostottiee. Henry ('. Koucis sut-
ceeded his father as postmaster and held the
position for many years. The lir>i >rhiio| in
this vicinity was "kept"" hy .1. .\. Mendall. in
a eahin near the residenei' of lleurv ('. Koiicrs.
Meiulall was an eastern man. linely educalnl
and a siiceessfiil teacher, hut he had oie' ilraw-
liack. that was that he was too fond of the
liowiiiiT howl, and his occasional s]ir(es were
a L'reat annoyance to his ])atrons. The last
known of him was that he went to I'eoria to
engage in the .study of law, and if he did not
succeed in the law lie would, at least, he ahle to
satisfy the cravings of his appetite. Henry C.
Ii'ogers was liimsell' an early |)pdagogiie in this
section and tauglit in the days when it was the
fasliion for the "master" to "hoard arouiul.""
and when greased paper served in place of
window glass. Hut those <lays of "suliscriiition"'
schools and teachers "lioarding around" were
doomed to have an end. This "new wiu'ld"
was not held in reserxe for thou-;ands of years
for no ])urpose. Its soil of ine\haustii)le fer-
tility, its deep and almo>l unlimited forests,
its unineasured wealth of hase and precious
metals, its untold (ields of coal — all these were
not hidden away here for naught, hut inhnite
wisdom stored them here for modern ('hristian-

ity to make them the agents of eidighteiied civ-
ilization to illume and hless the world. .\nd
every step in the line of education is a part of
this ])lan and cM'ry donor of means and every
teacher, in short, all who lend their aid or in-
llueuee to the work id' rdueation is an agent in
this work. .Vway hack in 18.")() the Indian
I'liint ]ieoi)le felt the need of better facilities
I'oi- the ediunlion of theii' children and lo the
end of hetlei'ing their opportunities they got up
a private suhseription in order to huild a house
and organize a school suited to their needs. In
this way three thousand dollai's were raised
and Xortli Sangamon Academy was erccti'd.
The huilding is a substantial brick of two sto-
ries and stands in the edge of Indian creek tim-
ber. Located as it is in a grove of native
forest trees and where there are

"Hooks in the running brooks, sermons in
stones,
.\nd good in e\ei-ything,"

one would naturally iiifei- tluil the entei'prise •
would meet with merited SUCCesS, for surely
there is no place anywhere that could surpass
this in the natural infiuenccs of the surround-
ings to contriirtite to thought and meditation.
.\s this school is s])oken of elsewhere, we will
oidy say in this connection that the school ran
for \ears as an academy to the entire satisfac-
tion of all concerned and did a vast amount of
i;ood. .\ nundier of years ago it ceased to be
iiin as an academy, but is conducted under the
school law of the stale, having two i-ooms and
the school graded.

Harry l.iggin was the lirsl meiihanl in this
part of the county. .Vs far back as 1S2"> or
]S'i(i he ojiened a small stock of goods oil his
fai'iii. and he had a considerable trade. It was
a great accomniodation to the coininiinit v. as
before this store was ojiened the citizens were
obliged to go to Springlield or Heardstowu for
whatever in this line they inighf want. liut as
the years glided by and po])ulalioii increased
villagts sprang u\) here and there, and many of
the trials that the earlier settlers experienced
became a thing of the ]>ast. When the village
of .\tliens was o])ened up ^Ir. Higgin moved his v
slock of goods to that ]dace.

lteli<;ioii was one of the (irsl interests that

(u;

I'AST A\|i I'lIK

\ii;\.\i;ii ((l^^■^^'

c-laiiiR'd till' Mlicniiiiii (it tlu' lirst .SL'tlk-rs of
this section and the first religious society
rornu'd was U|)iiii a Miluiitarv hasis to meet
tlie spiritual wants of the period. As early as
1820 Joseph Smith and wife, .lames Ilayncs
and wife and William Holland and wife organ-
ized themselves into a class of the ^lethodist
oidei- under the leadershi]) of Mr. Holland.
This was the first religious society in this whole
section and was the hasis of the first Methodist
E])iscopal church in the county. Soon after
this organization the Ifev. .lames Simms took
charge of its interests. Tlu' Cuiiilierland Pres-
liyterians were in this field in a very early day.
The first church building erected in this whole
Athens territory was the Lelianon Cumlierlaiid
l'i'( shyterian church in the northwest part of the
Indiiiu treek liiniier. This was indeed a pi'inii-
tive alfair. it was iuiilt of logs and the archi-
tecture and all of its furniture and appoint-
ments were rude and ]irimiti\(' in the extreme.
This house was |iut up lU'ar the close of 1S2-1
or in the i)eginning of 18-^.">. Having, in a few
years, served its ilay and generation, it was i-e-
nio\cil and a iietter liuilding. one of frame,
was put in its |ilace. and after some yiars a
very neat and cummod cms fi-ame church was
erected. 'l"l:is house served all the i)ur])osesof
tl'.e congregation till the year l.S()(). At that
time li. I). Miller was pastor of the church aiul
under his leadership they agitated the question
of liuilding a house of worship. This agitation
began in l.S()(), hut the house was not huilt till
lS(i?. It is a hrick Imilding. on a stone fimnda-
tioii, and the work and material arc all first
class. It is of ample size and it stands to-day
as good as when first erected, so far as the
foundation, wall, etc., are concerned. The
Kcv. .John -M. lierry, the great apostle of Cum-
hcrland Presljyterianism in central Illinois, was
the first preacher for this congregation and he
served them several years. Hevs. Thomas
C'amphell and (iilhert Dodils .served (hem also.
Among the early c(uumunicanls ni' this congre-
gation were the families of Kohert White, Wil-
liam H. Shoit. Francis Kayhurn, .lames Wil-
liams. Harry Higgin and Martin Iliggins and
many others. For tlie history of the I'resliy-
terian church at Indian Point tlu' reader is

referred to another place, where :i fidl account
is given.

Of the town of Athens hut little will lie said
here as a fuller detail will iie found in another
place. The town occupies a very eligihle ])osi-
tion, being surroundetl by a country [teculiarly
ada|itcd to agricultural and horticultural pur-
suits. The prairies adjacent to it are as rich
as any under the sun. while near by are vast
bodies of siilendid timlier. liut her wealth is
not confint'd to her agriculture or her horti-
cultuie, but the very I'artb u]ion which the
town stands is underlaid with vast fields of
coal, a source of inexhaustible wealth, and that
coal lie- oidy line hundrecl feet lielow the sur-
face. In the year 1831 .Tames Stephenson,
county surveyor for Sangamon county, sur-
M'ved and platfll'd the town for the owner, the
K'ev. .John Ov^'street. The original jilat con-
tained about forty acres, to which four ad<li-
iiiin> have since been ni,idc. Two log
cabins, one for a residence and the other
for a blacksmith shop, had been erected by
Orimal Clark, who bad laid a claim here a year
or two previous to the laying out of the town
and from whom Overstreet purchased the orig-
inal town site. .\ small "band mill." operated
by horse]iower. was also here at the laying-out
of the village. .Miout 18:i-2 or ISli:? Colonel
Matthew Rogers became a citizen of the place
and nuide the lirst permanent improvements,
liuilding a large and commodious store-room,
which was for many years occupieil by L. Sal-
zenstein. .John Overstreet purchased the rem-
nant of the stock that Harry Eiggin had had on
his farm and. uuiking some additions to this
stock, he opened up in the town. .Toualhan
Dunn was the .second to enter the lists as a mer-
chant, but his life in this line was short and he
retired in favor of some more lucky adventurer.
In the latter part of 18;{-> or the beginning of
ISliU Hairy Riggin and .\niherry .V. Rankin
ojiencd a .store in the place and after two years
siild their stock to ^lartin M. Morgan. During
till' same year .Tames D. .Mien and Simeon
Clark became nu-rchants of the village, as did
.\bncr and Elisha Hall. In is:?(i Sebastian
Stone became a ]iartner with .\llen and this
linn colli iniied for a number of years. .Ml the
■.'ooils that ci lo .\theiis for a nunibcM' of

I'AST AMI I'RESEN'I

Mi;\\i;i> coiN'rv

vi'ar.< liail l" lie lumiulil IrDiii St. l.niii.s. a ilis-
tanco «t' <MU' hiiiiilrrd ami tucntv miles, ami
when WL' take intn i-imsidcralion ilii' fact thai

the roads were | r. wluTr tluTc wrrr aiiv al

all. and thai the ^oods wci'i' in\ai'ialily trans-
piirtrd liy DX (eaiiis, it is not to lie wondered at
that on the day that a coiisiiinmeiit of .uoods
arrived anil were to he o|iened there was eom-
motion ainoni; ""the natives." Siieh a day wa.s
like a day in oLir time when liarniimV own and
only sliow on earth eomes into town. The
hustle and noise that was seen and heard on
such a day hetokened a hriuht and j^lorions
future for the yotmfi' eity. I'>ul. alas for human
prospeefs and calculations I The dark tidal
wave of adversity and lirokeii hopes was soon
to hreak over the town. In is:i:i Menaril county
was orjianized and. of course, a county seat was
to he seh'cted, aud Athens, the vildest and then
the hirgest village in the limits of the new
county, entered tlie lists of competition. .Vthens
played her hand with tlie irreatest skill, Init
Petersburg won the prize and left .\thens to
weep over blighted hopes an<l blasted e.\pecta-
lions. Tliongli time and space are liiniteil. we
must give, as briefly as we can. the story of the
"lirst mill in Athens."" .Vbout lS"i(; j'Mijah
Jistejj liad erected a band mill ou the present
site of Petersburg. Mills were so scarce and it
was so dilticult to secure "liri'adstufl"" that the
Atlieniaiis decided that tliey must have a mill
and, learning that the Estep mill could he
bought, they got up a public subscription to
luiy it. The subscri]itions were taken for
money or labor: the ca.sh subscribers were to
have certain privileges and the suliscriliers <d'
lal)or were to have certain rights. The mill
was bought and in \H29 it was moved and
put in running order, with John Ovorstreet
as manager. lie was to run the mill, keep
it in rejiair, c-harge a just and ei|iiital>le toll.
and at the expiration of four years it was
to belong to him. There was .some trouble
between the ■'cash" subscribers and the ''lai)or''
subscribers, but the mill "'cracked the corn"
for them all alike, and at the end of four
years the mill belonged to Overstrcet. About
the \Tar 1S34 Overstreet ground a llatboat load
of flour in this mill and. in company with
Jesse G. and David Hurt, took it to the New

Orleans nuirket. Some two or three months
were consumed in grinding the load, the bolt-
ing being done by hand. 'J'his proved an un-
fortunate venture. Overstreet and David Hurt
lU'vei' leiuiiied. They were stricken with dis-
ease and dieil in the Crescent City. Jesse (i.
Hurt returned. Ivroken in purse and in s|)irit.

In an early ila\ Jonalhan Dunn built a steam
grist mill here and after o]ierating it a year or
two he sold out to Strawbridge i'^- Crcd't. They
attached a distillery to it :inil ran the two lo-
ii'ether for a time, but this has huig since been
a thing of the ]iast. In 1S')() John Overstreet.
a relative of the pioneer, and .\le\ander Hale
built a brick steam gristmill at an outlay of
eleven thousand dollars and began operations in
lS.")i. It was a \('ry line mill and for manv
\-ears it did a line business. It has Ion<r since
ceased to III'. Salzenstein. the Hebrew mcr-
clianl. iliil as much for .\thens. linaiu-ially. per-
haps, as any other man. TIu' first blacksmith
sl.oj) in the village wa^ ojiened in 1S3"<; bv
Charles J'. Smith, lie was followed later by
Thomas Tabor anil William Hrown. .V pottery
was operated here in the early times by John
Pierson, and it did a paying business for a
time. Coble \- Sacket and also one Eani-sey
tried the same Inisiness at a later date. Tradi-
tion says that there was once a cotton-gin here,
but this must have been Ijcfore ''the winter of
the deep snow,"' as, for some reason, no cotton
was raised here after that date. At one time
""Old Salty.'' as Mr. Salzenstein was called,
bri light a bale of clothing to this ])lace; a num-
ber of persons were present when it was opened
and ill a short time cholera broke out and a
number of ))eople died from it. H was observed
that those who were first stricken with it were
those who were present when the goods were
opened.

The history of the churches, schools, business.
I'tc. is to be found in another chapter.

SA.MiKlDCK.
Wy Sandiidge we do not mean the voting pre-
cinct of that name, but the settlement that was
made north of that of Petersburg and west of
the Sangamon river, on to the west line of the

PAST AXD ITfKSFX'r OF MKXAIMi COrXTV

comity, lu Petersburg we included the Little
Grove, ruuning almost as far north as tlie vil-
lage of Atterlierry. But it is no matter al)out
/ines; we are giving settlements and the old
settlers, and in doing this lines pla)- no part.
This section, like tlie rest of Menard count\,
is prairie, with groves of timber interspersed,
giving it the appearance of a giant farm, witli
orchards planted liere and there. This sec-
tion is a little more rolling, perhai)s, than otlnr
portions of the county, with rich and pro-
ductive soil, save a portion in its northern i^art,
where ridges of sand prevail, giving the name
to the locality.

Few indeed antedate the settlers who came
first into this locality. There is, however,
greater trouble in determining who was in
reality the very lirst white man to locate here
than in any other part of the county. "Who
was the first settler of Sandridge?" Who will
answer the question? Thirty-nine years ago
this question was propounded to the oldest "in-
habitants" at that time, and the replies did not
agree. One said most emphatically that it was
Jesse Armstrong; another, just as old and just
as reliable, said it was Royal Potter; and a
third, just as good a witness, said it was Wil-
liam Sampson. Now, who can settle the dis-
pute? It will never be settled. They were all
here in 1819. and if there is any preponderance
in the testimony it is in favor of Mr. Arm-
strong. He was from Tennessee and laid a
claim near where Concord cliurch now stands,
the cal)in being about a half mile almost due
south of tlie church. After a few years he re-
moved to Arkansas and later to Te.xas, where
he died. William Sampson was from Ken-
tucky and made improvement about a mile east
and a little north of Armstron^''s claim. He
''kc])t iiatch" for awhile but was married in
1821 or 1822 to Hannah Schmick. .Vfter mak-
ing several improvements in Sandridge he
finally crossed the river to the neighborhood of
Greenview, where he died. His sons are all
dead, too. Potter was from Tennessee or Ken-
tucky and made improvement on land that now
is a part of the Shipley estate. This land he
afterward sold to Sampson and Sampson sold
it to Ueason Shipley. George and Jesse Miller
came here in 1820 and located in the northeast

corner of this territory, near the Sangamon
river. The Millers kept a ferry on the river
and to this day it is called Miller's ferry. In
days gonfe by a town was laid out and some im-
]irovement made at this ferry, but on the Mason
county side. Bannister Bond, who came from
Tennessee, laid a claim on land about iline
miles due north of Petersl)urg, but in a sliort
time located in Clary's Grove. He was noted
for bis powiTful muscular development and
physical endurance. He would cut timber and
work it up into rails by day and then at night
he would carry them on liis shoulder to liis
clearing and Iniild a fence with them. George
Hudspeth came from Monroe county, Alabama,
in 1823. Elias Hohimer, Reason Shipley,
Jacob Siiort and his sons, Obadiah, James and
Harrison, came in 1824. Hohimer and Shipley
were from Kentucky and were permanent titi-
zens here from the time they came. Short and
his sons were from Madison count}-, in this state,
and first settled near Petersburg and then re-
moved to Sandridge. Jacob Short was a ranger
in the war of 1812 and did his country good
service. The year 1825 brought large numbers
of recruits to this part of the county. John
Clarv, who had settled in Clary's Grove in 1819.
came at this date, and with him came his sons,
Jolin A. and Hugh. William Armstrong and
his brother Plea.«ant. Isaac Colson. William and
James Rutledge, John Cameron, Charles Revis
and liis sons, Isham and .Me.xander, Absalom
Mounts and his son James. Robert Davis, and
doulitjess some others were here before tiie
close of this year. In a former history of this
county it is said that George Kirby and Wil-
liam Watkins, known as ''Fiddler Bill," were
settlers of this county before 182."). Sow, the
fact is thai Mr. Kirby was born, not earlier
than 1810, ill Madison county, Illinois, while
Watkins was horn in Menard county, and the
very first settler in the county was not here till
1819. George Kirby and -'Fiddler Bill" Wat-
kins were settlers in Sandridge when they were
young men, but they lacked a long way of being
among the first settlers. \\'atkins was the first
white child born in the county, but that could
not have been earlier than 1S19, and lie would
have been quite a juvenile settler prior to 182.5.
The Armstrongs were from Kentucky and had

AS'l'.Wii I'KKSHNT (IF Ml-:\.\i;i) COUNTY

Sfitli'd nil liiiliMii t-rci'k liL't'oru tlicv wuiit lo
SiUiilriiliif. Colson was from tlie state of
Alaiiie and settled in the northwest part of this
section. The RutU^dfres were originally from
South Carolina, hut had lived for some time
in White county, in this state, hel'ore coming
heri'. Cameron was a hrother-in-law of Wil-
liam Hutledgc and with him settled in the
southeastern part of this section. They, of
course, are dead, but many of (heir descend-
ants are here. James Pantier and his son,
David 51., came here in 1826. The elder Pan-
tier was a Kentuckian hy birth and was the
-f'cond male wiiite cliild born in the state, his
lather having accompanied Daniel Boone in
his hunting and warring with the savage red-
skins in "the dark and bloody ground." He
settled near the site of Concord church and
lived there till near his death, when he went
to live with his son, David M. Pantier. He
lies in the old biirying-grouud on the farm that
belonged to Rev. A. H. Goodpasture. David
M. Pantier died some fifteen or eighteen years
ago. Among those coming in 1827 we name
Thomas Dowell, John and James Yardley.
Solomon Xorris, Jamts Runnels. George Bow-
man, and John Brahm. 8r. Dowell was from
the south, and settled on the river bottom, near
where the village of Oakford now stands. James
Hudspeth, JIathias Young and John B. Colson
were here liefore the deep snow. During the fall
and winter after the deeii snow, a large settle-
ment was in and ardiiiid where the village of
Oakford now stands. Amos Ogden, Isaac
White. ^lattlu'w I.ownsbcrry and sons. Jona-
than and ^ratthi'w. and others, were among the
delegation. Nearly all the settlers mentioned
licfore were from the south, but these last
named were from the northern and eastern
states, and they gave to the neighborhood the
name of the '•Yankee Settlement" to distin-
guish it. Passing down through the years we
find the list already given, increased by the
names of William B. Cloe, Samuel I.ownslierrv.
Isaac Ogden. Hayden Thomas, .lolin Wald-
lidge. .lohn Kiriiy. ifilton C. Combs, James
Altig. George R. Watkins. J. L. Short. James
i'ott.i-- and E. C. Stith. Thc^.^e were all here
prior to the year 1840. .Ml of these have cross-
ed till' dark river except Samuel Lownsberry

and .Milton C. Coiiibs, aiid lliey are Hearing
the crossing.

The village of Oakford was surveyed and
platted for the projirietors, William Oakford
and William Colson. by surveyor A. J. Kelly,
in March, 1872. The town plat contains si.\ty
acres and is in the midst of a magnificent
agrieiilliiral district. The land on which the
town is located belonged to Colson and Oak-
ford secured a half interest by using his influ-
ence getting a station there. A public sale of
lots was made on the 11th of April, 1872, and
over two thousand dollars worth were dis])osed
of. and in a short time the work of improve-
ment was begun. The first building was called
the railroad store, a shanty in which was kept
supplies for the railroad hands. Soon after the
village was laid out William Oakford iniilt a
storeroom, and opened a stock of groceries in
it. In the summer of 1872 a stock of goods for
a general store was opened by Calvin Atter-
berry, who had been in business in "Bobtown."'
In 1873 Isaac Ogden and A. G. Colson bought
Atterherry out. In -lannary, 1874. 1.. W.
Roberts bought Colson out and the firm liecame
Ogden & Roberts. In October. 1875, they sold
out to Sutton Brothers, who operated the store
tliren years, and then sold out to S. L. Watkins
ct Brother. In June, 1873, H. A. Bennett, of
Petersburg, opened a stock of drugs and shelf
goods, in the old railroad store. This changed
hands several times, and finally, in 1876, S. L.
Watkins bouglit the establishment. In the
sjiring of 1875 Dr. J. I). Whitney and W. C.
Roberts opened a drug store. In 1S7C 0. J.
^lalthy and John M. Walker opened a harness
shoji. The lirst dwellings were built in 1S72
by Dr. J. D. Whitley and Charles ]\Ieyers.
Thus the town started out and steadily grew
from year to year, till it is a town of five
or six hundred inhabitants and is a good busi-
ness point. The first marriages in the town
were : A. G. Colson to Rachacl Skaggs, in
1872. and I.. W. Mobcris to Carrie C. Ogden,
in 1873. Dr. .1. D. Whitley was the first jirac-
ticing |)hysician there, and Dr. J. T. Miers,
now of Petersburg, also jiracticed for a time.
Dr. Bolinger practiced medicine there for a
number of vears, and died there two vears ago.

PAST A\h I'RESKXT Ol ME.NAiil) COl-NTY

Tlu'V luul saloons in the |iI;ri' (liiriiijr almost
all of its history.

Oakford lias not i;rouii nnuii oC late years
but is a substantial little business town, having
two large general stores, carrying dry goods and
groceries, one owned by Oliver Maltby, who
has been in business in the place for over twen-
ty years. There is one grain elevator, which
handles a large amount of grain. Marion At-
terherry owns a large drug store and also keeps
a stock of hardware. They have also a black-
smith shop and a s])l('ndid little hotel. They
have not neglected the nuitter of education for
they have an excellent school building of four
rooms, fully equipiicd with all tliat a modern
school requires. The veteran teacher, I. >.'.
Hartley, is at present superintending the educa-
tion of the youth of the village and surround-
ing community. Some years ago the Method-
ist church, which formerly stood some four
miles southwest of the town, was moved to tlie
town. During the summer of 190 1 the house
was remodeled and is now one of the neat and
comfortable houses of worshiji of the county.
The congregation also owns a comfortable jnir-
sonage on a lot adjoining the church. Five or
six years ago the town built a good town hall,
at a cost of about one thousand dollars. Oak-
ford has a very fine farming country around it,
and the trade of the town is equal to that of
anv town of the same size in central Illinois.

l.'OfK Cl.'KKK.

"Time writes no wrinkles Ujion the brow of
Old Ocean, as upon those of the fading race of
man." With some degree of truth, the same
might be said of the country on Kock creek.
The last eighty years, it is plain to be seen,
has wrougiit as little change on the general ap-
pearance of the country as upon any i)art of
this county. The storms and sunshine of more
than four score years have flung light and shade
over its hills and vales since the men, whom
God made white, laid their claims and built
their cabins in its sheltering timber. These
cabins have rotted away, their weight-pole roofs
are gone, and the smoke is seen no more as it
curls from the low top of the mud-daubed stick

chinmcy. and the wild game is gone forever.
liut the timber has been better protected than
in (itliei- localities, while the hills and fields and
rippling streams have been less distorted by
the hand of civilization than elsewhere. The
little stream. Rock creek, which gives its name
to this settlement, flows ainmst east, in its gen-
eral direction but it meanders in its course,
dallying and playing on its way, as if charmed
by the beauty of the scene and loath to mingle
its waters with the turbid, murky flow of the
Sangamon. The territory that we include in
what we term "Kock Creek" includes what is
known as 'AVolf county." Why this name was
e\(r given to this section we cannot learn.
After diligent enquiry for many years, we have
no idea why the name was ever applied.

The first cabin ever built by a white man
in this settlement is said to have been put up
iiy Amor Batterton. Amor Batterton was from
Kentucky and built this cabin on Kock creek
in ISli). Some claim that he came to this
vicinity in the fall of 1818, and put up the
cabin but that it was not occujjied till the next
year. No matter how this may be, it is beyond
dispute that he settled here in 1810. He reared
a large family and many of his descendants
are still living in this county. The same year
that Batterton settled here, a man by the name
of Katliff and his four sons, — James, Job,
William and Joshua, — James Fisher and George
Gamcrcl settled in the timber along the creek.
Jacob Miller settled at Farmers Point in 181!).
Solomon Keltner and William Stej)henson came
also in 1819 or 1820 and located in the same
iieighl)orhood. Kev. James Simnis and his son-
in-law. James Black, also came in ]S19-2(l,
and took claims. They were from Kentucky
and Mr. Simms told the following story, which
we give as he told it, and the reader may set
his own estimate upon it: "That he was a
Cumberland Presliytcrian minister, a great re-
vivalist and a leader at the camp-meetings. He
established a 'cam]) ground' soon after he came
to the neighborhood, which for many years was
the scene of an annual camp-meeting, and that
some of the remains arc still to be seen on the
sacred spot." This man Simms must have
taken an active part in temporal as well as
spiritual things, for he was the first repre-

PAST AM) i'i;i;si;\T ok .\ii-:\ai;ii ((Hwiv 71

t;cnt;iti\c in lln' Iciiislaliiiv rnna .Saiigaiiion |iarlirulars wlialcMT. Jvliliu I'xnic ilird in 1S.")('..
coiiiily. 1)111 till' camp-iiR'ctino; storv seems a Isaae Co.adell was a Keiituckiaii liy liii'lii and
little lisliy, lor no siu-h man was known to the rami' to louk irrrk in is-.'ii. Ilr died twenty
historians ol' tiie early Cumlierhiml rreshytcrian yrars ago, on the old homestead, 'i'lie father
c-luireh in Illinois. Absalom Matthews came (d' Isaac C'ogdell. .loseph Cogdell. was a Baptist
also this year. Tliis comprises the settlement preaeh.er, and came tn that sell limciit in 1S33.
lip tn the year IS'.M. when the following I'e- lie died in IS-.'S. his liriiig one among tlio lirst
emits were aildcd lo those alrcadx hi'i'e : 'I'arl- ilcaths in that little sell Icmrlit. Ii'ev. .lohii M.
tmi Ll(iyd. (icorge Miller, Marshall liniifan, llcri-y. a Ciimliorlaiid I'reshyterian minister.
l)a\id S. Taylor, Matthias, James ami William i-ame in IS','!, and ,~o(iii al'tei- organi/.eil a roii-
Yoaknm. and perhaps others whose iiami's arr gregation nf thai rhnirh. nii Kock ereek. lie
forgotlon. I.loyd was horn in \'irginia in HSI was a man ol' iiiiliinnished Christian eharactor
and died in l.SS.j, — over a linndiiMJ years nid. and id' great powei'. He was the "apostle" of
he settled where he died, lie said there were his ehiii-eh in eeiilral Illinois. He dit'd in Clin-
two eahins on the place when he eaiiie. One tun. Illinois, sometime in the 'oils. l-'Jijah
of these was twelve hy sixteen feet and into it llonghton came from Keiitiieky and settled on
lie moved his family, in which tliey lived till ifock creek in IS".' I. 1 1 i> father, .\aron Ilougli-
tlie next siimniei-. Two years later he Iniilt a Imi. was a native of New .Jersey, though of
liewed-!og honse, eighteen liy twenty feet; after- iMiglish stock. He was a soldier in tlu> I'evo-
ward this was wcather-lioarded and a frame ad- liitionary war. lie einigrateil to Kentucky,
dilion hiiilt III it. 'i'his honse was standing when it was, indeed, '"the dark and liloody
a short time ago, hut it wore the marks of time. ground," it heing the hattle-lield of the soiitll-
looking weather-heaten. moss-grown and near ern and northern Indians, as it was later the
its end. I.loyd had nothing when lu^ eame here, hattle-lield het'ween the niM-|lierii and smithern
only a few lioiisch(dd articles, — no stock or whites. Elijah TTonglilim w.is a man of con-
money. Soon after he came he bought e. cow siderahle prominence in the eomniiinity and
fi'oni Shipley. — prohalily Reason Shipley, — giv- died in is.")v'. .\. ;\l. llonghton. a son of
ing in exchange for it a wagon; he also bought i'llijali, and wlm was hoi'ii in Illinois, was a very
another from (leorge Greene, giving a featlii>r prominent man in this section of tlie state,
lied for it. Tie was a soldier in the wir of I fe was known far and near as "Hickory"
IXl'i. .serving under Cajitain Henry West. llonghton. No man in eeiilral Illinois stood
Fourth Regiment, and was in the liattle of New higher in puidie regard lliaii he. His word
Orleans. This Miller settled in llic Sangamon was as good as his Imnd : his judgment was good
bottom, and liimcan on what is known as flar- on every subject: and im nian"s counsel was
den I'lairie. Taylor Imught the place origin- sought more than his. He died some years
ally M'llled by llatterton and also the idaim of ago in llie same hoii>e in which he was born,
Matthews. The '^' oakums were natives of Vir- at the age id' neaidv seventy years. His widow
giiiia iiul had migraled lo Kcntuckx in an is still lixing. at the home of her daughter,
early day and from there lhe\ came to Illinois. Mrs. .Inlin S. llurie. williin a short distance of
first stop])ing in Madison county, and after a tlie old home. Charles Houghton, a brother of
while they went to ^rontgomery, where they Klijali TTougliton, came in l.S:J4 and settled on
stojiped a while, and then came on lo Menard. the farm afterward owned by Isaac Cogdell
Samuel Combs came from Kentucky in 1S24 and on which Cogdell died. In the |ioriod of
and .settled on Rock creek, and two years later, lS'.^(i to IS-^s. ilu-re were several additions to
in ls3(i, his brothi^r, Jonas Combs, came and the .settlement; Robert Johnson, Jesse Vowell.
settled near him. They are both dead many Michael Davis and William I rw in came in that
years ago. dying on the places that they settled, time. J. H. Smith was also an early settler
Klihu Bone came from Tennessee, in 1S24. and here. He was a son of Samuel Smith, of Rhode
bought a claim fnun a man named Ilvnn. on Island, who married a lihodes. of the family of
Rock creek. Of (his l'"l\nn we could learn no IJIiodcs for whom, it is -aid. llhode Island was

I'AsT wn i'i;i;si:.\T ui-' .mi:.\ai;i) lui.nty

originally named. U. J. F. Clark may also be
ranked as one of the early settlers of this sec-
tion. He was one of the first county commis-
sioners of Menard county and was the first
county judge, after the county was oi-ganized.
He served eight years as judge and four as
commissioner. lie ilicil many years ago. in
Cass county.

The above includes all the early settlers
whose names we could learn, though doubt-
less some were missed who deserve to be men-
tioned among them, but when wo look back
over a period of eighty-five years, it is not
strange that many of the pioneers who came to
this wilderness then and remained but a short
time, or died in a few years, are forgotten by
the few left. We arc soon forgotten.

"If you or I to-day should die.

The birds would sing as sweet to-morrow ;
The vernal Spring her flowers would bring,

And few woiilil think of us with sorrow.

Yes, he is dead, would then be said;

The corn would floss, the grass yield hay,
The cattle low, the summer go.

And few would heed us passed away.

How soon we pass! How few, alas!

Eeinember those who turn to mold !
Whose faces fade, with autumn's .?hadc.

Beneath the sodded churchyard cold I

Yes. it is so. We come, we go —

They hail our birth, they mourn us dead,

A day or more, the winter o'er,
Another takes our place instead."

Jt is with no inlciiliuu ul' injustice tu anyone
that we quote these lines. They are beauti-
fully pathetic and as true as l)eautiful. None
miss us when we pass away but our immediate
relatives and in a little time they forget us
and laugh as merrily as when we sat by their
side. Such is life, and such is hunuin nature;
and it is well that we can forget and that time
does thus heal our sorrows, or life would be-
come a burden that none of us could bear.

Most of the first comers to Rock Creek were
from Kentucky and Virginia, where timber and
running water existed in profuse abundance,
and they looked upon the timber that bordered
Rock creek and the Sangamon as a second

|)aradise. They then regarded the prairies as
barren wastes, fit for nothing but pasturage,
and this was the reason that all the first set-
tlements were nuide along the water courses, in
the edge of the timber. Drive wells were un-
known and to move out on the open prairie
would have been considered as great an act of
in.sanity as to attenipl to cross the desert with-
out water.

One of the very first religious organiza-
tions formed in Menard county, was the Rock
Creek Cumberland Presbyterian church. It
was organized by the Rev. John M. Berry.
some claim as early as 1821 or 1822, certainly
not later than 1823. Rev. John Sinuns came
a short time prior to the organization of the
society and these two veteran pioneers and
|ireachers of the gospel laid out a camp-ground
in tlie timber of Rock creek and held camp
meetings there for many years. It was the
good seed sown in good ground that brought
forth the abundant harvest in after years, which
is still seen in the Rock Creek Cumberland
Presbyterian church. The church iiuilding
stands near where the camp-ground was lo-
cated. The first start at a place of worship
was the slied that was put up on the camp-
ground. Imt some time later they put up a log
house, which was used for a number of years
as a schoolhouse and also a church. Some
years afterward they erected a frame church
of ample dimensions to meet all their wants,
and this house served all their purposes till
some twelve or fifteen years ago when they put
up the house that they how worship in. as neat
and comfortable a country church as can be
found in this or any other county in central
Illinois. They also have a comfortable par-
sonage, standing near the church. The Rev.
J. W. Elder is their pastor. A cemetery ad-
joins the church. This is beautifully located,
tastefully laid out and is ke|it with the greatest
care.

The first school in this settlement was taught
by a nuin of the name of Compton. in a little
log cabin on the claim of Tarleton Lloyd. This
.school was taught in 1824 and 1825. The fol-
lowing year Tra McGlassen taught a school in
a caliiu on the claim of Elijah Houghton, the
old "Hickory" Hougliton place. Illustrative of

TA^^T AMI Pl^KSEXT OF MKXMM" POT'XTV

till- schools of iliosr (hivts, a story is lolil of an
oiriirrenee that is said to liavc takuu plaio in
this vicinity. A young man learning thai a
certain neighborliood was contemplating hav-
ing a school if they could secure a teacher,
visited the conniiunity and was I'eferred to a
certain citizen, who. he was told, was empow-
ered to deal with iiini. lie called on the old
gentleman who said they wanted a school
teacher, and thai he was to examine him as to
his qualifications. He set the young fellow to
reading in the Bible, in the genealogical part
of Genesis wliere were numberless hard names
to pronounce. After reading a chapter or two
the old man sto|)ped him with the remark that
he thought he could teach their school. Then
he told the young man to write out a certifi-
cate of his (lualification. which, when done,
he handed to the old man lo sign. The latter
sai<l to him: "'^'ou just sign it too with my
name, and 1 will make my mark as 1 can not
read nor write." This is not an unreasonable
story by any means. In Menard county not
lifteen years ago, and under our boasted free
school system, there was a school district in
which not one of the three directors could write
his name.

Tarlcton Lloyd opened the lirst blacksmith
shop in this territory, in 1822 or 1823. and did
this line of work for the surrounding country
for a number of years. Rev. Mr. Simms built
a mill here, of a very primitive type, in 1823.
It was pro|)e!led by horse-power and served to
crack the corn for the community, and they
even "mashed" wheat with it and then sifted
out the brand, some careful housewives bolting
it through home-made cloth, thus having a
semi)lance of wlieat flour. This mill long, long
ago ceased to be. and the |ieople now do their
milling at other jjoints. The lirst justice of
the peace is supposed to have lieen a man by
till- name of Syniard. who was among the early
settlers bin who left here in a few years. One
of the Bones was. at one time, a justice of the
peace for this section. .\s illustrative of the
courts of tliis early day, the following is told
at the expense of Esquire Syniard : Two of
the neighbors had gotten into a wrangle over
a debt which one owed the other and which
the debtor agreed to pay in hogs. In the fall.

when the hogs had grown fat on the mast and
the debt was to be paid, it happened that fat
hogs were a good price, so the debtor sold his
fat hogs for cash, and delivered an old sow
and pigs to the creditor. To this the creditor
demurred, saying that he was to be paid in
hogs. The debtor replied that he was to ])ay
in hogs, and that he had brought the sow and
pigs. The creditor demurred still and a law-
suit was the result. It came up for trial be-
fore Esquire Syniard, and after very patiently
hearing both sides of the question, he rendered
judgment in favor of the creditor, deciding that
in a legal sense a sow and pigs were not hogs.
In the year ISTT a postoffiee was established
here, located on the creek, near the old Isaac
Cogdell place, and was called the Lloyd post-
office, in honor of the then-living oldest citi-
zen. L. B. Conover was the first postmaster.
Politically Rock creek has always been Demo-
cratic to the backbone. Wien the election
drew mar John S. Ilurie and Frank Duncan
rallied the faithful, and on election day the
gathering clans went to the polls and victory
was achieved. This has been the story in all
the past. Even in the dark days of 1904, the
prairies and woods of this section sent out its
undaunted mossliacks. and when the returns
eaiiie in from over the land, bringing the story
of disaster and defeat on every hand, word came
that in s]iite of Parker aiul Plutocracy. Wolf
county had maintained her old time integrity
and was the one green oasis in the dreary desert
of Democratic disaster.

During the Civil war Rock creek was loyal to
the core and turned out as large a number of
soldiers in ])roportion to her |)opulatioii as any
part of ilenard county. The men of this sec-
tion volunte<'red into the regiments in the ad-
joining coimtry, which drew their chief strength
from this county, and among these were the
Fourteenth and the One Hundred and Four-
teenth Regiments of Illinois Infantry. No
men had better records as soldiers than the boyc
from this section of "Little Menard."'

Rock Creek is to-day one of the finest sec-
tions of farming country in the entire county.
By nature some of the soil may not be as rich
as may be found in some other localities, but
taken all in all it stands in tlie very front.

I'AST AM) i'i;i;si-:.\i' of mknak'H (oi \ ty

While it lias no towns or viilaiU'S. nor railroiids.
_yet it is one of tlic most ilcliirliiriil coMnniini-
ties in tlic land, 'riicy have a coal slial'I in
their midst, and wiiat otiier parts of the eounty
do not have, they possess, — we mean stone for
buildiiiij purposes. 'I'licii- faniis arc pi'od ac-
tive and well oultivaii'il : ilicir iiomes are ele-
gant and eonifortalilc : thcii' schools are ol' the
best, and nn iiioi'e social or happy and pros-
perous people can he round in central Illinois;
and when the interurhaii electric road is (iii-
ished, as it will he snon. runnini;- throui;ii ihc
very heart of this eommunity, and connect iu"-
them with Sprintrfidd. I'et(>rsiiiir<>- and all the
world, their cup of rmlune aiul hapj)incss will
be full 111 ir.ciiliiwiuu:.

I. MM AN CI.'I-IKK.

'J'hc piairics nl' the west, thouali possessing
a .soil eipial Id any in the wdi-ld. and ha\ing a
climate unsurpassi'd. iind IicIiil;- splcui'idlv
watered. Mere yet sln\\ lo attract the larly
emigrant, because most of these were from sec-
tions of the country abounding in timber and
the pioneer seemed to think that no one could
survive on these bare plains. When lllinnis
began to attract the emi.uranl. wf Iind iiim
steering his "iirairie schooner"" loward the
groves of timber. Tn fact iliey really believed
that tliose ))rairics- wotdd never be settled up.
James Short told the writer that in an early
clay, as ho and his father were looking across
the strip of prairie lying between their farm
and Sugar Grove, a distance of a little more
than two miles. Ihe old ni;in said: ■•.Ijnni ie.
there will he open range for oui- stock there
for a liundred years to come.'' In less thin
a score of years it was a solid, uidirokeii sea of
corn. Tt was not till almost every acre of tim-
ber land lying adjacent to the streams had been
claimed that any one thought of venturing out
on the prairie. With the utmost caution they
ventured out beyond tiie .shelter of the protect-
ing trees, and as cabins ro.se up on the broad
plains the croakers uttered dire jiredii-tions
about freezing to death or iieing blown away l)y
storms. This was the case in thi.e settlement.
as Avell as elsewhere, and im selflenients wen-

made beyond the tindier till necissity conijielled
the increasing jiojjulation to "move on." In-
ilian t'rCek settlement ineludeil as line a sec-
tion of country as is to be found anywhere,
consisting of timber along the streams, with
in-ond areas of the finest piaii-ie. 'I'lu' surface
is not hilly, nor is it Hat and levi'l. but the
whole surface gently undulates, more like the
swelling waves of the ocean, lliaii anylliing we
can coinj)are it to. It is well drained and
water(>d by Salt creek on the north, the Sanga-
mon on the west, and Indian creek and other
small streams flowing through it. Xo village
or town now breaks the monotony of the scene
at the ]iresent time, though years ago New
^larket, a thriving village, was located here.
Curtis, a way-station and postofKce on the Chi-
cago & -Minn i-ailroad, is in this area, but as
I here is but one family there and no buildings
adorn it, except the one residence, a store and
a grain elevator, it is not entitled to the name
\illage. This settlement was first made by
people mostly from Kentucky, with a few from
\'irginia. to gixc dignity to the community.
From the best information that can be had.
James Short was the first white man to settle
in this territoi'v. lie located here in IS'^4 but
in 1S28 he removed to Sangamon county. The
old Blue Grass state sent in the following re-
cruits: Solomon Taylor, Robert and James
Bracken. .Vndrcw Trumbo. .Vbraham Horn-
back and sons. Elijah Scott, Francis Rayburn.
William Brewer and son. Samuel Rogers and
son. .Mexander Crawford. Daviil Onstott, John
rentecost and sons. .Michael Killion. William
Denton. \\'illiam and .Tames Kslill. Coleman
Siriooi, Il.nnMioii Flliott. Isaiah Low and per-
haps others, li'obert and .lames Bracken,
brothers, came in l<S2f)-27. Solomon Taylor
came in 1828. Andrew Tiiindio came in 1828
or l.s2i). .Vbraham Hoiidiack and his sons,
John. Jesse and .\ndrew. came in 1S20. .\I1
of these are long since dead but .Vmlrew lived
until not a very great niindier of years ago and
died af a very advanced age. Francis Ray-
burn eanic' in Is'.'s and after a great nuiny
yi'ars he n'Uioved to Iowa, where hf> died. Wil-
liam Brewer and bis son .John came in 1827
or IS2S. and both died here. Samuel Rogers
and bis son. .loscph Rogers, came in 182.").

I'AST \\|i I'lM'lSI'AT i)|- \ll-:\ \i;n cnrNTV

.\lr\aiiilrr ('raurnnl caiiic in iS".';, aiiil lias
lii'cii ilrad alniiisl ur cuiilr lilly years. |)a\iil
(•listoll caiiu' in IS','.") anil cn'rlnl a mill ami
(listillcrv. 'I'lic mill was run liy lun'sr-jiDwri-
anil a litllf i-oiipcr still was attaclicil. In this
mill the (-(ini was craekt'd I'or meal and hominy
I'm- the .-^fttkTs. and the little still — such as the
niinin-shiiuTs now use in Tennessee and .\in-|li
Carolina — worked up the sui'|)lus eorii into
s|iiritus fruinenti, wiiieli llie eitizens used only
for the ■■eliills" and snakt'-hite. Tliis is the
e.vteiit of the millini;' there, except that Inter
there was a water-mill on Indian ii'eek. at
what is now ealled Indian Creek hill. ()u:tolt
was a man Hint eo\ild not he surrounded, as
one old citizen expressed ii. and whin the set-
I lenient leuan to lill up he pulled out for
.Arkansas. Tie said lie had waded through
ii — I to i;ct here and he did not propose to be
crowded. John J'entecost and his sons. Wil-
liam, Ifenry and .lolin, came in 1S27. William
1 'enton came in Is:!!) and died Imi^' a^io. and all
of his children are gone except (Jcorge \\'.
Denton, who is still living, a citizen of (irei>n-
view. Michael Killioii came in ISiiii. When
I'ussel (iodby came in IS'M) and built a cabin
out on tlie ]irairie. Killion said that the foid
Mrginian would freeze to death. William
I'lstill. a brother-in-law id' Killion. came in
ls-,>,") (,r l,s2fi. James Kstill. a iirother of
William, came at the same time. They are
liotll long since dead. Ilainilton l'',lliott and
two .>;ons, TJichard and Tladden. came in ls:'>n.
li'ichard latei' roniovecl to t'liltun county, lie
is described as an enterprising man. who en-
gaged considerably in specnlatinn. Oiii in-
formant said that he would risk his life for
a coonskin. Afterward he went to California
and amassed a large fortune. Hiram Chajiin
and iienjamin Day come at a very early day
but did not remain long. Coleman Smoot
came in 1S31 and bought ont Onstott. Tie
was an intelligent, active business man, and
acquired a liandsome ])roperty. lie died many
years ago. His son. William C. Snioot. is one
of the wealthy men of Menai'd county. He is
a conscientious Christian man, gained his
wealth by honest means and no one envies him
in the enjoyment of it. He married a daughter
of William l']n'.:le. of Sweetwater. Thi'v are

lioth living, enjoying a peaceful old age, for
although 'Sir. Smoot has been entirely blind for
several years he still enjoys life. When he is
gone he will lie universally missed and his
niemorv will he re\ereil liv all who knew him.
The settlers thus far named wire all from
Keiiiiieky. lliough many, or most of them, were
originally from \'irginia, as Kentucky was
largely settled liy \'irginians. From Virginia,
the venerable mother of pnsidents, the follow-
ing additions were made: Hussel Godiiy, Isaac
Snodgrass. Fielding Ballard. William Samp-
son and probably a few others. Godby canio
in the siiring of ISliO and his first winter,
therefore, was that of the deep snow, and it
cast a damper (especially in the spring when
it began to thaw) over the feeling with which
he had regarded the fair prairies of Hlinois, as
coni|)ared with the red hills of "Old \'irginia."
He was tlie first man in all this region to \en-
lure out into the open prairie and he did not
gel fai' from shelter. Snodgrass ami ll.ill.ird
wei'e brotlieis-in-law to (iodby and came the
same season that he did. Sampson came some
time before (Iodby. Snodgrass and Uallard,
jirobably in ISiJlJ. Ik' lived in the cominiinity
till his death, which occurred in 1ST0. Thilip
Harnett was an eastern man and a brother-in-
law to Godby. These four geiillemen, Godby.
Ballard, Snodgrass and Barnett. married sis-
ters. John King came from North Carolina
in IS'.'Ci. He was born in 11 ^o. and died in
isli;. at the age of one hundred and one years
and I weiity-iiine days. He was a soldier in the
liiiliaii wars of the soiilli and in ihi' war of
IM".'. in wliiili he served under (ieiieral Jack-
son, and he was a linn believer in and a irreat
adniii-er of "Old Hickory" to the close of his
life. He liisl came to Illinois in IS-,M and
settled in the south pari of llie state', where
he li\cil until ecuniiig here. Before his death
lu' and Tarleton Lloyd were the only living
soldiers of that war in the county. He was
buried in b'ose Hill cemetery. Hedman Power
was an early settler but of him we i-ould gather
no particulars. William l>utf came in IS'^T,
lint where from no one can tell. He is spoken
of as "a hard old cusiomer." rough, jirofane and
a |ioor ac(piisition to any community. He re-
mained oiih a few vears. John Clarv wa< an

7(;

l'A8T AM) PIJKSKNT OF MKNAHD COIXTV

earlv comer, for Esquire Godby says he was
tending Onstott's mill when he came in 1830.
This lirinjis this settlement down to the time
when the tide of immigration was becoming
so strong that it would be impossible to secure
any correct account of it.

One of the first moves made by the early
pioneers, after getting a shelter for the wife
and children, was in the direction of education
and religious worshiji. In the sumiiier of 1830
John Pentecost walked three miles from his
home to a cabin on the land of Samuel Rogers
to teach a little school there. The next school
was taught by Dr. David ileeker, in an aban-
doned cabin on the land of Coleman Siiioot.
The first regular sehoolhouse built in this set-
tlement was on the land of ^Ir. Smoot ami was
of the primitive pattern. This was built in
1833, and the first pedagogue to preside here
and impart wisdom within its classic walls.
was Silas Alexander. In this log cabin, known
as the "Smoot sehoolhouse," many of the old
men and women of this vicinity, when children,
took their first lessons in Webster's old blue-
backed spelling l)ook and in shooting paper
wads. We make great sport of these old
schools, but we are impressed to say that three
things were often better taught then than they
are in a great many of our boasted up-to-date
schools of to-day; we refer to spelling, arith-
metic and English granniiar. Those old text-
books, some way or another, led the pu])il to
understand the fundamental princi])les of the
branches of which they treated. Pike's and
Smiley "s arithmetics and Murray's and Kirk-
ham's grammars left the pupil no excuse for
not mastering the subject, but with the ad-
vantages that we have now, as compared with
tho.se of that time, our teachers and ]iu]iils
should do marvelous things.

The first minister who preached to the peo-
ple of this settlement was the Rev. John M.
Berry, the great apostle of the Cumijcrland
Presbyterian church in central Illinois. We
wonder what he would think and say if he
could rise up now and see what those snoiis.
who are tn-ing to destroy the church that be
labored so hard for. have in view.

The first birth and marriage are forgotten
but as everything must liave a beginning these

did iiave a beginning here, as the present popu-
lation emphatically shows. The first death is
supposed to be that of Fielding Ballard's
mother. She came here with him and being
\ery old and feeble she died the next year. The
lirsl physician in the neighlwrhood was ii Dr.
Walker but whence he came or whither he
went no one knows, however, he remained but
a short time. The next was David ^Meeker,
who combined physic and school teaching as
the ])ractice of medicine was not then a very
paying business, for people did not call a phy-
sician for every little ailment, and as a result
there was less sickness — no offense meant to
the medical fraternity— and fewer doctor's
bills. Coleman Smoot was the first justice of
the peace and Russell Godby was the second.
We mentioned the village of Xew ifarket in
another place, but we feel that it should lie
s])oken of here, because many jieojile do not
know that there was once a village here wliicii
not only aspired to be the county seat of ile-
nard county but actually set herself to be the
capital — the seat of government, of the great
state of Illinois. Such is the unvarnished
truth. It was laid out by Dr. Ballard and a
man by the name of Speer. Ballard put u]) a
large two-story building, intended to be used
as a hotel, but the glory of the town waned so
fast that it was never used. A store was
()])ened Ijy one Clark, who later sold out to
Ballard & Speer. A blacksmith shop was
opened by George Saunders and William F.
Rogers, and the place put on rpiite a town-like
ajjpearance. Then, as said above, she aspired
to be the county seat and not only this but she
was actually a rival of Springfield for the state
capital, but after the location of the seat of
justice at Petersburg, it faded into nothing-
ness. It became a village of the dead, rather
than the living: a grave for ambition: an
antidote for pride. The ruins of Baalbee are.
in many respects, a mystery; Palmyra, at least
in vastness, suqiassed even Baalbee; Athens.
Rome. Jerusalem, and other scenes of decay
ap|i(!il to our pity and touch our hearts, but
for Xew ^larket, the mighty eit}" of lofty as-
jjirations. we can only, like the Heiit'cw cap-
tives of old. hang our harps upon the willows
and weep for fallen ])ride. It oAved its origin

AST \\l> l'i;i;sF.\T OF MK\A1!I> COUNTY

to a latlRi- wild ambition and waned to its ex-
tinction when late decided adversely to its
lio|ic> and wishes.

'"Sweet smiling village, loveliest of the lawn.

Thy sports are fled, and all thy charms with-
drawn :

Amidst ihy bowers the tyrant's hand i> sren.

And desolation saddens all thy green ;

One only master grasps the whole domain.

And half a tillage stints thy smiling plain;

No more thy glassy brook reflects the day.

But. choked with seilges, works its weedy way;

Along thy glades, a solitary guest — •

'J'he hollow-sounding bittern guards its nest;

Amidst thy desert-walks the lapwing flies.

And tires thy echoes with unvaried cries.

Simk are thy bowers in shapeless ruin all.

And the lona grass o'ei'tops tlie moldcrinir
wall.

And trembling, shrinking from the spoiler's
hand,

Far, far away thy children leave the land."'

Finally when it was evidenced to them be-
yond a doubt tliat the town was "born to blush
unseen, and waste its sweetness on the desert
air,'' it was vacated, by legislative enactment,
and nothing now remains to point out where
once it stood. Where its l)usy inhabitants once
toiled, the rank corn now rustles in the passing
breeze.

GREEXVIKW AND IRISH GUOVE.

Greenview, as a precinct, is one ot the
youngest in the county. Until some years ago
it was included in wliat is now Sugar Grove
precinct, with the voting place at the village of
Sweetwater. The later was remote from the
people in the extreme northern part, and the
intelligent voter, from this small drawback,
often neglected to exercise the right of fran-
chise. Hence the result was a division of Su-
gar Grove, or Sweetwater as it then was, and tlie
creation of a new precinct, n<iw known as
Greenview. Tt includes almost the entire
northeast part of the county. It is well drained
bv Salt creek and Pike creek, w'ith other small
branches, which carry off the =urfaee water.
Irish Grove lies east of Greenview. rmining to
the Logan county line. As an agricultural re-

giiiii Ibis is nut surpassed by any section of
country anywhere. Its farmers are among the
most thrifty and most wealthy in central Illi-
nois. The Chicago & Alton IJailroad runs di-
agonally through Greenview precinct. Green-
view, the metropolis of this section, is an en-
terprising little town in the southwest part ol
Gre<>nview ])recinct, on the Chicago & Alton
Railroad and will be more fully spoken of
further on.

ICAIiLY si:TTLi:.\ti:N"T.

There is no reliable proof that any white
man settled in the boundary of this territory
earlier than 1S23. Eighty-one long years
stand between that point and the present, and
that period, what changes have taken place,
not only in ]\Ienard county, but thronghout
the world. .Vncient palaces, in whose spacious
halls the mightiest monarchs proudly trod,
now show ''the ivy now clinging to their tnolil-
ering walls." Thrones tottering, have crum-
bled into dust; empires have fallen, and their
places blotted forever from the ma)> of the
world. In our own beloved country, intestinal
war has raged with tornado-like fury, dreiub-
ing the soil in fraternal blood; and for a time
threatening the very life of the republic. Four
millions of beings in human form, once in
chains, have been made freemen. Spain's op-
pressive tvranny over millions of helpless peo-
ple has been broken forever; and revolutions
have shaken the civilizations of the earth to
the center. .\nd in these eighty-one vears the
territorv of Greenview and Irish Grove, one of
the minute units that go to make up this
mighty country, has been transformed from t
wilderness, into a blooming ])aradise compared
to its original state.

In the year 1S23 James Jleadows settled in
the limits of this territory on the farm where
H. TT. "Marbold now lives. He came from
Ohio to Edward? comity, near Alton, in 1818,
the year that Illinois was admitted to the
Union. The next year he removed into the
territ(U-y of, what is now. Sugar Grove pre-
einct, where he resided till he removed to the
place aliove mentioned. ^Ir. ^Meadows built a
mill on the 'Marbold place, which was the sec-
ond mill erected in east Menard. Soon after
^fr. Meadows settled here, George Blane and

I'AST AM) I'lM-iSI'-.N-r (iK MKNAIID ((irXTY

liis iiiotluT caiiK' |c> the iicijililiiirliood. Tlii'V,
like ilr. iffadows. had sottlod on the east side
of Sugar Grove, hut in the spring of 1823 they
sold oiit to Leonard Alkire and removed lierc
as alwve stated. A large majority of the first
installment of settlers in this seetion wryr
"Hiiekeyes" and settled in Iri.sh Grove. From
that slate came a number of recruits, namely:
.Joseph Lucas, George Borders, .fulm Man in.
George and Peter Price, John Wahlrou and
John Tlamill. Lucas "squatted" in tiic Grove
about 182.5 or 182(>. iii' was a genuiiu' fnni-
tiersinan and only renuiiuod till ganu' liegaii
to grow scarce. Wlien that occurred and the
Indians had gone he followed in the wake of
the "noble red man" and died some vears lat-
er in the settlenuMU at Mackinaw. The next
settler found his cabin standing, with llirie
acres of land around it cleared and feiiccil.
He had two sons who seffleil in what is m.w
Logan county. Another sun. .\i)niham. settled
in Iri.sli Grovc^. wliciv be lived and died. I'xu--
ders and :\[artin came in 1S27'. George I'l'ice
came in is-jc. aiid his brothei'. I'etei' Price,
caTue in 1S20. They were of the regular fron-
tier type and followed the Indian and the
game as they wandered toward the setting sun.
William Walker bought the claim -if I'etcr
Price in 18;^0. ./nhn Ilamill came in 1842,
lived there all his life, rearing a large and re-
spectabl(> familv. and died a mimher of vears
ago.

Following close on the heels of this ■•Buck-
eye" outtlt came a large delegation from "The
Dark and Bloody Ground." From Kentuekv
came William Walker, his mhi. .I,)m'|iIi M.
Walker, and his brother-in-law, David Walker.
William Stotts. William Patterson. Alexander
Gilmer, William A. Stone, John W. Patterson
and Roiwrt Payburn. This last named gentle-
man was born in the Old Dominion, but em-
igrated to Kentucky when it was the hunting
groiin.l of numerous tribes of hostile Indians.
From Kentucky he came to Illinois in 1827
and .settled in Irish Grove. Some of the de-
scendants of ^fr. Hayburn are still in I bat sec-
tion of country. Pobert Rayburn"s wife was a
Logan, of the family of Logans so celebrated in
the Indian wars of Kentucky. I'olierl 1,'av-
bum died in 1S3fi. William Walk( ,■ came to

Illinois in the fall oj' 1828 and stopped in .Mm-
gan county. He spent three weeks riding over
the country on liorsei)aek. searching for a cab-
in to shelter his family in during the winter,
but failing, he went l)ack to Clark county. In-
diana, and wintered there. In Feliruary ISI^O,
as before stated, be came to Irish Grove and
bought the claim of Peter Price. lie died ii;
August, 183G, and his son, Joseiih M. Walker,
lived and died on the farm. David Walker, a
i)rother of the wife of William Walker, and
who came to the settlement soon after the lat-
ter, bought the claim of Joseph Lucas, lived on
it till 1837, when he removed to Iowa and died
there years ago. Captain William A. Stone
was also born in Virginia but was taken to
Kentucky by his parents, when quite young.
whence be emigrated to Illinois in 1830. lli.^
father. Moses Stone, came to the settlement at
the same time and was the head of a large fam-
ily. Both be and wife died the ne.xt year,
leaving a familv of twi'lve diildren (n br.iije
with the world. .John W . I'attei-son lame in
is:!(i. and his bi-other William in ls:i2. Stotts
canie in ]83i). but in 1810 he removed to Inwa.
William Eldridgc came in 1840. He came
from the chalky elifff of Old England; lived
for many years in the Grove : then removed to
(Jreeuview: and died there a few year;, ago, at
a ripe old age. Dr. Eldridgc. of Greenview, is
his son. This comprises all of the early set-
tlers of which any knowledse is to be gained.
Doubtless there were other transient settlers
who were there for a time, but we have given an
account of all the permanent old setllci's. The
winter of the deep snow, — a landmark that all
will recognize, — (1830-3!) but remembered in-
few, if any, now living, was a time that did in-
deed tiy men"s souls. The snow began to lall
just before Christmas and contintted till, as
•nany claim, a depth of four feet on the level
lay all over the land. The ground was not
visible any more till after the middle of the
following ^Mareb. Joseph Walker told the
writer many years ago that this snow caugiit
his father's familv without meal or flour. For-
tunately, they had laid in a ,>--upply of meat jmkI
this, with poniideil corn, was all they bad to
eat for over six long weeks. The corn Ava&
,-tanding in Hie field or in shocks and every

I'AST AMI i'i;i:si:\'i' of mi;nai;ii coi \ia

'liiy tlicy were obliged to oiit'ii a imtlnvny t<> :;
sliouk of corn in onior to sociirc ciiouu:!! f<'r
thoin?'?lvc'« mill llioir liiiiitcil nn.dunt of .<tock.

James ^[eadows. who was a niilhvrijrlit liy
trailr. hiiill a mill in 1S;?1 ■,n what is now th,>
II. 11. .Marhdhl ])1mc.'. It was of the oM
'tread-wheel"" tyjie, but it servml to "crack the
corn" for I he himury nativi's till they could do
bcitiT. 'I'hi- mill ciiniiniii'il in operatior,
about eight years and thin became obsok'tr
Th" mill at "Xew .Salem" did the greater jiar!
of the work supplying the people with i-orn-
meal during this ])eriod, however. ^ran\ of
liie settlers got their supply of bread slutf
from Springfield for a great many years. Tiio
^retJiodist circuit rider and the school teacher
came into tlu^ settlement about the same time.
IJobert Rayburn taught the first school in Irisli
Grove. He had been a teacher in Kentucky
before he eanie to Illinois. This was a sub-
scription School anil was taught in a log cabin
in tiie grove, f'his was before the day of
schoolhouses and long before the day of free
schools. That old Jlethodist pioneer, Peter
Oartwright. is claimed by many ^lethodists to
have preached the first sermon that was ever
preached in Irish Grove, but this is evidently a
mistake for there had been services there be-
fore he came to Illinois. True he preached at
the cabin of ^Ir. Stone not only before the
Imilding of churches but before there were anv
schoolhouses built. .\lso two ^lethodist itin-
erants, ]?ovs. Hargus and ^rcLemore. were ear-
ly in tJie field doing the work of the ^Faster.

.■\bout the year 1831 or 1833, a log school-
house was built in the Grove, and soon after-
ward the Rev. John G. Burgin, of Springfield,
organized the Irish Grove congregation of the
I'resbyterian church, (0. S.) in that same
Imuisc. This, in time, grew into an activ(> and
tlouiishing ccingrcgation, iiuilt a neat and sub-
stantial brick house of wor.ship and a parson-
age, and for many years had a settled pastor
and did a great deal of good. But times of
dearth at last came and by deaths and I'emovals
llir\ iiccamc so weak thai tlicy removed to
Sweejwater and that is now the center of the
congregation. See a further account of them
in the history of the Presbyterian church in an-
otlier place. The brick church in the (Irove

was built in lS(;."i at a cost of al)out three
thousand dollars and at that time the congre-
gation numbered ov( r one Inindreil.

The first death in this section of countrv
that is remeudiereil with any degree of certain-
ly was that of Miss Mary .Vnn Walkei-. who
died September 8. 1830. liut doubtless tliere
were deatlis of early pioneers liefore this time.
A son of iir. i.ueas died here at an early date,
tile date can not lie delinitely tixed, but it was
probabl ,• before that of Mr. \\'alker's daughter.
Moses Stone, mentioned among the early set-
tlers in another place, died in 1831, and his
wife sur\ived liim only about two weeks. They
left a I'amih of twelve eliildii'ii. four of whom
<lied within a )eai' aftei- the diMtli of their pa-
I'ents. 'i'liese dead were laid to re>t in the Irish
(irove cemetery, a regularly laid-out plot of
ground on section 24, where most of the pio-
neer dead "sleep the sleep that knows no w-ak-
ing." These grounds were afterward enlarged
and incorporated, and it is now neatly kept
and is one of the beautiful ''Oities of the
Deai^"" in Menard county. The first birth in
this section was that of George Borders but the
exact date could not be given. The first mar-
riage was that of Alexander Gilmer and Mis-;
Jane Walker, on 111.' 4th of Xovember 1830.
the ceremony lu-ing performed by l?ev. Bur-
gen. They went, immediately after marriage
to Kentncky, where they remained for three or
four years, and then returned to the same
neighborhood, where they s])ent the riMnainder
of their lives, and were buried in th(> Irisli
Grove cemetery, near their old liomc.

Dr. ^[organ. of "Old Sangamon Town,"'
was the first discijile of .Aesculapius to jiractiee
nudieine in this section. At that time there
way not a doctor's .shingle swinging to the
breeze at every crossroads ami every country
store as there was sonte years later. "Sot did
the peojile get sick then as often and easy as
they do now and when tb(>y did get sick with,
the malaria (""breakbone'" fever, as they called
bilious fever) or the inevitable chills, they
combated it with "roots and heri/s," and either
cured it or died without the aid of the doctor
or the burden of his bill.

The first justice of the peace was John W.
Patterson, but several years before his appoint-

I'As'i' \\i) i'i;i:si-:\'i" of mi:\.\i;ii (oiwi'v

nieiit there had been two or three siieli dis-
penser? of justice in the Sugar Grove. Polit-
ically this section is T?epuhliean. usually giving
a safe majority to that party. In the Civil war
this section did its duty fully, turning out a
large number of brave and efficient soldiers.
An entire company was raised in Irish Grov-
at an early period of the war, but by some in-
excusable mistake the company was credited to
Logan county. By failing in this manner to
get credit for recruits, the precinct afterward
had to stand a draft — the result of ))ure neg-
lect. Thi.< draft, however, was small as the
quotas were filled in advance. Samuel H.
Blane enlisted as a private and ro.sc to the rank
of captain of Company K of the One Iluiidrcil
and Sixth Regiment of Illinois Volunteer In-
fantry. Owing to ill health he was forced to
resign and was succeeded by Gase S. Grit-
man, who was promoted to fill his place. Botl'.
of these were from Tri.^h Grove and were the
only commissioned ofTici-rs that the Grove could
boast. The private soldier.* were the sturdy
sons of the soil and they most gallantly sus-
tained the re]iutation of Illinois" soldiir~ on
many a bloody and hard- fought field.

VILLAGE OF GKEENVIEW.

The town of Greenview is eligibly located in
as fine a section of farming lands as the birds
fly over. It is four miles from Salt creek and
six miles from the Sangamon river on the
Jacksonville branch of the Chicago & Alton
Railroad, in section 23, township 19. range fi
west of the third principal meridian. It was
laid out October 2, 1857, by Elder William En-
gle, elsewhere mentioned in this work as one
of the pioneers of this county and as one who
did more to make this section of country what
it is than any other of the old settlers perhaps,
and whose influence for good in many respects
is still felt and will bo felt for years to come.
The land on which the town stands was orig-
inally owned by Charles L. Montgomery. The
name Greenview was given in honor of Hon.
William G. Greene, a prominent and wealtliy
citizen of Tallula. who dii'il tlu're some years
ago. The first dwelling house erected in
Greenview was put up by Robert McReynolds
soon after the town wa.- laid out and in a verv

short time James Stone erected a dwelling a^o.
The first brick house was l)uilt by John Wil-
kinson, who wa.< an Englishman by birth, and of
whoni we .~pcak more at length in another
place. This was a substantial and roomy house,
two stories liigii and. for tiiat day, it was a fine
building. It has been for years, and is now,
used as a hotel. The first business house of
any importance was built by Robert McRey-
nolds and was occupied by him as a store.
There is a question as to whether ^IcReynolds
or Emanuel ^leyer & Brother were the first
merchants in the place. It is a question of ab-
solutely no moment but it serves to illustrate
how easy it is for a whole communitv to for-
get, just in a few years, matters that it would
seem that all would remember. The Chicago
& Alton Railroad was completed through here
in 1867. and about this time Silas Buckman
opened a general store here. The first hotel
was kept by John Wilkinson. Jacob Propst
opened and conducti>d tlie first blacksmith shop
in the place: and Drs. Davis and Calloway
were the first physicians to dispense quinine
and Fowler's solution to tiio denizens of the vil-
lage. Some years later a flouring mill w^as
l)uilt by ^McCormic Brothers at a cost of about
ten thousand dollars. In January of 1878 this
mill was burned to the ground and the town
has never since possessed a mill. Harvey Yea-
man was first to handle grain in Greenview. In
1868 be built an elevator on the ground now
occupied by the one just across the railroad
tracks from the depot. Yeaman run it for a
time and then sold out to Morse & Company,
who raised it and built a story under it. This
was on the principle of the IrislimanV niode
of building a chimney: "Laying down a brick
and then putting some others under it."' But
while it is common to build a story on a house,
it is a recent addition to architectural skill to
l)uild a story \inder one. But a few years back
the Old State House at Springfield — a solid
stone building, — was raised and an eleven foot
story was put under it One or two elevators
have been burned in Greenview but they still
have two elevators there, which do an immense
business.

The ^lethodist Episcopal church was organ-
ized in Greenview in 18.i8. the original ortran-

PAST A\h iMi'Msi'A'r ov Mi:\Ai;i> ('()^^■'|•^■

izalinii WHS t'oi-iiu'il in Olil Xruniiirkcl. luil
wiii'ii that liistoric town went down tlic cliurcli,
iir r.illii'r the coiigi'('gatii>n. was innvcil to tlic
town of (irccnviow. Lator they built a rom-
fortalili' liiiildiiiL' tlirn-. Init at. present tlir-;
have iio preaehiiiir. See tlie history of tlie
-Metlioilist ehui'cl) clsewliero.

Greeiivicw was inc luimratrd a> a village by
special act of the legislature and its charter
dated ilay (i, 18()!>. The first hoard of trus-
tees were C. E. Pierce, G. \V. Hateh. John
Anderson, Fred Wilkinson and A. 11. Bogar-
dus. This was tlie hoard ujion organization
under the charter, hut as far liaek as March.
lSf)8, the records show regular proceedings of
a lioard of trustees, which was as follows: C.
i;. I'irree. J. W. Guyer, John Anderson, Fred
Wilkinson and A. 11. Rogardus. These were
-worn in by II. II. Marliold. Of the first
hnai'd under the charter, C. K. Pierce wa-
|in'>idcnt. and W. S. 'Morse, clerk. On the 7th
of .March, 1877, it was re-incorporated undei-
the general law of I he state, uniler which char-
tei' it is still run. It now has a population of
about fifteen hundred and is a thriving, active
business town. It has one large coal shaft do-
ing an immense business; three first-class dry
gooils stores ; five grocery stores ; two hardware
stores; two restaurants: two butcher sho|is:
one drug store; two jewelers; one harness sliop ;
iwo hunberyards: one undertaker; one fur-
iiiiurc store; two grain elevators; one bank;
one h<i(el : two blacksmith shops; three sa-
loons; livi' churches; and two carpenter shops.
Resides these there are five resident ministers ;
four physicians and one printing office, in
which '"The Greenview Leader' is printed and
which does all kinds of job printing in the
best of style. Thoy also have a splendid pub-
lie square, beautifully adorned with trees; they
also have electric lights, and an excellent sys-
tem of water works. One strange feature of
the town is that it has no cemetery. Their
dead arc mostly taken to I'etersburg for burial.
There are several small cemeteries near there
where many of their dead repose, hut most of
them, as above stated, are biken to Petersburg
for interment. There certainly should be a
cemetery, owned and controlled by the citi-
zens of the town, nothing can be needed more.

Rut the (lay is not far di.-tant when sonic hu'ge-
hearted and pbilauthropii' citizen will rise up
to supply this great need, and thus, not only
ilo the comnninity a lasting favor, but at the
same time will rear a luiuuuiient which will be
more enduring than granite, brass or bronze.

There was never any school in the village
proper till the year 1877. A long time back
(in the latter part of the '50s, perhaps) a
brick school house was built southeast of the
town and here for several years they had school,
ill 1870 they completed a brick school building
III the then .south part of the town at a cost
of about ten thousand dollars. This continued
four laruc i-ooms. with halls, cloak-rooms, etc.
Professor 1). ^r. Harris taught th(> first school
111 this building. Some years later anotlier
building was erected on the adjoining lots,
containing two large and elegant rooms, one for
the high school and the other for the gram-
mar grade. Since the erection of the first
building they have had from eiirht to nine
months school in the town every year. Thev
have a regular four years' high school course,
with a full corps of teachers for the lower
grades. Professor Eobert C. ITiett has been
principal of this school for the past five years
and under his efTicient direction it is accom-
plishing a noble work. See further account
under the head 'Eilucation."

OJ>D SALKM

"New Salem." the ancient village of Menard
county, now so completely obliterated by time
that not a vestige of it is left, save a low |)lace
in llie ground where the store stood in wliicii
Lincoln sold goo<ls, was once the center of
business for a large sco])e of country. Tt is,
or was, sitiialeil mi the "Heights of .\hraliam,''
.some hundred feet or more above the waters of
the laging Sangamon, and about two miles
south of the town of Petersburg. On the loth
of October. IS-^'.l. it was surveyed and laid out
liy Reuben Harri.son, for Rutledge and Cam-
eron, the owners of the land. The first build-
ings were a couple of cabins, erected as dwel-
lings for John Cameron and James Hutledge.

PAS'I- AMt IM.'KSKXT OF :\IKXAI!1) CoIXTY

TIr' first business house was crcc-tcd l)v Siuiiuc!
Hill and Joliu ileXaniar lor a store, in which
tliev soon after opened a stock of goods, prob-
ably the first store oj)ened in the limits of what
is uow ilenard county, '{"lie next store was
o|>ened by Georf;e Warbiirton. who, in a sliort
time removed to Petersbur*;' and became one of
the proprietors of that town. It is saiil that
Warburton was an excellent business man. a
fine scliolar, and without an enemy, only liis
terrii)le ap|ietite for stronj,'- drinic. Al'terward
lie was found drowned in tlie Sanjjamon wlure
the water was not over six inches deep. Wheth-
er it was a case of suicide or not. no one ever
knew. He sold his store in Salem to two
brothers by the name of C'risman, who came
from Virginia. After reniaininir only a sliort
time they sold all their pos.sessions and moved
away. A postoffice was estai)li.shed at Salem
in 1830, and some say this was the first in the
county. John McXaniar was the first post-
master, but after a couple of years lie was suc-
ceeded by Al)raliam Lincoln, who served in that
capacity till he removed to Springfield. Dr.
Allen was the first |)racticing physician to set-
tle in Salem. He and his brother came here
together. Dr. Duncan was another early prac-
titioner in this locality. Joshua Miller was the
first blacksmith in the place. Edmund Greer,
deep learned in law, was the first magistrate to
deal out justice to the denizens of the infant
city, and when the law business ran slack he
played the pedagogue to fill in time and was
the first school teacher here, as well as the first
justice of the peace. John Kelso oijcned the
first hotel, and in the hospitable walls of this
hotel he jilayed the host to whatever strangers
might pass that way. Rutlcdge and Cameron
built the first mill that was here and it sup-
plied a much-felt want to the settlers in an
area of at least fifty miles in every direction.
This is the mill over the dam of which Abraham
I>incoln piloted the flatboat and, with a disjday
of tact and ingenuity wholly astonishing to
those who witnessed the operation, relieved the
boat of water, by a new style of pump, not
much in use on imard of vessels in that day or
at the present, for he bored an auger hole in
the bottom of the sunken boat and let the
water out. This is an actual fiut. but the

story has iieen told so often that we will not
tax the reader's patience by rejieating it here.

Salem mill was known far and near and was
piitionized by a very large district. It stood
umler the liliitV on which the town was located
and was a very primitive affair. It is thus
(lesi-ribed by a local writer of the time: "It
consisted of two or three log pens, anchored
with rocks, upon which was erected a platform,
where a jiair of rough stones were placed, and
driven by a water-wheel attached to an up-
right shaft." It was considerably ini])roved,
however, before Salem became extinct. In
1852 it was bought by Abraham Bale, who set
to work to remodel and iin])rove it but before
he accomplished this purpose lie was taken ill
and died. His sons, however, finished the
work that he had undertaken, completed it and
operated the mill for many years. One of
these sons, T. V. Bale, continued to run it till
about twenty or twenty-five years ago. when it
was burned to the ground. Xo sign of any
])art of the mill remains but a lew rotted
sticks, protruding from the mud and sand,
showing where the dam once was, but the river,
in .seeming disgust, has changed its channel and
U'ft the site of the dam out on dry land. On
the hill where the village stood there is no
sign to tell where it was, save the depression
in the ground, where the cellar of Lincoln's
store was. Out of the center of this, seeming-
ly from one root, arises two trees, an elm and
a sycamore, but one is dead, and the other dy-
ing, from the countless names that have been
cut in their bark, Xo human habitation is
Ileal- and it seems the dwelling jilace of desola-
tion. This is a svnopsis of the early history
of Salem except the connection with it of
Abraham Lincoln. l']>on this ])oint thiTe has
been so much written that we will not dwell
u])on it here. With the statement of a few
facts we will close this chapter, ilr. Lincoln
was born in Kentucky. Stuve in his history of
Illinois says: ".\braham Lincoln was born in
La Hue (now Hardin) county. Kentucky, about
two miles south of the village of Hodgens-
ville, February 12, 1S09. Here his father had
taken u]) a land claim of three hundred acres,
rough, broken and ]ioor, containing a fine
spring, known to this day as the 'Lincoln

•SKET** /^,

TAuuu;./* x'i-L. ' ^"^"^ ABE ^</vcc>i./v >Yor^sd. . ">.

PAST AM) i'i;i:si:.\'i- or mj-:.\aj;i) (oi.xty s.3

sprinir." I'nalilc to pav I'or tht' uiiiiroilurlivc l.rt liiiii take liis lone sleep, and gentlv rest,
lanil. tlic- i-laiin was almmloneil and tlio fainilv Wnh uaiij^ht to disturb or awako him:

iiicivcd I'nini place In place, in lln- iieiLililidi

When the anjrels shall come to irather the blest

II- 1 ,,,, ~ , To Abraham's bosom, they'll take him."

looil. being very destitute. 1 liese removals. ' ■*

oeeurrini: while .Vbraham was M-arcelv more

than an infant, iiave -iven rise to .iiU'crent ^^ '"'" •^'"■•'''■"" l-mcoln li^,,| ;il Old Salem

statements as to the e.xaet place of his l.jrtb. '"' '"'•"■'I'''' ""I' •'"!"' AnnMrong. S,,ine

it is said that in that part of Kentucky no •'•'■•'■- '■'"■'' ^^'- Ann^tnm- was killed b\ a

le.-sthan four places claim ilie honor. Thimias ''"'''''' '""' '''" "'''• "'^'^ ^''^'^ '' "''lo^^- ^^''t'' "

Lincoln, .\braham-s father, nu.yed to Spencer ''""'''" ''"" "'' ''''''' 'lii''"''''"- ^hortlv before

counlv. In.liana. in ISKI. Here he remained "'^ i'V^inuin- ,d' the war. her oldest ><m. Wil-

iill I.s;;ii. when he removal to lllin.>is. and '"""' "^^"'^'" '^'^ '"' "'"^ '''"'■''• "'"- 'I''"',!-"''!

s,.ttled in .Macon eounlv, on tli,- north l',)rk "■'^'' ""' '''■'""■ "'' """■'''■'■- -■"'! '" li'ivc be,.n

of the San-amon river, i.^ii miles northwest of '""""""'' '" -^1^'^"" 'ouiity. All aiv familiar

hecatur. In is:;:; he ivn„,N,.,| to Coles county, "''''' ''"' *^'"'>' "'''" '"" '"'''" '"''' '' 'I'""*'""!

where he died several years later. There in "a ^'™''''- "'" l^''"''"!" debrnding and clearing him

Mui.'t little cemetery, kiiown as ••(lordon's grave- "'' f'"' '■'""'•"''• ""'^ "'' •'^''•"- Armstrong's eternal

yard." h.. sleeps the last sleep. In lS(;!i IJobert ■'^''"titiide for ilii> ,-i,i of kindllcs^ ,m the ],ari

T^ l.incoln visite.l his -randfather'> -rave and "'' ^^'- '''"'•"'"• ^^'^ ''''I "•■" i' i'^ -^ 'lnt.v lo

creeled o\ir ii ;i niiirlile slab, with suitable

give, in ••The J'a>t and Present of Menard

inscription. So Mflcr almost lorlv \ears this ''"i"".^-" =' '"'i^'f ^^l<ftch of tlii. family, as they

humble grave has been marked. Asappiopri- ''^'''^ '" ""'^ '"""*>■•

ate in this place, we give a poem, written bv a -^'''~- Armstrong's maiden name \\a> Hannah

citizen of Coles county, on Thomas Lincoln's -Tones, sister of Fiddler and liuiilier dimes, as

death, which went the rounds of the press at ''^^>' ■^^■'''''' nic-k-nanied. She was born m ISII.

the time and appeared in several id' the lead- Wn'H ip"*f .voung she was married lo .lobn

ing magazines, entitled ihe ■•(li-axe of the Aniisining. They lived for a lime near Old

father of . Vbraham l.incoln." Salem, and during thai lime Lincoln lioarded

with theiii. After Armstrong was killed -he

"Til a low. .sweet vale liy a murmuriiiii- rill. ''^'''1 "" ■' ''"'t.v acres of land that she had

The pioneer's ashes are sleeping: lioughl. in Mason county. It was while liv-

Where the white marl)le slabs are lonely and i,ig there that this great trouble on account of

I,," .-i" n ■ ■ -1 1 "Duff" came upon her. .\fter some years she

In silence their vitrds are keeiiinn;. , ■

was married to .lobn Wilcox, with -whom she

On their sad, lonely faces are words of fame. ''A''d bajipilv for many years. Tliey remoyed

But none of them speak of his glory; lo Iowa and Mr. Wilco.x died there. In \\i-

When the pioneer died, his age and his' name, gust, 1S90. "Aunt Hannah" did in Winterset,

No mnmiment whispers the story. t t , , i ^ i t. ±

' ■ Iowa, and her remains were lirought to Peters-

Xo myrtle, no ivy, nor hyacinth blows '.■""'- ''"'' '""''"'• =""' ''"' "''''•'' Poached her

O'er the lonely grave where they laid him, funeral, in the Cumberland Presbyterian

Xo cedar nor holly nor almond-tree grows church, in that place. She died August 21,

Near the plebeian's gi-ay,. lo shade him. ]s;i(). William (••|)uir"i died at his home in

T5 • 1 , Ashland, Illinois, ^fay ;. liuiii. at the aee of

linght eyergreens wave oyer many a graye, . , ^

O'er some how the sad weeping willow: sixty-three years. Four ol the Armstrong

Hut no willow tree bows, nor evergnvus wave, children are still- living: \. P. Armstrong,

Where the pioneer sleeps on his pillow. .Vshland. Illinois: .lobn Armstrong. Oakford,

., - . , ■,-.,,,, , Illinois: Eliza Smith. Mason Citv. Illinoi.s;

Some are inhumed with the honors o| state. i u i - i . tt-- ^ . V ,r

And laid b..neatli temples to molder: and Pobert Armstrong, W.nterset. Iowa. Mrs.

The grave of th(> father of Lincoln the Oreat, Armstrong was an uneducated woman, but one

Is known by a hillock and boulder. of the clearest-minded women the writer ever

8(;

I'AS'r AM' i"i;i:si;.\'i' of mknaim) coi xtv

iiR't. llcr gratitiuip to and admiration for Mr.
Lincoln was sonu'tinnfr sulilinii'.

(i\ i:i;s'n{Ki-:T.

John Ovt'istrccl. Sr., was born in lii'dl'drd
county, ^'il■f;inia. in 1758, and served in tlir
|)atriot army <iiirini.' tin- sr\rn years of liie
Kevolntionary war. He was married to Xaniy
Daljuey, in the year ITS:!. They had four
chihlren liorn to tiu'm in Bedford county.
They afterward removed to Caijell county. West
Yirfrinia. where tiiey lived tiie remainder of
their lives. Their .son John Overstreet, who
was horn in Bedford county. X'irjjinia. was mar-
ried to Susan lioherts. in Calu'll county. West
Virginia, some time prior to the lireakini: out
of the second war with Knirhmd, in 1812. He
volunteered in the Ameiican army (the .son
of a Revolutionary soldier, could not well do
otherwise), and leavinjr his younji wife, he
went to the front, to fijvlit the hattles of his
country. M tliat time the Indians, taking ad-
vantage of the disturhed state of the country,
and. perhaps, incited hy British emmi-ssaries.
gave great annoyance to the ])eople of the
A'irginias, hy frecpient forays of murder, pil-
lage and rapine. While in the army, he luard
that his wife had heen nuirdered hy the In-
dians, — a common event in those times, — and
not a great while after he was. Iiimself. made a
prisoner by one of the savage allied trihes of the
English. Soon after his capture preparations
were made to hurn him at the stake. As was
the custom of the red demons, they began to
prepare to subject him to all the torture that
their fiendish tiatures could invent. He knew
it was but death, in its most cruel form, and
so when one of the "i)ig braves" offered him
a foul indignity, (Jverstreet's blood boiled at
the insult and collecting all his strength, he
gave the heartless brave such a crushing blow
that it sent him headlong into the fire that had
Deen kindled to torture Overstreet. This act
of daring bravery, in the face of what seemed
certain death, so aroused the ailmiration of the
other Indians, that he was saveil from torture,
he being considered too noble a brave to die
thus. Some time afterward he was sold to

aiKJther tribe and by them taken to Canada,
where after a time he by .some chance fell into
the hands of white men, by whom he was held,
for two or three years, in a kind of semi-
slavery, but was finally given his full liberty.
Not long after this he met a woman between
\\lioin and himself there sprang u]) a mutual
alfection and they were married. In due course
iif time a cliild was horn to them, hut Ii.iiin'
Fortune seemed again to frown upon him. for
soon af'er this the child and then tiie mother
died. Once more he found himself aloni- in
the world and for a time wandered aindessly
from ])lace to jilace. until at last he was seized
with a yearning desire to again visit the scenes
of his earlier and happier life. So he at <uice
began ])reparations for the long and weary
jouniey I run Canada to \'irginia. .\fter nntny
hardshi])-. and dangers he at last arrived, foot-
sore and weary, in the vicinity of his former
home. A strange and impelling jiower led him
to visit once more tlie cabin wliere he liad
lived for a few short months, in comfort and
hap])iiuss. with the wife he'had loved so fondly.
He came in sight of the old home; there stood
the .same rude caiiin. under the shadow of
the same wide-spreading trees, and from the
chimney that his own hands had built, the blue
smoke curled upward and his heart filled with
emotion, as memory carried him back to other
and hajipier days. Aimles.sly and dreamily he
ap|)roached the door and ra]))ied for entrance.
In a moment footste|ts were heard within, the
rude door turiieil on its wooden hinges, and
the wife of his youth stood before him. They
gazed u|)on each other for a few moments in
amazed and bewildered astonishment. She had
heard of his cajiture by the Indians and his
death by torture. Being a woman of refine-
men) and beauty, she was not compelled to live
long in widowed loneliness, but for a long time
she repelled the advances of a host of suitors,
until convinced in her own mind of her hus-
liand"s death, and wearying of her lonely life,
she at length married again. Overcome by
the sudden appearance of one so long supposed
to lie dead, she fell to the floor, in a deathlike
swoon. Jtist at this time the husband appeared
on the scene and after she had sufficiently re-
vived, the three lield a most solemn and paiiiful

•AST AND IM.'KSHX'l' OK MKNAKD CnrXTV

cotiiuil. Mt whitli i\v(i liiisliiiiuls siilriniily agreed
to Iciivc till' wlidlc iiiMttiT to tlic ilct-isioii of the
witV, liotli iiu'ii Siurcdly iijin'oiiij;' to aliido bv
the (lecisiiin thiit she would make, each one
ph^djiiiij;' his saered honor tliat if tile decision
was a.<:ainst liini tliat lie wmiid leave that sec-
tion of eouiitrv and never aiino\ tliciii in any
way. This nuist have been a ten-ible ordeal
for all eoneerned. es])eeially for the wife, hut,
ilonhtless after a terriMe slriiuille in lii'r own
hreast, the snioulderiiiii- fires of yonthfid love
prevailed and she chose the lonij-ahseiit hnshand
of her yoiilli. and llic reje(t<'d hushand, da/ed
and disapiiointed, hut true as steel to his
])li<;hted word, bade them a sad adieu, walked
out of the door and they never heard of him
after. Soon aftci- this most romantic ex]>eri-
eiu-c. Mr. anil Mrs. Ovcrstreet remoxcd, in ISl!),
to what is now Menard county and settled near
the present site (d' the town of .\lhens. In
earlier life Mr. Oxcrstrect hail learned lUr
trade of a millwright and the ^;reat dilHculty
of seeurinj; breadstutf indiu-ed him, in a year
or two. to er(>ct a horse-mill, in the town of
.Vthcii.-. in which he iiianufaclure(l a |ia>.-al)le
Lrrade of Hour. Soon after this he built a small
llathoat on the Sano;anion river, and loaded it
with llour. .Vbout IS.'Sf or IS:!."! he. in com-
pany with two brothers. Jesse (i. ami I)a\id
Hurt, starti'd to New Orleans with llieir lar^o.
down tlie Sansamon to the Illinois, and down
ilic Illinois ami the Mississippi, to .New Orleans.
The venture proved a successful one, in a finan-
cial view, but unfortnnalc in that 'Slv. Over-
street died in .\'ew Orleans in is:!."). 'I'lic Hurt
brothers started home, but David died near
t'airo, at the month of the Ohio river, .fcssc
ii. Hurt, the oiilv snr\i\(ir (d' ihc voyage, re-
turned safely to Athens, where he lived and
ilied. Jesse (i. Triirt's wife was a niece of Mr.
Overstreet. Pembroke Hall was a i:randson
of John Overstreet, his mother beiiii; a dauuh-
ter id' Mr. Overstreet.

di'i- the \illa,i:(' law but is a place of sonic im-
poi'tancc. 1 1 is located on the (dd Tice farm
and is surrounded by a fine farmiiifi' communi-
ty uiNiiiL;- it the oppmMunity of beconiinf!; a
place of some commercial interest. Tiiere has
lieen a store there for several years as well as
a postoHice. 'i'hev have an excellent sclinol-
lioiise, in fact, one of the neati'st and most con-
venit'iit in the country. It is heated with a
fui-nacc. spli'iiiliilly lijiliteil, and is all that
could be dcsii-ed in every respect. For forty-
odd years the ^[ethodists liaxc had a church
in that \icinitv but the old frame house which
stofid some distance from where the .station now
stands had become unfit fur servici' and three
or four years back tlu'V built a neat and com-
fortable h.ous(> in the villajie and now have reg-
ular services, nnring- the snnimer of 1904 a
company sunk a loal shaft there and ar<' trik-
ing our quantifies of an e.\c(dlent quality of
coal. This will tend to build up the town. The
school already enrolls about seventy pn]iils and
in a year from the present they will have to
arrange I'm- another room.

TICE,

Tice is a station on the Chicago, Peoria i.*t St.
Louis Ivailroatl four and a half miles southeast
of Petersburg. Tt lias never been organizer! \\n-

I'KTKl.'sr.ri.'C AND \'1( IMTY.

Mount \'crnoii. the ancestral home of the
Father of His Country, is dear to every .\mcri-
can heart. His mortal remains lie cntoinbecl
there and reflected liack from tlie setting siiii.
.Vs ColnnibiaV fir.«t and greatest son, lie is em-
balmed in the nation's ineinory, as Joseph was
embalmed by his lircthcrn. and reverently as-
signed a place

"Among tlie few imimu'tal names
That were not born to die."

In that portion of ^lenard to which thisclia]i-
ter is devoted is an historic spot that, ne.xt to
Mount Ternon. should be cherished and held
sacred as loiig as love of liberty and true patri-
otism prevail in thi> great i{e|udilic. We al-
lude to idd "Salem," once the home of .Vbra-
liam Tyincoln, and the writer might fill pages
with incidents and auecflotes of that great
man, which have never found their way into
|)rint, enough to fill a small volume. But we
inflict none of this upon the reader. Here, it

I'AST AMI im;i:si-;.\t of mknaimi (or\-iA'

may be said. Lincoln niado his start in the
world, and although nothing remains of the
original town tlie spot is endeared to the peo-
ple of the county as the early lumio of the
martyred president. It seems to us that it is a
duty that the state. — that the nation — owes to
his memory, to purchase the site of the old
town, appropriately care for it. as the national
<rovernment does for Blount Vernon, and wc
doubt not tliiif till' time will (■niiii' when this
will he done.

Petersburg and vicinity, as we use the term.
covers a large territorj' and is one of the most
im])ortant ]i:irts <>( tlic county. I'oi' several rea-
sons. The territory, ns \\r apply the term, in-
cludes parts of towns is and 19 ;ind ranges (>.
7 and 8. The vSangamon river flows through
its center, affording ample drainage; timber is
abundant ; the soil is of the best ; coal exists in
abundance : and all that nature could have done
to prepare this to be a great manufacturing
center has been done. The Jacksonville di-
vision of the Chicago. Alton & St. Louis TJnil-
road, and the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis
Eailroad cross at the town, so that taking all
together, there is no more favorably situated
town in central Illinois. Petersburg is the
county seat of ^fenard county, and the only
town of any size tha^ it can boast. The first
settlements made in this part of the county are
involved in some obscurity and authentic in-
formation concerning them seems almost be-
yond reach at the present time. In fact, near-
ly forty years ago the writer began to take
notes and gather data in this direction, but
even at that comparatively early day there
were differences of opinion among the oldest
settlers, concerning important facts. That be-
ing the case, what may we expect at this day.
when eightA--five years have interposed their
veil between the now and then? With these
eighty-five years stretching between the advent
of the pale-faced pioneer and the present pe-
riod, it is not strange that there should be con-
flicting statements, as to whom belongs the
rightful honor of settling Peter.-burg and its
vicinity. From long and careful investigation
and the most reliable sources of information
at hand, we are fully convinced that the Esteps
were the first white men in this local itv. Thev

were originally from North Carolina, but early
in the beginning of the nineteenth century
they emigrated to Tennessee and from there
they came to St. Clair county. Illinois, and lo-
cated in a very early day. In the spring of
1820-21 James Estep came to Menard, — theJ'
Sangamon county, — and made a claim near
or within the limits of the present city of Pe-
tersburg. He was followed in a few months by
his father. Elijnh. and his brother. Enoch Es-
tep. Upon the arrival of his father James
gave his claim to him and he went east of the
Sangnnion river and located a claim on what is
since known as Baker's Prairie. Elijah Estep
Iniilt a small Imrse-mill which was afterward
embraced in the city limits, and he otherwise
im]n'oved the claim by erecting on it a cabin of
the true jiioneer ly]ie. He died in a vei-y early
day and very little was remembered of him,-
even many years ago. Enoch Estep removed to
.\rkansas long years ago and doubtless died
there half a century or more in the past. James
Esteji was ;i roving character. He soon left
Baker's Prairie and removed to ilason county
and later to Arkansas, then to Missouri and
finally back to Mason county, where he died in
1857. at the home of his son. He is described
as a man of considerable eccentricity, and
with all his wandering around he never rented
a home but always bought and sold. True the
old saying is that "A rolling stone gathers no
moss."'" and ^Ir. Estep accumulated but very
little of this world's goods, dying in indigent
circumstances. This pioneer, supposed to be
the first white man to settle in the vicinity of
Petersburg, now sleeps in New Hope cemetery,
in Mason county, beside the partner of his life,
who preceded him by a few years to the land of
shadows. Soon after the settlement of the Es-
teps — probably the same year — the Watkins
brothers and a nuin by the nauu- of Teeters
came to the neighborhood. There were Joseph,
Samuel, James. John and Thomas Watkins.
They were from Kentucky and some of them
came to Clary's Orove as early as 1810-20.
Thomas Watkins bought the claim of John
Clary, who was admittedly the first white set-
tler in Menard county. Later he sold this
claim to George Spears, and removed to the
'"riviT timber" where he lived and died. Joseph

PAST A\|) IM!i:SK\T OF MKXAKD ((MXTV

and Samuel Wiitkiii? made Ll;iiiiis here in 1821,
but James Walkins rlid not come to Illinois
till KS-2,J--.'i:. Tl.c old, original Watkins' stock
an' all dead and gone, but many of the descend-
ants of the family arc honorod citizons of the
county. Jacob Short, and his three sons,
Obadiah, Harrison and James, came in 1822.
They were from the south part of this state,
where they had resided for some time before
coming to this county. In 1824 the Shorts
removed to what is now called Saudridge, and
there Jacob died in 182.5 and there Harrison
also died a few years later. Obadiah died in
Xauvoo and James removed to Iowa, where he
died. During the ne.xt two or three years the
little community was increased by a large num-
ber of additions, among whom were Jesse Ba-
ker, Henry and William Clark, Ephraim and
William WiU-Dx. Henry ^IcHenry. Daniel At-
terberry. Andrew. Jacob and Spencer Merrill
and per]ia])s otiiers. .(esse Baker settled on
Baker's Prairie, from whom it got its name.
He removed from here to Mason county about
ls:i() and located in the vicinity of Kilbourne,
and was afterward mentioned as one of the pio-
neers of that section. Henry and William
Clark, who were brothers, came hciv from Ken-
tucky and settled on the east side of the San-
iraiMiiii river. William dii^l a great many years
ago, but Henry lived to a great old age, dying
at last on the place where he first settled. He
and his wife bad lived together for over sixty
years. They left a large and respected poster-
ity, many of wIiotm are still residents of ^le-
nard county. If any one should happen to
know any Chirks and wish to learn whether
they are related to this family, they can settle
the question, at least negatively, very easily;
if they are not Democrats and Baptists they
are not this stock of Clarks. Ephraim and
William Wikox came from Kentucky and set-
tled in BakerV Prairii'. and both died there
long years ago. Henry McHenry lived to be
a very old man. and died in Petersburg. Dan-
iel Atterberry came from Kentucky in an early
day, settled here and reared a large family.
He died soon after the close of the Civil war.
The second generation of the Atterberrys are
all dead; hut there are a large number of the
third generation still living here. .\udrew

Merrill and his sons, Jacob and Spencer, were
also from Kentucky and settled west of the
present site of Petersburg. The old gentleman
died in 1835. It is said that just a few days
before he died he pointed out to his son the
spot where he wished to be buried, and when
he passed away his son had his wish carried
out and laid him where he desired to be laid.
Ill ]8.5!i the old lady was l^id by his side.
Thomas Edwards was one of the very early
coiners but he is described as a hard character
and soon left for wilder scenes in the wilder
west. Thomas F. Dowell came in 1835 or 1826
and located in this vicinity but later removed
to what is now Sandridge, and lived and died
there. Jesse Gum, from Kentucky, noticed in
another place as one of the earlier settlers of
Clary's Grove, came to this section and his
sons settled west of Petersburg. Charles Gum.
son of Jesse (iuni. lived and dietl on a farm
west of I'etersburg. His brother, John B.
Gum, also lived for many years northwest of
I'etersburg. but the latter part of his life was
spent in Mason count}". He lived near Kil-
bourne and was one of the largest lando^vners
in ^fasoii 01- Aleiiard county. In addition to
those already mentioned, the following recruits
were added to the settlement before the "deep
snow": George Curry, Henry Bell and sons,
John Jones. Zachariah Clary. Bartley Milton.
.Tohn ami .\iino Bitter, Pollard Simmons, Wil-
liam Edwards and sons, John Jennison, Bart-
lett Convers, Henry and David Williams, Con-
rad Strader, Josiali Crawford, and others whose
names have heen forgotten. George Curry
came from GrtHjn county. Kentucky, and set-
tled on or near the farm owned and occupied
for the last forty years by his son, the Rev. H.
P. Curry. George Curry died in 1876. H. P.
Curry has been constantly engaged in preach-
ing the gospel in this ]iart of Illinois for nearly
sixty years and is still engaged in the work.
Henry Bell and sons were also from Kentucky
and settled here, opened farms and did their
])art in the development of the country. The
old gentleman died many, many years ago, and
the sons have also gone to the other shore.
John Jones was another Kcntuckian who settled
in Clary's Grove in 1824 but a little later re-
moved to the vicinity of Petersburg and finally

PAST AMI IM.'KSK-NT Ui- Mil.NAKD LUlXTY

located in Little (!ri)Vf ami siiciil the remain-
der of his davs there. Zaeliariah Ciarv. a hro-
ther of John t'larv, the pioneer, eaiiie from 'i'eii-
nessce and settled in Clar\-'s Grove in 1819,
hut in 182.5 he removed to a claim one and a
half miles north of Peterslnirg. Here lie con-
tinued to live till some twenty or twenty-five
years ago, when he died. Ho was well past
the four score station wlun he died. Some of
his sons are still alive hut most of tiien; an;
gone to the great beyond. John and .\nno Hit-
ter also came from Kentucky. Anno died here
and John went to Mason county and died there.
Pollard Simmons and Josiah Crawford removed
to iIa.son county also, and died there. Conrad
Strader died many years ago, and his sou Isham
who lived on the old farm adjoining the Baker's
Prairie Baptist church, also died a few years
ago. This completes the list of the "Snow
Birds." or the pioneers wlio were here before
the deep snow of ISSO-.^l. This is a chrono-
logical landmark that all understood. It is a
fl-aymark that was never forgotten by any v.ho
experienced it. When those old pioneers were
interrogated about it their face? would brighten
up and their eyes would s])arkle, as they told
of the time when "All the land with snow v,as
covered."' and lay (as many aver) to a depth
of four feet or over, for nearly tiiree montiis
before the ground was seen. See an account
of this in another place. The five or six years
immediately after the deej) snow brought im-
mense additions to the settlement. True, from
1831 to 1833 the tide was not so strong on
account of the disturbance. of the Black Hawk
war, but the next two years made up for it.
We give quite a list of these newcomers, the
large majority of wliom were from old Ki'n-
tucky, that laud famed for blue grass, ])rctt\
women, fine horses and good whisky: The
Davidsons, the Taylors. William Butler, Dr.
John Lee. William P. Cox, Willian\ G. Greene,
Thomas Epperson. William J. Hoey, the Ben-
netts, C. G. Brooks. S. and C. T^'vering. A.
I). Wright, Jacob H. Laning. James S. Carter,
John MeXamar. .\. Humphrey. John McXeal.
Samuel Hill. Xatliaii Dresser. Charles B. Wal-
do, Zachariah Xance and sons. George T". Miles,
Chester Moon, Thomas L. Harris. W. C. Daw-
son, ^fartin Morris. Jordan ^forris. .T. W.

Warnsing. William Haggerty. Jlr. John Allen,
(icorge Warimrton. Peter Lukins, the Kutledges,
Jonathan Colby, Kobert Carter, J. A. Brahiu,
James (ioldsby. Xicholas Tice, Abraham Bale.
Jacol) Bale, Hardin Bale and others. The
Davidsons w'ere from Kentucky and were among
the lirst merchants of Petersburg, 'i'hey first
settled in Bond county, Illinois, and lived there
for years before coming to this part of the
state. John Taylor was the first merchant of
Petersburg and one of the proj)rietors of the
town, when it was organized. The Bennetts
came from old Virginia, the home of states-
men and the birthplace of presidents. There
were three brothers, John, William and Kichard
E. Bennett. John came to Illinois in 1835
anri to this jilace in 183G. He was one of the
I'ariy merchants and prominent l)usiness men
of the |i]ace. He was a member of the state
legislature during the session of 1840-41, and
was also one of the directors of the old Peters-
lnirg & Tonica Railroad, now the Jacksonville
division of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Rail-
road, besides holding many other positions of
honor and tru.st. He died in Petersburg many
years ago. William Bennett came to this set-
tlement one year later than his brother John,
and died not many years after he came. Dr.
Kichard K. Bennett came about the time that
his brothers came and followed his profession
with marked success till the time of his death.
soTMc twenty years ago. Dr. Bennett's son,
Theodore ('., was circuit clerk for this county
for thirty years, and was then succeeded, for
four years, by his son. David K., and he might
have continued in the i)lace indefinitely had
it not Iwen for the Parker wreck, in 1904. C.
<i. Brooks was from Kentucky, came here in
183(> and died many years ago. Septimus and
C. Levering were half-brothers and came from
the city of Baltimore; Septimus came in 1S3T
and his l)rother came a little later. Sei)timus
died many years ago but his brother lived to
be over eighty years of age. His widow is still
living. Septimus has no descendants in this
country but his brother reared a large family
who are all dead except one in Petersburg,
'{"hey were active and successful business men.
James S. Carter came from Virginia in 1838
and the same year Jacob H. Laning came from

I'ASTAND n;i:si;\-|- oi- .\ii;.\ai;i) toimy

!)1

New Jersov. and his sons aic mhiohi; ilif proiii-
iii'nt Inisiness men ol' tlic place, .lohii Mc-
Xauiar was a "down master" Imt we arr unable
to learn what state ho hailed rroni. Ili' was
line il' till' early merchants in nld Salem and
when that historic town went down he removed
lo TetiTshurg and thei'e emharked ajiaiii in the
mercantile Inisiness. lie died alionl islo or
l^;l. |)i-. .lohn Allen was an eaily merchant
of Salem, as well as a |iractitioner ol' medicine
there. Samui-I Hill was from Ohio and in a
\i'r\ earlv dav went to Salem, where lie was
en,i,'aj;ed in selling goods. Later he came to
I'etersiairg ami engaged in the same business
there until his death, which occnrred many
years ago. Charles H. Waldo ami Nathan
|)i-esser were both natives of Connecticut bnt
\\f\\\ to X'irgiida ami from there to Petersburg.
W'aldo was the iirst ])edagogne in the place.
They both went to the sonlh jiart of the state
many years ago. ^riiomas L. Harris was also
a native of Coniieclieiit and like the U\o men-
tioned above, he went to \'irginia and then
came to this place. He served two terms in
congress with distinguished ability, but just
in the prime of his life death blighted all his
plans and he jiassed to that land of shadows,
from which none ever return. Zachariah
Nance was a soldier of the lievolutionary war
and lived in Kentucky, but in IS.'!;! he. with
several sons, emigratecl in lllinnis and located
on Koek creek. 'J'liere the old gentleman ilied
'iml was buried in Farmers" Point cemetery.
Among his sous were Thomas and Washing-
ton, The latter settled on Sandridge and
reared a largo family there but later moved to
Petersburg, wliere lu' died about 188() or 1887.
.\lbert G., a son of Thomas Xanee, served two
terms in the state legislature and thou i)eeanie
a candidate for the state senate, but died a few
days before the election. Samuel Hill, the
Salem merchant, married a daughter of Zacha-
riali Xance. These are all long since dead.
(Joorge v. Miles was a Kentnekian by birth and
came first to the southern part of the state,
and in 1839 he settled in Peterslnirg. ^lartin
and Jnrdan Morris, though of the same name,
.ind both l)lacksmiths, were in nowise related,
lloth worked at their trade here. Jordan Mor-
ris was an unstable character and after a few

years he. in com[)any with William Haggerty.
a blacksmith who eaiiu' here with him. left for
other parts. Martin Morris worked at his
trade here many years, and then removed to
Sinaunali. .Missouri, and ilied there. J. W.
Wernsing, a (ierman bv birth, was an early
settler here and iIIimI niaii\' years ago. He was
related to .lobu 11. Marbcdd, who came to Pet-
ersb.iiig biier on and remained here about three
years and then remoxcd to Gveenview, where
he died several years ago, at the advanced age
of o\er ninety years. Speaking of Germans
suggests the fact that John Harmon Schirding
came here from Germany in 184T. and a year
later his father and mother and H. H. Schird-
ing, his brother, came. 'I'liey later settled just
north of the town of Petersburg, and l>y hard
work and economy they became wealthy. John
llarmiui Schirding died a inniilier of years ago.
lie was never married. John Henry Schirding
lived to tlie great age of ninety-eight years and
seven months, and his wife died at the agi> of
eighty-nine years and four months. They both
died in Potersbttrg, within a few weeks of each
other. Judge II. II. Seliinling still lives bero,
he ami bis son Harry (his oidy child) being en-
gaged in banking. George Warburton was from
the east and came here in an early day. He
was |iart owner of the tract of land on which
(he town was located. He was afterward
drowned in the -Sangamon river, it is said,
where the water was only si.x inches deep. He
was addicted to drink and it is su]i]iosed that
this was the cause of his death. Peter Lukins,
the joint ]n-oprietor with Warburton, of the
land that the town is located on, and for whom
the town was named, came from Kentucky and
was the first hotelkeeper in the place. He and
Warburton owned one hundred and sixty acres
of land and laid out the town on it. Afterward
they sold out to Taylor and King, who thus
became pro]n-ietors of the village. Lukins was
afterward 4^ound dead in his bed. the result
of hard drink, for he also was too do.se a friend
of .lohn Barleycorn.

■".Mil Hrandy. brandy, bane of life;
Spring of tumult, source of strife;
Coidd T but half thy curses tell,
The wise woidd wish thee safe in hell."

The l!ut ledges were originally from Ken-

^•2

I'As'i' AM) i'i;i-:si-:.\'|- ov mi;\\i;1) ((Mnt^'

tiiukv Inn uoiu rnun there lo South Carolina
and theiicx' came in an early day to Illinois,
i-ettlini; in ^Miite county, whence they came to
this county in 182"). .settling in the vicinity of
■Old Salem. A\'illiani and James Rutledjre and
John Caniiinii cMnic tofrether. William Rut-
ledge and Ciiiiiiidn were l)rothers-in-law.
These all died here iiianx vcars ago. leaving
a long line of descendants. Jonathan Colby
came f'rnni .\ew Ham]),«hire in IS.'M anil settled
■on the fniui where he died. Ills son (irosvenor
{'oli)y now owning it. Holjcrt Carter came
from Kentucky in lx;>ii and settled on the
farm that his <laughter. "".Vunt" Jemima Gum.
lived and died on. lie died in 18()(i. The el-
der Brahm. father of Joiui A. Brahm. came in
1S.52. James Goldshy eanu' from Kentucky in
1830 and settled here, lie was the lirst slieritf
of ^leiuird county, lie was a son of Hev. Wil-
liam (ioldsby. a Baptist nnnister. wlu) jireached
the gospel here for a half century. Xicholas
Tice came from \'iiginia in 18;U. locating lirst
in .Vthens. but in 18:!-i he liought a farm where
the village of Tice now stands and spi'iil tjie
remainder of his life there. .Judge Jolm Tice.
recently deceased, was his son. TJie Bales were
from Kentucky and Jacob Bale located near
the present site of Petersburg in 1S:{0. He
Avas a minister and father of Hardin Bale, who
was |)roprietor of the Petersburg Woolen Mills.
Ai/ram Bale came to the vicinity in 1839 and
located at Salem. In 1840 he bought a farm
and moved onto it. In 18.52 ho purchased the
mill site at Salem and liegan repairing and
remodeling the old mill but died in 1853. Ilis
-sons coni]j!etcd the repairs that he had begun
and in 1873 T. Y. Bale became the sole pro-
prietor and conducted the mill till it ceased to
be. sonic twenty or twenty-five years ago.
Judge Joseph H. Pillsbury was a son of Alpha
Pillsbury and was a native of Xcw TTanipshire.
If is father died there in 1831 and in 183(i the
family came to Petersburg, where his mother
died in 18(iS. .Judge Pillsbury was a promi-
nent man. filling .some positions of trust and
hiinor. He died some years ago. Elijah Pot-
ter came from White county, Illinois, where he
was born in ISlf) or 1820. He settled five
miles south of Petersburg, -where he died in
Manh. 18T(;. Pol)ert ^fcXeelv was an earlv

settler in Morgan county, and his sou, Hon.
T. W. ilcXeelv, early i)ecame a citizen of Pe-
tersburg and became one of our ablest attor-
neys, lie has 7-epresented this district in con-
gress.

This comprises the list of the early settlers
of this section of the county. After the year
1835 the stream of immigration became so
great that it would lie impossiijle to give any-
thing like a correct account of them. True we
have mentioned some who came at a later date.
but only a few of tiie more ini|ioriant ones,
while some prominent pioneers were not named
in this list because they are spoken of in an-
othei- place or are noticed in the biographical
\rdvt of this work. We have used the utmost
care in trying to get the facts and date? cor-
rect i)Ut doulitless there are mistakes. The
writer iiegan almost forty years ago to gather
this material. For thirty-eight years a daily
diary has been carefully kept, and had it not
been for this fact this work could never have
been done, even one-half as well. If people in
general would take an intere.st in such matters,
the record of the ])ast might be kejit entire.

If some of those early settlers could rise from
the grave and come back to their haunts of
eighty years ago. their surprise would be far
greater than that of Rip Van Winkle when he
awoke from his long slec]) in the Catskill moun-
tains. When the white man came here eighty-
live years ago the forests were unbroken ; the
]irairies were yet in their pristine beauty fresh
from their Creator's hand, and were the abode
of the wolf and wild deer; the canoe of the
Indian glided over the waters of the "Sanga-
mo," and the forests echoed to his savage yell,
while the paths worn by his moccasinod feet
served as a guiding trail to the invading pale-
face. The flight of years has clothed these
"verdant wastes" with flocks and herds, with
waving harvest-fields and vast forests of rust-
ling corn, in which groat armies might find
secreting airilnish. The Indian trail has been
obliterated by the railway track, and the o.\-
team and "prairie schooner" are displaced l)y
the locomotive and the automobile. The land-
scape where the Indian set his te|)ee and whore
his pale-faced successor built his ])ole cabin
or his throe-faced cam]), is now dotted with

AST AMI I'liKSKNl' (iF .\l K.\ AIM ) lOlXTV

liiiiiilriHls of liiippy iioiiH's. uliurfli(.'s iiiid scliool-
liou>is. The sileiu-c liroken liy the wnr wIkioji
and llir ilcatli soiij,' of the pavaj;c. now eulioi'~ to

■■'riic huiirli oi children, the soft voiee
or maidens and the sweet and solemn h\'nui
Of SaMiath worshippers."

The earl\ pioni'ers of this set-tiou met witli
the >ame trials and iiieoiiveniences tiiat others
r\|ierieiuH'il, and which are described in another
|daee. t'lui relies, sehools, soeictics, etc., arc de-
scrihecl in ajipropriate chapters, but wo feel that
at this point a word should be said about one
pariienlar ehureh — Tiie Bajjtist eliurch at l>a-
ker"s I'rairie. This is one of the old con.ori-j:a-
tions of that tienomination in the i-ouuty. It
was orj^anized in 18;).'). iiy the Kev. John Aiitle.
The lirst jilaee of worship, after the pri\ate
houses, was a log house which served as a cluinh
and schoolhouse. it stood about three miles
east of Petersburir and about tlio same distance
iiortli of where Tice is now located. Later they
built a frame ehureh and after it became some-
whar dila])idated they erected a splendid brick
editiee. which they now occu|iy.

Till' town of Petersburjr, the metropolis of
M<-nard county, is beautifully situated on the
west bank of the Sanjiamon river at the cross-
iui: of the Chicago, Alton tS: St. Louis, and
the Chicago. Peoria & St. Louis Railways,
twenty-one miles north of Springfield and
twenty-seven miles froni Jacksonville. It ex-
tends back from the river ou the blull's. where
many Ijeautiful residences are situated. The
>treets are broad and lined with trees, adding
much to tite beauty of the ]dacc, and in sum-
mer ])rotecting from the burning heat of the
sun. The ]niblic scpiare is a great ornament
to the town, being well supplied with forest
trees, and in its center stands a splendid court-
house, built in 1897 at a cost of fifty thou-
-and dollars. The greater part of the business.
as in other Illinois towns, is around the square,
and the buildings are far better than are gen-
erally found in towns of its size. Speaking
of the streets of Petersburg l)rings to mind an
anecdote of .\braham Lincoln, that we believe
has never found its way into print, and as
it is absolutely true, and as it illustrates the
kind- and benevolent nature of the man. we
ficl it to be n dutv to record it. here and now.

Mr. Lincoln surveyed and platted the town but
it hapjiened that, before the ]ilat was thought
of a widow lady had built her a hous(' within
its limits. When they came to make the sur-
\vy they found that this house was a few feet
out into the projected street. It would cost
something to move the house, and the owner
was a widow; the survey was almost done and
it would entail both labor and expense to change
the whole plat; so Lincoln cut the Gordian knot
by making "a jog." as he called it, in the street.
This "jog" is in the plat, and in the street —
a visible and lasting monunu^nt to the kind
heart of Mr. Lincoln.

Peter Ltd^ins and George Warburton were
the original owners of the one hundred and
si\i\ acres of land that Petcrsinirg now stands
on. This tract wa> j)art of .section 14, town-
ship IS. range 7 west. In 1832-3 they laid
out the entire tract of one liundred and sixty
acres into blocks and town lots and when this
was done they quietly sat down to wait (ov
the city to grow. This one hundred and sixty
acres was rather an extensive foundation for a
town seventy-five years ago. and it was prob-
ably these ponderous proportions that retarded
its growth. At any rate it failed to grow
and the pro|irietors, boconnng disgusted, sold
out to Hezekiah King and John Taylor. These
gentlemen enqiloyed Abraham Lincoln, then
deputy surveyor of Sangamon county, to sur-
vey and re])lat the town, and this |>lat was
filed for record February 22, 183G. The town
was named for Peter Lukins. one of the origi-
nal pro])rietors. The incident, or accident,
which led to the naming of the future city
Petersburg, instead of Georgetowni, occurred in
this wise: Peter Lukins and George Warbur-
ton. the original projectors of the enterjirise,
were each very anxious to be immortalized in
history by bestowing his name on the incipient
city and they became involved in a very warm
dispute over the qxiestion whether it should
be called Georgetown, for Warlmrton, or Peters-
burg, for Lukins. At last they decided to play
a game of "old sledge," or "seven-up," then the
national game (instead of base or football),
and allow the winner to name the town. Lu-
kins won. and lising frotn his costly seat, a
nail-keg. he solemnly and impreseively pro-

I'As'i' AMI im;ksi:\t of .mi;\\i;ii coiwi'v

noumx'd the word ■•I'otL'rsljurg," and lln' iiiu-
mentous question was forever settled. Elijali
Estep dcnditlesg built the first caliin. or iniild-
ing of any kind that was ever built in the ti'r-
ritorv of what is now Petersburg. Estep put
uj) a '•tread-wheel'' mill here in 1826. This
is spoken of more fully in another place. The
first store opened in the town was by John
Taylor, in 1833. Not a great while after Tay-
lor began business, the Davidson Brothers came
in with a stock of goods and opened the sec-
ond sioi-c. it was only a short time al'ter this
till Jolui Jicnnett bought Taylor out and en-
gaged in a business that was destined to be
his employment for a long time. He was for
many years one of the leailing merchants and
business men of ihi' ]ilacc. lie is s))okcn of
more at length in another place. Jordan Mor-
ris was the first blacksmith and Peter Lukins
looked after the soles of the people, being a
shoemaker. Tlic |iostotHcc was estaldishcd here
in 1834, with James Taylor as postuuister.
This office was then a very small affair, and
the whole thing could have been easily cai'ried
in a man's bat. The first practicing la\v\er
was David ^f. IJutledge, a brother of "the
beautiful .\nna Kutledge,"' the fiancee of Aiua-
liaiii Lincoln, and who. had she lived, would
have been his wife. Dr. P. E. Bennett was the
first resident physician. The first "tavern"
was kept by Peter Lukins. It was located in
tlie south ])art of town and was a very un-
pretentious affair but it accommodated in a
comfortable way those who |)atronizcd it. .\ ft-
er the primitive mill spoken of above, a nan
by the luimo of Dorrell built a combined saw
and grist mill, and this served the purpose
for the people for a great many years. After
this a Mr. Sanford erected a very fine mill at
a cost of eighteen thousand dollars. .M'tcr
operating it for several years his sons, J. Ii.
and E. D. Wright, took charge of it. In a few
years E. D. Wright withdrew from the firm
and not long after this J. D. Wright failed in
business, necessitating the sale of the prop-
erty. In 1878 the ])roperty was bought by
E. Tj. riaitlt and D. Eischer, who ran the mill
for a nnniber of years, with very good suc-
cess. Later it went into the hands of a Mr.
Welch, who ran it for a time, but after his

death it wa~ cbangiMl into an elevator ami i>
being so run at the present lime. In 18(17
the Ivigle Mills were built i)y \ani-e. I'.rother
& Comi)any. at a cost of ovei- twenty-four
thou.sand ilollars. The Nances ran it aiiout
eighteen months when it was bought by I'hilip
HaijK^v. In connection with Thomas Harlield
be ran it lor a time and later he was alone in
the enterpri.se. He put in i-ollers and tlu' "new
|)rocess." aiul made it in exci-y i-es|iect a \ei-\-
fine mill. Alter bis death his wife ran it for
a liiiii'. finally, souu- twehc or fifteen years
ago, Mr. llelfner, of \'irginia, Cass county.
bought I he property aiul is running the mill
with great success. Aaron Hatfield built a
mill in the east ))art of town about the early
"Siis ami ran it for a time, .\fterward Charles
Canmin lan it for some time anil failed l.>
make it pay. Sonu' years ago it was dis-
mantled, the machinery taken out and the
building has since stood unoccupied. While on
the subject of mills it is not out of place to
mention tlie fad that the first steam mill (the
one pill up by Taylor) was run by an engine
that came olf a steamboat. (See the chapter
on "Steamboats.") .\long somewhere about
that time a steamboat worked its way up the
Sangamon as far as Petersburg, aiul landed at
her lui.sy wharf, but when starting iinw. canu'
she could neither advance nor back out, so
the ojily thing to do was remain, which she did.
Taylor bought the machinery and ]iut it into
the mill, as above stated. There are two grain
elevators running in Petersburg at the present
time. Wilms & Company operate a new ele-
vator, built by them some five or si.x years ago
near the track of the Chicago, Peoria i'(- St.
Louis Railroad, in the northeast part of town.
David Frackelton. Jr.. is riinninsr the old mill
ill tlie south part of town as an elevator. l!olb
are doing a good business.

In 1!H)1 ;Mr. Brass, of \"iigiiiia, Cass eoiin-
ty. eri-cted a canning factory in the luirtli part
of town and engag(>(l in cauning tonuitoes. sweet
corn and jiumjikins. which at once bid fair to
Ih' a success, lie indueed the neighboring farm-
ers to engage in raising these product- and
the enterprise has proved a blessing to the
town. The fanner^ have realized splendidly
on the crops raiscil : emplovment has been fur-

I'As'i' AMI i'i;i;si;N'r of .mi-:\\i;ii corxTV 95

Ilisliril I'm- ;i -irat llllliilrr cif till' |ii'ii|ili' (if I lilliiilliiii rli,lll,L;ii| llir lucUvx tu ;i i;c|Uiiili<'ilH

the iiiun: ;mi1 thr iiuiii'is liM\c iloiir Well. |iii|nT the Mciiiird Countv Axis was startril as

.Soiiii' years af;() 1). M. liiinc ami Cliark's Mont- a Dciimcral ic <)i-s;aii, with ('. Clay as editor

aoiiicry crei'tcd a l)e(l-s|)riiii; and exi-clsior I'mc- and pulilisliri'. Its lirst issue was dat<'d April

tni'v in tile east part nf the litv. wliieh I'nr I'.'. IS.Mt. and it was eontinueil iiv ('lav till

-e\('ral years |)r"ved a i;reat >\iec-ess ami a lS(i;. ulirii it was piii-eliased In a .j"int stock

iilessiliy to the country, rnl'ortunately jusl eoinpan\. .\itli M. I!. Friend as editor, and

as it liad heconu a decided success, it Imrned its name elianized to the Petersburg Democrat,

down anil the moneyed men of the town re- under which ii.uiie it still continues to he

fused to k'ud the necessary aid. and one of pulilishe(l. Mr. F'i'iend continued in charge

the proprietors openecj the same Imsiness in id' the papci- till \s',\. when F. '!'. Mcl-",lwain

Springfield and the other in l.incolii. Illinois, hecame editi r. He continued in editorial con-

and hoth ai'e now large am! paying factories, ti'ol till July 1. l.STT. when he was succeeded

It is extremilv unl'nituiiale thai these entei- hy .\. Iv Mu-k. On July 1. ISTs. .Mr. ilick

])rises did not receive the sympathy aiul en- associated with liimself S. S. Knoles, and so

couragement of the men of means of (he place, the lirni continued foi- several years, till Fred.

There is no loun in ceuti'al Illinois that has Wilkinson hecame editor and after a time John

more natural atlvantages and facilities I'm- Onstott was a.ssociated with liim. and this con-

maiuifactun' than Pi'tershurg and nothing linues to he tlie firm at the present time. The

would ])ay our men of means better thau to Petersburg Democrat has been the exiionent of

|)nt their money into such eiitci-prises. ll l)emiieracy in Menard county fm- almost lifty

would iiiiild u]i the town in population, it would years. The last two gentlemen have, for many

alt'ord a market for our coal, timber, sand and vears. wielded the ipiill and snap]ied the edi-

])roduce. and furnisli em]iloyment to hundred> torial scissors, in disseminating Democratic

of our citizens. It is strange that this has not doctrine to the denizens of "Dittle Menard."

Iieeii done long ago. The Democrat is a stanch and reliable ])a]ier,

Petersburg has liad a very good share of has a large circulation, and is regarded as an

iie\vspa])er enterprise, first and last. The (irst essential in many hotiseholds of the county.

news])a])er was published in this ]ilace in the During the campaign of Filmore. Buchanan

fall of 1854. by S. B. Dugger. who called his and l''remiinl. in is.')i;. William (ilenn started

pajier the Pctersbuig Kxpress. After runniuL' a paper called The Fillmore Rugle but it

the |)aper for about a year ^Ir. Hugger sold closed out at the end of the campaign. In

out to Henry L. t'lay. who changi-d the name .lime. 18G8, the ilcnard County Repulilican

of the |)apcr to the Menard Index, which was was cstablisheil. with K'icliard Richardson as

Di'Uiocratic in politics. Ju September. l.S.-)S. editor. In about a year he sold out to John

\li-. Clay sold out to Hobart Hamilton, and a T. McXei'ly who conducted it till IS^l. when

ilr. Brooks and they changed the politics of Bennett aiul Zane became the proprietors,

the jiapcr to Republican and ran it thus till .Vboiit a year a.'ter this Zane was succeeded b}'

isii:;. when it was sold and removeil fi'iun the .lohn Frank, who soon retired and was fol-

coiinty. Brooks remained with the pa|)er abour lowed by V. M. Bryant, who likewise remained

"lie year after he and TIamilton took it. and l.ut a short lime, and Bennett was alone for

retired from it. saying that after changing a time. V. J. I'libois then became a partner

the politics of the |)aper and sending out the and assumed editorial control for a year. Early

lirst number as a Republican sheet that tlii' in IHTI the material of the Re]mblican was

patrons came in by sc(n-es, carryinir the ]ia])er. sold in John l''raiik. who had starte(l a new

and would throw it down saying, "There, take paper tlie August preceding and called it the

your —■ .Vbolition i)aper." Shortly after Menard County Timis. It and the Pciniblican

the removal of the Index the .\orthwestei-n Rap- were then consolidated and piddishcd umler

tisr. a. religious paper, was issued from the In- the name of The Times. Frank now sold out

de\ olh-e. and edited by M. V. Ilarllev. .\fter In I'. M. l'.i\aiit. who continued the paper till

iu;

PAST. WD I'K'KSKXT oV \li:\\i;i \|A

.May !t. ls^^. when he sold tci (1. \V. Cain ainl
Williiiin Parks. Cain liacl been running a pa-
per in Tallula, and wiicn he bought Taylor out
he elianged tiie name of the i)aper to the Peters-
burg Observer, and under that name it is still
published. Parks sold out about 1902 to Mr.
Huth, who is still running tlie ])apei-. It is a
clean, well edited and popular Republican pa-
licr. Mr. Ihith also runs a paper in Athens.

W'c tricil liard to secure full data concern-
ing the ])apers in other iK-nard county towns
but failed, as our k'ttcrs of inquiry were for
sotne reason unanswered. Athens. Tallula and
(ireen\ie\\ ha\e each liad a weekl\' paper for
several years. The "(ireenview J^eader" is pub-
lished by James .\rn(dd and is a spicy and up-
to-date pa]iei\ Mr. Arnold also iiins a good
job office.

rKTKb'.-iiUi.M;. Till-; corxTV sk.vt.

'The act III' the legisbiture for the formation
ol' ^lenard idunty was passed in the session
of ls:!,s-:!!i. the new eotinty including a large
part of Mason county, which was not set off
till two ye:ii> hitrr. One of the first (juestions
agitated was that of the location of the seat
of justice. The contestants were Xew Market,
Huron. 'Miller's Ferry. .Vthens and Petersburg,
and after a short but sanguinary struggle, it was
decided in fa\cir of Petersburg, and in the
s])ring of ]8.'J9 it became the capital of the
county. Tts com|)etitors in the struggle for of-
ficial greatness, all except .\thens. have long
since been submerged " "neath the waves of
dark oblivion" and few people now know that
such places ever existed in this county. From
this time on Petersburg rapidly grew in jiopu-
lation and increased in iin]iortance. .\fter the
formal ion of ifason county it was found that
by a stroke of good fortune, the county seat
had been located almost in the exact gcogra])h-
ical center. For four years after the forma-
tion of the county, the courts were held in
the store of r{rim,sley & Levering, but in 1843
the courthouse was erected at a cost of six
thousand, six hundred forty dollars. This old
house, with the moss of passing years gather-
ing on it. stood till ISfir. Tt was of tlw obi

Kentucky tobaeeii-l)arn style of arihileeture,
and in |ieilert harmony with the scores of
t'ouriiiouses built si.\ty-fivc and seventy years
ago. .Vhout the time that the courthouse was
built a jail was erected which served the pur-
]iose till ISTU. when a new one was put up
at a cost of twenty-two thousand dollars, a lai-
niiui' imposing building than the courtbnuse.
The lirst jail cost three hundred dollars. In
IS'J'i a new stime courthouse was built nii tlie
site (if the old one. It cost lifty llidiisand dol-
lars, but while the old courthouse was an old
fashioned, wi'ather-beaten affair, it was with sad
hearts that the old citizens saw it razed to the
ground, on account of the associations connect-
ed with it. Its W'alls had echoed to the voice
of such men as Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham
J>incoln and many other of the celebrities of
those old times, for "there were giants in those
days'" in the truest sense of that word. This
i- the history of the county seat, as such, and
We now proceed to give a brief sketch of the
place as an organized city, under the laws of
the state.

Petersburg was organized as a iil\' under
the laws of lllinoi> in 1SS2. and Hr. I'. I', .\iitle
was elected the first mayor of the city. He
continued to fill this otlicc, by re-election, till
188.3. In .\pril. 1885, Charles R. Collier was
elected the second mayor. .Mr. ('oilier served
till 1887. when in April of that year Jame*
Thompson was elected to that office. During
this administration the system of waterworks
was put in. Diedric Fisher being awarded the
contract for the tank. pump, building, etc.,
at .seventeen thousand dollars. In April, 1889,
.\.nson Thompson was elected nuiyor and serven
till ISiij. when Jesse M. Oil was elected, and
by re-election served till 1897. During the
terms of 1893 and 1894. the large well wa^
siiidx to supply water for the waterworks. It
is tliirty feet from out to out. being twenty-five
feet in the clear between the walls and thirty-
eight feet dee|). This well cost the city, all
told three thousand dollars. In 1892 the first
sanitary sewer was ])ut in. at a total cost of
three thousand, five hundred dollars. In 1897
Isham Catlett was elected to the office of may-
or, and served till 1901. In this year Anson
Thompson was again elected aiid served till

PAST \\n l'T?KSEXT OF ^^F\A1?ll rOT'XTV 97

IIMI-.'. when . !(--!' M. <)U wasaiiaill cIccIcmI .-IIkI lie cxiirllilrd ill i:)liri ill rurlhi'l- ilii|ir(i\i'liirlits.

is sci-viiiii' at tlir |irrMMii liinr. In lli(> year tlio liy crrt-ting a lioti'l in ki'c|iinj;' witli tlu- dciiiaixli?-
citv Imiiii;IiI llii' 'I'dwii Hall. |iayiii,t;' for tiic ami claiins of the l'liaiitaiii|iui.
liiiililiiiL: and Int.- ilirci' tlmiisanil. -ix liiiinlrccl I'rtcrslnirii' has trii i-hnrcli houses, all of

dollars. |)urin,i; the fall (d' IMitl llir lavj^c wliii'li ha\c rcuiilaf services. Slie has thfee
drainage sewer, on the north >idc of the si|uare, line school liiiildini;s. with a total of over tweii-
was put in. at a cost of four thousand doUars. tv ciuiiuiodioiis rooms. llei' i;rowlli has never
So that in the lasi lifti'cn years the ciiy has hccn ra|.ii(l, hut always steady and jjenmment.
ex|icndi'd. in much needed improvemcnt>, lie- |)urin,ir l!t(K! and 1!I04 more than twenty rcsi-
sidc the ruiiiiiiiii expenses of the t<nvn. no less deuces were erect(»d, cost from two tlunisand
than lhirt\-one thousand, eiyiit hundred dol- dollar.s to oifiht thousand dollars each. TIn'
jars. The cit\ is in a \i'i'\- prospero\is coiidi- city government is eonteinplatinH' the pa\ini;
tion linamiallv. In ISMI the old eoiiiMhouse of tlic luore iiii|iiu'tant streets in the near \'\\-
was torn awa\ and a lift\ thoiwaml iloliai' luiihl- lure.

iui; creeled in its plaei\ w h ieli is an ornament to The present city ^(Acriinicnl is as follows:

the citv and e(uiiit\. .\ -ysteiii of electric .lesse M. Olt. mayiM': aldermen, lirsl ward. I'M.
lights wa.- put in years a;:o. Tin' wooileii (ioodnuui and McLean Watkins; second ward.
huildini;s. which used to he so numerous around (laines (irecne .and Otto Tjcnz : third ward. .V.
the -ipiaie. are nearly all torn away, ami lariie. d. I'dess and W. W. Williamson,
iiioileru. Iiriek liuildiiiiis lia\e hi>eii iiuill in their
plaei'. We ha\c thri'e lari;e ilry-goods stores.

four , I,, thin- More.-, two jewlry stores, three oFi-'lCKliS OF .MK.X.UiD COl XTY.

drug stores, three hardware stores. si.K grocery
stores, two furniture -tore-, two harness shojis,
three n -taiii'ants. two teii-ci'ut sl(n'es. tliree
meatmarkets, one shoe store, two photograph
galleries. (Mic mill, four hlacksmith shops, two
hakerics. four harher shops, four millineiv
-tore-, ihree liottds and one marhle shop. He-
side this wi' have in the professions: four ih'ii-
tists. eight physicians, thirteen lawyer- (an
unliickx iiumher) and ten pieaehers. In l-Sli^
the "Old Salem"' C'haiitauipii\ was organized.
The hoard <d' managers purehaseil a most hean-
tiful ]iiece of land oil the hanks d' ihe Sani^a-
nioii river, within a mile and a half id' the
city, and opened the institution in .Vngusl of
that vcar. l-'roni the verv lii-st it seemed to

STIERIFFi5.

'Idle sheriffs of the comity lia\e hceii : James
(hddshy. 1S39-1S44: X\ .\. ]{aid<in. ISM-ISIS;
dames Taylor. IS IS-Deeemher. 184S : dames G.
Long. ISIS-lS.Ml; li. |i. \le,\lee. I S.MI-lS.Vi :
.L 11. (ium. ls,VM8.J4: J. J'.. Goldsliy, 185-1-
IS.-.S: .L M. Hurt. ISoS-lSfiO; W. C. Smoot,
1S(;()-18(J2; J. M. Quinn, 18G2-1864 : J. M.
(.)uiiin. 1S(;.1-18()G: Rohert Clary, 1868-1 870:
Lred Wilkinson. 18;0-ls:-2; W'olf Feuluer.
1874-1876: Fred Wilkins.m, 1876-1880: ^\. T.
irargraves, ISSO-lSSi;; William d. Hrewiu-.
I.ssi;-LS9li: Joseiih W. Fstill. 189(i-ls!(l: G.
W . Hatch. IS!) 1-1898: d. X. Iv'utlediiv. 1898-
19(1-,'; Fdward d. Fahav. 190-.'-190(].

he a -^uee,--. Fiidcr the direction of such men ftioii.vri: .uihik.

a< X. W. i-.ran.son, G(>..rge Luthring.'r. Homer -^-'i ' '■ Wright, from |s:!!i to is Id: Xallian

d. Tice ami others, it could not hut he a success. I'fe.sser. 1846 to ISd^: .\sa I). Wri-ht from

They have a system of waterworks on the ''^l' '" 18 IS. wlnui tlu' otlice ceased.

.i;round, as line and commodious an auditorium i;i:coi!i)Kii.

as any similar institution in the laud. .\ large William G. Spears, from Is:.!) to |SI1 : .laeoh

nuiiihi r (d' pottages have heen erected on the If. Laning. from 1841 to 1847; Cornelius

iii-ounds ami thousands of dollars have heen e.\- IJonrke. from ls(7 jo 1849. when the ofllce

peiidcd in iiu]iroving and hcautifying the ceased.

grounds. The attendance from the very first coiiONioii.

has been phenomenal and success has marked Afartin S. ^lorris. from 18:59 to 1840; George

its evei-y step. Fifteen thousand dollars will l». .\dains. from isjii to 1S42; John E. Raw-

98 PAST AXT) PRESKXT OF MKXAliO C'OrXTY

lins. rroiii ISIV In isll; lia M"( Ihif^soii. Iniiii li'iiliii'l Clarv. IS."): ;ni.l isiil: i ). T 1 1 ii,<,'lio?.

1844 l<i ISIS: Mcl.c^iM \\n,„l. Inmi 184S t<> isi; I ; |;. W.ildri.lfTf. l.SOi) : 1 1 . WariiHiii;. iscii.

IS-tO: T. 1'. (inn\-t.<(Hi. Iroin IS.Mi to 1832; coiXTY ('i.i:Kk>.

('. Lfv.Tin.i;. In. Ill ISo-i to isr):5: W. T. Hutch- (\„-„,-liiis UoiirUc Iroiii ISl!) to ISC:. : IIo-

inson, from 1853 to 185^ ; William 'I'lviit. from |,.|,.| 1 1 .imji,,,,,, f,.,,,,, isc,:, to ISC,!); A. !•;. MirU.

isr.l to 18o(i: F. C. Davis, fi-oin ls:.(i to LSr.S; ,,^|;,, ,,| j,,^., . ^„^,,„ ■riioni|.son, Iroiu lsr:i to

.1. 'I'. Brooks. Iroiii 18.")8 to ISliO: C. I.cv(>rinir. ,|.._^.^. [.; \v. Hads. froin 18S-2 to ISSd; Adain

from lS(i() to 1815-2; A. 1.. Clarv. from ISiil ^^- ;\|,.(;^.,n,|,j„_ |-,,,|„ isSdto 18!)0:11. W. l.cv-

to lSi;!i: I,. Moiito-omcrv. from ISC'.I in ]s;\: ,.y],^,^_ f,.,,,,, i,s!»u to lini-.'; Allien W. Ilarllcv.

G. W. Micks, from 1871 In is; I : .1. .1. Mruiii.
frnin is; I In ls;i;; 1,. Aliroiiliriiii. from ISTli
to ISTT; t'iiark's Cowan. Ii-niii is:; to ISSO:
John Degt;!', from ISSO to ISS-.': John Baokcs,
from 1882 to 1884: William D. Cowan, from
1884 to ISS.",: William D. Mi-.Vtcc. from iSS.")
to 1892: .\. 1,. Clarv. Irnni 1892 to 1901: Dr.
Wilkin, linin I'.mi In IDos.

^ri;\ i:Mn;.

rrnii l!)(i2 to 190(;.

CIIK IIT CI.KIJK.

.\. K. Hi.irein. from IS is lo ismi: .lo.seph
.lon.^on. from lS(iO lo IStM : William .1. f'.still.
from lSti4 to is:2: Theodore C. Bennett, from
1ST2 to 1900: I lax id L. lieimett. from I'.nio
lo 1!(04 : William !•'. 'rii"m|i-nii, I'mni 1901
In l!IOS.

STATICS .VTTOHXEY.

Edmund Cireer, from ISlUi to lsi:i;.Johu P.. || \y Masters, from 1876 to 1879: Kcnib

GiuiK from 1843 to 1849: .Viino Kilter, from steveiis. from 1879 to 1884: S. H. Blane from

1849 to 1855; K. Hall, from 1S.")5 to lS.j9: D. |^g^ ^^ ^jggg. Charles Xnshanm, from 1888 to

\. Cariihei-^. Irnin IS.Vi to 1S(;3: John 1'.. is!)ti ; John :ir. Smoot. from 1S!)(; to 190 1 : T.

Cum. from Isi;:', to ISCI: A. K. ^Miek. from _| j.^.p^^ f,.,„j, i,),)| |„ ],h,s,
1864 to lS(i9: A. J. Kelly, from 1S.;9 to 1875; ' " ^^.,,,„„ ,„„ „ ,ss,oxkk.

John Tiee, from 1875 to 1S79: .\l)e Hall. Irom , , . , ., , -. ■ n i. lu

io-n . 100.) V ii \ ^- r ivo- * "■ l». Clark. Irom lS.):no l^...:J. 11. I'llW-

1879 to 1883; Anthonv .Vnstm. Irom lss3 to ,,,,,■,■

1000 n n 13 ■ r luo^. 4- 100.) hu r\ . from 1 857 to 1863 ; Kd ward I ,anoi,u. I roll!

1888: George C. Power. Irom 1888 to 1892;

James M. Laro-e. from ls!)2 m 1S96: John ^^''■' '" ^*^''°-

Tice. from 1896 to 1904: llol.ari Hamilton. sfPE.UNTiCNi.KNT oi' schools.

from 1904 to 1908. Edward Booth, from isi;.", to lsi;;i: William

II. Berrv. from ISdH to ls::i: K. 1'.. Davis.
ITIil.Ic AD.MIMsii; Ai'dl;. ■ , ,, , ,,-,i

from is:;! to Janiiarw If^i,: 1>. 1'. .Miller.

l.ewi- r.. W\nn. rrom ls|:; to lsl5: (leorire . , .. ., , — ' ,, ,.„,i,..,. i -, iv!<i^.

Irom Janiiarv 3, lS«i. to Deeemljer j.t. IStiS,

r. Miles. Irom 1S45 to ISIH: McLean "\^oo(l. ' i,,,,". i> n m;ii,„.

(ieorgc t. Power. Is'.i.n to nio.i; 1,. 1 1. .Miller.

from 1S19. till the office ceased to he. two vears i^ i i !,,,,■• , ii ,, i ,■ - looi-

Irom December 1. ino.i. in lieiemiicr .i. I'.ioi,

■'"'■''■ T. E. Cantrall, from i;iol to lnoii.

rorxTV .H'Dai;.

ASSESSoi! \N II ri.'iiAsi i;i:i;.
Jaeoli (larher. from ISlii t,) 1S5:>: C. J. E. , „. ^,

,„ , , ,^,-., , ,,,., , ,, ,,,11 John Tice. from is.",; i,, 1S(19 : J. W . Chea-

( lark. Irom is.).i in iMil ; .1. 11. I'lllsburv, ,, , ,, ,„,

, ,^.,., , ,^,.- ,, ,, ,. ,. 1^;, nev. from 1869 to IS.l: (_ liarles IE Ihomas.

Irom 18()1 to ISIj.j; ,M. U. JIairison. trom Isdl , „ .^, , ,.

+ 1VC- (• Af 1. 1 f r i«r- f iwc. '■'•"I" '•'''•5 to 1881: J. G. Stio.ltinaii. Irom

to ls(,.,: ( . AC lioliertson. Irom ISfi.) to ls(i9 ^ ..,,,,.■ , ..,..

, ,, ,..,, . , , , ,„. 1881 to 1886: Jasper N. i,'iitled,-e. Irom 1SS6

.1. . Pi Isiairv. Irom Isoii i,, I,s. ., : John lice. ^ ,„ , .,, ,, ',,. ,. ^^,,,,, , i.,,,,.

to 18!»0: El ii. Oltien. Irom 1S90 lo ISiM:
from 1873 to 18S1 : 11. II. llna.land. from „^,_^^,^, ,,_^_,,. ,,^,|_ ,.,.,,;,, ,^,,, ,„ „„, ^ , „^^. ,.

1881 to 1898; Frank E. iilane. from 1898 to ,,^^,^,^;^^_ ,._.^,_^^ ^^,^^ ^,, j,.,., ,,,i^.,i ;„ „„i^,^.) .

1902; George B. Watkiiis. from 1902 to 1906. ^ jj Me.MichaeE from 1899 to 1902: J. TT.

Associ.vii: .MsiicKS. Clary from 1902 to 1906.

James ifott, commissioned November 20. cointy io.m.missionkhs.

1853; J. Peed, commissioned November 23, James Altig. 1877 to ISSO; F. W. Duncan.

1S.">3; C. J. Hutchinson. Julv. 1S51 and 1857; from 1878 to ISSO; Andrew Gaddie. from 1879

I'AST AMI i'i;i';si;\'r <»i' mi;\ai;m cni ^■^^■

!)9

In iSbVJ; Jainvs Alli.u. Iroiii ISM* l" l''~i-^:'>;
Wood Giwiic. Iroiu issi to issi: Andrew
Caddit'. from 1882 to 188.5; 11. 11. Schirdiiig,
Iroin 1883 to 188G; Wood Greenu, i'roiu 1884
to 1887; Andrew Gaddie, I'rom 188.") lo 1888;
11. II. Scliirdiiiir, from 188(i to 188!); Imloy
llcwitt. from 1887 to 18<)n: .lolm ('. ('lay|iol<',
rnnn 1S88 to 18!)1 ; 11, II. Sriiirdinj:, from
1889 to 18!)2: George U. Spears, I'rom 18!)()
t.i 18ii:!: .Tamc>: K. :\rf.\tee. from 1S91 to 18!)4;
11. II. Schinliui:-. rpiiii 18ii-i lo 189.'); George
I . S|n'ars. rmin 1S9;; to \S'M\: .laiiifs K. Mr-
Ateo, from IS'.i I to 18!(^ : .lolm 11. (iuiii. iVmii
18!).") to 18!I,S; (ii'orge 1'. Sprai's IVom IS'.Mi
to ISO!); Kirhy S. Johnson, from 1897 to
liHiii; llcnrv S. Ilouirhton, from 1898 to 19(11;
W. K. Johnson from 1899 to 1902: II. .1. Mar-
hold, fi-om I'.HHi to 1903; Elias Watkins. from
19(11 to I'.KiJ: Chnrlcs B. Greene, from 1903
to 19(1.'.; 11. .1. Marliold froiii 19(i:; lo 1906;
Frank .\. King, from 19(i-l lo 1907.

CiniK III'IS OF -MF.\.\i;i).
i'i;i;:siivn:iiiAN ciii ucii of I'lrniKsmia;.
The Presh.vteriau eliurch of Petersburg, Illi-
nois, was organized hy the Rev. Thomas Gait
in l)r(fml)cr. ls:>9. in tliL^ old courthouse in
Petersburg. Si.\ men and four women went
into the organization. Mr. Gait i>reaehed to
tliciii oc(.-asionally till 1812. Their services
wci'e held at liisl in the cnurtlKiusc or in the
hall over Mr. Bennett's store, which stood
where the National Bank now stands. By the
spring of 18 12 ihey had luiilt a neat l'i-anie
church two blocks north of the northeast cor-
ner of the s(|uarc. This house was dedicated
on the l.')th of May. 1.^12. tlie sei'inon being
preached by the Kcv. .1. W. Little from 2
t 'orintliians. (iild. 11. The lirst regular su|iply
began Seplcniber I. ISKl. by Kev. (ieorge Me-
l\iiile\. In is.'il IJev. McKinlev resigned and
lle\. .Icilin -\. I'inkerton began his service at
once. Mr. Pinkeiton was a man greatly beloved
by all. in and out of the church. .After a very
successful anil eflicieni ministry. Mr. Pinker-
ton resigned in IS^ii. \lr\ . .Joseph Malion be-
gan l<v attend the ciuirch, as supply, in the
month of February. 1871. He served only seven

months, when he rcsigiiiMl. and li'ev. (Jeorge
('. Wood supplied the congregation \inlil 1872.
In February of the year 1872 Pev. ilaurice
Waller began his pastorate, which lasted till
1878. Mr. Waller was a man thai was uni-
versally resi)ccted and lo\cd and he did good
service for the chui-cb. In the year 1873 the
fonndalinn of llie present churell edilicc^ was
laid, but the building was not i-ompleted till
the year 187-1:. On the Sth of .\ovend)er of that
year the house was formally given lo (iod. The
K.'v. W. W^ Harsha. 1 1. IL. of .lack^aiMlle. Illi-
nois, preached the dedicatory sermon from 1
Timothv, 3:5. In the year 1878 Mr. Waller
resigned and Dr. Xevins and Hev. F. ^I. Raid-
win supplied the church till daiiuary, 1882^
when Pev. A. J. Berger became pastor and
served till July, 1883. The puljjit was then
vacant till in September, Issi. when Kev. T. C.
McFarland liegan his w^ork. In 1886, during
the pastorate (d' Mr. 'McFarland. the lecture
room was built and the audience room was re-
frescoed in very tasteful slyle. In I'V'bruary,
1887, Eev. McFarland ri'signed, and on the
call of the church, in Augu.st. 1887, Kev. Wil-
liam Miller began his work as pastoi' of the
church. fie served faithfully and success-
fully till August, 1891, when he resigneil and
was succeeded l)y Pev. W. E. Williamson, D. D.
III'. Williamson served the church most ae-
ceptidily for five years and resigned in 189().
lie was succeeded, in August. 1890, by Pev.
T. J. Stephenson, wlio in turn also served
five years, resigning in August, 19iil. During
the ))astorate of Pev. Ste|)henson the church
purchased a verv desirable i-esidenee pi-operty
within a block and a half (d' the church, which
is used as a parsona.ai'. In .Vugust, 1901, Pev.
D. .1. Mitterling was called to the pastorate of
the church and .served them till .Vugnst. 1904,
when he resigned.

.At this time (December. 19(11) the church is
without a ])astor, liut is being su])|died regularly
and the |)robaliility is that the su])|ily will soon
be the regular ])astor. This is a strong and
wealthy church, enrolling among its members
some of the best people of the city, and its
iniiuence for good is not to be calculated.

The Presbyterians have a strong congrega-
tion, as i^ seen in the preceding history, at

or?f\0'7«

PAST AND im;i:si:x'I' ok mk.xaimi corx'i'v

Athens. 'IV) thfiii and Indian Point the Rev.
J), (t. Carson has niinistcied tor a niuni)er of
years. In Irish (irove. wliere there was for-
merly a strong congregation, they now liave no
service, deaths and removals having redneed
the congregation till they can not siipjiort
jireachiug. They hii\r there a good liriel< edi-
fice, hnt it is not oecupieil.

At Sweetwater and Greenview they have lom-
jjai'atively new frame rlim-ehes and llie I!e\.
Mr. Thomas preaches to the two charges. The
writer made all due effort to get full statistics
id' all these churches, iiut failed. In the county
this denomination has live congregations and
six church liouses, witii a good membership,
made up from the best class of people of the
county. Tlu'y have flouri.^hing Saijbath-schools
and keep up all of the enterprises of the work.

liOilAK CATHOLICS.

in tlie latter part of the year 18(i2 a society
of the IJonian Catholic faith was organized in
Petersburg. The first services of this denomi-
nation were held in the private residences of
Cornelius Kourke, .\dam Johns and John
Lucas. As the meetings increased and as the
attendance becanu' larger and the interest be-
came greater, the services were held in the
schoolhou.se or courtroom. In less than four
years their ninnbers had increased to suih an
extent that a house of worship was neces-
sary. So the money was raised and a house
built in time to he dedicated in the fall of 18()6.
The house cost lixf thousand dollars and was
dedicated by Kev. Father .Mettinger, ami at that
time the society numbered about fifty adults.
The following is a partial list of the priests
who have had charge of the clunch : I''athers
(^uigley. Zeix'll, Jarnsen, Fitzgibiions, Costa,
Clifford (the latter at the laying of tiie corner-
stone), .Mi'ttinger (at the deilication ) , .laques.
Cleu.sc, Wcgman, Saner, .Mine. Ifogan, and
Father Futterer, who is now (I'M).")) in charge.
'J'lie ])resent priest in charge is very ])()]iular.
not only with the Catholics, but with the
Protestants as well. Wliilc he is a good Cath-
olic in every respect, ho is at the same time
a man of good isense and reason.

The Catholics at Oreenview have a church
house and occasional service, yet thev have no

lesident priest. At Athens they have an or-
ganized congregation and are erecting a splen-
did church.

In Petersburg they have a first-class jiarson-
age and a st-hoolhouse, iiudviug their property
xtry valuable. The Catholics of Petersburg
owe a ilebt of lasting gratitude to Cornelius
Hourke and Frank Lutbringer for their zeal,
energy and perseverance in securing this church.
The congregation is now strong and prosjjcrous.

Gi:i!iiAX i.fi'iii;i;AX ciiLiicii.

This denomination has had a congregation
and house of wm-sliip in Peterslnirg for a great
man\' year^. ainl. although leprescutatives of
the church are found all over the county
wherever there are (Jermans, yet no other
church was org.mized in the county, we Ijcliove.
till about 1877 or 1878, when Professor Win-
nekin, of the Theological Seminary of Spring-
field, Illinois, organized a congregation in the
neighborhood of Tallula, and they later ert'cted
a neat liut cheaj) house of worshij). About this
same time a large congregation of German
Lutherans was organized in Greenview. .\ot
long after being organized they built a very
neat and comfortable church at a cost of iie-
twi'cii tlii'ee and four thousand dollars. Iic\.
.Mr. lloniinei-. now of California, served the
Greenview and Petersburg churches U<v a
number of years.

In the spring of ISfil the first (ierman
Lutheran church was organized in Petersburg.
.Vmiing the original mmdiers were Harmon
Scherding, John Scherding. Henry Messnian,
Henry Fischer, J. I'. Hela, J. H. Stagemann,
Jerry H. Stagemann. .lerry Bonties and others.
They at first bought a house u.sed by Diedrich
Fischer as a car))entcr shop, which they lifted
up for a temple of worship, and there they met
ami held service for a time without a preacher.
Tlu'y finally secured the services of Rev. Paul
Lorentzen as pastor, and |iurchased a par-sonage
adjacent to the church at a total cost for both
(dificcs of one thousand seven hundred and fifty
dollars. In ISO;? ^fr. T.,orentzen was succeeded
iiy liev. Peter Dahl and later he was succeeded
by Kev. Mr. Sdimidt and he by Rev. William
II. Scbmi<lt. who remained jiastor till his death
in is;-.'. \U-\ . Mr. Schmidt was succeeded In

PAST AM) I'HESENT OF MENAT^D COrN'TV

101

li'cx. l)uliii'l. wliosL' pastorate was oulv ul' a
vcai- or iwo's duration, when Rev. Dr. ,lolm
KarininsUy was called to the pastorate. .M'ter
a time ]{ev. ^Ir. Deiehniann heeanie tiie pastor,
was sueceedi'd liv i!cv. Ciiarles Belirends and
he liv \lf\. Mr. Ciinrad. wlio served them for
some tiiiic. Mr. Conrad's miiustry hrin.ys us
to somewhiM-c in the '80s, and here pei'haps w'e
miss the names of a pastor or two: when liev.
Mr. iiommi'r was eaUed to tal^e cliar.uc of the
rdii.uii'ii'alion. l?ev. Hommer served them tm-
a iiiimliei- of years, to the satist'aitimi and ile-
liL;ht dl' tlie entire eongreiiation. -Mr. Hom-
mer wa.- a sehohirly f'liristian gentleman, re-
spected h\' till' entire eommunity. On account
of liis iiealtii lie removed several years ago to
('alifornia. K'ev. Mr. Weil was then invited to
take eharge ol' the church and has served them
ever since, dividing his lime hetween this place
and Greenview. hut living in Petershnrg. The
services are all in the (Jei'uian language. They
have a flourishing Sabhath-school and a large
eeniiregation. Some twelve (ir fifteen years

hack the\- tnl'e away the old ehni'rii hiinse, whiell

was niil large enongh to meet tlieir demands,
ami limit a s|ilendid house, oC larger size and
mure modern in style.

'I'here is anothei' hraneh of the German
Lutheran ehnreh which has a congregaticm in
Petershnrg. The writer is not inrormed as
to the dilVerenee iietween these two hrailches
(it the t'hurch. This last named congregation
is eomposed of some of the best |)eople in
Petersburg and it is a strong and prosperous
l;()d\' 111' people. They have a eominodious
hiiuse lit worship and a parsmiage lneated nn a
lilt adjoining the ehureli. 'I'hey kiep u|i all the
regular services and these are well attended.

Tlie Lutlieraii ehurch is made up Irom the
best class of (Icrmans and they are an earnest,
devout peopli', devoted to their church, and
])roniptlv and cheerfidly res|iond to all the
demands that it inakes at their hand. Their
services are simple and unostentatious and no
people are more ready to respond to the ealls
of eharity and benevolence than tliey.

EPISfOI'.VL ciirui II.
Pp to .lanuary. PHi.'i. there is but one Prot-
estant l'.|iiscopal elinreb in Menai'd eounty.

'I'hrough the energy and untii'iiiL; zeal oi' .Mrs.
Harris, relict of the late Hon. Thomas 1,. Har-
ris, this congregation was organized more than
a quarter of a century ago. Soon after its
organization the same I'ai'iiest Chi-istian lady
raised tumls to ei'eet a \wu!-{- of woiship. She
succeeded in building 1'rinity church, which
is a substantial briek. of the Gothic style of
areliilecture, with line art \\indows and taste-
fullv frescoed. It slatids on the hillside, com-
manding a most e.xeelleid \ iew of the city and
landseaiie across the Sangamon river. The first
i-eetiir of Triiiitv was the Pev. Mr. Steel, who
sei-\ed the ehureli \ery areeptalily bir a time,
but ga\e u|i this charge to accept one in Alton,
1 llinois. After this they were served by different
pastors and jiasscd throngli the variety of ex-
|iericnees that lonie to all sueli organizations.
Mis. Harris has gone to bei- reward, but the
fruits of her cfl'orts ai'e still being gathered.
The membershi|i of T]'init\ elinreb is not large,
but it embraces among its numbers rejiresenfa-
tives of the best peo|ile of the city. Just at this
writing tliey have no reetor. but as a rule they
keep u|i regular ser\ ice, with the Sunday-school
and midweek jirayer meeting.

M iriiKinisT i;i'is((ii' \i, rniiaii ix petkks-

lU'liG.

i;e\. (;eor,i;e \li-r,\ served the Petcr.sburg
elniieli ill is:(;-;. He was followed by Kev.
W . (I, I'eit. then iliey eame in order: I'ev. R.
<;. Ilolilis, h'ev. J. 1). Fry, then the beloved and
revered Chaplaiti \V. .1, I'litledge, Rev. Peter
Slagel. Kev. Edwin Wanl. ]U'\ . J. Scott Carr.
i;e\. S. II. IIuImt. i;e\. John MePbail. Kev. A.
Sloan. Kev. 11. 1-. Miieliell. then ill 1S!H; the
Ke\. Theoiloie Kem|i eaiiie and soon began to
agitate the subjeet of building a new ehurch.
'J'hey had a fairly good but old fashioned brick
church, with a very nice jiarsonage on a lot ad-
jiiiniiiL; the ehnreh. Many hallowed memories
clustered around this old house. Here the
venerable Peter Cartwright had ])reached in
the earh' ilaxs: those walls had echoed to the
voice of I'eler .\kers : from this pulpit the
lamented {'.arret, Hardin Wallace, Chaplain
Hutledge and a host of others, now in heaven.
lolil the ••old. old story,"' but they needed a new
ehureli and l.'ev. Kemp, with faith, zeal and

102

I'AS'i' AXL) rj;Ksi':.\T ok Mi;\,\i;M corNTv

perseverance, went into the work and .suc-
ceeded. Jn 18'J8 a new and niodoru lioiise was
erected and dedicated. It is modern in every
respect — an ample basement, pastor's study, a
lecture room, an auditorium of am])le size
with inclined floor and .all modern furnishings.
It is a lii-Jck liuilding with shitc roof and hcau-
tifully frescoed. The windows are large and of
stained glass. The huilding cost a little over
seven llnuisaiid dollars and is lully on! ol' deln.
Eev. lveni|i remained in charge till 1!<00, wl;.'n
he was followed by the Rev. R. A. TIartrick.
who remained till 1W.'>. In \W:\ K'ev. A. I..
Plowman canu' and remained one year. liev.
S. X. Wakefield is now the active and eflicient
pastoi-, with prospect of great good belcjre l:im.

Oakf'ord ^lethodist Episcopal congregation
remodeled their old church during the sum-
mer of l!tot and now lia\(' a house of worship
that would lie an honor to any rommnnity. ind
the church is out of debt.

Athens ^[ethodist l']piscopal cliiireli ha- a
neat and comfortable brick church and is in
])rosi)erous condition.

CUJ1BKUL.\NU PRESUY'J'KlilAX CHIMU'II OF

rKri:i(SBrii(;.
'J"he history of the Cuniberland Presbyterian
church in Petersburg is rather a lii-iel' one.
Back in the early "-tOs, most likely, the i!'v.
A. 11. (iood[)asture organized a congregation
here and preached to it Foi' a time, but it was
short lived. In the latter part of the "GOs the
Kev. .lames Knoles formed an m-ganization and
preached to them for a time, but the little
hand lost courage and for a lime seemed extin^i:,
till Ki'v. James White, about 1870 or 1S72, col-
lected the scatiei-ed fragments togetbei- and for
awhile he preached to them, hut again tln'y lost
heart and for several years there was no con-
gregation of this |)eop|e ill till'' town. In IsTii
Rev. R. 1). Miller collected together a lirtle
ban<l who desired to reorganize a cliurcli here
and formeil I hem into a congregation. These
charter iiiend)crs were l)r. II. .\. Harris. C. T..
Hatfield. W. R. E<lgar, C. II. Thomas. I) M.
Hone, T. E. Clark, Miss Anna Sbepbei-d. Mis-
Elizabelh Barclay and Mrs. Lucy 'I'homas.
Harris, Hatlielil and f'lark were elected as
elders and ('. II. Thomas, deacon. \t first

they held their services in tlie German Lutheran
eluii-eb. which at that time had no pastiu'. In a
^hort lime they bad to give that up and they
lenioved to the Baptist church. Here, in the
winter of IS78-9, they bad a very successfid re-
vival and the congregation was greatly strength-
ened. Soon after this they were eompelled to
iemo\e and went to a hall on the north side of
the s(piare. In a lew weeks thev removed to the
courthouse and for three years tbeii' Sunday-
school, prayer meeting anil ju'cacbing services
were all held there. It was generall\- crowded
to overllowing. l)y. and M I's. 1-'. I'. Vutle
united with the church, while the coUirregatioD
worshiped in the courthouse. ^Irs. Dr. Antle
detei'mined to build a ehiirch house. It was a
gloomy ]n-ospect. but her indomitable spirit,
the Zeal of the iiu'iubership and the help of the
unconverted gave them success. To Mrs. Antle
we owe thanks for the church, but the wr'ter
can not refrain from mentioiiing the material
and moral aid given the enterprise by the ever-
riuiemlieied .\aron Thompson, deceased. The
house was enclosed and occu]iied in due time,
but it was not fully conijilcted till .some time
later. Mr. ^liller continued ])astor of the
church loi- nearly seven years, but having a
huge family and the congregation still owing
something on the house, be felt that it would
be better for him to rivsii;n and let the churth
employ a man without a fannly. one who could
live on less salary and use the dilference on
the church debt. Tln' session employed Rev.
li. .1. lieard. a single man. but paid him more
than thev had been paying the formei- pastor.
^Ir. Iicard's jiastorale eontiniU'd two or three
years, but the church was not built uji. He
was a most excellent man and a devoted Chris-
lian. but did not succeed here. Mr. Beard was
succeeded liy Rev. .1. W. I^lder. who served the
ibur<h foi- two or three years. After him the
session engaged the services of Rev. J. JI.
Johnston and his pastorate was of two or three
years" duration. .Vfter this the puljiit was va-
cant for (piite awhile, but in 189:i or 18!)4 Rev.
W. T. Kerguson became ])astor. He served the
ebui-cli four years anil left the congregation in a
better condiion that it had been in for a nuni-
lier of years, .\fter Mr. Fergu.son loft Rev. W.
(i. .\rcher was called to the char". lb- came

PAST AND iMti:si:\'r of mkn^at^d ('r)r\TY

103

witli a flourish of tnuiipels and for a time it
sci'iiu'd tliat all wmiM he well. IIo loniodclcri
the C'Ininli. |iiil in a I'eadiiifi-rooiu and iiitru-
duccd many nioilrrn idras. FIc left iiiLT three
yeariJ, uiuk'r a dark cloud, hut the nresbvtery
later exonerated him. l\e\. W. T. Olmstead
was then ralliM.l to take ehar^c of the eliurch.
lie reiiiaiiu'd for two years, faithfully |)erforn:-
inj; his duties as pastor, hut 'uifortunatc di-
visions e.Miie and he left the ehu-v-l) in a state-
of terrilde divi.sion. For some time they wore
without a pastor, hut finally em]doyed the Hex.
51. ('. t'oekriini. lie is St rut;>;liiiu' a.uainst a
tide that will only he overeoine hy the lapse of
years. He is an eariU'st, eneractie ]iastor. striv-
ing to do his whole ilntv.

i'f.\tiii:iti.AM) i'i!i;si!VTi:inAN ctiiiaii oi-

TAI.I.tl.A.

We have ni>t the full history of the organiza-
tion of this elun'ch. hut some detail is given in
another ])laee. The first einireh edifice erected
in the villai;-e of Talhila was the Cumherland
Pre.siiyterian eliurch. a frame, (luih in IStil. al
a cost of about three thousand dollars. l!cv.
J. G. White, of anti-Catholic fame, was the
first jiastor. He served the church for a time
and was followed hy others. 51any stroni;- men
have been ])astor of this flock, amono; them may
be named .lames White. I)i-. I'endergrass and
others. The congregation owns a parsonage
adjoining the church, but both buildings are
getting old anil need I'l-pair. It has passed
though many vicissitndes, hut still survives. .\t
present they are without a pastor.

LKDANOX l.lMlii:iil.ANI) l'i:i:sHYI'i:iiI AX (III l!CI[.

xo. 1.

I.ehanoii nnigregation of the Cnmherhind
Presbyterian church was orgamzed in 18"M or
1S"35. At first tiiey built ii log church house,
hut after some years they hiiilt a frame build-
ing, wiiieli am|ily served their piir])osc till
IScr. wJuMi under the lead of Kev. IJ. I). :\Iiller
a .-plendiil hriek bnilding was erected. It <\\\\
stands, tlu> walls aiul interior as good as when
first erected. For some years they have had
regular jireacliing hut a small portion of the
time. At present they are witlumt regular
preaching, though they maintain a flourishing
Sundav-sehool.

i.'ocK citioiiK cf.\tiii;i;i,AM) i'KESByterian

CUUliCll.

'i'his is (ine of the oldest church organizations
in what is now Menard county. It was organ-
ized hy the ]lv\. .Iiihn 51. Rerry. the pioneer
f)reaclicr of this denomination in central Illi-
nois. Ill IS-il or 1.S23 this society was formed.
.\ shoit lime lii'fiiri' this K'cv. Iici'rv and l{e\.
John Simms. another jiioneer Ciimherland
Preshyterian preacher had laid off a camj)-
groiind and held two or threi' eanip-meetings on
the grouiuls hef(u-e this society was formed.
This congregation, now Pock Creek church, at
lirst used the camp huilt hy lierry and Simms
as a place of worship. Later on they Iniilt a
log ■•meeting housi'."" wliicb served their ]nir-
pose for a nuiid)er of years, after which the)'
erected a frame house, which was occupied for
many years. Later on another frame church
was erected, a house more moilern and more
comfortable. This fully met all the needs of
the congregation till some ten or twelve years
ago. when they erected, at a cost of alioiit three
thousand dollars, a building modern in every
particular. Tt is a frame building, witli base-
ment, heated by furnace, with a Sunday-school
room, opera chairs and all modern conveniences.
The congregation also owns a neat and roomy
parsonage, standing near the church, witli all
necessary coincnieiiees. Eev. .1. W. Elder is
their pi-esent jiastor, having i)een there some
four or five years. They have a flourishing
Sundav-sehool ami preaching everv Siimlav at
eleven o'clock a. m. This church lias done a
vast amount of good and it is to be hoped that
bei' \Mii-k of usefulness has hut jnst lic^gun.

coxcoim rt_\Mui:iiL.vxi) riiKsiivniiMAX

CIlfRCII.

This (MingregMtion was organized in 1S'2(1 or
IX'i'i hy Iie\". John \\. llerry. The grimnd
where ConcortI church now stands was for many
years occupied as a "camp-meeting"" grouiul.
ili'i'e I'm- a long pei-iod of years tin- peolde used
to gather once a year for a camp-meeting of a
w( ek or ten days. From all over the country
till- peopli' would eiime. move in and camp on
the grounds to engage in nothing hut the wor-
slii]} of God. Every one who attended these
meetings from a distance was fed ami lodged

104 I'AST AM) I'RKSKXT OF MFAAK'H ( (l^^■■|■^■

free of iill cliarge. The good acconijilishcd iiy rciiidval?. ilir iihimIm rsliip was so rcdiiccil t!iat

these iiieetiugs will iiuver lie known till the tliev did luit have preaehing hut a jjart of the

great (hiy shall eonu'. A log eluireh was huilt time Sonu' four years ago Hev. ]}. D. .Miller

in tlir early history of the congregation, which was called as a sujjply, preaehing half the time,

served its iiur])ose for many years. By anti hy For .several years prior to this time, through

a frame huikling was put up, which served them the earnest efforl of Mis. Emma King and

till l!S(i4. when they erected a new one on the George Lake, a Sunday-school had heen kept

same spot of ground. This house was dedi- up. Iiut the attendamc was not large and the

catid on till' lltth of Fehruary, ISCo, by tlu^ \\(u-k was discouraging. .\fter a time the

Ki'\. .1. ('. \'au Patten, assisted by Rev.Wiley Sunday-scluxd liegan to gro\\ and the congrega-

Knoies. This house was remodeled and modern- tion grew also, so that the people heeaiue en-

ized aliout four years ago. It is a neat, eounno- eouraged. Init thcv were disi-ouraged hv tlu

dious and eonilortable ehureli. Rev. M. ('. fact that the church stood a half mile from

Cockruin. pastor of the Petersburg Cumber- the Peoria & Springfield Railroad, which had

land Presbyterian church, preaches for the Con- 1 ecu lecently built, and to which the village

cord people on alternate Sabimths. had been removed. At first tliey talked of

i(mim:i;i.am) ]'i;i:siiYTi:uiAX ciirRcii oi- gi!i:i;n- '""^i".^- 'I"' "I'' '"'n^'' '" 'I"' niilroad. but this

yjj.^y was not po|iular. .Many thought that the money

e.iuld not be raised to build a luw house, but
Mrs. Fiiiuia King and Mrs. Puc started out to
i; ake the elfort lo raise the funds. Mrs. Kiu''

This congregation was originally organized

in the long since extinct village of New ^larket

and lati f lemoxcd to the "Knoles Schoolhouse," , .....

, • , ^ !■ .1 i i. ^ - I itt no one pass and m a short tune raised ovei
which was east ot the town ot Green view. In ,. . ' , ... ,

IS.-jS the congregation removed to the village

of (irceiiview. and tlie same year built a house

of worship. In 1S4.'5 the "Bether' conafcga- „ , ,, ,, ,,,. . ,• ,

,,,,., V ir , ' " Bushiicll. ol .Mtiui. Illinois, preaching the ti

tion, as It was calleil while at Aew Jlarket. was .. , •,' .. . , ,

(H-ganized by Revs. .1. R. Torrence and A. II.

(ioodpasture. The former ser\ed them as their

first s|)iritual leader. The church house at .

^ , , , , , , , lioor. rc'iiiibif news, lullv cariieted all over and

Greenview cost one thousand tnn luuidri'd dol- ,. , , ' . , , ' ,,„

live thousand twn hundrecl dollars. W'lU'k was
■'I once begun and on the fiist Sunday in May.
1:hi1. the house was dedicated, the Rev. Dr.

er-
nion. No inone\ was asked for on that day.
the entire bill beiiiL;- paid. It is a neat, modern
buililinii'. with basement, lecture-room, inclined

lars when built. It has lieen rejiaired moi'c than
once, hut they .sorely need a new and modi rn
building. They own a neat and combirtable
parsonage on a lot adjoining the church, and
the Rev. J. F. Bodgers is their ])resent pastiu-.
having served them in all some eight or ten
years. It is rather a strong church numerically.
keeping u|i the midweek jiraycr meeting and
having one of the best Sunday-schools in the
town. They will pioliably Imild a new house of
worship in the near riiture.

ligliteil with acetylene gas. The congregation
and the comniunity owe a lasting debt of grati-
tude to Mrs. King; John W. Shaver, the ef-
licieiit Ireasnier: Dock Drake and (irant King.
the faithful building committee: .lames King
and .\biiim Fulkerson. the trustees, and to the
whole community for their liberal gift of
money. Thus Rev. Miller has had charge of
tre congregations when three of the neatest and
best Cumberland Presbyterian churches in
Menard county were built, namely: Pclers-
buii.'. lii'lianon and l'"ancv Prairie.

CfMHi:Ki..v.\D i'i;i:siiVTi;i!i.vx cJitucii ui- iwxcY

pii.viiiii:.

This church was organized by Rev. J. C. Van

Patten in 1864. Soon after "the organization SK( l.'Kl' S( )( I FTl KS.

they erected a neat and substantial house of I-'iei ina.^oiuy and Odd Fellowsliip. those

worship in the village of Fancv Prairie at a bene\<deut institutions that exert so wide an

cost of about two thousand dollars. The church influi'nce for good, usually follow closely in

pros])ered for a time, iiut later, by deaths and the wake of Christianily. We know that the

PAST AXn IMJKSENT OF MKXAIM) COrX'I'V 105

ilU-i'lltivc'S whirl] |iriilll|it lliclll iirr ^ouil. lie- a lill'uc imilllirl' nl' lllclil AVr i;niic to llic i;rcill
Ciui.-c tlic rcsull< acliii'xcil iwv so ^rniid aiiJ IhiIl^c wiiicli iicmt miIjimii'ii-.
Lilorious. Frci'inMsiuii'v was iiitrciduc-t'd into licnnetl ('lia]it('r, NO. \'.K ()i-ilrrol' ilic Kast-
I'rlcrsliiii-u ii\iT sixty years aud. Cliiitoii I.oduc .Tii Star, was orirailizcil .laiiiiai'\ Is. IS^'i. 'I'lic
was oi'i;aiiiz('il unilrr a ilis|ii'iisali<iii. in Orloliri'. lirst nlliciTs were: .lolin I'.i'inicll . W . 1'.: Mrs.
|S|-.'. hi (hie linic it was cliailcrcil as Clinton Isaac Wliiti'. W. M.: Mr^, .lanics W . Judy.
1 ,„!„,, X,, i(|_ \ \.\ X A. M. 'l'!ii> lirst of- A. :\1.; Mis, A. H. Wri-lit. Trrasurcr : and
li, ,,,,., ,^, .,.,,. .|,,|||, |;,.|,,i,.||. \Vnrslii|.liil Mas- Mi's- -I"!'!! I'.rnnrtt. Secretary. Kvory one of
tcr; Mailiii S. Morris. Senior Wardni ; .lolir, H"''^'' l>'ivr .Uonr In tlirir lonji' home, hut their
Mr.Wal. Junior WanK'n: Jaeoh WVsi. Tivas- i»tl'H'nre is slill IVII. iiol oiilv in (ho lod-e. hut
iirrr: Jolui Brondwell. Secretary: David Mc- ''^ 1he coniiniinit v at hii-v.
Miirphv. Senior Deac.iK and W . 11. Kirk. 'I''"' M^i>^"nic Iraternilv. in eoniiecl ion with
.hinior' Deacon. This lod-c lias lued and H"' H'"''-'^ '■"^"■'1^- ■■' '"ilil^"-v company thai
|,ro>i;eivd through all these vears. perrorinin- "'''^ '"'■""''I '"■'■'■ '" "'>■ "''^'- ''"' 'H^'''""!'''' '^'■^■-
ils work ipiieliv and raithlnllv. .\s a matter '■'■'! .^'■"'^ ■'^"- *» 1'^'''- '"■.^•i" *l"' '•'■'•'■t""' "I' •'"
of int,.rest to the nieiiihers of this frat<'rnitv. "l'^'''' '"'n^^i'- ^vith a lodue-room ahove. and on
w,. mak,. the loilowinu statement: Clinton <l"' i"l' 'I'k^' "^ «iTteniher of that vcar the cor-
l.odiic was named in honor of ex-Covernor "'■'-tone of I he edilic^ was laid, with appro-
De Will Clinhm. of New York. To per- l"-i'i<^' c'''ivnionies. umler the auspices of the
p.inaie hi> naanorv au.l e,val virtues tlie Crand Lod-e of i\Ia.sous l.y Most Worshipful
Ma-:uii,- l.ivliiren Ikim' caused lo he l.uill William Dav,|v. Past Craiid Master ,d' tlu^
lor the oriiameiilation of tlimr lod-.-room u ^f''<''- ''"1"'^ ''^ ^' ^l'l<'i"li'l I'nildinu- of hrick.
shell monument, consisting of a colleciion of "ith a lai-e and well arranoed hall, havin- a
sliell>. arran^.'d with ijenius ami skill. .\s the '""'''}' ^*''.^'' '""I '"I'lil'l"''! "ith all the para-
nun, her of Clinton l.odi^e indicati s. it is one of pliernalia of a lirst-class theater. The hall

the ol,l lod.ues of the state, •''"^^■<' '^^ ^■"'' ''>' "'"^'' ^''^'" ''■'^'' '' '''-''^ '" ''"""'

1, \i--., CI . \- lie 1. 1^1 M I" '"' (ii't^t-class in everv respect.

De Witt Chapter. No. ll'.i. IJoyal .\icli Ma- '

sons was organized March 25. ISCi.S. with the -nii.; ixniaMCNniONT oi;i)i;i; oi' oiii> fkllows.

Inllnwini: a~ the liisl set of ojlicers: llohart ,,„ (|„-, i;-)], ,,|- \|,|.ji_ ]j^4,s, Salem Lodge,

llainillon. M. !•:. 11 i.uli Priest: 'I'. W. McNeely, \-„ ,.,;. | ,) ,) |,- _ „..,j; nr<>anized under dis-

V.. Kin-: J. T. I'.moks. Iv Scriiie: John J}en- peusatioii. with iln' fol low iii.i;- charter meniliers :

nett, Captain of the Host; II. W. ilontgoniery. |. ].- Stephenson, C. N. Conldin-. J. II. Col-

Treasun'r: and J. G. Strodtmann. Secretary. fj^,,._ 'pin-odore Baker an.l /,. P. Cahaiiis. The

This Chapter is strong and ]wospiTous. f],.^l officers were: John II. Collier. Nol.l,'

St. .Mdcinar Coi andcry, .No. 17. Knights (irand : li. V. Stepliensmi. Vice (iraiid: /. V.

Templar, was organized Octoher ".'I, IS7."i. hy Cahaiiis. Secretary : and Theodore Baker. Treas-
li'ight Kininent Sir Iliram AV. Tluhhard. Crand ui'i'i-. The lodge continued under the dis-
('(niimander of the State. Th" lirst ollic-ei-s |)ensation to the lllh cd' Octoher, of the same
wcie: I'hnincni Sir Ilohaii Hamilton. Com- vear, when it was chartered, anil for the lirst
mamler: Sir T. W. MiNci'ly. (leneralissimo ; few vears after its organizaticni it prospei'cd
Sir Charles IS. Thalcher. Captain (IctU'ral; to an almost un|irecedented degree, hut the
Sir .\nson Thompson. Senim' Warden: Sir Ed- Civil war coining on and other dilKc-ultics heing
ward 1. ailing. Junior Warden: Sir !•'. P. .\ntle. in ihi' way. its luciuhcrship waned and its pros-
Treasurer: Sir J. (J. Strodtmann. Iiccoriler: peels liecamc \cry dark. During its lirst year
Sir .1. M. Sawyer. Standard IV'aicr: Sir .1. T. it added ahoiit lifly memhc>rs. How discouraged
l'>io(]k~. Swiird I'.earer: Sir T. C. I'.eiiiiett. they must liaxe liciu when in 1S(!-^ their niem-
Wardi'r: and Sir J. K. Dickinson. Captain of hersliip had falhn Far helow ihal mark, 'i'he
the (liiard. These men, like those of the lodges few remaining meinhers hecanie so discouraged
spoki'ii o|' ahoxe, are scattered to and fro. while that they e\en coutem]ilatorl a forfeiture of

lU(i

PAST ANT) PRKSKXT OF MKXAHD COrXTV

tlieir uliartiT. and. as \vc arc tolil. a \i>tc was
actually taken to that t'ffect. but failud ity a
verv suiall margin. But this trial aroused the
dormant energies of I he lukewarm and thev
took on new zeal and the lodge revived to new
life and powei-. The tinaneial diflieulties that
had foi- some time harassed them were over-
come and they started again on the upward
course. Since that time the lodge has known
nothing hut prosperity. To-day it is a strong
and wealthy lodge. K'ei)ekah Degree T.odge.
No. d2, I. U. 0. F.. was instituted May 5,
1876, and reiustituted Mareh 3. ISTli. witli a
membership of .sixteen. This lodge lias passed
through a varied experience in the past years,
but has survived all its trouliles and is to-day
in a very prosperous condition.

Other organizations of secret societies are to
be found in Petersburg, hut as they are mcstly
insurance institutions a detail of their history
would be uninteresting to the public.

We have not been able to secure the history
of all the lodges of Masons and Odd Fellows
in tile county, though we made as diligent an
effort as could lie made iiy any one. If this his-
tory in this respect is imperfect it is because
those who alone could give the needed in-
fornuition were too indifferent to do so. A
Masonic lodge was organized in Greenview un-
der a dispensation, ^fay 12, 1870, and eharti'red
at the following session of Ihe Grand Lodge.
This is (iret'nview Lodge, No. 6.53, .\. F. iV A.
^1. The charter members were: V. E. Wilson.
W. II. Crites, II. K. liule, Charles Atterberry,
W. S. Morse, J. A. Rule, Abner Engle, Jacob
Propst. Jr.. Fred Wilkinson. M. S. l-:by. Wil-
liam Houston, 1). A. Petrie, lioberl Horuback,
Jacob Killion, John Johnson, F. A. Craig, C. R.
Pierce. It. H. Godby. .\. il. Whitney and Rosea
Dockum. The first set of ollicers of this lodge
were: I". Iv Wilson, Master; William ('rites.
Senior Warden; H. K. Ktile. Junior Warden:
Charles Atterlierry, Tieasurcr; W. S. Morse,
Secretary; John A. Rule, Senior Deacon; F. A.
Craig. Junior Deacon ; and Jacob Propst,
Tyler. They own no building and therefore
hold their lodge in a rented hall. The lodge is
strong and ])rosperous.

At one tinu' the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows had a tolerablv strong lodge in (ireeii-

\ iew. but for some cause it went down years
ago.

On Xiivendiei- K!. ISTl, Floral Lodge, Xo.
III". I. O. O. F.. was organized under dispensa-
tion in the town of Athens. A charter was
issued from the Grand Lodge bearing the sig-
nauires of John Lake, (i. M.. and X. ('. Wa-on.
(i. S.. in October. ISTS. Tlu' charter meud>ers
were: ('. C. Scott, T. B. Turner. .laeoli Boyd,
Louis Salzenstein. Charles Bair, W. V. Fisk
and Julius Kerst. The fir.st ollicers were: C.
C. Scott, X. G.; T. li, Turner, V. G. ; Jacob
Boyd. Secretary; and Louis Salzenstein. Treas-
urer. They meet each week and are a prosper-
ous lodge.

BAXKS AND I! AN K INC.

The first bank established in Menard county
was o]iened by John A. Brahm, of Petersburg,
ami William (x. Greene, of Tallula. in 1865,
under the linn name of Brahm & Greene. Xo
more pojnilar Ijank was to be found in central
Illinois and it did a wvy jirosjierous business
for a number of years. There being but one
other baid< in the county for a considerable
time, this one received an immense jiatronage.
.Vfter a number of years ^Ir. Greene withdrew
and for some time ilr. Brahm ran it alone,
ilr. Brahm built a fine stone building on the
west side of the square — steel vault, burglar
and lirejiroof. time-lock, a dejiosit vault and
all the modern conveniences and im])rovements
of the day. He did a successful business for
some time, Init his accfunmodating nature and
sympathetic disposition, togetlu'r with other in-
fluences, led to his failure in iss:',. He gave
U]) everything, left his luxurious home ami in
his old age went out into the world in poverty.
The wi-iter can not refrain from .saying here
that as sad a .scene as he ever witnessed in his
life was the burial of John A. Brahm. After
his failure he and his aged wife went to C'hi-
cago. where some of their children resided, and
lived there till his death, some five years ago.
His remains were brought to Petersburg for
burial, and one dull, gloomy morning, aiiout
nine o'clock, a little company of a dozen or so
people stood around the open grave, under the

PAST AMI i'i;i:si':\'r of mivxaiii) (oi ntn' lor

ti'ccs in Oaklaiiil ciMiu'tci-N . to \\iliii'>s llu' iiilci-- cmtv lirniuli :inil is iiriniipi iiiiil in cvcrv way

nirn(. Nil display, no (■(Uumiui'sc ol' |iimi|i|{'. no iTlialilr.

Iiin^- lini' of carriages, Imi a lew silent mourn- About ISS.'.i I'liarlcs I'. Scott opened a private
ers, a brief talk, and a woi'd of prayei-. ami his liaid< in the town ol' Athens and run a success-
hodv was lowered into the grave, tln' earth fid Imsiness till the (lose of 1885. On the 1st
shoveled in and all was oxer. As \\f Irfi the da\ of .laiiuary. JS8(), l-ce Kincaid hought an
c(»nieterv the lh<iuglil came to the writei-: What interest in the hank and it was run under the
a commentary on human life and character I name id' Scott & Kincaid till the close (d' that
lli'i'e IS a man \\ ho diil more for I'elershurg M^ar. when Mi'. Kiiieaiil Imught the interest of
and .Menard county than any olhci- man ; a man Mi-. Scott. Since that time .Mr. Kincaid has
who accommodated and assisted more men just run the husiness ahuie, doing a general hank-
starling in life than any other man: a man ing lutsine.ss to tin I'tdl satisraetioii of the jjiil)-
who in prosjierity — while he liad money — was lie who patroni/e him. The liank, heing located
honored and looked lip to ; now . whcti his money in a wealthy commuiiily and where two large
is gone, and he is lirought hack to his old liiuiie coal shafts are located, has a large and paying
to be liuric(l. a handful gather aroiiml Ins patronage. It is fully responsible in every re-
grave, and e\en those whom he had liefliemled spi'ct.

had not time to attend the burial and no ti>ars In ISlli a bank was opened in rjreenxiew iin-

of sympathy to shed at the L;fa\c Will not this der the liriii name id' .\lkire iV ('oiiipanw The

ingratitude bring its return to lliein, or to their lirm was composed uf J. I), .\lkire. Mileiii

children:-' .Vlkire and V. \' . .\lkit-e. It ran till the fol-

On the lt)th of September. ISS:!. this hank lowing vear. ls;;. when the lirm was t-banged
was organized as the "Fii->t National Hank" of to Marbold. .Mkin-Ov Company. The memher.s
Petersburg, Illinois, with a i-apital of fifty tlmu- of this lii-m were II. II. Marbold, .1. |), .\lkirc
sand dollars. Seven years later, the business of and j\l. M. I'jigle. This linn did business two
the coiicci-n having greatly in(-re;ised. on the vears and in IS";!! it again changed to .Marbold
IHtli of Seplemliei-, I'.toii, the capital was in- & Ciimpaiiv. This lirm consisted of II. II.
creased to one hundred thousand dollars. Tliis Marbold and .M. .M, lingU' and did business till
hank does all kinds of banking business and is ISs;!. when it was succeeded by 11. 11. ^Eai-bold,
now- iiioi'e pi-iispci-iiu^ than at an\- lime in the who has since eoiit iniied the business. Thus for
past. 'I'he ollicers at pi-csent are: ('. 1>. i.an- over twenty-one years Mr. ■\iarbold has con-
ing, president: .lohn 'i'ice Cdeceased). vice- tinned this business aloiu^. Perhaps there is
president: Samuel 11. K'ule. casliiei-. The di- but one bank in the county which does more
rectors are: .lohii Tue (deceased), Samuel business than this, l.oc-ated in the midst of ,-in
II. ])lane (decea,-ed). ('. !!. T.aning, Charles agricultural connti-y that is surpass(>d by no
Nusbanm and .\nson Thompson. .section in or out of the state in the pi-odiut imi

The ne.\t hank to open business in Menard of stock and grain, it would indeed lie strange

county was ()])ened in I'ctersburg the same year if the business was not a success. Mr. ^lar-

that the First Xational ojiened, 1865. This -was bold is one of the most suc-ccssfnl farmers and

opened by K. ami 1). Frackelton. This is a stock-raisers in central Illinois, and beside this

pii\ate bank and is regarded as one among the he is equally successful in general business,

most reliable and res))onsil)le banks of the state. having the unlimited confidence of the entire

It has always connnanded its full share of the eommiinity, and as a result his hanking biisi-

biisiness of the loiintry at-oiind it. .\ niinibcr iiess is a success,

of years ago one id' the lii'iii — liobi rt Frackel- On the 1st of .lime. l!Ml|. II. II. Schirding

ton— died and the busiiH'ss was cari-ieil on by \- Son opened a pi-i\ate iiank in Petersburg.

the other mcinl.ci' of the lirm. The title is now making the third hank in the place. The staml-

11. S. Frackelton i.V Company. The menibeis ing of thi' Messrs. Schirding. (inaneially, so-

of the lirm are I). S.. C, (', and D. W. Frackel- ciallv and every other way, ])uts the success of

ton. This bank is doing a splendid business in this enterprise bevond a peraihentitre. Their

108

PAST AND Pin>:si:\'r of mkxakd county

business ability miuI finaiuial staiidinir arc siuli
as to insurp universal contidencp.

Wt' liavi' not boon able to sooviro tlio data
neoossarv to ijivo a full history of bankinir in
Tallula. From tlio bost that we eaii learn, the
first bank opened in that |)lace was that of Wil-
son iV Greene, whieh was ojiencd some years atro.
The firm eonsist(>(l of Dr. Wilsmi. a weallhy
and |)roininent citizen of that place, and the
late William 0. nreene with whose life history
all are familiar. Mr. (Jreenc. when but a boy.
was in business in Xew Salem with .Vbiaiiani
Lincoln. He died sevei'al years ago in Tallula.
wh; re he hail lived more than half a centurx'.
The present Tallula Bank is owned by the son
and firand.son of William G. Greene, and the
title is Orccnc & Greene. Tt is one of tlie
stronir and reliable banks of Menard county.
Located in one of the most wealthy farming
localities in central Illinois and the firm liavinj,'
a wide ac(puiintanco in adjoinino; counties, it
is but natural that they should receive a lariie
and profitable jiatronaire.

Thus it will be seen that there are no h ss
than six banks doinw business in the <-ounty.
and each one is doinn; a large and liu-rati\('
business. This is. to some decree, an index
to the commercial enter|)rise and activity of
the |)eople. .V county that is not more than
twenty nnles sipiare and one whose peo])le are
nearly e.xelusivoly an an^ricultural people who
can sup|)ort six lar<re lianks. is one certainly
possessed i>f remarkable resources.

(KM FT Hi; I ES.

INDI.VN POINT CEMETERY.

huh'an Point has one of the most beautiful
and neatly kejit cemeteries in central Illinois.
Located in one of the wealthiest and most ad-
vanced communities of the state ami on a site
that nature certainly designed as a restinfr
place for the dead, it meets every requirement
for the jiurpose to which it is devoted. Before
the stream of iinmifrration had set into this
country and it was yet a wild, a comjiany of
jiovenunent surveyors, passin<r thronph that vi-
cinity, chanced to camp over nijrlit on this very
spot of irronnd. The next moiniiiL'. when tlic'V

were about to break camj). the leader <il the
company, then in perfect healtii. said: "Boys.
if I should die anywhere in this section of the
country. I want you to b\iry me on this very
s]Hi{ of iirnund." They moved on inwaid the
mouth of Salt cret'k, where some work was to
be done, ami in a week or two this leader was
taken sick. It wa- not thought to bo serious
at the first, but ho f^radnally jrrew worse and in
a short time be died. Ilis companions, renu m-
bcrini;- his rcipic-t. brouirht his body back ami
iiuried it on the spot of jrrouml that he had
thus selected. This was the tirst L'rave in this
ceinctcr\' and ii mav be seen in the northwest
coriu'r of the jifounds. This cemetery is duly
incorporated; has all the necessary officers; an
e.xc;'llent system of by-laws, and already has
(piite a lar^e siid\in^ fund laid by. They have
a sexton. em|)loyed iiy th.o year, who lives in a
neat cottaiic on the grounds belonging to the
cemetery. In the cottage is a room, or ]iarlor.
which is jirranged as a waiting-room for the
accommodation of mourners and their friends
at time of funerals. The grounds are beauti-
fully kept and ipiite a number of beautiful and
c:)stlv monuineiit> ailorn the j)lace. Such a
cemetery is an honor to any community, ami
the thought that our loved ones repose in a
j lace so lovely softens the sting of iiidding them
good-byi . ^Fany pioneers who aided in making
this country what it is sleep undisturbed in
these (|uiet grounds.

OAKLAND ci-:.vii:teky.
Oakland was organized and iucnrporatecl in
ISTS under the enterprising and efficient lead
of 1). ^1. Bon(\ now of Kansas City, Mo. It is
locateil one mile southwest of Petersburg, ou
a tract <d' land |)erfoctly adajited to tlie pur-
pose, a pail of the ground being level and a
part fipiiiicd of romantic hills, covered with a
growth of most beautiful forest trees. It is
goveriU'd umh'r a most perfect system of by-
laws, regulating the most minute detail in its
management: it was laid off by one of the
most noted artists in his line in the country,
he having planned some of the finest ])arks and
cemeteries in the largi' citie> of the east. It
already has a substantial sinking fund laid
by; it is ta.stefully kept aiul is already adorned

1-AS'l' AND IMv'KSKXT OF MKNAIIP ('(l^^■^^■ 109

liv a iiiiiiiln'r of rosily iiiiiiiiiincnls. Many uf iiiiiki; cKMKTKltlKS.

<iiii' |iiiiiiiiiu>nt citizens rc|Misc tluTc. 'I'lierc, i^.j^li (;,.,, y,.^ Knnncrs i'dinl. ilni-k Crook,

a ii.ii ill'' icnants ol' tiiis "silent eity."" aiv tlie ();,k|',inl. Lebanon and .Murray are all largo

remains of l.ineoln's lianeoo. the "Boautit'iil .^^^^^ iiieelv loeatoil eeineleries. iuil we have not

Anna U'lil li'il-e," Se\ei-al years ago her ri'- ,||^, ^|.i,.i |,, „j^.^. .|,, ,,xi,.n,l,.(| aer.iiiiil of any of

iiianis were removed rnmi the Cnneonl eeine- ii,,.,,, i, |^ \,^^^ jn^i^ however, to say, in pass-

lei'y hy Sanmel Montgomeiy lo Oakland and ^j^.^ |||.|, ,|||, \|,|,.,.av eonietory has sonic as

liuried in a lieantirid lot in the southwest part ,.,,^||v miuiunu^nts as anv id' the country ceme-

ot the grounds. Slu' Hes apart from all other i,.,.,,.., ,,|- d,,, ,.iuintv.

graves: the onl.N mark to tell ih,' ^pot i. a ■pi,,, ,,,„,,,„,„„. ,,r the ol,l ••hurving-gronnds"

rough, gray; granite, glacial hoidder. with the ^,^^^^ ^^^.^, ^.^.^.^. ^^^^^^.^^ ,„,„.i,,,.,,.d. for ..xample. tho

sinipl.. words "Ann Ifutledge" .-ut de,.p ,n the ^^^^^ ||,,,,d,ack -rax.'vard. nc.ar l.^'hanon. and

solid rock. Twenty miles from lu'r grav,'. as ^^^^^^^^ ^^^l^^^,^^ ^l^^_ Shi]. lev -ravevard. at the

,|,c l„rd Hies, rises the ,nnet v-th,.nsand-dollar ^^^.^^^^^ sehoolhouse, is one' of the ,,1.1 i.lacos of

shaft ahove the ashes of I'resident Lincoln, hut .„,,,,.„;,,„, .|.|„,,,, ,,,, ,,„, , „„,nl,er of fan.-

if his wm-ds to William II. IL^rndon are true. .^^ i.urvin.-^nuind^ in th.. eountv. as that at

while his hones repose under the proud mail- ,,;,^,,.„^; |^,.|,|„.v. at llaslus and other places,

solcum III Oak liiduc his heart rests under the ^^^^ J_^ ^^,^1 Smedlev farm, two or tlnve luilos

rough i.ouldcr in (piiet Oakland. noithwst of Tallula. is a hir-e miinher of

Oakland is destnuMl. in time, to he one of the ^^^_^^^^^^ .^^ ^^^.^^^^_^^^ ll^^_l j^ ^^^,, ^,.^j.^,,, f^^. .^^ ,^]i_

most heantiful and ],opular ,-,.nicteries in the ^^^^^ ,,,.,,,|„,, ,1„. writer visited this neglected

""'"^>'- jiniiie of the d<'ad. Crawliiii;- under tho tangle

ATllKNS- .KMHTKIJIKS. ^^^. |^^._^^|_ ._^_^| ^^^^,.^_ ^^, ,,,.,, ^^..„ .,,,„,„< i„,pene-

.Vtliens has two cemeterKs : t hi' Athens cetiie- (,.,||,|,,_ |„. fmnid an aiieienl marhle slah with
tery and the Hall cemetery. The latter was ^^^-^^ iiisei iption : "( 'lirislopher Sniedley. horn
donateil \:\ ^h■. Ahrani Hall, a piililic-spirite.l i ),,,.,, ml,,.,. ■.'.-,. i;:;.S; died dime .'8. 1S.".II." lie
and leiicMilcMil citizen id' that vicinity. I'.oili ^^..^_. ^i^^, ui-aml father of doliii Smedley. id' Cass
id' these are well kept and speak well for the j.„„,nv. j],. was horn in Kngland and when he
community. reached manhood he entered tho British navy
TAi.i.fi.A cKMKTKiiY. .iu,l ^..pvcd the country for several years. In
Of tho inior|)oiaieil cemotorios of the county. ti„. liattle fought hetwicu ( 'ommodoro IJodney.
none are more lieaiitifiil oi- hotter ke|tt than that ,,|- t|,,. |i,-itisli na\v. and Commodore PeCras, ol
nl' 'rallida. Ilciiig in a uc^althy. relincMl and t|,,. |.'|.,.|i|.|| navy, he lost his hd't leg hy a can-
Christian comniiinity. we could expect nothing m,!, shot, and. of course, was ohligod to leave
else. In this sacred spot ri'pose the remains of i|,p navv. Later he came lo .\moiica. and
main of the men and women, who hy their (.niiiing to I lliiiois he entered the land whereon
foresight, industry and economv wrought out p,. died. IL'died at the great age of one luin-
the rich inheritance that we enjoy to-day. ,||.,.,| and clexeii years, six months and three
iioautiful nioiiiimcnts tell where they lie. hut ilavs.

monuments more enduring than t;ranito. Iirass r|-|^^. no'dect of these Inirving places is a

or hroiizo in the living lahlots of lining and ^i-,,,,,, that should in some way ho remodit'd.

gvatel'nl lioarts tell of their works of love. 1^^ ,lii,^i, i,,,,,, .,,,,] neglected graves lie the ro-

swi-:t;rw.\Ti:i; ckm i;'ri;i;v. mains of some of our most worthy dead. Men

,. , , . 1 ,,i ,,. , 1 .mil women who were loved and honored while

Sweetwater cemeterv was improved, enlarired '"'" ""lu'o

and incorporated a nnniher of years ago. hnt H-'v H^-'l -'^^-^ ^vlio performed a most impor-

tho writer was unahle to iret the data to give taut, part in the developmeiil ot this country.

an extended or particular account of it. It is '^leop in those forgotten graves, wherein a l.'w

a hiaiitiful locality, is well kept and is heaiiti- years the jilowsliaro will crash tlirougli tin' soil

lied with manv .-o.stlv nionum.iits. ahove them and yellow harvests will he reaped

Ill*

I'AS'I' AX1» rUKSKXT oK MKXAlMi (OlN'rV

over whore tliev lie aiul lie jiatliereil in with
shout anil -ionji-. 'J'hi^ slianielul desecration can
only be avoided liy reniovinjr the remains to a
cenieterv where tliev will lie protected and cared
for. If the descendants and friends of these
pioneers will not atti'iul to this, it slioidd be
taken in hand bv the authorities and done at
the expense of the pubiie.

STKAMIIOAI'S.

The location of ^lenard county bcinj;' so re-
unite frcini ilie lai'iie I'ivers. the roads very ])oor.
or in most ]iliices not opened at all. and rail-
road trans]jortation bein.i:' then nnknuwii. it is
nut to be wondereil at if the early settU'rs did
seriously and anxiously consider tiie naviijation
of tile Sansamon river. Tt is necessary for the
I'cader to take into consideration a iiiiinlier of
facts: the forests beina' then undisturbed, the
ground untramiiled by thousands of stock, the
flat prairies unplowcd and undrained. it fol-
lows, of course, thai the average amount of
water flowing in luii' erccks and rivers was at
least one-third or ime-half more tinm flows in
them at tlie present time, bir there lieing more
vegetation then than now and the timber be-
ing then undestroyed. there was a much great-
er i-ainfall than tbcic is in later years. Also
the ground being then uidrainpied and loose.
the water from all the rain and snow sank di-
rectly into the earth, thus fornn'ng permanent
s|>rings which flowed the year round, feeding
the water courses everywhere with an abundant
supply. But as it is now the ease is very dif-
ferent ; the ground is trampled hard beneath
the hoofs of thousaiuls of stock, so that the
water that falls instead id' siid<ing into the
ground runs olf at once. .\s a result of thi<
we now have greater and more sudden fresliets
and then lower waters than we bad in earlier
days. Tiie markets then were far away, located
on tlie navigaiile rivers: the roads were un-
opened, and owing to tlu' luitural condition of
the country tluTO were many ])laces where it
would have been impossible to construct f)assa-
ble roads; and the slow ox-teams being almost
the sole means of transportation, it is not to
be wondered at that the ]ieople were intensely

anxious to lind some means of reaching the
older and more important settlements. C'on-
seipuiitly they grasped most eagerly at the
scheme j)roposed. and wiiuld have grasped at
one even more eliimcrieal than this. Beside all
this, the rivers, as .<ai(l above, had a nnich
greater flow of water thi'n than tlu'v do now.
and the belief was then almost universal that
tliey would liecome practical and |n-iditablc ave-
nues of conuiierce to all the land.

Walking along the banks of "The Raging
Sanganm" in the fall of the year especially, one
would hardly think that any one would ever
have thought of it being a navigable stream.
\(ir when we look at Clary's creek or Indian
ereek We would never dream that they had
oiiee driven water-mills for nine inoTitiis of
the year, yet such is the fact. In the early
settlement of ibis country the.se streams carried
almost double the amount of water that flows
in llieni now. .Vs early as the year 1832, V.
.\. Hogue. <if Springfield, conceived the idea
of navigating the Sanganxni with a steamboat.
.Vbout that time some \isionary ]ioet said:

"And we will make our Sangamo.
Outshine, in verse, the river I'o."

Mr. liogiie threw his whole energy into the
enler|irise and the citizens of Springfield gave
him their most lu'arty sujiport. In a letter
to the jiublie Mr. Bogue said, among otiier
things: "I shall deliver freight from St.
Louis, at the landing on Sangamo river. o])po-
site the town of Springfield, for thirty-seven
and a half eeiits pi'r hundred pounds." The
Si)ringfield Journal of Feiiruary l(i. 1832. con-
tained the following paragrapii : "We find the
following advertisement in the Ciiuiiinati Ga-
zette of the 19th uh. We hope .«ncli notices
will soon cease to be sueli novelties. We seri-
ously believe that the Sangamo river can he
made a navigable stream for steamboats for
several months in the year. Here is the adver-
tisement : 'For Sangamo h'ivcr. lllino's — The
spliMidiil up]ier-(aliin steamer Talisnnin. •'. M.
I'ollock. master, will leave for Portland. Spring-
lield, on the Sangamo river, and all internu'-
diate ports and landings, say Beardstown.
Naples, St. Louis. Louisville, on Thursday,
February 2. For freight or jiassage apjjly to

PAST AM) IM.'l'lSI'iNI' () I' .MKNAI.'D (■(»l\■^^ 111

('a|iiniii X'liirriii A. l>i),i;iie, at (he Broadwav C'iiicinnati .iinl liml a linut Imilt expressly "foi'

lldlcl. or t(i AllisiHi Owen.'" The 'I'alisiiiau Saiijiaiiion iImt [khIs." li is douhtlcss true

was a vessc'l of cnir hiiiiih'cd and lil'tv Ions hiir- ihal the hoal was Imih ami -larlcil in tliis

then, and slie hinded al I'm't hind, uii the 2,>d ■■|ini-t." Iml i| nc\ri' icaclird its intended des-

oT Mareh. IS;!'^. J'oiiland \\ as the town on llie filiation. I'.iil other ohl eitizeiis une(|iiivoeaily

south side ol' the Saiiijanion. situated liclwrcu assert that il made the voyjiue to I'etersliiir^

where the hridjies of tile I'hieago iV Alton and hut it \\a< loo hir^e Tor this river ami alter a

tiilnian \- Clinton I'ailroads now are. Tin' little while it was sunk in the depths lA' ••'rhe

Talisnum A\as iiiialile to turn ai'ound. ami so rajiiny Sanuaiuo."" They e\en go so far as

afti'f a time it haeUed down the ri\er, ne\er to name the Imildiiigs which were adorned with

to return. I'or. gpttiiiu' as far as St. I.oiiis liy the windows, doors, and other parts of thi' dis-

tlie latter part of .\pril. that same spriiiL;. rii;lil maiilleil steamer. So the facts in the ease

opposite that eit\' she Ipiirned to the water's are lost in the ohli\ion (if the foruotleii past,

edge. In an early day a sulisi'riptiiui was So niueh for ".Navigation."
raise(l among the husiness men of I'elerslmrg to

elear the Sanganio id' drifts, etc., in (U'der to

ri'uder it iia\igahle for small steanihoats. In

this way li\e thousand dollars was raised, hut i;.\ I LIK ».\ I )S.

the I'liierprise liuall) failed. .Mioiit the ".iOth There are three railroads that enter Meiiai'd

of .\pril. lS."i:!, a snudi steamlioat. the Wave. county. Twn of tlicMii run almost tlii-ough its

or Oeeaii Wa\c. eommamleil liy Captain Miui- eeiiler. while the other hareK entius I he eoun-

roe. lamled at retersluirg hut she never wc'iil ty on its eastern horder. 'I'lie .lacksonville di-

further up the i-i\iu'. nor down it. foi' thai mat- vision nf the Cliieago. .Mton iV St. l.ouis runs

ter. ('a|itain Monroe su])posed the distame ihrcuigli the eounty from the ncu-theast corner

fr(uu retershurg to the mouth (d' the Sanga- to near the southwest i-orner: and the ('hieaL;i).

mon was aliout ninety miles, lie was tirinly {^■oj-ia c^- St. l.oui> runs almost ci ntrallv

<d' the- opinion that a enmparat i\ely small e\- through the county fieni north |o south. These

peiidituie would lemh'i' the rivi'r a pielitaldy two lines cross in I'etershurg. In an eailv

lunigahle sti-eam. So little coiieepi ion did day the na\igation of the Sangamon ri\er was

the early settlers ha\i' id' the elVeet (d' eidti- seriously considered, and some attempts made,

vating the land, cutting out the timlier. on the as the readiu- ma\' see in aiiothei- chapter, hut

rivers and streams that they were led into when this was proven to hi' a failiir<' another

this ahsurd o|)iiiion. The "Wave" waited for .scheme was proposed. That si-heme was to

a long time foi- a rise in the wali'i-s of the San- op( ii a canal from lieardstown In liecalui-. Iiv

f(anion hut the wishcd-foi- luxer came and way of the Illinois and Sangamon rixers. 'J'lie

finally the proud conipieror of the "raging San- legislature in it~ si'ssion <d' 1S:i4-.') actnallv

ganio" was forced to succumh. not to its rag- granted a charter to this enterprise. The next

ing Hoods hut to its logs and sandhars and was spring a cand'ul survey was made i>{ the i-(uitc.

dismantled here, and its gorgeous trimmings i)iit after the expenditure (d' a vast amount (d

were used to decorate the dwellings of the gas and calculation and suggestion, the .scheme

citizens of I'etershiirg. Thus ended fore\er was ahandiuied : hut the popular mind wa- all

the elfort to navigate the Sangamon river. excitement on the suhject of transportation.

Some old citizens, however, avcu- that anollier — So in Is.'i-.' the legislature granted a charter

a tliird — steainhoat came up thi' Sangamon as to the "Springtield iV .Xorthwcslcrn llailway

far as Petershiirg. while others just as strongly Coinpany" to Iniild a road from Springlield

deny it. If such a craft ever grated its keel to K'ock Island, and the route was sui'\i'\ed

over the sands of the rctei-simrg "wharf" its crossing llenanl ecuiiit\' just as the Chicago.

name .was never known to the good |)eo|)le of Peoria i^' St. l.ouis has since i)een huilt. This

the village or has heeii eiitii-ely forgotten. It enter|)rise was pushed so far that Menard

is true that the citizens sent Major Hill to couiit\ xoted tift\- thou-aml didlars to aid in

112

r.\sr \\n i'i;1::si:.n'

Mi;.\Ai;|i col NTY

its cimstruotion. The pcoplo wtTi- so entlnisi-
astic that tliev tlioujilit tliat it toukl not fail
aixl thpv wiiit so far as to collect a small per
cent of tl;c inoiu'v voted to pay for tlic survey.
Hut it is true that

•"The liest laid sclienies o" inic-c an" men
Gang aft agley,"

and llie enterprise went up. 'i"iu' people of
this county, after this failuri', i)ecaiue almost
(lesi)on(lent. hut in 18.5(; a new enterjirise was
proposed wliicli ni'oused them to action, anil
their hopes revived. The seiiemc was the imiid-
ing of a railroad from Jack.sonvillc to Tonica.
in La Salle county, to intersect the iifiini')iin
& Streator road. Tonica is a village on the
last named road, nine miles from the town
i)\' l.a Salle. As this road was to pass through
Tetershurg th.e peo])le of the county hecamo
wild with enthusiasm. The county as a cor-
porate body voted one hundred th<iusaiid dol-
lars' stock, and thirty thousand ilollars' stocK
was subscrilied hy individuals. .\ charter was
>;fanted the "Petersburg & Tonica Railroad.""
and the subs'.-riptions were legalized, lion.
Wichaul Yates was made president, and .lolm
Bennett and Hon. William G. Greene, botli of
Menard county, were made directors. W<irk
w;is soon begun on both extremes and a great
amount of grading was doiu . but in spite of
the zeal of the people subscriptions ran short
and the work came to a dead stop .Vhout this
time ilr. Yates resigned aiul W. G. Greene
was made president and lion. \V. T. Brekman
was made a director and superintendent of
the road. By almost superhuman efforts funds
were raised and the road was c(unpleted from
Jacksonville to I'eter.sburg. a distance of twen-
ty-eight miles, and in the fall of 18(il the
whi.stle was heard for the first time in Peters-
Imrg. Milton ^NFoore was the first agent in
Petersburg and William Bacon, the very prince
of conductors, had charge of the first train.
Manv were the anecdotes told of the sjieed
i>( this tir.st train. There being one train, and
the time-table requiring the round trip every
twentv-four hours, of course the train inml run.
Fifty-six miles in twenty four hours! Tbiid<
of it: They still tell of the train waiting for
a farmer to shell a "grist"" of corn to take

to mill, and of the conductor's strictness in
carrying out the time table; so strict that he
helped shell the corn. Of the huly who had
eleven eggs to send to marki't on the train, and
of ^[r. Bacon waiting for the hen to lay the
other egg. but they do not say that be hurried
the hen. Oiu- thing is sure; that is that Mr.
Bacon was always a gentleman. .Vbout the
clo.se of the war the Chicago. Alton & St. Louis
load i)roposed to take this Tonica road and
finish it to Bloomiugton and to Godfrey. This
was accepted and the road was built on the
old grade as far as Delavan in Tazewell county
and thence directly to Bloomington. intersect-
ing the main line at that ])laee. Some years
later the Kansas City branch was built from
Uoodhouse to that city. The Jacksonville divi-
sion was finished in 1807.

In 1852 the charter was granted to the
Si)ringfield \- Xorthwestern company to build
a road from Springfield to Rock Island. .\ft-
er this charter had lain dead for seventeen
vears. it was revived by the legislature, in
1S()!). to a new company, however, allowing them
to construct a road on the old survey, ilenard
county voted one hundred thousand dollars
stock in this road and the town of Petersburg
voted fifteen thousand dollars. There was a
vast deal of trouiile over these town bonds, as
it went into the courts and created no end of
l)ersonal bad feeling, and as the courts settled
it the be.st thing to do is to let it lie in the
oblivion of forget fulness.

In the latter ]iart of ISTO work began on the
liiu' at Havana but it progres.sed very slowly.
During the year 1871 it was com|)leted across
Mason county and a few miles into Menard.
In 1872 the ears began to run as far as from
Havana to Petersburg. By late autumn in
is;;? the road was finished all the way to Can-
trail, a distance of no less than thirteen miles
fioni Petersi)urg! Here another much needed
rest was taken and after recuperation from
the ardumis summer's work it was at last eom-
|deted in 1874. It is now the Chicago, Peoria
iV St. Louis Railroad, with a firstclass roadbed,
number one rolling stock, and is doing a splen-
did business.

The I'eoria A' Springfield road was built by
the Peoria I'i- Xortbern K'nilroad Companv and

PAST AMI im;i;si:.\t oi-' .mi;\ai;|) (((Inma

113

\\;is riilll|ilrli il III IS'.IS, llir lirsl llircii|Mli I rain
luniiiiii: in M:i\ nl' thai year. The rii;lit of
\va\ \\a> |iai(l I'm' lilicrally ami sciiii-cil with-
imi III ii;ali(iii iir Ircnililr (if any kiml. This
mail i'iiii> llinm^h the casl cilj;!' iiT Mcnaril
cniintx', ncil liriiii; ninrc than a mile Irom thr
cast liiir al any pninl. ami niily luns in llu'
cmiiilv I'cir a ilislaiUT nt' li\r and a hall' miles.
TluTe are twn Stat inns in the eiiunly. Imwevt'r.
('rnl'l and l'"am\ I'rairie. This is niie nf the
he>t liiiill aiiil e(|ui|i| I'll mails in the slale. ami
it does an iiiiiiiense froijihl ami |iasseiij;or Imsi-
ness, es|iei-ially for as short a line as it is.
Two or thiee \ears alter il was liiiislKil it
was sold to the ('hii'a,i;o. Alloii \- Si. I.miis
K'ailroad t.'om|iaii\. ami has siiiei' i.eeii imim as
a pari of thai s\stem. .\iid il is a \ery im-
poitanl pari of that system, for |\mi reasons,
tirsl. lieeau.se it eonnects the important cities.
Spriniilicld and I'eoria. it heinj,'- sometimes
<-alled the I'liiria \' Spi-iiiulielil Short Line; and
second, hccau.sc it connects the two hranches of
I he Chicai-'o. .Mton & St. Louis Railway, name-
ly ll:e main line at Springticld. and the Jaek-
sonville division at San .lose. 'I'his road runs
tliroiioli ,iue (if the finest aiivicnltural sections
of country in the state of Illinois ami it has
pm\ed one of the jfrcatcst lioons to a larj^'e
section id' coiinlry that could have heen iiixcn
toil people. Thus it is ,-eeii that Mi iiaril coiin-
t \' is ain)il\' supplied with railroad facilities
for tile shipment nf ii> prndiiets and for the
convenience id' travel, luit the people are not
yet satistied and still claimii' I'm- more, hut
when the iiitei-iirhaii is hiiilt from Sprinulicld
til Ileal d>liiw]i and riiiHiiiiLj tlirouLdi Petershurfr
will thev he salislied then;-'

ciMMi-; i\ \IK\ \i;ii ((irxTY iXn. 1 1.

hjlvvard (iihhoii .said: "llistory is little
more than the leirister of the crimes, follies
and misfortunes nf mankind." .\nil Washin:,'-
ton Irvinif says: "History is Imt a kind of
Xewfiate calendar, a register of the crimes and
miseries that man has inflicted on his fellow-
man."-" Take the record of crime out of the
annals of the world and there would he Imt a

\ . r V hricl' paragraph left. for nearly all of
hisliH'y is the record of war ami iiili'iuue. and
surely lliese are crimes. Some one has said:
""( )ue murder make> a v ilia in ; millions, a In ro ;
iiiimi.crs sauelify the crime." It liecoiues now
my duly to n cord some of ihe murders eom-
milted ill the tei'i-itory of what is imw Meiiaid
count V .

There has heen a lai'i;i' niimlier of crimes

eoilimil led ill this eolliilv lull olllv one exeell-

lioii has ever taken place. The miirdei- of
Mis. \an.\oy. hy her husli.aiid (see account in
another place) was the lirst murder on the
soil of Mellaril, for it was while this county
was still a part of Sani;amon county. .Vmoiij;
ilie mosl heartless crimes that have disgraced
the county were the fidlowing; Watkins, shot
throiiLili his window while holding his inl'aiil
child in his lap; K'uhi rl Carter, of .Mason t'ilv,
luurderrd in .\tlieiis and sunk in an unused
well and found a iiionlh after; and the murder
of Mrs. diaries Houldcn. hy her hushand. Be-
side these theie have 1 cell a iiiimher of kill-
iii;.;s in the county. Three or four al .\lliciis;
three al Oakfonl. two at Talliila. one at Ciir-
ti- and three or four at I'elersliuri^.

In .March. Is.-i:;, ih,' hodv of a voiing ladv.
Mkss Missouri lliiriis. wa> I'ouiid. in the early
inornin;.;. lying in an iinu.sed street, with the
throat cut and other evidences of a foul and
hellions murder. The liodv had lieeii hauled
there in a hiiggy and dumped out in the street.
l'"v ideliee pointed to one ( 'a I'pi'lller. a giain
dealer and pmmiiieiit citizen, as the murderer.
I'ty a clianue of venue the case came to Menard
eoiinly for trial and on the luoriiing of the
l-.'lh of .March, issl. the jury hroiiglit in a
verdict of not i;uilly. .loe Sutton, living si.x
miles soulli of I'etershurg. on his vvav home
was hailed hy Chai'les lloulden. who inipiired
what the Verdict in the lloidden case was. Ite-
ceiving the answer, he went hack to his liouse.
which stood some fifteen rods from tlii' mad.
This w;is ahoiit sunset. Soon after this, seream-
iiig vvas heard liv neighl>ors at the lloulden
home, and on iheir arrival there they found
Mrs. lloulden l.vin;: with her head hanging over
the doorsill. her throat cut from ear to lar.
lifteeii or twentv knil'e-stahs in her hodv. her

I'Asi'ANH i'i;i:si;m' oi-' .mknakp (oima'

lu'ixl iTuslu'il witli an ax, and iIr- body tcirUjly
bruised by the bootlieek of her nuirdorer. As
tliere was no question as to who coiiuiiitlcd tlic
crime, her son and daughter, aged eleven and
tliirti-en years, liaviug been witnesses of it, a
search was at once l)egun for the murderer.
All that night the search continued, but he was
not Innnd till the I'lillowing morning. Tlie
iinir(l<'i-cil wciiiiaii \\a- Uoulden's third wiTc
am! lif "OS her rimi-lh husband. Their mar-
ried life iiad been a sci'ue of strife and bit-
terness from the first. Houlden claimed to the
very last that hr had no recollection of the
crime and always told the same story about it.
lie said that he remembered about going to the
house after imiuiring about the result of the
Carpenter trial, sitting down at the su]i]ier
table and liegiiming to drink a glass of milk,
but after that all was a blank till he came to
himself, as tlic'\ were hauling him to Peters-
burg on a sled. Only three minutes hefore he
(Iropped to eternity he re])eated this story to his
spiritual adviser, with all the seeming candor
that a man could possess, telling the story just
as lie had narrated it a score of times before.
During the time he was in jail and while he
was awaiting execution he was as milil and
tractable as a child, never showing any ii-rita-
l)ility or viciousness. On the scaffold he was
calm and collected and without a tremor he
took his place on the trap and in a \riy few
seconds he dro])])ed to the end of the rope and
died without a tremor or a struggle, his neck
being broken by the fall. Charles Tloulden
died on the gallows for the murder of his wife,
but the conviction of the writer, after days and
nights of association with him, in the loneliness
of his cell, is that ll'iulih'n was of unsound
mind when he committed the crime and was
of unsound mind at the time of his execution.
He was hanged in the jail in I'etershurg at
l-i:l(i p. m. on :\ray IT,, ISS.").

y\;\i\\ awful crimes have been committed in
Menard county during its history, but we have
not space to relate the particulars here. We
will only nu-ntion a few of the most .serious.

In l.S.")7 Joseph Watkins shot and killed his
cousin, David Watkins. The latter wa.s sit-
ting by the window in his home, holding in
his lap his little girl, some two or three years

of age. .Vbout nini' o'clock at night he was
shot through the window with a shotgun, t!ie
load taking elfecl in his i>aik. He lived a
day or two. While there was no doubt of the
identity of the murderer, he was never pun-
ished. Through some means he was admitted
to bail, forfeiti'il it and ran away, and his se-
curities paid the bill and be never returned to
this part of the country.

On ibc lilli (if Mav. 1S79, Scott Judy shot
Dr. W. 1'. Co\ lui the streets of Petersburg
within a block of the latlcr's home. Two balls
struck liini. one passing through bis lungs,
causing his death in two or three hours. Judy
was tried, but was not punished.

On the -.'litli of October, IS'Jl, Benjamin
Koss, of (ireenview, killed Albert Stone on the
street of (ireenview by shooting two load of
bii-dshot into his body from a shotgun. This
was done about midnight and Stone lived two
days. Ross was lU'vcr indicted for the murder.
On Mar(h llii. l.sM-.'. .lelVerson Lewis killed
Frank Luck, in Tallula. by shooting him with
a ])istol. Lewis was sent to ])rison for a short
term.

.Miiiut ten o'clock at night, on the ISth of
July. 1S94. Oscar S. Hilton killed Oorge
llohimei- at the Le})/; Opera House door, almost
severing his head from his body with a razor.
This was (lone in a fray and Hilton was cleared.

On the -.M of .\pri!, 1900, Elmer Clark shot
Harry L. I>all. on the public highway, with a
re])eating ritie, putting five balls into bis body,
killing him instantly. Clark was tried and
cli'arcil.

In February, 1900, KoIkmI Carter of .Mason
City. Illinois, paid a \isii to the town of
Athens, Mi'uard eiumty, and spent a number of
days in di'inking in company with a crowd of
miners and other rough lellows. About the
last of the month he was missing and search
was begun for him. .Ml that could be learned
was that llu' last seen of him he was i)i com-
|)any with a crowd of fellows in the tindier
simtheast of the town, where they had a keg of
beer, which they wiTe drinking. The disap-
])earance of Carter became a (pieslion in every-
one's UKUith and all were on the lookout. On
the "istb of March, just oiu' month to a day
after Carter was last seen, a gentleman, pass-

PAST.wn i'i;i-;si';\'r ov \ii;\Ai;h ^(l^\•^^■ 115

iiiL: ail iilil aliaiiiliiilrd wi'll a inilr and a hall' liflv vuar.-. Oiii' nl' lluisc roin ictcd. l''raid< K.

iini'iliwi'st of Athens, notii-i'd ihal the rails (iilcrease, got out cd' prison. thr(iii,i:h |iai-dciii

ihat had urvn u>vt\ in covorinj;- it wiit dis- or some otlior way. ami not long after ho was in

[ilaeed. Jlis suspieions heing aroused, he at a railroail aecidenl and had both lug.s cut olV,

onee l)egan to investigate. Snlliee it to say Init recovered, a (i'i|i|ile Tor life. Tlie other.

that the l>od\- of Carter was found sunk in the Thomas Scantlin, is still in prison at Chester,

well, a stone -weighing eight\- ponmis heing hut (lovei'nor Yates has commuted his sentence,

wiled Id his body, his overcoat and other cloth- so that he will bo set free in a few months,

ing being all on him. The culd water hail pre- The people of the eminty have always thought

served the body perfectly, so I hat there was that tlie seiitenee was too severe, as tlie deed

no (picstion as to his identification, l-'diir men. was done in a general row and the pai'ties bad

l,e-he llai\e\. Ii'iehard (larriMin. (leur^e Miuu-e no intention of killing li'akeslraw or. perhaps,

and .lames Dixon, were at once arrested under any one else.

the cliarge of nnirder in tlie lirst degree. It I'n the Itli i<\' .Vpril. r.MC.'. .Inlni W. Hare, a

de\elopcd at the Trial thai they killed him in saloonkec^per id' Oakford. was shot by a pistol

the woods southeast of Athens, as they claimed, in the hands of Harry Colson. of the same

accidentally and put his body in an abandoned place, and instantly killeck Witnesses said

coal shaft near h\. .\ da\' or two after, some there seemed to he little, i f any. pnnoeation for

children placing near the shaft, lighting news- the act. Colson is serving a sentence in prison

|iapers and dro])ping them in tlu' shaft. r;in for the crime.

home in great terror, telling their mothers Crime is not a \ery entertaining theme, iinr

thai they saw by the light of the luirning pa- is it a kind of literal lire to put in the hands

per> a man's hoih Iving at the hottoni of the of the young, hiil in a history of this kind the

pit. The motheis. thinking it to be just a wild bad as well as the good should be told. Siieli

story of the frightened ehildren. said nothing events as those related above are history and

about it for awhile. Imi ^onlellllng was said and will he often sought for in years to come,

a day or two after a search of the place was Many other killings ha\e occurred in the

made, but no body was found, hiit the trial county in the past, but those given above are

ilisclosed that the guilty parlies, hcuring the the most remarkable. Ninety-five per cent of

story of the ehildren. went In ihc shaft at night them may he traced to the intiiience of strong

with a ropi'. drew the liod\' out and lairied it tlriiik. direct ly or indirectly. We are not going

to the old well and dumped it in. The four to ]u-each a sermon, hut .just at this point it

young nu'n were tried and convicted and are seems lilting and proper not only to enter a

now serving a long sentence in Chester i)rison. protest against this aw fid curse, but we can not

Scarcely four months after this awful trag- refrain fniiii denouncing the detestable hahit

edy at Athens, the little town of Oakford came of carrying weapons in this civilized lami in

in with a less awful sensation. On .Inly 28, this age. Some hoys, and some who are men

r.HKi. Matthew Thomas killed (ieorge Strow in years and avordujiois, will jicrsisl in this

with a billet of wood. Thomas escaped punish- detestable haltit. It is sure evidence of a gross

mcnt by some technicality. coward to see a great big hulk of a man with

On the 5th of JIareh there was a dance at a a revolver in his hip pocket or a huge knife in

private house in the town of Athens. Some a belt. .Vnd snmc hoys think it is the lirst stc])

roiigli characters were present and had whiskey to nianliood to get a i)istol and get out and

being freely used, it is not surprising that in shoot it oil and yell like a wild Indian. It is

the course of the evening a row began. Soon a invariably indicative of cowardice and mental

fight opened and a shot or two were tired and weakness. .And this hahit has led to the com-

an innocent party, who had no connection with mission of hundreds of crimes that would never

the troidilc. was shot and killed. His name was have I n committed hut for this ]iractice.

(ieorge^ IJakestraw. Two men were convicted I will relate the lirst murder in this county

of the crime and sent to prison for a term of and close this chapter with it.

lir,

ASl- AMI I'K'KSKXT oK MKN Al.'H ( Dl'X'I'Y

Till' first iiiunliT eoiiiiiiitti'il in the territory
of wiiat is now Menard county — and, in fact, in
Sangamon — was eonunitted in 182G. Tliis was
tliirtoon years liefore Menard was organized.
A man by the name of VanXoy, or, as some
spelled it, VayXoy. had settled on wliat is
now the Louis Campiiell place, two miles nortli
of Athens and not far from where the Deiiuis-
cus schooljiousc now stands. He iiail luiilt a
log cabin, in which ho lived with his wife and
a i)abe, some eight or ten months old. Near
the cabin he had built a small sliDp. in which
he repaired guns and ditl other little jol)S.
On the morning of the 27th of August, IS'-ilJ.
a neighbor, whose name is not remembered.
came early to the shop to have a gunlock re-
paired. Xathaniei VanXoy was in the shop,
but, it seems, had not .yet eaten his breakfast.
\'anXoy invited the neighbor into the house
till he should I'at his breakfast. They started
into the house and when they entcvfil the wife
was in the act of putting corn dough into ;ui
oven (in the bi'arlb. bending over for the pur-
pose, when N'anXoy inguired in an angry tone
if the meal was icady. Slie re]ilied that it
would be ready in a few minutes. Without a
word \'anXoy picked uj) a stick, or had it al-
readv in his hand, and struck her a blow on
the side. Wlu'n she was struck she fell o\er
the cradle, in which the child lay. dropping the
dough on the child in the fall. The neighbor
saw at once that she was dead and said to the
husband: "You have killed her." Me said:
"Xo, she iifleii falls over that way." They
])icked her u|) and laid her on the bed and at
once saw that she was indeed dead. VanXoy
reached u]) to where his rifle hung in the rack
and hurriedly left the house. When he first
took down the gun the neighbor thought that
\'a7i.Xoy was going to shoot him in order to
get rid of the witness whn saw him kill his
wife. So soon as VanXoy had gone the neigh-
bor mounted his horse and started to give the
alarm. The nearest neiglibors lived near In-
dian Point and he rode at full speed to the
Williams home, and ilr. Jacob William.-;, his
sister. Miss Salina Williams, a young lady sonu'
eighteen years of age (she afterward married
Mr. Samuel Moore), mounted thr>ir horses and

roilc with all ha.ste to the scene of the murder.
When they arrived they found the babe lying
in the cradle with its face and clothing cov-
ered with the dough and the mother lying dead
on the bed. Miss Williams cared for the child
and other neighbors came iu and a runner was
sent to Springfield and the sherilf came out,
and llu' next morning X'an.Xoy came in and
g;i\c himself lip. lie stated that he could have
taken one of his horses and left, but .some
strange fascination c'omiielled him to linger
nronnd the pbici' where he committed the
awful crime. A special grand jury was at
once called by Judge Sawyer and a term of the
circuit court was called. The grand jurors
called, from territory now in Menard county,
well' .lames White, li'obert White. John N'.
Mmire. liobert Couover ami .Varoii llnughlon.
.\ bill of indictment was presented and a petit
Jury was called, some of them of Menard coun-
t\. iianieU : rmuling (Jreen. foreman, .lesse
.\rinstnMig ami Levi W. (ionlmi. The jury
was swiiiii in ami the trial was liegim on the
•.".itli III' .\iigu>l. iiiilv two days after the crime
was ciiniinilteil. The atturiiey general of the
stiitc acted as prosecutor and two Spiingfichl
lawyers. Janu's .\dams and .iiuuithan II. I'ugh.
ilefeiiileil the prisiiiier. .\ Verdict of guilty was
remlered mi the .■5(ith and on the same day .sen-
tence was passed on the prisoner and the execu-
tion set for the 2(ith of Xoveml)er, 1S"*(;. The
execution took place at the appointed time in
the hollow just east of the new cajiitol in
Springfield. The execution was public and the
citizens n( the whole country tiu'ned out to
the show. It is said that it was the largist
gathering that, up to that time, had ever met in
central Illinois, it being estimated that at least
five thousand people witnessed the death strug-
gles of the heartless wretch. .Vmong those
present was Miss Williams, aftiiwanl Mi^.
Samuel Moore. She was a lister of Colonel
Williams, who. in his day, was one of the leail-
iiig linaiieiers of Springfield. Just i)efoie his
execution the culprit sent for one Dr. .\ddisoii
I'hilleo. or. as some write it. Fillco. and wanted
to know of him if he thought a man eniibl be
iiroughl to life after being hanged. The
learneil physician opined that if the neck wa.s

I'AST AM' l'i;i;sK.\T OK .MMXAIIH (oINTV in

„ot l)n.k.-ii an.l the sul.jcct lui.l not Ixru luuig- iirclr.l wilh llmi liaii-in- was lu'vur loi-ottou

in- too l..n-. lliat tlu'iv was a possibility that by thosu wiio vvilnesscl it. On tlic si-atrol.l the

a stronfr jialvanic- battery might brini;- the pil- nuinkTcr. who was a most cxcflh'nt siii-vr,

jjrim biuL VanXoy then told tho <loftor that asked permission of the slieritr to sin.ir. Being

i"f he eouhl brinir him baek to this world he granted the privilege, he stood on tlie iilatlorm,

would be willing to remnneral,' him quite lib- or eart. and sang in rull. round tones that old

erally for his trouble, or. if in ease he failed in hymn, eomposed by Dr. Watts, the lirst verse

this benevolent elVort. he would generously "f which is:

donate to him his body for dissection in the Hark from the tombs a doleful sound,

interest of seieiu-e and human advancement. -My fiU's attend the cry:

,, . ■• 1 i .1 i .;,,, i„. Ve living men come view the groun<l.

•\ecu ions were pertormed at that time li,\ <- ,i .^..^i i;

' Wliere vou must sliortiv lie.

plaeiiiir the victim in a eart. fastening one end • , '

' • , 1 • ^1 .[ 1 lie .-aiii;' ibc entire hvmn and then tlie cart

ol a rope to a beam and noosing the otber end , ', •

, . . , , 1 11- ,1 , \^a- drawn I rom under biiu.
r.iound the victim s neck and pulling the cart

from untler him. The doctor advised VanXoy

to lean as far forward as he could at the erit-

i.al moment and thus jn-cserve his neck intact. \V.\i; TIMI'.S IN MIA'AIJD.

if jiossible. lie bdlowed the doctor's kind

advii'c and his lu^ck was not dislocated, but

the sherilV heard something of the arrangement

iietween the two and. fearing some niishaii. al-

loweil tin- body to remain hanging over an hmir.

and as a con.sei|uence the doctor's battery failed

to have the desired etVect and poor VanXoy "s

soul never got back to its teni^meiit of clay, but

Dr. I'hilleo was not to be cheated out of doing

.Menard county was heaibpiarti-rs d.iiring the
Civil war for Missouri refugees. They invari-
abl\- found not (Uily a refuge, but a hearty
welcome among licpuiilicans as well as Demo-
crats. Hundreds, yes. thousands of Missoiiri-
ans. for e\erv reason, were iMinpelled to h'avc
borne, prdperly. family and everything else
and. wiibmit iiioiicy i>v friends, seek a more

. genial climate. I ii thousands of cases men who

lod in one wav or another, so he began right

bad done notbiiii; disjnxal were coin]ielled to

there to dissect the body of ^an^oy. but the ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ _^^ ^^_^l^^ _^^ ^^^^__^ ^^ |,^._^^ |.^^_. ^,^^,._.

citi/ens of Springfield indignantly resented any |.^^_^_.|.^_^ .^.^^^,^.^^^. ^^.^^^ |^^._^^ ,l_^,^.^, . |.,.^, ^^.^^^ ,__

such barbarity and compelled hnn to seek a ^^^^^^^^,^. ^,^.^.^,^. ,^^^^_^. ^^^^^| ^^|, j|_^, ,.^^„_^,_. ^,,^,,|^^ ,,,_,

more se,-lud...l place for his scientific investiga- ^^.^^^ ^^^ |^,^^^.;, |^,^ ,|,.^_,. ,,,,,.^ .,, ,|,^ ,,,.,,^j „,. ^^■^_

tinns than the open common, lint Pr. Philleo's j.^_^^^,_ bushwbackmu and dslied and s.vk a

notoriety did not end here. He removed to ^^,^^^,^. ^^,,^^.^,^, 1^^, ^.,^,,1,, ,^_^,|^,, ^.^^^^^j^^,, j,, ,.,,^,,^ ^,,,,^

(iaicua. lllim.is. and entered the editorial pro- ^,|^^,|^^, ,|^^,^^^ ^^,^^1 ^^.,^^| ., |,^,,.|. ^„ „„,,„ ^j^,,,^.

fession. When the Black Hawk war biok.. (Uit ^^.|.|.^^| ^.^^^^^^ ^^^. ^|^.^ ,..,^,| ,.,,,,,,, ,,, ,.^,|^„,,,| ,,„^

he wnt with th.. army as newspaper corre- ^^^^^ ^^^. ^,^^^^,^^ j ^^^j^^.^ .^,^^ ,,,,,, ,.,,^,. .,,,,| ^ |,^.„

spon.l.mt. Ford, in his history, relates that ,|^^, ,.,..„^,,,-, i,„i„ijr,,,u„. while I relate it just

on the chase of Black Hawk by (ieiieral ll.iirv. .^^ ,^|..^,|,^. .^^ , ^,,^^^_ ,^^^^-^ , |,|,.,|^,. ,|„, „,.,{, .fs

••on the third day out. about noon, al.so. the |„„„,, ji,'.,, ,, ,. .....n- word true, just as related,

scouts ahead came suddenly upon two Indians. ,y^|. ^^^^^ ^^.,.|,,,,. i^.,^ ,^,..,„^ ,,^. i.„„„.i„jj jt^ truth,

and as tiicy were attempting to escajie one of _y young man. not more tiian twenty-five years

them was killed and left dead on the field. Dr. ,,f';,a,.. having a wife ami two little girls.

.\ddison Pliilleo. coming shortly after, scalju'd ,■,,„„,] ,|,.,, i,,. ,|,„^, i.,|,jjr,.ate or see his family

tbi- dead Indian and for a long time afterward sutler. Missouri was then under martial law

e.xiiibiteil the scalji a> an I'videnee of his valor." .,,,,] jmy n,-,,] |,,iind outsirle of his own county

We said above that vast crowds attendid the wa- liable to arrest and impri>onmenl in a mili-

banging of VanXoy. Among these was Miss tary prison, pcrbajis for a long time. He bad

Williams— afterward Mrs. Samuel :\[oore— and to cross the entire stat,. in nrder to get to llli-

nianv thousands of others. One >eeue con- "(us. To g.'l a pass was out of the ,piestion—

lis

I'AsT.wn i'i;i:si:\T oi' .mk.\ai;J) cui .\'rv

it Avas impossilik'. To leave lus laiiiilv there
without auV friend would be heartless aud
cruel. What should he do? He had a neigh-
bor who had always been kinil to liiiu. so he
told jiini the secret of his intended ellort to get
to Illinois. So, raising what little money he
could, he gave half of it to his wife, kept the
other half and started on the perilous trip.
At St. Joseph he waited till the ten o'clock
train was just ready to start, then he rushed up
to the ticket-window in great haste and said:
"Aren't you going to give nie that ticket at
all?" "What ticket?" the agent said. "Why,
that ticket to Quincy," he replied. Hurriedly
the agent gave him the ticket and he as hur-
riedly gave him the e.xaet change, and in a mo-
ment was on the opposite side of the train from
the depot. The night was intensely dark and
in consequence he was completely concealed. A
squad of soldiers had gone through the train,
requiring every passenger to show his ])ass. He
stood on the platl'cirni till the train got under
good headway and then he went into the car,
but at every station of any size a squad of
blue-coats eanie into the cars, going to every
one and requiring each one to show his jiass,
and if he happened to have none ho was hustled
off in short order, and (iod only knows where
he finally brought up. But the subject of our
story, by some strange fortune, was never seen
by a soldier on the entire tri]). Twice the train
was wrecked and they were belated twelve hours
and arrived at the Mississippi river at one
o'clock a. m. The ice had been strong and
teams had been passing over it safely, but it
had become so dangerous that rigs were afraid
to risk it, and ferry-boats could not get through
the ice, so the only way to cross was for several
to club together and hire some one who knew
the ice to pilot them over with a lantern. Hut
when our friend started down to the edge of
the ice to join a club he saw. to his utter dis-
may, that the ubiquitous blue-coat was there
al.«o, to demand the fatal pass. This was de-
spair, indeed. So he backed off into the dark,
to meijitate and ])ray. Yes, pray : for he has
been often heard to say that he never did pray
more di'voully and earnestly than then. He
often said that he thought if ho was doing right
God would take care of him : if not. he had bet-

ter end all his troubles in the bottom of the
ilississip])i river. So he boldly marched out
on the iee. In places the water was more than
two iiuhes deep on the ice; other places he
could hear the water gurgle in open places in
the ice, and these he went around. At last lie
landed on the Illinois shore and dropjied on his
knees and gave devout thanks to God. But it
is a remarkable fact that one of those who were
following a lantern broke through and was
with difficulty saved from iu'ing drowned.

lie wandered around, looking for work that
he felt able to do, but linding nothing he en-
gaged to cut cord-wood. He had not per-
formed one day's hard labor in years, liaving
been engaged in school-teaching. Ho engaged
to cut wood at a dollar and a (puirter ])er cord.
He bought an ax, on iiedit, for three dollars
and engaged board at four dollars and a half
per week. At noon the boss started him into
some old. knotty sugar trees anil he went at
them with a will, thinking all the time of the
wife and l)al)ies so far away. First his hanils
blistered: then the blisters broke: then iiis
head began to ache dreadfully. Before night
be went to the hotel with a raging fever and
in a few hours he was in a wild deliritim.
Tlii-<'e long weeks he lay there, expenses going
on and not a cent coming in, but the Good
Father always provides a way. While he was
sick some friends learned that the stranger had
been teaching a short system of practical arith-
metic, and liy the time he was up they had
made u]) a school that would pay five dollars
per evening. In twelve evenings he had money
enotigh to pay all his bills, send his wife ten
dollars, make a present of ten dollars to a !Mis-
souri refugee there, who was blind, and to
have a little change left. From there he wont
into Afason county, taught night-school there
some, but did not succeed very well, and about
February 1.5th he found himself without a
cent. Wishing to go to ^fi>nnrd county and
not having the dime to pay the ferriage, ho
joined a visiting party with two wagons, Dick
Wilt and George C'ari)enter. who were on a
visit to their kinsman, Creel Stith. But let
me go back a little, as I wish to toll the liad as
well as the good. On Sunday evening. Decem-
ber ".'"ith. ISCil (iiiiiiiv will remember that

As'i" AXit im;i-:si:ni' di' mi-;\.\i;ii ((Unt^'

119

Christ mils frll on Sunday that year), al'trr
walkiiij;- over lliirty miles, lliat day. he ami a
li(iy rroiii Missiiuri lH\uaii to Ivy U> ,ucl iod<;iiit;
lor liic ni,i;hl. Imt tiioy wrrc iinarialily lold
that tlicv wouhl each ha\r to |iay a ijollav and
a hair, an aiiioiini ihry did not lia\r. So Hii'y
li-avrlrd on. Iryiiii,^ to iict i-liuaixT rates. .Mlcr
dark thcv a|i|iroaclu'd a nice iookinjx fanii-
hoiisf. in whirli ihry heard the sound (d' an
ori;an ami a nuinher of voiees, playinu and
sinuinu- Sniiday-sc'hool soiiiis. This, said tln'
hoy. is the place; tiu'se are Christian |ieo)ile.
for the\ ari' sinLiini;- SuiKhiy-sehool songs. So
the\- ealled the man of the houso Old and made
llieii- wants known. Ilr said they eould stay.
"What will yon ehar^e us:-" ihey ini|nired.
•-.V dollar and a half eaeh." was the I'eply. One
of thi'in explained they had oidy a dollar' and
thirtv eenl< lietwcen them, and he rcd'used lo
let them stay. 'I'liey plead that it was nif;ht
ami eold. and tlay had walked over thirty
miles and had had no dinner. N'o. that was
his pl'iee anil he eonid keep them foi' no less.

|-'inall\. ihi- (ddei- man olt'ered hii le ilollar

to allow them to sleep in the hou~e. This he
was ahoul to refuse also, whiai the wife, who

had hren listeninjr at the d ■, interposed and

hciiired him to lei iheni stay. •"Well. I suppose
\-ou can iMime in." he saiil LirulUy. and led tlie

wa\' into the house. .\ nunilier of yonni: 1 pie

were there. sini;iiii;- and playini;. among thcin a
rrddiaiii'd lad\-. who presided at the organ.
.\ri('r pla\ing and singing cpiite a while, the
dining-room doiw was thrown open, revealing
a long taiile loaded with all the luxuries of the
land; the fanuly and guests, all exeejit the
strangeis. were in\iled out. hut they were left
to their own uidnteri'upte<l thoughts. .\fler
suppi'i- and m(U'<' singing the man of the house.
addretising the strangers, saiil I hat ihe\ were
in tlie liahit of having family prayeis. ami if
they so desired they eould remain up with
them, or if they wished to retire Ihey eould do
so. They chose to remain \ip for |)rayers.

Tliey ocenpied a very pooi' hed. hut heing
tiriil and uoi troiihled with an ovei--gorged
stouuu-li. they sle|>t sweetly. li(d'ore gidng tr,
slee)). tlie hoy said to the older man : "Why
did yon not tell the old skinflint that you are
a ]iri'aeher: mavhe he would have given us a

<naek In eat." The othel- leplied lliat he did
noi want llieold noser's gruh. The next morii-
injr the hov arose hetinu'S ami win n the other
eanu' down the stairs he was met hy the host,
who wa- all .-miles, and asked to lead the morn-
ing's devotions, hut this was declined. The de-
votion.s were vei'y liii(d' and all were invited out
to hreakl'ast. The hoy went and did ample
justice to the meal, hut the other lii'iuly nd'used
to go. .\fter the meal the older man tendered
the rnmpli'd dollar hill, which the host made
a show (d' rcd'using. hut the traxcler said a liar-
gaiii is a hargain and. laying it on the slaml-
talde. hid them good nuirning, and the two went
on their way. Our devout host will appear
again in this true story.

By going in the wagon tlii^ tra\eler got across
ihe Sangamon rixi'i- without paying ferriage.
Tlie\ arrived al Siith's after dark and Ihe
sti-aiigcr was going on, hut Witt and Carpenter
insisted thai he must stay: that Slilh wouhl
not take pa\. no niatii'P how much moiu'v lu'
might have. So, linally. hut \eiy reluctantly.
he agreed to stay. Arising early in the moi'ii-
ing he noticed that Ihe clock on the uumtle was
not running, lie asked Mr. Stith if he nught
repair it. Thi- I'eply was that it was (dd and
the jcwclei- hail worked on it lime and time
again, "linl if you think you can help it, pilch
in," So hy the tinu' lireakfast was ealled the
old clock was ticking away on tlie shelf, having
lieen hoileil in ashes, rnhlied up and thoroughly
put in oidei'. (Il ran \\ilhout repairs for
thirty-two yeais aflci' that lixing.i On Sunday
after thi-. l'"eliruai\ liilh, our stranger con-
cluded to attend ihe dedication of a chui'ch.
which was to lake place in thi' ueighhorhood.
The clothes he had on w^ere mere tatters and
rags, hut he determined to go any way. The
congregation was a xcry large one and a vi^ry
liiiely di'essed one. He succeeded in linding
a vci-y ohscure coiner and was ohserved hy
hul M'ry few. .\rici' sei'viec he was iuviled
to dinner with one of the old iirethreii. riding
in the hack of tlu^ spring-wagon, his legs hang-
ing over the hind-L;ale. the ndnislei- who had
]ireaelHMl the dedication sermon, riding in one
of the seats. To his surprise, when dinin'r was
annomieed. Im was invited to tlie talile with
the ic-t. Uv some means, some oiu' had learned

1-^0

PAST AMI I'HHSKX'

(»I

mi:n\i;ii (i»i ni^'

that lio was a prcai-hor, and the iiiiuiiiter in-
sisted on his preaching that evening, but he ex-
cused himself on aceounl of the condition of
Iiis clothes. The man of tlie house offeriMl to
loan jiini a suit. l)ut this lie declined. His
clothes were in jjorfect tatters, hut lie linally
consented to preacli, and in that suit of clothes.
To his dismay a larger crowd was present than
in tlic morning. \Mien he arose in the jiuljiit
to announce tlie liymn many in the audience
dropped their heads for shame, but he went on
and preached the best he could, and at the close
of the service he invited the an.xious. A lai-ge
nunilier came and some were converted. Tiie
peo]ile gatlicnd around liim, insisting that he
sliould coiitiiiue tlie meetings, and twenty-nine
dollars were voluntarily handed to liini by all
classes. Having nothing else to do, he agreed
to continue the meetings. The women gath-
ered in, the next morning, sent him to town
for material, and by the time for service that
night they had him a new and decent suit of
clothes to preach in. The meetings continued
five weeks and resulted in tliirty-six profes-
sions and thirty-two additions to the church.
Before the meetings closed he was employed
to jjreach to that congregation for one year, and
liad money to send to Missoiiii for his family
and met them in Jacksonville the night that
Booth murdered Lincoln. Xow, the sequel to
this, regarding the man who prnyi'd Imt would
not feed the hungry: In .hiiie, following the
events just related, our stranger and the la-
inenli'd Ki-N. Il.iiiliii Wallace were invited to
s|)eak at a Sunday-school ])icnic at Pecan
Grove, in Cass county. A very large concourse
of jieople attended, for Brother Wallace always
drew large crowds. Brother Wallace and the
stranger were sitting in the stand, the stranger
on the lookout. Soon the sound of music was
heard : then a banner came in sight, carried
by none other than the sandy-complexioned host
of the nienioraltle Christinas eve. Just behind
him was the led-headed organist, whose fea-
tures the stranger could not forget. They both
certainly recognized the stranger's features, for
they eyed him furtively all the time. By and
by it came the time for the stranger to speak.
He made a very passable speech to the children :
then at the close he gave them a lesson in prac-

tical L'hristiaii kindness, charity and iienevo-
leiue, and in this he gave an illustration, tell-
ing them that not a thousand years in the past,
nor a thousand miles from where they were
then assembled, two men were traveling and,
unfortiinalely, they wi'i'e out ot' money. He
went on and told the story in all its details,
just as it was. Xo words can describe the looks
of those people during the relation of those lit-
tle events. They glanced at each other, they
grimniaced, they blushed and scowled. And
when the gentleman, the former host, was
called to speak — for he was on the program —
he made a complete failure, although usually
a good speaker. Although it was in the midst
of the war and men's )ja.ssions were at l)urning
heat, yet all parties gave the stranger a warm
welcome and gave to him every assistance in
their ]iower. If he should ever forget their
kindness or cease to love all alike of all parties,
he is an ingrate and should never again ask the
sympathy of any man. We often talk about
the sociability, kindness and iienevolence of the
southern ])eo])le, and it is true they are kind,
but the people of Menard county can not he
sur])assed liy any people in any land. Menard
county will always live, green and fragrant, in
the memory of the Missouri refugees and tlieir
children, for not only Democrats, but Hi'|>ub-
licans as well, vied with each other in the dark
days of their trial, and they will never be for-
gotten for it. That war was a horrid thing,
but it li'aves a green spot in memory when our
minds run back to those dark days and remem-
ber the kindness of those who might even have
iieen our foes. When tlie writer is dead and
gone, write on his tomb: "Befriended by
ilenard." This is the sentiment of a sincerely
''ratel'ul heart.

WAIJ OF IS.M.
Of ccnirse. Menard sent no sohliers to oppose
the British in the war of \S\->. but as this part
of the state began to settle up soon after the
clo.se of that struggle it would be strange if
none of the survivors of these troubles did not
settle hi're, and there were a large number of
them who made this (heir home, but they have
all, long since, gone where they will never more
hear the signal sound of strife. It is but just

I'Asr \M> i'i;i-:si-;nt of mi:\.\i;i) cdrxTV

i-.'i

to ihoii- iin iiiiirv tti inriition thi'iii licTi'. 'rwcii-
Iy-ii(lil yrars ii,<;i) tliu lonii ol' old C'illiliiiii
l!o(lj;cis \vii~ laiil to rest under the leaves and
lldwcrs (if l\()si> Hill eenieterv after he had
rea' lieil the af;e of one hundred and one years.
At this ^reat age, if the war was mentioned
and inquiry was made as to the trials and suf-
ferings of the war, the old iiiaitial lire wouhl
come haek to his t'vv and hi> li-amc vonid
straighten uji and for a few nioim'nts he was
almost the soldier again. l>ut whin the theme
was eiuinged he lapsed into the a|iatliy and
listlessness of age again. Wlien he died he was
hurled with the military honors that uc^ie iiis.
'rarlctnii i.loyd was also a soldier in this war.
lie was horn somewhere ahout the year ITS!
and came to Illinois and settled on Rock creek
in 1S".'<I, among the lirst settlers who eaiiie. .\
full aeeoiint is gi\en of him in another place.
He died in 1S8."). William Instill was a soldier
in the war of ISl-.' and somr linn' after its
close he came to Illinois and settled down
some five miles east of I'etershurg. where he
livrd and ilinl. His lirst wife was a sister of
Colonel .lohn Williams, (uie of the wealthy men
of .Menard county. ('a|)tains William ,1. and
Samuel and Lii'Utriiant Isaac l']still were his
.sons: one son. Joseph, lives in IVtershurg; and
OIK' daughter. Mrs. Luther Jennison. is still
living in the vicinity of Greenview. "Uncle
Hilly." as he was ealle(l. was an earnest Chris-
tian, an elder in the Cuiuherland Preshyterian
church and loved hy all who knew him. H(>
lived to he well up toward ninety years of age
and (piietly and peacefully passed away at the
home where he had lived so long. Other
soldiers of this war lived and died in this
county, hut. unfortunately, we have not the
means of knowing the facts to give in this
connection. It is a great mistake for people
to fail to put in permanent form the record of
the lives and history of its leading citizens.
We give one more name: Lewis ^IcKay was
horn ahout the year lT9o or ITItii and came
to Illinois a great many years ago. He lived
on Kock creek in the same neighborhood with
'I'arleton Lloyd, some seven miles .south of
I'l'lcr.shnrg. He enlisted as a soldier when a
mere hoy to serve in the second war with Kn-
::^:iMi! lie served fill the close of the war and

afterward settled in Illinois. He lived well up
in the eighties, was well preserved, and after
he had jjassed the four-score mark was straight
as an Inilian, his faculties well preserved, ex-
cept some deficiency in hearing, and was an nn-
i-omproniising Democrat to the last. Unfor-
tunately, we have not a connected history of
his experience as a soldier. lie died at the
home (if his daitghter. .Mrs. Golden, in Peters-
hurg. June G, 1884.

There is hut one soldier of the war of 1S12
still lixing in the United States an<l that is
Hiram Kronl<. of .\ew ^'ork, now one hundred
anil four ycai's old. How we should revere the
memory of those men who. through privation
and suffering, fought the hattles of the coun-
li'v and made ])ossihle the liherties and other
hlessings that we enjoy. Hut one soldier of the
Mexican war still lives in this county. A short
tinu> hack thei'c were several of these veterans
here, liut now the only one left is George W.
Denton, of (Jreenview. One soldier of the
Revolutionary war. old Mr. Xance. lies buried
in the hurying-gnnind at Farmers Point.
■■'I'hey slee]i their last sleep, they have fought

their last battle.
They can not he waked hy the loud cannon's

roar."

MK.XK AN WAR.

We ha\e not space to give the entire record
of all the wars in which the citizens of Menard
county ha\e taken a i>art, for there are .sev-
eral of them. .Miraham Lincoln was eaiitain
of a company whieh was raised in this section
of country for service in the HIack Hawk war.
This company, which contaiiu'd a number of
men fi-om the territory of what is now Me-
nard county, went to the theater of war, hut
was never in an engagement. All of these
nu'ii are dead and gone, long ago. Had we
the s]iace. we wiudd be glad to give a full
roster of their names.

When the war with Mexico opened, congress
passed an act authorizing the president to ac-
cept the services of fifty tluuisand nu'u aiid ap-
propriated tcTi million dollars to prosecute the
war. At the beginning of this war we were
engaged in a dispute with Hnglaiul ahout the
houndarv of Oregon, our Tnofto beinfr '■•">1. 1"

123

AST AM) I'L'ESENT OF ilKXAKD COUNTY

or liglit," but iiii \vi' had oiu' war on mir iiamls,
ami (lid not thou wisli to irct iiitu lroul)lf with
Great Britain, the boundary was agreed to at
the 40th parallul. north latitude. When the
call was nuule i'or volunteers, the i'ei|uisit ion on
Illinois was I'or ■"three reginients of infainry
or riflemen." 'I'Ik' eall <<( (lovernor Ford was
issued on the 'i'lih ot .Ma\. I'oi- thi' oi'ganiza-
tion of the three rei;iments. .\t onee the wiioie
state was eelioing with the notes ol' martial
musie and the whole land was ablaze with wild
military enthusiasm. 'I'lic very lirst man to
enroll as ;i \dlunteer was the well known ,1. .1.
Jlardiii. a brave soldier — as he afterward
proviMJ. Ill ii'ii days thirtv-tive I'ull eom])anies
were raised and liy the middle of June there
were forty eomjianies raised, in exeess of (he
call. After these three regiinelits had rendez-
voused in Alton and had been sworn in, iioo.
E. D. Baker, member of eongress from the
Sangamon district, was authorized iiy the sec-
retarv of war to raise another regiment in
Illinois. 'I'liis i-eginient was }iromi)tly aiul
easily raised and was composed of two com-
panies from Sangamon ami oiii.' company from
each of the following counties: Macon, Mc-
Lean, DeWitt, Logan, Tazewell, Edgar. Perry
and "Little Menard." Hon. Thomas L. Harris
was tacitly recognized as captain of this cr)m-
pany, though no election was held till some
time later. Tiie regiment was taken to Jef-
ferson Barracks, twelve miles below St. Lonis,
and there an election of regimental oflficers was
held. E. T). Baker was elected colonel, former
Lieutenant Governor of Illinois John Moore,
of ^IcT^ean. was chosen lieutenant-coliuiei. and
Thomas L. liarri-. of Petersburg, major. The
Menard county company had eighty-two men,
^lajor Harris proinot<'d making the eighty-
third. .\. 1). Wright was elected captain: Wil-
liam C. Clary, first lieutenant; Shelton John-
son, second, and Rol)ert Scott, third lieutenant.
All this comiiany, except William Phillips, who
returned home on furlough, and did not return,
and Elias Hohinier, who, at New Orleans re-
ceived permission to return home, tln' remain-
ing eighty-one men hoarded the brig, Mary
Jones, and were landed at the moutli of the
Bio Grande, in Texas. From here the com-
pany marched uj) the Bio Grande toward Ca-

margu. Tiiis was a terrible march, the climate
and food disagreeing with the men so that
diath wrought awful havoc among them. Every
day's march was marked by a grave. On that
short march twenty-one men died and seven
were sent home, being so diseased as to be un-
lit for seixiee. From Camargo they marclu'd
by bind to Taiiipico. a distance of five inindred
miles. On this march seven more men died,
making thirty-seven from the ranks, l)V death
and disease. F'rom Taminco the command
sailed to \'eia Cruz by the steamship Alabama.
This company was in the battle of \'cra Cruz
and dill not lose a man. From there they
marched to Cerro Gordo, and entered the bat-
tle with forty-two men, and in the battle they
had three men killed and three severely woinid-
ed. The killed were George Yocum, Al Horn-
back and Lieutenant Johnson. Bobert Scott,
dohn Bitchey atid Conu'lius Bourke were .se-
vert'ly wounded. Mr. Poiirke lost his left leg,
it i)eing shot oil near his body, lie recovered,
however, and lived in Petersburg for many
years, filling many places of honor and trust,
and die(l at an advanced age, honored ami re-
specteil by all. The command was discharged
soon after the battle of Cerro Gordo, tiieir time
having expired, and they reached home in the
fall of 1S4T. We can learn of but one of
this com]iany who is still living; tluit is George
W. Oenton. a resident of Greenview. in this
countv.

WAi; of TiiK i;i;i;i;!.i.i(i\.

We are not going to write a history of the
{'i\il wai-. for if we liad the time, space and
material we would not do so, because there
is now much more war literature in the eoun-
iry than is read. l>ul a History of Menar<l
('(umtv which did not contain its war record
woidd not l)e a history of the county. Xoth-
ing will be of more interest in the future tlian
a leeord of tliose four long, dark years. U is
a duty that we owe to the soldiers who took
pari in this bloody struggle, to preserve the
leading facts. Especially do we owe it to the
long list of the dead, who laid down their lives
for their lountrv's lionor: we owe it to the

I'Asr AMI I'UESENT OF MEXAK'D COUNTY T.':!

iniiiiiird anil iTipjjlril liviiiL;'. wlio were lacovat- ll"' li,i;lit. l''rniii Dnnclson ilu v iiinrfliod to

I'll and torn liy slml and slii'll ; and last. l)iu l'"'ii't lli'iii'v and wmi li\ iraii^poit up ihu

noi Irast. \vc ii\M' ii III ihi' vvidnws ami (irphaiis 'rcinu'ssee i-ivcr to I'ittsburj;- l.andinj;'. I'ji lo

of (1111- s(ddic'i-s wild jell home with all its i-li- tlii> liiiic tlir i'CL;iMU'iit had ncviT "■sniclt umi-

dcai'incnts. and whose iioilirs tVstcri'd in Ihc powdci'."" Iml a liaplisin of lire in the lull

-1111. and whnsc asliPs in>\\ laltrn llir soil (it nuaniiii;- (d' that phrasi'. awaitcil tlicin. llcrr.

ilii.' ■"siinnv South." Mciiaid county had ln'oi "H tln' 'itli and ^lli nt April, ilii- ciniiinand

1 >oniocratii- in politics I'm- man;, years, and in lost, in killed and wdiinded. rully ime-halt of

the presidential face lietwecai l.inenln and those engaged. This is no nieri' suvniise, hut

HoULilas. Ju>i ai the he;iinnin,ii' ot the \va;'. not- is taken from the adjutant general's report,

withstaniliiii: tlu' liiuh esteem in which Mr. On the evening the Tth tliat grand charge was

l.imiiln was held hy all tln' penple. Mr. Dmig- made which turned the tide of battle in favor

las received a large majority of the votes in oJ" Hie I'nion forces. 'I'his splendid charge was

the county. A hirge majority of the people ied hy the Fourteentli. with Colonel Hall at

ojiposed the Ixepiihlican parl\' and its |ioIiev, ''i'' ln'ad nf Ihecdiiimn. (ieneral \'eatc!i. who

yet wiien grim-visaged war east its shadow over commanded the lirigade to which the foiir-

tlie land and the Hag was fired on at I'ort leenlh was attached, uses the l'ollowiii,u lan-

Sumter. and the hlooil of .\iiierican citizens gnage: "Colonel Hall, of the Fourteenth llli-

had l)een actually spilled, tin- spirit of ]iatri- iK'is, led with his rei;iinent that gallant charge

otism ran high and the |)ulse of all iiegan to "" Monday cNcning, which drove the enemy he-

lii'at full and ipnck; ami when the (picstiiui id' y'<^^'\ our lines and closed the struggle of that

union and disunion became the issue then the memoi-aiile day." if any one has an\- doubts

Democrats and Tiepnblieans forgot their old concerning the storm id' lead and iron that

differences and ipiarrels. and heart to heart this coinmand passed thi-oiioh on that occa>ion.

and shoulder lo shoulder, they nsoKed to sac- let him go to Memorial Hall, in S])ringtlel(l.

rilice all for the I'nion. Hut we will not take and count the foi'ty-two raiiiicd liiillet holes

yinir time to tell all of the >toi-\. Illinois made in the i-egiinental colors in that oni'

raised six regiments for the Mexican war: for hallle. and he will he con\inced. This regi-

the wa?- of the Rebellion she raised more than ment took an acti\e and important part in

one hiindi'eil and twenty. So the first regi- the battles of Corinth. Mem|)his and Bolivar,

ment raised lor the Civil war was numbered It was also in the siege of Vicksburi;- till its

the seventh. 'J'his regiment was nnisteri'd in- fall on the Itli of July. ISC I. Tn the latter

to service on the 2ri{h of April. ISCl. The part of ISi;:; the l-'oiii-tecnlb and l-'ifteeiith

first regiment thai had Menard count) men l■eginlent^ were i-onsolidated into the "Four-

in it was the Fourteenth. Company E. of this teenlh and Fifteenth Illinois N'eteran Brigade."

regiment, being raised in this counlv. This In 1S()4. while Sherman was on his march,

regiment was called into the slate .•service for General Hood made his deuionsli'ation against

tliiity days, under the '"J'en liegiment Hill." Sherman"s rear, in the month (d' October, and

It rendezvinised in .lacksonville and was inns- a large niimher of this brigade was killed,

tered into the sei'\ ice lor thirty days on the and by far the gi'ealer part of the I'emainder

4tli of May, ISGl. On the -J-Mli of the same "'('re cajitured and sent lo Southern prisons,

month it was mustered into the' service of the Those who esca])ed in this disaster won' mount-

I niled States for three years by Captain ed and served as scouts during the remaindei-

I'ilcher, U. S. A. In July. ISfil, it was or- of the march to the .sea. They wrvr the first

dered to Missotiri. and its first service was the to drive the Confederate ])icket< into Savan-

ca]itnreanil parole of a rebel force under .lames nab. (ieorgia. In the spring of ISC') the liat-

S. (ireene, former Cnited States .senatoi- from talion organized, was discontinued, and at

^lissouri. This regiment was with Fremont (bildsboro, Xorth Carolina, the two I'egiments

in his campaign to Springfield, Missouri, were reformed, being filled up liy recruits, and

They arrived ;it Fort Donelson the day after Colonel Hall a-ain took command of the old

124

PAST wn

;si;ni- of mi;\aimi coi xtv

Fuiirloentli. 'I'lic rcgiiiR'iit wms imistori'd out
of service ill l-'mt Leavenworth. Kiuisns, on the
Kitli of Sei)teiiilu'r, 18().">. mid reaehetl Sprinj;-
iield, Illinois, on the 2d. The afjgreo:;ite of
men belonfiin'j t<i the n-iriiiieiit. (inst and last.
was one thousand nint' iiiuidred and eijjhty,
and the nuniher niiisttrcd out at Fort Leaven-
worth was four hundred and cLdity. It was in
stTviee four years and fuui' niontlis. and durini:
this time it marched four thousaiul four hun-
dred and nin(>ty miles, traveled by rail two thou-
sand three Ininilrcd and thirty miles, hy sti'iiiii-
lior.t and transport four thous-iud four hiiu-
drcd and ninety tulles, makiiii;- in all elc\,u
thousand six huiiilri'd and seventy miles. Its
ofli.ers in their order were: Colonels John
M. I'almer anil Cyrus Hall : lieutenant colonels.
.\iuory K. .Icihn-oii and William Caui: majors.
Jonathan .Morris and John 1-". .\olte. Com-
panv E Avas raised in Menard county, eighty
iiieu of the county joiniui; it. The first cap-
tain was .\inory K. Johnson, followed liy Fred-
eric Mead, of I'etershura. and he by Henry ^f.
I'edan. of Shelhyville. The lirst lieutenants,
in their order, wiur: Jacob ^^. ]->arly. of Pe-
tersl)urg: Ethan Tf. Xorton. also of Pctersburj.''.
and .\lonzo J. (iilles|)ie. of Wnoniington. Illi-
nois; second lieutenants. H. If. Xorton and .\.
J. Gilles])ie. Of this company. .John Tj. Kin-
man, of Petersbni-fr, was killed in action, at
Shiloh. .\pril (i, 1S()2. Xone of this comjiany
deserted and the followinir were discharired on
account of disability: John Murpliv. James
Wilhite, Joseph Todd and Edwin Worth. .Ml
of these statements are from the adjutant f;en-
eraPs report, and are therefore absolutely cor-
rect. One company — Company .\ — of the
Fourteentli and Fifteenth Briijade, or properly
Iiatallion. was also composed of ^lenard coun-
ty men. but in the eitrhty men of Comjiany E,
of the Fourteenth, and the twcnty-fonr of Com-
pany .\. of the Battalion, no man is counted
twice. The liistory of the Battalion is sketclied
in that of the Fourteenth, hence it is unnec-
essary to repeat it hen. Tlicse m(>n ail saw
hard service and were true and tried .soldiers.
This brinj.'s us to the history of the Tweniy-
eifrhth Infantry. This refriment was orfranized
by Lieutenant Colonel Louis H. Waters, at
Camii Biitli-r. in .\it<.'ust. ISCl. On tlie last

day of January. lS(i2. it was taken to Paducali,
Kentucky, and was there assiofncd to Brijiadier
(Jeneral Lew Wallace's Division, in Colonel M.
L. Smith's Hri,<:ade. On April (i. 18G2. they
were in the battle of Pittsl)nr<r Landinjr. Be-
fore eight o'clock in the morning they were
le<l into that ))art of the battlefield known as
the "vPcach Orchard." and the enemy, with
the design of turning the liiiou Hank, ])Oured
a most galling fire upon that |)art of the field.
Stubbornly and doggedly these Illinoisans held
their ))osition, from eight o'clock in the morn-
ing till after three in thi' afternoon, nor did
they then retire till orders came directlv from
Brigadier (ieiicral S. .\. llurlhut to do so.
On ^fonday. the 7th. they were holly engaged
nil day. till victory closed the engagement late
in the evening. In all this long and hotly
contested battle of two days, this regiment
never wavered, nor were its lines ever broken
or driven hack. During these two days the
regimenl lost two hundred and thirty nine men.
in killed and wounded. In the same year, in
May. they were actively engaged in the siege
of Corinth, and from there marched to Mem-
phis. In the early part of October the regi-
ment was in the battle of ILitehie river, or
Mateniora. where it lost ninety-seven men in
killed and wounded and missing. They were
in the siege of Vick.sburg, from the lltli of June
till the surrender, on the 4th of July. During
the siege a detachment of about eight hundred
men from the I-'orty-lirst. Fifty-third and
Twenty-eighth Illinois and the Third Iowa In-
fantry was ordered to charge across an ojien
field, six hundred yards wide, and carry a line
of the I'nemy's works, from which twelve dark-
mouthed cannon frowned, and behind wliich
lay two thousand men eager for the fray. The
iuigle sounded tile advance: not a man fal-
t(fed. not a cheek blanched. b\it on. right on
"into the jaws of deatli rode'" the eight hun-
dred. As they came they were met liy a ])iti-
less storm of riHe and luinie-balls, while the
twelve cannon belched a constant storm of fire,
lead and inm, and when they reached the
works their whole line was swept from every
side, so that to |iersist was annihilation. Tlicy
retreated to their line, leaving iiiori' tlion linlf
llirlr iiiniiliir lU'iiil . or iroiiiitli'il . on ilir field.

I'A.sr AMI im;i;si;.\t of miinakh coiN'rv i-j.5

< H' ilic dill- liuiiilrril ;iii(l tui'iii\ -ciiihl men of years ;ii;i). His I'Miiiilx' still li\('s liri'c: Ivl.

till' 'I'wi'nty-i'ijiiith lluit \Mi-r in the chavyL", Goldoii. of the iiriii df W'atkiiis iv (Inlilcii. is

seveiity-tlii'iM' Wire killnl m- woiuitlrd aiul six- his smi. Of llicsc twcKc irini rrnni l\lc'iiaril

tc'cii wcri' taki'ii |ii'isnni'i'- ; i-iulity-iiiiu' Irli'l cnuiity iKit mn' was killnl ay wiumilcil aii'!

Iji'liind. t(i tliirty-niiir wlin ii'turncil. In \si:i iimiu' iIcsciIimI. Tlir next n,i;iniriit roiiiainini;

this rcL;iinc'iii i-i'-ciilisti d. as veterans, and al'tci-- ineii IViini this county was the Fil'tv-lirst llli-

ward was in thr eiiiiaiicmcnts at Sjiaidsh Foit imis Inlaiiti'v. As hut IVw (if nui' mm wci'c

and .Moliilc. I )urini; thr war this rcgiuirnt had in this rcLiiniciit. \\r aivc lull a \cr\ hrirf

nine- iiniicrs killed, nini'teeii wmiiided aiul two aeenimt nf it. 'i'his rei;iiuent was (iriianizid

dieil (if disease: privates, killed, lil'ty-two: died at ('ani|i jldimlas. ('hieai;ii. Illinnis. hv Cohiiiel

<il' wounds, thirty-l'our : wiumdeil. twn Inindred (iilheri W . ( 'iininiiiiL;; lui tic ".Mth ol' Dei-eiu-

aiid ~ixty-li\e; inissini;. seventeen; killeil hy her. ISill. Its hrst service was at Ishiiiil No.

acciileiit. Ii\e: dii'd oT disease, one hundred and H'. wliei-e. (Ui the Stii of April. ISii".', it I'orei d

thirty-nine. Of this retliinent. F. K and (' the siii-render of (Icneral Macall. with four

wei'e all. oi- ill part, from .Menard county. thoii^aiul men. Afterward it was in the liattle

Conipany F contained, in all, lUie hundi'ed and of i'"arniineton, and the .siege of C'oiMnth. .\t

sexcii men from this county. The oilieers were : Mission Hidge, this re<;iincnt lost one-lifth of

Captains. William .1. Fstill and 'i'homas Swear- its men that went into act'on. 'i'his n uiineii!

eiigin. hoth of I'etershurg : lirst lii'iilenants, took pait in tlu' halt ies (d' Keiicsaw Moiinlain,

Isaac B. Estill. Thomas Sweaieiigin and John .\tlaiita. l'"ranklin. 'reniiessce. and othci' less

II. Fwing. all of I'ctersiuirg ; second lieuleii- important ciii^aycincnts. it was niuslered out

ants, 'I'homas Sweareiiiiin and .lolui II. lowing. Septemlier •.'.'i. isi;."i. In company I-', of i! i>

There were tlii'ee of this conipany who deserted. reu'iment. there wircele\cn men fnuii Menard

Tliei'c were thirty-nine men from Menard county. Of these none were oilieers and noiii'

county, in ('oiiipaii\ K. The oilieers of Com- were killed nv wdiiiided. hut two id' the elovou

]iany K were: Captains. William \i. Koherts descried. The Se\cnl y-lirsi IJcLiiinent was cn-

and .\lherl .1. Moses, from elsewhere: lii-st lieu- listed for three months" M'r\ ice onl\. Com-

leiiants. .lolin llrew.saiijih. l'"red (ierternicht, I'i'n.v (I. of tins reuiinenl. was partiall\- raised

Alhert .1. .Moses. John B. \ewl(Ui and Dennis in this county. ihii'ty-.scM'ii i>( the men iieing

Pride, the last two from Meiianl ; siHuiid lieu- from Inn'. Of the officers, onl\ one was froin

teiiani-. John I!. Newton, frcuii Menard, aiul here and that was l''irsi Lieutenant James ('.

A. J. .Moses. Coinpany C. of the Twint\- Tice. (d' I'ctershurg. Of these none were killed

eiglitli. had l'orty-si.\ ^fenard loiinty men in it. oj- wiuindcd and oidy one died of disease — this

Xone of the cominissi(uicd oilieers (d' this com- was William II. (u-aliam. from the castci-n part

jiaiiy were fnuii Menard. One man of this of the cmiiily. We come now to the ScmmiIx-

companw frcuu ^lenard. was killed in action: third Infantry, and we can iioi. iikuc hriellv

this was Deerwester. or pointedly give an <iiitline of the work of

We come now to the Thirty-eighth regiinnnt this regiment than hy ipioting the report of

of Illinois Infanti'y N'olunli'cis. The history l.iciiii-nant Colonel .lames I. I )aviilson. as made

of this regijiK'ut is one of constant hard work to .Vdjntant (ii'iieral llayne. This repiut was

aiifl hjoody lighting. Only one company of dated at .Spriiiglield. Illinois. March Ilh 1S(m.

this regiment had i'e])resentatives from Menard '"Having no reconl (d' ihc regiment with me a

county, and that was Ciuupauy (J. and ihiic history would lie impossihle. The regiment

were only twelve of them. .Mirani (iolden was was organized at Camp Butler, state of Illi-

a ineinher of that comiiany and worked up from nois. in .August. ISC'.', and immediately he-

the ranks to (he position of lieutenant, and came part of (haieral linelFs arm\ : fought

then was chos<'n captain, lie livt'd a niniiher nolily at I'erryville, linished under Oeneral

of years in retersluirg. engaged in the groc'cry Thomas at Xashvilie. The Seventy-third llli-

liiisincss. TTe was a (piiet. unassuming man. nois N'olunicci- Infantry was in cverv liattlr

with a host of friends. TTe died here several f<inirlit h\ the Arnn of tlie Ciimherlatxl from

126

I'AST A.\i» i'i;i:si:.\ T of mkxai.'d county

October, 18G2. until tlif rout of tioueral
Hood's army at Xashvillc, and the windinjr uj)
of tlie whok' iiiattcr. Tlie only report that 1
tan make. General, is that our ileail are found
at rerryville, ^lurfreeshoro, Ohickanuuiga.-
Mission Kidge, away in East Tennessee, and
then in the succession of battles from Chatta-
nooga to the fall of Atlanta. And when Slier-
iiuia ]iushed down south, the Seventy-third re-
uuiined witli (Jeneral Thomas. It formed a
l)art of Ojiedyke's Brigade, at Franklin, which
saved the day and gave liini liis star, and lost
its last man killed in driving flood's army
from Xashviile. It has, more than once, been
complimented iiy its general. It lost heavily
in Murfrcesboro. Cbickamauga, ^lission Kidge
and Franklin. Il bad two majors and two
adjutants killeil. ami m-irly every ollicer of
the regiment wounded, at some time, several of
them several times, but as to the numlier
of killed and wouihUmI, 1 know not. We left
the state one of tiie largest and returned one
of the smallest regiments. Her oificors and
men, especially her men. have never been sur-
passed for bravery, endurance, and devotion
to the country. I believe that nearly two-
thirds of the organization wasted away, either
by disease, death or battle during the three
years' service." Such is the simple, unosten-
tatious record of this devoted regiment. In
Company F. of this regiment, were thirty of
the citizens of llenard county. f)f the olTicers
of this company none were Iidiii this county,
except the first captain. George Montgomery.
and he .served only till Ibe l!)tli of l)eceml)er,
1S62, when he resigned and left the command.
Of tliese three were killed in action, eight died
of disease; four were severely wounded, and
from this we see that, of this little l)and that
went out from here, to fight the battles of
their country, more than one-third of the num-
ber were left to sleep amid the flowers of the
soutidand, undisturbed l)y the roar of battle
or the clasli of arms, while half the number
were among the dead and wounded, wlien the
final account of the regiment was uiadr up.
Tiieir comradis in arms "carved not a line
and raised nf)t a stone. l)\it left them alone in
their glory."' From the Seventy-third to the
ICightv-dfth. there are to be found no rcpre-

srntatives from "Little Menard," save now and
then the single name of some one who enlisted
among strangers. The writer sj)ent days and
weeks in the search for such names, in order
that the record might be correct, a labor for
which he may not even he thaid<od. But com-
pany F, of the Eighty-fifth Iiegiment, was
largely made up from here, it having no less
than seventy-five names on its roll of men from
this county. This regiment was organized by
Colonel Kol)ert S. iloore, at Peoria, on the
2Sth day of August, 1862. The cori)s to
whicli it was assigned was commanded by Mc-
Cook. and tlic divisicm by (ieiierai I'liil Sheri-
dan. Its first actual experience of war was on
October 1. l.S()2. when it took part in the liattlc
of Champion Ilill. at Perryville, Kentucky.
.Vfter long and bard service it was mustered
out June 5, 1865, at Wa.shington, D. C. Com-
pany E, of the iMghty-filtii regiment, was
iargelv made u|i of men from this county; its
company officers were all from Petersliurg. Of
the seventy-five men in this company fnmi this
county, just one-third were dead or wounded
before the time of service expired. No less
than ten of this company deserted. Pleasant
S. Scott, who was at first cajitain of this com-
pany was promoted to the position of niajor,
served out his time and returned to Petersburg,
where he spent the remainder of his life, dying
in 1903 or lilO-J. We come now to the One
Hundred and Sixth regiment, which was or-
ganized on the l.")tli of .\ugust, ISii-.'. in l.in-
ciilii. Logan county. Illinois, by Colonel Kobert
B. Latham. It was mustered into service on
the isth of SepttMuber, of the same year.
While this regiment was very useful and did
a great deal of very important service, yet it
saw but little, if any, of the real tragedy of
war. Its service was almost entirely confined
to the west, it being west of the Mississippi
rixcr nearly all the time it served. The only
regimental officer from this county was ],ieu-
tenant Colonel John M. Hurt, of Athens, who
.lied at I'ine Bluff, Arkansas, on the istb of
Xovcniber, 1S64. Company K, of this regi-
ment, was made up in this county and con-
sisted of one hunilred and two men. The first
ca])tain of this company was Alonzo E. Cur-
rier, of Athens. He nsigned June l.i. 1^6."?,

I'AST AMI i'i;i':si-;N'r oi- mi:nai;ii ((UMA i27

Mini was sucfivili'd l)V (livr^c Collier, uT IVtur.-- May. isc:;. ihcy wrvv cnpiiird in llu- iialtli.' ot
liiirjr. But only eleven days after his appoint- .lacksdn. M is>issi|i|ii : i-caclicd the rear of Vieks-
niriil ('aplain Cnllicr dii'd id' disiasf and \va> liui-ti" llic ISili and cniiajicil in llie sic,i;('. On
>U(.-eeedi'd liy Lieutriiaiil .lojin A. Hurt. a( llic lili nl' .Viimist. Ciilnncl James W. diidy
Athens. On the "■iStli <<[' .Mareli. IS(;.'i. ('a|ilaiii I'esi^ned. ju-i ene nidnili aflei- the -iiiTeiidiT
II lilt was honorahly disehari;ed. in lie promoted nf \ieUsl)ur<r and ei{,diteeii days hel'ore he had
iiiajm-. Lieutenant Sanniel II. Illane then lie- ser\ed a year. He was suec-eeded l)y Lienten-
<-anie ea|itain and >ei\ed In the elnse 111' the ant Cnhinel .liihn l'". Kino-. Samuel N. Sliiiup
war. ('a|itain Blanc eiitere<l the profession aeted as enldnel alter Ma\ II. isti.'i. 'The refiri-
dl' tile law after he returned rrem the war. nieiit was in the en,L;aL;enieiits at \\'\att. Mis-
settled ill I'etershui-f; and enjoyed a line ]irae- sissippi. ( 1 untnw ii. 'I'liiieln and llarrisnnx ille.
tiee dnrini"- his life. He died in I !tii I. respected It also manlied after (ieneral I'riee frnm the
liv all. His family still reside in that place. .\rkansas linrder to Kansas Citv anil haek to
Throu<rh a sino;ular ])rovidence. or fatality, as St. Lonis. On the .'Id nf .\iii;nst. ISt;."). ihey
senile iif till' members of this reiiimeni put it, wrvr muslereil mil. Ciuiipany (' nf tlii- reui-
tlu'V were never permitted to show their ]iriiw- ineiit. tliiuiLili imt eredited in this enuiiiy. had
ess on the ensanguineil lield. hut we lia\e no thirty men fnnn Menard m its rank and lile.
douiit that the miitixes priiiiiptiiii;' them to en- Out of the lliirty I'nur were killed in liattle:
list were just as juire and just as patrinlic as twn died nf wnuiids: three were sexereiy woiind-
tho.sp of anv other eommand in the service, ed. twn nf whom died; two died in prison:
And we lia\e im dnulit that if the nppnrtnnity six deserted, and thirteen died <>( disease,
had been jjiven them that they would have won Comjiany !•" mvislered lifty-si.x nu'n finiii Mi'-
as many laurels as any who f(ni<.dit under the nard county. Captain Ahsalom Miller, nf Me-
stars and strijies. As said hefnre ii was no nard; first Lieutenant Willett 1>. Tayhu'. of
fault of theirs that they did imf li^iit, for both Cass: and Second Lieulenaid .losepli T. Work-
nlhcers and men enlisted I'nr the pur])ose of man. of Menard, wt're the company ollieei's.
fijjhtinir. Of the reiiimeiils naiiiid there is not 'Twn nf this cmiipany were kiUed in ailinii;
line ii\' which an lllinoi.san need be ashann'd. threr wcm >e\erely wmindcd. two of whom
but there were siime that had better oppor- died; twn died in prisnn : twelve died of dis-
tuiiilies til write deeds of dariiii:'. in crimson ease: and twn deserted. Cniiipany K. >>( the
letters, than others. Amonfr the Illinois rogi- One Hundred and Lnnrlceiilb was also raised
nients which will live in the memory of men in this cniintv. ninety-two nf her citizens be-
we may name the nallant fine lliindred and iny eiirnlled in it. The cnmpanv nllieers were,
Fnurteeiith. This rejiiinciil was made up i^( all Imt nne. from this eonnty. They were:
six cnmpaiues from Sanjiamon eonnty, IS. C, Captains. Samuel Instill and Kobert lloi-nback;
v.. (1. II and 1: twn from Cass. .\ and D: lirst lieiitenaid.s. Lneian Tcrhune and Lzra
and twn frniii Menard. F and K. The rei^i- Fish: second lieutenant. Henry C. liot;-,m'. Of
iiient was made up in the months nf July and the nu'ii. Jnsepli Heiitnii was killed in aetinii;
.\u,:iust. ISli-;!. and was mustered into service James Morris and Jnlin .M. Hart died nf
on the jStb nf Seplcmber IVillowini;'. It was wniiuds: Jesse Knoles lost a Icir at the knee,
at mice sent tn Memphis, Tennessee, where it but recovered: fmir were taken |irisnners — Wil-
did picket duty until the Vilih of Xovember. Ham J. .\llen. Iliiir\ Leekmaii. I'Aaii McLean
when it started on the Tallahatchie campaifiii, and Samuel S. Knolis. .\ot Inni: licfnre this
as a part of the First Briirade of Bri>,'adier Gen- S. S. Kimles was hit -ipiare n\er the h.^art by
eral Lanman's Division. Duriiitr the winter a niinic-ball. but a liiiiieh nf letters from his
it marched to Collejie Hill and thence tn .Lick- alliaiu-ed bride, whom he afterward married,
snii and then back to ^reinphis. On March saved his life. (See account in the >ketcli nf
i;. IS(;:i. it was traiis]iortcd dnwn the ri\cT his life, in aimtlier idace.) l-;i.<;lit nf the |iri-
to Ynuni;"s I'niiil. and afterwaid went into vate> died nf iliM'asc: Uavid F. F>still. Lnii's
camp at Duekpnrt. l.nnisiana. On tin- 1 Itli nf I'. Mnme. Wiliiam .L lidilnn. Cmrjc W. I'nw-

i-v'8 I'AST wh i'i;i':sK.\'|- oi'- Mi';\Ai;n coi \tv

ell, Isaac F. Instill. William .Idluison. llaiiiioii uhI riarlicd ('aiii|i lliiilir. Illini)is, (lu tla- ■.':!tl
llever. Joseph Oswold. Lsaai- Snodiirasi?, Kiioik'^ of .luiic. in ilial vrar. 'riic ollieers of eoiii-
Snoil.^rass. .loliii W. 'rriiiiilm. Walter Taylor. pany K wci-f as rollout: Captains. .lames
.Vrtlinr Thomas and .lulin ^■(•lkill. Hii;ht of St<'clc and .Monzo I'ieree. imtli ot Menard, and
the |)ri\ates. I'nil of elii\alry and patriotism. I'liilip Kiley. of S|irin,i;lielil : lirst liemeiiauts,
took Freneli li'a\r and deserted. Menard had Sylvester M. Bailey, id' Salislmry. Philiji Riley
one hiindrecl and seventy-eijihl iiien in this and Samuel .VIexander. of Menard : seeond lieu-
ivi;iini-nt id' liia\(' men. Man\ of lliciii sleep lennnl. I'liilip Kili'v. Of this company iwo
on the hillsides of the soiilli; ami many more were killed in action, three died in ]nMson. si.'";
ha\c passi'd. since the war, lo the othc^r shore, ilieil id' disease and six deserted,
while the leniainder are eiijii\iiiL; the liherties Tin One iiiindred and Thirtx-thinl Illinois
thai tluy foiiuht so hravely for. having been N'oliintei r Infantry was mustered into the oiu»
ciiiiaged so loni; in the arts of peace as to liiindred da\.-" service on the :! 1st of May. 181)4.
have almost forgotten thus,' ilark experiences It i;iiarded prisoners dii ring its t'nie of service,
in the held. The One lliinilre(l and l''ifteenlli Company I of this regiment had twentx-three
Illinois Infantry will imw ilaim a liriid' notice, .Menard county men in its ranks. Ethan \,
as a iiumiier 111 men fium .Menard serxed in it. .Xorton. of I'etershurg. was lirst lieutenant in
If there were none from tlii> loiinty in 'he this compaii\-; the i-emaindcr of the twenty-
regiment we would be tempti'd III >peak of it. three Were in the ranks. .\s liny were never
as no record of Illinois Mildieis i^ complete in an engagement, none of iln'iii were killed,
that does not ir-ll something of the daring deeds of course, and none dieil fi-om sickness, but
of this faithful fiody of mi'ii. '{''his regiment all returned home when discliargeil from the
was ordered into the Held fnnn Camp Rntler, sei'vicc.

Illinois, on October 4, 18G2. baxiiig been inns- The ( Ine Hundred and l'"i fl \-si'coiid lllino's

tered in the loth of Septendier the same vear. Infantry was mustered in for oni' year's service.

Its first active service in the Meld was when on the ISth (d' Febrnai'y, 18(1."). They were

it was orilered to Franklin. Tennessee, in March, ordered to Tiillalionia. Tennessee, and went by

18();i. but the nioi'tality in the regiment from wa\ of Xashville. and reported to ^lajor (!en-

exposurc. hard niarcliinu: and bad diet bad eral Miroy for duty Februaiw '.'S. lS(i."). '{''hey

been fearful. l'|) to the ilate just given o\ci' were discbargeil at Memphis. Tennessee, on the

two hundred had dieil or been pci-manentlv dis- 11th of Se|)tember. isii.V Cmnpanx .\. of this

abled — 1he\- died by scores. .Vfli^r driving regiment, was raisiil partly in Menard county,

(iencral l>ragg"s army across the Tennessee '{'women from this county were chosen to otlico

i'i\er on the '.'Itb of .liine. isc:',. they had a in the company: ^leriiii lliirst, first licuten-

re^piie friini battle till the l!<th of Septendjer, aiii ; and dames X. llarger, second lieutenant.

On thai day they engaged in ibe bloodv con- .Xmie were killi'd. wonndcd or taken prisoner,

diet of Chickaniauga and that and the follow- the only reduction being from disease and de-

iii'i day were days never to be forgotten. On seition. F'our diid of ilisease anil three de-

tlie -.'Dih mure than half of the brigade, to serted.

which this legimeiit was attached, were cut This closes the record of the part taken in

down on the lield but tbev licid their yronnd the infantrv .service by men from this i-oun-

withoiit wa\ering. 'i'liis ri'giment took part ly. hiil the cavalry had several representatives

in the battles of Chattanooga. Mission Ridge from the county, a record of which we will

and innumerable skirmishes, in the campaign now give as briefly as we can. The 'j'enih

iiriiuml Chaltaimoga the regiment lost two bun- ('axalry Regiment was the only one wliieb had

d red and lliirly-fi\e men and leii ollicer-;. .\ft- any considerable number of nien from here

er this it fought at l)alton. IJeseca, .\tlanta on its nni.ster roll. The 'i'lnth Cavalry was

and other |)oints and was finallv in the pur- organized at Camp Hutler on llie -.'."itb of

suit of Ijnnd friim Xashville. On the lllb of Xo\einl:er, ISiW. and mi the Cilli of the fol-

.liiiie. IMI."). il was mustered out of service lowiii'i May l)iidle\ \\ iekeivham was appointed

I'As'i' AND i'i;i:sK.\-|' OK .\ii-;\Ai;i) (oi x'l'v

r.'u

it> cciImiiiI. On ihi' -.'iiili ol Dccciiilicr. isdl.
it was orilcrril \u (Juiiicv. Illiiinis, ami im llic
Willi (if I lie rollowiiiji; Manli ii was m_'1i1 lu
r.ciiiiiii llarracks. Missdiii-i. From iliis liiiic
111! 111! it was miislrr((l mit. liiis rciiiiiicut saw
hard srr\i(c. ll wa> iiiailr ii|i (if a liiii' lol
111' iiirii. who well' icaily and aiixinus I'cn- Ihc
I'l'ay. ll wa> linally iiiusicinl diii of the scrv-
iff al San AiilDiiici. 'I'lAa*. nn ihc •.'■.M of Xd-
M'liiliiT. ISli.'i. and was (ii'dcrcd In S|ii'ini;liidd,
lllinoi>. jni- |i,-i\ anil liiial ilisrliar,i;r. Xmir id'
Inr ri.'uiiiiiMital iilliccrs wrrr rnmi llii> ronnly.
'Tun i-i)ni|iani('s nl' iliis nininiaiid wcit inaiK'
ii|i. al Irasi |iai'lially. in this fniinly: these
wi rr riini|ianiis A and !■'.. 'i'hi'i'f wiit. in all,
I liirU-lnui- Mrnaid rminh men in ('nnipam
A. two III' wlmni were nllicers — ('a|ilain Chris-
liipln'r II. Andersnii. nl' Sw eel w atii'. and See-
nnd l.ieiilenaiit Samuel I-'. Ii'iissrll. id' Athens.
None of Cnmiiany .\ were killi'd in liattle,
ihniiuh Samuel .M(int,i;iiniei-y died id' wounds
reie\eil in aetinll. Sevtai died id' disease.
('iiin|iany !•] mustered si\t\-se\en men I' rem
Mrnr.rd riiiintx. mie id' lliem lieiiiL; an iillieer;
lhi> wa- Samuel (iarher. nl" Pel r>iiuri;, lie
liein-i a lirst lielltenanl. Xnlie of lliese were
killed in aetinn. llmuLih Simnn I*. Sam|isiin
died id' wiiunds reeei\ed in liulit. and only
liiiir died 111' disease. I'" rum smne sliaiiL'e eaiise,
which will niwcr lir knnwii. the |irii|iiirliiin id'
deserters was excessively lar.ue. there heini; nn
less than ten ont of the si.xty-seveu who ihd imf
■"Fif^dil and run away.
To live to liiiht another day."
r>ut they ran away hefore they had IniiLihl a
sinijle hattle.

'I'his lirin-s ns lo ihe arlillery. and only
three men I'l-nm .Menard counly were in this
ile|iailmenl of the service, so far as we can
learn, and as the adjulant ift'iierars i-eport
-hows dames Ward, of .\theiis. AFenard eonn-
\\. was n'.n-lend in as an iinassiLineil reeruil.
into the Kir>i .\itillery. on the 20th of March,
isiil. Ivlward I.. liin^iley. of Petorshurcr. en-
listed, as a recruit, in liattery \\. of the Sec-
ond .Vrtiliery. mi Ihe sth of Manh. isi;i.
and was mustered mit mi the l.'itli of diilv.
lMI-"i. .\llert .Ml-ertsori. of I'etershuru'. enlist-
ed in Ualtery K. nf the Second .\rlillery. mi
the ■>■!(] nf .Janiiarv. ]Si;-;. ]],■ re-enlisted as

a M'teran and >er\ed till the elnse of the war.
lie ser\eil most of the time, while in action,
as Xn. 1 111' Xn. ■.' ; that is. he either |ilaeeil
Ihe earlridiie in llie mouth of the uun. oi-
rammed it lioiur. .Mlieitsnii was in a nuinher
id' lialllo. liis liaitery hying charged more tlian
niiee. and many id' ihe men cut down at the
guns. Mr. .\llierl>iin li\ril here mam viais
afler llii (lii<e id' ll e war an hniinred cilixeii.
1 1 is ln'lie\ed llial he went west and is. |ierlia|)S.
dead.

ll is iin|iiissili|e lo gi\e a reliaiile list of tin-
men who helonged to this ciilinl\ and enlisled
in iiimmands llial were eredileil lo otlin- places.
We made a llioroUi;li search. s|iending main
days in the elVort to get e\erv name, lull wi'
Tear Ihat the list is iiii|ieil'eel. Charles K.
Mcltougal was caiitain id' iiini|iaiiy V. in the
Sixty-lirst Infantry. lie enlisted in Ci-eeue
eounty. .lame- ( '. Tire. n\' lliis eouilU'. wa.S

lirst lielltenanl in ('nm|iaii\ (i. of the Sevenlv-
lirst Infaulry. iielnw we give a tahiilar \ lew
id' the enlistments, nllieor.s, deaths from \ari-
ous causes, ihe wiiunded. deserters, i tc.. from
this loiinlw Had we the s|iaee we wiiiild he
liul ton glad lo ui\e ihe deaths, dale. |ilaee.
cause, etc.. of evi'ry sohlier rroni Menard
county.

s! mm\i;y 111' w \i; i,'i;i iiini iii' .\ii:\\itn rorxrY.

lull Iv'e,;:.. Co. I-;. . . S(l

I nil \- i."itii. ^'n. \. -'A
•:sth K'eg.. Cii. !•' m;

V'.Sth Reg.. Cn. K.. . :l!i
2.Sth Reg.. Co. C.
2Sih Reg.. Co I).
;!Sth \\^'^^<... Co. C..
."list 1,'eg.. Co. v..
TIst W-".. Co. (;..
::id Reg.. Co. I'.. .
IiHiih Reg.. Co. K.. III-.'
s'llli \W)i.. Co. H ;.">

II nil l{eg.. Co. ('.. . :i(i
IMlh Reg.. Co. v.. . ."ii;
lldth \\^^.. Co. K, . '.e.'
ll">tli Reir.. Co. K. . i:i

•.'I
V>
11

:i(i

11 3
I . .
■> 1

i; i;

■J 1 1
111

1 I i:

."i 1 I

130

AST AM) PKE8KXT OF MKNAKD I'OLXTY

133d Keg., Co. I...
15-2(1 Rog.. Co. A..
10th Cav., Co. A..
Kith Cav.. Co. H..
■2(1 Artil.. Rat. K..
■?,1 Artil.. I'.at. l'..
1st Anil., r.al. I-:. ,

Total ])rivatc?.

'I'otal otrnnrs . .

( )tl vv i)rivat('s . . .

■X

- -

;!-2

. . J

(id

080

t 38 117

r,o

5 .. 3

. . . 9

.1.0S4 34 22 38 129

."iO

The total of the deaths of ofliccr.s and nun.
from all causes, one hundred and eighty-four.
A jiR'at many have died since their return
honu' .<() that veterans of the Civil war an'
ra])idlv ])a^sing■ away and it will nut he lonsr
till the ehildreu will look with wonder and
awe u|)on tlie feehle veteran that still lingers,
waiting for taps to sound his diseiiarge from
earthly .service. The record of the names of
all who served in the time of the nation's peril
should he ]ireserved. that the coming geiiera-
tinns niav know who it was. at their country's
call, went forth to preserve the liherties of
thr land. The report of the adjutant general
is out of ]irint and is very hard to get, and
it will scKin he gone, and then the names of
many worthy soldiers will he forgotten forever.
We only regret that we did not liave the space
to record everv name.

BIOGRAPHICAL

\.\\\'. 1\1X( \l|i. Ii(d w ith ciinl iiiiniiii;- iiitcrols ami is |in'-iili'iir

Ai ii; tl,r ,n„st pruuiTssur. rnpnlilr an,t "'' ''"' "^f''''"^ •'^''"'"■- • '""ipaii.v. In IS!)-.' \w

Mir,v»lnl .itizrn.- ,,r Mrnanl .nunlv is Lue "-'i""''! ''I'^'i-c of its liusiiicss as uvncnil iiian-

Kinrahl. wli,, is ...i-a-c ilir hankiiiir Inisi- ■'•""'''■ "'■^■""'■"■^ '""I "■'■"^n'-.'i- ami cniitiimcl to

ncss in Athens and als,, has oihrr ii,v,.stm..iils '^'■'■"' '" f'"'"'' ' ->l"ifitios until 1!HI(1. «hrn ho

which lu" is rontrollin- uiih an ahililv thai is ""~ '■''''"''' '" ""' P'-'''^i<l'''i'-y- H'' i^ likewise

imli.-ate.l in the |.rns|,.Til v ihal alien, l> his nit, TrMiMlin iniiiin- in Mexico, h,. in- the pivsi-

.■ir,,il,v lie is als.. intinial,'lv as>,H-ial,.l with ''''"' "' ''"' """•■^^■•-^1>"^' Hxploration & Minin-

th,. s,„.,al and ].oliti.-al lilV ,,r M,aianl ,-,.unlv • ''""l'''".v. which is capitalizeil for one million

and ih,. historv of this ii,,rti,,n o( \Ur >iatc 'I"!!'"'- H'' 1'="^ extensive reahy possession?

wouhl he inciinplct,' with, ait ih,' ivcu ' his ■""' '"' '"•""'K''-'^ l"'^ li'"' ''■"•in ,'r several huii-

,,.||.|,|.|. ili-i'il a, -res lyinu' ahoiit t\\,i miles mirth ,il'

Mr. Kincaiil was h,,rn n,.ir .\lh,ais ,.ii ih,' ;ih •^""■"-- 'I'' ■'1'^" ""Hs the lioiii.' farm on which

of Fchriiarv. l,s:,!i. an,| isa s, ' Tliuma- Km- '"^ .i^ran, I father. .Vn.lreu Kim-ai,!. settled in

(■aid. whose sketch appears elsewhere in this

is:! I. an, I he has r,iur hiimli'i'il aci'es of land in

hnne. In takin- up" the personal hist,.rv ,,f ^''■H'"-'! '""nt.v. ,.ne hmelrd an, I ihirt.v acres

!..■,• Kin.anl we pivsent t,i our rea,l,'r< lh,.'lire '" I'"''-''!''"'' 'ouniv. Illiimis. an, I >i.\ iuin.lre.l

rec.rd .if one whose place in M.aianI county is '""' '"''^ •"'''■^ '" ''''■^■'-- "'' '- ""' l'i'''>^i'l''"l

acknowledjjed to he anioni;- its loremost citizens. "'' ''"' l'''"'""'''^ '■|-<'iii I'ealers .Association nf

His earlv eihication was ac,|uin.,| in the puhli,- ■H'l'"!'^- "-hieh is jinnyiw^ verv rapidlv. aii.l

schools and at the a-e of liftecn v.^ars h,. ,ai- '■'■'"" ^^^'^ ""*'' ''^■" '"' "■'•" " "H'nd>er of the

tcivd the iiniversitv at Ciiainpai-n. wh.^iv he '''■'" "'' '<i"<"''<l '■^- ^'-"f- '''''i'''''^ '" 'I'-'if;:^ and

remain,.! a stu,leiii'r,,r two vear>. II, ■ n n- .i''"''li'V- "hil,. from ISSli until Isi)-^ he was

turn,.l 1,, the hom,. farm, where he c.ntinuci linaiieiallv inl,.r,-:t,.,l in a ,^,.n,'ral irn'reantile

until iwenlv-ei-hl vears .d' a-e. when he I.eeanie '■"terprise nii,|,'r th,' linn nam,' ,.r T. 11. Turmr

the owner '.d- a half interest in the hankiii- ^^' < '"i"!'"".^ ■ Allhou-li contr.dlin- extensive

husin.'.ss of Scott & Kineaid. X,,i l,,nu alh^r- '""I ii'M""-''"'! I'usiness int,>n.-ts. Mr. Kineaid

ward he became sole i)ro].riet,,r ,ir lli,' .Mheiis ''■'" >''" ''"""' ''""' '" '''■'"''■ '" "'"' i'"'"'''' "■'■!-

I'.ank. which he has since c,m,hi,l,Ml. makin- his ''■"■'■ '""I '" iiiteivst,-,l in ,'v,.rytliin,t: pertaining

a ino.st reliahle institution in whicii lie has a '" ""inicipal progress and the suhstantial nji-

largo and growing hanking husine.ss. Imildiiig of his county. Three times his fell.nv

Mr. Kineaid is a man of resourceful ahiliiy lownsmen have cho.^en him i,, the ,)llice of

and liius extended his efforts into many other mayor of Athens, which |K)sitiou he has cajiahly

lines of activity. Tie is now prominentlv identi- filled with credit and lionor to liimself and sat-

134

PAST AM) PRESENT UF .MKXAIM) CUl XTY

isfaction to his wiistiliu'iiis. Ht- lias also been
elected president of the board of ediu-aliou for
four terms and for three terms additional ho
served as one of its members. Aside from this
he has been equally loyal to the welfare of his
community, luittin.i;- lorth strong and elVective
effort in beiialf of the general good.

On the 2Uth of Feiiruary, 188:). Mr. Knunid
was united in marriage to Miss Sue H. Culver,
and unto them were liorn five children, three
sons and two daughters, namely: Elizabeth L..
Arthur T., Alice, Homer and Herbert, the last
two being twins. In social circles the family
occupy an enviable and jiromiuent position and
their own pleasant home is justly noted for its
gracious hospitality and good cheer.

Mr. Kincaid is well known in fraternal cir-
cles, being a thirty-second degree Mason and a
past eminent commander of St. Aldemar com-
mandery, Xo. 47, K. T. He was chosen to the
office when he had been identified with the com-
mandery for less than two years. He is also a
member of Mahonnned Temple of the Mystic
Shrine at Peoria and is an honored and val-
ued representative of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows and jiast chancellor of Social
lodge, No. 424. K. P. Politically he is an en-
thusiastic Republican, being a firm loeliever in
the principles of the party, for he thinks that
its platform contains the best elements of good
government. Ho is a student of the questions
and issues of the day and is a conscientious
worker in behalf of his party, while his at-
tractive personality and power of argument
have made him one of the most cajiable sup-
porters of Republicanism in liis county. His
o])inions carry weight in thr ciunicils <>( his
I>artv and in 1902 he was one of the leaders of
the faction that successfully favored the selec-
tion of Hopkins for Fnited States senator. Mr.
Kincaid was by his many friends chosen chair-
man of that memorable Menard county con-
vention. In ISfl!) he was appointed by Gov-
ernor Yates a member of the state mining
hoard, a position which he creditably fills. He
is a man of firm integrity, just in his relations
witii his fellow men. honoral)le in all business
transactions and commands the respect of even
those who differ from him politically. So im-
portant a jiart has he taken in the work of

piiblie progress along many lines in Menard
county that he may well be called without in-
vidious distinction one of the foremost citizens
of eentral Illinois.

II. P. Mill l.TdN. -M. 1 1.

Dr. II. P. M.julton, of Tetersburg. whose
practice is very extensive, showing that his skill
has won him the confidence of the public, was
i)orn in ilaquoketa, Iowa, on the Tth of Decem-
ber, 1873. He is a son of Thomas J. and
J.,ovina (Coleman) Moultou, the former a na-
tive of Xew York and the latter of Ontario.
His paternal grandfather, Thomas J. Moultou,
Sr., died when his son and namesake was only
two years of age and the grandmother after-
ward removed to Iowa in the "40s, locating in
Jackson county among its earlier frontier set-
tlers. There the father of the Doctor was
reared to the occupation of farming amid the
scenes and environments of pioneer life and
after attaining his majority he continued on the
old family homestead, where he carried on
general farming interests with success. At
length his labors brought to him a handsome
competence with which he retired from busi-
ness life in 1898 and has since made his home
in Maquoketa. the county seat, in the enjoy-
ment of a well earned rest. He is recognized
as a man of superior judgment and high moral
character and is accorded a foremost position
among .lack-son county's most public-spirited
and w..rthy citizens. He possessed strong na-
tive talent and intellectual force, combined
with lireadtb of mental vision, and his influence
has been a piUcnt fnotnr for good in his com-
munity.

Dr. Mnulton. the third in order of birth in a
lamily of si-x children, acquired his preliminary
cdiuation in the public schools of Jackson
county and afterward entered the University
of fowa, as a student in the medical depart-
ment, where he s|ient two years. He next
matriculated in the Chicago Homeopathic
Medical College, from which institution he was
graduated with the class of 1S09. and follow-
ing the coinplrtioii of his course there he came
tn r<>lersbnrg. where he located for practice.

r»i;. 11. 1'. Moi i/roN.

, Aster. I ■'> ■■■■ ■■'-"'

I'Asr.wh I'i;ksI':.\t m' mi:\.\i,'|i coi ^'|■^■

137

f{K-iiiiij; an nllicu on thu wosl sidt' of luurl-
liousi' squiuv. Almost from the begiiming a
prolitahU' patroiiago has hoon acroriled him, I'or
\w soon demonstrated his ahilitv to siucessfiillv
to|)e with the intricate [)roi)h'ins which continii-
allv ((iiit'ront tlic jjliysician in liis diagnosis and
treatment of disease. He has liigli regard for
the etiiics nl' tile profession and lias won the
respect and good will nf his prot'essionai
hretlireii as well as nf llie general piililic. He
makes a spcciahy (d' the treatment (d' ilisoases
of wiuiieii and cliildrcn. having devoted miicji
time tn thdsr -tiidies while ill college, lie is
an iip-tci-datr pli\siiiaii. ki'e)iing well puslrd
(in till' latest discoveries known In thr science
li\ his perusal nf tile latest metlical works and
]\r has a line lihrarv. lie is a memher of the
Ceniial Illinois lloineopalhic IMedical Society.
On tiie ISth of :\larcli. 190-2. Dr. iloulton
was united in marriage to Miss Mary Catherine
Kreigh. daughter of K. M. and llolcn (Pyatt)
Kreigh, of Springfield. Illinois, and theirs is
nne of the ]ileasant and hosiiitaiilr lionics of
I'ctersiiurg. The Doctoi- has oiir hrothc^i' and
one sister. Iioth of whom are graduates (d" the
Iowa rniversity. and the former. Mark Moid-
ton, is now practicing law in Storm Lake, Iowa.
T)r. Moidton was a memher of the Xational
Ciiard at Maipioketa when they were called out
during the Spanish-American war and he
;;aiiied coiisiderahle hosiiital ex]ierience at I )es
M<Mnes. Iowa. He belongs to the Masonic fra-
ternity, in which he has attained the Knight
Templar degree, and is now a memher of St.
Aldemar commandery. Xc 1^ of Petersburg,
lie is also a member <d' the Mo.lern Woodnu'ii
camp and the Odd Fellows lodge, and in the
latter has filled all the chairs and is now ].ast
grand. His courteous, genial iiiaiiner. as well
as his professional skill, has made him popular.
and he is justly classed with the re|)resentative
citizens of Peterslmrg.

ROI'.Kl,"!' T)()\ l.K.WKV Ml 1.1, Kb'.

Tiobert D. .Miller was horn l-'ehiuary ;i, ISoS,
in Pettis criiintv. Missouri, near where the city
of Sedalia now stands. lli> father. William .\.
Miller, was a politician of some notorietv. serv-

ing in the legislature and eon>l itiii ional con-
vention of Missouri and was a candidate for
congress at llie time of his death, which oc-
curred March "^'d, 1.S47. when he was forty-one
years of age. His mother was Agnes C.
.Mitchell, born in Tennessee. May 13. 180.").
Her father. Captain Thomas "Mitchell, removed
to ^lissouri in 181 I. when it was a territory,
and the faniil\ lived for three years, in Coles
Fort, because of the hostility of the Indians.
Her four brothers were the lirst white men
to ferry across the Osage river. Daniel Hoone
was, for some time, an inmate of lliai fort and
died in that vicinity. Mrs. Miller died in issi;.
at the age of eighty-oue years.

The subject of this sketch received his early
education in ihc snbscri|ition schools in north-
west Missoiiii. heiiiii reaieil wiihiii four miles of
St. doseph. Missouri. \{ the age of si.\teen he
entered Chapel Hill College, taking the full
tdassical course iiiit lacked one yi'ar of com-
pleting it. He then began the study of medi-
cine, lint aft(>r eighteen montlis of hard study
ahaniloneil ii and lead law ami uas admitted
to tile bar, but never |iracticed liut very little.
.Mr. .Miller united with the Cumberland Pres-
byterian ehni-eh in 18.58. In 18(11 he was or-
dained a minister of that church and has
preached constantly ever since. M one time
it was said that he said the ceremony for one-
third of the peoph' married in Mellaril county.
He has attended nioie fuiierals than any other
man perhaps in this part id' the slate. He
taught school si.xtccn years and has been in
all county superintendent of schoids in ilenard
county for twenty-three years, twenly-fwo years
consecutivelv. Menard county was the liftli
coiintv in I he >lale to adopt a ""( 'ourse of Study"
and this w.-is wrilteii and published by Mr.
^filler, lie organized the Cumberland Pres-
byterian ihiiri-li in Petersburg and built the
house of worshij) for them and served as their
pastor for over six years. He Imili the church
iiouse at fiehanon and also the new Cnmbcrland
Presbyterian cliurch in l'"ancy Prairie. These
are three of the best church edifices in the
county, ^fr. IMiller is now (lUfld) pastor of
the church in Fancy Prairie.

Ml-. Miller was married to Miss Charlotte .\.
Ii'iche. jiecember •.' I. Is.'iC. in l'>uclianan coiintT.

138

PAST AM) PRI-:SEXT OF MEXAKD COUXTY

Missouri. To tliciii have been born seven
children, five of whom are still living: Sarah
JI., wife of Ed. C. Drake, now of Council
Bluffs, Iowa, was born Doeenil)er G, 1857. and
married November 37, 1883. ilary A., Iiorn
August 15, 1863, is still at lionie, teaching
school. Emma E. (Jube). born January 25.
1867, was married to Harmon J. Marljold, June
24, 1891. in Ouray, Colorado. George Mitchell,
born January 11, 1869. was killed by tlic cars
March 26, 1879. LejTia A., born Fel)ruary 2,

1873, was married to Dillon L. Koss. attorney
at law, October 3, 1894. They live in Council
Bluffs, Iowa. E. Pauline, born September 8,

1874, was married to Professor Frank T. Chap-
man, December 26. 1899. He is instrumental
and she vocal teacher .of music in Pacific Uni-
versity. Forest Grove, Oregon. Robert D. F.,
born March 12, 1879. died October 28, 1884.
There are fourteen grandchildren living and
one dead.

!Mr. Miller has sjieiit hi;; life ti-ying. in an
humble way, to assist the young in the line of
education, both intellectual and moral. He
has been an ordained minister for over forty
years and his salary has not averaged over
two hundred and fifty dollars a year. At si.xty-
six years of age, he is hale and hearty and can
do as much work as at any period of life. ^Irs.
Miller is enjovnng reasonably good health, and
they hope to live to celebrate- their gnldi'n wed-
ding.

SAMUEL STOXF KNOI.KS.

The ancestry of Mr. KnoKs were English
people. He traces the history of the family
back to Richard Knolles of Xorthamptonshire
and Xorwicli. England. He had a son TTenry
Knolles. wlio was the fatiier of Edward
Knolles. The latter's son, Daniel Knoles, came
to America with Lord Delaware and settled
in Sussex county. Delaware. Daniel Knoles
had a son Edmund Knoles. and he had a son
James, who was thr fatlier of Richard Knoles.
The last named was tiie father of James Knoles,
and he the father of Prettyman Knoles, whose
son .\sa Knoles was the father of Samuel Stone
Knoles. the subject of this sketch.

Asa Knoles was born in Gibson county, In-
diana, Xovember 18, 1818, and was the son
of Prettyman and Patsy (Greer) Knoles. He
was educated in the common schools of the
country. In 1846 he removed from Indiana to
Illinois and settled in Menard county, where
he continued to reside up to the time of his
death, which occurred X'ovember 17. 1863.
.\sa Knoles was a Democrat, his first vote being
cast for Andrew Jackson and his last for
Ste])hen A. Douglas. He was associated with
no secret society ; his religious views were lib-
I'ral; and he lived and died a memljer of the
Cumberland Presbyterian church. He was
joined in marriage to Dorcas Stone, of Gibson
county. Indiana, in June, 1838. She was the
daughter of Thomas Stone, a nephew of
Thomas Stone, who represented Maryland in
congress in 1776 and signed the Declaration
of Independence. The children of Asa Knoles
were Samuel S.. of San Diego, California; John
L.. of .San Bernardino, California; Jacob J.,
of Bartlesville, Indian Territorj'; Martin Y.,
of Linden. Oklahoma: Prettyman ^I., of Green-
view. Illinois : Thomas S., of Los Angeles,
California; Eli .\., of Greenview, Illinois;
Sarah E.. deceased ; Louisa Stone, of Ontario,
California: and Jane and Elizabeth, who died
in infancy. Dorcas Knoles died in August,
1857. and Asa Knoles subsequently married
Xancy Montgomery, a daughter of William
!\rontgomery, who was a |)rominent citizen of
Gibson county, Indiana, and a representative
in the legislature of that state. To this union
were born four daughters: Martha Ellen,
Margaret Dorcas, .\rminda and Arcinda.

Samuel Stone Knoles was born in Gibson
county. Indiana. March 20, 1810. and is the
.son of Asa and Dorcas (Stone) Knoles. His
father being a farmer and stock-raiser, Samuel
enjoyed no iietter advantages for an educa-
tion tliaii the common country schools until
when a young )nan he wi'iit one year to Bethel
College at McLemoresville, Tennessee, taking a
course in Latin, German and rhetoric. His
exiierience. habits and tastes in youth were
those of the ordinary farm lad in Menard
county. He early developed a taste for the
law and politics. His first business after leav-
ing school was to teach school in order to en-

J'AST A\'Ii PRESENT OF :\! KXA IMJ COUNTY

139

able liiiii to acquire a Ijelter edia-atioii prepara-
toi-y to the study of his chosen profession.

In 1861, when tlie war cloud hung over the
country, he wa.s reading law in tlie otKce of
General John A. McClernand and Judge N. M.
Broadwell in Springfield, Illinois. On .\ugust
•1, J8G2, he enlisted as a private in I'liiupaiiy
K. One Hundred and Eourtcentii Illinois
Volunteer Infantry and was nnistcred (uit
August 10, lS()o. He was first duly sergeant
in his company. Besides many skirmishes he
was in the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, May
11. ISCS. and at the siege of Vicksburg, and
w.is ill the great charges against that strong-
hold May in and 22, 18G3. After the fall of
\'icksburg hr was in the siege and iiattlc of
■ laekson from .luly 10 to July l(i, ISO:!. He
was in the exi)e(litioii whirli left .Memphis,
Tennessee. June 1. 18G1, under General Sturgis,
which was disastrously defeated at Brices
Crossroads. (U- (iuntowu, I\[ississippi, June 10,
ISfU. Tn this battle Mr. Knoles was severely
wounded, left on the field and became a pris-
oner of war. He was shot through the upjjcr
|)ortiou of the right lung and seriously injured
Ijy the concussion of a niinie-liall over the heart.
This deadly missile was prevented from pene-
trating the heart l)y a bundle of letters from
Miss Grace Isabelle 'J'erhune. who afterward
became his wife and the mother of his chil-
dren. He was in ])rison nine months at ^fo-
i>ile. .Vlabama. .Vndersonville. Georgia, and
Florence. South Carolina. He was sent to the
I'nicin lines at W'ilniiiigbm. N"(n'tli Cai'iilina.
Mai'eli I. isi;.").

.\\ the close of the uai' ]\lr. Ivnoles resumed
the study of law under Hon. 'i\ W. JIcNeely,
of Petersburg, and was admitted to the liar in
1S()!). In November after his return from
the army he was elected assessor and treasurer
of Meiuird county, defeating the late Captain
S. H. Blane liy a snuill majority, hi ISGT he
defeated his cousin Jesse Knoles for the same
otlice by a majority of two hundred votes. In
18T0 he was elected to the house of representa-
tives of Illinois from the district eomjiosed of
Cass and Menard iduuiies. defeating Hon.
William T. Beekmaii by a majority of over
seven lnindre<l votes. He also served as states

attorney for Menard county and city attorney
for Petersburg.

Mr. Knoles was married to Miss Grace Isa-
belle Terhune, December 27, 1865. She was a
daughter of William Terhune of Menard coun-
ly. To this union three children wore born,
namely: Carrie I.. Hoyt, of Foster, Cali-
fornia; K. i^llie K. Fouche, of Petersburg,
Illinois; and Fred T.. of San Francisco. Cali-
fornia. They are all married, and there are
eleven grandchildren. Mrs. Knoles died May
2!), 1872, and her remains repose in Rose Hill
cemetery. In November, 1872, Mr. Knoles re-
moved to (.'haniite. Kansas, where he mi't and
married Jliss Lois Barrett, a daughter of Wil-
liam ]). Barrett, of W'ooster. Ohio, and a sister
of |)r. .losepli Bai'i'ell. \\\\n was a surgeon in
the Twi'uty-lbird Ohio J{egiment during the
Civil war. the only regiment in the history of
the country that ever furnished two presidents
— Hayes and ]\lcKiiiley. To this union were
l)orn two sons and one daughter: Asa B., of
San Diego, California; William D., of San
Francisco, California; and Mila .M. Schulen-
Inirg. of San Francisco. Ivteh of them now
has a son.

iMr. Knoles is now located at San Diego,
California, and is engaged in the practice of
law. He is also United States commissioner
Wn- the southern district of California. He
was reared a Cumberland Presbyterian, but is
broad ami liberal in his religious views, hold-
ing that that which a ]ierson conscientiously
l)elieves and practices is the true religion for
thai persdii. lie belongs to the ^fasons, the
Fa^iiin Star and the Grand Army of the Re-
public. In politics he is a Democrat, his first
vote being cast for Hon. T. W. McNeely for the
constitutional convention of 1870. His first
\ote for president was a white bean for General
Geor;;e I'l. MeClellaii in .\ndersonville prison.

CHARLES IT. UOCKTTART.
Charles H. Lockhart. who is interested in
general farming in township 10, was born
ill ilenard county, on th(> 12th of Octolier.
lsi!8, his jiarents being John H. and ^lary
(McDonald) T.oekhart. The father was born

1 III

CAST WD I'KKSKXT OF M KN A l.'D CorNTY

ill Kfiitiu-ky. Uitol)(.'r "Jii. l!S"il, aiul al'tcr ar-
ri\ iiig at years of maturity was iiiarried in that
state to Miss ^liDoiiald, wliosc hirth liail tliore
oei'urred in .luiy. IS'il. In liSol they ciiine
to Illinois and for sixteen years John II. I.nck-
hart was enjraged in rariiiing in Meiianl loinily.
on land which he pinvhased and ini|iroved.
Subsequently he removed to Scotland county,
ilissouri, where in 18(37 he ])urchasi'd nne hun-
dred and fifty acres of timber land. Thci-e
he built him a lidiiie and resided there until his
death, which occurred in 1S94. A nundier of
years previous to that time he had been called
upon to mourn the loss of liis wife, who died
in Xovember, 1880. They wei-e both church
uKMubers the former identified with the Baptist
denomination and the latter with the Christian
church. Tn their raniily were eight children,
who are yet living: .Mrs. Henrietta Knowles,
.Mrs. Elizabeth Duulap. Mrs. Mary MclJey-
nolds. William, Mrs. ilalinda Mitchell, 'rhnmas
F... (leorge U. and Charles U.

The last named was reared upon the old lidiiie
I'ariii in Menard county and throuLilioui his
entire life he has cai'ricd on agrieult lu'al pur-
Suits. .\fter attaining his majority he rcsiih'd
in St. Joseph. Missouri, for a year, hut later
returned to tlie old homestead farm in this
county. He lived with his wife's parents for
one year, during which time lie engaged in
farming on the William Clay]iool jilace. Sub-
seipiently he rented a pait of tiie old home-
.stead belonging to iiis father-in-law and has
been farming here continuously since.

On the loth of September, 1890. Mr. Lock-
hart was united in marriage to ^fiss Emma J.
Tackelson. who was born January 31. 1871.
and is a daughter of TTer and Emma (Jenson)
Tackelson. lioth of whom were natives of Nor-
way, the former born January 20, 1820, and the
latter on the 13th of .Vugust, 1827. They
were married in Norway and in 1853 they came
to the United States, .settling in Springfield,
Illinr»is. where they remained for about a year.
They then removed to Indian Point. Menard
county, and in 1858 when ^fr. Tackelson had
saved a s\it1icient sum of money as the result of
his work as a carpenter and house builder he
purchased eighty acres of land. Subsecpiently
hi' bought Iw'i iidilitional tracts of ei'ditv acres

each, which he im|)roved. transforming his land
into a productive and valuaide farm and in
addition to this at the time of his death he
was also the owner of ten acres at Irish Grove
and one hundred and si.xty acres in Nebraska.
He departed this life April 15. 1004. and his
wife died March 10. 1897. Th<-y were the
parents of twelve children, of whom four are
now living: Tack, born .\ugiist 13. I,s51. in
.Xoiuay: .Vugusta. born ^fay r.\ is.M; .lohn
11.. born Feliruarv 2i!. isCi'.i; and Fnimn J.,
born January 31, 1871.

Tlu' marriage of ilr. and .Mr.-. ij>ckhart has
lieen blessed with two children: Ralph, born
May 15. 1895: and Howard W.. October 17,
1899. Interested in the cause of education ^[r.
Lockhart desires that his children shall have
good opportunities in that direction. For the
])ast si.x years he has been a member of the
school board of his district and is still serving
in that capacity. He and his wife attended the
Presbyterian church, of which Mrs. Lockhart
is a memirer. and in his ])olitical views Mr.
Lockhart is a Republican. The greater [lart
of In's life has lieen jiassed in ^Icnard county
where Ik' lias a wide accjuaintance and enjoys
the favorable regard of numv friends.

C.M'TAIN SAMIKI. llAI.M.'ISdX

A \ K.

Captain S. H. Blanc was a nati\e of Mi nard
county, born January 17. 1840. Hi^ |)arcnts
were Oeoj'ge and Mary (Alkirc) Blanc, who re-
sideil u|ion a farm near Oreenview. George
Blane. with his three brothers, came from Ire-
laiiil and located at what is known a- Iri.sh
(Jrove about the year 1830. On the old family
'loiiicstead in the vicinity of Grecnview Samuel
II. Blane was reared to maidiood and the dis-
trict schools provided him his early educa-
tional ])rivileges, which were supplenu'iited by
study in the North Sangamon .\cademy. Ho
was but twenty-one years of age when the
country iieeame involved in civil war. In the
meantime he luid taken u|) the study of law.
but on .\ugiist 15. ]8f)2. he enlisted as a pri-
\aie in Com|iany .\. One Hundred and Si.xth
Illinois A'olunteer Infantry: on June 20. 1803.
be was promoted to second lieutenant of Com-
iianv K: on ^lanli 30. ISlil. he was ai.'aiii pro-

I'AST AM) ri;i:si;.\-|' of mi;\ai;ii cdi vcv m3

iiKiIcil 1(1 first liciitrnMiii : cm May 111. isi!."). lip ]-;>lili l'(i>i. (i. A. li., ol' I'oti-'i-slinrg. nml in llio

WMS |iri>iiiiitcil t(i ciiiitiiin iif -aiil r(iiii|i:iiiy. ami line- nl' his prol'i'ssion was coiiiu'cti'il \\itli tiir

111' wiis iniistored out July I".'. IS)!."). Bai" Assoiiiitiou of Mciuird iniinty. When

W'Ir'Ii his military st'i-xicc was cuilcd Captain twenty years of ago he liiTanie a ineuihcr nl' tho
lilaiic icsunu'd his interrupted study id' law. Christian ehureh and eoiitinued his aetivc and
«hich he pursuid as (ip|i(U'Uinit\ allnrded uidil helpful ideiil ilieal inn lliei-cwilh up Ici the lime
he was adnutteil to the liar, on January !(. of his death, whieli occurred on the Jilh of
1S74. Ahuost iinmediat(d\' he secured a i;ood June, 1!)04. K'esokitioiis of res])eet were passed
i-lientage, which i-onstanlly gi'cw in extent, iiy Clinton lodge, hy the har and coiiiity oilicials
connecting him with mneh of the ini])ortaid lit- i)f Menard county and liy lln' ehuich with
igation ti'ied in the courts (d' his district, llis which he was so long connecicil. His funeral
mind uas analxtical and logical and he pre- services were hc^ld at his hite home on tlie .Siin-
Kcnteil his case in ihe clrai' light id' cogent day succeeding his demise. His entire life was
reasoning. The I'dcrsliuig ()liMM-\er said of permeated hy his religious faith and hi.s pastor
him: "'riiat he never persuaded a man into at the funeral services said: ""His religiou*
litigation when he did mil see the Justice of ciiiniei ions were dee]i, unfaltering and ahiding ;
his claims to >ueli an extent thai he should no one e\i i- ipiestioiu'd the sincerity oi- I'eality
"Ml. lie >eemed to carc Ic.ss for fees than in- of hi> ('hristiaii character, lie lielieved and he
dividual or neighhorhood harmony. In his lived hy his hclief ; and yet his tolerance toward
decisions he was not only delilierate. hut care- all opinions and shades of honest lielief
fully weighed jiL-lice. He had no use foi' mis- transcended all hounds of creed ami won for
representation and deception for the pnr|iose of him tiie eonlideme and lo\c of people of widely
gaining a point. \Miat he sought was the tiaith divergent siandards id' thought. His humil-
and on this he liuilt the foundations for the it\ was pinfound. and yet it was of that nolile
many important trials in which he was en- type that sei-ved to exalt him in the eyes of all
gaged. He was always fair to ihe opposing who e\er knew him. Self-assertion had no part
side in litigation and thus made friemls of in hi> mental make-up : hut a sei-cne self-knowl-
ihe men against whom he ohtained verdicts."' edge. dignit\ and calmness of purpose, as native
Captain lllane remained an active meniliei- of to him as the air he ni-eathcd. secured for him
the h,ir up to the time of his diani.-e and lor ihe respect of all with whom he had dealings,
-oine years was a.ssociated in practice with his and gave him an iulluence far lieyond the con-
son ]'"rank H. Blane, and the linn maintained hues of his immediate sphere of life. Of his
a foremost place in the ranks of the legal fra- loyalty as a friend, his ]nil)lic-spiritedness as
tcridty. their clientage lieing of a distiiu-t ivcly a citizen, his noliilii\. de\olioii and unsellish-
representalive character. In ISSl Captain ness as a husliand and lather, as his grandeur
lilaiie was elected state's attorney of Menard as a man. it would take a volume to s|ieak.
county, having the distinction of heing ihe Well might it he said that \\c have had few
only meniher of his polilical party lo liohl ihe such men as he. and his life and memory will
ollice in this comity. i„. a lasting heiiediet ion upon all who knew

• hi the Ith of Janiiai'x. iMiil. oeeiirnd ihe him."
marriage of Captain Blane and Mi-~ Mary J.
Spear, and as the years passed live ehildi-i'n
were added to the lioiisehold. miinelv: frank

■ ■ ,, V , 1, I M I ■ , o, ii.'.WKi.i N I'. i;i,i)i;i im;i;. .m. d.

1-... .Mrs. .Nora .\. Hrahin. Mr-, lona L. She]i-

lu'i'd and Mrs. :Myrtle Whip|i. all of whom are Dr. F. P. Fldridge. well known as a capable

now li\ iiig: and F\a Maiia. who died in \S72. ]iliysician and siirgion of (Ireenview and

at the age of two and a half years. also interested in hiisiness all'airs in the county

Ca|)taiii Blane was prominent in Masonry, as a dealer in coal, was horn in Menard comitv,

heing a valued rcpre.sentative of Clinton lodge. Septeniher IS. \sr,:\. \\\< father. William

^"- '''■ A 1- . .V \. M. lie also helonged to Fldridge. was a uaii\c of l-".nL;laiid. whence he

14:4

I 'A ST AND I'lJKSKXT OF MEXAED CO I X TV

was brought to America by his parents when
three years of age, the family liome being es-
tablished in Baltimore, ^laryland. In IS 10 he
made his way w'estward, settling in Menard
county, which was then largely a frontier dis-
trict, bearing little resemblance to this highly
improved portion of the state. He turned his
attention to farming about six miles cast of
Greenview and continued to make his home
upon that place until 18!)0. when he removed
to Greenview. where his death occurred ^lay
6. 1002. when he was seventy-six years of age.
Ilis widow still survives him and now makes
her home with her son Dr. Eldridge at the age
of seventy-seven years.

Dr. Eldridge acquired his preliminary edu-
cation in the common schools of his native
county and his more specifically literary in-
struction was oijtained in Lincoln T'niversity,
where he spent three years as a student. Hav-
ing formed the determination to nudvc the
practice of medicine his life work he then
matriculated in Rush Medical College, where he
was graduated with the class of 1878. Locat-
ing for practice in Greenview, he remained
here for six months and subsequently removed
to Kilbournc, Illinois, where he spent seven
years. On the expiration of that period, how-
ever, he returned to Greenview, where he has
since made his home and a large and important
patronage has been extended him. He is now
examining physician for several insurance com-
panies. He carries all of liis own drugs and
by constant reading and study he kee])S in
touch witli the progress of the medical fra-
ternity. He l)elongs to the Brainard District
Medical Society, the ^fenard County Medical
Society and the State ■^^edical Society, and in
the practice of his jirofcssion he displays care-
ful ]ire]iMraticin ;nid conscientious service in the
performance of his professional duties. Dr.
Eldridge has considerable valuable ))ropcrty, in-
cluding a farm (if one hundred and seventy-
five acres which he I'ents. also town realty, is
one of the five owners of a coal mine which is
ijcing developed umler tiie name of the Green-
view Coal &' Alining Company, and he also
owns five hundred acres of cotton land in St.
Francis valley in eastern .\rkansas, which lie
purchased in 100.'^ and which is very fertile.

l)idding fair to become a very valuable ]irop-
erty.

On the 31st of July, 1879, Dr. Eldridge was
nuirried to Miss Emma Whitney, a daughter of
Alonzo ^Aliitney, of Indian Point. They have
five children : William Roy, who died Febru-
ary 38, 1902, at the age of twent}'-two years;
Lucia, who was born June 21. 1882, and died
^lay 28, 1900 ; Homer, who was born August
28, 1884, and is at home; Arstella, who was
liorn December 22, 188(i; and Earl, born
.Vugust 3, 1896. Dr. and :\lrs. Eldridge hold
membership in tiic Cumberland Presljyterian
church and he is a Knight Temjilar Mason,
belonging to the lodge, chapler and command-
ery. He is also connected with the Modern
Woodmen of America and in fraternal circles
has the warm regard which is extended him
soeially and professionally.

Hon. iiomi;i; ,i. tick.

Honu'r Jenison Tiee. an agriculturist living
within ten miles of his birth]ilace. was born
Feliruary '>. lS(i2, in Athens, ilenard county.
His entire life has been devoted to agricultural
]nirsuits and a review of his career brings to
mind the remark of George Washington that
"Agriculture is the most useful as well as the
most honorable calling of man." That Mr.
Tice has enjoyed the fullest conlitlcnce and re-
s]iect of his fellow citizens is indicated by the
fact that he has three times been elected to
represent his district in the state legislature
;ind on other occasions, both by apjiointment
anil election, he has been called to positions of
public trust.

Mr. Tice is a son of Jernum ami Mary (Jeni-
son) Tice, whose sketch ap|iears on another
])age of this volume. l'])on the home farm he
was reared. develoi)ing a love for agricultural
life that lias been one of the strong elements
in his character. A sincere attachment for na-
ture in all its phases has led him to continue in
the walk of life in which his early youtli was
|)assed and his farm represents one of the most
attractive features of the laTulscape with its well
tilled fields, modern buildings and good einii|i-
ments. He is progi'e.ssive in all of his melbods,

ii().Mi;i; .1. TiCE.

PAST A\i» i'i;i;si;.\T of aikxakd cui .\iy 147

alsd cxtmiicK |ira(i leal, and wliilr ipiirk li> lli' \\a~ a ilclcuatc to the National Corn Con-
aclii|il new iiicl iiiii|> |li^ jii(lL:iiiciit IS rarel}' at i;rcs.-. hrld in ('liica,i;o for the purposu of de-
fault ill dciri'iiiiiiiiii: tlirir ii-friiliK'ss Hs IB- vlsjiiif plans fur intriidiiciiii; coni products as
>iillanl larliirs in iiiakini;' his lalmr a siicci'ss. lodd in ihc dilVrrcnl (•oiiiit I'ics of lMir(ip(\ and
Ills pii sent lidiiu' i,~ iirar (i rcrm ic\\ . \ulliin ten a> a di'lciiali' rcpHMailcd lliinuis in tlir Trust
mill's nf Ins liirlliplacc. and his cnliri' life has ( '(inrrrcncr. rciiiipusrd (d' delegates troni cvcrv
iii'cn passed in this r(iiiiiiiunity. state in the I'liidii. helil in ('hieaf;t) in Septeni-

Aimthei- salient element in the character nf her. ISilit. hir the pnrpnse nl' cimsideriiii; and

Ml'. 'I'ice is 111- liiNc 111' hiidks. Ki'diii hoyhiMid disciissinu' tin- prnhlem nf trusts. Imtli the ahovc

his hooks lia\e heeii his ciinslant ennipanioiis dek'fiati'ships hciufj: hy appoinl iiieiit cd' t he chiot'

and he elainis a> his lirst IVii'iid^ some nf the ex('cllli\(' nf the state. In .Masoiir\' .Mr. Ticp

ma^ti'i' minds in literature. His interest in pn- iia- altiiiied IuliIi rank, helollfrillg to the hliie

lilical cpiestiiins is that of the |iiihlic-spirited lodjiC chapter, cdinmander}^, consistory and

citizen wild rccognize> the nhligation as well shrine, and nf tlu' lirst nanicd lio is a past

as the privilcgo that ciuiies with the right of master. He alsn alliliates with the ('undicrlaud

franchise, lie has made a close and tlmroiigh l'i'esh\ terian eluircli.

study of the many issues wliii'h divide the two On the "Jiid of Ma\. iss:;. Mr. 'J'ice \va.s

gri'at parties and has heen unfaltering in his married to Miss V. .M. iMiiilie W'amsing. They

adMieacy of l.'cpuhiican principles, while at the ha\i' twd s(Uis living: Mverl llnmcr and i\arl

same time earnestly ojiposing any inisrule in .lerinan. and have lost one son, llei'iuan W'aru-

iiiiinicipal or stati' alfairs and the modern moth- sing. Mr. Tice 'stands as a rt'])resenta(ive of

ods too often piaiticed hy the politician who our hest ty|ie of .\merii'an nianliiKHl. He is

jilaci"- self-aggrandizement hefore the general wideh and favorahly known throughout the

g I. Three times he has heen the candidate conimiinily. his aiiility well lilting him for

of his parly for the general assenihly and rep- leadcrslii[i in political, lutsiness and social life,

lesented his ilistriel in the house in the thirty- hi political thought ami action he has always

.seventh, thirty-eighth and forty-third legisla- liecii independent, carrying out liis honest views

live sessions of Illinois, where he hecanie reeog- without fear or faxor. He eoininands the re-

nized as an ahle and actixe working ineniher, speel. eolllidenec ami i; I will of men pronii-

coiicci'iied largely with constructive legislation. iKMit in the slate, hut in his home coiiimiinity
lie was ajipointed a memher of the Hliiiois w liei'e he is host know n he lia> the loxc and inl-
and Michigan canal hoard hy (hixeriun- John (puililit'd esteem id' those with whom he is con-
K. Tanner, lie has a witle acquaintance among slantly associated, and « ho have hroadest
the leaders in politics iu Illinois and uo one knowledge of his personal wiuth.
receives more favorable regard. lie managed

the eam]iaign of Lawrence Y. Sherman for gov-

eruor in the spring of ItX)! and made jiiany

warm friends iiy his manly eour.se. While doing .lOlIX 11. K1X( AlP.

I'verything possiide for his candidate he ilid John 11. Kiiieaid. who carries on g<'neral

not antagonize jiarty leaders. The >aiiic year rarniing and is also engaged in the breeding

he was elected by the Hepuhlican stale conveii- aiid raising of line liorses. was horn diilv !),

lion as a memher of the stale central coinmil- istS. on the old family homestead where be

tee at large, and was chairman of the cinnniit- now resides, his fallier heiiii; .lolin Kennedy

tee which framed the primary election laws of Kiiicaid. who is represented on aiiolhcr |iage of

illi'iois. this vidnnii'. Our subject sn]iplemeiited bis

In conuiiiinity inlerests .Mr. Tiee also lig- educational privileges by stmly in the North

iires prominently and is the champion of many Sangamon .Vi'adeniy. wliicli is located alioiil a

measures that have |iroven of marked value. ipiarter of a mile west of his present home. He

lie is a member of the board of trustees of the continued upon the old homestead farm with

'•Id Salem Chautaiiipia of Petersburg. Illinois, bis parents until twenty-eigbt years of age.

I'AST AM) I'liKSHX r oF MKNAKD COUNTY

when he was in.Trriefl and went to a home of
his own. reniovin<r to a farm near Irish Grove,
where he continiud his residence for seven
years. On the expiration of that period he
hought the old home phiee, bnilt a new resi-
dence thereon, also a good baru ami. in fact,
has added many other modern striutures and
equipments, so that the farm is supplied with
all of the accessories found upon a model farm
of the twentieth century. He is engaged in the
raising of standard lii'ed trotting horses and has
bred tlie following: Twilliiio. witii a record
of 2:1T%: Rodney C'orliitt. 2:2914; Frances
Corbitt, 2:29: Carol Almar, 2:30; and Lina
Prue, 2:19; and he also owns Gny Corlntt. \o.
11726. He held a sale of thirty-two liead of
his fine horses on the 14th of September. 1904.

On the 20th of February, 1878, Mr. Kincaid
was married to Miss Ella Culver, a daughter
of John and P^lizabeth Culver, who were natives
of Menard county and are now deceased. Mr.
and Mrs. Kincaid have two children : James
Earle, born Octo1)er 9. ISSi); and John Ken-
nedy, born December 29, IHH't.

Mr. Kincaid was made a ^lason at Green-
view, July 4, 1871, and still affiliates with the
blue lodge at that place, and with the chapter
and commandcry at Petersinirg and the con-
sistory and Mystic Shrine at Peoria. In his
life he exemplifies the tenets and teachings of
the order, conforming his relations with his
fellow men to the principles of the craft. In
politics he is a Republican but has always re-
fused otfice. Himself and family are mem-
bers of the Presbyterian church and lir lias for
a number of years been a ruling cblcr. Mr.
Kincaid is now comfortaiily situated on a very
fine farm of six hundred mrcs, well improved,
and his property is tlie visii)le evidence of his
life of enterjirise, diligence and perseverance.

DAVID S. FIIACKKLTON".

Few men are more jirominent or more widely
known in the enterprising city of Petersl)urg
than David S. Frackelton. He has been an
important factor in l)usine.«s circles and his
popularity is well deserved, as in him are cm-
braced the characteristics of an unbending in-

tegrity, unabating energ}' and industry that
never flags. He is public-spirited and thor-
oughly interested in whatever tends to pro-
mote the moral, intellectual and material wel-
fare of Menard county. He has for almost
forty years stood at the head of a leading
lianking institution of the cminty and his ca-
reer is notiible from the fact that without
any special advantages to aid him in early man-
hood be has steadily progressed, winning his
way to the foremost position among the suc-
cessful Inisiuess men of his county and at the
same time gaining an untarnished name.

^fr. Frackelton was born in Dromore
Cmuitv Down, Ireland, on the 14th of Feb-
ruary, 1S27. His father, William Frackelton,
was a native of the same locality and there
wedded Hlizal;eth Waddell. He died when his
son Da\id was but six years of age. The lad
remained a resident of his native land until
1843. wJien with a brother he came to the
new world, crossing the Atlantic on a sailing
vessel, wliich was thirty-five days in making the
Xew York harbor after leaving the European
port. Four years later his mother came to
.Vmerica. Mr. Frackelton, of this review, went
to Ireland for her, but the letter stating that
he would he there was lost in the mail and
ere he reached his destination she started
for Xew York and when he arrived he was
greeted with the news that his mother had
already sailed to America. He hurried back
and found her with friends in Xew York and
afterward lirougbt her and his sister to Menard
county. ^Irs. Frackelton was a member of the
I'resliytt'rian church, strict in her religious
faith and living a life of absolute conformity
witii her belief. Her father had lieen a min-
ister of tlie Presbyterian church in Dromore.
Ireland, for more than thirty years. Mrs.
Frackehon continued a resident of Menard
(Miiintv until her deatli, which occurred in 1872,
wlieii she was eighty-four years of age.

Landing in .Vmerica ^Ir. Frackelton and
bis brother remained in Xew York only a few
days and then made tlieir way to Illinois, and
going out about eight miles from Springfield
tliev established a subscription school in which
ilr. Frackelton taught for six months, while
his brother continued teaching for nine months.

^ _/^ ^<_CL-/C-<l-OC L

cn^i^'

PAST AND ri;i-:SENT OF MKNAIil) (orX'I'Y

151

Al the end of the liulf year Iho fubjiel ol' this
review was oUered a situation b\- W. ^1. Cow-
gill and came to Petersburg in 1844 to be-
come a clerk in a general store, receiving fifty
tidllars per year in addition to his board aud
washing, lie occupied that position for Iwn
years and his salary was increased to one hun-
dred anil lil'ly dollars per year. His business
aptitude and capability being fully demon-
strati'd ill that time, he was then admitted to
a partnership under the firm style of William
M. Cowgill & Company and tlii> relation was
maintained for eleven years. llis brother
Kobert also became a partner at the same time
and when they severetl their business relations
with Mr. t'owgill they continued merchandising
together under the style of K. & D. Frackelton.
contiiuiing to conduct their enterprise until
187-1. In connection with that business they
began banking in ISfi."). i^obert Frackelton
ili<'d in i.'^T4 very suddenly and David S.
Fr.ickclion was then alone in inisiuess f(n- ai)out
i\Mi \rai-s. On the expiration of that period he
ailiiiillcd his son Charles to a, partnei'sbip and
the linn name \\as changed to D. 8. Frackelton
\ Company, the mercaJitile enterprise being
conducted with success until ISliO, when they
disposed of the store in order to give their en-
tire attention to the banking business. In
1S!)8 his son David became a partner in the
bank. The Frackelton Bank was organized in
186.1 and has had a continuous and prosperous
e.xistence for forty years. The ])resent bank
building was erected in 1889 and is a model
structure, splendidly ecpiipped. A general
banking business is carrieil on and from the
beginning the firm has enjoyed a prosperous ca-
reer as representatives of the financial inter-
ests of Petersburg, conducting their business
along safe, conservative and yet progressive
lines. AFr. Frackelton owns both city and coun-
try pro[ierty, including a valuable farm of
three hundred and twenty acres.

On the 1.5th of ilarch, 18.56, occurred the
marriage of 'Sir. Frackelton and Miss Louise
Chandler, a daughter of Dr. Charles Chandler,
a native of Connecticut. Tier parents were
married in the east and in 1830 located at what
is now Chandlerville, Illinois, the town being
named in honor of her father. Both are now

deceased and .Mrs. I^'rackellon has also passed
away, her death occurring in December, 1885.
Unto Mi: ami Mrs. Frackelton were born
three sons aud three daughters and live of the
number an' now living. Charles, who married
lona O. .\ntle, a daughter of Dr. Antic, of
Petersburg, is a representative citizen of the
county engaged with his father and brother
in the banking business and also secretary of the
liosehill cemetery. He is one of the elders
of the Presbyterian church, is a Kepublican in
politics and has serscd as city treasurer and
for several terms was a mendier of the school
board. lie wields a wide influence in public
affairs, his course being characterized by un-
faltering loyalty to the general good ami his
efforts in behalf of his city have been far-reach-
ing and benclicial. liobcrt F^rackelton, the
second sou, is engaged in the manufacture of
printing presses in connection with bis uncle
as a stockholder in the Chandler & Price Com-
pany, of Cleveland, ()liiii. He is secretary aud
treasurer of the company, which is conducting
an extensive business. He, too, is a Kepubli-
can, stanch in his advocacy of the party prin-
ciple's and is deacon in the (.'alvary Presliy-
terian chui-ch at Clevelainl. Clara and Louise
are at home with their father. f)avid, the
VdUiigest son, is connected with his father and
In-other in the baiddng business and is man-
ager of the Charter Oak elevator. In 1901
he married Caroline Poberts, of Jacksonville,
Illinois, and they have one daughter, Mary
Louise. Like the others of the family he is an
earnest Eepublican and his religions faith is
that of the Presbyterian church. Uotli Robert
and David F'rackelton arc graduates of the
Hlinois College at .laeksonville. and Louise
completed a course in the Jacksonville Female
Academy of that city.

David S. Frackelton has always been a cham-
pion of Republican principles, yet has never
sought or desired office. He is now the oldest
living member of the Presbyterian church of
Petersburg and flirougli long years served as
one of its elders. In business affairs he is en-
ergetic, prompt and notably reliable. Tireless
energy, keen jierception, honesty of purpose, a
genius for devising and executing the right
thing at the right time joined to every day com-

1.53

I'AST ANI> ri.'KSKX'l' (iK MK.XAI.'H ((HXTV

iiion sense are tlie cluel eliaracteristics <>l th''
man. lie has been ■watchful of all the details
of his business ami <if all imlicat inii> ])<>intin;>:
toward iu-os]ieritv and from the lieuinniiij; ho
had an abidin;.'^ faith in the ultimate suceess of
his enterprise, lli' has ;;ainiMl wciillli. yet it
has not been alone the jroal for which he was
strivinfr. for he belouirs to that class of re])re-
sentative American citizens who promote the
general iirospei'ity while ailvancini; indixidual
interests.

THOMAS C. 1111. 1.. M. 1).

Dr. Thomas I'. Hill, a jiliysiiian and sur-
geon living upon one "!' the fine farms of
Menard county, was horn in ^fiddletown. Illi-
nois. October 14, 1864, and is a son of Dr.
Green Hill, who for many years was one of the
most prominent physicians and honored citi-
zens of tJiis portion of Illinois. He was horn
near Franklin, Tennessee, on the 1st of July.
1813, and was a representative of an old south-
ern family of distinction, his paternal ances-
tors having resided in North Carolina, while
his maternal ancestors were residents of \'ir-
ginia. The lati' Tlon. Fx'iijamin Hill belonged
to a branch of this family.

Dr. Green Hill sui)])lemented his early edu-
cational privileges by study in Franklin .\cade-
my, which he entered when sixteen years of
age. At that time the institution was under
the presidency of Bishop .Tames It. Otey, of
Civil war fame. .Vfter a year Dr. Hill entered
upon the study of medicine in Xashville and
when he had comiilcicil a course in the Tran-
sylvania College of that lity by graduation he
entered upon the ])ractice of his profession at
his old home. Hi' was then but twenty-two
years of age and he s]KMit two years in the vi-
cinity of Franklin, Tennessee, after which he
reniovi'd to Columbus, ilississippi, where he
was located for ten years and in connection
with the practice of medicine and surgery he
conducted a drug store there. In March, 18.50,
he arrived in Elkhart, Logan county, Illinois,
hut in 18.52 he removed to Middletown where his
remaining days were passed in the active prac-
tice of his profession, his labors being of the ut-

most benefit to his fellow men. .\t the tini"
of his death he was the oldest practicing phy-
sician in Logan county. When he took up his
abode within the borders of the county there
were few physicians there and his practice
necessitati'd lung jciurneys often in ii'.clenn'i'.t
weather. He would frequently see wolves and
other wild animals while crossing the prairies.
N'o liridge s])anned Salt creek and many time-;
he had to swim that stream in order to ])ay a
\isit to a ])atient. lie was frequently away
from home two or three days at a time, inaking
his calls on the sick, and he had many long,
tiresome rides in the saddle, but he never hesi-
tated in the performance of any profc.'^sional
duty and his devotion to those who needed his
servici's made him the loved family physician
in many a household. Money was very .«carce
with the early settlers in those days and. in
fact, almost the only coins or specie which the
Doctor saw during the fir.st year or two of his
residence in Logan county was what he brought
with liim from Tennessee, for he usually re-
ceived pav for bis professional services in
coi-n. Tlii-ougb a long career he maintained
an enviable re])utation as a skillful and suc-
cessful ])liysician and as an intelligent, honor-
able and upright citizen. Beading and inves-
tigation ke]n him thoroughly informed con-
cerning the advance made in the medical fra-
ternity and while he was never quick to dis-
card the old and time-tried methods of practice
he was always ready to adopt new ideas and
improvements that would aid him in his pro-
fess i 071a 1 work.

SiKin after arriving in T.ogan comity Dr.
Hill ill 18:Ui entered seven hundrrd and twen-
ty acres of land in Hurlbut townshi]!. and also
purchased twenty acres of timber land. He
made a trip to this state on horseback in aboiit
ten days, bringing the money with which he
liaid for his land in his saddle hags. Tlie en-
tire section cost liim but one dollar and twenty-
five cents per acre and he paid three dollars jier
acre for having the land broken, ox teams be-
ing u.sed in doing the plowing. The Doctor
retained possession of his land until he return-
ed to Illinois in 18.50, when he sold it for
seven dollars per acre. For many years he had
a |deasaiit home in 'Middletown and a farm of

Di;. (,i;i;k\ iiii.J..

I'As'i'AM) i'i;i';si-;.\'r (n- miinak'H ((Hntv

loo

niic IninilriMl ;iiiil tuciily acres in tlir |(i\\ iiship.
Ill ilic i-arly days of his iTsidciur in Illinois
tlir faniih' lived in a loir caliin and \\iil\r>
occasioiu'd tlicMii niiicli tronldc 'I'liosc animals
woidd crawl undor the Innisc and the clnldrcn
\V(ndd |iinuli lliein with pokers throiluh the
1 racks in the lloor so as to drive them away.
I )eer wore very ])l(>ntifnl and venison was a
common dish upon the family tahh'.

In his p(ditieal alliliation Dr. Hill was an
ardent and life-Ionir Democrat. i'^-aternally
lie was conneeieil with the Imlependeid Order
of Odd Fellows and he was loiij;- a consistent
meniher of tin* Christian church of Rroadwell.
Speakini;' of his church relationship Elder T.
'I'. Ilolton. his pastor, said:

■"hurinif his residence at Cidumluis. ^tissi~-
si]i)ii. he actoci as one of the elders of the coil-
irrejiation. There hcins no congrouation at
^liihlletown, his niombership was with the
church at Brnadwel!. T)t. Hill ke]it in toueh
with all tlie groat work of the hrothorhood.
lie contrihutpd regularly and liherally. not onlv
to the home ohiireh. hut to our missionary en-
terprises. T']Kin his desk coidd always he fotmd
fresh copies of our best papers, and he was we!!
read in tlie early history of the Disei]iles. He
had many strong points in his character, and
was one of the most entertaining and coinpan-
ionahle men T have ever known. Had he
achiived nothing else, the rearing an(! eduea-
tion of such a nohle family of sons would he
an honorable distinction."

Dr. Tlill was married three times. In IS.Tt
!ie wedded Mi~< Martha .\nn K irkpatrick, and
thev hecaiue the parents of two dauglilers,
Marv and Sarah. The latter die(l at the age
of sixteen years and tlie former married John
l>raiidon, of Franklin, Tennessee. She and
her husband are now deceased, leaving six
children, ^frs. Hill died in ^fississippi, and
Dr. Hill was afterward marrieil in that state
to Sarah Van ^feiddleworth, of Auluirn, New
York, who die(l in T-ogan count\ in 1S.1S, leav-
ing two daiiLditers. f'atlierine, now the wife of
l,e\\i> X'arney, a lawxcr of Saratoga S]irings,
New York: and Klla, who married C. C. TJakcr.
of .Austin, 'I'cxas. For his third wife Dr. Ifill
chose Miss Martha R, ('aldw(d!, of f-oiian
countv, and they became the parent-^ of live

sons: (ireen K,, who is living in (iirard, Illi-
nois: T. ('., of Fancy I'rairie: .lolin II., of
Mcehanicshurg, Illinois; Ihn'rv (',, of S'trcator,
Illinois: and Taliiert F., of .Vthens, Illinois.
The .sons have followed in the footsteps of their
fatliei- in many resjiccts. They have endeav-
ored to e.\em]i!ify in their li\cs his teachings
concerning tlie dexi'lopnieiit of an upright
character and they have aKo all lieconie ])hvsi-
cians and are now successftilly engaged in prac-
tice in the various communities in which thev
reside. In September, I.SOT, all of the ^ons met
to'icthcr with their mother in family re-union
in Middletown, and the occasion was a most en-
Joxahle oni'.

Dr. T. ('. Tlill, of Fancy Prairie, attemled
the public schools of ^fiddletown and later
enterid u]ion the study of medicine under tlie
direction of !iis father, while subsequently he
atteiuleil lectures at Rttsh Medical College of
Chicago, entering that institution in IS.'^tt.
He was graduated with tlie class of 1888 anci
then located for jiractice in Fancy Prairie,
where he remained for about a year, when ho
removed to Swe<'t\vater, Illinois, s))ending
nearly fifteen years in active and successful
professional services there. But at length fail-
ing healtli com]ielled him to seek a needed rest
and he spent the winter of 1003 in T-os .Angeles.
California, .\fter returninar to Illinois he lo-
cated upon his farm in townshi|', IS in order
to still continue a qnict life and to give his
sons the advantage of farm life.

Dr. Ilij] uns married on the Itli of Septem-
ber, ISSS, to :\Iiss Mollie Hall, llie youngest
daughter of James V. ami Mary (Pearce)
Hall. He has |iurchased the interest of the
lieir< in the old Hall farm property and this is
now his lioine. He lias betwi'en four and five
liiindrecl acres (d' valiiahli' land. Cnto Dr. and
Mrs. Hill have been born three children:
Thurman R., who was Iwiru July l->, ISSO;
Thomas (i., who was liorn October 1'?, 1801:
and Mary P., born August •^">, 1808. Dr. Hill
is a Democrat in his political affiliation and
fraternally has been identilied witli Creenview
lodL'c, No, f>y^. .\. F. it .\. ^I.. for five years.
For eight years he has been a miinber of the
Christian church at Sweetwaiei-. Illinois, and
bi-^ life, like that of his fatliei'. has been guided

150

I'AST A.\[) i'liKSKXT OF -MEXAIJD LUL-NTY

by honorabk' motive* and upright priiu-ipli-s.
He lias a wide and I'avoraljic ac(|iiaiiilamc in
his section of the state and no liistoiv of this
portion of Illinois would he complete withdui
mention of the TTill faniilv.

II. 11. M.\i;i;(ii.i>.

11. 11. .Mailiiilil. a piMiiiiiirnt representative
of tile hii.siiu'ss interests of (ireenview and
Menard county, has made consecutive advance-
ment in an active career, wherein succe.«s has
been won through methods which neither seek
or require disguise. Watchful of opportunity,
he has made udod use of the advantages which
are common to all. and by his unfaltering
diligence and careful investment has gained
gratifying prosperity. As a banker and live-
stock dealer he is well known and to the lat-
ter industry has devoted bis energies since his
boyhood days.

ilr. ^larbold was born in Uadbci'gen, the ]m)-
vince of Hanover, (lermany, .\pril 'il. IS;!."),
his ])arents being John II. and .^^aria K.
( Sherborii ) Mariiold. both of wlimn were iia-
ties of Hanover, the former born .May T. l.SDO,
while the birth of the latter occurred on the 'id
of February, ISO!). ]Iis name was Jolin II.
Wernsing, l)ut he was adopted by his aunt, -Mis.
Catherine (Adlheit) ^farbold, the provision
being named that he was to a.ssume her name.
He was married on the Sd of November, 1829.
to Marie E. .Sherhorn, and they became the jia-
rents of si.\ children, of whom two are now
living. The mother departed this life in Sep-
tember, 1843, and the other members of the
family came to America in 1847. landing at
Xew Oi-h'ans on the 17th of \ovembci-. In
1846 .1. W. Wernsing, an own lirolhcr of .1. 11.
Marbold, went with his wife to (iermany to
visit Mr. Marbold, who had a fine farm in the
jirovinco of Hanover, .\fter disi-iissing with
his brother the possibilities and o]iportunities
of the two countries "Sir. "Marbold decided to
.sell his farm in Oermany and come to .\nierica,
which he did in ISIT. .\fter a slioii linie spent
in Xew Orleans, they made their way to Peters-
burg, Menard county, where they arrived on the
6tb id' Dereniiicr, ISK. 'I'licv remained in

IVtersbiiig for about thrte years, after which
the father purchased two Imndrcd acres of
land near the village of Greeuview. and the
fannly settled thereon. Since that lime the
property has constituted the ilarbold home-
stead.

II. II. ilarbold acquired a good literary ed-
ucation and also received good training in busi-
ness methods inuler the direction of his father.
who furnislie(l him nu'aiis A\itli which to en-
able him to trade in cattle when (juite young.
He has since successfully followed the business
and by careful ]nirehases and judicious sales
has added annually (o his ineoine. .\s he found
oi)|)ortunity be also added to his laiuk'd |)osses-
sions which now aggregate four thousand acres.
upon wliicb be grazes and feeds a large num-
ber of cattle each year. The extent of his op-
erations ill this direction havi' made him one
of the leading stock dealers of central Illinois.

.\ man of resourceful business activity he
has also extended his eU'orts into other lilies
and as a banker is also widely known. In 1S76
be erected a large two-story brick building in
the village of (ireenview, at a cost of twelve
thousand dollars, in which was established a
bank, conducted under the firm name of Mar-
bold, .VIkire i.'v.- Company. The relationship was
maintained until ISl!). when Mr. .\lkire with-
drew, ^f. it. Kngle, wlio was the silent partner
of the iirm. continued with ^fr. .Marbold until
ISSo. when he, too, disposed of his interests,
leaving Mr. .Marbold as .sole proprietor of what
is recognized as one of the most reliable and
irustworthy financial concerns of this part of
the county. He has followe(l a safe, con-
servative policy and y( t one in which progress
has kept him abreast with the s|)irit of the
times in business affairs. In l.S!)0 he acquired
one hundred shares of the ca|iital stock of the
First National Bank of l^etersburg and in ^lay,
1S!i1. secured twenty more, while later an ad-
ditional purchase made him the holder of two
hundred and forty shares altogether. Long
business ex])erienee and careful consideration
of possibilities and trade conditions have en-
abbil him to so conduct his alVairs as rarely, if
ever, to make a mistake in matters of business
judgment, and the straightforward policy to
which be ha- e\er closely adhered proves what

THE
NEW VORK ,
PUeL.C LIBRARY^

MRS.H.H.MARBOLD

^. /h. ^^a^^^-^^^^K

PAST AXD rKKSKX'l' OF MENAKI ) ('( »r XTY I.il

iiiauv ari' iiuliiKd lo ilisputi'. that prospci'it v lUMiia. hii\\f\cr. >lir \va^ taki'ii ill ami a sum-

aiid an liiin(iral)li' iiaiiic iiia\ l)i' won siniulta- iiions liriiiiLilit lici' Inisliaml and cliildvi'ii lo her

nrously. Iicdside. Slie passed away Septenibei- l."i. Ilio:!,

On the 2Stli (it dune. Isdo. Mr. ^farlidld uas Her friends cdierisli lier memory, l'(ir she was

uniteil in marriaue to iEips ^Fargaret llaekman. mie nl' ihe niosl lieloved wdnien of Meiiai'd

who was horn near rett'eln. in (lie province of county, pussissini^ llie irait> nl' I'hai'acter whicji

iianovtT. Germany. January II. ISIO, and endeared hei' 1" all with wlmni she came in

came 111 America in is.'i;. They wci'e married iimlacl. She presided <iv(>r her attractive lionie

ill ISeai'dstdwii. Illinois, and hecanie the pareids with gi-acioiis and cordial hospilalit \'. ami her

nf six children. Ihr<>e t>f whom are living. Those kindly spirit was manifest in her taitl'ul treat-

dei-eased ai'c l)ora. wild was horn .Inly 34, 1871. ment of all. I'llmwood, the lieantifnl familv

and died l''ehi-uary 2(), 1ST 7; Henry 11.. wlm Imme. was the ci'iitcr id' her uni\('i-se. and all

was Ikii'ii April (1, ISTT. and died Fehrnary I'J. f(J|| heitcr wIki came within llii' radius of its

1^;;; and a hahe. who died in infani'y. The chei-ring iiilhicnce. The fnnci-al services

living are Anna M., the wil'e of Henry AVern- were held In the (ieianan i.utlieian church

sing, horn August 21. ISiil ; TT. J., born April and inti'imcnl made at I'lise Hill. Jlaiiv

17, ISiJ.j; and Benjamin I*'., horn Deeemlier and heaiitiliil were the tlni'al tnkens of

14, 1S7T. In IsiTii Mr. Marhohl returned to lnvc and respect seen ahoiit tlii' liier. and

his native country with his father, his wife the chui'cli was inadecpiate Inr the lai'ge cdu-

and two (if their cliililrcn. hut thiy were lilock- course of pcuplc wIki thus attested their liive

aded cm ai'count of the (h'l-mau and French aiu1 fi'it'ndsliip. Main from neighliiu'ing tnwns

war and had tn return hy way (if llollaiifl to and more rennitc places were in attendance;

(irimshy, England, thence to hivcrpndl and hers was the largest funeral c\cr held in

on to New York city. Hi ISilt; ^1 r. Marhuld (ireenvicw.

again crossed the water, this time lieing accdiii- The three >ur\i\iiig children ncraipv homes

panicd liy his wife and liis sister. Mrs. .\nnie which were Lii\eii them In their father, those

Kniile. and his son Benjamin, who had just of II. .1. Maibdld and Mrs. Wcinsiui;- heing

graduated from the military school at Worces- among the liiiest residences of this part (if the

ter, ^fassaehusetts. While in the fatherland he slate, while Benjamin F. resides at the did

fdund and purchased an did desk thai had lieen hdiiie diicc dccupicd liv his sister .Mis. Wcrn-

in the .Marliold family for almost two hundred sing. 'I4ie present (degant lunne nf Mrs.

years and had it shipped to his homo in ^Fenai'd Wernsing would grace the houlevards of am of

county. It is a \cr\- large piece of furiiilurc the liiiest and largest cities of either .\merica

— a desk and liookcasi' comhined — made from dr I'lurdpe. It i- lniilt entir(d\- df slduc with

oak and V(>neered with hlaek walnut linely lin- great hrdad xcrandas on llir(.'e sides ami the

ished inside and nut. Il cdiitains mainly interior iinishing is thoroughh' in keeping with

secret drawers, contiiining s(uiie df the laws the outside. Il is withdiit ddiihl the finest

made hy A'apoieon, whicdi the pcdplc were (ir- lesidence in central Illiiidis and there is noth-

i]i-vri\ to destroy after ihc hreiich empcrdr was iiig t(i compare willi it in Menard coiinU.

hanishcd. ' .Mr. .Marliold has heen a student of the con-

ilr. ^larhold is a man of strong domestic ditioiis of the coiinu and its possihilities and

tastes, and his devotion to his family has ever his support can alwavs he counted upon in

hiMMi one of his salient characteristics. The relation td iiKasiires which ha\(^ for their ob-

dcath (d' his wife thertd'ore came as a particii- jcci the iicneral widfare. In fact, statistics

larly telling blow to Ihe family. On the -Mtli sli,,\v iluii the Marhdid familv have done more

of .Vugust, ]9(lo. Mrs. ^larliold, accompanied tdward the de\(ddpnicnt and imprdvement of

by her daughter, .Airs. Wernsing. started for .Menard cdiiiit\ than any dther familv liere

the iKirth on a visit and pleasure tri|). She living. Mr. Marhdid came tn ibis country as

was not in good health at the time, but no an .Vmcrican citizen and lias the strongest at-

alarm was felt. AVhile \isiting in Dulutli. ^Fin- taibmint bir Ihe cduntiw and her insi il iil idus.

I(i2

PAST AXD PRESENT OF MKXAIiD COUNTY

His political allegiance is given the Deuio-
c-ratie part)', and he is a firm believer in the
principle of free trade, having given thought-
ful and earnest consideration to the question,
his ojiinions being fostered by study at home
and also of conditions abroad.

In the suninier of 1904 Mr. Marbold gave a
iract of eight acres of land to bo used as a
cemetery for Greenview and at thi.s writing, in
November. li>04, he is erecting a memorial
gate in mriimry nf his wife. It is built of
pressed iirick and Bedford stone and granite,
ihe memorial inscription to be upon the gran-
ite. This beautiful city of the dead is a
splendid tribute to the memoi-y of one whose
life was devoted so largely to promoting tlie
comfort and ha]i]iiness of those around her and
whose many acts of kindness cause her mem-
ory to remain as a iieneficent influence with all
who knew her.

^Ir. ^Marbold has been liberal in his contribu-
tions to moral and educational eutei'prises, and
the churches and schools of his neighborhood
have found in him a warm fiiend. Menard
county owes much to his progressive spirit
and too much can not be said in his praise,
for he has iieen indeed the advance agent of
l)rosperity to the community at large and it
is with the greatest pleasure that we present
the history of himself and family to the read-
ers of this volume, knowing that therein the
younger generation will find a worthy exam-
])le to pattern after. He is a man of unabating
energy, of unfaltering honesty and industry
that never flags, whether in connection with
])ublie affairs or private interests, and without
invidious distinction may well be termed one
of (he foremost men of Menard county.

am)|;k\v c. .11 111..

Tile (icrman cieiiuiit in our .\nierican citi-
zenshi]) is an important one. The Teutonic
race has taken an active part in the civiliza-
tion of the world and the sons of the father-
land who have come to America have been quick
to ada])t themselves to the conditions of the
new world and to take advantage of business
openings here alforded. ilr. Juhl, possessing

many of the sterling characteristics of his Oer-
man ancestry, has become a well known repre-
sentative citizen of Jlenard county. He re-
sides in range 8, to\raship 18, where he car-
ries OB general agricultural pursuits, his birth
occurring January 29, 1852, in Schleswig-
Holstein. which ])rovince was then a part of
Denmark. His ])areuts were Hans and ^lary
(Smith) Jidd. and the father was a farmer
l)y occupation. He being the eldest in a family
of eleven children inherited his father's proji-
erty in accordance with the laws of succession
and thus became the owner of .seven tuns of
land, amounting to from one hundred and
twenty to one hundred and fifty acres,
according to American measure. He has
one sister who is yet living in Schleswig-
Holstein upon a farm and who is the wife of
.John Winter. Hans Juhl carried on agricul-
tural pursuits in his native country throughout
his entire life and died in the year 1891. when
seventy-seven years of age. In his family were
twelve cliililrcii. of whom .\iulre\\ ('. is the
third in order of birth. The record is as fol-
lows: Ifatt. who resides in Webster City,
Iowa. Iinvini: large rarniiug interestsi in that
part of the state; Hannah, who is the wife of
Pete ililler, a resident of Fort Dodge, Iowa :
Andrew ('.. of tliis review: Peter, who is en-
gaged in the practice of veterinary surgery in
New York city; Christina, who married An-
drew Smith, but both are now deceased; Mag-
dalena. who married Luther Smith and resides
in Denmark: ilary, who is the wife of Pete
Oruj). also living in Denmark; Hans C. who
is a retired farmer residing in Omaha, Ne-
l)raska ; James, who lives in township IS. ^^[e-
nard county; Christopher, who makes his home
in the same townshi]): Louisa and Mary, both
of whom are married and reside in Denmark.
This is a remarkable record for longevity, there
being liut one death in this large family of
children. The mother is also yet living in
Denmark and is now s(>venty-four years of
ago. her birth having occurred in 1830.

-Vndrew C. Juhl acquired his education in
the ])ui>lic schools of Denmark and has always
followed farming. He came to .\nieriea in
1873 when aboid twenty-one years of age, for
he had heard favorable reports eoncerninf.' busi-

K
•J-

I'AST AMI 1'|;KSI:.\'I'

Ml'lXAIM) COIN'rV

lUo

iR'ss opportunities in tlie new wnihl and lliouglit
thai lie initrlit acquire a t<iiii|)elence more
rapiillv in llii- r.ranti'v. Aecordingly he
rrosised the Athiniic aud beginning worlv as a
I'ann hand, lie was employed in thi? way three
years. On the expiration of that period he
thiiiiuht liis eapilal was siillicient to justify
iiiiii in carrying on farming on his own ac-
count and therefore he rented a tract of hind,
heginning its further development and culti-
vation. He continued to rent land for al)Out
six years I lien witii the money lie had aci|uired
tlirouiiii his own ial)ors he maih' his first pur-
cliase of land in ISSI. Since that time he has
added at intervals to his j)roperty and he now
owns li\c hundivd and twenty acres worth
eigjity dollars j)er acre. He raises grain,
jiorses and hogs, hut gives no attention to cat-
tle. f(U' lu' did not liiid them profitable. He
iuis made all of the iniju-oveinents npon his
farm and now lias one of the best properties
in the agricultural disti-iels of Mi'nnrd county.
i-".\crytiiing about his place is kept in excellent
condition and tlie farm is the visible evidence
of his lif<' of carefully (lirectc<l labor, for he
came to America em]ity-handed and all that
he has achieved is the reward of liis persistent
ell'ort and diligence.

Ill IsTii Mr. .lubl was married to Miss
l.iiuisa Baker, who is of German birth and who
prior to her marriage resided in Sand Ridge,
Mi'iiard county. Six children have been born
unto them: Hall, who resides at home: Wal-
ter, now deceased, wlio uiai-ried .Mice Smith
anil since his death his widow has nuidc her
luune with her father. S. M. Smith; Ollic, who
married Walter Watkins and is living in town-
shi|) 18. Jlenard county: TTattie, who is the
wife of William J. Houghton; Emma, who re-
sides upon the' home farm at the age of fif-
teen years: and Klsie. who is twelve vears of
age and completes the family.

Mr. Juhl is a Republican in his ]iolitical
lielief and has been called to serve in several
local offices, acting as school trustee, as school
director and as road commissioner. He be-
longs to the Lutheran church, while his wife
is a member of the ^fethodist church. Roth
are worthy of the esteem in which they are so
uniformlv held and thcv certainly deserve re-

presentation in this volume. Mr. Juhl has not
been disajipointcd in .\irierica, its advantages
and its jirospects and ha> never had occasion
to regret his determination to establish his
home in the new world, for here he has pros-
pered as the years have gone by and is now one
of the substantial farmers of his locality.

IKH.'At I-; A. woon.

Horace A. Wood, new living retired in
I'etersburg. was until recently engaged in the
nursery business. He was born on the 30th
of ,lune, IS1'<;, in Cattaraugus county, Xew
York, a son of Solomon and Ann (Shewman)
Wood. 'J'he father was born in the Empire
state in ]Sl-;i and was of English lineage,
while his wife was of (Jerman descent. The
])a(enial grandfather oi' our subject was a
militia man in Xew ^'ork at an early day and
when the coiiiiiiy liccaiiie imolved in the
Second wai- with England he eidisted in its
defense and ser\cd throughout the period of
hostilities. Sohimon Wood was reared to man-
hood in the state of his nativity and throughout
his business careei- followed the occn])ation of
fai-ming. His bii-tb had occurred in Putnam
county. Xew ^'ork. Imt he removed from that
section of (he state to the western jiart, settling
near Ithaca and later he took up his abode in
Cattaraugus county, where he became a land-
owner and carried on agricultural pursuits,
lie mairied Miss Ann Shewman, who was of
fierman lineage, born in Xew Jersey in the
year ISl-l. It was soon after their marriage
that they renio\cd to western Xew York, tak-
ing U|) their alrado near Olean. which was the
starting place for the western emigrants, the
travelers secui-ing their outfits there and pro-
ceeding from that ]ioint down the .Vllegheny
river. Solomon Wood died in 1890 at about
the age of eighty-five years, and his wife passed
away tliree years previously when about the
same age. Tn their family were live children,
of whom Horace .\. was the fourth in order of
birth, .\braliam, the eldest, spent his entire
life in Xew York. Harriet, deceased, was the
wife of Sylvester Gray, who lived in the state
of Xew York, where ^frs. Gray spent her entire

ItHi

PAST AND IMiKSI'lXT nF M |;\ \ |;| i (()|^■|•^

lite. She liad ilm-o i>oiis and tlirt'u daiiyliU'is.
Halst'v, wlio owns the old family liomciJti'ad
in western .W'w ^'nrk. niMriiid Saiali Maybe
and tiiey have one daiigiiter and an ado|)tud
son. Jennie, tlie yoimfrcsL of the family, be-
came the wife of Monti\ille White, and botli
are now deeeased. Tliey resided in the Knipire
state and had one son and three dauirhters.

Horace A. Wood began his education in the
district schools of his native state and after-
ward continued his studies in an academy in
Rushford, New York. Later he attended a
private school and subsequently went to Pough-
keepsie, where he entered Kastman's Business
College, completing his I'ducation by gradua-
tion from that institution. On putting aside
his text-hooks he began traveling for a nursery
company, his territory iieing princijjally Illi-
nois. Later he embarked in the nursery busi-
ness in Menard county on his own account and
grew nursery stock for seven years. He then
dealt in nursery stock for a number of years
and was at one time connected with a business
of manufacturing bed springs and mattreses,
following that pursuit for about thirteen
months. Re owns seventy acres of land ad-
joining the corporation limits of Pet(>rsburg.
Ill ^lenard county ami this ]«irt of tlie state
was known as an enti'ri)rising and reliable
business man. and whatever success he achieved
is due entirely to his own labors, for he started
out in life on his own account \\ith limited
capital.

In 18G9 was celebrated the marriage of Mr.
Wood and Miss Lizzie Miles, a daughter of
James Miles, whose biography appears else-
where in this volume, and unto them w^ere born
three children, two sons and a daughter: Flor-
ence, born in 1874. is now the wife of Dr.
George Spears, who is engaged in the practice
of dentistry in Petersburg; Beulah. born in
1881, is a graduate of the Petersburg high
school and has spent two years as a student
in the State University of Illinois and is now
teaching in Menard county. TTarlington. born
in 1884, is also a graduate of the Petersburg
schools and was a student in the State Uni-
versity, where he pursued the study of law.
He is now teaching school, but will continue
liis law studies in 1905.

Both iir. and .Mrs. Wood hold membership
in the Christian church and their children are
al.so identified tlui( u itii. He gave iiis political
support to the licpublican party until 189G,
in which year he votc(l for William Jennings
Bryan, but hi' has again became connected
with the Republican party and he is enabled to
support his position Ijy intelligent argument
l)ecause he keeps well informed upon the ques-
tions and issues of the day. He ijcgan life as
a ])oor bov, liut his financial valuation is now
creditable. His life has been one of activity
and usefulness and has been characterized ijy
the most unswerving integrity and honor in
all his liusiness transactions and in his varied
relations with his fellow men.

riKiMI'SdN WAI.'K McNKKI.V.

Thompson Ware MiXeely was born in Jack-
sonville, Illinois, October 5, 1835. His father,
Robert T. McXeely. and his mother, Ann
^laria (Ware) McXeely, were natives of Ken-
tucky but were married in Jack.soii\ illr. Illi-
nois, Septcmlni- 11. 1834. The mother died
in Jacksonville. July •^5, IHIi!), and our sub-
ject then came to live with relatives in Menard
county, where he has resided ever since. His
father came to Petersburg in 1842 and en-
gaged in mercantile business, residing there
until iiis death December 17. ISSfi.

After coming to Menard county, .Mr. Mc-
Xeely spent a number of years on a farm and
then entered his father's store as a clerk, .\fter
one year at Jubilee College near Peoria, Illi-
nois, he entered Lonilwrd University at Gales-
imrg in 1852, from which he was graduated in
June, 1856, with the degree of .\. H.. and the
same college conferred upon him llic degree
of A. M. ill 1S.'.!». ;\rr. McN'eely began the
study of law in July, 185G, and in the follow-
ing October he went south and taught school
in a private family on a |)lantation near Wood-
ville. Mississi])pi, foi- some months, studying
law at the same time. Returning to Peters-
burg he was admitted (o the bar in August,
1857, W'here lie has since then been in the
active practice of law. In N'ovember, 1858,
he entered the law department of the Univer-

JOHN.H.MARBOLD.

AS'l'.WI) I'KKSEXT (IF MKXAI.'I) COUNTY

i(;!t

siiy of l.iiiiis\ illi'. Kentucky, I'rdiii which ho
ua.s ,L;railiialril in llic I'liMowini;' ^larrh uitli tho
liiurcc 111' LL. B.

In Xo\i'nihci'. l^;(;i. Ml', McXccly was L'loelod
a:- a ilc'h'.iiali' In ihc cdn-i itiil mnal convention
I of Illinois Ironi Mrnard and Cass comities, in
M'hich linilv he srrvcd as a nicnihcr. In 18G8
he was c'Inii'd un ilic Democratic ticket as a
uicnihcr of congress from the ninth cougres-
sional di.strict of Jllinois. coni|iosed of the
eonnties of ]\Ienard, Cass, ^fasoii, Fulton, ^Ic-
liciKiugli. Schuyler. I'.rown and Pike, and was
re-elected from the same district in 1870, serv-
ing from March i. 18(i!), to :\rarch 4, 187;i. Tie
was afipointed hy the Democratic state eonven-
timi id' Illinois and served as a delegate
to the J )einocratii- national convention
which was held in iialtimore in 1872. lu
1S78-!) he served as chairman of the state
Democratic central committee of Illinois. In
181I2 lie was elected and served as one of the
jiresidential electors for Jllinois, voting for ^Ir.
Cleveland. In 1896 he was again nominated
as a presidential elector liy the Democratic
state convention hut was defeated as were all
others on the ticket. He has always supported
and Miiiil the Democratic ticket, taking an
active interest in every campaign.

On Xoveiidier •?:. 1872, Mr. McNeely was
married to ilis> M. II. Dirickson, daughter of
Colonel L. I,. Dirickson, of Berlin, Maryland,
'i'hey ha\e one child, Bettie. the wife of Nelson
II. tii'cenc. of 'I'alhda. Illinois. In religion
Mr. McXeely is an Episcopalian and is an of-
tieer in the local church. He is a Mason and
has scr\ed as master of his lodge; high priest
of his chapter: and eminent commander of his
connuandery. He is a Scottish Rite Mason,
and has received the thirty-Second degree of
that Masonic &i"der. He is also a Knight of
I'vthias. a Modern Wnndman ami an Elk.

h'KINllAh'D n\KK,\'.

.\mong the citizens that d'ei'inany has fur-
nished to the new world is nundiered Reinhard
Onken. who has manv of the sterling character-
istics that have always hceii nntahle among
the fierman people — the energy, capability ami

strong luirjjosc. He was horn .lanuary 11,
184(i, his parents lieing Herman and Mary
(Gerdes) Onken, wlm were also natives of the
fatherland. The former died Deeemi)er 21,
1865, and the latter in Fehruary, 1860.

Tieinhard Onken spent the days of his boy-
hood and youth in his native land, attended
school in accordance with its laws ami after-
ward, still in conformity with the rules that
govern Gorman citizenship, he entered the
army, serving from Xovendier 1, IsilT, until
the ."ith of Septeniher, 1871. .\ war limke out
in 1870 and on the 4th day of August of that
year he went with his command to the French
line. On the lOtli of the same month he |)ar-
ticipated in the battle of Marslatour, the en-
gagement lasting from morning until eight
o'clock at night, while the loss on each side
was over twenty-tivc thousand. The ne.xt en-
gagement in which Jlr. Onken participated was
that of Gravelottc, the fighting beginning at
noon and continuing until night. He was in
seven ])itchcd battles altogether, serving with
the cavalry foi-ces.

Xot long after his release from military ser-
vice Mr. Oid<cn determined to establish his
home in .\mei'ica atid arrived in Mcnai'd county
on tho 1st of April, 1872. ' Here he was em-
ployed hy the month as a farm hand until 1880,
when he rented the .Vlkire farm near Sweet-
water for a year. He afterward rented the H.
H. Marholil farm until 1888, when with the
money that he had saved from his earnings
and through his economy he became the owner
of a farm of his own. In fact he had ]iur-
chased this in 1886, but did not take up his
aliode thereon until 1S88. Since that time he
has continually and successfully engaged in
general farming and in the raising and feed-
ing of stock and has fine farm animals upon
his place, dealing only in high grades of cattle
and horses. He came to this country iMupty-
handed. but has steadily worked his way up-
ward and is to-day the owner of two hundred
and seventy acres of line land, splendidly im-
proved with giind buildings and eipiipjied with
all the accessories of a model farm of the twen-
tieth century.

Mr. Onken was married to ^liss Amelia
Mever. a daughter id' Herman TI. and Dorothy

i;o

TAsi' AM) i'j;i;si;.\ 1 of .mknajid county

(Hackiiian ) !Mi'ver, hotli of wliom were born
in Gcniiaiiy. Mr. ileyer also came to this
country in very limited financial circumstances,
but tlirougli his ener<ry and activity and by
reason of his lionoral)k' conduct he became
a representative citizen of Menard county. lie
was horn February IG, IS'iij, and died April
■.'T. I!t05. His wife was horn on the 7th of
Maicli. 1S34. The year 1854 witnessed their
iirrival in America and for about a year they
remained in 8t. Louis, where Mr. ileyer was
employed in a brickyard and in driving teams.
He came to Menard county in is.").") and for some
time worked by the montli in tlic employ of
Mr. ;\Iarli(ilil. and by his economy and imlus-
Iry he saved suHicii'nt means to enable him to
purehasc two hundred acres of wild land near
Salt creek. Me then put fortii every effort
toward the im])rovemeitt of this place that it
nnght become a jjroductive tract. Later he was
enabled to purchase two hundred aires near by
and also im]n"oved this.

The home of ^Ir. and ^Irs. Oidxcn has been
blessed with four childirn;. two lia\iug died
in infancy. Tliosc living are: Herman E.,
born May 20, l.ssl ; and Margaret Maria, born
August 7, 1887. The ])arents are mendjers of
the Lutheran church and ^fr. Onken has for
twelve years been a mend)er of the school board
in his district in which capacity he does every-
thing in his power to ])roTiiote the cause of edu-
cation. In politics he has always i)een a
stanch Democrat and in his citizenship has
been noted for his loyalty to .Vmeiica and her
best institutions.

II K. WII.KIXS. ^r. I).

Among the members of the medical frater-
nity ]iractiiing in Petersburg who deserve
s|ieeial mention because of their capal>ility and
consequent success is lii. II, V]. Wilkins, 1o
whom is accorded a gratifying patronage in
recognition of his carefid ])rc]iarati()n and his
skill which arises therefrom. He has spent his
entire life in this state, his birth having oc-
curred in Greenville. Bond county, on the 21st
of July 1865. His parents. T)r. D. and Maria
^r. 'Owvn) Wilkins, are natives of Laporte,

Indiana. In 18-57 the father removed to Illi-
nois, settling in tireenville. Bond county, where
he has since engaged in practice, although he
is now largely living retired, being seventy-
nine years of age. He and his wife ci'lcbrated
their golden wedding, May II, 1!MI1, and the
festivities were participated in by many friends,
for they are among the best known and most
highly esteemed citizens of Bond county. \t
the time of the Civil war Dr. D. Wilkins offered
his services to the government, enlisting
in the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illi-
nois Infantry, under Colonel John K.
I?eed. He .served almost from the be-
ginning of hostilities until the latter part
of 186.5, and after his return home 1k' ac(piired
a very extensive practice, which brought to
him a good financial return. From the time
of the establishment of the board of pension
examiners he served as one of its members, act-
ing in that capacity until he resigned on ac-
count of advanced age, at which time he was
succeeded by his .son. Dr. David I}. Wilkins.
The father is a |)i'ominent and valiu'd mrm-
lier of the Grand .Xruiy of the I{epui)lic and is
also identified with the Masonic fraternity.

Dr. H. E. Wilkins iregan his education in
the primary school of Greenville and there
continued his studies until he had completed
the high school cour.se. being graduated with
the class of 1886. Whether inherited tendencies
or environment shaped his course it is impos-
sible to detc'rmine, but al all events he resolved
to make the |)ractice of medicine his life work
ami to this end entered the Mis.souri Medical
College of St. Louis, ilissouri, where he sjjent
three and a half years in study and was then
obliged to jnit aside his text-books because of
failing health. His case was diagnosed as
tuberculosis and it was arrange<l that he should
s|)end six months in Kansas, six months in
Colorado and six months in the mountains.
but at the end of the first six months he was so
improved that he returned to Gre(Miville.

1'herc Dr. Wilkins was married, on the 21th
of December. 1S!)0, to Miss Mary E. Habich. a
daughter of Joseph H. Habich. a representative
farmer of Bond county. They lost two ehil-
flren that were born unto them : Daisy Ruth,
who died at tlu' age of two years: and Madie

I'As'i' AM) i'i;i-:sKXT OK Mi:\\i;i» corxT^' 173

.K'wrll. wild (lied ill till' ii^c "i si\ Mild a hall' of any (.-ausc wliiili has for its (il)ject Uic roal

yt-ais. On thr •J-Jlh nf S('|ili'iiilirr. I'.itil. a sun hi iirrmont and iniiii'nM'inrnl. of the coiiuininitv.
was horn, to whom tlicy have ,i;i\cn ihr nauio

of .lames Hahieh W'ilkiiis.

Alter his iiiarria<:e hr. Wilkin.-- rctunuMl lo

,- '1 I I I • 1 .iOSi';!'!! col, SON.
Iieiic\a. Kan>a>. where \\r had previously

praeiieed. and a,i;ai!i takinu up his proressional .Iom pli CoUoii was horn .liine 'ill, lytJO, ou

duties, lie eoiiliniied a meinher of the medical the Farm in Menard eoiintv now occupied by

fraternity (d' that plaee lor two and a hall' -Vujiusl W'inkleman. Jle is a son of Samuel

years. On the expiration ol' that period he and .Maria (W'atkins) Col.son, early residents

pursiied a course of study in the ("olleuc ol' of lliinnis. the father livim;- in this state at

l'hy>i(ia]i- and Surgeons of Keokuk, Iowa, and the linn' of ihr memorahle deep snow — an

was Liradiiated on the 'Ith of March, isiK!. In c\eni which has lueonie historical iu the annals

addition to the rei;uhir wiu'k hi' pursued a of the state. In the family were six children,

special collide lui diseasi's cd' womiii and chil- of whom li\e arc li\inu: Charles, who resides

dreii, for which he received a spe'c-ial di|doma, near ((akl'ord. married .lulia iirowii and thev

anil in his |iractice he has Ih'cu very successful iia\e sc\en li\iiiu children; CaKin W., who re-

aloni; those lines. sides upon his father's farm, wedded Ollie Eden

Following- his i;raduatioii he relumed lo and liicy lia\e three children, two daughters

Bond county and look up the practice n{ medi- and a son; .Joseph is the third in order of

cine li\e mill's east of the old homeslead, where hirtli; .\iiiiie is the wife of David Stitch, a

he remained until l.'^i*."), when he removed !:; fanner rcsidini; at North .\tterherry, and they

Sorento, Bond eonui\. >rn Mm: li fteeii miles norl li have two sons ami two daughters; .leiinie, a

(d' the old lioiiie. When he had pi'actiecil in twill sister of .\iinie, is the wife of Theodore

that locality for nine vears he came lo Peters- liohrer. who i< in the government service at

hurg and succeeded l»i-. .1. C. {''islier in the Arkaiisa- City, Kansas, and they have three

coiidiict of a practice which under his guidance sous, including twins; one child. Mae. died on

has grown in liotli volume and importance, the home farm at the age of eighteen years

lie helongs to tile Bond ('otilit\ Medical So- and was hiiried in Oakland cemetei'y.

'l\ and also to the Menard County ^iedical .lo~epli Colson pursued his cdiication in what

.Socielv. was called the Samiison school. It was seated
I '

Dr. Wilkius is a meniipcr of the Masonic with long henches and there was a large slove

fraternity and is serving as senior deacon of his which wnuld take in a stick three of four feet
lodge. He al.so helongs to the lnde))endent in length, it was dillicult to maintain dis-
order of Odd Fellows, the Moilei'n Woodmen cipline in those days, schools heing noted for
of .America, ilie Mutual I'micctixe l.eague and their unruly character, imr did the [nipils al-
was one cd' the leadei's and promoters in estah- ways tread "a llowery path of knowledge." On
lisliing a camp of the Sons of Veterans in the home farm Mr. t'olson received instructions
ri'tershiirg. Ilis political sup|iort is given the as to the hest methods id' planting and harvest-
i.'cptililiean ])ai1y and he was its choice for ing crops and raising stock. He has always
ihe position of coroner in 1!)04. Both he and engaged in farming ;ind he first liegan hiisi-
his wife are consistent meinliers and very ac- ness on his own account mi the A. Winklenian
live and efficient workers in the Cumberland farm, which was tlien owned hy Ids father.
I're.shyterian cluircli of Petersburg, in which '{'here he lived for a year.

lie is now serxing as a ruling elder and also as .\s a companion and helpmate on life's .jour-

clerk of the sessions. ITis life has been actu- ney Mr. Colson cluise Miss .Martha Bell, the

ated by liigli and worthy pi-inciples and mo- weddiiiL'' being celebrated December 24, 1879.

tives, as is indicated by Ids strict conformity Wi'r parents wore Austin and Elizabeth

to the -ethics of the profession. Ids honorable (.\rnold) Bell, and the Bells were among the

relations with liis fellowmen and his advocacv earlv settlers of T.ittle (Jrove, Both her father

I'AST AM) im;i:sext of mi:\.\i;ii coi \tv

Mild innlluT wcir lioni al Waliuil Ii'ldi^c. Mc-
lliird iniinly. Alter liis iii:iriiiit;i' Mr. Colson
(■ii,i,':igo(l ill lannino- south of Oakfonl for a year
and later lived for one year aljoiit a quarter
of a mile from that jiiaee. lie ai'terwanl n^
moved to the William Lewis farm, u|ion which
he lived for five years and then settled on the
Waller Lynn |ilaee. now known as the Walker
farm. There he lived I'oi- three years, at the
end of whieh time he removed to his present
rami, taking- u|> his aliode in a little liou.se
which stood in the old orchard. There he lived
for three or four years, after which he returned
to the Walker jdaee and ajjain made it his
home lor four years, lie afterward returned
to liis ])resent farm. oceii]iyin,2 the same old
house, and later lie took up his aliode on his
father's old homestead. He has been fairly
successful, always earryinp on <reneral farm-
ing, and he is now operating- two hundred and
forty acres of laud ou tiie old home place and
rents one hundred and twenty-five acres. He
has lived a life of industry and eneriry and
whatever success he has achieved has resulted
therefrom.

Unto Mr. and 51 rs. Colson have been horu
seven children and the family circle remains
unbroken by tlie hand of death. These are
Xora Ellen, who was born Xovoinber 28, 1880;
:Matt IL, born October 12, 1S82: .Vnnie, born
May 4, 1884; Elizabeth, born March 24, 1888;
MjTtle, born Marcli 4. 1889; Edith, born No-
vember 28, ISOO. and imw attending school in
Atterberry; and Samuel, born September 9,
189(). The children have been ])rovidcd with
good common-school ad\antages and all lielong
to the Methodist church in .Mtei'berry. In his
political views Mr. Colson is a Democrat and is
now serving as central coniniitteeinan, taking
an active interest in the party, its progress and
success.

ATJCtUSTTS F. I'.FAKI).

.\ugustus F. Beard, who has long bciMi identi-
fied witii the farming interests of Menard
county, lias been a witness of America's prog-
ress and improvement for more than three-
quarter-i of a century. He was born at Xew

r>n-|ni]. .Merrimack county. .\c\\ Hampshire,
on the •.'.'itb of .\ugu.--t, l.S-JL his parents
being .\ndrew and IJacbid (.Marshall) Heard,
who were al.so natives of the old (iranite state.
Mr. Beard is descended from Scotch-Irish an-
cestry, the family being founded in .America
i)y three lirothers, Andrew, .losepli and .Archi-
bald Beard, who came ficuu Coleraino. County
Londondeir\. Ireland, .\n-hiliald landed in
\'irgiiiia in i;i;4 and two years later .\ndiew
and .lo.-;eph crossed the Atlantic to Boston,
Massachusetts, but never saw the other brotlier
after coming to this country. .Viidrew Beard,
who was our subject's great-grandfather, was
lioin in County Antrim, Ireland, in 171(1. and
in his native land married Lvdia Goardly, who
was related to the family of Commodore Porter
and was \isited by him while his fleet was at
I'ortsmouth. Xew nain]ishire. Her father was
ail l']nglish officer in the .American devolution.
while her sdii William fought against him as a
member of the Colonial army. On coming to
the new world .Vndrcw Beard brought with him
bis family, (he son William being then fifteen
years of age. From Boston tlie family pro-
ceeded north into Xew Hampshire and sto]i])ed
over night at Bedford, that stale. Muring the
night their landlady gave liirth to twin girl.s
and the following morning William was invited
in to see llieiii. .\s he wa- leaving the mother
said she would give him one of them and
strange to relate he married one of them iii
later years. She bore thc> name of .lane Burns
and was closely related to the noted Scotch poet
Robert Burns. They were married on the 3(ltli
of March. 1790. AA'illiain Beard was born in
Coleraine. Ireland. October -.'(I. K-")!. and was
the eldest son of .Vndrcw Beard, who was a
blacksmilh by occupal imi. In .lime, i;;."i.
while working on a buildiiiL;- on his father's
farm, in Xew Boston. William received the
news that the British had lauded in Boston
and with the consent of his parents he immedi-
ately repaired to Charlestown to take up arms in
defense of bis adopted country. His mother's
last words to him as he was leaving home were:
"Co, smi. and fight for your country, and if the
enemy ever .see your haik ne\er let me see voiir
face again."' He participated in the battle
of P.unker Hill and was one of the fortv to

d^^c^ ^. '2^<^

PAST AMI i'i;i-;si;\'i' of .mk\ai;i> ('()^•^■^^

Miluiltini' III iirillii .-(Pllic caUlr iRTOti? M UCfk
(if hiiiil uiidci' a rakiiiL; lire ri'tmi tlir ciu'iiiv
ill (inlrr 111 prevent tlicir capture. The Kevo-
liitidiiai-y war records of New Jlaiiipsliirc iiien-
tinii ihal after tlie liattle the governiiielit al-
loweil liiiii four sliillings for repairs on his
iiiuslvei. Investigation has sliowii that at the
stonning of tiie heights he sliallereil his -uu
stociv over the head of a British soklier ^vilo
had stahhed him in the face with liis hayonet.
In i;;; Mr. I'.i'ard ieeei\('d an ensign's coni-
niission and was one of the scouts tiiat coni-
meiieed the attack on the enemy at Henningtoii.
il was here that (ieiieral Stai'k on entering
the light utteretl Uw historic words, "Wo con-
(juer to-day or Molly Stark will ho a widow."
.Vlthough iu several engagements Mr. Beard
\\as never wounded e.Kcept as hid'ore mentioned
and at the closi> id' his service returned home
with an honorahh^ military r(>cord. Although
entitled to a jtensinu he nohly refused it. lie
followed farming and lilacksmithing and con-
tinued to make his home in New Hampshire
ilimui^houl the I'cmainder of his life. His
<leath oeenia-ed .lanuary 2, 1832, and his wife
(In d Keluaiai-y !•, ISIlil.

Andrew Beard, the son of William and the
fatiier of our suhject, was horn .lanuary 3t),
ITOl. and was a life-long resident of New
Hampshire. Ue also devoted his energies to
farming and lilacksmithing. working at his
trade when the smith had to make his own
nails ,iiid do all work hy liand. lie lived an
activt', useful and lionorahle life and liecamo
the owner of a good farm in his native state.
He taught school for a time and was a mem-
ber of the Xew Hampshire legislature. In
1810 he married l-llizaheth Cochran, a daughter
of Deacon Cochran, and to them were horn two
children. John Tind Margret. .lohn married
Kmilv Mar-hall, of T'nity. New Hampshire.
In whiini were liorii two sons. George and Clar-
ence, ^largret married Hiram .\ngell and they
had one child. Kmily. For her second husiiand
she marrii'd .Tohn (iilmorc. hut huth Mr. and
^[rs. (Tilmore are now deceased, ilrs. Eliza-
heth l^eard died .lanuary 11. 1826, and her
hushand suhsetpiently married TJaehel Marshall
and removed tn Newport. Xew Hampshire.
Her death oeeiirivd :Mareli ;!0. ISfiO. and he

[lassed away .March IU. 18tJl. By the second
union there were two children: Augustus F.,
of this rexicw: and Ann i-;iizahetli. who died
in infancv.

.Vugiistus F. Beard is indehted to the schools
of Newport, New Hampshire, for the educa-
tional ]n'ivileges he enjoyed in youth. His
liaining at fai'iii lahor was also ample, for al
an early age he liegair assisting his father in
the developmeiU of the lields. After attain-
ing mans estate he followed the occupation to
which he had heen reared and hecame the
owner of scNcnty-five acres of land in New
II anipsliii-e. winch he afterwai'd sold prior to
ln> remoxal In the Mississippi valley. During
the t'i\il war he enlisted at Newport as a mu-
sician in the Sixteenth New llaiiip>hii'e \ uliin-
teei- Infantry hut was sunn diseharged on ac-
eount of illness. He eame to Menai-d county.
Illiniiis. in 1Sli2. and here he resumed faian-
ing operations on a tract of land west of
I'etershurg. He purchased his lirst land here
in 18!)2 and is now the owner of a good farm
of three hundred and fifty acres, which he
lias |ilaced under a high state of cultivation,
adding to it many modern equipments and im-
provements.

At Sunapee. New Mampshire, Novendier G,
1S51, Mr. Beard was uniteil in marriage to
]\[iss Nyrha llurd. a daughter of Iliram and
Esther (Patten) Hiird. Her father was horn
in Newport, New Hampshire. .Tune 3. isiio,
and was of English lineage, and her mother,
who was born in Deering. that state. Decem-
ber 22. 180-4, was also of English descent. ^Irs.
I'>eard was born .Tunc S. is:!:!, and |iiirsued her
education in New Hampshire. Her father
came to Illinois in IS.")-):, journeying hy rail to
Springlield and thence coming to Petersburg
ly stage. He purchased land here and al the
time of his death was the owner of between
six and seven hundred acres. He prospered
in his undertakings in the west and developed
an evcelleni farm, which made him one of the
>nli-taiitial agriiailtiirists of his community'.
He died Mny 2(i. 1S8G. and if he had lived
seven days longer he would have attained the
age of eightv-six years. TTis wife died Febru-
arv II. lSi)2. at the age of eighty-seven years.

Fnio ^fr. and !\[rs. Beard have been born

irs

r.\sr AM) i'i;i:sK\ r of mkxai.'d ( (nxiv

two SOU;;, Ijotli of whom arc liviiij;'. Hiram,
who is now forty-eight yeai's of age, marripcl
iliss Lillie Simons, and they reside two mih'S
southwest of I'etershurg. They liave one son,
Leon, who is now twenty-one years of age.
Irvin 11.. forty-fmir years ol' age. married
Etfie Lewis, and they reside a (|iiarter of a
mile west of I'eterslmrg. Tlieir ehihireii are
three in uiimher: Malul. eleven years of age;
Willis, aged eight; and Marshall, six years old.
Irviii H. Beard obtaincil a lirsl grade cer-
tificate and laugiit .school in Le Witt county,
was also a teacher foi' several years in the
country schools of ilenard eounty and later
engaged in teaching in tlie city schools of this
county. His attention, however, is now given
to agricultural ]iursnits.

Since age conferred iipnii him the right of
franchise ^Ir. Beard lias su])|)orted the Demo-
cratic party. He and his wife are niendicrs
of the Christian church and are a well known
old couide of tins portion of the state. Al-
though "Sir. Beard has advanced far on life's
journey, iii spirit and inti'rests he seems yet
in his prime, still superintending his business
affairs and taking an active interest in all that
pertains to the progress, iniprovemeid and up-
building of this locality. In all the relations
of life he has liei>n honorable and upright and
he is now spending liis declining yeais in peace
and quiet, enjoying the confidence and friend-
ship of many with whom he has been asso-
ciated.

WILLIAM W. STOXE.

It is always of interest to e.xamine into the
history of a self-made man and note the i|uali-
ties in ids cliaracter that have bniiigbt him suc-
cess. William W. Stone deserves to be raid^ed
among this class and after nuniy years active
identification with agricultural interests he is
now living a retired life in (!i-eenview. 1I(^
was born at Irish (Jrove. Menard county, (m
the Tth day of May. is:!:!, representing one of
the old ])i()neer familiis of this state. His
parents were .Viidu'ose Lee and Catherine
(Walker) Stone, the former a native of Vir-
ginia and the latter of Kentiickv. The f.ither

came to ^Menard county in lS"-.'8, casting in his
lot among the frontier settlers, and here he
turned his attention to farming, which he car-
ried on continuously until his death, which oc-
curred (Ui the v':tli of May, 1865. He had
long survived his wil'e. who lia<l ]iassed away in
1841!.

William W. Stone accpiired his early educa-
tion in the public schools and afterward spent
six months as a student in Iowa. His training
at farm labor was not meager for in his youth
he was instructed in the best methods of cul-
tivating the fields and caring for the stock.
To his father he gave the benefit of his service
until he was about thirty years of age. after
which he engaged in farming for himself, car-
ryinij on agricultural pursuits uninti'rruptedly
until about fifteen years ago. when he put aside
the more arduous care? of an active business
life and removed to Greenview. He still, how-
ever, owns the farm which his father entered
from the government on coining to Illinois
more than si.x decades ago. This is a good prop-
I'rtv well improved ami he also has some real es-
tate in Greenview. That he has prospered in
his undertakings is due to his careful manage-
ment, persistency of purpose and laudable
ambition and he is now the owner of realty in-
terests that return to him a good income and
enable him to enjoy a well merited rest.

Mr. Stone has been twice married. In Sep-
tember. 1863, he was united in marriage to Miss
Sarah Frances Harding, a native cd' Keii-
tuckv, and they became the jiarents of three
children: Charles, who is conducting a drug
store in (ineiivii'w; Kitlie .1.. the wife of
Dwight Smith, also of Greenview, and Emma
F.. the widow of .\aron Hatfield. 'Mrs. Stone
de|iarted this life in ls;i; and in ISrs Mr.
Stone was again married, bis second union be-
ing with Eliza .1. Stoni-. a native of Illinois,
who died in ISSll.

Mr. Stone has spent his entire life in ^le-
nard county, covering a period of seventy-one
years, and has tlii'refore been a witness of the
grealei- part of its growlli and dcxi'lopmenl.
In his bovhood days there was much land that
was still uncultivated and the homes of the
settlers were very priniiti\e as compared with
the line residences which are now seen through-

PAST AXT) TM.'KSKX'r OF :\ii:xAi;i) corxTv

out MciiMnl niuiily. lie assisted iiuitLTially in
the substantial ii|)l)uiltliug of this portion of
till' state. es|)eeialiy along- agricultural lines,
anil lia> r\ci- manifested a keen interest in the
genri'al work of improvement.

BEKTU.V \V. HOLE. M. D.

Dr. Berton W. Hole, who is engaged in prac-
tieo in Tallula. where his ability has found
recognition in a large and growing patronage,
was liorn in Mason county nrar Havana. Illi-
nois, October 11. 1870, his parents being Wil-
liam H. and Rebecca Sn.*an (Diett'enbacher)
lliile. The fatbrr « as of English lineage,
while the mother was of German descent. His
birth occurred near Salem in Washington coun-
ty, Indiana, and his father was a native of
Ohio. The paternal great-grandfather. Daniel
Iliile. came from England to .Vmerica and was
the founder of the family in the new world.
At the time of the Civil war William M. Hole
espoused the canse of the T'nion and enlisted
in the Eighty-Fifth Illinois A'oluuteer Infantry.
He served under Shernuin. particijiatcd in the
battles of Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain,
.AIi.-;sion Kidge, Buzzard's Koost, Einggold.
Kenesaw, liesaca, Atlanta, the marcli to the
sea and the Carolina campaign, after which he
jiarticipated in the grand review at Washing-
ton. D. C. He was a brave and loyal soldier,
doing his full duty as a defender of the Union
cause and hr is now an honored mrmlier of
the Graiul .\i-my of the Republic, lie still
resides n(>ar Mason City in Mason county. He
has always followed farming and now owns a
good tract of land in that lorality. He lost
his first wife in Havana. Illinois, in 1877, and
has since married again. He has our brother
and one sister living: Thomas .\.. who is a
retired farmer residing in Havana: and ,Mrs.
l\Iaria Lafton, al.«o living in Havana. Berton
A\ . Iliilr is the second in a family of three
children, but Edgar, the eldest, died at the
age of eighteen months. His sister, (larnet, is
the wife of W. S. Chestnut, who is a farmer
but resides in the town. They have two chil-
dren, a .«on and datighter.

Brrton" V\'. Hole was educalrd in tlie coun-
try s,-li,ii,ls nnd at the high school of Havana,

in -ivliirb he was graduated in ihe class of
18S'J. He then entered the medical depart-
ment of the Northwestern L'niversity, where
he completed a course by graduation in 1892,
the degree of Medical Doctor being then lon-
ferred upon him. Haviiig thus qualified for
practice he opeiird an olliee in \irginia. Illi-
nois, in the summer of 1892, but remained there
only until September of that year, when he
came to Tallula and entered into partiici-ship
with Dr. C. M. Robertson. This relation was
maintained until 1897, when Dr. Robertson
retired and Dr. Hole has since been alone in
business, enjoying a large and lucrative prac-
tice. He is very careful in the diagnosis of
a case, is seldom at fault in his judgment, and
in his practice has displayed a thorough knowl-
edge of the science of medicine with correct
application of its principles to the meds of
suffering humanity. He belongs to the Me-
nard County Medical Society, to the Sangamon
County Medical Society, the Braiuard District
Medical Society, the Illinois State ^ledical So-
ciety and the .Vmerican iledical Association,
and through the interchange of thouglit and e.\-
pcrience in these organizations he keejis in
touch with the advancement which is being
continually made by the medical fraternity.
He has fiirtln'i' prrparcd for his professional
duties by jjost-graduate work in the Post-Orad-
uate Medical College of Chicago, which he at-
tended in 1899. He is now secretary of the
pension board of Petersburg. Illinois, and he
has a large general |>ractice in Tallula and
the surrounding district.

In . I line. 1894, Dr. Hole was united in mar-
riage to Miss Sarah I. Robertson, a daughter
of Dr. C. M. Robertson. She ac(|uiiTil lirr
early education in Tallula and aflrrwai-d at-
tended the Female Seminary at .lacksoiiv ille,
Illinois. Both the Doctor and ^Irs. Hole are
mcmliiTs of the Cumberland Presbyterian
church and they are pi'ominent socially, the
cordial hospitality of the best homes of this
part of the county being freely extended to
them. In his political views llu' Doctor is a
stalwart IJepublican. ever supporting the party
since attaining his majority and although he
has nrvrr sought olliee he kee]is well informed
on tbr ipii'stions and issurs of the day. lie has

183

'AST AM" im;i;si;ni' (if mi;\ \i;ii corx'rv

been a school director iuul he is a )iiciiil)Lr of
tlie Knights of Pythias and the Masonic fra-
ternities, the latter at Pleasant Plains. He was
made a Mason at that place in Ajiril. Iit0.'5.
In a jjrofession where advancement depends ,
solely upon individual merit he has steadily
worked his way u[)ward an<l in the enjoyment
of a lar^e |)ractice is now daily deiiionstratinf^
his ability to suceessfidly solve the intricate
problems which continually meet the physician.

llAIMInX ,1. MAlMiMl.H.

Harmon .John .Marbohl \\a.~ born in (ii-een-
view. Hlinois. on the ITlh of .\|)ril. ISi;."), and
is a son of Heni-y Harmon and Marjraret
(Hackman) ^larbold. who were both born
in Germany but came to America when ipiite
young and were married in this country. Ex-
tended mention is made of the family on an-
other ])age of this volume. The early life of
Harmon J. .Marbold was that of the average
farmer boy, spending his summers on the farm
and attending the common schools in winter
until fifteen years of age. He then entered
the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, Illi-
nois, where he spent three years. Soon after
this he took a six months' course in a business
college at Lexington, Kentucky. T.ater he
spent a year in Bremen. Germany, under the
instruction of a private tutor.

From boyhood ^Ir. ifarbold has been a lover
and admirer of horses, especially of trotting
horses, and early began training the liorsi s on
the t'ariii in this adinircil accoiiiplislinu-nl.
Later he iiecame a driver of no mean ability,
having driven on the same track with Bud
Dolile, Ed (Jeers and otlici' iiotcil drivers.
Some years ago he ojjeiud the trotting staiile
on the ^farliold stock farm at fireenview, Illi-
uois. and sul:se(|uently Grand Karon liecanie the
head of a stable of well bred trotting hordes.
Grand Baron, whose breeding is of tlu- very
best, had a record of 2:121/4. In the sunnner
of 1S9,S he was on tiie grand circuit pitied
against The Monk, Dare Devil and others, and
at Glens Falls, .\'ew York, they were to tnil
for a purse of two thousand dollars, 'j'wo days
before the race was to coin'' ofT. while exercis-

ing, Grand Baron fell dead on (he track fnuu
heart disease. i[r. Marbold had been offered
twelve thousand dollars for him a few days
before he died. ilr. ilarbold still raises trot-
ting horses and trains Init does not follow
the races. He is extensively engaged in fann-
ing and stock-raising, ojierating a farm of over
seven hundred acres. His home is one of the
most beautiful places in central Hlinois and
is linislied in the latest and most ai)iiroved
style.

On the v!ith of June, 1891, :Mr. Marliold was
united in marriage to Miss Emma E. Miller.
the third daughter of II. D. and C. A. Mill.r.
of J't'tersluirg. Illinois. They were mariied
in Ouray. Colorado, and to them have been
lioni the following children: Margaret Ann.
i)orn March 22, 1892; Pauline Miller, iiorn
^larch 2(), 1891:; Anna Marie, who was born
October 17, 1896, and died May 8, 1897; Char-
lotte Riche, born October 17, 1898: and Helen
.Vgnes, born Xovember 22. 1899.

Mr. Marbold was elected a niemlier of tlio
board of supervisors of ilenard county in 19(iO
and re-elected to the same office in 190;?. lie
is an active and successful business num. ener-
getic and public spirited, and honorable in all
his dealings with men. He is modest and un-
assuming in manner, but firm and self-assort-
ing when necessary. His character is best seen
in the family circle, where he exhibits the traits
ol' a faithful husband and father. He is highly
respected in the community where he has lived
all his life, having a host of friends and but
few enemies.

C. 1). MrllorCAI.I.. p. I>. s.

Dr. ('. D. McDougali. engaged in the jnac-
tice of dentistry in Petersburg, was born in
Oni'ida comity. Xew York, January 2.'">. 1809.
He is descended from Scotch ancestry and is
a representative of one of the old families of
the Empire state. His grandfather, John Mc-
Dougali, residi'd (here and Isaac antl Hannah
(.(ones) ilcDougall, |)arents of Dr. JfcDougall,
were nativis of Oneida county. In the year
187:i they removed to Petersburg, where they
have since resideil. and foi- the past few years

^>/

P'-'-

PAS'I' AMI I'lJESEN'

MKN Ai;i» (orN'rv

185

llic father has livcil retired rrom l)U?incss
cares.

In the laiiiih' were niiit' ehihlreii, nf whom
Dr. .MeDoii.nall is the voiiiigest. Three of the
miiiilier are now doeuased. The Doctor was
nnly ahout I'mir veai's of age at the time of the
removal oi" tiie family from New York to Illi-
nois and in the public schools of Petersburg
he acquired liis literary education, completing
his course by graduation from the high school
with the class of l.SSKi. He afterward engaged
in teaching school for two year.';, hut regarding
this merely as an initial steji to other profes-
sional labors, he matriculated in the Chicago
(-'ollege of Dental Surgery, wheie he completed
the regtdar course and was graduated in 189.3.
K'oturning to Petersburg he opened an office
111) the west side of the square, where he re-
mained for four years and then removed to
his present suite of rooms on the south side
(if the s(|uare. Ills office is well equijipcd with
the latest improved appliances known to the
science of dentistry and in his practice he mani-
fests the two qualities which are absolutely
essential to success — mechanical ingenuity and
Ihormiudi understanding of the ])rinciples of
dentistry.

On the 2!)th of October, 18!)(S, in Petersintrg,
I ir. ^[cPougall was married to Jfiss Bertha
lluteherson, a daughter of William and Emma
Ilutcherson. Her father died a number of
year? ago, hut her mother is still living. Mrs.
McDougall was educated in the Petersburg
high school, completing her course in the same
class of which licr liushand was a member, and
then both took up the work of teaching, which
-he followed until her nuirriage. She was a
lady of natural refinement and culture, as well
as intellectual force, which endeared her to a
large circle of friends, and caused lier loss to
be deeply felt, wlien on the Kith of Septenilicr,
ISOr, .she was called from this life. She left
one daughter. Bertha (Jalie. born Septi'inber II.

Dr. MiDdiigall is a ]ironiiiien| Mason, hav-
ing attained the Knight Templar degree of
the VfU'k rite, the thirty-seconil degree of the
Scottish rite, and is also a member of the
Mystic- Shrine. He is an active member of
tlie TTigh School .\lunini Association of Peters-

burg and also of the Alumni Association of
the Chicago Dental College, which meets each
year in Chicago. His attention is largely de-
voted to his prolVssional duties, and laudable
ambition, thorough collegiate preparation and
eiiriiest de\nii(in to Ilis chosen calling have
secured to him gratifying success and consec-
utive advancement.

ALO.XZO 1.. STUHGIS.

Alonzo li. Stiirgis, a representative farmer
of township 19, was iiorn in Caldwell county.
Missouri. November 17, 185(), but in early hoy-
hood days was i/rought to Menard county by
his parents, Daniel and Sarali (Brooks) Stur-
gis. The father was a native of Pennsylvania
and in early life removed to the west. After
residing for some lime in ^[issouri he bi'ought
his family to ]\Icnard county in the fall of
1861 and continued in active business here as
a farmer and stock-raiser until called to his
final rest in the year 1875. His widow still
survives him and is now lii\i]ig in Greenview,
having pas.sed the seventieth mile-stone on life's
journey on the iMh of May. 1!HI|. In their
family weiv fixe ehildren: Alonzo D. : Eliza-
beth, the wife of .lohann Pierce, of this county:
William B.. who is married and resides in
Menard county; Nancy J., who died May 30.
1838; ami Susan, the wife of .Morris Stone, of
this county. The jiarents were memliers of
the Cumberland Presbyterian chiireb and were
people of genuine worth and of the highest
respectability.

The boyhood days of .\lonzo L. Sturgis were
quietly passed in ilenard county, there being
no event of special im])ortance. He worked
in the fields ut)on the home farm aud acquired
his education in the public schools. I'nder his
father's direction he learned the best methods
of caring for the stock and of cultivating his
ero]is and after his father's death he continued
upon the old homestead place with his mother
until twenty-four years of age. at which time
he was married and went to a home of his
own. He resided in Greenview for one year
and iiM the .")lh of November, 1882, removed
to Irish (irove on the old Sturiris homestead.

1S6

PAST AND PRESENT OF MEXARD COUXTY

Subsequently he took up liis abode upon the
home farm and since the first of JIarch, IS'JG,
has tiiere carried on general agricultural pur-
suits and the raising of stock. For thirty-two
years he operated a threshing machine each
season, but during the past two years has not
engaged in that business.

On the 24th of December. 18S0. Mr. Sturgis
was united in marriage to iliss Mary M. Cleve-
land, a daughter of William H. and Hannah
H. (Trumbo) Cleveland. Her father was born
August 13, 183S, in New York, and after his
removal to the west established his home in
Menard county, Illinois, where he carried on
agricultural pursuits for a number of years.
After the inauguration of the Civil war.
aroused by a spirit of patriotism, he offered his
services to the Union and on the 11th of Sep-
tember, ISGl, became a member of Company E.
Twenty-seventh Illinois Infantry. He was
wounded at the battle of Belmont, Missouri,
in Xovember, 1861. The regiment received its
first baptism of fire under General McClernand,
forming tlie right wing of the attacking force,
and inspired by its bravo colonel it drove
against the enemy in the midst of a perfect
hail of indicts and canister. Mr. Cleveland was
honorably discharged February IS, 1862, but
he re-enlisted as a member of Company F,
Twenty-eighth Volunteer Infantry at Peters-
burg, June 18. 186-1:. Later he was with Com-
pany C, there having been a consolidation ef-
fected on the •Srth of .Tune. 1864. He then
served with Company C until mustered out aft-
er the close of the war, on the 1.5th of March,
1866, at Brownsville, Texas. He arrived at
Camp Butler May 13, 1866, and was there
paid off. He is now living at Guthrie Center,
Guthrie county, Iowa. During the interval be-
tween his first and second jieriods in military
service lie lost his wife, who died July 19, 1863,
and he afterward married again and is now
living with his second wife in Iowa. The chil-
dren of the first marriage are Alonzo, who was
born August 4, 1861, and died Xovember 31,
1884; and Mrs. Sturgis.

ifr. and Mrs. Sturgis are the parents of
four children : Lawrence E., who was born
May 6. 1882, and is at home; Rolland E., who
was born October 2, 1884, and died on the 2'Z(\

of X'ovember, I'ollowiiig; Lonn E.. born April
IS, 1886: and Raymond S., born July 14, 1889.
In his political views Mr. Sturgis is a stal-
wart Republican, unfaltering in his advocacy
of the party, and he is now serving as one of
the school directors and also as road commis-
sioner of his township. He is a member of
-Myrtle lodge. Xo. 470, I. 0. 0. F.. at .Middle-
town, has filled all of its chairs and has been
a delegate to the state lodge. His wife is con-
nected with the Rebekah degree, the woman's
auxiliary of the Odd Fellows society, has held
all of the offices therein and she, too, ha.s been
a delegate to the state lodge. Mr. Sturgis i'je-
longs to the Modern Woodman camp, No. 173,
of Greenview; the Farmers ^lutual Protective
Association, No. 207, at Greenview, and both
he and his wife are members of the Court of
Honor, connected with Pleasant Valley lodge,
Xo. 59, at Middletown. They have many waria
friends in fraternal circles and are held in
high esteem throughout the county where Mr.
Sturgis has spent almost his entire life, while
Mrs. Sturgis has been a lilV-loiig resident of
this portion of the state.

ANDREW GADDIE.

Andrew Gaddie is a self-made man. whose
life history can not fail to prove of interest,
as it indicates what may be accomplished
through strong and determined )jurpose, guided
by honoral)le effort. Long a resident of Me-
nard county, he is now largely living retired
from active business cares, although he is yet
to some extent engaged in buying and shipping
stock. In community interests he has iieen an
active factor and the trust which his fellow
townsmen have in him has been indicated by
liis election on various occasions to county
offices.

Mr. Gaddie was born on the Orkney islands
of Scotland, on the 31st of May, 1837, and
when but thirteen years of age he went to sea
with his maternal uncle. David Spence as a
cabin boy. He followed the sea until nineteen
years of age, after which he returned Itome and
attended school for two years. On the expi-
ration of that period he came to the United

i'^n^

o
te

n
w

PAST AND PRESENT OF MHXAKU COUNTY

189

Stales in company with his sister Jane, cross-
iug the Atlantic iu 1859. and since th u time
ho lias continuously made his home in ;\Ienard
county — one of its respected and worthy citi-
zens, co-operating in many measures for the
general good. He filed his paper, indicating
his intention of heeoming an American citizen,
August 2.>. ]S()2. A few days before this he
had nianiri'stcd his loyally to the governniciil
by joining the Union Army, enlisting on tbe
14th of August, 18G2, as a iirivate under Cap-
taiu ,lohii A. Hurt, of Company K, Oue Hun-
dred and Sixth Illinois Infantry. He partici-
pated in the siege of Vickslmrg. the capture
of Little Rock, Arkansas, and other engage-
ments and was discharged at Little Rock, Oc-
tober M, 18G4, after more than two years of
active service, on account of disability. In
the meantime he had been detailed as a re-
cruiting officer under Captain Christie with of-
fices at Atlanta, Illinois, and he thus sent many
soldiers to the front.

After his discharge Andrew Caddie returned
to Menard county and in 1867 he purchased
a farm of two hundred acres in township 18,
range 5 west. He then turned his attention
to the production of the cereals best adapted
to soil and climate and also to the raising of
live stock. Ho purchased his farm of Robert
A. Creswcll. nl' McLean county, September 23.
18G7, and as he found opportunity he added
to his possessions until he now owns three hun-
dred and twenty-six acres of very ricli and
arable land, which for many years returned
to him good luirvests and now yields him a
gratifvino; financial income. In 181)1. liow-
ever, he put aside the active work of the fields
and retired to private life, removing to Green-
view, where lie ])urchased a homo, which he has
since occupied. He has continuously engaged
in shipping stock since ISGG and follows this
pursuit to some extent at the present time.
In addition Id his hnme farm he has two hun-
dred and ninety acres of land two miles north
of Greenvic'w and one hundred and sixty acres
adjoining tlic corporate limits of the city on
the west, together with five acres of timlicr land
in Irisli Grove. Ho also owns the Jiome that
he now occupies, together willi four lots there
and across the street he has a nice cottage sit-

uated on two lots. Ho also has a nice house
and lot north of town and when he first took up
his abode in the city he formed a partnership
with G. G. Spear, now- deceased, in the con-
duct of a grocery and meat market, but not
meeting with the success that he anticipated in
this venture he sold out October 1, 1893. He
has now retired from all business interests,
save that to some extent he yet Iniys and ships
stock.

Mr. Gaddio has been called to several public
offices by his fellow townsmen who recognize
his ability and trustworthiness. He was first
olocted county commissioner in 187G, was re-
elected in 1879 and 1882 and again in 1885,
serving in all through twelve consecutive years
upon the county board. He was also a mem-
lioi- of tlie school board for twenty-one years
and was president of the town board of Green-
view for one year. He has ever exercised his
official prerogatives in support of the measures
wliich ho deemed would prove of greatest Iien-
ofit to the majority and his interest in the
welfare of his county is deep and sincere.

On the 20th of November, 1866, Mr. Gaddie
was married to Miss Sarah Keene, a daughter
of Thonuis and ilariha (Warner) Keene. of
Monard county. Unto tbcm have been born
oiglit children: John '1'., Iwrn February 17.
1868, is residing upon tho old homestead; Cora
Xellio. born November 8, 1869, is the wife of
George A. Stevens and resides across the street
from her father: Katie Gertrude, born January
27, 1872. is the wife of Frank Montgomery,
now living on her father's farm north of Groen-
view; Charles II., born January 25. 1873, re-
sides u])on the old home place: Mary Emma,
born ]\Iarch 14, 1876, is the wife of Seymour
Sanders, of Greenview; Jessie Artamisc, born
.Fanuary 26, 1878, is the wife of Ernest Tripp,
a hardware merchant of Greenview; Mattie
Ann. born December 5, 1880, is the wife of
Elijah G. Spears, of Greenview; Elsie Jlarga-
rot. born .Vugust 31, 1882. is the wife of
Charles Ramsey, and tliey reside with Mr.
Gaddie. Mrs. Gaddie, who was born October
8, 1848, died April 22, 1887. and on the 13th
of August, 1889, Mr. Gaddie was again mar-
ried, his second union being with Eliza A. Con-

190

PAST AND ri;i:si:\T oi' mknaim) rorNTY

ant. ol Moiiard county, who was born Xovriiilicr
10, 1842. and died September 26. 1901.

^Ir. Gaddic attends tlie Presbyterian churcli
and is a mendier of Hurst Post, 0. A. R. ITis
political allegiance has long- been given to the
Democracy. He certainly deserves tlie praise
that is accorded the term of tlic self-made man,
for lie never inherited a cent nor does be owe
a single cent, yet he is the possessor of exten-
sive and valual)le property interests, all of
whicli have been ac(|uircd through liis unfalter-
ing enterprise. en]ialilr management and judi-
cious investmi lit.

KlliBY S. JOHNSON.

Ivirby S. Johnson, who for twenty-two years
has- been a resident of Menard county, where
he has been very successful in the conduct of
general farming and stock-raising interests,
now makes his home in township 19, range 5
west, near Middletown, Illinois. He was born
in Fleming county, Kentucky, on the 23d of
October, 1860, and is a son of John S. and
Luellen (Biadley) Johnson, who were also
natives of Kentucky, the father born November
12, 1817, and the mother on the 25tli of De-
cember, 1818. John S. Johnson spent his boy-
hood daj'S with his parents on the old family
homestead in Kentucky and after his father's
death he began the operation of the old home,
comprising three hundred acres of rich land,
which he placed under a high state of culti-
vation. He was also extensively engaged in
the raising of mules and hogs and found tiial
a profitable source of income. His corn crops
were among the largest produced in this section
of the state. He bought mules and hogs for
the markets of West Virginia and North and
South Carolina, and drove his stock to those
states, there being no railroads at that time
to furni.sh shipping facilities. He made two
trips each year, walking the <iitire distance.
At the time of the Civil war lie beeanie a mem-
ber of the soutliern army and remained in the
service until the clo.sc of hostilities. Tn 1814
he married Luellen Bradley and they lieeame
the parents of five children, four sons and a
daughter, but two died in childhood. 'I'lie

three now living are: Elizabeth, the wife of

James Shrout. a resident of ^lissouri; George
T., who married Miss Josie Jackson and is
now living in Kentucky; and Kirby S. The
father long figured prominently in business
life and jiublic circles in his ]iart of Ken-
tucky, and there be died on the 1st of April,
1901, respected by all who knew him. His
wife had passed away July 1, 1894.

Kirby S'. Johnson remained with his parents
during the period of his youth and obtained his
education in the public schools of Kentucky.
In 1882, however, he bade adien to parents and
friends and started ont in life on his own ac-
count, coming to Menard county. Illinois,
where he secured ein|iln\iiient with Thomas
Kincaid as a farm hand, lieiiig thus engaged
for eighteen moutlis. He then married the
daughter of his employer. ^liss Harriet Kiii-
caid. the marriage taking jilace on the 14th of
January, 188."). Her father was born in Bath
(^ouiity. Kentucky. Octolier 15. 1822. and mar-
ried Miss Lueinda Patterson, whose birth oc-
curred in Hardin county, Ohio. They became
representative and iirominont farming ]ieople
of ifenard county, where they spent their re-
maining days. Mrs. Kincaid died April 14,
1872. and ^Ir. l\ineaid"s death occurred Feb-
ruary 7. 1900. Tliey were the parents of seven
cliildren. three sons and four daughters, but
the first two died in infancy. The five now
living are Lee. a resident of Athens, who was
born February 7, 1857, and married Miss
Susan B. Culver; Mrs. Johnson, born Decem-
ber 31. 1861 ; Louie J., who was born August
16. 1864. and is the wife of Harry E. Jones,
who resides near Athens; Lucy B.. who was
born October 30. 1867, and is the wife of U.
J. Hale, of Jacksonville, Illinois : and Annie
S.. who was born ^fay 9. 1871. and is the w-ife
of Isaac Jones, who resides near Fllston,
Iowa.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson has been
blessed with five children, all sons: Harry
D., born July 17. 1886: Thomas K., born Au-
gust 4. 1889: Hngh F.. born November 8,
1S92: Yincent K.. born ^Fay 29. 1896; and
George L., born March 26. 1900.

After their marriage ^Fr. and 'NFrs. .Tobnson
removed to Jackson county, ^Fissonri, where
lie carried on farmin;: fm- a vear. and fhev

Mi;. A\ n MKS. K. S. .lOIIXSOX.

I'AST WD I'RESEXT OF irEXAl.'H (OlXTY

1!):5

then vc'tiirneil to Alenard cuuiily, wla-re, in
188(). he hegaii tlie operation nl" une Inindreil
and twenty-six acres of hind, lie afterward
piireiia>eil (liis property and he nuw has two
hinidred and sixty acres, on wliicli lie carries
on general farming with good success. He has
also been well knowti in connection with stock-
raising. At line time he was extensively en-
gaged for ten years in the raising of fine horses
for driving and fur the trnck. and lie had a
track upon ids farm for training. He devel-
oped some good racing stock and raised and
sold many good roadsters. On tlie 8tli nf .luiio.
1800, he held a ]iuhlic sale and dis]iiised nf all
the fine hred horses whiih he had at dial time.
Tie had during tliat period several fine stal-
lions, whicli he kept for hreeding purposes. In
more recent years he has given his attention to
draft horses, and at the present writing, in the
fall of 1004, he has upon his farm twentv head
of horses, ninety head of cattle, two hundii-il
liogs and fifty sheep. Ho is regarded as one
of the leading stockraisers of this part of the
country, and has liaiidled m:in\ fine animal.-.
^fr. Johnson is a niemher of the ^[asouic
fraternity. His ]iolitical allegiance is given
the Democracy and he has served for three
years as coiinty commissioner, but is not an
aspirant for oflfice and has declined to become
a candidate for other ofTlcial positions. He
lias hcen selioii] dii-ertor, liowcvcr, for twelve
yeai-s and the cause nf education finds in him
a warm and hel|iful friend, lie and his wife
attend the Presbyterian church. In his busi-
ness career he has steadily worked his way up-
ward, overcoming all difruiilties and obstacles
in his path ami he now occupies an enviable
position among men of afihiemr' in ^reiiard
count V.

.TKFF .TOHXSOX.
.leff .Tohnson is one of the best known citi-
zens of Menard county, few having longer re-
sided in this part of the state. He is, indeed,
an honored and respected pioneer settler and he
receives the veneration and esteem which should
ever be accorded those of advanced years who.se
lives have lieen worthilv iiassed. He resides in

Athens precinct and the old homestead farm
was also his liirthplace. He was born Octoijer
:>, 1828, hi,< parents being William and Cynthia
(Williams) .lohuson, both of whom were na-
ties of Bath county, Kentucky. The father was
born January 8, 180], and was reared in the
county of his nati\-ity. After arriving at
years of maturity he married Miss t'ynthia Wil-
liams and immediately afterward they started
for Illinois, arriving in this state in the fall of
182;i. They were among the first permanent
settlers of Menard county. Mi. .lohnson se-
cured a claim, entering the land from the gov-
ernment, and built a cabin, which was at the
head of Indian creek, his farm being included
within the borders of our subject's property.
He continued to reside hero until his death,
which occurred about 1843. He was noted for
his honor in all business transactions and in
every relation id' life, and he was a man of
ipiiet and refined habits, unassuming in dis-
position and yet whose genuine worth caused
him to enjoy the regard and confidence of all
with whom he was associated. He never sought
luililic ofl^ce. in fact, always refused all offers
made him for [lolitieal iireferment. He en-
joyed more the even tenor of farm life and do-
mestic quiet and hapjiiiuss. lie reared a fam-
ily of seven children, of whom only two are
now li\ing: .'elV and .lolm. residents of
^leiiard coiiniy. Tlio.se deceased were: Mrs.
Ilaniiali llracken : Melinda, wife of Edward L.
Sweeney: Jose]ili : and Elijah, who was killed
by the Indians in {'alifornia in 18.53.

Jefl Johnson, whose name introduces this
record, jmrsued his education in an old log
school house in ^lenard county, with a punch-
eou floor, slab Iienches and an immense fire-
place and other primitive furnishings. Little
was taught beyond reading, writing ami arith-
metic, but experience and observation have
added greatly to his knowledge and he has kept
in lotuli with the progress of the world lliroiigh
reading, .\fler leaving school he began farm-
ing on the old home place and throughout tlie
greater part of his life he has carried on agri-
cultural pursuits and stock-raising. He was a
in-eeder and buyer of hogs and cattle and made
a specialty of raising what was known as short-
horn Christnias cattle. .Vs there were no ship-

194

PAST AXD PEESENT OF MEXARD COUNTY

ping facilities iu ilonard uouiity at that lime
he drove his cattle to St. Louis to market. At
the time of the Civil war he traded extensively
in mules and horses and making judicious pur-
cliases he was also able to make profitable sales.
His business has been carried on successfully
and what he has acquired has come to him as
the direct result of his entei'prise, careful labor
and management and his keen business fore-
sight. He now owns four hundred and fifty-
five acres of land in this county and a section
in Kansas.

On the oUth of December, 1858, Mr. John-
son was united in marriage to Miss Mary
Eilpy. who was born in Piqua, Miami county,'
Ohio, September 21, 1836. Her parents were
Xathan Pratt and Bethany (Jackson) Eiley,
the former a native of iliddletown. Connecti-
cut, and the latter of Findlay, Ohio. When she
was eight years old the family came west and
settled in Logan county, Illinois, but two years
later removed to Beloit, Wisconsin, where they
spent eight years. At the end of that time they
returned to Ohio, wliere Mrs. Eiley died. Sub-
sequently the father again came to Illinois and
died at the home of our suljject in 1898, at the
age of eighty-eight years. In his family were
ton children, of whom four are still living.
^Iv. and Mrs. Johnson have one daughter,
Anna, whose birth occurred on the old home-
stead in 1867 and who is now the wife of E. G.
King, a prominent attorney of Lincoln, Illi-
nois. They have tln-ee children. ^Irs. John-
son is a member of the Presliyterian church.

Mr. Johnson has lieen many times solicited
to become a candidate for office but has steadily
refused, preferring to devote his energies to
his bnsiness affairs and his leisure time to the
enjoyment of the pleasures of home. He has
always given a stanch support to the Ee])ub-
liean part}', however, since its organization.
He has contributed his full share to the ma-
terial progress and upbuilding of the county
and he takes a just pride in what has been ac-
complished. His memory forms a connecting
link between the primitive past with its pioneer
conditions and enviroments and the progressive
present with its modern civilization and
splendid improvements. He can relate from nie-
mory many incidents concerning the earlv

days and of later develojiment and is consid-
ered authority on all subjects relating to the
pioneer history of ilenard county, where for
seventy-six years he has made his home, residing
continuously upon one farm.

FEANK E. BLANE.

Frank E. Blane, a son of Captain S. H.
Blane, was l)orn near Greenvicw, this county,
October 16, 1866. He obtained his elementary
education in the public school of Menard
county and was graduated from the high school
of Petersburg in 1884. He attended Eureka
College at Eureka, Hlinois, two years and sub-
sequently matriculated in Knox College, at
Galesburg, Illinois, where he graduated «ilh
the class of 1888. At Knox College he wa.s a
member of Delta Chai^ter of the Phi Delta
Theta Fraternity. He entered upon the study
of law with his father as preceptor and on the
17th day of January, 1891. was licensed to
practice law. He at once became a partner of
his father under the firm name of Blane &
Blane. This connection continued until the
junior partner was elected county judge in the
fall of 1898. He served on the bench until
•June. 1905, when, owing to his father's ill
health, lie resigned his official position to again
liecome his father's partner in the law Intsiness,
this relationship continuing until the deatii of
Captain Blane.

Frank E. Blane was twice elected city attor-
]iey of Petersburg, in 1891 and 1893. He is a
member of the Christian eliurch at Peters-
burg and an active Mason, Ijcing a member of
Clinton lodge, Xo. 19. A. F. & A. M.; Dewitt
chapter, Xo. 119, E. A. M. : St. .Vldemar com-
mandery, Xo. 4T, K. T. ; ami ^iDliainmcd 'i'em-
|ilr of the ilystic Shrine.

AI.MON G. iiri;D.

For many years actively engaged in farm-
ing in ih'nard county and at an early day
identified witli tlie educational develo]nueiit of
bis district. Aluion (i. ITurd is now livinsj' a '"c-
tircd lil'c, I'lijoviiig thi' lViiit~ III' li's rm'ini'i'

'^Ji^^'

I'As'r AM) ri;i:sr-:xT ok .mknaim) cocnty

vj:

li)il. lie Wilt; lioni ill Suiiiij)L\'. Sullivau (.•ouiity,
Xuw Hampshire, on the l^Uh of March. 1838,
his parents heiny Hiram aiul Esther (Patten)
Ilurd. The Hiird ramily is of English lineage
ami was estahlished in Massachnsetts in early
colonial days by Peter Hiird, the great-great-
,1,'rand father of our subject, wiio settled in Xew
llanipshire near the present site of Concord.
There he eai'ried on agriruliural pursuits. He
was aeetuupanied on the \oyage hy two l>rothers,
one of whom established his home in Conneeti-
eut. while the other went south to Virginia.
Peter Hard became the owner of land in the
Old Granite state and there he resided uiiiil
called to his liual rest. Ho was also accom-
panied to America liy the great-grandfather of
our subject, who likewise nuule his home in
\rw I i;iiii|ishire and tiuTe reared his family.
The grandfather was a soldier of the Hevolu-
lionary war and participated in many of the
battles that occurred in the eastern section of
the country. Hiram Hur<l. born and reared in
New Hampshire, also carried on agricultural
|iursuils. lie wedded Miss lOsther Patten, who
was of Scotch-Irish descent. Her father was
also one of the herois of tlic Hevolutiouary war,
serving as a private, and he likewise re])resented
one of the oldest American families. Pliram
Hurd was one of a family of four sons and
throe daughters, all of whom ai'i' now deceased.
lie had a lirother. .lobn .\. Ilurd. who came
to Illinois in ISliS and seiilcd in P>eardstown,
whore ho owneil land and reared a family of one
son and two daughters. The son died wliilo
serving his country in the Civil war. One of
the daughters, Mrs. Cclania C. Dickerson. now
resides in Jacksonville, l-'loi-ida.

Hiram Hurd remained in Xiw Hampshire
until after his marriage and lln' liirlh of several
children. He came to Illinois in l.S.')4. bring-
ing with him one son and one daughter, having
lost live children during their nsidonce in the
(lid t^iranite state, all id' whom died in early
life save Irvin, who was nin<'leen ycais of age
at the time of his demise. Mr. Iluid settled
upon the farm where bis son .\lmon (J. now
resides and he iiecanie one of the enterprisiui;
and ])rosperous farmers of this county, adding
to his landed possessions from lime to time un-
til he had acijuired about eight hundred acre-.

lie had .secured one hundred and si.xty-eiglit
acres before his arrival here, locating this with
a land warrant given his brother John .\.. who
served as a soldier, ilr. Hurd continued to re-
side in Menard county for many years and was
respected as a worthy pioneer and upright citi-
zen. His birth had occurred in 1800 and he
was therefore eighty-six years of ago at the
timi' of bis (Icalb in 18SG. His wife passed
away in ISHl and iur remains were interred by
his side in Oakridge cemetery. Uoth were con-
sistent and faithful members of the Christian
ebureii and -Mr. Hurd had given stalwart polit-
ical support to the Democracy.

Alinon (i-. Hurd began his education in the
schools of .New Hampshire an<l continued his
studies at Indian Point, Illinois. He loft
school. lio\vc\<T. at the ago of si.xtoeii years and
afterward devoted his entire attention to farm
lalior. He had assisted in the cultivation and
improvement of the old homestead in the slate
of bis nativity and after coming to the west he
.-lided in the arduous task of develo|)ing a new
farm, lie liegaii agricultural pursuits on his
own account on the farm where be yet resides,
ami as a companion and helpmate for life's
journe\ he chose Miss Mary .1. Miles, a daugh-
ter of James ^liles. She was educated in the
eoinmou schools and in lS(i7 she gave her hand
in marriage to ilr. Hurd. They became the
parents of twn childr<'n: llarvev .\., who was
born July 1 I, IsC'.i. was educated in I'rters-
burg anil became a traveling salesman for the
firm of Thonuis & Clarke, cracker mau\ifaetur-
ers of Peoria. Illinois. He rose very rapidly in
business, but in the midst of a very successful
career he was taken ill and died on the 21.st
of .\ugust. lilDl. at the age of thirty-two years.
Ids remains being intcri'ed in Oakridge eome-
terv. loiia O.. who was born I'Vbruary ^^^.
1874, is the wile of Hardv I'eterson and they
reside with lier father. They had one .son.
Mvron Dale, who was born Novendier 1, 1!)02.

In early manhood ^Ir. Hurd engaged in
teaching school at Little (irove and Hrusli Col-
lego, also at Tice and at Little Brick, but the
greater jiart of his time and attention have
been devoted to agricultural pursuits upon the
old homestead, on which ho has now lived con-
tinuouslv since 1S.'>4. TTe has |)romnted mod-

198

PAST AND PRESENT OF :\[EN'ABD COUNTY

ei'ii iiiijiioveinciits here, earning i'oruanl tlic
work of progress until lie has a splendidly de-
veloped farm property, and in his business deal-
ings ho is always just, fair and accurate. His
political allegiance is given to the Democratic
party. He belongs to the Odd Fellows soci-
ety and his wife is identitied with the Rebekah
degree, while Ijotli are memliers of the Christian
church and take a helpful interest in the various
church activities. A half century has passed
since Mr. Hurd arrived in this county and its
remarkable changes are familiar to him. Ini-
he has witnessed its development from pioneer
conditions to a state of advanced civilization
and improvement.

WILLIAM GOFF.

AVilliani Gotf, who is now living retired, was
once engaged extensively in stock-dealing in
Menard county and he is now residing in town-
ship 18 upon a fine farm of two liundrcd
and eighty-five acres, his attractive home be-
ing surrounded liy lieautiful shade and fruit
trees of his own ])lanting. He has traveled
far on life's journey and in the evening of life
he receives the veneration and respect which
should ever be accorded one of advanced years.
whose career has been actuated by upright prin-
ciples and honorable conduct. He was born in
Green county. Kentucky, August 19, 1822, the
second son of William and Amy (Trent) GofE.
His parents were also natives of Kentuck}-, and
in 182.3 they came northward to Menard coun-
ty. Illinois, remaining for a short time in
Clary's Grove, after which they removed to a
farm five miles soutiieast of the present site
of Peter.sburg. Not long afterward the father
died and the Tnothcr. who was a splendid type
of the nolile pioneer wnnii'ii. not onlv cared for
her fatherless chiidi'cii Imt also succeeded in
retaining po.ssession id' tlic claim, improving it
and laying by .some monry. In the family
were seven children.

William Goff spent his youth and i-arly man-
hood amid conditions which are ahvavs found
in a frontier district. His educational privi-
leges were extremely meager and he earned
his first money when twelve vears of aac In-

riding horses, tramping out wlieat. The sum
tlnis gained he invested in a pig. thus enter-
ing upon his first business transactions. He
sold this at a profit and as he found oppor-
tunity from time to time he |)urchased other
stock until he had quite a herd of young cattle.
lie was a successful trader and he continued to
thus engage in stock-dealing until about thirty
years of age, when, thinking it time that he
own property, he entered forty acres of land
fi'iim the government in ilason county. Illi-
nois. On the expiration of two years he sold
the tract there and purchased eighty acres in
Sugar Grove precinct of Menard county, trad-
ing a horse in part payment for this land and
giving also sixty-five dollars in cash. He then
cut logs, which he hauled to a little sawmill
and had them converted into lumber, with
which to build his first house. This jjioneer
structure, which is fourteen by sixteen feet, is
still standing and is one of the landmarks of
the neighborhood. When he moved into the
little home he had but fifty cents in money and
an ox team. He had incurred indebtedness in
order to complete the house, but he possessed
a resolute spirit and strong determination and
his unfaltering courage and willingness to work
have been the means that have enabled him
to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in
his path and work his way steadily u]iward to
success. He had been installed in his new
home for only a brief period when he broke
forty acres of prairie land for ^Ir. liraslicld
at two dollars per acre and witli this aimiunt
he ]Knd for the building of his house.

On tlie 24th of October, 1844, ]\Ir, Gotf was
united in marriage to Miss Mary D. Westfall.
who was born in Pennsylvania. October 10.
1824. Ilcr ]]arciits removed to Des Moines
c-dunty. Iowa, in ls;i8. ,"\Ir. and ]\Irs. Goff re-
sided upon a farm in Sugar Grove precinct
and as opportunity offered he purchased more
laml unii] he had one bundi'ed and sixtv acres
'I'his he niortgaged for one thousand dollar
and used the money to buy stock. He often
had as high as seventy-five head of fnt cattle
at one time. These he purchased for aliout
twenty-six dollars per head and sold theui for
cine hundred and six dollars per h(^ad. thus
I'oalizing a good profit on bis investment. He

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WIMJ AM (.OKI' AM> l■.\MII.^■

'AST AND PRESENT OF MENAl^D t'OIXTY

203

ako siilil iinilcs i'iii)ii.i;li at mw lime tu liuy lil'ly
head til' cattle. On anotlicM' occasion he l)ought
ten old sows l''ir ten dolhirs each and after let-
tins iheni run in a lot for six weeks he fat-
ti'ni'd llieni and M'ld iheni for twenty-five dol-
lars eacli. He eontinni'd to feed cattle and hogs
for ten years and lias iiad some very fine stock,
jiis liest cattle weighing as high as sixteen and
seventeen Iniiulrcd pounds. Jle lias always
made mimey in the stock Inisiness. I'nv heing
an excelieni judge of stock he was enaljled to
make judicious jiurehasea aiul proiitahle sales.
In ISGO he bought lifty head of cattle for
fourteen dollars per iiead and after feeding
them sold them for forty-live dollars per head,
receiving payment in gold at a tinu> when that
currency was at a iiremiuui. These he bought
in Knox county and drove them to ^Menard
county. On another occasion ho jnirchased a
herd of cattle for which he paid lifty dnllars
per head and after feeding them he received
one hundred and twenty-dvc dollars per head.
He also bonght a yoke of oxen for sixty dol-
lars, which lie afterward sold for two hundred
dollars. .Mr. Golf hecanu' very widely known
as a very extensive ami pri)spero\is stock-raiser
and dealer, and his business was carried on
along progressive and profitable lines for a
number of years, or until 1880. wlu'n he sold
his stock to his son Fred and since that time
he has practically been living a retired life,
he and his wife occupying their fine home in
Sugar (irove precinct, whicli is surrounded by
shade and fnni trees of bis own jjlanting. He
liere lias iwd hundred and eighty-five acres of
rich and valuable land, which is the visible
evidence of his life of thrift and industry.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. GofT were born ten chil-
dren, and the gi'oup picture here rejiresented
shows four generations of the family, Mr. and
Mrs. Goft" being the great-grandparents.

While business cares have largely occupied
his time and attention Mr. GofT has also found
o])])ortunity to devote to judilic interests. He
served as road commissioner for one year and
was school director for fifteen or twenty years.
In iiolitics he is a stanch Democrai. believing
firndy in the ]irineiples of Democracy, and lioth
he and his wife arc members of the Ha]itist
chnreh and have long taken an active and help-

ful part in its work, contriliuting to its suji-
port and doing all in their power to promote
its progress. One of tiie venerable citizens of
^leuard county, Jlr. Golf is honored as a pa-
triarch of this comnninity and it is with pleas-
ure that we present ti> our readers the record
of his career.

•lOIIX W. noXALDSOX.

.\inoiig the younger and yet enterprising and
successful farmi'rs of Menard county John \V.
Donaldson is nundjcred. He was born August
9, 187C). and is a son of Walker Richard and
Rebecca (Sowers) Donaldson. His father was
born in Bath county, Kentucky, Jiily IG, ISSi,
and was a son of Alexander and Saraii (Power)
Donaldson, who came to ^lenard county in
1850, settling on a farm on Salt creek. 'I'heir
family nund:)ered twelve children. W. Richard
Donaldson, after arriving at man's estate, had
come to Menard enunty six months before the
arrival of his parents. In IS.'iS he made an
overland trip to California with a large flock
of sheep, starting in the n\onth of February
and arriving in the Sacramento valley in Oc-
tolier of that yi'ar. For four years he remained
on the Pacific coast employed in various ways
and upon his return to Illinois he engaged in
tlio live-stock business, becoming an extensive
dealer, widely known in this connection in
Illinois and Jklissouri. About ISGT. however,
he concentrated his energies upon the develop-
ment and improvement of his land and upon
his farm ho spent his remaining days. During
and after the war, however, he made many
trips into Missouri, which at that time was
in a very unsettled condition and he bought
and brought to this state many droves of cattle,
which he sold to farmers. His life was often
endangered by bushwhackers, but he possessed
great courage and persevered in his business
career. He ultimately liecame the owner of
laud in both ^lissouri and Illinois. He had
manifested his loyalty to the government at the
time of the Alexican war by enlisting as a sol-
dier of Company G. Third Kentucky Volun-
teer Infantry, ser\Hng under General Sco1±
and participating in all of the engagements

204

PAST AM) I'KESEXT <)F :\rEXAED COUNTY

rroin tlic coiit;! to llie iiiu-icnt city of the .Monte-
zuma?. He dii'd ill his; sixty-eighth year after
about a year's illnes? and was survived by his
wife and four sons, who resided on the home-
stead farm (uiitainiii;:' live hundred acres of
valuable laiul. A local pajjcr in speaking of
Mr. Donaldson, said: "He was the soul of
honor. His word was as good as his bond,
and while he would resent an injury or defend
a friend with a vengeance tliat was terrible to
opponents, there was no Ijetter-heai'ted, whole-
souled citizen than "Dick" Donahlson. Politi-
cally lie was of the General Jackson t3'pe. He
.sought no olliee. ijut no Democrat in this county
has been a candidate for or elected to an office
until his recent illness that does not owe him
a debt of gratitude. In all |)oliiical contests
the warmer the luittle, there, in the thickest of
tlie figlit, Dick Donaldson was sure to be. as
can l)e attested by many citizens of the ])res-
ent day. There are few who have not their
faults. He may have had his. l)ut they were
so oversliadowed by generous and more noble
traits of eharaeler that they were made insig-
nificant. .\ll who knew him can truthfully
say that Walker \l. Donaldson was an honorable
citizen, a good neighbor, a true friend, and
a kind husband and fatlier."

.John W. Donaldson was i-eared umler the pa-
rental roof u[ion the 1)1(1 homestead farm, which
is still his jdace of residence. He attended the
pulilic schools and was instructed in lessons
id' industry and economy on the old homestead.
He early learned the best methods of produc-
ing good crops and caring for the stock and
tliroughoiit his business career has engaged in
general farming and stock-raising. lie both
buys and feeds stock for the market and in
June, 1904, he .shipped three carloads of cattle
and two carloads of hogs to the Chicago mar-
ket.

On the •illtli of October. iSilS. .Mr. Donald-
son was married to liuth Armeling, a daughter
of John H. and Caroline M. (Pugh) Armeling,
the former born in Eadbergen, Hanover, Ger-
many, ^farch 2, 1841, and the latter in Nan-
tieoke. Luzerne county. Pennsylvania, ^larch
18, 1841. In his early childhood days the
father was brought to .\merica and his first
hssons in walking were received on the deck of

the ship on which the voyage was made. With
his parents he came to ^lason county, Illinois,
where he has made his home up to the pres-
ent time, following the occupation of farming
throughout the period of his manhood. He
has been ])romiiient and influential in com-
munity affairs, has served as a memlier of the
school board, gives his political support to
the Demociacy and religiously is identified
with the iietliodist church. In his family are
eight children, live of whom have been school
teachers, intduding ;\Irs. Donaldson. She holds
memliership in the IMethodist church and in
his jjolitical views ilr. Donaldson is a Demo-
crat. He has worked earnestly and persistently
since attaining adult age and is a worthy rep-
resentative of one of the honored ])ioneer fam-
ilies of the county and is also classed with the
successful agriculturists.

.loll.V K. Kl.XCAID.

John l\enned\' Kincaid. one of the most in-
lluential fai-tors in the moral development of
Menard county, and one wliose business record
was alike ei-editaMe anil wmthy of eniidation,
resided for a half century in this part of the
state and was resjiected and honored wherever
known. .\ native of Kentucky, he was born in
Hath county, June ;50, 180S, and was the eldest
in the family of eleven children iiorn unto An-
drew and .Vnna P. (Caldwell) Kincaid. His
grandfather, Archibald 1?. Kincaid, was a na-
tive of Ireland and in early life came to the
new world, locating in Virginia, where he re-
sided until 1780. He then removed with his
family to Bath county, Kentucky. His son.
.Vndrew Kincaid, was at that time four years of
age. The latter remained upon his father's
farm until ISd". when he was united in mar-
I'iage to .Miss .\nna I'. Caldwell and established
a home of his own. In IS:!! he removed to Illi-
nois, locating in township IS, ^fenard county,
on land jiurehased from Ellis Branson. .After
a long, useful and honorable career he died in
1872 at the age of eighty-seven years.

.John Kennedy Kincaid s|)ent the days of his
hoylinnd anil youth in the state of his nativity,
purstu'd his education there and came to Tlli-

PAST AND PRHSEXT OF MENAliD ( HI \IV

•205

iiois two vciii's previous lo the i-cihovmI of tlic
otliiT hiciiiIkm-s of the Iniiiilv. ;ini\iiii; in iliis
statf ill is:!-.'. Up iiiatli' his way up ilic Illi-
nois rivor to Hi'aitlstown and walki-il tioiii tliuic
to S|irin<,'tiel(l. Soon al'terward lie roniovcd to
.Menard eountv and devoted his time and ener-
ijies to various pnrsnits. following carpentering,
rariiiing and scliool-teacliing up to the time of
his marriag(>. He afterward gave his attention
exclusively to agi-icultiiral pursuits and placed
his land imdei' a very high state of cultivation.
\'iewed from a liuamial standpoini. he was en-
tirely a self-made man, tor when he arrived in
Illinois lie had a ca]iital of only fifty dollars.
.\s the years advanced and his financial re-
sources increased he invested in land and be-
came the owner of a valuable farming |)ro])-
erty. in the deNclopment and cultixalion of
which he ac(|uire(l prospt'rity. He lal)ored [ler-
sisteiitly. his efforts dinn-tcd by soiliul judg-
ment and strong purpose, and he became rec-
ognized as one of the most successful, |)ronii-
ncnt and influential citi/.ens of Menard county.
In March, is:i(;. .Mi-. Kincaid was united in
marriage to Jliss Vienna Williams, a daughter
of James Williams, and for more than a half
century they traveled life's journey togethei-.
.sharing with each other its joys and sorrows,
its adversity and prosperity. They became the
parents of fmirteen children, but only five are
now living. Mr. Kincaid was most devoted to
his family and his jih^asure was not in the ac-
cumulatinii of wealth, but in bestowing upon
his wife and children the comforts that money
could secure. He was also most generous in
his supjiort of the church and kindred move-
ments, and tlie poor and needy found in him a
warm and liberal friend. He was sixteen years
of age when his parents united with I he i'resby-
lerian c'liiirch and at the same time brought all
of their children under the holy t)rdinance of
baptism. The im])rcssive ceremony was never
forgotten by .lolin K. Kincaid and it was not
long before he made public profession of his
faith in religion, remaining to the close of his
life a most earnest Christian, whose faith was
proven by his works, .\lmost immediately after
uniting with the church he and a young eom-
jianion organized a Sunday-school, which met
in his father's Ikmuc. and later thev did a iimisI

meritorious work by forming a Sunday-school
for the colored people. He was always deeply
interested in the eolored race and did much for
the improvenienl of those who lived in Ids
community. He ri'joieed in the honor of be-
ing per.sonally ac(piainted with the great
emancipator, .Vbrahani Lincoln, and his work
in behalf of the black race was attended with
good results. lie was a freipieiii and generous
conti'ibutor to the work of the board of freed-
men. On coming to Illinois he joined the
North Sangamon I'resbyterian cliuieh. just two
years after its organization, anil on the 5th of
June. ].s;J7, he was chosen ruling i-lder, which
ofhce he lilled with marked fidelity and great
ability for almost fifty years. Hi' was active in
the various de])artiuents of church work, was
the teacher of the Bible class in tlie Siinday-
•scliool for almost half a century ami labored not
only for his local church, but also sujiporied the
various branches of. church work, being a lib-
eral contributor to home and foreign missions.
The cause of education received his hearty en-
dorsement and he did much for the local
schools. He was one of the principal founders
of the North Sangamon .\cadeniy. which for
many years afforded the best preparatory prepa-
ration for college in the county. Peform.
progress and improvement might be termed the
keynote of his character. He departed this life
FeijTuary Ifi, 1887, and his wife, who was horn
May 4, 1817. passed away :^[arell 2!1, 1888.
Theirs was a most congenial married relation
and they were not long separated in death.
Some one who knew A[r. Kincaid long and well
said: "In him the union of business and
Christian life was most heautifnlly portrayed
and lived. He imjiroved his opportunities for
material advancement, yet was never neglectful
of his duties to his fellow men or his Creator,
and he left behind him an example which is an
inspiration to all who knew him."

0. W. SPKAKS. D. D. S.

I)r. (i. \\ . Spears. I'ugaged in the jiractice of
dentistry in I'etersburg. was born in Tallula.
Menard county. ^lay 1. 18(i0, a .son of G. C.
and Rlizaiieth Sjiears. the former born in Ken-

206

PAST AND PEESENT OF MENARD COUNTY

tucky on the ISth of A]iril, 1823. wliile the lat-
ter's birth occiirrud iu Menard county. In their
family were nine children, of whom G. W.
Spears is the seventh in order of liirth.

Eeared under the parental roof. Dr. Spears
devoted the greater part of his l)oyhood to the
acquirement of a good education in the jniblic
schools of his native town, and when he had
mastered the more specifically literary branches
of knowledge he entered uj^on the mastery of
the principles of dentistry, matriculating in
the Chicago Dental College, where he completed
the regular course and was graduated on the
1st of May, 1902. Immediately afterward he
came to Petersburg. He did not have long to
wait for jjatients and his business has grown
continually, so that he now has a large and
gratifying practice. He is familiar with the
latest methods known to the science, has his
ofiBce equipped with the latest improved dental
appliances, and his skill in performing the
mechanical work connected with the profession
has secured him a very desirable patronage,
which indicates that he has found favor with
the public.

On the 1st of January, 1902, Dr. Spears was
united in marriage to Miss Florence Wood, of
Petersburg, a daughter of H. A. Wood, one of
the old settlers and prominent residents of
Menard county. The Doctor and his wife are
members of the Christian church, have many
friends and occujjy an enviable position in social
circles here. Fraternally he is connected with
the Knights of Pythias lodge, and in the line
of his profession he is a member of the Alumni
Association of the Chicago Dental College and
also belongs to the Illinois State Dental Soci-
ety. He is a Republican in politics, but cares
nothing for public office.

OTTO y. LENZ.

Few men arc more prominent or more widely
known in the enterprising city of Petersburg
than Otto Ferdinand Lenz, who has been an
important factor in Imsiness circles here, being
connected witli a number of industrial and
commercial enterprises which have direct and
important bearing upon the commercial activ-

ity and consequent progress and prosperity of
his city. In his life M'ork he displays many
of the sterling characteristics of the German
people from whom he came. He was born in
Arnswalde, in the province of Brandenburg,
Germany, on the 4th of January, 1862. His
paternal grandfather, William Lenz, was also
a native of that locality and was a carpenter
and builder. There he reared his family, in-
cluding William Lenz, Jr., the father of our
subject. He, too, became connected with build-
ing operations and was thus engaged through-
out the entire period of his business career.
He married Henrietta Martin, also a native of
the province of Brandenburg.

Otto F. Lenz is indebted to the public school
system of Germany for the educational privi-
leges he enjoyed and remained under tlie pa-
rental roof until eigliteen years of age, when
he resolved to try his fortune in the new world.
Accordingly, in 1880, he came to the United
States, making his way direct to Petersburg,
Illinois, where he has since made his home,
and in his business career he has steadily pro-
gressed, making his energy and enterprise a
commercial possibility, manifest in the suc-
cessful control of various enterprises. For four
years he was engaged in coal mining and in
1885 he began learning the bottling business,
with which he has since been connected. In
the spring of 1886 he established a plant of
his own, developing the business now known
as the Petersburg Bottling Works. Here he
manufactures and bottles pure and high grade
carbonated beverages, using none but distilled
water, and the superior quality of the product
brings a ready sale on the market. Mr. Lenz
is also tlie proprietor of the Edmunds ^lineral
and Sulpho Hygeia Springs, the waters of
which are famous on account of their medicinal
qualities as shown under careful chemical anal-
ysis. These springs are located across the river
from Pctersl>urg. The bottling busine.ss is now
very extensive, his plant being fitted up with
the latest improved machinery and facilities in
that lino, and liis trade is constantly growing.
Mr. Lenz has not limited his efforts, however,
to this line of commercial activity, but has been
the promoter of other business interests and is
now the vice president of tlie Petersburg Coal

^^^?^^

PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY

209

Mining Conipiui}- and a direclor in the Virginia
Canning Company, of Petersburg. He forms
his phin? readily, is determined in their exe-
cution and his keen foresight maJies his judg-
ment of value in trade transactions.

On the 2Cth of April. 1889. Mr. Lenz was
united in inarriage to Miss i[innie Spculda, of
Springfield, Illinois, a daughter of William
S'peulda, who was for a number of years suc-
ecssfnlly engaged in the jewelry business in
the capital city, where he died during the early
girlhood of liis daughter Minnie. Unto Mr.
and Mrs. Lenz have been born five children,
two sons and three daughters: Carl, Ilattie,
Bertha, Paul ami Marie.

For almost a quarter of a century a resi-
dent of ilenard county, Mr. Lcnz has figured
in public affairs. He is public-spirited and in
connection with the city government has pro-
moted public measures of lasting bene/il. He
has never had occasion to regret his dcterniina-
(ion to beconu' an American citizen for in this
country, where the road of opportunity is open
to all, he has not only developed a profitable
business but has also gained many warm and
valued friendships.

• lolIX H. WHITE.

John E. \\ hite, now living in Athens jirc-
cinct, opened his eyes to the light of day on the
old liomestead farm in a log caliin, his l)irth
occurring October 1.5. 18.51. Allhough the
farm was then largely iinim])roved it is now a
well developed tract of land, the fields being
i-ich and arable and I'eturning to the owner
a golden tribute for the care and labor he be-
stows upon them.

The ]iarcnts of ^Ir. White wore R. F. and
li'achel E. (Roach) White, the former born
i'ebruary 27, 1819, in Laclede county, near St.
I.nuis. Missouri. With his father, Robert
While, he came from his native state to Illi-
nois about 1823, the family home being estab-
lished at Kickapoo, near Lincoln, where Robert
White secured a tract of wild land and carried
on farming for a short time. He afterward re-
moved to within a quarter of a mile of the
home farm of .John E. White and there he

carried on general agricultural pursuits and
stock-raising until his death, being one of the
early prominent settlers of this section of the
state. As a pioneer he took helpful part in
laying the foundation for present progress and
prosperit}', assisting materially in reclaiming
the wild land for the purposes of civilization.
1\. F. White was reared on the old family home-
stead and assisted in the farm work, so that he
gained practical knowledge of the labor inci-
dent to the improvement of the fields. He
was also active in many public affairs, con-
tributing to general progress, being one of
tlie first trustees of the Indian Point school, his
associate being Mr. Canby, a well known and
highly honored old settler of Menard county.
.Vs a companion and helpnuite for life's jour-
ney 1{. F. White married Miss Rachel E. Roach,
who was born near Nashville, Tennessee, on the
28th of February, 1821. They traveled life's
journey together for many years, sharing with
each other its joys and sorrows, adversity and
jirosperity and u|ion the old homestead farm
now occupied by their son .John E. they reared
their family. The death of R. F. White oc-
curred December 7, 1893, when he was seventy-
five years of age, and his wife passed away on
tlie 19th of February, 1S94. at the age of sev-
enty years, 'i'iic county thus lost two of its
well known jiioneer residents, people whose
worth was widely acknowledged.

John E. White ]iursued bis education in the
Indian Point school and llieii and now known
as tiu' North Sangamon .VcadiMuy. l^aler he at-
tended Lincoln University and when he had
acquired a good education he ])ut aside his text-
books aiul returned to the home farm, where he
has continuously carried on agricultural pur-
suits with the exception of one year, when he
farmed near Irish Grove. Ho has been very
practical as well as progressive in his methods.
The field devoted one year to a certain kind of
crop has the next year been used for the raising
of a difi'ercnt cereal and thus the land has been
kept in rich condition. The latest improved
machinery has been used in carrying on the
work of the farm and all modern equipments
and accessories are found upon the White home-
stead.

Mr. White married ^fiss Emma Jane Derry,

<;io

PAS'I' AND PRESEXT OF MKXAIMi CorXT^'

a dauglitiT of James iJadi^dii and .Martha ( Pol-
lock) DeriT, both of whom arc now rt'siclcnts
of Petersburg. This marriage has been blessed
with three children: I-etta E.. who was liorn
Eebruarv 20, 18S(i, and died August 'i'K 1888:
Edith E.. who was born July 8, 1889; and I?ol)-
ert v.. \>nvn Xovendwr 4, 1897. The two
younger children are yet at home.

^Ir. White is a trustee of the Lebanon ceme-
tery and is an elder of the Lebanon Cumberland
Presbyterian church, to wdiich his wife also
belongs. He atliliates with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows at Athens and he gives
his political support to the Democratic party,
as have his ancestors. He has never sovtght or
desired office, leading a quiet life in this re-
spect, lait in business he has always been found
energetic and diligent, laboring earnestly to
secure a comforta!)le competence that will en-
able him to provide his family with all of the
necessities and many of tlie luxui'ics of life.

ilE.XPV S. ll(»l i;llTOX.

Henry S. Houghton is capalily conduetiug
important liusiness interests and also carrying
on agricultural pursuits in township lit, range
T west. He is a native son of ^Menard county,
born on tlie l.jth of .September, 18(U. his ]ia-
rents being S. M. and Cherry (Lemar) Hough-
ton, both of whom were natives of Kentucky.
The father, who was liorn December 1, ISIO,
was brought to Illinois in his early ))oyhood
da3's and worked at farming in his youth, as-
sisting in the arduous task of developing new
land. His boyhood was largely a period of
earnest toil. He helped to support the family
and later, when he found (i|)|Hii'tiinit\-. li'-
bought land at Little Grove and afterward pur-
chased the tract of land upon which his son,
Henry S., now- resides. This he improved,
transforun'ng it into a cultivable tract, which
yielded to him good harvests. He owned three
hundred and ninety-six acres at the time of his
demise, liaving almost the entire amouut under
cultivation. He raised and fed many cattle
and liogs for the market. He led a very busy
and \iseful life, while in all his Inisiness trans-
actions his dealings were characterized bv the

strictest integrity, lb' was the owner of the
first spring wagon in ^lenard county and ever
uuiiii tested a progressive sjjirit, which promjited
him to use the latest improved machinery and
t(i adopt new ideas that would prove of prac-
tical benetit. His death occurred on the loth
of January, 1889, while his wife, who was born
on the 18th of February. 1818, survi\ed him
for more than liftcen years, jiassing away
March 30, 1904. Tlu'y were married in Sanga-
mon county. Illinois, and they liccame the ])a-
rents of ten children: John and Harriet, who
died in infancy: Eliza and Catherine, also do-
ceased ; Anna, who died at the age of eight
years : Emma, the wife of John Waring ; Wal-
ter, who is married and resides in Bradley,
Illinois: ^lary Ellen, who is married and makes
her home in ilissouri : Henry S : and Elvira,
who is the wife of B. H. Hutcherson and re-
sides in Petersburg.

At the usual age Henry S. Houghton en-
tered the public schools and w'hen not engaged
with the duties of the school room he performed
such labor upon the home farm as his age and
strength would permit. He continued to reside
on the old homestead until his marriage, when
he l>egan working for himself and later he took
charge of the old home property, being at that
time' about twenty-five years of age. He has
since carried on general farming and stock-
raising and annually feeds and ships to the
market about two carloads of cattle and two
hundred lu'iid of hogs. He owns as fine a
team of .Vorman three-year-old colts as can
be f(nind in ^Icnard county, bred by Raines
(ireen. He bought out the interest of tlie other
heirs in the old homi' ]ilace and now owns
tliree hundred and seventy-six acres of land,
whieb is very valuable and |:>rodu(ti\e. fie
administered his father's estate, acting without
a bond and in August, 1904, was discharged
from that "Hice. having settled up the business.
His father trusted him entirely with the prop-
erty valued at twenty thousand dollars. He
has always been progressive in his farm work
and he introduced the first corn cutter and
Iiiiuler in the northern jiart of the county. In
addition tn bis farming interests he is thi>
superintendent of the S'and i?idge Pole X' Lin"
Telephone Company. In connection with C.

.\ii;s. s. M. iiorcii'i'oN.

S. ^\. TTOTTMITON.

\ii,'s. .1. \i. i,'i Ti.iiiK;!-;

\ii;s. II. s. iKirciiTdN.

PAST .WD PRESENT OF M1:N.\|;|i (OlXTY

213

W . Shipley Mini W. I). .Maslcrs he ui-uaui/.cd
the eoinpanv ami Mr. Iloughtou huilt the linos
ami pushed the work to successful coniplctioi\.
He is also inspector and. collector lor the Cen-
tral Union Telephone Company in the Sand
Eidge district and he is tlie secretary of the
Concord Cemetery Association.

Mr. Houghton was married February l-").
1882, to Miss Emma Rutledgo, a daughter of
• lames M. and Margaret (Harris) Eutledge,
the former a native of Tennessee and the latter
a native of Kentucky, born on the 8th of Octo-
ber, 1821. They were married in Sangamon
county, Illinois. Mr. Rutledge had come to
Menard county with liis parents when a mere
lad, the family liouie lieing established about
four miles north of Petersburg. There he con-
tinued to reside until twenty-six years of age,
wlu'ii he was married and began farming for
liiniself. He also engaged in stock-raising. He
carried tlie chain for Abrnliain Lincoln when
he was making the surveys in this part of the
state and worked with him many days. On
one of his tri])s to St. Louis with .Vbraham
Tiincoln and his uncle John Rutledge they saw
a white man whipping a negro and 'Mr. Lin-
coln remarked that if ho bad tlie jiower he
would put a stop to that, little thinking that
some day it would be within his power to
loosen the bonds that fettered three millimi
slave people. While driving hogs from his
home to the Beardstown market on one oc-
casion Mr. Rutledge, then but a boy, was chased
by wolves, but he succeeded in driving the ani-
mals away and returned to his home in safety.
I''or many years he carried on general farming,
but about six years prior to his death he left
the farm and removed to Petersburg, where
he lived retired until called to liis final rest.
T^nto him and his wife were bom fourteen
children, seven sons and seven daughters, of
whom six are now living: Mary, the wife of
.'nbn Moore, a resident of Petersburg; James
r... who is married and resides in Missouri ;
llari'iet. who is the wife of Andrew Park;
C.itberine, the wife of John Clan': 'Nfrs.
Houghton: and Harvey, who is married and
resides in Springfield. The home of Mr. and
Mrs.. Houghton has been blessed with one son
.ind three dauo-bters: Charles E.. who mar-

ried .Mr.-. Uuisy Dowell; Celestine M., Kittie
0. and Ruth F., all at home.

.V stanch Republican in his political views,
Mr. iloughtou has served for one term as coun-
ty commissioner, filling that office for a term
beginning in 1S!)S. He has been cliairman of
the county iioard for two years and he lias l)epn
school director and trustee for twelve years,
while at the present time he is one of the di-
rectors of the old Salem Chautauqua, He be-
longs to the Petersburg Driving Club, is a
member of Clinton lodge, No. 19, A. F. &
A, M., of Petersburg, and is a charter member
of the Court of Honor there. He and his
family hold meirtbership in the Christian
church and he is a most liberal and pulilic-
spirited man. He possesses tlie qualities of a
successful business man and a desirable so-
cial companion, and among liis more strongly
marked characteristics is liis unswerving fideli-
ty to duty. His private interests must always
give way to the public good, and thus ho lias
become lionorod and esteemed by all who have
tile ])leasuro of his acquaintance or who have
mot him in a business way.

ALEXANDER DONALDSON.

.Vlcxander Ddiialdsdii. a representative of one
of the old and valued familire of ^fenard coun-
ty, was born in this county, on the 18th of
April, 1871, his parents being Walker Richard
and Rebecca (Sowers) Donaldson. The father
was a native of Bath county, Kentucky, born
on the 16th of July, 1824, and died on the 10th
of January, 1802. The mother, who was Iiorn
in Ohio, died February 10, 1S9S, at the age of
fifty-seven years, seven months and eight days.
R. W. Donaldson came to Menard county when
twenty-one years of age and was married here
by R. D. Miller. Here he successfully carried
on agricultural jnirsuits for many years and
reared his family upon the home farm.

Alexander Donaldson spent the days of his
boyhood and youth in the usual manner of
farmer lads of the present day period. He has
resided continuously upon the old homestead,
where he now carries on general farming and
stock-raising and in his work he manifests

PAST AND PKKSKXT OF MEXAKD COINTV

good busint'i^s ability, careful inauagcnu'iit aud
unfaltering purpose.

On the 14th of February, 18'JS), occurred the
marriage of ^Ir. Donaldson and iliss Lizzie
Allison. Her parents, James and Ann ( ilont-
gomery) Allison, were natives of Ireland, the
former born in September, 1835, and the lat-
ter in Jlay of the same year. They came to
the United States in 1858, locating in Delaware,
where they resided for some time. In 1864
thev arrived in Petersburg, Illinois, and re-
mained residents of Menard county until li)()2,
Mr. Allison carrying on the occupation of farm-
ing. In 1902, liowever, he removed to Logan
count \', where he now makes his home. He
had visited Anu'rica when fifteen years of age,
but had afterward returned to Ireland, and sub-
sequent to his marriage again came to the
I'nited States, believing that he would have bet-
ter l)usiness opportunities in the new world. In
this hope he was not mistaken, for he foimd
the opportunities he sought and by diligence
and persistent energj' he has worked his way
steadily upward from a humble financial po.si-
tion to one of aflluence. L'nto him and his wife
were born seven children : Martha, James, AVil-
liam, Elizalieth, Sarah, John and Alexander.
T'nto Mr. and 'Sirs. Donaldson has been born
a daughter, Dorothy F., whose lurth occurred
September IS, 1900.

ilr. Donaldson, whose worth and ability arc
recognized bj- his fellow townsmen, has been
called to serve as school (lircctor. having occu-
pied the position for two ycnv. lie votes with
the Democracy and i> iiiiricstcd in tlic growth
and upbuilding of the ])arty, keeping well in-
formed on the questions and issues of the day.
His wife is a member of tlie Cundierland Prcs-
terian church and they are respected young
l)eople of the community, having many warm
friends in ifenard coiiiitv.

JI'DOF MILTON' P.. IIAKRISOX.

.hulge Milton P>. Harrison, who died Xo-
vember 21, 190L was one of the most distin-
guished lawyers that has ever ])racticed at the
^fenard county bar. Xo political preferment
or mere place can ever add to the power or in-

crease the honor which iielougs to a true aud
educated lawyer. It is well known that the
{leace and prosperity of every communit}', in
fact, of the nation, depends upon a wise inter-
])retation as well as upon a judicious framing
of the law. A well known jurist of Illinois
said, "In the American state the great and
good lawyer must always be prominent, for he
is one of the forces that control society."
Judge Harrison ranked with the distinguished
representatives of the Menard county bar and
always stood as a safe conservator of the rights
and liberties of the people. He was the de-
fender of popular interests, the champion of
freedom regulated by law and the firm sup-
porter of good government. Moreover, he was
one of the native pioneer sons of Menard coun-
ty, Illinois, and it is therefore with signal
consistency that we present the record of his
career. His was a life of marked fidelity to
duty, of exceptional ability and comprehensive
understanding of the princij)les of jurispru-
dence. He stood as the arbitrater of justice,
was impartial, of well balanced intellect, was
thoroughly familiar with the law. jiossessed an
analytical mind and also a self-coutrol that en-
abled him to lose his individuality, his personal
feelings, his ]U-ejudice and his peculiarities of
disposition in the dignity, impartiality and
e(|uity of the office to which life, projjerty. right
and liberty must look for protection.

ililton Bryant Harrison was born June 7,
1824, on the old family homestead now owned
by Harry Houghton, south of the city of Peters-
burg. He was a son of Kzekiel Brian Harri-
son, a miuister. who was liorn in \'irgiuia.
•July 19, 178(). The mother, who bore the
tnaiden name of .\nn James Bell, was born in
the same .state. June 14, 1T92. His paterunl
grandparents were l"]zekiel H. :inil Mary
(P>rian) Harrison, also natives of \'ii'ginia.
His parents were mari'ied in Kockini^ham coun-
ty of the Old Dominion and removed with their
family in 1S2:! lo Menard county. They had
len children, of whom Mrs. Enoch Megrcdv
is now the only surviving mendjer.

.ludge HaiM'isou liegan his education in a log
schoolhouse at Old Salem. The little "temple
of learning" had slab seats upon wooden pegs,
oil paper taking the place of window glass,

Aty^iK^ ^.^^aA..U^

d^t^i^^*2rx^

" Ci i^^i'-C^ ^^A

I'ASl' AND I'UHSEXT OF .\[EXAI{D COl N'lV -n'.f

iiiul llif ninin wiis ln'iited liy :iii iiiiiiuiisi' lire- Imig luul lakT \v;it; willi V. L. L'ariiiaii, wlio
jilnii'. 'riic tcaclici- was Meiitcr (iialiani. His was sucuot'dt'd by his brother, E. ti. !•". llarri-
jiwoini tcatlicr was 'i'lioinas .1. Xaiue, who iiold sou. 1'his |iarlm'rshi|i lasted for two years,
sway in an ii|)])er room in thi' resiiieiuc of when .!iid,i>(' Harrison |iiirehas('d his hrotlier's
.laiiu's (ioldshy and Judj,'e ]Iarrison was then inlcn>t. lie was again with .1. 1". Harrison
seven years of a<>e. His tliii-il tearhei- was S. Troiii lSi;."i until ISil'.t. {|||,| was with M. E.
Skai;i;s and the sejiooi was held in a \aeant .Moore froiii iscii until \S',:i. under the linn
house on (ioldshy's laiiii. Hi' afteiward eon- iiaiue ot Harrison & Moore. For some time
tinned iiis studies in a room in the residence li<-' was thus associated with nieroautile inter-
of .Jossi' Malthy, the teacher being iliss Bouney. csts and displayed excellent business ability and
'I'lie next school which he attended was tauglit <'xccutive i'oree. He was also called to public
ill n \arant house on the farm ol' his brotiier, duties, being made deputy collector of internal
.loliii Harrison, the teacher b(>ing Miss l-jiiily revenue ol' the ninth eongnssional dislrid of
Chandler, who was also his lirst Snnday-sehool Illinois uinlrr W . (;. (Irccn. On the ■^(Ith of
teacher. Again he liecame n sludiiii under .lanuary. ISill. lu' was ajipointed collector of
Menler (fraham at the Hardshell r>a|itist internal rexciiue by .\brabani Lincoln, which
cluirrli. follnwed b\' sliidv under Lewis B. ollice he Idled until failing health com|ielletl
W'miiii'. At ilie age of nine yeai's he atli'iided bim to nsigii. During a pail of that time he
ilie l-'armers Point school, the liuilding having made an enrollmeiil I'm- Menard county of
been erected by his father. E. B. Harrison. 'lie pi'rsons subjeei in draft and was himself
• li— r Mallli\' ;ind .lames I!. (iiildsli\. Siv. and enrn||i>d in Imib ^leiiard and l-'iillon eoiiiit ics.
others. His subseiiuent teachers were .1. F. It was his earnest desire to go to the front
Harrison. John (ioldsby and H. Light fool. in defense of the Cnion and the old Hag, but
Later he attended schdiil in Petersburg, wh.ere '"s health would imi permit. He. however,
he leceived instruction from 1'". ileCarty and was a most patriotic and loyal-spiriled man and
('. H. Waldo. He was also a student embr did e\erytliing in his power at home to pro-
W. ('. Pierce at Li<-k Creek in Sangamon mote the progress of the wmi' and secure the
coiinty and it was in that locality near l.ciami triumph of the Fnion arms,
that he taught his Hrst school in ISIC. \Vliil(> .liidge llarri.son linally decided to try farni-
a student in early boyhood he studied his spell- iiig in order that the onldoor exercise might
ing at night b\ the lii;lil (d' the pine knots, prove benelicial to his health, which had be-
I'or there were tno maii\ ntbeis in the family come greatly im|)aired during the close con-
sitting around lln' tallow candle for the liiiement in the sheriff's otlice. For .several
younger members of the househohl to get near \cais he followed agricultural pursuits west
the light. While teaching school he studied of Springlield and in ISSli he removed with
law at night just to know it and prolitaiily his family to Fureka Springs. .Vrkansas. in
employed his time, while keeping up his haliit the hojie of iieing bcnelited physically, for bis
of remaining home evenings wliil<^ other young I'.calth was still in a precarious c(mdi|ion.
men played games "oul." Lati'i- lie coiidncted .\fter thirteen inonibs among the mountains
a lanyard and a brickyard nn land we~l of his ami springs in that part of the ■•ountry he re-
home. He afterward turned his attention to turned with bis family to (he farm, where they
the bakery business in l^l; in retersbiirg in ii'sided for a few months and llicn eslablished
connectimi with (leorge Davidson and con- his home in Peti'rshurg in order thai he might
ducted this until the fall of 1S4S. when he educate his daughters in thi' city. There he
sold luit. In the spring of IS 19. when twenty- resided up to the time of his death, which
li\e years of age. he enlered intn partnership occurred on Thank.sgiving evening at S :'.>((.
with .1. F. llarri.son, with whom he remaimd Xovember 2A. VMU. Thus passed away a man
for a vear. after which he engaged in leaching of unimpeachable character. Mis life was a
-, hnnj. Frniii l.s.",:! niitil IS.").") he was again reconl of liont^ty. justice, patience, urbanity
\\\\u .1. F. Harrison as a merchant of Peters- and industry.

■'•'I'

PAST Axn rRKsi']XT OF :\rEX\i;i) couxty

.liiilgp Hnrrisoii's jjolitical sujiport was ever
■rivi'ii to tlic Rej)ul)li(.'an party. In 1S4G, when
t«tMit_v-t\vo \i'ai> of age. lie cast liis first vote
for Al)raliam Lincoln, ilicn a candidate for
conjjress. He liad been ac<|iiaintcd with Lin-
coln at. Old Salem when the inartyred presi-
dent there worked in a mill, to which Jiidsre
Ifarrisou would often carry corn on horseback
to be ground, lie again voted for Lincoln in
1S60, when he became candidate for the presi-
dency.

Judge Harrison was married to .Mrs. Md-
druin Sutton, nee Hunter, on New Year's eve
at Jacksonville Centenary church just at the
close of a watch meeting in 1S70. Her death
occurred October 2, 1899, and thus he survived
her for five years. She had been a fitting com-
panion of her husband, possessing a bright,
sunny disposition, combined with a quiet, mod-
est demeanor. She was educated in Jackson-
ville Academy. She was a kind and loving
wife and mother and had a host of warm
friends. Her interests centered in her home,
which was justly celebrated for its hospital-
ity, and because of her many good traits of
character she was beloved by all who knew her.
I'nto Judge and Mrs. Harrison were born two
children. M. U. Belle is now the wife of Bar-
ton S. Osborn, who resides on a farm four
miles south of Petersburg, and they have two
children. George Harrison and Ernest Bar-
ton. Miss Frances Harrison, the younger
daughter, is also a resident of :^renard county.
Judge Harrison became a member of the
^Ictliodist churcli when fourteen years of age,
a society being formed at his home, and lived
a consistent Christian life, being an earnest
worker in behalf of the cause of religion and
of education. In fact, he stood as the cham-
pion of every measure which he believed would
contribute to the general good. The beautiful
new .Methodist church west of the square is a
fitting monument to his untiring efforts in
the work for his Master. In private life he
Mas distinguished by all that marked the true
gentleman. His was a noble character, one
that subordinated iiersonal ambition to public
good and sought rather the benefit of others
than the aggrandizement of self. In Menard
county, where he spent almost his entire life.

he was numbered among the most honored citi-
zens and received the highest regard and esteem
of people of all classes. It was his earnest
wish — often expressed — that his accounts might
be settled for both this world and the next
and that he might owe no man anything when
ho died. Justice and right permeated his en-
tire career. He was a kind, loving and indul-
gent husband and father and his splendid qual-
ities so endeared him to those with whom he
came in contact that at his death Menard
county mourned the loss of one of its most
honored and representative citizens.

ARCHIE S. KINCAID.
Archie S'. Kincaid, whose fine modern resi-
dence stands in the midst of a well-improved
tract of land constituting one of the fine farms
of township 18, is a representative of the
younger generation of agriculturists who are
proving to what a high state of development
the land of Menard county can be brought
through modern farming methods. A native
of this county, he was born February 24, 1877,
and is a son of John A. and Etta G. (Simp-
son) Kincaid, who are also natives of :\reiinrd
county, the father born '^^arch 24, 184.'), and
the mother .\pril 8, 184.5. In his youth John
A. Kincaid assisted his father in breaking the
l)rairic land with ox teams and otherwise as-
sisted in the arduous task of developing a new
farm. He was but twelve years of age when
tlip schoolhouse at Indian Point was built, and
he hauled the water that was used in mixing
the mortar. He was about twenty vears of
age when he went to Iowa, where he became
connected with the cattle industry, assisting in
driving cattle from that state to Illinois. He
was thus engaged for two years. The cattle
thus lirnnght to Menard county were fed by
his father and others and afterward sold in the
city markets. His father was extensively en-
gaged in feeding hotli cattle and hogs, havinir
from one hundred and fifty to two hundred head
of cattle each year. John A. Kincaid remained
at home until twenty-five or twenty-six years
of a.ije, when he be.iran farming for himself,
.iiid for many years he figured as one of the

PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY

221

more progressive and successful agriculturists
of this county. At the age of twenty-eight
years he married Miss Etta Q. S'impson, and
they began their domestic life on his farm.
He continued to carry on the work of the
farm until 1895, when, in order to educate
his children, he removed to Champaign, where
he lived until 1902, when he took up his abode
in Springfield, where he is now living a re-
tired life. In 1897 he met with the misfor-
tune of losing his right hand in a planer,
being engaged in the planing-mill business in
Champaign at that time. After the accident
ho sold his planing-mill and removed to
Springfield, where he is now enjoying a well-
merited rest from further labor.

Unto Mr. and "Mrs. John A. Kincaid have
been born eight children, four sons and four
daughters: Charles H., who was born May
8, 1875, and is now living in Arkansas; Archie
S.; Laura, who was born October 20, 1879,
and is living at home with her parents : Frank
B., who was born September 10. 1880. and
who has recently returned from the Philip-
pines, having served as a member of Troop A.
Fifteenth United States Cavalry; Hugh S.,
who was born October 23, 1882, and is living
ill Coloi'adn : Kdiia 'M.. born August 23, 1885,
Maud, born June 12, 1888, and Pearl, born
May 9, 1891, all at home.

Archie S. Kincaid was provided with liberal
educational privileges. After attending the
public schools at Indian Point he attended the
high school at Cliampaign, Illinois, from
which he was graduated, and then entered tlie
State University there, in which institution
his education was completed, well qualifying
him for the conduct of his business interests
and the discbarge of life's practical and re-
sponsible duties. He was always interested in
athletics, and while attending the high school
was a member of the football team and also
of the Athletic Association. The Champaign
was the champion high school team of the
state and Mr. Kincaid won several medals in
athletic meets.

After completing his education Mr. Kin-
caid purchased his brother's interest in some
live stock and farm implements, which he had
owned conjointly with Jack Flanigan, with

whom our subject remained in partnership for
a year. Their business relationship was then
dissolved and Mr. Kincaid has since been in
business alone, raising cattle, hogs and horses.
He is also extensively engaged in the raising
of grain and sells from two to tlirce thousaiid
bushels of corn and from ten to fifteen hun-
dred bushels of oats each year. He has just
completed a commodious iiiiidi'rn residence
upon his farm, wliich was built after plans
whicli lie drew and which is one of the most at-
tractive homes of liis part of the eminty.

Mr. Kincaid married Miss Idella .Mellinger,
a ilaugbler of \\'illiam C. and Jennie (Wig-
gins) Mellinger. Her father, horn December
8, 1848, is still living, but her mother died
August 25, 1888. Both were natives of Sanga-
mon county and j\Ir. ^lellinger was educated in
the public schools there and remained at home
with his parents until twenty-two years of age.
after which he began farming on his own ac-
count, and has continued in this business down
to the present time, now operating two hun-
dred acres of land in Menard county. He
has also engaged in the raising of hogs and
cattle and has a good property, which his la-
bors have made a profitable investment. Unto
him and his wife were born four children:
Idella, born October 5, 1880; Clarence, born
January 17, 1883; Annie, born August 29,
1885: and Florence, August 21, 1887. After
losing his first wife Mr. Mellinger married
Mrs. Anna L. Cantrall, and they have one son,
Sherman S., born December 14. 1891.

Mr. and Mrs. Kincaid are well known in
social circles, having many friends, and they
enjoy tlie unqualified regard of all who know
them. In politics Mr. Kincaid is a Republican
and in public matters he is interested, espe-
cially where they have direct bearing upon the
county and its welfare.

WALTER S. TAYLOR. l\r. D.

Dr. Walter Sherwood 'I'aylor, who is engaged
in the general practice of medicine and surgery
in Tallula. was liorn on the 8th of July. 1873,
in tlie town of Milo, Bureau county. Illinois.
He is a son of Dr. William L. and Emma IT.

PAST AM> I'I{HSI-:NT OK M i:.\A IM > (OlWIV

(.Ifiiks) Tiivlor. Till' Taylor raiiiily is of
Sioti-li-lrisli origin ami l>r. Williaiii L. Tavlor
was horn in Kiiitutky, wlu-ri- hv spent tin- days
of his lioyliood and youth. I'ri'parinfj; lor the
praetiee of niedii'ino, he afterwanl engaged in
professional duties for some time, hut sulise-
(juently engaged in tiie real-estate husiness. He
died in St. l.ouis, Jlissonri. in 1876.

Dr. Walter S. 'i'aylor. having ae(piiied a good
literary eihieation, entered upon preparatiiui for
the i)raetiee of medicine as a student in ISanirs
Medical College of St. I.oiiis. Missouri. lie
was graduated with the class of JS!'!) and
opened an oHice at Curran, Illinois, but after a
short tinu' went to Hutfalo, this slate. Suhse-
i|uently he ri'movetl to Denver, Colorado, for
the henelit of his own health, and on the ex-
piration of that period he returned to Talhila.
where he liveil for a short time prior to the
period of his residence in the west. Upon again
coming to Tallula he purchased property and he
now has a good ])ractiee in the town and sur-
rounding country. He is a nu'mher of the ^[c-
nard County ^fedical Society ;ind the Illinois
State Medical Society. In addition to lli^ ool-
legiati' work he enjoyed the lienclit of a year's
hospital e.\|)erieiiee and he entered iipnii ilie
practice of niedii-ine and surgery well e(|uipped
for the arduous duties which devolve upon the
physician, 'i'he jmlilie recognizes his ca))a-
hility and accords him a liberal patronage.

On the 7th of June. 1H99. Dr. Taylor was
united iu marriaue to Miss Mlliaii .lack, a
daughter of Henjamin and Saiali C. .lack, who
removed fi(»m New Jer.sey to the west, .settling
in Illinois. Her father is now deceased, Imi
the nmther still survives and nudvcs her linnu'
with her children. Mrs. 'i'aylor was born in
HulTalo, Sangauioii county, Illinois, and at the
usual age entered the |iiil)lie .<chools, wherein
she advanced step by step through successive
grades until she had eomplctcd liic high school
work. She afterward engaged in t(>aehing for
three years and was 'then nuirried. Sh(> has
three brothers and three sisters, fda. Dora. Car-
rie. John. Renjamin and Edwin, all of whom
lire yet living. The liouic of Dr. ami Mrs. Tav-
Inr lias been blcs.«ed with two childreu: Mar-
jorie, born .\ugusl 10, ItlOO: jind James Sher-
wood. Iiorn .lanuarv .'ID, 1!HU.

111-. Taylor is a stalwart Kcpulilican, sup-
liorling ilie party since age gave to him the
i-ighl of franchise. Fraternally he is comieeted
with the ilodern Woodmen of .\meriea and the
Knigh.ts of Pj'thias and the Imlependent Order
of Odd Fellows, and liolh he and his wife are
members of the Christian chuich. He may
well i)e termed one of the leading citizens of
his community liecause of the active and help-
ful sujiport which he gives for the [iromotion of
cducalional. iiialrrial and moral interests of
Tallula.

JOllX .V. I.'IDCK.

John .\. IJicliic who is meeting with fair suc-
cess in his farming laliors in Menard county,
was born in Scott county. Indiana. March (i,
1860, his parents being Sannul .\. ami Mary
( Kenney) Ridge. The father was born in In-
diana, October !». Is:!!). and came to ^fenard
county in 187i). bringing with him two dry-
goods bo.xes, containing the household I'tfects.
and fine hundred dollars in money. He worked
liy till' day ami inontli for eight years as a farm
iiand in the employ of Colonel .lolm Williams
and (itlicrs. .\t the end of tliat lime lie rented
land and then carried on farming for him-
self for eighteen years, dnring a part of
which time his only son. John .\. Ridge.
worked with liini. and later lie went to live
with his son and there he was calli'd to his
linal rest .May 1. I'.Hil. the funeral services
being conducted by the He\. 1{. D. Miller,
who lias ofHciated at all such occasions for
the family. His wife passed away on the
•>Sth of May. ISiXi. In their family were four
cliiidreii. two sons and twn daughters, iiiii .bdm
.\. is the only one now living. Susanna H.
died jrareh 6. 1870: Lena died .luly V.K 1881.
and an infant son on the ".''th of .lanuary,

is:o.

.John .\. Riilge spent the tirsi ti'ii ye;irs of his
life in the stale of bis nativity and then ac-
companied his parents on their emigration to
the new world. His yo\ith was a perioil of
earnest and unremitting lalior in wliicli he had
few advantages. His education, however, was
.lecpiired in the publii' schools, .\fter arriving

S.\:\ITK!. A. IMIXJK.

:\IRS. SA^^irF.L A. 1!1DGE.

JUlL.N A. IMlXiK AM) 1-AMll.Y

E. C. ]n::KI).

MRS. E. C. EEED.

TAST AND PRESENT OF iMENARD COUNTY

225

;it yt-'iirs of inaturitv he Wiis uiarrird lo Miss
M.u-v E. Reed, a daugliter of Ephraim ('. and
Ann Eliznhoth (Gibbs) Reed, llor lather
came to Menard county from Kentucky in l<S3-i
witli his motlier and her family of ehildi'en, his
father l)einj;- at that time in the Mexican war.
l']phraim Rwd was born in KentueUy, October
28, 1S;50, and wlieii sixlicn years of age he
began work as a farm iiand. When twenty-
one years of age he conimenecd farming on his
own account on what has now long been known
as the old Reed homestead. He has added to
his original ]ivirchasc from time to time nntil
he is now one of the extensive farm owners of
tbo eoimtv. having seven Imndi'ed acres of
arable land on which many improvements liave
lieen made. There are live houses upon this
tract, all in good condition. There are also
a number of substantial barns and other mod-
ern eipiipnicnts. On the ITtli of November,
IS."):i. lir was nmrried to Miss .Vnn Elizabeth
(libl)s. a daughter of "William and Margaret
Gibbs and with her ]iari'iits she came tn Illi-
nois from j\Iaryland in 18:U1. Her birth oc-
curred in the latter state. May 31, 1827. The
journev westward was made with learn and
thev were six weeks upon the way. ^li'. and
.Mrs. Reed have two living ihildren: ilary E.,
born in Scptendier, 1858; and Edward C. who
was born in December, 1860, and is now living
in Menard county. Those deceased are Eliza-
beth Jane, Katie .\nii. wife of Gus Jones, and
an infant unnanieil. ;Mr. and ^Irs. RctiI ai-e
membei's of the I'resbyterian church, contrib-
ute generously to its support and take an active
interest in its work. I'or nine years or more
he lias been a mendier of the school Ixiard and
the cause of education liiuls in him a warm
friend. In pcdities he is a stanch liepuiiliean.
believing lirndy in the ]H'ineiples of the party,
lie ranks today as (uie of the most ])rosperous
men of the county and \\r iiijoys in high meas-
ure the res]iect and good will of his fellow
ritizens, liecause he has always l)een fnuiul re-
liabh' in all business transactions, ne\i'r taking
advantage of the necessities nf his fellow men
in any business affair.

The wedding ceri mony of Mr. and Mrs.
IJidge-was performed by IJev. I,'. 1 1. Mill( i- on
llii' 2-ltb of Feliruarv. 18i)l. and fniii- cliildrcn

were born to them: l'l|ibiMim and Samuel,
twins, lidi'ii h'ebruary I, ISJMi. both died in in-
fancy; .Mary E., born April 28, 189!), also
died in infancy; John E., bom Juno 22, ]9()1,
is the only one living.

Not long after their marriage Mr. and Jlrs.
K'idge removed to their ])resent home. They
have a lino brick bouse sui'i'ouinled by shade
ami fruit trees and everything about the place
is in excellent condition. .Mr. Ridge is one
(d' the largest stock feeders in the county and
during tlie recent strike at the stock yards in
Chicago he ship|)ed a carload of hogs to that
nuirket. He now has on band about two hun-
dred and fifty head of hogs, which he is feed-
ing fm- the uuirket. He owns in Menard coun-
ty two hundred and forty acres of as fine land
as can be found in central Illinois and it is
well known that there is no richer agricultural
district in all Ibe country than that of Menard
county. He is very ]irogrcssivc in his business
and he owes his success entirely to his own
labors. Ho started out without a.ssistauce anti
has received no aid from any one, but has
worked on ]iersistently and energetically and
is now tlie owner nf \aluable farming property.
Mr. Ridge is a nu^mber of Floral lodge. No.
(;i4. I. (). O. F., at -Uhens, and the Modern
Woodmen eani|i at Sweetwater. He is iden-
tilied with till' Republican party, jwlitically,
and kee|is well informed on the (jucstions and
issues 111 the day. Hi' belongs to the Presby-
ierian eluireb. while his wife is a member of
the Christian church and imtli ai-e widely and
fav(U-ablv known in Menard count v.

KI.IAS WATKIXS.

bMias Watkins, whosi' fanning interests idaim
his time and energies and retuiii to him a good
annual ineoine, was born September 21), 1870,
his parents being Samuel and .Mary ( Wocd-
ridge) Watkins. He was the fourth in order of
birth in a family of eight children, four <ons
and four daughters, lb' began his education
at Utile Grove and was afterward graduated
in the 'I'allula high school with the class of
1S!)J. t'ompleting the course on the 2!(th of May,
of that ve;ir. He lias alwavs eniraired in farm-

WU PAST AX]) PKESEN'I' OF MKXAIM) COUNTY

ill";. Imvinf; ii.saistfil in the work on the old ram- 1!MI|, is :i ciiiuliiliitc loi- ic-clcil imi. lie miuI

ily hoiiu-stwul in his early boyhood days. He his wife helonji to the l'>])isi()|)al clmiih in I'e-

lH';;an farniin'T on liis own account in conncc- tcrshinLi iuid he is |)n)niini'nt in Masoury. lioiug

lion with his i)rolhcr. ICvan (i. \Vati<ins, upon inailc a Masun al I'riiMshurir in Novcnilicr.

tiu'ir father's phice at Little Grove, ami llicre lSi)!l. ami imu ImliliiiLr iininin rshi|) in Clinton

lu' remained for two years. In the fall of liKlo lodire. Xn. I'.i. A. I'. \ A. M.: iKAVitt chapter.

he locati'<l on his |iresent farm, which consists I!. A. M.: ami Si. AMcmar Commandery. K.

of two hundred and twenty acres lieloiiirinir to 'I'., all ni' Pctershiiri;. His wife is also connect-

his father. He owns an ailjoininjr ciirlity acres (d with the Oi-der of the l-^astern Star and in

and is a very prni.rressi\c a>rriculturist. his daily life lie e.\em|)lilies the heiielicent sjiirit

.\s a companiiiii and helpmate <in life's jour- of the eraft. wliicli has madi' this the strongest

ney Mr. Watkins cho.sc Irene Louise Fischer, fraternal c)r';anizatioii of the entire world. He

the weddiiiiT hciii'r celehrated Xovemhcr ]:!. i< also vencrahle council of Atterhcrry camp,

18!»:>. Her parents were .lolin G. ami I'.eria No. M.-,.", I. M. W. A.
n. (\\'ri;rlil) Fischer. Her father was a native
of (icrmany and came to America in IS.i;! when
nineteen years of age. settlin<r at I'rtersliurjr.
He had III en educated in his native country and

lll()M.\S Kl.\( Al

after his arrival in the new world lie conducted 'i'liomas Kincaid. one nf the iMimired early
the first drug .store at Petersburg, an establish- settlers of M( iiard cdunty. was horn in liath
ment which has had a contmuou? e.visteiice. it county. Kentucky. Octoiicr L"). lS"i2. and was
being now the ])ro]ierty of Geoi'ge F. I, nth- of Irish ancestry. His paternal grandfather,
rin,;;er. lie married Berta D. Wright and they Areliiliald 1!. Kincaid, was iMirn, in Ireland and
became the parents of eight children, all of on emigrating to .\nierica settled near Carlisle,
whom are living, three sons and live daughters. Pennsylvania. There he was married to Miss
namely; liora. the wil<' <>( l)v. d. B. A'ance, Townsley and he continuecl In reside in the
a practicing physician of Springfield, Illinois: Cumiierland valley of Pcnnsyhania until Ki>."i,
Klla, the wife of E. B. Lyons, who is principal when with his family of ten children he re-
of Brown's Business College at Danville, Illi- m(i\e(| in liath county. Kentucky.
nois; Catherine, the wife of Dt. Paul Xeweoin- .Vndrew Kincaid, thi' father of our subject,
er, a physician and surgeon living in Denver, was al that time four years of age. He re-
Colorado; Irene Louise: John D., a ranchman niained upon his father's farm until lii< mar-
living at Landers. Wyoming, where he has spent riage ill jsii:. Miss .\iin 1'. Caldwell, a native
livi- years; George AV., who is engaged in the of Bath cnuiuy. Kentucky, becoming bis wife,
telephone liiisine.ss; Francis B., who is al Gil- She was liorn in ITST ami lemained a resident
left. Wyoming, where he has been connected of Kentucky until many veais after bi'r mar-
widi the sheep industry: and l<>thel B., the wife riage. In 1S:14 Andrew Kincaid came with his
of William Swifi. a mechanic of Petersburg, family In Illinois, settling in tnwnshi)) IS,
by whom .she has one son. Mi<. Watkins is a Meiinid (uiintv. nii bind whieh he piinhascd of
^Tadiiate of the high school of Petersburg of KIlis Branson. His family then numbered nine
llie class of ]H!»L and the following year she children. Imt one died soon after the removal
was married. I,, llliimi-. .\fler a Inn-, useful and honorable
Our sulijeet and his wile have a wide and career, .\iidrew Kincaid passed away in 1S72
favorable aei|uaintaiice in .Menard county, where al the advanced age of eighty-six years,
they have always resided and the circle of their In ISIil Thnmas Kincaid accompanied his
friends is constantly ^.-rowing. In his jioliticnl parents on their removal to Illinois. The fain-
views he i.s 11 Democrat and in Xovendier, ily home was established on a farm at Indian
llMij. WHS elected county coniinissioner by Point and there he spent his boyhood days,
a majorily of four hiinilred and twenty early beciuning familiar with the arduous task
and at the )>re.si.nt writiliL'. in X'ovember. ai' ile\elnpiii'_' a new farm. As lb.' vear~ nassi'd

ly^l^ y^/

c^.

I'AS'I' AXlt I'WKSKVT oF MIA AIM) (Ml \'rv

•>-><J

he l:rrMiiH- ail i iifl iicul ial iiiul | n'c i>| iir(iii> rariniT
III' Mciiiinl cnimtv. extensively eni;n;;'e(l in ii^ri-
iiilliirnl |iiirsiiits. ami i)y renson nl' iiis keen
liiisinos aliilily lie amassed ji e(insi<leralile lor-
tiine |ire\iiiii- til liis retirement IVdiii active
lilisiiie-s life, wliiell was neeessitateil li\ I'ailini;
iH-ahli.

Ill early manliddd Mr. Kiiieaiil iiiarried Mis>
l.iiriiida I'attt'fson. the ueddinji lieinu eele-
lirated Oetoiier IS. IStil. TIk^ lady ua< liorn
ill Jl.irdiii eiiiint\. ()liiii, and dieil .\|iril l.'l.
is; I. Ill tlieir raiiiilv weri' >e\en eliililreii. iif
wiidiii two dii'd in inl'aney. Those livin;;- are
\li-. Ilaltie .lohnson. the wil'e of Kirin S.
.l(iliii>on. who is represented on anotjiei- |iat;v
ol' this \oliime; Lcniie, the wife ol' llarr\ \l.
.loiie<: I.iiey. the wife of r. .1. Hale, of .laek-
.-■oin ille. Illinois : Anna, the wile of i.siac . I ones.
<d' Aspen. Colorailo; and Lee, whose sketeli ap-
pears elsewhere in this work.

CKOIMIK C. K'ullMirrs.

(ieoruc ('. Iiohei'ts. who i> lilliiii; the position
of postmaster at (ireemiew and is also eiifjajiefl
in dealinj,' in harness and saddlery there, was
liorii in Athens, Illinois. Fehrnary :i. IS.'iS. his
parent> lieinj.; ■lames T. and .\l\ira (iiartwell)
li'oiiert*. 'I'he father was liorii Xovemher "is.
iSoV. in W'ineiiester. X'iruinia, and lost his
father when Init live vears of a.u'e. When a
yoiitii oi ten years he heeame a resident
of Athens. Illinois, where he atteiifjed school
for aiioiit live years and at the a^^e of fifteen
he was taken to the Mexican war as a hiijrier
li\ hi- uncle. .1. Pi. Backenstop. Aftei' seven
iiiolilhs" ser\ ice he was sent home with two of-
lieer>. ('a|itain Bradford and LiiMitenant Jiar-
rett. Mr. Iioherts did not return to the scene
of coiitliet. iiiit soon afterward Iiclmii leaiiiiiii:
the hiacksmiths trade, in which he hecaine an
I'xeelleiit Workman, folhnviiiij that piirsnit con-
tiniionsly until the eoimtrv heeame iiudKcd in
civil war. On the lith of .\ni:iist, 1S(;-J. he en-
li>li'il as a inemher of Companv K. One nnn-
dred and I-'iftei'iith Illinois Infantry, and par-
lieipated in a luimlier of very im)iortaiit eii-
ua.L'ements, iiu liidinj,' the Unities of Lookout
Moinitain, Chattanooga, Chickaniauga, S])rin>r

Hill, the two hattio of .\ashville. Frank-
lin, l.'esaca. ■riiiiiiell Hill. Hiizzard's Moost
and Dalton. .lust aliir the liattle of
Chickamaiiua tiiere was an order sent to
his captain to lia\c the regiment fall in
line and a call was issued lor a vidnnlcer to
go hack to Kridgep<irt. 'I'ennessee. a distance of
twcnty-li\(' miles, lor the pay ridl>. which wei'c
in the desk of the c(Uiipany. \o iiiemher (d' the
regiment volunteered and the ollicers wdiild not
detail a man. Mr. U'oherts then asked the i^ap-
lain what tiii' call had heen made for. ami w iii'ii
tidd he olfc^rcil to go if the\ wduld fnrnisli him
a \\ni>.r. Ill' ,-tartcd that day and at night he
wa- (Ml top of the mountain. Seein.i; a caliin, lie
made his way to il and found that it contained
an old ccuiplc. man and wile, who were I'liion
people. He ^la^e them lii> raticuis and asked
tliciii to prepare- supper for him. He then
started in search id' food for his horse. The old
man sent him a mile and a half to get eoni and
told him that tin- rclicl caxalry weri' in that
locality each day and to he on the lookmit.
While Mr. Iioherts was on one side of the coril-
crili li\e reliel ca\aliy men were on the other
side, and while they were getting their e(u-n he
made his escape hy crawling through tlu' grass on
his hands and knees for a distance ol' two hun-
dred yard>. llowc\er. he returned to the eahin
insafi'tyand there partook of his su|)per. which
was pre]iared id' cold coon, hardtack and c(d'-
fee. The old couple oU'ercd him a lied at lligiit,
hut he prid'erred to slee)i in the woods and the
ne\i morning he started again on his .joiiriiev.
He reached the foot of the iiioiilllain at twelve
o'clock and at Se(piasia\ ille he saw a general
and other ollicers at a ealiin door. The general
hailed him and asked him where he was L'oin.iT,
and on replying to the ipiestion he was re-
quested to show his pass. He was there delayed
ii\cr a day and a half until the general found
out where he had come from and such informa-
tion concerning the roail. for the\- were mi their
way to the camp which Mr. I.'ohei-Is had left
and had liceii misdirectecl. (ieiieral I.oiigstreel
and his men were .just across the river, and
when Mr. Ivohcrts rode along the mountain sidi'
he had to kee]) his hor.<e hetween the rehel
troops niid himself. Tlis horse wa? shot once.
hut he continued on his wav. He traveled the;

230

r.\.>

AMI i'i;i:si;.\'i' (iK mi:\.\i;ii ((jixty

R'Hiaiiuler of tliat tlay ami at nijrlit arrived
at Briiljiciiort. whore lie eaiiipcil witli seven
invalid Union men. Tlie next morning he over-
haided the dei^k, procured the papers that were
wanted and lie also found the coinpanv's flag,
wliieli he put in his knapsaek. He tlii'ii started
to return to eanip. slept in the woods tliat night
and the next dav aiiout three o'eloek reached his
distillation. He was discharged as a drum
major and I he tlag which he brought hack was
given to him and is still in his possession. IK'
was hoiiorahly discharged .lune 11, ISti.j, at
Cainp Uarkcr. Tennessee, rollowing the close
of hostilities, and then returned to Athens, Illi-
nois, where ho again engaged in hlacksniithing.
He followed that pursuit tliere until Decemlier.
ISliS. when he came to Greenview and estal)-
lislied a hlacksniith shop, which he coiidiictrd
siiceessfuliv until failing health caused liiiii to
retire from the hiisiness in 1884. In early man-
hood he had married iliss Alvira llartweil. wlm
was born in A'igo county. Indiana, .luly vM.
1834. They had three children: Maria .\iiii.
now the wife of I. II. Primm. of ilason City,
Illinois: Marcie K.. who married Thomas
Hivwi-r. and dinl I'rliriuirv -22, 1898: and
("Jeorge ('. The |)areiits are members of the
C'hri.^tian church and they reside at (ireenviiw.
where they have many warm friends.

George ('. Hoberts was I'ducated in the schools
of Greenview and at the age of sixteen years
began learning the harness-maker's trade, which
lie followed as an cm|)love until 1881. In that
year he liegan Inisiness for liimseH'. a few doors
north of his ])resent location, and he has since
conducted harness and saddlery making, secur-
ing a good patronage, which makes his business
profitable. In Deceniiier, 1900, he was ap-
pointed ])ostinaster of Greenview and ilis-
eharged the duties of that office in cdiiiirct imi
with his commercial interests. lie has like-
wise ijeen a member of the town board and the
school board, and in his political affiliation he
is a stanch Ifi'publican. never failing to <'\cr-
cise his right of franchise in sup|i(irl of the men
and measures of that jiarty.

On the loth of March, 1881. Mr. h'oberts was
united in marriage to Miss Hattie E. Cleveland,
a daughter of Charles and Ann Wood Cleve-
land, the former a native of Vermont and the

latter of Illinois, but Ijoth are now deceased.
I'lito Mr. and Mrs. Koberts have been born
nine ebildreM: Ktta May. born March i:>.
188--^. (lied .\pril ■.', 18!il : I'eavi K. and Karl K..
twins, born July 19, 1884. died on the 13tii and
Ulth (d' .Vugust. 188."). i-espectively ; Herscii(d.
I.dfii .\pi-il 11, IS.s."). is ill partnership with bis
father ill the harness liusiness: ll.-iii\ I-".. Ikh'ii
.Vugust •.'(), 1887, is at home: Fcni. Imhh De-
cember 21, 1891, James T., born Maicli :>(.),
IS!);!. Dorothy Marie, born .lanuary 14, 1899,
and .\iiu Louise, born A[iril "J. 1!I0'^. are all at
home.

Mr. ami Mrs. liolierts hold iiieiiibersliip in
llie Christian eburcii and are deeply interested
in all that pertains to tlie moral as well as the
nuiterial development of their eotinty. Fra-
ternally ilr. lioberts is connected with the
.Mdcleiii Woodmen camp. .\o. ITS; with Green-
view jodge, Xo. (i.Vi. .\. V. & A. M. : and also
I lie Fraternal Life Reserve. He lias spent his
eiiiire life in this jiart of the state and has be-
come a substantial business man of (ireenview.
bis success being largely due to the fact that
lie has continuously engaged in the business
in wliieli as a young tradesman lie embarked,
gaining ;i eompreheusive knowledge thereof,
uliieb has resulted in excellent workmaiishi]i
and secured a liiieral pati'onage.

A. W. IL\1!TLFV.

A. \\ . Hartley, who for fourteen years luis
been connected with the office of county clerk,
twelve years as deputy and two years as su-
])erior officer, was born in h'nek Creek pi'eeinel
of Menard county, on the ".'ntli nf .lime. 18")L
lie eiiiiii's ii\' luiglish liiieai;e and represents
an iild Fiiiilisb rainily that was established in
.\iiiei-iea pi-im- In the L'evolutionary war. His
grandfather. I^li Hartley, was inini in Adair
county. Kentucky, on the 'i'.Kh nf .inly, I":'!',
and in early manhood was united in marriage
to Miss Xaney Hamilton, a daughter of .lames
Hamilton, nf Kentucky. After the birth of two
of tlu'ir eliildreii they removed to Illinois,
settling ill Hinwn eniinly, wlno'e two other
children wci\' added to the family. The mother
died soiui afti'rward npon the home farm.

mi;, and mi;s. a. w . ii \in'Li-:v

I'AS'I' \\|i I'KKSKNT OF MKNAIM) (orXTV •.':i3

«lli(ll wns sitUMtcd mill- ('hivlull. Illllll]i^. Al dL' the rdUllly clrl-k lll llic 1^11 uf

a hilir iliilc tile uiMiiilI'Mtliri- rcinii\ci| to Garden \S'.U) niid i is sci-\ ices wcrr >(i acccptiibic tluit

I'mirit'. Miiiiird iiuiiity. wlin-c lir cstnlilislicc] lie was cniit iiucd in that |)osilii)n until 1!HI'^',

In- liiiiiH' in IS">(i. ilici-c i-oidini; inilil !ii> whi-n lie was I'Icctcd iiiuntv cleric, in wliicli ca-

dcatli. which iM-i-nrrcd on the l.!lh nl' Dcccnihcr. |iacit\' he is now xTxini;.

\s',i). lie was in'iunincnt and inliiicntial in On the ".'.'ith id' .lunr. ls:i|. \Ir. llai-tlcy wa-

jinlilic affairs and lie scrvrd I'nr iDurtccn \rar-. niarnrd tn Mis,- MnrLiai'i'i A. ISnni-. a natixc of

rnini IS-.'.") \nitil ls;!!l. as jiistiir nf the |icarr Mniard riiunl\ and a dauL;hlcr nt \',. I,. Pxnu'.

I'ni' Brown fonnlv. He was a man nl' unliia-rd I'hcx now have one son. I'anl Hone. Mr.

iu(li;MU'nt and his decisions were nc\( i- rc\cr>cd llarticv is a niondicr of tlic MasoTiic hidj.'c ami

in tile hii;hci- courts, lie raid\cd hi,t;h in llic also of the Modern Woodmen lamp al I'eler--

estimation id' his I'ellow townsmen and he was hurj:'. He is a representative of an honored

pai'tieidarly ca|ialile in otiiee. haxinu' a lo.uieal pioneer Family and hecanse of this and also hy

and aMal\tical mind. Had he cnnlined his al- reason of lii> personal worth lie desei'vcs rep-

tention exclusively to the law he would un- rcsentation in this miIiuiic.
ilouliicdly ha\e attained notahle sueees-.

.Vathan llartlev. the father of A. W . Hart-

le\ . was hoi'n in l\entuck\, hut was reared in

r.rowu county. Illinoi-. He married .\rtemisia ( 1 1 A 1.' I.I-IS T. K'dCI-lKS.

I'uiuaii. a native of Menard ionnt\. and the\ The old K'o^ei's home-lead in Menard county

hi;;an their domestic life n|ion the farm on wa> the lurtliplaee of Charles T. l{o;;ers. hi?

which their -on. .\. W. Ilartlcx. was horn. natal dax iieiiiL; -'unc lii. 1S(!7. He is a son of

I'or man\ \cars the father carried on a.i;rien1- .S. 'I', ami Melinda ('rriimho) lloiicr-. who were

tiiral pursuits there with uood success, eon- also nalixes of this county, a fact which inili-

tiniiini; his farmina- opt-ralions up to the time eates that lioth the l>o,i;crs and 'I'rumho families

fd' his death, whieli oeeiirred on the ••:5il of Oc- were estahlished in this pari of the -late in

toliei', l!t();i. The himiestcad place is loeatod earh pioneer ila\s. The paternal i:fan()father

ahout seven miles siuith of Petershuv"- and is came from Kentucky to Illinois ami aid<'d in

still ill possession nf the family. Mr. Hartley laying' the foundation for the present (k'velop-

was a piihlic-spirited man. interested in the es- meiii and prot;ress id' the county. S. T. Roijers

tahlishnieiil of the coiint\ and its further im- has followed the occupation of farmin.i: as a life

provement and he filled a numhei- of townshiji work and hotli he and his wife are still residiiif:

|iositions in a ca]ialile and acceptahle mannei'. on the old homestead.

In the family were five sons and three daiiirli- In the distrii't schools Charles T. l{oi.'er.s ac-

lers. and four smis and one dauirhter are now ipiired his education and when twenty year-

liviut;. at this wi-itiiii: in the fall of 1!I0|. of aL;c he hei;an farmini; upon the place where

.\. W. llartlev. the eldest (d' the family, ae- he now resides, haxini; here two hundred acres

cpiireil hi- elementar\ education in the district of land, which is rich and productive. He has

sehools and In reading; and oliser\at ion has nd- since erected a <:ood I'esideiiec and other huild-

ded lar>;-ely to his kiniwledfic. He en.uajred in in^'s upon his place and. in fai-t. has made

teachinir school in earlv manliond. hut rey;ard- all of tlie modern improvements that are there

inir this inerelv as an initiatorv step for further :^r{-\). His land is under a hiiih state of eidliva-

professional lahor. for it was hi- desire to he- timi and the well tilled (ields return to him

come a meiiiher of the liai' and in the lall of rich harxests. He is also cpiite extensively eii-

ISS.') he licLian reading; law in the ollice and jrajred in the i-aisin^- and hreediiifr "f short-

iinder the direction of T. \V. McXeely. He horn cattle, line road lior.ses and registered

continued his studies until May. ISSS. wlieii Duroi' .lersey hogs, and a;- a stoek-raiser lie lias

he successfully ])assed an examination for ,\t\- met with excellent success, his annual sales i.if

mis.sion to the har. He then entered the cattle, horses and hogs hringiiig to him a goml

county hiiilding as ili'|iutv elerk in the oHiee liiiaiK'ial return iijion his investments.

234

PAST AM) I'k'ESENT (iK MKX AU'I' ((HATV

(111 till' "^^iil 111' Aujiust. 188T, occurred tlic
iimrria^e of Charles T. Kogws and Miss Mat-
tic E. E?till, a (laughter of .losopli and ilarv
Estill, the former a native of Menard couiiiy
and the latter of Indiana. They are still re-
sidiufi in this county, their home lieing about
a mile south of the C'liarlcs T. i{ogers farm.
Tnto our suhjeet and his wife has been. born
an interesting little son. Thomas E.. whose
I>irth occurred September G, 1893. ilrs. Rogers
is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian
church, of Petersl)nrg. and like her liiishand
has many friends in her native county. ^Ir.
IJogers belongs to Holand lodge. No. (j'J. Iv. P..
and is also identified with tlic Modern Woodmen
of .Vmcrica. He is serving as a memliei' of iJie
.school hoard at the present time and in niatter
of citizenshii) is never remiss, l)ut gives liis
earnest co-o])eration to the support of all meas-
ures that he helieves will iiromote general
progress and imjirovement. He has a wide
acquaintance in the county where his entire life
has been ])asscd and where he has so directed his
efforts as to win the good will and trust nf his
fellow men.

.vrGT'sTis Ki;i;i; iikk.ix.

.Vugustus KeiT K'iggin, dccca.seil. wa.s one of
the inosi successful fanners and stock-raisers.
as well as one uf the most prominent citizens of
his community, his home being five miles east
of Petersiiurg. He was the third child born in
Menard county and his natal day was .\pril 23,
]X22. His father, Harry l{iggin, was a native
of Tennessee, horn Scptemiier 2. 1793. and was
of Irish descent. Coming to Illinois in islT.
h<' first located in the .\nu'rican bottom and
then with his brother settled in Madhson county
at a ])hice called 'I'roy, they being the principal
jtarlies in laying out the town. There they
embarked in mi'rchandising. but were unsuc-
cessful in thai business. On tiic -.M oi .Marcli.
1S2<1. Harry IJiggin was united in marriage to
Miss Miriam i.ee Kogers, a native of Xew
York and a descendant of .John Rogers, who
suffered martyrdom for religious principles.
Her father, Matthew i{ogers. was from Con-

neetieul aiul rciiinved t'nini that stale to .\ew
York, lie iiiai-ricd Miiiain I. re .Morse, who was
iMinneeted with the Morse faniily. of whom
Professor S. F. H. Moi-se was a distinguished
iiienibcr. In ISlS Malthrw Kogers came to
Illinois antl settled near .Vtliens. where he
built a frame barn, which was the first frame
building erected north of the Sangamon river.
The Rogers family i\iv connected with the Lees
of Virginia, of whom (ieneral Robert E. Lee
was the most noted. During his residence in
Menard county Harry Riggin followed the oc-
eU])ation of a farmei' and jjosscssed the con-
lidenee ami esteem of the community. On sev-
eral occasions he was a candidate for public
favors, but was defeated, which was not sur-
prising, as his opponents were generally such
|)roniinent men as l.ogaii. Ivlwards ami Lin-
coln. He and liis wife weri' ineiiibers of the
Ciimljerland Presbyterian cbuivli and lived to
a g'ood old age. The family has been distin-
guished for longevity, some even living to the
age of one binnlred years. Harry Riggin had
six children, four of whom reached years of
maturity, namely: ilary .\nn. wife of Clai-
borne Hall, of .\thens; .\ugustus Kerr: Eliza
Maria: ami .\nninda Priscilla. wife of ^Ic-
Kinley .lones, of .Vthens.

.Vugustus Kerr Riggin wa^ reared amid
pioneer scenes and could relate many interest-
ing incidents of frontier life in this region.
.Vs his |)arents were great friends of I'dneation
and ]iroi;reSS, they gav<' their children every
school advantage that thev could and "(ins"
was early (puililie(l for teaching, which profes-
sion be followed for several years. He at-
tended McKendree College and completed his
education at Illinois College in .Jacksonville,
where he numbered among his classnuites (Gen-
eral Lipiiincotl and .Jolin L. Stocking. .Vfter
teaching -;cliool for several years he studied law
in the oflice of Major- Harris, of Petersburg, and
was admitted to the bar. but never jM-acticcd his
profession. He served two terms as circuit
clerk and on his retirement from oflice in 18()0
turned his attention to farming, which occu-
pation he followed uj) to within the last year or
two of his life, when his .sons relieved him
of the managenu'nt of the farm. He gave con-
siderable attention to stock-raising, making a

\y ^

1£.

yrCn^y _ (^ _ /u, " Q^/^^-,^ .

■RV

A-

I'AST A.\l> PRESENT OK .Mi-:\ Al.'h ( (il N'H 53'J

.-[iL't-iahv of sliortliorn latllo. ami riiuiid I hat lire cstati', ri'.'^^frviiij; only a small (•iiiii|icioiicr

branch of his business very prolilalilc I'm- himsell" that lie believed wmild sujiply bint

Oil the 2(>tli of Xoveniliei'. is; I. Mr. Kiuuin wilii all that he might need for the remainder

married Mjss ]\[ary C. ])i'al. wlm \\a~ Ihuii six of his life, expressing the desire that if any-

niiles west of BJoomington. in MrLcan iiunuy. Ihing was. left it should he divided equally

Illinois. .Vpril 1".'. 185(1, auil was a daughter among his children at his death.

of Sannicl ('. Ileal, whoso sketch a]iiicars else- On the 21st of October. 1S3T, ilr. Deal mar-

wlici'c in tills \oliimc. Unto .M r. and Mi's. Rig- ricd Mi.ss Priscilla Brown, who was Iwrn in

gin wci'c iiorn three children. Harry, boi'u .Vugusta countv, Virginia, in 1817, and was a

Ocliilici- !•. IS^il: .\ngnstus 1\.. boi'n October •"). daughter of Hev. John Brown, the eldest son

ls;s; and Samuel Chi'slerhelil. born .lannary of a (ierman noiileman. Afli'r \ isiting the new

■"). issl. They are now carrying on the home world and seeing the destitution that j)revailed,

farm. The eldest son was mai-ricd Noveml)cr be i-eturned to Gevniany and informed his fa-

2!(. 1SI)!). to Iri-nc \\'alkei' and lives a ([itarter ther that he had decidecl to become a minister,

of a mile nm'lh ol' the old homestead. .\lthough his fatbci- told him i I' lie did this be

In |iolitics Mr. liiggin was a stanch Demo- would be disinherited, it did not change bin;,

crat anil be alwavs took a \ei'\ adixc and |ii'om- rrom his |Hir|)o«e, and all be i'eeci\cd from bis

incut part in political affairs, no pi-ivatc citizen rather'sei?taj,e nas a lilirary valued at two tboii-

of this founl\ coiitributin.a- more of bis time saujl dnlbiTS. lie was the lirst d'ci'iiian h'c-

and money to the cause of bis pally than be formed prcacber in ibe I'niled States and could

did. Socially be was a ^lasoii, and at his death, preach in seven languages, being highly cdu-.

which occurred .7uly .27. ItiOo, be was laid to cated.

rest with ilasonie honors. He was a man liigb- \'\]\o .Mr. and Mr~. I»eal were born iiiiie chil-
ly honored and res]iected by all who knew bini dren : .lobii 11.. iio\\ living upon a farm in
and when he i>assed away the community real- .li'Ifcrson. (Jreeiie county. Iowa, has thirteen
ized that it had lost one of its most valued aiul ebibli-eu. and with the exeepticm of two all
useful citizens. ]\lrs. Uiggiii died danuary 10, ,,,•,. mari-ieil and in good health. Samuel A. is
1!H),'). leaving manv friends as well as her im- lixini; neai- |)anvei-s. Illinois. Mrs. Klizabcth
mediate family to moiii'n her loss. K. Elkins makes her liomc lu'ar her brother

Samuel. Xewton died in childhood. Mrs.

Mary C liiggin is represented on another page

SA.Ml |-;i, ( . |)|;AI,. „!• j^i,,^ volume, .lane died in infancy. .Mrs.

Samuel ('. Deal, deceased, was born in S. .\ddie W'l-igbt is living west of Bloomin,trton.

Wayncslioro, Rockingham county, N'irginia. on lllinoi>. l-lmma rc'sides on the old houu'steafl.

the 2Stb (d" October. ISl.'i. and spent bis early Mrs. A'irginia K. H. Staubus is living in Dry

life in that state In the fall of jSl'.i he came Orove townsbi|i. McLean county. The daugh-

to Illinois and settled in Dry (irove towiislii|), icrs mai-ricd well-to-do farmi'rs and all arc

McLean countv, about live and a half miles widows al the present time wiib the exception

ue-t of liloomington, within a mile and a ball' of l-lmma.

of the farm on which be died. There be en- Mr. Deal was a ruling elder in the ('iimi)er-

gaged in .t;eneral farming and stock-i'aising for land I'resbyti'rian cburcb bu- lifty-foiir years

lifty-two years and uas a \cr\ siu-eessful busi- and took a very active pail in cburcb work, lie

iiess man. aceiimulating one thousand acres of was noted for his alfable disposition, excidlent

land. Of excellent business ability and exec- tact and his kindly spirit, and enjoyed the

uii\e force, he carried forward to siieces~fiil highest regard id' neielibors and friiMids. being

completion whatever be iiiiderlook and befon^ freipicntlv called upon to aid in sellling dif-

liis demise he deciik'd to divide his property liculties because of bis unifoim fairiU'ss and

among bis children rather than leave it to the spirit of justice. He was cxet'cdingly kind to

eourt to divide. .Veciii'dingly. he called bis the |ioor and ticnei'ous in his coiilributions to

ehildren to the home and disposed of the en- the needy. His life was indeed actuated by a

•i40 PAS'l' AMI I'K'HSKX'l" oF MKNAKI* ( o| \ TV

wortliv Christian sjiirit. In iiis |iiilit.t-;il I'aitii n'tunml in MciiMid i(iiinl\. l.atti' he went t(.

.Mr. Deal was an ardent Democrat and was frr- (liicafro and sctvimI (ui ilu' ])iili(c lnrtc of tliat

i|uentlv ealled ujJDn to acc-e])t puhlii- otfice. .VI- city under {'aptain Micliael Hic-key. Superin-

thoufjli lie was never an aspirant for political icndi'nt Kennedy hcin-.' in charjie at that time.

preferment, he took great interest in politics while .Mayor Odell was mayor of thr city. He

and consented to serve as county assessor, as served on the force for iwo years and two

road commissiouer, as supervisor and in other months. lie aflciuard unrkecl in the sinck-

])ositions of public trust. He died cm the •.'."ith yards for a year in the I'liiplny of .Idlni Hreii-

of .January, 1903, having long survived his nock, after which he rciiiiiird to .Miiiard cnuntv

wife, who passed away June ."). 1S75. She was and secured employment a> a lann hand.

a lady of very sweet disposition, whose religious On the 1st of January, issii. Mr. ]>oohy was

faitii and principles were manifest in her daily unit(Ml \n marriage to iMiss Lizzie Beyer, a

life and she was greatly beloved iiy iier family, daughter of Charles and .Mary (Humphrey)

She and her brothers and sisters were devoted Hoycr. Her lather was horn in England and

to tlieir parents and were especially helpful to «,!> lii.' xui nf John Wnyrv. the owner of a large

their mother during their father's absence on ,>i:ilc in that country. .Mr. Looby now has in

ministerial duties. He was a pioneer preacher his possession the probate of the will of IJoberl

of the west, having fourteen congregations un- I'.oycr. deceased, lather ,<( Charlo Uoyer. dated

der his charge at one time. His sons were all NDvendier ■.':!. l.S(i;i. and executed by John

sent to college, the mother being able to care Wills. Mr. Looby also has parchment deed.<

for the family affairs jind superintend the busi- showing the transfer of land in Hngland to

ness interests in a ca]iablc uiaiuier during her ids wife's father and his brother John, the deed

husband's ai)sence. bearing date of .Vugust 1. IKi."). Charles Hover

came III .Viiu'rica prior tn \o\ riiilici- 1. IS.'ii).

"~~~~" ■ and settled in Sangamon i-ounty, for at that

date he received from the Fnited States a pat-

L.WVKK.XCH L. l.noliV. ^.,„ ,.,|. j,,,,^.^, |,„,„|,.,,,| .„„| ,„.^.„tv acres of land

Lawrence L. Looljy, wiiose fai'ming interests '" t'li"' county. He afterward added to his

are valuable ami have been develo])ed through properly and at his death he left three hundred

his energy and ])erseverance, was horn in county ■""! lifiy-nine acres of highly improved land.

Tipperary, Ireland, on the 29th of ilav, 184(3. which is ]u<\\ in po.ssessinn (if Mr. Looby and

his birthplace being in the parish of Kilfeode. constitiUc^ the honu' fai'in of the family. His

His parents were Jnlin and Wiiiilrcd (Ilanlev) "if'' ":i- " native (jf NCw ^drk. Both were

Looijy, and the former died in 185."), while the niembers nf the i'resbytcrian chiiich and in bis

latter died in 18(i0. so that Lawrence L. Loobv political views he was a K'epublican. .Mrs.

was left an orplian at the age of si.xteen vears. Hoyer died at the age of sixty-three years. Rev.

Two years later he became a resident of Amer- ''• "• Miller conducting the funeral servicis.

ica, laiuling in Boston, Massachusetts, where he while .Mr. Moyer died October 11. 187S, and

resided for about live years, working at the 'l'"^ passed away t>\ii of the honored ])ioneer

currier's trade. He then sought, a home in the citizens of cintral Illinois.

west, coming to .Menard county, where he Into .Mr. and .Mrs. Charles Hoyer were born

worked i)y the month as a farm hand for about three children: Krank. Lizzie and .John. The

two years. He was then employed by the Union home of Mr. and Mr>. Looby has been bles.sed

Pacific Hailroad Company from 1808 until the with six children: .lohn K., who was born De-

roail was completed in 18(i9. He worked along cendier 19, ISSd. and died in infancy: .Mamie.

the line from Omaha to Greenview and Point who was born Dcninbcr 19. Issi. and is now

Hocks and also from ^fenard county to Cali- acting a< her tatlu-r's hou,-ekec|icr : Kittie. who

fornia. He was afterward employed in the lino was born in iss? and died in infancy: Winnie.

of his trade in San Francisco, spending about who was born in issi and died in childhood:

eleven months in California, after which he Charles who was born .Tanuarv ^T. ISSC. and is

PAST AMI IM.'KSKXT ol' MKNAK'H lOIN'rV 241

liviiii: at Ikiiiic witli liis father; ami W'illiain I .ci nnlicr ".'■'). IS.");;, ai I'mi Kniiicilx , I'l'iinsvi-
II.. whose hirth iK-eiiiTeil Auiiiist 1. IS'.tl. ami \aiiia. lie is a son (it John 'I', ami .lane
who is also ujioii the home rami. The wil\' ami (Hutehisoii) Smith, who eaiiie i'l-om the north
mother died Deeemher 17, lilOO. at tlie afie of of Ireland to the new world. His >;rand|iarents
fortv-seven vears, and lier death was deejih were natives of Seothiml. whence they I'emoved
re^rretted hv niaiiv friends. She was a I'on- to the l^neraid isle, wliere the fatlier and
sistent meinlKT of tiie i'resli\ terian olnireh and mother cd' onr snlijeet wire reai'ed. The jirand-
was ever devoted to tiie welfare ami happiness patents died in Ireland, .lohii T. Smith wa>
of lier iiusband anci ehildren. Iioiii .laiinary (i. l.Svl. and \\\- wife's hirlli oe-
Since liis iiiarriafie Mv. Loohv lias heen en- enried almut the same \\\\\r. They wrvr niar-
>raged in fjeneral farnunu' and stoek-raising and ried in tliiii- nali\e eoiintiy and later crossed
has worked earnestly and persistently to ae- the .\tlantic to the I'nited States, settlinj;- at
eiinuilate a eonifortahle competence. Tie is now Port Kennedy, where the mother died when her
the owner of a valiiahle pi'opei'ty and his land son Samuel was oidy two years old, passinj.'
is well improvid, havinn' been ])lace(l iiy him away in 18.5.5, her remains lieinji' inten-ed in I lie
under a high state of cultivation. lie is a First I'l'cshytcrian eemeti'ry at that place. \ni
Tiiember of the Catholic church and in his jio- long afterwanl the fathei- came with his family
litical views is a Democrat, hut has had neither to Illinois, arriving in Mi'nard county in ls.5i;.
time nor inclination to seek pidilic office, pre- Im-c leaving the east, however, he hail mari'ied
ferrinor to 'dve his attenliim to his luisiness atiain, ha\ iniicm the •,'■; tli of .1 iine. l.'~i.5.5. wedded
alfairs, in wiiich lu' has met with creditalde Mis< Margaret McMidlen. Tlii-niiglioin his en-
success. He is the owner uf manv \ahiaiile and tin life .lohn T. Smith rollowcd ilie occupation
interesting old heirlooms. In addition to the of farming. .Vhoui 1S(;(» he piii-clia>eil land,
papers mentioned above, he has in his possession buying lifty-nine acres of the farm upon which
a diamond setting for twenty-four diamonds his son Samuel now n sides. To thi> he aflci--
surrounding a case containing a lock of hair ward addi'd. for he prospered in his undertak-
cut from his fatber-iii-law"s head. This set- ing and became one «( the ^ull.-tantial farm-
ting was made one hundred and twenty years ers of the county. In the early days of the l!c-
ago. He also has a solid gold liracelet set with publican party be ga\e to it his >iipport. but
diamonds that was worn by his wife's grand- aftei- the Hmancipalion rrodamatinn wa> wi'il-
niother and likewise a pair of her slip])ers. .Vn- ten be hecame a Democrat and continued lo
other of bis possessions is a solid gold snuff atliliate with that party until his death. .\
box that wa> used by his wife's fatbci' and stanch advocate of I'l'otcstanti.-ni. be held niciii-
grandfatliei. and also his parents, and i< now hership with the OrangenuMi and with the
one hundred and fifty years old. A solid silver .\nierican Protestant .\ssocialion. and be be-
howl, which has been handed down as an heir- longed to the Presbyterian chiinb. lie died
loom, bears the date of December (i. Kn:',. He May ■.'(>. \S'J\. thus passing away when about
likewise has |)archments whicli are deeds and seventy yeai-s id" age. lie had three children
land grants dating back a> far as 1.5imi and by bis lii-~i inai-riage. William, the eldest, born
which transfer the title of lands in Knglaml to Decemlier !>. l.sK. died August K. ISI!). John
the Bover familv. \V.. boi-n .Vpril 11. l.s.Mi. i- liviim in Weather-
ford. Parker county. Texas. He was inari'ied

— in that state and follows farming there. Hi

went III Texas in IS^!) ami he now has a farm

S.\MrHL .M. SMITH. of four bumlred acres, which be owns indi-

Samuel M. Smith, will, for forty vears has re- M<luallv. and >evcn hundred acres which he

sided on \u> farm in Petersburg precinct, ami "\\ii> in partncr>bip. Sanuicl .M. is the third

whose landed possessions have been acquired of ihe family. I'.y the father's second marriage

almost entirely through his own elforts. hi> per- ihere were four children, all of whom died in

scNcrancc and indid'atigable industi'y. was born infancx' with the exception of Leah .lane, who

ii-2

PAS'l' AXlt I'l.'KSKXl' OK MKXAIM) ( nlXTV

marriwl David Dowi-U. wlio owns aud operates
a farm near Atterberrv. They have three
daughters and a son.

Sainnel M. Smith was reared to the oceupa-
tion of farminj: and pursued liis education in
the Little Grove school. In his youth he was
trained to the duties and labors of the farm
and gained [iractieal knowledge of the best
jnethods of conduct iiiu I'miiu work — tilling tlm
soil and raising stock, lie lias carried on gen-
eral agricultural jiursuits on Ills own account
since l.ST!). i\n(\ his iatnlcc! pusscssions. covering
two hundred and ninety acres, have been ac-
quired entirely through his own efforts save .
that his father gave him .cighty.-si.\ acres of
land. It is all in Petersburg ])recinct. He
raises grain and also stock and feeds botli cat-
tle and hogs.

On the (ith of March. 1.^7!). .Mr. Smith was
united in marriage to Miss Sophia J. Kirby.
who was born August 26, 1858, a daughter of
iilias and Lctitia ( l.onsbcrry) Kirl)y. who came
originally from I'cnnsylvania and ai'c now liv-
ing near Atterbcrry. Illinois. Her father has
passed the age of seventy years, while lier
mother is now si.xty-five years of agi'. They
are the parents of tw(>lve cliiblnn; Sophia J.,
wife of our subject; Josephine, who died in in-
fancy; A. J., who married Isaljel \'alentiiie and
resides at Conway Springs. Sumner county.
Kansas: Cliristina. wife of J. C. Atterberry. nf
Atterljerry ; Eben K.. wlio married OIlie Pan-
tier and lives near .Vtterberry : Frank, wlio mar-
ried ilary Goldshy and resides in .Vthens ;
George, wlio died in infancy; .\rvilla. wlio lives
with her parents; Lyman L.. wlm died in in-
fancy: Clarence, who is also with his ]iarents;
Dora, wife of James Greenhaiighl. living near
Oakford : and Scott, who married l-'tta Grif-
fith and lives near Petersburg.

Mrs. Smith was reared in .Menard county
and. like her husband, she attended a subscrip-
tion school. P.nth Mr. and Mrs. Siiiitli havf-
witnessed much of the development and growth
of Menard cnuiity and are iiiimliered among th(>
worthy and respected early settlers. Unto ^Ir.
and Mrs. Smitli liave iieen born eight children :
Ira A.. l)orn I»eceml)er •">. 187!>, married Ida M.
Tshmacl and they have two children. They re-
side in Cass eountv, Illinois, five miles west of

.Vtterberry, where Ira follows farming. Samuel
E., born May 7, 1881, died October 6, 1887.
Alice Leah, born October 24, 1882, became the
wife of Walter Jnhl, who died February 9,
19(i;i, aiid she now resides with her father. Em-
t-ry .1.. born ifay 7, 1884, Jesse K., born Feb-
ruary 11, 1888, John T., born October 2G,
1890, Goldie E., l)orn October 20, 1894, are all
at home. One child, born October 3, 1896, died
nil the -^'il of Xoveinber following, unnamed.
and wa> Imiiecl in Oakland cemetery. Mrs.
Smith. is a member of the Predestinarian Bap-
tist church. In his political views ^Ir. Smith is
a Democrat aud has served as .-school director tVu'
twelve years, taking an .active interest in the
schools and doing evervtliing in his power to
increa.se their proticicucy. Matters of public
progress and improvement claim bis attention
and receive his co-oiieration. Me lias led a
i|iiiet. useful and honorable life, devoted to his
fanning interests, whereby he has provided a
comfortable home for liis familv.

.IKI.'M.W TICK.

Jerman Tice. deceased, was a life-long resi-
dent of Menard county and as an agriculturist
was prominently identified with its growth and
development. He was born near Athens on the
-.'Tth of Xovi'inber, 1831, and was a son of
.lacob and Jane Tice, who were natives of
.Maryland and Virginia, respectively. His ])a-
terual grandparents came to this count ly from
Germany. Jerman Tice was reared in much
the usual manner of farmer boys in a frontier
spttlcmeiit anil his education was aci|uire(l in
the I'arly schools of- this county. During his
boyhood and youth he assisted his father in
the labors of the iKuiie farm and at times
worked by the day or month for neighboring
fanners. Throughout life he followed agricul-
tural pursuits and in .Vjiril. 1S(;9, pureha.sed
a farm near (ireenview. where he continued to
make his home until called to his final rest
on the 23d of October. 1S9.".. In connection
with general farming he also engaged in the
raising and feeding of stock.

Mr. Tice was married November 30. ls.".i;. to
Miss Mar\ .liiiison. who was born near Peters-

1 rtit

1 in *

;ii.MA.\ 'I'lCE.

r Peters-

I'AST AND I'lM'lSKX'l' OF Mi:\ AIM' col \'IV 245

hurt;. Mciiai'il iiiiiiil\. Sr|iIi'iiiiiiT IS. l,s:!l. :unl lS.")."i. lli'lmd iii'Mrd I'iU nralilc i'c|Mii'ts t'liiUTrii-
was di'sci'iuk'il from Scoteli aiK-ustors, who on iiig tlir liii>iii(v<s niiporliiuitit's of tliu lU'w
crossing the Atlantic scttlcil in Xew England, uorlil ami li(i|iinf; that he might hcnelit his
Her parents were Rev. .Inlin and Martha (ilc- linancial conditiDn lie crossed the Atlantic and
Xabb) Jeuison. Hit lather was Imrn in Mas- cstahlishc(l hi> home in Zanesvillc, Ohid. where
sachusetts and at the l\■^^^ id' nine vears ae- he Inlleweil hi> ii-ade Inr a year, lie next hi-
eompanied his jiarejits mi their reni(i\al to eali'd in Spi-inutiehl. Illinnis. hut alter a leu-
New ^■ork. J'"roin that state he lanie in llli- ni(inlli> i'emii\ei| t" .lacksonville. Illinois, where
noi? at an earl\' ilay. local ini; in Menai'd county, lie remained loi- a year. lie then came to
where he fidlowed rarniiUL; and also engaged I'deislmrg. on tin' ;tli ot Septendicr. Is.");,
in preaching, hcing a minister ol ilu' Ciimhcr- ■md esiahlishcd a jewelry store, which he con-
land I'resbytci-ian cinircli. Foi- ^ome time he diicicil for roiii'tecn years, lollowing the lin>i-
scrved as jiistici' ol ihe peace and died .lanuary ness until Tailing health eau>cd hi- retirement.
:iO. is.')-.', honored and re>pected li\ all who lie has since I raveled i'.\tensi\cly and has prac-
knew him. In his family were eight childri'n. li<-ally rc.yaincd his health, hcsidcs deriving
.Mr. Tne wa- one of a family of eleven cliil- ni'K'h plcasuri' and gaining much u.sid'ul and
dren. and lo liim and his wife was horn a interesting infoiauation from his travels. He
son. their only child. Homer J., who is rep- is now living retiivd in an I'legaid lesidencc
resented elsewhere in this volume. "H the elcxat mn >oulh .d Coui-l S.piaiv.

i'olilically .Mr. 'I'lce was ideiitilicd with the <>n .Inlv -.'S. IsT!!, al I'llklKuai. Wi.-conMn.

Hepuhlican party, hut ncxercaivd foi'ilichon- -^1 1'- .Mevcr was united in marriage to .Miss

ors or emoluments of pulilic ollice. pi'cfcrring M'H': I'- <ioiicher, hy Kev. S. ('. Thomas. They

the (luiel ot private life. M one time he allil- !">' 'heii- only daughti'i-. KIsie. and their oidy

iated wilh the I iidi'peiidenl Onlci- of Odd Ki'l- liMiig child is Fred \V. .Meyer. The hope that

lows and was a man highly |■c^pl■ctcd and e-- led Mr. Meyer to seek a home in .America has

teemed liy all with whom he canu' in contact ''"'ii m""' ''''in lealized lor he lieiv fouml the

either m hnsincss or .social lilV. Imsiiicss opportunit ies he sought and hy improv-
ing husiness conditions he won for himself a

place among llii' suhstantial I'csidcnts id' his

adopti d cil\. His personal chaiMctcrisi ies. too,

W II,I,1A.\I Ml', > l',li', .||.,. ^11, .|| .,j; liiive gained him warm friends and

Wdliam .Meyei-. whose intense ami well di- strong I'cgard. and in j'ctci'sliurg and .Meiiard

rectcd activity caused his Imsincss caiver to county he is highly cstccined.

prove so siH-cessfnl that he i- now eiiahled lo Fi'imI W. Mevcr. tlu' onlv child, was horn in

live i-clii-eil and \el cnjov manv of the com- I'elei sluirg. duly '.'.'1. ISSd. and al the usual age

forts and luxuries thai go to make life woiih entered ihe puhlic schools, whei-eiu he advanced

living. wa> horn in Hanover, tici'inanv, ( )c- through successive grades until he had complet-

iiihei- is. Is;;:;, His father, also a native of ed the high school course hy gi'aduation with

Hanover, was an architect and wa> a very sue- the class id' ISiiS, He llieii entci'ed Xoiro

cessful man of his day and locality, ,M r, Meyer Maine Inivei-sity. at Notre Dame, Indiana, as

has nephews in (Jermany wdio are now cxten- a .-ludeiit in the law ilepartment. and was grad-

sivclv engaged in the manufactui-c of fancv uated fi'om that iiist it ul ion in I'.nc.'. In ihr

goods, conducting a vei'v projitahle enter|)rise. fall of the same year he wa> admitted to the

.Vl'ter leaving .school William Meyer hegan ha i- and entered u]ioii aelive pi'actice in i'elers-

learinng the trade of a watchmakei' and .jew- iuirg. .\lieadv he has sccui'cd a good elieiitage,

cicr and latci- he went to Swit/.ci'laiul to per- and his thoi-ough preparation, laudahle amhi-

I'ect himself in that work among a people who tion and unfaltering energy speak well for a

are the acknowledged leaders of the world along successful future as a repi'esentative of the legal

those lines. When twenty-one years of age' fi-aternitv of his native city, '^^r. ^feyer was

he came to .Vinerica. lamlina: at Xew York in niarricil in .lanuarv, limi. lo Miss Lvnn

PAST AM) PHHSKX'

.\iK.\Ai;i) ((irN'i'v

tiivciif. a nativi' oi .Mi-iiar<l tiuinly ami a
ilaiigliter of (Jainos (ireeiic, of an nlil I'aiinly
of thai naiiK'. Tlu' young pcojili' arc poiJiilar
in PfttTsbiu-g. wIktc the h():;i)itality of tlic
host houit'^ is cordiallv extcntlcil tiu'in.

GEOKGE B. WKLSii.

There i? no history in this voliiinc wiiich
illustrates more clearly the fact llial success
niay be won through |iciscviTanrc ainl honor-
able effort than does the rccoid ol' (uorgc
Baxter Welsh, who is indeed a scir-niadc man,
having worked his way u|iw:inl t'nmi a hiiiii-
ble financial position to one of alliuence. Al-
though he is now the owner of an excellent
farm of four hundred and llfty acres in Tallula
aud Petei-sburg jiirtincts. he came to this
county without capital and was first employed
as a farm hand.

A native of Scotland. Mr. Welsh was lioni
in Dundee. April 1. ls:'.S. his parcnls licing
John and Joanna (l'>a\lcr) Wcl-h. Wlicii the
old established church of Scotland was di\id<Ml
because of difference of opinion aiimng its
inemliership. ilr. and M r^. .lolm Welsh willi-
drew from the old organization and b<'ianie
niendiers of what was known as the I-'ree church.
and their son George was one of tiic tirst pujiils
in the schools estai)lished by the new dennniina-
tion. Por long irenerations the anceslm-s id' the
family had resided ,in Scotland. The grand-
father of our subject was a Jarnu f lliere. Iiut
the father became a grain merchant, lie mar-
ried iliss Baxter, whose ))eople weic largely
engaged in manufacturing: making a s|)i'cia]ty
of sail cloth and bagging, ller father, how-
ever, lived retired from business lor nnmy
years. Her cousin, David Baxter, was a mem-
ber of parliament, ilrs. Joanna Welsh dieil
in Scotland, after which her husband mar-
ried Mrs. Elizabeth Bruce, a widow.
and crossed the Atlantic to America with
his family, settling on a ■farm nea'r
Toronto, Canada, in isiii). lie had five
children. For many years Ire carried on agri-
cultural pursuits there and at his death, which
occurred in lSO(i, his remains were interred in
a cenieterv north of Toronto.

George B. Welsh is the eldest of his father's
family. Eliza, tiie second child, married An-
drew ililler. who resides at Thornhills, Canada,
not far from Toronto, .lolin is married and re-
sides at ListoH. in I'lipei- Canada, .lames mar-
ried and resided in Stockton. ( 'alifoi'nia. lie
served as mayor of that city and was pri'si-
dent of the l''irst National Bank there. He
learned the nnllei's traile in New York and
went to the west a i)oor boy. but at the time
of his death he had amassed a fortune of al-
most a million dollars. lie died .Inly .'(i. ]!MI4,
leaving a wife and thiee daughters. William
resides at the old home at Tlioi-nhills. Canada.

George 1'). Welsh spent the lirst eleven years
of his life in his native country and tlu'n ac-
conijianicd his father to Canada, after which
he had no o])portnnity to attend school. His
youth was largely a period of unremitting toil
and he laiiored persistently and earnestlv to
get a start in the Imsiin'ss world. He came
to Illinois in fSli:! and the first year worked
as a farm hand for twenty-five dollars ]ier
month. Me afterward operated rented land
for about eijiht or ten years, and then, his
labor, economy and careful management having
lirought to him sonu' capital, he purc-hased a
tract of land in Little (irovc. To his original
|>urchase of three hundred acres he has since
ailded two huiidretl acres, so that he is now
one of the extensive landowiieis id' the eoiiiUv.
his possessions being valuable, liecause of the
many im]n-ovements he has placcil uixm his
farm and the high state of eidtivalion umler
which he has jdaced his fields.

In 18(;0 ifr. Welsh married Miss Catherine
.Miller, a daughter of Nathan Miller, who be-
longed to an old Pennsylvania-Duti-h family
and came from the Keystone state to Illinois
in the fall of 1S(;;), bringing with him his two
children. The children ..f Mr. and Mrs. Welsh
are as follows: John, who lives in Ca.ss county.
Illinois, mari-ied Lillie Wilson, of Menard
county, and they have three daughters. Joanna
is the wife nf Robert Wood, who resides on a
farm tour nnles east of IN'tei'sburg. and they
have two sons and a daughter. Geines G..
who is living south of Petersburg and is a
mend>er of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellow, married Elizabeth Held and thev have

(p^^'^^oi^^i^ji^ ^^5^S^^2.

I'AS'I' AM) I'KKSKX'I" oK MhlNAL'h ((UX'IV •>•".]

two sons iind a itiui<;lit(.'r. (irijri;!'. wlio was riajiv Ilicy Iictmiiic ilic |iaiTiils of <c\cn children.
a miller. Ii\es with his uiirle .lames in f'ali- six sens ami a ilaui;liter. all <it' wlmm are imw
I'ui'iiia. Herberl. a graduate of the lii^li sehool deceased with the e\ee|ili(iii nC two. On tlic
111' 'I'allula and of tlie Sprin>>lield Business ;id cd' .\])iil. is.'il. the I'aiher started for Ore-
College, is now at home. Christina and May i.ron. aecoTnpanied iiy hi> sons. They traveled
are also at home and the latter, alter ,i;radu- with three ox-teams, and on tin' Tth ol' .May
atiiiy from the Talhda high seliool. taught for left Omaha. They did not see a house from
two years. Minnie attended the high -chool that time unlil thev I'eached Oregon, and thev
of Tallula and later enttTed the Illinois Woin- experienced the nsnal hardshi|)s and trials in-
an"s Cidh'ge. at .lacksonville. Illinois, where cident lo crossing the plains at that early day.
~he is studying piano anil \oice culluiv. Mi's. On the ."uli uf Xo\cnd)C'r, 18.")1. Ih''\ reached
Welsh is a ini'ndier of the Christian cliui-ch at the Cascade mountains and making their way
Tallula. to which all u\' \\vv chililieii helong i,, tjic mines of California. .Joseph Williams
~a\e .lolin and (ic^orge. The family occupies ihi^re engaged in nnning for ahoiil two years,
an en\iaii!e position in social circles and llii' when he was murdered liy the Indians, in ilav,
Wel>h household is a hospitable one. is."):!. His wife had died in Illinois. Decemher
['(ditically Mr. Welsh is a Kepuhlican. con- m. jsi.s. rre his enugration to the I'acilic
\crsant with the ipiestions and issues id' the coast. Only two (,r the family are now living
day. hut ni'ver an aspirant for otlicc. lie is — Williiim |;. ami Xrwioii A. The latter, horn
a mcmlier of the Masonic fraternity, having o,.t,,l„.|- i;. isi.'i. now resides at (Jreenview.
hecn madi' a Mason in Clinton Lodge. Xo. IM. ||, ^-i- niairicd Oetoher ]]. \s::,.h, Mi-s Mary
A. F. .V .V. M.. at Petershurg. more ihan (• c,,^ .,,,,1 ,]„.y ],,„| uj,,,, ..hildrcn. sev.'u <>(
thirty years ago. lie has always heen true to whom ai-e living.

its teachings, exemplifying in his dailv life the wiMiam 1'.. William> was not yel eight years

henclicent spirit of the craft. „|- .,„,, ^.i,,.,, |„, start. ■(! with his father U>y

California, hut celeluated lii- hirthday on the
\\a\. He i-emaiiicil in OieL;on until ls."i:i. when

lu' returned with hi~ li\e lu-olhers to the home

W 11.1,1AM I'.. WILLIAMS. .... , , . ..,.,,. . ...

of their uncle, .lolin W illiains. and soon atter-

\\'dliaiii 11. Williams, whose loyally to his ward winl to live with their aunt. Mrs. Cyn-
coiintry has never wavered and whose interes;, thia .lohnson. The return journey had iieen
in her w<'lfare has never ahated since he woi'e made hy way i>\' \\\r isthmns id' Panama, thence
the lilne uniform and fought for the prcserva- hy sailing vessel lo Xc« Orleaii- and up the
tion of the I'nion in the Civil war. is a well Mississippi and Illinois ii\ci> lo Beardstown.
known resider.l of townshi)! LS. where he carries ihence aiToss the country lo Mi mini county,
on geiK'i-al fanning and stock-raising. He was M i-. Williams of this rc\ iew contnined to live
liorii in this coiint>. ^Fay 29, 1841), and is a with his aunt until after the outbreak of the
son of .loscph and lluldah (Francis) Williams. Civil war. when he enlisieil as a member of
The lather was horn in Kentucky, .\prii :>, Com|iany K. One lliindred and Sixth Illinois
Isp.'. and in 1S2:5 became a resident of Menard Infantry. His com|iany was i-omposed of Mc-
loimly. J n I'arly manhood he engaged in farm- nanl county men and the n-giment went into
ing. but at the age of twenty-four years turned camp at Lincoln. Illinois, .\ugust l."), lS(i2, be-
lli- aitcntion to general incrchaiulising at He- ing mustered into the Cnited States service on
catur, Illinois, .\fter five vears" connection the l.sih of Se|)temb<M'. On the 7tli of that
with coniniercial pursuits he resumed farming month they moved to Columbus. Kentucky, and
anil continued in that vocation until he started on the UHb to .lackson. Tennessee. On the
for the Pacific coast. In the meantinie he had ihb of December occurred the lirst death in
married ^Miss TTuldah Francis, who was born the rcgimcni—thal of K. L'ankin. of Company
in Hartford. Connecticut, ^May 10, l.Sl-.'. and C. huring an engagement Sergeant Henry
in IS-2'.I came to this loinitv. Rv their mar- l"o\. of Company II. i-limlied up the timbers

PAST AMI IM.'KSKXT nV MKNAIM' ( (l^\■^^■

(if tile l>fi(l""(.' mill iTossi'il Ihiit slnicturt' umlcr iiiilil ISHl. whrii lie tmik ii|i his Mlmdr mi his

the Hri' (if till' whoK' rebel foree. on his wmv I'miiii in lownship 111. where he li\ci| until

til .liu-kson fur re-en fdreeiiK'iits. ami altliiiiij.'h Mareii. lIMi-.'. Then sellinu his pniperty lie

this was a ninst |)eril(Uis iindertakinjr he ae- reinoxed id X'alparaisn. Iniiiana. in order to

eiimplishcil it in safety. Later tlu' rejrimeiil alTnril hi^ daii;;hters lielter echuatinnal privi-

was sent furtiier north to i;nard railroad sta- le<;es, retuniiiii;- thence to the places where he

linns. The ])risiiners paroled hv (ieneral For- now resides.

ri s| wi're sent to Henton Barracks and ex- On thi' 1st id' .Xovemiicr. ls;n. Mr. Williams

cluuifred in the later suiniuer of IStiii. Tlie hal- was married to Jliss Anna M. Whitney, a

anee of the rejiiiiient was ordered to Bolivai-, daiiirhter of Alonzo H. and Mary A. (Kiiuaid)

TeuiU'ssee, in ifarcli. ll^lU. and almul ilie olsl Wliitne\. who cnine to .Mniai'd ciuinlv ii] the

of Mav moved on to X'ieksiiur;;. While en nuite early ";iOs. Her father, who was horn .Vjiril

the hoat which was trans)]ortin<; the troo]is was 1(!. ISKi. and died Xovemlier !•. 1S71. s]ient

liied upon at close raniie olV Island li-'i hy sev- the <,freater part of his life in this ciumtv. lie

eral companies of Rehel infantry and two can- owm d and operated a farm and also worked

lion, and Captain Hcizcdv's son was killed at at his trade of carpentering', heinjr one of the

the lirst (ire, while a few otlicis were also killed iiiihistrious, energetic men of his conimuiiity.

and aiioiit twenty-five wonnded. .\fter serving .\ssociated with Mr. Thatcher he Imilt I lie I'res-

in the trenches at \'icksliiirg a lew weeks the hyterian church at .North Sangainmi. His

One Hundred anil Sixth lllino's was sent forty wife, who was horn .lanuary 'iH. ISlS. died

miles up the Yazoo river to repel a Rebel force .November H. ISIU. Tiny wire the parents

and. returning by forced inarches, was hara.ssed of eight children, of whom four ai'e now liv-

liy the enemy: while under the scorching sum- ing: .M r>. Williams. Iiorii December 4, 1S48;

mer sun many of the soldiers were prostrated Dewey 1... who was horn Se]itcniber ii). 1851.

by the heat. The regiment lost more men on and is imw married and living in Kansas;

that trip than from any other cause during its Kmma 1].. who was horn January ".^4. 1S5(5.

term of service. The One Tliindred and Sixth and is the wife id' Di'. 1'. I'. Eldredge: and

served in the line of battle at N'icksburg until Frank II.. who wa;- loin DcceinlM'r '.'S. ISiiO,

after its surrender and wa.~ then ordered to and is living in this county.

Helena, .\rkansas, and took jiart in the advance The home of ilr. and Mrs. William^ has iieeii

on iJttle Kock. participating in its ca])ture. blessed with seven chihlnn : Mary II.. who was

It was in the battle of Clarendon. Duvalls BliilV. horn .Vugust •"). l^;l. and died May '>. 1ST2:

I'ine Bluff. Benton. Hot Springs. T.ewi.sburg. W . 11.. who was born July !•"). is;:;, and was

St. Charles. Dardanelles and Brownsville and mairiid to Maud Turner. .Vugust "24. 1S98:

performed its full share in crushing out the (Irare. who was born .\]iril 1. 1S7."); Lueinnia.

rebellion. Its members -ulfered many ]iriva- who was ijorn .V]ii'il in. is", and was married

tions and hanlships. tnarching through swamps .Viigust Hi. 189S), to John Cloud, of rndiana :

and bayous, lighting and foraging, and its .\ithur. who was born March 2",. ISSd. and

history shows a long list of casualties. Mr. died July 24, 1887; Cynthia, who was born

Williams was always most faithful to his duties SeptembiM- '^T. 188:^: and I'aul. who was born

and returned home with a most (feditable mil- June •^. 1S8T, and died July 2'.K 18S7.

itary record. Mr. Williams i.- a valued member of Pollock

.\rier the war .\lr. Williams engaged in buy- Post. .No. tiOd, G. .V. P.. of .Mhens, and inain-

irig and shipping stock and in ISd!) lie pur- tains pleasant relations with his old army com-

eha.seil a farm at Middletnwn. l,ot.'aii county, rades in this way. He is also promiueiit in

Hlinois. where he resided until isiifl. He then Masonry, belonging to (ireenview lodge. No.

disposed of that property and purchased a farm (i.i:?. .\. F. il^t .\. ^f. : DeWitI Chairter. Xo. 1 1'.t.

in Mi.s.soiiri, where he lived for two years, after i;. .\. M.; ami St. .Mdemar Commandery. No.

which he returned to Indian Point and settled 47. K. T. He has been a member ot the school

on ihe old William- fariii. where be remained board of his district for fifteen vears and the

PAST AXn IMJKSKXT OF ^NrRXAlM) CorX'l^ -iryS

iMiisr of (Mliiriiliiiii linds in liiiii ;ni rllVi/tivc IiuikIitiI ami >i.\tv acivs of hiiicl. When lii' liail

cliainpiou. He siroiigly endorses the jjrineiples I'ollnwcil lanninu liiere I'lir a hrief ])erio(l he

of Ihe l{e|)iihlican |iarty and is never remiss sohl his pro|)eity and ivturne<l to Menard eouii-

in eitizenship. while all tln' duties of piihlie ty. where hv ])ureliased two hundred acres,

and private life he disehar^es with ecpial lidel- Since tliat time he has adtied seven hundred

ily. aeres, so that he is now one of the most exten-
sive laiidowiirrs (if the eounly. his possessions

agjircfiatinj;' nine hundi-i'd aere> of very rich

and prodnetive laiul. In addition to jreneral
(;)■:(» I, '(;K I. SPI'IAK'S. farmini; he raises stock ami feeds cattle. His
George V. 8pi'ars. who is engaged in general lui^imss interests have heeii carefully conduct-
farming in 'I^allula tnwusliip. was horn .\]iril e(l, his transactions lieing guided hy sound
4. 1844. ahout iliree miles east of Tallula, in judijnient. and although he is now nunihered
('hiry'- (iro\e. his parents heing W. (4. and among the prosperous farmers of the county.
VAi/.n (Myirs| Spears, lioth of whom were na- it is all due to his carefully directed and
ti\es of Kentucky. The family was established straight forwai'd dealings.

in .\merica at an early period in the coloniza- In J)eceniher. l<S(i(i. Mr. S|)ears was uniti'd in

tioii of the new woi'lil. the great-grandfather of marriage to ^liss Frances (Jrccn. a daughter

fuir suhject heing at one time a I'esident of nf .1. {',. (ireeii. who was one of the early set-

N'irgiuia. whence li(> remo\cd westward to Ken- tiers nf lliis pai1 of the state, having arrived

tuck\'. The grandfather was a farniei' ami in is-.'l. when few pioneers had estahlished

sla\e owner of the liluc (trass state. W. (i. Immcs in this liK-nlity ami when nnu-h of tin'

Spears removed from Kentucky to Illinois in lami >till i-cmaimd in its primitive condition.

182!). settling three luilc^s east of Talhda in lie scttleil >onlh of the old town of Salem an<l

Clary's Grove, where he followed the occupa- ihei'e I'carcd his family, ruin M i-. and Mrs.

rion of farming. Fnto him an(l his wife were Spears have heen horn seven (4iil(lren: .leiJse

horn four children, a son and three daughti'fs. married ^largaret .1. Stout and resides in I'e-

(ie:)rge r. heing the second of the family. His tershitrg. They ha\c one daughtei-. .Vila, who

sisters are I'lllen. Kate and Keln'cea .leiinie. is eleven years of agi'. Carrie, who was eilii-

Kllen married S. H. Bergen and is now a cated in the schools of Tallula and in the .lack-

w iflow residing in (iuthrie. ( >klahoma. She sonville l'"einale Seminary, is at honu'. Wil-

has three .sons, one of whom is a druggist, while liam (i.. who spent one year as a student in

another is a traveling salesman, repi'esenting a I'hircka Colli'ge. at I'hireka. Illinois, and one

Si. Foiiis house. Ivate marrie<l John Frank, term in Hi'ovvn's Business Collciic at Spriiig-

erlitor of a paper of .lacksonv ilh'. Klorida. ru4d. is now fai-ming on his own account and

They have oiu' son. who is engaged in thi' news- resides with his parents. Lena is a graduate

paper liusiness. Iiehecca .lennie is the widow of ihi. Woman's Methodist College, at .lackson-

ol W. .1. lluggius and i-esides in (uitlii-ie. Okla- ville. (^>uincy M., who attended the Tallula

lioma. high sc-hool and after his graduation spent a

In the country schools Mr. Spears hegan his year in the Illinois College, at Jacksonville, is

education, which he continued in the schools of farming l'i>i- himself on eighty ai-res of his

'i'alluhi. lie put aside his te\t-liooks when nwn ami also (ui his father's jilace. (iracc B.

iiini'teen year- nf ai;e and liei;an farming for wa.- eilueated In tiu- Tallula high school and in

him-i4f nil hi> iiiiithcr's land east of Tallula. the Woman's College at Jai-ksonville. Sarah

After rcniainin- there f(U- two years he spent a H.. also a gradnatc of the Tallula high school

vi'ar south of Tallula and aftei'wai'd hoiight a and a student in the Woman's College at Jaek-

lionii stead of tw(i hundi'cd and eiglitei n acres, sonvill". completes the family,

which he cultivated for two years. Later he sold Mr. Spears endorses the principles of Democ-

iiut .and went to Warren county. Illinois, set- racy and was elected to the oHice id' countv eom-

tling ncai' ( 1 ri'( nluisii. where he purchased one missioner for three terms. He proved a most

254

PAST AND TKESEN'l' m| \1I:\ AK'h ( (M NTV

(•!i|ialili' titlicial and his energies were exerted
lor the hest interest of tlie county, whieh prof-
ited hy what ho did. He is a man whom to
know is to respect and lionor, and he receives
(lie a(hniration of his fellow men for what he
has aironiplislied and their respect hecausc of
tlie straightforward metliods liy which lie has
won his prosperity.

HENEY C. LEYEEIXG.

Henry (_'. Levering was born on the 1st of
Jaunary, 1849, his parents being Cave and
Catlierinc (Yon Felden) Levering. His mother
was born in Germany and came witli her pa-
rents. George and Margaret \'iin l-'clden. to
.Vmerica at an early age. His fatlier was lorn
in Baltimore, ilaryland. and when a young
man came to Hlinois and after spending sev-
eral rears in Springfield took up his resid'cnce
in Petersburg, entering tlie employ of A. P.
Wright and afterward engaging in busines-
for himself. Hi' was married to iliss \'on
Fehlen in Pelersi.ui'g and to them were born
eleven cliildrcn. nine surviving to maturity.
eight 111' ulioMi arc still living: Mrs. Robert
Carver. .Varou. Thomas. Mrs. Lester Kcdmon.
Cave. Charli'S. llarvey .M. and Margaret, llar-
v.y M. Levering, the youngest son, has been
actively identified with the political life of
tlie county, jiaving been elected by large ma-
jorities to fill the office of county clerk for three
■successive terms, and is at the present time
hnlding the- ])osition of master in clunicery.

lleiiiy ( '. Levering was married in Pcters-
liiirg, November (1, 1872. to Julia Chatterton.
tlie daiigliter of Cliarles and Elizabeth (]\Iiles)
Cliatterton. She was l)orn in Springfield
Fehriiary 1."), 18.5."). Her motlier was reared in
Menard county wliere her parents, George V.
and Jan(' Mill's, settled at an early day, com-
ing from Kentucky, ilr. Levering entered
mercantile life as a grocer and was very suc-
cessful in that line. He was associated in a
[)artiiershi|) with ilartin Xicolai. which rela-
tion was eontinned for some time, when the
firm of Harms. Levering, Nicolai & Company
was formeil. This was succeeded by Harms,
T^evering & Clary, and after the retirement of

Mr. Clary became Harms iS; l.exering. In IS!Hl
thev eri'cteil the presi^nt lirii-k business block
at the southwest corner of court house square,
one hundred and twenty-four liy one hundred
and two feet. The building was constnuied
for departments — groceries, dry goods, clothing
and notions — and had a stock and facilities
for the conduct of a general mercantile busi-
ness second to none in this jiai'l "f llie state.
Mr. TiCvering was wry iulivc in llie develo)i-
nieiit of this business, wbieli was eimductetl
along modern lines of progress, ami be insti-
tuted fair and honorable methods which would
bear the closest scrutiny. He was also inter-
ested (piite extensively in stock-raising and
continued in l>oth lines up to the time of liis
death, which occurred on the 3ril day of .Inly.
19():i, tb(> community tbereliy losing a very
prominent and inlluenlial citizen whose value
was widelv recognized. His name bad long
figured in connection with mercantile interests
here and always stood as a synonym of honor-
able dealing and jirogressive etVort. lie was
a Mason and a life-loui; Democrat, but always
held patriotism aliove politics. He was :i man
of unblemished character, tireless energy and
unbounded industry.

He is succee(leil in business by his two sons,
bis only children. Paul and Harry ('. The
firm of Harms \- Levering was discontinued,
the yomig men retaining the clothing and gro-
cery departments under the name of Levering
Brothers. They are of good business ability,
alert, energetic, quickly recognizing possibili-
ties, finding in each transition stage of their
business career o|i|inriiniity for further ad-
vanceineiil and bid fair to sustain the repu-
tation tlieii- father ma<le as an boiKU-able man
and a useful citiz<'n.

.\M>i;i:\v I'Ai.'K.

.\ndi-cw I'aik. who since .March. 1877. has
resided upon bis farm on sections 3 and 10,
township IS. where he owns and operates one
hundred and lifty-live acres of land, was born
in Paisley. Scotland. July 22. 184ti. liis jiarents
being James and l{ebecca (Purdon) Park,
who Were also natives of the land of the heath-

M\l. AMI Mi;s. H. C. I.K\Ki;i\(;.

PAST WD I'K'KSEXT OF MEXARD f'OrXTV

l'.-)7

er. Till' liitlu'r's and iiiDthers peopk' came
from tlio lowlaiicls of Scotland and lie was a
farmer hy occupation. The Park family were
lanilowncrs there but going security for a man
lost their pi-o])crty. Both the parents of our
subject were members of tlie Presbyterian
church of Scotland. Leaving his native coun-
try in 1SG2. James Park crossed the Atlantic
to America and made his way westward to
Petersburg. His brothers, Matthew and Thom-
as Park, had come to Illinois many years be-
fore and had entered land from the govern-
ment when much of it was still unclaimed.
\u aunt, .\nnic Barclay, emigrating from Scot-
land to A'irginia, afterward camo to Illinois
and purchased the farm whereon .Vmlicw Park
nnu resides, lie having bought the land fnnii
licr. .\nother aunt. ^frs. ^fargaret Shepai'd,
caiiic from Scotland to llliiiiiis at the time of
the arrival "f ThmiKis :iiiil ^l.ittln'w i'ni'k.
All arr now deceased.

Ill till' family of James and iidiccca Park
were nine ciuldi'cn. seven (biugldcrs and two
sons, as follows: isaludla married ('lirist«|iher
Kose and they resided in Scotland, but both
ari' now ilcccased. Their son Christopher is
now a resident of .Vntelope county. Xebraskn.
l\lizabeth is the dccease<l wife of William Wil-
son, a resident id' Scotland, and they liad four
children. Rebecc-a died in infancy. Peliecca
nuirricil William l''inley and is now a widow,
residing two and a half miles noilbcast of
Pi'tersbnri:. .\nnic nuirried .\ntliony Clark,
a resident of Hcinent, Piatt c-ounty. Illinois,
and tbi'y have three children. .\ndre\\ is the
sixth of till' family. Margaret is the widow
of George W. ilollis. resides in the Petersburg
precinct and has nine children. Agnes is the
wife of Harry Houghton, living five miles
south of Petersburg, and they have si.x chil-
dren. James <lied at the age of twenty-four
years.

In the public schools of Scotland .\ndrc\v
Park ac(piired Ids education, and while still
living in that country be began earning his
own living by working as a farm band, re-
ceiving thirty dollars in coni|>ensation for si.\
months service. Coming to the United States
in 18()2 he has found in the freedom and ap-
preciation of this great we.stern conntrv, with

its livelier competition and advancement more
quickly secured, the business opportunities he
sought and is today one of the substantial farm-
ers of his adopted county. He was employed
on his father's farm for a time and also
worked for others and then when his labor
bad made pos.sible the purchase of a tract
of land, be began farming for himself upon
the place whicli has been liis home since March,
1S77. He has here one hundred and lifty-five
acres of good land and he also owns fifty acres
near the Brush schoolhouse, and because of
the careful cultivation bestowed uj)on his fields
the farm has become very productive and
therefore profitable.

On the l!)th of August, ISS.'), Mr. Park was
married to Miss Harriet Putledge, a daughter
of McOrady and ifargaret (Harris) Riitledge.
the former a native of Kent\icky and the lat-
ter of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Park have
two children, both of whom are living. James
IT., born August -2, 1SS7; and Stella P.. born
.luni' i;. ISli-.'. P.oili are students in the pub-
lic .schools.

^Ir. Park's \iews on the temperance cpu's-
tion are indicate<l liy the support wbieb he
gives to the Prohiiiition [larty. lie belongs
to the Cundierland I'resbyterian church and
his influence is always a factor in behalf of
law and order, justice, truth and right. He
has led a very bu.sy life, and. realizing that
labor is the basis of all bonorabl(> ,«uccess.
he has worked on persistently year after year
and is now in possession of a comfortable coni-
])etence as the resull of Ids earnest toil.

•loii.N 11. i;i:iii;i;.\s.

.lobn II. Hebreiis. who is extensively and
successfully engaged in the raising of stock
and in general farming in (ireenview town-
ship, was born on the 8th of February. ISUo.
in Menard county, and is of German lineage.
His parents, Henry and "Sliuy (Hildebrand)
Hehreiis. were both natives of (Jerinany. The
father, leaving that country, sailed for New
Orleans and thence proceede<l up the Missis-
sippi river to St. Louis, Jfis.souri, while his
wife, on coming to America, made her wav

PAST A.\l> I'KESENT OF .MKXAItD ((U .\T^

In Wilier to IJavaiia, Jlliiiois. Tliey wuii'
iiiarricd in this state and in onli-r to provide
for his family Honrv Hehrcns earried on agri-
i-ultural jiursuits. He worked hard and his
i-aroful nianajienK'nt enahied liini to af(iiiire a
iiandsonie conipetenee. As his financial re-
sources increased he nnide judicious investments
in real estate and hccamo the owner of ex-
tensive landed possessions, having seven hun-
dred and twentv acres at the time of iiis death,
which occurred in February, 1882. He had
survived his wife for ahout three years, her
death having occurred in February, 1879.
They were the ]>arents of five children, two
sons and three daughters, of whom two sons
and a daughter are now living, namely : Jolin
H. : William; and Mary, the wife of J. Wolder.
of Menard county. An uncle of Mr. Behrens
of this review is still living. He is John
Hildebrand, of Grundy county, Missouri, and
on the 12th of August. ]!)04. celebrated the
seventieth anniversary of his birth. On that
occasion a party was held in his honor, at
which Mr. Rehrens of this review was present.

r])ou the old homestead farm John H. Beh-
rens spent the days of his boyhood and youth
and early became familiar with the duties and
labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist.
Since attaining his majority he iuis carried
on the same pursuit and is now well known
as a successful stock-raiser and feeder. He
has altout one hundred and hfty head of cattle
upon his place at this writing, in the fall of
1!HI4, together with ten bead of horses and
mules and about one liundrcd and twenty head
of hogs. He has recently shipped sixty-five
head to the Chicago market. His landed pos-
sessions comprise live hundred and five acres
and because of his property ami bis Inisiness
cafiacity and i'nterpri.>;e be di-serves to l)e
ranked among the leading and substantial
agriculturists of Menard county.

On the •'•i<] of .November, iss:. Mr. iiehrciis
was united in nuirriage to .Miss Lizzie Stroker,
n dnnghler of (iarret and Julia (Miller) Strok-
er. in wliose family were four daughters and
a son, all of whom are living in this county
witii one exception: Lizzie, born June 20,
IStiv. is now ^irs. nelirens; Anna, horn Feb-
ruary .s. I.siw. uiarrie.l William Meluvns. n

brother of John 11. ImIu-cms; .Mary was born
ilarch s. 1SG7; Mrs. Amelia Koester, born
December 11. 18(i!», is living in Xebraska;
Jlenry, born I)eceml)er 35, 18(1, makes his
home witli bis eldest sister. I'uto Mr. and
ills. Behrens have i)een born four children:
George, born Septendjer 13, 18>S,S; Edward,
born Dc^embtM- 28, 1889; Franklin, born Oc-
tober 14. 18!)1 ; and Oscar, born July 9, 1899.
The children have been reared upon the old
home farm upon which their father spent his
boyhood days jnd where he has always carried
on his business interests.

Both ilr. and Mrs. Behrens are consistent
and loyal memlters of the German Lutheran
church, contributing generously to its support.
In his political views he is a stanch Republi-
can, keeping well informed on the questions
and issues of the day and thus being able to
su|i])ort his position by intelligent argunu-nt.
For the past twelve years he has been a school
director and he is now road commissioner,
a ]iositiou whidi lie has held at ilitl'erent times
until bis incumiiency covers nine and a half
years. In the discharge of his duties he has
ever lieen prompt and faithful and all who
know him recognizi' in liini m man who is re-
liable and triistw(utliy in l)usiness. loyal in
citizenshij) and devoted to his fannly and
friends.

.1. W. W I'MI.XSIXt;.

.1. W. W'ci'iising. one iif tlic pniniiiicnt iiii.>-
neer merchants of .Mcnaid county, whose enter-
prising spirit and business foresight largely
advanced commercial conditions in Pi'tersburg.
was a native of Hanover, Germany. He ac-
r|uii-ed hi-; education there and remained in the
fatherland tndil 1S3S. when be deteiinined to
I'lnic til .\iiicrica. Iii'|iiirls rnnn the new world
pre.'^eiiled a story of business coiuhlions and
possibilities that attracted him. and thinking
that he might win umre rapid advancement
in a country with livelier competition where
results were more cpiickly secured, he came to
to the Fnited States and located in Springfield,
Illinois, where he entered the employ of John
'I'axlcir. who then had ehar^'e of the land office.

JOHN.W.WERNSINC

MRS ML FISHER

Twr

TAST Wn I'RESKXT oT MlAAlMi CorX'I'V

2(i3

L;itei' he Innncij ;i |i:ii-tiuTflu|i with -lauR's 'l'-d\-
lor. a son of liis oinpioyor, for the t'stiiblishiUL'iit
of a (Irv-gooils store at Petershuru-. ami tliey,
npencil tlieir stoi'k of ji'oods in a wooiien liuild-
ini;- in what was known as the old town, this
\>vmff one of the pioneer nien-antile enteriirises
nf the )ilaee. Prosperitv attended the eit'orts
n( the new linn, tiic Imsiness keeping ])aec with
tlie ji'i-owth cd' thi' town and the settlement of
the snri'oundinjz' district, and later thev erected
a l)riek store Imildinir now occupied l).v the First
National l'>aid< and the store adjoiniuj;' it on
I he north side. i-'ni- a niiinhei' of years ^\r.
Wenising was aeti\ely connected wilh the con-
duct of this business.

In pnlilic affairs Jlr. Werusing Avas also prom-
inent anil his efforts contrilnited to tlie general
iiphnildiiiL: and iin|irovemoiit of his city and
county, ill' had hccn a resident of Illinois for
only a IVw ycai's when he enlisted for service
in the iilack Hawk war, going to the scene of
hostilities under command of Colonel Jlerri-
inan and serving until the Indian uprising was
ipielled. lie was at one time cii'cuit clerk for
a term, and his influence was always given on
the side of improvement and ])rogress. and
proMil a potent elemenl in ihe ^llll<tani iai up-
hnilding of Petershurg.

On the Hth of ^fay. ISf."). Mr. Wernsing was
muted in marriage to Miss ^iinerva T^. Smith,
and his death occurred ^fay 10, 1S.")8. hut he
is yet reniennjert'd hy many of the |)ioneer set-
tiers of Menard county as a man and citizen
of sterling worth. His wife, now Mrs. Fisher,
is one of the oldest living settlers of Menard
( (iiinty, having located here with her parents in
ISod. when a young girl of eight years. They
eaine .front Indiana, luit her father and mother
were (UMginally from i\cntui-kv. .Vftcr losing
her first liusliand Mrs. Wernsing was again
married, iiecoming the wife of Ttedrich Fisher,
in ISCl. Their mai'i'lcil life co\c>i'ed aiiout a
lliird of a century. Mr. i''isher passing away
nn the l-?th of .\|)ril. IMil. :\irs. Fisher is
now in her eighty-fourth year. She has ]irop-
' itv in Menard county and also in San Diego
county. California, and fur the past thirteen
year.*; has made her home in the latter ]ilace,
luit during tluit time has made twenty-two trips
to ^lenard countv. ami at this writin;: is now-

visiting i'elati\es here. 'I'lie memory of few,
if any, of the residents of this locality dates
liack to a more remote period in the history
of ^lenard county, and she lias intimate knowl-
edge id' the e\('ids which have molded its ])ol-
icy. promoted its growth and shapcil its annals.
She occupies a foremost jilace in the regard
and warm esteem of a very large circle of
friends in Menard cnuntv.

II. M. i.i;\ KI.'IXi;.

II. .M. I.e\ei-ing. niastei- in chancery of Me-
nard coinily. was Imiii in I'etersbnrg, December
13. 18t)i, anil lhriniL:li nnicli of his active busi-
ness career has lieeii eimneeted with the pub-
lic service — a fact which indicates his reliability
ami efficiency. 11 i> fatlu'r. Cave Levering, was
a nali\e nf lialtimorc. ilarylami, and was unit-
ed in marriage to Miss Catlu'rine von Felden,
a native of Germany. Oir his removal to Illi-
nois he located in Springfield, where lie re-
mained for a lew years, and thence came to
Pctersluirg, where he turned his attention to
merchamlising, in wiiich field of business activ-
ity be continiii'd \intil within a few years of
his death, wiu'ii he retired tn enjoy U\o fruits
of his former toil.

The eiulith in order of birth in a family of
nine children. 11. M. Levering was educated
in the pul)lic schnnls of Petersburg and tiieu
entered his hrolher's store as a salesman, being
thus employed for eight years. On the exjiira-
tion of that ])eriod. in 1889, he was elected
county clerk and was twice re-elected, thus serv-
ing for three con.secutive terms. ■ On Ids retire-
ment from that otlice he was a])iiointed master
in chancery, in which ca|iacily he is now dis-
cluirging his duties in a most capaiile and com-
mendable manner. Jle regards a ]iublic office
as a imblic trust and brings to the discharge
of his duties the same enti'rprising spirit an(l
keen di.scernment which he manifested whe'i
controlling private business interests.

Tn August, 18.S!i. Mi-. Levering was married
to ^liss Cclia Condis. a native of ^lenard coun-.
ty and a daughter of .\mos Comlis. Slic died
January 25, 1895, and her death was deeply
rciq-etted bv manv friends to whoni she had

PAST AND I'liEaKM' UF .MKAAliD LUL-\TY

ln'idiiu' I'liili'iiri'd tlu'Miijili lior many jjood traits
of lieart iiiiil mind. Slic left two chiklrcn,
Li'iirh and Warren. lu 18!)(> Mr. Levering was
a^'ain married, his second union boinp: witli
Hiss Nellie C. Hxitehcrson, a native of Menard
county and a daughter of William T. Hutcher-
soii, who died in the "8Us. There is one son
of litis marriage. William.

Mr. Leverinjr is prominent in Masonic circles,
i«'lonjL'in<j to both the lodge and chapter, lie
also holds membership relations with the liid^-
pemlent Order of Odd Fellows, the Kaights of
I'ythias. the iFodern Woodmen "I' .\inerica .uid
the Knights of the Maccabees, lie lias a wide
acquaintance in the county where his ciitiie
life has been passed and where lie has so direct-
ed his energies as to gain recognition as a
leailing and repri'sentative citizen, owing to his
devotion to the pui)lic good and his co-opera-
tive support of all measures which he deems
will ])romote the welfare and substantial up-
buildinjr of eitv ami enuutv.

(ii-'.niK.h; .\i-:\\ i-;i.i, \.\\ i-:.m.\\.

George Newell \':iii j-lniiin is ihc duner nl' a
good tract of laiul in .\ihen> ]ii'eeiiui ami
to the develo])meiit and inipnixenicnt of l:i.-
farm he is devoting his energie~ with the re-
sult that he now has a |iMi(luetive tract, con-
stituting one of the l)est faiiiiini; pn)])erties of
his locality. Jle was born in llollidays (!rove.
West Virginia, on the 9th of .luly, 185.5, his
jiarents being W. W. and Kllazanna Van Hman.
The father was a native of Burgettstown.
Washington coiiniy. {'ennsyUania. and the
mother's birth occnn-ed in the same county
near the village of tJross Creek. Virginia. W.
W. \'an Kmati devoted his early life to fann-
ing and teaching school, following the edu-
cational profi'ssion for twelve years. He then
turned his attention to agricultural pursuits,
renting a tract of land and subse(|uently he
and his brothrr purchased a farm. At a later
date he bought his brother's interest and sub-
se(|uinlly he s«dd the <'ntire place and removed
to n farm near l-'armer City. Illinois, where he
also bought land, taking up his abode there
in 1ST!'. For aliout nine vears he continued

the cultivation and improvement of that place
and in ISSS he sokl out and became the owner
of a trail of land near Chanijiaign. There he
spent two years, after which he bought a farm
neai- Webster City, Iowa. He lionght and sold
twice while in that district and he now owns
a fine lai'iii near Fsterville. I''niniet county,
Iowa, ii|i()n which he is residing. He carries
on general agricultural pursuits and is also a
sidik-raiser. breeding shorthorn cattle. His
fa nil work has been carefully conducted and
basing his success upon earnest hibor ho has
worked ])ersistentl\ tn aei|iiire a good and prof-
itable propei-ty. lie has found in his wife a
faithful (iiiiipanion and helpnuite on life's jour-
ney, she having carefully managed the house-
hold affairs, while he has conducted his farm-
ing interests. I'nto tli<'ni were horn seven
children, of whom live, three sons ami two
ilaughters, are no;v living.

(ieorge Xew<'ll \'an Ionian, ilie eldest of the
family, is indebted to the piiMie selinol system
of western Pennsylvaniji fm- the educational
privileges which he enjoycM] in his yoiitli. When
he had mastered tlx' bi'anehes of learning usu-
ally taught in the pulilic schools he began farm-
ing with his father at Farmer City. Hlinois.
lie afterward spent seven years in DeWitt and
I'iatt counties as a renter and then returned
to ]\lenard county, locating upon his ]ircsent
farm, a part of which was left to his wife.
while the remainder he ]iurchased. They now
have one hundred and lifty-two acris and the
greater part of the land is under a high state
<if cultivation. I'm- Mr. \';\u l-".inan has contin-
ued the fiii-ther work of de\clopinenl ami im-
pnixcment until it is now an e.vcellenl farm,
supplied with all nindi'i-n aeeessories and eipiip-
ments.

I In the 15lh iif Oetobei'. 1S,S5. Mi'. \an
Eman was united in marriage to Miss Mary
Iv White, the ecremonv lioing pi'rformod bv
b'ev li'. 1>. Miller. The lail\ was liorn anil
I'eared in Mi'uard eoiinty and allendeil seho(d
ai Indian I'oirit until eighteen years of age.
after which she was a student at Lincoln Lni-
versity in Lincoln. Illinois, for a lime, .\fter
completing her education she engaged in teach-
ing until within a short time of her marriag<'.
She is a dauL;liter nf K'. !•'. Wliilr. wlm was

PAST AM) IMIKSENT OF MEXARD COUNTY 265

lini-n III Si. Chiir iiiiiiilv. Illiiinis. liut was liaiii X ii>ii;uiiii. liis smi .iiiil llic I'atla'V ol' uur
only a lew iiiiintli> nlil when lirDuuht to Mv- siil)icrt. was also lioni. The laltiT caiiio to
nard coiuity. tluis ln'coiuiiii; mii' of the pio- America in I'ai-ly nuinliinKl and located in Cin-
lU'cr si'ttliTs (if this rciiion. lie was married cinnali. Oliin. whrir ln' was aftcrwartl joined
ni'ar .hukMun ilk- in Mori^an ciuinty. Illinois, l)v liis faihi'r and the nilur mi'nibers of the
to Miss Hacliel Roach, a natixc of 'Tennessee, I'amily. and there the uraudfather continued
and to Ihcm were horn sc\cn cliihlS'en. of to make hi> hnmc until called from this life.
whom three reached years ol maliii'itv. one Alirahain Xiishaiini. linwcxcr. rcimixcd from
of these heinf; John Iv Wliite. who is repre- Ohio in I'eiei-shiii-i; ahout IS.'iO and established
sente(l elsewhere in this \olume. 'i'he father a mei-ianlile eiiierprise wliic-h he continued to
was a i)em<H-rai in politic-^ and ^vas an intlu- idiidiict iiiiiil is; |. Iicinj^ \cr\' successful in
enlial and lidiiored tatizen of his eninmunity. the work, lie was married to Miss Sarah Sal-
Mi-, and Mis. \'an Mman have one son. Frank zenstein ami they hecame the parents of iwo
While, wild \^a^ hcirii Decemlier IS. ISSii. and suns.

i- imw assisting his lather in the operation of Charles .Niishaum. ihe v.mn-er s(.n. was a

the home farm. piiidic school stndcnl and after his graduation

In ills political views :\Ir. \'an Ivnan is a ri-,,in the high school he continued his studies

I.'epuhlican. iinfallering in his advocacy of Ihe j,, the Illiiinis Collegi' at Jacksonville. In

]iarty anil its principles. He and his family |,s;:i h,' cmiipl,.ie,l a course there by gradua-

are members of the Lebanon ('uml)erland Pres- ij,,,, :||,,| „-itli - I literary knowledge to serve

liylerian cliiirch. the liiuise ,>\' worship standing ;is tbc basis of his professimial learning hi'

near their home upon land given for that piir- matriculated in the law ilepartinenl of the

|iose by .Airs. \'an l-jnan's grandfather. Tlu'ir ri,iv(>rsity of Alichigan. where he was grad-

iiilliM'iicc is ever (111 the sidi' of right, order u-Airi\ willi the class of ISSI. 'Two years later

ami |)rogre.<s and in all of his business deal- |,e entered iip.ui active practice in Petersburg,

ings as well as in private life Mr. Van Enian where he has >iuce remained, long maintaining

is just and fair, se thai his name has become ,, r,,reiiiosl positimi in llie raid<s of the legal

a -ynonym I'm- inle-ritv in all trailc Iran-ac- ri-;ii,.niil v in Menard county. From ISSS

\ui\\>. until 1s!m; he ser\ed as states attorney. Tiie

zeal with Mhicli he has devoted his energies to
his prnfc.>;sion. the careful regard evinced for

the interests of his clients, and an assidu-

Cll AK'I.KS XISIIAIM. , , . . ,, i i . -i

nils aiiil iinri'laMiig alleiitinii in all the details

The true measure of success is delermineil nf his cases. ha\c liroiight him a large busi-
by what niie has accomplished, and. as taken ness and made him \cry succ(>ssful in its con-
in contrailistinclinii In the nld adage that a dud. Hi- aruiiments have elicited warm coin-
prnphet is never without honor save in bis inendatinii imi only frniii his associates at the
own coiintrv. there is particular interest at- bar hut aUn fmm the bench. In addition to
taching In the career of ('baric- Xii-baum. Iii> law praciicc he is interested in financial
since he is a native son nf the place where lircles u\' the city. Inning succeeded his father
he has passed hi- ai'tivi^ life and sn dirccicil as a directni- nf the First Xational Bank of
his abilities and elbiris as to i^aiii recngnit inn I'eier-buri;. \\r is also one id' the directors
as one of the representative citizens nf Mi'iianl n( ihe I, aiming Harris dial \- (Irain r'oni|)any.
county. He is engaged in the practice of law nl' Kansas ('il\.

and has won for himself an envialile pnsiiinn On the -.'.'db nf Octnber. IS'.i:!. Mr. Xusbaum

in ibi' ranks nf the legal fraternity. was united in marriage to Miss Clara Steam,

Horn in I'etersburg. on the Fith of .January, a native of Finenin, Illinois, and a daughter

IStiii. Mr. Xusliaum is of Oernian linea.ire. His nf Samuel and .leanettc ( Rosenberger) Stearn.

grandfather, Bernhard Xii-banm. was a iiaii\e They ha\c nm- son. Carl. l''raternally ^fr.

of Bavaria. C,crnian\. in wliiili f niintrv .\liia- Xiisbaiim is a Mason and a KniLiht of Pvthins

PAST AND PRESENT Ul' MKNAl.'H ( (M XTY

jind is iu /iill sviiipatln witli the beneficent
ti'jul)inf;.s of those orders. He was made a
Miison in .lune. lIKl.'i. in tlie Peterslmrg lodge.
lie owns :i niee residence on tlie Hillside, and
lie and iiis wife are popnlar and have many
friends in Menard connty, while their own at-
tractive 1 le is noted for its warm-hearted

]ios])itality.

.TOllX (). SPKAIJS.

John l^. Spears, wlio has prospered as an
agriculturist and is now practically living re-
tired, was born on the 8th of November, 1828,
and is today one of the revered patriarchs of
his comniunity. having jiassed the seventy-sixth
milestone on life's journey. His parents were
George and ^laria AY. (Blankenship) Spears,
honored pioneer settlers of ilenard connty.
His ])atemal grandparents were George and
Mary (Xeely) Spears, residents of Kentucky.
who were identified with tlie pioneer develop-
ment of that state. A sketch of the grand-
motlier will lie found on anotliiT page of this
volume.

George Spears, Jr.. was liorn in Green coun-
ty, Kentucky, Alarcli !•. ISO."), and was reared
amid the wild scenes of frontier life upon his
father's fann. He acquired a good common-
sclir)ol education, was early trained to habits of
industry and economy, and in 182 1. when nine-
teen years of age, he accompanied his parents
on tiieir removal to Illinois, the family home
being estalilished at Clary's Grove in Menard
county. The grandfather died April 10, 1838,
at the age of seventy-four years, while his wife
passed away January 20, 18.32. at the very ad-
vanced age of ninety years, five months and
twenty-seven days. He Imd taken a helpful
part in the early improvement and upbuilding
of the county and is classed among the worthy
pioneers whose cfTorts are still very beneficial
in the |>re,«eut condition of progress and pros-
perity in this part of the state. George Spears,
Jr.. attained his majority in Menard county,
bwame identified with its agricultural interests
and prospered in his undertakings, making ju-
dicious investments in property until he was
the owner of two thou-and nr-nc of land. H.'

did Miueh for the county along the lines of
agricultural development and improvement.
In 1829 he burned the brick and erected a
residence whicli is still standing, it being the
second brick house within the territory now
embraced in the counties of Sangamon, Jlenard,
Cass. Mason and hogan. His wife died June
23, ISrS, and he passed away August 27„ 1891.
They were the [)arents of five cliildren : ^lary
C, the wife of William T. Be- ckniaii : William
X.. deceased; John Q. ; Henry C, wlio lias also
passed away; and Elizabeth F.. wlio married
George C. Spears.

John Q. Spears was l)orn on the old family
homestead in Menard county and is indebted
to the common schools of that period for tiie
early educational privileges he enjoyed. The
first school building at which he attended was
an old log structure with slab seats, greased
])aper windows and a large fireplace. He be-
gan liis studies when only four years of age.
The first day he received a wliipping. three or
four on tiic second day ami si.\ on the third
day becanse he could not say his alphabet.
The path of learning, tlierefore, was not a flow-
ery one to him in his early day. Experience
and observation have added largo'ly to liis knowl-
edge and in this manner as well as through his
training in the schoolroom he managed to ac-
(piire a good business education.

Jlr. Spears has always followed farming and
has kept abreast with the progress of tlie times,
as primitive machinery has been replaced by
that of modern manufacture and as the crude
methods of early days have given way before
the present manner of cultivating the soil and
earing for the crops. At one time he was the
owner of eleven hundred and seventy-six acres
of land in Menard county, constituting a very
valual)le ])roperty, and he also owned land else-
where until his property interests aggregated
twenty-six luiiidrcd acres. He afterward gave
to his sons one hundred ami sixty acres of good
land and he still retains possession of three
hundred and twenty acres. Other business in-
terests have likewise claimed the time and at-
tention of ^Ir. Spears. For six years he was
engaged in the dry-goods and lumber business
in Tallula, being forced into the business on
account of loanint: monev to a iiartv who could

mi;, and mi;s. .ioiin (.). si'Kaks.

V-

PAST A\l» riJKSHXT OF MIAAIM) COUNTY -.'(ill

ni>t piiv. llr nisd cari'ii'il on m ilrv-jioods and stms of Mciianl cduiitv. Iiij nu'innn" foriiir a

grociMV trade at Ii'iumUmiusi' for llic same Icniuth coniu'i-tiiii; link lid w ini ilic iiriiiiiti\i' ]ia>l and

of time, and on ilisposini;'. of that he was on- |)ro>rn'.-;sivu present, lie is familiar with the

•ra.iied in the aroeery Imsiness at d'allnla for history of the eounty during its pioneer epoeh

two years and a hall'. Thus his elVorls ha\e and has watched it emerge from frontier eou-

heen direc-ted into \ariiuis lields of aetivity and ditions to take its plaeo with the leading eouu-

ids sound judgment and untiring industry have (ies of this great eomnionwealth. lie has ever

heen resultant fact(u-;- in hringing him very manifested a ju'ide in what has heen aeeom-

liratifvinir success. plished and has liorne his full share in the

Mr. .Spears has heen niaiiied iwii-e. On the work of puhlic improvement in his locality.

2i\ of .May. IS.") I. lu^ wedded Susan .1. Merrill, .\lthough seventy-six years of age he is still

a daughter of daeoh Merrill. She died l)e- hale and lieariy and possesses a most wonder-

eendier 11, ls;,"i. leaving three children: W'il- ful nu'mor\ ami genial nature — one whom it is

liam H.. the eldest, horn dune ?fl, 1S.")1I. now a great pleasure to meet and eonverst with as

resides in I'etei'shuri: : .lames d.. hoi'ii I'ehruai'y he has a fuml id' most interesting stories of

•.?7. ISiil, is living in Tallula ; and I'haides (1.. pioneer days when .\hraham T.incoln was one

liiii-n did\ I'l. IsCili. nud<es his home upon the of the hoys in this eounty. His wife is also

farm which was once occupied hy his fathei-. a most pleasant and t'stiund)le lady and their

Foi- his second wife ^Ir. Spears chose Martha Imnie is noted for its hospitality.
K. Tui'iier. a daughter of dolin L. and Mai-y

(llawkesi Tuiner. of Mason innniy. She was

horn Oetoher Id. IS;!?. ami their marriage was

celelmited Decemher ■.'. Is:,'.. \\.\\l\ W-A'AA.

"Mr. Spears east his lirst pi-esidential vote for ;\i.|i-y Xeely was uorn the fourth of a fandly

Winfield Scott, giving his politieal allegiance ,,|- ten children. Imrn to William and Margaret

to the Whig pai'ty until it> dissolution, when he (Patteison) Xeelv. near the Fivuch Broad

joined the ranks of the Kcpnhliean party, with |>i\rr. in the state of South Carolina, on the

which lie continues to affiliate. The election odd, ,|;iv ,,f August. Kfll. Her pari'iits were

of liHil fell upon his hirthday an.! he has ,,f ||.j^|| ,|||,| w,.|sli e\i raetimi. .\t what date

voted at lifty-six elections, having never heen (|,,.v lame to .\nierii-a is not kimwu. nr whether

ill upon a single election dav His wife is a thev were horn in South Carolina. Xi'ither is

memlier of the Baptist chunh. In March, j, material to the snhject of this ski-tdi. Mary

IS.'.l. he hecame a memher of the inde|iend('nt seemed to he a great favorite of her fatlier's.

Order iif Odd Fellows, and was nuule a Mason in,, j,, i|iat earlv dav schools were si-arce. ami

(in the nth of the following .\|iril at Peters- ||,,,,ks were fi^w. and nothing like system was

burg, on the site of the new -ehiml Imilding. attempted in what few selmnls there wei-e in

He niiw lie|iing> to Clinton Iodide. Xo. lit. A. F. ,1,,. |.|,ral districts: and owing to circumstances

^V A. M.; He Witt ihapler. Xn. ll!i. K. A. ii,,,, followed, si.x weeks was all the schooling

M.:and to St. .\ldemar com iiler\ . K. T. of .^i^. ,,^.,,|. ]|.„| n,,,. |.;n-|y days were ^penI. as

Pctcrsliurg. tho-.e of most of those hardy iiioneers. in canl-

.\mong othei' iutei-i'sting i-elics Mr. Spears ing and spinning wool and (lax. and assisting

ha> a Wooden hox engraved in imilatinn of a ihe men in their cndeaMir to make a livimr

ncrnuin Bihle. made ahout HS-.'. near i")elroit. fur the family. She was just past her cight-

Mieiiigan. hy a man who was then a pi-isoner ecuth hirthday wlicn her father hecame rcst-

anioug the Indians. He also has ,i piece of les>. mi account nf the Indians heing ilri\en

th(> floor of the house at Rocky Tlill. three hack, and concluded to emigrate to tlie terri-

niiles nortli of Princeton. Xew .Teisey. where tory (then belonging to North Carolina), now

\A'ashington wmie his farewell .address: and a -tate of Tennessee. Moving a family at that

|)ieCe of the root of a tree from Washington's time ami in that directimi was a liazardous nn-

liome at 51t. A>rnon. One of the oldest native dertaking. So her f.-ither. with six other ]iin-

270

PAST AXD I'lMiSKNT dl" MKNAKD COr.XTY

11.. I.-, jet altout making ]>iv|iaratioiis to iiiovo.
their lioiiseliold etrccts, lie c-lioosiiij; a large
poplar tive in which the eoiintrv aboumled, and
thig out for himself a canoe, the dimensions
of which were fift)'-si.\ feet long, three feet
wide and tliree feet deep, the lai'gest of the
fleet made from a single tree: iuit there were
some of larger dimensions, hut made from two
tR'cs. When it was con)]jIeted he added four
inches to the depth bv nailing on strips, into
which, after launching, he ))laeed seven grind-
stones for ballast. After selling his landed
pos.^essions for thirty thousand dollars in Con-
tinental money, he loaded his liousehold goods
into this canoe, leaving the balance of the liiiii-
ily to come by land. liTinging with them iiimtv-
six head of cattle and souu> forty head of
horses, to what is now Xeely's Hciid. in tin-
Cumberland river, some ten or twelve miles
east of the present site of Xashville. "^rennissee.
the Bend taking its name from liim. Taking
^Mary with him, with the other part of the
fleet he embarked on their perilous (>iiter]irise
down that crooked streain to its jiiiutiiui with
the Tennessee: then down the Tennessee to n(>ar-
ly opposite Xashville, near the Mussil Shoals.
then across the country. stop|>iiig wUcvr ilic eitv
of Xashville now stands, wliere they found
an unfinished jiole cabin, but they weie afraid
to remain on account of the many signs of
Indians, but journeyed on in a sliort time, to
the present site of the village of (ioodlettsville.
some two mills north of the junction of the
Louisville and Xashville railroad, and its Hen-
derson branch, and there built a \\,r\. the re-
mains of which were still visible in ls::i. ntid I
pr<-sume are to this day. Here some twenty
families gathered for mutual protection, num-
bering between thirty and for*.y men able to
liear arms. William Xeely seems to have l)een
the leader, as his counsels were sought in everv
enterprise. Xeely put his stock, both horses
and cattle, down in the bend of the river for
the purpo.se of getting food, being protected to
son)e e.xtent from marauding bands of Indians.
One of the great needs to all civilized nations
is salt, and to their great delight they discov-
ered a small spring on the hank of the river
from which they could supply that demand.
iillb.iii._.b ii U .,0 strongly impregnate,! with

sulphur lliMt its use now I'ur the maiiufaelure
of salt would not be thought of for a moment;
but to those sturdy pioneers it was a Cod-send.
The stack I'cquired no feed except what they
could get from the cane bi'akes and pea vine;
but not s(i with the })eople. although bear, deer
niicl turkeys were abundant. The great danger
ua> in hunting them, but a lirave man, such
as comjiosed that little band of Spartans, will
lirave any ilnugei- to appease the hunger of
his wile anil little nne.-. Ill this iiiauner did
they live, some guarding while others felled
the great i>iants of the forests. The following
summer they hail to li\e on meat and vege-
tables, as their little stock of flour and meal
was long ago exhausted. But from the maples
that were abundant in the bend from which
they could supply lliemselves with sugar and
molasses, with plenty of meat and vegetables,
which grew luxuriantly, iliev managed to keep
soul and lioi|\- together until roasting ears grew;
but when the corn became hard a new dilTiculty
piesented itself — they iiail some corn, but no
mill to griiiil it : but as necessity is the mother
of invention, they soon made a mortar in wliieli
they pounded it. taking the finest for iiread.
while they made liominv of the coarser. It
was at this period the incident occurred which
ehangeil the whole course of young ^larv's life.
Aiiout tliirt\ of ilie mi'ii were at the spring,
about two and one-half miles from the fort,
making salt aiul clearing off ground for culti-
vation the next year, thinking all were com-
paratively safe, as no sign of Indians had been
iiotie(>d for (|uif(> awhile. On l-"riday evening
Mai'y eonelmleil to go with some of the men to
the s|)ring: having the chills at the time, she
thought the water would be beneficial to her,
taking some of the softest corn with her to grate
for a hoe cake for her father's sujiper. About
iwo hours before sunset her father told the
men all to go to tin- fort, and he and ^lary
would stay there alone. Some of the men pro-
tested, saying it was dangerous to leave him
and ilaiy thus exposed: liut he being a nuin
without fear thought there was no danger, and
jiersisted in remaining. Seeing expostulations
and persuasion was of no avail, the men went to
the fort. .\o sooner were the men out of sight
than three Indians that had been lurking in

PAST AND PRESENT OF MEXAIM) COUNTY 271

the caiU'. whose cajile ovcs saw lliat his l;\iii |)ulsi\(' Id her imhlc naliii-c thai dcalh wmihl

was some little clistaiico I'l-dni him. s|ii-an,L;' miDii ha\i' Ikimi I'ai- |ii-criTal)h>. For [Iwtv weeks ai'ter

him hel'oi'e he eoiikl reaeh his ,i;uii, and i-lel'i her lallier was killed she could not shed a teai-.

his head open with their sa\'a,i;e tomahawk. She (dien said atterward tlial she I'elt that

while ilai'v stood, thoughtless of her own safety, slie would ui\c the wcild if she eould erv, hut

hallooing to hini to run Tor his gun: hut when hei- pooi- heart was loo lull. All that long and

tlie murdorons tomahawk luid ilone its work, weary mareh. when un|iereei\ed |j\ tiie Indians,

she fainted, and when eonseiousness returned, she would make marks on the trees to guide

two Indians liad lier one hy eaeh arm. ilragging those who might |iiirsiie. lu' as a ijnidi' to her if

her more ih>ad than alive, to their ranoe. wliich she should make her eseapi'. hut. poor ehihl.

was eoneealed in the cane. She could have their vigilant eye was ever on her. Day after

secreted liersell' easily where she might have da\-. ami night after night, did she watch, wait

ri'niaini'd snfe until the men i'eturne(l from the and hope loi' deliverance, hul. alasl Hope

fort had >\\r had presence cd' miml to lia\'e done would spring up to iie dashecl to the gi'ound.

so, hut heroine as ^hc was. to sc^e that dear KxrD the stars Hirough the long watciies of the

father struck ilown in the \ig(U' id' his man- night, seemed to mock licr in her mist'ry. One

hood, was too much foi- her poiu- \dung heart da\. while Inooding over her desolation, the

to I ear. Through hei' long life afterward, she tears liegan to lill her c\cs. and when she could

wciuld refer to that as tlii' saddest ila\ ot her weep, what a relief to her | i' heart, which she

whole life. Pool' child — who wduld doiiht this. c(Uitinucd to do I'm' many ilaxs. Kinallx. one

a girl nineteen years of age. full ii\' hope in of the savages said. "Whal nuikcs you cry so?"

anticipation ol' a hright futui'e. seeing her She replied. 'A'ou killeil ni\ father,'" As if to

father's life hlooil llowing fi'om his dear head; pacify her gricd' hi' sank ■" I f 1 had known it was

then, as if that was not enough to satisfy their your father, I would not ha\e Nilloil him."

savage hr\italil\. to tear fi'oni that head the which seeiiu'd to her savaL:e mockery. Day

scalp, miu-e -avaue than a hyena. Think of aflei- dav did she perfoiaii the work assigned

this, you that wei'i Imi-n in the lap of luxury, her, Imi not willingly. They kept her hands

surrounded hy friends and all the Messing that hound as a |irecautiou against her altempting

civilization hrings, what oiii' grandfathers and to i>ca]ie. hinding hei' in I he evening and taking

grandmother- had to endui'e. those that lii'St olV I ho llioniis in t lie mm'uinL;. w lii n her sei'vices

tried to make a pernutncnr settlement in Ken- were wanted. .V favorite pastime with them in

tuck\ and Tiiinessee. yea. we ma\' add, from the evening was to get out the scalps they iuul

the .\ilanlic to lievonil llio greal l''ather of taken, to di'y them in I'ronl of the lii-c. What

Waters, even to thi' I'acilic ocean. .Vfter the must have hei'ii her feelings, to see those demons

murdering td" .Mary's father, thev made haste take her father's scalp and hold it up hefore

to get awa\'. Tlic\' crossed over the i-i\ei' to liei' CMS. prelemling to he ili'yiiig it, and as

liie nortii ami ti'a\('leil for three days due north though that was not enough, wrmld li-im olT

hefore they came to the halance of their hand; the corners ami cast th(>ni at her feel, when

jind when they reached their savage comrades she would collect togclliei-. make a hole in the

Mary fullv expeded they would murder and ground with her hands, and Imrv I hem, which

scalp her. hilt to her astonishnu'iit, they did she iliil with her hamls crossed and hound in

not. 'I'hcn she concluded she was spai'cd for front of her. Hei- i-aptors did nol cease their

future torture, well knowing their savage na- vigilaid walch o\cr hci' for a long time, hut

ture. The Indians held a council, and linallv after they had readied the vicinity of the

gave her the choice of becoming the wife of a Mamnioth cave, in Kenluckv. they hecame less

young Ijuck, or a servant to the chief, and she' watchful, ami allowed hei- to -leep unhound.

chose the servant's place. Little did she think One night, while encamped under a hcech tree

when she made the choice, that it would he re- into which a grape vine had climlicd. she

spectcd, hut the idea of hecoming tlie wife of watched her op|iortunity. when her enemies

the lirntc who murdered her father was so re- were asleep, climhed up and secreti'd lierself

PAST AND PHESENT OF MEXAHl) COIXTY

;iiii<>u>! its lirain-lifs. ivinainiiij; llifre until
iiioriiiiig. wlieii si>nreli was mack- for her. l>iit
sill' nowhere eoiild Ik- found. Siie heeoniinj:
aware that they would not leave the canij) with-
out making a more thorougii search and would
ri'Miain there longer than she could remain in
the tive. answered their call and came down,
to their great delight, for they had found hy
this time that she was too valuahle a servant
to give up. When she was captured slie had a
few needles wliich .she well knew how to use,
and did what sewing they required.

Ky this tinie winter ha<l come, and in a short
time the small|)o\ made its appearance, when
the whole hand was stricken with that dread-
ful disease, except an old squaw, ifary was
hroken out all over her hody. and swelled to
snch an extent that .she had to stand on her
hands and knees, wliich were the only s])ots
that were not covered with sores. She was
lilind for four days, and to add to her misery,
she was without clothing of any kind except a
cotton garment, and a blanket : and all the fire
she had was a small stick, tiu' end nf wliicJi
was set on fire, and i>y steadily |Piisliing it
against a large log kept herself froni freezing.
as there were none to wait on her. and if the
Indians had not heen similarly aiflicted she
would have gotten hut little care. While she
was thus aiflicted. their scanty supply of meat
gave out. and they wn-c reduced to the jiainful
neces.sity of drinking ixars" oil. of which the
Indians .seemed to always cany a supplv. hut
of which she (oiihl not partake, as her stomach
reJM'lled. Whi'ii ijii' pox liegan sloughing off
the old .-(pi'iw madi' her an ointiiieiii of tiie
leaves of the prickly pear, and hears" oil. and
gave iuT to anoint her face and hands, which
elfeetiially prevciiti'd tliciii from leaving scars.
Winn the Indians recovered they soon procured
meat i-nough to satisfy their immediate wants,
and th'it is all the Indian seems to care for.
It was now spring of the year, and thev set
oir north, hunting and skulking in the brush
for white men wlio. at times, lunl to depend on
xaiin' for their supply of food. Sometimes the

liidi'in- would I ntirely out of anything to

ejit aii<l would resort to the »)cars" oil. which
|H.or Mary could not drink. On one occasion
thev were without r 1 r,,r ten davs. and all

the )io(ir girl had to eat during that time was a
piece of white oak hark that she pealed with her
knife, which she had carried with her since her
capture. On the tenth day, about ten o'clock,
they killed a bi'ar. iiut were afraid to remain
long in that locality, so they cut out such parts
as they desired, and Mary cut out about a
pound of the fat along the loin, and devoured
raw. which, of course, came near costing her
her life; but the old squaw made lierself useful
in her case, gave her some tea made of herbs,
and she soon was relieved. There is one good
trait in the character of the Indians — they will
divide whatever they have to eat even with their
prisoners. At a subsequent time they killed a
quail and divided it into fourteen ]iarts. not
omitting to divide the entrails. On another
occasion they killed a large l)lacksnakc on which
they feasted. That summer seemed to be hard
on them. They were passing through the In-
diana territory, and theirs was a small Itand,
only fourteen, including their cajitivc. Tiiree
or four of tiiat numlier were stpunvs. and thev
were ill coiistant dread of the whites. They
ciimiuMJ at the French Licks for some davs,
while there, and in sore distress for something
to eat. An eruption occurred just after liark
about a (piarter of a mile northeast of their
cam]). .\ great fla.sh of light seinied to burst
from the ground, accompauied by a loud re-
port, which shook the earth for ((uite a dis-
tance, which greatly excited the Indians. The
bucks all went to ascertain the cause. When
they started they gave strict onlers that no
noise was to be made at the camp, but thev
had not been gone a great while when a deer
that had probably been frightened by the ex-
]ilosioii. or the Indians, came running in the
direction of the eain]i. and halted witiiin a
few feet of the cam)). Xotwithstaii<ling the
positive orders of the old chief, his old sipiaw
pointed to Mary and tn I he gun. wjien she
raised the gun and killed the deer in its tracks.
The Indians supposing the whites had attacked
them, came running back to ascertain the cause
of the flisturbance. They were told that it was
Mary who had fired the gun and killed the
deer. On the instant the old chief raised his
tomahawk to brain iier f.ir daring to di.sobev
him. when thi' old sijuaw eauirht his arm and

Mi;. AMI MI{S. GEORGE SPEARS.

PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY

275

pointed to tiir dci'i-, whrii lii> wriiili iiiiiiieiliatt'ly
subsided. Mild lie ii|i]ic;ircd ureal ly delighted.
The followiliu i\:\\ the Indians re\isitcd the
locality where ihe ureat li.uht hurst up troiii the
ground, tlir iiiiilit prexidus. and liroiiglit hack
many s|)eciiiiens which they supjiosed was lead
ore. hut when they tailed to melt it with all the
appliances they possessed, they |n'onounced it
money. Specimens ol' silver liavi' lnen I'duiid
there occasionally ever since, and no douht there
is a deposit of silver m-c in that vicinity, to
what extent is not known.

The Indians now coiiiineneed their inarch to
the north. kee[)iug as (dose to the Wahash river
as possible. The next winter I'oiind iheiii in
northern Indiana. Here tln-y sull'ered in itch
from the cold of the long winter that followed.
Think ol' it. you that lia\i' warm houses, and
comfortable clothing, of spending a winter in
northern Indiana out of (hiors with no shelter
but thi' stai-ry heavens, no clothing but a thin
cotton garment and a blanket. It was during
that winter that an incident occurred that
caiised ipiite an unusual stir among tlu' In-
dians. They had gotten so far away with iheir
captive, that they were coiii]iaratively careless
■with her. supjiosed she never could get away
from them, and they had ceased to kee]) such
a close watch on lier. 80. one night she lay
down after a lianl ihiy's wnrk. rolled herself
up in her blanket, and was soon oblivious to
her surroundings. During the night it began
to snow, and by daylight there had miu'e than
a foot in de|itli fallen. When the Indians got
up no llary was to be seen. They made search
for her in all directions, without success.
Finally, abandoning the hope of ever finding
her, one of the Indians threw a pole back in
the snow, which fell with considerable weight
on her. as she lay there all unconscious of her
surroundings. The sudden shock awoke lior.
and with a spring she was on her feet in an in-
stant, to the amazement and delight of the
Indians. When she awoke she was in a profuse
perspiration. After the first exclamation of joy
at her discovery, their brutal instincts returned,
and they compelled her to cut and carry twenty
poles to burn before they would allow her to
comd to the fire to warm.

Finallv. warm weather returned, when the

l;aiid went out on foraging e.\peditions, coming
in bringing many scalps with them, and some
liiuses. After a time the horses strayed away,
and all hands, including Mary, were sent or
went til hunt fnr them. Mary and the chief's
sun's wife went in company. Mary had a ris-
ing (111 tlie bottiini of her fiidt. caused by a
liruise which made her ipiile lame. L'onse-
ipieiiily. she could nut walk as fast as her com-
paiiiim. The little s(|iiaw asked her why she
ilid not walk faster, wlu'u she replied she could
not on account of the <(ire cm her foot, to which
the squaw made rejily. ••j.ei nn' see it," and
when she held her foot up I'nr inspection the
little savage hit it with a large club she was
carrying, which rendered lier foot so painful
that she was compelled to go to camp, where
.Mary laid in her complaint to the old squaw,
ami when her husband cami' in she told of the
treatment Mary had received, whom the chief
called into his presence, and she corroborated
the story of the old squaw, and exhibited her
foot. This enraged the old cliicf and he called
up ihe young squaw, and administered to her
such a lieating as JIary had never witnessed
before: in fact, until she was sorry and pleaded
fur the young lirute. .\lthough lier treatment
by the Indians was brutal in the extreme, yet
she was of such a tender and sympathetic dis-
piisitiiin that she rebelled at unnecessary pun-
ishment.

The next ino\e the Indians made was toward
the east. In their journeyings they came to a
British trading post, presided over by a British
oHicer, where the Indians halted and bought
some trinkets of the officers, the officers taking
in exchange human scal|)s, among which was
Mary's own father's. She tried to get him to
buy her of the Indians, to which he replied,
saving ho would buy im nmre live scalps, when
all the indignation that her young heart was
capable of mustering arose, and she commenced
to taunt him with his nefarious business, which
so aroused his ire that ho threatened to cleave
her li(>ad from lu^r shoulders, which she dared
him to do. In that house, strung on a wire,
she saw infants' scalps, the hair on which was
not more than an inch long. Wliat think,
kind reader, of a government that will resort
to such nefarious measures, murdering women

PAST AXU PRESKNT OF MEXARD COLXTV

an. I iliililrciir It iiiav In' i^aiil iliai ihv gov-
i-rnmi-iit did uot do that. Imt tlicv did l».v tiieir
savage tools. Ilorp was a man. a British suIj-
j»\-t. an otHfiT of its annv. and in its \>a\.
stationed tlicrc for the ]nirpose of inciting the
Indians to murder; not only so, imt to buy the
scalps of infants and their mothers, that they
had hntchered. No wonder the British gov-
ernment will not allow these things published in
their history of the war of the Revolution. It
is a disgrace that will never be ell'aeed from its
history. No other civilized government on
earth has ever resorted to sueli measures. No
wonder the brave hearts of tlie Irish people
rebel at their tyrrany. The heart turns sick at
the contemidatioii of such deeds of infamy, and
turning from the dark deeds, we are about to
enter a brighter chapter.

They were now Hearing Detroit, ilichigan,
and camped just outside of the stockade, where
the French showed ilary every kindness: in
fact, it was their business to buy or steal pris-
oners from 'the Indians. In her case, the
Frenchman who undertook to get her away
took a plan which he was .sure would sucei'i'd.
That is. he tried the effects of fire water: so
he brought them a cpiart of whisky, of which
they all ])artook very freely, except the old
chief, who remained solder to watch, as is the
Indian custom. The Frenchman remained
talking with the Indians until near sunset;
then he informed the old chief that his wife
would want the cup to put milk in to feed the
baby, during the night, well knowing he would
order Mary to return it to its owner. The chief
turned to her and bade her take the cup home.
when she pretended to refuse (as she was sick
with the chills at the time.) she well knowing
that he would repeat the order, which he did
with a threat of splitting her head o)ien with
the tonuihawk if she refused : when she arose,
going to thi'ir treasure Itox (as sjie earried the
keys.) unlocking it with the intention of get-
ting n pair of silver shoe buckles that belonged
to her. but was unable, in her excitement to get
but one: and afraid of delay, left the keys in
the lock, not wishing to take anything belong-
ing to them. Imagine, if you can. the joy
that was welling up in her heart, mingled with
fear, that after two long vears of most cruel

iiiipriMinmein siie was now about to be free:
but that some move made, a word spoken,
might dash all her hopes to the ground. She
thought of home, of friends, although she knew
she was separated from them by hundreds of
miles; but she hoped to yet be spared to see
them. Tlie terrible uncertainty of her escape
ireing successful, seconds seemed to her hours.
She. when prudence dictated to lier to tarry no
longer, took the cup and hastened as fast as
she could to her destination. The lady to
whoni she was sent was standing in lier yard
when she arrived, told her to throw the cup
over the fence, and go with her brother, who
was waiting to accompany her, which slie did.
The brotlu'r taking off his own coat and hat
bade her ])ut tliem on and he tied a handker-
cliief around his head, as was the custom of
many of the French. AYhen they arrived at
the gate of the stockade, it was nearly dark,
and the gates closed. Her guide made the
usual request to be admitted, when the guard
answered, "Wlio conies there!-'" "A friend to
tlie king." was his response; but turning to her,
in a low whisper, said, "A friend to oiu- country
at ]iresent.'" They were admitted and ^lary
was taken to her friend's mother's, who at first
concealed lier in the cellar. The next day the
whole town was aroused, and a vigilant search
nuide, which was unsuccessful. Going to the
lady where she returned the cup to inquire
she said the girl came to the gate and threw
the cu]) in the yard, and went off as if she was
mad. .Vfter making thorough searcli outside
of the stockade, they inquired of the guards at
the gate, who said no woman had passed through
the gate on the evening before. Imt two nu-n
had. whicli completely put them otf their scent.
.\fter a few days they ceased their search for
the time being, ^fary was kept in the cellar for
a few days ; tlien the old French lady moved
her up stairs and gave her some sewing to do.
and she renuiined there unmolested for about
three weeks, until one day. unthoughtedly. she
stood uj) in front of the window to shake the
wrinkles out of a .shirt she had just finished.
Just o|)posite a tailor had a sho]i and .saw her,
and in a few days he got drunk and told the
Indians, and they came and <lemanded to search
for lier. which cotdd not be denied, as the post

PAST A\I) I'KKSKX'

MKXAKD rOT-XTY

277

wa- in the liamls nf ihc lii-itisli. :iinl tlii'v Iiad
tlu'ir oarrisoii to oiiforcL- ilii'ir ortlrrt;. and \vli\-
slimild they not let their friends (tlie Indians)
-I'an-h. if iicc(I he help tln'iii. ca]>liii'c wmiicn
antl ehildren. wi'll knowing in many eases the
Jndians would sealp their vietinis and burn
tlu'in at till' stake. Shame I Shame! on a na-
tion that woidd resort to such methods to gain
a victory. J>ut thanks to our great Creator
they \\iTe not iiernutted to carry out their
hellish designs in enslaving a i)eoplc that had
tasted of liljerty although thrice baptized in
blood. The great watchword to them was
■■J^iberty or death."

So thorough was their search for Mar\. ih(;
old Frriuhnian juit her in his monev \aull.
built in the wall (if the li(i\ise. wliei'C slu' stood
on thiuisands of gold and silver, so afraid she
dared not breathe. ^^\^■\]. She was afraid fbi'
beating of her heart would attract their atten-
tion. So eautious was her f'ric^nd in concealing
her that he luul whitewashed tbeilooi-soit would
a|)pear as thi' wall n\' the Ikiusc; imt had In
leave the keyhole o|)eu to furnish air. Oh.
what think you. kind reader, must have been
hei- feelings after liiMving all the dangers she
had passed through, and when .she had unex-
pecteilly found friends, to be thus basely bc-
ii'ayed. each niomrnt cxpi'i-ting to be discovered,
when a move of the foot or a lond breath would
betray her hiding ))lace and surely co.st her her
life: when within tcuuh nf those savage lirutes
she could hear threats that they would burn
her alive if they ever got hold of her again.
But thanks to an nvciruling l'r(i\ idence. thev
were not jicrmitled to find her. ;iii(| she lived
many years afterward, to relate these talcs to
her ehildren. grandchildren and her great-
great-grandcliildren. Finally, the Indians gave
up the search and she remained with her
friends for some week.s. B\it such was the
constant dread of \]w enemy that her friends
Were eiunpelled to send hei- out to an islanil.
abiuit nine miles fnuii the shore, which was the
lirst time in over two years she could breathe
easily. There she found aliout ninety who had
been ])risoners like herself, waiting a \esscl to
take them away. Finally, a vessel landed, and
tliPA- were bidden to come aboard, which invita-
tion did not need to be re|)eated. Wlien all

was I'l^ady. they set sail f(n- the imsi ; lint mind
you. they were yet in the hands of the British
government, and prisoners of war. How does
that sound — prisoners of wai-. But such was
the faet. When they got out on Lake Erie
lhe\- encountered a severe gale, which became
so sevei'e they were liable to go to the ijottoni
every minute. The passengers and crew were
ordered below, and every wave sweeping the
deck. The hatches batteueil down, and every-
body seasick, nearly, ilary tried it for awhile
and she concluded she would rather take thi^
chances of Ijcing washed overboard than be
cooped up in that intolei-ablc stench: so when
the hatches were raised to admit air she ran
up till' stairway and refused to go down again.
The captain seeing her pluck, caught her by
the hand and with the other caught a ring
around the nuist. auil in that way they wei'e
able to stay on deck until the storm had parsed,
{•'inally. they landed, when they obtained a row-
boat to take them to X'iagara Falls, which they
wcrv unae(juainted with, and came near going
over. Being rescued, they disendiarked and
walkc(l down to Lake Ontario, where they em-
liai'kcd foi- Lake Champlain. and where they ar-
rived iu due course of time. Here a new dif-
liculty to ifary arose. — the first intimation that
she was a jn'isoner of tlii' British governnu'ut,
and where she foun<l an oHicer ready to take
their ])aroles. She and two other girls and an
old man had set out alone to go south: the
colonel (for that was his rank) ordered them
to halt, but Jfary urged them on. saying they
were no soldiei's, and would sign no [larole :
but the officer was persistent, telling them he
uoiild not permit them to go unless they signed
it. Finally, after he had followed them a lit-
tle way. ]\[ary tui-ued to him and said: "If
you follow us to thai bend in the road, f will
cut a switch, and these two girls and 1 will
give you such a switching as you never ex-,
perienced in your life." Tie persisting in his
I'fforts to get them to sign, and they refusing,
Afary told him she could not be a soldier, but
she could run bulli'fs. "X'ow," said she, when
almost to the turn in the road, "you dare go
around that turn so as to iic out of sight of vour
soldiers, and we will whip you so you can not
walk back." and >\\r .-tepperl to the side of the

PAST AM) ri;i:sii\T of .mknakd culxty

roiid and hogau to cut the switch, wlien he
lusitatcd and finally stojiped, when the general
iiioiiiitod a stump and liallooed for the girls
who had hacked out the colonel, when JIary
remarked : ''Cheer up, girls, the general is not
against us"; and the colonel left them without
further molestation, to pursue tlicir journey.
By this time winter had set in, but the feeling
of being free and on their road home filled
ilary with new hope. Who can imagine what
her thoughts were, hundreds of miles awav
from her kindred, not knowing that one of tliem
was alive, and they having no intelligence
from her. not knowing whetlier she was dead
or alive.

.Vfoot. without money, except a few dollars,
and in a country where prisoners were con-
tinually passing and the peo])!e uiial)le to do
much for them, siie struggled on until she
reached Philadelphia, where siie got in com-
pany with a family l)y the name of Kiddle,
that were going to Virginia, and she engaged
to go with them : that is, they agreed to let
her go if she would pay her own way, and
help them drive the stock, to whicii slie readily
consented, and slie made herself useful, as the
sefjuel will pro\e: for when they got to the
Susquehanna river, there was an old leaky skiff
there, and she asked permission to ferry her-
self across, of the ferryman, to which he readily
consented, not thinking she could manage a
boat, but when he saw how soon she was on
the other side of the river, he was undeceived.
The family all got across, and all their stock
except an unruly cow, which they could not get
into the t)oat. Mary told the ferryman if he
would take her across she would bring the cow
over. Seeing her exploit with the skiff, he con-
sented to do so; when she landed she caught
the cow by the nose with one hand and by the
horn with the other, and held her until they
•reached the other shore. Young ladies, how
many of you of the present day could or would
do that? Not many, I fancy. The family
with which .she journeyed finally reached their
destination in Virginia, in midwinter. Here
Mary stojjpcd with a family by the name of
Spears, where she was employed as a domestic.
Now she was away from the fear of molesta-
tion of Indians, and for Ihe first time in nearly

three years she had enjoyed the luxury of sleep-
ing in a bed. All this time she had a faithful
brother who had not ceased his inquiry for
her, although the most of the family had given
her up as dead. During lier absence her mother
had been killed by tlie Indians, also some of
her brothers. This faithful brother mounted
his horse, rode through Kentucky and into
Virginia, looking and inquiring of cTuigrants,
when he fell in company with ;i man who >aw
her hold the cow in the ferryboat while crossing
The Susquehanna river, which he related and
farther stated that she was lefthandcd. wliich
clue, slight as it was, gave her brother hope,
and he kept on his journey, inquiring of every
one that he hoped to gain any information
from. Finally, he stopped on Sabbath to feed
liis horse. Just as the farmer had given the
horse liis feed, the lirother inquired if he knew
of any one who had been a prisoner with the
Indians. He .«aid yes. there was a girl at the
old man Spears', that had come there last
winter, and after a further description of lier,
he mounted liis hor.se without giving him time
to eat. anil put out to ?ee if it was his long
lost sister. When he arrived she had gone to
cluirch. and he sat and conversed with the old
man. who satisfied him that it was none other
than his sister. Finally the old man Spears
saw his daughter, wife and ^lary coming down
the lane, and he said to Xeely : "There comes
three women down the lane; is either of those
your sister?"' He looked a moment, and re-
plied, "Yes, the one in the middle is." Wlien
the women came in. ]\Iary jiassed by him. and
threw her bonnet and shawl on the bed. when
he raised his liead to observe her. With an
exclamation of delight she sjirang into his arms,
exclaiming: "My brother ! My brother !" Oh!
what a deligiitful reunion, dear reader. Can
you imagine, tiien. Ihe intelligence from home,
motliei' dead, tw(i brothers, also, butchered by
the inhuman and relentless savages. Home
broken up and the remnant of the family had
to flee for their lives. But after three long
years, midst dangers such as fall to the lot of
very few, indeed, .she was permitted to behold
the face of a dear brother. Truly, it was Iia]i-
])iness. mingled with sorrow. In a few days
she and her iirntber set out on one horse for

PAST AND PHESKNT OF MEXAJii) COLXTY

279

Carpenter's Station, in Lincoln cininlx. \\vn-

tUClvV (nriw Cnsry) where tliey :ll'l'i\r(l ill ilui'
time, anil wliei'i' she met nii uhh'r sistei'. ami
the remnant nf the faiiiil\': luil riirther progress
tinvanl their iiome in 'reiiiiessee was hazardous
ill the extreme. In I'aet. Indians were all
around the Fori ; so that it was daiiiici'oiis to
venture out ol' .^ight oF the I'oii iliealioii where
they remained for a long time. Al'ter a time
Mary's older sistei' maii'ied a iiiiiii liy the name
(d' Spears, who was a son of the Spears she
stopped with in \"irginia. Two of the Carjien-
lers wei'e, also, sons-in-law of the old man
Spears. Till' S|)ears and ( 'ai|ientei's lived
tliei-e for many years hel'ore the Indians were
driven hack so that farming eonld he done
with any degree of safety. -Vftei- a few years
some of Mary's hrothers ventured haek to Ten-
nessee to find everything destroyed, stock driven
off and utter desolation prevailing in their once
prosperous neighliorhood : hut the Indians had
also been driven haek from their immediate
vicinity, hut in close euougli proximity that,
like a pack of sleuth hounds, they could pounce
upon isolated and unsuspecting settlers, which
became so annoying tliat a general and con-
certed raid was made on them, and they were
driven back to western Tennessee, after which
the settlers li\-ed in eoniparative safet_y.

On the -^ttli dav of February, 1785, :\[ary
was uniteil in marriage to George Spears,
shortly after which she and her husband moved
to Green county. Kentucky, and lived in the
outside house of the settlement for four yi'ars.
Many times did they have to flee to the fort
(Grey's) and twice to t'arpenter's, sixty miles
away, ^lany an Indian was made to bite the
dust by an unerring rifle in the hands (d' a
Xeely. .Vs one of Mary's brothers told the
writer, he had killed six of the rascals, hut
that had not compensated him for the friends
they had killed, Tliis Virother (Samuel) was
with his mother when she was killed, he only
nineteen years of age: but be had the satisfac-
tion of killing their child', who, he supposed,
killed hi? mother. On another occasion he
killed live while they wei'e crossing the Ten-
nessee river. He would shoot the one jiaddling
the canoe, and by the time another would get
the paddle and get the canoe straightened on

its C(un-se. he would shoot that one, and so on
until he killed live out of eight that started
across. The old man. in relating the circum-
stance many years after, said if the river had
heeii wide enough he would have gotten them
all. 'I'liis brother remained in Xeely's Bend
and lived to a good old age. surrounded by a
lai-ge family of eliildi'eii. I fe and his com-
panion now lie buried neai' the old homestead.
His wife was a W'alkins. a sister of the late
Samuel Watkins. foundei- of the Watkins Insti-
tute, Nashville. Tennessee, ilrs. S|jears, see-
ing the gi'cat need of a physician in the early
settling of Kentucky, and haxiiig gained a con-
siderable knowledge of the Indians how
to treat the prevailing disea.ses of the country,
now turned her attention to the studv of medi-
cine, more jjarticularly the treatment of white
swelling, or hip disease, and chronic sores, in
which she was very successful. Such became
her fame that her jiractice extended for many
miles, hundreds of cases coming to her house,
until at times it was converted into a veritable
hospital. ]''or fifty years she treated white
swelling, with success in every case, never fail-
ing in a single instance, while the medical fra-
ternit\' wen> pronouncing it incurable. Still,
thev called her a ipiaek. little up-starts that had
^[. I), attaelieil III their names, would sneer at
the idea of a woman knowing about the sciences.
But she eared about as much foi' their abuse as
a good general would if an enemy was lo fire
tow wads at his army out of a ])opgun. But
as time went on such men as |)r. Dudley, of
Kentucky, McDowell and Merriman of St.
Louis, and many othei' eminent [iltysicians
acknowdedged her ability pai'tieularly in the
treatment of white swelling or hip disease,
chronic sores, and. in fact, almost every clisea.se
that the human family was subject to. and sent
her many cases, in the treatment of whieli she
was very successful. She never despaired of
cH'ecting a cure in the woi-st cases that presented
themselves and was successful in a remarkable
degree; in fact, a failure in her case was a
rare exception in which she took great delight,
not in the fact that she could and did cure
cases that were pronounced incuralile, but from
a consciousness tliat she was doing a duty that
was ineumbeni upon her: neither did she exult

I'ASr AMJ PJiKSENT OF .MK.\A1{1) rulATY

jii tlu' kill iliat siic wii.-; iu possession of knowl-
I'llgo IhiU ollu'i-s wi'iv not. us no one was
more \villin>r to ini])art knowledge than
slie. anil ol'itimts would she say. <1ur-
ing the iattiT part of her life, that she
would lie triad to eoinniuniiate all the laiowl-
edge she had aei|uiied if any one was willing
to learn. Hut it .-ieenied as if those near her
aeted as though they felt she would always be
with them, as two or three genei-ations had
eome and gone duriutj her life, and vet she re-
mained, and but few would lie willing if they
had the knowledge, to undergo the hartlsliips
that she did for the coui])ensation that she re-
ceived, whieh (lid not amount to a decent board
bill. 1 have in mind a son of Mr. ifuniford,
who laid out the town whieh iiore his name in
Kentucky, who had the misfortune to be
thrown ficnu a cart on whieh was a hogshead
of tobacco, and falling uiuler the wheel bad his
leg broken, or, rather two and one-fourth inches
of both bones crushed and broken througli.
Mr. Mumford being a iiiau of means, sent and
bad four of the most noted surgeons of the
state to visit his son, whose unanimous o])inion
was, the leg must be aniputatol : but the boy
was fifteen years old, and let tlnin know he had
something to say. He said: "Send for ^frs.
.Spears: if she says cut it off, so ire it; I will
never consent unless she says so." So his
father posted a boy after her. thirty-five miles,
an<l she returned with him the saiiii' evening;
and the most noted surgeon, wlio iiad come
ninety miles, stayed to see, as he expressed it.
what an old wonutn would do with a ca.se like
that. Well. Ill- had the pleasure of seeing what
she would do with it. This was in .\pril, and
she said to him: "You come back in October,
and I will show you that leg souml and well."
"Wtll. Madam," shid he, "in four days leg and
boy will both be under the ground." ''Xever
fear," was her laconic reply. And sure enough,
in October following he drove ninety miles; to
his utter astonishment found the boy sound
and well, and further, said it was the greatest
feat in surgery that liad ever been performed,
and reportetl it as such to the medical journals
of that day. These facts 1 obtained from a
younger brother in ls;3, who is willing to make
nff"'''"'' ' -^ word. Tiie brother lived to

be si\iy-live years old. .Many oilur cases as
remarkable could i)e recited and verified by
indubitable evidence, but we deem it nnneces-
sary, as, if all the good deeds of tiiis remark-
able woman were written, they would fill a large
volume, for it seemed her whole ijusiness in
life was to do good to others. If she had
charged as other physicians did for their servi-
ces, she could have been twice a millionaire,
but her whole life seemed s])ent in doing good
to others and without compensation. Never
was it too cold, or the weather too stormy for
her to go to the relief of suffering. Her hus-
band had served a short time during the Revolu-
tionary war. when lie was only sixteen .years
old. When the Indians had been driven out
of that part of Kentucky, and were giving the
government a good deal of trouble in Indiana
territory. General Harrison called on Governor
Shelby for troops. Mr. Spears raised a com-
jiany, and went as its lieutenant, and continued
in the service until their services were no longer
needed, and from the close of the war of
1812-].") tliey were permitted to live in peace
and by their own fireside. She continued to
live in Green county, Kentucky, until August
10th. 1824, when they sold their possessions
and moved to Sangamon county (now ifen-
ard), Hlinois, which at that time was wild and
sparsely settled, wlu're the Indians still re-
mained, but not in their immediate vicinity.
Bttt they came every fall to hunt, but were
friendly. Blackhawk did stir of a fuss in 1S33
ifr. Lincoln rai.sed a comjiany in which ^frs.
Spears' youngest and only living son was or-
derly sergeant, but tluii- services were not
needed, as General Scott, with sufficient troops
of the regular army, had preceded them, and
com|ielled Blackhawk to sue for ])eace. when
he and his tribe were moved beyond the Missis-
sippi river. Jfrs. Spears, at this period, was
getting well advanced in life, being seventy-
two years old; but considering the hardships
she underwent in early life, was still as vigor-
ous as most ladies al forty. The country being
new. ])hysicians were scarce, so she continued to
visit those who needed her assistance, and her
patients cauu' from Missouri, Towa and from
all over the .state of Illinois, with white swell-
ing-; and chronic sores of all deseriptions. and

I'ASTAMt l'i;i-;si':.\T nv \\K\.\\;\\ (i>l\TV

■.'81

lliillr Weill iiwax III :i worse loliilil icill I ililll lliev
{■iuiie. In I'mcI. ill )iiv rcccilli clion she ciireil
llieiii ill e\cry iiistMiiee. ami il was iim a iVw
isiilated eases she IrealeiK hill cii' ihe Wdi'sl
ty]K\ aiiil jiisl siieh eases iis phvsieians hail
I'aileil nil. Altlioiiuli. as slaleil. she hail im
a(lvaiitaj;(s uf an early t'lliieatimi. she was a
U'Ood reader, and eiiiplnyed a ,i;real dell nf hei'
time in reailiii^ nsel'ul and iiisi nui i\e hixiks.
not lleLileelilli; the greatest u\' all hunks, llie
I'lihli'. Her liusliand died nn the lillli ilay nf
A|>ril. l.s:iS. after they had walked iniidh'T
for mure ihaii lit'ty years. One hy mie hei-
i-hihlreli diid. until she was lel'l with her idde^t
(huiiililer and her yummest -nii. In 1S|:I. she.
with a ne|ihew and his wife and her lilll-'
urandsdii. \isited her miU hrniher. wlin still
lived in Xeely"- llenil, wlinm she had not sicii
for thirty years. Allliiiiii;li einhty-lwo years of
aiic she wiiiild iKit ecinsent In lixi in aiiv otliev
manner than in a Tarni wajion. wliieli she iiad
litli'd ii|i with a mess hnx and eamp ei|ii;|iaL;e.

eain|iiim niit eaeh liii;lit. as she enllli'lldeil liu t

a I'liaiiui' (if diet wiuild he injurious to a person
iif her ai;e. Wdieii she arrived at ihe old hniiie-
-lead. wliieli she had iml seen for more than
thirty years, she drove to the front uate and
hallooed. Her brntlier eomiiiL: to see what was
wanted, asked if she could remain there o\er
niiilit. Withoiil waitin;:- to reply, her hrother
-aid; ""Is it possihie that is old Mary Spears,"
and the seeiie that followed eaiiiinl he di s-.riheil ;
to see those old people elasp(>d in each other's
arms, and eryiiij;- for joy; hut their hearts were
too full to utter a word. She remained with
him for a mniilh. when tlie\ parted tn im el no
more on this earth, hut with a hope in the
Ileal' future, of iiieiliii'.^ oil the other shore.
where they will iiiei t In part im niin-e. and
where father and mothei'. hrothers and sisters
that had lieeii so ernelly snatched away from
them in this life hy the <-ruel hand of the sa\a,ee
will he there to ftroel them, where no fear of
till' tomahawk or tlie sealpinir knife will ever lie
know, for (iod. the everlasting; l'"ather and His
Soil shall reii;n. Hut their partiiiif was sad to
contemplate; one had passed four score years,
the other iieariiii; the scventy-eijrlith mile post.
and-with the full knowledjre that in a few short
\ears thev would meet a^iain; liut still to know

that must he the last lime ihey slmuhl ever iie-
llnld elell ntlier's face in this wnrlil — tiiev held
eaeh nllier"s hand- ill silence, lliell each liiriled.
he In iii) to his liiime. and she In her liniiie in
lllilini-. where >he arri\ed in Iwn weeks. I'eo-
pl" came h\ the score to i;recl her on her safe
arri\al. and for relied' from their various ills.
Allhiiiluh she Ioiil; since had passed ihe allotted
lime for man In li\e; had arrived at that ex-
iieme a,ue when the linily and mind fail: al-
thniiuh hi r pli\sical strenalh was i;radiKilly
wearini: awa\. her luiiiil s( cined as clear as a
persnli lit ihirl \ .

At the risk nf heinu ridiculed. 1 must he
permitted Inlelaleail incident that 1 witnessed.
Ill ahnlll tile \ear ISiiri. while the ;;reat war
presidenl was a resideiil and pn-lniaster at
Salem, llliiinis. he hecanie \er\ fond id' Mrs.
Spears" cniiipaiM. and seemcil iic\er tn tire of
heai'ini;- her relate her expi'ricnce while prisniier
with ihe Indian-, and would nflen walk' o\er lo
her home on Satiinhn e\eiiii|ii, and remain
until Miiiiihn morniii:;. The last \isii he made
her liid'ore reiiiovini;' to Sprinoflehl. when he
went niil n\' her door, she followed him into the
\aril. lie turned alioiil and -aid: "M; randnia.
I am uiiiiiL: to Sprinulield : iiiayhe I'll never see
you auain:" while he innk her hand hetvveen his
hui^'. lean hands, said, "(iood-hye — God bless
you." and she relurned his saliilation hv sayiu.a'.
■•(hiniMoe. .\hrani. (Iod hh ss ynii." when holh
slnod for a miiineiit while the tears ti'ickled
ilnw n their cheeks. I''inall\. as their hearts
cniild iiear III) more. tlie\- hntli relaxed their
:^rasp. he tiirnini;' tn i;n. walkino- off at a lirisk
pace, while she seellied Irailslixeil In the spot

for a moment. In a short time she turned to
ihe writer, and said; "That is a very smart
voinii; man: 1 \Mmld not he surprised if he was
president of the I'nited States some day."
Many \-ears after this the writer was tellin.ff
Mr. hiiicniii. in the presence of his hi'olher-in-
law and a (fw othei's. of the remark on the
oeeasion of his last visit, lie sat for a moment
in sileiii conleniplal ion. then remarked: "She
was a jiretty i;ood oiiesser. was she not?" ('riiat
was while he was a eamlidale) ; and he further
said she was the most remarkahle woman lie
had ever si'cii.

^fi's. Spears was very methndical in her

PAST AND rHESENT OF MENAlfD COI X'l'Y

iial)ii.~. Slir ai)lioiri'(l tlii' use of caloinel and
iiuiiiine. i-ontcnding that both were not only
ust^less, but injurious. Verv little medicine
would .-ibe preseribe or use, contending that na-
ture was its best renied}'. She was a member
of the Baptist church for nearly seventy-five
years. Her dejiortnient was always that of a
true Christian. While charitable to others, she
was (irm in the right, as she understood what
was right. As long as she lived her wliole
desire seemed to lie to do good to otliers. Dur-
ing the latter years of her life she would weave
and sew just as though slic was compelled to do
so to gain a livelihood, which very much an-
noyed her son, he thinking the community
would look upon it as neglect, and got a young
minister whom she thought a great deal of, to
talk to her and try and induce her to give up
trying to do anything. .\s he afterward re-
nuirked, he soon found he was giving advice
on a subject he knew but little about, as she
replied to him : "ily brother. I know I don't
have to work, but 1 do it for my own good."
Said she, "I have seen many old j)eople who
ceased to take exercise and as a consequence,
they could not eat food which would strengthen
the body, and the mind, as a consequence, would
become inactive and weak ; and I don't want
to get into that condition, for if it is the will
of God, when my mind fails I would like to
go, as I have no dt^ire to live after my mind
has lost its power to contemplate tlie goodness
and mercy of that God who has preserved and
watclied over me through the vicissitudes and
varying changes of a long life."

A few years after she moved to Illinois, she
had brought from Kentucky two of her old
slaves, children, a boy and a girl. It would
be more proper to say two of a family she had
been the slave of, for she truly made a slave
of herself for her colored people. The girl
lived with her until near the close of her life,
when she left her and went to Springfield. The
ixiy remained with her during her life; in fact,
remained in the family until his death.

Mr-. Spears lived until the 26th day of Janu-
ary, is."(2, retaining her intellect to within one
hour of her demise, fully realizing that her
time had come. At her death she was ninety
years, five months and twentv-six davs old. It

was the privilege nl llie writer to assist in
nursing her in her last illness, and 1 have never
seen any one that bore their affliction with more
l)atience, or who seemed to have more judgment
in directing her attendants how to attend her
wants with the least trouble. She gave direc-
tions how she wanted to be buried, and exacted
a promise of her granddaughter's husband
(who was a carpenter) that he would make her
coflln of walnut lumber (as she wanted some-
thing that would last), all of which was carried
out to the letter, and she was buried in the
family cemetery in the midst of the farm she
had lived on so long, by the side of her hus-
band, and surrounded by a daughter, grand-
children and many other friends, and many
have joined her company since, in the great
Beyond. She has left to us an example of what
perseverance will do, even under the most
trying disadvantages. Hers was truly a school
of adversity, but prompted by the highest mo-
tives, she was able to attain to a position among
the people of her extended acquaintance that
any one might envy and strive to emulate.

When Mr. and ilrs. Spears came to Illinois
in October. 182-i, there was no church organiza-
tion in Central Illinois. She and her husband,
two daughters, a son-in-law and eight other
pioneers organized the Clary's Grove Baptist
church on Decemlier 25th, 182-1, at their resi-
dence (a log cabin), which is believed to lie
the first church organization in Central Illi-
nois. Their meetings were held at their resi-
dence and her daughters', for a nunil)cr of
years until they built a very commodious brick
dwelling which served their purpose much bet-
ter: but after a time her companion having
ilied and her youngest son and wife, with
whom she made her home having united with
the church, they concluded to build a hewed log
house to serve as a schoolhousc and also a mei t-
ing house, which answered the puri)ose for a
time, it being twenty by thirty feet in dinu n-
sions : but as time went by emigrants were con-
tinjally arriving. Her son had built a sawmill,
one of the very necessary things in a new
country, and concluded that their ])lace of mcet-
isg was too small to meet the requirements of
the rapidly growing congregation. With the
hel]i of his son-in-law. who was a ear|)enter,

PAST AXD i'i;i:si:.\'i' oi- menaed county

'4iio

niul :i siiimII cdiitriliutinii fmin a IVw others,
lu' liuilt a vei'v rniiimodinus house ol' worship,
for that early day. thirty liy forty I'eet. a suh-
staiitial I'raiiie. in wliich tiie eonsreuation wor-
shij)()eil until death ended iier loni;- and useful
life. .Mthougli lonu' since dead, yet her in-
fluenee still lives, and how lou^- it will con-
tinue Eternity alone can tell. History does
not give us the exain])le of many of the pioneer
women of the west that is more interesting
than tills noble and remarkable woman, of her
early jirivations. Iter great trials during her
imprisonment witli the Indians, her escape and
struggle to get home and amongst friends. We
of the present generation have but little con-
ception of the trials our parents and grand-
liarents endured, to bequeath to us our civil and
religious liberties. To read it. it sminds like
fiction, hut to liear it as it fell from tiieir lips,
we tnust feel, although it is strange, yet how
true!

fiii.vxDr.\iii;xTS oi- uiooiiGi-: speaks.

William Xeely. dale of birth not known;
killed by Indians October, 1780.

Margaret Patterson (Xeely). wife of William
Neely; born Hay 2.itb. 17:il. His wife was
killed about two years later; 1T.S2.

ClflLDRICN.

Jean Xeely. liorn Friday. July ^th. I'.Vj;
married Jacob Spears; died near Carpenter's
Station, TJncolii county, Kentucky.

Elizabeth Xeely. Iwrn ]\rarch Sth. 1757.

Isaac Xeely. born ^larch 24th, 1759 ; was
killed by Indians at Xeely's Cap. near Carpen-
ter's Station. Lincoln county, Kentucky.

:\fary Xeely. horn August 20th. 1701. Sub-
ject of this sketch.

Martha Xeely, born April S.-jtb. ]~,i'A.

William Xeely, born December 12tli. 1766.

Samuel Xeely, born May Wth. 1769. This
son was present at the killing of his mother,
and killed the head Indian, who was very large,
measuring some three feet from shoulder to
shoulder. He died on the old homestead, in
Xeely's Bend, Tennessee.

^fargaret Xeely, born Decemlier 20th, 1772.

John Xeely. born I^fay 16th. 1774.

Jane Xeely, born December .31st, 1776. ^lar-
ried Thomas Buchanan, and joined the Shakers
with her husbaiid. and moved to their settle-

ment, near rmwling (Ireeii. KentiU'kv. Tlieir
daughter was living with the Shakers in 1879,
at whieli time she was oxer eightv vears of age.

CKOUGK C. KEED.

(ienrge C. Keed. pro|ii'iet<ii' (if a grocery and
meat markil at Greenview, as a member of
the linn of li'icd Rrotliers. was born in ^le-
iiard eounty. April !l. ISdii. and is a son of
W. W. I*. Ii'eeil. who is rejiresented elsewhere
in ilii- work. In the public schools of the
county George ('. Heed aeijuired his education
and ill the usual manner of farmer lads he was
reared, remaining at home until twenty-one
years of age. when he started out in life on his
own account. He worked as a farm hand for
two years and then rented land and began farm-
ing on his own account, .\fter two years, how-
ever, he removed to Greenview. where he turtied
his attention to the livery Imsiness, conduct-
ing his barn f(U' about nine years. He then
sold out and honght eight acres of land in Pike
county, Illinois, and once more resumed farm-
ing, but after a year he returned to Green-
view. where hi' established a livery liarn, of
wliich he WMS proprietor for a year. He then
traded his farm for a stock of hardware in
Keokuk. Iowa, and went to that city, but
after two months he brought his stock of mer-
chandise to Greenview. where thirty days later
he sold it. He was next a partner in the gen-
eral mercantile linn of Hatch, .\lkire I'v: Reed,
with which be was associated for a year and
a half, when he sold out and established his
present store in connection witli his brother,
W. ]\I. Eeed. Under the lirm style of Eeed
Brothers they are conducting a grocery and
meat market and have a good trade, which they
easilv retain because of their honorable deal-
ings and earnest desire to please their patrons.

On the 23d of August. 1891. :\!i-. Reed was
united in marriage to Miss .Maiy M. Faliay.
a daughter of James and Mary Fahay. now of
Petersburg. They have two children, Edith
ilay. born May 15, 1894. and Kuth P.. Iwrn
June 25, 1895. In his political affiliation ^fr.
Reed is a Democrat and he has served on tlie
town board for two terms. Fraternallv he is

I'AST AM) PHHSHNT OF MKXAliJ) (Ol N'lV

tniiiici 11 II H.tii l.ipyaltv Icul^o. No. 181, I\. 1'.
He liiis a \vidiMU<|iiaintiincj in tlie county wliich
lias always heen his home and the fact that
many of the stanchest friends are numbered
among those who liave known him from his
boyhood days is an indication that his career
has been worthy of public lonfincnco and es-
teem.

.IKSSK .M. o-j-l'.

.Jesse M. Olt. who for many year? has l»ccn
one of the forceful and honored factors in
inisiness circles in Petersliurjj and one whose
influence has not been a minor clement in
|nii)lic affairs, has attained prominence through
the inherent force of his character and exercise
of his native talent and the utilization of sur-
rounding opi'ortunities. He has won notable
success in business, yet it is not this alone that
entitles him to rank as one of the foremost
men of his day in Menard county. His con-
nection with the public interests of his city has
been far-reaching and beneficial for he has aid-
iil in shaping the municipal policy and in pro-
iiKiting the social, educational and political de-
velopment of this portion of the state. His
patriotic citizenship and his interest in com-
munity affairs has taken tangible form in his
zealous labors for the improvements instituted
through aldermanic measures. He is now-
serving for the fourth term as mayor of Peters-
burg, having been elected for a fourth time
in ]!M13.

Mr. Ott was born in Pcterslmrg township.
>fenard county, on the 2!)th of .March, 1855,
and is a son (d" Ximrod Ott. a native of J.ouis-
ville, Kentucky. The family is of (ierman lin-
neage and the grandfather was born in Ger-
many. 'I'he founder of the family in America
was the great-grandfather of ^[r. Ott. who on
.ro.ssing the Atlantic established his home in
Kentucky at the time General Boone was mak-
ing his explorations in that state. Mr. Ott
tin-re carrir-d on farming in pioneer limes and
the grandfather, who also became a farmer,
spent his entire life in the Blue Grass .state.
-Vinimd Ott and his brothers, however, removed
to Indiana, locating in Harrison county, where
some branches of the familv are still found.

-Nimroil Ott was a blacksmith by trade antl in
I.S49 he removed from Indiana to Illinois, lo-
cating on a farm live miles west of Petersburg,
where he engaged in farming, having a val-
uable tract of land there of two liundreil and
fifty acres, upon wl icli he made his home until
1868, when he sold that projierty and took up
his abode in the eoimty seat in order that he
might alford his ehildreii liellcr ediuatidual
opportunities. His death oecuned in Pet(.'rs-
liurg in ]S!J5. H- married Miss Perlina Gum,
also a native of Kentucky, and iliey had eight
children.

Jess" M. Oil, the youngest, aeipiired his
education in the ])uijlic schools nT I'etersburg
and after putting aside his text-i)ooks engaged
in clerking in a drug store for two years. lie
then turned his attention to teaching in tin-
])ublic schools, which profession he followed
for seven years and the periods of vacation dur-
ing that time were devoted to em])loyment in
a drug store. In 1883 he entered the insur-
ance tield, in which he has since continued and
has built up an extensive clientage, represent-
ing a large nundier of the leading insurance
companit's of the country. In 1885 he also
extended the Held of his labor by Ijccoming
connected with the coal trade and has since
conducted business along this dual line.

Mr. Ott has been particularly prominent in
eoiniimiiity alfairs in I'etersliurg and is a rec-
ognized leader in the ranks of the Democratic
party. \\'hether in or out of oilice he has la-
bored earnestly and clVeciixely for the promo-
tion of the general wcHare. He was elected
])olice magistrate and lieid tlie otlicc for eight
years, when in IS'.i] ]\r was elinsen mayor of
the city by ])opular suffrage, lie served at that
time by re-election for three consecutive terms
and retiied from office as he had entered it,
with the confidence and good will of all con-
cci'ned. Again he was chosen nuiyor in 1903
and is now holding the position. His previous
service was a guarantee of the business-like and
progressive adunnistration and in the substan-
tial improvcnuMit and progress of Petersburg
are seen many evidences of the co-operation and
active suj)port of Jlr. Ott.

On the 18th of August, 1877, occurred the
rnarriaije of Mr. Ott and Miss iMunia Craw-

mi; \\|) \ii;s. mmiiuh ott

PAST AND PRESENT OF ilEXAHl) COIXTY

289

lord, wliii WMs lioni in .Mriiiird tdiinty. \\a^ a
ilaujiliU'i' of 'riionuis and Eliy.alirth Crawfortl,
and died on tlic Kith of August. 181)8. Thuv
liacl four children : I.ester B., who is now
bookkei'iKT in thr First National Bank, of Pct-
c>rsl)nru-: Lvinaii Iv. a resident of ilinnesota;
Nona P.. wlio is now in the office with her
father; and Jessie A., deceased. On the loth
of October, 1899, Mr. Ott was again niarricil.
his second union being with ^liss Emma \\'cil-
ilridge, also a native of Menard county, whose
parents. Richard and -V. M. Woldridge, are
now residing in Petersburg. Th(>y have one
child. .Marion .\.

Mr. Ott has passed throngh all of the ehairs
of till' Kniglits of Pythias lodge and is also a
nicndicr of the Modern Woodmen camp at Pe-
tersburg. He owns a fine residence in this city
and also vahiable real estate on the south side
of the public s(|uare and farm property in
Menard county. Entering upon bis l)usiness
career without friends or advantageous circum-
stances to aid him be ]\;\< placed his dependence
upon indefatigalile energy and labor, which are
the sure and safe foun(hition of all ]irosperity
and to-day he is accounted one of the sub-
stantial as well as one of the most influential
and representative men of Petersburg.

fi;a\k a. kim;.

Frank .\. King, who follows farming near
Oakfnrd. was Imi-ii upon his ])resent place Feb-
ruary "..'1. l.si;;. He is a son of 'Marshall .).
and Eliza E. (('ahlwell) Kiiiu. who are rep-
resented elsewhere in this volume. At the
usual age he began his education by attend-
ing the Oakford graded school, which he at-
tended until about twenty-one years of age.
It had iiei'U arrangcMl that he was to pursue a
college course, but bis latlier thought that he
liad better return to the farm and he gave
up his cherished |dan. Tie now owns the old
family homestead. eompri>ing two hundred
and eighty acres, and in all of his farm work
be has displayed a com])rehensive, practical
spirit which has been a resultant factor in
bringing him a good financial return.

Mr. King was married to Miss .\melia E.
Schoneweis. September 2G. 1889. Her parents.

Chris and .Sophia Schoneweis. are lesidciUs of
Menard county. Hoth were born in Germany
and t-anic to America in childbootl. They were
mai'rii'd here and as the years have gone by
her father has acipiired considerable pro])crty.
In recent yeais he has retired from farming,
the income fi'oui his pro])erty being sutlicient
to supply him with all of the necessities and
many of the comforts of life. He is a Pe-
publican in politics and is a member of the
^fethodist Episcopal church, to which bis wife
also belonged. She died Decemlier '.I. lilO-.'.

In December. 1890. Mr. King removed to
Miss(uiri and sei-uicd a farm near Ethel, Ma-
con county, along the Santa Fe Pailroad.
There he renuiiucd initil I8!i,'! when he re-
turneil to Illinois and took up bis abode on
the .1. .M. .lohnston farm east of .\tterbery.
tliei'e residing For a year. On the expiration
of that period he purchased the old familv
homestead in 189.") and has continued to nuike
it his place of residence since that time. He
has placed many improxi'mcuts thereon and
has added to the original ])urchase another
eighty acres, so that be has two hundred and
eighty acres in one boily. This land is well
cultivated and the liebls yield iiiddcn harvests
in return for the eai'(.' ami laiioi- be bestows
upon them, 'i'he buildings are kept in good
repair and an aii- of neatness and thrift per-
vades the place. I'nto Mr. and Jlrs. King
have been biwn six children : Elsie S., iiorn
.luiu' 2, 1891: .Marshall ('.. born .Tuly \;8. 1893;
Irving E.. born .lune 11, 18!t(i: Esther M.,
boin :\larcli -.'I. 1899: Carl F.. December 27,
liiol : and Nornui il.. born October 12, 1904.
The thi-ee older children are attr-ndini;- school
in Oakford.

-Ml-. King is a Republican in his political
\ lews and is the ])resent county commissioner
f<u- a thi'ce years' term, lie belongs to the
Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife
is al.so a memlier, and they take an active
interest in tlie church work, Mr. King serving
at the present time as one of its trustees. He
also belongs to the Modern Woodman camp
and to the Independent Order of Good Tem-
plars and his affiliation therewith indicates his
position in regard to the lirpior traffic. Pie is
interested in all that tends to uplift humanity

?!•(»

AST AXU IMiKSKXT (iF MIA Al.'li (OlM ■^■

anil to iiiijiruvo eoudiliuns ot lite lor his id-
low iiii-n and liis example in this respect is
certainly well wortliv of emulation.

i'i:'i'i;i; i'. <;i;()si;(ii.i,.

Peter I', (iiosholl. ;i representative und pros-
perous agriculturist of Menard county, resides
upon a farm wliicli luis become historic from
the fact that it was u])on this jjlace. in an
old frame i)uilding that Abraham Lineoln
tried his first lawsuit. jMr. Orosboll is a na-
tive of Denmark, his birtli having occurred in
North Schleswig (now a part of Germany)
on the ;5d of Xovemiiei-. 1855. His father was
a dairy farmer and stock-raiser and owned a
good tract of land in iiis native country, where
he spent his entire lile. He married ilagrady
Kosenhauin, also a native of Xortli Schleswig.
and. liki' her Inisbiind. she s|)ent her entire
life in that eoiintry. The fatlier was twice
married and had nine ehildren by the first
union and ii\e by the second. Three sons of
the hrst marriage are now living in the T'nifed
States: Je]i P. (irosboll, who came to .\mei--
ica in IsT"^ when nineteen years of age. and
is niiw livini; in .Menard county: Peter P.:
and ^lartin, who crossed the .Atlantic at tlie
age of eighteen years and is also a resident
of Menard county.

Peter P. Grosboll acquired his education
in the land of his nativity, attending school
between the ages of six and sixteen years, and
the following year, IST.'i. he came to the new
world, making his way direct to Petersburg.
He began to work by tiie month as a farm
hand and was employed in that way for two
or three years, at the end of wliich time he
had gotten enough money ahead to enable him
to rent a farm and iiegin agrictiltural pursuits
on his own acconnl. Later, when h\> industry
anil- economy iiad hrouglit to him sufficient
capital, he ]»iirchased two hundred acres of
land, west of where he now resides, known
as the old Hatfield farm, and after conduct-
ing it for a time he sold tliat property and
bought two hundred and eighty acres of rich
bind in township 18, range 7, on wliich he is
now living. He is a stoek-rai.ser and rattle-

feeder anil he has bled many line aninuils.
Ill- always lias high gratles of stock upon his
l)lace and his farm is splendidly improved
with modern equipments. His business has
grown- to extensive and profitable proportions
and iie is now classed with the well-to-do citi-
/'■ii- of ilenard county.

1 1 was upon his farm, in an old house wliich
has since been torn down, that .\braham Lin-
coln [ileaded his first law suit. The suit grew
Mill of some ti-oniile over a uoinaiVs misfor-
liiiii'. LiiKoln was surveying at the time upon
tlie place and the woman's friends asked him
to plead the case and he did so. .V lawyer
from Beardstown was on the defense and re-
garded Lincoln as an opponent whom he could
readily conquer. Lincoln, in liis opening ad-
dress to tlie jury, pointed to the man and said.
••[ will com])are him to a white dress which
can lie soiled l)nt made white again," and then,
pointing to tlie woman, lie said. ''She is like
a glass bottle, which, crushed against a stone.
is ruined forever."" Lincoln won the suit.
AiDi b'ulledge was liuried upon this farm but
lier remains were afterward interred in the
cemetery at Petersburg.

On the :iil of .Vugust. ISSO. :Mr. Crosboll
married Cliristina Kjar. a native of Denmark,
whom he wediled while on a visit to his native
iiuiiilry. They had been schoolmates in youth.
Into them have been born five children:
Anna il., born May 16, 1881. was educated
in the district schools and was married De-
cember 15. i;)0:L to Harry Shirding. They
ri'side in Petersburg and he has large farm-
ing interests near the city. I-"dla 1{.. liorn .Inly
■M. 1883. was also educated in the ])ublic
.schools and is at home with her parents.
Matha Mm ic. born February 2, 1885, was grad-
uated at the liiiih school of Petersburg in
1!)0;5. Henry I'yrus. born January 5, 1887,
attended the district schools and is now assist-
ing his father in the cultivation of the home
farm. Paul Harry, ijorn May '23. 1891, is
still a public school student.

In 1888 Mr. Grosboll and his family re-
turned to Germany on a visit. Init because
he had refused to serve in the (ierinan army,
or rather preferred leaving that country for-
ivei- than liecomc a soldier, he was notified by

PAST AND I'h'HSHXT OF MK.\A1?I) COrXTY

291

till' govci'iiiiiciil (illicinls ii|i(iii Ills rciurii that
lie must loavu tlie country within twenty-four
hours. Heinj): now a naturalizcil American
citizen. In- a|i|ieaieil to the .Vmei'ieau k'uaiion
and Uncle Sam took up the ease with the
result that within a tew hours lie received
notification that tlu' (ierinan jjiovenunent re-
called the oi'dcr and he eould remain until
the rollowiiii; Jauuarv. He still has in his
possession the letters I'rdni the American lega-
tion and liis ]ias-|iort.

Mr. and .Mrs. (Irosholl are nienil)ers (d' the
I.uthrran church. Since i)econiin.i; an .\mer-
ican citizen he has given his political sup-
port to the Kepnhlicau party, and For nine
years he has served as a school dii-eitor. His
business career has been one of steady progres-
sion, llopini;- that he might im]irovc his finan-
cial condition in the new world with its su-
perior business oppiirtiinities. ]\r came to the
United States, and his native energy, strong
pur|)ose and huidable andiition have enabled
him to i;ain a fair measure of success, while
his example proves conclusively that ]irosperity
may be won througli jiersistent labor, directed
by the valuai/le (piality of common .sense.

•loiix ]•:. I'oxD.

■ lolm I-;. I'cnid. a representati\ !■ nf the agri-
cullui'a! interests of tireeiniew t<i\vnship for
many years, was born in .Menard county. Au-
gust 4. ]S.")1, and is therefore l)y liirth as well
as training ami preference a western man.
possessing the spirit of enterprise and progress
wliich have been so charaeteristie of the mid-
dle west. His father was Daxid l'>. P(jnd and
his paternal grandfather was J{e\. l^illiouis
Pond, whoso hirth occurred at Plymouth. Con-
necticut. June 2(), 17S1. He was married Octo-
ber n. 1801. at Camden, Oneida county, New
York, to JIi.ss Rhoda Orton. and for his sec-
ond wife he chose Jlrs. Melissa Moore. In
early life he determined to devote his energies
and talents to the work of the ministry and
was ordained in the Presbyterian church at
Camden, New Y'ork. In 1837 he removed to
Illinois, settling eiglit miles west of Spring-
field. His ministerial labors were mostlv in

connection with the liilile and Tract Societies
aiul he did much good as a pioneer preacher
in the promotion of the moral develo])ment of
central Illinois. Me lived to the ailvanccd
a,Me id' ninety-three years, live months and
twelve days, passing away December 8. 1874.
David B. Pond, the father of John E. Pond.
was born July .5, 1822, in Camden, N^ew Y'ork.
and accomjianied his parents to Illinois when
fifteen years of age. He ac(|uired a coinmon-
.school education, remained under the parental
roof and assisted in the work of the home
farm until his marriage, which was celebrated
on the 2.jth of ^larch. lSi."i. ^liss Susan A.

.Moore becoming his wil

'I'lirouiihout his

entire business career he carried on general
farming and stock-raising in Sangamon and
i\[enard counties and he died in Los .\ngeles,
California, December 31. IS'.i;;. Ho had taken
an active and helpful interest in community
affairs, his labors jjroving effective in pro-
moting the general welfare. For numy years
he was a member of the school board and the
cause of education found in him a warm friend.
An active member of the I'resbyterian church,
he served as one of its elders for twenty years.
Mis ])olitical allegiance was given to the Hc-
jinblican party. T'nlo him and his wdfe were
born two cbildreu: Tryphenia and John E.
The former, iioru .Vugust 7. 184!), was married
.Xiivember 2."), 1874. to Cornelius Lyman, and
is now living in Dayton. Washington. After
losing bis lir~t wife. David B. Pond wedflcd
Mar\ !•!. Waisnii. who is imw living in Cali-
fornia.

No special event of importance occurred to
vary the routine of farm life for John E. Pond
in his youth, lie wurked in the fields when not
engaged with the duties of the schoolroom and
remained at home until twcnty-tlirei^ years of
age, when he was nmrried. lie wedded ^fiss
Alice Buchanan, a dautibter of .lames C. and
Loui.sa (()l)(iurn) Kuclianan. Mer father was
born at \Villiams]iorl, Pennsylvania. March 20,
18;! L and was married at Warrensviile, Lycom-
ing county, i'ennsylvania, .Vugiist 1. 18.")2. to
Louisa Obouni. whose birth oecMrred in \Aiir>.
and wliii was a daimbter nf 'i'luunas ((bniirii.
llcr mother iiore the maiden name of Miss
Reeder and. like her husliand. was a native

•j;i-'

I'AST AMI I'lfESEXT mK \1|;\ AlMi ( (tl \I'V

of I'c'iinsvlvaiiia. Al lliu tiiiio uT {\\r Civil
wnr .lames C. But-lianan rcs])oiKleil to the
countn's call for aid. i'iili>ting in Juno, ISill.
as a nu'iiilu'r of I'ompaiiy C. Eighth Peiinsyl-
vaiiia NOhintt'ir Cavalry. T\w rogiinont was
assigiuHl to the .\riii_v of thi> Totoniae and wiiilo
in this service he died in Octolicr. l,S(;:i. at
Washington, D. ('.. and his remains were in-
terred in Arlington eenulerv. His widow sur-
vived him for a nundier nf years and jiassed
away March 1(>, 18?;. They had two children,
Mrs. Pond, who was born September 27. 18.55;
and Mrs. Clara Pond, born October ?:!. M^'u.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. John K. Pond
has been blessed with three children: Nellie
E.. :Mai.el S. and Clara L. At the time of their
marriage they came to Minanl county and Mr.
Pond began farming on the phuc when- he now
lives, the land having been given to liini Ijy his
father. He has since successfully carri(>d on
general farming and stock-raising and he has
a well improved property and raises hii;h
grades of stock, which annually lind a ready
sale u]ion ihc market. In all of his business
undertakings he is reliable and he carries for-
ward to successful completion whatever he be-
gins. His business affairs claim muili of his at-
tention aTid yet he has found o])portunity to aid
in the promotion of puldic cnti'ri)rises. willi-
holding his support from no moviMuent which
he believes will contribute to the general good.
Hi; served as clerk of the school board for
twenty-one years, which included seven con-
secutive terms and in his political views ln^
is a stanch Republican. He and his wife and
their children are mendjers of the Prosbytermii
church and he has served as one of its deacons.
'J'he I'ond household is noted for its warm-
hearted hospitality and the mendiers of the
family receive the respect and confidence of
all with whom thev have been associated.

•lOII.X T. HALL.
John T. Hall, owner of a good farm in
township 1!), range ."i west, was lorn .August
24, 18.*) I, in Menard county and is a repre-
sentative r)f one of the old pioneer families.
His father. WesK ■ <\-" um- Imrn in Yiririnia.

.Iiinc "', l^ll. He was twice married and bv
his first wile, Elizabeth, he bad two sons:
.Vmos, who was born March 'i'>, 18:!(j, and died
July 'i-i. 1842; and .\ugustus, who was born
Novendu^r .5, 1837, and died about 1884. The
mother died March 12, 18:1!). For his second
wife Wesley Hall chose iliss .Nancy Ferguson.
\\\ut uas boiii in Kentucky, February 0. Is'.M.
and they became the ])arents of the following
named: Charles W.. wlio was born .lune 20,
1842. and is now li\ing in St. Clair. Missouri;
Bethcna .L. who was born July 24. ISl.'i. and
died March 2i>. 1870; .Tohu T. : .Vnianda L..
who was born .hinc 1!>. 18."):5. and died Sep-
tember 2, 1877; Ann E., who was born March
Hi, 18.50. and is now the wife of Dr. C. F.
Whitney, of Washington. D. C. ; Thomas 11..
who was liorn December 2,5, 18,57. and is now
lixing in .Scranton, Iowa; and Enura F., whose
liirth occurred .Tnly 26, 1800. and who is now
the wife of .L 11. Pi]ier. of Blount Zion. Illi-
nois. Her father, on leaving his old home in
Virginia, made his way westward to Indiana,
anil locating at South Bend was employed bv
the Studebakers of that city. He hauleil wiieat
to the Chicago market liefore the city was in-
corporated and he lived in the middle west
when it was a great frontier region in whicli
the work of improvement and progress seemed
scarcely begun. f)n leaving Indiana beeameto
^Fenard county at an early epoch in its devel-
opment, when the land was all wihl jirairie
or was covered with dense timber. From Pekin.
Illinois, he hauled the lumber with which to
build his first house and amid frontier en-
vironments be began his life here, sharing
with oilier early settlers in the hardships,
trials and |irivations which fall (o )h<' lot of the
pione<M'. He was one of the founders of th(>
county and he took an active part in promol-
ing the legal status of the community as well
as in advancing its material ini)irovenient
through his agricultural interests. His death
occurred on the 2fith of Xovember, 189.3. and
his second wife, surviving him for about eleven
years, ])assed away on the 2-1d of January.
1004.

John T. Hall has s]icnt bis entire life i!i
Menard counfv. and his education was aerpiirod
in the public -icOiools, such as were found at

Mi;s. NANCY HALL.

I'Asr AMI rh'KSKNT oK .MKNAI.'D rulN'rV

295

lliat day. Farm work largely occupied liis at-
tention during the period of his youth, for he
assisted in the cultivation of the old home place.
remaining on his fathers farm until twenty-
eight years of age, when he was united in mar-
riage ou the 30th of Decemher, 1880, to Miss
Lottie E. Xorton. daughter of Curtis J. and
Mai-y !•;. (Wiley) Xorton. llie former iiorn in
the state of Xew York, April -.M. ls.il, while
the latter was horn in Wells, rennsylvania.
Seplemher 5, IS.'Jfi. They were married in tin'
Empire state and came to Menanl (■(nmty
ahiiiil ^X\',^^. Var funrtcoil years, cir unlil
March, isi;, ihcv rcsiilcd in Logan ciuinlv,
just across the lino from .Mi-nard loiinty. where
^Fr, Xorton carried on general farming. He
aft<M-ward I'emovinl to Earned. Kansas. \\hei-e
he now makes his honu". Unto Mr. and Mrs.
Xorlon weiv Ikm-ii eleven eliihlren. of wlmm
nine ai'e living:: Mrs. Hall, whose liirth oc-
curred .Vpril '. IS,');: William J., who was
horn X'ovcMd)cr 13. ISSS). and is now living in
Ottawa. Kansas: John T.. who was horn Octo-
liei- I. lS(i;^. and is a civil engineer, residing in
the city of ^fcxico; Curtis H., wIki w ;is horn
Septomher 1?, 1S6.3, and resides in Earned;
Henry II,, whose hirth occurred Fcluuary li>,
isds, and who is also a resident of Earned;
(ii'ace Tj,. who was horn May 1.'?. 1S7-2. and is
living in Earned; Mary A., who was horn AFav
^. 1874, and was married June .i. TOOL to
William Tomlinson and is livintr in (Ottawa.
Kansas: George F.. who was horn ^fareh •.".'.
ISTfi. and was married Septeinher L"). 1001.
his home being now in Colorado City, Colo-
rado; and Lucy I, who was liorn July 2(5,
is;s, and resides in Larned. The mendiers of
the family now deceased are I-'raidvlin E.. the
third child, who was iiorn Xovemlii'r LI. IStil.
and died .Vugust 7. L'^C') ; and Charle< C. the
seventh child, who was horn ^Farch '?!. 1S70.
and died October 2. ISfl."..

AFr. and :\Frs. ITall have one child. :\Fary E..
horn December L ISSO. Tliey reside upon a
lood farm in fownshi|i 10. AFr. EFall purchas-
ini:' at the time of his marriage sixty-eight
acres of land, to which he has since added a
ten acre tract. He now carries on general ag-
ricultural pursuits and stock-raising and has
well tilled fii>lds and hiirh grades of horses.

cattle and hogs. Jn his business he is energetic
and persevering and what he possesses has been
gained through his earnest labors. Both he
and his wife are niemliers of the Presbyterian
church and his political allegiance is given to
the L'cpnblican party.

TIIO.\l.\S SCOTT.

lb as Scott, who is engaged in the livery

business in (lreen\iew. was lioni in Canada on
the 19th of May. LS(i7. bis parents being Wil-
liam and IVFargaret (Sinith) Scott. The fa-
ther was a native of Canada ami the mother
of Scotland and when six years of age she was
liiMnight to .\merica by her parents, the voy-
age eoveiing six weeks and I'oui- rlavs in a
sailing vessel. William Scott is a fai-mer bv
occupation and has spent his entire liie in
Canada, wlieiv he is still living at the a.ire
of sixty-eight years, while his wife died Julv
31. 1901.

Tn th(> country schools of Canaila Thomas
Scott wa> educated and he I'cniained at liome
until twcnty-twd years of a.uc during which
time he gained practical and intimate knowl-
edge of farming methods through the assist-
ance whicli he remlered to his father, .\fter
attaininu bis majority be started out in life

on his own account. lie worked by the ith

in connection with i-ace horses until he came
to (;reen\iew and in 1S9S be entered the em-
ploy of IE .1. i\Far!)old. luning charge of his
noted racer. Grand Raroii. until ItNifl. Ife
then entered the services n\' l.ewi> I'ii rson.
with whom he coininued foi- a \ear. when lie
purcliaseil a livery harn. formerly owned by
Heeil &■ McDonald. This he has since conduct-
ed ami now has a good jiatronage. Earnestlv
desiring to [ilcase his customers he has pro.«-
peiT'd in the business, owing to liis straight-
forward dealing and because of the excellent
accommodations which he can afford the jmb-
lic in th(> line of line carriages and good
horses.

On the Oth of December, 189(1, ■^^r. Scott
was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Palmer,
a (laughter of ^lontgomery and Belle Palmer,
who were natives of Illinois and are now resi-

290

PAST AXD PPESEXT OF MEXARD COUNTY

(k'Uts of ]<>\vn. Mrs. Scott i? a incmbiT of
the Mothoflist Episcoiial clnnvli nnd ^Ir. Seott
ir; iiiiineeted witli Lovaltv lodge, Xo. 181, K.
1'. In his political views he is a Democrat,
liut he never socks nor desires office, for he
wishes to devote his entire tiiiK" nnd enersries
to his Imsiness affairs.

DAAll) XKFI'.

One of the most attractive farm residences
of Menard county is the home of David XefC,
situated on section 9, townshij) IS. It was
erected at a cost of three thousand dollars.
contains twelve rooms, is built in modern
style of architecture and is supplied with the
latest conveniences. Around the house are
stone walks, and shade trees dot the well kept
lawn. Altogether the home presents a most
pleasing appearance and witliin an air of com-
fort and of hos]iitality abounds.

^fr. XefC. a native of Rockingham county.
Virginia, was born .Vugiist 2."). 18-52, his ])a-
rents being 'Martin and Helena (Bowers)
XelT, both of wliom were natives of the Old
Dominion. Tlie XefF family is of German lin-
eage and was established in .Vmerica at aji
early day. ^fartin Xeff. born in 1814. turned
his attention to farming on attaining man"*
estate and in 18.54 he removed westward to
Illinois, settling in retersl>urg townshiji. where
he purchased land. His farm of two hundred
acres soon gave evidence of bis careful super-
vision and cultivation, and yielded to him good
crops. He reached the advanced age of
eighty-six years ere his earthly pilgrimage was
ended, and his wife died in 1874. They were
the parents of three sons and three daughters :
John, who resides two and one-half miles
east of Petersburg, in Indian Creek township:
Hannah J., who died when about forty-five
years of age: Barbara, who married John
Gerdes. and now lives with her brother John,
while her husband lives in the Soldiers' Home in
Quincy, Illinois: David : William H., who mar-
ried Snsa Jackson and since her death has mar-
ried again: and Lydia V., who resides with her
uncle, John Tice. in Petersburs.

Dnvid XefT was less than two years of age
when brought by his parents to Illinois and

be was educatt'd in tin' schools of the old town
of Salem. He has always been a farmer. He
was reared to this occupation and has made
it his life work. He first farmed south and
west of Petersburg, and he was enabled to
purchase his land by hewing wood. He made
his last purchase in 1899 and he now owns two
liundred and eighty acres of rich land, all of
which he has placed under a high state of cul-
tivation, so that it is now- a well developed
pro|)crty. He has also added substantial build-
ings, including his fine residence, and the place
is a monument to his thrift and enterprise.

On October IG, 18:9. Mr. XefF was married
in Petersburg to Margaret V. Park, a daughter
of :\Iatthew and Ellen (Vonfelden) Park.
Her father came from Paisley, Scotland, to
America in early manhood and. .settling in
^fennnl rounty. he purchased land and began
the development of the farm upon which ^Ir.
Xeff now resides, ^frs. Park was a native of
Germany and came with her parents to the
I'nited States at the age of fourteen years,
(be family home being established in Mason
countv. Illinois. :\rr. I'ark died April 4, 1873,
;inil bis wife's death occurred December 9,
IS8(). They were well known peo])le of this
locality and enjoyed the warm re<j:ard of many
friends.

Mrs. Xelf acquired her eclucation in the
public schools of Petersburg and remained at
home up to the time of her marriage. Five
children have been born unto our subject and
his wife: Ellen H.. born December 29. 1881.
attended the district schools, continued her
studies in Petersburg and has engaged in teach-
ins for two terms. JIartin Luther, born June
2.3. 1884. was educated in the district schools
and the graded schools of Petersburg and lived
for a time in .\rgentine, a suburb of Kansas
City, Alissouri, but is now at home assisting
his father on the farm. Edna E.. horn Xo-
vember 6. 1S87, is now in her second year in
the high school of Petersburg. Matthew Park,
born Afay Ifi, 1893. and Annie C. born \u-
gust 14, ISOfi. are attending school.

Afr. and Mrs. Xeff hold membership in the
Afethodist church at Petersburg and he votes
with the Republican party. Both are well
known in the countv seat and the surrounding

n.W ID NKl-l- wit l-AM II. V

I'Asr AMI n;r.si:\'r of menakd county 299

district niul rrceivc the I'inDriililr i'r::,ii'il aii'l NiiNciiilicr V. ISdii. ||i> wife. uIid \\:is l»iiii

good wisiit'S of iiiiiiiv Irii'iids. ivuly i-raliziiig Fi'hniiirv I."). UIUl. died in IS.") I.

that perseverauee «ill nviivdiiic all ulistacles H. H. (iodliry ]iiii>iicd his iMlucation in the

aud tiiat <>arne.st and dilif;cnt hdior will gain snhscrijjtiim MJiiinl^, wlncli he attended i'or

adx'aiu'emcnt in tlic business wmld. Mr. .WIT ahoiil ihivc nidiitiis rarh yrar. and ho also

throui^h those means lia.s steadiU worked his spent one winter in Jiiiiih'e ('(dle^e, in Peoria

way upward niilil he is now oni' nf the niore eonnty. llliiKjis. lie |ierl'orined the stremioii.s

prosperons agrieidturists iif his e(ininunnt\. labor incident to the de\ clnimient of a new

farm and remained n[ion his latlu'r's place un-
til twenty-thiee years of age. when he removed

to his present hnme in l(iwnshi|i 19, range (>

Ii'. I!. (Iiiilbey, whn is the owner n|' si\ bun- placing bis land under ihe plow he planted
dre(l acres nt the rich rarnniii; lanil of Mciiaid bis ci'o|i> aini iii ihie time gathered good har-
coiinty. and whose business capacity has l)een \ests. Jle erected all ol the buildings now
demi)iistrated in his sticcessfitl control o'i his upon his place, his Iioiih' in'iiig built in Isdi.
agricnltnral inti'rcsts. was born in IJiisb coiint\, and be has always kepi everything in good rc--
indiana. .lanuai-y U. ls:i(). II is parents. Kits- pair, conducting his farm work along pro-
sell and Elizabeth (lirown) (lodbey, were na- gressive lines. In eonneclion with the cnltiva-
li\es of \irginia and in IS-.",i li-ft that state bir tioii (d' grain he has also engaged in the rais-
lllinois, but stop|ied during the winter in In- ing of stock, prijiiMi)ally fieding cattle, but in
diana, where the birth of our subject occurred, recent years he has largely left the active work
In the spring they e(intinui'(l on theii' w:i\ ami of the fai-m to his s(ms. His landed possessions
ioialed a mile soulii anil a mile and a (jiiaiter co\ei- six hundred acres, the greater part of
west of while K. r>. Codiiey How resides. The which lies in one body.

father hliiih a log house upon a tiaet of land "n the 20th of March, ].S5-1:, Mr. Godbcy

of one hundred and sixty acres, which he en- was united in marriage to Miss Susan Jlont-

teied fioni the go\crnniPnt. and began the gomcry, a daughter of Charles \j. and Kliza

improvement of a laiau. t i-ansformimi the wild Montgomery, who came to this county from

prairie into richly productive lields. lie ai'tei'- A'irginia alioiil IS-.M. llei' falber engaged in

ward added to bis property and at the time of farmiii;: and di<'il here about I'igbteen years

his death was the owner of twd bundled acres ago. Tlis wife, long surviving him, died about

of valuable land, lie toipk an acti\e part in three U'ars ago. at the advanced ago of eightv-

the pioneer de\elo|iineiit of Ibis part of the six years. I'nto M r. and ilrs. (iodbey ha\e been

state and aided in laying broad and deep the born nine ebildreii : b;iiza Elizabeth, lioi-n .\ii-

foundation for the |iresent progress and pros- gust l!t, l.S.")."). is the wife of Claviii Crawford,

perity of the county. He located here when now of San IJeuuirdino, California; ("harles

this was a pioneer district and he not onl\ If., born in IS.");', died in infancy; Edward j'lv-

assistcd materially in the upbuilding of the. erit. born in IS.')!), rc^sides n(>ar his father:

county, hut was also acquainted with many of Ilariy II.. born January 12. ISCiS, died in

the ])roniinent men of the time. He was a dune. 1INI2: (ieorge, born in 1S(U, is living

warm ])er.sonal fric^nd of .\braliaiii Lincoln, uiion the home farm: I'jiima and doliTi died in

will) at one time surveyed a piece of land for infancy: Uertlia died at the agi' of (hr(>e years:

Mr. Codiiey and the latter paid Lincoln for his and Eva. born April 2i;. !■<; I. is the wife of

work with two dressed deer skins, which Lin- dohn Downey, a farmer of this county,

coin took to .Vunt Hannah .\rmstrong. who Since IS^o .Mr. (Jodbev has been a member

sowed them n|)on his pants to |)rotect him of the .Masonic lodge of (ireenview, and in his

while he was going through the brush. ^Mr. life he exeiiiplilies the heuelucnt sjiirit of the

(iodbey dieil December 2.-), 18SS, at the age craft. His wife is a member of the Christian

of eighty-eight years, his birth having occurred church. Politically a Democrat, he keeps well

PAST AND i'llKSLM' Ui- ME.N Aim ('(»( XTV

inlonned ou tlic (|iu'stions and issues of the
day. but has never been an otHce seeker. He
served, ho\ve\er. for twenty years as a niem-
lier of the school lioard. His interest has cen-
tered alon^r lines of public activity which con-
serve the general good and his co-o])eration
lias not been withheld from any movement
whieli he lielieves will contribute to generiil
])rogrcss and im])rovon)ent.

.lonx W. TKKIIT'XK.

John W. Tcrluinc, an cuterprisinji fanner
and i)usiness man and one of the worthy and
valued citizens of ileuard county, whose in-
fluence is ever on the side of rigiit anil prog-
ress, was born in Fleming county. Kentucky.
near Flemingsburg, January 20. 1851), his ]>ar-
■•nts being James and Ann Elizabeth (Harri-
son) Terhune, who were also natives of Kcn-
tncky. The father, a farmer by occupation,
came to Menard county in 18.33, locating at
Petersbnrg, Init after a short time he removed
to Indian Point and sul>sc(iuently ]iiu-chase(l
land near Curtis. There he began farming
and stock-raising and continued to reside near
Curtis until his death, which occurred in Xo-
vciidier, 1884. when he was (ifty-six years of
age. while his wife died in Mav. lS8(i. at the
age of fifty-five years.

John W. Terhune ac(|uired iiis education
in the common schools of ilenard county and
remained under the parental roof until iwenty-
four years of age. when he removed to the
farm on which he now resides. It was |iur-
chased for him and his wife by her father
shortly after their nuirriagc. Tn 188.5 Mr.
Terhune added to it a tract of eighty-eight
acres and has since Imught other property
until now his landed possessions aggregate four
hundred and forty acres of rich and arable
land, upon which he has placed many improve-
ments. He has tiled the fields, erected sub-
stantial buildings and now has an excellent
farm which, in its neat and thrifty a])|>earance,
indicate the careful supervision of a progres-
sive (iwnor. He also aided in organizing the
teIe|)hone company and was its ]>r<'sident two
vears.

On tiie 2(ith of .March. 18;!t. Mr. Trrhune
was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Snioot.
a daughter of W. C. and Catherine (Engle)
Smoot. Both Jlr. and Jlrs. Terhune are earn-
est and consistent Christian people and take
a very active and helpfid part in church work.
For a number of years he has been and is now
an elder in the Presbyterian church at Sweet -
waler, Illinois, is superintendent of the Sun-
day-school and for twenty-two consecutive
years was a Sunday-school teacher. His wife
is superintendent of the Sunday-school of the
Chi'istian church and has been for ten years.
.Mr. Terhune has also been a leader of the
ilioir and has taken a most helpful part in vari-
ous lines of the church activities. For seven
generations, with one exception, his family have
iicen represented in the church eldersliip. He
has been vice ju'esident of the Sunday-school
.Association of ilenard county for a number of
years and has attended numy Sunday-school
conventions, taking a most active interest in the
training of the young, realizing its importance
as a ]U'ppnration for after life. In politics
Mr. T(>rliune is a Repulilican and has served
as ]iresident of the l)oard of school trustees for
a numlier of years. Tie has always taught
lenipei'ance by liotb jirccept and example and
has favored every movement which has for its
oliji>ct the betterment of humanity, while his
laliors aTid inllueme have |)roven no unimpor-
tant factors in advancing the moral standard of
his communitv.

EPOATT S. CRE.WEY

Kdgar S. Cheaney is accorded a position in
I he front raidv of the leading and rcpresenta-
ti\(' business men of Petersburg, his native
city, where his iiirth occurred on the 115th of
Xo\-emb(>r. 1858. \i the usual age he entered
ilie |ud)lic schools, where he pursued his stud-
ies until thirteen years of age, when he en-
tered upmi his business career as an employe in
the hnnlieryard of Colonel C. D. T?ourke. re-
maining there for three years. On the expira-
tion of that period he embarked in the gro-
cery business on his own account and for live
years conducted his store, meeting with sig-

PAST AM) ri;i':si-;\T lU- mi:xai;ii corx'i'v

305

iial Hiu-cx's.-; in ilic uiidrrlakinu'- lli" linn sold
llis store iiiid a,i;Miii Iiitmhk' ((umrrtcd with tlic-
iuiiihcr trade, going upon the road as a travel-
ing salesman. Jle continued in the husiness in
that ca|)acity for twenty-two years and gained
a wide and favorahle ai-quaintanee with hnii-
lier dealei's in the t(>rritory through whieh he
traveled. He eonliiu'd liis husiness mostly to
ei'iitral Illinois and was a most suecessl'ul sales-
man, annually securing a large amount of
liusiness.

Aliiiut iss; Mr. Cheancy joineil his ratlirr,
.1. W. t'heaney. in the estahlishment n{ a Inm-
hor husiness at Petcrshurg inidi'r the lii'in nanii'
of K. S. Clieaney iC Company, his fatliei- lali-
ing charge of the local yard, while our suij-
jcct continued npnn the roail. He .soon socui'cil
a large and rcdiahle class of patrons, nuiking
tlu> luisincss pi-ofitalilc and extensive. Tlie fa-
IJici' died Fehruary 'il. \'.Hr;. at which linic
Vj. S. t'heaney purehast'd his interest in I he
husiness and has since heen sole proprieior. lie
left the road January 1. 1!)0-I. and has simi'
given his attention to the management of the
husiness from the lieadi|uarters in Pctcrshurg.
The yard is one luindred and twenty-five hy
one hundred and fifty-two feet and ihc luisi-
ncss is constantly increasing. At Athens M r.
Cheaney hought out the lumberyard of 'J'. .\.
Swearingcn is: Company, in Fehruary. 1!)()1.
and is conducting that in connection with the
Peterslnirg husiness. He has com])rehensive
and accurate knnw ledge of the lumlier trade,
is fanuliar with the various kinds of wood and
their value as a building material as well as a
marketable commodity, and he is now classed
with the most successful business men of Me-
nard county.

In .Tuly, 18SS. ^Ir. Cheaney was united in
marriage to Miss Mary S. Miller, of Pekin, Illi-
nois, a daughter of P. J. .Miller, now of .Athens.
This marriage lias been blessed with live chil-
dren: Edgar, now deceased; Caniline. Ihr-
bert ir., James W. and Francis.

Mr. Cheaney belongs to the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias
fraternity and the IToo Hoo, a national or-
ganization of lumbermen. He has a wide ac-
quaintance in central Illinois and wherever he
has gone he has made friends l)v reason of his

unfailing courtesy, his dcfei'ence i'oi- ihe opin-
ions of others, his social naturi' and his genial
disposition. Throughout the greater part of
his life he has been connected with the lum-
ber trade and his recognition of a commercial
possibility leading to success has been sup]>le-
ment(d by straightforward dealing that has
Linineil biiu till' confidence ami ilii' pati'onage
(if inan\ with whom he has ennie in emitact.

JOSEPH A. SMEDLKY.

.losepli .\. Sniedle\ \\a> biu'ii .May ■'. IS.jO,
nil ^eeticln '.' 1 . tnwuship IS. ailjoining the one
nil wiiieh he unw li\es. llis present place,
eoinprisini; one liundred ami twenty acres, was
traded in the early days for a shotgun, an en-
tire seel ion beiiig ui\en ill exchange I'm' the
lireanii. ( iillixatioii, buwtAcr. carried on iiy
fiiriiier geiK'ratidiis of the faniilv and by our
>iiliierl have wrought a wonderful transforma-
liiiii in the ap|iearance and valu(~ of the land,
which is nnw wniili one hundred <lnllars per
acre.

The Sniedh'y I'ainily is of English liiuage
and the ancestry of Joseph \. Smedley can be
I raced back to Christopher Smedley, the great-
grandfather, who wassent to sea by his older
brothers, who were angry with him. lie lived
to the advanced age of one hundred and eleven
years and six months. Becoming a resident
of America, he was married in Pennsylvania
and afterward removed to Kentucky. He had
three sons, including Thomas Smedley. the
grandfather of our subject, who, with his
brother William, went to St. Louis, Missouri,
at an early day aiul later came to what is now
Menard county, Illinois, then a |)art of Sanga-
mon county. He settled at Clary's tirovc and
there reared his family. He had live sons and
five daughters, three of whom w<'re born in
Kentucky, while the others were born on the
idd family homestead in this county. He pur-
chased one luindred and si.vty acres of land on
section 20, township IS, and was the first man
to settle u])on the ])rairie adjoining whoro
Jose])h A. Smedley now resides. He took an
ac'tive and helpful part in reclaiming the wild
land for the uses of thi' white man and a.ssisted

I'ASI' AM) riiliSKXT OF MENAIU) LOl .\TV

luaiiiiMiiv III ilif early development of the
county — a work which has since been earried
forward by the family in later generations.
Tlionui!: Smedley liad ton children, as follows:
Saraii married Spencer .Merrill and they reside
in Little Grove. William is the second of the
family. IJichard. wlio lived in llenard county
on the farm which is now owned by Mrs.
Marthena Gum. was a soldier <t( tiie One Hun-
dred and Fourteenth Illinois \olunteer In-
fantry and died in the service. Irene, de-
ceased, was the wife of John X. Osborne and
lived in .Jacksonville. Eliza l)ecame tln' wife
of Barton Osborne and they resided on the
old Smedley homestead, but butii are now di-
ccased. lie was a member of tlie One Hundred
and Fourteenth Illinois infantry in the Civil
war. John, wlio was a member of the Four-
teenth Illinois \'ohinteer Infanlry, was a (juar-
terniaster scrj^eant and served throufrliout the
war. lie was under Grant at Shiloli and \'icks-
burg. He was educated for the ministry, en-
gaged in teaching for a number of years and is
now living in Cass countj-, Illinois. Thomas,
who resides in Bloomington. this state, was also
a member of the Fourteenth Illinois Regiment,
was the regimental fifer and, being capfnred,
was confined in Andersonville prison. Han-
nah, deceased, was tiie wife of David Bell, a
resident of Dakota. He was an orderly in the
One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois In-
fantry and was with Sherman on the cele-
brated march from Atlanta to the sea. Chris-
topher, who was orderly sergeant in the same
regiment and likewise marched with SIum--
man's Army to the coast, is now living in
Pittsburg, Kansas. Catlieiine married Anson
Ferguson, whose military service was with the
same regunent, and who went to the sea under
Sherman. He was wounded in the head, but
recovorci! from this, although lie was after-
ward killed by a mule.

William Smedley, the father of Joseph .\.
Smedley, was liorn in Kentucky, but in his
youth aecoiiipanied his father on his removal
to Menard county, where he spent his remain-
ing days. He was reared among the wild
scones of pioneer life and assisted in the ardu-
ous task of developing a ih'w farm. He fol-
lowed agricultural juirsuits throughout his en-

tire life and was known as an energetic, capable
business man, who carefully controlled his
farming interests. His early political support
was given the Whig party and on its dissolu-
tion he joined the ranks of the new Iicpiib-
lican party, with which he continued to affiliate
until his death. He held membership in the
Christian churcii. His wife bort? the maiden
name of .Martiia Ilurd and they became the
jiarents of seven children: Christina, who died
at the age of eight years; Joseph A., of tiiis
review; John Thomas, who died at Coldwaki.
FIcirida. where ho was following tiie occupalicui
of farming; Edwin, who was a macliinis! and
died at his home in Jacksonville, Illinois;
ilartlia, who married a Mr. Allen, but both
died of yellow fever about 1889; Xancy, who
dii'il in infaiuy; and Hamden Jewett, who
owns and operates a farm near Athens.

Josejjh A. Smedley was reared in his fa-
ther's home and jjursued his education in a
I'rivate school at Petersburg. He was trained
to habits of industry on the home farm, assist-
ing in its furtiier development and cultivation
until twenty -one years of age. when he began
farming for liimself. He makes a specialty
of bee culture. He was married Octoijcr 7.
18T.J, to Henrietta Godwin, a daughter of John
and Mary Ann (Truitt) Godwin, who lesidod
in Missouri, where Mrs. Smedley was reared
and educated. The father was born in Vir-
ginia, and the mother in Baltimore,
JIaryland, where they were married. Tiiey
came west about 18,Vj and settled in Mont-
gomery county. ^lissoiiri, where ilr. tiod-
win entered a large tract of land and was a
slave holder, ilrs. Smedley has two brothers
and two sisters living, three of whom are resi-
dents of ilis.'iouri, while one lives in Colorado.
Four cliildren have been born unto Mr. and
Mrs. Smedley: Charles Frederick, who was
born September 7. l<S7(i. married .Vdriane Mas-
line and resides in Jacksonville, Florida;
.\rthiii- E.. who was born October 5, lS7i5.
married Daisy Gum and i-' now a student in
\\\v ( 'hicago \'eterinary Seliool. but owii< [i\\<\t-
erty in Meiiar<l county, where he makes his
home: Harry W.. born .\ugust II. 18S"2. mar-
ried Clara .\ere. and now resides upon t!ie old
home<tead. but expects to remove to a fiim

I'AS'i' AMI ri;i:si;\T ok mi:\\i;|) (^OUNTY 307

iifiir Alliens ill the spiin.:;- »( r.iii"i; .Marsluill liy liaml hmt m trari of one lumdicil and lil'tv
A., born July '20. 1,SS."). was ciliicatiil in lMev«- acns. Sul>s('(iuenlly lie came to Fult<in connty,
burir and is now at lionio. Illinois, and established bis linme near tbe dam
.Ml-. Sniodloy first voted witii llu' Keimbli- across Spoon ri\-er, tlic tdwn bcinir called
can party, lint lias since sup|ioncd ilie candi- Babylon. There be workcil lnr one man loi-
dates of the Deinoeratic and People's parties. live years at eii^bl dollars jier nionlli.
and is independent in sup]iori of ilie poliiica! On ibe •.'."iili of .laniiary, 1S5.J. .Mr. l-insley
measures wliicb be deems will brinj; the jrrcaf was married to Miss f'liloe I fclen Aylcswortli,
est good to tbe i;|-catesf niiinber. Both be and a daiiizbter of Philip and Cliloe (OoodoU)
his wife arc members of the Cbiistian cliui\li .\yles\vortb. the former a native i>{ I'rovidi'nce,
and take a helpful part in its w.irk. Havi);;:' li'bodc Island, liorn .\pril •?(>. ITHl. and the
always lived in Ibis county. Mr. Smedley has latter ol' New ^'ork. The mother died during
a wide acipiaintaiiee within its borders and re- tlic inrancy nf bcr daiiglitor. There wove two
ceives favorable regard and friendship I'roii; snn.v and two daughters in the family; Philij)
the majority of those with wboni be has been S., wbo died in .18-fO at I'clersbiirg, Illinois;
brought in contact, ciilier through business -h Ciiarles. whose death occurred in 1S3.") at Mere-
social iclatioiis. d(i>ia. Illinois, when be wa- two years of age:

.Vnnie .M.: and Chloe II. Tbe former married

John II. Holaiid. who resided at firand Island.

Xcbraska, a!id ilied in Marcli. 1!H)|. Tbev bad

W ll.l.l.\.\l K.XSI.KV. ,ljj.^^, ,.i,ji,],.,,„_ I,,.,-, ^„„^ .,,,,1 ,, daughter, am!

William J'jisley, whose farmiii:^ inlcri'sts arc the sons ari' married, one now living at ITast-

representod by a good ti'aci of land in the ings. Xcbraska, and lb<' otbcr at Lincoln, that

vicinity of Atterbcrry, was born Juno ]2, 1S2.S. stati'. Mr. .\ylcsworth, the father of ^Mrs.

in I'ickaway county. Ohio, his parents beina- Knslcy. removed from Khode Island to Ponn-

Christoplior and Elizabeth (Gold) Enslev. both sylvania wlieii sixteen years of age and bad

natives of Pennsylvania, the father bein"- of ciniie to I llinois iu lSx''2 and here he formed the

Dutch lineage, while the mother was of Knalisb ac(piaiiitance of (Idoe (ioodell. who had been

descent, llcmoving to Ohio, thev settled in brought to this state during her childhood by

Pickaway county in 1S28, their home iieing her )iarcnts. They were married in Sangamon

along tbe canal between Circleville and Colum- county and Mr. .\yleswortli operated a ferry at

bu.s. The father secured a tract o\' land on tlic Mcivdn-ia. Illinois, for seven years, while siib-

Scioto river bottom and there began the de- sequent to bis marriage he renuned to Menard

velopmcnt of a farm. The work of iniproNc- county, lie was an old time surveyor and in

nient and iirogress had been carried on for this coniiectioii be assisted materially in the

so brief a time that many primitive conditions early development of the state, laying out the

yet existed. He afterward came to Illinois, towns of l^eirdstown and ^feredosia. Tie also

settling in Babylon. Fulton county, where hi.- surveyed and laid nut the state road from

death occurred in 1845. His wife, long sui- Mercdosia to Quiney by way of Camp Point,

viving him. died at the home of her son Wil- At the last named place he camped out and

Ham, about a half a mil.' ea-t of .Vttcrbeny. iii calli'd it Camp Point ami this name has been

1872. retained down to the present. In 18:i.") he es-

William Ensley. on puisuing his education, tablisheil his home in Fidton county, being the

was a student in a little log sehoolhouse. but his first white settler in Lee township, living oi.

opportunity even there' was limited as bis an old Indian farm called Potato Hollow. lie

services were needed upon the home farm. .\t there entered ten fpinrter sections of land and

the age of twelve lie began work for others, be- was at one time the wealthii'st man in the

ing employed as a farm band for live years at county. lie not onlv carried <>n farming juir-

eiglil d(dlars per month. Tbe last summer suits on an c.Nlcns ve scale, but also owned

which he spent in Ohio he dropped lirooni corn a mill which he rented. He entered most of

I'As'i' AMI ri;i:si:.\-

.MKNAKI" col NTY

till- hind ea^t of AtU'rliorn ami in course of
tinii» liiranK' tho owner of thousands of acres.
At one time he was tlie owner of tlie land on
whieli tlie city of Jacksonville now stands, lie
was al.so prominent and inliuential in [ml>lic
affairs, held the office of justice of the peace
for a time, was sheriff of Morgan county, and
he named the town of Bahylon in Fulton coun-
ty. His elforts were of marked benefit to the
state in its development and substantial im-
jirovenient. He was a member of the Ifasonic
fraternity and was familiarly known as rncle
Phil. His death occurred at the liniiie of Mr.
and Mrs. Nathaniel .Vyleswurili. near Ellis-
ville, December 22, 1883. It was largely
through liis personal influence that congress
passed the pre-em])tion laws.

Willaim Ensley purchased his first land of
his wife's father and afterward bought his pres-
ent farm from John Stitch. .\s his financial
resources have increased he lias added to liis
])roperty from time to time until he is now the
owner of si.x hundred acres, which he has ac-
quired entirely tlirougli his own elVorts, save
a tract of eighty acres that was inherited l)y lii^
wife. He has lived u])on his present farm
since 1856 and has wrought a great change in
its a])iiearance l)ecause of the improvements he
has made and the high state of cult ivaf ion un-
der which he has placed his fields.

ills. Ensley. who was born July 8, l!So<, in
Fulton county, has become the mother of eight
children, but the eldest. Luella, died in infancy.
Those still living are Henry Elmer, born .\u-
gust 8. 18G4; Harvey Lee, born December 11,
1870; and Xettie Alice, born March 17. 1884.
The elder son married Hartie Barr and tlicy
reside at Wavcrly, Morgan connty. Illinois,
where ho is engaged in business as a grain
dealer. They have three children, one .son and
two <laiighters and they are members of the
^fethodist church. Harvey Lee, residing on a
farm near Atteriterry, married Jessie Tiiorni'
and they have one child — a daughter.

Mr. En-sley gives his jHilitieal allegiance to
the Democracy and has served as road master,
hut has never been very active as a politician,
jireferring to devote his time and energies to
his businiss affairs, which he has capably con-
duilirl. I If i< seldom at fauli in matters of

laisiiicss judgment and his energy has jpiiimii
a very eflcctive factor in winning success. His
life iias indeed been a busy and useful one and
at ail times it has been characterized by honor-
able ]iurj)ose, so that he receives the good will
and respect of those with whcnn he has been
associated.

(JEUliGE W. ilATCli.

George W. Hatch, figuring proniini'iilly in
the business circles of Greenview. his business
activity contriiuiting to the general prosperity
as well as his individual success, is now secre-
tary and general manager of the Greenview
Coiil <.^ ilining Company, as superintendent
and manager of the ^liddletown Coal Com-
pany at Midillelnwn. Illinois, and is the senior
niemlier of the firm of Hatch, Jones & Ber-
gen, general merchants of (ireenview. .V na-
tive son of Menard county, lie was l)orn a
mile and a half north of the city in which
he yet makes his home, on the l")th of October.
ISiil. his parents being tieorge \\'. and Amanda
M. (Martin) Hatch. His parental grand-
fat liri-. who was a sea captain, followed the
sea for many years and was at length lost
at sea.

George W . llatih, .Sr., the father of our
subject, was a native of New Jersey and was
twice married, his fir.st wife being Mary
Brew'er. Their wedding was celebrated March
10, 1846, and to them were born three sons,
namely: William X., a resident of Oakland,
I'ottawattamie county, Iowa, where he is en-
gaged in farming and stock-raising and owns
over five hundred acres of land; John B., who
tiled September .">, 1S69; and Thomas X., who
died August 2.3, 18.")8. The mother of these
children died :\Iarch :31). lS.j.5. and (he father
was married August 'io, 18.5.5. to Amanda M.
Martin, who was born in Illinois. Se])teinlier 3,
is;',;!, niiil was a ilaughter of .Folm and High-
land (Ferguson) Martin. Her ]iarents were
both natives of Kentucky and at an early day
removed from that state to Illinois, settling
■it Baker's I'rairie. where the father carried on
farming and stock-raising. The mother and
foui- id' her children died within two weeks.
One daiii:hter. Mis. Alexander h'hoades, is still

mi;. AM) Mi.'s. i;. W. ilATi II. .n

mi;. AM) \ii;s. c. \\. hatch, sr.

PAST AXD PRESENT OF MEXAKD COUNTY

313

living, lier home liciiig at Spriugci'ton, Illi-
nois. Bv Ills second marriage George W.
llatcli, Sr.. had live chililrcn. our suhject being
the onlv son. 'I'hc daughters were Jlargaret
.\., who was honi .luiie •.'<>. ]SM. and married
C. 11. Denton, of Alliens. Illinois; Mary 11..
who was horn Oetober 1, IS")?, and is now tlu'
wife of ,1. li. Arnold, of Greenview ; Emma J.,
who was born Novendier 2(i, 1.S59. and died
Aiignst 30, 18TT: and Laura E., who was born
April -I, ISCo. and dird April :!l), is;;).

In early boyhood ilays George W. Hatch,
Sr. came to Menard county and in his yonth ho
worked by the month as a farm hand. He
afterward entered land from the government
and devoted his energies to its cultivation an<l
improvement until isiis. when he retired from
agricidtural life and removed to (Jrccnview,
entering the firm of Hatch & Aruhi'im. general
merchants. He also conducted a lumber yard
and milling business and erected many of the
first houses of tlie city. His business interests
thus extended to many lines and [)roved bene-
ficial to the comnumity by advancing the com-
mercial and industrial prosperity which is the
basis of all progress and substantial upbuilding.
In 1873 he sold his varied Vmsiness interests,
save his mill, which he conducted until his
<leath. He passed away May So, 1874, at the
age of forty-seven years and nine niontlis. His
widow long survived him and her death re-
sulted from a fall on the 17th of August, 1903.
when she was seventy-one years of age.

CJeorge \V. Hatch was a public school student
in Greenview and in 1880 he entered the
Northern Indiana Xornial College at Val-
paraiso, Indiana, leaving that institution on
the day that Janu^s A. GarfieM was nominated
for the presidency, lie tlien rc'tiinieij in ^fen-
ard county and in June, 1880. he engaged in
the livery business, but after nine months he
sold out and took a three months' trip to the
west, visiting Denver and Leadville, Colorado.
On the expiration of that period lie retraced his
steps eastward as far as Iowa and on the :5rd
of July, 1881, he returned to ilenard comity.
About that time he assisted in the organization
of the first coal company formed here and in
November of the same year he cmliarked in
the furniture and undertakino- business, which

he carried on for about three years. Un the
23rd of December, 1884, however, he removed
to a farm and was successfully and continuously
engaged in agricultural pursuits for six years,
or until November, IMM. when lie relurneil to
(Ireenview. Here he began handling horses
and in 1893 he became activ(dy associated with
commercial interests as a dealer in hardware
and implements under the firm style of Hatch
dv: Propst. A man of resourceful business
abililv, rt'ndilv recognizing and improving o])-
portunity, he iuis been associated with many
lines of endeavor that have proved of practical
value- and benelit to the city and at the same
time ha\e advanced his individual ]n-osperity.
He built the first opera house of Greenview at
a cost of eight thousand dollars, but the Imild-
ing was afterward destroyed by fire. He has
been identified with the development of the
coal interests of this ]iart of the state and in
1886 lie became a stockholder in the Jlenard
Coal Company, of Greenview, Illinois, of which
he is now the secretary and manager. In 1893
he sold his interest in the hardware store to his
partner and became an insurance and real
estate agent.

For a time ^Ir. Hatch |nit aside his more
active business duties in order to perform
public service, for wduch he liad been chosen
by the votes of his fellow townsmen. In 1894
he was elected sheritf of Jlenard county upon
the Hepublican ticket, although this is a
strong Democratic county, receiving a majority
of one hundred and forty-nine. Later he
was nominated f<ir the office of county clerk,
was defeated Ky oni- hundred .iiid Iwenty-six
votes. In 1900 he was a candiilate liefore the
h'cpublican convention for the nomination lor
re]irosentative. .\fter retiring fnun the olfiee
id' county sheriff he took charge of the business
of the coal comjianv and lie entered the firm
of llaleli. Klkie \- Ifeed. on the Sth of March,
1S93. .\fter a year, however, tiiis ])artnership
was dissolved and Mr. Hatch became the senior
member of the jiresent mercantile firm of
Hatch, Jones & Bergen. He is a man of keen
business discernment and unfaltering enter-
])rise and carries forward to successful comple-
tion whatever he undertakes. 'Moreover, his
business methods have been snch as never seek

PAST AM) I'HESENT UF .MKXAIIIt (OlX'lV

nor icquuv lll^l;lll^t' and he has made for him-
self an houorahle name in trade eircles.

On the 12th of October, 1S82, Jlr. Uatcli
was married to Miss Eleanor Frances Keed, a
daughter of W. \V. P. Heed, and they have
three children : Claude Wallace, wlio was born
November 9, 188:?, is now married and is in
charge of his fatber"s interests in the store;
Forest Leslie, born .laniiarv li), 1889, and
Mildred, born Januarv 1.5, 1S!>J, are at liome
with their parents. The wife and children are
members of the (.'umberland Presbyterian
church and ilr. Hatch holds membership in
the Cliristiau church. He has pleasant fra-
ternal relations, being a valued representative
of Clinton lodge. No. 189, A. F. & A. M.. of
Petersburg; Loyalty lodge. No. is;;. K. P..
and the Modern Woodman camji. llis name
is a synonym for activity, industry and integ-
rity in business life and he stands to-day as
one of the successful and respected men ol
Menard countv.

WILLIA.M T. KKXCAli).
William T. Kineaid, a representative of the
farming interests in Menard county, who has
the respect of the business community l)ecause
of his faithful adherence to the rules which
govern honorable trade relations, was born
August 30, 1849, on the farm in Sweetwater
precinct, where he now nud<es his home. He is
a son of W. C. and Louisa (Hale) Kineaid,
both of whom are natives of Bath county, Ken-
tucky. The father, who was born Novendier
3, 181-3, came to Hlinois in early manhood, set-
tling in ^lenard county upon the old home-
stead farm in 1831. His father. Andrew Kin-
eaid, was a native of Cuml)erland county, Penn-
sylvania, and Ix'came a resident of Bath county,
Kentucky, in 179."). In the latter state lie was
united in marriage to Miss .\nn P. CaldweU,
who was born in Bath county and was a daugh-
ter of William and Elizalieth (Kennedy) Cald-
well. She was present at the stirring scenes
of the great camp meeting at Cane 'Ridge in
Boiirlion roiinty. Kentucky, in 1802 — an evenv
•which has become historic in the annals of that
state and of that localitv. On Ibr 13fh of

.Vugiist. 180^, she gave her hand in marriage
to Mr. Kineaid and they were a most devoted
and earnest Christian couple. Though always
living upright lives and singularly conscien-
tious, probably from lack of suitable oppor-
tunity, Mrs. Kineaid did not profess her re-
ligious faith until 18"^|. when with liei' hus-
Imml she uuiieil with tli ■ .Xew Coiicniil Pres-
byterian church of Nicholas county, Ken-
tucky, under the ministry of Dewey Whitney.
Soon afterward they changed their nieml)crship
from ih-it church to the cliuuli in Suring-
field, Bath county. Keiitiuky. where they re-
sided until 1834. In that year they came to
Mellaril county, Illinois, settling at Indian
Point, and on the 13th of Jtme. 1835, they
were received into the membership of the
North Sangamon Presbyterian church by the
session then constituting Elder John N. Moors
and Pev. .Vlex Ewing as moderators. From
that time forward they took a most active and
helpful, as well as beneficial, interest in the
moral develoj)ment of this part of the state.
They closely followed all the coniniiiiiilments
and ordinances of the church, living blameless
lives, so that their memory is yet enshrined in
the hearts of those who knew them, and their
example remains as a source of inspiration and
encouragement to those with whom they were
associated. Andrew Kineaid. full of years and
honors, because of his fidelity to upright prin-
ciples, passed away August G, 1872, at the
age of eighty-seven years, seven months and
twenty-five days, and on the 20th of i[arch,
1879, his widow died at the age of ninety-one
years, seven months and twelve days. They
were the parents of eleven children, three of
whom died prior to the mother's demise, and
the remaining eight were present at her
funeral. She had sixty grandchildren, of
whom thirty-eight were living at the time of
her death, fifty great-grandchildren, of whom
forty-four were living, and sixteen of her
grandchildn'i] were married. Her inunediate
descendants at the time of her demise were
one hundred and ihiily-nine in nundier, of
whom thirty-one had passed away, one hun-
dred and eight are still living. ^Irs. Kineaid
was blessed with vigorous physical and mental
powers and possessed many sterling (raits of

PAST AM I

I'.sKX'i' oi-- Mi:\Ai;ii (•()|■\■|•^'

;515

eliai'iU-ter. SIk' was a moM van\v<{ C'lirisiian
woiuaii. ami iIk' poor, needy ami distressed
I'ouml ill her a lu'ljil'ul aud sympatlu'tic friend.
She was most jienerous and lios]pitalde and lier
tender eonsideratinn for ullicrs \Nas one ol' her
most salient i-haraeti'ristics. An inunense con-
course of peojile came to pay their hist trihute
of respect to her meiiiory and lior ^ood deeds
still live after her. so that she is yet sjioken of
with tender reverence and deep love liy those
who knew lier.

\V. C. Kincaid. tiie father of our suliject, was
one of the early settlers of Menai'd county, re-
sidinjj here continuously Irom ts:i| up to the
time of his dcatli. Jle settled upon the farm
which is iu)w occupied hy his son \V. T. Kin-
caid. eiiterint;- the laud frcnn the uovernuient.
and our suhjeit now has iu his possession the
deeds of this land sij^iied hy John Q. Adams
and Amliew .lacUson, regarding them as cher-
ished mementos of ])ionecr times. With chai'-
acteristic energy Mr. Kincaid carried on ai^ri-
ciilluriil pursuits and in additiiui to the tilling
of the soil he raised stock, making a specialty
of cattle for show. Me usually raised the short-
horn iiree(l and he received first prize at t(U'.
second slate fair that was ever held in Sanga-
mon county. In early manh I lie wedded

Miss Louisa Hale, who was Imrn .\oveml)er 27.
1821. and was al.so one of tlu' early settlers nf
Menard county, coming at the tiin<' of the ar-
rival of William .lohnson. She uiadc her way
from Kentucky on horseliack. W. C. Kincaid
jiasscd away at Indian Point. Fehruary 7. ISS-.'.
at the age of sixty-six years, three months and
four days, and his wife died at eleven o'clock
in the evening of .\ovcmli<'r 2T. 1S!)|. at the
age of seventy-three years, lie had fmii- hioth-
ers and three sisters, all of whom attemled his
funeral. There had not heen a death in the
family for forty years uji to ahoiit that tiuie.
hut his father and motln^r dicil a fi'w years
tiefore him. Mr. Kiiuaid had heen connected
with the I'resliyterian church for more than
forty yeais aud was an earnest Christian man.
genennis to his friends, liheral to those in
need, and in his home a kind-hearted and de-
voted husband and father. No nuiii in the
connty has heen iriore dee])ly missed liy neigh-
bors and frieiuls and he hail so endeared him-

M-ir to those who knew him that uniform regret
was felt throughout this part of the comity
when he was called to his final rest. For anout
a year, however, he was in poor health and for
two months ]irior to his death was conlineii to
his home. The funeral services were iu'ld at
the Xorth Sangamon church. Ki-v. |). .1. Strain
and l!i'\. .1. .M. Iluiiiey iilliciating. after which
his remains were interred in Indian I'oiiit i em-
etery. The interment of ]\lrs. Kincaid was
also ill the Indian Point cemetery. They were
the parents of live children : li'olici-t Hale, who
was horn Fehruary. Ui. ISll. and <lied Dccem-
her ;i(). liST"^; l^li/.a .\nn. who was horn .\o\em-
lier 10. 184"v'. and died in Sjiringlield. Illinois,
Sejitemhi'r 2U, 1901 : Andrew Todd, who was
liiu'ii .March t), lS-14. and is now living near
Farmer City. DeWitt county: William T.. the
fourth of the family; Elizabeth l>.. who was
born October 1!). 1857', and is living in Chi-

eago.

W. T. Kiiicaitl, whose name introduces this
recoi'd. was educated in the district schools at
Indian Point. This is couducted largely on the
order of a high school and is a very excellent
educational institution. .Vfter putting aside
his text-books, his time and energies were de-
voted to farm work on the old homestead. He
married iliss Alice Belle l^ursell. wiio was liorn
ill Sangamon county. Illinois, in wiiat is now
ealled Farmingdale. iier natal day being May
I. IS.'iCi. Her |)arents were William and Fliza-
lietli ( \an Patl'iiil I'uisell. the bu'iiier Iku'ii in
lielaml. January ;i. \S2^K and the latter in
New Jersey. March 2U, 1835. They became
residents of Sangaiimn county aiiout ls;i;!. Mr.
Pursell had been brougiit to .\m<>rica by his
jiareiits wlu'ii he was iiut two years old. the
fjimily home being esiaiilished in Canada, and
he resided there nine years, when the family
removed to Sangamon county. Illinois. He
was one of the lirst settlers of that portion of
the state, locating there before Spiinglield had
sprung into existence. He and !iis wife were
married in ]s:U', and for a long jieriod they re-
siflcd on the old homestead farm in Sanga-
mon county. They were the |)arents of thir-
teen children: Hobert lli'iiry. who ilied alioiit
1841: ^lary .\nn. who died in the same year;
.Vlbcrt Hale, who dii'd in is;.".: Cairii- T.vinan

I'AST A-\Li i'lJESENT UF .MK.NAlJLi (.t»LMY

who is living at Pleasant Plains, Sanjiaiiion
county; Laura Etta, a resident of Ashland,
Cass county, Illinois; Mrs. Kincaid; Jennie
Adeline, who died in 1S44: Charles Williain,
who is living in iloravia, Jowa; John Cush-
nian, who died in 1873; Harriet Louisa, who
resides at Junction. Arizona: Kohcrt l?amse\,
who is living at Farniingdale, llliiKiis: !■' ranees
Elizabeth, also at Farmingdale : and Jessie
Try])hena, at home.

The home of Mr. and Mi-s. iviiu-aid has lifcn
blessed with two I'liildri'ii : .Mice May. liorn
May 31, 1883; and Todd Piirsell. I^mii May 4,
1887. The i)arents and their chihlnii are
members of the Indian Point Presi)yterian
church, and politically Mr. Kincaid is a Kopub-
lican, having su])ported that ])arty since he
east his first presidential ballot TTc is a
worthy re])resentative of an Imnoi'i'd jiionecr
family and therefore is entitled to nieiition in
this volume, iloreover. his personal charac-
teristics have commended liini lo the uocicl will
and trust of tho.^e with whom he has been asso-
ciated. He is unassuming in manner, yet alert
and cn1iT|ii-i-iiig in bis business affairs iiml
kee]iing iu touch with modern progi-pss and
along all lines that indicate the world's ad-
vancement. Having spent his intire life in
Menard county, he is well known to many of
its citizens and the circle of his friends is
extensive.

JAMKS I). WIirri.KY. M. |i.

1!. M. S.

Dr. James 1'. W'bitley. general incdieal
jiractitioner and a\ilhor, whose writings are of
acknowledged value to the profession and whose
labors as physician and sui-geon liavc been so
suec&ssful as to rank him with the ablest re])rc-
sentatives of the profession in Petersburg and
central Illinois, was born in Halifax, York-
shire, England, on the 28th of February, 1844.
His father, Eli Whitley, also a native of Hali-
fax, came to America in 184(1 and established
his home in Xew York city. He was a pattern-
maker by trade and for many years was con-
nected, in that capacity, with the Xovelty Iron
Works of New York. His wife died during the

great cholera epidemic in this country, in 1840.
In the family were three children.

Dr. Whitley started out in life on his own
account when only twelve years of age. without
money or influential friends, and that his
career has been characterized by steady pro-
gression and success is due to the exercise of his
luitive ability, his unremitting diligence and
laudable ambition, wliieh ha^- prompted him
to find in each transition stage of his career
opportunity for further advancement. In his
youth he was em])loyed at farm labor iu Logan
county, Hlinois, but desiring to enter jirofes-
sional life, he commenced the study of medicine
in IStil under Dr. Samuel Saigeaut. a practic-
ing ]ihysician of Lincoln. Illinois. The follow-
ing year, however, liis studies were interrupted
by his enlistment in the Union army. He
joined the One Hundred and Sixth Hlinois
Regiment. Colonel R. B. Latham commanding,
on the I'.'tli of August. 1863. He was mus-
tci'c(l in at Lini-nln. Illinois, as a drummer boy,
lieing then i)ut eighteen years of age, and went
first to Kentucky. He served in ^lissouri and
'rriinessc'i' and was also at l.itllc IJuck. .\rkan-
sas. A considerable })ortion of the time was
given to guarding railroads. He was present
at tin- fall of Vicksburg and saw varied service
during the three years of his military experi-
ence. When the regiment steward, a few
months after his enlistment, was taken ill. Dr.
Whitley was appointed to that position and later
was placed on detached service in the general
hospital at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in the eajia-
city of chief clerk. Subsef|uently he was given
charge of the dispensary and was finally made
acting assistant surgeon, in charge of the guard
house and detached forces, so .serving until
August. 1SG5, when the war having cmlcd he
was honorably discharged.

Dr. Whitley's hospital .service, while with the
army, proved an excellent training school for
his i)rofessional career, bringing to him much
valuable, practical experience. Upon his re-
turn home he resumed the study of medicine
and in the winter of lS(i.")-r) he pursued a course
of lectures in Rush iledical College. r.,ater he
came to Petersliurg. Menard county, where he
opened an office, but soon renioved to Robin-
son's Mills, where he was a])pointed postmaster.

I)i;. .1. 1), W IIITLHY.

AST AMI

liSKXT OF MKXAKlt COl NTV

319

Siil)siM|iiriuly lu' c^tiililisheil lii^ Iiuiir; ;U UaU-
loiil. Iiiiil(liii<r tlu> first residence tliere in 1872.
He iiiinicd llie town in lionor of Willi-iun Onk-
t'onl, of llu' Oakforil-Falinstock Company,
wholesale grocers of Peoria, Illinois. He met
with f:iir success in his practice in the little
\illa.i;c wliicli he estahlished and in Js;;! he
returned to i»ush Medical College, where he
was graduated in Feln-uary. ^^1 I. Returning
then tn Oakfiii'd. he coutinued in practice there
until .lul\. islli. when lie again caini' to I'eters-
hurg. wlicrc he has since remaiurd. and in the
. hroader lield which tlie county .^cat alVcinls.
he has so directed his labors that they have
pnned of great value to his fellow men. while
the profession acknowledges his ability, which
is liasi'd u])on thorough and conscientidus prep-
araticin and \infalli'riiig de\iiti(m tn the re-
spiinsilde duties wliieli dexolve upon thi' phy-
sician.

lir. Whitley has coutiniudly adiled to his
knnwledgc liy study and investigation and also
through the intercliange of thougtit and experi-
(■nce among the memhers of the jn'ofession wlm
are allied witli various nu'dical societies. Since
1S7S he lias been a niemhcr of the American
iledical .V.ssociation and lie alsn belongs to tlie
Illiuiiis State ^ledical SociiMy. lie i< a charter
member (if the IJraiiuii'd l)isti-i(t .Mi'dical Su-
ciety, of which he was the president in 18S1;
belongs to the .Vmerican Microscopical Society
and is a fellow (d' the tfoyal ^ficroscopieal So-
ciety of I.ruidcui. lie is likewise a member of
the Illinois .\rmy and N'avy iledical Associa-
tion, was pension examiner and has been health
otlicer of Petersburg since ISS"). Tlis Medical
writings include: ()bscr\ations Uiiriiig an
iOpideniic of Cerebro-Spinal-Meningitis in 1S7 I :
Keport of Trichinosis with I'ost ^lortent and
ilicroscopical .Vp]iearance of Tissues Effected
with the Parasites, and .\siatic Cludera.

Dr. Whitley has l)een uuii-i-ieil four times.
first in l.S(;i;. second in 1S7;>. third in 1890.
and fourth in l:>ol. Ji was ou the stli of
September. 19(11. that lie was unitcil in mar-
riage to ^liss Libbie iiourke. a native of Menai'd
county and a daughter of Colonel Cornelius
Roilrke. who was one of tln' pioneers of this
countv. Tlie I)octor has two >ons: .lames.

Iiorn January VI. ls;i|: and l.auLidou. Iioi'u
.lune IS. lS9(j.

Fratei-nally |)r. Whitley is a Knight Templar
.Mason, belonging to St. .^Idemar eomnutndery
at Petersburg, and he is also identified with
the Odd Fellows aiul the Knights of Pythias
lodges, in V)oth id' which he has lillcd all tlu'
chairs, aiul he is now surgeon of the l-'oiirtb
Kegiment of the uniform rank nl' the Knights
of Pythias. He is al.-^o local suiucon for the
Chicago iV .Vllon Railroad, examining surgeon
I'oi' the Tra\elers Accident ('om])any since 1885
and evandner for several old line life insurance
eonipani(S. For several years be was post-
nuister at Oakford. the postollice at Robinson's
Mills being discontiiiucMl aftiT the town of Oak-
foi'd was started. He \\a> a meiiiber of the
lioai'd of ediuation at Petersburg foi' lifteen
c(msecutive years. He is one of Menaril coun-
ty's leading and pi'ondnent citi/.ens, ]io|iuIar
with his hretbren of the iVatennt ie?- to which
he belongs and exerting a nioxing and bene-
ficial influi'iiee in behalf of public jirogress
and improvement, as well as along professicuial
lines. It is with extreme jdeasure that we pre-
sent this .•iketch of his career to the readers of
this volume for we realize, ami justly too. that
it is nnto sneh men that thi' present pros|ierity
id' Menard roiint \- is due.

Z. .\. riloMl'SoX.

/. .\. Thi.impson. who through the ret-ogui-
tion anil utilization of commercial |)ossibil-
ities afforded in Petersburg, has advanced from
humble surroundings to a position among the
prosperous business men o| ihe city, is now
a member of the linn of Thompson. Kosen-
dald \ Company. pro|)rietors of a large de-
l)artment store. Petersburg is his native city,
his birth having here occurred December 27,
1S.")S. His father, .\aron Tliom]ison. is repre-
sented on another ])age in this voliimi'.

TTaving obtained his early education in the
public schools. Mr. Thompson of this review
continued his studies in the Hlinois College of
.racksonville. where he acquired his more
specifically literary education. Soon after leav-
iTig that institution he entered the field of mer-
cantile endeavor and in 188() he liecame a mem-

?!'?0

PAST AND i'ia':si:.\'r of me-xaimj coi niy

biTof tlio firm of Tlii)iii])son, Hosfiidnlil & (nm-
panv, ])roi)rictor!; of a lai'<;c' dopartnu'iit sinrv
in Pi'tersiiurg. The Imildint!;. seventy Uy one
liuntlrod feet, is two stories in height ami is
situated at tlie nortliwest eorner of the s<iuare.
It is well stocked with an extensive and eare-
fuily selected stock of general goods, carefully
chosen with regard to the varied taste of the
patrons, and the linn, hy reason of their hon-
orable dealing, their unfailing courtesy and
their earnest desire to please their customers,
have secured a large and growing patronage.

( In the 24th of Xovember, 1880, j\rr. Thomp-
son was married to ^liss Nettie Watkins, a
daughter of Samuel Watkins. a representative
of one of the early pioneer families of !Me-
nard county. The children of this marriage
are tliree daughters and a son: Lillian. Sam-
uel, ^larie and Louise. Mr. Thompson. ]ia\-
ing lieen made a Mason at Chamllerville. Illi-
nois, in 1881, has advanced to the Knight
Templar degree, holding memlierslii|i in St.
.VIdemar commandery. He is also connected
with the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the
^[odern Woodmen camp, and has lieaity sym-
pathy with their principles of hrothcrhood.
hencvolence and mutual he!|)fnlness. Both he
and his wife are consistent memliers of the
Christian church, contributing generously to
its sujjport and taking an active part in its
work, and in the social circles of the city they
are ])rominent and widely known.

MRS. PEBECCA 1 IM.KV.

Mrs. liehecca Finiey. now rcsiiling upon a
farm in Petersburg ])recinct, Jli-nard county,
was born in Scotland. December 2;i. 1842, a
daughter of .James and Rebecca (Purdon)
Park, also natives of the land of the heather.
She spent her early girlhood days in Scotland,
where she resided until 18(;:i, when at the age
of twenty years she became a resident of Peters-
burg, ifenard county. She was married in
Scotland to William Finiey on Tuesday. .June
2, 1863, and the following Saturday they sailed
for the I'nited States, being nine weeks upon
the water and a week longer in reaching Spiin^'-
field, Illinois.

Mr. Finiey. who was born in l.S:!7. was a life-
Iniig fainur. carrying on agricultural pursuits
biitii in Seiillaiid and in this country. lie i)ur-
cluLsed a farm of one hundred and seventy-live
acres riear Petersburg, upon which his widow
now resides and which has i)ecome recognized
as the old Finiey homestead. Throughout his
remaining days he carried on agricultural pur-
suits, placing his land under a high state of
cultivation and making its fields to return to
him good harvests as a reward for his care
and labor. Tie continued to reside in Jlenard
eduiity until his death, which occurred April
II. LSI)',), when he was sixty-two years of age.
II is loss was deeply felt by nuiny friends as well
as his immediate family, for in his life he had
displayed many sterling traits of character.
Hiisiness men enjnyed i iiteriug into trade
liansactions with him because he was straight-
forward and reliable. He could be counti'd
upon for ai-tive assistance in citizenshii) when
the matti'r for consideration was one which
tended t(i promote general welfare of the com-
munity. In his family he was a devoted
husliaml and lather' and be disiilayed in his
life many of the sterling characteristics of the
Seoteh ]>e()ple.

I'ntn Ml', anil .Mrs. Finiey were boi'n six
children, namely: Peliecca. born July i. 186-1,
died Xoveudjer 30, 18()5. John, born Septem-
ber 12, IStia, died the same day. I'llizaheth M.,
liorn Dccendier 21, 18()T, was married January
24, 188S», to John Park, a farmer of Menard
county, and of the seven children born to them
four are still lixing. Annie 11.. Imrn l-'ebruary
22, 18G!). was marrietl January 20. 181)1, to
R. (t. Williamson, a son of James Williamson,
who was born in Scotland and yet resides in
that countiT. P. Ci. Williamson now carries
on the home farm for Jlrs. Finiey. To him
and his wife were born I'oui- children: James,
who di(d in infancy; Rebecca Agnes, who was
boDi February (i, 1804, and is now the only
one living; Charles, who died at the age of eight
months: and Lillian, who died in infancy.
Ja))ies P.. the second son of Mrs. Finiey, was
born October 25, isll. anil jmw resides iiear
Tice, Illinois. lie was married ^lai-ch 20.
18!l.->. to Flora Hell and they have two cbil-
divn. William a)id Cicil. .VuMies .L. born

PAST AND I'KKSKXT OF MlAAHh ((UN TV

331

ilareli •^i, is; I. \v;is iiiiirricil Maivli :, ISDI,
to Henry Faith and <li<Ml Ortobei- 22, l.S!)(i.
Duriiii; her long residence in Menard coiuiiy,
to wiiieli she eanie as a lii'ide. Mrs. l-'inlcv has
gained tlie tiood will ami estconi of many
friends and well drscrM's represenlation in tiiis
volimic as one ol tiie pioneer settlers.

M \i;silAI.I. .1. KiXC.

For over iiall' a eentnry this genth'nian was
identified witli the interests of ^^enard eonnty
and was accounted one of its^ valued citizens.
He was horn in \'irginia, Xovend)er 3S, 181.").
and was of Scotcli, Irisli, Dutch and Knglish
descent, his parents heing Daniel and Lucy
(Smith) Kini;. In ISIT. when iud\' luo ycai's
old, he was taken hy thciii to Kcniurky. the
family ]ion>e l.)eing estalili>hcd in tic \icinity
of JlaysviUe. There he was I'eared upon a
farm and hecanie a teamster and also worked
on the river to some extent. In lSt3 he came
to Illinois with his parents, win. died in this
state and were hnri<'d in Slii|dey uraveyard.
Menard ciumty. the I'ati'cr passiii;^- awa\ at a
very advanced age.

Marshall .1. King engaged in agricultural
])ursuits in this county. After residing for
twenty years in Sandridue, he located near
Oakford. He purchasetl, cleared and improved
three dilferent larms, all heing covered with
a dense growth of timl)er at the time they came
into his possession. In 1<S()2 he bought the old
homestead, on which his ^on Frank A. now
resides. He prospered in his farming o|icra-
tions and at the time of his death owned a
valuable farm of two hundi'cd acres a short
distance south of the village of Oakford. Ilis
life was characterized by untiring energy and
perseverance and his laliors proved of value n
reclaiming this i)art of the state for the pur-
poses of civilization. In 1880 he relinquished
the active duties of farm life and removed to
Petersburg, j)urchasing a comfortable home on
Niirtb First street, where his declining days
were spent. On the 2iitb of Dec(>mber, lS:i(>,
Mr. King nuirried Uachel Brown, who died a
few years later, leaving one child. Mrs. Minerva
E. Shiidcv. who died October !), 18!)n. He was

a,:;aiii mairied Oelober 21, ISll, his set-ond
union being with l-!liza H. Caldwell, who was
a rep!'escnlati\i' <d' a Pennsylvania Dutch fam-
ily. Her father, Alexander Caldwell, came to
Menaid eounly, Illinois, and located near C'on-
coid church, where he and his wife made their
home until death. Both were earnest and con-
sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal
church and he was a Democrat in polities.
Their daughter Mrs. King died April "^O, 1880,
and was hiid to rest in Oakford cemetery. She
was the mother of ten cbildrt'n. of whom four
are now li\ing, namely: Henry 1)., of Jlere-
dosia. Morgan county, Illinois: Melissa, wife
nf .1. 1). Lounsberry, 'J'aylor M. and Frank A.,
all llii-ee nsidenls of 'Menard county. For his
third wile .Mr. King wedded Mary .\. Bell, the
marriage heing celebialed Deeembi'r (i. 1883.
She survives him.

Mr. King died on ibe ls||i ,d' Oetolier. 1899,
anil his lemains were interred in Oakford cem-
etery. He was a ju-ogressive and successful
farnu'r and upright citizen, being held in high
esteem in the eomnnmity where be had so long
nuule bis home.

ALK.X.WDHI! H. STONH.

.\le.\ander II. Stone is the owner of a line
farm in township l!t. Ilis home is surrounded
by beautiful maple trees and fruit trees are
also seen there. Flowers likewise adorn the